HAPPY BLOG-VERSARY TO ME!

MY BLOG TURNS 3!

Its hard for me to believe that my blog has turned the ripe old age of 3. 

I would have never imagined that I would keep and maintain this blog running for 3 years.

Thank you to those that have been with me since the start and to all that have decided to follow me.  I couldn't have ever dreamed that people would like my art and be so encouraging.

I'm working on getting a blog candy give away put together so stay tuned and 

THANKS EVERYONE! 

Anything Goes - Halloween Chaos

This week over at Simon Says Stamp and Show, the challenge was

Anything Goes!

So I decided to use my tags that were created for the Halloween Chaos Swap on

The All Things Tim  Yahoo Group.

Each player was to make 12 tags and get a incredible collaborative piece back from the wonderful swap hostess Stacy Cook.

Below are the tags I created.

Each tag is made using almost Tim Holtz products exclusively with the exception of the poison bottle stamp which is from Graphic 45.

I embossed, sprayed and inked all my tags. Covered the grunge board skulls with Rock Candy and used Hobgoblin tissue tape across the bottoms.

After stamping out the bottles I painted them with Distress Ink markers.

Using Tim's new Mini Blueprint stamp set I stamped spiderwebs on vellum for a finishing touch. 

I absolutely cant wait to see the finished piece from Stacy.

Altered Cigar Box

OK, So I know you are saying what does Sea Shells have to do with an Altered Cigar box.

Well my partner on this exchange said they liked everything to do with the beach so since I can't take them to to beach I am bringing the beach to them.

This is the top of the cigar box.

 Sea shells arranged in the center of the lid created a focal point. I covered the whole box in decorative paper and tissue tape then ran a piece of contrasting ribbon around the outside.

As you can see I also included round wooden finials on top and barrel shaped ones on the bottom to mimic the look of an old boardwalk from times gone by.This is the view from the back.

Notice the light house 

 This is the view from the front adorned with a sail boat.

And this is the inside. I told you I was bringing the beach to them. Blue Sky and warm sand adorn the inside of the box. I also included some loose shells just for fun. 

The lid is hinged with chain since I used real shells on the top to stop the lid from flipping the box over since the shells are so heavy.

And of course I had to a tag and some vintage beach photos for the new owner to play with. 

I hope they enjoy it as much as I did making it. This was my first altered cigar box, but somehow I don't think it will be my last.

Technique 10: Tissue Wrap Flowers

This week over at Studio L3 the Challenge is:

Technique 10: Tissue Wrap Flowers

Tim Holtz: A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2, page 37

I used this challenge to make a monochromatic tag, yes there is a tag behind all that you are looking at.

It's been a while since I created a monochromatic piece and using the black and white tissue wrap inspired me to do so.

The dancing ladies is a stamp from Lost Coast Designs that just makes me smile. The tissue wrap flower and tidings bow seem to mimic the dancers headgear.

Here is a close up of the flower. I know many are posting that they had difficulty in making them look like flowers. I must confess this is my first attempt and I came out perfect.

 Almost like a paper carnation.

I think that I will use this piece as art to abandon for someone to find. 

Click here to read more about Art Abandonment.

Kindred Souls Tag Swap

I'm participating in a swap on the Kindred Souls Art Group and this is the first swap we have had. It's a one on one tag swap and complete artist choice of design. Feeling my roots a little I decided to go completely Asian in images and designs. I hope the recipient enjoys is as much I as did creating it.

What you see behind the tag is a glassine envelope that I embossed to put the tag in.

Patriotic Tag Swap

Its a PATRIOT Tag Swap over at ATT and what could be more Patriotic than our own 4th of July Celebration. That's what I used as my inspiration for the swap and these are my tags.

 A view of all 3 tags that I'm swapping.

I even embossed the glassine envelopes to put them in :)

Compendium of Curiosities 2, Challenge 9

This week the Challenge over at Studio L3 is

Technique 9: Pocket Watch

Tim Holtz: A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2, page 35

I used this challenge to create a Patriotic piece to celebrate the upcoming 4th of July here in the 

USA!

I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. Now I just have to find a way to display it.

Until next time....

Compendium of Curiosities 2, Challenge 8!

This week the Challenge being offered up at Studio L3 is 

Technique 8: Repurposed Packaging

Tim Holtz: A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2, page 62

I used this challenge to make some ATC for the swap on the All Things Time Yahoo Group.

 i

I took the plastic packaging from some Grunge Board and stamped on it using Stazon ink.

Then I flipped the packaging over and mounted it to card stock that I had colored with Distress Stains and Distress Inks using Glossy Accents.

This is a close up of just one of the cards. Even though I didn't add any texture to the packaging I love how the whole piece took on the slick look of the plastic.

An even closer shot.

I wish you could see the slick, wet look each ATC has. The detail of the stamp really pops behind the packaging.

Stampers Best Blog Candy Giveaway

Hey Everyone, 

Let me tell you about a great stamp company I have just discovered. Its called Stampers Best and they are just that The Best!  

I ordered a bunch of the designs for I just couldn't help myself. They are the nice deep etched rubber we all love and you have the option of getting the rubber only or already cling mounted ready to stamp. 

How cool is that? 

They are so generous they are offering to do a Blog Candy Giveaway for me too! 

You will get to choose a stamp from their New Releases...

Can you say WOW! 

Just leave a comment below and they will select a winner at random from all the comments and then comment announcing the lucky person with all the details on how to collect their prize. 

Be sure to check out their site for lots of great stamps to choose from. 

Below are some of the images that I got in my first order.

And just to make it even better, use my code: BEARCRAZYMAN

at the check out and get 10% off your first order!!!

Spend $35 and get Free Shipping.

Leave your comment now for the giveaway will end next Saturday June 9th.

Thanks for looking and good luck.

Compendium of Curiosities 2, Challenge 7

What a busy week I've had. Just under the wire I finished my tag for this weeks challenge over at Studio L3.

This week the challenge is 

Technique 7: Brushless Watercolor

A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol II

For this challenge I used as the main image an older stamp from Stampede.

I just love the way the inks looked with this image. To make it "pop" even more I added images from 

a 7 Gypsies set called Venice

Here is a close up so you can see the water color technique close up. 

I am going to tie this tag to a bottle of vino for a gift! 

Compendium of Curiosities 2, Challenge 6

 

Technique 6: Tissue Wrap Collage

A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol II

This week we over at Studio L3 we are up to week 6 in the challenge.
This one was really a lot of fun. I just love all the layers you get with it. Stop over at Linda's Blog and get all the details.

Here is a close up so you can see the grunge under the tissue. I used one of Tim's Stamp that mimics the crown piece under the tissue. I love the way the paint dabber highlights the grunge.

Life is Good!

Ticket Obsession Swap

A few weeks back I posted about my new obssesion with Tim Holtz Ticket die. Well not actually the die but the embellishment of them in other ways than the obvious ticket stamps. 

It all started with a video http://tinyurl.com/79xzjhg

Anyway... Stacy Cook agreed to host a swap on our Yahoo list All Things Tim and as they say the rest is history.  Here are some of the tickets I made and will use some of these as tickets in the swap.

These are the backs that I covered in colored card stock and stamped with a stamp from Tim Holtz.

 These are some of the images I used.

Just another shot of some of the different images I used.

Technique 5: Shattered Stains

Technique 5: Shattered Stains

Tim Holtz's A Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2, page 48

This week over at Linda's Studio L3 we are up to week 5.

I use the Tattered Floral die for my technique piece and made a Happiness Tag.

Here is a close up so you can really see the Shattered Stains Technique. 

Get all the details on the blog challenge at Studio L3 and join in on the fun.

Technique 4: Faded Layers A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2, Page 43

Well we are up to week 4 already on the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge over at Linda's Studio L3. Hop on over to her blog for all the details. 

Since the stamping technique is Faded Layers I added even more layers with card stock and paper. 

I used this weeks challenge to create a birthday card for a friend.

 I hope they enjoy it as much as I did making it

Technique 3: Marbled Stains

A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2,

This week the challenge is Marbled Stains. I used this challenge to create a card for another project that I hope to tell you about later this week. I love how this technique really gives an aged/ marble look.

 To achieve the Liberty color I was looking for I used Picket Fence, Pine Needles, and Bundled Sage Distress Stains.

I couldn't be happier with the results.

Technique 2: Faux Patina

A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol.  2, page 58

Over at Studio L3 Linda is hosting an art challenge using the techniques from Tim Holtz's 

Compendium of Curiosities 2

This week is Faux Patina and below is my entry.  I created the patina on a tag and on to an ornate plate that I adhered to an easel that I'm using as a Mothers Day gift.

Close up of the ornate plate.

Ticket Obsession.....

A couple of days ago I cam across an Art of Craft video on You Tube where an artist was using Tim Holtz's Ticket strip die in the most unique way.

She was stamping the tickets with individual art images instead of using ticket image stamps.

Well, I have come completely obsessed with the idea and have started making some myself.

Here are a few that I have stamped and not yet colored. Including some of Tim's Stamps, some from an Alice in Wonderland set and some Asian Buddha images.

Here are a few more from bird sets including the set used in the video.

Here is the first set I colored. Images are from Paper Artsy. Inset image is a close up of one of the tickets.

I used only Distress Markers on them.

This bird image is a from a Martha Stewart set.

This is my favorite set so far. Images are from Clearly Stamps.

I used Copics, Prismacolor and Distress markers on these.

Covering the colored images with Glossy Accents before inking the backgrounds with Distress really make the images POP.

I told you I was Obsessed with them. I am considering doing a swap on ATT if there is enough interest.

Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2 Challenge 1

I haven't played in a challenge in quite a while but when Linda over at Studio L3 started the Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2, I knew I was all in.

This week the challenge was to create your own custom foam stamp using the technique from Tim's book.

Below is my submission.

I really layered up the background along with over stamping both the font and the custom stamp I made from the dress form die. I love the overall vintage feel of the results.

Where in the World is Your Vagabond?

Sizzix is doing a promotion on their blog asking everyone to show where in the world is there Vagabond.

I finally got around to adding my picture to their blog today. They are offering a set of new gauge Keys and some limited edition Vagabond travel stickers for playing along.

Hop on over to their blog and show them where in the world your Vagabond is.

Mine is in Conyers Georgia, 20 miles east of Atlanta.

Pop Up Card, Tim Style

I have had this die for a while now but since I have been busy moving into my new craft space I haven't really had the time to play with it. So the other day I made time.

Sizzix shows this example on the packaging and on their website. It is die # 657130

Pretty nice looking, but not really my style.

This is my example, Not really that elaborate on the outside. I just stamped the wore celebrate and embossed it with shiny copper embossing powder.

But when you open it up you get the pop up surprise. I actually cut the "pop up" piece from clear plastic packaging so the hands of the clock appear to be floating in front of the clock.

Here is a close up of the clock hands to where you can see that they are really out in front of the clock and the back ground.

Pretty Cool Huh?

Im going to enter it into Simon Says Stamp and Show's

Anything Goes Challenge.