Timestream Collage

I have really been enjoying my foray into mixed media in my BPC class, Technique Toolbox, and wanted to create a collage incorporating some of the ideas I have learned in class. I am also entering this into the Simon Says Challenge "Make the Cut" and the Steampunk Matchbox challenge at SanDee and Amelie's.

Timestream: When Pigs Fly

I started with a canvas board, layered on a tag, covered with gesso, and laid it on thick in the corner and added texture with bubble wrap.

Worked on some of the elements I wanted to use, like the clock die cuts and embossing folder from Tim Holtz. I used on of my new techniques with the foil embossing and black paint. It is so easy - emboss it (I adhered it to the tag to give it some body), then go over with black paint, and wipe most of it off. Do that until you get the look you want. I really like how it ages it.

Working on elements, to meet the steampunk challenge I have to use matchboxes. Since I did not actually have any, I found a very small jewelry box, added tissue tape and inks, and sealed them up with Glue and Seal.
I have been experimenting with Perfect Paper Adhesive (gloss) and paints to create some amazing marbled textures, which you can see in the detail here. I started with a thick layer of the glue, dripped in several paint colors, and started to swirl and play until I liked it.

Before the glue dried, I added lots of watch parts, gears, microbeads and jewels, so they would dry right in to the collage. I am liking the way it looks now. Once the gessoed area was dry, I used Dylusions spray, and painted in some turquoise and lime.

Close up of the watch parts... Next, I laid all of the elements I wanted to play with out on the canvas board in a couple of different configurations to see how I wanted it to go. Vertical? Hmm..losing a lot of that great jeweled "milky way" look of the background...

Horizontal? Liking this better with more of the background showing through...

Some of the areas in close up detail...

Love that pig's wings..ready to fly!

Seems to me there is a great story hidden in the timestream!

Simon Says: Into the Woods challenge

Around my neck of the woods, as well as many other fine places, Memorial Day weekend is the start of the camping season. Along with camping, spring and summer bring fire season, so with those themes playing in my head, I started in on the Into the Woods challenge.

A lot of stories and myths revolve around trees and forests, so of course, I am thinking about these...like the Green Man, or wood spirits.

Lucky for me, no one bought these at a scrap yard sale, so this wood texture plate by Creative Mode was perfect to make a wood grain background. Now the question was how? I thought about rubbing pencil or marker, but wasn't sure, so next I tried rubbing some distress ink on the plate and pressing the tag onto it. Love it!

Next, I stamped the "face of uncle Enos" by River City Rubberworks onto the tag with Ranger's black Archival ink. I wanted the spirit of the woods to come through.

Pulled out my Happy Camper set by Stampin Up, and added the trees with Forest Moss Distress paint.

Since I was thinking of the forest fire message too, I added in the campfire in bright Ripe Persimmon.

I like to layer and add texture so stamped these onto canvas using an old stamp from Stampers Anonymous. Decided to use the evidence one and colored it up with Distress ink and stain. (Aged Mahagony and Ripe Persimmon)

Once I started putting the tag together, I had to add the wise old raven (Rubbermoon) who keeps an eye on everything that goes on in the forest. A little fussy cutting, and he nestles right in to the distressed ribbon and twig.

Here is the whole tag and nothing but the tag...my wise old man of the forest keeping a watchful eye over the campers and forest creatures.

Simon Says - Water Challenge!

So, what's a creative girl to do when it snows for hours on end, piles up to 9 or 10", and she has a snow day from school? Well play of course! This didn't start as my idea for the water challenge, rather it evolved as I played. So first, snow day fits the challenge, because as we all know, snow is water!

Then, my son mentioned I got a box...yesterday...and it was my new Tim Holtz Distress paints!! So, of course I had to play with them! Turns out I also received the final Inchies for a swap I was hostessing, and I like to make some kind of thank you for playing along-perfect!!

Chose these to play with, swiped some on my craft mat, spritzed with water, and ran the tags across. Next step, flick some water on them and let them dry.

More play! Trying out the paint for stamping, more color!

One stamp. Three ways. From left to right - first generation stamping - 2nd generation - and then a bit of a spritz with water for the 3rd. Gen. I really like how different they are!

Since my swap included some fabric and sewing, I chose this Tim Holtz "Vogue" stamp with black archival ink. (personally, I was more of a Simplicity gal back when I did more sewing)

Not quite satisfied yet, I mixed a couple of distress stains with...you guessed it...water! I wanted to add a bit of sparkle to the tag.

Final step- black pen to go over the dress, and a bit of white.

Attach some of the distressed ribbon I made as a little thank you, and I am done. It's still snowing outside :)

How would you use your own personal snow day?

Queen of Hearts Tag and Chic to be Shabby Challenge

Queen of Hearts Tag...playing with the Tim Holtz Blueprint stamp I won at the crop.

Working on the background with Distress Inks and water.

Playing with ink and water on the craft mat, then laying the tag down in it...seems to be a bit softer.

Stamping three images so I can do some layering.

Distress inks over each image.

Time to color in parts of the images with my Derwent watercolor pencils.

Using the water brush over the coloring is such an easy way to give a watercolor look.

I decided I wanted a bit more texture to the background so stamped with the mini blueprint and Archival ink.

Now, for some fun...tissue tape, metal, distressed ribbon...

Layered up the three stamped images to create some dimension, added a bit of cardboard, and finished up with my white pen. Now, that was a fun way to spend an afternoon.

I definitely see elements of shabby chic here...distressed ribbon, cardboard, tissue tape...so off it goes to the Simon Says Stamp challenge here.

CJS2013: more play!

This tag book just keeps growing! Lots of technique fun at Creative Jumpstart 2013!

You'll notice this stamp set on several tags.

Rachel Greig from Australia showed us several stamping techniques...coloring with markers, using a white crayon (or white color pencil) and then distress inks, and distressing the background and stamping. Fun with glossy paper!

Janna Werner from Germany got us playing with mists and masks....fun with punchinella!

Claudine Hellmuth shared this easy peasy transfer technique with sticky back canvas...all you do is lay your pattern paper face down on the sticky side, spray with water, rub off the paper and seal with gloss. This was super easy!

Nathalie Kahlbach had us playing with acrylics and brayering or spreading with a card to create a cool textured background.

One area turned out kind of muddy, so I just stamped an image there.

Carmen Sanchez from Madrid, Spain had me digging for napkins to try out some techniques. I decided to make this flower. I can see some great ways to add dimension to projects with these.

Vicki Chrisman from Nebraska designed an Accucut die to make this cool bow. Well, since I did not have the die, I cut my own out to remember the idea.

Hmmm, I feel like CJS2013 is like a trip around the world in 31 days with all these creative people! Still a few more to go....