Sunday, March 30, 2014

Time is Transparent

Hi All My Blogger Friends,

Today I have a quick post for you - hope you enjoy.

I wanted to get this project posted to enter in two challenges this week.  One at
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where they are asking for "Transparent".  The second one is for Frilly and Funkie where they are asking for "Time After Time", anything time related.   I got the project assembled in pretty short order as I knew what I wanted to do.  No problem.  The real challenge came when it was time to photograph it.  After several unsuccessful tries Mac and I finally got it by up-lighting it.


I started out with a Sizzix Pro Die called Card, Double Accordion #658903.
As you can see, I made the entire thing out of clear acrylic and then embossed it with two of the Tim Holtz Texture Fades, clocks and gears.  The insert for the die was perfect for the word "Time".  I then glued on some clock-ish stuff from my stash.

Hope you make TIME for crafting today,
S@ndy

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

A Happy Accident in the Studio -

Hi My Friends,

Today while working in my studio I had a happy accident.............Don't ya just love when that happens?

 I belong to wonderful scrapbook club in our community and have been working on some samples for next months project.  For the month of April I was to make a sample using Karen Burniston's Pull Tab Pop Up Die.  I had one cut out and assembled and liked it very much.  So far so good - right?  Then it dawned on me that this would be a great way to show the smudge technique that is Tim's challenge for the month of March, you can see it here.  I missed posting last month and wanted to keep up with the 2014 tags.  Here is what I came up with, A MINI CLIPBOARD............
Hope you like it.


The photo is a little deceiving,  I entire thing measures 3' X 5", I did say mini.


When you pull on the ring at the bottom it reveals the second stamping
 (smudge technique).


I have to admit that I struggled with this technique.  Not that I didn't like it, just that I wasn't sure how to present it. Then after making the card I had the clipboard idea and went for it.  I'm pretty happy with the result.  It's cute, shows the technique, and is different.

Here's How I Did It!!
 
I started out with the clipboard of course.  I cut a piece of chipboard 3' X 5', rounded the corners and inked it with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  I then cut out the top of the clipboard using silver paper with Tim's Mini Clipboard (movers & shapers) Die.  Since I used a metallic paper for the clip, I edged it with Wendy Vecchi's new Archival Ink by Ranger, Watering Can. 
 
 
 
 
Then I cut a strip of manila file folder 2.5' wide using the folded edge of the folder.  I wanted to use the folded section as the top.  After gluing this piece together only at the top, I scored the rest as shown below.  The scoring will depend on the overall size of the project. 
 
 
I next cut a strip of paper to add at the bottom, this will later wrap around both sections and be connected in the back and then glued to the clipboard.  This is the only place it is attached to the clipboard.
 
 
Next step was to cut a notch in the bottom to act as a pull tab after adding my Tim Holtz Ring Brad.
 

 
 
Next thing - I cut a piece of manila paper the same size as the front of the folder where I will do my stamping and then add it to the folder.  Since I planned to use Distress Marker to mist on the tag with the New TH Spritzer I decided to use Archival Ink since it would not smear when it came in contact with the Distress Ink in the marker.  I used Cornflower Blue for the first layer.  I did not re-ink the tool for the second section so it would have that lighter look.
 

 Next I used one of Tim's stencils and Orange Blossom Archival.  Not a lot of difference in the color here as there was quite a lot of ink on the tool.

 
Next up - the TH Spritzer.  This is a new tool for me.  I have seen them before but didn't have one until recently.  I spritzed through Tim's Honeycomb Stencil on one side of the paper. I used the Faded Jeans Distress Marker.  I intentionally spritzed lighter on the second one to keep it from being so intense.
 
 
I then finished off my project with the new Nature Walk stamp set using Gathered Twigs Distress Ink for the nest and Chipped Sapphire for the bird.  For the FLY I used
Salvage Stickers and Rub Ons from Tim's line for the rest.
 
 
This certainly turned out to be a very long post for something so small!
 
 
Enjoy the rest of your week,

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Art Journal

Hi My Blogger Friends,

Today I'm sharing my first art journal.  The cover is shown below - now I just have to have fun filling it up.   I hope you had a chance to take a look at all the fabulous art that has been posted this past week over at "A Vintage Journey".  The new challenge is SAY IT WITH WORDS so I think this will fit in perfectly.  All you Tim Holtz fans will recognize his products.  I used plenty and really like the new ones.  I also plan to post this over at "Mixed Media Place" blog where the current challenge is CURIOSITY.  It will be a true curiosity to see what I  fill it up with.  You may also recognize the beautiful Prima flower and the fantastic Finnabair clock pieces.


For some time now I have been seeing artists that I like make art journals and post them on their blogs.  I confess, at first I didn't get it.  After seeing some entries and some really fantastic art work I finally saw the light.  It was like -------


I picked up a journal at my local craft store and got right to work.  I usually like to provide a complete tutorial but I got caught up in the moment with this one and forgot to take pictures along the way - so sorry.  Anyway all I have to share is the before and after.



Wishing you an artful day -
S@ndy

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

A Vintage Journey- Time Flies

Hi Everyone,

Today I'm starting on "A Vintage Journey" - it's a new challenge blog that specializes in vintage projects using the Tim Holtz style, his products and inspiration.  It doesn't get any better than that.   Here is my first make - I hope to play along often.

Since this project is rather Steampunk(ish), I decided to play along with the challenge over at SanDee & amelie's Steampunk Challenge blog as well.


 Here's how I did it -

With the theme of Time Flies - I of course had to use all things clock.  I started out with Tim's Tick Tock Die from Sizzix.  I cut the hands and clock from Grunge Board. I had a round tin with a transparent lid that I wanted to use so I punched a hole in the center and put the hands on with a brad. 


After covering the clock die cut with embossing ink, I used silver embossing powder and then heat set it.  While the embossing powder was still hot I sprinkled on a little bit of black embossing powder here and there.  For that grungy look I edged the entire clock with brown and then added just a little Vintage Photo Distress Paint for that worn look.  Next step was to cut some wings from copper using Tim's Layered Wings Die.  I wanted the wings smaller to fit the scale of the clock so simply cut them to size.  After embossing them with a Texture Fade embossing folder,  I added some Vintage Photo Distress Paint and then added a patina look by using Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Paints.

After some stash diving I came up with a small canvas and a wooden frame.  I covered the canvas with gesso and then cut it and rolled the cut edges to the outside of the canvas frame.




I filled the center of the picture frame with chipboard to make it flat.  Marked it off where I planned to add the canvas.


I then found the gears, clocks, watch parts etc. that I wanted to use and covered them with gesso.



After I finished all the gluing and a couple coats of gesso I glued the two pieces together.


Next I sprayed the entire thing with Sepia Spray from Lindy's Stamp Gang and then a coat of Dark Chocolate Truffle Spray.   I still wanted it darker on the inside so I added some dark brown acrylic paint.



I was pretty happy with the results but it was a whole lot of brown (even though it is Tim's favorite color) so I decided to add some patina using the same process as on the wings.  I used the patina color on many of the gears and clock parts.


I love it when my husband brings me flowers but when he came in from the garage with the gear pictured above I couldn't have been happier.  He told me the garage door chain had broken and this fell off.  Even better than flowers.


 


After the sprays, paints, and glues were all dry I added the clock with a photo that really does show how time flies.  It is two photos of Mac and I.  One taken the first year we were married (nearly 50 years ago) and a recent one.  A few finishing touches and it was done.


Hope you have enjoyed the first leg of my Vintage Journey and will come back to see where the adventure take's me.

Make something grungy,
S@ndy


Monday, March 10, 2014

Spring Things-

Hi Blogger Friends,

Today I have a couple card projects to share with you.  I'm excited to be a guest designer for
Karen Burniston's monthly challenge.  This month we are celebrating "Spring" using her Pop it Up Dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs.  Please visit the Elizabeth Craft Designs Blog here this week to see all the projects posted by the fabulous design team.

A WALK IN THE PARK

For my first card I used the Garden Bench Die - what's more fun than a "spring" walk in the park with your pet? 


For the cute little dogs I barrowed some stamps from my friend Rita.  I colored them with Prismacolor Pencils and fussy cut them.  One of the things I enjoy about these dies is that they come with the accessory pieces, the Grass and a Snow Mound is included with the Garden Bench.  For the tree I used the All Seasons Tree Die and used the cloud die (included along with Flowers, Leaves & Snowflakes) cut with green for the tree top.  I made this one using Karen's floating floor technique.  Instructions can be found on her blog here.  I used a bead for the ball by the little guys feet.  All paper is from Stampin Up.  For the card front I used some clipart & fussy cut.

CARD FRONT --


SPRING IS IN THE AIR

Since I just got the next dies, the Accordion Fancy Label Die & the Fancy Frame Edges, I just had to use them.  I have included a complete tutorial on this card at the end of the post.


I knew as soon as I saw it that I had to use the bird with the crown for this one.   


The little birds in flight are from Elizabeth Crafts #709.

CARD FRONT --


I used a cute little bird paper clip that I had in my stash to hold the card closed for the photo and I rather liked it so think it will stay.

HERE'S HOW I DID IT


I started out with two paper pads from DCWV that worked well together.  They are The Primrose and The Collage Art pads with wonderful spring colors and some glitter. I recently purchased these so they are still available at you local craft store.


I cut the 4 panels from blue paper from the paper pad.  When using the Accordion Dies it's a good habit to lay your panels out with all the connecting tabs going in the same direction.  I have found that this prevents silly mistakes.  I put some arrows on the photo to illustrate what I mean.


Next I started cutting the inner panels using the coordinating dies.  It is easy to get just what you want from the paper because you can see exactly where it will cut.  I use either a magnetic platform or hold the die down with a Post It Note.


Using a great tip from Karen I ran the paper through the Xyron machine and then cut 16 pieces using the Fancy Frame Edge Die.  I then attached them to the panels.


Next came the decorating, I cut my inner panels and embossed them & added them to the blue panels.  I don't like white edges showing so I edged all my panels with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.


After printing my phrases on the computer I cut them out using the dies.


The birds were all cut using Stampin Up cardstock in bright spring colors.  Rein stone eyes were added.  When I added them to the card I put some pop dots on the back.


After cutting the flowers from the paper I added them on the outside edges of the card.


Because I didn't like the flowers on the back showing when the card was closed I added a panel cut using the Agatha Edge Die.  After adding one more bird(also from the paper pad), I was done.




Hope you have enjoyed my cards and are inspired to make a card (or two) of your own.

Happy Crafting, (it's National Craft Month)
S@ndy