Heavy Metal Princess!!!

It's time for the Funkies to show you their funk for the Frilly & Funkie challenge....sounds gross, but you know what I mean! Linda Coughlin of the Funkie Junkie is hosing this fortnightly challenge and the theme is "Altered Metals".  Linda says, "I love using metals in my card making and mixed media.  For this challenge use metals, but you must alter them somehow.  You can use alcohol inks, acrylic paint, embossing powder, or any other medium you choose. You can even dabble in rusting the metals yourself.  Have some fun and let's see your altered metals!" The design team has created some gorgeous metalized pieces...check them out, and you still have a week to submit your own. 

Linda Coughlin - The Funkie Junkie

Marjie Kemper - She Who Stamps and Scraps 

Teresa Kline - Paperie Blooms

Terry Horrall -  Terry's Work In Progress 

Sue Carrington - Stamping Sue Style 

Tammy Roberts - Paperie Sweetness

I haven't had the kind of mojo that lights my fire lately, and so I have been doing lots of creative magazine and book reading to ignite it.  Two in particular that I have revisited over and over, were Tim's first books, Distressables 1 & 2 (Hey Linda Ledbetter, start a new challenge using those as well, please). I started drawing out pictures in my art journal of ideas I had from viewing the books. They were all very different from my usual projected creations...hmmm, strange. One such project that really struck me was the 'Bottle Cap Buddy', on page 20 of Book 1. I love working with metals, wood, and natural materials the most besides getting painty and inky, so I threw myself into metal madness so to speak. I drew several images of my own 'buddy', so I knew exactly where I would start when I saw the challenge specifications for F&F.  I really wanted to do something different and exciting...something true to my creative nature and style but yet different.  This metal challenge was just what I needed to 'challenge' myself. I just wish I had more metal charms to alter...the supply is low, and these Vintaj Patinas are so much fun!!!
Warning: I took 67 photos to try to gain the best views and angles of this quirky project, and these 15 made the cut...sorry so many!

After getting all the metal pieces I needed to make Princess Metallica Spinster (Yes, that's her name. She is Mother Nature's little sister. The one who always took a backseat to her older sister, because she was only in charge of women and their biological clocks and not uh...the rest of the natural world! She was never married and had no children, but she loved to visit all of her nieces in the family.) I started painting each one with the Vintaj Patinas.

I painted more metals, sanded them all with reliefing block, and then gave everything a coat of glaze. I put the Princess together, but just didn't want her hanging around all the time, so I devised a way of putting her up (Well, really my doctor did.) so that I could look at her when I wanted and think of all the happy times when she came to visit me.

I found this metal gutter guard at a hardware store, and knew that I could use it somehow for crafting. it was very easy to transform into a tag...my Tim scissors cut right through pretty easily.

I gave it a good coat of Sail Boat Blue Alcohol Ink. I just could not ignore AI as it's my favorite to color metal. 

Since the edges could be potentially dangerous to my fingers or others, I wrapped the edges in Foil Tape. I added all the metal with brads and wire, then added a coiled wire to hang the tag up with. If you are still with me after this ridiculous story...thank you! Note To Self: I might need to check into some medication to stifle this craziness! Hmmm...or is this my style???

 

I am submitting Princess Metallica Spinster to My Mojo Monthly's challenge (no pun intended) of "Your Style", the Sunday Stamper challenge of "Embellishments", and Simon Says Stamp & Show's challenge of "Anything Goes". 

Supplies:


I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

June ATC's Received

I always love a happy mail day! I have received my June ATC's from the Creative Block Stamper's Anonymous Yahoo Group and the All Things Tim Yahoo Group. 

Creative Block Stamper's Anonymous: Use A Different Stamp On Each ATC

Susan Salyer (Gorgeous striations of color...so vibrant, and love the embellie!)

Brandy Wickham (Love that blinged up bow tie...great texture!)

Cynthia Estes (Talk about hardware...so cool....WOW!)

And, here are my three again.

 

All Things Tim: The Beach

Jocelyn Cazier (WOW....embellishment city...love this texture...AWESOME!)

Stephen Jew (The covering on this is AMAZING and so impressive...really looks like the fish is underwater...WOW!)

Chris Rickert (Oh my word...this is so STUNNING...every little detail...WOW!)

Claudine Criner (This ATC is so fun...love those waves...COOL!)

And here is mine again.

  I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon, and then trade your wares!!!

Navy, Pink, & Yellow

Sharon Wheet of  Designs By Sharon, is hosting again at Our Creative Corner this week. Sharon wants to see "Navy, Pink, and Another Color (you decide)". Create a paper craft item and use the challenge colors of navy and pink, and then you pick the missing color...any color...maybe kraft, yellow, gray, etc. Neutrals like black, white, cream, or brown do not count as your extra color. Here is an Inspirational Photo Collage to help you out.

The Design Team has made some very gorgeous projects for you to gain inspiration from. Please check them out.

Linda Coughlin- The Funkie Junkie

Vicki Burdick- It's a Stamp Thing

Sue Butler- Scrumplescrunch

Ann Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne

Wendy Janson-  It's All About Stamping

Marcy Kaminski - En Papillote Arts

Holly Kean- Kean On Paper

Irena Kowalczyk (aka Rudlis) - Love, Life and Crafts

Meihsia Liu- Simply Paper Crafts

Tui Nathan- Stampin Time

Lori Rider- The Diva Stamper

Kristin Tierney- Lilly Beth Boutique

Sharon Wheet- Designs by Sharon

I decided to do a little cleaning out, and discovered some papers I had that I have always wanted to use. I wish I knew the name of the embossing one. If anyone knows please drop me a message. I thought yellow was a good color to compliment the navy and pink, but I HAVE to say, I do not like this finished card at all. It just did not appeal to me after I added the pink.  It's strange that you can create something out of your own mind with your own hands and not like it.

I added 2 yellows and 2 blues to my craft sheet and spritzed with water.

I placed my paper in the ink a few times and had some left over, so I added a tag as well. I added some more Distress Ink with an ink blending tool to really heighten the yellows and blues. The tag was dipped a few times more than the card so the inks mixed a little to create green. I tried to prevent that from happening on the card. I loved both of these so far.

I saved a piece of junk mail because it had a nice weight to it and it happened to be navy. I used it to frame out the card. I still liked everything so far, but that was about to change.

I had some mini Prima Flowers, but they were the wrong color so I gave them a spritz of pink. These came out lovely. I love this homemade paper from Prima as well. The texture is wonderful. So both of the pink items I love...just not with my navy and yellow. I tried to add in more yellow in hopes I would like it, but still no.

Supplies:
From My Stash- embossed resist paper, Prima Flowers Homemade Paper, yellow cardstock, recycled advertisement card, thank you charm


I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

An NYC Christmas Configurations Tray

The Compendium of Curiosities Challenge has been running for two weeks this time, due to the larger creative nature of the project....Configurations.  I was fortunate to work on my Christmasy version riverside over the July 4th week while watching my children play in the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country. Swimmers by looked at me strangely, but I didn't care. It was a great craft space to say the least, and my children actually enjoyed me working for a change! It was strange to be singing Christmas songs in my head while soaking up 90+ degree rays, but the scenery really did provide me with great inspiration.

My tray is not the usual Tim Configurations Tray. I found this solid wood one at a flea market in The Big Apple, and definitely reconfigured it to fit my New York City at Christmastime mementos. I have been fortunate enough to visit there twice during the holiday season, and have collected several items reminding me of my time. They needed to be showcased, and Tim's way really highlights these special tokens.Warning: TOO MANY photos!!!

before filling it up.

the back

 

I am also submitting this to the Sunday Stamper's challenge of "Dream", and to Simon Says Stamp & Show's challenge of "Layered".

Supplies:

Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Paper	Idea-ology Christmas Kraft Resist Paper	Idea-ology Tissue Tape in Tidings	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Word Sticks	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Findings Philosophy Tags
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Pen Nibs	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Findings Corners	Idea-ology Corked Vials	Idea-ology Swivel Clasps	Jump Rings - Idea-ology
Idea-ology Screw Eyes	Idea-ology Washers	Glossy Accents	Adirondack Red Pepper Acrylic Paint Dabber

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!