Imagine The Kite & Key

Hello everyone! Most of you know my love for Jumbo Tags, but now Ranger has Giant tags!!! Woohoo! Love all the space, and I sure needed it with this colossal tag, so this might be my new favorite size.

Over at the Inspiration Journal the monthly challenge is "Go Fly A Kite". I instantly thought of Benjamin Franklin, and his fascinating quest to prove electricity from lightening with a kite and a key, that I learned about so long ago in grade school, so I knew I wanted to create a kite piece using him. He would definitely be on my top 10 list of significant people from the past. For some reason though, Benji always invokes in me thoughts of Steampunk, not because he had anything to do with the steam engine, but because he had so much to do with the electric engine, and thoughts of cogs and gears enter my mind as well as electricity (Electricpunk???). He was a tinkerer and inventor among many other things, and his ideas way back then lead others to think he was strange. He wanted his works to be used for increasing efficiency and human improvement, and that they did. Life would be different had he not been around, and these two quotes that I used here on the tag really describe him, and they are certainly worth pondering for the rest of us. 

I printed an image of Benji from the web, made him an extended arm, and stamped 2 of Tim's hands in Jet Black Archival, one for the base and one for the top layer. I colored them in with Distress Markers.

I used Wendy's Art Parts for my house. I had to cut the window a little larger so Benji's hand could stick out. I stamped the two Steampunk images on the house in Jet Black Archival, and painted the trim and roof with Pitch Black Acrylic Dabber.  Everything was inked with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

I stamped the first Tim sentiment on kraft in Sepia Archival Ink. It was used for the wall of the house. Everyone needs an inspiration wall...right? Lots of Idea-ology (See the lightening rod?)and metal parts were used to embellish the house.

I used Tim's Guilded Kraft Glassine technique for the tree, and then die cut it with the Sizzix Branch Tree Bigz Die. I also used this die to cut a piece of Inkssentials Metal Foil Tape to be used for the lightening. I think it looks pretty good as lightening, although my son did not...critics!

My new favorite....the Giant Tag! I inked it with Broken  China, Stormy Sky, Peeled Paint, and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.

Then I flicked water on it for the rain drops. I love Tim's classic technique of Blended, Spritz, and Flick...another fav!

I added Tissue Tape to kraft paper along with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I attached some gears and spinners, and cut it into the shape of a kite. Chain and more Idea-ology finished the kite, and of course the key was added. However, my son (again) said the key should be above his hand...CRITICS!!! I adhered everything to the tag, along with another quote from a Tim set, that was stamped on kraft in Jet Black, distressed, and inked in Walnut Stain.

 

 

I am also submitting this tag to the Sunday Stamper's challenge of "Steam Punk", and Simon Says Stamp & Show's challenge of "No Rules, Anything Goes".

Supplies:
From My Stash- wire

Inkssentials Surfaces #12 Giant Manila Tags	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Broken China	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Stormy Sky	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Peeled Paint	Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool-With 2 Blending Foams
Inkssentials Water Mister (FJ)	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain	Wendy Vecchi Art Parts Residence	Scallops Art Parts	Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Pitch Black
Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black	Steampunk Stamp Set	Warehouse District - Stamp set	Urban Tapestry Stamp Set	Core-dinations TH Kraft Core Paper Stack
Adirondack Silver Acrylic Paint Dabber (FJ)	Distress Markers (FJ)	Alterations Branch Tree Bigz Die	Inkssentials Foil Tape Sheets	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Kraft Glassine Paper Stash
Sunshine Yellow Alcohol Ink	Adirondack Alcohol Ink In Citrus	Adirondack Alcohol Ink In Sunset Orange	Gold Mixative Alcohol Ink	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink Applicator, Stamp Handle and Felt
Idea-ology Tissue Tape In Commute	Idea-ology Clock Keys	Idea-ology Sprocket Gears	Idea-ology Long Fasteners (FJ)	Idea-ology Locket Keys
Idea-ology Findings Spinners	Idea-ology Adornments - Regal Charms	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Gears	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Miniature Light Bulbs	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Findings Philosophy Tags
Idea-ology Timepieces	Idea-ology Corked Vials	Jump Rings - Idea-ology	Idea-ology Mini Fasteners	Idea-ology Washers
Lace Chain	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Pen Nibs	Mini Pins	Idea-ology Label Pulls	Mini Ornates Stamp Set

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Starry Night In Paris

Before I get started I would like to says thanks for all the comments and new followers here! It truly means so much to me for all your kindness, and I hope I am giving you a little inspiration. 

Over at the All Things Tim Yahoo Group, the challenge for the ATC monthly swap is "Travel" plus a little bling. I've always wanted to go to Paris...someday...so I knew that the City of Lights would be my travel theme. Then, ever since the Renaissance challenge at Frilly & Funkie, I've been studying a few of the Master Painters, and rediscovered my love for my very favorite painting ever, Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. This love grew even greater after a visit home to the mountains, where we star gazed every night. The view of the stars is unparalleled in the mountains....so clear and close. The whole sky is filled with white twinkles, a few planets, moving satellites, and the Milky Way expanding from one side to the other. It was amazing, and we even saw a shooting star that left a trail for about 3 seconds...awesome!!!
So...I thought I would combine these two, Paris and Starry Night, to create a quirky ATC. I have to be honest though, I really wanted these to turn out better than they did. The sky is just not bright enough for me, but I used the Whitewash Stamping Technique from Tim's Compendium of Curiosities II, for Linda's challenge this week, which dulled the sky a lot. Don't get me wrong...I love the technique. I just should have used it to do something else, rather than try to make it fit in with a project that is suppose to be bright. I loved the way the land part turned out though, and I used the same technique for it as well. Live and learn! And, my painting was not so good either. I am no master for sure, but it was fun anyway.

The before and after of using the Whitewash Stamping Technique on the sky.

Whitewash Stamping used again for the land part.

Tim's Eiffel Tower image was stamped with Distress Embossing Ink and embossed with Ranger's Sea Foam powder onto black cardstock.

I sprayed Blue Patina Perfect Pearls Mist on the sky.

I cut the land part out and adhered it to the sky part.

I used Claudine Hellmuth Studio Acrylic Paints to paint the sky and land parts. I affixed the tower, and gave the whole thing an inking with Distress.

I am also submitting this to the Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog challenge of "Going On Holiday".

Supplies:

Inkssentials Surfaces Kraft ATC	Tiny Textures Stamp Set	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Picket Fence White	Black Soot Distress Ink (FJ)	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Faded Jeans
Inkssentials Water Mister (FJ)	Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool-With 2 Blending Foams	Blue Patina Perfect Pearls Mist	Attic Treasures Stamp Set	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Dusty Concord
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Barn Door	Distress Ink In Mustard Seed	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Peeled Paint	Mini Classics Stamp Set	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Ink
Ranger Seafoam White Embossing Powder	Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Pitch Black	Inkssentials Glue N Seal - Matte	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Acrylic Paint In Yellow Pastel	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Acrylic Paint In Blank Canvas
Claudine Hellmuth Studio Acrylic Paint In Dab Of Yellow	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Acrylic Paint In Landscape Green	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Acrylic Paint In Sable Brown	Hero Arts 3mm Gemstone Mix

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!