Joyeux Anniversaire!

First, thank you to the new followers and new commentors! It truly means so much!

It was strange to deviate from an Autumn or Christmas theme, and I have leaves and snowflakes all over my floor, but to fulfill a few challenges, along with making a birthday tag for a friend, I dug deep into the stash and pulled out all the Parisian goods I think I have. Simon Says Stamp & Show's challenge this week is "Inspiration Francaise", the Sunday Stamper wants to see "Blue", the Compendium of Curiosities II Challenge is "Alcohol Ink Palette", based on page 52 of  Tim's book by the same name, and Unruly Paper Arts Reader Art Quest 1 is "Gift Tags".

 

I traced the oval from Tim's Embossing Diffusers onto a scrap of paper, and then stamped this beautiful Face from Stamper's Anonymous into it and onto the metal tag underneath using Jet Black Archival.

Using the same Diffusers Set, I embossed the Harlequin image onto the surrounding portions around the Face. I colored her and the tag in using Tim's technique of an Alcohol Ink Palette.

I also used the technique on the Idea-ology Key Hole and brads. Gorgeous lace  and seam binding from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and Idea-ology Tinsel was added.

Using two pieces of Ranger's Inkssentials Glossy Cardstock, I applied more Alcohol Ink, and then stamped several of Tim's Parisian images in Jet Black.

I embossed both of the Glossy Cardstock pieces.

To reenforce the paper, slightly broken from the embossing, I applied a nice layer of Glue N Seal to the backs of each and dried them. They were nice and sturdy after.

I lightly ran the Snow Cap Ink pad directly over the raised embossed portions. I gave that a dry and then highlighted them with a little Brushed Pewter Metallic Distress Stain. I adhered these back to back on the sides and bottom with Tissue Tape and Glue N Seal, leaving the top open to insert the tag inside. More lace and tinsel were added, as well as some metal pieces and Baubles. Voila!

 

Supplies:
From My Stash: Cuttlebug Script Embossing Folder, Happy Birthday Metal Tab


I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

A Christmas Tic Tac Toe

This fortnight at Frilly and Funkie, Linda, of The Funkie Junkie, wants to play. Her challenge is "Let's Play Tic Tac Toe". Make any kind of paper craft or mixed media piece using three in a row...down, across, or diagonal. 

You still have a week left to participate, and if you need a little inspiration or even a lot, please visit the other Design Team's blogs.

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 

Rebecca Deeprose - Paper Primrose

You are probably expecting a little funkieness here today, but you are sort of getting a little more frilliness. I hope you aren't disappointed! I used all of the Tic Tac Toe requirements. Is that considered a blackout??? ;0)

I love Tim's new Bottle Brush Trees. I dyed two of these with Dylusions Ink Spray. The ivory one was one I bleached that was previously dark green, purchased from a craft store.

I also sprayed this piece of chipboard and the wooden base with Dylusions.

I covered the chipboard with sheet music, inked that with Pumice Stone Distress Ink, added a blingy frame, and some Silver Stickles. 

The wooden base was first distressed with Claudine's Traditional Tan Acrylic Paint and Brushed Pewter Metallic Stain, then given a coat of Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint.

I adhered the chipboard to the wooden base, and then added lace trim.

A bottle of vintage buttons, metal pieces, and pearls (From Tinsel Trading) was rumaged through to adorn the trees. The metal stars and pearl buttons were given a little Alcohol Ink to color them up perfectly. I glittered the red and black trees, and the ivory one was dressed with glittered ribbon.

 

 

 

I am also submitting this to Unruly Paper Arts Reader Art Quest 2 for "Home Decor", and The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog Challenge for "Anything Goes".

Supplies:


I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!