Grungy Monday 39

Hello, my friends.  Well, it seems that I've missed quite a few of these challenges.  More often than not, life gets in the way and the week is over before you know it, and other times, I either don't have the products required or I can't get my mind around an idea.  This week I didn't wait until the last day to figure something out.  This is card made for Grungy Monday 39, a weekly challenge all about the products and techniques of Tim Holtz, that can be found on Linda Ledbetter's blog, Studio L3.  This week's challenge technique can be found here. 

I decided to make mine monochromatic and stick with blue, since that's my favorite color and makes me happy.  This also fits the Free for All challenge on SCS today. 

I recently found a good deal on a Spellbinders die called Nested Tea Cups and immediately saw tulips and skirts, so I used the largest die to cut a skirt from the plaid I'd made. 

I die cut the dress form from black, white and pacific point card stock.  On the white part I stamped SU's linen background stamp in tea dye distress ink and on the pacific point piece, I stamped one of Tim's grungy dots stamps in faded jeans.  I punched some partial circles around the neckline and sleeve area and added some white gel pen accents.  Around the waist, I knotted some ribbon. 

The background stamp is from Cornish Heritage Farms and the buttons are from SU's button, button.  I threaded black crochet cotton through the holes in the buttons and popped everything up. 

I hand wrote the sentiment and added some faux stitching with black marker.  Then I coated the buttons with crystal effects. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you have time to create this weekend. 

GM37 - toilet paper jewelry

Hello my friends.  Earlier this year, I participated in Creative Jump Start, a way to get your creative juices flowing.  One of the blogs we visited belonged to Cuchy, and she had an amazing video tutorial on embossing wet toilet paper in an embossing folder.  I tried it, using my checkered embossing folder, thinking it might be a technique to use in one of my classes.  I really loved the technique.  However, when my pieces were dry, they were all warped, and I didn't think they would work for what I had originally planned.  I'll have to try it again and perhaps weight the pieces down while drying to keep them flat.  I kept the pieces anyway, thinking I could still use them somehow. 

When I saw that Grungy Monday on Linda Ledbetter's blog, Studio L3, this week was to make wearable art, I decided to try to use some of the embossed toilet paper to make some earrings.  Of course, part of the challenge is to use techniques or products of Tim Holtz. 

I started by using the mini leaf & branch die to cut a lot of leaves from the embossed toilet paper (shown on the lower part of the photo).  Then I used alcohol inks to color the leaves.  I let them dry and then gave them two coats of acrylic glaze, so they are nice and shiny.

I used a small hole punch to make a hole in each one and added some beads and jump rings and attached them all to some French hook earrings.  They are really light weight and have a lot of texture.  I love how they turned out. 

Thanks for stopping by.

GM35

Hello my friends.  Wow, it's been a really long time since I've participated in Grungy Monday on Linda Ledbetter's blog Studio L3.  And I'm getting this one in at the last minute.  I'm also entering this in the Inspiration Journal February challenge.

This week was making an artist trading card (ATC) using at least one product or technique by Tim Holtz.  I used three of his dies - rosette, heart wings, and mini butterflies.

The rosette was made from a piece of designer paper that was already cut to 2", so I just decided to use it and go from there.  The heart is a embosslit die from SU/Sizzix, which was already die cut in my stash.

The butterfly was also already die cut from cereal box chipboard & I colored it with distress stains in picket fence & victorian velvet.  All the sponging is vintage photo distress ink.  I used a black marker to write the words and add some faux stitching. 

Because I used some scraps & pieces that were already die cut, this went together really fast.

Thank you for stopping by today.  Have a great week.

grungy monday #17

Here I am again, my friends.  I decided that if I was going to get my card done this week for grungy Monday, challenges which are all about Tim Holtz products and techniques, and brought to us each week by the lovely Linda Ledbetter at Studio L3, I'd better get at it.  This week's challenge link can be found here on Tim's blog.  So I combined the challenge with one of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges for Fan Club members on Splitcoast. 

Friday night while working on VSN cards, I was playing with distress stains, which I am really loving.  I had a piece of stained card stock, which didn't make the cut for my card, so I decided to use it today.  I die cut it with Tim's mini butterflies dies and then coated each butterfly with rock candy crackle paint.  While that was drying, I worked on the background. 

I stamped some flowers (echoes of kindness - SU) with black stazon and colored them with SU markers.  Then I stamped French script (SU) with tea dye distress ink.

The sentiment is from another SU set called small script.

I added some vintage photo distress ink around all the edges and some brads in the corner. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a wonder-filled week.

Grungy Monday #13

Hi my friends.  I have really not felt the pull to be crafting this week.  Sometimes I think it's good to take a little break, especially when I don't have any mandatory projects to get done.  But I finally forced myself to sit down and do a little stamping last night.  I wanted to get my card done for Grungy Monday, which is a weekly challenge celebrating the techniques and products of Tim Holtz.  Tim's blog is filled with ideas and tutorials.  You can find this challenge on Linda Ledbetter's blog, Studio L3 each Monday.  This week our challenge is using alcohol inks, demonstrated HERE by Tim Holtz himself. 

I decided to do a bit of recycling at the same time and pulled out a piece of plastic packaging, which I then inked up with some alcohol inks and die cut with Tim's butterflies movers & shapers dies.  In order to make the colors pop more, I die cut the same butterlies from ivory card stock to back the plastic ones. 

My card stock base is ivory, then black, and ivory for the background.  I stamped the background with SU's cheesecloth in mustard seed distress ink.  Then I stamped the Tim Holtz flourish in tumbled glass distress ink.  The sentiment is stamped in black archival ink.

I added some turquoise grosgrain ribbon for a bit more color.  The butterflies are held together with black brads and attached to the card with dimensional foam tape.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Grungy Monday #12

Hello my friends.  It's another Grungy Monday card.  I was starting to think I might not get this one done, but a persevered and made it.  I can't say that I love this card, because I don't.  I think it's way too busy - too many things competing with one another.  I also prefer to use black as an accent rather than so much a part of the design.  However, I really struggled with the technique - this is my second attempt - and I didn't want to go a third time.  This one did what it was supposed to do; I just don't like it.  It's just as well that much of it is covered by the pocket and the tag.  (I haven't thrown out the first attempt, but it will probably get cut up and end up as part of a serendipity technique on some future project.  That's a great way to utilize the art attempts that don't find a place on your current project.)

Anyway, moving on...  Grungy Monday is a weekly challenge celebrating the techniques and products of Tim Holtz, and is presented each Monday on Linda Ledbetter's blog, Studio L3.  This week's challenge details can be found HERE on Tim's blog. 

The background stamp I used is Lattice from Cornish Heritage Farms.  The paper in the background is the same as the front of the pocket.  I'm still amazed how much you can change a printed paper with stamps and ink. 

I stapled the pocket on with my NEW tiny attacher.  I thought that was a good way to use a 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby on Tuesday.  We don't have a HL by us, but my daughter had to take her kitty to Kenosha for the day for some surgery (drop off at 8:00 in the morning and pick up at 5:00).  Since it's a 50 mile drive one way, she didn't want to make the trip twice, so I agreed to spend the day with her.  We spent two hours wandering the aisles at Hobby Lobby.  I also got a new corner chomper with a 2nd coupon that my daughter used.  We spent most of the afternoon shopping for clothes for her - she shopped while I sat and read a book.  We were both pleased with our purchases. 

I used my hardware findings die for the brace on the pocket.  It was too long, so I just spliced it and glued it down. 

I'm pretty sure that I have a label maker somewhere, but it's probably been 30 years since I've seen it, so I just repeatedly stamped 'dream' (Collage Stuff) on a strip of card stock and then sponged vintage photo ink on the edges. 

I wanted to use the birdcage die for my tag (had to do this one twice - argh! - the first one sorta blended into the background.)  I trimmed off the outermost parts of the birdcage to make it narrower and then glued some kraft card stock to the back and trimmed around it.  I used some hemp to attach some rolled paper beads and the wonder tag, which is made by punching three circles from cereal box, gluing them together, stamping the word & punching a hole with my cropadile and then embossing with three layers of clear UTEE.  It's so much lighter than metal and the word choices are endless. 

The bird is die cut from cereal box with a piece of card stock glued on and then embossed with gridlock embossing folder.  I sponged crushed olive and vintage photo on it and cut off the legs, so it could rest on the hardware brace. 

I appreciate you stopping by and your comments are always welcome.  Have a wonderful weekend. 

GM11

Hi my friends.  I finally had a chance to work on my Grungy Monday card for this week.  The weekly challenge, a celebration of the products and techniques of Tim Holtz,  is announced on Linda Ledbetter's blog each Monday.  This week's challenge is found here.  Stamps used are Tim Holtz, B & J's Art Stamps, and gears that I die cut from thick foam using gadget gears die from Tim Holtz/Sizzix.  Inks are all distress inks, except the black.

I also used on the fence die (Tim Holtz/Sizzix) to cut a picket fence from corrugated cardboard, which I roughly painted with white acrylic paint and then added vintage photo ink along the edges.

I added some coiled hemp as an accent.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Grungy Monday #09

Happy Tuesday, my friends. We had a nice family day yesterday for Memorial Day. In the morning, I spread weed & feed on our lawn. I was so hot and tired by the time I finished. It felt really good to wash off my feet with the hose. Of course, I picked up a bit of sunburn at the same time. It doesn't take much for that to happen, so I really don't spend a lot of time out in the sun.

In the afternoon we got together with some of my husband's family, plus a few others that my FIL invited to share with us. I found out that one of the ladies I met is the sister to none other than Mrs. Rubbernecker (Patty, Dave's wife), and just as sweet. How fun is that! We had a great time chatting.

Today I have a card that I made for two challenges. One is Grungy Monday #09, celebrating the products and techniques of Tim Holtz. This challenge can be found each Monday on Linda Ledbetter's blog, Studio L3. This week's challenge can be found on Tim's blog here.

I started with a piece of black cardstock and embossed the image in clear ep. Then spread pool paint dabber and Apple ivory acrylic paint over it. I'm not sure what I was doing wrong, but for the life of me, I couldn't get the paint to wash off the embossed image, so I improvised and used a sanding block to sand it off instead. I thought the problem was because I mixed two types of paint, but I tried it with just one paint dabber and had no better results.

The second challenge this card is for is Inspiration Emporium Monthly Challenge (IEMC02) using packaging. I used some plastic packaging from a Spellbinders die. I did heated pearls technique on the plastic, which basically uses white glue, pearl ex and a heat gun. Instructions can be found here on Splitcoaststampers.com. Then I die cut the plastic with Tim's butterfly movers & shapers dies. I reheated the butterflies a bit, so I could shape them while they were warm. I really love how they turned out. I attached them to the card with mini glue dots.

One edge of the main image panel was die cut with Tim's on the edge scallops die.

For the sentiment, I stamped the word 'delight' from an old SU set, paint prints with black stazon ink. Then die cut it with a nestabilities petite oval die (Spellbinders). I added some black ink along the edges as well, and then covered the piece with versamark and clear UTEE (3 layers). I punched holes and added some brads. This is a takeoff of Shelly's tutorial here.  This piece was attached with dimensional foam tape.

I hand crocheted the edging.

GM08 wildflowers

Hello my friends. I really haven't been doing much stamping lately. Saturday, my sister and I went to the stamp expo in Milwaukee and managed to do our part in helping the economy. I got a few stamps, dies and embossing folders. Then on Sunday, the offspring came over for lunch and some games and then, by the time we finished the 2nd game, it was late enough for them to stay for the evening meal as well. It's always nice to spend some time with them.

I finally pulled out some stamping supplies today and made a card for Grungy Monday, challenges celebrating the techniques and products of Tim Holtz. Each Monday, Linda Ledbetter shares a new challenge on her blog, Studio L3. This week's challenge technique can be found here on Tim's blog.

I used floral images from Hero Arts and Paper Inspirations, a butterfly from CHF, and the sentiment is from Penny Black. Paper is rose red (SU) and watercolor paper. Since the number of Adirondack ink pads that I own is limited, I combined Ranger distress inks, SU classic inks and Adirondack inks on my card.

The letters on the sentiment are so fine and delicate, I needed to write over them with a black marker so they would stand out a bit better. I also added some doodling along the edges and a ribbon from my stash.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a great week.

born to fly - GM07

Hello my friends. It's time for another grungy Monday card. This challenge is found on Linda Ledbetter's blog, Studio L3, and it's all about celebrating the techniques and products of Tim Holtz. This week's technique can be found here. I think I need to get some ink refills for my distress ink pads. My background is rather pale.

I stamped on the dress form with a stamp from Club Stamp and the wings are stamped with lady of grace (Stampington). The sentiment is computer generated.

In order to fit the dress form on the card, I cut off the stand and tucked it underneath the bodice.

I did a lot of faux stitching and sponging along all the edges.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

let your light shine

Hi my friends. My card today is for Grungy Monday, a weekly challenge posted on Linda Ledbetter's blog, celebrating the techniques and products of Tim Holtz. This week's challenge technique can be found here. I used a pool paint dabber along with peeled paint & vintage photo distress inks.

Something I've wanted to try for awhile is to make a lamp post using the sewing room die and the mini bird cage movers & shapers die. I'm tickled that it turned out. I used some yellow stickles to give it a bit of sparkle. I also used a glitter gel pen on the post to catch a little shine. I think next time I'll clear emboss the black die cuts to make them look more like metal.

The sentiment is computer generated.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great weekend.

you hold the key

Hi my friends. It's time for another grungy Monday, celebrating the techniques and products of Tim Holtz. I've had two weeks to do this one and I'm almost down to the wire. I couldn't decide what I wanted to put in the opening, so I didn't start until Thursday. But, I finally got it finished. You can play along each week. Just check out Linda Ledbetter's blog, StudioL3, each Monday for the new challenge.

The deets for this week's challenge can be found here. I stamped some swirls from Pollen Dust (Fancy Pants) with vintage photo distress ink on the background paper, which is from my stash.

I'm not sure why this looks blue. The background paper is more greenish. The joys of my lack of photography skills.

The keys are some from my dad's old collection. I made the flower with the tattered florals die, using 2 of each flower. The cardstock started out white, but I swiped the ink pad over it before die cutting. Then I spritzed the flowers with water, crumbled them up and then uncrumbled them, stacked them and put them together with a brad. Then I played with the petals to get them shaped how I wanted them. The center is chocolate cardstock with glossy accents on it. (It looks like a small m&m - *grin*)

The butterflies were colored the same way as the flower. After die cutting, I stamped them with various background stamps.

The leaves and flourishes were die cut from some green paper from a Sizzix stack. I folded the leaves and ran them through my crimper and then added some vintage photo ink. I rubbed some diamonds stickles on the flowers, leaves and butterflies with my finger, since I wanted just a tiny bit.

The sentiment is computer generated, printed on cardstock, inked with vintage photo and backed with black. I used dimensional tape to pop up the sentiment, flower and butterflies.

I like how this turned out. I think I want to add some sort of hanger, but that can happen later. I'd love to hear what you think of my project. Thanks for stopping by.

grungy monday #04 little red dress inspiration

Happy Saturday, my friends. Seems like we're in for another gray day, although I did see some sun peeking through for about five minutes, so maybe that's a sign of things to come.

I struggled this week coming up with an idea for a card for grungy monday, a weekly challenge celebrating the products and techniques of Tim Holtz, presented by Linda Ledbetter of StudioL3. This week's challenge technique is found here. I was pretty sure that I wanted to use the woodgrain texture fades, but I just didn't know where to go with it. Then late last night, the inspiration challenge for today was posted on SCS. I went searching through the selected web site and found this darling little one in a red dress sitting in a wonderful old grungy setting, and inspiration hit.

Using a piece of ivory cardstock, my woodgrain texture fades embossing folder and walnut stain distress ink, I ran it through my cuttlebug to get a grungy old board, to which I added some fired brick sponging and vintage photo distressed edges.

I was thinking of putting just one large flower on, but didn't seem to have a stamp for what I had in mind. While searching for just the right stamp, I came across an old SU set called petal prints, which has always been a favorite, but hasn't seen ink in a long while. I pulled out my favorite flower in the set and stamped it nine times with fired brick distress ink and then roughly cut them out (yep, 9 flowers!). I then crunched them all up to get lots of wrinkles and dimension. Then I sponged just the ends of the petals with aged mahogany ink. I stacked them in threes and added black brads in the center to hold them together. I've never used this flower in quite this way before, and I love all the texture that resulted from crinkling up the cardstock.

I decided to put stems on the flowers, so I just cut those by hand from artichoke cardstock. The leaves are also cut freehand. I added some veins with black marker and sponged the edges with vintage photo. I glued everything in place and added a piece of raffia.

After I took photos and was preparing to post one, I realized that the leaves were just too smooth and neat, so I took a pointy pair of scissors and roughed up the edges -- big improvement.

The flowers aren't quite the color I envisioned, but my supply of distress inks is rather limited, so I went with what I had.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a blessed Easter tomorrow.

grungy monday #02

Hi my friends. Today was a day for creating -- just one project, but it took me all day. Something other than a card and artsy to boot. I made a little wall hanging to hang in my studio for grungy monday #02 over on Linda Ledbetter's blog, being inspired by products, techniques and everything else Tim Holtz. This week's technique is found here. I actually started this project a few days ago, but other things kept getting in the way of creativity. Today, I just decided I was going to keep at it until I could get it finished.

To begin with, I don't have any matte multi-medium, so I wondered if there was anything I could use as a substitute. I decided to try Elmer's school glue. The bird image on the left side of the music paper was done with this. I think it turned out ok, but I tried two images and the 2nd one didn't work so well. My friend, Starla, suggested Mod Podge, but mine is glossy, so instead I tried some satin finish decoupage glue (the flower on the music paper under the flying bird). That one turned out ok, as well. I tore and distressed the edges on the music paper.

For my base, I used a piece of corrugated cardboard, which I first moistened on one side to make it easy to remove the flat surface and expose the texture underneath. I roughly painted on some blue acrylic paint, distressed the edges and added quite a bit of vintage photo ink.

The bird and flourish are die cut from grungeboard and painted with lumiere. The lace is an edging that I crocheted.

I printed the sentiment on the computer and printed it on cardstock. I cut the words apart, sponged the edges and then mounted them on black and trimmed that close to the top layer.

The flowers are all made from cardstock, dies and ink. I made these several months ago, so I just decided to use them, since I liked the colors and they were the right size. The larger leaves are die cut with my new Tim movers & shapers die and the small ones are from a Martha Stewart punch. I sponged the edges and added veins. I always glue my flowers down first and then tuck in the leaves. If I can't get them tucked in far enough, I just trim off part that is going under the flower.

I think I'm going to change the hanger, but I'm not sure what I want to use yet. I must say that I'm really pleased with the way this turned out.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonder-filled weekend.

grungy monday #01

Hello my friends. There's a new weekly challenge over on Linda Ledbetter's blog, Studio L3. It's all about being inspired by products, techniques and everything else Tim Holtz. The first challenge references Tim's Christmas tag #10 from 2008.

Although I love what the master of grunge does with stamps and ink, I find it hard to do the same thing, so for me these challenges are all about stretching myself. But at the same time, I want to keep my own style in the mix. I don't have a lot of products from Tim's line, so I just used things that I have. I pretty much followed his instructions, but substituted if I needed to.

I made a mask from plastic packaging and the TH flourishes die. I don't have any distress ink refills, so I used some from SU. The yellow flower on the left is made with my TH tattered florals die. The leaves are cut freehand with deckle scissors. The sunflowers are from Local King Rubber Stamps and the sentiment is made with an alphabet I've had for ages, but don't know who made it.

I copied some sheet music on cardstock and distressed it by tearing, inking, and crinkling it. The grungeboard sunflowers and the sentiment are both raised on dimensional tape.

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great week.