Quick Tag Ornament

I've been looking at all the pretty pictures from Silver Bella and felt the urge to glitter something up! I absolutely love this little angel stamp from Oxford Impressions. She is one of my all time faves. All the other elements are vintage bits and pieces from my stash. Glitter is from Martha Stewart.

Hope you're having a great day!

Created Byhand Challenge - Tree Trio + Crazy Amigo - Keeping Warm

Today's Created Byhand Challenge was to use a trio of tree templates in our creations. As I cast my eye about it landed on a nice big bottle of Martha's glitter and an idea was born! I combined my glittery trees with the Faux Designer Paper technique from the latest Technique Junkie newsletter. This technique, created by Nancy Judd, should go into some kind of TJ Hall of Fame! It's just the coolest technique. The little girl stamp from Oxford Impressions finishes off the piece perfectly. Oh, and the tiny bird is from Lisa's Altered Art.

This also fits the Crazy Amigo Keeping Warm theme challenge. Thanks, Joanne, for mentioning that!

Gothic Arches - Trees

Here is my arch for the trees challenge on Gothic Arches. I buy a lot of small silk flowers to use in my artwork. After I'd pulled them all off the stems one time, I noticed that the little plastic stem has a nice tree shape. I set them aside figuring the time would come one day when I could use them. After considering and discarding a few ideas using tree stamps, I remembered these! Covered in Martha Stewart's glitter, they become part of a lovely magical forest.

Again, can't stop using this little fairy stamp from Lost Coast. There is just something about her that I love. It's hard to see from the pic, but her wings are made of mica. I found this moss at the Pottery Barn outlet of all places - on clearance on top of clearance so I got it for next to nothing. I'm kicking myself for not buying all they had. The 'Joy' is made up of vintage anagram tiles.

Thanks for looking!

Tims's Tag - Day 6

Well, how's this for a reversal? Today's tag is my least favorite of Tim's (I know, heresy) and my most favorite of mine! Today's tutorial was something that I've been wanting to try and just have never gotten around to it. It is so fun!

Of course, I didn't have the Prima Paintables. I've thought about getting them before and again, just have never picked one up. So......I thinks to myself, what is really fun to stamp on acetate? Photo stamps! Immediately I knew my whole color scheme, the stamps I would use, everything.

I pulled out my favorite little girl from Lost Coast Designs. She is just the cutest! First time I stamped her she came out perfectly. Here's a tip if you're not used to stamping on acetate - it can be tricky. Ok, that's not the tip. Here's the tip: instead of stamping onto the acetate, lay your stamp face up and lay the acetate onto it. Rub lightly to make sure the stamp transfers the ink and you don't have any blank spaces. Also make sure you use Stazon and it is on the dry side. That helps a lot with the slipping/sliding. After I stamped the girl I stamped flowers from Prima's clear stamp line onto the acetate. Then I remembered you're not supposed to use Stazon and clear stamps. Ooop! I wiped it off really good tho.....

Ok, more heresy. Tim says you can't do the alcohol ink painting unless you have the blending solution. Well, I don't have it! But I do have a bottle of alcohol and a pointy Q-tip. It worked just fine. I'm sure the blending solution would be better somehow, but don't let not having it prevent you from trying this tech because it's really fun!

Green tip #1! My friend Cyndi and I had the same idea. We don't have metal snowflakes like he used - but we have empty soda cans and snowflake punches. I also tried the foil tape from RockCandy Studios. It's shinier, but my punch is so delicate it ends up a bit flimsy. If I was sticking it directly down it would be perfect. Try both! I highlighted my snowflake with a little gem.

Green tip#2! Recently I taught a class where we used tons of Tim's Idea-ology metal pieces. After I'd taken everything out of the packaging I had a MOUNTAIN of plastic. Ugh, I was queasy! I have been following this blog and consequently have been trying hard to be aware of how much plastic I use, throw away, etc. Packaging like this is one of the worst offenders. Ok, the tip. The recessed plastic makes a perfect palette! I used the one from the Tokens for my alcohol inks and a large piece from the same package for my paint. I know it's not much, but it did make me feel a bit better. Let me know if you'd like a picture to see exactly what I'm talking about and I'll post one.

Speaking of trash - I have been toying with the idea of starting a 'Green' challenge blog. Is anyone interested? I was thinking of something like Trashy Tuesday. You could combine it with lots of other challenges....I know there are lots out there, but I thought this would be something fun and also raise awareness. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Wednesday Stamper - Snowflake Kisses

I was so happy to see the theme for this week's Wednesday Stamper! After all, what better way to use my new glitter! I warned you - this is just the beginning! I have been wanting this little girl stamp for so long - I finally got her a couple days ago. She's from Lost Coast Designs and I think she's adorable. I made her a little skirt out of lace and gave her a crown from RockCandy Studios. For the background I went back to my old fave - the wrinkle free distress technique. I added snowflakes from Oxford Impressions that I stamped with white acrylic paint. Branches are punched out of watercolor paper w/my new favorite punch. Glitter is applied with a heavy hand. ;-)

Snow Day!

As I mentioned in my last post, I had a great time yesterday playing with glitter and styrofoam and all things winter-y with my friend Suzanne. Inspired by the latest issue of Cloth Paper Scissors, we went to town! Suzanne chose to do a traditional three-tiered glittery snowman, while I went with a bit more of a grungy guy. It's when I make things like this that I am so thankful I am a world-class pack rat! It's nice to be able to not just have vintage measuring tape - but to be able to have my pick of several sizes and shapes and finishes. The letters came from who knows where - those I scuffed up a bit with sandpaper and added Walnut Distress ink to give them an aged feel. The inside is filled with pearl beads and vintage glass beads that came from an old garland that fell apart. The scarf is some old seam tape. I wish it had photographed better - it's actually quite a bit darker than that. If you look closely you can see I used a bit of trim from RockCandy Studios on the hat. The best part of the whole thing tho.....the Martha glitter!! Oooh, that stuff is pretty awesome. Don't be surprised to see that on everything I make for the next month or two. ;-)

Created Byhand Challenge - Christmas Tags

Well, this is what happens when you party it up all day! You post your challenge tag at 8:45, while your husband is hassling you because Fringe is on (I love my dvr!). I had a fab day w/my bud Suzanne - check out her blog and you can read all about it! I am going to post my glittery creation tomorrow. I still have a few bits here and there to complete. For now, here is my tag! I used all Oxford Impressions stamps - from both the Winter Snow and the Season of Giving plates. The background of the tag is done using one of Tim Holtz's new masks (nabbed the last one Saturday!). I punched a few branches using my new Martha punch and tied it with some vintage seam tape and I was done!