Painted Industrial

Why do we love Tim Holtz?  One reason is he comes up with techniques that create the look we love. And this technique and this look is fabulous.  Easy to achieve and easy to alter to fit YOUR style!

This weeks challenge is Painted Industrial on page 46 of Compendium of Curiosities III.  Rich, elegant and grungy all in one technique, can you believe it?  Here's my offering.

 I did a card this week featuring a vintage photo.  I love the way this technique frames and makes the sepia elements pop.

 The embossed metal areas are polished to the degree that makes you happy.  I used a couple of colors, Chipped Saphire and Mustard Seed, my current favorite duo.

 I have this thing lately where I think the word "collections" needs butterflies.  So they appear!

The photo is a picture of my sweet mother when she was a little girl.  She was the first child of my grandmother, married at age 27 to my grandfather when he was 47.  He was a widower with grown children.  My mother was born into a pretty adult world with a father nearly 50, adult sibilings and a mother who, by the standards of the day, married very late.  She's a nurturing soul to this day and seeing her cradle this kitty is in keeping with the mother and the mother's heart I know.

The photo is an image transfer onto Sticky Back Canvas.  I absolutely love doing this for a focal point that has a unique texture in its context, but is still very earthy and organic.  You can see a video tutorial to do this on my website here or from Claudine Hellmuth here, who taught me.

If this is your first time to check out CC3C, start by getting educated on the procedure from Linda Ledbetter's blog.  There is much to be gained, Grasshopper.  You have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate from Inspiration Emporium.  Seriously, you can select a LOT of Tim Holtziness for fifty bucks.  AND!!!  AND Tim has donated a ridiculous amount of signature product for you to go creative crazy with.  A vote for your art from the Curiosity Crew will win you this sweet prize.  See all the deets on Linda's blog, she explains better than I ever could!

Good luck, CC3Cers.  Go forth and create!

Altered Burlap Panel

Hey, CC3Cers!!  You guys were brilliant on your Distress Watercolor work!  Love this artistic community, I always learn from you.  I think you're going to love this new challenge.  Hopefully it will stretch you a little as you tilt your head, change your perspective, rotate your orientation and color your world.  I know it did for me!!

Wouldn't this be a good day to fly?

I laid down a wide black lace panel I bought at a garage sale years ago.  I've been taking Claudine Hellmuth's online Composition in Collage class and was determined to play with the high horizon structure I learned about.  It is a challenge for me but it was a blast working with it.

I cut out Tim's Sizzix Ornate Frame which I am deeply in love with.  You've got to use Grungeboard, everything else I've tried tears up with you try to get it out of the die.  I embossed it with Stampendous Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel.  It was a little too white, so I used Vintage Photo Distress Paint over the frame and wiped it off while it was still wet.

I knew I wanted to use this Amy Carmichael quote, a favorite of mine.  I hope you can read it 'Let your soul take wings.... resist the downward pull & sing"  I cut a piece of chipboard the same size as the stamp.  I used Ranger's Embossing Dauber (LOVE it) and embossed with Stampendous Aged Taupe Embossing Enamel.  I did three layers of embossing enamel, letting it cool between layers.  On the third layer, while the embossing enamel was still melted, I set the inked stamp down into it.  When that cooled, I painted the whole thing with Distress Black Soot Paint and then wiped off while still wet.  The wet paint settles down into the stamped words.  If there's too much black paint on the surface of this piece, just use a cloth with some rubbing alcohol (Hels, that's "surgical spirits".  :-)  ) and rub away the paint.

I always find it a challenge to glue things down to burlap, but Ranger Matte Medium does the trick.  I just painted in one my elements, laid them out and then used my irons on top for pressure while the glue sets up.

I thought my letters in the word "fly" might get lost against the similar color I cut my Spring Greenery die from.  So I used some Sandal Adirondack Paint to lighten them up just a little.

I used my finger and just touched some wet paint on the letters, taking care not to totally cover the Juniper color.

I fought with my composition a little on this challenge, but I'm learning so much about collage from Claudine it really helped.  Can't wait to see all your brilliance.  Burlap is so earthy with such fabulous texture, its fun to work with!!

I won't repeat the guidelines for these challenges as most of your are familiar by this time.  If you aren't familiar go to Linda Ledbetter's blog and you'll find all the details you need.  I will say briefly that you'll need your own copy of Compendium of Curiosties III and on page 37, you'll find the challenge.  Be sure and comment on all of the host blogs which are linked from Linda's blog on the CC3C Challenge 6 page.  If the name for your comment and the name for your entry are the same, it makes it a lot easier for the Curiosity Crew to view your art and track your comments.  All of us spend a lot of hours each week viewing art and we want you to have the BEST chance to win!

Our sponsors this challenge are The Funkie Junkie Boutique and Mr. Tim Holtz hizzelf.  So much crafty goodness is being delivered each challenge to our winners!!  Its exciting to think of you opening those goodie boxes and squealing at all the yummy prizes. 

Create away, CC3Cers!!!