Birds & Words

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Distress Photo Tinting

Meet Mollie.  Well, her name is Mary Margaret Brooks, but all her friends call her Mollie.  She was born in 1870 and saw the world change during her lifetime.  She grew up with her mother and 5 sisters in rural east Texas, and grew up without her father who never came back from the Civil War.  She was the baby of the family.

She worked hard all her life, loved her friends and family stubbornly, and laughed loudly.  She could tell a joke better than anyone but that didn't stop her from wanting to hear everyone else's funny stories.  At 94 she still had a mischievous sparkle in her eye.

She died just a few years after this photo was taken.  Strong to the end, she left this life suddenly.  But that's how she would have wanted it.  Strong to the end.
And.....  that whole story is made up.  This photograph came to me a few years ago from a friend who gave me a whole collection of vintage photos.  (Maybe that's why that's my favorite Distress color!!)  I've always been fascinated by this old girl.  I knew this is the picture I'd want to use for this challenge and my respect for "Mollie" has only grown as I've worked with her beautiful face.
This is a FABULOUS technique.  You can add such interest and life to these pictures.  Here's a before & after.  Amazing.  I promise you, I'll be doing this one again and again.  SO much fun. Learn this technique from page 41 of Compendium of Curiosities III.  
Note:
1.  I had best success taking my photograph to a copy store and having them print the photos on glossy paper.
2.  Using a tip from the talented Lady Ledbetter, I picked up just a pin dot of water with my color source and then tinted the photo.  That's all I'll say so as to not reveal Tim's technique, but this made all the difference in a good result for me.
 I used Tim's NEW Alphanumeric die set which is a "GOT-to-have-it".  I laid out the letters and then placed a piece of tape over the line of dies.  I picked them up and laid onto the tag,  cutting out the lettering and used the negative spaces on my tag for interest.
The wording came from the back of the photograph.  No name, sadly.
I used Tim's Remnant Rubs on Enamel Tags to create my messaging.  It made me think about myself and how much time and energy I give to coloring my hair, trying to keep fit, moisturizing my aging skin.  How relatively little time I give attending to timeless beauty.  Thank you, Mollie.  You've reminded me and encouraged me to be more deliberate to develop inner qualities of the soul.
I smile to think of the fun you'll have with this delicious technique!  Enter your art and gain a chance to win a Funkie Junkie gift certificate or a treasure trove of goodies from Tim Holtz!   Best thing to do is go to Linda Ledbetter's blog and get the game plan for entering and being eligible to win.  If you enter, it would be a SHAME not to be eligible to win, no?  Do this:
  • Include a link to CC3C
  • Include a link to the current sponsor, which is Funkie Junkie for this challenge
  • Comment on each of the Curiosity Crew blogs
  • Work from your own copy of Compendium of Curiosities III; don't reveal the technique in your write up; direct your readers to Tim's book, Compendium of Curiosities III instead
  • Don't use these challenges to promote your business or organization.  This is a celebration of Tim's book and techniques.


Follow the Guidelines - We Want You to Win!!

Can't wait to see all your beautiful art!!

54 comments:

  1. Aw bless, you had me hooked, I thought your story was real... well, in my head it is now - look at Mollie, she is adorable isn't she, I can quite see why you have grown attached to her... gorgeous project hun... Mwah x

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  2. Great (made-up) story! I'd like to think that whoever she was, that she lived her life the way you wrote it. Your tag is a great tribute to her, whoever she was!

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  3. And I was all set to say that I loved your grandmother's story...only to find it just that...a story. But she's a lovely woman who's face shows lots of character. And you captured the youth in her cheeks...such a lovely woman!

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  4. I loved the story, and I loved that you gave her a name also.
    TFS!

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  5. Thank you for your lovely story about Mollie Cheryl!! I bet she is chuckling up in heaven with this lovely new identity you have given her!! Your tag sets her off quite nicely with the lacey framing and inking/stamping! and great coloring on the photo - can't wait to try it out!

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  6. Great tag with a great tag line! Well done.

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  7. Love the creative writing, and thank you for the tip about the scotch tape with the thinlits.... I got so excited about that, I pinned it before I even continued reading. This is one fabulous tag, girlie!!

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  8. I love this beautiful tag you made. Great idea. Very inspiring

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  9. Cheryl... I am not sure which I enjoyed more; seeing this gorgeous project celebrating Mollie or reading your blog post! Both are beautifully done!! Your photo tinting looks fabulous. You have given Mollie such a sweet brilliance. I love all of the elements you used on this piece. That new die is a must have! I can't wait to get mine! Your tag is truly beautiful as is your story of Mollie. <3 Candy

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  10. I believed your story! It is a lovely story and it is good to know that the lady in the photo has not been forgotten. I too, love that new die. This technique is such a great one, you have used it beautifully. Anne x

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  11. Such a beautiful story - love the photo tinting and thanks so much for the "hint" of a touch of water

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  12. Oh, you had me going Cheryl! I smiled through the whole post. Whoever she was, you captured her spirit in a beautiful way. I bet she WAS a riot!

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  13. I LOVE MOLLIE, Cheryl!! What a fabulous tag and story!! You brought her to life with your photo tinting and thanks for the advice of copying pics onto glossy photo paper! A lot of my vintage family photos are kind of rough to the touch (especially from the 30's-40's) and I just don't want to mar those. I'll be testing out scanning onto glossy photo paper and experimenting before I decide which family member will be highlighted in my CC3 #12 piece :) Fabulous make for us, Cheryl! XOXO-Shari T.

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  14. Something told me you were up to something, but I did love the tease! What a great story to go along with that photo, which I love the tinting technique of Mollie!

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  15. Cheryl...you hooked me, reeled me in and Mollie stole my heart! The tinting is absolutely fabulous...just love the whole tag! love love love

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  16. Fabulous job with the photo tinting technique, Cheryl! You had me reeled in with "Mollie's" story too! What a wonderful idea to tell her story like that, even if it wasn't true.....she absolutely came to life!

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  17. Those vintage photos are beautiful and I love the feminine element

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  18. What a great job and story even though fictional I think we all fell for it.
    Julie x

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  19. Yes Cheryl ... I do believe we have a kindred spirit ! I needed that laugh I had a rough day at jury duty ... Thank you ! Okay back to business at hand ... I LOVE your tag ... great job on the photo tint ( great photo); the doily , lace and the buttons perfect touch !

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  20. Haha, I was liking the story! Great project!!!!

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  21. What a precious photo! LOVE how you colored her, and LOVE the date and age placements! The old buttons are perfect! Wonderful wonderful!!!

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  22. Great story! I love doing that with found photos-I hate if people are forgotten. You did "Molly" proud.

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  23. The photo is so cool. After seeing all the crews projects I feel like I need to start over .. I don't think I grasped the technique as well as I could have. I love your project !

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  24. I really was grabbed by "Molly's" story! Wondering who she really was!

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  25. Great story and a great tag! The rosy cheeks are perfection!

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  26. What fun , you really got me there. Lovely project x

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  27. I'm glad you've given this found ancestor a story! Great tag :-)

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  28. Seriously I was beginning to live together all that 94 years with Mollie, haha... great story, an ageless beauty and fantastic tinting!

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  29. I believe your story to be true looking at this beautiful photo brought to life by your hand

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  30. Hi Chery!! loved reading your blog post and I love your tag , the background is lovely and I love the delicate tinting of your photo. Beautiful. Tracy x

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  31. Loved the story! The tinting on your photo is spot on! Thanks for sharing your inspirational piece with us!

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  32. Amazing! Love the story and Mollie. Gorgeous! Hugs, Sandra

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  33. What a heart warming tale, even though its not true. The lady is undeniably beautiful and so is you tag.

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  34. Beautiful tag. It's nice to see a photo of someone who lived life well, hopefully as you imagined it. You can tell from the photo that she might have enjoyed a good joke, that's probably why she had a good long life. My great-grandma lived to be 96. She used to cheat at chinese checkers. When she was losing, she would bump the table knocking all the marbles, and pretend it was an old age thing to bump the table. She never did it when she was winning! =)

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  35. Cheryl, I love your story...I bet we all could learn a lot from Molly. You have highlighted her weathered face beautifully with the photo-tinting technique.

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  36. Wonderful tag! I love your story and I love the natural palette that you've used! BArbarayaya

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  37. Lovely tag Cheryl! I love her "story" that is the beauty in the found images. Gorgeous vintage palette. Thanks so much for sharing as always!~kim

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  38. Those dies are the best aren't they? Great story to inspire you project.

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  39. Really nice - I plan to do this for my 90 year old Mother-in-law - great idea!

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  40. What a beautiful tribute to Molly - gorgeous

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  41. Beautiful tag! I really loved your story about Mollie, what a wonderful imagination!

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  42. Awesome!! You had me going there with your story lol.

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  43. Great story and love the photo. You did an amazing job with this technique Cheryl. :)

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  44. This is so great; your photo tinting is spot-on; very professional! You can see the story in that beautiful face and it's a great tribute to someone who was likely quite adored!

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  45. You really made the photo of Mollie warm and inviting. Just like her personality I am sure. My Gran also saw the world go through such huge changes! They had a good life!

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  46. One of my favourite distressing techniques and you have done a wonderful job with it Cheryl... Great choice of photo to tint too! Jan x

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  47. Great tag Cheryl! Art allows us to create stories, made up or not!

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  48. I love the way you tinted this photo!!! Your story made her colorful. Love it

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  49. Great story about Molly. I love vintage photos. I have a collection too, but Tim has some great ones in His collection.Great tag!

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  50. AMAZING tag!! Love the story you created as well. I do that kind of thing all the time!

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