Effect Powders

Well, you guys continue to blow minds.   Seriously, CC3C #10 Assemblage Clocks may have been the best ever.  It is a JOY to view all the imaginative ways you come up with altering and tricking out these awesome clocks.  THANK you for continuing on this creative journey with us and challenging yourself more and more, time after time.  These are such good exercises, taking us creative places we might not otherwise have gone.  That's true for me, at least.  I'm learning more and more and loving taking this ride with all of you.

I've had this box I picked up at a garage sale which looked to me like it wanted to be altered.  This was the challenge to bring it out and give it its wish!

 I began by staining the box with Peeled Paint Distress Stain.  For some reason, the stain came off really bright, probably because of the color of the wood.  I used Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Paint to tone it down.  I just rubbed it on with my fingers.

I cut a stencil from a Plaid stencil blank with Tim's Tonic Craft Knife.  Very simple line of dashes to look like faux stitching.  Really big stitching.  ;-)  Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste in black.  Love.  It.

I wanted to use that AWESOME new Wallflower Vellum so I applied some of the 6 x 6 sections to Sticky Back Canvas and die cut Tattered Flowers.  Then I stamped the backs of the flowers and painted them with Ranger Matte Medium to give them some body.  They REALLY curled up when I did that so I flipped them over and lay them on the craft sheet to set up.

Now for our featured technique, finally!!  I used Fabulous Flourishes and Caged Bird die cut grungeboard for my effect powders.  Check out this awesome technique on page 52 of Compendium of Curiosities III, which can magically appear in your mailbox when you click here.  Well, you'll have to do a couple of other things, too.

Oh my grungy goodness, I love this technique.  It really creates a worn, weathered texture.  Yummy!!  When I layered up my flowers, I got stumped on what to use for the center.  Stuck.  Really???  I can't make flowers?  I guess my creative brain just got tired, but I settled on Tim's Hitch Fasteners which were, for just a brief, frightening time, discontinued.  No more!!  Love it that he brought them back.

I added a couple of metal flowers by using effect powders on some mini bottle caps from Maya Road that I snipped with wire cutters and then flattened.  Distress Embossing Powder works beautifully on metal.

I wanted to give you an idea of the scale of this piece.  I really love how it turned out.  I didn't do anything to alter inside, except with color, because I want to use it for storage in my studio.  Not quite sure what will live in it yet.  I'll think of something.  ;-)

Well, there you are.  Ready to break out those Effect Powders?  I'm going to be SO excited to see all the beautiful things you create with this technique.  Remember, don't describe it in your write up, visit all the Curiosity Crew blogs and leave your comment.  Get all the guidelines for CC3C here.  We are all watching eagerly to see some of the best creative talent on the scene today go to work.  Seriously, y'all are awesome.

Inspiration Emporium reeeeeally wants you to win their $50 gift certificate this time!!  Tim and Mario have offered up an abundance of of signature Tim Holtz products which will be awarded to the Curiosity Crew choice.  You've got two ways to win.  You still reading this blog??  Go make art!