Simon Says Stamp Designer Spotlight Winner and Fussy and Fancy Challenge Winner

My immortal Beloved Cameo is featured on the Simon Says Stamp blog!

Check out the original post here.  You can see how I created this creepy cool tag.  

Thank you to the ladies at Simon Says Stamp for the honor!

My Proof that a Heart has a Thing with Wings tag was chosen in the top five on the Fussy and Fancy Challenge blog.  Check out that original post here. A huge Thanks to Fussy and Fancy too.

What a great day!

Jess

Creating with modeling paste

The Simon Says Stamp Blog is having a texture challenge this week.  I really liked design team member Andrea's use of modeling paste paste and embossing powder.

Full disclosure.  I thought I totally botched this tag.  I pulled out the tag and immediately stamped on the image I wanted to use.  Then grabbed my stencil and slapped on the paste.  It didn't hit me until after I removed the stencil that I had not done a darn thing to the background. So I had a single stamped image and some white modeling paste.  Way to go me.  Rather than start over I forced myself to keep going.  Ready?

I embossed the paste with gold and then ran my black distress marker over the areas where the embossing powder didn't stick.  I put it on so it would be a bit patchy.  I used the water pen to bleed the black out a tad. That gave me the idea to color in the stamp using my distress markers and stains.  

 The only time I have used this technique was when I learned how to do it in Creative Chemistry.  I really love the subtle shading.  

Now, remember at this point my background was still plain manila tag.  I grabbed my chalks and used a mossy green and tan to give the tag color.  I ran distress ink in Vintage Photo around the edges.  It still wasn't enough.  

I randomly used Remnant Rubs on the top and bottom of the tag.  Still not enough.  Final touch was Walnut Ink.  I spritzed it on and quickly rolled a paper towel over the top to soak up any excess.  

The ribbon is an old cloth measuring tape.  The Grungeboard tag is the little piece that comes on the package so you can feel the thickness.  I ran it through an embossing folder to give it texture.  It is painted with Mowed Lawn Distress Stain and the brown is Vintage Photo.  A token and safety pin complete the top.

A big brown button and a bit of gold tulle finish the tag.
Over at the Frilly and Funky blog they are having a texture and stencil challenge that I will enter this tag into as well.  

Hope you like it.  

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Altered Box Using Tim Holtz's Rusted Enamel Technique

Over at the Artful Times Blog they are having an altered box challenge.  I have had this kraft paper box floating around for sometime.  It was from work and some tiny stuffed animals that we no longer carry came in it.

It's cute, but not my style.  Here is what I came up with...

I started to distress the box using Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.  I smudged it on in small patches and then covered it with clear embossing powder.  When Tim does this with a tag he gives it a couple good flicks to knock off loose embossing powder.  I couldn't really flick the box so I used a paint brush and my finger to remove extra embossing powder.  Once I covered the whole box with the ink and embossed it I went back with my Vintage Photo Distress Ink and rubbed that over the entire surface of the box.  The brown ink sinks into the nooks and crannies making the surface look like old leather.  I didn't think the ink was dark enough so I ran my Vintage Photo Distress Stain all around to get a darker color.  

The top had a big label that I peeled off and there was a bunch of residue left behind.  I covered it with a piece of paper and spritzed it with Walnut Ink.  I had roughed up the edges of the paper, but it was lacking something.  I had some of this rusted metal ribbon in two different widths.  The smaller one worked perfectly. 

You can really see the texture in this photo.  

I was pretty happy with how the top was coming along and decided to start working on the inside. You can see from the first picture that the interior was cute flowers.  I would

have worked nicely for another project, but I really wasn't going for cute.  Several months ago I bought a card catalog and it is full of cards.  Full.  The sucker weighs about 100 pounds.  I knew I would use them for something.  They have been patiently waiting for me.

There they are tucked in the corner.

I lined the interior of the box with cards in various directions.  I used Mod Podge to stick them down.  Once they were in I spritzed with the Walnut Ink and Perfect Pearls.

I wanted the interior to reflect a little bit of what was on the outside.  I used a smaller piece of the paper that I used on the top.  I was a dope and closed the box while it was drying.  Since the paper is thinner than the cards it buckled a bit.  I didn't want to rip it out and after looking at it for a bit I decided I liked it.  It looks like it's an old label that is starting to lift after being in there for years.  

The flowers are from Jolee's Boutique and I believe the butterfly is from K & Company.  I colored the pearls using alcohol inks.  I changed out the ribbon from the bright orange to the muted blue seam binding.  

I added some Tim Holtz's Ideaology feet.   

Then a drawer pull that long ago lost it's pull.

The final piece was an award ribbon with a frozen Charlotte.  I love Charlottes.

She is tucked inside of a grunged up tart tin.  

My transformation is complete! 

What have you been crafting?

Jess

My Immortal Beloved Cameo

Over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Blog they have a cameo challenge.  I started to do a sweet cameo project.  I was thinking one the cameos I had looked Roman, so maybe I would do an Italian themed project.  Then I found a not so sweet cameo and totally changed direction.  Here is what my final project looks like.

I love, love, love it.  Everytime I touched it it got grungier.  Here's how I did it.  

I smudged a bit of each Distress Stain on my craft sheet.  I sprinkled on some Perfect Pearls and then misted the whole lot with some water.  I ran the tag through once and dried it.  Then ran it through a couple more times, drying between layers.   I used one of my favorite background stamps from Stampers Anonymous.

I crumpled the tag and ran Black Soot Distress Ink on the edges.  I ran a bit over the top to highlight the wrinkles too.  

The frame was a minty green, so I painted it with Ten Second Studio patina paint.  If you haven't used their patina paint it is fantastic. You can patina wood, glass, plastic, metal.  It rocks.  

Since the cameo is a skeleton I wanted to pick a creepy sentiment.  My immortal beloved is perfect.  

The ribbon is old sari silk that I colored using the same distress stains that I used on the tag.  

I hope you like my dark cameo as much as I do.  I think she is lovely.  

I am going to enter this tag into the Take a Word Anything Vintage Challenge.

What have you been crafting? 

Jess

Altered Playing Cards

Over at the Eclectic Paperie blog they are having an Altered Playing card challenge.  I have never thought about using a playing card as the base for a project.  I had a lot of fun and will definitely make more.  Here is what I came up with for the challenge.

The background was roughed up by sanding it a bit. I then added Broken China Distress Paint.  Various washi tapes were added for dimension.  I dirtied everything up with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.  The little fairy is from Lisa's Altered Art.  The flower is from Recollections.  I colored it using Distress Inks.  The Happy chipboard is from MME.  

I think she is super cute.  I love how the card still peeks through, so you know what it was originally.  

Here is lovely lady number two.  This one started with Mowed Lawn Distress Paint.  I added a layer of Distress Crackle and then rubbed Vintage Photo Distress Stain in the cracks.  I tinted modeling paste with green and gold alcohol ink to stencil the dots on the side.  A little bit of paper on the side feels rather like a yearbook page to me.  I thought this fairy looked like she was posing for a school photo, so they mimic each other.  Remnant rubs add depth to the background.  The fairy and the words are outlined with a black marker.  The flowers on top are Mod Melts that have been tinted with the same alcohol ink colors I used for the modeling paste.  

I love the snarky sentiment.  

I loved doing these and can't wait to make more.  

What have you been crafting? 

Jess

King of Hearts

Found: One Heart

Back with another dark heart.  

My love for Pumice Stone continues.  The tag was given a few coats of Pumice Stone Distress ink and misted to create dimension.  I also threw in some Perfect Pearls in gold to add some shimmer.  Next, I used the Burlap Layering Stencil for added interest. 

The bell jar was cut out of a piece of plastic packaging and coated with Clear Distress Crackle.  When the jar was dry I hit the edges with some Carmel Alcohol ink and a black permanent marker.  

The pedestal was covered with metal duct repair tape and pounced with slate and caramel alcohol inks.  

The heart is stained with Festive Berries, crumpled and highlighted with Black Soot Ink.  

I have no idea what this tag is from.  I bought a bunch with different numbers because they are so cool.  The top of the bell jar was snipped off and the tag was attached with a brad that was colored with Caramel and Gold Alcohol Inks.  

Some Remnant Rubs and ribbon complete this tag.  

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Proof that the heart is a thing with wings

This tag are a little darker than your typical Valentine. I started by layering the tag with Pumice Stone Distress ink.  Stampers Anonymous "Evidence" stamp is inked with Black Soot Distress.  The script stamp was done in Pumice Stone too.

The heart was given a coat of Festive Berries Distress Stain.  I then misted it and crumpled it up.  I dried it and then ran Black Soot and Antique Photo all over to pick up the creases and wrinkles.  The Tattered Wings were given the same treatment minus the distress stain.  

The edges were roughed up using the Tonic Paper Distresser.  

A memo pin to make it look like a specimen and it's done. 

Dark and lovely.   

I'm entering this one into the Stampotique Designers Challenge 133 Heart in your Art Challenge and the Fussy and Fancy Valentine Challenge.  Last, but not least, I will enter into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Have a Heart Challenge

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Travel Badges

I love to travel.  I have been lucky enough to have traveled to many places in Europe.  My favorite place in the world is Italy.  I am hoping to go back there next year.  My lovely friend Jenn lives over there and she is a travel blogger.  Check her out at jdombtravels.
While I was stalking my favorite blogs I noticed that Try It On Tuesdays is having a travel challenge.  Here are a couple travel badges I made.

Lots of fancy ribbon.  The images are from Lisa's Altered Art.  

I am also entering these on the Craft Room's Ribbon and Lace Challenge.  

I would be proud to sport one of these award ribbons.  

What have you been crafting?

Jess

Inspired by Tim Holtz

The Artful Times Challenge Blog is having an inspired by Tim Holtz challenge this week.
I have a couple projects to share with you.

This was made using metal foil tape and alcohol inks.  The chipboard bird was glued on to the background and then foil tape was put on in various lengths and directions.  Some of the tape was embossed before it was placed down.  I used several shades of alcohol ink to muck up the tape.  After that I grabbed all kinds of goodies to add interest.  A domino, a pen nib, a couple key holes, a metal number stencil, an hour glass, a bird cage, a watch face, washi tape, a chandelier crystal, and other metal bits finish the look.  

For my next project I did a couple tags.  Tim is crazy for tags, so you can't enter a Tim challenge and not do a tag.

This used the sewing room die cut.  I colored the dressform with silver embossing powder.  I used a chunky clear glitter glass to cover the main part of the body.  The button jar came out and I added buttons on top of the glitter.  The spool is colored with distress stain and sanded.  A bit of twine and Prima flowers finish it.  The background is 7 gypsies tissue paper layered on top of a manila tag.  I used vintage lace on the bottom and added a piece of an old fabric measuring tape.  The top also has vintage lace and some gold tulle.  A graphic 45 clothespin tops it off.  

 
The final tag uses stencils, stencils, and more stencils

I started by inking the tag with several distress inks.  I splattered some water and dried it.  Then I used the Tim Holtz honeycomb, dot fade, and splatter stencils.  I added the bird stamp with Archival Ink.  The bird cage is the same one I used on the first project.  I bought as many as I could get my hands on.  The chit chat letters are outlined with a black pen to make them pop.  The flower is a Mod Podge Mod Melt.  I used 10 Second Studios paint to patina the Mod Melt.  It looks like old copper.  

I hope you like all the Tim Holtz inspired projects.

Jess

12 tags of 2014 February

Ok.  So no heart stencil yet.  No industrious stickers yet.  I had to fake it so I could make it!  

I followed Tim's tutorial almost exactly.  I stained the background then stenciled the stars using Peeled Paint, Mowed Law, and Crushed Olive.  The stars were embossed with a detail embossing powder.  The chalked image was done using Frosted Antiquities embossing powder and school chalk.  The large star is cut from grunge board and covered with Peeled Paint Distress Glitter.  The small stars are covered with alcohol ink.  The bottom "ruffle" is metal foil tape that has been embossed and cut using a punch.  

This worked up quickly so I did a second in yellows.  

This has some bling instead of the extra stars and mulberry paper behind the chalked image.  

Hope you like them! 

What have you been crafting? 

Jess