Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 September

Whew!  Just making it in time to enter my version of Tim's tag for September. I didn't think I would be playing along this month but tonight found I was able to carve out some time to play. This month is all about the alcohol inks. I had a blast just creating for me.

Be sure to stop by Tim's blog to see how it's done. You can also check out the projects of those playing along.


My guy has leaves, acorns, and twigs made from the autumn gatherings strip die. 




I started out with a green ink but decided the latte was better for this tag. He is cool in green so I will save him for another project. 


It makes me happy when I can just play. 

Thanks for stopping by. Did you notice?  Posts three days in a row. On a roll!

Happy creating. 

Hugs, Sharon










Monday, September 29, 2014

Fall Leaves and More

Have you been watching all the incredible fall and Halloween projects popping up all over the web?  I just love the fall color palette,  don't you?  So colorful and vibrant!

I am enjoying my newest dies, the Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Layered Leaf and Pumpkin Parts. 



The Tattered Leaves dies is one of my most used so I'm really enjoying the new leaf. I love to use kraft paper to create my leaves. It gives the most realistic look.  A variety of distress inks bring them to life. Love how I can layer these inks to create depth and dimension. 

I started with some leaves and a pumpkin to create this place card. 




Another project in the works is a fall centerpiece featuring a dimensional pumpkin. I snapped these photos quickly so they are not the best quality. So excited to share. I'm really happy with how's it's turning out. 




These leaves are a combination of Kraft paper and Core'dinations craft core.   Thinking I will add other leaves and greenery to give this piece more dimension.  I will post more photos once it's complete on the mantle and dining table so you can see what a beautiful focal point it will be to your holiday home decor. 

Thanks for stopping by. Would love to hear what you think. 

Happy Creating!

Hugs, Sharon














Sunday, September 28, 2014

Dylusions-Tim Holtz Halloween Art Journal Page

Hello everyone!

Happy Fall!   I have found that people either have a blast with Halloween or don't like it at all. I'm one of those who absolutely love to decorate for Halloween. Love the oranges, blacks, greens and purples that signify the spooky color scheme. So many fun images to work with. 

Today, being the last Sunday of the month, was mixed media day at Chico Scrapbooks, my LSS.   Everyone is encouraged to come by, hang out, and work on their favorite mixed media project. Today was all about my art journal and well, as if you haven't guessed, Halloween.  



It's a Dylusional Holtzian trick or treat page (smile, wink)!  Working in my journal of choice, Dyan's Dylusions large journal I started with some buildings cut out from the Tim Holtz Alterations die Artful Dwellings.  Add some water and Dylusions sprays and you've got the start of a spooky scene.   Stencils, stamps, and Pitt pens being the scene to life. A touch of white pigment pen and spritz with a silver sharpie and my page was complete. 











Supplies used:

Ranger Dylusions Creative Journal
Dylusions ink spray:  after midnight, white linen, slate grey, dirty martini, lemon zest
Faber-Castell Pitt artist big brush pen:  black 199, dark chrome yellow 109
Uniball signo pigment ink pen:  white UM-153
Sharpie silver metallic
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous stamps:  distress damask cms190, mini Halloween 3 CMS 140, mini Halloween 4 CMS 198
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations:  artful dwellings 657218
Tim Holtz distress marker spritzer
Crafters Workshop Stencils:  mini bricks 191s, mini capricious 124s
Prima stencils:  finnabair item 960179
Dylusions stencil: bubbles

So fun to let loose and just make a fun Halloween page.  I've got some other Halloween and fall projects in the works so please come back for some more posts this week. 

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

#timholtz #dylusions #sizzix #rangerink

Happy Creating!

Hugs, Sharon



Saturday, September 20, 2014

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 11

Happy Saturday!

Hope you are enjoying the last weekend of summer. It's almost fall time. Nights and mornings are getting cooler and next thing you know the leaves will be changing. Soon it will be Halloween. Creating Halloween and fall projects are some of my favorites. I decided on a Halloween theme for Challenge 11. The lovely Linda Ledbetter is hosting these challenges based on Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities, volume 3.  This challenge is all about the effects powders, Tim's special Distress Embossing Powders. If you are playing along you can find this technique on page 52. 

I recently picked up an oldie, but goodie Sizzix Alterations die. It's the Rickety House which is perfect for spooky, creepy, or just fun Halloween projects.  I created a box featuring the house which would be great to keep your favorite Halloween treats. 





This one came together pretty quickly with supplies I had on hand. Think I'll be making more of these boxes. Thanks for the box design by Jim, The Gentleman Crafter. He has a great YouTube video in which hope walks you through the steps of construction. 

This CC3 Challenge 11 is sponsored by the Inspiration Emporium. One lucky winner will get a $50 gift certificate from them. The Curiosity Crew's Choice will get a bunch of Tim goodies courtesy of Tim and Mario. 

Please be sure to stop by Linda's Blog to see what the Curiosity Crew inspired us with. While you are there be sure to also check out what all the other contributors have created as well. Thanks to Linda and the crew and all of you who submit your works to the challenges for all the inspiration. 

Supplies Used:

Sizzix Alterations Dies:  On the Fence - 657030, Bigz Rickety House - 656925, Mini Labels Set - 657214

Sizzix Texture Fades:  Ink Splats & Wood Planks Set - 658726, Bricked & Woodgrain Set - 656644

Stampers Anonymous Stamps:  Mini Halloween 4 CMS198

Tim Holtz idea-ology Paper Stash Laboratorie

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Happy Creating!

Hugs, Sharon





Thursday, September 11, 2014

Compendium of Curiosities 3, Challenge 10

Hello,

I had a great time playing with the Assemblage Clock for the first time.  Challenge 10 at Studio L3, a blog by Linda Ledbetter, is from Tim Holtz A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol 3.  You can check it out page 33 yourself.  If you haven't seen what these challenges are all about then hop over to Linda's blog and check it out here.

My theme for this challenge is Halloween.  Black cat, bats, spooky tree, spider webs and more.


It was a challenge to photograph the assemblage clock with its glass front so I hope you can see all the layers and details within.







I took the back off to get a little more light in hopes of photographing more of the detail.  I think I like it almost as well with the back off.


A Curiosity Crew's Choice winner will be selected and will receive an assortment of Tim's products courtesy of Tim and Mario.  This challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique and one lucky CC3C participant will win a $25 shopping spree.

Be sure to stop by Linda's blog to check out what the Curiosity Crew created as well as the other participants.  Such a great place for inspiration.  Don't you think its about "time" you joined in on the challenges?  I hope you give it a go!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Happy Creating!

Hugs, Sharon









Sunday, September 7, 2014

PSB Repurpose

Hello again!  Thanks for joining me on the second post of the day. 

I promised I would reveal what I had done with my PSB. If you have been scrapping for a while chances are you had one (or more) of these Paper, sticker binders. 


We filled these with all the stickers that were available in abundance. Every conceivable shape and size. Right?  Most of my stickers were either used or given away so I have for some time been trying to come up with a way to utilize the PSB to meet my current storage needs. As I was cleaning out my studio last weekend I had an idea an idea on how to use it while solving a dilemma I had been fighting for some time. 

As I have become more involved in art journaling and Mixed Media I have been collecting stencils and emphera and bits to use. Taking stencils to crops turned out to problematic and I longed for a system that would keep them organized. 

Turns out the quad pages for the PSB are the perfect size for 6 x 6 stencils!


I kept as much of the packaging as possible as well as the item number and description so that I can reference it for tutorials or classes.  I used the quad, double, and the single sleeves for the various sized stencils. 




Neat, huh?  Nice way to organize and transport my stencils. Next up the emphera, paper, and other bits for journaling and mixed media. 

As I cleaned out my paper stash I pulled some papers that I still like but won't work for my die cutting and embossing. I think these thinner papers will be great for collage, mixed media and journaling. These went into tab 2 in the single sleeves. 


The last tab will be for emphera and collected bits using the multi pocket sleeves.  These include definitions, images,



I now have a mixed media binder to store my stencils, papers, and other bits !  As I collect more stencils and gather emphera I will have a place to put them.  It is portable and usable.   It sits in my studio behind my mixed media bag ready to get all messy and inky!


So happy was able to repurpose my PSB to meet my current crafting needs. What will you do with your PSB?  Would love to hear your ideas. 

Thanks for stopping by. Your support and interest means the world to me. 

Happy Creating!

Hugs, Sharon









North Carolina Day 4 and Travels Home

Hello,

Final post on my trip to North Carolina. Not many photos of this day as it was a lazy day of brunch, a little shopping and then relaxing. 

We found another antique mall close to my sisters house. Just amazed at the wide variety of treasures. Really something for everyone. Quite a few things caught my eye but the only thing I managed to get a pic of was some rusty celing tiles. Just love the patina. Going to try and recreate this look on my projects. Ultimate grunge, right?



Back at home we relaxed and I prepared for my trip back home. Denise let me go through her stash of buttons and old sewing supplies and I took home some fun treasures. Thanks Sis!

Early morning flight out of Charlotte with first leg back to Washington DC, Dulles Airport.  Mad dash from one side of the airport to the other just making my flight. Whew! Got settled into my seat with ipad in hand to read during long flight when an announcement of a delay was made.   We ended up having to deplane back to the boarding area. After some time they announced that our flight was cancelled due to mechanical issues and we would need to go to customer service to get another flight. Ahhhh, the trials of modern travel. What can you do?  Long line at customer service but had a nice chat with a young man returning from a year long mission.   When it was finally my turn found out that the last flight of my trip had been cancelled!  

Another night in DC.  Hotel and meal voucher on United. As luck would have it the hotel was across the street from a huge, and I mean huge, mall so I was able to stop I to Sephora to pick up some make up and essentials. If I hadn't been so tired I could have done some major damage there, hehehe. 

All went well the next day and made it home safe and sound. Great trip between the Steampunk Soirre  and a long overdue visit with my sister. Good to travel but great to be home. 

If you made it through these posts, thanks for hanging in there. I know I always enjoy others travel stories so hope you liked mine. Promise back to our regular crafting with my next post. 

Thanks so much for stopping by. Happy Creating!

Hugs, Sharon




Tuesday, September 2, 2014

North Carolina Day 3

Happy September!

The adventure in North Carolina continues.  This one is photo heavy so grab a cuppa and enjoy. 

On the third day we headed up Asheville and the Biltmore Estate.  Driving in I could tell this was going to be an amazing experience. So green and fresh. 



We started with lunch. The estate is a working farm so the food is fresh and delicious. 


The house, er, well, more like a castle really, is just stunning. We were not allowed to take photos in the house so I included a few pages from the brochure. 


The architecture is bigger than life and takes you back to another place in time. 





After our tour we had a coffee break and a little lookie in the various gift shops. Our last part of the day was spent exploring a little bit of the garden. 







Last shot of the from the end of the lawn looking back at the house. Pretty spectacular don't you think?


Fabulous day. Highly recommend visiting the Biltmore Estate.  Would love to go back and see how they decorate for the holidays. 

I promise I will get back to the crafty goodness. Just spent many hours over the weekend cleaning up my studio and purging some items I no longer use.  I'm excited to show you what I've done. In the meantime a little teaser on something I'm kind of excited about. I have repurposed a scrapping storage bag to hold some of my favorite things. Anyone remember these . . . 


I'll reveal what I've done later this week. 

One more post on the completion of my trip and the onto some crafting. After all we are fast approaching the holidays and cards and presents need to be created. 

Thank You so much for stopping by and joining me on my adventure. 

Happy Creating. Hugs, Sharon