distress tag

Here's a tag I made awhile ago. I started with an ordinary shipping tag. I dripped alcohol inks on my craft sheet, spritzed water on it and laid the tag into the ink, a la Tim Holtz. I also crumpled up the tag and once I was happy with the inked background I started adding layers. There are some cutouts from collage papers(clock, dress form, ladies in hats), torn word from ad(chocolate) and then I added sepia accents to the dress form and glossy accents to the little pin on the dress form. I cut two flowers from a sizzex die and painted one with distress crackle paint. The second was inked, then dry embossed with a cuttlebug folder and inked again. They were combined with an ornate button I dug up somewhere. The elements were adhered with Mod Podge, a collage/altered artist's best friend. I love the way it all turned out.

Enjoy!

Altered Art

On vacation this summer I had a chance to finally try out a kayak and I am sold! I have wanted a canoe forever but now a kayak has hit the top of my list. I went shopping yesterday to look at some basic recreational kayaks and hope to field test a couple soon.



Meanwhile, I have been working on a few projects. This is an altered art tabletop or desk "frame" that I made using an old game board as as a base. I dropped alcohol inks to create the splotches, tore ads from an old Life magazine and some paper scraps that were hanging around in my basket. On the "kiki" side I used felt Thickers alphas; distress crackle paint which I then dabbed over; crackle effects on the journal tag and an "idea-ology" pin. I made this into a two-sided piece by then decorating the opposite side with more ads, papers and inks. This time I used sepia accents around a couple of the photos; "idea-ology" fragments with alcohol inks and an arrow made from grungeboard which I painted with dabbers and wrote on with a white pen. I really like how it all turned out.


I've also used stamps, "idea-ology" adage tags and laid a thin coat of crackle effects over the distress crackle paint to sort of seal it without adding shine. Yes, I really do love my Tim Holtz supplies. These two events are my daughter's move-in day at college, her sophmore year, and Labor day with my niece, nephew and granddaughter.

Enjoy!

Today

I had lots of fun today. I went on a mini road trip with two friends to a couple of local scrapbooking stores. One, Memory Lane or "mlpa" had ordered a mask I was interested in and it was available for me to pick up. I also picked up some Making Memories Christmas papers and sticker alphabets, some Scenic Route papers and another stencil. Mlpa has the newest stuff and plenty of it. From my home to Quakertown is about an hour. From there we headed over to Gilbertsville to Inspired Treasures. They had some of Tim Holtz' "idea'ology" items that I was missing. They said they'd be getting some of his new stuff in later this month or early next month. I also picked up some great "Thickers"--I love their alphas. Inspired Treasures has some really great project samples, new and different from the same-old. I went shopping, not really needing anything and somehow managing to spend about $75 between the two stores. Hmm. I finally made it home late this afternoon, ready for another dose of Tylenol and lunch/dinner. I really had to do some straightening around the house before delving into my new goodies. Now I'm feeling my 5:15am wake up and wanting to sleep and wanting to play all the same. It's too early to tell which will win.

Yeah, I was able to get my projects posted! Here is a small table or desk "frame" with a photo on one side and stamped sentiment on the other. This is Erik playing around at the beach. The chipboard is covered, both sides with coordinating papers and held together with ribbon. I made this as a sample for my Etsy shop which I haven't done much with yet either. This would make a great favor for a shower--think pink or blue papers, baby sentiment and a photo of the newborn, or a space for that photo. It would also be a great favor with just the mat for the photo for any event--ladies luncheon or banquet, holiday dinner place-card or birthday party. Yes, the plan is to offer them, custom made in my Etsy shop so stop by if you're interested.

These two photos showcase a cover for post-it pads. They look stylish on your desk, by the phone or in your pocketbook. These too make great small gifts or favors for many occassions and can be customized.
This "Family" pocket and tag album is one I created with We'R double sided papers. A kit will be available in my Etsy shop so you can recreate this mini-album. Each pocket has a tag that you can decorate on both sides and makes a great mini memory book from a recent vacation or event.

This is just a card I made using stamps, paper and ribbon. I stamped two different flower images from Stampin' Up sets in black ink on blue paper. I then outlined them in white pen to create a "bandana" effect. The light blue and white striped paper is from Laura Ashley and is stamped with another Stampin' Up stamp. The blue ribbon on the side just finishes off the panel which is then adhered to a pale blue card. This is an easy technique and makes a great looking background.

So I'm feeling guilty that I don't update this more often. I have even begun avoiding my computer because I feel like I need to stop by and say hi, and post projects that I'm working on. I am in the middle of a couple right now.

Let's see if I can get this to work, a few things that have come out of the studio lately. Nope, my images will not upload. I'll try again soon.