IT'S A TIM HOLTZ PRODUCT GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

You guys thought I forgot....no I wouldn't do that!!!! But I've had it done to me, and it ain't nice.

So anyway, here's how it goes.

The prize is 2 not one, but 2 SETS of Tim's fabulous Texture Plates, a Distress Pad in the wonderful new Bundled Sage ( I LOVE this color), and an altered tin with Embossed Metal and Rhinestones.

The slider tin is great for keeping buttons, jewels or extra mad money for crafting stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's made with Ten Seconds Studio metal in Kiss Me Pink metal.

The Texture Plates are Bingo & Patchwork and Collage and Notebook.

So leave a comment if you want a chance to win. We'll leave it open for a few days and see if anyone is interested.

Then we'll have a drawing for the winner.

I'll leave you with shots from my visit from the oldest Granddaughter and her friend last weekend. They came to play in the Studio and make more Grungepaper bracelets for themselves and their boyfriends.

It turned out to take longer and be more work than they anticipated. I think there were more on the list for presents, but the arms gave out. Ha, wimps!

The glass bottles are filled with with ribbons and have a little tag that says "Drink Me" with stamped images of keys and clocks on the outside. They must have seen Alice in Wonderland.

I've gotten 2 classes together and working on a third for the end of summer and into the fall. Things are coming along. Then we're off to cool climates later in the week! Yay, it's only supposed to be in the 70's there next week!!!!!

And can I also say USA, USA, USA.....and congrats to England. They both advance !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Piling It On with Idea-ology

Look what you can do with the new Charms and Timepieces from Tim's fabulous Idea-ology pieces!!!! SEVEN pieces of metal used here.

Is this fun, or what?

The Grungeboard background is embossed, heavily inked, sprayed, stamped, and sewn on the sewing machine. I used Tim's new Urban Chic stamps...VERY COOL!!!

It's hard to see, but there is a Snap that is layered under the Spinner that has had a hole punched in it. Several holes were strategically punched to get this thing to fit together.

Engineer a project and have fun!!!!

Cold and ugly here today....reading an unbelievable book today by Michael Lewis. It's called The Big Short- Inside the Doomsday Machine, and is about the causes of our recent financial crisis. Everyone should read this book. Truly an education. Jaw dropping!

Off my soapbox now............go play in your stash of stuff and Create ART!

Hoping for Spring to return in a couple of days!

L

Brittany's Book

This is the cover of a book project for Creative Imaginations. I used Distress Ink and pen marks to enhance the beautiful papers.


Cut out butterflies and Stickles on the flowers.

Beadazzles on the chipboard....VERY cool!!!!!

Love the way she added just the yellow to the flower.

I made this book using Bare Elements book Beverly and papers Passion for Fashion. This was a really fun project since my Granddaughter, Brittany, is soooo much a shoe-freak/clothes-horse/photo diva.

She really is good. I love the black and white photos.

She's off taking a photography class now using our old 35mm camera to get more wonderful shots. Can't wait to see them.

To see the products list, go to the CI blog and enjoy the other books that were made this month!!!

The Finger Is Healed

I never showed you what I was working on when I sewed through my fingertip, did I?

It was definitely one of the most "Oh, %#*@!" moments of my life.

Anyhoo, it finally grew out. And it really never hurt too much. So today, after Emma was reunited with mom, dad, puppie and her own room, I broke out the wine, the chocolates the kids brought me, and took down the Grungeboard I had been sewing that day.

Here's a peek at the patchwork I had put together along with a Ten Seconds Studio flower cut with the Spellbinders flowers and added Dimensional Pearls and PP. Then the secret ingredient...UTEE!!!!

The GB has been run through the Cuttlebug, Distress Inked, and sprayed with the Mini Misters and Perfect Pearls. Then I cut it into pieces and sewed like a patchwork quilt and zig-zagged with smoke colored nylon thread.

It definitely was fun.....until the blood started to flow!!!!!!!!! Ha!

More snow here tonight, can't wait for Anaheim and warmer weather at CHA!

P.S. I hear from a little birdie that TSS has some FABULOUS new colors coming out soon......stay tuned!

Shopping and Playing Around

Dragging out things to experiment with is always so much fun.

This is a snippet of Ten Seconds Studio Dijon metal that was stamped, embossed, sprayed with Perfect Pearls and ReInker, Alcohol Inked with the Fillable Pen, and sanded here and there.

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The side view shows how the leaves are puffed.

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The Black Sharpie pen makes all the colors pop.

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Kitting up for the Grungeboard Wallet class in Bloomington on the 14th.

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It was a blast at Prairie Art Stamps I know we'll have some more takes on the class from the talented gals at Scrapbook Friend'z.

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The PAS girls made plans for gifts and wonderful treasures that had darling pictures in the bookplates.

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The Grandmas had a great time with this!!!

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Can't wait to see you there.

Scrapbook News and Review-Guest Blogger

I know, it's not even Halloween yet, and I'm blasting you with Christmas stuff!

This is a project that is on Scrapbook News and Review tonight with a little bit about how it was done and a little bit about me in the Guest Blogger area.

This was really fun to create, because I could drag out all kinds of stuff from my stash and just play. No worries about recreating or writing up instructions.

It has everything that I love, Ten Seconds Studio, Maya Road, Grungeboard, Tim Holtz stamps, Idea-ology, Stickles and Graphic 45 paper.

Enjoy and don't forget to go read their blog. It comes out every week with a guest blogger...next week is Teresa Collins. Talented lady!

And just a NOTE: These are the same products used in the Christmas wall hanging class. Spots are filling up. Only a couple of spots left for the Wallet class. It's going to be fun!!!!!

Create ART!

GrungeBoard Pumpkin

UPDATE: Made him a lid. Ha! Used the Hitch Fastener for a stem.

I live in the city that claims to be the "Pumpkin Capitol of the World" because the Libby plant that cans pumpkin is here.

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Sooooo, we see a lot of pumpkins.

They're everywhere...in the windows, on the street corners, on flags, on the water tower, even the soccer balls at the weekend tournament were....you guessed it....PUMPKINS. Orange soccer balls with jack-o-lantern faces.

So it is fitting that I would be drawn to making the little orange blob out of Grungeboard and paper. A little battery powered tea light sits inside. Kinda cute.

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The leaf is of course, Appletini Green Ten Seconds Studio metal run through the Cuttlebug. The curly stuff is GrungePaper.

My fingers have the look of a 4 pack a day smoker. Camels probably.

It will wear off eventually.

Happy Autumn....the pumpkins are here. Oh, and the whole town smells like pumpkins...and that's not like pumpkin pie!

Be well.

Flower Charm-Tip of the DAY!

This is what you can do with the little 2 hole punch from Dick Blick....now known as just "Blicks." Or Contenti has them.

I punched the center of the snap and the bottom layer of the flower to make more holes. It's difficult to see the hole in the petal as it is in shadow....

It becomes a hole large enough for a brad or a hole for a jump ring.....making it a charm for the side of any creation. Like the GrungeBoard coin purse.

So there you have it.....a tip for the day!

Enjoy

Blue Grungeboard Coin Purse

Inspired by Jennifer McGuire's tutorial using Alcohol Inks on paper flowers, I tried them on Heidi Swapps orange Florals that are made of cloth...I believe.

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Anyway they took the inks a bit differently I think, using the Metallic Mixatives and two colors of Alcohol Ink.

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I added some of the silver to the Idea-ology leaves, and green to the larger flower for contrast.

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The Idea-ology embellishments adorn the side with a few additional punched holes to add even more delightful pieces.

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Go Create ART!

AND the blog had 371 page views the day Mario was on with his hoodie...imaging that! WAAAAYYYYY more than I usually get. Fun!!!

You all come back now!

MORE fun in the Studio!

Hey everybody! First of all, this was not my idea. I was so inspired by Eileen the Paper Queen's fabulous swap that I had to try my adaptation of this little purse.

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You MUST go see her little art pieces on her blog!!!!

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She used Grungepaper and I used Grungeboard, but the concept is the same. One piece of this stuff and NO glue!

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Ran it through the Cuttlebug, Distress Inked it to the hilt, stamped with Studio 490 stamps, and adorned with Idea-ology wonders! The hitch fastener closes it perfectly!!!!

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AND you can put your credit card, driver's license, and a few green backs in it....and you're off!!!

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FUN~ FUN~ FUN!!!!!

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Suppertime.....what a waste of good daylight!

Dress Form Collage

Remember the necklace from the last post? Well, I thought I needed a place to showcase the piece.

I've had this dress form since our trip to Carolina Moon during CHA-S 2007. (Bless Cecile's little heart for taking us there. Boy, can that girl drive!! )Sometimes I need time to think about how to use something...no kidding.

And yes, the butterflies are really that vibrant. They were from a piece of Collage papers in Somerset magazine. I don't know why you can't click on to enlarge the back...over my head.

Keys are t!m's, Idea-ology, there are pieces from Vintaj, Maya Road, Grungeboard, Grungepaper, Distress Stickles, and various vintage pieces I've collected. The white knob on top was aged by using alcohol inks. It was too bright for me....so....ink it!

And the papers are 7Gypsies tissue paper I've hoarded for years over several layers of paints that were wiped off and added again until I got a really old look.
I know that look when I see it....I see it every day in the mirror!!!!!

Have a great day!
L

Avery - the entire piece

Getting ready to pack these things for shipping. Here's Avery in complete glory. This child is the cutest redhead. Can you imagine the personality? These old pictures are wonderful to try to think of how these little people lived long ago.

Thanks to Paper Imagery for the vintage photo and Vintaj for the brass. Don't forget to visit their booth at CHA. Collections chipboard and the Cuttlebug were used for the house elements. But the Graphic 45 papers are what really make this piece stand out. And not ONE stamp!!! Amazing!!!

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It's time to CREATE something!

Linda

Tim Holtz's New Stamps!!

Thanks Mel for getting my order out! I got my Tim Holtz stamps from Paper Imagery and had to play! This is his new set Reindeer Flight! I LOVE trees!!!! And these are too cute!!! Of course the key is his, too. Grundgeboard is so fun to work with.

The background is Perfect Pearls in the Mini-Mister with Re-inkers. Go try some creating.....it's better than cooking!!

Stay Warm
Linda

Busy Week!!!

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since I last posted.....and into my son's basement, through the grandson's Eagle Scout project, and out a leaking pipe in a ceiling. The Morton Marching Festival, run by my son, was INSIDE, due to a rain storm. Imagine 22 marching bands rolling through a high school from a tent area, to a community center, and into the gym....and it worked! WOW!
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My daughter came for a 3 day visit! We had a pet crisis with an aging dog (daughter's) and a late night trip to take her home....her husband, was working overtime on his job, telephone man. We all worked in the telco field, so I know how that is.
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Emma turned 4!!! Going on at least 16. And Erin won the grand prize at her school for highest magazine sales! Got to "roll in the dough" and ride in a HUMMER limo!!
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Soooooo, now that things have settled down. I have been playing.
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Here is a Maya Road tag, wings and blossom flower with a Paper Whimsy vintage photo and Ten Seconds Studio metal for a background. A piece of Grungeboard and an Idea-ology piece adorn the top. I used Perfect Pearls on the wings. Paint Dabbers added color on the hinge and a touch on the edges of the wings. The paper is from Graphic 45....I love that stuff!

I posted this and decided it needed something...I added dots to define the wings and make the colors pop in other areas...much better!

Be good to each other!
Linda

Friends at CHA - 2 posts in one day!

I LOVE it! Had to share!!!! Tim, Wendy, me, Linda, Lisa and Margaret!!! The group from Scrapbook Friend'z. I will be teaching there on Aug. 10th. A Bind-It-All book (learn how to use it). And it will have Grungeboard, Idea-ology bits (whoo hoo!) brads and pearls from KaiserCraft, and of course DISTRESS INKS AND STAMPERS ANONYMOUS STAMPS!!!


(for those who know the story....yes, I'm screaming!!!!!!)


Here's a sneak peak...I know I profess to hate them...but what can I do. This was so much fun to do. The little books are just way too fun and right up my alley.
Ink, ink and more ink. The original paper is somewhere under there!

The flower is much more of a red, since it's with Worn Lipstick, but the day is rainy here, and the picture needed better light. The ribbons and paper really do go together...trust me. Where have you heard THAT before? Honest.

10th Anniversary Card

Fooling around with some more 36g metal. My son and his wife are celebrating their 10th anniversary this week so I put this together with the Bind-It-All and some embossed metal from Ten Seconds Studio. I added some Rust alcohol inks to give the aluminum a different bit of color and then sanded the top color off for contrast. The numbers are dotted Grungeboard with added Distress Inks and penwork. Added some ribbons and it's a done deal!

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Happy Anniversary Kids!

The Birthday Book

Here's Brittany's book. She's working all weekend, so mom and dad are going to take it home to her. She works where she got me the great blue polka-dotted Wellies!

I had great fun with these MR flowers and the book. The green front was Distress Inked with Pealed Paint, and heat set, then I stamped with the new pigment ink in Cool Peri, clear embossed and then rubbed Faded Jeans over the top to enhance the color difference. Added white dots for effect.

Oh, and the metal flowers from Maya Road were stamped with Snow Cap and heat set, some white embossing powder was added to one layer. EXPERIMENT!!! Sometimes it works.....and sometimes it doesn't...be happy when it does! Of course the letters are the new mini Grungeboard.

Wendy's Rick got a "2 thumbs up" today from the doctor...all is well in Vecchi land!!!! YEA!!!!!

Rachel Greig's Products!!!

Earlier I told you the great and talented Rachel Greig had asked me to use some of her stamps and papers to design a few things to show on her site Darkroom Door. I showed you the stamp of the ancient door before, but here I used her key stamps on Grundgeboard and her beautiful papers San Marco and Rialto. They have wonderful border strips throughout the sheets that are terrific to use as edging around the top and bottom of the tin box. A piece of chipboard, a couple of black brads, some rusty wire, a layered-up word, and a rusty piece on top hopefully pull it all together. The paper in the background is Esplori. Some VERY cool products and great fun to work with them.

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Visit Rachel's terrific site for some brand new things you will definitely need!

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Tomorrow......I'll show you my birthday gift from Fran, the talented beader! Way too cool!

And I've been asked to make some books using another talented artist's beautiful brass findings.....more to follow.....we're still working on the book to use, but I'll let you see as soon as we decide. I hate surprises and don't wait well, so I won't tease you!!!!

One thing I forgot, the back sides that are showing of the little keys are dabbed with gold and copper paint dabbers from Ranger. REALLY fun colors that I just opened!!! Gotta try them!

AND I would really like to know what you think of the top piece...I like the eclectic look of it...kinda of "t!m." But DH thinks it is a bit much....let me know....found it at Jeffrey Alan's in the sale isle...ha!

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House of Grunge

You know how I can get the phone to ring? Start gluing or painting something....it's a given! I had just started spreading the glue to add the tissue paper (7Gyypsies) and our good friend calls! Well, then I give the phone to DH to talk, and the DIL rings the doorbell....I am amazed the paper went on straight. Thankfully, we have a portable speakerphone...boy does that thing come in handy when you're covered in glue or paint!!!!!

This is the results of my fun day, playing with a cute house and Grungeboard. I call it my House of Grunge. No stamps..hard to believe.... just acrylic paint, grungeboard, pigment inks, Distress Embossing powder, and some Antiquities. The roof comes off of this paper mache' house...so you can store your "door prizes" inside. You see where I'm going with this St. Louis people?!?!

Fun way to spend a cold and rainy day....and dinner out...works for me!!!

Canvas Collage

I finally got a chance to use some of my new Paper Whimsy images on a canvas I had crackled and distress embossed earlier. Really love these images! They are truly beautiful!!! Grungeboard, buttons, beads,and a key add some dimension. Too much fun.