Art Journal and Class at Prairie ART Stamps and Supplies

First of all, let me tell you what I used to do for a living.....I started out as a Long Distance Operator YEARS ago.

You've seen the old cord boards in pictures, where the operator has on a headset, and a bunch of cords in front of her with all kinds of lights and plug in spots???

Well, that was me, working nights and trying to stay awake....yawn...so I doodled to occupy my time.

I was usually in trouble for it, but back then, you were in trouble for not sitting properly or chewing gum. Now you can pretty much do anything at work....I won't go there!

So Doodling is right up my alley. And dear Kaz said it would be addicting, and she was right.

THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!!!

I started with Watercolor Crayons. Then Julie Balzer stencils, ink, stamps, pens, paint....the sky is the limit!!!!

And it was Sarah Greer that said it's "colouring for grownups".

So true!

NOW, the fun news is I'll be teaching again at Prairie Art  in Springfield, IL on Apr. 21st from 10:30am till 2pm. And this is the class.

It has 4 mini canvas works of ART with embossed metal. They're on a canvas board that is easily slipped into a frame from Wal-Mart....seriously.

We'll explore Metal Embossing, Alcohol Inks, Tissue Tape, UTEE on Metal, and create an heirloom treasure in the end.

So give them a call and come and have a fun time with us in April.

Linda

Birdhouse Travel Resort for CHA

Oh, the fun I've had making Tim Holtz Projects!!!!!

His new Idea-ology pieces are to die for!!!

The Paper Stash papers are from the new Destinations. They were full of vintage pictures of travelers, airplanes, trains, ticket stubs, travel schedules, and much, much more!

FUN, FUN, FUN to play with for sure!

So here I used the papers to cover all the sides of this 3 room birdhouse.

It then becomes a Travel Resort of sorts with little upside down Label Pulls as roosts for them to perch on.

The Cash Key is hanging from a Screw Eye and piece of chain.

I used the very cool File Tabs to designate the 3 different "rooms" in the resort.

The larger Mini Rosette was perfect with a Travel Sticker in the middle.

I layered several stickers all over the Resort. They added some great color.

You really can't see the little Screw Eyes that are hanging the little sign on the eve with chain links.

See the tiny travel picture in the keyhole?

Really like the wings with Alcohol Inks!

I love the 6x6 paper sections with the Clocks. Perfect for a Clock Tower.

The Traveler sign is cut from paper and has Glossy Accents all over it making it stand out.

Some stamping and embossing give a bit of depth here and there as well.

And of course, the really challenging part was becoming a roofer!

Bill, bless his heart, made the little cupolas on the rooftops for me.

The Grungepaper is covered with Metal Foil Tape and cut with the On the Edge Mini Scallop Die.

There are a couple of papers from Lost and Found to add just a bit of bright colors.

Personally, my favorite is the License Plate paper in the 6x6 on the tallest tower.

Which new product is your favorite????

Have fun, Create ART, and be good to each other.

Linda

CHA Idea-ology Project - Gypsy Traveler Wagon

I gotta tell ya, I think this was the most audaciously fun project I have EVER done!

I loved it from beginning to end...and believe me, there were many, many changes in the making of this piece.

I want to thank Tim Holtz for his thoughts along the way....it was an engineering project for sure, and my very patient husband Bill with his POWER TOOLS!

I LOVE the POWER TOOLS! 

I wish I'd taken a picture of this cigar box before I tore it apart. I was covered in yellow paper, with the front doors on paper hinges.

All had to go.

 The front doors open to reveal a diorama inside. I used the Bookcovers Stamp on the door panels.

The Faucet Knobs and Pulley Wheels are AMAZING!!!!

 Tim's new Idea-ology pieces screamed  GYPSY CARAVAN to me...and this looked like a traveling wagon....the Traveler piece of paper from Destinations Paper Stash on the back fit perfectly with the gold star from Vintaj!

 I diecut Metal Foil Tape and used it to frame the Traveler paper.

Diecut Grungepaper was used as skirting around the bottom and painted with Perfect Pearls.

This is a Clock cut from the paper and covered with Distress Inks and Distress Stickles.

More Mini Gears and Mini Numerals on this end piece.

 Bill used a drill press to make some of the holes larger to accommodate the knobs and such. Some things had to be altered to fit. You could use the Drill Punch as well.

The Clock Key on the top is probably one of my favorite new Idea-ology pieces...way cool, and so many possibilities running through my mind.

The pictures in the opening of the cigar box are from the new paper stash.

More Mini Gears are on the tops of painted wooden pieces. The Mini Gears die is used to cut Metal Foil Tape on Grungeboard and colored with Alcohol Inks.

This open shot of the doors show the Salvage Stickers on the inside. Terminology Tissue Wrap is glued to the inside and colored with Distress Inks.

Here is another Clock Key on the end of the Wagon. (so cool) The Mini Numerals are covered with UTEE in various colors.

Inspiration Emporium has a 20% off everything sale going on right now...use the code "chaspecial" and Pre-Order these cool new items!!!

This is a great shot from the booth by Kristin Langlais shown here with her permission.

IT MADE MY WHOLE MONTH. When I saw this I gasped...took my breath away!

Thanks Kristin!!!!

I hope you've enjoyed this Journey as much as I did. It is a piece I will treasure for a long time.

I had 2 great events this week within our Musical Family. I'll upload some pictures and things when CHA closes and things slow down.

Be Well and CREATE ART!

Linda

Doin' the Happy Dance Again!!! YAY!

OH! You guys will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this new publication....I am amazed at the color, the layout, the 300 different projects that are in it......it's a MUST have for sure.


The link for the magazine is Scott Publications here.

This is one of the projects in there.

And my Steampunk Clock....on my wall ticking away as we speak.

And probably my favorite is this one. All kinds of metal from several different places.

So that's it for today. Off to pick up the girls for the afternoon.

It is a gorgeous day.

Be Well.....and Be Good to each other.

YOUR FRIEND IN ART!

Linda

Collections from JVO Triptych

As a friend of my daughter's says, yesterday I had a little "me" time.

I went shopping and scored a few things that make me happy. One being some Recollections cling mount stamps at Michael's. Oh, I LOVE how tiny they are in this set. PERFECT for mini-collage or whatever.

And so I decided to play.

Here's a mini tutorial for using a few fun things.

Start with cutting 3 of the rounded top houses from Tim's Artful Dwellings set using a thin chipboard. I get 30x30 inch sheets from the art supply section.

I covered the fronts with Antique Tissue Paper-Victorian from Collections. I used Claudine's Multi-Medium and a brush to glue papers. Add Distress Inks as you like.

Then I stamped with the new little set of stamps and Coffee Archival Ink.

This is shown after I'd put it together to show how I added black permanent ink to the seems of the canvas with a pen.

Julie van Oosten, owner of Collections Elements, had sent me some wonderful things awhile back and I'd just not found time to use them. Check out here blog here for wonderful ideas and products.

This paper is from the Vintage Rose 6x6 Collection. Gorgeous papers in such a fun size.

Next add Sticky Back canvas that's been colored with Fired Brick and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to the seems on the BACK of your Triptych.

 This shows the last piece before the papers are added. Leave enough between the 3 pieces for it to fold.  Die cut your papers, stamp as you like, and glue over canvas hinges.

Flip over and you can decorate to your hearts content. Add ribbon, glass bottles, metal and chipboard ephemera.

Pen dots always added for just a bit more fun!!!

Have a great day. Still working with the new and not as wonderful photo program. Can't find the old one yet, but I'll keep trying.

Linda

Embossed Metal Tape Tag Tutorial

Time for a tutorial.  This is the tag I made for SNR a couple of weeks ago. It's based on the piece I created for Ranger's booth at CHA using their new Metal Foil Tape.

It is fantastic to work with!!! And with the Texture Fades and Alcohol Inks....Well, you be the Judge.

Way easy, and Way fun!!!

Supplies you will need:

·         Alcohol Inks and Ink Applicators with Felt of your choice – I used Lettuce, Denim, Wild Plum, and Purple Twilight

·         Distress Inks – Dusty Concord, Rusty Hinge, Chipped Sapphire, Broken China and Black Soot and Blending Tools

 ·         Various Texture Fades plus Artful Dwellings, Tattered Florals and On the Fence Dies– Tim Holtz Alterations

·         Gold Acrylic Paint Dabber, Metal Foil Tape, Jet Black Archival Ink,  Manila Tag, and Glossy Accents from Ranger

·         Fine Grit Sanding Block and Distress Tool

·         Fragment Charms, Chain Tassels, Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint , Grungepaper, Kraft Resist Paper, Alpha Parts/Ransom-Tim Holtz

·         Stamps of your choice – I used Elegant Ledger from Stampington for background

·         Chipboard, Pop Dots, Ribbons, Rhinestone Brad, White Pen, Embossing Machine-I used   the new Vagabond

Here we go!

 

I start with 3 different dies from Tim. The On the Fence, the Tattered Florals and the new Artful Dwellings. 

Here I cut the fence out of thick chipboard and added Picket Fence Crackle Paint. Set aside to dry. Trim to width of tag.

Next I cut the tall skinny house out and added a piece of Kraft Resist Paper Stash. Glue to the bottom and trim. I added Rusty Hinge Distress Ink to edges. Add white pen dots and a stamped image as you like.

I took a large Manila Tag #8 and added Distress Inks Dusty Concord, Chipped Sapphire, and Broken China. A bit of Black Soot over the distressed edges makes the colors pop.

The stamp is Elegant Ledger from Stampington & Company stamped it twice with Jet Black Archival Ink...(couldn't live without that ink)

Cut a piece of metal and emboss it with the Texture Fades Damask. I have the Vagabond and it's a dream to work with...I'm just sayin'.

Using the the Ink Applicator and felt apply alcohol inks of several colors. Let dry and add a 2nd layer. This creates back washes of patterns that are very cool! 

Sand off top layer with fine grade sand paper or leave as is. I also use a brush to add ink into the crevasses where I can't get the color I want.

Lay the metal face down on worktable and peal off backing paper. Lay tape over top part of house at roof level. Trim edges and add ribbon trim.

I like to add the house to black heavy chipboard and cut out 1/8" all around.

Add the tape to Grungepaper, die cut with Tattered Florals die, emboss, and add Alcohol Inks as before. Use Distress Inks on the backs.

Curl and pinch the flower petals and layer up with a Rhinestone brad.

Add glossy accents to back of Fragment and glue to vintage picture. Let dry. Cut around edges and add Chain Tassel with a jump ring. (I trimmed mine here a tiny bit)

Add with pop dots to the house.

Use Gold Metallic Paint Dabber to add a light dab of paint to the black Ransom Letters.

Now we're ready to assemble!!!

Glue the house to the tag with peak slightly above the top. Add more white pen dots.

Use pop dots to add the fence and flower.  Add the letters down the side.

Tie 2 ribbons to the tag top and you're done!

Hope you enjoyed this project. Let me know what you think, and if you make one, we'll share!

Linda



Shall We Play???

Yes, we shall, and yes we did! This is a combination of new and old buys. I love to pull out drawers and just put collages together.

This has mostly new Tim Holtz pieces combined with his new Artful Dwellings Die. I LOVE this thing. It has sooooooooooo many possibilities.

I used lots of little things to embellish this piece. Couldn't even tell you where some are from. It's really got tons of pieces in it as does the class that's similar, but much larger, that I'm giving.

** Classes are up for Memory Bound Scrapbook Store. Check out the Newsletter and give them a call in Ankeny Iowa. http://bit.ly/f20zGz

Here's some of the newer things:

Tattered Florals die, Kraft Glassine Paper, Foliage Idea-ology, Locket Keys, Plaquettes, Shabby Chic and Lost and Found Paper Stash, Hitch Fastener, Salvage Stickers-Crowded Attic, Tissue Tape-Journeyman, and Alpha Parts-Ransom.

Then I HAD to mess with my new stamps from Tim-Papillon. Are these Butterflies and Moths gorgeous or what??? They are stamped on a yellow cardstock, embossed with Verdigris Antiquities, sprayed with Copper Perfect Pearls Mist, and stamped in various spots with Jet Black Archival Ink. IT SPARKLES!

I love contrast, and this baby has got it. Especially up against the new Graphic 45 paper Let's Dance from Curtain Call. Lovin' that paper collection.

This is a closer shot of the Moth. I am a sucker for Turquoise and Brown together.........you may have noticed.

Be well........be good to each other..........Create ART!

Linda

Let's Get Caught Up!!!

First I'll start with the Precious Metal Clay class I took. For those of you who don't know what it is, it's a very soft clay that comes in little tiny, weighed packages. You roll it, mold it, carve it, and sometimes (twice for me) break it, before you fire it in a kiln and it magically becomes pure silver!

Now, I thought, hey, I've played with Polymer clay. It can't be THAT difficult to make a ring! Ha! Boy, was I, and everyone else in the "beginners" class, totally wrong. This stuff dries out very quickly, cracks and breaks very easily, and is soft enough to make it difficult to make it into a completely even ring.

BUT, it was a real learning experience, and I'll go back for more. Teresa Kodatt the owner, taught the class, and she is AMAZINGLY talented as well as patient. Boy is she patient!!!

She fired the rings. Then we dropped it into Liver of Sulphur to add the etched color, polished it, and off I went.

It's a bit crude. But I love it. The texture is pretty cool, I think. Not at all what I envisioned, but really, really a fun piece.

Moving on......Tutorial on UTEE Embossed Metal Numbers!!! Yay!!! No, I didn't forget that I promised. (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel)

1. Take a Numeral and push into embossing pad.

2. Using tweezers or just holding onto the sides, drop it into a jar of UTEE. Here I used Gold. Push it down all around to adhere UTEE.

3. Remove from the jar carefully. It will look like this. Not completely covered, but NOT to WORRY!

4. Using your Heat It Tool, heat on your Craft Sheet, until it all comes together. Don't overheat too much or it just slides off the number. See it starting to melt at the top? Scrape off extra from sheet with the Craft Scraper.

5. Add sprinkles of Platinum and Bronze as shown while it's still hot. Take Heat Tool away from this process or you will blow the UTEE all over the place. TRUST ME, I know from experience!

6. Add as much or as little as you like. Remember, this is metal, and it will get VERY hot!!! So let it cool a tad before touching. Clean off the edges with your fingernail or a wooden skewer while it's still warm. It cleans off very easily.

And you are DONE!!!

We're going to use these numbers in the Embossed Metal on Canvas classes I'm teaching.

Good news from Linda at Creative Cuts and Crafts today. The classes are 1/2 to 3/4 full already!!!!! I am so excited to get to go up there and meet all you great people. Getting kits ready to go as we speak!!!

So a fun little book I found yesterday while shopping with the Watercolor Chicks. Now I won't have to call my daughter and ask what the grouping of letters on FB meant in a post. Worth every penny.

Just a few of the bits of Tim goodness I got in on the doorstep Thursday. Whoo Hoo! Fun times ahead......

And this....my dear friend Ann's husband Phil has a museum of Farm Tractors from the family farm down in Southern Illinois. He is always finding me little bits of things that just make my heart race. They both think I'm WAY too EASILY amused, but that's OK!!!

I've gotten tiny metal purses, vintage cabinet cards, vintage buttons, cattle tags, print blocks, etc, etc, etc....but I nearly dropped my teeth when she handed me this little gem from Phil!!!

Can you believe it????? Grungy and broken. It's almost identical to Tim's reproductions. The head is a little smaller, but I know Ann thought I'd lost my mind until I showed her the new ones from Tim. Strange, very strange.....

So that's all I got! Just working away making up the kits for classes. Cutting paper, Grungeboard, Grungepaper, ribbon, chipboard, and all that fun stuff!!!

It's snowing on my tulips for Pete's sake!!!

Take care and be good to each other.

Linda

Look what Linda O'Connor did for me..WOW!

This just blew me away. Linda O'Connor up at Creative Cuts and Crafts sent me an email that said she'd made an announcement for the classes coming up. Click on the link to check it out. I mean, is she amazing or what????

She said she was a techie in a previous life....I was impressed. I'm lucky if I can figure out the fundamentals. This gal is fantastic.

***

This is the Artful Dwellings class that's on the agenda using Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante and Tim's Shabby Chic papers. It also has tons of Idea-ology pieces from Tim.

***

Anyway....I digress....take a look at the link. Call and sign up....and I'll see you there.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!! (yes, I'm yelling!)

Linda