Halloween Burlap Canvas

I recently scored a few of Tim Holtz's mini burlap canvases on clearance at a big box store.  I was totally inspired to use one of them when I saw the latest challenge over on Linda Ledbetter's blog for the Compendium of Curiosities series.  This week the technique was photo tinting, perfect for a Halloween theme.

I used one of Tim's Found Relative cards and got to altering.  Since this particular relative did not scream Halloween, I simply added a few elements.  My favorite is the hat.  I used a scrap of decorative tissue paper that I had put resin on to create the hat.  A little bit of alcohol ink and it coordinated with her tinted dress.  

Another way I added interest to this project was with the use of beeswax.  I have had this lying around in my stash for a while and have yet to use it.  To add the layers of wax I warmed up a few pellets with my heat gun and just let them drip free form on the image.  I love the cloudy look it gave the piece in certain areas.

More Tim Holtz goodies with the use of his rub ons and word bands.  I thought the sentiment on this one was perfect, especially with the spider lurking on this little girls side.

I added lots more grunge with black gesso, bits of tissue tape and a bit of highlighting around the focal.  To finish things off, a few Petaloo flowers in black frame the image.  I had a blast creating this fun holiday piece.  Thanks to Linda and her crew for amazing inspiration once again.  It feels so good to create just for me and not for a deadline!

P.S.  This challenge is again being sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique, a lovely shop for all things Tim!

Happy Haunting, 

Rhea

Layers of good junk

This assemblage has been in the works in my mind for quite some time.  Not too long ago I won a really amazing giveaway from one of my online crafty gals, Zoe.  We have been swapping for a while, she sends the most amazing packages.  Her attention to detail is simply amazing.  Anyway, I won a lot of "vintage" Tim Holtz papers and goodies. I knew I had to do something neat with the paper as it is no longer around.  A letterpress tray from 7 gypsies made for the perfect homage.

I tapped into some things I have been holding onto for a while.  Sometimes it is so hard to use up some of those special trinkets.

A few of those hard to use pieces were from a typewriter I tore apart.  It took me so long, but I was able to harvest some really neat stuff from it.  I also added an old grocery store price tag, a random game piece and an old piece of hardware.  The clock images throughout were cut from really neat paper from a book making store.  

The small amber bottle is filled with a few of the screws left over from the typewriter tear down.  I have loads of respect for the craftsmanship that went into making this device.  The pendulum is a hand off from my Dad, he deals in antiques and once in a while he is generous with the junk he can't make money on.

In the picture above you can see a bit more of the collaging I did before layering in my junk.  I used light bulb cut outs from Retro Cafe Art, a wonderful vendor.  Also to add more layers I used images from Alpha Stamps.

The ruler is a color copy of a ruler I found at an estate sale.  As I live in Kalamazoo, this was a score.  I made several copies of a few rulers to create my own personal scrapbook paper.  You can also see an old pencil I tucked up in the corner as well as another really cool typewriter part.

Here you can see that I actually attached the hardware hook to the printer tray structure.  I used a few more bits of tiny junk in the upper sections.  This time around I tried to edit a bit.  I tend to over do it with too many layers of junk.   

Speaking of layers, this is the theme for this week's challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show so I am adding this piece to the mix.  I recently applied to be on their design team, but I was rejected once again. I was beyond disappointed, but there is always next time I suppose!

Cheers, 

Rhea 

A new creative challenge

I was recently contacted by a gal named Teri who asked me to participate in a special crafty event.  Teri and I crossed paths once through a local art meeting and I am so grateful for this chance meeting. 

The challenge is to decorate a paper mache dress form using 80% reused, recycled, re purposed or reclaimed materials.  We cannot spend more than $20 on additional supplies.  If my piece is selected, it will travel to at least 12 trade shows through out the United States through the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo.  The project is called Runway "Re-View."



When I was first approached about the project I really resisted as fabric is just not my thing.  I hope to really use a lot of different materials in interesting ways to dress my form.  I do have to say the scale is much larger than I had anticipated, so that will also be a challenge for me.  I wonder what all those quilters and seamstresses will think of my crazy mixed media antics!

Stay tuned to see how my little project unfolds.

Cheers,

Rhea

Time Tag

I just love the inspirations that online craft challenges provide. This tag was done for Simon Says Stamp's weekly challenge were Distress Inks are the focus.  I used them in several different ways. 

The project was started with a traditional manila tag.  I started layering color my swiping a (new to me) ink color, Rusty Hinge, directly on the tag.  I then buffed in Vintage Photo as well as Brushed Corduroy.  A few spritzes of water intensified the color and created texture for the background.  While I was drying with a heat gun, I had a sudden urge (because it was left out in my craft area) to add a spray of Espresso color wash to the bottom of the tag as well. 

I then took the background further by adding several impressions of Tim's postal stamp, again with distress inks.  I thought I messed it up due to poor overlapping, but really with this style, you just can't mess up!  The clock image is from a lovely sheet of paper by Bo Bunny.  I backed it with a torn piece of translucent ledger paper, that I aged with Vintage Photo.  The navy strip of paper was added to give visual weight to the bottom of the tag.  I added another round element by attaching a portion of a globe image towards the to the project, providing balance. 

The embellishment includes a lovely scrap of ribbon, a replica of a vintage key as well as a muse token and light bulb by Tim Holtz.  I just love using jewelry techniques in my altered art, as this is where I started in my artistic journey. 

Grungy Monday No. 3: Imagine

For this installment of Grungy Monday, I made another 6x6 page for my very own chunky book. I started with a piece of an old Sears and Roebuck Catalog, which has been an amazing source of ephemera.  I used Espresso wash combined with Tim's masks to create some contrast in the background.  The color wash was quite simple to use and I appreciate the dark, flat color.  Don't get me wrong I like a shimmer, but there are times when a nice dense color is best for the project.   I also further distressed the background with a few spritz of water creating a nice subtle dappled effect.

At this point I thought ahead to my embellishment, as I wanted to be able to connect it to the paper before gluing the base of my page to chipboard.  I found an old washer and a piece of a clock that I attached to the altered emphemera with a game spinner and a brad.  After gluing, I sealed the edges of the page with tissue tape.  This is a great way to hide any misaligned edges! 

A sheet of Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutant paper provided me with lots of different imagery to add to the page.  A bit of delicate cutting and I had several options to audition for my layout.  Once I was happy with the look of the page, I went back to my embellishing.  I attached a charm with these really cool tiny pins I scored at a garage sale.  They look like the tiniest bobby pin and they are really strong.  I suspect they were used to hold buttons on cards back in the day, as they were in a found along with some old vintage buttons in a coffee can full of "junk" I paid two dollars for. They have been a lovely addition to my embellsiment options. I finished off the page by adding one more watch movement, a little off the edge of the page.   

I am starting to think that I am going to need to start calling these challenges Steampunk Mondays, as I am so hooked on this theme right now.  I can't wait until next week's inspiration so that I can craft another page for my book!  Thanks to Linda Ledbetter and Tim Holtz for being such amazing inspirations! Stay tuned for more installements in this lovely little series of my steampunk dreams.

Grungy Monday No. 2: Time

This is installation number 2 in a series of inspiration challenges from Linda Ledbetter with Tim Holtz's techniques.  I also entered this piece into this weeks challenge over at Simon Says Stamp.  I was again surprised at the outcome.  Each time I have tried these resist techniques I am shocked at how well it works. 

The resist was done with a foam stamp I made from a foam door hanger.  It was not large enough for the entire Weathered Clock die, but it was still effective.  I probably would have taken the stamped image off the page anyway.  I used a regular matte medium to stamp the clock and let it dry.  The background was then colored with several colors of Distress Inks.  I sprayed and splattered with water.  I also added a few pinches of copper Perfect Pearls.  I like the way it looks when you sprinkle by hand.  More water fixed the Perfect Pearls in place.  I edged the page in Tissue Tape and added a few bits of map scraps I had on my table from another project I am working on.  The clock images came from a few lovely sheets of paper. One of them was by Bo Bunny and the others came from a large piece of paper I purchased at a specialty paper and book binding store called Hollanders.  There is a plastic clock by Maya Road and a timepiece and game spinner from Tim.

I knew I wanted to make a special embellishment for this page. The charm started with a small capsule I filled with tiny watch parts. I started adding gears, a word stick, a key and a few washers with jump rings.  A hole was created and set with a grommet to tie my charm to the page with a bit of vintage ribbon.  

I started this piece with a left over piece of chipboard from a swap I am currently working on.  I decided that while doing this series of technique challenges I will either do a tag or a chunky book page and then bind them when I am complete. 

Grungy Monday No. 1: Steampunk Journey Tag

As many of my readers probably know, I am a big Tim Holtz fan.  Because of Tim, I recently stumbled across Linda Ledbetter's blog.  She is posting a series of Tim inspired challenges, every "Grungy Monday."  I am excited to be able to participate this time around, thus my first entry. 

For this tag I started with the gear and clock mask.  I spritzed various spray inks I had on hand.  A few additional colors were buffed in with my sponge applicator.  I stamped the wing image onto grungeboard, cut and coated with a thin coat of stickles. 

The bottom piece of ephemera is an engine positioned right under a very cool acetate suitcase.  I tucked my pin underneath the strap of the luggage and then added a ticket from my stash.  The tag needed some texture so I used bits of rub ons I had on hand.  The vintage clock face was adorned with a muse token and a spinner, courtesy of Tim.  Finally a bit of lace adds a lovely bit of texture. 

I am looking forward to additional entries in this very inspirational series!