Monday, May 24, 2010

How Do I Distress? And A Giveaway in My Future.....

It seems that most everything I create is done because a swap is due, I have journal pages to get out, or a design team project has a deadline.  Very seldom do I just sit down and make something with no particular goal in mind.  This weekend I found myself all caught up, and decided to just play with some techniques.

Is it serendipity or what?   Just this morning I saw that Tim has a great giveaway on his blog.  He wants to know how we all distress (use the distress inks), and one way to win is to create something and send him a photo.  I used distress inks all over my piece, so sent him this photo in a hurry:

It's a 4x" canvas, which was first inked with rusty hinge and crushed olive.  Some flourishes were added (some die cut, some stenciled on), and some perfect pearls brushed on in spots.
The flower was cut from Tim's tattered floral die (it's grungepaper), inked with wild honey and forest moss, then overstamped with french script in black soot.  A Maya Road stick pin is in the center.
I attached the rose to the canvas by nestling it in the niche on the back of an even smaller canvas then gluing that onto the larger canvas.
The flourishes around the rose were also cut from the flourish die....for these I glued silk fabric onto grungepaper.  I added a bit of gold tulle around the flower.
I made a little crystal and pearl danglie and hung it from the bottom of the smaller canvas with a tiny eye screw.
Here is a side view, so you can see the dimensionality (and the ruler ribbon I wrapped all around the canvas -- and further distressed with some forest moss distress ink).
And speaking of giveaways......I just noticed that I have 94 followers.  Amazing!  Well, just need six more to have a nice neat even 100.  If I should reach that magic number any time soon, I have a really cool giveaway in mind.  Do you read this blog but are not a follower?  No pressure, but.....giveaway....really cool one....I only need SIX more victims  followers.....I'm just sayin'....... 

25 comments:

Tina Tolliver said...

Amazing! Wow what a nice piece of art! I love it!!

Unknown said...

Your project is gorgeous and your timing is perfect! I hope you win.

Anonymous said...

Such a wonderful piece of art... Hope you get to 100 followers .....

Dorothy said...

Eileen!!! I absolutely love this!!!
good luck in the drawing!!

Tammy D said...

That is very cool.

Elaine A said...

Eileen -

Awesome, awesome canvas! I love your use of the flourishes and the tape. Keeping my fingers crossed that you will win!

Elaine Allen

Lori said...

Totally awesome piece, my friend. Hope you are the lucky winner! Now I need to go to Tim's blog and see what the commotion is about. And I see you only need two more followers! Congrats to you! You're spreading art love everywhere...

Nancy Lynn said...

What perfect timing for you to do that beautiful canvas. And I truly hope you win one of those cases. Your work is gorgeous.

carpediem said...

There you go....I'm you're 100th follower! Love your creations! laura j

Kerry said...

Absolutely beautiful! I so love the colors, they are so rich. Perfect timing too! I read your blog, I will become a follower! Thanks for sharing. Kerry P.

scrappin-scrappin said...

Woo! Hoo! Looks like you have made your 100! Beautiful canvas piece!

Sara Carns said...

WooHoo! Looks like you made it over 100 now Eileen! And that piece is absolutely STUNNING! I love all the work you put into it! Good luck!!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh Eileen.....this piece is BREATHTAKING!!!!! I absolutly LOVE it!!!!!!

inge said...

hello Eileen ( handing over a handkerchief to you... being glad you understand my "emotional tears" on my blog :)

You better start planning your give-away... you already have over the 100 followers now !
I follow you often, but it seems I didn't subscribe yet, but now I did.

I'm bit like you ,never creating something "just because". Me too I have mostly a project for a swap, a gift,...

Your canvas is a great project : I like the combination of the rusty hinge and the crushed olive.
The crushed olive is one of my favorite new DI, but I used rusty hinge also several times.
I like your distressed curls !
The ruler ribbon finishes off the whole collage. I must look out for this one in my craftshop, don't know if it's already available.

thanks for mentioning Tim's challenge : I look often at his site, but not daily, so I could have missed this one, but i didn't , thanks to you !

greetings from Belgium
Inge

Sue Young said...

Sign me up,girlfriend!LOVE the piece you did for Tim!I'm SURE Tim will pick you!!!(can we vote???)

XO Sue

AngieHallHaviland said...

FABULOUS piece, Eileen!! Love it all...and really really love the tape measure ribbon as a frame border!!

KAT said...

Beautiful - really love how the grunge flower turned out and the overall look of the canvas - really catches your eye!

MarleneMAZ said...

Eileen, this is beautiful ! I know you make a lot of grunge flowers and admire you as I do not have the patience for it, lol. I had a hard time making the one with Wendy on the cruise so have not tried again other than for the Christmas tag that Tim showed.

teri said...

I love this piece and love the way you photographed it, Eileen. I looks stunning.

nancy mayer said...

I thought I was already a follower.... I am now!!! I love your "stuff" and am so happy to follow your every word :}}}}

Diann said...

Awesome ART and just perfect to be the winner of the Tim Holtz giveaway....I really hope you win!
The colors are vibrant and just yell "Pick me"! Diann

Kathy2eggs said...

I see you have 108 followers now!!
Yipee!! I admire your work and can't wait to see you again. Love your canvas..
Hugs, Kathy

Carol's Crafts said...

Beautiful work of art, Eileen. I hope you win.

Sandi M said...

Eileen, you are so creative, it blows my mind sometimes! This is over the top cool. It'd look great hanging....well ...in my house ;)

Unknown said...

Very beautiful! I love the color combination and the 3d effect with the flower and accessories. I love the new colors and now am tempted to open up my Rusty Hinge. Thanks for Sharing.