Monday, August 16, 2010

CCC And SSSS, or A Tale Of Many Initials (and two challenges)

Okay, I hope this isn't perceived as cheating, but I have to find ways to do all I want to do and still have time for other pursuits....like doing the occasional load of laundry or talking to a friend.
So, whenever possible I'm going to see if I can create one piece as my submission for both the Compendium of Curiosities challenge AND the Simon Says Stamp And Show challenge.  Starting now and forever more, to be referred to here (again, saving time) as CCC and SSSS.  Phew....now that that is out of the way, on to the details.
This is week 10 of CCC, and the new challenge theme is:  distress stickles.  Near and dear to my heart.  I love them, have lots of them, and, in fact, spent the weekend on the finishing touches of my cruise swaps....said touches involving the application of much rock candy distress stickles.  But I digress....
The challenge theme at SSSS is to create a piece featuring the stamps and/or style of Wendy Vecchi and her Studio 490 stamps.
Now, if for some reason you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, please click HERE to learn more about CCC, and HERE to find out what SSSS is all about.
So, without further ramblings, apologies or explanations, here is my double-duty piece:
I'm pretty sure I've stuck to the theme for both challenges.  Here's what I did:
I covered a tag with milled lavender distress ink, then embossed it with Tim's damask folder, and highlighted the raised areas and edges with dusty concord distress ink.  I then rubbed the entire tag with some milled lavender distress stickles.  The top and bottom are wrapped with some tissue tape, and the bottom cut with Tim's ornate die.
I made the flower by first cutting 8 of the smaller of the two six petal flowers on Tim's tattered florals die.  (I used paper from Tim's vintage shabby stack).  Each flower was crumbled up, uncrumbled, stacked and stuck together with a brad.  Then you just have to fuss with each layer a bit to get the look you like.  I hit the edges with some dusty concord and glued a half pearl on top of the brad.
The leaves are a stamp from Wendy's dimensional rose art set.  I stamped them with archival olive on sticky back canvas and colored them with bundled sage and forest moss distress ink, attached them to some paper for a little heft, cut them out, and applied some peeled paint distress stickles.
The sentiment is from Wendy's seriously art set.  I stamped it with archival olive on a scrap from a tag which was inked to match the background.   The little flowers (dandelions????) you see behind the words are on a stamp from Wendy's botanical art set.  I cut the whole thing with a Stampin' Up punch.
One last detail.....a row on tiny pearls to go with the flower's pearl center.

35 comments:

SusanK said...

One of my fave color combos! Looks like you pulled off the two-fer poifectly! It all looks wonderful!

inge said...

Hello Eileen,

a message of you appeared on the ATT board as a reply but with no message in... BUT I knew it meant you finished your CCC10 !!

So, here I am :)

I think it's good to make one piece for both challenges, otherwise it gets hard to make it for all the challenges that are out there in blogland.
I must figure out a project... have just sewed my pages from the vintagephotoswap into a book.

About your tag : like it completely:)
I like the tissuetape on top and bottom and how you cut it with the edgedie ( I've ordered some at SSS cause it's double the price here in belgium...)

I also like the colorscheme you used : the purple and the green.
Rose looks perfect too.

greetings from belgium
Inge

Unknown said...

Hello Eileen ... I don't think it is cheating ... bit of fancy foot work never hurt anyone only in your case fancy art work! Fabulous combination of colours and great use of lots of different elements! Thank you for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show this week ... we hope to see you again next week ... something tells me you gonna LOVE next week's challenge :0)

Helen said...

I love this. You are so quick off the mark! I have to wait till I get home from work (soon, fortunately!)

Kathy Eddy said...

Awesome piece of art Eileen and I am with you. I will try to combine the two most of the time too as I never have free time!

Sherry said...

Your tag is perfect! I love it!!

Elaine A said...

Eileen -

This is gorgeous! What a great job you've done on this. And no, I don't think you are cheating.

Elaine Allen

Chris Arlington said...

What a beautiful tag, how organized are you to think of combining challenges, why not? Way to go!

Kerry said...

Eileen - that is one of the most beautiful tags I've seen - I love the color combination, the embossing, it just looks so beautiful - I hope you don't mind if I "try" it. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.

Kim said...

Your tag is absoluetly beautiful!! And I don't think its cheating a bit; there really is only so much time to create in a week (and still stay married, keep pets alive, and not have your house condemned! LOL!) Great job!

Anonymous said...

Oh Eileen!!! LOVE that tag....Purple is my FAVORITE color so that's right up my alley!!!!!

MarleneMAZ said...

This is just gorgeous! and you used purple, my favourite colour.
I see no problem using this for 2 different challenges, in fact it is a good idea.

Nancy Lynn said...

I love your tag. Very very nice, as usual. I love your artwork.

Jester said...

A beautiful tag, Eileen. Great colours.

Mary-Beth said...

Love it Eileen!!!! GORGEOUS!!!

Minxy said...

very peeerity

Diann said...

OMGosh...just breathtaking! This is one beautiful tag! I loved reading how you created this work of ART! Do you actually send it to anyone....how lucky a person could be! Diann

Nancy said...

As always: beautiful!!!!
I'm so glad you're continuing to join in the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenges - your creations are always wonderful!

Linda Ledbetter said...

Oh, heck, no, that's not cheating, that's FABULOUS! I'm so happy you were able to make a tag that fits both challenges so well, Eileen, and it's truly, utterly GORGEOUS! Even if I weren't partial to purple, I'd be enamored. Gorgeous art, my dear friend! Love that embossed background, the wonderful sentiment, and of course, the lavender stickles!

Lynne Forsythe said...

Stunning Eileen....love all the detail!! and if you can make it work (which you def did) all the power to you!!

thanks bunches for playing along with the Design Teamies and Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge!!

Terry said...

If you are cheating, we all are cheaters! Love the colors you used and the details are fantastic!

Anonymous said...

Love your gorgeous tag Eileen! I cheated too! Lol! x

Truly Lori said...

Great job on these challenges! I love the color combo and the pearls are a great touch!

Tammy D said...

Absolutely gorgeous!

Lori said...

How 'bout just callin' it the Triple CS challenge? lol! Short and sweet. I think this totally fits both challenges, so Wendy, and so sticklized! Love it! Don't tell me you're almost done with your cruise swaps?? I'm having a hard time getting all this done...don't mind me, I'm not complaining as to why I'm not getting them done...

Shannon - Desert Designs said...

Stunning!!!!

Tracy Evans said...

Great texture to the background and gorgeous colours and that flower works so well in these colours. All in all gorgeous. Tracy Evans x

SHAWN said...

Wow! I love your tag. Milled Lavender is up there with one of my favorite distress ink/stickles colors.

Art By Wanda said...

A gorgeous tag, Eileen!!!

cheryl said...

oh this really is a wonderful tag,just perectly,placed,together all the elements,just awesome hugs cheryl xx

email: Steph@SimonSaysStamp.com said...

This is stunning!! I love the colors and that flower is beautiful!

Thanks so much for entering the Simon Says Stamp & Show!!!

-Sarah

Toni said...

Hi Eileen... I just love the vintage look to this, and love how you used that other paper for your border. Looks like lace... awesome :)

Patzee said...

Cheating? No way! Your double duty submission means more time for cocktails!! Beautiful job, btw!

Maria said...

I love your contribution to Wendy's style! Love the colors.
Maria

CuddlyBunny said...

Oh man, just GORGEOUS! Love the colors and your design!

Plus, totally understanding the time issue ... just a wee bit behind on my commenting ... as you can see ... :(