Tuesday, January 25, 2011

What Do Weathered Wood And Childhood Memories Have In Common?

Absolutely nothing, but I'm once again getting a twofer out of one project for this week's challenges.

While Simon Says stamp and show us a childhood memory, Linda says, use Tim's weathered wood grunge technique.  And Eileen (that would be me) says continue using up some of the junk  stuff on and around your table (which includes the floor as well as any other surface that will support a pile).

So, here's what I came up with, and I have to say, I'm liking it.


First of all, let me assure you, I did NOT attend classes in a little red schoolhouse.  But I thought it conveyed a nice old time feeling.  With a little snipping, I converted Tim's Rickety House into a schoolhouse.  I cut it from a bright red tag I had lying around, then ran it through the brick embossing folder, and toned the red down with both black soot and vintage photo distress inks.

Both the background paper and schoolhouse door are leftovers from something.....a salted background technique which came out a bit too dark for the intended purpose.

The weathered wood grunge technique can be seen on the picket fence.  My elementary school (P.S. 213 in Brooklyn, NY, USA) was three stories high, built of light colored brick, and had an iron gate around it.  Let's just call it artistic license and move on.   The fence is one of Tim's dies, it was cut from grungepaper, and without giving away the directions, I used the wood embossing folder, lake mist paint dabber, and walnut stain distress ink.  I hope you can get a close up view of the fence because I think it really does look like weathered wood.

The flying American flag is a salvage sticker (the seasonal pack).  The little girls sitting on the fence (on a part of the fence where the points had broken off, of course) are from a Red Lead stamp, a stamp of an all girls class photo.  I'd stamped it several times for a project and this was one of the rejects.  So I just cut out this section, which had stamped well, and sat the girls down.  I used pop dots, so in person they do appear to be on top of the fence.

So, there you have it.  A weathered wood fence and a childhood memory.

Oh, and completely off topic, I'm very excited to say I just signed up for a stamp carving workshop with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer at The Ink Pad.  I'm going with friends and I can't wait!


28 comments:

Alicia B said...

What an awesome show of creativity here Eileen! I love that brick embossing technique and the weathered wood fence! *Hugs* and thanks for sharing!
PS- Have a great time at your new stamp class!

Anonymous said...

I know yu will have a great time. Can't wait to see your results.
Nancy Mayer

Vic said...

It's great!! Thanks for sharing the details. You're doing great using your "stuff" - I'm about to sweep mine into a box!

Kristy C said...

very fun piece!!!!

teri said...

I hope you'll teach me some carving techniques!! (And we know you really did go to school in a red schoolhouse eileen.)

MarleneMAZ said...

Great piece Eileen! I love how you converted the house die, it looks fabulous. Have fun at Julie's class, I love her blog and her art.

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh I LOVE this!!!! And your title too!!!

Karin R. said...

Aaahhh, that is so great!! Yet another use for the rickety little house.

Pam said...

the schoolhouse is awesome! love the weathered fence too!
Pam

donna said...

Brilliant! I love your schoolhouse and the fence is perfect weathered wood!

Kathy Eddy said...

Fabulous Eileen! I love how you yurned it into a schoolhouse and used the bricks.

Anonymous said...

It's totally brilliant Eileen! Love the school house! x

Unknown said...

Love the way your little school house came out, altho you're right ... it's doesn't look like any school in Brooklyn I've ever seen! lol

SusanK said...

Lovely memory and great job on the ww challenge. Haven't started either of mine...still waiting for my muse to appear. Can't wait to hear about the stamp carving class.

Suzanne Bouchard said...

Good idea to make a school house the rickety die! love this creation. The two little kids sitting on the fence make me smile! Thanks

Chris Arlington said...

Eileen, you are too funny. I could really relate to your post. I love what you made. Creative people are great teachers. We need more.
(I am not a teacher)
Retired person
Chris Arlington

Shelly Hickox said...

I love that you transformed the Rickety House into a schoolhouse - so inspired!

Lori said...

Love this idea! You conveyed it very well! All the techniques you used are awesome, and the images of the girls is great! And how lucky you get to take another class, woohoo!!

Lori said...

Oh, and thanks for joining the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge!

Wendy said...

What a great idea with the house and the fence. Wonderful card.

Mary-Beth said...

So clever Eileen!! I love it!

Angie Hall Haviland said...

LOVE It, Eileen!! SO CREATIVE!! :)

Terry said...

Love that you used that old house! Another fabulous work of art!

Barbara Mason said...

Love how this came out --it doesn't look like PS 197 either!!! Love the weathered fence>

inge said...

Hello Eileen,

I LOVE your red school ! It proves the diversity of Tim's rickety house once again.

It 's great that you use up all your scraps : they are discoveries !

I'm a bit jealous on all the great workshops you are following ! Share your experiences with a poor Belgian girl...LOL

greetings from belgium
Inge

Linda Ledbetter said...

I'm liking it, too, Eileen. A LOT! This is a brilliant use of the Weathered Wood technique AND the Rickety House and Fence dies. You're right-- the picket fence does look exactly like weathered wood.

This is the perfect little red schoolhouse, and now I just want to know which of the little girls is most like you as a schoolgirl. They're darling!

Great job. As always!

Nancy said...

I LOVE this, Eileen!! ALL of the elements are great!
Thanks for joining us at the Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge!

Elaine Akers said...

Another wonderful piece of fun art.
Elaine