Two Challenges, An Etsy Shop and a Tutorial

Ah, how easy it was this week to do another double-duty piece for the CCC and SSSS challenges.  Please click on the respective initials to learn more about each one.  Why do I love these challenges so much?  I find it easier to work with a focus sometimes.  I am an admitted technique junkie, so love the opportunity to try new ones.  I am a sucker when prizes are in the offering.  Though I've not won anything yet, my competitive side lives in hope.
This week's CCC is the blended batik technique, to be found on page 36 of Tim's book.  And at SSSS, we're to do anything Lord Tim of Holtz inspired.  Pretty obvious that I can get two for the price of one here.
So, without further ado, blathering, digressing, here is my Lord Tim of Holtz inspired blended batik tag:

For the technique itself (which is what you see in the background) I used a bunch of neutrals....old paper, vintage photo, tea dye, and antique linen distress inks.  The stamps I used:  Post Card is from Tim's Letter to Santa set, and the script is from his French Marketplace set. Over the technique I stamped the postmark (also from French Marketplace) in walnut stain, and the Eiffel Tower (a Stampin' Up stamp) in black soot.

The ticket and advertisement, tucked under the large grommet are from the 100th Collection set and French Marketplace respectively, and I stamped them on scraps of manilla tags and inked and distressed them with a variety of the same neutral inks used on the large tag.

I finished it off with some lace ribbon on top and bottom, and that made me just have to use the image of the lovely lady, snipped from a Graphic45 sheet.

Now, what's this about an etsy shop?  No, not mine....I still have some issues with selling stuff (and let's just leave my issues out of this blog, thank you very much), but the shop of a good friend with mega talent.  Remember this?

 It is the fabulous one-of-a-kind charm necklace done for me by my friend Val.  Val's necklaces are stunning, and she has opened at etsy shop.  Check it out.....you won't see jewelry like this anywhere else.

As for the last reference in this blogpost title, every other Tuesday I do a technique tutorial on the Paper Imagery Designs blog, and today is that day.  Come and visit me there and see how to make some cool backgrounds with melted crayons!

Journal Pages, A Technique, and yes, A Giveaway!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I recently signed up to be part of yet another collaborative journal group, this one with Frida Kahlo as its theme.  The launch date is June 15, and I have done some more work on my journal.
First of all, I tweaked my cover art.   Here is the original cover:

And here is the new (and I think improved) version.  Can you spot the difference?

Well, I didn't think you could miss it.  I drew the lizard on grungepaper, cut it out, inked it and decorated it with gel pens, glaze pens, german scrap, and dimensional pearls.  His eyes are half pearls that I painted.  You can't see his tongue, but it hangs off the page and is made of a coil of wire.  Pretty cool.

I've also been drawing some folkloric images on paper handmade in Mexico (thank you Lori!  see, I finally used some!) and added some to this page, which may wind up being my back cover,  Or not.  But it will be in my book somewhere:

I needed some sort of sign-in page.  My journal is very small (6x6"), but I was determined to give the artists tags to decorate and sign.  And, I wanted to use my new friend, the sewing machine.  I covered a piece of cardboard with fabric, then sewed on strips of acetate to form pockets.  There are enough for everyone in the group, and I did one myself.  Remember, the whole page is only six inches square.  The tags are tiny!

Next, I just want to remind you that every Tuesday (that would be today) I post Technique Tuesday on the PID blog, and today we're using bleach as paint.  Hop over there and check it out.  Sneak peek:

OK. Journal pages, check.  Technique, check.  What else was I going to talk about?  Oh, yes, my giveaway. Well, yesterday I shamelessly bribed you for six more followers so I'd have an even 100, and you've outdone yourselves, people.  I'm now up to 108.  LOL!   Well, this is what I have to offer.   Back when Tim's new book came out, he was giving away very cool work aprons for those who ordered the book directly from him.  He had only a limited number, and I was one of the lucky ones to receive one.    Subsequently, I got yet

another one, a gift from my friend Elena, host of the wonderful Key Largo retreat.   So, I am giving away one of them.   It's a nice full apron with adjustable straps, two big pockets, and plenty of blank space to decorate, if you care to.

And, of course, the top is already printed with some of Tim's most popular stamps:

So, if you'd like a chance to own this limited edition piece, leave a comment on this post and I'll pick a winner next week, after the holiday weekend.  But please want this to use it.  If I see it on ebay I'll be VERY upset.  And upsetting a Brookyn-born girl is not recommended.

Background Techniques

Every Tuesday I post a background technique on the Paper Imagery Designs blog.  I don't think I've ever mentioned that before, so I'm telling you now.  Take a trip over there and check it out.  On the sidebar you'll see a list under the word "Labels."  If you click on "Technique Tuesday,"  you'll see all of them.

Angelic ATC and a link to a cool technique

Every week I participate in a challenge at the Paper Imagery Designs yahoo group.  And every week I post the technique I used on the PID blog.
This week's theme is "angels," and here is the ATC I did:

The background was done with mesh drywall tape.  Check out the tutorial on the PID blog for complete details and several variations.

Now, go raid the hardware store and make art!

Fragment Charm Necklace and Brad Bracelet

Friday night Heidi and I held our monthly jewelry class, and what a great one it was!  Remember the fragment charm necklace I made with Wendy on the cruise?

I loved this project so much, I decided that it would be what I'd teach at the class.  Check out all the busy hands:

 Not everyone finished their necklaces in class (I didn't finish mine until I got home from the cruise), but they all did most of the work and just need to do assembling and finishing touches.  Pat's is already beautiful:

Speaking of Pat, here she is with Heidi (Pat's the one wearing a Ho Ho Ho banner as a necklace).  Hey, it was a jewelry class, and I'm always preaching that anything can be jewelry.

Yes, that's a wine bottle in her hand.  Wonder when these women will cheer up.  LOL!

Gayle and Corris look like they're having a good time.

I don't know exactly what Kahena was saying, but I'm sure it was funny.  She is a hoot!  And I don't know what Gayle was doing, but it sure looks like some dance moves.

Pat is sometimes known as the Queen of Tools and Gadgets.  Does she own every one ever made?  She just looks so at ease with the pliers.

Question to self:  why don't I have a picture of Rosie B?????  Oh, I do have an answer....I have a picture, you just can't see her face!  But you can see how much thought she put into arranging her charms:

If you're interested in learning more about how to create a fragment charm necklace, click here, and you'll be taken to the PID blog and a tutorial.  The technique is the same, we just used different papers and chains in the class.

Heidi's project was a brad bracelet.  She has a huge stash of brads, and all you need to do is attach them to a link bracelet and kind of bend the brad legs under themselves with a pliers.  Harder to explain than to do.  You just want them attached but not moving around, and you don't want to see the legs.  So you hold the tip of each leg with the pliers and bend them around and then flatten them out against the chain.  I selected brads to give my bracelet a vintage feel, and I really like it.  Thanks, Heidi!

New Tutorial

I love trying new background techniques, and the quicker and easier they are, the more I like them. I just posted a tutorial on the PID blog. Click here to check it out!