Friday, January 28, 2011

Weathered Wood Wow!



Well, here we are on week 29 of the Compendium Challenge! Unbelievable! More so that I haven't missed one!!


This week we are on page 50, with the Weathered Wood Grunge technique. I have to admit, I only bought the Sizzix Big Shot because of these challenges, and all of Tim's fabulous dies and texture fades (and even those I wasn't sure of at the time, but now..Love Them!) I had been waiting for this one; sorta had some ideas...and this isn't what I envisioned, at all! LOL! It was supposed to be driftwoody, with old boats and shells, like my old Cape Cod home; but instead (and the fact that I was stamping in the hallway, running into my supply freezer to get stuff) it's more like my new Adirondack home. Too funny. Mostly because I just don't have any cool-tone daubers; had to use Lemonade. The squirrel stamp is from Rubber Hedgehog and the saying is from Wordsworth. Oh, and the background is my orange kitty Scratchy, who just wouldn't move out of the way! (but also wouldn't stay still for a full body portrait..which would have been really cute!)
So, I hope everyone gets this fabulous book, and even though we're almost done, jump in and get inspired! This challenge has been a ball and has gotten me to try out techniques that I never would have bothered with, some of which are now part of my "tool-box" of techniques. I hope everyone has a very crafty week-end!
-K

Saturday, January 22, 2011

More Fragment Fun! CoC #28


Wow! We ae almost finished with the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge over at Studio L3. I just don't know what I'll do when it's finished!! Since starting this blog and challenge, I have discovered a whole world of blog-hoping and other challenges, but this one isn't just about stretching your vision to meet a set of specifications, but about learning new techniques, some I knew I would never have tried on my own. This is one of them. We are on page 57, the colorful layered fragments.


I actually perused some of the earlier entries for this week (I usually try not to do that, but I had some down time at work..shhh) And I have to say, it seems these wiley fragments were getting the best of us!! I too couldn't get a good heat-set image; tried many different inks, finally got one to work, only to find out I was wrong. When flipping it over after coloring, it smudged!! I also had trouble getting good color saturation, but I liked this coloring job; so tried to overstamp. Note the registration is a bit off..but I just couldn't try one more time! LOL! It's a good thing I saw all the other awesome entries, otherwise I might consider this a "glad I did it once", but since I saw the possibilites on everyone elses, I'll keep this one in mind for a project that might need something extra. Afterall, look how many times that alcohol ink monoprint has popped up! I do love that one! So, have a wonderful crafty weekend! For those in the North East, try to stay warm in our sub-zero temps this weekend!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Distressingly Misty!


Hi All! Well, we are back on schedule with the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge over at Studio L3. This week--Distress Misting Masks found on page 60 of this marvelous book!


Now, on my initial flip through, I couldn't wait to try this technique out as I have spent a small fortune on Tattered Angels Mists, and will probably never use up a whole bottle, and these mini-misters make so much more sense!! (And cents!! LOL!) Unfortunately, it hasn't warmed up at all, and with the howling winds, I sorta blew the space heater (smoke alarm, nasty smell--good thing nothing is totally airtight so it cleared out well with the drafts) so, with the threat of hypothermia, I did this one FAST!! My color combo, which is hard to see in the photo, is peeled paint and green patina perfect pearls. I have made up three misters with my most likely used combo's. I can't wait to play some more with these!
So, have a good week everyone..stay warm if your in cold weather clime's, and stay crafty!!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Rusty Grunginess!


Welcome to the new year! No real resolutions--just to make the most out of everything that happens! But we do have great plans...hopefully that will be unfolded in the upcoming weeks!! So Stay Tuned, as they say..


So, to get back in the swing of our Compendium of Curiosities Challenge, Linda at Studio L3 has chosen page 45, Rusted Grunge. And I have to say: This technique is AWESOME!! How very cool! To get the details, you will need to get your own book, but you definately need to check this one out!


Because of my lack of time, and the fact that my studio is freezing, and it sort of fit..I went with one of the tags I was playing with from the last challenge, the scribble distress (this one worked out better). Since I have to turn off my space heater to use the heat gun, I confess, I went bare bones on this one, but I really like the way it came out. I just can't believe how this technique changes grunge into faux rust...I'm ready to rust up all my scraps! You'll see this embellishment a lot from now on! Here is a detail of the key...



So, go get rusting; there's still a bit of time; and check out everyone else's cool effects as well! See you next week.