Shop Til I Drop

This was a very fast and fun tag I made to match of to several blog challenge themes this week.
3 Muses theme is "The Written Word", and my back ground is made up of sales receipts of mine collaged, then inked with Vintage Photo as well as the play money which was inked with Brushed Sage which met the theme for Linda's Grungy Monday #10 "Distress Ink up something".
Gingersnap Creations theme this week is "At the Mall", and last but not least is Wednesday Stamper which has a theme of "Numbers". Thank you to the hostesses of these wonderful blog challenges.

So much time is involved in hostessing a "challenge blog". From organizing themes to posting comments on followers websites, but I truly appreciate all the challenges I am in involved with. Even though this one tag applied to several challenges each blog took me into a different direction with my art. If you haven't participated in a challenge before, give it a try. I have several listed on the right side of my blog. Sometimes we just need a little inspiration and one of these challenges might do the trick. Now go get creative ... xoxo Toni

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

This week at Gingersnap Creations the theme is "DENIM, RUST & DUST", so for my creation I dug into my treasures from a favorite junk store in my area. Got this old whiskey bottle for $1.00 and gave it a good wash with Ginger alcohol ink. Then stamped my image (from Oxford Impressions, Cowgirl Blues collection) onto tissue paper and adhered it to my burlap with Modge Podge. The tag is made from wood and inked up with Denim and Vintage Photo DI's then stamped with "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" (from same stamp collection as image). Added some beads and crinkled seam binding and then topped it off with a bottle topper that can be purchase at Studio Garage Band Etsy Shop. For that added denim piece, cut off a pocket from a pair of old jeans.
It has been so much fun being a visiting artist over at Gingersnap Creations this month. There are so many talented artists that participate in this blog challenge. I would encourage everyone to drop by this blog for wonderful challenges every week. They provide amazing tutorials and they encourage you to use different supplies that you might not normally use as well as suggest techniques to try out. Thank you Gingers for your hospitality.

Spirit in the Sky

As a visiting artist this month at Gingersnap Creations this is my contribution for inspiration for this weeks technique theme "Scene Stamping". This was a challenge for me as I am really not a "stamper", have never mastered the whole pressure and rocking and all that is involved in a nice crisp image, but hopefully you get the idea from my piece. My stamps were from Beeswax Stamps. The background was made using glassine paper and rubbing Walnut DI on the top lightly to give it that faux suede look. My image was stamped and then I used an assortment of Lindys Stamp Gang stains to color my picture. Added some fibers for texture in the sky; hence the title "Spirit in the Sky" and brushed a nice coat of beeswax over the top for a warm and aged effect.

On my right side bar I have most of the challenges I do participate in. I would encourage you to check some of these out. The talent of artist involved and the inspiration of themes suggested will open up a whole new world of art and creativity for you. Honestly don't think I would have ever tried the stamp scene technique, but really glad I did. Hope you enjoyed and thnx for stopping by. xoxo Toni

Hitching Post

Howdy Y'all.. it's Wednesday and you know what that means... new challenge over at Gingersnap Creations. As part of being one of the visiting artists this month, here is my contribution for the theme "TWINE"....This little filly isn't picky. Whether it's a young whippersnapper, a city-slicker or an ol' coot, she's gonna wrangle herself up a man. The image was from Oxford Impressions as well as the sentiment, stamped and distressed on sticky back canvas. Sign was made from old pieces of wood and broken stir sticks. The ring was a dollar store purchase and rusted up a bit. Thanks for dropping by and sitting a spell. xoxo Toni

The Wild West at Gingersnap Creations

I have the honor and privilege of being chosen as one of the "Visting Artist" for the month of May at Gingersnap Creations. A blog challenge that I frequent so often for art inspiration and tutorials.... there are some wonderfully creative people at GC.
So let's start the Hoedown Y'all... This month we're headed west ...... The Wild West. Yep that's our theme, and this week the technique we'd like you to do is "masking."My image was a stamp from Oxford Impressions from the "Cowgirl Blues". I used Tim Holtz "Weathered Clock" Alteration diecut and cut out my own mask using Ideaology Mask Sheets. Reckoned I needed to distress things up abit so I used Faded Jeans and Vintage Photo for the base colors and the images were stamped using Brown Timber Stazon. Whoa Nellie !!!! what's that I found but a bunch of old pieces of copper, so I did a bit of sanding on them and stapled some on the tag. And the clock hands were embossed with copper UTEE and then chipped off. Take time to mosey on over to Gingersnap for all the deets on this months challenges. for some unbelievable talent and exciting inspiration. xoxo Toni

It's All About Him

Happy 3rd Birthday Gingersnap Creations, and for their birthday theme it's "Copper, Ginger or Rust". I'm also entering this for Drunken Stampers challenge which is "All About Him". I used several products that I would like to give a shout out to. First, the background was created by smudging Black Soot DI all over it and then applying PK Glitz embossing powders in New England Autumn and Bronze Patina (PK's products are my very favorite glitters and embossing powders). Then just here and there I added UTEE in Copper. Used an old script stamp (can't remember where I got it). For the background colors of the picture I used Lindy's Stamp Gang MoonShadow in Crow's Nest Copper. The picture is a stamp from Oxford Impressions "The Family Man" collection. Added some jute that I tattered and inked up with Black Soot and some old copper embellies from my treasure chest. Hope you enjoy.

xoxo Toni

Spring is in the Air

This weeks theme @ Drunken Stampers is "Faux Wood", they suggested to....Ink it up, emboss it, color it any way you would like. I have had this piece of faux wood paper for a long while and decided it was time to be used. I chose to make the flowers from the wood. I distressed the edges of the tag and embossed it with Gold UTEE also using the UTEE for the stamped words and splatters. The flowers were sprayed with Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays (from top to bottom) Amaryllis Burgundy, Creme Brulee, French Lilac Violet, Tibetin Poppy Blue, Dark Chocolate Truffle, all the center flowers are Bayou Boogie Gold.

This piece qualified for a few more challenges so it has been entered in the following:

Gingersnap Creations # 92 Jewel Colors + Gold

Three Muses "Spring"

Dragons Dream Tag It On "Buttons and Bows"

Enjoy each moment of each day... hugs and kisses Toni

From Trash to Treasure

One of my favorite things to do is go looking for treasures at the local thrift and junk stores. I came upon this adorable little purse and new it would be perfect for the Artful Bag Challenge, This month the theme is "EMBELLISH". It SCREAMED Steampunk!!!.

I then dug into my wonderful stash of laces and ribbons and searched through my cogs & old watch parts.

I then wanted to add some danglies and charms and realized that would fit right in for :

Gingersnap Creations #90 challenge "CHARMS"
Studio L3 CCC #34 "Dimensional Fragments" on page 63 of "The Book". Such a cool technique, I will definitely use this one again and again.
Bling It On, a brand new challenge blog with this weeks theme, "Anything Goes" (with the added option of a charm) .

The precious little steampunk child on this charm was on a collage sheet that I purchased from Inka @ Altered Artifacts Etsy Store.

I hope you enjoyed :)
xoxo Toni

"Once Upon A Time"

Gingersnap Creations #89 is kings and queens and I kept this really simple. The stamps I used are from Oxford Impressions "Castle Keep" collection. Inked up the tag with Lindy's Stamp Gang moonshadow spray "Violaceous Violet". Have a creatively wonderful day ! xoxo

Tea Time

Gingersnap Creations #87 challenge provided a tea bag template for us to come up with a project or layout using it. Thank you Netty for the template, if you haven't already, hop over to her blog for some sensational art inspiration.

And CCC #31 is all about the Rusted Enamel technique which is on page 41 in "The Book"!!! The colors I used for the rusted enamel technique is Spun Sugar for the base and then aged with Victorian Velvet. This is a technique that I use quite frequently, so much fun !!! Hope you have a sweet Valentines Day !!! xoxo