Gothic Arches & CC # 12/ "Pushing Up Daisies"

Tackled two challenges on this piece. Gothic Arches theme is "Daisies" and we are now in week #12 for Compedium of Curiosties challenge which is "chipped enamel", which I love this technique..

I also used Tim's shabby chic technique on the tombstone to give it texture and stone-like appearance. The image in the frame is a lenticular sticker which gives it that eerie look. I have used the "worn enamel" technique before and it continues to be one of my fav's. Tim's book is a must have if you are into altering pieces. I just love participating in different challenges. It drives you into different directions, encourages me to use products that I tend to forget about. And all the other bloggers involved are priceless .... TFL xoxo

Studio L3 "CC #11" Blended Batik

Where has the time gone... we are already enjoying technique #11 which is Blended Batik... OMGosh how much fun is this... Too cool Sir Tim !

Jump over to Linda's blog for some amazing art inspiration... 88 pieces of art inspiration joined this weeks challenge. HUMMMMMM I would have been 89 but I was a tad late in posting my entry. Well gotta go and look at everyone's batik beauties.... xoxo Toni

Alter It Monthly "Music"

For the month of August Alter it Monthly has a theme of "Music". Their sponsor this month happens to be The Altered Element which has amazing items for your altered projects. You have to hop over to their website and take a lookie.

My altered piece I submitted happens to be a tribute to my sweet heart of a brother Tracy G.... an amazing and brilliant guitarist & music writer. At first glance he looks rough and intimidating, but "Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover".

The foundation of my altered piece was an old music book salvaged from a junk store. A niche was created to house many very special photos of Tracy from long ago to now.

Quote by Tracy G given during a radio interview.

As far as the randomness embellishments, this was also created for a art scavenger hunt, where we were provided a list of items to find and make something with it. Some of those items were, feathers, washers, nuts & bolts, metal, wire, paper clips, old postage stamps, concert tickets, popsicle sticks, and a whole bunch more items.

Enjoying the Journey with ATC's

Tomorrow is going to be my very first ATC swap hosted at Stamp Your Heart Out in quaint Claremont Village. My special artsy friend Sandra talked me into participating in this and I have to admit, I really had fun making these little cards. Started off with old cardboard and embossed it with Tim Holtz textured fade , used walnut stain for my base. Then sprayed it with Lindy Stamp's Treasure Island Aqua, it provided a wonderful patina effect.

Embossed the edges with PK Glitz embossing glitter "Bronze Patina". Then glammed it up with some vintage movie film from Studio Garage Band's Etsy store and some handmade labels made out of grungpaper which is also sold at their store.

Thanks again Sandra for the push to get involved with this.

Studio L3 Challenge/ CC# 10 Distressed Stickles

Good morning everyone, over at Studio L3 we are on CC #10 and we are stickleling (is that a word ??) up things the T!m Holtz way. I just love bling and sparkle, but sometimes, oh... many times you I want that subtle vintage glassy look to your projects. Distressed Stickles is that perfect product to use. I used Scattered Straw, Faded Jeans, Brick Red, Picket Fence, Rock Candy & Milled Lavender.

Take a hop over to Studio L3 and get ready to be inspired by some amazing artists.

**** Note: just as a little heads up... Ranger has just released Distressed Stickles in the matching colors of the "new" Distressed Ink Pads. The entire set of 12 are going to be sold at Studio Garage Band Etsy store. If you are interested, you can visit their store and send them a note and they can place you on the pre-order list for these sets. Product should be received in the Etsy store no later than 9-3-10 ***

So Cal Shop Hop 2010

Today had so much fun running around with scrapbook buddies and hopping from one store to another spending $$$$$ of course. When you think you have it all, try visiting stores you have never been too or going to those that you haven't visited in awhile... Woosh.... head rush.

We laughed and laughed and ate, then laughed, and spent money and laughed some more. Only went to 5 stores, but by the look of the trunk of the car, it appeared that we had visited a whole lot more. First stop 1) Scrapbooking Made Simple, Santa Clarita, wonderful owner Stacey took so much time to teach us new techniques, and was so generous with freebies for us. Off to Craft Connection, also in Santa Clarita. Small but jammed with Tim Holtz 7 Gypsies and some cool 70's paper that will look great in my highschool layouts I'm getting ready to do. Then off to a HUUUUUGE store called Remember When in Valencia. A private crop is already in planning stages. Yes gang, it is definitely worth driving all the way to this store for a crop. Accu-cut center to die for, and product galore!!!!!

Then we headed towards home, and stopped off at Pages of the Heart and Scrap N Yap both in quaint Monrovia... had to spend what little cash we had left. Just love that I have scrapbook buddies to share this wonderful hobby with. Looking forward to more fun right around the corner...

Studio L3 "CC #9" Distress Crackle

Over at Studio L3, wonderfully creative Linda Ledbetter is hosting a great challenge for all you Tim Holtz lovers... and you know who you are :) This week the challenge is page 42 in the Compendium of Curiosities technique book.

If you want a ton of art inspiration, you must jump over to Studio L3's blog. Participants there are unbelievable. My tag this week is called "Get a room"... hummmm my couple is a bit taken with each other. Used Tim's grungeboard for the key hole, some of his Lost and Found paper found it's way onto this tag and also incorporated a fragment. The crackle colors I used were Vintage Photo and Rock Candy, but if you want to know how to do this, get out your book and follow Tim's instructions...and remember "Distress to take away the stress".. xoxo

Theme Thursday & Three Muses

Well I had to pair these two challenges together, after all "Halloween" for Theme Thursday challenge and "Doors" for 3 Muses challenge, how perfect is that. You never know what's behind THE DOOR...... I got my inspiration for this piece from the spider which is called Black Magic Woman and is sold at Studio Garage Band etsy shop or Studio Garage Band blog. And what is behind the door you ask, well it's "Cold Ethel" body parts also sold at Studio Garage Band. How fun are these. The stamps are all from Oxford Impressions the "Wicked" line. Oh and by the way, "Cold Ethel" does come with a head, I just chose to save it for another project...BWAHAHAHAHA

GOTHIC ARCH CHALLENGE "Crowns"

The theme at Gothic Arches is "Crowns"... I dug into my old school stash of scrapbook goodies and found all of these embellies. I've really been trying hard to USE my craft goodies instead of hoarding them...TFL.... now off to blog hop and see everyone else's wonderful crown creations... xoxo

Studio L3 "Compendium of Curiosities #8"

I had alot of catching up to do for this blog challenge as I had been waiting for my book to come in the mail. Over at Studio L3 they are working on Challenge #8 which is distressing grungeboard or grungepaper... (both smell phenominal to me). Let's turn to page 39 and follow Mr T!'s directions. I'm keeping all my tags ringed together in my "Curiosties Collection". There is soooo much knowledge in this book. If you haven't gotten it, and you love to get messy with inks and stuff, it is definitly a must have on your bookshelf.

GOTHIC ARCH CHALLENGE "Owls"

Gothic Arches has a theme of "Owl" this week. This is on the whimsy side with a touch of bizarre, hench Mildred. Maybe it's the hot weather this week that is to blame for my warped sense of humor. Stamp used for chandelier as well as Mildred are from Oxford Impressions. 3 Muses's theme last week was "Odd Bird" but I didn't get these pics downloaded in time for that theme. Off to work on their challenge for this week's theme of "Love is Blind"

GOTHIC ARCH CHALLENGE "Marie Antoinette"

This week at Gothic Arches challenge the theme is Marie Antoinette and I chose to use my bees wax for this to give it that old vintage aged look. The pictures really don't do it justice but you need to try it, you will love it.
The image I got off the internet and applied to chipboard arch. Then added perfect pearls patina colors for the highlighted colors on the side. To add another dimension to the clothing, I took old fashion school glue rubbed a layer on with my finger let it dry just until it was tacky and then applied a another coat of bees wax. This technique works great with acrylic paints, actually makes great cracks in your art. The bees wax didn't work as well but still provided me area to distress ink for texture effect. The crystals hanging from the vintage flowers were purchased at Studio Garage Band Etsy Shop, they also have the Melting Pot & BeesWax for sale.
Thanks for looking xoxo Toni

Theme Thursday, Dragons Dream TIO, & Mixed Media Monday

Well this one piece covered 3 different challenges that I love to participate in. Theme Thursday is "Vintage Tag"; Dragons Dream TIO is "Say it with Numbers" & Mixed Media Monday is "Play Things". Awhile back I was experimenting with aging tags using coffee and baking them in the oven. Made the house smell real good, but didn't really like how they came out. I used to much coffee and the tags came out very dark. So this one was perfect for my Ouija board, looks alot like wood. All the stamps I used are from Oxford Impressions "Haunted" series.

Yea... back in the 70's my mom would play with the Ouija board with us. It scared me to death. Glad to say I know longer rely on a board for direction but I look to the Lord. Still I think the stamp is awesome, brings back funny memories of old play things....

Hummmm I predict you will be creating something in the future.... oh just go and have fun with your paper and scissors... :)

3 MUSES "Mail Art"

The theme this week at "3 Muses" is MAIL ART. If you have seen the movie Letters to Juliet, then you will get this piece of mine.

It's a charmingly romantic movie placed in Italy, and a young girl joins a group of ladies whom they call themselves the secretaries of Juliet. They respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. This is my take on it. You see after 30 years of marriage I am divorced and one of the lines in the movie is "what if I have a second chance with love". I have always been a hopeless romantic, and even though I am vey happy finding "me" and enjoying "me " it would be nice to know that Romeo is somewhere out there for me... hahahaha. Hope you enjoy, The picture below is the beginning of my brick wall which I made from textured paper towels, masking tape and gesso glued on a canvas and then just gobs of paint...oooo so much fun.

Dragons Dream TIO "Shabby Chic"

The tag theme this week for Dragons Dream is "Shabby Chic". I made this tag in the shape of a house because if I had my choice my entire home would be decorated shabby chic. There is something clean, fresh, feminine, romantic about shabby chic.

Some of the most perfect embellishments for this project were ..... 1. Victorian Chandelier Crystals, 2. Dove stickpins, 3. Lullabye buds, all are sold at Studio Garage Band Etsy store

THREE MUSES challenge "Rust"

Three Muses always pushes you right out of that creative box with their themes, and this week is no different. If any one knows me, then they know I love that old, grundgy, vintage look, so I had a real good time rusting up some goodies. Dug deep into my basket of T!m goodies and used his clock masks for the back drop on my canvas, Word stick "Time" and birdcage die cut which I just love.

The canvas, birdcage and dove stickpins got a good washing of rusting chemicals. These bird cages in all their rusted and patina'd glory will soon be for sale at our store "Studio Garage Band"

. TFL... xoxo Toni

Small World of Inchies and Twinchies "Fishy"

This months theme at SW of I & T is "fishy". I just love textures of all kinds and recently came upon this beautiful Roving Merino Wool. I had some that resembled the oceans water so thought it would be a nice backdrop for my "fishy. I added fabric sizing to give it form and added it to my twinchie, then made lots of fish out of shrinky dink as well as my "Skools Out" sign, and you can't see it but I glued tiny sea shells all around the outside of the canvas... Hope you enjoyed :) xoxo Toni

The Envelope Project "Meet Me @ Mike's"

Thought it would be loads of fun to join this challenge. You send a few wonderful crafting items in an decorated envelope to the address in Austrailia and in a couple weeks a very lucky person is drawn and they get ALLLLLLL the goodies that have been mailed in all over the world... I am the 279th entry, so that means alot of goodies. My envelope included some vintage movie film strip and acrylic chandelier gems, both sold at Studio Garage Band store... a hand made tag using one of Mr. T!m's techniques, old ephemera and whimsical paper flowers. Check out the website to see more information. Can't win unless you play... :)

xoxo Toni

Vintage Pleated Flowers

Recently took a class learning to make these wonderful pleated flowers with the "Amanda Jane" smocking machine... Wowzer, fun class but intense. Needed a glass of wine after that one. I have a new appreciation for women who make those beautiful dresses and blouses using this machine. But the end result is so worth it. My pictures are featured on "Vintage Affair" blog. These were made using everything vintage, except the thread...... very cool.

Each one was made with a little different technique. The gold one, actually was yellow ribbon, but once it was pleated it takes on a whole different effect. Vintage chenille was used for the flower center and the stamens were dipped in German glass glitter. The beige flower has vintage pearl stamens and the blue flower was made reversing the top layer of the ribbon from the bottom so it looks like it's two differnt colors of blue...

For the last several months I have been fortunate enough to participate in some wonderfully creative classes with artist and book author Arlene Baker. She is amazing and hosts a monthly class offering a dfferent technique class each month. Thank you so much Arlene for your hospitality and knowledge offered to us ladies.