Three Muses: Odd Bird Challenge

This week Indybev over at Three Muses gave us a marvelous challenge called "Odd Bird"! Don't you love it?

If you have been following me and my art for any length of time you might have noticed that I have a quirky sense of humor and the deep need to build layers of meaning into everything I create. Well, this challenge was not exception. Take a look.....

"be IRREPLACEABLE"

Supplies:

Chipboard tag (natural color)

Ledger Statement Stamp

Flocked number 3 (hint: this is one of the layers)

Black Soot Distress Crackle Paint

ArtChix Birdy Paper Dolls Image Sheet

Black square punchinella

Raven wing and 3 tail feathers (found on etsy)

2 clock hands

4 brads

7 Gypsies tape

"be IRREPLACEABLE" transparent sticker

Color Throwdown #103

This week's Color Throwdown challenge is to use the colors Certainly Celery (pale green), Red Riding Hood (red), and River Rock (tan). When I first saw the colors I immediately thought about Christmas. However, it is a little to early in the year for me to start making Holiday cards so I opted for gift tags. Three to be exact.

As you can see my style leans more towards the sophisticated then the traditional holiday style. I am really pleased how they came out and think the receivers (whoever they end up being) could use them as ornaments next year.

Ornament Gift Tag

Supplies: 

Standard Shipping tag

Joys of the Season Cricut cartridge

Tim Holtz's ATC Tiny Textures - Mini Dots stamp

Tapestry Background Stamp

Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, and Barn Door DI

Clear and Antique Gold embossing powder

Queen's Jewels in Topaz

Vintage ribbon (rec'd with Red Lead orders)

Topiary Gift Tag

Supplies:

Tea stained shipping tag

Joys of the Season Cricut cartridge

 Tim Holtz's ATC Tiny Textures - Mini Swirls stamp

Foliage Statement Stamp

Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, and Barn Door DI

Clear embossing powder

1/8" wired gold ribbon

Vintage ribbon (rec'd with Red Lead orders)

 Stocking Gift Tag

Supplies:

Tea stained shipping tag

Joys of the Season Cricut cartridge

 Tim Holtz's ATC Tiny Textures - Mini Stripes stamp

Ledger Statement Stamp

Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, and Barn Door DI

Clear and Peeled Paint Distressed embossing powder

Mini gold Star charms and gold jump rings

1/8" wired gold ribbon

Vintage ribbon (rec'd with Red Lead orders)

Compendium of Curiosities - Challenge 7: Tinted Visions Fragments

Studio L3's challenge with week is Tinted Visions Fragments pg.55. Again, this was truly a challenge for me as I could not seem to make the technique work the first two times I tried it. Then, when I finally decided to actually follow the specific instructions (note: applying the blending solution with the tool is the key) it worked!

Here are my first two attempts which don't look anything like they are supposed to but I like them just as much. They have a kind of modern edge that I find a complimentary contradiction to the images beneath. I think I will make the one on the left a pendant and I haven't decided yet about the one on the right. If you have any great ideas feel free to share them.

Lots To Do: Shapes

Nothing like waiting until nearly the last minute to finish a challenge. This is not like me and greatly upset my structured/anal/slightly compulsive side. My only excuse is that I just couldn't formulate what I wanted to do until today, late afternoon to be exact. Then throw in making dinner and parade rehearsal for my daughter's dance company and there you have it....last minute entry!

I call it ..... "The Shape of Me"

I began with focusing on the word shape and what that means to me. Funny little sayings and quips came to mind. Remember the book "The Shape of Me and Other Stuff" by Dr. Seuss? That sparked the use of the mannequin shape which not only represents a body but also has significance for me in creative ways. 

Then I did a little research on sayings that included the word shape. I chose things that touched or moved me in some way. I varied the fonts for interest, design, and ease of reading. I printed it out, aged the paper with Antique Linen Distress Stamp pad then spray it down with a blending solution which I rubbed around with my finger. I coated the mannequin chipboard form with Heavy Gel Medium and while the paper was still damp I laid it over the form and gently pressed it down around the shape. Again using water color crayons I highlighted the edges of the paper and the form to make it pop. 

I covered an 8x10 canvas panel with a beautiful paper napkin I got from Sky Blue Pink using Modge Podge. After it dried I traced the edges of the flowers and leaves very simply with water color crayons.

I attached the finished body form to the canvas with Heavy Gel Medium and added my initials to the upper left corner.

Mermaid Challenge

ArtChix Blog Art Challenge: Mermaids * Merpeople * Meranimals due August 2, 2010. If you haven't discovered ArtChix and their amazing image and collage sheet you must go have a look. Not only are the products high quality but their people are also amazing!

For this challenge I had no idea what I wanted to do so I began by cutting our some Mermaid tails on the Cricut using the Paperdoll Dress Up cartridge and a cool blue/green textured-look paper. Then I went to my notebook of ArtChix image sheets and settled on Playful Nudes and Chixies Hat Affair. I used all kinds of embellishments like: a tiny crown, an altered crown brad, stick on pearls, real shells, fresh water pearl beads, Smooch Accent Ink, and Pearl-Ex.

What started out to be a mobile idea evolved into a 3D table-top piece. What do you think?

Three Muses: Mail Art

This week Three Muses has chosen the theme Mail Art. I am very new to this form of art as I have only done two altered envies before this attempt. I am in awe of the artwork already posted in the comments section. 

Lack of experience was not going to hold me back though. Like most things I do these days, I threw caution to the wind and jumped in with both feet. I had a used manila envelope that had been written on with pen all across the front so the first thing I wanted to do was to cover that in some way. 

I first swiped it with Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink Pad and then with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink Pad. This gave the orangy envelope a nice green forest look so that set the tone for what I would do next. I found two ArtChix Images from the Gypsy Heart Collage Sheet I wanted to use. As I cut them out and laid them on the envelope I was instantly reminded of Little Red Riding Hood and so it grew from there. I found some great trees online and of course a wolf head that I printed and cut out, I used a piece the fairy tale map found on the inside cover of Jack Kent's Book of Nursery Tales, some colored pencils, a little more Distress Ink in greens and brown textured embossing powder. 

I did not specifically add places to write in To and From addresses but I did place the images so that there is a space to put them later.

Color Throwdown #102

This week on Color Throwdown we have three wonderful colors to create with. They make me think of the sea although I created a flight style card. Oh well, maybe I will get a chance to make another one and I can focus on the sea. In the meantime, here is my entry.

Some lucky group member of mine will be receiving this the next time I send out a swap. Will it be you?

Diary 2011 and The Sketchbook Projects

 Over the past few years I wasn't doing much with my art abilities, at least not challenging art. I would make some jewelry, paint some on small items, decorate, make clothing, and take photographs but nothing really to explore and push myself. I was playing safe....ugh! Enough of that!

This year I wanted to create art and be the artist I am inside so I took a huge leap out of my shell artistically.I joined 6 online art groups that host swaps and challenges constantly, I do 4 blog challenges per week and I am starting to get involved in large collaboration projects. For instance...Diary 2011 and The Sketchbook Project. 

Diary 2011

A lovely lady on one of my groups wrote a post about it and before I could second guess myself I clicked on the link and signed up. Good thing too because I took the last spot! I am hoping it this is one of those kismet things as I do believe things happen for a reason. The one downfall to this is that my page (August 27th, 2011) is due on Saturday, July 23th! Eeek! So I decided to create a filmstrip of some of my already created work. Here it is....

The Sketchbook Project

"Thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the country. After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view.

Anyone - from anywhere in the world - can be a part of the project.

Each artist is sent the same blank Moleskine sketchbook. We've only got two rules: first, the book must be used in some way - no sending us back an empty book or a completely different book! Second, the sketchbook must stay within its original dimensions (because we don't want to have to provide an extra suitcase just for your book while we're touring the country).

Each book will be given a barcode so we can easily catalog it into The Brooklyn Art Library system. Once we catalog it, artists will be able to track where on the tour their book is viewed and how many times someone pulled it from the shelf - we want to make sure you can stay connected with your sketchbook!"

(content taken from website)

Compendium of Curiosities - Challenge 6: Multi Medium Collage

This week at Studio L3 our Compendium of Curiosities challenge is Multi Medium Collage on page 66.

For the second time, I have chosen to do something for myself .... my living room to be exact.

Yes, they are the same art piece but the lighting was sort of weird in different areas so I decided to post both.

Supplies:

Upcycled piece of cardboard with a slick surface

2"x3" mini canvas

Grungeboard B

Chipboard - Arrows, tag

Copper brad

Decopatch paper

Old dictionary pages

Old Math book page

Smooch Spray Ink - Limolicious

Tim Holtz Timeworks mask

Distress Stamp pads - Pumice stone, Rusty Hinge, Crushed Olive

Solid stamp pads - brown, black

Micron Pen - sepia

Clear embossing powder

Lots To Do: Stitches

Well, Lots To Do's Stitches challenge this week is right up my alley!

I began hand sewing when I was about 8 years old. I made doll and Barbie clothes with scraps of fabric and absolutely no knowledge of what I was doing. Even so, the things I created weren't half bad and are still holding up to this day. When I was about 10 my Great Aunt gave me her antique peddle-foot Singer sewing machine so that I could learn to machine sew. I still made doll clothes but also started sewing for myself. At 13, my Grandmother gave my a brand new electric Brother sewing machine complete with decorative stitches and buttonholes. I have been sewing ever since!

Even though I know the challenge wasn't necessarily about sewing that is where my heart took me. This is the first piece I have ever created just for myself. I used papers I love and things that mean something to me personally. For instance, "Sew like the wind" is from the movie Three Amigos and it's something my husband always says to me when I am sewing. I hope you enjoy!

"Sew Like The Wind"

Supplies:

Recycled card from a group member

Papers from: Handmade Viola Vita Adhesive Paper Pad and BW Mira Designer Mat Pad both by K&Co.

Lace and stitch clear stamps

Letter stamps

Black stamp pad

Cricut "Forever Young" cartridge

Maya Road Sew Cute Mini Chipboard Diecuts

Scissors brad

Circle brad

Variegated embroider floss

Brass safety pin

Embossing powder - clear and black

Burnt Sienna Acrylic Paint

Silver Gel Pen

ArtChix Sister-Site Lotto Entries

My yahoo group, well not my yahoo group as I am only a moderator, ArtChix Sister-Site holds bi-monthly lottos where you create ATCs using at least one art bit or image from ArtChix Studio based on a theme chosen by the past winner. Confused? Well, it isn't as complicated as it sounds and it is lots of fun. If you like ArtChix images this group is for you! 

Our latest themes: Travel due on July 31st and Favorite Color due August 15th were really fun to do today. Check out my entries below.

Her Handbasket is packed - Travel Lotto

Supplies:

Cat Love Collage Sheet

Her Words Collage Sheet

Background is the inside cover of Jack Kent's Book of Nursery Tales (scanned and reduced)

Prismacolor colored pencils

I am so BLUE - Favorite Color Lotto

Supplies:

Lovely Images and Words Collage Sheet

Dazzling Doorways Image Sheet

I'm Blue Collage Sheet

A free transparency from ArtChix

Blue Nouveau Inchies

Paper flower with rhinestone brad (Oriental Trading)

Three Muses: Flying Carpet Travels

This week's challenge on Three Muses is Flying Carpet Travels. So far there have been some amazing entries. I decided to take the challenge literally and create a Flying Carpet postcard.

Supplies:

The background is reused cardboard packaging with a slick side

ArtChix image   Starry Night

Distress Ink Pads - Barn Door, Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey, and Stormy Sky

Cricut - Paper Doll Dress Up (Indian Palace)

Handmade Viola Vita Adhesive Paper Pad by K&C Co. (Indian Palace)

Navy blue handmade paper (mountains)

Copper colored paper (sun)

Scrap wallpaper stamped red (carpet)

Gold fibers (rug tassels)

Smooch Accent Ink - Sundance (sun)

Stickles - Yellow (sun)

Acrylic paint - white

Compendium of Curiosities - Challenge 5: Distress Powder

All I can say is it is a miracle this piece got done at all!

I will start at the beginning of my week with the announcement of the challenge. Distress Powders! Oh no.....do I have any of those? A frantic dig through my embossing powder box confirmed I did not. So yesterday I drug my daughter and her friend to my local big box craft stores (Michaels and AC Moore) and came out empty handed (well, not empty but no Distress Powders). My last hope was to try Archivers (a scrapbookers heaven). Because I have a severe paper addiction I avoid this store like an alcoholic avoids a bar! But I was desperate and I thought surely if anyone would have it they would. WRONG! 

Disappointed and sad that I would not be able to participate this week I lost my desire to create anything plus I was exhausted. Note to everyone...don't take 10 year old girls into a craft store unless you are crazy!

This morning I decided to try one more place, Joann's Fabric & Crafts. I called first this time and low and behold they not only had some, they had 6 colors to choose from AND they were on sale! Ahhhhhh, the muse was smiling on me once again. So I drove into town and picked up 3 colors for under $10.

 

 

Now I know I said the muse was smiling but I have no idea whose muse it was because what I created doesn't look like anything I ever do. And I am not sure I did the powder right because it doesn't look that distressed to me. LOL! Oh well, at least I got to participate.

Black and White Tags Challenge

The tag of the month for July at Art For The Creative Mind is Black and White. Not sure if this was meant to be literal or figurative but I went for the literal as I am very drawn to strong contrast. Like usual, when I have to create two of something they are usually vastly different.

The Artist Within

Created on a white tag masked and stamped all over with a text stamp in black. I then removed the mask and stamped the Artist stamp and embossed with black. I set three black eyelets along the bottom and added beads and lalique disks. A white paper flower and an over-sized comma finish it off.

The C Family tag

This tag is not actually "white" but more cream (gee, I hope that is okay). Anyway, my partner's last name begins with a C so this one is personalized just for her. 

I used a lovely paper that I reused from a presentation folder. I stamped the background with Tapestry Background stamp and embossed with Black Soot Distressed powder. Next I applied adhesive ribbon to the top and bottom of the tag. I used my Cricut machine and the Heritage set to cut out the C. A Family snap on ribbon finishes it off.

Color Throwdown #101

This weeks Color Throwdown is:

I was super excited about working with "kraft" as I have really been feeling craft paper lately. Plus these colors are right up my alley.

Supplies:

craft card stock

Tapestry Background stamp from Red Lead

Turquoise stamp pad

Turquoise embossing powder

Viola Vita Adhesive Paper Pad by K&C Company

Black grosgrain ribbon

Double sided tape

Lots To Do: People and/or Places Challenge

So here is my entry for this week's Lots To Do Challenge: People and/or Places. I call it ......

Urban Goddess

(I apologize for the severe camera angle but it was the only way to get the photo without glare)

This is an ATC size art piece. The materials I used are:

Tim Holtz ATC stamp

A graphic style female stamp

A stamped metal wing brad (cut in half)

Distress Stamp pads in Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire

Alcohol Ink in Sunbright Yellow

Smooch Accent Spray in Golden Yellow

Smooch Accent Inks in Kiwi, Sapphire, Pool, Molasses, and Silver Fox

Martha Stewart Dye Markers in Lady Bug, Tropical Sun, and Evergreen

Shimmer Chalk in black and orange

Aquacolor crayon in White

Black Mircron Pen .005

Inkssentials White Opaque Pen

Colored Pencils in assorted grays and browns

I Love Art Bingo Game

Hello friends, I just wanted to share some exciting news for me and a great new game with you......

It's I Love Art Bingo Game and my art is part of the game!

A couple of months ago I participated in a wonderful ArtChix swap called "I Love (fill in the blank) twinchies. Each participant made twinchies (2" square collages) celebrating the things they love. Although I was not one of the 10 lucky winners I do have one of my twinchies featured on the game! Isn't that so exciting? Well, it is for me anyway. Mine is the one that says "I love no one but you" and has a couple snuggling cheek to cheek.

You find this super fun game at ArtChix and Stampington & Co.

I can see it now.....an artsy girls night in with cocktails (or coffee) and the I Love Art Bingo game!

Three Muses Rust Challenge

This week Three Muses has chosen Rust for their theme. When I saw the sneak peek of this last week I started contemplating what I wanted to do. I have some neat rusty hearts, stars, and moon that I intended to do something great with. However, as like most things I create.......what emerged from my hands had nothing to do with what was in my mind. So I give you.......

"Rusty Memories"

The background was created using Tim Holtz Rusted Enamel technique from the Compendium of Curiosities book. To that I added a rusty key, torn sheet music, an old postcard, an old letter, a beat up bottle cap,  a vintage earring piece, a digitally enhanced photo I took on Ellis Island, three "rusty" brads, and a watch glass. I used three images from ArtChix: a vintage Hollywood image, an insect image, and a vintage ticket image. I also used Tim Holtz distressed ink pads in Rusty Hinge and Antique Linen to age and rust the images.

Lots To Do: Hats or Crowns Challenge

Whenever I think of hats I remember back to the "Go Dogs Go" story that I read as a child. The thing that sticks out in my mind the most is the female poodle asking "And now do you like my hat?" over and over again. The male dog is unimpressed until the very end when she puts on the craziest hat imaginable. Naturally I had to create something with this quote that is forever running in my mind!

This piece is 3x5, an odd size I know but that is the way it worked out. The background is a page from an old book, the girl is free clip art from the web, the hat is from ArtChix Studios. I used a combination of watercolor crayons and watercolors to wash out the background, Micron pens to write with, and watercolor crayons to highlight the roses and doodle with. 

CTD Challenge #100

This week is Color Throwdown's 100th challenge.

Here is my entry. Its wacky and wild.....at least I think so (hehehe)!

I used DCWV blue card blank, a rose colored Asian paper, celery card stock which I stamped and colored in with Copic markers and Smooch Accent Inks, and the finishing touch is the crazy red fibers.

Compendium of Curiosities - Challenge 4: Shabby Chic

Here is my entry for Studio L3's  Compendium of Curiosities - Challenge 4: Shabby Chic. This challenge is from page 49 of Tim Holtz's new book. If you don't have it go get it cause its great!

Supplies:

"Aged" paper in Cream from OT

Black card stock

Floral paper from Tim Holtz idea-ology Lost and Found paper stack

Foliage stamp from Red Lead

Free clip art found online

Hot Roses collage sheet from ArtChix Studio

Classy Black Labels image sheet from ArtChix Studio

Distress Ink in Antique Linen by Tim Holtz 

White stamp pad

Copic markers 

Sage Green acrylic craft paint

UHU glue stick 

This was great fun and I am really looking forward to continuing these challenges!

Color Throwdown - Cream, Turquoise, and Chocolate Challenge

I found this great blog earlier this week called Color Throwdown (don't ask me how, it was one of those following a link to another link to another link finds). Anyway, I have no idea what the rules are other than using the three colors given so I just went for it. If I goofed up somewhere along the way hopefully they will let me know. Here is my submission "Turquoise Garden"

Three Muses Steampunk Challenge

I love Steampunk so when I saw this challenge I had to jump in. I did want to create something a little different though.....what do you think of.......

 Steampunk Witch