Cheerful and Optimistic

 

Hi There!!!!  Life is always better when we are cheerful and optimistic.  For me, as long as my focus is where it should be - on God - then cheerful and optimistic happens!!

I recently got some Viva Signature Cloth paper towels.  These were mentioned during the Tim Holtz demos this summer whenever he shared a technique that he wanted a smooth paper towel for.  One technique he shared is Eroded Metallics.  This is a technique done with Distress Paints.  I did the technique after the demo but only had regular paper towels and it does pick up the texture of the paper towel.  That wouldn't always be a bad thing but not something I would want all the time.  After the demo I tried to get some of the Cloth paper towels and couldn't find any in stock.  Last week I checked again and was able to order some from Amazon.  Now that I have them I wanted to do the technique again to really see the difference.  

I painted a piece of Distress Mixed Media Heavystock.  I just had to use the newest color, Crackling Campfire, and combined it with Peacock Feathers.

After drying I added stamping with Crackling Campfire using one of the new release Background Images from the set Tapesty (Stamper's Anonymous, Tim Holtz).

That was dried and next comes the metallic.  I used Tarnished Brass, painted it on, splattered on water getting more in some areas and just drops in others, let it sit a few seconds, laid the Paper Towel on letting it sit just a few seconds and took it off.  Worked great.  In the areas where the water was the paper towel picked up the metallic paint without leaving a pattern behind, just an open area.  So Cool!!!

Instead of just putting the paper in a pile I used it right away to make a card for the current challenge on the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog which is Birds.  

Leaves were stamped along the top and part way down the sides with Archival Ink using an image from the Nature's Wonder set (Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz).  The edges were distressed and messy stitching added.

The bird is a die cut from watercolor paper and colored with Distress Oxide Ink.  A fibery ribbon and torn papers were glued across the paper and twine wrapped around it.  The speckles (from the Tiny Toadstools set) were stamped with Oxide Ink.

Gear Flower Tag

            

        

            

Hello!!!  I hope this post finds you well and safe.  So many things going on here in the US.

I started with a #8 Mixed Media Heavystock tag.  My order of Crackling Campfire had just come in the mail I wanted to make a blend which I did also using Candied Apple and Carved Pumpkin.  Splatters of water added texture.

Then what to do...  I took inspiration from this month's A Vintage Journey Challenge which is Cogs, Gears and Texture.  I misted the back of the tag with water and then embossed it with the Sizzix, Tim Holtz 3D Embossing Folder running it through my Vagabond 3 times (3D - 3 Times as Tim says) to give it a fabulous, dimensional design.

To really bring out the design I added Ground Espresso using a Mini Ink Blending Tool with a light touch going over and over to catch all the texture.  I painted the edge of a #8 Etcetera tag with Black Soot Distress Paint and then glued the tag to it with Distress Collage Medium.

I neglected to take any process pics of the gears or flower.  The top gear is from the Idea-ology Gadget Gears pack.  The bottom gear is chipboard die cut with the Gadget Gears Bigz Die.  The large screw head is from the Idea-ology Machinery Heads pack.  I used a variety of product to give them that old, rusty look - Grit Paste, Distress Paint, Distress Embossing Glaze, Distress Crayon. 

The flower is Mixed Media Heavystock paper die cut with the Tattered Florals Bigz die.  Color was added with Distress sprays and inks and the flower crumpled while still damp.

The gears were layered with foam mounting tape and a bit of Distress Collage Medium to be sure everything stayed stuck.  The screw head was glued on with Collage Medium and the whole stack glued to the tag with Collage Medium.

For the stem I die cut Heavystock with the 3D Lattice Trim die, inked the narrower piece with the Distress Embossing Dabber, sprinkled Distress Embossing Glaze, and melted it.

Hickory Smoke crayon was added moving it around first with a water brush, drying, and then adding more and rubbing it with my finger.

Everything was splattered with Distress Paint Picket Fence.  Small talk stickers were chosen, edged with Crackling Campfire, spritzed with water to mottle the ink, and glued to the tag.  A bit of Distress Paint was added tot he bottom edge of the tag using my finger, dried, and Distress Crayon rubbed on.

This was a fun tag to make!!!  I hope you like it.  My daughter will probably try to steal it :-)

I pray your week goes well.

Hugs, Wanda