Friday, September 28, 2012

My Favorite Season

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Even though each season change is exhilarating for me, there’s no doubt that I’ve settled in on AUTUMN as my very favorite season. I’ve been looking forward to putting together this little project, because it fits my mood right now.

Photographing anything that has a sparkle or a shine to it is just extremely frustrating for me. Almost everything on this tag has a sheen to it, and I took MANY photos but never did come up with a picture that is a true representation, but eventually I had to move on.

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The background on the tag was made following the Stamptember video tutorial from Tim Holtz. I blended Fired Brick, Vintage Photo and the new Tarnished Brass Metallic Distress Stains onto the tag. It’s always interesting to me that I spend so much time on a stunning background and then cover it all! I inked and distressed the edges of the tag.

I used Tim’s Falling Leaves stamps to randomly ink the background (using his technique of swiping for a faded look on some of them and then using a full-pressure stamping for a focal leaf). I also stamped one of the leaves with Fired Brick Distress Ink, on a separate card, and then embossed it with Ancient Gold Embossing Powder, cut it out and used dimensional tape to attach it. I stamped one leaf on the background with Fired Brick Distress Ink.

The Tattered Leaves were cut from Kraft Glassine, after it was inked with Red Pepper, Butterscotch, and Sunset Orange Alcohol Inks (with Gold Mixative). I crumpled the leaves after cutting them on the Vagabond.

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I used some tissue tape across the bottom and then added dimension with Festive Greenery Decorative Strip. I added a bit of gold glitter. I inked the ribbon with all the same Distress Stains I used for the background.

For the final step of the project, I used the tag as the main element on my October page for my minibook of Monthly Scripture Verses, a challenge that I participate in, at Split Coast Stampers.

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Did you notice something ironic? I decided to use some paper from Tim’s seasonal stash for the 6x6 background. After I had cut out the 6x6 piece, I noticed the relevance of the number 31. Of course, on the paper, it is intended to signify the October 31 “holiday.” But it just so happens that my verse for October, to go with the theme of the fall season, is the verse that says, “For everything there is a season.” The verse is found in Ecclesiastes. The reference? 3:1.

“For everything there is a season,
And a time for every purpose under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

I linked up this project at Paper Issues and am also participating in these challenges:

Split Coast Stampers Verse of the Month
Simon Says Stamp and Show Leaf-spiration Challenge
Anything But a Card Texture Challenge
Frilly and Funkie Fall Into Fall Challenge

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Me? Featured Artist?

Last night while blog-hopping, I was surprised to see that I had been chosen as one of the featured artists on Anything But a Card Challenge Blog, for this tag I entered in their challenge:

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My “reward” is the privilege of putting the “badge” on my sidebar.

ABAC Challenge Featured Artist

I’m always shocked when anything I do is selected for any special acknowledgement, because daily I see such incredible art from so many people. I am honored and humbled.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Art Journal using Watercolor Crayons

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I am enjoying the technique I learned at willowing, using watercolor crayons for backgrounds. This spread has several layers, including crayons, white acrylic paint, and many stamps with several inks.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Riveted Metal Technique

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At Studio L3’s Compendium of Curiosities 2, Challenge #22, this week’s featured technique comes from page 57 of Tim Holtz’s Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2. This is a technique Tim used for the 12 Tags of 2012, September, and we are allowed to use the same tag for this current challenge (sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique).

This is one of my favorite techniques (is there an echo in here?), and I may do another tag using that technique, but since I have two scrapbook layouts to finish and some art journal class homework to complete, and I don’t want to miss any of the weekly challenges at Studio L3, I’ll go ahead and post this one for now! (I did not do the configurations box challenges, but otherwise have done all the CC2 challenges so far.)

(Typewriter and sentiment stamps from Artistic Outpost.)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Art Journal Class at Willowing

So, I posted my first portrait attempt a few days ago (see previous post). Yep, it was beginner’s luck. Not that my practice attempt was so awesome, but it definitely came together better/easier than the real attempt. I think my main problem was that my mixed media journal pages did not like the amount of water I used to dilute the watercolor crayons. The paper even tore in some places, and I wasn’t able to keep adding the shading and detail, because the paper was torn and buckled and degraded! I almost tossed it and started over, but I was determined to have a “real” first lesson.

Here it is, my “output” from Week One of Tam’s free class on “Art, Heart and Healing.”

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For the left page, Tam directed us to write out our negative thoughts (things like, “I’m not creative,” etc.). Then we covered those up with gesso before completing that page with watercolor crayon painting, brayering and stamping. Then we were to use something positive from all those negative thoughts to come up with the sentiment for the page.

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In the end, how brave am I to actually post something like this stylized portrait attempt? It’s intentional, really. Eventually, it will be so dramatic, the difference between my early attempts and how good I’m going to become! <grin>

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Wonders Never Cease

Not only have I ALWAYS said I am not creative, but I am most certainly not artistically talented. I have been stretching myself (and enjoying it) to do some mixed media projects such as tags and canvases and art journal spreads. Yesterday I came across a free class that I decided to tackle. The class is called “Art, Heart and Healing” and it grabbed my interest because it mentioned drawing portraits, something I always knew I could NEVER do!

Today I worked through the beginning part of the class, doing my “work” on printer paper, as I was so sure it would end up in the trash and so did not want to waste good art journal pages.

Thanks to the excellent instruction, I can actually see that this is something I can learn to do, with time and patience. I am posting my first attempt, as a reminder to myself that I should never say never and should always be willing to stretch!

For those who really ARE artistically talented, don’t laugh. Just nod your head knowingly (we all have to start somewhere)…..

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“You Make My Heart Sing” Tag

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The “blended stains” technique is featured this week in the challenge at Studio L3, from page 45 of Tim Holtz’s book Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2. This one is surely a hit with me, as I love stains, and I love blending. I seem to be “all about color” at this stage of my life (oh, well, maybe I always was and just never had time to notice until my life coasted into this no-longer-teaching, more-relaxed phase!). This week’s challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp.

The background stain is made up of several colors, including Broken China. But for the coordinating blue pieces (ribbon, trim, heart), I used one of the newest distress inks, Salty Ocean. This was my first time to use it, and I love it! The Movers and Shapers heart was cut from grunge board. Then I saturated it with a lot of Salty Ocean and heat embossed it with UTEE a couple of times.

Just for fun, I took a quick pic of my work area while this one was in process.

work area

I could say that I chose my coffee mug to match the in-process project, but that could cause the reader to draw certain conclusions about my personality that might or might not be true.

Friday, September 14, 2012

TIME TO SOAR Art Journal Page

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First, I want to give credit to Stephanie Ackerman for the inspiration for the bird and the sentiment (from one of her doodles). I love her work! I used patterned paper from my stash for the birdie and the sun.

Art Journaling is still coming along for me. It’s an area where I can just play and [try to] be satisfied with the result, as the goal is to enjoy the fun! So, I will keep at it!

I wanted to do a journal page with mainly paint, and just one color, as a break from all the layering and blending and combining of colors. This particular paint is Making Memories acrylic paint for scrapbooking, Poppy.

Spread your wings and fly.
It’s time to soar!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Sisters…Friends Tag

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I enjoyed the Enameled Stamping technique so much this week that I made two tags! This technique is described on page 44 of Tim Holtz’s book Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2, and the challenge is sponsored by Linda Ledbetter at Studio L3.

For the background of the tag I used Peacock Feathers, Wild Honey, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Inks. The background stamp is from Hero Arts. I love the stamp of the two little girls from Artistic Outpost (stamp set Birds of a Feather, stamped with Archival Coffee), as it reminds me of my sister and myself. So, I opted to use that as the theme for the tag. (Oh, my, we have shared SO MANY secrets!)

The flower is cut from crinoline and Kraft Glassine paper, using Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die. I stained the crinoline with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink and inked the edges with Vintage Photo.

I am also entering this tag in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show Hero Challenge (my sister IS my hero in many ways!)

Anything But a Card Anything Goes Challenge

The Stamp Man’s Summer Sizzlers Challenge

Sunday Stamper’s Riot of Color Challenge

Fussy and Fancy Friday Fabric of Our Lives Challenge

All the Time in the World Tag

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This week we are already up to Technique #20, using Tim Holtz’s book, Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2. This tag uses the technique on page 44 of the book, and the CC2Challenge is hosted by Studio L3.

I used a Hero Arts clock stamp for the background, to try out the enameled stamping technique, with no clue as to the theme of the tag. Then I found the little gold clocks in my stash. Wanting to use my new Movers and Shapers globe die, I came up with an idea for using the clocks and the globe together.

The Distress Ink colors I used on the tag: Peacock Feathers, Wild Honey, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain. I cut the globe from grunge board and painted the stand with Gold Dabber. I painted the world part of the globe with Claudine Hellmuth Sky Blue and then went over it with Peacock Feathers Reinker. Then of course the entire globe was grunged up a bit with a sander and Vintage Photo Ink.

The ENAMELED STAMPING technique used on the background of the card (see page 44 of Tim’s book) was new for me, and I LOVE the technique!

I am entering this tag in these other challenges as well:

Hels Sheridan’s Sunday Stamper Color Riot Challenge

The Stamp Man’s Summer Sizzlers Challenge

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge-Fabric of Our Lives

Anything But a Card Anything Goes Challenge

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Happy 10th Anniversary RiverOaks Church!

Ten years ago, on September 8, 2002, RiverOaks launched with its first public service, meeting in a local high school.

9-8-2002 Launch at Timberland HS

Today we celebrated 10 years of God’s blessings! RiverOaks Church is now home to over 200 folks.

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Our son Mark is the founding/lead pastor. His family and my husband and myself are the remaining members of the Church Plant Team. Our granddaughter Tory is at college—the picture really isn’t complete without her!

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So proud of grandson Conner. He was 7 when we started the church, and he is now 17 and playing keyboard in the ROC Band!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Celebrating 47 Years of Marriage!

Happy Anniversary to us! Forty-seven years ago today my life became complete! God has blessed us beyond measure, really. We celebrated with a little get-away to “America’s Hometown,” as it’s called, and it’s located a little over an hour from us—Hannibal, MO. We stayed two nights at Garth Woodside Mansion, a Bed and Breakfast in a mansion built in 1871 and visited often by the town’s most famous resident, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain).

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Lexie and Cookie, resident llamas, love oak leaves!

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Beautiful piano in the parlor!

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Rosewood Room, where we stayed. Bed appraised at $55,000!

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We were the first guests in the dining room for breakfast our first morning! John is a retired USAF Colonel. He and his wife Julie were wonderful hosts. Julie is a riot! Shortly, the large table was filled with several couples from California who were on a cross-country excursion along the original Route 66, each couple in their convertible. Sounds like a fantastic idea to me!!! Hmmmmm.

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Wonderful breakfasts both mornings!

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I thought this ice water dispenser was gorgeous!

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I always loved the story of Tom Sawyer, ever since my third grade teacher read the whole book aloud to us, every day after lunch.

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Samuel Clemens’ boyhood home

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Ice Cream at Becky Thatcher’s Ice Cream Emporium (one excuse is as good as another for me, the Ice Cream Queen)

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Statues of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn

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Mississippi River

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A spontaneous decision to take the Mark Twain Riverboat Excursion (one hour) was a great plan!

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Bridge crossing the Mississippi connecting Missouri and Illinois

IMG_2654On the RiverboatMugs from Garth Mansion

Home again, home again, with a couple of our favorite mugs from Garth Mansion, to fit in with my fall décor at home!

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the 47 wonderful years YOU have given us together!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

12 Tags of 2012-September

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Tim Holtz’s September tag uses a technique that is one of my favorites—faux metal. It’s just so much fun to see a plain manila shipping tag turn into a piece of metal! The alcohol ink colors I used are Denim, Pitch Black and Ginger. Tim uses steel wool to burnish off the ink and make it look more worn. Here, I’ll admit to being a wimp. I cannot stand using steel wool on foil—it gives me the heebie jeebies, big time. Anyway, I like the look of the blended colors WITHOUT the burnishing.

I do not have the typewriter die that Tim used on his tag, but I do have some Artistic Outpost stamps I’ve been wanting to use. The typewriter stamp is from the Secretary Pool set, and the sentiment, “read,” is from the My Favorite Book set.

I decided to make the theme of this card fit with the current challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show, Read All About It. I love to read, and a lot of my stamps and other supplies are along the theme of school, learning, reading. This particular book, from which I took the text for the tag, is a very old one I have on hand from my days of teaching gifted students. I decided that taking it apart and using it in my projects would be a fitting way to “memorialize” the old favorite from my library.

Also entering this one in Really Reasonable Ribbon Back to School and Ribbon Challenge. AND, what fun to submit an entry to the very first challenge ever at Anything But a Card Challenge Blog (suits my style just fine!!)!

(Have I mentioned that I LOVE the tiny attacher tool!!!)

Happy September!