Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 31

Ink Palette: Distress

Tim Holtz: A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2

Hey everyone! A quick and dirty CC2C post this morning-- I have to unexpectedly be at work super early and am running out the door. We're on the final of Tim's three Ink Palette techniques, and it's all about everyone's favorite-- DISTRESS INK!

My card features a sweet Suzi Blu girl and some Christmas-y Distress Stains, with a background of that fabulous Tissue Wrap (I'll add links later today). You can use any or all of the Distress Palette options in the CC2 for this challenge, and I know you're going to ROCK it!

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To participate in CC2C #31, create your own work of art using the Ink Palette: Distress technique and link it to this blog using the InLinkz button at the bottom of this post. You're golden as long as you honor these simple rules:

Follow the technique as it's written in A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2 (adding your own special flair, of course!), and clearly state that the technique comes from Tim's book.  

Include a link to this post in your blog post (or photo description if you're linking from an online photo-sharing site).  

Out of respect to Tim, please don't post the technique instructions on your blog! Any entries that don't follow this rule will be unlinked.  

This challenge closes on Thursday, December 6 at 8 pm MTD. Please see the CC2C FAQ here for more information.

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I hope you all have a spectacular day!!!

Hugs,

Linda

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Compendium of Curiosities 2 Challenge 30!

Reflective Imagery

Tim Holtz: A Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2, page 55

Hello, blog friends, and welcome to Challenge Number THIRTY! I can't believe we're almost through the entire CC2C-- where did the time go? It's not over yet, though (yay!) and this week we're bringing in the season with one of my absolute favorite of Tim's techniques: Reflective Imagery.

This technique just sort of seems to lend itself to holiday-themed art, but it actually works for any project where you'd like to add a little magical bling-iness, so take it any direction you'd like! It's by far the easiest way I've ever seen to do an effective image transfer. Open your Compendium 2 to page 55 and check it out...

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To participate in CC2C #30, whip up your own work of art using the Reflective Imagery technique on page 55 and link it to this blog using the InLinkz button at the bottom of this post. You're golden as long as you honor these simple rules:

Follow the technique as it's written in A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2 (adding your own special flair, of course!), and clearly state that the technique comes from Tim's book.  

Include a link to this post in your blog post (or photo description if you're linking from an online photo-sharing site).  

Out of respect to Tim, please don't post the technique instructions on your blog! Any entries that don't follow this rule will be unlinked.  

This challenge closes on Thursday, November 29 at 8 pm MTD. Please see the CC2C FAQ here for more information.

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As I post this, it's the morning of Black Friday, and I'm happily settled on the sofa awaiting Small Business Saturday. Here's wishing us all a happy and prosperous holiday season, with enough for everyone and more than enough to share with those in need. Have a beautiful week!

Big Hugs,
Linda


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Thankful: Inspiration Emporium November Challenge

Joy and the wonderful gang over at Inspiration Emporium are hosting a spectacularly fun challenge for the month of November! The theme is "Thankful," and the suggested project is a place setting or treat for each guest at your holiday table. How sweet is that?

Never one to skip the opportunity to make my family shake their heads, I decided to make a cartoon/photo place card for each of us...

As you might have guessed, Thanksgiving dinner is not exactly a somber, formal occasion at my house.

Wanna make your dinner guests smile (or laugh... or cringe)? Here's how to whip up a cartoon photo place card for each of them: 

1. Start by choosing some fun photos of your guests. Size them so the heads are all about the same size, then print them onto photo paper. Cut out the heads. 
2. Sketch cartoon bodies for your people. Don't worry about making them look professional (I sure didn't!). Just have fun, and personalize them to each guest (you'll note that Scott brought the beer to our party, and I have the Tofurky). 
3. Color the cartoon bodies with Distress Markers. Cut them out. 
4. Mount the cartoon bodies and photo heads onto scraps of the "recipe pattern" paper from the Seasonal Paper Stash using Multi Medium Matte. 
5. Using the large folder from the "Thankful" set, emboss 4 x 6" pieces of Kraft-Core paper in assorted colors. Lightly sand the embossed surface using a Sanding Grip. 
6. Use the Cabinet Card die to cut the background from the embossed and sanded Kraft-Core paper. Ink the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and an Ink Blending Tool. 
7. Use the Autumn Gatherings Strip Die to cut various colors of Kraft-Core paper. Lightly sand the little leaves and branches, then ink the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and an Ink Blending Tool. 
8. Use the Easel Die to cut a matching- or contrasting-colored stand for each place card. 
9. Use letters from the Ransom Alphabet set to spell out your guests' names or nicknames. Paint them with the Bottle green Paint Dabber. 
10. Have some chocolate. 
11. Now it's time to assemble your place cards! Use Multi Medium to attach the cartoon figure (already on their background recipe scraps) to the Cabinet Cards. Next, glue various leaves and branches from the Autumn Gatherings to each card. Cut small pieces of burlap or muslin and use them as backgrounds for the Ransom Letters. 
12. Finally, use Multi Medium to attach the matching easel to each place card:

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Here's a closer look:

Mom with the turkey...

Dad with the pie...

Scott with the brewski...

Me, meat-free...

Hop over to the Inspiration Emporium Blog to have your socks knocked off by their designers' brilliant samples, then submit your own to their challenge. You have until the end of November to share your gratitude-themed place setting or treat, and you just might win their generous $50 gift certificate! 

Have a beautiful holiday, everyone. I hope you find yourself with more than ever to be thankful for.

Hugs,
Linda

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 29!

Texture Fade Techniques

Tim Holtz: A Compendium of Curiosities, Volume 2, page 64

This stamp is "Sybil" by Lynne Perrella

Happy beautiful Friday, blog friends, and welcome to installment 29 of our journey through Tim Holtz's most recent book.

This week, we're playing with those fabulous Texture Fades embossing folders from Sizzix! There are so many cool ways to use these things, and Tim demonstrates two of them in this lesson. Open up your CC2 and let's get texturized!

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To participate in CC2C #29, simply create your own work of art using either of the Texture Fade techniques on page 64 and link it to this blog using the InLinkz button at the bottom of this post. You're golden as long as you honor these simple rules:

Follow the technique as it's written in A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2 (adding your own special flair, of course!), and clearly state that the technique comes from Tim's book.  

Include a link to this post in your blog post (or photo description if you're linking from an online photo-sharing site).  

Out of respect to Tim, please don't post the technique instructions on your blog! Any entries that don't follow this rule will be unlinked.  

This challenge closes on Thursday, November 22 at 8 pm MTD. Please see the CC2C FAQ here for more information.

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I hope you guys have a fabulous, creative week with much to be grateful for! And, last week's participants, Stephanie at Simon Says Stamp has announced the lucky winner of Challenge 28 challenge on their blog! Thanks, SSS!!!

Hugs,
Linda


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Tim's 12 Tags of 2012, November Edition

It's always a good day when I get the opportunity to participate in one of Tim Holtz's 12 Tags challenges! His November piece, which you can see right here, is gorgeous, isn't it? I love those autumn tones and the dramatic design. 

Nonetheless, I was under the influence of Wham's song, "Last Christmas," when I sat down to make my own tag (yep, the radio stations in Boise are already queuing up the holiday tunes...), so I skipped right over Thanksgiving and dove into December. 

There's still plenty of time to play along with Tim's November challenge! Check out all the awesome submissions-- you'll be as inspired as I am!

Happy pre-holidays!

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 28!

Reflections Stamping

Tim Holtz: A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2, page 65

Sponsored by Simon Says Stamp

Friday!!! I love that word. It's a happy word. And, I woke up at 5:30 this morning, peeked out the window and saw our first snow of the year, falling gently on the quiet street outside. Magical! Sure, by February I'll be loathing the stuff, but right now, it's something lovely to celebrate. I hope your Friday began with something beautiful, too!

We're up to Challenge 28 from Tim Holtz's latest book, and this week, it's all about those cool Reflections stamps he so cleverly designed. You know, the ones that look backwards? You can create some truly awesome effects with them! There's a Seasonal set, and an "anytime" set, and they're both "gotta have 'em" members of my stamp collection. In the CC2, Tim shows two ways to use them in your art! Turn to page 65 to check them out. 

•*´*•.¸ ★•*´*•-:¦:-•*´*•★¸.•*´*• 

The fantabulous folks at Simon Says Stamp sponsor our second challenge every month, and as always, they'll be giving a generous $25 gift certificate to one lucky, randomly chosen participant of the CC2C. Their online store is like Santa's workshop for crafters-- you've never seen so much goodness in one place!

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To participate in CC2C #28, create your own work of art using the Reflections Stamping technique on page 65 and link it to this blog using the InLinkz button at the bottom of this post. You're a rockstar as long as you honor these simple rules:

Follow the technique as it's written in A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2 (adding your own special flair, of course!), and clearly state that the technique comes from Tim's book. 

Include a link to this post in your blog post (or photo description if you're linking from an online photo-sharing site). 

To be eligible to win the Simon Says Stamp shopping spree, include a link to their website, www.simonsaysstamp.com 

Out of respect to Tim, please don't post the technique instructions on your blog! Any entries that don't follow this rule will be unlinked. 

This challenge closes on Thursday, November 15, at 8 pm MTD. Please see the CC2C FAQ here for more information. 

Have a blast! 

•*´*•.¸ ★•*´*•-:¦:-•*´*•★¸.•*´*• 

The lovely Linda from The Funkie Junkie Boutique has chosen a winner for challenge 27! Click here to see if it's you.

Have a beautiful day and a happy, creative weekend, everyone!

Hugs,
Linda

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Compendium of Curiosities 2, Challenge 27

Ink Palette: Alcohol Ink

Tim Holtz: A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2, page 52

Happy Friday, everyone!

I hope you all had a great Halloween and got lots of really good treats. We had zero trick-or-treaters, so I'm still recovering from the sugar super-buzz I got from eating all that candy (can't let it go to waste, right?).

This week we're exploring the second of three Ink Palette techniques from the CC2. I already loved Alcohol Ink, but this technique has revolutionized the way I use it. The portability is awesome-- I can haul this baby around in my bag without bulk or concern about catastrophic spillage, and it's so easy to use. Talk about a simple way to color your world!!!

I used this technique to create a fall-themed garland that I'll use for Thanksgiving. You can make your own metallic letters by covering grungeboard with Metal Foil Tape, embossing it in your Vagabond, then cutting out the individual letters with Tim's Word Play die. Easy-peasy!

Of course, this technique makes for some sweet embellishments and jewelry, too. I can't wait to see what YOU do!

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To participate in CC2C #27, create your own work of art using the Ink Palette: Alcohol Ink technique on page 52 and link it to this blog using the InLinkz button at the bottom of this post. You're golden as long as you honor these simple rules:

Follow the technique as it's written in A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2 (adding your own special flair, of course!), and clearly state that the technique comes from Tim's book.  

Include a link to this post in your blog post (or photo description if you're linking from an online photo-sharing site).  

To be eligible to win the Funkie Junkie Boutique gift certificate, be sure to include a link to their website: www.thefunkiejunkie.com.

Out of respect to Tim, please don't post the technique instructions on your blog! Any entries that don't follow this rule will be unlinked.  

This challenge closes on Thursday, November 8 at 8 pm MTD. Please see the CC2C FAQ here for more information.

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Did you participate in last week's challenge? The Funkie Junkie has chosen the winner of the CC2C26, and announced the name on her blog. Click here to see if it's you! Thanks so much to Linda Coughlin, the wonderful and generous Funkie Junkie herself!

And with that, I'm off for another fun-filled work day. Thanks so much for visiting, and have a beauteous week!

Hugs,
Linda

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