Curiouser and Curiouser

Here is my entry to this weeks (this is where I get my piece of paper out so that I do my link correctly) Saturday Workout challenge, which this week is Embossing Resist. I really like this technique, but my Versamark pad is sooooo filthy I really must get another one.
There is a great tutorial posted on the SaWo site, I am going to try the one with Brasso - Yes that's right, the cleaning stuff and Yes I will have to buy some first :o)
I've coloured my mountboard with lime green dye ink, then given it a quick blast to dry it off completely. Then I've stamped my Cherry Pie Alice in Wonderland stamps. (That damned Chubby Brown song keeps going through my head - you know the one
'Who the .... is Alice. Thankfully I can remember Smoky's original so I'm telling myself to think of that instead - 24 years eh....)
Ah yeah, stamped the Alice stamps with dirty Versamark, then embossed in clear embossing powder. I've brayered a Big and Juicy pad over the top, and gone round the edge in a deep blue.
Thanks for looking, and have a fab Sunday. xx

Saturday Workout - Altered Books

The challenge this week at Saturday Workout is Altered Books. I hope my entry counts as rather that alter a book, I have made one to keep my postcards in.
I've made a few now and they are stored in an old shoe box in my wardrobe!
I've just made a couple of covers with mountboard and joined together with book-rings.
I've used lots of acrylic paints, grungeboard, and a huge postcard stamp from Just for Fun.
I've tried not to fill it too much, as I want to put a little sample of each postcard on the front as I make it, so a year from now it could be quite crowded :o)
I'm quite pleased with my book, and the fact that I've made it. A couple of months ago there was no way I would have attempted anything like this, and I really enjoyed giving it a go.
Thanks very much for looking. x

I Got A New Book na na na na na!

I have got a Claudine Hellmuth collage book and it is sooooo fab except it made (yes made!) me order tons of stuff like acrylic medium, and canvas and you know what it's like when you start looking round arty crafty websites - I now need to work 'till I'm at least 120!
Anyhoos the challenge at SaWo is 'sparkling' so here is my sparkling piece ('cept you can't really tell that it's sparkling, but it is - honest)
I covered a tag with some sticky backed canvas and painted with paint dabbers in a pale blue. Then did a deeper blue wash and finished with a coat of pearl (that's where the sparkling comes in)
Then a layer of aforesaid gel medium and stuck an old book page on top. I added masking tape and removed some of the book paper. This was the really good bit 'cos now some of the ink has transfered and it's back to front, and some has peeled.
I've stamped my favourite TH tree and birds, and just edged with a midnight blue ink.I think it needs something on the bottom, but I don't know what, and as I quite pleased with it so far I don't want to spoil it (like my 3 earlier attempts but we won't talk about those) :o) Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I know that you all have probably been doing this stuff for years, but it's new to me and I'm really excited lol.
Thanks for looking and have a fab weekend x

Saturday Workout - Sew an ATC

It's ages since I entered the Sawo challenge but as I got up nice and early, I thought I would give it a go. I'm not sure if this really counts, 'cos on looking at all the other entries the ATC's are totally sewn, (how do they do that??) and mine only has some stitching on it, BUT as it took me ten minutes to even thread the needle, I'm still entering.
My chic lady is a Tim Holtz ATC stamp, and the rather nifty stitching is as good as I get. Yes I can sew on a button but I never advertise this in case anyone takes me up on it! I used to laugh at my mum when she had to ask me to thread her needle but who's laughing now.... actually anyone who can seem me holding it at arms length and squinting. Middle age is a terrible thing.... (so I'm told - I'm only 18, 23 tops, so how would I know) put that mirror away!!
Have a great weekend and thanks for looking xx

Saturday Workout Challenge 4 - The Linen Look

This weeks challenge is a lovely technique that I havn't come across before, it's to give your piece of work a 'linen look' This is achieved by sanding a piece of glossy paper horizontally and vertically, and then rubbing your ink pads on the surface.
How many times have I said 'it doesn't show up too well on the photograph, but this time it really doesn't.
I have coloured the background with blue and green chalk inks, then stamped with MSE clear stamps in glue and green Stazon.
There is a little bit of diamond glaze on the seaweed, and the stampboard sentiment is there to (a) finish it off or (b) cover a bit of bad stamping. You decide :o)
This was a lovely challenge and I shall definitely use this technique again.
Thanks very much for looking xx
http://saturdaysworkout.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/sawo-no-4-let%c2%b4s-do-it-linen/

Saturday Workout Challenge 3 - Alcohol Inks

I must admit to being a little dismayed when I read the title of the weeks challenge. To start with I didn't know what AAI's were, and then when I twigged that they were alcohol inks that made it worse. Not because I havn't got any, of course I have, I buy everything thats going - but because I have very little success with 'em. I've bought all the correct kit, watched the tutorials, but still end up with bright dots of colour surrounded by er, paler bits of colour. But the challenge said go and muddy, so go and muddy I did!! I've used expresso, latte, and some other brown who's name escapes me. This looked a bit boring so I added a teeny tiny bit of cranberry(!!) and the bright blobs were back. Reading this there are clues to where I am going wrong lol.
I stamped the Tim Holts 'Environs of Paris' map with stazon, thought it didn't look too bad, so left well alone.
I then stamped the Hampton Arts lady, and watercoloured the background, and coloured her with glaze pens. Working with the rule that more is always more(doh) I covered this in acetate, the used the Stampers Anonymous Paris stencil.
Staying with the French theme, I used red white and blue brads, ribbons and eyelets, though the colours don't show up too well.
As always, I enjoyed making the card, and thank you for looking x
http://saturdaysworkout.wordpress.com/

Saturday Workout Challenge 1 - Distressed

This is my 1st entry for this new challenge blog. I will never give up my day job to become a photographer, but it really does look better in real life :o)
The ATC has been distress till it can be distressed no more!
Ripped background paper stuck down on base, then base Tim Holtz papper distressed. I fell out with this tool last week after I totally shredded an ATC, but it's back in favour again today.
The Usual Suspects (Art Declassified) was stamped onto glossy paper and coloured with distress inks. A white paint pen was used to highlight.
The faces and sentiment have been highlighted with Glossy Accents, but this does not show up too well.
Thanks for a fantastic challenge, looking forward to next weeks xx
http://saturdaysworkout.wordpress.com/