TGIF Eggs ATC

Here's an ATC I made for my Altered Designs Yahoo group with the theme of "Eggs". I used some scrap background paper and outlined with a Krylon pen in pale gold. On top of that is the background from Gaby. I stamped some of the new Tim Holtz stamps by Stampers Anonymous that are exclusive to Michael's. I used VersaMark ink and them embossed with a detail clear powder. To bring out the detail in the embossing I used Ranger Distress Inks to darken the collage. The final touch was a bit of ribbon.

Until my next post,

Diane

Egyptian Card

Here's an Egyptian themed card that I recently sent to the recipient of my TGIF ATC with the Open Theme. There is some handmade paper and stamps with some of the Egyptian gods. The colorful image from Stamping Ground was colored in with Sharpies.

Until my next post,

Diane

The ants go marching one by one...

Q: How do you know it is spring in Virginia?
A: The daffodils and other bulbs begin flowering.
Q: No, guess again.
A: The temperatures get warmer and sometimes downright hot.
Q: No, guess again.
A: Oh wait, I remember the ANTS begin invading the house.
Q: Ding, ding, ding. That's right, what do we have for our winner?

My formative years in the USAF were spent in SAC, a.k.a. Strategic Air Command. For those of you who don't know what that means think about the 1983 movie War Games with Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman and Ally Sheedy. My response to this hostile invasion is to tell hubby to NUKE THEM, NUKE THEM ALL! I'm going out of town for a few days and my honey-do list has one thing on it "They better be gone when I get back".

Until my next post,
Diane

Shame on me for not playing earlier

I've had my Melting Pot for a while (don't ask how long) and hadn't used it yet. I got it after seeing bunch of videos done by Suze Wineberg and other folks about the cool things you could make. I've also had my Mold n Pour a while (again, please don't ask how long) and hadn't used that either. I finally decided to put both to use and now I wonder why I waited so long-- shame on me.

There is something molecularly cosmic but certainly not rocket science to use either product. I used the advise Tim Holtz gave in one of his DVD's about using the Mold and Pour. Take either color and guesstimate how much you need to cover 1/2 of your object. Now grab an equal part of the other color and mix. Then smush your object and and wait about 10 minutes.

On each of these pictures above the original object is on the left followed by the mold then the three objects I made. I used some clear UTEE (the object on the far right) and then some gold with a bit of clear. On the clear ones I added some Rub n' Buff to bring out the highlights.

I also found the tiny silicone ice trays Suze recommends and cut apart some K&Co Life's Journey paper to put on the bottom of one of the cubed sections. Pour a bit of clear UTEE and let it set. It popped out without any trouble. They are a little thicker than I wanted so I'll have to watch how much I pour into it next time.

I give both a big thumbs up. They are easy to use and fun. Now I just have to figure out why I buy stuff and don't use it until the warranty has already expired.....

Until my next post,

Diane

Paint Effects ATC

Here's another mingle ATC I did for my Stampers Corner Yahoo group. This theme was Paint Effects. I used a series of walnut ink washes in different strengths then added a bit of salt and walnut ink crystals while it was wet. The salt acts as a resist and the walnut ink crystals act like a sponge absorbing the dark color. I also added a bit of Fiber Scraps e-z Walnut Ink Tintz in Brick, Lime and Denim. On top of that I added a homemade glaze of Golden Titan buff mixed with Polymer Medium. I then added some more Fibre Scraps Tintz in a dry brush technique. The final steps were a spray of Glimmer Mists in Iridescent Gold and Pearl followed by an outline of Krylon 18K gold on the edges. The stamped image from Tanda Stamps is on vellum.

Until my next post,

Diane

Vintage ATC's for Sid

Sid picked Vintage for our March ATC swap theme. I had fun with this one (I have with all of them actually).

The one on the left is made with Sugarloaf/Inque stamps from the Victorian Dressmaker set. First I took some ordinary tissue paper and crumpled it a bit. Then I sprayed some Gold Glimmer Mist to simulate and old dress pattern. I attached that to a piece of cardstock with Paper Mod Podge applying it to the cardstock and then on top of the tissue paper. Two of the images I stamped then glued onto the card and the third (the one of the woman) I over stamped.

The middle ATC is made with a Tim Holtz stamp from Stampers Anonymous. I cut out the holes where the negatives would be then printed out images I found for free from Gaby. I stamped the clock/watch face again and then covered it with glossy accents for dimension.

The one on the right is an image from Artful Illusions. I colored in the background with distress inks and added the cigar label which sort of gives this guy the distinguished name "Lord Sterling".

Until my next post,

Diane

Open theme ATC -- Eiffel Tower, Paris

Here's the latest ATC I did for the TGIF challenge on Altered Designs. The theme was open which in some cases is tough for me. I guess I'm a structured crafter/artist. I like boundaries and rules. Too much type A in my previous life I guess. This ATC was done with one of the new Tim Holtz stamps by Stampers Anonymous that can be found at select Michael's stores. I gobbled up just about one of each of the stamps and new embellishments. I colored in the semi-gloss paper with various colors of Ranger Distress Inks and then added some brass embellishments that I bought online from Fancifuls Inc.

Q: Did you use coupons?
A: What a STUPID question, but of course!!!

Until my next post,

Diane

One is the loneliest number....

This is an ATC I did for the Stampers Corner ATC Mingle. The theme was numbers. Mine is titled "The loneliest number" ala the 60's hit by Three Dog Night "One". The base is black cardstock with a slight outlining of a Marvy Metallic Marker. On top of that is a semi gloss scrap that was stamped with a Tim Holtz stamp by Stampers Anonymous then colored with Ranger Distress inks. I used some Ranger Crackle on the chipboard #1 and then darkened it with Distress Black Soot. The finishing touch which you can just see is some clear embossing of small numbers. These stamps are from Inque.

Until my next post,

Diane

Playing with air again

Here's another card I made using the new Brights alcohol inks from Ranger and the compressed air technique by Tim Holtz. The base stamp and the sentiment are from Impression Obsession. I stamped the sentiment on flowered vellum using StazOn and adhered it with my Xyron. I added a double strand of ric-rack for a final touch.

Until my next post,

Diane

At the beach

Here's the ATC I made for my Stampers Corner ATC of the month group. The theme this month was "At the Beach". I used these stamps from Stampsmith and I used Ranger Archival ink in Sepia color. After stamping the girls I cut them out and mounted them over paper from the DCWV Travel stack. I then mounted that paper to a yellow background and lightly colored the edges with a Deco gold marker. Hope the recipient likes it.

Until my next post,

Diane