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CC3C #7 Painted Industrial

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OK...so you may have noticed that the previous post said CC3C #4 and this one is #7.  Where did #5 and #6 go?  Remember how I said that I was not going to purchase any additional supplies this year? Well, if I don't have everything I need to complete a challenge, then I skip it and hope I can participate in the next one. So, Hurrah! I had everything I needed to complete this wonderful Painted Industrial challenge and I really love this technique.  In fact, I thought my soon-to-be 11 year old grandson would love it, too so my project is his birthday card.  He reads incessantly (and NOBODY is complaining about that!) so I thought he would enjoy a tag bookmark that matched the card. I hope you enjoy this project. If you would like more information on the techniques we are working through, purchase Tim Holtz' latest book, Compendium of Curiosities III...he will even sign it for you if you buy though this link ! Each odd-numbered challenge is sponsored by Inspiration Emporium
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Altered Clogs using Stencils with Texture Paste

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I suffer from neuropathy and often have a difficult time walking.  I'm always looking for shoes that are comfortable and also supply enough support.  I had a pair of clogs that I wore when I was going through Esthetics training...the typical 'nurses' shoe.  I know the saying goes that we can wear white after Memorial Day, but trust me...no one should wear white clogs unless the occasion warrants it. Today's picture tutorial shows how I altered my training clogs into a stylish pair of gardening clogs. The original shoes are very white and made of some type of poly material.  Ranger's Distress Paints are permanent once they are dry so I decided that would be the way to go to paint my shoes. I decided to go with three shades that would bring a woodsy, natural look.  I started with Walnut Stain Distress Paint.  It took a couple of coats to get the desired coverage. I used  Forest Moss as my  second color and Bundled Sage around the band at
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CC3C #3

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Here I am again with the third project in this challenge using a faux tea rose. We are not posting instructions on the techniques of the challenge in order to insure that people who want to learn buy Tim Holtz' fabulous book from where we get all our inspiration! I skipped #2 because it used a product that I did not own and I have vowed to not purchase any more art supplies until I make a good dent in those that I already own.  However, this week's challenge is sponsored by Inspiration Emporium .  If I win the $50 gift certificate, I can buy enough new products to ensure I never have to skip a challenge again! On to the Challenge! Products used: Distress Ink pads in forest moss and frayed burlap, Distress Paints in bundled sage and picket fence, Ranger's Archival Ink in Jet Black, Ranger's Inkssentials Glossy Accents, My stash: 6X6 chipboard panel, hand-dyed paper, sage ribbon, quote stamp. Painted chipboard with Bundled Sage distress paint, went over with p
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Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge

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I finally stepped out in faith and decided to join an art challenge.  I've been struggling with my muse lately and evidently I am winning...my muse decided to step out of the picture and not let me beat her up anymore. In an effort to regain my artistic desire, I am joining this challenge hosted by Linda Ledbetter of Studio L3 . All of the challenges will be based on the 34 techniques from Tim Holtz's latest book, Compendium of Curiosities 3 . So, without further ado, here is my submission for the first challenge sponsored by Inspiration Emporioum .  The prize is a $50 gift certificate!  Even though I've vowed to not purchase any new supplies this year, I don't think I would have an ethical problem with spending a gift certificate. Hope you follow along on this journey...I'm excited to be back in the studio after a long, dry, non-creative spell. Marbled technique on canvas. Dimensional Paste wings. Subtle marble technique on grunge board Color Com
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Back to bloggin'...again!

In preparation for Linda Ledbetter's Compendium of Curiosities Vol 3 Challenge, I'm back to hittin' the blog site.  Never was much of a blogger, but I have to have some place to share pics of my challenge pieces.  Who knows...maybe this time writing on my blog will take!
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Tattered Florals Challenge

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I am doing something that I have never done before. I am actually submitting a piece of my art to an artists challenge.  I procrastinated and left it until almost the very last day, but I pulled it together even though I am 4000 miles away from home (and all my craft supplies) and I finished it! The challenge was to use Tim Holtz' tattered florals die...it was that simple...make something using the die.  I decided that my project would be to use the die on recyclables.  I chose two different Teavana tea packages, a Kleenex box, and an aluminum soda can. I used buttons for the centers and placed them on a recycled styrofoam ring covered with recycled ribbon. So here, for your viewing pleasure is my first ever completed challenge!
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Lack of money can be a great opportunity for Creativity

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For 23 years I had a career that allowed me to live without having to worry about money.  I raised my kids as a single mother, provided all necessities and most non-essentials (don't let them tell you that I was always buying plants and compost instead of food...). Since I retired last December, my income reduced by 2/3rds.  That is a significant decrease especially for someone who wants to pick and choose when or whether she works. One thing this reduction in income has showed me is that I can be really creative when it comes to funding non-essential purchases.  For instance, my friend's birthday is coming soon and I would normally go out and drop a wad of money on something that she probably wouldn't use very often.  Instead, I'm putting together a myriad of gifts gathered and made which will cost me next to nothing. A good place to start is with all those boxes of nick nacks that everyone has stashed away somewhere.  I have two large eaves in the upstairs of my
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