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Have you ever had your writing implements...just walk off...seemingly...on their own? Yup - that happens here - A LOT.
Today's project and tutorial are posted on the CLASSroom blog. The project highlights the use of Mini Misters in combination with Distress reinkers and Perfect Pearls! Best wishes for a wonderful weekend!
Today's post details my fondness for altering objects. They were fun experiences: both consuming the bottle contents, and subsequently altering it.
disclaimer: These fun experiences did not occur on the same day.
Your first question might be where can you purchase a lamp kit for a bottle. I bought mine online, but you can try places like Home Depot or Lowes. I used a google search for online stores using the keywords: 'lamp kits for bottles'. They look like this:
To begin, empty a decorative bottle that you are drawn to. This Cuervo 1800 bottle actually spoke to me and told me it wanted to be altered into another object. Hence the lamp. I seriously adore tequila folks.
I covered his shoulders with torn pieces of deep red mulberry paper and adhered using mod podge. His neck is covered with a strip of 7gypsies Catania paper.
The sides of the bottle were roughly traced onto the back of two pieces of Catania paper, then roughly torn around the pencil markings. Torn paper edges are much easier to adhere versus cut edges.
Crumple the torn paper for the bottle sides into two tight balls, then unfold and kinda smooth flat. Apply a Distress Antique Linen pad DTP (Direct to Paper: hold pad in hand and sweep across crumpled paper surface). The photo above shows before and after. Gotta love distressing!
Adhere inked sides to bottle with Mod Podge. Repeat above three steps for bottle back.
Tear a piece of Catania paper for the bottle front. Using a Tim Holtz Timeworks mask and working over a non-stick craft sheet, position mask on Catania paper.
Using an ink blending tool blend Distress Scattered Straw over and around the mask.
Continue to blend ink, changing ink to Distress Frayed Burlap. Wipe mask with a clean, dry, soft cloth and remove. Adhere to bottle front using Mod Podge.
Using this Tim technique, I smeared a non-stick craft sheet with Distress Shabby Shutters, Pine Needles and Peeled Paint, then misted well with water. Dropped a manila tag into the ink a few times and heat set after each dip. I love this technique - it's easily my favorite with these inks.
Distress tag edges with a paper distresser, then ink edges with Distress Brushed Corduroy.
Heat set the tag. Why? Distress inks don't dry right away, and for this step you'll need a dry tag.
Stamp one of Tim's stamps (Stampers Anonymous) using Distress Embossing Ink, then sprinkle clear embossing powder and heat set. (If you didn't heat set the tag earlier the embossing powder would stick to the entire tag - gah!). Ink over embossed image using Distress Peeled Paint and Distress Antique Linen, then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth, revealing the resist of the image.
At this point, I chose to cover the tag with blank newsprint and remove (melt away) the embossing powder using a craft iron. Why? I wanted to further stamp on the tag and wanted the embossed image to be in the background. You could omit melting away/removing the embossing powder; however, anything you stamp on the surface of the embossing powder would just wipe away where the ink hits the embossing powder (the embossing powder would act as a resist).
By melting/removing the embossing powder then stamping, you get the look below:
Using more of Tim's stamps (Stampers Anonymous) and Archival Ink in Jet Black, stamp images onto tag. I stamped a portion of the sentiment onto a piece of white cardstock that had Distress Worn Lipstick applied DTP (direct to paper) then distressed and curled with my fingers.
Added feet (Provo Craft discontinued these - I'm still upset...) using E-6000 cement, and an assortment of Tim's trinkets: Tim's Word Keys, Jumpring, Sprocket Gears held together with Tim's Long Fasteners; Game Spinners, Grungeboard wings painted with Aged Mahogany Crackle Paint, clock button (secured onto a smashed bottle cap), clock charm and hourglass charm were wrapped around the bottle neck using black fine burlap string.
Hope this post inspires you to alter something and have as much fun doing it as I did!
ingredients: Ranger Archival Ink pads & reinkers, Distress pads and reinkers - ellenhutson.com; Tim Holtz stamps - eclecticpaperie.com
Today is Inchie Thursday and we're playing with Nestabilities and Inchie Notes!
These little cards are perfect for those small notecards where you only want to write a sentence or two - the Inchie takes center stage on the card inside.
I am starting with the Peach/Pink Inchie Notes as my card base (these notecards are 3-1/2" square and are packaged with small white envelopes; the envelopes are USPS approved and do not require additional postage unless the card exceeds 1/4" in thickness)*
Using a 4" square piece of Magical Wishes Beauty paper (Webster's Pages) and Nestabilities Labels #1 I diecut a label, then onto the diecut I centered a Nestabilities Small Square and held it in place using low-tack tape. SAVE THE SQUARE. We'll use it on the Inchie, plus yesterday was Earth Day and we're in full recycle mode!
Flipping the Labels diecut over I traced the interior square onto the Inchie Note front.
Using a slightly larger Nestabilities Square die, I taped (using low-tack tape) the die over the penciled square and diecut/punched it out. I didn't spare this square...hee.
Stamped Lockhart Stamp Company's IB Snail (IB stands for Itty Bitty) onto a White Inchie Square (thick, premium matboard squares, precut!) using Memento Rich Cocoa ink. Color with Copic markers and a Spica glitter pen. Mat with a tighly trimmed piece of Vanilla Bean cardstock. Then mat using the saved leftover square from the first step above.
To assemble, stamp Lockhart's 'snail mail' sentiment on the diecut Label front and tie a bit of sage grosgrain ribbon on one side. Mount to Inchie Note front using foam dimensionals. Center the matted Inchie through the card front opening for perfect alignment and adhere to card inside.
I added a sparkly bling to the snail's shell cuz it's wearing a belly button ring. Here's what the card inside looks like, and I used a bit of the leftover Webster's Pages Beauty paper to line the envelope. Yum - this paper oozes happiness! Thanks for stopping by and hope this inspires you to try an Inchie or two!
*envelopes are USPS approved for shipping size within the USA and its territories. For readers outside the USA these envelopes measure 5" x 3-1/2".
ingredients: Vendors for Inchie Arts products can be viewed here; Lockhart Stamp Company - their entire line including Itty Bitty images sized just for Inchies!, Memory Box cardstocks, Webster's Pages, Copic Markers and all related accessories, Nestabilities and related products, Memento ink pads - Ellen Hutson; Webster's Pages papers, May Arts ribbon - StarLitStudio
StarLitStudio will be carrying Inchie Notes starting next month. Yay!
Returned from Disney and headed to get my fingers inked up and resume posting - Inchie Thursdays tomorrow! Yay!!
It's heaven to be home - there's nothing like it!
My hands...during Ranger U this past weekend!
The Ranger class & instructors from April, 2009 (above photo courtesy of Suze Weinberg - thank you Suze & Mario!)
Tim was absolutely amazing and worked non-stop. The INCREDIBLE amount of work, effort and energy from Tim, Mario, Patti, plus Suze Weinberg and Claudine Helmuth and the entire Ranger staff and owners was overwhelming - the organization was perfection, and the whole weekend flowed seamlessly and without a hitch.
Suze, Claudine and Tim at a Q&A forum one evening (the beautiful blonde/back of the head shot is none other than Cheryl Darrow from Ten Second Studios!):
Tim had fun with UTEE and scissors during our Melting Pot session...
Tim announced Friday morning our three days would resemble boot camp, and indeed it was - Tim, Claudia and Suze worked us hard - nine to ten hour days, yet treated us like visiting royalty. I, and I'm sure the balance of our group, was overwhelmed with their generosity.
My BFF camera shot with Becky Olsen from CHF!:
My peek into Ranger as an industry leader left me with a firm resolve that Ranger has obtained well-deserved success from their vision, committment and quality. I was proud to sell and use their products before Ranger U; now I have the tools and know-how to show the world exactly why I feel that way.
The eclecticpaperie.com gals Joy and Daisy were there, as were so many other wonderful ladies! Others in attendance were designers, manufacturers and store owners (both online and/or brick & mortar).
(Joy Kennedy & Daisy Sparks from eclecticPaperie with me above)
I am not one of those artists.
Blog posts are created here randomly, when the mood strikes, using my preferred products and tools.
Life doesn't come with instructions and if it did, I wouldn't follow them anyway.
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