Art Creations Friday + Some Very Exciting News!

So....which should I do first - the news or the tag? Hmmm...I will make you wait for the surprise, I think! ;-)

I have definitely been out of the loop as far as design challenges go. One of my resolutions (yes, I do make them!) for this year was to participate more. I am always inspired by the themes and the fantastic artwork that everyone comes up with.

 This week, over at Art Creations Friday, we were asked to create something using a vintage Coke calendar image. Since I'm still on a Steampunk bender, of course I had to find a way to 'punk it up! I took the image into a photo editing program, cropped it, and then change the color to sepia. After I printed it, I added color back to the flowers using Distress inks and a water brush. I added a stamped top hat from Oxford Impressions and a wing (also OI) that I stamped and embossed using my Vintage Tarnished Metal tech (you can tell I'm obsessed with that one, I'm sure). While it was still hot, I stamped again, adding back the wing texture, which I highlighted with black Stazon.

 I embellished with plenty of idea-ology gears and a little faux rust Grungeboard flower. The background is a combination of Newsprint Reveal + Faux Designer Paper techniques, both from the Technique Junkie newsletter. I used a foam stamp cut from Tim's Gadget Gears die, a flourish from his Reindeer Flight stamp set, and a text stamp from Oxford Impressions. To finish it off, I made a little ruffle using Tissue Tape.

Ok....the NEWS! Yesterday, I was invited to join the extremely talented Design Team over at Inspiration Emporium. I'm sure the ink was barely dry on the offer before I screamed, "Yes!" How could I not? If you haven't before, make sure you check out this fantastic store. They have everything you could possibly need! Also make sure you check out their blog - Inspiration Journal - and meet all the other wonderful designers.