An Impulse to Soar

Since taking Tim Holtz' Creative Chemistry 101 class a couple weeks ago, his Marbled Stains technique has become one of my favorites, so I was very excited to see that it was the featured technique for this week's Compendium of Curiosities challenge!

It also gave me an excuse to try out my new Sizzix Embossing Diffusers - let me tell you, they are pretty cool! I knew I wanted to stamp this sentiment from the new Quote and Quotables stamp collection from Artistic Outpost, but I also wanted a little embossing around the edges. Enter the Diffusers! After inking my tag, I ran in through my Vagabond using the oval Diffuser and the Springtime Texture Fade. After it was embossed, I stamped the sentiment and then highlighted the raised portion withe Brushed Corduroy ink. LOVE this look so much! I can't wait to play around with these some more.

I had a strip of black Kraft Core'dinations from my last project that I decided to add to the bottom. To add a little interest, I put a piece of German text behind it and then filled the openings with Glossy Accents. Since I'm still more than a little enamoured with the Faux Verdigris technique, I used my Sizzix Tattered Flower Garland die to make a cool little flower as an accent.

You can find everything I used at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Don't forget to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to score 10% off your order! They have the new Spring Distress colors too - can't wait to get my hands on those!! You also have a few more days to participate in the IE monthly challenge over at the Inspiration Journal blog. This month the theme is 'watercoloring' and there are some fantastic entries. I hope you can join us!

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As always, thanks to the lovely Linda Ledbetter for hosting this challenge, and to this week's sponsor, Eclectic Paperie. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Mousetrap Message Clip

I know there is a lot of hand wringing and fretting about Pinterest these days, but I love it! Last week, I came across something a friend had pinned and was blown away. A very brilliant crafter - Suzy -  had taken mousetraps and altered them, transforming them from little killing machines into handy message clips. I loved this idea and decided to put my own twist on it.

I found a pack of four mousetraps for $1.50 at Dollar General. These are much cheaper quality than the name brand, which makes them better for this project - there's just a little sticker to remove, a little metal tab and wire to clip off, and you're ready to rock!

This is the first mousetrap I altered. It's a perfect example of why the Distress Stains are so awesome. After removing the stickers and the metal pieces I didn't want, I use Brushed Corduroy stain to cover the whole piece. I added a little stamping, some die cuts, and a whole lot of Idea-ology.

Seriously, how cool is this letter?? At CHA, Tim Holtz was demoing the Sizzix Word Play die (best die ever!). He showed us how he covered Grungeboard with Ranger's Foil Tape, embossed it using the Riveted Metal Texture Fade, and then cut the embossed piece using the die. Let me tell you, it is the most awesome technique - you have to try it!! I decided to use the foil-covered letters and numbers as the base for my Faux Patina technique - this week's technique over at the Compedium of Curiosities 2 challenge. I would love to tell you the colors I used, but I was in a bit of an alcohol ink daze. I was using any color I could lay my hands on! On top of the verdigris, I added a sprinkle of Antiquities rust embossing powder.  I wish the rust didn't show up so pink - it's not like that at all IRL. It's just this perfect, rusty texture and color.

This one was stained with Forest Moss stain. I mounted my number (I think it's actually a 9 that I turned upside down!) on a wood piece that was stamped with one of the spool stamps from Tim's Haberdashery set. I added a little Idea-ology Gem Clip that's attached to the wood using the Tiny Attacher.

The last time I was at my local stamp store, my friends and I were looking at some beautiful metal flowers. The problem was, they were SO expensive! I knew that my new Sizzix Tattered Flower Garland die would make me some very cool flowers that looked the same and cost me nothing! This was cut from chipboard, painted with a gold Dabber, and then given the Faux Verdigris treatment. I love how it came out! On top I added one of the new Idea-ology Mini Gears.

How gorgeous is that red? This one was colored with Barn Door stain. I added an Idea-ology Alpha Card, some stamping, and more die cuts. The metal pieces on all the traps were colored using alcohol inks - I think it gives them a nice, vintage-y look.

Yeah, I went just a little crazy with the rust on this one! Doesn't it look like an old, crusty lock? I used the same foil embossed grungeboard for the base. The word in the keyhole is from Tim's Stuff to Say stamp sheet. What's even better is the Washer trim behind it. I think I discovered a new rust technique, but I'm not sure I remember what I did, lol! I do know that Caramel Adirondack alcohol ink is involved, somehow....

These were such a blast to make! Many thanks to Suzy, without whom I'd never have had this idea.

All of the supplies I used to make these can be found at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Oh, and they have the new Spring Distress Inks available - love them!! If you decide to shop, don't forget to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order. :)

Spring Seasonal Distress Ink	Idea-ology Tiny Attacher	Inkssentials Metal Foil Tape	Grungeboard	Vagabond
Sizzix Word Play Die	Sizzix Diamond Plate & Riveted Metal Texture Fades	Sizzix Washer Border	Sizzix Harlequin Border	Sizzix Tattered Flower Garland
Sizzix Mini Lock & Key Set	Stampers Anonymous Stuff to Say	Stampers Anonymous Steampunk	Stampers Anonymous Remnants	Fairytale Frenzy
Antiquities Rust Embossing Powder	Butterscotch Alcohol Ink	Caramel Alcohol Ink	Meadow Alcohol Ink	Adirondack Snow Cap Ink
Brushed Corduroy Distress Stain	Forest Moss Distress Stain	Barn Door Distress Stain	Aqua Alcohol Ink	Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool
Alcohold Ink Applicator Felt	Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink	Distress Embossing Ink	Idea-ology Sprocket Gears	Idea-ology Gem Clips
Idea-olgy Mini Gears	Idea-ology Alpha Cards	Idea-ology Pen Nibs	Idea-ology Timepieces	Idea-ology Tiny Fasteners
Gold Adirondack Dabber	Jet Black Archival Ink	Idea-ology Paper Stash - Destinations	Sizzix Little Sizzles Kraft Core	Idea-ology Sanding Grip

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Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great weekend - get inky!!