Honor

"As we contemplate the comforts and blessings of our lives and the well-being of our Nation, I ask you to pause just for a moment to remember those who gave their lives to protect the values that give meaning to our lives." (Former Pres. Bill Clinton, May 31, 1999)

In honor of Memorial Day, I decided to use some of my favorite stamps to create a tag using Tim Holtz' Brushless Watercolor technique, which is what the lovely Linda has chosen for this week's Compendium of Curiosities 2 challenge. I love both the Americana Silhouettes set by Tim and the She-roes collection by Artistic Outpost. They combine beautifully and I think it's always nice to remember the women that serve our country, in addition to the men.

Here's a little trick I just discovered - the Sizzix Harlequin Border die can be used to make a mini banner. Just cut your paper and use the outside cut piece (what would normally be the waste) from the strip. How cute is that?! To get the star pattern on it, I inked the AO stamp again with the Faded Jeans Distress Stain, and stamped it repeatedly on a manila scrap. I cut the scrap into a strip and then cut it with the border die. To give it a little extra depth, I added another banner that was cut from a scrap of red Kraft Core cardstock.

If you need any of the supplies I used, they can be found at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Don't forget to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order!

Compendium of Curiosities II	Inkssentials Manila Tag	Americana Silhouettes	Sizzix Little Sizzles Kraft Core	Sizzix Harlequin Border
Sizzix Paper Rosette	Faded Jeans Distress Stain	Fired Brick Distress Stain	Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink	Distress Markers
Idea-ology Muse Token	Antique Linen Distress Stickles	Idea-ology Tiny Attacher	Tim Holtz Paper Distresser	Idea-ology Sanding Grip
Inkssentials Blending Tool	Vagabond

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We were very lucky to have a surprise visit from my hero - my son Luke - this weekend. He is in the Air Force and based in Missouri. We haven't seen him in over four months, so it was really a treat to have him home for a few days - definitely not enough time!

Thanks so much for visiting today. Make sure you check out all the wonderful submissions for this week's CC2 challenge, sponsored by Eclectic Paperie!

An Easel Card for CC2C #6

This week's Compendium of Curiosities challenge over at Linda's Studio L3 blog kind of had me stumped for a bit. Our technique is Tim Holtz' Tissue Wrap Collage from page 38 of his wonderful book. I've never done this one, but when I saw that we covered a die cut shape with Tissue Wrap, my first thought was, 'gears!' That's all it took for this card to fall into place.

I really wanted to do a card for my Dad. It seems like I never manage to get him his Father's Day gift on time and I made up my mind that this year would be different! Since I just got the Sizzix Ornamental die, I decided to  build an easel card around that shape. After technique-ing it up according to Tim's wonderful instructions, I was ready to start embellishing.

You know how you start a project with no clue how it will go, and then it all just starts coming together? That's how this card was! I think it's one of my favorite things ever. I love these guys from Artistic Outpost's Dieselpunk collection - they are perfect for a masculine card. I stamped the image on manila cardstock and then colored them with my Distress Markers.

Yes. Still in love with the Word Play die! I'm also developing an addiction to Adirondack Alcohol inks! I think it is the Snow Cap ink that changed my feelings toward it (I wasn't much of a fan until I started playing around with the white ink). My number was cut from foil-covered Grungeboard that was embossed with the Riveted Metal Texture Fade. I dabbed on a mixture of Snow Cap ink and Slate. After it dried, I dripped various colors on top and then dried them with my heat gun. I could honestly do these number/letters for hours - so fun and you get a different look ever time.

I did a bit more experimenting with my Sizzix Washer strip die. I cut thin chipboard and then painted it with black and silver Dabbers, then dripped Caramel alcohol ink on it. Love the rusty look! Behind the tissue panel, I added a panel of kraft paper that was embossed with the new Stripes Texture Fade from Sizzix. I painted it with a black Dabber and then sanded it. I will be using this Texture Fade a lot!

Finally, I added a panel that was made using the Faux Metal technique from the June/July '10 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. I added Idea-ology Washers and Long Fasteners to hold the easel card in place.

Yet again, Linda's challenge has taught me all kinds of new stuff! Make sure you check out my buddy Linda's The Funkie Junkie Boutique - she is a fantastic artist and also this week's sponsor!

If you would like any of the products I used above, they can be found at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. When you use my coupon code - stamptramp - you'll save yourself 10%!

Compendium of Curiosities II	Tissue Wrap - Terminology	Sizzix Ornamental Die	Sizzix Mini Gears Set	Sizzix Word Play Die
Sizzix Washer Border	Sizzix Harlequin & Stripes	Sizzix Diamond Plate & Riveted Metal Texture Fades	Stampers Anonymous Just Thoughts	Adirondack Snow Cap Ink
Slate Alcohol Ink	Caramel Alcohol Ink	Adirondack Hazelnut Alcohol Ink	Distress Markers	Vagabond
Idea-ology Chit Chat Stickers	Inkssentials Metal Foil Tape	Ranger Dabber - Pitch Black	Silver Adirondack Dabber	Adirondack Pebble Dabber
Idea-ology Sanding Grip	Inkssentials Glue N' Seal	Idea-ology Washers	Idea-olgy Mini Gears	Idea-ology Tiny Fasteners
Idea-ology Long Fasteners	Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool	Alcohold Ink Applicator Felt	Inkssentials Blending Tool	Scotch Tape Glider
Tim Holtz Paper Distresser	Grungeboard	Jet Black Archival Ink

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Thanks for stopping by - have a great weekend!!