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.

Art Creations Friday

I finally got a chance to participate in the Art Creations Friday challenge this week. I love the background they featured this week - absolutely gorgeous! I added my own touch to it with the painted mesh technique and also added some extra color with various Distress inks. The flowers are from my new Grungeboard pack and stamps are all from Oxford Impressions.

Have a great weekend!

Technique Junkies - Feathered Tye Dye

I've tried this technqiue before, but Pat @ Technique Junkies put a fabulous twist on it that makes it really special! I actually wanted to make something just so I could use one of these poinsettia flowers I found at the Dollar Tree. I think there are 20 to a stem - a nickle apiece, what a deal! The gold embossing is an idea I borrowed from Evelyn Spikes who was playing around with the original technique at the same time I was. Mine tended to kind of absorb back into the paper towel, but I still like the look of it. This wonderful woman image is from Art Creations Friday. I didn't get a chance to use it when they first posted it, but I knew the time would come when I would find the perfect piece to use it on. Joyeux Noel stamp is from Artistic Outpost's Snowy Woods collection, and the corner stamp is from Prima.