Grungy Monday tours Europe

Some members of the European branch of the All Things Tim Yahoo group have recently swapped pages representing their home region so, of course, the resulting book needed covers. I took my inspiration from some covers Tim Holtz recently made and used this week's Grungy Monday technique, as demonstrated by Tim (are you noticing a pattern here?), to colour the grungeboard letters spelling 'Europe'.

All the details of the challenge, including the link for the technique, are on Linda's blog. I used Crushed Olive and Black Soot Distress Inks for my example then outlined the letters with black pen after they were stuck down.
Here's the rest of the cover and I shall show the pages over the next few days so be sure to check back.

My covers are made from Dovecraft chipboard covers and a recycled clothes tag then decorated with Tim Holtz stamps, Distress Stains, 'Pitch Black' Paint Dabber and 'Kraft Resist' paper, Hitch fastener, Charm clips, D-Book rings, Alpha Parts, Grungeboard (Nature) and Sprocket Gears from the Tim Holtz idea-ology range.

Finding My Wings

When my son asked me what I wanted for Mother's day this year, I said "This!" - I was looking at Kelly-Rae Roberts' book 'Taking Flight'. So, here is the cover of my journal, created by trying to follow some of her tutorials, substituting materials where necessary (a lot) and generally playing with paints and inks. I've also managed to incorporate the theme for Hel's Sunday Stampers challenge #162 - Flying: Wasn't difficult was it?! In the process, and through trial and error, I've learnt a little more of what to do and not to do when trying different techniques. That makes me happy :)

I've used a child's board book, sanded and painted with gesso. Then on the front cover I've used Studio 'Traditional Tan' paint, 'Stream' ColorWash, Tim Holtz' butterfly stamp, 'Snow Cap' paint dabber, Perfect Pearls mix and Tim Holtz' idea-ology tissue tape. The 5 pieces stuck on the left are fabric collage, painted with acrylics. The panel on the right is a paper collage on card, painted with a variety of acrylics watered-down to different extents, black and white pens, Lumiere paint (wings), 'Snow cap' dabber. Studio Matte Gel Medium has been used for several layers across all of these.

Mixed Media Scrapbooking

This little piece was made as an assignment on a Mixed Media course I am currently taking with Shirley Pando on My Creative Classroom. The photo is of my husband's grandmother and I've used fabric, lace, ribbons, paper, ink, card, chipboard, faux leather, beads, metal....lots of stash that has been hoarded for years. All that on a piece that only measures 4x4" (10x10cm): The small size was the biggest challenge for me!

I'd love to know what you think.

GM13 - Alcohol inks

I'm determined to get something, anything blogged AND to get something on to the Grungy Monday challenge -this week. Did you notice I'd disappeared again ??? I've actually been making lots of things and have loads to blog but I'm soooo tired that I just haven't found the motivation to sit in front of the computer and show the world. And I'm rather embarrassed that, with everything else I've been doing, this is such a simple piece!
It's basically using the platform of the Grungy Monday challenge to kick-start an alcohol inks technique book which will be just a sampler of different techniques on different surfaces:

Here I've used 4 different blues and greens with pearl mixative and stamped over the background with stamps by Fiskars and Tim Holtz and black Stazon. You can pop over to GM13 on Linda's blog or click this link to Tim Holtz explaining the technique.