Men....Men....Men!

It's that time again.........

Simon Says Stamp and Show has a new challenge.

MEN ONLY!!

Now, for me "MANLY" creations really stretch my creativity. I soooo love using flowers, lace and all things girly and sooooo not "manly". I began my journey by pawing through my creative goooodies and came across a package of Wendy Vecchi goodness...."Men and More".

I pulled out a moustache and knew this was a great place to start!! I dabbed on some fiber paste and when it was dry, I rubbed on Vintage Photo Distress Stain.

For the hand, I lathered on some Picket Fence Distress Stain, then rubbed some Vintage Photo around the edges and stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink. The perfect home for my moustache!!

I had such a fun time playing with the Picket Fence Distress Stain and stamping with it on Glassine Paper. Which I then proceeded to tear up and staple pleats into to create a ruffle. A piece of vintage trim and some black plastic were the perfect aditions.....oh and I can't forget the magic mesh.

It just wouldn't be a "manly" card without roughing up the edges which I did with my handy dandy Distrezz it All!! and of course a bit of Vintage Photo around the edges.

Now, what card would be totally complete without a bit of colored seam binding and a smidgen of twine......

I was so proud of myself that I was able to do ALL THIS without one flower!!

So, are you as "man" challenged as I??? Put on your thinkin' cap.......pull out some goodies and lets see what you can create! Be sure to link your creation up to the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog for ALL to see!! Who knows.....you could win this little ditty....

ATC's it is!!!

This weeks challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show is...

ATC'S ~ Artist Trading Cards

There were multiple levels of inspiration for my lovely little creations
First, being my bottle of Picket Fence Distress Stain &

and then a post Tim Holtz did on his blog

So, I decided to see for myself just HOW WONDERFUL

Picket Fence Distress Stain is!!

The way I decided to work my experiment was to choose
4 Distress Stains....
Peeled Paint
Dusty Concord
Faded Jeans and

Broken China

For my first ATC ~ HOPE....
I swiped on a layer of Picket Fence

Then proceeded to dip my Blank Canvas ATC into puddles of color
drying between each layer of color.

I stamped several images onto the card using Archival Inks and ran the little ditty through my Distrezz it All. I, then, used the Leafy Branch Embossing Folder and then painted over the raised surfaces with Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint. To help the wrought iron fence stamp pop, I squirted on some Gun Metal Stickles. The flower is levels of Color Me Crazy Flowers...colored with Scattered Straw, Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge. To finish it off I added a Adage Ticket.

Onto ATC #2 ~ LOVE

For this little darling I, dipped the ATC into puddles of color, drying between colors. When finished, I swiped the Picket Fence Distress Stain over top of the colors. Once again I used the Leafy Branch EF but this time I painted on Biscotti Perfect Pearls. I used another wonderful Color Me Crazy flower, this time I spritz it all over with Tattered Rose, then painted on streaks of Victorian Velvet.

Finally......ATC #3 ~ DREAM

  For this one.....I dipped the ATC into the colors and when dry, I stamped with Archival Ink using various stamps. For my final stamped layer, I used Picket Fence as the ink medium.......ohhhhhhhh I LOVE THIS EFFECT!! Once again, tore it up with the Distrezz it All, wrapped it in wire mesh. Made a 3D Flower from Buckram, colored it with Wild Honey.

There you have it my Picket Fence Experiment...

 

SOOOOOOOOOOOO.......are you inspired....ready to pull out some goodies and create an ATC??!?!
Cause I think you should....then link it up to Simon Says Stamp and Show

who knows.....you could be chosen for this.....

Let me tell you the store is FULL OF AMAZING GOOOODNESS!!!

Steampunkkkk.......

meets Shabb ~i~liciousness.....

welcome Punk~0~liciousness

and that's my take on this weeks challenge over
at Simon Says Stamp and Show.........

When I think of Steampunk....I think of different mediums and textures......and so my quest began.

I covered a paper mache book box, that I had acquired, with Graphic 45 Steampunk Dubutante adhered with Multi Medium. I wet the paper, to be used on the spine, so it would form nicely to the ridges. I then spritz the entire book with Biscotti Pearl mist......OMW love that stuff!!

 

Inspired by the dressform on the G45 papers.....I pulled out my Sewing Room die....some cardboard and cut out a Beauty! Thinking once again of textures/mediums....I pulled out a piece of wire mess and created a Punk~0~Licious dress with a lace under skirt. To finish off her attire I cut a pair of metal wings from the Hearts/Wings die. What would a Punk~0~liscious creation be without  Gadget Gears cut from Grungeboard, cardboard and specialty paper.

To add character I added Tissue Tape to the sides of the book box. 

To help the Butterflies pop....I dabbed on some

Patina Stickles. Then, I lathered some Rock Candy Crackle paint on the G45 tag.

And what creation of mine would be complete without hand died flowers. 

I used layers of Color Me Crazy flowers, colored with various 

Distress Reinker Mixtures and Distress Stains. 

Soooooo..... what does your mind conjure up when you hear the word Steampunk??

PLEASE stop by the other Teamies blogs to be ULTIMATELY A~MAZED by their creations!!
Then, head on over to the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog to share your creation.
whoooooooo knows your could be next weeks random draw winner of....

Hipppity Hop.....

Hippity Hop........the Simon Says teamies are just a Hoppin!!!

If you arrived here from Britta's blog...

then you are going in the right direction 

otherwise you need to start at the beginning on the Simon Says Stamp Challenge.

For the second year in a row, Simon Says Stamp and Show & The Simon Says Stamp Challenge 

are joining forces to bring you a SUPER hop and 

treasure hunt to celebrate the approaching fall and winter holidays.

To help celebrate we will be giving a 

BIG BASKET OF CRAFTING GOODIES 

to the winner of this hop! 

PLUS (3) $25 VOUCHERS to the Simon Says Stamp Store ! 

The vouchers will be the  hidden treasure on 3 Design Teamiues blogs and you have to find them.

The Blog hop will start at on August 31, 2011 and will finish on September 5, 2011. 

The Hop begins on the Simon Says Challenge Blog

and will end on the Simon Says Stamp & Show Blog.

The theme for both challenges this week will be 

ANYTHING GOES. 

You can make anything you like … a card, an ATC, a Scrapbook layout … 

the possibilities are endless!

You will need to hop through each blog, find the little parcel of goodies and make a note on which designer’s blog you found them. You do not HAVE to comment on all the DT blogs but we would appreciate any comments you would like to leave. 

If you lose your way at any time a full list of all the participating blogs with links will be available on Simon Says Stamp Challenge and the Stamp and Show Challenge blogs

For more details please refer to the Simon Says Stamp Challenge or the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge blogs for more details.

soooooooooo....without further adieu..........
the unveiling of my creation...

I chose to create an oldie but a goodie and revive my Poinsettia from last year. 

I came across the cutest....

decorative reindeer and just knew just what he needed.....
I augmented his existing antlers with the Elegant Flourishes Die, Grungeboard, Gold Paint Dabber, Big Shot and Script Embossing Folder.

The petals of the Poinsettia were cut using the Tattered Leaves Die. 

The top layer, of 4 petals, was colored with Barn Door and accented with Fired Brick. 

I applied Fired Brick Distress Stickles to add a touch of bling.

The second layer, of 5 petals, was colored with Fired Brick and accented with Aged Mahogany. 

I used Aged Mahogany Distress Stickles as an accent.

The third layer of 5 petals, was colored with Forest Moss Distress Stain and 

accented with Peeled Paint Distress Stickles.

I added a wonderful Bauble to set off the whole flower!!

For more in depth instructions on how to create your own Poinsettia I created a video tutorial. 

(PLEASE note the color changes from last year and I used Buckram for my material)

Thank you soooooo much for poppin' by my blog!!

NOW........HEAD ON OVER TO DAWNY'S BLOG.........to continue the Blog Hop!!


The last stop on the hop is the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge blog. 
You will need to leave a comment there with the names of the 3 blogs with hidden treasure. 
The comments will be moderated so you will not be able to see the answers.
 

Thanks Irene.......

 

that's all I have to say!! We came out of the storm unscathed except for the internet......hence the reason for my late post.....in fact I drove 27 miles just to get service so I could make this post to you...hehehe! 

and tease you a little bit......

Here is a peak of my upcoming project that will go live for the
Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop.....
For the second year in a row, Simon Says Stamp and Show & The Simon Says Stamp Challenge are joining forces to bring you a SUPER hop and treasure hunt to celebrate the approaching fall and winter holidays. Be sure to check out the site on August 31st to start the hop. It will run through September 5th. Simon Says Stamp is offering some great prize packages, and there will be other opportunities to win some blog candy, too!

And We're Off.......

This weeks theme at Simon Says Stamp and Show is..........

TRAVEL

I had the wonderful opportunity to do a bit of this this summer......but thought immediately went to my Grandfather and his love for Travel and Cars!

I pulled out one of his photo albums and found this picture of him with my mom and the
CREATIVE JOURNEY BEGAN.........




I knew that the Flourish Frame would be just perfect so I dabbed on some Fiber Past and set it aside.

I then took the second piece of the frame and painted it with Charcoal Black Studio Paint and set is aside.

I knew I needed to use the car from Wendy's Art Parts for Guys.......so I lathered on some Antique Bronze Crackle Paint and set it aside to dry.

By this time the black frame was dry, in keeping with the "texture" theme....I dabbed on Crackle Accents.......this is when I truly learned.........I DON'T LIKE THE DRYING PROCESS. And if you get impatient and try to facilitate the process with a Heat It Tool......you may or may not like your results!!

FINALLLLLLLY........everything was dry. I inked up the Fiber Paste Frame with Vintage Photo, wrapped it with some wire mesh and began the assembling process!

I used some Vintage Buttons and a Trinket to accent the buggy.....and as I love to have something drooooping on my creations I pulled out a piece of black and white Baker's Twine! I finished my creation off with a Hanger Clip holding a Love Adage!!

SOOOOOOOO...........link up your creation over at Simon Says Stamp and Show to be in the running for this FANTABULOUS GIFT......

BEFORE YOU LEAVE............TAKE NOTE!!

 For the second year in a row, Simon Says Stamp and Show & The Simon Says Stamp Challenge are joining forces to bring you a SUPER hop and treasure hunt to celebrate the approaching fall and winter holidays. 

Be sure to come back on August 31st to start the hop.  It will run through September 5th.  Simon Says Stamp is offering some great prize packages, and there will be other opportunities to win some blog candy, too!

Looking for.....

your opinions!!!

While at CHA last month.....came across this AMAZING company......

VINTAJ Natural Brass Co.

We were looking for a way to diversify the scrapbook store.....Generations of Memories.

I had taken a jewelry class offered at CHA which sent me on a quest....

And it was a bit of a road to get there.....but when I was directed by Linda Cain to check out these gals

I knew I had found what I was looking for.......I watched as they used the Melting Pot to create some wonderful goodness. The perfect melding of product......Vintaj and Ranger....

I WAS IN HEAVEN!!

SOOOOOOOO......when the box of GOODNESS arrived.....

I took a deep breathe and went to work!!

Receiving, creating a PO, pricing and displaying the product.....
I went home that night......dreaming of my first creation.....

The next day......I gathered up some beads and tool and
let the creating begin!!

I really had no idea what I was doing.......

or where the necklace would end up......
but here is the end result....

My FIRST necklace!

But seriously........I am looking for your comments!!

GOOD.....BAD or INDIFFERENT!!

I have a lot to learn......and so the JOURNEY BEGINS!