Experimenting

Greetings!  Although I feel blessed being able to work with my gifted and talented students, I am looking forward to the Summer break.  God willing, I will be able to work on a couple of projects related to my art work that I have in mind which require much more time and focus than I currently have.  For now, I am content with experimenting with different styles and techniques.  Thank you, Lord!

In this first project, I experimented with some of the marker and background techniques in the Tim Hotz 12 Tags of 2013 - June.  The inspiration for my original tag design came from the concept of a woman being in "Vogue," which in my mind comes from having confidence in herself.  The latter may come from possessing strength, courage and wisdom.  I began by drawing a stylized portrait of a woman and loosely following Tim's classic marker techniques to color her.  However, I also incorporated some Prismacolor pencils.  Next, I used his background technique, which is a marvelous blend between opaque and translucent media.  Then, I proceeded to work on my composition, and decided to use my Tim Holtz hardware findings and mini stamp dies, as well as one of his salvage stickers.  I finished my dies using a gold dabber, as well as black and green embossing powders.  The lettering in the stamp was done using a black micron pen.  I am also submitting this piece to Tag Tuesday - Letter V and Paint Party Friday: Week 13, Year 3.

This next piece was inspired by Memorial Day, which is dedicated to commemorating all the inspiring men and women who died during military service to the United States of America.  Although this holiday takes place during the last Monday in May, these heroes should be remembered year round.  May God have them in His glory and bless the families who were left behind.  I got the initial idea for my experimenting from the Tim Holtz, May 24, 2013, blog post, where he played with his new eclectic elements fabrics.  I began by using Royal Coat decoupage finish to adhere denim to my tag base.  I trimmed and frayed the edges.  When it was dry, I did some machine stitching around 2 sides of the tag.  I proceeded to paint my grungeboard heart die cut using Tim's technique, but chose to hand stitch it to my tag.  I finished my tag background by re-punching the hole, adding an eyelet, and adding a fabric tie.  To embellish my tag, I used 3 patriotic fabric yo-yo's and a strip of fabric, as well as a Tim Holtz corner, a wire pin and a philosophy tag.  The sentiment was done using Magnetic Poetry word stamps.  I am submitting this piece to Tag Tuesday - Letter U for united, Simon Says Stamp and Show: Challenge "S" for states, and Word Art Wednesday: Challenge #83.

In this simple card above, I experimented with stamps and paper to create a collaged scene.  I began by stamping the Asian characters to the note card base and lightly adding some color with Prismacolor pencils.  Then, I stamped the Asian coin to simulate the sun, and colored it with Prismacolor pencils and a metallic pen.  I added a strip of hand painted paper to the bottom to simulate the body of water and made a simple origami sail boat to float on it.  I finished off the card by adding 3 daisies that were made with an EKSuccess punch, as well as edging the border with a distress ink pad.  I am submitting this card to Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Masculine, Crazy Amigo Challenge - Distress Inks, Julia's What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 209, Marcia's Show & Tell Saturday, and Alexandra's Sunday Sketches.

The project above was the most important project I worked on this week, since it is a card for my wife's birthday.  I made my card base by experimenting with a technique found at Boutique Magnolia.  Although it is in Brazilian, the author has enough pictures to lead you through the process or you may click the google translator icon if needed.  It is an extremely easy base to make and the decorating possibilities are endless.  I used prints from a DCWV garden party pad to cover my base, but please note that I attached the ribbon closure to the card prior to gluing the back panel.  To emboss the cake, I used an ATD brass template and highlighted it with some markers.  I used one of the Tim Holtz tattered flowers die to simulate leaves, and then added various mulberry flowers and glass beads to create the spray.  On the inside, I hand lettered my sentiment using a K&Company cardstock die-cut.  I also printed a photograph and 3 little personal sentiment note cards to enclose in the side pockets.  You can see how I added the finished card to the gift in the last frame.  I am submitting this piece to the Order of the Opus Gluei #158 - Birthday, Take a Word Challenge - Orange, Orange You Glad It's Friday, Manon's Paper Saturdays, and Mandarin Orange Monday #45.

In closing, I have a photograph of some tulips that I took for 52 Photos Project: Gallery 7 {Crimson}.  I actually took the photograph during Easter, but I did do some cropping and digital enhancing on iPhoto.  I'm also submitting this photo to Jen's In The Studio and Inspire Me Monday Week 75.  I hope you enjoy this photo, as well as all my other projects.  I would love to hear what you think, and will reciprocate with a comment on your blog.  Thank you for all your comments on my weekend's post, as well as for following my blog.  Blessings!