A new face

Well folks I've emerged from my crafting 'lab' for a while to catch up on all your lovely work and show you one of my latest creations. There have been a few but I'm sticking with the resolution to show you the best stuff rather than posting everything - quality not quantity, that's the moto.

This is another of the Tammy Tutterow inspired backgrounds (she suggested transferring the DS Picket Fence left on the mask onto another piece of card - genius!) I used a different mask this time, and as it was another open type the embossing powder was removed again 'Tim Holtz stylee'. To add further interest my favourite Artemio script background was added using archival ink.

With such a neutral and detailed background the other elements needed to be selected/placed with careful thought. The starting point was the flower and butterfly made from white corrugated cardboard - this stuff is genius because you can use the softer colours (in this case DI Victorian Velvet and White-Red pearl embossing powder from WOW). The baby Fleur de Lis die cuts made a big difference both of these.

This element took some thinking about. I wanted words, but not 'happy birthday'. The majority of the letters for Sister were die cut but I don't have a large letter die - don't panic! I do have a set of grungeboard alphas, and once the letters are popped out the 'waste' is actually the most wonderful and robust stencil for drawing round or inking through. The backing panel - yep, die cut - also utilised Tim's repurposed packaging technique over the top with the addition of a swipe of archival ink to finish. The glossiness of the acetate helps to draw attention to the word.

Followers may remember I needed a face stamp before Christmas and Santa put me out of my misery with this utterly fabulous Inkylicious one. Isn't it hard making sure when you use an old book page that you position the image so as not to highlight an inappropriate piece of text!! Loads of soft blending here (I'm taking notice of Tim's wise words for his latest tag challenge about layering colours) and the addition of a linen layer underneath added more texture without affecting the subtlety.

Here's hoping this has inspired you to have a go at trying out new techniques and/or products, and if you haven't got them yet I would highly recommend both of Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiousities. If you are anything like me you will have forgotten more ways of doing things than you have remembered so it's always handy to have something to refer to when your mind goes blank:)

Off to see what you are all up to now, then it's back to the 'lab' (you'll see why v. soon... )

Hope this finds you healthy after the Christmas bugs and happy, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Australia facing the possibility of the devastation caused by forest fires. May you and your homes stay safe over the coming weeks.

Hugs, Jenny xx

The challenges I will enter this into include the following;

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team - Your Favourite Stamp (if you scroll back through my posts you will see that script one on loads of projects!)

Unruly Paper Arts Reader Art Quest 1 - Fleur de Lis (thank you to Brenda Brown for drawing my attention to this one - oh, and if you want to see gelli plates in action check out her latest amazing creations.)

Make My Monday - Dry Embossing (there are some wonderful submissions there already.)

Simon Says Stamp - Something New (that would be my new face stamp then!)

Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink Reinker	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Victorian Velvet	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Antique Linen	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Walnut Stain
White Corrugated Cardboard - 15 Sheets	Ranger Archival Ink - Coffee	Ranger Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities Vol. II