Compendium of Curiosities III Challenge 4 - So Retro!

Hi everyone. It's Friday 13th, lucky for some (crossing fingers here for my two eldest and anyone else out there taking exams) and definitely da bomb for my good pal Hels Sheridan who celebrates her birthday today - doesn't look a day over 21 and doesn't act it either!!! Love ya Hels :)

I wanted to add my personal shout out to you for the current Compendium of Curiosities III challenge 4; this time they are exploring the first of several Layering Stencil techniques - Texture Paste, page 49 of A Compendium of Curiosities III. Check out the technique in your own copy then link up your own unique spin to the challenge blog to be in with a chance to win. As well as a host of goodies from the ever generous Tim and Mario, it's an even challenge so The Funkie Junkie Boutique is sponsoring with a $25 gift certificate up for grabs. Of course a shout out is all well and good, but an entry would be even better...

In line with the challenge rules I'm not sharing 'how to's' for this; suffice it to say the base colour is created using the Marbled Distress Stains technique (Compendium of Curiosities II) with retro diner colours - Tattered Rose, Tumbled Glass and Brushed Pewter.

Having done a bit of research on Pinterest it soon became clear that a checkerboard pattern is a common design theme for retro diners, so I used Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi's 'Checkmate' stencil with her white texture paste'. To emphasise the composition some of the squares were coloured with a little Black Soot ink mixed with water using a fine detail waterbrush.

The reason for going all retro? Simples, getting my paws on Tim Holtz' Treats Blueprints stamps. THESE are the ones I have been waiting for since their launch back in January. Why so excited? For someone who primarily makes cards these are a dream as they will suit every age group, male or female and for so many occasions. Versatile or what?!!

The pop bottle and popcorn box were stamped and watercoloured with the same Distress Stains (with the addition of Fired Brick and Scattered Straw - the perfect colour for popcorn - who knew!) The bottle looked even better with a couple of coats of clear embossing powder.

Don't the picture wheel, film strip, ticket strip and Artful Arrows fit in beautifully with this theme. It's great when new stash and old work together. That's why I also added a stamped ticket from the Mini Blueprints 4 set.

The picture wheel needed to look sharp yet slightly aged so I coloured it with Brushed Pewter Distress Paint before adding a coat of Frayed Burlap Distress Stain. If you overheat it with your heat gun the surface bubbles ever so slightly.

By now you should be in the mood for a burger and fries before setting off for the local flicks. Whatever the weekend holds hope it's a great one.

Take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx

P.S. Just seen the latest Simon Says Wednesday challenge is 'Stencil It' - well it would be rude not to enter eh?!

$17.95 Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Treats Blueprints	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Mini Blueprints 4	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Stencil - Checkmate	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - White	Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Tattered Rose	Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Stain - Brushed Pewter	PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Paint - Brushed Pewter	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Tumbled Glass	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Frayed Burlap
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Frayed Burlap	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Old Paper	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Fired Brick	Tim Holtz Water Brush, Detailer Brush Nib	Ranger Embossing Powder - Clear	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Black Soot	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Scattered Straw	Sizzix Alterations Tim Holtz Picture Wheel BIGz Die	Sizzix Alterations Decorative Strip Tim Holtz Mini Filmstrip & Mini Tickets	*Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Artful Arrows Bigz Die
Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool - With 4 Blending Foams	Ranger Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet