Second Floor Challenge #8

Julie and Nat's 

Second Floor Challenge #8 is: Using 3 or More Stamps.

Ugh... I don't know what

it is, but it seems I do my worst work at these SFCs. The girls come up with these unique challenges, but I can't seem make it off the ground floor. This is my 3 or more stamp attempt...

I wanted to go with just

inks on this, so the background is Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, Wild Honey and a touch of Vintage Photo Distress Ink. Applied Spiced Marmalade using Crafters Workshop Mini Tile Texture stencil. I love how it turned out, but the affection stops there.

I stamped on these 

leaves with Jet Black Archival, then tried Dyan Reavely's Bleach Out technique that you can watch here. 

Stamping my text

directly onto the background, the words didn't show up quite enough. I re-stamped onto cardstock, cut the words into blocks, inked and glued them over top the first. That made them a little too close together. *

Getting braver, I stamped my

 Dina Wakley Silhouette Script onto the page with Black Soot and sprinkled on Utee and heat set. Good night!!!... now what have I done? * Guess I just have to go with it!

I finished with stamping 

a border of blanket stitching and sponging Black Soot around the edges. What more can I say?

I'm taking away two valuable 

lessons in doing this challenge... and I hope I will remember them.

• Don't stamp over a dark background... a bit of a whitewash could have helped and not destroyed the background.
• Test your stamps first before applying them to the page... especially ones you've had trouble with before. (This Silhouette doesn't seem to like me at all... but I think she could be lovely.)

It's all a fun experience...

thanks Julie and Nat for the chance to learn something new... I'll keep trying!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda

Second Floor Challenge #7

This is the first of the

Second Floor Challenges that I am partaking in at Balzer Designs... Challenge #7 is using just five items to create a piece of art.

The five items I chose were:

1. My journal

2. Designer paper

3. Soft gel medium

 4. Acrylic craft paint

5. Brush

Since I couldn't use

scissors, I tore the paper to size. I wasn't sure about using my craft mat either, so I worked directly on my desk.

The brush I chose was

a fine liner for my journaling, so I had to apply the soft gel with my fingers. What a mess what was!!! Then to top it off, I couldn't grab a baby wipe because it wasn't on my five items list... nuts!

A little finger painting.

Then some more adhering with soft gel and paper scraps.

My finished piece.

Certainly not what I had in mind when I started out.

I have learned several

bits of truth through this experience...

1. When those more experienced then me say this is not an easy challenge, listen and don't think you know everything... Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

2. Paint WILL NOT MOVE on paper that has not been prepped with gesso, etc.

3. Charcoal pencils and Distress Inks will hide a multitude of mistakes and without them every little one will show.

4. Baby wipes are my best friend.

5. I have a long way to go and need a lot of practice.

But I do have HOPE!

Check out what Julie did here and Nathalie's work here.

I'm also linking my pages to:
Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog - #71 Circles

These have been busy,

busy days for the Penmaker and me. Among other things, today we watched two of our grandkids while a third was having a cast put on his fractured arm. This gave us an opportunity to have a picnic lunch in the backyard.

Happy times indeed!

Thank you, Papercraft Star ladies!

My "First Dream Then Set Sail" page won Super Nova!

Have a great day, friends...

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs!

Linda