Friday, October 8, 2010

Wrinkle free distress: A Studio L3 Compendium challenge

This week's Compendium of Curiosities Challenge is actually last week's challenge since we got a "pass" from Linda.

Of course, the pass was supposed to benefit our peers, our lucky peers, our enjoying life more than us right now lucky peers. That's right ... it's the Holtz Cruisers. I call them that, not because they are scantily clad on Reno's own Red Light District, lovingly known as Fourth Street, but because they're off on a wonderful crafty cruise with Mr. Holtz.

And perhaps scantily clad. How would I know? Either way I assume there is little in the way of Red Light District behavior. But again. How would I know?

And why would I care? I wouldn't. I don't. I only care that this week's two week long deadline has been a joy. For the first time since I began this little journey I've tried the technique of the week from Holtz's book in a handful of ways.

And I learned a helluva lot more about the technique this week than I do usually. Now, I'm certainly not asking Linda to start giving us two weeks every week (unless she'd be OK with me asking, in which case I'm freaking begging).

But, I'm definitely going to have to remember to go back to each and every one of these techniques, myself, and try them again. Because I clearly need more time to be creative.

Anyhow, we were allowed two weeks this time. Which means I got to create several projects related to the technique Wrinkle Free Distress.

That actually brings me to something else: What the hell is Tim talking about "Wrinkle Free?" Did any of you manage to get anything without wrinkles? Perhaps he meant it in the more slang or cliched term of wrinkle free meaning "an absence of problems."

He'd be wrong there, too. Despite my now deep love of our Mr. Holtz and especially his trinket things (which I recommend you buy even if you don't like his techniques, because the flowers and swivel clasps and trinket pins ... they're easily high enough quality to use in a variety of techniques, not only on delicate Don't Touch! art).

He'd be wrong in the cliched use because this technique does require a small ability to get over the "oops" didn't mean to do that, moments.

Alright, so back to the subject: I made a lot of projects the past couple of weeks. And now you're stuck lookin' at 'em.

There's the 1/2 Full piece. It's OK. I like it, especially the "1/2" stamp I used on the top left. That's an actual vintage railroad stamp! How cool is that?

Then I punched flowers from one of the papers covered in wrinkle free distress. And tore another one in half to create a, ahm, something. I forgot to photograph the entire, finished piece, so there's no proof, but I think that piece turned out very nicely in the end.

Finally, I made the Postal Bird last night. It's my favorite so far with this technique. It's also the first break into the Holtz idea-ology embellishments I picked up in Idaho a few weeks ago.

Apparently I wanted all of those things so badly that by the time I had them ... I was overwhelmed. You can damn sure bet that you'll see a lot more of those from me in the future! I adore the little metal bits!

Um, what's remaining to blather about ... ah, yes, the last photo is only an example meant as a reminder to me and you: Use the techniques of our Mr. Holtz and make them your own. He says it in his book, and he clearly means it ... play with his ideas!

Whew. I'm done. Aren't you glad I had two whole weeks? I know you are. You would have been done reading my silly blog 15 minutes ago if I'd been given only one week.

Maybe one week is best.

On the other hand ... I still have more than 24 hours for this week's two-week challenge ends ...

9 comments:

  1. You do make me laugh my friend, you are priceless.......lol
    I love your distress techniques and how fab when run through the embossing folder...now why didn't I think of that......because am old and stupid thats what....
    Have a great weekend, Annette x

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  2. You are just too cute! My challenge piece, became die cut leaves and I did refer to it as crapola! Love the way your WFD became a work of art!

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  3. I like them all. Different colors than the way I tend, which makes me go wow!

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  4. I love your blog, it always makes me smile. What fab wrinkle free distress. Love those colour combinations.
    Sue x

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  5. Wow, you were busy! Loved all the pics, thx! Turned out just wonderful.

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  6. Oh I did have to smile reading your blog, you have been a busy bee this time, I love how they turned out.

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  7. All of your backgrounds are gorgeous. I do think it is a great technique but one where you cannot plan how it is going to end up, just have to see where it takes you :)

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  8. CB, I just totally love you! Every time I visit your blog, I laugh out loud AND get an eyeful of spectacular artiness! You went to TOWN on this technique, girlfriend, and totally rocked it in the old school way.

    I like the think of "wrinkle free" as a sort of mythological state of being, a metaphor for a life lived free of cares and woes, filled with... oh, never mind. Actually, I think Tim is a super-mojo magic man who can do things like this without his paper wrinkling, and without even the tiniest hint of perspiration on his brow. For us mere mortals, yes, the paper wrinkles, and so does our brow, but a heat gun will flatten that baby out nicely (the paper-- not our foreheads! That requires botox and I'm not willing to go there. Yet.).

    Did I mention how gorgeous your wrinkle-free distress came out? It did. All of it. The backgrounds, the flowers, everything. I'm LOVING the geometric pattern in that last photo. And that card with the leaves and twigs and metal bits? GENIUS! It's really, really beautiful.

    Okay, I can't make all the challenges last two weeks, but we'll have at least one super-size week over the holidays (and maybe more, depending on whether there's a "12 Tags of Christmas" project at Mr. H's blog), and l'll ease you back in tomorrow with something really fun and easy for Challenge 17. How's that?? ;-)

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