Sunday, March 13, 2011

Design Elements: The last Studio L3 Compendium Challenge

When Linda started the Studio L3 Compendium journey the week of June 14, 2010, it was truly an adventure for me.

Up to that point I'd only heard whispers of Tim Holtz: I'd never seen the Compendium, nor tried Distress inks, embossing powders, crackle or stickles. I'd never played with alcohol inks or Perfect Pearls.

I know. My life was one of depression and deprivation before Tim Holtz. My Guy also lost his job about the same time the Challenges began, so despite the delight of Holtzy goodness to dive into ... well, it's been a long few months.

Anyhow, here's the reason the crappy unemployed topic is important to this post: First, if I could manage to squeeze in a tub, tube or sheet of this or that every month without creating any debt or living on dry noodle packs, you can, too. Second, you'll find that some products are favorites and others ... hey, we're all different and you might not ever want to buy this or that again, but I promise you'll be glad you tried each one.

Finally, the Holtz products are easily the highest-quality paper craft and altered art products I've used. There's no expert here, granted, but here there are two people (My Guy and me) who have, throughout our lives, worked with essentially every imaginable hobby and craft. We recognize crap, is all I'm saying.

OK. I'm finished advertising for Holtz and Ranger. Thanks for listening. Let's move on to the art!

Today's project shows off some of the first techniques we were challenged to use: In fact that water stamp tree on the right, it was one my first ever Compendium technique attempts! Then there's the crackle-painted block of red, the color wash bit on the top left and a whole lot of embossed, inked and painted bits.

Throw on a grunge flower with vintage paper, a brass button turned funky with alcohol ink metallic stuff, a token and an ornate frame with what My Guy likes to call the Children of the Corn faces. What of the silver wire spring thing, you ask?

I hate using wire for "stitching" because it's complicated and I'm lazy and impatient. Still, I tried with a bit and you can see the result. I gave up after one two-inch section, but had a bunch of wire remaining that I'd already cut off of the spool.

So, I wound it up, threaded it through a hole on the ornate plate and a punched hole in a rosette that is behind the grungy flower!

I guess it's the Spring forward twist? Or, perhaps more importantly, the Spring out of the Compendium and into whatever Linda has promised is in store for us in the future!

Thanks to everyone who has participated in the challenges, and to our amazing muse and hostess, Linda: We're a rowdy bunch and hard to keep in line!

13 comments:

  1. Wonderful piece and even before I read your story it was the springy thing that jumped out at me. You just never know when brilliance will appear. Thanks for all your inspiration and fun reading. See you on the next journey..Cheers...Donna

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  2. Tracy, I had no idea that you had never really used "Our Guy's" products! No one would ever know by the wonderful creations over the last 35 weeks! I had used some, but not nearly the amount or in the way we did! This finale project is such a wonderful tribute to all of these weeks! I love every inch of this and that includes the "Springy" forward thingy! It has been a blast to get to know you and to become friends! Linda did much more than take us on a joy ride!!! Have a wonderful evening!

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  3. Fabulous piece! Love the 'spring' of wire! Metal is hard to sew with! Can't wait to see you in the next round!
    Pam

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  4. What a genius idea to incorporate all these techniques into the finale piece. Have loved seeing your artwork each week. This one's a beauty too.

    Marilyn

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  5. Genius in the true spirit of both TH and our lovely Linda. Love the spring so neat a really fabulous closing of the book, for now! XOXO Zoe

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  6. Wow, an awesome piece to end the journey, you have added so many details, but I like alot that spring.
    Wonder where the craft journey will go next, see you there. xx

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  7. Oh you certainly make me laugh with your well chosen words....lol
    Terrific Design piece for the end of an awesome challenge. Loving all the extra details, especially that spring, genius..... Annette x

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  8. Love your art piece and your endurance through the tough times - still trying new ways to make your world beautiful.

    Hugs,
    Penny

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  9. lol! You constantly crack me up. Although the part about the unemployment isn't funny. I find I'm in the same boat as your husband. Your CCC piece is wonderful, just PERFECT for the last challenge! You go girl!

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  10. Hey Tracy, great patchwork piece and I had no idea you had never used Mr. Tims products before CCC, You could do a comercial for him!
    The spring is a great addition!
    Hugs Lynn
    P.S, so sorry to hear about hubby job, no fun there. :0(

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  11. Hope you got paid for that post ;) Your altered projects are so cool. You just jump in and try everything. I say you are inspirational!

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  12. Glad you are so inspired by Mr Holtz. The products might be good but I'm a firm believer that it takes a good crafter (like you) to create great projects with them. Thanks for coming by my blog and being so supportive.

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  13. this is brilliant!!!! gorgeous piece of art!! love it!!! =)
    Hugs, SannaS

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