Love Life…

Howdy Candies…I have lots of NEW exciting things to share today!  First up is the CC2C challenge #13 from StudioL3.  Now it’s been a bitty since I’ve worked one for them & I truly wanted to partake in the last few that have taken place but as each day passes lately, it seems like something new & exciting is happening & I’m not gonna lie…I’m Loving Life!  There is something to be said for Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2 that I just LOVE.  Perhaps it’s because he autographed it & I adore his snippets of fabulous techniques or maybe it’s just that when I create from it I tend to feel inspired to do more.  Whatever that reason is, it’s allowing me to mix my mediums & enjoy heARTistry.  

In the midst of this lovely piece I had in mind my ‘Stretch Your Stamps’ course yesterday & one of my CC101 FB Group challenges that’s a BONUS one for this month that is available only to Student Body members that have taken Tim’s online ‘Creative Chemistry’ course.  I used a mix of techniques but the base is apart of what CC2C is all about & the added bonuses are from what I learned in the book as well as the new online course I’m taking.  Hold on to your seats…there is more to share!  So without further ado Photos: (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Technique 13: Spritz & Flick Distress

A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2, page 42

Sponsored by: Simon Says Stamp (Click on the Links for a re-direct in a new window & photo to play along)

It always looks different from the side view…just click the pic to see a larger view of the ranger hologram embossed flower. (CTMH Cardstock Gypsy & Lagoon)

Loving Life really does describe what I’m living at the moment because what I haven’t talked about in a while is my Close To My Heart Business!!!  This last week I’m usually joining my CTMH Sisters in our annual convention.  This year it just so happened to be in Dallas!  WhooHoo feel like kickin’ up my heals & doing the two-step.  Whilst I am, because I’m truly excited to share something. 

While I didn’t get to go this year because I’m headed back to South Dakota to visit my Family & Friends I still received my 5 year tenure charm in the mail.  Trust me it is no easy feat to maintain an active status with all of the things that happen in life & last year I unexpectedly had a mild stroke during our general session…I thought for sure I wasn’t going to be able to keep up with my business.  Thanks to YOU & my oober supportive Family & Friends…I still made it to a major milestone with the company that is so near & dear to my heart & I just have to share it!

It doesn’t stop there because there is tons of news to share & it’s all starting on August 1st!  Your not going to want to miss out on a single thing because I’m going to be on the road over my Birthday & sharing this incredible company that has transformed my life!  Here is a snippet or preview so to speak of just a couple of things that I know your going to love…: NEW Consultant Kit!  Talk about doing a two-step & a YeeHaw now joining Team Creatique Candy is never been easier.  It costs only $49 for an (Essentials) kit that includes some Fabby products to get you started with your business.  We also have our (Master) kit for only $99. 

Bonus is that if you sign-up on my team in August you can get this really cool Damask style bag FREE to store all your items you need to represent YOU in your Journey as an Independent Consultant with CTMH.  Check it out: (Photo Links to Consultant Info on my web-site)

For more Details about my experience, leadership, & story along with all the information you need to download, print, & dream about my team is located on the tab above!  Awesome isn’t it? 

Of course it doesn’t stop there because we have now another Fantabulous Cricut cartridge with more 3-D project abilities & it matches so many of our My Acrylix stamp sets, Dimensional Elements, & more…available August 1st Cricut “ARTISTE” Collection!  Check it out: (Photo Links to Cricut Info on my web-site)

If your over the moon about these lil gems then your going to love that we now offer just 42 colors in our color palette that also include alcohol based markers for shading & pigment inks too & all of our cardstock colors come in packages of 24, so much bang for your buck!  Plus it doesn’t stop there…I will now be offering 2 other types of Workshops for Home Décor & Cards!!! 

Plus we have made some drastic changes to our exclusive StudioJ online Scrapbooking Studio, NO more Memberships!  That’s right…now each 2 page lay-out is now just only $6.95 which is just $3.50 a page.  Really cool for me because I tend to take hundreds of photos and without StudioJ they just sit on my camera card.  Well with the new Express Collections I can upload my images FREE & just drop them in the photo wells, do a little journaling & poof I have a completed pages for an album delivered right to my doorstep!  Just head on over to my Candy Basket & check out StudioJ for more information. The quality is just priceless I have to admit so I’m giddy to get going on some treasures made after my trip home. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed some of the snippets that are coming your way very soon & appreciate more than words your endurance of all this great information.  Thanks for Stamping By…

Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 2 - 3

Howdy Candies…so I tackled this weeks challenge with a bit of hesitation.  I recall so vividly sitting in my studio doing this technique during Creative Chemistry 101 (which you can join in anytime for a lifetime via OnlineCardClasses.com just click my graduate badge button to the right side) while at the time I was limited on colors I had…I was pleasantly surprised that it only took me 2x to work with the colors I did in my background vs. 8. ‘doing the happy dance’.  I think that learning to embrace my imperfections explain a lot in each piece of heART I create.  I can now say that after revisiting the technique in Tim Holtz amazing book Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 2 that any trepidation I may have had is completely vanished as I truly enjoyed the results.  Before I share the differences between my journey from my first technique till the one I just finished yesterday.   I truly wanted to say Thank You from the depths of my heart to StudioL3 & Angie who sponsored the CC2C – Technique #2 Faux Patina last week. Largely because prior to the challenge Angie had not started a blog and then after visiting & seeing her pieces of heART and having a huge support system behind her she started a blog!  I would love it if you would kindly go to visit Angie on her new journey at Art Frees The Soul.  A HUGE TY to StudioL3 & Angie for my winning the sponsored Tim Holtz autographed Ideo-ologoy bag.  I’m sooo excited about getting it I can barely breathe with excitement as I certainly will treasure this piece for all my lovely findings and the story that comes along with it.  I’m extremely humbled by all of the heART that was submitted and I have a mission to ensure that I show my gratitude for all the heARTistry shared by everyone.
Now on to CC2C – Technique #3 challenge.  I will be sharing my first rendition of this background I visited during CC101 too.  We would like to extend a huge Thank You to this weeks sponsor eclectic Paperie.  So without further ado…Photos: (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Technique 3: Marbled Stains

A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol. 2, page 46
Sponsored by eclectic Paperie (You can also click there Logo to re-direct to their site)

Close-Up Technique 3: Marbled Stains

A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol.  2, page 58 (Click the Photo to purchase Tim’s Autographed copy today!)

In this the colors I used were: Chipped Sapphire, Aged Mahogany, & Spiced Marmalade with a bit of Broken China.

Challenge Submission: (Click the photo to participate in the CC2 #3 – Challenge today!)

My First Visit during Creative Chemistry 101 in doing this technique:

 

I’ve heard a couple of times how we tend to change styles within the artwork we create, I admit I tend to agree with this as I personally feel that I’m ever evolving and in the process I’m starting to discover more about what types of things interest me.  It’s amazing how when we start to open our hearts & minds to all the endless possibilities how we tend to change course of our journey.  I’m without hesitation ENOYING THE JOURNEY set before me.  I have an amazing group of supporters that have participated & shared their renditions of this technique and it was amazing how many had shared different ideas of how to work with this technique.  The continued journey of CC101 is very mission specific in sharing our journey & inspiring one another to continue forward in discovering our personal inner artistry.  I can’t thank each and everyone theme enough in encouraging me to embrace this technique and submit regardless of what I thought my personal outcome could be.  It is an honor to have a safe haven of sharing without inhibitions & knowing that the ideas offered are not critiques but ways to provide me insights & suggestions to search deeper within me.  Thank You so much for Stamping By…

Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 2 - 2

Howdy Candies…I’m stamping by to share my CC2C Challenge from Tim Holtz amazing book of different techniques “Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 2”.  This challenge is a weekly challenge hosted by an amazing Ranger U Educator Linda L. via www.StudioL3.blogspot.com .  I was so tickled about this weeks challenge that I just could not wait to dabble into it.  I’m obsessed with Tim’s amazing ideo-logy line of trinkets & small parts, well there are some amazing little treasures that I’m learning to do more with & I’m loving every moment of it.  I’ve always wondered how in the world to color metals…not being very versed in working with metal bases I’m just pleased as peaches in how this came out.  I was completely inspired by both Linda & Angie (Guest Sponsor & Ah-Mazing Artist for this weeks challenge!) that I wanted to do a combination of the two.  Of course I was so nervous to ruin any finding I have (they are so precious to me…I keep reminding myself ‘Nichole don’t hoard it, create with it) that I wanted to make something smaller just to make sure if my experimenting turned out differently.  I also have Tim in my head saying “Embrace Your Imperfections”.  So I was inspired to create a special tag to go hand-in-hand with my finished pieces from yesterday; BSU Boise State due Tree of Life pendants for my new online Etsy store. Since each piece is always unique for both tag creations & the Tree of Life pendants I thought it would be a treat to share all the photos with you.  (I see you smiling…) (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Close-Up Technique 2: Faux Patina

A Compendium of Curiosities, Vol.  2, page 58 (Click the Photo to purchase Tim’s Autographed copy today!)

Special Handmade Gift With Duo Pendant Purchase & CC2C – Technique 2 Challenge Submission: (Click the photo to participate in the CC2 – Challenge today!)

Of course I can’t tell you how fun it was to just be able to sit back & ‘catchup’ on some “Nikita”, “Law & Order Special Victim’s Unit”, “Hawaii 5-O”, & “Scandal”…yes “Scandal” is a close second to “Revenge” for me as far as being just a couple of my top favorite shows.  I had so much FUN & I also got to watch a snippet of Kellen Moore here in Boise doing Autographs…so of course my first duo pendant would be inspired by my love for our hometown football team BSU Boise State University colors.  These are hand-crafted from genuine sworvski crystals (amber & sapphire birthstone gems & pearls), silver, & artistic non-tarnish silver wire.  I’m so excited that I was able to create a way to package them with today’s challenge that I’m so giddy right now.  I’m still learning to take better photos & truly appreciate all of the feedback from them so far.  Thank you all for your support on my new endeavor in finally opening my own Etsy store…so without further ado pics of my first duo:

Close-Up View of my wrapping…(Click the button on my right side-bar to view my Etsy Store):

The Duo with a quarter in-between to illustrate the size for my customers:

The Large Pendant:

The Small Pendant:

I’m truly excited to be able to share both of these stories of my artistic journey.  I have a confession to make to my readers.  I don’t know how to time manage very well & I need to get better at regular posting.  Sometimes when you go a couple of days or a week (at the most) without seeing from my Studio or journey’s in life it is because I grapple with time management.  I promise you one thing…I always visit back & make time for each of you.  I’m deeply humbled by your words, encouragement, thoughts, feedback, & most importantly the gift of your heART’s too!  It means the world to me more than I could ever put into words.  So thank you very very very much for Stamping By…

Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 2 Challenge

Howdy Candies…I’ve been looking forward to the start of this challenge for over a month since I got my autographed copy of Tim Holtz amazing “Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 2” book.  I’m so excited because it all starts with an incredible neighbor who just so happens to be a Ranger U Educator with a Fantabulous blog StudioL3.  I stumbled upon her looking up information about Ranger University about the same time I returned from CU2012.  I absolutely fell in love with her artwork & in the process discovered that she does these amazing challenges from Tim’s books!  So of course I had to carpe’ diem…it’s all apart of my new artistic journey & I’m truly excited to participate along with several of my Student Body members from Creative Chemistry.  This is such an exciting journey for all of Us.   So without further ado my CC2C Technique 1 Challenge: (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Sneak Peak & Close-Up of the First Technique Page 66 – Custom Foam Stamps:

(Click the Photo to Purchase your Personal Copy from Tim Holtz of Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 2 today!)

I ended up creating a 5x7 card & was able to incorporate tons of different ideas & products wrapped up into this special message to all my Student Body.  This was pretty neat because I just received my CTMH “Dotty” NSM promotion paper & thought hmmm…there is the perfect color combinations to work with using my Distress Inks “Peeled Paint” & “Broken China” & who would of thought that it goes very well with CTMH “Lagoon” & “Pear”?  I used a couple stamp techniques to get the base flower images I wanted (of course it wasn’t without playing with several different outcomes)  I have to admit I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.  My very first mixed medium card exploring outside of my comfort zone & admittedly I have to say, that this Custom Foam Stamp making is totally addicting!

Inside of the Card – Please click the photo below to find out more about joining in the FUN with CC2C at StudioL3 & This incredible Technique I learned creating custom foam stamps from his “Compendium of Curiosities 2”:

What a way to start off these weekly challenges!!!  The generous sponsor of this weeks challenge is: www.SimonSaysStamp.com I’ve ordered a few hard to find items via SSS & some class materials during Creative Chemistry and I have to admit they are good about shipping and offer International shipping too…Thank You SimonSaysStamp for sponsoring our challenges.  I also want to give a HUGE cyber HUG to all of my Student Body for the generous shares of artistic talents.  This card is for YOU!   Thanks so much for Stamping By…& don’t forget to grab your “Dotty for You” National Scrapbooking Month paperpack via my blog badge to shop.  In order to qualify you only need to spend $35 in our current Spring/Summer Idea Book & get the “Dotty” pack for only $5 (while supplies last).