Creative Contradiction

2nd Creative Escape Project

Compliments of the generous Janet Hopkins! Here is what we worked on...
O.k. I didn't do hardly any work to speak of... BUT this is a VERY cool product that isn't even released yet. See, Janet makes these great books where she tears out the insides of vintage-ish books then adds a three ring binder mechanism and goes to town decorating them and filling them with all sorts of wonderful and creative things... so, when she wanted this to be her project for Creative Escape, Heidi Swapp told her that instead of going out to find 600 books, they should just make it into a product for everyone, and they did! Heidi is a pretty smart cookie! They will be available at the next CHA, we get a little sneak peek! The picture above is a selection of some of the pages that com in the book/binder and it is totally customizable. I did make a bunch of the inside pages that were made with Heidi's paper, I think it's called the Dream Dining Room Collection (very nice) My mom did finish a lot of hers and this picture shows something really cool that we did. There is a clock image printed on the patterned paper then it is covered in a layer of Gloss Gel from Liquitex and depending on the brush stroke used you got very cool effects. This is the one my mom did and it seriously looks just like brushed metal in real life. I wish I could get a better picture to show how truly awesome it looks. I didn't do a lot of the book because as I was working on the inside pages my brain was going a billion miles an hour on how I wanted to do mine. Like I said it's totally customizable and I want to take my time and let it evolve. I also have a different picture for the cover but I will definitely be using the gloss technique. Finally, the completed project can be seen on Janet's blog with more Creative Escape stories. I really enjoyed her class even though I didn't get a lot finished... my head was swimming with ideas the whole time. I was very inspired! I'll be sure to share my progress with my book. I'm really excited about it!

1st Creative Escape Project

It's the fabulous Tim Holtz! Here's what we made...

 

This is a Heart Pendant that can be worn as a pin or on a chain. When it's not being worn it sits on a little perch in this lovely frame as a very cool art piece. We used some great products, some I had used and some I have in my stash but haven't had the chance to use. The wings are Grunge Board and they are painted with Distress Crackle Paint and inked. The crackle paint is pretty cool, I'll probably get several colors. The heart is a Ghost Shape from Heidi Swapp. Paper was inked and collaged onto the back of the heart with Glossy Accents. Then some cool elements from Tim's idea-ology line were added on top with a brad. Then it was all attached to a small clear tile, with paper collaged on the back, also from Tim's line, called Fragments. (We got a pack of these and can't wait to use them) Then the insert from the frame was collaged and inked and a button was wired on so that the pendant could sit on it for decoration. What a great way to dress up a dollar store frame! This was a very fun class. The project took a little more than an hour and was really inspiring. I can't wait to do more! There's a little story about Tim and auctioning off his shirt if you go to his blog, read about Creative Escape and click on the link to Jessica Guthrie's blog. Tim is definitely great to learn from and he is very gracious and humble and down to earth. It was great to finally have a class with him... even though we had the first one in the morning and when we asked him if he was a morning person he said he doesn't do anything before double digits. My mom either but it all worked out!

The Beginning

Welcome to the Beginning. The start of my 'creative' blog. I have had it sitting here empty for some time now, taking my time in figuring out some stuff about why and how I want to post here... and I think I am ready. I have been plenty creative lately so I will have a lot to share but right now I am really excited for tomorrow. Last year in November my mom signed us up to attend the Creative Escape and it's finally here. It starts tomorrow! I am so looking forward to the classes, especially Jenni Bowlin 'cuz she's always been one of my favorites. So, I made this luggage tag, thinking I was all creative and when my mom got here today she said they had sent luggage tags in the pre-box that we got (that she left in Michigan on accident) but in true mom-fan fashion, she said mine is way more cute. Awww, thanks Mom! I grabbed some ribbon and fibers and tied it onto my old suitcase and loaded it up with all the supplies I will need over the next three days to be a creating machine. I'm ready for an awesome time, fun projects and time with my mom. See you when we get back!