11/14/08

Hero Arts Technique Challenge

Hero Arts is one of my favorite stamping companies, if not my favorite. I love their cute, whimsical, and clean images - and great prices to boot! Their clear stamps are high quality polymer, so I never have trouble with them. I have a lot of their stamps, so participating in their challenges was an easy decision for me. Honing my skills to answer the challenges was a little more work.

This week's challenge is to use a technique. I submitted three six pieces. (I'll post the other three later.) I've come to really enjoy distressing. I even made my own foam tool thingies - one for each color! :P I think it adds so much to the canvas.

This is a fun tag. I used broken china and frayed burlap to distress the background. The large snowflake was stamped in versamark ink and then embossed with white powder. To dress up the tag, I added rhinestones. A little bling always helps!



Stamps: Hero Arts Owl Christmas, Love That, Winter's Butterflies
Ink: Ranger Frayed Burlap, Broken China
Paper: PTI Dark Chocolate
Other: Janome Sew Mini

Here I did very light distressing with a mix between tattered rose and antique linen. I also experimented with the zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine. It's really not that hard to sew once you get past the initial jitters!



Stamps: Hero Arts Birds and Branches, Owl Christmas
Ink: CTMH Chocolate, Holiday Red, Ranger Antique Linen, Tattered Rose
Paper: PTI Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy
Other: Janome Sew Mini, Stickles Holiday Red, Sakura Glitter Pen, Paper Piercer, Spellbinders Tags

The words "shabby chic" intimidates me as much as I love the soft vintage look. I think the distressing look goes hand in hand with this look. This challenge was the perfect time to challenge myself to try it! I think this is one of the few times I ever planned my work. I pulled out my lacey ribbon, gotta have lace to be shabby chic!, and dug into my limited supply of buttons. I'm glad that I learned how to use my sewing machine. The sewing definitely adds to shabby chic.

I first swiped new canvas all over the background making sure to mask the bottom. Then I distressed the top corner with broken china and distressed frayed burlap over that. The trees were both distressed with tattered rose.

I pulled out a whole bunch of different stamp sets to create this one!



What do you think? Does it scream shabby chic or just whimper it?

Stamps: Hero Arts Jolly Christmas, Tea for Two, Borders, PTI Polka Dot Basics
Ink: CTMH Desert Sand, Bamboo, Indian Corn Blue, Stewart New Canvas, Ranger Frayed Burlap, Tattered Rose, Broken China
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush, Kraft
Other: Janome Sew Mini

Which one do you like best?

Thanks for looking!

17 comments:

  1. This is very beautiful!

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  2. very nice job on the sewing! I'm so impressed - I can't sew straight to save my life. not even faux stitching! :D

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  3. love the last one! def shabby :P

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  4. i love them all! they're all soooooo pretty!

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  5. Wow! These are just outstanding cards and I love that cute little tag (:

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  6. Just love the colors! so lovely!

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  7. These are all AWESOME! I bought a craft mat today so hopefully I can create something as fabulous as you have.

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  8. All these are awesome!!! I can't decide which one I like the best!!! I pick ALL OF THEM!!!

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  9. ALl your projects look good, I love the last one!

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  10. Nice job! I like the first one the best but then again I have a thing for tags. I have left an award for you on my blog so check it out!

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  11. How cute are these? I love the owl one, too cute

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  12. shabby chic! and i love the tag. fading is pretty.... :) you're getting better and better!

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  13. Beautiful! Love the shabby chic!

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  14. Wow, have you been busy!!! Great job!!

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  15. Great job! I love them all.

    Katy scs grp

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  16. WOW these are AWESOME!!! love it, you did and awesome job
    C

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  17. I love all your stuff. Looks like you overcame any "shabby" intimidation you had! I love the last one the best. Those colors are great.

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