Compendium of Curiosities Challenge - Smudge Stamping

First of all, I'm so happy that Mary Werner contacted me when she won my give-away earlier this week. I can't wait to make her a personalized tag with Graphic 45's Once Upon A Springtime, her favorite collection. That's what I'll be doing Sunday afternoon. Personalized projects like these make me so happy! I'll be sure to post it when finished and share Mary's sweet e-mail she wrote me.


Okay, on to the next big Compendium of Curiosities Challenge!

The Compendium of Curiosities III Challenge hosted by our lovely hostess Linda Ledbetter on her blog. Each challenge comes from the wonderful book "A Compendium of Curiosities Vol. III" featuring amazing products and techniques by non-other than Tim Holtz.

Join us with your creation based on the featured technique and your project could win you an awesome prize pack from Tim and Mario and you also have a chance to win the random draw from our generous sponsor this time: The Funkie Junkie Boutique. All the details, rules and links are at the end of my post so be sure to keep reading all the way through.

Today's challenge can be found on page 42 in the book, and it's called "Smudge Stamping." The Curiosity Crew is here to provide some inspiration to help kick-start your creativity.

For this challenge I created a 5 x 7 Mother's Day card for my wonderful Mom.

Let me take you through the process...

First is the Smudge Stamping technique itself, which I can't give away. (That's for you to discover in your own copy of the book.) For my background area, I used the Stampers Anonymous "Nature Walk" stamp set on a 4 3/4" x 6 3/4" piece of Ranger's Mixed Media Card Stock.

I remember first learning this fun and easy technique at Ranger University a few years ago. Such a cool effect to background stamping.

I cut eight little squares 1 7/16" each of Wallflower paper (mostly from the 3" x 3" pages) and inked the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. The perfect medium brown. I will NEVER get tired of the Wallflower collection!

I adhered the squares to my background piece, evenly spaced.

Then I stitched between all the spaces with a tan thread. I love using the sewing machine on my paper craft projects.

Also from the Mixed Media Card Stock, I die-cut and embossed one of the butterflies from the new Butterfly Duo Alterations die and matching Texture Fade. These butterflies are the perfect size for so many projects. And guess where I got them from? The Funkie Junkie Boutique, of course! I used the Water Brush and Distress Markers to color her in, starting with Spiced Marmalade...

and finishing with some Fired Brick and inking the edges with Gathered Twigs. 

Finally, I gave it a shot of Copper Perfect Pearls spray for just a bit of shimmer.

After heat setting the butterfly, she sort of naturally curved her wings forward. Perfect! Then I added some kraft Chit-Chat stickers below.

I found these great little bumblebee charms at Alpha Stamps. I simply snipped the charm loop off and colorized the golden bee with some Sunset Orange alcohol ink. The crinkle ribbon has been spritzed with Fired Brick Distress Stain and a bit of the Copper Perfect Pearls spray. I  tied it around the base piece and attached the whole thing to my card base, which is 5" x 7" (folded) dark brown Kraft Core.

At this point I thought I was done, but there seemed to be something missing...

...So I looked through my stash and found some lovely Martha Stewart filigree embellishments and added two photo corners on the left and a round piece behind the bow. Now it's complete,... almost.

Let's not forget the inside of the card. A little more smudge stamping in there and a stamped phrase for Mom and now the card is really complete.

Now it's YOUR turn. I hope you join us in this cool technique challenge. 

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Do you have the fabulous Compendium of Curiosities Vol. III book by Tim Holtz? (the master of all things vintage and distressed.) If not, you can find one at your local craft store, scrapbook store, or you can get a signed copy by Tim himself by going here. 

You can find all the CC3 Challenge details and FAQs here.  The lovely Linda Ledbetter is our hostess of this fun series of challenges, and all you have to do to participate is create your project, and upload to her site. Be sure, though, to read through all the FAQs so you're eligible to win...

We're working our way through this fantastic book of techniques and tips, and challenging you to join in the fun. This round's challenge is sponsored by the great folks at The Funkie Junkie Boutique who have a fabulous gift voucher to give away to one lucky random winner. Also, the Curiosity Crew's Choice scores a giant prize pack of goodies straight from Tim and Mario!