I have a deep dark confession. . . I have anxiety and I hate it. I am lucky, I don't have it bad, I only have one or two things that trigger an episode and I generally am able to recover fairly quickly.
For me, my worst trigger is the smell of something burning, especially if I smell it in my house. I am sure it is an after effect of our house fire. A few days ago we had a smell in the house, I think the dryer got overheated or something, and needless to say, it caused an episode. When it happens, it feels like a waiting game. I know that in time it will pass but while I am waiting for it to subside, I am slightly miserable. When this happened a few days ago, I decided that spending a little time creating some art would help the time pass and get my mind on something else. Creating always makes me happy and soothes my soul. It totally worked and I love the finished page I ended up with. I think it totally captures the mood.
I began by stamping The Look (the man's face from the Artful Artifacts set) stamp on a lined notebook page from my journal. I colored the image using assorted colors of Letraset Aqua Markers. I love the translucent color of these markers and how I can keep layering and blending the colors until I get the effect I want. I placed a Crafter's Workshop 12x12 Time Travel stencil over the page and misted it with Ranger Ink Espresso Color Wash. I sprayed it so that it was a very light application that wouldn't fill in all of the stencil design. I wanted it to be patchy and messy looking. Once the Color Wash was dry, I applied Black Soot Distress ink to the edges of the page.
I added two strips of patterned paper across the top and bottom of the page. I tore the edges so that it would look like the center of the page was ripped away to reveal the face and clocks below. I stamped over the surface of the patterned paper with Black Soot Distress Ink using the Scribbles stamp from the Tim Holtz Slight Alterations set. I inked the edges of both pieces of patterned paper with Black Soot Distress Ink.
I used my small single alphabet stamps inked with Black Soot Distress Ink to add some journaling. For me, an anxiety episode is a waiting game so the use of time and numbers on the piece felt very symbolic.
I have always felt that this face image seemed very somber and serious and almost kind of fearful. I loved the image but wasn't sure what I would ever use it for. When I pulled out my stamps to find the ones to use on this project, I knew right away that this one was it.
I am pretty sure that 90% of the time that I can't do a project without adding flowers to it. For this project, I layered flowers cut with the Tattered Florals die. I cut Kraft Glassine, inked Grungepaper, and mica. I layered flowers with leaves from the Foliage sets and Sprockets. I used a Timepiece and Game Spinners for the center of a larger flower.
I stamped a clock from the Mini Classics stamp set on the Kraft Glassine flowers. I used a green Letraset Pro marker to apply color to the metal leaves and brads. The Letraset Pro markers are alcohol ink so they can color on many different kinds of surfaces including metal. You can apply multiple layers of the same and different colors to achieve really nice color coverage and depth. A band of ruler ribbon below the flower cluster adds another number element.
I really love the way mica looks when die cut! Depending on the angle, it can be super clear or mirror like. I love the flakiness of it so that it not only has a great finish but also an interesting texture.
I used Zots 3D Singles to adhere all of the embellishments to adhere them securely to page and also give them dimension and lift them off the page. I love that they are clear.
----------Supplies----------
- journal/page: Creative Imaginations Creative Lifestyle Binder and Notebook Paper
- patterned paper: BasicGrey Basics Curio 6x6 Paper Pad
- stencil: Crafter's Workshop Time Travel, 12x12
- stamp: Tim Holtz Stamper's Anonymous Slight Alterations, Mini Classics, Artful Artifacts; single letter small alpha stamps- unknown
- die cut: Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Florals
- embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Foliage, Sprocket Gears, Time Pieces, Ruler Ribbon, Kraft Glassine, Grungepaper
- ink: Black Soot Distress Ink; Ranger Ink Adirondack Color Wash: Espresso;
- markers: Letraset Aqua Markers, Letraset Pro Markers
- adhesive: Therm O Web Zots 3D, Superstick
- misc: mica sheets
