Monday, October 31, 2011

Country "Home"spun

Good Monday morning and a Happy Halloween to you!  Thank you for dropping by to see what I made this week for our Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge.  This week, we want you to show us a house.  You can put your own spin on the theme and you can be sure our fabulous design team members did just that.  Stop over at the challenge blog to check out their awesome art!

I had a few different ideas for this theme, but I wanted to wrap in all the things that a home means to us. Homes are very close to my heart right now because for the past three years I have been managing a food pantry/outreach ministry for my parish.  I see so many folks in jeopardy of losing their home or people that have already lost it.  The foreclosure rate in Miami is one of the highest in the nation and you don't have to be living on the street to be technically "homeless".  Many families have lost their homes and have moved in with family - some houses are bursting at the seams with the number of people residing there.  

With my piece, I explored the ways our homes support us.  I started with a larger-than-normal piece of cardboard (11x14" - I cut up a box to get it) and dry brushed it with gesso.  I used the Spellbinders Label #1 die to cut the houses, with a full piece for the structure and a half piece for the roof.  Each structure piece was stamped with a different Wendy Vecchi background stamp and I used her wonderful gingham stamp (from the Nature's Art set) with red ink for the roofs.  I also cut chipboard for each piece and adhered them to give extra dimension.  Additionally, when I adhered them to the cardboard, I used craft foam behind some of them to give a bit of different dimension to each house.  

Since my theme for the piece was "Home is Where the Heart Is", each house had to have a heart.  I cut the hearts from old vintage book pages and also a piece of chipboard for each with the Sizzix Hearts, Primitive #3 die, glued them together and then ran them through the Cuttlebug Textile EF.  After applying Vintage Photo DI liberally, I punched a hole in each and tied a scrap of the homespun type fabric to it.  I created tiny tag sentiments on my computer to describe all the things a home means to me:  family, love, friendship, comfort, security and support.  The houses still needed something so I cut some metal with the smallest flower from the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die, added a tiny floral bead cap and a brad to each, but before I added the metal to the heart, I coated it with Ginger Alcohol Ink.  

My tin heart was cut with the largest heart in the Spellbinders die set from an aluminum pie tin.  I ran it through the Tim Holtz Checkerboard texture fade and dripped Ginger alcohol ink over it.  When it was dry, I sanded all the high points so the aluminum color showed through.  But I wanted the high points to be red and couldn't figure a way to do that without ruining the brown ink in the low points.  I ended up taking a paint brush and painting them with red re-inker.  


Thanks for sticking with me all the way to the end of this post!  Nows the time when I encourage you to stop by the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog to see what the other have created.  I can tell you that you will NEVER be disappointed by the line up over there.  Not to brag, but I think we have one amazing group of artists on that team. 

And of course, there is the support given us by our super generous sponsor Simon Says Stamp.  You need to go by their store and check out all the fabby crafting supplies.  And they are always super generous with prizes for our challenge, a $50 shopping spree at their craft-loaded store.  So whatcha waiting for?  Get busy building a house and share with us over at Simon Says Stamp and Show

21 comments:

  1. I think your little houses are just the best. Love how you put them all together.

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  2. Another mini masterpiece, Linda! I just love the whole feel of today's creation. Really beautiful.

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  3. Linda this piece is just exquisite! I never would have thought to use the label dies to make little houses. It gives me a couple of ideas myself. That's just so clever. I love your metal flowers and big metal heart too. I read all your blog posts and I always learn something or come away with lots of new ideas. You are quiet a talented lady and a wonderful inspiration to a relative beginner like me. Hugs!

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  4. I love love the home spun feel of this piece Linda. Love how you have added the little tags with words associated with HOME, lovely touch. The heart is gorgeous and a perfect addition as is the ribbon. A lovely creation Linda. Enjoy your week. Tracy x x

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  5. I love your home spun piece. Great way to make the houses-you are sooo creative! I Love the overall feel of this piece - fabulous!

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  6. There is nothing better than a beautifully designed piece with so much heart behind it!

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  7. Oh Linda,
    This touched my heart. Thank you for all you do to help others in need...
    Your houses are beautiful and your post was thoroughly informative. Absolutely fun and creative with just the perfect touches for a happy home. Thank you for then amazing inspiration this morning!

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  8. Linda...I love your piece. It reminds me of cookie shaped houses on a cookie sheet. That reminds me of the smells that come from a kitchen where homemade cookies are baking. :) Your blog was very introspective of all of the home foreclosures in your area. I had not even thought about that aspect. Reading that made me very thankful for my home. I truly do love your piece. Love the colors, the thought behind each piece and the things you used to create such an inspiring piece. <3 Candy

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  9. Linda love your little houses and how you've put this piece together. You are one talented lady.
    Thanks for sharing
    Marilyn

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  10. Wow so much work and detail Linda I don't know how you do it, you are a 'true master' xx

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  11. Love your little houses, great idea to use that die, great country home feel to it.
    Neat work that you are doing with your church too, I am sure the people are very thankful for the help!

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  12. Absolutely wonderful. Such a lovely country home feel with fabulous texture and great colour choices. Really like the gingham roof and love the wording on each house. Just so creative with those dies Linda - great work and a joy to look at!

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  13. I love the way you displayed the homespun houses. I would love to spend a week end with you just to learn all your techniques. You have really stepped up papercrafting with the mixed media.

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  14. Beautiful Linda and the thought behind it makes it extra special luv all the labels.
    Chris x

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  15. What a beautiful piece. Love the houses. You are very talented and creative.

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  16. This is just amazing! Your little houses are fantastic and I love your entire design!
    Hugs,
    Marsha

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  17. WOW! This is gorgeous. I love the red tin heart.

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  18. Linda, what an adorable design. Such touching little words on each little heart. We all take for granted so much and volunteering and sharing time with people less fortunate has rewarding ways.
    I think these little houses would make cute little tags too. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Very warm and sweet design, Linda! I love the layout and the way that you distressed the ribbon to give it more of a worn and comfortable look :)

    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  20. Wowwww Linda this is fantastic, I absolutely love this to bits, the rustic, olde worlde look is brilliant, the gingham ribbon and all the detail is superb.
    Hugs
    Lorraine x

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