Craft Barn Dictionary Challenge 2013

Well it's nearly the end of the year with the last 2 letters of the alphabet for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge. So here they are, I and  X, plus a few photos showing all my ATCS and album.

For I, I've clear embossed the Ideogram (kanji symbol for happiness) and then inked the ATC with Dusty Concord and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks representing Indigo and Iodine.  I've chosen to do ILLUMINATION with the light bulb flowers stamp from Chocolate Baroque embossed in gold (think illuminated letter!) and coloured. As always, it's finished with the torn dictionary definition and alcohol inked Thicker.

For X,  I've chosen to do XMAS ...well it is Christmas and to be honest there were few words to do!   The background is a mix of Barn Door and Aged Mahogany Distress inks overstamped with the Christmas Words Block stamp from Darkroom Door in Vermillion Archival.   The holly and hellebore are the Christmas Corner stamp from Oak House Studio embossed in gold, coloured with metallic markers and with red beads for berries.  I've added some tinsel, the torn dictionary definition and the alcohol inked Thicker with a touch of glitter as it's Christmas!!

Here's a photo of all 26 ATCs together.

I've mounted them on 8 x 8 black card and added other torn words from my dictionary along the edge.  These are words that either mean something to me or secondary words that I've illustrated on my ATCs.  I've also included my take on the challenge so that in 10 years time I'll remember why I did what I did!!

I've thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and surprised myself by creating every single one on time.  Thanks must go to The Craft Barn for all their hard work and the design team for their inspiration.  Thanks also to everyone who has visited my blog over the year and left such encouraging comments.  I'm now looking forward to seeing everyone else's end of year posts and finding out what The Craft Barn have in store for us in the new year.

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Creating in 2014!!
 

S for Stamp

Here's no. 24 ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is S.   Lots of words beginning with S but I dismissed the stone/slate, sewing  and seaside themes and have chosen STAMP
 ........how obscure I hear you cry!! :)

There are two colours - Saffron and Scarlet - and I decided to do a Scottish Tartan background using Stazon of course - Sunflower, Blazing Red and Cactus Green. I used strips cut off a new set of stamps to stamp the stripes.  

I guess you won't believe me but two weeks ago I decided I'd do a yellow and red scottish tartan background for S - I looked through the S's when I was deciding what colour to do for Q. I  also realised I only had one really bright ATC - F for Flourescent - so needed to do another bright yellow.  I had to smile when The Craft Barn had a tartan week last week!!   Great minds and all that!

I've also amalgamated Stamping (action) Stamp (inky image) Stamp (postal) and Songbird which is a Crafty Individuals stamp CI-180 on Shrink Plastic, coloured with promarkers and cut out using decorative edged Scissors!   I've added the Darkroom Door Special Delivery stamp,  the torn dictionary definition and the alcohol inked Thicker.

Can't believe I've managed to keep going with this challenge and whilst I don't want it to end, I'm looking forward to finishing my album.   Thanks for looking and for your kind comments as always!!

The Quaver Queen

Here's my 23rd ATC for The Craft Barn Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter this fortnight is Q. Quite a tricky one as there are not that many words - Quaver and Queen stood out along with Quayside but I really couldn't see how I could fit all three together!!

There are no Q colours so I started off with brown to contrast with my P and R ATCs either side. The background is a mix of Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo Distress Inks overstamped with a Music stamp from Oak House Studio inked in Cocoa Bean Brilliance.

The Queen is from Paperartsy's Lynne Perella set LPC008  inked with Majestic Blue Versafine.  I've added some Waterfall Stickles to make her crown shine and edged the ATC with it too to brighten it up a bit. It's just finished with a Quilled Scroll made with brown card, the torn dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

I'm sure there'll be loads of Queens this time as the choice is so limited.  Thanks for looking and for your wonderful comments last time.  I'm off to see what others have been up to!!

Northern Lights

Here's my 22nd ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter this fortnight is N. After a quick read of my dictionary I found a few words but decided to go for Northern Lights against a Navy Night sky.

The Aurora Borealis background is done with embossing powders - I love the technique of painting a picture with powders. I've used Versamark and Faded Jeans Distress Ink along with Golden Lime Blaze (neon green!!), Gold, China Red, Irish Spring (dk green with glitter) and Clear embossing powders in about four layers, heating as I went and blowing the loose powder about a bit. One word of warning, remember to throw the spare embossing powder away as it'll be a bit of a mixture....or save it for another project!

The background actually came out better than I envisaged in my head which makes a change!! I didn't want to cover too much up so just added a shrink plastic compass (Tim Holtz stamp) to find the north for navigation, the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked Thicker.

I can't believe we are nearly at the end and I've managed to keep up - my album is nearly finished too. Thank you once again for all your lovely comments!!

L for Lighthouse

Well I think I'd better apologise to my readers and my blog for neglecting you.....not sure where the last two weeks has gone. I've been working and watching all Tim's 102 videos but my hands have stayed clean. Terrible isn't it!! Anyway today I've had chance to create my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is L .... but there is a twist, we have to include a WINDOW.

I found quite a few L words that fitted together so think I've managed 8 this week. I've naturally used Lilac Linen cardstock - die cut the arched window using 2 oval dies and inked an ATC sized piece with Ice Blue Chalk Ink to create a Lavender background. I've cut another piece of card for the Ledge (or sill) of the window frame and added the view - a Lamp in the Lighthouse in a Landscape with lots of other windows too. The stamp is a Michael Powell one called On the Lookout which I've watercoloured with Aquash (adding a bit of Lemon and Lime etc). My ATC is just finished with some Lace, the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked Thicker.

Not sure I like this one - the colours are a bit too pastelly for me and my lighthouse must be suffering from subsidence as it's not straight but it's a great contrast with my K and M ATCs.

I can't believe we are on fortnight 21 which means there are only 10 weeks to Christmas.....don't panic!! I'm hoping The Craft Barn have a plan for another year long challenge for 2014 as this one has been great. Anyway thanks for looking and I'm off to see what others have created - I love how everyone chooses such different words!

Jet Jewellery

Here's my 20th ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where this fortnight the letter is J.  I thought I was going to struggle but actually I've been able to include lots of Js - the main one is JEWEL.

The ATC base is just dark brown card but black embossed with the spots from the Inkadinkadoo Animal Skins set to represent a Jaguar (see photo below). The Whitby Jet Jewel is Jet Black UTEE melted and then poured into the frame.  I've die cut a Jade Jigsaw piece and fastened the jewel to it with Jute.  And as ever, it's just finished with the alcohol inked Thicker and the dictionary definition.

Don't you just love this Jaguar?  We were at Edinburgh Zoo in the summer and he was just dozing in the sunshine at the front of his cage.  Whilst Jaguars look plain black, they are in fact spotted like Leopards and I managed to get this great photo.

I'm really enjoying this challenge and seeing how many words I can cram on an ATC.  It's getting more difficult to choose a design and colour scheme so that my ATCs look varied.  This one is very dark and green again but my K is light blue and we haven't done I yet!

I'm off to see what everyone else has done so thanks for visiting and leaving comments - they are always very much appreciated.

Ginger, Green and Gold

Here's  my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is G.

Quite a few choices but I've decided to do a Green and Gold Garment on a Ginger background!!  The ATC base is a mix of Rusty Hinge and Old Paper Distress Inks and the Dress Form stamp (from Oak House Studio) is gold embossed (gilt) on card inked with Pine Needles Distress Ink and sprayed with Peacock Green Ink in a Bottle.  I've added some ribbon with green gems for a belt, the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl thicker. 

Don't you think it's a glamorous and gorgeous gown!   Sorry must stop using any more G words!!  Thanks for looking and for all your lovely comments on my previous ATCs.  Only a few more weeks left.....starting to wonder what The Craft Barn have up their sleeves for next year's challenges!

Off to see what words other people have chosen!

Abbey to Zoo

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is Z. Surprisingly there were a few words to choose and I've actually made two different ones. Firstly I've gone for Zodiac....think Gemini and Age of Aquarius!!

For the background I've used a Zigzag stencil from Studio Calico with Oak House Studio Ink in a Bottle sprays. I sprayed Regal Claret through the stencil onto the ATC, left it to dry, moved the stencil to cover the claret and then sprayed with Citrus Orange. Very psychedelic, 60s and Aquarius don't you think!! For Gemini, I've used the lady (twice) from a free stamp that came with Craft Stamper magazine. As always, my ATC is just finished with the torn dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

I've also made a little progress on the cover of my Dictionary Challenge Album with a second ATC for A and Z.

For A I've chosen to do Abbey against an Azure sky. Whitby Abbey is from Crafty Individuals (CI-227) and I've stamped this with Onyx Black Versafine and clear embossed it. The background is mostly Salty Ocean Distress Ink with a little Mowed Lawn blended at the bottom. This is overstamped with the seed head stamp from Crafty Individuals (CI-207)inked with Pearlescent Ivy Brilliance.

For Z I've chosen the word Zoo. The background is a mix of Rusty Hinge and Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink and I've used various spots and stripes stamps from the Inkadinkadoo Animal Skins set inked with Onyx Black Versafine. Both are finished with the torn dictionary definition and a plain white vinyl Thicker.

There is a reason for my choices - I've been digging into my family history and I've got as far back as the 1680s in the Whitby area, and to bring it up to date, my daughter has just passed her A levels and is starting a Zoology degree.

I'm off to see what other words people have found. I guess there'll be other Zoos and Zigzags and Zodiacs but it's interesting to see how everyone interprets them differently. Thanks for looking and for leaving comments - they are always appreciated!!

Orange Owl

Here's my 17th ATC for The Craft Barn Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is O. Another week where there are a lot of Os but not many stood out for me.

I created an Oblong ATC from linen card, blended with Ochre Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink and stamped the Ivy Corner from Oak House Studio with Thyme Brilliance. I cut an Oval from Orange card and stamped the Owl on this from Chocolate Baroque's Birds of a Feather set - it's inked with Onyx Black Versafine and clear embossed to enhance the image. It's funny because I was actually doing Ornithology, but the only bird that would fit the oval sensibly was the owl....oh yes, that begins with O too!! So I went back to my dictionary and tore out the Owl definition and added the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

Unfortunately little other crafting has got done this week - no idea where the time goes - but I have made another ATC for A and Z for my cover which I'll show you another time. Meanwhile, thanks for looking and I'm off to see what everyone else has been doing!!

Damson Dragon

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is D. Interesting as there are 46 pages of Ds in my dictionary but very few nouns - Damson is the only colour so I've gone with that, then decided to choose DRAGON protecting a Diamond (DD's idea).

The background is a mix of Dusty Concord and Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink spritzed with water for the damson colour. I've stamped the small Harlequin stamp with Dusty Concord in 2 corners and doodled in the other 2 corners with a purple Sharpie. I've used the ATC Dragon from Oak House Studio inked with Onyx Black Versafine and clear embossed to make him stand out more. I've added a Diamond brad, the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

As I said before, I only noted a few words - one was Decorative Arts and the other was Digerati which is someone who uses computers a lot....I think both words describe most of us who blog. Anyway hope you like my ATC and thanks for looking!!

Tessellations and a Tree

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is T.  Loads of words to choose from this time but I think that makes it harder!!  I've chosen TREE and three colours - Turquoise, Tangerine and Terracotta.

I sprayed my ATC with a mix of Peacock Green and Jubilee Blue Ink in a Bottle (Oak House Studio) to create a Turquoise background and then stamped the Beech Tree (also Oak House Studio) in Onyx Black Versafine.  I also sprayed two smaller bits of card - one with Citrus Orange Ink in a Bottle for Tangerine and the other with a mix of Citrus Orange, Jubilee Red and Brazil Nut to make a Terracotta colour. I clear embossed them and cut them into tiny squares to create a Tessellated tile border.  It's just finished with the dictionary definition and the vinyl Thicker coloured with silver (plus a bit of orange) alcohol ink to represent all the shiny silvery white metals ie.  Tellurium, Tin, Terbium, Titanium and Thuliam!

Hope you like and thanks once again for looking and leaving such lovely compliments.  I'm struggling with time and inclination at the moment...and the heat isn't helping either.  I know we shouldn't complain about the sunny weather but a little rain would be lovely too!!

Yellow Yacht

Here's ATC number 14 for The Craft Barn Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is Y and the twist is we have to use YELLOW. The Yellow is fine - I've been trying to choose a colour, technique and subject for each letter. The problem is the subject - there are just so few Y words so I've chosen YACHT but also taken note of ytterbium and yttrium - white/silver/grey elements!

For the background I've used Tim Holtz's Sunray stamp, inked with Sunflower Yellow Brilliance and clear embossed. I've blended over this with Salty Ocean Distress Ink - lighter at the top for the sky and darker at the bottom for the ocean. The 'Yacht' is a Crafty Individuals stamp (CI-295) - not a simple yacht, but it does have sails and it was the only boat image I had!! I've embossed this in silver and then watercoloured over the hull and between the sails. My tag is finished with blue ric rac (think waves), the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

I probably made this harder for myself by choosing a subject beginning with Y - I could have done yellow flowers etc - but hope you like and thank you for looking. I'm off to see what everyone else has been doing!!

Bold Butterflies

Here's my 13th ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha/Dictionary Challenge where the letter is B.   So many words to choose from and even more difficult as we have already done A and C!

I've gone for a Brown and Blue background using Vintage Photo and Salty Ocean Distress Inks spritzed with water etc.  My main word is BUTTERFLY - I've used the Charming Butterfly stamps from Oak House Studio.  They were inked with Cocoa Bean Brilliance and clear embossed using some card I'd sprayed with Citrus Orange and Citrus Yellow Ink in a Bottle. 

So Bright Bold Butterflies ....and yes I've added 2 butterflies as a link to all the words starting with Bi !!   Again my ATC is finished with the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.  It turned out a little darker than I imagined but then both A and C are quite light so it'll do!

Well that is halfway with the challenge so here's a photo of all 13 so far.  Not only is this challenge great fun, it's also educational too and I've learnt quite a few new words!  My next job is to create an album and make another ATC for A for my A to Z front cover - I have in mind an Abbey with an Azure Sky.  Then I may well struggle when it comes to Z and I have to make two of those!  

Anyway I'm off to see what everyone else has done - guess there'll be a few butterflies but I'm sure someone will have chosen something obscure!!  Thanks for looking.

U for Undergrowth

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha/Dictionary Challenge where the letter is U.

Well I looked through my dictionary and only wrote down 3 words - Ultraviolet, Undergrowth and Underwater.  I didn't want to do Ultraviolet as I did violet for V and so checked Wikipedia for other colours starting with U.  I discounted Ultramarine and Ube (a medium lavender) and so decided to go down the green Undergrowth route with a little Umber!!

The background is Old Paper and Shabby Shutters Distress Ink misted with Bundled Sage and mopped up with the ATC - I've blended on a little Vintage Photo too.   I've used stamps from Chocolate Baroque's Spring Foliage set and the fern and dragonfly from Crafty Individuals (CI - 207) inked with Pearlescent Ivy and Thyme Brilliance. And yes, hiding in the undergrowth are hares (free with Craft Stamper magazine) inked with Dark Brown Fluid Chalk Ink.  My initial idea was dark undergrowth but I used Brilliance which shines, so I also added some Aqua Stardust pen to the dragonflies to make them a little irridescent too.   My ATC is just finished with the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

Nearly at the halfway stage and I can see this challenge getting trickier - trying to vary the designs and getting a good mix of colours.  I think next time is week 13 so I intend laying all my ATCs out and taking a photo.  I ought to think about creating an album too!!

Thanks for stopping by to look and for your comments.  I'm off to browse everyone else's creations!

Fluorescent Flower

Sorry that I've been missing but work has been hectic these last couple of weeks and we've been away too so no chance to create and blog.  However I'm making up for it today with a very bright ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha/Dictionary Challenge where this fortnight it's F...but only between Fe and Fr!!

I've gone for a combination of words - the background is fluorescent  yellow paper folded to create some rays on the ATC.  I've stamped this with a Fern from Crafty Individuals (CI-207) in Archival Emerald Green.  The flower is diecut out of white felt, soaked with Picked Raspberry Distress Re-inker and also a fluorescent pink marker pen to add to the brightness - I've just added a few black beads to the centre.  It's finished with the Flower dictionary definition and an alcohol inked Thicker - Cranberry, Sunshine Yellow and Sunset Orange.

I hope you were wearing your sunglasses when you looked!!  Thanks for visiting my blog and any comments you leave - they are always most welcome!!

Kaleidoscopic Kite

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary Challenge where the letter is K for KITE mainly but a few others too!!

The background is a mix of Salty Ocean and Broken China Distress Inks, spritzed with water and wiped up with the ATC.  The KITE is the Decorative Diamond stamp from Oak House Studio, embossed with red embossing powder and brightly coloured with Tombow pens.  I've added some tiny gems for a kaleidoscopic effect and attached some knotted string for the tail.  It's just finished with the dictionary definition, the alcohol inked vinyl thicker and some seagulls (Crafty Individuals CI-278) - they're flying in the sky with the kite and the feathers are made of Keratin!!

Hope you like and thanks for looking.  I'm off to see what everyone else has been up to - not many K words but I'm sure lots of you have been kreative!!

A is for Amber

I've made my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha/Dictionary Challenge - this fortnight the letter is A.  Lots of choice this week and I made a note of all the words that jumped out of the dictionary at me and tried to do something that fit as many words as possible.

 The background stamp is an Ancient calligraphy stamp from The Artistic Stamper embossed in gold (Alchemy) and onto a white ATC (Alb....  words are all white).  The main focus and my word is AMBER.

I cooked some clear UTEE in the melt pot, added some more UTEE stained with Wild Honey Distress Stain and mixed vigorously to create a few bubbles. I threw in some tiny bits of weed from the garden and then poured into a bezel.  It's backed with some card coloured with Wild Honey Stain to add to the depth of colour.

I've edged my ATC with Azure Stazon and finished with some Azure ribbon, the dictionary definition and alcohol inked Thicker. 

I've just seen that over on The Artistic Stamper Challenge Blog the theme for May is WORDS - as I've used their calligraphy stamp and words out of a dictionary then I think this fits nicely.  Hope you like it and thanks for looking. 

White Willow

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge - the letter is W and we have to use CIRCLES.

Well this one made me think as not many of the words I found in my dictionary seemed to go together and I'm still not sure the circles fit!!  Anyway I've chosen WILLOW.  For the background I've clear embossed the Circles stamp from Tim Holtz and then watercoloured my ATC with Walnut Stain Distress (keep the woody theme).  I only have the re-inker so added extra to make some of the circles really dark.  I've stamped the pussywillow from Chocolate Baroque's Spring Foliage set in  Cocoa Bean Brilliance and finished with the dictionary definition and White vinyl Thicker.

Now the sticks are in fact White Willow.  We visited the Willow Farm in the Somerset Levels last year and I picked up some samples of the willow (for scrapbooking purposes!). Apparently you get natural, green and white Willow using various processes and that gives the patterning on willow baskets etc.  I've just woven a little thread to tie it together.

So another educational week and I'm now off to see what everyone else has created.  If you are reading this, then thanks for looking!!

Rosy Rosebud

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where this fortnight the letter is R.

Quick read of my dictionary and I decided to choose Rosebud with a rosy colour scheme.  The background is Regal Claret Ink in a Bottle with stamping in Picked Raspberry Distress Ink - the Radiating Lines and Round Ring stamps from Tim Holtz's Bitty Grunge set.  The Rosebud itself is from Oak House Studio, embossed in silver and coloured with Tombow markers.  I've added green Ribbon, the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked letter R.

It's amazing how many other words you can actually include with your main word.  I'm also surprised how many metals are silvery white - here we have Rhenium, Rhodium and Ruthenium - so that's why I did silver embossing again. 

It's a fun challenge and very educational too - hope you like my creation and thanks for looking!

Purple Parasol

Here's my ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha/Dictionary Challenge week 6 where the letter is P.

Another quick read of the dictionary and I came up with Paddle and Parasol so immediately thought of my Bathing Beauty stamp.  However she's slightly too big for an ATC - I decided she'd look better with a whole parasol, so with the ankles cut off, she's now wading rather than paddling!!  So I've gone for PARASOL and a purple one too!

The Bathing Beauty (from Crafty Individuals CI-278) is stamped on gloss card with Jet Black Archival  and coloured with Tombow markers.  The background is Powder Blue Pigment Ink spritzed with water and mopped up and I've stamped the waves round her shins in Forest Green Pigment Ink - both by Oak House Studio.  I've just finished my ATC with some beach hut ribbon,  the Parasol dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

As we are nearly a quarter of the way through I thought I'd add a photo of my ATCs so far - love how bright and colourful they are.....but maybe I need to use yellow or orange next time!!   Hope you like.  Thanks for looking and for your lovely comments!!