Cabin Get-away / Creative Retreat

The last time I wrote I was finishing my project so I could head up to my friends cabin for a retreat.  Since I was already running late, I quickly threw some supplies into a container and left hours later than I had planned.  In my hurry to gather the supplies needed, I decided it was time to play around with some products I’d never used before.  You see, since I started the business – I have been “a bit … NO, ALOT out of it” with the new products available.  So I threw in Tim Holtz’s Adirondack Alcohol Inks, an old enamel container, some ribbon, paper and a few other items I could grab quickly!

 

I love going to my friend’s cabin.  We had a cabin about a mile away from there but sold it when life got too busy to spend enough time there to justify having one.  I feel sooo silly now because I didn’t even take one picture to show how beautiful it is up there.  My friend is like Snow White, all the animals love her (because she puts out food for the birds, raccoons, squirrels, etc.)  There is always lots of cute little birds, hummingbirds, Blue Jays, and other birds to watch.  The squirrels will come up right by you to see if you have anything for them.  There’s deer to see, a mother moose and twins, and other furry critters to watch.

My friend invites several of us up every Labor Day to attend Swiss Days, where we shop till it’s too crowded to even see anything, or until we’re out of money, or we can’t carry anything else. I look for one vendor when I go who makes the most incredible “one of a kind” witches.  Her booth is called Nettie’s Gnomes.  I have so much “stuff” I’ve collected over the years,  I only want to buy “one of a kind” pieces of artwork anymore.  I am trying to get four of her pieces so I can give one to each son when they are married and I no longer want to decorate for Halloween.  I found two this year that I loved, so now I only have one more to buy (I bought my first one last year at Swiss Days).

Aren’t they the cutest witches!  The detail she puts into them is amazing!

Ok, back to the real reason I started this post! 

This was my first try with several inks:

Attempt#1

I practiced on the inside of the top so if I didn’t like it…This attempt was ok, but didn’t do anything for me so I cleaned it up and went  for a second try.

Attempt #2 – on top of the lid (feeling a little braver)

The top pictures are a better example of the true color, not the one below.

Tried some Prima flowers to see if that made it better…

I liked it, but wasn’t quite what I wanted – cleaned it up again and gave it a third try…

Attempt #3 -You know what they say…the third time is the charm!

 

Finally…got the right combination that felt and looked right – I know, I’m a slow learner!  Really-I like options, so trying just one thing doesn’t usually work with me!  I took these pictures after I got home where I could get to my supplies, and was ready to put everything together!

I made  the paper and ribbon flowers up at the cabin, but knew I had some burlap ribbon and other fun things in my creative room, so opted to finish working on it when I got home.

I love the different textures of the flowers, burlap ribbon, the twine, beads from an old necklace, metal and the paper.

I drilled a hole in the top and used one of the Idea-ology Curio Knobs in the center to lift the lid with, (so not only practical, but cute!)

I inked the paper and ribbon flowers to give it a more vintage look.

I wish you could see it in person.  Pictures never do projects justice.  You can never see the dimension and textures very well in pictures, so sorry!!!

I really needed some time away and it gave me the ok to relax so the creative side could come out!  Thanks Julie and the gang for a wonderful fun filled, eating, shopping, playing games, laughing till we cried week away from reality!

Renee

Products Used:

• Ranger Distress Inks: Old paper, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint
• Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Inks: Lettuce, Cranberry, Slate,Expresso,Pitch Black, Butterscotch
• Tim Holtz The IDEA-OLOGY: Timepieces, Philosophy Tags, Accoutrements Button, Game Spinners, Curio knobs
• Tim Holtz Paper: Lost and Found
• May Arts Ribbon: Green & Brown
• Prima: Say it in Pearls
• Renee’s Stash: Burlap ribbon, Netting,  Green beads(old necklace)
• Glue Dots