Thought I’d try to touch base, and reassure y’all that Try It Tuesdays will be back!

I got bombarded, all at once… and this had to take a back burner. I won’t bore you with the details, but I’m hoping that I can have Try It Tuesdays back up & running on it’s new site by Mid-October at the latest.

I’ve had some major computer issues lately, and haven’t been able to work on that site, or my own site very much… once I get my store running (my full time job), Try it will get all of my attention! I wanted to make sure that when I do put it back up, It won’t be going down at all.. it will still run weekly, and bi-weekly on occassion.

I still need y’all to submit tutorials. and prizes to keep it running smoothly! I’ve been saving them all, and will contact everyone who has submitted items as I get to that part of the site!

Sorry to be so brief, I wanted to do this quickly before my computer shut itself off!

-Chrysti

EVERYONE gets one shot at winning a $25 Gift Certificate to The Altered Abbey (Opening at the end of August) …. Just for being so patient with me recently. I feel so badly that Try it Tuesdays hasn’t gotten as much of my attention as I’d like.

Click here to enter … ONE entry per person, Duplicate entries will be removed.

Until The Altered Abbey opens I’m running a HUGE downsizing and clearance sale at Covet Me, check it out!

The Not so Good News..

Without boring you with all the details.. Try It Tuesdays won’t have a new technique for the next 2 weeks… Between a hard drive crash that I’m still recovering from (Including restoring data for TIT) … my vacation, and sudden changes with my work (store).. I’m unable to update the site as needed these 2 weeks….this was all completely unexpected and I feel terribly about it.

Rather then just rush it, I’d prefer to maintain the quality we’ve achieved here.. and I’m hoping that the next new tutorial, will be unveiled on the new & improved site…don’t worry, if it is…I’ll announce it here.. you won’t miss it!

To be sure to get announcements when this is updated.. click here.

Inspire Me Thursday, Art Words, & Mixed Media Memoirs are all sure to inspire you in the meantime while we’re on break!

Help Needed!

In the meantime, to ensure that we run weekly in the future, I’m in dire need of Technique Tutorials, so please submit them!! Anyone can share one, and really the more the basic the techniques, the better. So start flooding me with emails with your techniques! See the FAQ for more details, I’ll accept all tutorials, so please don’t email just to ask if it sounds O.K. Preference given to tutorials that haven’t been published elsewhere, tutorials that are simply worded and easy to follow.. and tutorials that are for processes, not final products. Background Techniques, Bookbinding techniques, Basic Fiber art techniques, Paper Beads, Collage basics and more are just some of the tutorials I’d love to see.

Interested in sponsoring Try It Tuesdays one week? You’ll have exposure to over thousands of artsy minded folks, and the new site will have increased visibility for everyone.. don’t miss out! I will be promoting Try It Tuesdays like crazy, and sponsors will be on a first come, first serve basis… Send me your info to get in!

I’m also in the process of compiling a list of volunteer ‘jobs’ so that I can have some help running this, it’s bigger then I ever imagined, and will continue becoming so. I also am in need of some folks to preview the new website, and offer constructive criticism & suggestions.. please email me if interested.

I’ll be on vacation from July 25th – August 3rd, so if you need me, you’ll hear from me upon my return. You can check my personal blog for updates as well!

Thanks so much everyone.. have a fabulous week!

Why No Gallery This Week? The website I use to make the mosaic was down! See more entries by visiting the Try It Tuesdays Group Pool.

And with 47 valid entries this week ..

Our Winner is…..

Runners Up: Karen Campbell #31 , Joy Eliz #2 , Lisa Call #15

How was the winner chosen? As each valid entry is received, it is assigned a number.. these are given chronologically, in the order each entry is submitted. They are then entered into random.org and generated into a sequence.. the first number is our winner, the second the runner up.. etc etc . For more information on the rules of this drawing, please see the FAQ.I’m working on a way that I can publicly share the database file of entrants & their numbers without having to manually delete the email addresses ( I respect our entrants privacy)…as of right now, I don’t have the time needed to manually edit that information. This is all voluntary (though the time put into it, is like a job!) and as much as I’d like to be able to do that, it’s far too time consuming. Thanks for your patience! – Chrysti

Week Seven’s Technique – Altered Postcards using Photo Transfers
By: Claudia Roulier

Scroll Down To Learn How to Make These Awesome Altered Postcards & Inkjet Photo Transfers!
Or use the easy quick links below!

To save & print this file, Right Click Here and select save target as.
You need Adobe Reader to view this file. Click Here to download it.

Win It !!! – Week Seven

Week Seven’s Prize – Donated By Nancy’s Art & Supplies!

Nancy’s Art & Supplies is a fabulous new store that features AMAZING unique, colorful collage sheets, ephemera, found objects, and Nancy’s own One of a Kind Mixed Media Artwork!

With a Total Value Of over $30.00…

5 Different Colorful Collage Sheets …

1 Black & White Vintage Style Collage Sheet

And a Collage Kit that includes ephemera, vintage dictionary pages, game pieces, decorative papers, and more!

Visit Nancy’s Art & Supplies today to see more unique collage supplies!

** Reminder! **

Week 7 lasts 2 weeks!! Plenty of time to jump in! I’m still developing the new website, and can’t wait to unveil it! We’ll have one more 2 week period, then we should back to our regular weekly tutorials, and on the new site! Thanks so much everyone!

The users list will no longer be updated here, as there will be a new system on the new site!

Now, for this week’s tutorial! – Chrysti

Try It Tuesdays: Altered Postcards using Photo Transfers
By: Claudia Roulier
Edited By: Chrysti
Approx. Time Involved: 40-60 Minutes + Drying Time
© 2006 Claudia Roulier, All Rights Reserved.

To save & print this file, Right Click Here and select save target as.
You need the Free Adobe Reader to view this file. Click Here to download it.

Claudia Says: “I have a Fine Arts Degree with emphasis in drawing and ceramics. I wish I could say, hey.. I taught myself everything (that sounds so cool), well I taught myself some stuff because drawing and ceramics aren’t mixed media..okay I kinda taught myself. I love art and I can finally do it and not feel too guilty except of course when my dogs sit there and shed all over me (and my work) or bark and drop their toys on my feet. Now some people might not be impressed but my dogs are big (huge) and when they really want something they usually get it. They are Newfies and when they speak I usually listen (did I mention they are huge). I recently have started showing in galleries in Denver and I am trying to combine my fine art with my mixed media. So far so good. Things are going well. Love making assemblages which is a brand new direction for me.” Read more about Claudia at her Blog, and be sure to check out her current creations for sale too!

Prep:

• Spray sealer on postcard to seal any inks, allow to dry.

Let’s Play!:

1. Dilute gesso, and brush over postcard with a few thin coats.

TIP!! The idea here is to be able to see some information peeking out from the gesso. Wipe the postage if necessary to be able to see it.

2. Use your background stamp, and randomly stamp over the gesso.

TIP!! Stamping doesn’t have to be even. Claudia used a script stamp, then some older date stamps over the postage to add interest.

3. Brush gel medium over entire piece.

4. While gel medium is still wet, add a few pieces of ephemera (In example Claudia used earth toned scraps) to it. Run a credit card over the paper, wait a few minutes and then peel the pieces up. Some will stick and some won’t.

5. Take the transparency and lay it over the top of your postcard. Determine if you need more ephemera or less.

TIP!! You can paint thin layers of gesso over the areas that have too much information and add more to the other areas that need color or interest.

6. Pick the transparency you are going to use, determine placement, then paint gel medium over that area. Lay ink jet transparency printed side down (slick side up), rub with credit card or burnish with the tool you like to use. Place a weight on it and walk away for about 15 minutes. Go eat some chocolate or dust something, keep away for about 15 minutes. I mean it!

7. Check the transfer by lifting only a corner. If it’s ok, peel it all away. Okay people, let me say, IT WILL NOT BE PERFECT, get over that, and work with what you have. It will look very cool trust me.

TIP!! Sometimes if the gel dries too fast and doesn’t transfer all the image, simply rub a bit of gel on the paper and rub again. I think faces are most important to get down so it looks cohesive.

8. Now add embellishments, maybe stamp some numbers (my favorite) or letters. Maybe a bit of ink for color or what ever else you like to use.

TIP!! Sometimes it’s good to leave it for a while so you can see with new eyes.

Now paste some notebook or journal paper to the back and send that baby through the mail !!

Tried The Technique? Finished Your Entry?
Want a chance to win this week’s prize?

• Upload your entry’s photograph(s) to your Flickr account or Blog. In your description, please state it’s part of Try It Tuesdays and link to the site. (On flickr you can link, or add the tags tryittuesdays & tryittuesdaysweek7, or do both!)
• Go to the Entry Submission Page and follow the instructions http://alteredabbey.com/try_it_tuesdays_signup.htm
• It’s that easy! See the FAQ for additional help & rules.

© 2006 Claudia Roulier, All Rights Reserved.

There will be one more 2 week tutorial after that, then the new website should be open, and we’ll be running weekly per normal again!

Wait til you see the technique tomorrow, you’ll be thrilled!

… this week’s prize is …

With a Total Value Of over $30.00…

 A Vivid Imagination Tote Bag FILLED with art supplies …

Fibers, papers, embellishments, brads, buttons and more!!

Visit Art Shaped World today to see many more fabulous items!

And with 32 valid entries this week ..

Our Winner is…..

The Winner!	The Prize!
Congrats to Suzanne Renfrow !! (#6)   Our Week 6 Winner! Suzanne lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest although she is a native Southern Californian. She is married (to her high-school hottie, who she was re-united with via classmates.com!) and has a 14-year old son. She’s a software tech at a large tech company by day and dabbles in mixed-media collage whenever she gets the chance!You can visit her etsy shop here! Congratulations Suzanne!!	Art Shaped World is a unique Gift Store, run by the talented Nici Derosier! She is a gifted, mixed media artist, illustrator, writer, and mother to 3 sons, one of whom has a form of Autism known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Her designs are inspired by his unique approaches to life’s challenges, and by the brave and colorful wild-child souls that dwell somewhere in each one of us! All items are inspired by and support Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome Awareness. Embrace the colors of the spectrum! Profits from her sales go toward therapy for her autistic son. With something in every price range, you can’t go wrong with her large selection of items! Check them out today! Thanks for supporting our sponsors!

Runners Up: Lisa Gallup #19 , Gina Lighton #20 , nolleke. #8

How was the winner chosen? As each valid entry is received, it is assigned a number.. these are given chronologically, in the order each entry is submitted. They are then entered into random.org and generated into a sequence.. the first number is our winner, the second the runner up.. etc etc . For more information on the rules of this drawing, please see the FAQ.I’m working on a way that I can publicly share the database file of entrants & their numbers without having to manually delete the email addresses ( I respect our entrants privacy)…as of right now, I don’t have the time needed to manually edit that information. This is all voluntary (though the time put into it, is like a job!) and as much as I’d like to be able to do that, it’s far too time consuming. Thanks for your patience! – Chrysti

Try It Tuesdays is taking this holiday week off as well to devlop the new site.  Next Tuesday, the new technique & prize will be up..
Check back then!

Have a Happy Holiday !

The Winner will be announced shortly.. In the meantime.. enjoy viewing some of the fabulous entries we received this week.. these were randomly selected using the tryittuesdaysweek6 tag and chosen from the pool.

You can see many more amazing entries by viewing the group pool.

 1. Rust & Patina, 2. Try It Tuesdays Week 6, First Try, 3. TIT – Week 6 – Rust – Canvas 1, 4. rust tryittuesdays tryittuesdaysweek6, 5. 1, 6. Try It Tuesdays Week 6 – Rust Technique, 7. 060625 My rust, 8. tryittuesday1, 9. tryittuesdaysweek6, 10. under the sea, 11. charlie try it tuesdays rusty background, 12. inside 2, 13. Try It Tuesdays – Rusted Background, 14. Rusted Background, 15. Try It Tuesdays Week 6 – Rust Technique, 16. Rusted Backgrounds week 6, 17. Heart Revealed, 18. Week 6 experiments, 19. Rustbackground4, 20. Rusty technique 5, 21. rusty 2, 22. tag5, 23. TIT – Week 6 – Rust – Journal Background, 24. CAUTION!! Highly Corrosive! {4×6 #5 (5)}, 25. Rusty1

Week Six's Technique – Easy Rusted Background
By: Judy Scott

Scroll Down To Learn How to Make These Fabulous Rusted Backgrounds!
Or use the easy quick links below!

To save & print this file, Right Click Here and select save target as.
You need Adobe Reader to view this file. Click Here to download it.

Win It !!! – Week Six

Week Six's Prize – Donated By Art Shaped World

Art Shaped World is a unique Gift Store, run by the talented Nici Derosier! She is a gifted, mixed media artist, illustrator, writer, and mother to 3 sons, one of whom has a form of Autism known as Asperger's Syndrome. Her designs are inspired by his unique approaches to life's challenges, and by the brave and colorful wild-child souls that dwell somewhere in each one of us!

All items are inspired by and support Autism and Asperger's Syndrome Awareness. Embrace the colors of the spectrum! Profits from her sales go toward therapy for her autistic son. With something in every price range, you can't go wrong with her large selection of items! Check them out today!

With a Total Value Of over $30.00…

 A Vivid Imagination Tote Bag FILLED with art supplies …

Fibers, papers, embellishments, brads, buttons and more!!

Visit Art Shaped World today to see many more fabulous items!

** Reminder! **

Week 6 lasts 2 weeks!! Plenty of time to jump in! Read Here for more information!

Try It Tuesdays: Week 6 – Easy Rusted Background
By: Judy Scott
Edited By: Chrysti
Approx. Time Involved: 20 -25 minutes + Drying Time
© 2006 Judy Scott, All Rights Reserved.

To save & print this file, Right Click Here and select save target as.
You need the Free Adobe Reader to view this file. Click Here to download it.

After working for 25 years in the beauty industry, artist Judy Scott has finally taken the time to devote herself to what she’s been passionate about while balancing, work, family & parenthood. Creating! Though she has yet to fulfill her dream of attending art school, she has taken many workshops, and was awarded Student of the Year at Lauder College in Scotland, for City and Guilds Creative Embroidery.  A member of ZNE, Judy loves creating with fibers, fabric, paper & paint and exploring all kinds of mediums. Patchwork quilting, church banners, embroidery both by machine and hand, fabric art cards, fabric postcards, altered art, collage and her doll house miniatures are just some of the things she loves to do… most of all she loves COLOR!
 

Prep:

• Tear or cut foil into small strips.

Let’s Play!:

1.      Using the spatula apply gesso generously over the cardstock.

TIP!!  Don’t make it smooth all over, give the gesso some peaks by lifting the spatula upwards from the gesso, make some areas smooth, and others textured.

2.      Lay small strips of foil into the gesso.

3.  Apply just enough gesso to cover the foil at the edges.

TIP!! Just Experiment with the amount of gesso and foil!

4. Apply salt in some areas, and sugar or sand in others (experiment with amounts) but also leave some areas free.

5. Now leave to dry thoroughly.

TIP!! It will be quite heavy so I suggest you leave it overnight to dry.

6. Once the gesso is dry you can start to apply the inks & paints (You can use brown, orange and blue and a green but be adventurous, experiment just remember what rust looks like). Using paintbrushes, apply your colors – you'll notice how they merge beautifully into the salt. Just allow the color to build up until you are happy. If you are unsure stop what you are doing and come back to it.

TIP!! Inks are good for a really vibrant color, but if you only have watercolor or acrylic paints – don’t worry these will work as well. If you are using acrylic paint make it a thin consistency like ink would be.

Allow to dry, and there you have it! A simple, yet oh so rich in texture, color and character background! Perfect for Altered Art! This technique allows a lot of freedom, so have fun with it.. experiment and see where it takes you!

For more inspiration, be sure to visit Judy’s Blog and Flick’r photostream!
 

This document, (all images and text included) are not for distribution. Try it Tuesdays has the authors permission to share this technique for use on http://tryittuesdays.wordpress.com/ . You may use this document for reference, and personal use only. Not to be shared on email lists, message boards, or by any other electronic or print means. 

Tried The Technique? Finished Your Entry?
Want a chance to win this week's prize?

• Upload your entry's photograph(s) to your Flickr account or Blog. In your description, please state it's part of Try It Tuesdays and link to the site. (On flickr you can link, or add the tags tryittuesdays & tryittuesdaysweek6, or do both!)
• Go to the Entry Submission Page and follow the instructions http://alteredabbey.com/try_it_tuesdays_signup.htm
• It's that easy! See the FAQ for additional help & rules.

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