This year I'm joining in with Ali Edwards' One Little Word class. I've thought about signing up for the last three years, and decided the time is right to jump in now. Choosing a word to keep close for a year becomes an interesting excursion in thought, intention, and desire. I auditioned quite a few words before realizing "Focus" is the right one for me for the coming year.
I bought an unfinished top hat at Michael's last month (didn't you?) thinking it might be fun to alter for the New Year. Yesterday Simon Says Stamp and Show announced a Mad Tea Party theme, and I remembered the hat... bingo! I used Tim Holtz's Tissue Tape and several Sizzix dies (Harlequin border, ticket, and Carnivale alphabet strip.)
Here it is soon after I got started:
And later in the process, when I'd figured out how best to deal with the brim:
A thin coat of Ranger's Glue & Seal was perfect to provide a little 'stick' for the TT. I've taken classes with Tim where he's explained why it's low-tac ~ it comes on a roll, so it has to be low-tac or else it would stick to itself.
I thought Dylusions Ink Sprays would be the easiest colorant, but the TT resisted, so I went with Color Wash, and it still resisted... but Ranger's Archival Inks did the job. I applied Manganese Blue with an Ink Blending Tool, using various degrees of pressure to vary my color.
I really like how the TT layers look, and the way the Harlequin border formed my hat band:
I dyed a trinket pin with Pitch Black Alcohol Ink to hold my ticket:
Fashionable Stamping Challenges has a "Surprise Us" theme, and I'll put my hat over there, as well as at Artful Creations and Creative Every Day.
On a housekeeping note, this month marks my 2-year anniversary of blogging, and I'm just three posts shy of 400 posts... yikes! I'm working with a web designer to switch my blog over to my own website, so more news to come on that in the coming weeks.
Thanks, always, for visiting. Happy New Year!
Marjie
Absolutely AMAZING!!! WOW!! I loveeeeeeeeeeeee that hat ... and LOVING your OLW word for 2013!! Happy New Year!!
Posted by: Julie Tucker-Wolek | 01/01/2013 at 08:45 AM
GREAT word...LOVE that hat...here's to a CREATIVE 2013 ;)
Posted by: Martha Richardson | 01/01/2013 at 10:57 AM
Your hat is inspiring! Great way to showcase your word - so playful! I think you will love having your own website- you can do anything you want with it! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Carolyn Dube | 01/01/2013 at 11:25 AM
Love this-so original & fun!Great word too-I soooo relate!
Posted by: Karen Bearse | 01/01/2013 at 11:40 AM
Marjie, it's a fantastic idea, your hat looks wonderful. Thanks for joining us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges this fortnight and a happy New Year.
Posted by: Silvia | 01/01/2013 at 12:10 PM
Good word! Love that hat, it is cute enough to wear. Thanks for showing how you did it.
Posted by: Renee Zarate | 01/01/2013 at 12:42 PM
What a fun piece to do--love, love, love the hat, and love the step-by-step instructions. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how you pulled that off until seeing them. Great job!
Posted by: Susan | 01/01/2013 at 12:44 PM
Happy New Year Marjie - I believe this year will see you soar even higher than in 2012.
Wonderful alteration! Such fun and also cool at the same time.
Thank you for sharing with us at FSC this fortnight.
Wishes
Lynne
Posted by: Lynne Moncrieff | 01/01/2013 at 12:50 PM
Great word for 2013, Marjie....I'll have to think of something like that to keep me going this year. I love this fun top hat! And the color you chose is fabulous, too. Altered art is so much fun.
Posted by: kathy/NorthCarolina | 01/01/2013 at 12:53 PM
Good for you for signing up for the class! Love the blue color on your top hat and hope you have a smooth transition moving your blog! Happy New Year!
Posted by: linda | 01/01/2013 at 01:18 PM
What a great word, to focus on, Marjie :-)
Love the way, you've created this hat!!!!
It looks amazing...
And of course the best wishes for 2013!
Greetings,
Alie :-)
Posted by: Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries | 01/01/2013 at 01:23 PM
Exquisite composition. I wish you a 2013 full of dreams and hopes fulfilled.
Posted by: Leovi | 01/01/2013 at 01:33 PM
Fabulous hat and hope you wore it to see the new year in. Happy New Year Marjie, Annette x
Posted by: Annette G | 01/01/2013 at 01:42 PM
That is such a great word to choose Marjie and the hat is just fabulous, love the gorgeous blue colour and the harlequin die is fab (I got it for Christmas - woo hoo). I don't have a word to 'focus' on but want to change the look of my blog - hope your changes go well and Happy New Year to you, all the very best for 2013 - may it be onwards and upwards for you. Hugs, Anne x
Posted by: Redanne | 01/01/2013 at 02:53 PM
I want to see you in that hat. At least you can pop it on every time you feel like you need a reminder....Have fun working with the designer on the new web page. Thankfully my son can do everything I need done to help me navigate the technology. Enjoy the process. Happy New Year. xox
Posted by: Corrine | 01/01/2013 at 03:14 PM
Fantastic project, Marjie - so perfect for the start of a new year and your word is perfect! I'm taking AE's class too - see you there!
Posted by: Ali Manning | 01/01/2013 at 03:18 PM
Love this project Marjie, what a fabulous top hat and a great word for the year. Thanks for sharing it at FSC this fortnight.
May 2013 bring you everything you could wish for yourself and more.
hugs {brenda} x0x
Posted by: Brenda Brown | 01/01/2013 at 05:35 PM
awesome. For one you know me..I love AIW anything...the word focus..yeah I can see the importance of that..you are achieving your dreams sweet friend. No more rabbit hole for you!
hugs
susan s.
Posted by: susan | 01/01/2013 at 06:37 PM
Aren't you so clever?!! Love your hat, and great tipto use the Archival ink over the tissue tape. I just love how it turned out.
Posted by: Lisa Sackett | 01/01/2013 at 09:59 PM
Coolest. Hat. Ever. :)
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Leah | 01/01/2013 at 11:23 PM
I love it! Such a great project and way to keep your word out there. Happy New Year <3
Posted by: Kristen Conley | 01/01/2013 at 11:35 PM
Super cute and apropos. Though my opinion carries no weight, I would like to say that I love your "One Word". I signed up to do it with Ali a few years ago and made it to February. This year I thin I will try again on an unofficial status. Can't wait to follow your year being Focused.
Posted by: Danee | 01/02/2013 at 01:50 AM
Marjie...your top hat is very very cool! I love the colors, the papers you've used, the design...everything about it! Beautiful job! Thanks for sharing your inspiration with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. Have a blessed 2013, my creative friend! <3 Candy
Posted by: Candy Colwell | 01/02/2013 at 07:32 AM
A work of Art Marjie, this is fantastic!!!
Posted by: Claudine Criner | 01/02/2013 at 07:33 AM
Love the hat! Your word Focus gives me motivation to find my word for 2013. Wishing you a wonderfully CREATIVE New Year!
Posted by: nina | 01/02/2013 at 10:29 AM