Creative Chemistry 103 - Distress Collage Mediums & Textures

So this time it's catch-up on Day 3.  All done! (apart from the Grit-Paste, which I haven't yet bought.)

Firstly, here's the sample tags of the differences in the various collage mediums & texture pastes ...

Collage mediums

Texture pastes

And now the tags themselves ...

Layered collage

Texture paste colouring

Texture paste embossing

Texture paste resist

Creative Chemistry 103 - distress crayons

Blended Background

Layered Colouring

Watercolour Resist

Smudge technique

      

Gesso Fresco technique

A busy week of so many new & amazing techniques from Tim Holtz's new online class Creative Chemistry 103! (available here)
Great classes & so many hints & tips from Tim! I caught up yesterday with Distress Crayon techniques, a new product i hadn't used before!  Love the vibrant colours & the fascinating techniques, but have now ordered the neutrals set to enable a more 'grungy' look as well!

 

Creative Chemistry 101 revisited

Just a quick post (can't believe it's been so so long since I posted anything!) today.
Tim Holtz's Creative Chemistry 101 is up & running again this month (& 102 in July, then NEW! 103 in August) (why don't you join here at onlinecardclasses.com if you haven't already done so).  Same classes for a couple of months, but new forums & galleries, Tim answering new questions & now live chats as well!

So first week is looking at the first couple of lessons, so I've played along.  3 tags using distress inks (all last year's colours - twisted citron, mermaid lagoon, wilted violet, blueprint sketch and edged ground espresso, or hickory smoke).  And 3 techniques blended spritz & flick, brushless watercolour & wrinkle-free distress.  Butterfly stamps by Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous) & quote stamps by Finnabair (Prima).

Loved revisiting these techniques & looking forward very much to a summer of Creative Chemistry!

Back soon 

Kay

Tim's tag November '14

So I've got a little behind with Tim's tags the last couple of months, (& only just time to do this month's tag before the new one tomorrow!).
As it's now less than a month before Christmas (help!!) I though I'd go with a more wintery theme than Tim's autumn theme.  I haven't got any of his dies with texture fades, so I had to improvise!

I've recently bought Tim's prancing reindeer die, & I'd already cut it out from a piece of white corrugated cardboard.  I used the gothic stencil to lightly emboss the background tag, & added dots with an embossing ink pen to add the sticky embossing powder & gilding flakes.  Then a quick distressing on the cardboard.  I used die cut letters which I painted pewter (to match the spray) for 'believe' which I added to a stained piece of  lace.
I'm glad I had a little time to do this, hopefully I'll have time for the next one as well!
Back soon (fingers crossed!).    Kay

Tim's tag - September

So, for once, I'm early for Tim's monthly tag (September)!  For me, Tim's new technique for 'faded layers' is slightly easier than the one he showed us in Creative Chemistry 102 & the Compendium of Curiosities vol iii - a slightly different effect I think, as the stencilled shapes tend to remain white, rather than just faded colour (which I've found quite difficult if I've used lots of alcohol ink!).

Anyway, although I've got quite of few of Tim's stencils, I decided to use a Dyan Reaveley diamond stencil for the background (inked over with Aqua alcohol ink).  I added multiple stampings of one of Tim's stamps (from Nature's Moments - one of my 'go to' sets!) and decided on the 'frenzy' of butterflies flying over the tag.  I must have somehow known, I've been wanting the Butterfly Frenzy decorative strip since it was first launched; I finally ordered it 2 days ago, & it came the next day, 1st September, so as soon as it arrived, I was all set!  I just love all the tiny butterflies! And I love how they're so vibrant & shiny using various colours of alcohol inks!  (And I've still got plenty to use on another project!)  Finally, just added a few remnant rubs, & it was finished!

the finished tag

tiny butterflies - detail - I used a couple of different text stamps on them

more tiny butterflies!

 Back soon!     Kay

Tim's August 2014 tag

And I'm back to 'last minute' posting again for Tim's August tag!  Where has this month gone?!

I followed Tim's technique fairly closely, using what I had (the face stamp is by IndigoBlu, a UK company - she's Jane Austen's heroine Elizabeth Bennet from 'Pride & Prejudice' - I love this book!)

I love the effect of the texture paste through the stencils, especially the roses from Tim's 'Doily' stencil, so pretty!
Back soon!     Kay

CC3 - Challenge 8

Just in time (again!) for the next Compendium of Curiosities challenge organised by Linda at Studio L3.  As this is an even-numbered challenge, it's sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique.

The technique this time is 'Faded Layers', in Tim's Compendium of Curiosities vol. III on page 58 ... (you'll have to get the book to follow the technique!)

It gives a lovely effect, but it can be a little 'tricky' (!), but I eventually got a few pieces that I was happy with!

So I decided to create a 'Bon Voyage' card... I used Tim's 'Vintage Valise' Sizzix die.  I used one piece for the main body of the case, another for the case 'trimmings', and a final piece for the tags.

Back soon!     Kay

CC3 - Challenge 7

We've been up in Scotland for a week, seeing some of the Commonwealth Games - a great trip!
We only got back yesterday evening, so I'm just in time for Linda's Studio L3 challenge 7 for Tim's Compendium of Curiosities vol 3, this time sponsored by Inspiration Emporium.

Whilst we were staying in Edinburgh, we ate at an Indian restaurant which was decorated in 'Charles Rennie Mackintosh' style ... & I was inspired by one of the small decorative mirrors, to do this 'painted industrial' piece, using picked raspberry & peacock feathers for the birds & heart ...

Back soon !     Kay

CC3 - Challenge 5

And this time, the challenge is to use Tim's Distress watercolour technique (on page 39 of his Compendium of Curiosities vol 3).  Details as before; challenge run by Linda Ledbetter at Studio L3 and sponsored this time by Inspiration Emporium.

So I decided to make a simple watercolour card ... (stamp is a background stamp from the British company Lili of the Valley).  So I used the technique on the rose & flourish top left, then 'grunged it up' a bit!   And finally I added a diecut oval, remnant rub, & inked crinkle ribbon ...

There's another part to this technique, but that's on the following page, so it'll be another challenge, so I'll leave that until then!

Back soon!      Kay

CC3 - Challenge 4

And I'm just in time (again!) for Linda at Studio L3's next challenge for Tim's "Compendium of Curiosities vol 3) - play along if you've got the book! (technique is on p. 49) This time sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique, & another chance for goodies from Tim & Mario.

So this time, its using stencils with texture paste ... so I decided to alter a plain, 'kraft' notebook (around 6" x 4", & a bit darker in real life!) ...

So I followed Tim's technique, & this is what I came up with; with stencils, texture paste, just 3 distress colours (crushed olive, peacock feathers & seedless preserves - love these colours together!) & a little stamping; front ...

And back ...

A simple closure, & it was done! - just adding a layer of matte gel medium over the top for protection ...

Back soon, I've still got Tim's June tag to finish!     Kay

CC3 - Challenge 3

I love using Tim's faux tea roses technique which is in his Compendium of Curiosities vol 3 page 65 ... so here's my take on it, just in time for Linda Ledbetter's Studio L3 challenge!  This time, it's sponsored by Inspiration Emporium, with a $50 Gift Certificate up for grabs!  And, the chance of some goodies from Tim & Mario!!

I painted the wooden heart with white picket fence, then used paint through Tim's Doily stencil for the background - a little too much, so I then went over the whole heart with picket fence stain, which toned it down nicely!  Then I edged with picked raspberry ink over seedless preserves paint!  I then added the tea roses, & a couple of leaf dies & metal embellishments.  And finally, one of Tim's quote stamps (one I use a lot!).

I enjoyed this!  Back soon!     Kay

CC3 - Challenge 1

It's time for the next round of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities challenges, this time using volume iii of his book, hosted by Linda Ledbetter at Studio L3.  This first challenge is sponsored by Inspiration Emporium.  This time round, Linda has got together a team of very talented crafters to give us even more inspiration, so there's lots of loveliness for this first challenge!

The first technique is from page 43 in the book (sorry, can't share the technique, but it uses distress paints!)...

I tried the technique on a tag first, & then, with different colours (rusty hinge, peacock feathers & seedless preserves) on a mini (2 3/4" canvas).  A very different effect!

Can you see the heart?  When I'd done the canvas background I saw a heart shape (very faint!) - how's that for 'serendipity'!  So I decided to 'enhance' the heart - I cut a mask & stamped with Versamark, & added Ranger's Frosted Crystal embossing powder.  I used the 'positive' heart to mask it whilst I stamped (with picket fence distress stain) around the edges & used a white gel pen to edge the heart, along with a black pen, & I finally added a couple of rub-ons from Tim's botanical remnant rubs...  

And what about the tag?  I completed the background... & added picket fence distress stain stamping as before...

I decided to complete it with just simple stamping in black archival, with edges distressed with picket fence distress stain ...

Back soon!     Kay

Tim's tag for March

Hi again!

I was totally amazed & shocked (and speechless!) when Tim released his tag for March!!!  Why???  Every month, all the entries go into a prize draw - imagine my shock when I saw my name in the post as one of the prize winners!!!!!  (& thanks to everyone who commented on my post!)  So at the moment I'm looking forward to the arrival of my prize!!!

So, onward & upward!

This month, Tim used his 'smudge stamping' technique to create two tags.  I did try this before when I took Tim's Creative Chemistry 102 online class although I kept muddling the two tags up!) so I had another go!  (I didn't get them muddled this time!)

 

 

As you can see, the one on the right is paler, more subtle, as it uses second-impression stamping, having already stamped the tag on the left, & using just the ink remaining on the stamp for the second tag, then a little bit of smudging to slightly blur the outlines.   I think with a little more practice, I shall really get to enjoy this technique, and 'two for the price of one'!!!

 

I used vintage photo, seedless preserves, peacock feathers & peeled paint ink pads, with a little spiced marmalade through the stencil for the background.  I used the same colours on the tag ribbons, but added more water to create a paler ribbon for the second tag.  For the little flowers, I used seedless preserves paint, with an addition of a pale grey/blue on the right. 

 

Back soon!     Kay

A vintage journey... challenge 1

A couple of week's ago, I found a new challenge blog, A Vintage Journey; vintage, shabby chic, & Tim Holtz -  definitely me, I thought!  It's run by Brenda Brown, & she's got a great Design Team working on the blog.  Challenges are going to be every 2 weeks, and are sponsored by Countryview Crafts (a great online shop with great prices & quick delivery, and free postage in the UK).

So here's my first entry.  

The theme for this first challenge is 'Anything Tim'!  So a vast selection of inspiration to inspire me!  What would I do?  Being a 'vintage journey', I thought I'd 'travel' back in time, and revisit (loosely!) the first of Tim's tag for Christmas 2011, which was the first tag I ever completed & blogged; although I 'd seen his previous years' tags, I 'd never got around to doing any!

Tim's tag Christmas 2011 Day 1

My 2011 tag (I didn't have the pine cone die at the time)

So I revisited the tag & thought about how I could adapt it from Christmas...

As Tim said in his blog post, he was focusing on the pine cone die.  In the video, he shows how to use the die to create roses, as well as pine cones, so I decided to do these.  & I used the new foliage strip die for the greenery.  I did the background using Tim's techniques (except I didn't rub the embossing powder off the raised areas!). I covered the die cut flourish with distress glitter (not available in 2011!).  Finally, I added a few embellishments, & punched & distressed borders.  I was going to use the word 'Spring', but although I have seen a (very) few roses already with the odd flower (this early!!!) the roses didn't really fit with spring, so I used some chit-chat stickers instead.

CC102 catch-up Day 5

Here's my last tag from Day 5

 

And that's it for CC102!

 

I really enjoyed the week's crafting and learnt so many new techniques!  And had so much fun - roll on CC103!!

 

And here's just a couple of finished cards using more than one technique...

 

So it's onwards and upwards with my crafts - practising and creating - combining techniques, new cards & new ideas - I guess I'll start thinking about Christmas as well!

 

Back soon!

 

Kay

 

 

CC102 catch-up distress glitter 1

Finally I'm organised and got myself some distress glitter, so here goes!
So here's the last of Day 3's tags

CC102 - Day 5 - the last leg!

And finally, Day 5 - embossing effects ... 5 tags to share, just one left to do ...

 

 

 

It's been an amazing week's journey along with Tim, his guest designers, Mario, and the team behind him, and all the rest of the students (there's so much beautiful work in the gallery) - so much learnt, so much inspiration, (and so much to practice!!). 

 

Once again, thank you Tim & everyone for CC102!

 

P.S when is CC103?!

 

Back soon!

 

Kay

 



 

CC102 - Day 4

And onto Day 4, alcohol inks

And my tags - all techniques practiced! ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in a mo' with Day 5!

 

Kay

CC102 - Day 3 (continued)

Hi again,

I had a massive 'catch up' yesterday & managed most of Tim's remaining techniques ... all except any with Distress Glitter - can't believe I hadn't got any!!!

So here's the rest of Day 3s tags (2 more posts to follow)!

So Day 3 was distressing differently:   techniques 1 & 2 need a lot more practice - but here's the tags anyway!

 And here's my last one from Day 3 (2 more to do!)

 

Back in a mo' with Days 4 & 5!

 

Kay