Creative Chemistry: Day 5

Distress stains and spraying ink all over the place as lecture topic but thankfully only stains as technique part. I don't "love" any of these and all would be better stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink which surely is in shorter supply worldwide than his markers (which will be MIA from a lot of craft rooms when he discusses Monday).  I'm not into the "layered grunge" which these for the most part are but I did find out what to do with the big 12x12 pad of Kraft Resist (tag on left) that I bought because it was on sale, and stamping with the picket fence stain (gate) is kinda cool.  Some of these might be okay for vintage but not sure I'm feelin' the love although I do love my stains.  No plans to buy spray ink... but Monday is distress markers... already snagged a dozen of these and can't wait to try 'em!

Creative Chemistry 101: Day 4

Spent a lot of time discussing reinkers and maintenance and then had three projects including watercoloring with reinkers, a layered misting technique (can't get the hang of misting for some reason but will work on this) and then technique to make your own custom stamp pads -- since I don't have time to play with those I have, this won't be happening anytime soon.  Love Tim's new palette for reinkers (which don't dry out) -- he organized by stamping each color and punching circle with a 3/4" punch on the top in a grid fashion-- on my long to-do list. I like watercoloring with these reinkers and will try on my Magnolia stamps but I'm really still in love with my Copics!

Creative Chemistry 101: Day 3

Today's class included a lecture/demo of various inks and then three techniques:  Alcohol Ink Agates, Archival Resist and Stamping with Reflections.  One interesting tidbit was to "season" new rubber stamps much like a cast iron skillet:  use black archival ink, put on rubber stamp, let dry a minute and then wipe dry. Stamping with light "spun sugar" with this stamp worked despite the black "residue" from the seasoning ink!  Another tip: use hand sanitizer if you must use anything but water to clean clear stamps. It's obvious from Tim's demo and just experimenting that clear stamps don't work well with these techniques (see Eiffel Tower!)

I only had library green archival ink which worked for first tag but you really needed several light shades of archival inks and the archival black for the second. Tim did all stamping with black.  Interesting tip: clean stamps with hand sanitizer if you must use anything. He only uses water and a rag. First tag which is done on glossy paper definitely has "card" possibilities and I like the "resist" technique on the right hand tag but not the colors or the way the clear stamp worked.

Third tag he called a "stamping with reflections" technique demonstrated with his Reflections stamps.  I just used butterflies and one of his frame textured embossing folders.  Stamp the image on inside of emboss folder with archival ink (green again), put tag in and run through the Sizzix.  Then highlight the embossing with distress inks bringing color in.. Love this and will definitely play with it although I never understood why he said you had to cut the embossing folder to emboss the tag (not happenin').

Creative Chemistry 101: Day Two

So Day 1 of this online class by Tim Holtz was "lecture" and now starts 10 days in the lab.  I'm "into" Tim's style and not into it!  Vintage intrigues me and I love the images but some of the techniques just aren't "me".. I don't think!  I took this class to inspire me, to learn to use Perfect Pearls and other Ranger stuff in my stash that I've never played with, and for the experience of learning from the master himself.  I know it's technically Day 3 already but lots of Operation Write Home cards to sort and ship today so ....

I like the first two tags - first is my favorite and I will use this a lot but I need to work on not getting too much water on the stamp for the floral "distress watercolor" technique and my Pine Needles inkpad did bleed into the Worn Lipstick so headed to forum to see why that happened.  The third "drag your tag through the ink" tag took two tries and I still don't love it but there are 9 days left to find things I love.