Circle of Friends

I think another title for this post could be Easy and Detailed, you know like those articles that you see in magazines. It was not my original intention to do this. Over the years on my blog, I had done some posts about doing "Add-to"s where I might add an item or two to make something work that was bothering me on a layout well after I had declared it done and posted. With this page, it was more than a simple "Add-to". It all started with inspiration from the More Than Words August main challenge.

I had initially sketched and created this simpler 'Easier' version and at the time when I finished it, I liked it.

I don't know about you but I do not put my newest made pages straight away in an album, rather I display them in my scraproom.  So this is how it came about that as I would enter my scraproom over the next day I thought... umm, it needs more... it needs some black on the circles.  I had debated about inking the edges but that was not practical at that point as they were already adhered to the background so instead I faux stitched them with a pencil. This required the removal of the photos and titling which is where dental floss comes in handy. ;)

Then, I was thinking that it needed a bit more colour added to the border areas. Once that was done, I was thinking that I would draw in more of the red, by adding red paint to the corrugated, chipboard, and cork title letters. However, after I did that, I didn't care for it so I painted them black.

Yet, it still needed something more for the red, so I decided to Archival ink stamp the large Asian flower on patterned paper. Then, I misted, scrunched them, and air dried them. Once dry, I flattened out the shapes a bit, sanded them, and the fussy cut them out, prior to putting some black glitter glue as the centres. I tucked them under the photos helping to create a second visual triangle on the layout and I was pleased by the results.

However, I still had a nagging sense that something was off about the balance of the layout. I solved it with the journaling lines. They help draw your eyes down the page to an end point. Now I feel a sense of rightness and completion with the 'Detailed' version.

Supplies: patterned papers, small and large Asian Bubble Flower stamps, Flowers mask, corrugated letters, chipboard letters, cork letters (Magenta), Tim Holtz Distress inks [Wild Honey, Dried Marigold, Barn Door], Distress Paints [Evergreen Bough, Barn Door, Candied Apple, Black Soot], Black Archival ink (Ranger), Cloudy Sky and Black StazOn (Tsukineko), glitter glue (Hampton Art), pen (CTMH), Sketchy Circles Silhouette cut file (SCT)

Now I know that there are those that will like the easy version over the detailed one and vice versa. That is one of the many beauties of art, it is in the eye of the beholder both as one experiencing it as the viewer or just knowing when it feels done and right for you as the artist creating it.

Magenta is once again the challenge comment sponsor so head on over to the More Than Words Challenge to see the beautiful inspirations by their DT, leave a lovely comment for a chance to win a $25.00 Magenta Gift Certificate, and see the lovely creations of fellow entrants.

TTFN,

Magenta products used:

Flowers Mask MC02

Small Asian Bubble Flower 0629.G

Large Asian Bubble Flower 0624.L

Corrugated Rounded Alphabet - CF09

Self-Adhesive Cork Alphabet - CORKA

Victoria Patterned Paper ME230

Lilianne Patterned Paper ME232

Tangerine Odyssey Patterned Paper ME076

Creative Chemistry 103 - Day 1

Yeah! My Summer of Creative Chemistry continues with the new Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry 103. Right out of the gate Day 1 was jam packed with five techniques. As I want to try to get as much out of the live portion of CC103, I think I will for the most part be going with the Tim standard of using number 8 tags for the techniques. With the weekly focus for the Summer of Creative Chemistry rehash of CC101 and 102, I was able to pick and choose and combine techniques that I wanted to try and I had made cards for the previous 8 weeks. However, I do not think that will be as efficient given the number of new techniques being presented. That being said, I still found that I kept in mind how I was going to use the tag on a card when I chose the items and themes so most will likely be made into cards in the future.


First up, Ombre DIY stamp pad.

Supplies: manila tag, Distress inks [Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Candied Apple, Picket Fence, Spun Sugar], Rock Candy Stickles (Ranger), Random Quotes and Clear French Market stamps (Stampers Anonymous)

As I had learned from my Week 8 snowflake card experience, Picket Fence can provide some opacity to other Distress ink colours so I applied a layer of Picket Fence ink using the small round applicator around the edges and then went in with Spun Sugar. As one who likes to experiment and try things just like Tim continually encourages participants to do, I tried using the Clear Rock Candy Stickles even though I knew it would re-activate the Distress colours that I had already applied as a border. I had hoped that there would be enough of a hint of pale pink to compliment the ombre and it worked!


Next up, Distress Highlight Stamping. If you had previously read my Summer of Creative Chemistry Week 8 post on my snowflake card and my Picket Fence experience, I found a solution to the dilemma.  I added a lot of reinker to the pad and stamped the image three times using my MISTI and that made a substantial difference.

Supplies: kraft tag, Distress ink [Picket Fence, Picked Raspberry, Wild Honey, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Tea Dye] (Ranger), Papillon stamp set (Stampers Anonymous)

This was actually the second attempt at this tag. While I had no actual issue with the technique, I wanted to mask the butterflies prior to stamping to add colour to the background. So in the spirit of experimenting, I tried using Micro Glaze to mask versus making a paper mask. Well I learnt something new. 

Kraft is not an ideal surface to use this product with as it left a darkened area even after heating it. Not to be deterred, I stamped a second attempt and just made a small cut-out mask shape to get the effect stamped background that that I wanted.


Off-Set Stamping was the next lesson. In looking through my few Tim Holtz stamp sets, I realized that I do not have any from his collection that have enough open areas for colouring so I had to improvise and make do.

Supplies: watercolour paper, kraft tag, black Archival ink, Distress Inks [Seedless Preserves, Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry, Picket Fence, Lemonade Stand, Mustard Seed, Vintage Photo, Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio], Dina Wakley Scribbly Birds stamp (Ranger), Random Quotes stamp and Blossom stencil (Stampers Anonymous), pen (CTMH)

The quote on the tag says it all (and the reason I chose that quote) "Out of Limitation comes Creativity". I solved the problem by using a stencil instead of a stamp for the leaves/branches and I went with a Dina Wakley Scribbly bird stamp.

The Distress Washed Watercolour, I found the most challenging and not for what you might think. 

Supplies: watercolour paper, manila tag, black Archival ink, Distress Inks [Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Antique Linen, Pumice Stone, Cracked Pistachio, Walnut Stain], Distress Stains [Cracked Pistachio, Broken China, Wilted Violet, Twisted citron] Micro Glaze (Ranger), Ribbon stamp from High Society Blueprints stamp set and letters from Clear Thoughts and Phrases stamp set (Stampers Anonymous), Remnant Rub friend word (Advantus)

I had a hard time getting the wash colour area just the right colours and the way that I wanted it to coordinate with the ribbon's blue.  In the end, I was able to achieve it with patience for letting the stains dry between adjustments and then following Tim's advice about going in afterwards and adjusting the colour with Distress inks.

I think the Distress Micro Glaze Resist was my favourite technique of the five. I love how this one turned out!

Supplies: manila tag, Distress Stains [Cracked Pistachio, Broken China, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo], Micro Glaze, Emboss It dabber, Sticky Powder, Gold Foil Sheet (Ranger), Harlequin, Gothic, mini set #1 and Wildflower stencils (Stampers Anonymous)

The photo just doesn't do it justice. It doesn't capture all the details and colours as seen in real life. I had initially stencilled the Wildflowers in black but didn't like it so I realigned the stencil, used the Emboss It dabber, Sticky Powder, and gold foiled over it. It worked wonderfully and was a way better match.


I added a Spun Sugar dyed crinkle ribbon piece to the ombre tag and coordinating trim to the OffSet stamping one.

They are now bookmarks for my daughter and I. Love the results!


TTFN,

A Tag and an ATC with July 12 Tags of 2016

While I made my July tag just under the wire at the end of last month for Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2016, I felt it was a bit of a dud and chose not to link it up. I wasn't going to post the tag at all, just the ATC. but I am taking the advice of Katelyn Grosart, my fellow Emerald Creek DT teammate, and just post it later. I am thinking that it is sometimes good to show when things don't quite go as planned.

Now don't get me wrong, I do like everything about it other than what happen to the top of the butter knife. As you can see, there was a mishap with the red wash part of my attempt at a checker cloth for my life everyday adventure of eating food. It was a disappointment that it happened after all the effort that I had put in up until that point in the process.

Supplies: watercolour paper, kraft tag, Tim Holtz Distress Inks[Hickory Smoke, Pumice Stone, Walnut Stain, Barn Door, Candy Apple], Micro Glaze, Hickory Smoke Archival ink (Ranger), Day Dream stamp set (Stampers Anonymous), Idea-ology token (Advantus), black cardstock (Bazzill), fonts Arial narrow Bold and Minstral (Silhouette Cameo cutter), burlap and stars (Misc.)

I had used half width cut strips of green painter's tape to mask off the checkered cloth design and the adhesive either interacted or lifted off the micro glaze causing it to allow the stain to go through, much to my dismay. I know I certainly had enough Micro Glaze on prior to putting the tape down and I had worked it into the paper as this was not the first time that I have used it. Oh well! Learned something new. As Tim says... "embrace imperfection" so I am chalking this one up to... "oops oh well!" and "better done than perfect". Love those Dina-isms.

I think I am finding this one easier to take because I also had the ATC, which I was making simultaneously, that turned out well.

Supplies: watercolour paper, Tim Holtz Distress Inks [Cracked Pistachio, Tumbled Glass, Antique Linen, Walnut Stain], Micro Glaze, Black Soot Archival ink (Ranger), Clear Mini Blueprints stamp (Stampers Anonymous), Idea-ology metal arrow and letter sticker (Advantus), kraft cardstock (CTMH), black cardstock (Bazzill), fonts Arial Narrow Bold (Silhouette Cameo cutter)

It was fun trying to size everything to an ATC size which worked well with the mini Blueprint stamp. As I do not own any of the Tim Holtz word dies (yet), I made the look work by using fonts with my Cameo Silhouette. I chose to use Cracked Pistachio for the colour of the sewing machine as an ode to my grandmother's sewing machine, which I inherited and is actually a darker version of that colour. The surrounding shading was done with Tumbled Glass but it unfortunately took on a greenish hue (similar to Cracked Pistachio) once I added the Antique linen. Just another something that I learned from this experience. All in all, I am pleased with how this one turned out. 


TTFN,

Week 8 of Summer of Creative Chemistry

Week 8 had tons of info as it encompassed two days from Creative Creative Chemistry 102. I made two cards combining two techniques from each day section.

The first was a combination of a brayer stained background with faux cracked glass techniques from Day 3.

Supplies: tag, Clear Rock Candy Crackle paint, Glue N' Seal, Distress Stains [Broken China, Antique Linen, Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover, Vintage Photo], Distress ink [Antique Linen, Vintage Photo], Blending Solution (Ranger), markers (Sharpie), Daydreamer stamp set (Stampers Anonymous), small talk occasions stickers (Advantus), twine (Dollarama)

Made due with what I had so I stamped the leaves from the Tim Holtz Daydream stamp set with Saddle Brown StazOn ink onto acetate and then continued on with the technique as presented in the lesson. To colour the leaves, I again had to use what I used Sharpie markers and the Blending Solution. It worked well enough to colour and give the faux cracked glass effect. I will have to try this technique again when my new order of alcohol inks arrives.


The second card was created with emboss techniques from a combination of Sticky Powder with glitter for the background and chalkboard technique with Antiquities emboss powder.

Supplies: kraft cardstock (CTMH), black cardstock (Bazzill), Tim holtz stamper (Stampers Anonymous), Picket Fence and Tumbled Glass Distress ink, Picket Fence stain and Acrylic paint, Emboss It, Sticky Powder emboss, Antiquities (Ranger), glitter (Recollections)

I started with the intention of using Picket Fence Distress ink and my vehicle for the sticky powder but it was really dry and didn't show so well so I gave it a bit of umph of colour with Tumbled Glass Distress. It shows up really quite well on the white. Then, I stamped with VersaMark ink to adhere the sticky powder. Thank goodness for my MISTI as I would not have been able to stamp like that without it!

I tried to added a border of Distress Picket Fence but again really light so I used the Picket Fence stain to dab the edges for a more opaque white look.

While Creative Chemistry 102 is over for the live interactive portion, there is still many techniques that I will go back and try over time. The Summer of Creative Chemistry continues with the much anticipated Creative Chemistry 103.

TTFN,

Week 7 Summer of Creative Chemistry

Week 7 of Tim Holtz's Summer of Creative Chemistry hosted on Online Card Classes saw us creating with alcohol inks as part of Creative Chemistry 102.

Being a proud new owner of five alcohol inks: Watermelon, Raspberry, Citrus, Clover and Sailboat (thanks to Master enabler Tim Holtz combined with a 20% off sale at Simon Says Stamp... sometimes a crafty girl just can't resist! ... LOL so punny!), this was my first attempt at utilizing alcohol inks. I was attempting the ombre technique with the Brights that I had purchased in Raspberry and Watermelon but did not anticipate how BRIGHT the Raspberry would be. It is a lovely colour, don't get me wrong, it just is REALLY bright when compared to the Watermelon. So I just made due and worked it with the blending solution and adding more of each colour to still have the underlying ombre but a balanced tone to it.

Supplies: Glossy Paper, Raspberry and Watermelon Alcohol inks, Tim Holtz stamps (Stampers Anonymous), Black Archival ink, Black emboss powder, Stardust and Frosted Lace Stickles (Ranger), White Signo pen (Mitsubishi Pencil Co.), cardstock (CTMH)

I heat embossed the Tim Holtz Perspectives Butterfly and 'There is Beauty in Simplicity' sentiment to make them stand out. I used second generation stamping on the numbers stamp from the same set to allow it to recede into the background a bit. For some detailing, I  added Frosted Lace Stickles to the outer parts of the butterfly's wings and Star Dust Stickles to the inner portions. Then to give it some pop, I used a White Signo pigment pen to the inside of the font on Beauty, pointilized the sections of the dried Frosted Lace, and mounted it on white cardstock.


My daughter upon seeing the card thought it was awesome but it would be even better if it was in her colours so she requested one for herself in blues. 

As I only had the three other colours (Citrus, Clover, and Sailboat), I started with them in a three part ombre set up and then worked with the blending solution and Sailboat to fashion the background. 

As I had some colour still on the applicators after creating the card base, I worked them on an ATC base in Glossy cardstock and used a variety of other Tim Holtz stamps using the same techniques that I had used on the cards.

I would definitely venture some more with the alcohol inks as there are yet more techniques from the lesson to try and I like the bold vibrant look that it creates.

TTFN,