A Notecard Set Featuring Tim Holtz

Brandy and I are such fans of Tim Holtz.  He's one of the folks we've watched and followed over the 15+ years we've been crafting together.  As such, we have quite the stash of supplies and materials that we accumulated through out fandom and attending all three Creative Chemistry classes over at Online Card Classes.

Today I decided to pull out some of the supplies that have languished in the stash and make good use of them.  These cards were made with an assortment of Tim Holz Wildflowers Thinlits and Garden Greens dies die cut from Distress Ink and Distress Oxide backgrounds..  The background paper is Tim Holze Kraft resist paper that I layered with matching Distress Ink and Distress Oxides.  They blend so delightfully.  The flowers are made using Tim Holtz glassine paper, an oldie but a goodie.  Here's some additional inspiration from Tim Holtz Kraft glassine ideas.

While making these cards in the midst of creating for Stamptember which has involved lots of techniques, I'm reminded how very much I enjoy working with my Distress products and what a delightful finish they provide.  I should definitely use them more often!

This pink card is mostly Distress Oxides and I'm pleased with how bright the card turned out in the end.  Again - reminder to use these techniques more often.

I'm going to link this up to the Simon Says Stamp link party for Tim Holtz.  I am also going to link this up with Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday challenge Simon Says Anything Goes.  Check it out.

Remembering...

Brandy and I are remembering a very fun and exciting online card class- namely Creative Chemistry 101.  This class was taught by none other than the rock star of paper crafting, Tim Holtz, and was hosted by Online Card Classes.  The class is chocked full of fabulous techniques using the Distress Ink product lines.  We've posted projects using those techniques regularly since the class, however, here's a few examples of our class work:

Blend and Spritz technique

Wrinkle Free Distress technique

Water Color Technique with Distress Markers

Nostalgic Batik technique

Rusted Enamel- oooh I've used this one!!!

 
There are many more techniques.  You can find most of them running in the blog history during the months of March and April of 2012.  Check them out.  I believe that if you haven't taken this class, you should consider it.  The Creative Chemistry 101 class can still be viewed and the information read.  It is no longer a dynamic class with Tim dialoging with the students (we were able to post questions in a forum and Tim would answer them to the best of his abilities!!!  Rock star!!!).  However, the techniques and examples he shared are all there- two sets of videos for each of a total 10 lessons.  You have lifetime access to return to the class and review the videos, forum and gallery of student projects.  It's a class that keeps on giving instruction.

So, the really cool news is that they are now offering Creative Chemistry 102.  Students must have previously taken Creative Chemistry 101.  Online Card Classes is offering a $2 discount to students who enroll in Creative Chemistry 101 until October 7th when the 102 class starts.  That makes the 101 class a total of $33 dollars, well worth the instructions provided.  I can only guess that there will be more techniques with some of the supplies added to the Distress Ink line- Distress Paints, Distress Glitter, yummy!  The structure sounds like it will be the same- Tim posting an instructional video (typically 5-15 minutes long) and an inspirational video (same length with Tim doing samples and showing projects he's used the technique on).  Unfortunately, the class is only scheduled to last one week- basically 5 days of instruction.  The whole point of the class was to make tags of samples to be used by you in the future as an example of the technique.  You can see the Smash book of my finished samples here. 

I've enrolled the 102 class- moving up in my studies.  Won't you join me too?!


I am also remembering this day 12 years ago.  My prayers today are with those families who suffered that day.  May this day be one of remembering good things and honoring losses.








I've been in no way prompted to write this post by anything other than my enthusiasm for the classes.  I am not affiliated with Online Card Classes.  This is simply a friendly opportunity to spread the disease of paper crafting with you.  Consider yourself infected!

Decorated Tin Container

Tim Holtz is one of our most favorite paper craft rock stars.  Brandy and I were even were able to meet him in person a little over a year ago.  It is no wonder then that we have used many of his techniques featuring the work here on our tiny little blog.  Specifically to this post, we've both made many of his paper roses.  You can find a good YouTube video demonstration of the technique here.  The technique can be a little tricky at first, but the final result is stunning.  Much like riding a bike, once you've figured it out you'll never forget.  I've used a flower made from double sided patterned paper to accent this small tin gift box.  The tag was cut from Cricut's Accent Essentials cart and stamped with a CTMH stamp set.  This cute little tin was used to gift a small amount of fudge to a friend.  I had premade the flower, so it was a couple minutes to cut out, stamp and ink the tag, find the finished flower and swirl embellishment from previous crafting excursions, a little glue and we've got a quick gift of fudge.

Thanks so much for looking.

Andie 

Tissue Tape Flowers

I picked up some Tim Holtz Tissue Tape during a couple of clearance sales recently. I've used tissue tape on only a few projects, so I went looking online for ideas. I first happened upon Tim's youtube video on making tissue tape flowers. I cut some circles out using the Cricut and followed Tim's instructions to create the flowers found on this card.

Tissue tape was adhered around the edge of the white cardstock card.  I simply tore off the tape along the edge.  The patterned paper was layered over this edging.  The frame was cut from Cricut's Plantin Schoolbook, distress with an Ink Blending Tool and some Distress Ink.  The stamping is done with Coffee Archival Ink.

I've decided to link this card up to the The Minty Fresh Challenge over at the Moxie Fab World.   I suggest you join me in the fun!

Andie

Smash Book for Creative Chemistry 101

It has been a little while in the making and an even longer while in posting, but I finally finished my Smash book of ideas from the Creative Chemistry 101. Creative Chemistry 101 was on interactive  online card class taught by Tim Holtz himself.  You can still take the class as an independent class with full access to the class materials.  Check them out at http://www.onlinecardclasses.com/timholtz/class-info/.

The class curriculum was simple, each day focused on a particular distress product.  Key topics involved Distress Inks, using Distress Re-inkers, Distress Stains, the new (and fabulous) Distress Markers, etc.  Each day there were assignments to create sample tags using the techniques taught with the goal of a group of tags that can act as inspiration and instruction long after the class is over.  Although I didn't have much time to keep up during the course, I was ultimately able to complete each assignment.  So when Brandy graciously gifted me with a (green) Smash book for collating crafting ideas, I thought I  couldn't find a better use that to collate  instructions for each technique, sample pictures from the class and ultimately my test tags that I created as a part of taking the class.  This page is a typical treatment in the Smash book.  I printed the sample tag that Tim created, the instructions provided in the class along with the supplies for that specific technique.  On the opposing page, I typically created a pocket or some other type of fastener to house the sample tags I made (so that I can pull them out to either use or refer to in the future). 

Stamping with Distress Stain

Perfect Splatter

Some of the later tags I began mixing my techniques, so many of the tags are combinations and various trials I made.  The original posts of tags made using the Stamping with Distress Stain were in this post here and again here. 



The Smash book provides a patterned paper background for each page.  I just happened to have some K & Co 4 x 6 paper packs laying around that coordinated nicely with the color scheme of my Smash book.  These became very convienient and easy to make pockets.  I simply cut the shaped paper in half and used glue dots to adhere the corners and bottom edge to the Smash book page.  After that, it was easy to slide the tags right in.  My Perfect Splatter technique tags were originally posted here.

Distress Stickles

Often, if there was a particular tag that I really like and inspires me, I would use a glue dot or two to place the tag on the page highlighting the result.

Stamping with Distress Markers

Tim was very open about the fact that he desired each of us to take what we learned from the class and spread our knowledge.  I didn't take the time to duplicate every instruction- most of the techniques can be found in one manner or another through watching Tim's YouTube videos or simply visiting his blog and watching the videos he makes.  The real magic of the class was the daily interaction that included answering questions and tailoring each class video to address the concerns he felt were important to understanding why some of these techniques work and why they might not work in certain situations.  My Distress Stickles post can be found here and my Stamping with Markers technique and can be found in this post here.   

I am sure you are wondering if I think the independent study of Creative Chemistry 101 would be worth it.  I am going to give you all the facts that I myself might want to know in order to make the decision.  For the $35 class fee you have lifetime access to ten full sets of videos created exclusively by Tim Holtz.  Each set has one video from 5-15 minutes long with helpful information on the chemistry (or why) involved with the technique.  This information is the information that is not always included in Tim's videos on his website.  For a real "in-her-head" person like me, I find this information fascinating and helpful.  I could see where a more artsy, follow-your-bliss kind of person might not find this information so very helpful (though if it makes you successful you might).  Each set then also has a 10-20 minute instructional video of that days technique(s).  Often these videos contain 2 or 3 different techniques and always contain Tim using the materials and explaining the steps in his normal incredible detail.  These videos don't deviate a lot from those on Tim's website, but are maybe slightly longer and deep in depth.  Finally, the class fees also give you access to view (only) the question and answer forum where Tim personally answered questions each day during the live class.  Some of the more rich information can be found here as Tim helped those of us who participated live as we asked questions about why things did or didn't work right.  The original live participants also uploaded to galleries which are accessible (again, view only) and a good source of inspiration.

It might be worth saying that no one has asked and/or paid me to make this post.  I have said all this wholly within my own enthusiasm for how much I enjoyed the class.  I know I would have a hard time justifying taking a static class.  However, knowing what I know, I definitely would endorse this particular class even now without the interactive participation.  I think you would find it well worth your money.


Andie

Glassine Paper Flowers

When recently shopping with Brandy, we happened across a pad of Tim Holtz Kraft Glassine Paper.  Don't ask me why I felt like I needed a pad of this paper.  Don't ask me what I thought I was going to do with it.  I can't explain these things any more.  I find that sometimes it is just about how cheap it is (you better bet that I used a 40% off coupon and the cost was just north of $5).  Sometimes it is because I like it (the texture that is inherent to this paper is fabulous).  Sometimes it is just that you don't want to walk out of the store empty handed (this is particularly true when shopping with friends). 

Either way, I did have occasion to use the paper in a couple of recent cards.  We had the misfortune of losing a close friend earlier this year and a good friend lost her mother in December.  The memorials happened to occur within days of each other and these adorable flowers came in handy for a monochromatic looking sympathy card.

These flowers were cut using Cricut's Mother's Day Bouquet cart.  I worked the ends of the flowers around a thin paint brush handle to curl the edges back and create more of a 3D effect.  The pearl brads were punched through the center of the flower to finish the look.  Although I considered inking the flower, I ultimately decided that the cracking and "wear" of the flowers from the curling provided enough texture and I didn't want the color difference.

The background is the Walnut Stain Distress Re-inker made into a mist (similar to the layered misting technique in my Creative Chemistry 101 class).  The mask is a Tattered Angels snowflake mask I've had for a while.  The cream card was lightly misted creating much variation in color (and adding to the monochromatic color scheme).  The flowers are adhered with a glue dot and the waxed twine tied around the inside of the card.  The tiny flower on the tag was cut with my Quickutz die, shaped and layered with a tiny pearl brad.  The tag is a 1 1/2 inch cut of <tag1> from Cricut's Plantin Schoolbook that was cut from a preprinted sheet of tan cardstock I ran through my printer to print the "In Sympathy" sentiment.  A tiny Tim Holtz bronze paper clip holds the sentiment in place by anchoring the tag to the twine.

This card expressed heartfelt sympathy to our good friend who lost her husband (whom my husband was close with) to ALS earlier this year.  ALS is a devastating disease and as we watched our friend approach the loss of his ability to talk and walk around, he never lost his deep and abiding faith in the God who made all things, including this horrible disease.  His peace at knowing he was still in the hands of a loving God who has wisdom beyond our understand will stand as a testament to me and many others.  Although I still feel sorry for his wife and family (and truly myself), I am comforted by the thought that all his questions can be asked and answered as he spends eternity with his Lord and Savior. 

This next card used many of the same techniques, but the flower was made slightly differently.  The inner 3d portion of the flower was cur from Cricut's Flower Shoppe cart.  The cut was then twisted and adhered to the layered petals cut from Cricut's Mother's Day Bouquet cart.  The petals of the larger flowers were folded in half and then curled around a thin paint brush handle.  The flower was then mounted to the card base with a glue dot. 

This card was given to a friend who lost her mother suddenly and tragically in December.  Although my friend has faced this loss with deep sadness, she has been able to begin the process of working through the layers of grief.  My sympathy is genuine and deep for this friend.  When they held the memorial service in March, my thought was to try to encompass this sympathy and express it to her.  I love how this card turned out.  Even though I love it, I can hardly see how a simple piece of paper can express how my heartfelt sorrow is mixed with encouragement and admiration.  My prayer has been and continues to be that my friend may know how tender and supportive I might feel and that she knows her comfort is on my mind even now.

I really would like to close this post with some deep and comforting wisdom on loss.  As I am middle aged (how in the world did that happen?), I know that the number of losses ahead of me will far outstrip the number behind me.  This is true for both me and for most of the people in my life.  I consider that I am unable to think of anything profound because I am so humbled by loss and sorrow.  So, I will continue to cling to what I know to be true. 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Stamping with Embossing Folders

The last technique that I needed to practice involved stamping an image on an embossing folder and transferring that image onto the paper.  This image of a bird and music was done using a borrowed Grand Caliber with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  Brandy actually put this frame and stamp together and then I inked the image produced with Distress Inks.  The result is lovely.  The twine was spritzed with a bit of Re-inker mist to match the color palette.  A quick and easy card front for any  project and a good use for embossing folders where you can create a different look each time.

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101-Distress Stickles Technique

The last technique, the last day of instruction!  How did it end so soon?  Well, all good things and all that...  The last technique shared was using Distress Stickles.  Honestly, I hadn't actually owned Distress Stickles because I tend to only buy Stickles when I have a specific purpose in mind.  I don't use them much as I have glittler in excess and  it's just easier to lay down some clue and glitter when I need it.

When Tim described Distress Stickles and how to use them, I was surprised.  They aren't really meant (though you can) to be used to create dots of glitter or swirls on the page much like I've seen for the remaining Stickles line.  Instead, they are used to create a fine layer of glitter by spreading over the top of the finished product.  I just used my finger to gently rub the stickles directly on the tag surface.  I knew I had to use green on my last tag.  So this one was made with Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo and Shattered Straw.  My intention is to use these techniques in cards and other projects.  Hopefully this inspiration infusion will create a desire to craft regularly.  Crafting is relaxing and stress reducing as it reminds me that I am not the sum total of what I do at work day in and day out. 

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Perfect Splatter Distress

Perfect Pearls just make everything perfect!  This technique enhances the wrinkle free distress technique that we learned back in day 2 of the class.  How wonderful?!  Just like before, distress ink is pressed out of the pad onto the craft mat.  The difference in this technique is that a small amount of Perfect Pearls is splashed down on the craft mat with the ink.  I would guess the amount is somewhere between 1/8 and 1/4 of a teaspoon.  Water is spritzed on the whole thing and then the tag is swipped through the mixture, using the heat tool to dry between layers. 

These two tags were my first try.  I love the coppery look to the first tag (on the right).  I like how it captured the "aged patina" of copper.  The tag on the right was created from the pooled ink left over after the first tag was finished.  Different pallette, but still a cool result. 

The second try worked out just as well, if not doing a better job capturing a patina look.  Again, the tag on the left is the first pass through the unmixed ink and the second tag is made from the left over ink.  Now I have to figure out how to use these tags in a project.  Because the class has to be more that making tags to lay around the room, right?

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Perfect Distress

The next technique was meant to demonstrate using Perfect Pearls over a stamped image to create an enhanced distress look.  First, we'll review a couple of epic FAILs.



The background was made using the Distress Stains .  The images were stamped with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink and dusted with a gold Perfect Pearls.  You can see how the pearls were much too heavy. 

This picture demonstrates that at the right angle, the images aren't bad.  However, the result is far from usable. 

The next tag wasn't such a big fail (other than the poor stamping of the sentiment).  However, it still didn't work quite right. 

This bird in flight was very close to the right technique, except for the heavy handed application of Perfect Pearls.  You can't see it in this image, but the bird is barely discernible if held at the right angle.

Ah, that's pretty much it.  Water was spritzed over the image after the Perfect Pearls was applied.  The water caused the slight bleeding of the red/brown Distress Inks.  This tag looks better in person, but I like the result very much.  Guess it just took a little practice (if you can call four times "a little").

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Perfect Distress Mists

This technique involves the Distress Stain Mists that we had previously worked with on the layered misting technique.  The Distress Re-inkers are combined in a mini-mister with water and in this case, Perfect Pearls.  The mini-misters are then used to spray color onto the tag. 

Getting a good picture to represent the metallic sheen was difficult.  I caught a couple of pearlized sections in this photo.  The pearls tended to concentrate where the ink pooled.  This "girlifies" the layered misting technique.

Just a note, the tag on the right was made with the left over spray on the craft mat after making the tag on the left.  The colors were more blended and were on the brown side of the spectrum, but still created a beautiful tag.

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Kraft Resist with Distress Stain ReDo

 I tried my hand at the Kraft resist technique again.  The background was layered with Distress Stain and then blended with Distress Inks.  The dragonfly and floral background were stamped with Archnival Ink.  Although I still did not have Picket Fence Distress Stain, I did use a white opaque pigment ink.  The result was a very distressed/worn look.   The Kraft resist does show through, though not as brightly.  I did find me some Picket Fence and I plan to give this technique one more try.

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Stamping with Distress Stains a practiced result

I went back through some of my techniques to give them another try.  This tag was made with Distress Stains and Archival Ink.  My first trys were here.  This one turned out so well that I just had to post it.  Once again the friend connection paid off as all of these stamps are from my best friend, Brandy.  I just love the colors and blending which match so well to the stamp.  This tag will find its way into something.  I like it best.

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Rusted Enamel Technique

The technique demonstrated here is the rusted enamel technique.  This super simple technique provides a wealth of texture and depth of color that I previously had not achieved with the whole distressed look.  Maybe I just had to wait for the "simple" technique. :)

Distress ink is applied to the entire surface.  As quickly as it is applied, the surface is coated with clear embossing powder.  The back of the tag is flicked with your finger to dislodge random areas of embossing powder which creates that lovely texture.  The powder is melted using a heat gun and then the color is enhanced with the Ink Blending Tool and Distress Inks (mostly Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain).  I can see this on a paper mache boxes to hold gifts, on the face of cards, etc.  Love, love, love this technique.

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Nostalgic Batik Technique

The nostalgic batik technique involves embossing.  I have done some embossing before and really like the accent that it provides. I have found the use of the brighter colors a little of a mystery with the Distress color palette.  The nostalgic batik technique allows those bright colors to pop out, but retains the rustic flavor of distress.   

This first tag was made by stamping the floral image with Broken China and quickly covering with clear embossing powder.  After heating and melting the embossed image, the tag was distressed using the Ink Blending Tool and the Distress Inks. Then the shadow/background images were stamped using Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  The blue Broken China just pops right off the page!

This tag turned out to be a happy accident.  I embossed with white embossing powder without knowing it.  The bright white pops equally as well as the Broken China behind the clear embosssing powder.  Although this tag is not as well executed, this is something I will be exploring more later.  More techniques to practice, yeah me!

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Stamping with Markers Technique

Of all the uses Tim demonstrated with the Distress Markers, this is one of my favorites.  I have a limited supply of "solid" stamps for which this technique works best, but I found a few that provided interesting results.

The technique involves using the Distress Markers to color onto the stamp and then subsequently stamp the image on paper.  This allows great flexibility in the image color and very detailed results.  The key tricks include starting with lighter markers- since the dye is translucent it is very difficult to see lighter colors over darker ones.  If you get the balance wrong there is little to "go back" and fix if all the darker colors are on while if the light color is wrong, the darker colors will cover.  The last tip or trick is that the inks are activated by water.  Thus, the markers can dry while you apply (I'm a slow colorer because of my insecurity I think).  All you need to do is huff hot breath (yes, literally from your mouth) over the stamp before stamping. 

This first image is a crown stamp.  The image on the left is the first image using the colored stamp (first generation).  The image on the right is the second image (second generation) using the same colored stamp without applying more ink.  Although there is a slight deterioration in the image quality, it is very small.  Cool, huh?

The rose stamp created my favorite result.  This stamp was colored with three different greens and three different red/pinks.  The paper was ultimately shaded using the Ink Blending Tool and Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Very nice results if I do say so myself.

A repeat with blue markers created a lovely result and the aggressive Ink Blending Tool use "ruined" this lovely image.  I'm seeing some fussy cutting in my future....

Finally, this piece was created using the same technique and finishing with the spritz and flick technique (spraying water into your hand and flicking the water in a random way onto the distress inked surface).  Nice effect, but I like the clean version slightly better.  This card is also an example of the first generation (left image) and second generation (right image) images.  I'm off to catch up on loading some more images of my practice effort.  The homework for this class is (luckily!!!) never ending!

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Blending with Distress Markers

In an effort to continue trying to color, I attempted Tim's technique with the Distress Markers and a waterbrush.  This technique differs only slightly from the previous technique in that instead of using the markers to fill in and blend directly on the paper, a waterbrush is used to draw the color across the watercolor paper.  This image is my feable attempt to replicate the technique.  I think part of my difficulty is the type of watercolor paper that I've selected.  I think that the paper is too "cheap" (rural Minnesota raised tendancies... they seep into everything).  I intend to get some quality watercolor paper and attempt this again (with Brandy's gracious lending of markers again!). 

Argghh!

Andie

Creative Chemistry 101- Watercoloring with Distress Markers

This technique involved using the Distress Markers.  I had to borrow the markers since I didn't have a set of my own yet.  Good thing Brandy is so generous (and such a great friend).  She generously shared them and I tried (oh how I tried) to watercolor and blend. 

This example is my first pathetic attempt.  I am thinking the green ladybug isn't horrible, but the others might be.  You can also see where I used the red to "alter" the green marker and the evidence of the marker's ability to "self-clean" is demonstrated.  I just dipped the tip of the peeled paint marker into the fire brick red scribbled onto my craft sheet and the result was a deeper, more olive green.  As I scribbled across the page you can see how the red comes out and the marker returns to a peeled paint color.

More sunflowers, these maybe are a little more blended proving that practice does help even though they are still proof that I'm not a colorer.  Maybe part of the problem is that I don't have a specific inspired project or idea.  This is a technique to file away and pull out for just the right occassion. 

Andie

 

Creative Chemistry 101- Stamping with Distress Stains

This technique involved using Distress Stains.  The stains are a liquid version of the Distress Inks.  I think I prefer the stains for creating that background distress look.  They apply a greater quantity of ink quickly and my fat fingers find the technique easier to execute.  With the stains, you can swipe the ink across the tag directly (rather than on the craft mat as with the wrinkle free technique).   Here's my results.

The tag on the left was created applying the stain from the dauber directly on the tag.  You see my limited color palette again, but the bird stamp just makes this card.  The swirls were stamped with sepia archival ink and the bird is black archival ink.

The tag on the right was actually created by swiping the stain from the daubers on the craft mat and wiping the tag through the ink.  I like the streaks through the background.  In this case, all images were created using the sepia archival ink.  Not as bold, but a different effect altogether.  I am having so much fun, I almost can't stand it!  The class probably doesn't provide loads of information that is not available free on Tim's youtube channel.  The class does provide discipline (if I paid for it my Minnesota cheap won't let me "waste" that money) and also the inspiration of seeing hundreds of other interpretations of the same instructions/techniques. Access can be purchased after the class is completed and you have the same access to content that those of us have going through it "live".  Check it out over at Online Card Classes- Creative Chemistry 101.

Andie