Tag Archives: Distress Ink

Creative Chemistry 101

28 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by in Classes, ScrapBook, Techniques

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I’ve written here and I’ve tweeted about how much I am loving the Tim Holtz class – Creative Chemistry 101 through Online Card Classes. I’ve done quite a few online classes, and this may just be the best! Though, the Inspiration Showcase class with Jennifer McGuire is up there too. Let’s just call it a tie!

I’m having a blast learning about the chemistry behind paints, inks, stains, markers. And just hearing Tim talk about how he got started in the business, why he doesn’t clean stamps, how Distress Inks came to be, and more is worth the money, forget the other stuff!

Here are a few tags I’ve made – pretty basic, I really just wanted the technique on these, but I’ll also show you a card for an upcoming class that combines a couple of different techniques.

From left to right, top row:

Blended Spritz & Flick

Wrinkle-Free Distress

Layered Misting

Bottom row, left to right:

Stamping with Stains

Marbled Stains

I’ve tried a few other as well, but they’re not complete – I’m waiting on tags (black and kraft) and markers! And, before someone asks, the reason I’m waiting for those specific tags is that they are coated and so are a better surface to work on – I’ve tried office tags and they’re just no good!

My favourite is the Stamping with Stains tag – love the bright colours, the white stamping and the black images, which is why I use the white stamping technique on this card, along with the Alcohol Ink Agates technique:

This is just a prototype, but the techniques are very cool! The card class will be the end of April, we’ll make 3 cards, and this stamp set is included! Pretty awesome!

You can join the Creative Chemistry class anytime, the content is available forever, it’s fantastic even for those few scrapbookers who aren’t Tim fanatics, and Tim does a minimum of 2 videos a day – worth every penny and more! Go sign up! Now! You’ll thank me, I promise!

S.

Tuesday Techniques – Finishing Touches: Background Stamps

20 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by in ScrapBook, Techniques, Tuesday Techniques

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We’re going to continue with the Finishing Touches series today and look at inking the edges of a project and adding background stamping. Both of these things will add depth to your work and, in my experience, are usually that last thing you add and then go, “Aha! That’s what it needed!” Nothing major, it’s subtle but packs a punch!

Supplies are simple:

Supplies

Brown ink for inking the edges (I like to use a darker one like Walnut Stain), and a different brown ink for the stamping (I like to use a lighter ink for this, usually Frayed Burlap or Brushed Corduroy); a background stamp (I use text or script 99% of the time); and an ink blending tool with foam.

That’s it – supplies most of you will have anyway (and if you don’t, run away now to the store and buy them please. Thank you. We can wait for you, these are essential supplies, after all!)

OK, now we can get started. Make your tag, or card, or embellishment, whatever. Here’s mine:

Pretty, right? The stamp is from Local King Rubber Stamps, a Canadian company (yay!) that makes cling rubber stamps and they have matching dies too! However, it’s still a little, well, boring.

So, ink the edges! This adds some definition without taking away or adding anything to the overall feel of the card.

See the difference? Just a little definition around the edges to help it stand out yet blend everything together.

It’s better, but still not quite there. With Distress Inks, I could flick some water on to blend the colour some more and add watermark splotches, but if you’re not using a background of Distress Ink, that won’t work for you. So, add some depth with adding bulk by stamping a large background stamp over the whole thing. I like the text and script stamps because they don’t distract from your focal point or image, but they still add a little something more. I use a lighter brown ink so it doesn’t overpower anything, you really just want this to be texture in the background.

Here’s my finished tag:

See what I mean? Same tag as before, but the edges are defined and the stamping adds some depth and interest without distracting from the silhouette stamp in the foreground. Not so boring anymore!

I did use Black Sparkle Embossing Powder which makes for a little more interest, as you can see here – love that stuff!

Hope you liked this one and that you try it out! As always, leave me link in the comments so I can see what you do with it!

I’ll be back tomorrow with my October Afternoon layout for the Dr. Seuss challenge, and I’ll fill you in on the class I’m taking tonight with Rae Lynn at The Paperie – she does amazing CAS stuff!

S.

Tuesday Techniques – Finishing Touches: Scored Lines

13 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by in Cards, Techniques, Tuesday Techniques

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I thought I would do something a little simpler the next few weeks for Tuesday Techniques – Finishing Touches. Sometimes it’s that last little thing that holds us up but is the perfect thing to finish off a project when we do figure it out. Over the next few Tuesdays, I’ll show you a couple of quick, easy things that work for me!

Today, one of my Mom’s favourites when she sees it – Scored and/or Perforated Lines.

You need:

Supplies

A scoring board, a bone folder, a perforating tool, and cardstock. If you don’t have these items, you can use the ridge in your paper trimmer, your finger nail, and a thumbtack – I just like collecting supplies!

Put your cardstock in the upper left corner, making sure everything is straight, then press the bone folder firmly on the cardstock, letting it run down in one of the grooves; I went 1/2″ in for this step…

Scoring...

…and 1/4″ in for the perforating.

Perforating...

Then I did some masking, inking to pick up the perforations, and I was finished!

And a closeup of the details:

I like how the scoring and perforating, with a little inking, makes it looks like a stitched luggage tag – perfect for this one!

To give you some more ideas of how this technique would finish off a card, here are a Sympathy and Birthday card I made using the same Papertrey Ink set and the ScorBug:

Sympathy

Birthday

And finally, a card with scored lines and another Papertrey set:

Chickadee

I scored over the drawn lines to give them a little something more. It’s hard to see here, but adds a lot IRL – just a little oomph!

As always, I’d love to see what you do with this, or any technique I’ve shared. Leave me a link in the comments where I can view your project and I’ll take a look!

I’ll be back tomorrow with my 12 on 12 pictures!

S.

Tuesday Techniques – Distress Painting & a Sneak Peek!

06 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by in ScrapBook, Techniques, Tuesday Techniques

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I did it! I got a quick tutorial done!

This is a simple but pretty and effective one – and it can be used for boys, girls, whatever! Just change up the stamp and the Distress Ink colours and you’re good to go!

You will need:

Supplies

Distress Inks, Perfect Pearls Mist (or water), Watercolour paper, a stamp, VersaMark, white embossing powder, a heat tool, a nonstick Craft Sheet, and a paintbrush.

This looks really cool with an enclosed, yet open image, like a flower, but I wanted to do a background. I ended up doing a focal image as well, using black ink and clear embossing powder but that was an afterthought!

First, trace a tag onto watercolour paper and cut it out. I also used two small circle punches to cut the hole reinforcer but it’s not necessary – I’m just a tad bit anal retentive about certain things. 🙂

Heavy weight cardstock can substituted here but watercolour paper is the best surface to use since we will be putting a lot of water on it. Also, when it dries, it looks nicer with a great texture.

Stamp your image with VersaMark and heat emboss with white embossing powder.

Next, press each colour of Distress Ink onto your craft mat and spray each once with Perfect Pearls Mist or water. You need to use Distress Inks for this since they are reactive with water and don’t lose their colour or intensity when mixed with water. Also, mist your tag to make it damp and allow to colour to move more easily.

Next, use your paintbrush to pick up colour and paint your image. Don’t worry about blending – the Distress Inks and water take care of that all on their own while resisting the embossed areas! If you have stamped a closed in image, you’ll notice the colours pool inside the embossed areas and make good puddles.

Keep going until you’re happy with it then give it another good misting. Let it dry and you’re done!

Look at the shine the Perfect Pearls adds!

Now, just finish off your project or add your image to a card or layout. Easy, quick, and simple!

Ali Edwards Stamps are the best – just sayin’!

I’ve used this technique for little brown, blue and green monsters on a canvas in G’s room and they look awesome!

I’ll be back tomorrow with a look at the canvas for the class on Sunday – this technique was one that didn’t make it so I wanted to show it off today.

Here’s a peek of the Sunday project:

Sneak Peek!

Enjoy your day!

S.

Moxie Fab World: Home Sweet Home

27 Monday Feb 2012

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I was going to post about the first 2012 Yearlong Class we had yesterday (complete with two birthday cakes for me!), but when I saw the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World last night, I had to play along!

We’ll talk about the class on Wednesday.

I loved the red and blue polka dots, the little bird and the woodgrain door. This is what I came up with, while managing to keep all those elements.

Tuesday Trigger: Home Sweet Home card

The door opens…

… so you can see the sweet little bird inside!

I used an old Hero Arts stamp set (I cut the crown off the bird – yes, I cut up my stamps!), and a Papertrey Ink sentiment. Bazzill and Stampin’ Up! cardstock, with October Afternoon SprINKlers, Cavallini paper tape, Ranger Distress Inks, EK Success circle punch, Studio Calico/Hero Arts stamp set, and a large Fiskars cloud punch to finish it off.

Hope you enjoy it, head on over to Moxie Fab World and play along yourself!

S.

Tuesday Techniques – Cracked Glass

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

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Today’s technique is one I learned from Heather Nichols that she calls Cracked Glass.

Remember a couple of weeks ago during the Faux Metal technique I mentioned that sometimes you want the embossing powder to crack? Well, this is that time!

(Sidenote 1: Kristina Werner recommended trying white embossing powder for the faux metal technique to get the look of porcelain. It’s pretty cool!)

Faux Porcelain

Moving on….

Once again, you only need minimal supplies: VersaMark Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, a heat gun, and a stamp of choice.

supplies

(Sidenote 2: I keep all my embossing powder in lock and lock containers. They don’t open and make a mess, they’re big enough to hold a spoon so you can easily coat  a piece in powder, and you don’t have to try to get the powder back in that little bottle – you just do it all over the container.)

Now, I think this technique looks best with a flower, or something that would look good as vintage, but for fun, I chose an old October Afternoon favourite – the monsters from Night Light!

Seriously, could they be any cuter?

Anyway….

Stamp your image.

Stamped Image

As you can see, I just stamped him on some scrap paper, you only need a little space so no need to cut into a new sheet!

I stamped mine in Memento Tuxedo Black as I coloured the monster in with Copics. Please forgive the colouring – a Copics master, I am not, but I love how he turned out, with his teal spots and little dots all over him!

Coloured Image

I then masked the image and stamped a text background around him, but that isn’t necessary and, in this case, didn’t really show up in the final product anyway.

Punch or cut out your shape and we’re ready to go!

Ready for embossing!

Press VersaMark onto the image and clear heat emboss. I only had regular embossing powder, but UTEE would be best if you have it – less time and thicker coverage. I think I used 4-5 layers but UTEE would probably only need 2-3. Keep layering untill you get a thick, even, smooth coating.

Lots of embossed layers

If I was to do this again, I would leave the monster just as he is at this step. I liked him better uncracked – again, flowers and things that look more vintagey work best for this technique. I used Stampin’ Up! A Flower for All Seasons (retired) before and they turned out awesome!

Now let it cool. Technically, it cools in a few seconds but I find the crack happens best if you *really* let it cool down. Give it a half hour or more while you’re working on the rest of your project.

Now gently crack the embossing and rub a light brown ink, like Old Paper, into the cracks.

Cracked and Stained

You can see the wet ink below the embossed surface here – that will absorb into the paper in a minute so don’t worry about the splotchy puddles!

Now, you just have to add it to your project! I had a little lovefest with October Afternoon and used 3 different lines to complete my tag – Night Light, Rocket Age, and Sidewalks. The stick pins are from My Little Bit of Whimsy and the stencil from The Crafter’s Workshop – Herringbone.

Finished tag

Lots of dimensions with foam adhesive, the rubber charm, the stick pins, and the cracked glass piece.

Close up!

Try this out and let me know what you think! Can’t wait to see what you make with it – leave me a link in the comments!

S.

Things on Thursday

16 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in Cards, Family, ScrapBook, Things on Thursday..., Yearlong Album

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1. We have a bunch of tired kiddies here this morning. P & C, the two I take care of, are having a sleepover for “3 sleeps” while their parents are in New Brunswick house hunting. That boils down to mean M & G are losing their buddies mid-March – we’re sad. 😦 Last night was the first “sleep” night here and we’re all dragging a little today!

2. I’m looking forward to Crop Night at The Paperie tomorrow – it’s fun to be with friends and there’s always a midnight snack afterwards! Call and sign up by this afternoon if you want in on the fun too – come on, you know you want to! 🙂

3. I started on the March LO for the 2012 Yearlong Album last night using the amazing Year-o-graphy line…

March sneak peek

4. And that leads me into… I love having my Scrap Cave (which it will now be officially know as) almost cleaned and organized! I’m actually getting work done and not messing up the kitchen! And that means I don’t have to pack everything up and drag it back to the Cave all the time! Yay! When I get the bags of donations out of there and the final bits tidied away, I’ll post an updated picture. Oh, and it really is a cave as I share it with the storage room and the freezer, but it has a door. A real door! That keeps little children out! Can you tell how exciting that is to me?!?!

5. I made this quick card the other day – super simple but I love how it turned out. More clear embossed resist (told you it was a good and effective one!) but without the trapped stamping underneath. Of all the types of the cards there are, I really hate making sympathy ones at the time I need them. Those, I like to have a stockpile of and I’m all out. This one was a prototype that I liked so I think I’ll churn out a few this evening, or tomorrow at the crop night.

With Heartfelt Sympathy

Scor Bug Detail

I used Papertrey Ink stamps, Hero Arts embossing powder and heat gun, Ranger Distress Inks, and a Scor-Bug.

6. As I was typing this up just now, my computer rebooted for “necessary updates.” Really computer? In the middle of my blog post before I saved it? Hmmmm…

Hope you all have an interesting thing-filled day – tell me some of your good things!

S.

Things on Thursday – CHA Edition!

02 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in ScrapBook, Things on Thursday...

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The Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) just finished up their big show in Florida where manufacturers released their new product for the year. I thought I would give you a run down of my needs!

As an aside, I had an entertaining email chat with a friend (Hi Cathie!) about the difference between wants and needs and she agrees with my reasonings for the needs list. Now I’m fully justified in buying!

1. Distress Markers. Yes, I own a zillion Stampin’ Up markers, but these are different, really and truly. They match all my Distress Ink pads! And there’s a white one too!

2. Studio Calico wood veneer shapes. I love these, they take mist and ink beautifully and look great just left plain. They’re the perfect embellishment. And they’re releasing people and cameras – perfect for my Yearlong Album!

3. October Afternoon SprINKlers. I admit to a slight problem – when I love something, I must have it in every colour (case in point, Distress Ink). And I really love the chalk finish and quick drying time of SprINKlers. Plus the new colours are amazing!

4. Heidi Swapp Memory File. I was shocked by this one, shocked. Love the system and think it’s brilliant, though I know I’ll never do it (but it really is genius). What I really want are the FotoStacks – again, perfect for the Yearlong Album.

5. Simple Stories/Unity Stamp Company. I love Simple Stories – we’re using the Year.o.graphy line for the 2012 Yearlong album – and Unity makes really great rubber stamps, so to get both in one product? Awesome! Especially when they make these, maybe my favourite release of CHA.

6. BoBunny Vintage Double Dot Cardstock. The DoubleDot has been my favourite go to cardstock – great weight, great colours, great tone on tone patterns. And now, just when I thought it couldn’t get better, it’s vintage!

7. Now, that’s not my full list, there’s still Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Chitchat Word Stickers, and washi tape galore, Basically Bare albums, Simple Stories everything (especially the pockets), stamps….. it’s all bad people, it’s all bad!

Let me know what’s on your want/need list, I may have to add it to my own! 🙂

S.