Creative Chemistry 101

09 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes, ScrapBook, Techniques, Uncategorized

Tags

Jennifer McGuire, Online Card Classes, Tim Holtz

So I’ve raved about the online course I’m doing with Tim Holtz through Online Card Classes, and I’ve shown you a couple of tags that I’ve made. Today, I’m posting all the ones I’ve completed!

They’re all pretty standard, just the basic techniques, but now that I have this bunch, with recipes on the back, I can expand and make all sorts of fun stuff! I’ve already done a card for an upcoming class at The Paperie and made a birthday card, now I want to do some stuff on layouts. There are a couple of tags I haven’t been able to do yet, like the custom stamp pad, as I’m waiting for supplies to come in and can’t substitute for a few specific items. However, here’s what I have so far:

Day 2: Distress Ink

Blended Spritz & Flick/Brushless Watercolour/Wrinkle Free Distress

Day 3: Archival Ink

Alcohol Ink Agates/Archival Resist

Day 4: Re-inkers

Watercolouring with Re-inkers/Layered Misting

Day 5: Spray Inks & Stains

Stained Kraft Resist/Stamping with Stains/Marbled Stains

Day 6: Distress Markers (can’t wait for these to arrive at The Paperie!)

Picture will be here soon….I hope!

Day 7: Embossing (Regular and Distress)

Nostalgic Batik/Rusted Enamel/Distress Powder Resist

Day 8: Paint (Acrylic and Distress Crackle)

Dabber Resist/Crackle Paint Resist/Shattered Stains

Day 9: Perfect Pearls

Perfect Distress Mist/Perfect Distress/Perfect Distress Splatter

Day 10: Distress Stickles

Rock Candy Distress Stickles

Aren’t they cool? My faves are the Stamping with Stains, the Nostalgic Batik, and the Perfect Distress – love them!

This was truly one of the best classes (along with Jennifer McGuire’s Inspiration Showcase) I’ve ever taken – great techniques, lots to learn, and tons of info on the differences in inks, paints, and mediums.

Now, I just can’t wait to play some more! But first, I have to redo a class LO, make the May LO for the Yearlong class, and do a special project for The Paperie – maybe I’ll find a way to incorporate some of the new stuff!

Monday again?

02 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by Sara in Baking, Cards, Classes, ScrapBook

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Tags

Baking, Creative Chemistry 101, Kiddies, Online Card Classes, Peanut Butter Cookies, Tim Holtz

A new week is here, much too soon I might add – where did last week go? Oh. I remember. It went in a haze of sickness, and crankiness, and all around no goodness.

And P & C had their last day here. Boo. 😦

I’m really hoping to get back on track this week. I have two new little girlies starting with us, which may throw me off, but crossing my fingers that we can stay on schedule!

On Friday I had a guest blog post at The Paperie go live – go check it out, fun times with paint!

This week I’m redoing a LO that I will be teaching later this month, the original had a slight mishap with a cup of Starbucks hot chocolate. Guess who won?

So, making a new version, with a couple of fun tweaks added – water is a great medium! Sign up at The Paperie, I’ll have sneaks of the new, improved LO tomorrow, I hope.

I’m still having a blast with the Online Card Classes Creative Chemistry 101 by Tim Holtz. I need a ream of tags, not just that measly pack of 20 they sell. And who knew all the cool stuff glossy paper could do? I thought I loved it before but now…

Here’s a bad phone pic of a 3 minute card for C’s birthday party yesterday. Seriously, not kidding. Very cool resist technique on glossy paper – love it!

happy dirtday!

And some of the Perfect Pearls stuff? Way cool! Those who know me know I love Perfect Pearls anyway – now I may be obsessed!

Basically, if you own any Ranger products at all, even one, go take this class, it’s worth it and you’ll learn to use your supplies in ways you could never even dream of! This is an intro video about the class…

Finally, we’re heading over to say goodbye to P & C tonight before they get on the road tomorrow for their big move. And who wants to make a long drive with no cookies?

My kitchen smells good!

Creative Chemistry 101

28 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes, ScrapBook, Techniques

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Alcohol ink, Creative Chemistry 101, Distress Ink, Hero Arts, Jennifer McGuire, Online Card Classes, Studio Calico, Tim Holtz

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!

Tuesday Techniques – Finishing Touches: Dimension

27 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes, Tuesday Techniques

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

7 Gypsies, Simple Stories, Stamper's Anonymous, Tim Holtz

Dimension on a project or LO immediately takes it to the next level. It goes from “nice” to “wow,” from boring to interesting, from “I guess I like it” to “Love that!”

And it’s probably the easiest thing in the world to add.

After I finish something, I look at it, then start pulling pieces off to add foam adhesive. I learned a long time ago to never permanently adhere anything right away!

There are many ways to add dimension, but I’ll show my two favourites today. All you need is:

Supplies

Sticker Paper, foam adhesive, and scissors.

To give you a good look at how dimension adds to a project, here’s a tag with everything adhered straight to the surface:

Cute, right?

But kind of dull – no oomph to it!

After I added another layer of grass, popped it up, cut out the clouds and popped them up, then fanned out my balloons by using circles punched from the sticker paper, this is what I got:

Better, right?

Way more pizzazz! All the elements are exactly the same, I only added foam adhesive and a twine ribbon – that’s it. As I said, easiest thing in the world so go try it!

Tomorrow, I’m teaching the revamped 7 Gypsies and Simple Stories ATC Tray class – I love how it turned out! I’m cutting kits tonight so there’s still time to sign up at The Paperie!

We’ll be heat embossing, distressing, cutting, stickling, and more! And if you can’t make it tomorrow, call and ask for a kit – everything you need is included!

Leave me a link if you try the technique – I’d love to see your projects!

My weekend…

19 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by Sara in Family, ScrapBook

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Tags

Creative Chemistry 101, Dr. Seuss, Family, Online Card Classes, Studio Calico, Tim Holtz

This past Friday night I went to a crop at The Paperie – fun, fun, fun as always! I love scrapping with my pals, even if I did drive them crazy this time! You see, I forgot my water bottle so stopped at Tim Horton’s for a drink.

And I got an Iced Cappuccino.

It was big.

Me and caffeine – not such a good mix. Let’s just say that I talked. And kept talking for the whole night. Yup, no more caffeine for me!

I did manage, in between the nonstop chattering, to (almost) complete two layouts for different Dr. Seuss challenges that have been posted in blogworld lately. I came home and did some machine stitching, which added a bit more of what I was looking for, but they both still need a little something. I hate that part. Now I’ll be tearing my hair out trying to find that final perfect touch. Argh.

Anyway, here’s the Studio Calico one – I used the new kit I won, Story Hour.

it is fun to have fun...

When I finally find that last bit it needs, I’ll post it again!

Saturday night, we went to a small house party for a friend’s 40th birthday. Neither one of us were in the mood to go out, but we’re glad we did – we had a great time! Good people, good food, and cake. What more could you need? It was worth the trip out!

Finally, yesterday we went to D’s Great-Aunt’s 90th birthday – good food there too and the kids had fun which makes life easier. It was in the basement of the church, so they played away in the nursery with all the “new” toys they had at their disposal.

On our way home, G fell asleep in the car so he and I had a snooze while D and M fed the ducks, checked a Geocache, and played in the playground.

All in all, a pretty good weekend!

And, to start my week off right, today was the first day of Creative Chemistry 101, a Tim Holtz class through Online Card Classes. Today was awesome – all about different inks, mediums, properties, surfaces, etc. Can’t wait until the techniques start tomorrow!

Just randomness…

03 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by Sara in Family, ScrapBook

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Cats, Doodlebug Designs, Family, Frosty Festival, My Little Bit of Whimsy, Nikon, Tim Holtz

I’ve got some random, in no way connected, things to post about today – enjoy the ride!

1. I ordered a fun new play toy at the Paperie and it just came in – the Tim Holtz Cargo Case! I can’t wait to fill it up and try to begin getting organized.

2. To keep on the same theme for a moment, I have to start gutting out my scrap space this weekend – D is really getting annoyed with all my stuff piling up in the kitchen! I’ve told people that my space is a disaster and they say theirs is worse. Here’s proof. I win. 🙂

Scrap Space - before

3. My cats are crazy. With a bunch of little kids running around, you’d think they would have a sense of self-preservation and keep out of the way. But no, they want to be in the thick of things. Yesterday, Ella decided that M’s favourite blanket (G has one too that he loves, thanks Vicki!) would be her napping spot. The thing is, it was on the island in the middle of the kitchen. Somehow, that doesn’t strike me as the most peaceful spot she could have picked!

naptime...in the kitchen!

4. Because I feel bad that you’re only ever seeing pics of Ella, here’s one of Rosie, my Calico baby.

What? Go away.

Ok, so I just had to go take a picture. Rosie doesn’t like the camera much and the only recent one I had was of G using her like a pillow and squashing her – not the best one to show her off!

5. I hate to admit this but…. Sometime in December I said to D that I needed a new point and shoot camera because mine was too slow (toddlers are fast, you know!) and I wanted to do that fuzzy background thing. Instead, he gave me his old Nikon D70s with 2 lenses he doesn’t use anymore and said, “Have at it.” Now, he’s a photographer and knows what he’s doing. I do not know what I’m doing and have no (really, truly *no*) interest in learning so when he handed me this camera, I was not impressed. But now I love it. Still have no clue what I’m doing, still have no interest in learning more about it, and I totally make the backgrounds too fuzzy, but it’s fun!

6. I’m sick of snow and it’s only the beginning of February. We’ve had two storms (as in close everything down and can’t see across the road storms) this week and they’re calling for another one tonight/tomorrow. I’m done, people, I’m done. Where’s my nice, rich benefactor to take me away to some place warm? I’m waiting…..

7. To end on a crafty note, here’s a LO I did of M & G in Bowring Park last year. They’re not always this nice to each other so we have to get it on film when they are!

M & G - Bowring Park

Notice the cute cloud buttons? They’re from a great online shop based out of Halifax, NS called My Little Bit of Whimsy, love their buttons and pins.

Hope you all have a great weekend. Around here we have plans for Frosty’s 30th Birthday Party on Saturday as part of the Frosty Festival Celebrations, and then breakfast at a restaurant Sunday morning – the kids favourite thing in the world to do!

Things on Thursday – CHA Edition!

02 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by Sara in ScrapBook, Things on Thursday...

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Basically Bare, BoBunny, Distress Ink, Distress Markers, Heidi Swapp, October Afternoon, Ranger, ScrapBook, Simple Stories, Stampin' Up, Studio Calico, Tim Holtz, Unity Stamp Co., Washi Tape, Year Long Album

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! 🙂

The Trip of a Lifetime

27 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes, ScrapBook

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Distress Stain, Hero Arts, Houston, Impression Obsession, Kraft Glassine, The Crafter's Workshop, Tim Holtz

This past October the owners of The Paperie offered me the trip and experience of a lifetime and sent me, along with one of the owners, Chris, to Houston for the Collins Group Rep Show. To say I was overwhelmed and way too excited the whole time would be an understatement! I took classes from Tim Holtz, Jennifer McGuire (who publicly announced her pregnancy today!), Shari Carroll, Candy Rosenberg, and Cheryl Mezzetti, to name a few. The techniques I learned, the people I met, and the fun I had were just over the top.

In return, I came home with a promise to teach classes based on what I had picked up. And I had more ideas than I knew what to do with! We started the series of Houston Classes a couple of weeks ago with a full weekend of workshops. I taught 3 classes on Saturday and a full day Tim Holtz Class on Sunday.

Saturday morning was Hero Arts – Stamp and Emboss where we made 3 cards – a faux watercolour, a faux letterpress, and a trapped embossed resist.

Trapped Embossed Resist

Next up was Impression Obsession – One, Two, Tree (my personal favourite) where we again made 3 cards – one with alcohol inks, one with acrylic paints, and one with Distress Stains.

Distress Stains and Sparkle Embossing Powder

Finally, I taught a tag workshop with The Crafter’s Workshop Stencils. We made 10 tags, full of different techniques and everyone went home with the recipes on the back and the two stencils so they could recreate the fun we had!

Balzer Designs Stencils by The Crafter's Workshop

The Tim class on Sunday was the Holiday Artful Journal, one of the exact classes Chris and I took while we were away. The big treat in this one was all the product everyone took home – stains, mists, paint, Glue n’ Seal, and a finished mini album!

Tim Holtz Holiday Artful Journal

There was lots of laughing, a bunch of giveaways, and some great projects made. I can’t wait to do the next class in the series – Kraft Glassine Mixed Media Mini Album. That’s coming February 12, 2012 at The Paperie – and here’s a peek!