This is a brief post for anyone that might just happen upon this site and not know what it’s about.  I just finished a class by Tim Holtz and we made tags to show different techniques using ink and paint to make backgrounds for cards and canvas and other artsy projects. This is a space where I can record the things that I’ve created – starting in my first post with a card that I recently made for a friend. Most of the posts so far are of the tags I made in the class and I’ve still got more that I will be finishing and posting.  I’m also planning on posting photos of other projects as I complete them.

My First Canvass

I have been wanting to work on canvass for a few years, but never knew how to start. I didn’t know what I wanted to put on a canvass. Today I took one of my small canvasses and started to experiment. This is my canvass in process.  I’m not finished with it yet, and I’m not sure where I’m going with it but wanted to share it in this stage and I’ll share it again later.  I started with two different stencils and used modeling paste to get the texture on the canvass. I let the paste form peaks – I almost regretted the peaks but then realized it just adds to the texture.  

I then used 3 different colors of alcohol ink mixed with perfect pearls (for a pearlized affect) on the burlap texture and used distress ink on the stars using a paint brush. Then I used a gold distress paint (mixed with gold perfect pearls) on the flat background.  It doesn’t look like gold and doesn’t shimmer much, but it will do for now.  I flirted with putting lace inked with multiple distress inks in the center of the canvass but it doesn’t look right so I’m pondering other possibilities.

Molding Paste Emboss

This is my own technique. I just wanted to see what would happen if I used molding paste with a stencil on paper. I thought it might end up really stiff and maybe flake off – but it’s not stiff. The tag is still flexible.  I used 3 different colors of alcohol ink and blending solution to apply color to the stars and of course some of the ink got on the other parts of the tag.  I then used distress ink to fill in the rest of the tag and finished it off with some very dark distress ink around the edge.  I actually like the result.  Here’s to Tim who encouraged us to experiment.  Creative Chemistry is all about experimentation and discovering new techniques.  

Blended Spritz & Flick

This is the very first technique Tim taught in Creative Chemistry 101.  He says that it’s his favorite technique. I’m starting to really like it as it adds texture to a background in a very subtle way.  The distress Inks react to water so after laying down color for the background if you flick some water onto the tag the ink wicks out and creates an interesting affect.  

Brushless Watercolor

Ink a stamp with distress ink and then mist the stamp with water before stamping the image onto watercolor paper.  It gives a nice watercolor effect.  

Wrinkle-Free Distress

An interesting background.  Not my favorite result but it is a nice technique that I will use from time to time.  

Blending with Markers

My blending didn’t turn out very well…I think I need some practice. 

Stamping with Markers

On this tag I colored the stamp with distress markers. I decided to not only stamp once but to do a second generation stamp and I tried a third – which didn’t turn out very well, most of the ink was gone by the third stamping.  But this is kind of a nice Christmas tag.  

Watercolor with Markers

The last few tags are from Creative Chemistry 101.  I’m still working on technique tags for both classes, 101 and 102, so the posts are going to include both and not in order. I’m doing the tags based on which materials I already have. There are some supplies I’m still waiting for so I have to wait to do those tags.

This one is colored with distress markers.  I bought these stamps a couple years ago and just never used them.  I love these stamps and I think the tag came out looking really nice. I will probably make a card similar to this tag.

Distress Powder Resist