Creative Chemistry 102 Embossing Differently

Rusted Embossing and Sticky Glitter

 Today we went back to Embossing powders and their many uses.

Tag 1 is a brayered stain background with an die cut Eiffel tower covered with Vintage Photo Embossing Powder to give it a rusted look.

Tag 2 is uitilizes sticky embossing powder and glitter.  Stamp your images with embossing ink and apply the sticky embossing powder.  Heat until it melts, let it set for a second of two and then dust with Distress Glitter.  It makes a really nice texture on the embossed image.

Chalkboard effect

For this image stamp images with embossing ink and apply clear embossing powder.  Melt the powder lightly.  Don't over do it because you want a bumpy raised surface left.  Then scribble over the tag with a piece of chalk to create a chalkboard effect.  I didn't have any chalk so I used a white crayon to create the desired effect.  As you can see I melted my top word a little too much so there isn't much for the crayon to cling to.

Gilding

Finally!  My gilding flakes came in yesterday so I can now try this technique. On the first tag I stamped my image of a peony with embossing ink and covered with sticky embossing powder.  I then heated it until it melted and then applied the gilding flakes over the top.  I let them set for a minute and then started removing the gilding flakes with a paint brush.  I wasn't seeing enough of my image appear so I used a sanding wedge very lightly and got a nice burnished area.  Unfortunately the detail of the stamp didn't come through.  So I tried the pumpkin stamp which is more open and followed the same steps.  It worked much more easily and looks really good.  I stamped the images on a separate tag and embossed them in white to show what the stamps look like.  I like the look of the gilding but I think it will shine best when used on less detailed stamps.  I think this method is easier than using a glue pen and gilding flakes.  It's easier to judge when you should start removing the excess flakes.

-R

Creative Chemisty 102 Distress Differently

Smudge Stamping

We skipped around a bit and for our last week of Creative Chemistry 102 we covered two days of assignments. This first technique is called smudge stamping. I thought it was fun to do and is an excellent way to build up some backstock for future creative projects.  You will need two tags for this technique.

Ink your stamp and stamp onto Tag 1 and then immediately onto Tag 2.  Take a blending tool and rub it over the image on Tag 2.  It will soften the edges of the stamped image.  Do this for all the images you wish to use our your tag and then age with distress ink.  I like both images but am really partial to the smudged image.

Image 3 Brayered Stains and Image 4 Rock Candy Glitter

Image 3 shows the look that is achieved by brayering distress stain onto a tag.  It takes a bit of work to figure out how to get the stain to attach to the brayer long enough to transfer it to the tag but it's a really cool effect.

Image 4 is an image that was covered in Rock Candy Distress Glitter.  It's difficult to see in this image but it gives the whole thing a frosted finish.

Faux Cracked Glass

For this technique take a piece of 'faux' glass such as an acrylic tile or a mini glass vial and paint with Glue N Seal or some type of product to provide a toothy surface. I actually used Ranger Multi-medium because that was what I had on hand.  Once the multi-medium was dry I painted over the tile again with Rock Candy Crackle paint and allowed it to dry. Finally I swiped the dry, cracked surface with Mahogany Distress Stain to highlight the cracked areas.

-R

CC 102 Alcohol Inks Challenge

Front

The CC 102 Week 3 Challenge was to create a tag using any alcohol ink technique.

I applied my color dots of alcohol ink to my cotton pad on my blending tool.  I then pounced it all over a coated tag to make a background and then stamped over the dried tag with Ranger Archival Ink. Next I applied some rubbings onto the tag.

Next I dipped a paint brush in blending solution and brushed over the butterflies and dragonfly to lighten their color a little so they would stand out more.

Next I dipped a stamp in blending solution and stamped it on the tag.  You can see the vague outline of a butterfly to the right of the top butterfly and above the dragonfly.  It actually doesn't show up as well in person as it did on the camera.  I'm not sure I would do it again.  Even though I washed my stamp off thoroughly afterwards I am still a little worried about the effect on my stamp long term.

Back

After I created the background for the front of the tag I flipped it over, added some blending solution to my pad and drug it down and then across the tag to make a plaid pattern.  I pounced over it in a random motion to soften it a little bit.

Hope you like it!

-R

CC 102 Week 3 Alcohol Inks

Tag 1 Altered Metal Butterfly and Tag 2 Graduated hues

This week we covered more advanced techniques with alcohol inks.  For these techniques you should work with a glossy or coated paper for the best results.

Tag 1 was really all about altering the metal element using alcohol ink.  Our example was a highly distressed piece but to get that finish you have to coat the metal object with white alcohol mixative and then add your colored alcohol inks.  Of course, I don't have white!  I tried using a base of silver mixative and adding colors and while it changed the piece to a different finish it isn't the weathered metal look.  The background of the tag is also created by dabbing alcohol inks over a coated tag and then stamping over it.

Tag 2 is a graduated hue background.  It's very subtle but I used three different blue alcohol inks moving from light to bright to an earth tone.  It really makes the stamping pop.

Tag 3 Puddles of Ink and Tag 4 Many layers

On Tag 3 I dripped puddles of different color inks and 1 metallic mixative onto my craft sheet and then swiped the tag through it.  I love the way the silver makes it seem iridescent in places.  

Tag 3 has a lot going on.  First I applied alcohol ink and blending solution to the felt pad on my blending tool.  Then stamped all over the tag to create a background.  This technique needs a darker background.  I changed the felt pad on my tool and applied blending solution to it. The I put an alphabet stencil over the top of the tag and used my blending tool to apply the blending solution and removed the color from the open area of the stencil.  You can see the 'W' and 'V' under the airplane.  Next I did the same thing with the burlap stencil on the top left and bottom right hand corners.  Then I stamped all of my images in archival ink.  Finally I applied some Distress Ink through the stencil to apply random bits of text.  You can see the '365' in the top left corner and the 'wan' in the bottom left corner.

-R

Paint Resist and Backgrounds

A while back I bought this box at a local store because I loved the pattern and the colors.  I decided to try to recreate it.  

First I tried creating a background using Pumice Stone and Weathered Wood Distress Inks.  Then I stamped the images onto it using White Picket Fence Distress Ink.  It's a very subtle look.  A little too subtle for what I wanted.

Second I stamped the image onto my tag using Antique Linen Distress Paint.  When it was dry I applied Pumice Stone and Weathered Wood Distress Inks to create a background.  Totally cool but still not quite what I was trying to achieve.

By this time I was having fun with the Distress paint and wanted to try out the technique on the  Tim Holtz set I just bought.  It's a small set with a couple of dies, an embossing folder, and a stamp set.  This time I applied the Antique Lines Distress Paint onto the raised side of the embossing folder and closed it over my tag.  I let it dry. Then I stamped on the Fleur Di Lis.  At this point I used the same two grays and Dusty Concord to create a background.  Notice how the paint resist showed up with the darker colors.  Finally I stamped the tower and the saying.

So back to trying to recreate the box look.  I used some newly purchased Picket Fence Distress Paint on my stamp and got much closer to the contrast on the box.

I'm not sure which one I like better. Go figure...

-R

CC 102 Week 1 & 2 Creative Challenges

For week 1 of Creative Chemistry 102

 our challenge was to create a project using 3 or more colors of Distress Paint.

I applied Spun Sugar Distress Paint onto my tag through a stencil and then dotted other colors around my tag randomly.  I also stamped my truck in Chipped Sapphire Distress Paint.  I stamped the 'Howdy!' in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.  As I wiped on the Distress Inks the image from the stencil really popped out.  I really like how it goes through the truck.

For Week 2 of Creative Chemistry 102 

the challenge was to create a tag using two or more stencil techniques.

On this tag I used the new Tim Holtz set I found at Michael's.  It contains a stencil and stamps.  First I applied distress paint through various arrows on the stencil.  After that dried I reapplied the stencil and stamped on the text.  Next I ground in ink through the words using a blending tool.  Next I stamped the images onto the tag.  Then I applied various colors of green and brown inks to the tag to  create a background and tone down the other elements a bit. 

CC 102 Week 2 Layering Stencils

I have really enjoyed learning about layering stencils this week.  I will even use these techniques with the outlines left behind of die cuts I have made.

Mixed Media Layering

I thought this was going to be really ugly because I only had a couple of colors to work with but it's one of my favorites.  I applied Spun Sugar Distress Paint over my stencil and allowed it to dry. I used a couple of different stencils on the tag.  After is was dry I swiped Mowed Lawn Distress Stain over everything.  I wiped it off on the left side of the tag but let it dry on the right side.  Then I put some distress ink through the stencil on the upper right.  Then I did a little spritz and flick to distress it a little further.  I think it's a cool looking background.

Embossing with stencils

Place your stencil over the tag.  Add Distress Ink with a blending tool.  Quickly remove the stencil and apply clear embossing powder and heat as usual.  

I would never have guessed that you could use your plastic stencils to dry emboss.  I did know that you could use your metal ones so I had purchased a rubber mat to try it a while back but hadn't had time yet.  I dug it out and used it in my sandwich on my Sizzix machine and it worked great!  Apply a little distress ink to highlight the embossing and voila!

Ink Monoprint

Apply various colors of Distress Ink to your stencil.  Spritz the stencil with water and press stencil on tag.  Dry and add some distress inks with a blending tool.

Stencil Sketching Technique

I know it looks like a train wreck!  However, it does highlight some do's and don'ts. Create a background on a tag.  Place stencil on tag and pounce some ink through the stencil with a blending tool.  Then outline some of the stencil using the fine point on a Distress marker.  Color in some parts of the stencil with the brush end of the Distress marker.  I liked the basic pouncing on both the honeycomb stencil and the 'discover stencil'.  However on my outlines you can see than I can't seem to be consistent and it's too prominent for my tastes.  I also didn't care for the colored in dots.  It could just be because I picked a color that was too dark.  I like the 'adventure' that I outlined with the fine tip of the Distress marker.  I will definitely play with colors before committing to a project.

Stamping through a stencil 

Choose a stencil with a large design and apply distress ink or stain through the stencil.  Dry.  Then place the stencil back over the image.  Using a stamp with small text or a small design stamp over the open areas of the stencil again with archival ink. Just think!  No more stamps with the text on them.  Now you can buy a much more economical stencil and create your own.  Of course I need to buy a good small text stamp!

Paint Monoprint

Apply various colors of Distress paint to a stencil.  Mist the stencil and apply to tag pressing down to make sure the paint transfers.  Finish with Distress ink.

I like some of these techniques more than others but am sure I will use them all at some point.

-R