Summer of Creative Chemistry Week 2 -- Take 1

First let me thank Kristina and Jennifer at Online Card Classes for hosting the first-ever Live Chat with Tim Holtz as a part of Summer of Creative Chemistry 2016.  It was a hoot!  Tim answered several of our questions and there was great interaction between Jennifer, Kristina and Tim.   I found myself laughing out loud and in awe of what I learned about Tim, the crafting industry, and finding inspiration.  Thank you Tim for taking the time to do this.  It was really an amazing experience.  I can't wait for the 2nd Live Chat coming up in a couple of weeks.  If you haven't signed up for Summer of Creative Chemistry, there is still time.   I'm loving it!!

Week 2 Challenge is to create something with Distress Stains and stamps.  I went back and looked at some of the Distress Stain Techniques and realized that I needed a refresher on the Marbling technique with Distress Stains.   Here is my first attempt:

Not too bad.  I used Picket Fence, Salty Ocean, Worn Lipstick, Bundled Sage, and Seedless Preserves Distress Stain.  The stamps are from Tim's Mechantile Set.  Still, I just could not seem to get a good contrast in the marbling.  I don't know how many times I watched Tim do this technique on the video.   How did he get the tag in the right position for optimal ink "swipeage" to get that great contrast? 

In the meantime, I wondered if I could do the same technique with a Metallic Stain substituted for the Picket Fence Stain (since both have pigment particles).   Here is my 2nd attempt:

This tag is made with Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Wild Honey, Abandoned Coral and Antiqued Bronze Distress Stain.  In the photo above, you can see the metallic particles from the Antiqued Bronze glittering in the light.  The stamps are gears from Tim's Time Traveler and Industrial Blueprints sets.  I used Rusty Hinge and Pumice Stone Distress Markers to add some shadowing to the stamps.  I edged the tag with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The tag is topped with a Gear die cut out of a manilla folder using one of Tim's Movers and Shapers Dies.  The gear was colored with Vintage Photo Distress Stain and Shadowed with a Rusty Hinge Distress Marker.  You may see a little spritz and flick technique here too!

Ok, finally ... Attempt Number 3:

After watching Tim a Million and ONE times do this technique on the video, I finally got the contrast I wanted in this marbling technique.  I used some stamps from his Travel Ways and Classics #1 Stamp sets. 

So, all of this hard work on the marbling stamp happened right before I logged in to Tim's Live Chat on Saturday.  After watching Tim's perfect marbling technique video a Million and ONE time, I wondered which technique video took the most retakes.  I've seen his blooper reels in the CC101 and CC102 classes, so I know he is not perfect.  It made me smile though when he immediately said "the Marbling with Distress Stains technique".  Ok ... Tim Holtz is absolutely amazing ... but he is also human.  Whew!!!  I was honestly wondering there for a minute :)

Check in tomorrow ... I've tried something new with Distress Stains based on this marbling technique.  I hope to have Take 2 online tomorrow.  Hugs to you all.  -- Mary Elizabeth