Saturday, May 9, 2015

COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES III ~ ALCOHOL INK OMBRE

Hello friends!

Can you believe it's already time for a new Compendium of Curiosities III Challenge?  Time is slipping away so fast! We have already completed 28 of the 34 challenges!  

I cannot tell you how much fun I have had on this creative journey; flipping through the pictorial pages of Tim Holtz'  amazing techniques and products.    

I hope that you are having a lot of fun experimenting with different ideas and most of all, I hope that The Curiosity Crew has been able to help you take the "fear factor" out of trying something new.  Creating should be fun...not dreaded or completely put off because you're not sure how it will turn out.  Just GO FOR IT!!

This challenge is all about Alcohol Ink Ombre.  Turn to page 57 in your Compendium of Curiosities books and check out the technique.  Even though I cannot share a tutorial of this technique with you because that is what Tim's book is for ... I will tell you a little something that I found to be helpful in working with the alcohol inks for this challenge.  The book does not say to add a little touch of Blending Solution to each layer of color as you are adding it, but I did.  I liked the results better.  


Here is my finished vintage masculine card using the Alcohol Ink Ombre technique for my background. LOVE the results and the feel and texture of the finished card.

Let me take you through the steps I did in making this card ...


First I used Butterscotch (light), Caramel (bright or medium) and Ginger (dark) Alcohol Ink colors to do my Alcohol Ink Ombre effect.  I did this on Glossy Cardstock.


Alcohol Ink dries in around 7 seconds and is permanent once it dries (other than being able to manipulate it a little bit with Blending Solution for a short time). Because the surface is glossy, I chose to use the PERMANENT Jet Black Archival Ink to age the edges of my Glossy Cardstock rather than the NOT PERMANENT Black Soot Distress Ink. Jet Black Archival works well with the Alcohol Inks and Glossy Cardstock to age edges.  Using Distress Inks doesn't work well on this surface as they are not permanent and are easily wiped away.


I began layering on my background.  Here are the steps in adding the layers above:

  • I tore some of Tim's Terminology Tissue Wrap and glued it in place. I brushed Matte Medium onto the BACKSIDE of the Tissue Wrap but DID NOT brush over the top of it. The Matte finish of the Matte Medium would not blend well with the glossy surface of the background, so don't brush over the glossy surface with the matte medium. (You could also use a glue stick on the underside of the Tissue Wrap).
  • I cut around my dapper gentleman from Tim's Found Relatives cards and inked the edges with a Chestnut Roan and Black Cats Eye Ink Pad. You don't want white clipped edges showing! Then, I laid him on the background to get a placement where he would be located but I did not glue him down at this time.
  • Using the Photographic Studio stamp from Tim's Going Somewhere stamp set, I carefully stamped the image using Jet Black Archival Ink onto the background. When stamping on Glossy Cardstock, you need to be careful because even the slightest movement of the stamp can easily smear. Heat set the image.
  • Glue the gentleman in his place on the card front.
  • Add the metallic trim from Tim's Industrious Stickers Frames and Trims set down the left side only at this time.  The trim on the right side will be added later, after the placement of the mini cabinet card album.

  

After I thought about it, I decided that some of Tim's Rub On images would work really nicely on the card front.  So, I laid a piece of scrap paper over my gentleman's shoulder (to protect it from receiving any of the rub on image) and added the upper portion of the clock to appear behind him. I then added remaining piece of the clock that did not stick to the paper in the upper right corner.

I also just added partial rub on images rather than using entire images. It's fun to do and adds interest. I did this simply by laying down the image and randomly rubbing it with only my finger.  I pulled up the backing and whatever came off onto the card was randomly added to the card background. I love it!

I got so "into" working on the card, I forgot to take a picture of the background at this point.  Sorry about that!

On to the next step ... adding a mini cabinet card folder made out of one of the cabinet card images from Tim's French Industrial Salvage Stickers, some scrap cardstock, some Kraft Cardstock and a small piece of Tim's Tissue Tape.


The cabinet card image from the Salvage Stickers is 2" x 3". I cut my Kraft cardstock (the base for my mini cabinet card holder) 2" x 6" and folded it in the center. The other two cardstock panels are also cut 2" x 3". I inked all of the edges first with brown and then black to age them.



I added a piece of Tim's Tissue Tape to strengthen and decorate the spine. Even though the Tissue Tape has a sticky background, I glued the tape in place using the Collage Glue Stick for better hold.  



Working on the interior of the mini cabinet card, I glued the scrap cardstock in place on top of the cardstock. This gives a nice "finished" look to the interior of the cabinet card when it is opened.



To further "age" the cabinet card folder, I distressed the edges with a Tonic Paper Distresser. Then I inked the edges again first with brown and then black.



I sized a vintage photograph of a lovely woman, cut it out, inked the edges to remove the white clipped edges and glued it in place on the right side of the cabinet card folder.  I added the silver metallic corners from the Industrious Stickers.

Then I added a partial flourish that I took from Tim's Elements Remnant Rubons. I actually created my own design out of Rubons by adding a butterfly at the lower end and a sentiment in the center.



Here is the finished interior of the mini cabinet card folder that will be added to my card front.  I think it looks pretty elegant and a perfect compliment for the dapper gentleman.



And here is the exterior of the mini cabinet card folder minus the string that I added later that I ran through the little vintage lace loops so that the card would be tied together with a bow.

Next it was time to add one more little element to the card front to put under my gentleman and hide that empty space between where the Found Relatives card ended and the bottom of my card front.

I decided to give my card even more dimension by adding one of Tim's Ideaology metal Drawer Pulls.  But the Drawer Pull is shiny silver metal and that's a problem on a vintage piece.  So, here are the simple steps I did to alter its appearance into an aged piece.



I sanded the metal to scratch up the surface and give it some "tooth". Next I added some glue from a Collage Glue Stick right onto the surface of the metal and let it dry or heat set it into the metal. This will also provide a surface that will "grab" paint.


Using my pointer finger, I applied Pitch Black Paint to the Drawer Pull, covering most of the metal but not a real heavy coat of paint. After heat setting it, I added just a touch of Tarnished Brass (using my finger) randomly onto the Drawer Pull for variance of metallic color. Then I added a little more black paint and heat set it. Then, using my finger, I added small touches of Juniper Paint to represent a patina finish.  I just kept playing with these layers until I got the exact look I wanted.  Then heat set one final time. Also distress the two Long Fasteners that you will run through the holes in the Drawer Pull.



I chose a sentiment from Tim's Small Talk Stickers.  I stuck the sticker onto a scrap piece of  plain cardstock because the length of the opening in the Drawer Pull was larger than the Small Talk sentiment. Since this Small Talk Sticker was on a white surface, I used a small amount of Tea Dye and Antique Linen Distress Inks to age the paper.  Then using Glossy Accents, I glued the sentiment in place on the back side of the Drawer Pull, poked two holes into the card background and secured the Drawer Pull using Glossy Accents and the Long Fasteners. 



Next I glued the strip of metal trim to the upper right side of the card.  Then I attached the mini cabinet card folder in place using 1/4" Scor Tape. I also added two stacked metal pieces of trim from Tim's Borders Industrious Stickers to the top of the card. Finally, to tie in a bit more of the patina look, I gently added some Juniper paint randomly on the metal Industrious Stickers pieces. Here is the card front with the mini cabinet card closed. The sentiment ...
"come what may ..."


"light the way" ... with the mini cabinet card folder open.

Now it's YOUR turn to experiment with the Alcohol Ink Ombre technique. Follow the simple rules to be eligible and then enter our challenge over at Compendium of Curiosities III Challenge.

You could be one of our lucky winners!  Yes, I said ONE of our lucky winners.  We have TWO winners at every challenge.

This time, the wonderful Linda Coughlin of The Funkie Junkie Boutique is our sponsor.  She has a fabulous online store and is offering a $25.00 gift certificate to our randomly chosen winner. Click on The Funkie Junkie banner below to be whisked away to her online store. 


Our other prize package is FULL of wonderful products from the one and only Tim Holtz and Mario Rossi.  Each challenge, we have an armful of "goodies" generously donated by Tim and Mario to be awarded to the project that the Curiosity Crew chooses as the most inspiring, unique or best example of the technique or product for the challenge. 

As we are winding down the challenges, I hope you will take a few minutes out of your day to play, try Tim's Alcohol Ink Ombre techniuqe and then join us.

Good luck! 









46 comments:

  1. this is gorgeous , love all the vintage yumminess and fab details x

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  2. Gorgeous, love the colour effects and the vintage feeling!

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  3. Absolutely gorgeous Candy!!! xo

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  4. Have I told you that every time I see a post from you, I say "oh, boy!"? Your tutorial posts are some of the best in blogland. Your detailed explanations of how you achieve the finished product excite me and make me want to get out my supplies and go to town. This is a magnificent composition. It looks like it came out of a high end antique store. The colors you chose for your ombre background glow...but they also remind me of old daguerreotype prints. I got so excited when I saw that background! LOL I love how you combined the larger photo with the mini folder...and you even made it rhyme, you clever girl you! Thanks for all the love and inspiration your poured into this project and tutorial, Candy! What a nice way to start my Saturday!

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  5. Wow, this is really a great piece Candy! A lot of work went into it and it paid off as always!

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  6. It's awesome Candy! I love your choice of colors too!

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  7. completely inspired and fabulous, as usual. i cannot even imagine what an amazing experience it must be to play with all you TH toys and just create to your heart's delight all the time. thank you for the link to funkie junkie...i am so excited to find her! she makes a lot of products quite affordable. thanks for an truly awesome post.

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  8. Amazing card. Great idea for Fathers' day. I love that you used a cabinet card in front of the other card (great for adding small hidden comments)

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  9. I love everything about this project, vintage is my all time favourite. This is stunning.

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  10. I love the background all by itself! But of course, the curio card you created is lovely using it!

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  11. I love taking part, it stretches me and makes me do things I would not normally think of!

    This is a totally wonderful creation Candy, I love your ombred background, the colours are perfect to back the dapper gent and the beautiful lady is such a lovely additional touch, especially with your beautiful addition to the flourish! You never fail to impress Candy! Anne xx

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  12. Love this fabulous card, Candy! Al those details are wonderful.

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  13. Love and Adore every single detail you've presented in this AWESOME card, Candy!! My goodness--from your ombre background to your layers of paper and stamping and rem rubs and border stickers, and then the lovely little picture portfolio of the gent's sweetheart :) I just love this sooo much!! Just Outstanding!! It's been really fun to be on the CC3 journey!! :) XOXO-Shari

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  14. Oh wow hun what a brilliant post love all the all the photos,and the finished piece is stunning colurs design and detail hugs cheryl xxx

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  15. Your ombre effect is wonderful. Great tutorial, I keep going back and looking at all your steps and layers. Love the cabinet card folder too.

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  16. Love the colors you used and the aged look of the card.

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  17. Wow! Your card duo is stunning! I love every little detail you packed in! Everything just works together perfectly...

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  18. Candy this project is amazing. Thank you for popping by my blog, Michelle xx

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  19. Amazing sweetie, I am just starting with MM I hope to be able to understand it one day :0) love all the different textures and colours here, hugs Pops x

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  20. Wow. Wow. Be still my jealous heart!!! I love your art, as always, and this maybe just a little extra. Every stinkin' detail is delicious and makes me want to rush to my studio and use your tutorial like a primer, teaching me each fabulous technique along the way. Just beautiful, Candy, really!!

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  21. Oh WOW Candy this is a brilliant vintage work of art, wow, amazing detail stupendous design work, it looks awesome, I love it.
    hugs
    lorraine x

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  22. What a great project, Candy! The vintage and subtle colors are so perfect for that dapper gent! I love all different elements you as always combined with utter perfection! Slowly getting around to visit thanks to my wonderful Verizon service! Hugs!

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  23. Your ombre colors are beautiful!! This project is stunning!

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  24. Hey Candy, just getting around to commenting, and this is SO wonderful! Love the entire thing to pieces, from the vintage feel, colors, selection of embellishments and the added cabinet card. Thanks for the tip about using the blending solution. I made a note of it right in my book for next time.

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  25. Wow, Candy! This has to be one of my favorite projects! You never stop amazing me with your talent! Your tutorial is fabulous - may have to sit down and follow it to create my own project! I had so much fun creating my own story to go along with this piece!

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  26. Fabulous card, love how you used the remnant rubs and the mini cabinet card ... so awesome!! The ombre colors are awesome as well !!

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  27. Wow.. Candy, this is gorgeous! Love the beautiful colors and all the fabulous vintage details. :)

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  28. What an amazing card; you did the technique really well - I have to say, I also found that I needed to add some blending solution as I went along, because it was very hard to blend after the fact. You always do such wonderful, detailed tutorials; I know those take a long time and effort. My favorite part is your unique rub-on combo! I love that cabinet card; so pretty.

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  29. Awesome! Thank you for the in depth post too, I really enjoyed reading about your process. Great techniques! Ingrid x

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  30. This is not nice, it's AMAZING! I don't have the words to tell you how much this project is special. Thank you for sharing how you managed to create this wonder.
    P:S: Excuse my bad English.

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  31. Great tip! I discovered it by accident on my second attempt and I'm in total agreement as I think it makes the inks last a little longer before setting up, if that makes sense.

    Like the use of tissue layers and tne second photo too...

    Anyway, did the gent get tne girl?

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  32. I always love seeing what you made and this is no exception. The colors are so fabulous and work so well with the subject at hand. You are the master of detail, I like the way you have used the Remnant Rubs and all the other goodies.

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  33. Completely in awe Candy. You should be so proud to create something so perfectly vintage and wonderful. This is just a huge WOW WOW WOW to me... fabulous. j.

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  34. Wow! Couldn't wait to see what would be inside.... love this whole project and especially the funky chitchat sentiment you put together in the metal pull.

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  35. Amazing, Candy! Gorgeous artworks and thanks the sharing the process!

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  36. This is Awesome! Love that vintage feel and also slightly steampunk-esk (if thats a word). I may have to replicate something like this, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

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  37. Great vintage details, beautiful project!

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  38. This is such a cool project!! Thank you for sharing your awesome creation.

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  39. Oh Candy, It's always a treat coming too your blog!...Loving your vintage Ombre creation ...and how sweet is the little cabinet card!..Love it!... Thanks again for the wonderful inspiration :) x

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  40. WHOA MY, once again!!! I just LOOOOOOVE Ur style, gurl!!!!😍👍👏😎

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  41. Beautiful card Candy...love how you distressed the ombre background. Great tip to use the the archival ink to distress. So many details and special touches as always. Thanks for sharing.

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  42. Beautiful card Candy...love how you distressed the ombre background. Great tip to use the the archival ink to distress. So many details and special touches as always. Thanks for sharing.

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  43. What a perfect vintage look, and an amazing glow from the ombre background... and oh how I love that he's carrying his sweetheart's photo with him in the mini cabinet card... a complete delight!
    Alison xx

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  44. No one does vintage like you! This is truly beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing each and every wonderful detail. Nicola x

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I am so happy that you stopped by my blog! I truly appreciate your time and thank you for leaving a comment! Have a wonderfully blessed day!