Sunday, November 10, 2013

GOT INK??? HOW ABOUT MAKING A VINTAGE CARD?

Can you believe it's already November?  Where is this year going?  

This week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, our theme is "Got Ink?"  We want to know about the inks you choose to use and why as you create a wonderful project.

Recently I completed Tim Holtz' Creative Chemistry 102 online class.  If you didn't take it, good news...you still can!!  Tim is a fantastic teacher and this sequel to his Creative Chemistry 101 class is well worth your time and minimum investment. 


I created this vintage card using a couple of the techniques I learned or re-learned from Tim in Creative Chemistry 102.  The inks I used on this card are mainly my very favorite line of ink: Distress Inks; both Distress Markers and Ink Pads. I also used a little Emboss It! Embossing Ink and my new favorite brown, Wendy Vecchi's Potting Soil Archival Ink.

I love Distress Inks because they are water soluble and that can lead to all kinds of creative fun...as you will later see on my background.  I love the variety of colors, the depth of the colors and the reliability of them.  And, they are designed by Tim Holtz and who doesn't love everything he does?  Yes, I admit it ... I am a Tim Holtz junkie! if it says "Tim Holtz" on it, I pretty much have to have it!

I am in love with Tim Holtz' new stencils!  I love the designs of the stencils and they go so perfectly with everything else that Tim has released.  On this card, I used two of Tim's Stencils in different ways.

First I used the Cargo Stencil on Tim's Nostalgic Kraft Core Teal paper and ran it through my Vagabond to dry emboss the stenciled letters.  Then I sanded them and added Gathered Twigs to the edges and over the tops of the letters.  The Gathered Twigs adds such a rich aged feeling to the letters and edges.  


Next, I brushed a little Glue N Seal to a few of the letters and lightly sprinkled them with Antique Linen Distress Glitter.  I removed the excess and heat set it.  Then I lightly sanded off the letters; removing some of the glitter.  It adds a bit of sparkle but really looks more like an old card that is losing it's glitter over the years.  




Finally I added a touch of Black Soot Distress Ink just on the edges to finish that aged look.  The ink just completes the look!



While I was playing with techniques, I decided to try another one.  This time, I used a piece of Manila Cardstock and created a background using first Pumice then Vintage Photo then Walnut Stain followed by Black Soot just at the edges.  I used Tim's Spritz and Flick method of mottling the background.  




Next, I laid Tim's new Splatters Stencil (a VERY COOL stencil) over the background and using Stormy Sky Distress Ink and an Ink Blending Tool, I created the splatters design on top of my background.  


To create even more interest, I used a small text stamp from Tim's Curiosities Stamp Set and using Jet Black Archival Ink, I stamped directly onto the stencil and over the areas I'd just added.  Very cool!  (Clean your stencil right away to remove what would be a permanent ink).

I really liked my results from playing with these techniques and knew that they would become part of my card background. Each very different from the other.  One very textural with it's dry embossed letters, sanded paper and gritty bits of fading glitter.  The other very flat but because of the inks, has a lot of depth. 

 Next I needed a focal point.  Time to play with Tim's Tinting technique.  He's taught this online several times; once during his 12 Tags of Christmas.  That was before he had released his Distress Markers.  You simply used a Water Brush to distribute color from a Distress Ink Pad onto your photograph.  But now, you can skip using the Water Brush and use your Distress Marker!  It has two tips; one more like a brush and the other more like a fine point pen.

I used Distress Markers for tinting this darling vintage photograph.  Weathered Wood followed by Tumbled Glass transformed one of the little outfits and Scattered Straw was used to colorize the other.  I have to admit, I did still use the Detailer Water Brush to soften and blend the colors.  I think I am addicted to that thing!  Isn't the transformation just amazing?  Simply by adding color with Distress Inks! After completing the coloring, gently wipe over the entire photograph with Antique Linen and an Ink Blending Tool.  It instantly ages the photograph!  I then added a touch of Gathered Twigs and Black Soot just to the edges of my pinked edges to further complete the aged look.

Okay...so far, I've used Distress Ink pads and Markers.  Time to add a little Emboss It! Embossing Ink!

I love Tim's Hanging Sign die cut but didn't need to use the sign portion for my card.  But...I did want to use the sign pole; only upside down.


I have to admit that I always get so excited when using Embossing Powders.  I've done it for years but I still am amazed as the powder changes once hit with the heat tool! I got so carried away with this step that this is the only photograph I took of the transformation in progress.  Dang it!  I started with a piece of plain Grungeboard and inked it with Emboss It! Embossing Ink.  Then I lightly sprinkled Queen's Gold and Copper Embossing Powder and heated it.  Next I added more Embossing Ink and Rust Antiquities over portions of the pole and heated that.  Finally, I inked up the pole again and added Verdigris Antiquities sprinkled here and there to create a patina effect on my now "metal" pole and heated that. 


Here is the finished pole, turned upside down and with a sentiment from Tim Holtz' Simple Sayings added to it.  The sentiment and label are stamped in my new favorite deep, rich permanent brown ink ... Archival Potting Soil.  It's a gorgeous brown and it blends perfectly with all of the different colors and textures on the pole because of the various layers of the Embossing Ink and four different Embossing Powders.  The Antiquities Embossing Powder line is one of my favorites. It has rich, more matte colors and leaves a little bit of a gritty feeling.  


As I was deciding on a layout for this what was to become a card, I knew that I wanted to add a piece of ribbon with a small Tim Holtz Buckle.  So, I pried open the metal flanges of the buckle and added a piece of ribbon.  I closed them back up, stuck the brad through the hole and bended the brads towards the buckle so they would not be seen on my finished card.


I attached a Tim Holtz Enameled Tag that I altered from a white surface to more of a Scattered Straw color.  I then added a Remnant Rub On bee from Tim's Elements collection and attached the tag to the buckle using Tim's Ball Chain.  All of his stuff just WORKS TOGETHER SO WELL!



I started playing around with all of my inked pieces and decided to create this piece as my focal point.  I love the tinted photograph and thought the splatters background would really compliment it well.  I added some machine stitching and some metal buttons for more detail.



Here are all of my pieces on the card stock I decided to use as the background color.  I love everything I have made but it sort of dies on the background.  Know what it needs?  INK!!!  Brown around the edges to really warm up the perimeters of the card.  So ....



I added Gathered Twigs to the outside edges of the card with a touch of Black Soot just along the edge.  See the difference?  Amazing what a little ink can do!  I put everything together, glued on a couple more metal buttons that I had and it's all finished! 

Now it's YOUR turn to share your projects with us.  You could be the winner of our most generous sponsor's $50.00 credit voucher.

 And if your work is voted on as one of the most inspiring for the week, you could be featured in our 


 And ... you can also check out more creative fun at Simon Says Stamps' other blog by clicking on this link.


Good luck and I can't wait to see what inks inspire you and why!

Here is a list of all of the products available at Simon Says Stamp that were used in creating this vintage card:




31 comments:

  1. Yay I get to see your fantastic card again Candy lol. I love the techniques you used, the coloured up image is fabulous and looks just like a vintage one did all those years ago. You always make such brilliant embellishments to add and create beautiful layouts full of interest and detail. A great job, love it.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  2. This is just so fabulous Candy and right up my street. Gorgeous vintage make with wonderful layers and embellishments. Cute photo too x

    TFS and best wishes
    Annie x

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  3. Hi Candy, I have just spent over half an hour reading through this post, going back time and time again to look at that fabulous photo of those darling children and marvelling at how they take the ink........the stenciling is wonderful with just a brush of glitter and I love that stamping through the stencil technique (one of my favs from CC102). Your 'junkie' comment really made me giggle (much needed), we really should form a fan club! The patina finish on the hanging is fabulous and blends so beautifully with the cargo stenciled piece. The buckle element is a wonderful finishing touch along with the Gathered Twigs on the edges. An absolutely stunning card! Hugs, Anne x

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  4. What masterpiece of inks! Loving the image and how you tinted it! The ribbon with the buckle is fantastic. You always amaze with your projects!

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  5. wow your card is a fabulous, definitely a vintage masterpiece Candy, Annette x

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  6. Oh love! I NEED those stencils now! Kim

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  7. This is beautiful. As soon as I saw it I saw a lot of CC102 techniques. And you used a lot! It all pulled together beautifully. All I want to do is play with all the techniques. If I have time this week I'll play!

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  8. Fantastic card Candy!! Your stencilled pieces are perfect, and I particularly like the text stamping through the stencil. Great tinting of that sweet image and all the special touches are perfect as always.

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  9. Hi Candy, firstly I absolutely love that sweet vintage photo, so adorable and I love how you added a delicate colour tint. The background pieces using Tim's stencils are fantastic. Love how you added touches of glitter to the lettering and the stamping to the splats. Love the added buckle and I always love love to see some random stitching , absolutely stunning. Tracy x

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  10. WOW, Candy - this is most impressive, all the layers and details of inky goodness? LOVE!!!

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  11. i´m speechless, love, love, love it

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  12. Well as I was reading through all this I kept making mental notes to say great job on the photo, then great job on the belt/buckle, then great job on the hanging sign thingy, but I can't keep a complete mental tally on so many fab elements! So Candy, suffice to say "GREAT JOB ON EVERYTHING"! Nicola x

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  13. Wow Candy! What a fabulous vintage beauty! The textured background looks amazing and I love the sweet vintage image!

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  14. Candy....... This is just fabulous! I love all the layers, the elements just gorgeous xxx

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  15. Ohh my! Candy, this card is gorgeous! Love all the fabulous details! Such as the photo tinting, and the stencils techniques. Hugs, Sandra

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  16. Stunning, Candy!!love the colors and vintage feel.

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  17. Fabulous card Candy, full of your usual attention to detail. Gorgeous ! Sue C x

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  18. What a sweet project, Candy! I love that you added some sparkle in there too!!

    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  19. WHOOT, WHOOT, this is FANTASTIC, I loved every step you did, those letters looks fabuloussss, the background started out beautiful, then the splatter , then inking the script in there BRILLIANT, the photo look fantastic after you colored it, that hanging sign fabulousss, then the topping on the cake THAT WRISTBAND OMG it is SUPERB, an OUTSTANDING piece of art work you call a card, thanks so much for the tutorial, EEKKKSS I'm so excited after seeing this, doing a happy dance, my talons are scrapping my desk LOL, hope you have a wonderful week, big hugs...

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  20. Candy this is just too wonderful for words!!! It is simlpy STUNNING! Love it!

    ~Linda

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  21. Candy, I love this cards. LOVE the old photograph and all the details! Thank you also for always leaving such nice comments on my blog!

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  22. I love the glitters and the beautiful embossing, Candy. The photos of steps and details are amazing. Thank you for the great inspiration. :)

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  23. Amazing piece! ! Candy every time I come to see your works I stay surprise, your ability to create, to put together these vintage pieces really hits me and leaves me speechless! this card is absolutely wonderful! I love every little detail! Stunning!

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  24. Good morning Candy! I went and got another cup of coffee, my favorite throw, and I curled up in my favorite chair to read through your blog. Always such fun and so much to discover:) It looks like you had a lot of fun with Tim's latest class. I loved it too!! His techniques and products do work so well together to create the layers of vintage. And you, my dear, bring them all together with such life and poetry. The pieces look like they've lived together and made their own history. They are all there just to pay homage to that adorable photo (yes, the vintage coloring with Distress markers and Antique linen Distress ink makes such a difference!!! Gorgeous!)

    Love the stitching. I may pull out my machine soon and try to add some to my pieces (Urgent Care and the Hospital are close by in case I have an accident). And the multi-embossed sign post ... I am in such awe! How cool is that!!! Love the antiquities line of embossing powder. Alas, time to get ready for work. Another marvelous make Candy!! -- Mary Elizabeth

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  25. WOW Candy! I am always in awe of how much detail goes into every single one of your creations. This was a stunner and I love how you made everything so beautifully weathered. The patina-looks you created are incredible and once again I bow to your skills!

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  26. Was für eine großartige Karte, liebe Candy, sie macht einem glaubhaft, eine Seite aus einem alten Fotoalbum vor sich liegen zu haben. Ich bin ganz begeistert von der Art der Gestaltung und den vielen schönen Details.
    Liebe Grüße, Bärbel

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  27. And again you created such a beautiful card, Candy!

    Seeing it develop is such a treat too! Thank you so much. Love the loads of thought and detail that went into this marvellous make! Can't stop looking at it! One of my new favourites of yours!

    Big hug,
    Claudia x

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  28. I love looking at this. Each time I discover another facet of vintage goodness. LOVE it! Fabulous project, Candy!

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  29. Absolutely gorgeous, Candy - some of my favourite colours, and so many fantastic details. I love that embossed glittery panel (you've almost persuaded me that I "need" some Distress Glitter!) and that wonderful distressed flourish - amazing verdigris effect. Just brilliant, as ever!
    Sorry I'm behind... still feel like I'm chasing my tail trying to catch up with myself after the house move... but I'm hoping to get to play along this week, for the first time in weeks!
    Alison xx

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  30. This card is pure delight! LOVE LOVE LOVE the way you altered the photo, and glitter stenciling is magical to say the least! Gorgeous work!

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  31. The detailing in this piece is simply amazing, Candy. I got a set of the TH buckles recently, and you've inspired me to pull them out. Blessings!

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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!