august technique challenge...

"august technique challenge" - tim holtz(c) 2008

supplies: craft sheet, adirondack alcohol inks, blending solution, ink applicator tool, jet black archival ink pad, glossy accents, glossy paper (ranger); fragments (tim holtz idea-ology); ghost (heidi swapp); non-stick scissors (tonic); stamps (stampers anonymous); soft cloth

step 1: apply a piece of felt to the ink applicator tool.

step 2: ink up the tool by placing the nib of the alcohol ink bottle into the felt and squeeze for about 2 seconds.

step 3: repeat with any additional colors you want (*tip: be sure not to overlap colors to avoid making mud).

step 4: ink up one side of the fragment by tapping the inked tool on the fragment completely covering it with ink (*tip:be sure to just ink ONE LAYER AND STOP!)

step 5: wait about 5 seconds and then you can apply additional layers of color (*tip: you can add as many layers of ink as you wish just wait 5 second between layers).

step 6: allow inked surface to dry completely.

step 7: ink up a stamp with jet black archival (*tip: stamp selection is key here - you want an image with a definite shape, not words, and not faces - you'll see why...).

step 8: place stamp inked rubber side up and press fragment inked side down over image.

step 9: immediately lift off of stamp and LIGHTLY blot wet ink off of fragment with a soft cloth (*tip: you need to work quickly as archival ink is a permanent ink and will dry black on the fragment if you wait too long).

step 10: working from a clean area of the towel, wipe off remaining archival ink to reveal image. wait a minute! what just happened?  did my image disappear?  it sure did...

step 11: place the fragment over a piece of white glossy cardstock INKED side down - WOW!  the jet black archival ink actually removes the alcohol ink underneath when you remove it while it's still wet - a weird chemical reaction, it works every time.  (*tip: now do you see why we don't want to use words?  they would appear backwards at this point {well there is a way to stamp in reverse, but that's a whole other technique} i have to say i don't mind backwards numbers for some reason though?..).

step 12: apply a small amount of glossy accents around the inked side edge of the fragment and place down on to glossy cardstock.

step 13: trim excess cardstock to size of fragment with non-stick scissors (*tip: glossy accents bonds to paper in about 7-10 seconds!).

step 14: repeat above steps to create enough mosaics for tag of project (*tip: be sure to change felt between colors).

step 15: (variation) - you can also do this technique on anything smooth - heidi swapp ghosts, memory glass, dominoes, transparencies, metal, mica, and more...

so there you have it.  pretty neat huh?  just image the possibilities - oh never-mind.... experience the possibilities, give this technique a try today.  you may have to try it a few times to get perfect, but that's what blending solution is for.  if your image doesn't work out the first time, simply apply some blending solution to a paper towel and wipe all of the ink off of the fragment and start over.  let the inking playtime begin....t!m 

Comments

[Priscilla from California]

1.

As always, you've come up with something new, different, and totally do-able. What would we do without you?

[Julie Howard]

2.

Cool technique! I'll have to give this one a try!

[Liz Walters]

3.

Well...as always....this was worth waiting for...
I just wish I had an ounce of your creativity. I'm just happy I can copy from the master.
Am up all nite so will head to the studio to play with this new technique.
You're the bomb!!!
Love, Liz
Prescott, AZ

[Helen]

4.

this is a really cool way to make our own embellies, without running around looking for the one thing we don't have ! don't have it , make it LOL! I don't have a large range of alcool inks, but it will do? Does it work only with ARCHIVAL Ink ?
I'll make some tests ! have a great weekend !!

[Shelly B]

5.

Love this!

[Kimberly]

6.

Ahhaa, I have the Ghost butterflies and I was wondering how the heck I was going to color them or make them stand out from my page!! Other paints and inks just rubbed off. Brilliant!!!

[finnabair]

7.

:) great one..sure I have to try!!! thanks a lot:)

[karine]

8.

This technique is so cool ! These fragments are really fun.

[Phinny]

9.

Wow - this is f a n t a s t i c !!

I canNOT wait for the new Fragment shapes to hit the stores. I am so glad you added the two new design. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Lexy]

10.

Hi Tim!!

I'm gonna have to try this one too. A nice excuse to buy more alcohol inks I think!

AND - I've ordered some MicroGlaze. I hope it gets here in time to use on my new pieces! Thanks for the hint, and I'll let you know how it works. My show opened last night - I've sold 12 out of 23 pieces so far :)

Love all these tags that you make. It's my favourite part in wrapping a present - the tag becomes a gift in itself.

[chriss]

11.

Thanx for taking the time to share such talent with us.
I know a fab online shop here in the UK where I can purchase those super fragments.
Have a lovely weekend I am going shopping...lol.
chriss x

[LenaS]

12.

This looks awesome!! I must go try it. Thx Tim. Have a great day!

[Chantal Delage]

13.

Thanks so much for this new challenge.
As usually, I'll try it !!
Chantal

[Kim Jones]

14.

Wow how great do these look. What a fun technique to play with. After reading your instructions I just can't wait to have a go myself. Thanks for another great technique to play with Tim. Have a good weekend

[Susanne]

15.

I love the things you create - and I love all the beautiful stuff (wish I had enough money to buy the whole range!)

You said "there is a way to stamp in reverse" ... please, please, can you do the next technique challenge about that theme!?

Susanne

[Fryne]

16.

I'll try this technique one for sure! It's brilliant!!!!

[Kim]

17.

What a fantastic method.

Thanks for such a great step by step guide.

Wonderful inspiration!

[Renee Shlachter]

18.

What a cool batik look to everything! It's 6:15 AM, and I'm going to try this technique right now. Thanks again for the creative push.
Renee

[Lynnda]

19.

yet again Thank You, inspiration when most needed

Lynnda

[sue brown]

20.

Fantastic Tim, I can't wait to get started.

[Sylvia]

21.

That's so great! Thanks for all the tips and for this technique

[Mary Witter]

22.

Good morning tim....love this technique and the tag is BEAUTIFUL. Will be adding it to my "Tim's technique challenge" notebook along with my sample. I have done this with each of your challenges so I am working on a seconded 3 ring binder now. I print your instructions and great pictures and then add the sample I make. Using the tags are great because I can add them easily to the binder. What a resource! Anxious to get started on this one....Thanks so much.

[ElinA]

23.

Thats nice, really nice! I'm gonna try it! ;-)

[ElinA]

24.

Thats nice, really nice! I'm gonna try it! ;-)

[Birute P]

25.

How awesome is this!!?!! Retreating now to my scrapspace to play....thanks Tim!

[wendy vecchi]

26.

Pure GENIUS!!
Love it!
wendy

[Jean keller]

27.

always something to get the creative juices flowing! Thanks again for such clear instructions.....no pun intended!

[Ann Cornell]

28.

Makes me want to get all those old stamps I haven't used for a while and try this along with some new ones I just purchaed of yours. Great idea!

[Melissa Cook]

29.

Ohh neat too bad I have to go out this morning or I'd be clearing off some space to work. :D

Ziggy

[Kimbo]

30.

Thanks for the August fun Tim !

Can't wait to try this out on my new pack of Fragments !
Cheers,
Kim

[Jen Crossley]

31.

Looks awesome Tim as always
Jen

[Terry]

32.

Tim...This is awesome! Can't wait to try it.
Thanks for the inspiration.

[Dolly/scrapthat]

33.

Very cool...I have used this technique with the metal tape and die cuts and love it...Will have to give it a whirl with some acrylic shapes! Thanks so much Tim...always inspiring.
:0)
Dolly

[Jen]

34.

What a great technique! I've used alcohol inks to color my ghost flowers & other shapes before, but never knew that the resist was possible. I can't wait to try it!!

[Diana DeWitt]

35.

Hi Tim,

Love this technique. I learned this from you while you were teaching at Ink About It in Westford, MA. We tried a bunch of techniques on dominoes, and it was a blast.

Diana

[Debby Boltman]

36.

Fabulous!

[Bobbi in KY]

37.

TOTALLY TOTALLY TOTALLY TOTALLY AWESOME!!!

WTG TIM!! :)

[Stefanie]

38.

Love this technique.....can't wait to try it out!!

[hb.carol]

39.

Holy MOLY this is COOL!!!!

[Lynn]

40.

Another great tag Tim! I just got some more of your unmounted stamps this week and some Hitches so must go play this weekend.
'The inks they are a calling'
Thanks for all the fab blog candy. Have a great weekend all.

[Christine S]

41.

Thank you Tim for another Awesome tip! :)

[Cynthia Michener]

42.

You ARE the BEST!!!!

[Jessica]

43.

That's awesome! Thanks for this, I'm going to go try it right now.

[Stephanie]

44.

Wow! What a cool technique! This technique has limitless possibilities. Thanks so much for sharing with us.

[Lisa]

45.

Thanks so much for sharing this technique Tim...I am off to give it a try!

[BethW]

46.

I'm definitely on this one-they're gorgeous.
Thanks again Mr Tim.

[sandy]

47.

this is SOOOOOOOO awesome! i'm actually now wishing that it would rain here today so that i could stay inside and play with this technique! (an it's been rainy here for about 4 weeks now!)

you are, i'll say it again, the BEST.

sandy

[Linda w]

48.

Stunning pieces as usual. Thank you for sharing with all of us.

[KAT]

49.

What a great technique.... I can't try it today because I don't have Archival ink... I'll have to pick some up this week and give this a try!!!!

[Kathy Eddy]

50.

So cool. Hope I get time to try this out before I rip my studio apart yet again in hopes of organization when my new desk comes in this week! yeah! Kathy Eddy