Marjie Kemper's Classes

On Februaty 23rd, Andrea & I headed to NYC to take a couple classes with the very talented Marjie Kemper.  They were through The Ink Pad (an amazing little store), and held at Westbeth Community Center.  The morning session was "Melt Art Madness" where we learned about a dozen techniques using Ranger's Melt Pot and UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel).  We didn't make a specific project, we just played and played.

 

This is Marjie's pic from the class advertisement.

The was my favorite piece I made all morning.  I added colors to the melted UTEE, and when finished, you're supposed to dump out the excess UTEE before cleaning out the pot.  I swirled the UTEE on my craft sheet, and ended up with this (holding against my apron so you could see the fine swirl details--so much better in person):

The afternoon session was called " Demystifying Distress Stains & Dylusions Ink Sprays".  Andrea & I have lots of experience playing with Distress Inks, but we wanted to learn more about the Dylusions Sprays.  What fun!  Marjie gave each student an entire package of Ranger's manilla ATCs (artist trading cards ... it's basically the size that makes them ATCs), and taught us lots of cool techniques.  She brought tons of stamps, stencils, Wendy Vecchi Embossing Pastes, Perfect Pearls Powders, Archival Ink Pads, Distress Stains & Ink pads, and of course, Dylusions Spray Inks.  Everything we needed to get inky.  And, if that wasn't enough, she whipped out this HUGE bag of manilla tags and told us to sop of the excess ink on our craft sheets with those!  So generous!  And, so freeing!  Everyone had a blast playing with colors and getting creative!  If you haven't taken a class with Marjie before, what are you waiting for??!

This accordian-style folded, black textured cardstock, was originally meant as a place to keep all the techniques we learned.  It could be folded up and tied with a ribbon or cord.  This first ATC was meant as a cover, but after finishing all the ATCs, I opted to display the whole thing on the wall in my craft room for inspiration. 

This one has black embossing paste with the harlequin stencil, and I stamped the numbers.

This was a very cool technique using Ranger's Ink Refresher and Perfect Pearls Powders.  I also stamped an image on it with Ranger's Black Archival Ink.  Since the surface was powder, the stamp actually lifted off some of the powder and just left a shadow image of ink.  Love it!

Another with black embossing paste using Tim's Splatters stencil.  I also stamped with Black Archival ink.  Can you see the paintbrush near the bottom?  Oh, and I also added the bricks with a stencil and Tim's Picket Fence marker.

19 is my birthdate!  I wanted something big and bold, and Tim's Numeric stamp set was perfect!  I used Ranger's Detail Black embossing powder.

I have black embossing paste on the side of this one with the stripes.  When I was looking at it to decide how to finish it, the colors made me think "mellow", and I used some of Tim's plastic letters along with his Label Letters.

The colors of this one reminded me of the class I took last summer with Jodi Ohl at Create NJ called "Graffiti Magnets." That's where I learned the cool doodling around the heart (white embossing paste), and the white gel pen 'stitching' around the edges.  I never would have thought to use both black & white, and I love the look.

Sidenote:  Marjie showed us that the Dylusions Spray Inks are so concentrated, that when you use white embossing paste on top, the paste soaks up some color.  Very cool.

This was the one and only ATC I finished in class.  It was just plain fun making, but I had to resist finishing the others in class because there were items I had at home that I wanted to use.

This was another with the Perfect Pearls powder technique, and some black embossing paste through a stencil on the left side.  I didn't get the details from this stenciling, but I thought it was cool anyway.  I added some Idea-ology, and Tissue Tape.

This final ATC was stenciled with Distress Stains, and then I used the Eye Chart stencil from Tim with some more black embossing paste.  Below are more pics:

 

 

Our very happy class, and below is Marjie's pic from her class description advertisement (she's a master!):

Yeah baby!

Just a quick post to let you know ... I'm a 2nd time winner on Tim's Blog!  Woo Hoo!  I'm so honored and humbled he chose my typewriter card.  It's funny, cause it's was February's tag I won last year.  lol

I'll keep you posted when I get my prize.  I have sooooo much Tim/Ranger stuff, I'll be amazed if it's something I need.  Oh!  Maybe it's be the new colored jute Tim used on his March tag.  Or, maybe some Industrious Stickers!  Oh!  I know, I NEED that new nautical blueprint stamp set!  oh my!  oh my!  oh my! Can't wait!

Hope you're all making your Tim Tags ... so much fun learning his techniques.

A Tim Tag Tutorial!

Tim's February tag inspired me to do something different this month.  Instead of a tag, I created this 6x6 card.  Here's a look at Tim's tag ...

I want to eventually hang all these tags around my craft room, so I try not to make them holiday themed.  I also enjoy coming up with my own twist.

While flipping through my Tim stencils, I was inspired by the Cargo alphabet stencil and immediately thought of the Vintage Typewriter die.  My little mind started doing it's thing, and I realized the die would be too large for a tag, hence the card.

I followed his tutorial for the February tag (check it out here), and, as always, I try to do all the techniques.  Unfortunately, I had a little trouble with one or two.  This card actually took me 3 days to complete!  haha

I began with a 5-1/2 x 5-1/2 piece of Ranger manilla cardstock.  I put some Pumice Stone, Weathered Wood, and Spun Sugar Distress Stains on my craft sheet.

I swiped the cardstock through a couple of times until covered with stain, misted with water, and completely dried with my heat gun.  While drying, I tilted the card to and fro to create unusual drips.

I used painter's tape to hold the stencil in place.

I added Worn Lipstick, Barn Door, and Fired Brick Distress Inks with the applicator tool in different places to create a gradient in color.  While the ink was wet, I sprinkled Clear embossing powder & heated to melt.

I've been itching to use this Shatter stencil, so I added some Worn Lipstick Distress Ink on the right side with the stencil.

It still needed something, so I grabbed an applicator tool and used whatever leftover ink was on it (Spiced Marmalade or Wild Honey maybe?).  I used it in a couple of places with the Dot Fade stencil.

I added Black Soot Distress around the edges.   A little too much contrast, so ...

I added some Pumice Stone too.  Just a subtle difference, but I was happy with it.

I decided to make the typewriter die with Black Soot glitter.  I smeared Glossy Accents all over and dumped it on.  When I tapped it off, it didn't stick in places, and I realized I forgot to paint the chipboard!  I decided to make a new one, this one with Antique Linen glitter.

I painted it first with Antique Linen Distress Paint and dried it.  Applied Glossy Accents, the glitter and laid it aside to dry.

OK, this chalkboard technique didn't go so well.  I don't have (what?!  I don't have???) the Frosted Crystal embossing powder by Ranger, so I tried clear.  Tim says to heat to a matte finish, so, when I thought it was, I swiped a stick of white chalk across it, and just wiped all the EP off!  Then, I tried using a Glue Pad and some baby powder.  Kind of worked, but it wasn't really white, and instead of a chalky background, it kind of just shimmered.  I finally decided to just use white embossing powder.  I pulled out my pastels and wiped some white over the cardstock to get the chalky background.  Hey, I tried, and this looked good enough to me.  lol

I distressed the edges quickly with my fingernail and then layered it onto a small piece of white cardstock.  I wanted to give the glitter more time to set, so I called it quits for the day.

On day two, I added some Black Soot Distress Ink to the edges with an applicator tool.  I love this tool!  I usually use it with my pastels.

You use little pom poms that you get at the craft store.  It has a plunger end, that when depressed, a little claw comes out the other end to grab the pom pom.

I have little tiny pom poms also to get in to tiny places.

I decided the card needed a ribbon with a bow, so I took a long piece of Tim's ribbon and colored it by first misting it with water, and then swiping it through some Distress Stain (Weathered Wood, Spun Sugar and Pumice Stone).

I squeezed out the excess by scrunching into a small ball, and then dried it with the heat tool.

I added some Pumice Stone Distress to age it a little.

And, wanted more color, so I swiped on some Barn Door Distress with an applicator tool.

Perfect!

I layered it onto some Barn Door Distress Co'ordinations cardstock, and then a piece of 6 x 12 black to create my card.  I adhered the faux chalkboard to the ribbon.

I laid my typewriter glittered die on and said 'YUK!'  Back to the Vagabond.

I cut out a third typewriter, and this time, I colored it first with Black Soot Distress Ink.

Added the black glitter ... nice!  Time to let it dry and call it quits for the day again.

On day three, I added the typewriter die to the card with lots of Tacky Tape.  Didn't want this baby popping up!  Still something missing ...  Of course ...

a Type Charm!  Instead of going with my usual "S", I decided to go with an "R" for Rodgers.

I don't know what occasion I'd send this card for ... maybe just to one of my artsy friends as a 'thinking of you' gesture.  Right now, I'm stashing it in my box of treasured tags I've made!

January 2014!!!

 2014 is off to a great start!  What fun creating this tag!  I do miss creating with my friend Grace, and all my students, but it's been a nice break.  Soon tho.

My son's girlfriend, Tanya, was staying with us for the week between Christmas & New Year's, and we had a blast crafting together!

You can view Tim's original tag in all it's glory here, with complete instructions & photos to teach you all the techniques.  I used the Tick-Tock die to create my clock.

After rubbing on the numbers, I sanded them to make them look grungy.  Great idea Tim!  I also wanted something to hang from my linen ribbon at the top, so I put my "S" in a type charm.

After picking my words from the craft colored Chit Chat collection, I cut little banner ends into one end of each, and lightly added Black Soot Distress around the edges.  I adhered them to the edge of the clock (which was popped up on my tag), and added double foam under the banner ends so they're now level with the clock edge.

I stamped the tag and saying from the Odds and Ends CMS100 set, cut it out and distressed the edges with my nail, and then Black Soot Distress ink.

Finally, I added lots of fun stuff inside my clock!  This tag was right up my alley ... thoroughly enjoyed creating it.