Saturday 31 March 2012

Saturday Show & Hels... Block Bleaching & Giveaway

Cor blimey indeedily... it's a yonk and a half since I last did a Show & Hels so last night I thought I would put together a little technique thingwotsit that I discovered by accident when playing around with Distress Inks and water. I don't know if this technique has a proper name... but the name I have made up for it is along the lines of the inspiration for the technique, which is Color Blocking, one of Tim's techniques that I lurve lots. Basically, in his technique, he fills up a blending tool with ink and then presses it onto a card/tag surface in a blocky fashion, building up the blocks to make a geometric pattern. This technique is the reverse of that one. All will become apparent in the pics (am saying that because I am rubbish at trying to describe lol) The giveaway bit is my tag here... which will be given away to one randomly chosen commenter on this post. The winner will be announced next Saturday, April 7th 2012.



INGREDIENTS

Bright Distress Inks + Black Soot/Walnut Stain
Blending Tools to apply above OR Cut & Dry Foam
Tag/Cardstock
Water Mister
Blending Tool with clean foam pad
Heat tool
Non Stick Craft Sheet



STEP 1

Using a blending tool/Cut & Dry foam, apply a few vivid colours of Distress Ink to your surface (I am working on a tag) I have found that the richer the colour, the better this technique shows up.



STEP 2

Use a dark colour (I have used Black Soot but Walnut Stain will work) and carefully edge your tag... this will "close" the design in and give the tag a "frame".




STEP 3

Spritz water onto your craft sheet and dip the clean blending foam into it, soaking the foam pad. Light dab the excess water back onto the craft sheet.





STEP 4

Press the wet foam onto your tag, leave in place for a few seconds. Lift up the tool and wait a couple of seconds for the water to react with the ink. Blot any excess water with kitchen paper/paper towel if necessary (you will be able to see if there's too much water)




STEP 5

Use kitchen paper/paper towel to blot off any ink collected on the foam pad to stop it transferring when you repeat Step 4. Dry the block with a heat tool. Repeat the steps until you have a design you like. Try to overlap a few of the blocks to add interest to the design.



TO FINISH

To finish my tag, I cut some Gadget Gears Alterations & Movers & Shapers from mountboard and coloured them with Pumice Stone DI. I layered them up and added some wires behind the bottom of the cog pile. I then made a teensy "basket" using some of the Destinations patterened papers... and then added some Idea-ology to the middle of the "hot air balloon". The chaps were stamped in Jet Black Archival and cut out, coloured with Pumice Stone and edged with Black Soot. I made a little ruler using Crowded Attic Paper, gluing it to mountboard and then sanding the edges. I did a smidge of stamping for the background (and stamped one of them upside down... whoops!)




So, there you have it... I hope you like the technique, I like that it is subtle and doesn't over power the whole finished look. Thanks for looking... have a fab weekend!! TTFN

Hels x

57 comments:

Nicks said...

fab idea.. you should be teaching Tim a thing or two!
I deserve to win this cos I NEED a Hels tag to go round the mirror in my front room along with other peeps works of art.... just sayin lol

Jacqueline said...

THAT is gorgeous!!! Methinks I NEED to bug more Distress Inks lol...

Thanks for sharing


Jackie x

Rainbow Lady said...

Love it... surely this is called ghosting Hels as Dyan does that with her stencils lol. xx

Sarah said...

Love it .... Will be trying this technique out soon Sarah w

Larisa said...

very nice background of this tag! Love the bright inks so much here!!!

Helen said...

Gorgeous tag, love the bright vibrant colours! Have a good week.

TAM said...

Whatever you want to call it I'll have to try it out - gives a fabulous effect - very subtle as you said.

Pam said...

Love this technique, thanks for sharing xx

donna said...

very neat tag, brilliant idea using gears as a balloon. can't wait to try it. and since i am a VERY visual person...thank you for the
step by step demo...

Anonymous said...

What a cool idea! Love the gorgeous tag too.

Dee in N.H. said...

How cool!! I love that look on the background and the gears for the balloon!!

Ink Art Designs said...

Wow...how clever is that!
Dot x

TonyR said...

love this idea!! gorgeously steampunk-alicious! xx

joy said...

Hello, Hels! Just stopped by and was very intrigued by this technique! Will definitely have to try it soon!!

Would love to win your gorgeous tag, too!

P'tite Plume said...

Love couleurs, love technique, love effect, LOVE YOUR TAG!

Elaine said...

Great technique - love your bright tag!!

Barb Cady said...

That is one very clever idea! Ilove the sublety (is that the right word?) of the background. Thanks Hels, another one for the technique book! xx

Kate Yetter said...

Another fabulous tag! I love steampunk! This technique looks easy. I most definetly need to give it a try. TFS.
Kate

Brenda Brown said...

Great technique Hels, must have a go at that.
Hope you are well. I have finally finished work and can get back to making and blogging again.
Take care and have a fabulous weekend.
hugs {brenda} xox

Caz said...

Now I understand last night's comment about making a balloon with cogs!!!!!
That's a good idea Hels, need to get off my butt, off the lappy and go play!!!
Love the colours! In fact, nothing about the tag I don't love!!!! :-)
xxx

Sarah said...

Wow, fabby technique Hels! And one I can have a stab at while I wait for my Distress Stains to arrive too ... Wishing it was this time last week when we were at your workshop; roll on the end of May. Sarah x

Karen R said...

Like, like, like, off to try this technique now.
Karen xx

rachel said...

fantastic tag Hels - and love that you've done a step by step for it! Hugs Rachel xx

Minxy said...

Gorgeous taggage as always, love the reverse blocking, looks ace x
Only 2 weeks to go, excited to catch up xx

betjunroe said...

This is a really cool technique Hels! Can't get enough new ideas and can't wait to try this one out. The steampunk guys is one stamp I don't have, so will add to my wish list. Hope your Easter is wonderful! Bette

Disco Queen said...

Hi Hels, Great technique, a cross between ghosting & colour blocking. I have never seen it before and love the outcome. Will definitely be giving it a go this afternoon. Looks like your mojo is definitely back. Would love this tag for my inspiration board so fingers crossed. With Love & Admiration.

Joanne said...

I just had one of those 'why didn't I think of that'. But then, that's the story of my life and why I look for inspiration from others, especially you. this is wonderful and I will be trying this one for sure.
Hugs Joanne xx

crafty creations said...

Stunning tag Hels - love the subtle colouring and will give it a go - would be great if I won yours to have as an example :):):)twould look brill in my craft room x Hilda

Rita said...

Wha a Fabulous Tag. You're such an inspiration to us and I am learning every time you put something on your blog. I must give this one a try too. I love the effects it gives. Maybe I'll be lucky this time around. Hugs Rita xxx

Shazza said...

tis genius!! Great tag Hels, hope you are having a lovely weekend x

ElizabethR said...

Too nice to cover up lol xxx

Von said...

Oh I like that idea hels :)
Von x♥x

Redanne said...

Great technique and tutorial Hels, I have not seen this one before, so must away and try it. Thanks for the chance to win your gorgeous tag too!

Miriam said...

Truly gorgeous Hels - love this technique and hope to try over the next day or two. Looks like your mojo has returned with a big bang!!

Saintly Lisa said...

Another brilliant idea, i'm going to go and give it a try X

Crafty Granny said...

Love that idea! And I have everything needed! Will give it a try tomorrow.

Artyjen said...

Looks gorgeous :)
xoxo Sioux

Gillian .... said...

Oh I likey this reverse colour block technique and of course my fav steampunk gents = one coolio tag:) xxx

Glennis F said...

Oh, you do make it look so easy! what a great idea

Lynn W. said...

What an interesting idea Hels and the results are stunning! As it's my birthday next Saturday I think Mr Random Org should pick me to win your lovely tag - it would look fabby on my shelf of inspiration!

Lynn Wild

Melody (lacyquilter) said...

Looks like a great technique.

Jenny Marples said...

Got to have a go at this Hels!
Hugs, Buttons x

Julia S-W said...

Wow Hels - really love that technique and no smelly bleach in evidence! I'm going to have a go at this - I fear it won't only be the kitchen paper covered in ink though! Didn't manage to get my 'birds' done for this week but will continue to play when I can!
Juliax

craftimamma said...

What a great 'Show and Hels'. Thanks for sharing! I love the tag and using the cogs/gears for the balloon is inspired.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Evil Edna said...

Nice tutorial count me in.EE

Sara said...

Thanks for showing us how made a engagement tag with my trials so am well pleased. Thank you for sharing with us.

Carol said...

I love this techniqe i will give it a try

http://blog.timetocreate.com.au/ said...

Catching up after being entraced by Dinosaurs. Hels I love this technique. Easy and super effective. Thank you for sharing it!

gayle said...

Ooh, what a fab effect! Would end up not wanting to cover it up LOL

Aquarius said...

Thanks for explaining that fab technique - another one to add to my ideas book. Just love the finished look of the tag and keeping fingers crossed for luck in the draw!!

May said...

Fabby tutorial, will be trying this soon... I would love to own this fantastic tag, thanks for the chance, Hugs May x x x x

Beachstudio said...

Gorgeous, beautiful tag-a-lishious! And do I spy Spiced Marmalade, one of my faves! Would love to put it on display! Yummy! Cheers, Linda

Judy said...

Oooo...I LOVE those 3 guys! They are my fav 'go-to' stamp. Ive even given mine names.(yes its true!) :D

Judy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hettie said...

Oooo errrr Mrs! That is right clever what you have done there! What a surprise you have shown us on a tag!! Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs!!
Seriously I like it and will give it a go.....soon!!

ashley said...

i like the steampunk theme, and the technique is ingenious.

ashley said...

love the steampunk theme, and ingenious technique.

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