My Creative Chemistry with Tim Holtz

If you saw my last post you would have read that I had a date with none other than the professor of all things inky, Tim Holtz at his Creative Chemistry Live UK edition workshop in Harrogate on Friday.

Oh my...what a day!

 The sun even shone and as I walked to the class from the hotel I smiled at the colours of the autumn trees.

The workshop was held at Art from the Heart in Harrogate

Everything was set up for us as we arrived...including our very own Tim Holtz aprons which of course we all got signed.

 There were 25 very exited people raring to create...including ME!

I cannot describe how much fun I had and what a brilliant teacher he is. Tim is just such a great guy, his teaching is inspiring and with Mario helping with the smooth running of the class, the workshop was everything and more than I dreamt it could possibly be. He also has some very funny crafting anecdotes which I will always remember.

 The ever smiling and helpful Mario, kept everything running so smoothly.

I will obviously not share Tim's teaching notes but I will share what I made.

It was also such fun to be among a group of such like minded crafters. We really did come out with the biggest smiles possible on our faces, and laden with goodies too. I also caught up with some blogging ladies and Facebook friends who I have never met but felt like old friends. 

These are the tags I made. 10 tags to learn 10 new inky techniques.

We were even given a little folder to hold them in

 and so many wonderful goodies ..in the photo further down you will see the bag he gave us to put everything in. Such generosity.

And when class finished Tim patiently signed everything we wanted signing and posed for photos...

even taking a selfie for me on my phone.

Wow, that really was an experience I can tick off my best wish list...I was in crafting heaven. Thanks Tim and Mario you really are the best....and thanks to Ben of AFTH for organising the whole event.

So today I decided to take my 4 favourite tags (below) I made on Friday and use a combination of these 4 techniques to make a tag to put into Jane's Journal to remember this most awesome creative experience.

I used one of my favourite Tim stamp sets, Lady Rose to watercolour with Distress Oxides and chose colours from those I saw around in me on that warm sunny September day.

 Remember the now was the perfect sentiment to use.

So I used a little Creative Chemistry...

to make my tag.

some close ups

I will certainly remember that glorious autumn creative day.

More words cannot express just how much I enjoyed myself and also what gentlemen Tim and Mario are. I know they won't be reading my blog but I just want to say the biggest thank you to them. Moments like that are ones to treasure forever.  When I look at my tag in my journal it will help me to

Remember the now.

I would like to link my tag up into the following challenges;

The Ribbon Girl 2/3 any image
Frilly and Funkie 2/3 to everything there is a season
Happy Little stampers September watercolour
Creative Inspirations 2/3 Seasonal my season is a glorious start to autumn
Craft Stamper take it make it September
Rubber Dance favourite stamp Lady Rose is my favoruite Tim Holtz stamp set

I am back tomorrow with my weekly Visible Image DT post, the weather this weekend has just been glorious. Enjoy the sunshine if you have it. If not I have plenty to send.

See you in the morning,

Bye for now,

Jane x

And autumn came....

Well here we are...autumn has arrived and we are also rapidly waving goodbye to September.  I enjoyed some very pleasant and sunny days earlier this week and I decided it was time to make my monthly calendar page for my art journal in my sunny studio.

The lines from the Month's poem by Sara Coleridge for September read;

Warm September brings the fruit,

sportsmen then begin to shoot.

I looked around my garden, which is still colourful, and saw that the leaves of my potted acers are turning pretty shades of greens, red and orange.

My begonia are still going strong too

 and I spotted this fellow busy at work.

I honestly love spiders and for a few moments I stood and watched him as he spun his web...going round and round....so clever....I never cease to marvel at the structure of a web and how fine it is.

 I decided that the focal of my page, for the "fruit" in the poem would be a lovely vintage apples digi from the Graphics Fairy and that my colours would be inspired by my autumnal garden.

I die cut a frame using my new Noor die I bought cheaply at Ally Pally and got out my inks.

 I sprayed an inly background inspired by the colours of the acer leaves in my garden.

 and then added some more inks through my Tim mini leaf stencil

 I then got out my Visible Image tree stamp (sadly discontinued at present)

and added some branches...gradually adding green and orange archival ink 

until I finished my background...I got rather engrossed at this point so I didn't take any more photos... but I also die cut and textured lots of leaves and a tree.

It was then time to put on my creative hat and put my page together.

Here it is.

and some close ups, I really went to town with my colours and textures with my die cut leaves.

and one last shot.

My art journal page was made for the following challenges;

Memory Box autumn leaves

The Craft Barn 12 month challenge  September

Creative Artiste mixed media

Fussy and fancy fall colours

Allsorts feels like autumn

The Ribbon Girl 1/3 any image

Cuttlebug mania Golden harvest

C.R.A.F.T autumn/halloween/thanksgiving

Frilly and Funkie 1/3 to everything there is a season

Now I must get my skates on as I have a date with someone rather special.......Tim Holtz...yes seriously. I am soooo excited. I am in  Harrogate attending Tim's UK Creative Chemistry workshop at 9am. I booked myself into a nearby hotel last night..... I have a 2 minute walk from my hotel. 

I will take my trusty camera and yes I will take lots of photos to share. 

Thanks for visiting and enjoy the gorgeous colours of autumn.

Bye for now,

Jane x

STAMPlorations Typografia Christmas blog hop, join in to win!

Here in the UK autumn starts tomorrow and it certainly feels that way. The trees are starting to change colour and there is dampness in the air and on the ground in the mornings. It's also starting to get dark earlier.
It may even been time soon to light the fire.....

Now that is one thing I will be looking forward to as it also reminds me that in 96 days it will be Christmas Day! Wow!

Today I am delighted to be guest designing again for STAMPlorations stamps and the celebrating release of some really gorgeous new Christmas Typografia stamps. There are also lots of other new products released; You can see the whole range here

 You also have the chance to win as we are holding a blog hop to celebrate.
All the details can be found via this link

One lucky winner will win their choice of 3 of these new Typografia Christmas stamps just by visiting the main blog and the designers' blogs who are participating in the hop and leaving a comment.

I got the chance to work with 3 of these terrific stamps.

They make fab, really "on trend" Christmas cards. I will be putting some up for sale in Dotty's Tea House, they will fit in perfectly.

I decided to showcase mine in 3 different ways to show just how versatile they are.

For my first card I used
Silent night

 I made a Distress Oxide background using the wrinkle free technique and black card stock.

 Here is a close up of my Distress Oxide inky background.

I stamped and white embossed the silent night stamp. A simple bow finished this off.

 For my 2nd card I used peace, love and joy

I then got out some of my stash of Christmas papers and stamped and embossed in white onto a die cut rectangle. I added a holly brad and some gems as finishing touches.

My 3rd used
Build a snowman

 I blended some green Distress inks and  added splashes of water to bleach.

 

 and then added some green holly leaves by inking through the holly tag stencil. 

I got out my sewing machine and after stamping my sentiment I sewed randomly around it. I then tore around this. I also sewed a border around the inky card and distressed both card pieces before matting them up. I added some texture paste and glitter and finished off with a snowflake charm

These great stamps are up for sale on the web site with an opening offer of 5% off. However  I can also offer you a great discount code...just type STAMPGIRLJANE in at the checkout and get a whopping extra 20% off! Now that really is a great deal isn't it.

Remember that the more participating blogs you visit and comment on the more you increase you chances of winning.  Commenting for the prize closes on 25 September. The randomly selected winner will be announced on the main blog on 26 September. Here is a reminder of the hop link post with all the details. Good luck!

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x