Day 10 “Creative Chemistry 101”–Journey

A humble & enlightening integration of a couple favorite techniques, combined with our final Technique Tag to add a personal touch & message of sorts.  When I started this first online class with Tim Holtz “Creative Chemistry 101”  I had no idea what to expect.  All I knew was that my personal creative journey since CU 2012 with a few Amazing women that inspired me to open my heart & mind to other things that are out there that allowed me to create freely & embrace my own unique style changed the direction of what I wanted to do. 

In all honesty I didn’t even know who Tim Holtz was or anything about him.  I just knew that I was enamored by watching my Sum Kinda Krazy Sister use this craft sheet thing under her tags while we were working on different techniques in our skype scrap get together along with Tim’s “Compendium of Curiosities Vol. I”.  I thought to myself then…what a pretty kewl piece of paper…lol…seriously, no mess & just using a cloth to wipe it up.  Then we got into some of the basic techniques from Compendium I…well suffice to say I was loving it!  So much so I paused our meeting to go to my local Store to find some Distress Ink Pads & his Paper “Crowded Attic”.  Then I ended up getting a personalized copy of “Compendium of Curiosities Vol. II” from Tim Holtz himself & the message he wrote in his book said “Stay Curious…”  That spawned my research about this really cool Artists & the next thing you know I was diving into CC101.  The best decision I’ve made in a very long time as far as choosing something to LOVE & enjoy along with what I already do.   My point is, as the saying in one of his stamp sets I used in today’s tag says “What if your Fears and Dreams exist in the same place, would you still go there”? 

Answer: Absolutely!  I would go there again & again if it meant finding & learning about myself!  Taking one of the most extraordinary classes from such a Humble, Unique, Nostalgic, & Honest ‘Professor’ t!m.  I may not have the chance to ever visit the Eifel tower but this tag will always remind me of this journey I’ve taken with Tim Holtz & some amazing people from all over the world in the process.  One of the things that he said today that struck my heart was: “Surround yourself with what Inspires YOU!” isn’t that the coolest thing ever?  I know in my heart of hearts that there are no words or blog posts or letters etc. that could ever be written or told to express my gratitude & appreciation for what I’ve learned over the past couple of weeks.  I honestly feel tears streaming, knowing this is coming to an end.  While this particular class is…certainly my LOVE & Passion about what I do & Tim Holtz is NOT!  Besides…how I can I not “embrace my imperfections” with everything I’ve learned up to today…So without further ado the message tag I created from him for him: 

Final Technique Tag: Features a saying I hold dear to this entire journey w/ an iconic stamp of Tim’s from Stampers Anonymous of where I want to travel to some day!: 

 

I don’t have the weathered wood/damask stamp set he used today so I used a combination of stamps with Distress Ink Pads (yes you can stamp with these ink pads, I used “Barn Red” & “Walnut”)…so I created my Distress Stain background with “Barn Red” & “Mustard Seed”, then used “Reflections” with ‘sepia’ archival ink on my texture fade (brick background). I don’t own any “rock candy” stickles but I do have “Walnut Stain”…I must say I’m pretty happy with the results & what I envisioned after watching his video & reading class-mates responses. (To comment or leave feedback just click the Title to this post & scroll down)

Thank YOU all for participating on this journey with me.  Your feedback, comments, thoughts, e-mails, posts, & sharing…have all given a rejuvenated feeling in what I do & certainly affirms that one day…no matter where that place is I’m confident enough that I can go where my Fears & Dreams exist.  Thanks for Stamping By…