Friday, August 27, 2010

Blended Batik: A Studio L3 Compendium challenge

The Blended Batik technique, described on page 36 of Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities is this week's Studio L3 challenge.

When this challenge popped up I couldn't have been more excited. What a beautiful technique! I love the result, though I've had some troubles achieving the same distinct appearance that Holtz/Linda created.

Part of the problem surely is my lack of any plain newsprint (How does a former reporter run out of end roll? She packs the house for a move that never happens, but that's another story). I tried the technique with two other absorbent papers, but neither worked really well.

However, I believe that both worked well enough.

So, I came up with two creations. One is a purplish colored tag with plastic flowers embossed in a Holtz distress folder and Distress stickled.

The other is a watery blue card with a "Create" sentiment embossed in blue tinsel and an acetate flower.

Our flower turned out just the way I'd hoped: Distress embossing powder dressed up the top of the flower's brad and a grommet between the smaller top and larger bottom flowers add dimension.

Sadly I discovered one thing throughout this week's challenge: I probably won't often use this technique.

After all, where would I keep the iron? I don't have any more flat surfaces in my craft room and the chances of burning down the house would rise dramatically if I added an iron.

Alas. I'll be sticking to water stamping or heat embossing ... unless I take over the dining room ... which we never use anyway ...

Alright then fellow creators: Drop in at Studio L3 to check out all of the cool stuff that Linda creates and to show us what you can do with a little of the Holtz Blended Batik technique.

6 comments:

  1. I think both the tag and card turned out perfectly! I got newsprint at Michael's and now I have a ton! Love what you did with your flowers!

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  2. These are great you have no worries. I also love what you created with the flowers, brilliant. Also I love the Drunken Stamper Inner You........terrific. Annette x

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  3. Tracy, these both turned out beautifully! You've definitely got the technique down-- and like always your color schemes and embellishments are fabulous.

    I think using the dining room for crafting spillover is not just wise, it's noble. That's what I tell my guy, anyway... ;-)

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  4. I love your colors, and I think the batik turned out fine, even without the newsprint. I picked up a small pad at Michaels; didn't want to further jinx my mistrust of irons-there are enough issues there!

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  5. They are both gorgeous, love your colours

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  6. I love them both. Your flowers are very cool. You just need an iron that shuts off itself and newspaper works fine. My craft room only holds my supplies. The rest of the house is my workspace.

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