TH Technique Swap #2 - Embossed Flashing Tape

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Group:	Tim Holtz Addicts
Swap Coordinator:	dobie256 (contact)
Swap categories:	Art Artist Trading Card (ATC) Handmade
Number of people in swap:	9
Location:	International
Type:	Type 3: Package or craft
Rating requirement:	4.80
Last day to signup/drop:	April 22, 2011
Date items must be sent by:	May 13, 2011
Number of swap partners:	2
Description:
I am starting a series of Tim Holtz inspired technique swaps. While I appreciate his urban/grunge/vintage artwork, my style tends to lean more towards nature/clean/modern designs. But, I still love Tim Holtz products -- they are excellent for all types and styles of artwork! With that in mind, my swaps, at least for now, will concentrate on technique instead of style. I was lucky enough to take a class with Tim last spring at the Mega Meet in Novi, MI. I made three tags. I will use these tags as inspiration for the first three technique swaps. You will be making one ATC for each of two partners (2 ATCs total). ATCs are 2.5 x 3.5" in size. Embossed Flashing Tape You can find flashing tape at big hardware stores or home improvement stores. It is used to seal ductwork for heating and air-conditioning. It is NOT the same thing as duct tape! It is very shiny, a bit pricey, and the roll I found was exactly 2.5" wide. If you absolutely can't find this tape, I have done this technique on aluminum foil, and know people who have done similar work using an aluminum can. But the effect using these metals will not be the same as with flashing tape. We used flashing tape in the class that Tim Holtz taught. Step 1: Carefully apply the tape to a piece of heavy cardstock a manilla tag. Trim to 2.5 x 3.5" in size. Run this card through your embossing machine using the embossing folder of your choice. Hint: Use a folder with lots of detail and raised areas -- NOT one with big blank areas! Step 2: Color the card using alcohol inks. Hint: Bright colors work the best. Actually drop the color onto the metal, you want a nice vivid coating. You can change your mind as you create -- the last color dropped on the metal will be the color that shows. Step 3: Let the alcohol inks thoroughly dry. Then, WITH A VERY LIGHT TOUCH, rub the raised areas of your card with archival ink (we used black in class). Carefully wipe this ink off with a dry paper towels (or small sponge or Q-tips). You should have a bit of antiquing on the colored areas and the silver foil should now be a light pewter color. You can do the archival ink step again if you like a darker effect. Just be careful not too rub off too much of your color (if this happens, reapply alcohol ink, let dry, and try again with a light touch!) Step 4: Embellish your ATC or tag (optional, but this technique is really enhanced with some metal embellishments, or fragment charms.) This is a somewhat tricky technique and I was unable to find a video tutorial for it. It is also NOT in his most recent book. Tim did something similar on one of the Christmas tags, but he used entirely different supplies. This was the technique he taught in class. Flashing tape tag detail pictures: Top third Middle third Bottom third Here is a close-up of this technique on an ATC I save all of my scraps for other projects! Method using aluminum foil base You can see the color a bit more -- I used bright alcohol inks on aluminum foil Have fun and feel free to PM me with an questions or concerns.

Discussion

TurtleLove 04/ 1/2011 #

I am not sure if this video will help anyone but it does have "Roxie" demonstrating everything you mentioned except for the part where you gently wipe some away. She is a bit squirley, but oh well.

Click here to see the tutorial on youtube.

dobie256 04/ 1/2011 #

Thanks for posting the video (Man, she needs to clean off her mat! LOL)

OK, there are several differences from what we did in class, but the results are cool so if you experiment with this and like it go for it.

Two differences -- Tim applied the alcohol inks directly to the tag and then just moved them around a bit (with blending tool or Q-tip). No thinner needed/used. He used archival ink (not Staz-On) and carefully wiped it off. That gives the metal a pewter look (instead of being inked with black).

Tim's wound up with very subtle color on a duller metal (pewter) tag. So it was more subdued and antique-looking. But the method Roxie showed is nice. So feel free to experiment and find a result you like for your creation.

AsAlwaysAngela 04/ 3/2011 #

Headed to the hardware store now!

AsAlwaysAngela 04/ 3/2011 #

Ok... there wasn't anything called flashing tape, but I found what I think is the same thing.... foil tape. It says it's for sealing duct work and it looks like the stuff you used on your tag. I hope it works because you were right... it's pricey!

AsAlwaysAngela 04/ 3/2011 #

Poop... the stuff I got had writing all over it so I had to go back for the plain stuff. But alas... I'm ready to go!

AsAlwaysAngela 04/ 3/2011 #

Oh, @TurtleLove she is squirelly to say the least. LOL. Now I'm curious what Diane Sawyer was talking about.

dobie256 04/ 3/2011 #

Glad you had success Angela. Sorry it is a bit pricey, but a little goes a long way. And maybe you can swap out some flashing tape covered ATC backings for other items. :)

AsAlwaysAngela 04/ 4/2011 #

@dobie256 .. Not your fault it's pricey! And no worries... it was totally worth it! I LOVE this technique! The look of it is spectacular!

dobie256 04/ 4/2011 #

Glad you felt it was worth it. In class TH said "just go to the home improvement store and get some flashing tape" like it was no big deal. I, too, brought home a roll that said "Nashua Nashua Nashua" all over it and had to return it for a blank roll. And it was like $18! LOL But I think the final results are very cool.

iGirlZoe 04/12/2011 #

@dobie256 Sorry I can't participate, but I can't find flashing tape here. I can't wait to see all your work on flickr. I'll catch the next one. :-)

dobie256 04/14/2011 #

Sorry to hear that Zoe. Wish you had PM'd me earlier. I could have sent you enough to do a couple of ATCs. I would up doing three cards for my partner -- one on flashing tape, one on adhesive metal paper, and one on aluminum foil. This technique works on all three and my samples will show the slight differences in final product. I'll post them soon.

iGirlZoe 04/14/2011 #

Thanks to Michele's kind offer to send me some flashing tape, I can now join in! YAY! I have my alcohol inks and embossing folders at the ready! Thank you so much! :-)

TurtleLove 04/18/2011 #

For anyone not able to find the flashing tape...I played around a bit with tin foil...and in my opinion I think it is a neat technique. I simply folded the tin foil so it was 3 layers thick before I ran it through the Sizzix and then I cut it to size after it was embossed.

dobie256 04/21/2011 #

I am actually making three cards for my partner. I don't want to post them yet and spoil the surprise but the point of this swap is to play with the flashing tape. It takes the inks differently than other materials (aluminum foil, foil papers, etc.) I made a card using the swap technique (flashing tape and archival ink), one with foil paper using the inking technique in Roxie's video (using StazOn), and one using aluminum foil with distress and archival inks. They all have a very different appearance.

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