BAD...4 letter words....

If you've visited here before, you KNOW that IRON is a really bad word in our house...

(Unless it's paper, then it's OK.)But... that's a different story...

Here's another...

SNOW!!!!!!!!!



Guess we won't be dining on the deck today.

But that's ok...

I'll just go to the studio...

Hmmmmmmmmm...the view is no better there.

Everything is white.....as far as we can see.

This is a reminder to all my Arizona friends...

Turn up the heat & turn off the snow! PLEASE!!

I'll be there very soon.

Until then...

MAKE ART!

wendy

FINALLY..........I can share some exciting news...

I am honored & so TOTALLY excited to share this news........

I'll be joining tim on an exciting ARTFUL VOYAGE in Mexico, October 11-18, 2009.

Can you imagine...SUN, Sailing, SAND & ART all in one place?

We'll leave Los Angeles on October 11 and we'll be visiting these ports...

Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

You'll find all the juicy details and important info on the Scrapmap site.

I have been TOTALLY excited since I first talked with tim several weeks ago......but then...

Last weekend in Wisconsin I visited with some people who cruised with tim to Alaska, earlier this year. The stories they told...the attention to detail...the surprises...the arty workshops...EXACTLY what I LOVE!

Now I'm jumping out of my skin with excitement. SERIOUSLY!
I can't even sleep...check the time of this post!

Want to know all about the workshops & special stuff??

HA!! NEVER!! We want you to be SURPRISED...

So...my lips are sealed...but I know for sure this will be quite the art adventure and you don't want to miss it!

I hope you can join us on the ARTFUL VOYAGE in MEXICO...
so we can...

MAKE ART!

Happy Thanksgiving!
wendy
ps..YIPPEE...Rick is going too...He's my assistant! FUN!!

OH...one more thing...(see above)...there is no mention of cooking, cleaning...or work.
This will be a totally creative fun adventure!

I hope to see you in LA... waiting on the dock @ 5PM...on October 11, 2009.


.

We had a WONDERFUL weekend in Wisconsin

So...here's the report...


We did 2 really fun classes. The Make It Merry hanging class was special...We were interviewed & taped for tv. Unfortunately...I didn't get to see it. I hope I didn't say anything dorky.........YIKES!


But...we did get to see Chris, the show promoter, and her interview on the Sunday morning news. My roomie called me out of the shower to see it...so wrapped in a towel ( NOT a pretty sight!)...we saw her talk about the convention & she showed the Make it Merry hanging. That was very COOL!!


AND...we also had a reporter in that class. We made the newspaper and some sweet customer brought it to the booth for me.




We didn't exactly MAKE stamps, that's Mr & Mrs Stampers Anonymous' job...but... still a fun photo.



We made over 100 grungeboard tulips @ the Make & Take Friday evening...that was hit.


We made LOTS of people very happy...I saw huge smiles as they left the booth LOADED down with stamps, grungeboard, craft sheets, inks and more.


I demoed how to stamp on grungeboard...that was fun. Most folks had not seen that before.


They snow cap white pigment ink was also a huge hit. I think it's fun to combine it with the distress inks and use the products in another unique way.


Lots of customers commented that they couldn't wait to get home & play with their new purchases... so like I said...we had happy customers.


I was worried that with the economy, sales might not be good. NOT SO..... Sales were absolutely great.


HOT HOT HOT products in the Stampers Anonymous booth...


studio490 stamps...of course...I demoed with them.
Imagine that...


AND...


Tim's new Christmas stamps. My very fav is the skinny tree stamp. I made a quick tag & those sets were ALL gone in 10 minutes. Luckily...if we were sold out, customers got their order shipped for free.

I grabbed mine before the show started! SMART move!


The new Distress Stickles were a HUGE hit. We had lots of every color in stock...and sold them all out. We had a few disappointed customers who only bought a few colors on Saturday...then...came back on Sunday for more & guess what...gone.


So...the moral of the story...when you see them...
GET THEM QUICK!


Trust me...They are a TOTALLY awesome product for vintage art.


I got to visit with some friends from past classes. That was fun. Dirk took my wreathe class in Illinois & he brought some to show me. I'm hoping he sends some photos so I can share them here. You'll be impressed.


I also saw a few of my BFF's...hey a girl CAN have more than one BFF....RIGHT??


Oh and.............


Don't forget to check back on THURSDAY...
THANKSGIVING DAY...
I can FINALLY share some totally exciting NEWS!
It's KILLING me to keep my mouth shut...SERIOUSLY!


NOW...
...on to some art...


When I got home, I had some emails with photos of projects made with my stamps. That is SO exciting for me...


Here's a whole different take on stamping.


This was made by my friend Lisa Pace.
She's a Making Memories Master...
...and here's why...





She stamped on felt & used the poinsettia stamp as her pattern for embroidery...AWESOME...Lisa!!


Here's a closeup...........






I'm hoping that for her next project she uses my Christmas tree. Since it's an outline too...it's perfect for the same technique.


If I sewed...I'd stamp 2 trees, cut them out & stuff them...for fun ornaments...


Get the hint Lisa?? I'm waiting.........


What else?


Need some inspiration for holiday ART???


Check out our Maya Road design team challenge. This one about killed me. REALLY!


Our challenge was to use ONLY 5 Maya Road products on a holiday tag. Initially I thought...easy as pie...Oh so...WRONG!

Once I got started...only 5????????

YIKES! If an 1/8th of an inch is naked I need to add more stuff.

I can't figure out how to link the entire newsletter here...so I'll be back with an edit when I can find it... EDITED!! Here's the entire newsletter.

It has lots more GREAT tags & instructions...you'll love it...

Anyway...here's mine...with the ingredients and instructions...







"Be Merry (vintage)" by Wendy Vecchi

1. Paint the letters with Ranger's metallic crackle paint. Set aside to dry. When the paint is completely dry & cracked, rub black PIGMENT ink into cracks, then wipe off the excess. Paint the roofs on the houses with black crackle paint & set aside to dry & crack.
2. Ink the tag base with vintage photo distress ink. Distress the edges with black soot distress ink. Using Coffee archival ink, stamp the tiny dot stamp over the entire tag.
3. Using black archival ink, stamp the ruler stamp close to the bottom. Stamp the screen stamp toward the top.
4. Stamp the Christmas tree on grungeboard with jet black archival ink, cut out then ink on the front & back with peeled paint. Overstamp with the grid stamp. Color the trunk with black soot distress ink. Curl the left side of the tree to create dimension.
5. Ink the houses with faded jeans, then stamp as shown with jet black archival ink.
6. Color the microchip scallop frame with black soot distress ink & glue in place to create the window. Add a scrap of lace behind the window, before assembling the house.
7. Stamp just a portion of the ruler stamp onto a scrap of chipboard, to create the door. Color with vintage photo distress ink.
8. Assemble the tag as shown.
9. Add the finishing touches… lots of dots from the black glaze pen, the gold accents, the bow, the star & some pen stitching with the precision pen.
10. Add 2 swivel clasps & join them together with a jumpring, to create the hanger.


Here's the 5 Maya Road Supplies I used...

C903 2-Ring Scallop Layer book

C792 Heart and Home Chipboard Set

C704 Microchip Neutrals Scallops

C793 Jonathan Chipboard Alphabet

SMP944 Metric Ruler Singleton Stamp

Done!!

Guess what?

I'm off...to...


MAKE ART!!
wendy

North to Wisconsin........

I'm headed to the convention and classes today. The MAKE & TAKE is tonight. I'll be happy to meet up with those of you who have contacted me and talk ART. Should be a very fun weekend.

Back with an update on Tuesday...

Here's a hint...

I'll have some really BIG NEWS to share on...
THANKSGIVING DAY.

It's totally exciting...

Have a great arty weekend.

Like I said, I'll be in Wisconsin...
Make(ing) ART!
wendy
ps...I might even come home with some new rubber!

Shoes and a sneak..............

In ART and life...

It's all about the details...

See the little leather label? That sold me...

Placed in just the perfect location.........




They are comfy too.


And I thought I'd share a sneak peek of my next stamp release.
7 more sets coming out @ CHA-W, in January. I can NOT wait to get them & start using them.

Here's a peek...

OOPS...sorry about that! Kind of blurry. My photography skills suck...

Hmmmmmmmmm...could it possibly be a flower stem?

Have a good one.

I'm off to.......

Make Art!

wendy

The art adventure continues...

Next stop...


This weekend I'll be in Madison, Wisconsin @ Stamp Scrap Madison, playing in the Stampers Anonymous booth. The convention is held @ the Alliant Energy Center . It starts on Friday evening with some pre-convention shopping, then continues thru Sunday.


I'm excited...it's only 2 1/2 hours from home, so I can drive & avoid the airport scene.


I'll be doing 2 classes on Friday. The first is this Holiday hanging.




Here's the second class. The background & the flower color can be customized by using any distress ink color. We'll be using studio490 stamps for this class and also tim's black bird.





Then Friday evening I'll be doing free make & takes from 6 'til 10pm...again in the Stampers Anonymous booth.




We'll stamp this tulip on grungeboard, using studio490 stamps.
We'll use distress inks, make it dimensional, then add the finishing touch...the cool Jewel Flower made by Maya Road.


Here's another point of view...




I'll be demoing all day Saturday & Sunday...playing with stamps, inks & grungeboard.


So...if you're in the area...


Stop by, SHOP, PLAY...then you can go home and...


Make ART!
wendy

Arizona was...absolutely AWESOME!

There's another of those same letter titles...ha!



So in Arizona I...

* was welcomed with great southwest hospitality! THANKS Sharon & Debbie!


* did 4 fun classes @ Frenzy Stamper and got very inky. Everyone made some great art.


* met lots of new art friends.


*connected with some old friends...Nice to see you Lisa!


* got a surprise visit from Kim & Pearl. They drove down from Prescott & I think I actually screamed when I saw Kim. That was soooooo cool & totally unexpected. THANKS so much for coming!!


*enjoyed the awesome WARM weather. I REALLY enjoyed NOT wearing a coat.


* made art for the bathroom @ Frenzy Stamper. That's a tradition for guest instructors.


*shopped...2 cute pairs of shoes...Sharon made me do it. Photos another day...


*shopped...8 new stamps...Debbie's fault...she has a GREAT selection. Got some other arty goodies there too. I even special ordered some way cool mini word stamps. I LOVE rubber!


*had a little wine in a class...that's a first! Last class...so it was ok...don't worry! I behaved!


* had great ON TIME flights via Southwest, my favorite airlines.


* fell in love with Sharon's 4 legged boys...Vito & Wesley. 2 very cute Westies...

Thanks again to Debbie for the invite & to Sharon for making me feel @ home. I shall return!
I'll see you in just 3 short weeks...


Now I have a little something arty to share...


I'm always looking for ways to combine products & get a different look.


So...I had this idea to try alcohol inks OVER snow cap white pigment ink.


Here's the result........I'm loving it...




I inked my Maya Road chipboard flower with snow cap white pigment ink, dried it, then using the alcohol ink applicator, I applied the alcohol inks over the dried ink.

The top flower is cut from grungeboard. It works on grunge too. COOL!!


Here's a better look @ my favorite. This ink/alcohol ink combo makes a very cool very matte finish. I think I'll stamp on this guy later...with my studio490 screen stamp. (page 12).




And here's another color combo...same technique... he needs to be stamped too...




This is fun, quick...and very easy. There are tons of possible custom color combos.


Try it...let me know how you do...and....


MAKE ART!
wendy

I'm off............

to nice WARM Arizona.

I'll be back on Monday with some ideas for using...white pigment ink...alcohol inks...Maya Mists. FUN stuff!

Have a GREAT weekend...and remember to...

MAKE ART!
wendy

Yesterday...I played...

when I REALLY needed to pack for Arizona... Stop by @ Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale...if you live nearby.

Anyway, the good news...I got another CHA project completed yesterday. YIPPEE!

So...

This post is short...but it's LOADED with info.





This project is now up on Maya Road's website.


ALL the ingredients and all the instructions are there, to help you get started.


Here's the scoop. Grab some coffee & check it out.

Gotta pack...NOW...but I'd much rather...


MAKE ART!
wendy

stickles and soup??

Really?

I like it when the title has words with the same letter...I'm so easily entertained...

some days...

Keep reading...

BEWARE!!

...enabler alert!!

DISTRESS STICKLES HAVE ENTERED THE BUILDING!

So...I RIPPED that box right of of the hands of my Fed-Ex guy...and opened the first bottle I grabbed.

Here's a test dose of faded jeans on a kraft colored scrap...



I'm so loving the different sizes of pearly looking bits in them. They really are TOTALLY different than regular stickles...These guys are pure vintage. They add texture & dimension in addition to a little shimmer. An extra bonus...

I just had to play a bit more play last night... I LOVE the scattered straw & the antique linen... and the fired brick and the faded jeans...and walnut...and the peeled paint...Good thing I got them all.



Here I used them on grungeboard (the skinny flower) and on chipboard (the heart). They work great on both surfaces.

So... take it from me.........if you LOVE vintage, you'll NEED all these colors. I WILL be using lots of them in my projects and classes...you can count on it.

THANK YOU Tim & RANGER for giving us another cool product.

Now for a laugh...

Yesterday I TOLD you that I'm addicted to flowers...

It's NOT my fault...

They follow me.........everywhere.........

They're even in my soup.




So yesterday @ lunch Rick asked..."what's up with the soup pictures?" Then he saw the FLOWERS and he got it.........He just shook his head... He got it!

Life is flowery & oh so good...

Have GREAT day and........

Make ART!
wendy

My name is wendy vecchi and.......

I am totally ADDICTED to flowers!
OOPS...sorry wrong group!

BUT...I do know........

If flowers ever go out of style...I'll be out of business for sure.

I was working on a CHA project yesterday (that's why the photo is so small) & needed a finishing touch for a small chipboard flower. I had already added a Maya Road Jewel flower...looking good...but it needed a bit more dimension.

I tested a tiny rhinestone, but it didn't show up enough...it still needed something.

So...take a look...



On the right you'll see the jewel pin before surgery. A simple snip & the point & legnth are gone.

PERFECT...now it's a flower center.

See....I TOLD you...
ADDICTED!

It's Monday & it's another day to...
MAKE ART!
wendy

I didn't have an idea for a post today...

until I read Caroline's blog this morning...

When I was teaching in Texas, I mentioned that the Maya Road jewels could be made any color by applying Alcohol inks. Caroline showed that on her blog today. And...she also colored the new jewel topped pins. COOL!

So...taking it in a little bit different direction...by applying the alcohol ink MIXATIVES...you can also make them silver & gold...and OPAQUE for another look.




On the top is the original version...below left is the silver mixative and on the right is the gold.

So...not only can you make them any custom transparent color to coordinate with any project, they can also look like this.

And a reminder...if the color isn't a match, just remove it with the Alcohol Blending solution & try again.

Just what I like...quick & oh so simple! I think I better try the pearl & the copper mixatives next...hmmm.

Now...not only am I looking for things to use with those addicting Cuttlebug embossing folders...I'm looking for things to alcohol ink...

I'm off to the grocery then I'll come home to...

Make ART!
wendy

Arizona ART and a tip...

Next stop on this art adventure (YIPPEE...it's next week) is Frenzy Stamper in Arizona.

Debbie Bick (the owner) asked for something extra artsy for her customers.

I had heard that "inchies" were really popular there, so I wanted to to be sure to incorporate some in the class.

Here's what we'll be creating in an 8 inch square BLACK frame.



This class uses lots of products. The background is made with distress inks & Perfect Pearls. Just a little shine adds a lot to the look.

We'll use studio490 stamps, tim's stamps and other Stampers Anonymous rubber too.

We'll be stamping on grungeboard and using chipboard.

And speaking of chipboard...here's a little something I figured out...

I LOVE Maya Road's foundations tin. I've probably used up about 20 tins myself. Each tin has rectangles, squares, circles & ovals. They are perfect for framing a saying & a whole lot of other things too...

The circles make fun flowers...You probably KNEW that was coming.....

I'm way too predictable.

Anyway...

I NEEDED brackets for this piece, but they had to be simple & small. Checked my stash...NOTHING...

SO...............this...



made this..............GREAT size & shape...I LOVE it when the lightbulb is on full force, which is not every day... unfortunately.

I've lectured before to look @ the possibilities of what something COULD be...so I took my own advice here.




Here's a better look @ those "inchies". I have to admit...small is fun, but TINY is a TOTAL blast!




Now I need to find more frames like this so we can repeat this class in other places. I've completely used up my stash
of these cool 8 x 8's.


***Any ideas???***

I'm so looking foreward to seeing Sharon & Lisa again and I can't wait to meet some new art friends too.
*
And an extra perk for me...



ARIZONA IS WARM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Illinois is NOT!
*



So...in Arizona, we'll...


MAKE ART!
wendy
*
ps...thanks for the shoe comments. YES...they are SOFFTS, for those who asked.
*

Oops...almost forgot...one more thing...I'm still thinking about the possibility of making extra class kits & having them available here.
THANKS so much for your interest...I'll keep you informed.

Rick asked...

"I wonder if my wife is the only girl in the world who would buy shoes...



because they had FLOWERS on them?

Who cares if they're on the bottom?
NOT ME...
I KNOW they're there!
They make me smile!

And if you look closer...it looks like CRACKLE PAINT & FLOWERS. And...they came in BLACK!





Yep...made for me...
I just know it.
PERFECT!



Kind of inspiring too........I think I'll head to the studio now

and...

Make ART!
wendy
ps...They ARE comfy...but that's NOT important...
They have FLOWERS!

Sweet and simple...

Hey...

Time to get going on those holiday cards!

Here's a very simple card that can be completed in about 30 minutes. Make one...then set up an assembly line to make the process quicker. Complete instructions are on Ranger's site. Check it out here.

I LOVE the idea-ology hitch fastener used as a flower center...

Grab a cup of coffee before you visit Ranger's site... There's TONS of projects & free ideas there, covering lots of their products.

Ok...we're off to VOTE!!

I hope you all VOTE too!

After that...we'll come home &...

Make ART!

wendy

Inspiration and ideas...............

Where do they come from? Most times I have no clue.


BUT...this time I KNOW!


Tagret had an ad in the newspaper this weekend. It was for a quilt/comforter & the design caught my eye. I saved it with the intent of showing it here.


HOWEVER...in my haste to keep the place neat & tidy...I wondered why a Target ad was on the counter. SO...In the trash it went. When I started to write this post, I realized why I had saved it...OOPS!!...too late!


I guess you'll have to trust me...this 4 x 8 page from Maya Road's Landscape binder was inspired by that ad.



The papers are from Graphic 45, Kaisercraft & Creative Imaginations.

What else for today???

I'm still LOVING the metallic crackle paint... it takes a bit longer to dry...so give it time...but the wait is so worth it!

This is painted on tim's large grungeboard wings...




I rubbed Pitch Black Pigment ink into the cracks & left some on for a really grungy/tarnished look. It's just a little peek...since this is a CHA project.

One more thing.........

Friday's shopping yielded...

2 pairs of shoes...2 purses...2 scarves...

Hmmm...maybe this purse will be some ART inspiration.........



Hmmmm...possibly the starting point for a book closure?





Take note...pay attention to the details...........
Inspiration is everywhere!


MAKE ART!
wendy