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