phew...what a WONDERFUL week...and the winners...

What can I say??

It was...TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's what kept me busy for the week...

Ranger booth setup and take down...hard work...but LOTS of laughs with the Ranger family. Thanks for including me.
You guys are the best!

helping tim with his 2 classes...very fun!

meeting store owners...talking about inks, Perfect Pearls, stamps & grunge...

demoing everyday in Ranger's booth...I LOVED it!! It's so much fun to talk with people who actually GET IT!
It's TOTAL fun!

visiting my friends in the Maya Road booth. I might be prejudice...but the samples there were absolutely beyond amazing...seriously!
I heard that comment many times...

visiting my friends in the Advantus booth...Kim, Pearl & Keychain ...they are the queens of make & takes...

more visiting in the Stampers Anonymous booth...checking on studio 490 stamp sales...
which were...

OVER THE TOP!!! YIPPEE!!

I'm TOTALLY thrilled...THANK YOU ALL for ordering ALL the sets...and for all the wonderful comments.
You made me so happy!

Set #3...is in the works!!
YIPPEE again!

I got to meet up again with Rachel Greig, my friend from Australia...what a sweetie!

and then there is Ludmilla, from Canada..........what a HOOT!

a little shopping @ Disney

girls night out...a little more shopping

Ranger dinners with the group...

Then there were some EXTRA special...unplanned happenings...

I got to meet a blog friend from far away...Peggy Lee lives in Taiwan and visits my blog daily. She called me blondie, just like Rick does and she knows all about Ranger, the cover cat.
She's adorable! I hope you had a safe trip home, Peggy.

I got invited to downtown Disney...to a yummy taco party sponsored by ECLECTIC PAPERIE. Thanks Daisy & a special thanks to her daugher Samantha...she is simply... adorable & oh so very funny.

and this was a thrill...I met Kellene Giloff...the owner of all Stampington...
hmmmmm...you just might see me there someday...
I'm just saying..............she liked my flowers...she even came to Ranger to find me...that was EXCITING!

I also spoke with a few other editors/publishers...you never know what will happen in 2009...I'm just saying...stay tuned...

Now I have a few photos for you...these are from Tim's Advantus booth...

This display looked soooooooo cool...in person



I made enough flowers to cover the bodice of the dressform. They are all made with studio 490 stamps and either grungeboard or the new...GRUNGEPAPER.
Wait 'til you play!
It's ADDICTING stuff!

and...

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's the perfect match for my stamps. So EASY to stamp & cut...

Here's a better look...



And another...



This hanging was in the Advantus booth...




It's a fun combo of all things I love...

the base is a page from the square banner book made by Maya Road. The mini frame is also from Maya Road.

it uses studio 490 stamps, tim's grunge and his adage tickets, swivel clasps and philosophy tag.

the ink?...Ranger's distress inks...of course.

All my favorites on one piece...it's a dream come true!

Now a HUGE DRUMROLL..........

We printed out all the comments & all the email comments...I just couldn't choose...so...

Rick turned his head & pulled these 2...

the GRAND PRIZE of 4 stamp sets goes to.............

Hannah@the Doodlebug said...
WOW'O WOW!!! My top 3 are Art parts, Life and Art and Natures Art. I loved Art Parts before...and after the samples, but the samples sure helped! As for the prize...spit it up! These are great! We may to talk and get you over to Indiana to do a workshop!
January 24, 2009 10:50 AM

and.............

FIRST PRIZE ...3 stamp sets...will have a new home with...

KAT said...
Hope you are having a fabulous time at CHA! Not too tired and you have the chance to be really inspired!My fav 3 sets - Nature's Art because of your Butterfly using the Grungeboard and the leaves (I have the set with the plain leaves from last release), All About Art because the funky flower is so different and I love the Imagine the Possibilities sentiment, and 3rd Funky Flower Art - because Girl Friend I am just droolin over the flowers that you did with them and the Grungepaper!!!As far as my vote on how you give the prize away - I say share the love - any of us would be lucky to get even one set!!!
January 23, 2009 10:39 PM

So...Hannah & KAT...please send me you mailing info. I'll be sending them out just as soon as I get them from Stampers Anonymous...have fun making art!

Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful comments...I hope you keep visiting.

That's it for today...

Now it's time to do laundry &....
Make art!
wendy

2 photos and a GIVEAWAY...

A non-arty friend asked me why I rarely cook...

For this CHA I created...

For Ranger...

one large piece of art for the designer challenge

12 new pieces of art for the booth

all new demo tags

For Maya Road...

10 mini albums...the're fat & LOADED with stuff...

2 boxes

and a tag...with my photo..(yuck)...

For Stampers Anonymous...

I designed 7 new studio 490 stamp sets

25 stamp samples for the booth

For Advantus...

12 pieces of art

a "special" project...using grunge ...30 flowers...each unique

So...that's why we eat out...pretty simple...

Now a photo...then the giveaway info...




OK...those other comments were just PRACTICE comments...

In order to be entered into the giveaway...you need to tell me your 3...FAVORITE studio 490 sets... did they change after you saw some samples??

AND...answer this.......

should we give all 7 sets to one winner???

OR...

should we give 4 to the GRAND PRIZE winner and 3 to the FIRST PLACE winner??

That doubles your chances to win...

tell your friends...I hope to see LOTS of comments when I return...

I'll be back on Saturday & we'll announce the winner or winners....

Until then...



wendy

cats...flowers and grunge..oh my

Ranger is definitely...MY cat. Not only does he love mac & cheese..( he begs @ the refrigerator)...he's addicted to grungeboard too.

Here he is with his favorite toy...a strip of grungeboard.



He tosses it around & plays with it for an hour..non stop. He carries it all over the house...protecting it...funny guy.



I spoke with Mrs. Stampers Anonymous yesterday...
GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!
studio 490 stamps are already made & will ship after CHA!!! yippee!

OK...my favorite new studio 490 stamp???
Hmmmmmmmmm... that's hard...

Obviously I see potential in all of them...
but for today...

It's the 2 flowers from the "funky flower art" set.

Here's a sample...done with grungeboard & grungePAPER...

Same stamps...done with another technique...using only grungepaper...

versatile...see??

This cutie will be on my demo table in Ranger's booth.

The sparkles on the pink-ish flower...

Perfect Pearls...

It's all the rage...

Going green...I'm doing my part...

This leftover reinker bottle looked like a vase to me.......

I'm serious...

I see flowers or flower parts in everything........

***

The flowers are about the size of a quarter... they are very delicate...but strong...and are stamped on grungepaper. It's TOTALLY awesome stuff.....and PERFECT for studio 490 flowers & leaves...

***

Oh...that butterfly from yesterday's post...you got it...

GRUNGEPAPER.

***

Here's another favorite. This is from the "all about art" set...

This is stamped 3 times and layered using portions of the stamp. It's accented with distress stickles and a Maya Road button. Sorry...not the best photo...it's still dark...

***

OK...since I have not packed a thing...I better get that started

Today...

there's NO TIME to...

***

make art!

wendy

ps... keep those comments coming.

GIVEAWAY details tomorrow before I head west to CHA. THANK YOU MICHELLE!!

I know...I know...and more photos***EDITED***

I know...tim's images are up...

Where are mine, you ask? ** EDITED** They are @ the bottom of the post.
THANK YOU ZACH!

I will post them just as soon as I get the PDF files from Zach, the Stampers Anonymous computer genius...I asked...I'm waiting...

But in the meantime here's another "versatile" example...

Remember this from the other day??

You liked the border...



Here's the actual stamp...it's a tree...




But...stamped upside down...you can create a cool leafy border...

Versatile...

Here's more studio 490 CHA samples to hold you over...and keep you coming back...


I'm in love with the butterfly...I LOVE the dimension...





We had tons of requests for the scrolls to be individual stamps...Now they ARE!

The pointing finger is fun... there is also one that points to the left...





And by popular request...more leaves. They work well with lots of projects...

And ...there's more..........

we have a giant gingham background stamp...

a giant polka dot background stamp...

that cool mini bingo background stamp...

and...a special INCHIE stamp. I was totally impressed with the inchie art I saw while teaching in Arizona...I thought those art chicks needed an INCHIE stamp...check it out...below...

Here's the leaf border that I showed (on the heart) the other day...but...used a different way.

Think... VERSATILE... The background is a textured giant background...




I have to say that I am THRILLED with this studio 490 release... I have had a blast playing with them...

OK...on to some Maya Road CHA projects..

This little gear album is only about 4 inches across...See why I'm THRILLED with the mini alphas???
LOTS of letters fit in a small space...
LOTS of options now...





More mini letters, inside the new scroll frame, that has been misted with charcoal Maya Mist...

The background & letters are my favorite...vintage photo distress ink..




The houses are always so much fun to play with... and I LOVE it...another style brown flower...





This is the back cover of the square banner book.


New flowers...BROWN! COOL!

New sheer...

New scroll...a mini! And more of those mini letters...





Well...that's it until the files come.

I'll be back just as soon as I can...with an update...


Until then...

I need to...


Make art!
wendy


They're here...click on each for a better view!












So? Tell me what you think...

I'm thinking about asking for some stamps to give away...
INTERESTED??

What's your favorite set??

What IDEA do YOU have???

versatile and another 7

ver*sa*tile...according to dictionary.com...

1.capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another
2.having or capable of many uses: a versatile tool.
3.variable or changeable, as in purpose

***

Here's an example for those who thought the blue flower was a new studio 490 stamp.

It's the poinsettia...revamped.

***

Change the color...change the background stamps...now it's a flower for any occasion...versatile...

***

And that "mini bingo card" background stamp

...think about this...

***

*it's a large background...

***

* cut it in vertical strips...for a border...make it any width you need...straight lines...easy to cut

***

* cut it horizontally, in strips, for another border style. Cut some individual cards & layer them with foam dots to add dimension

***

* cut the mini cards individually & use them for cards, collages, ATC's...and they are perfect for......... inchie art!

***

VERSATILE...that's my goal with studio 490 stamps

Each set builds on the sets from the previous release.

***

Don't set the older stamps aside...use them in new ways.........

***

Here's today's studio 490 peek...

And the vital info...

The chipboard base is a page from Maya Road's Skinny Box with cards...it's inked with broken china & vintage photo distress inks...my favorite combo for making a GREAT vintage teal color........

***

The base is 2 1/2 x 7 inches...

***

The yummy brown velvet ribbon is Maya Road...

***

The test tube is attached with Glossy Accents from Ranger.

***

I see 7 ...what do you see?

***

Tell me!

***

PHEW.............I leave Friday...

***

Only a few more days to........

make (CHA) art!

wendy

ps...sorry for all the ***'s...Mr Blogger won't let me change the spacing...

5 yesterday...6 today...

and a little reminder...




NEVER send a naked envelope!

Make (envelope) art!
wendy
ps...tell me what you see...

I wonder what this is...

Hmmm...

Looks interesting...

Comments??

Questions??

Make art!

wendy

New Maya Road...

Sheers!

I immediately fell in love with the clocks...



I especially like that the hands are individual...My plan for using them next??

A baby card, with the hands pointing to the time she was born.
Custom is cool.

Here's the cover. The title is...LIFE...it's a wonderful thing...
It's made using the square banner book. The cover paper is made by 7 gypsies...YUM!

Rick cut an old wooden ruler to use as a little shelf for the letters...and it coordinates with the Maya Road ruler stamp, that I used on the "I".


Each page tells something that is wonderful...

I'll be back with more pages...but those have some new products that haven't been shown yet.

My studio 490 grid stamp made it very easy to add a few stitches for the flower stem...

And speaking of NEW stamps...here's what I'm thinking...

I LOVEEEEEEEE them!!

Even MORE than the first release??

YEP...I think so.............SERIOUSLY!

I had a blast making samples. It about KILLED me to put them in a box & TRUST that Mr. Fed-Ex will take good care of them...

These new guys work perfectly with the stamps from the first release and will give them a fresh new look, with lots more options for creating...

Everything is sized to be used with the first sets....

So...that means some of the flowers now have more options. Layering is good...flat is boring...

Those leaves that are a favorite...now have new backgrounds to stamp over them...My goal is to add to "the collection", so that you'll have many choices. VERSATILE is the key word here...

I can't wait to show you...

I think I'll go play with them now &...
MAKE ART!!
wendy

ps..If you're going to CHA...make sure to pick up a sticker in the Maya Road booth #1645. If you are spotted by a DT member, you just might win a little something......

and we now have...Maya Road...

MINIS!

YIPPEE!!!!!!

Look @ these cute guys...



They are exactly what we have NEEDED for cards, ATC's and mini albums.

Now we can add longer words to projects. I'm in heaven!

And since they minis are now posted, I can show the rest of this page...This shows how small the letters are.

It's from the new binder/envelope album that I posted on Tuesday.

The title is "these are a few of my favorite things".




Obviously studio 490 is @ the top of the list! Especially since the NEW STAMPS are in there...waiting for me!!!
*

There's also a better look @ the crochet trim in the photo.
I'll be ordering a roll of that stuff! LOVE IT!
*


Other things in the news........


NO!!!!!!!!!
We will NOT be dining on the deck today!
Glad...VERY glad, I'm IN!

YUCK!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure my Texas & Arizona friends will LOVE this photo...




CHA update...
***

My Maya Road projects are all sent...YIPPEE!
***

My Ranger samples are sent & already received. YIPPEE!!
***

My Stampers Anonymous samples are being Fed-Exed today, so they can be photographed for the catalog and the web site... YIPPEE!!
***

And speaking of NEW studio 490 stamps...I hope you've been paying attention to the photos from the last few days...

I'm just saying...

pay attention.......

......that's all I'm saying........
***

Now I'm off to studio 490 to...


Make (more) art...(for Advantus).

I hope you have a GREAT day...
Thanks for stopping by!
I hope you're WARM!
wendy

want to see more new Maya Road?

Here are 2 new products that made me drool.

You know me...I'll be buying a boatload of those flowers...

A girl can NEVER have enough flowers...

especially if they're BROWN!!!!!!!!!

And then the new stick pins...they're the perfect embellishment... I love the pearls...you'll see the other cool style (leaves) on the company blog.

***

The other new product (in today's peek) that I REALLY love is the crochet trim...

I'll be buying a whole roll, for sure.

***

Head over to the Maya Road blog to see some other new items. Leave a comment for a chance to win...GOOD LUCK friends!

***

Come back tomorrow for more photos & see more new product...

***

That's it for today. Now it's time to get the new studio 490 stamps all inky and LOVED!

Or...in other words...

It's time to ...

Make art!

wendy

finishing yesterday...and new today...

After blogging yesterday, Rick & I had a date...

Hobby Lobby, the grocery & lunch.

It's sad, but true.............We're pretty BORING.........and I was a CHEAP date.
But look out...one of these days when I have some time..............

Anyway...then I came home to a million emails about my post. OK...maybe not a million, but almost 30. YIKES!

It's obvious that I neglected to tell you about the papers & products used. OOPS...sorry!

So...here we go with the answers...

The Maya Road landscape binder is 4 1/2 x 9. Pretty big.
Lots of room for play.

The plain green background page (the inside back cover) was done with the green Maya Mist. The "Enter" page is the charcoal Maya Mist. It's a great color, because it's dark...but you can still stamp on it with jet black archival ink to make cool backgrounds.

On to the paper questions...

From left to right...in the photo...

1. Cosmo Cricket
2. Graphic 45
3. CI...Christine Adolph
4. Mustard Moon



Next shot...All 4 of these great papers are made by Graphic 45...




For those of you who guessed that the houndstooth was a new studio 490 stamp...NOPE...it's a current Stampers Anonymous stamp (#U4-1043). It's a favorite....

The Graphic 45 paper & the stamp coordinate well...



I think that covers everything...

NOW!!!!!!!!!


***BREAKING NEWS***

Want to see some NEW Maya Road products like this???



Check out the company blog...Leave a comment...get a chance to win some cool new products...

This cover was a BLAST...and turned out exactly as I had hoped it would...

I had one of those cheapo pink plastic stencils (HLOBBY??)....I layed it on the cover & squirted it with charcoal Maya Mist...So EASY!!!!!!!!!

I bet you know what's coming next...

YEP...off to...
Make Art!
wendy
Don't forget...head over to Maya Road...see more NEW PRODUCT photos...enjoy!
***EDITED***...how cool is this news?
MOST of the Maya Road products will be shipping right after CHA! They are ALMOST HERE!!
NO LONG WAITS...YIPPEE!

ready for some cha project photos??

Ok...here they are...

But first, a WARNING!!

NO VINTAGE PHOTO was used on this landscape binder...or any of the pages!

I KNOW...
It's SHOCKING...

I look @ this & wonder who made it...


First, the cover with another version of the altered trinkets blossom...

A better look @ the flower...It's fun to stamp on the buttons...



This was fun...I embossed only the center of the page and left the sides plain...I like the look...


More houses...

Another page...

It's hard to tell, but I stitched the bottom of the felt blossom & pulled the stitch tight to gather the flower. Now it's smaller & altered...

More embossing...

The tiny butterfly is a Maya Road stamp...stamped on grungeboard & cut out. I love the dimension it adds...good thing I have bifocals!

This was a really fun page...I like the long skinny legs on the bird. If you look closely, the flower stem is made with 2 photo turns, left over from the mini 3 tab book...

Another style of altered trinkets blossom. The wings are grungeboard, painted with metallic crackle paint. The finishing touch was pitch black pigment ink. I rubbed it into the cracks to highlight them & to tone down the metallic look.

I don't sew...only on paper...but I wanted to do a quilt like page.

Getting to the end........

And Rick said.........

The metal corners are Maya Road thick photo edges...

So there you have it. A ton of photos. This baby took me about a week to complete. I'm very slowwwwwwwwwww...

***

And no...........there are no new studio 490 stamps on this! ha!

All the emails from my last post made me laugh. NOPE no new studio 490 stamps there either...

But.........I PROMISE YOU...

SOON!!

VERY SOON!!

***

There's still plenty on the CHA TO-DO list, so I better get in there and...

Make Art...

Thanks for stopping by!

wendy