pigment and distress inks

When I was packing up class supplies for this weekend's art adventure...I spotted Ranger's snow cap white pigment ink...

hmmm...

TEMPTATION...

I couldn't resist...I NEEDED just a few minutes to play...

Here's the result... technique info below...




Using snow cap white PIGMENT ink, stamp your image...studio 490 of course...on a manilla tag.

HEAT DRY...it takes just a few seconds...

Then using the blending tool, with distress inks, rub over the entire image, until it pops.

At first it doesn't look like it will work...

TRUST ME...it does!

Keep adding ink & you'll see the magic happen right before your eyes!

For the sample above...
the heart is worn lipstick
the polka dot background is faded jeans
the gingham strip is peeled paint &
the small flower is mustard seed.

By adding just one more ink (white pigment)
you get another whole color pallette from the distress inks.
I love the possibilities!

Love that crochet trim?? I sure DO...I don't ever want to run out!
I bought enough to wrap around the whole house!

It's new from Maya Road.
You'll be seeing it on LOTS of my samples...COOL STUFF!

Back to packing...

glad I took a few minutes to...

make art!
wendy
ps...I just talked with Sharon from Buffalo Stamps & Stuff...wow! Full classes...lots of make & takes...
Sure sounds like a great weekend to me!

Timi, Emily & Samantha...

Phew...what happened to Tuesday??

It's gone...I was very BUSY here...and I accomplished a lot...
just NOT a blog update...YIKES!

Today I'm sharing art from friends...

Timi Taylor, co-owner of For Keeps Sake in St. Louis, brought her studio 490 acrylic storage cover to show me...

Sit down & take a look...WOW!
I LOVE it because it's full of grunge, studio 490 stamps and graphic 45 papers.
Just my colors too...
THANKS Timi...It's PERFECT!



Now if you're a blog friend, you have heard me talk about my new little friend Emily. She's 8 years old.

Emily sent me a photo of a fragments journal that she made for her teacher, who is retiring.

How CUTE is this??? I REALLY like all the embellishments.

My motto is...

If one is good...20 is better!
I see Emily agrees.
What a wonderful keepsake!
GREAT JOB Emily.



And this is from 12 year old Samantha. You must watch her video.

Her mom is co-owner of eclecticPaperie...a GREAT online store...

What a fun technique...it's actually a BLAST.
I HAD to say that...I KNOW it's corny...

This technique blasts canned air on alcohol inks...get it??

Daisy said that Samantha chose the music for the video...and did the demo.

You'll LOVE it...guaranteed.
I am TOTALLY impressed!
Keep up the good work Samantha!

Here's the You-Tube link.


That's it for today...

More packing, more kits and then I might get a little time to...
Make art!
wendy

Scrap St. Louis = FUN!!!

Now that was REALLY fun!!!

Here's what I liked the best...

1. teaching absolutely...WONDERFUL gals...
THANK YOU so much!

2. that everyone FINISHED their project.
That made me SO HAPPY! As each class heard...

I HATE unfinished class projects.

So...thanks for keeping up & getting the job done. I'm so proud of all of you!

Here's the project we made...


3. laughing...laughing & MORE laughing. We sure had fun!

4. meeting some fellow instructors...and making new friends...

thanks to Theresa, Margie, Stephanie, Cheryl, Joey, Rebecca for being so very nice & sweet.

5. Stacy Julian looked @ my art & bought MY STAMPS...

WHAT?????? REALLY???
It's TRUE!!
YIPPEE!

6. laughing with Margie...she's my new BFF...not sure she knows that! Guess I'll have to tell her...

7. shopping...shopping & MORE shopping....
mum's the word...let Rick be surprised...

You NEED to visit For Keep Sakes...Just a hint
...take $$$!

8. that I had THE BEST TA ...

THANK YOU NANCY WETHINGTON! LOVE YOU!

9. Timi Taylor & Nancy Norberg

THANK you for including me in this wonderful event.
You guys ROCK! Love you both!

10. and last, but certainly NOT least...
a HUGE THANK YOU to my sponsors who made our project possible...

tim holtz...idea-ology
Maya Road
Ranger Industries and
Stampers Anonymous!

it's a pleasure to work with you & your FINE products.

Now about photos...
YES...I took the camera & I actually took 12 photos...

But as you know...my photography skills suck & these are the only 2 that are worth viewing...

On Thursday evening after dinner, we did an artist trunk show & got to visit with all the participants...

Here's a shot of Linda's table ...full of metal art...




Here's my display...

Sue took lots of photos...so I expect to be seeing them up somewhere soon...

Did I tell her that I HATE to have my photo taken?

YES...

Here's me telling her to put the camera down or she had no chance of being my BFF...ever in this lifetime...

Did she take them anyway?

YES!

Do I still LOVE her?

YOU BET!

Oh well... tim once told me...

GET OVER IT...that's what I like about him...

No fluff...just get right to the point...men!

On the agenda for today...

getting ready for the next stop on this art adventure...
This weekend I'm @ Buffalo Stamps in Amherst, NY.

Sharon has a fun weekend planned.

Hope to see you there!

Stay tuned & come back tomorrow...

I got some cool things to show you...it's art made by other artists...

Until then, enjoy your day &

Make ART!

wendy

oops...I almost forgot...

That basket of goodies (with the tim tag) now lives with...

Melinda Kantz...she's one lucky chick...

flowers...more flowers...and stamps too

Remember this??

It's a photo of all the grungeboard/grungePAPER flowers that I made for tim's idea-ology booth @ CHA, this past winter.

I LOVED the look...the display was awesome...
if I say so myself!

I've been looking for something to display my flowers...
But I needed something a little more portable and it needed to be shippable...

Here's a Hobby Lobby find...

A mini dressform...

So...once again...

inspired by tim...

*

Now the FINAL tease about that basket

for the gals @ SCRAP ST. LOUIS...

*

There are 4 studio 490 sets in that basket...

and...

an autographed TIM TAG!

*

That's just the beginning of all the goodies...

I'm excited to see what the lucky winner thinks...

*

More stamp news...

studio 490 update...

*

I got the "proofs" for the CHA -Summer release..

which will be in July...

It's not the actual rubber...but the images via email...YIPPEE!!

*

So.....early next week I'll get them tweeked...

and then...

sent off to Zach for the finishing touches...

*

I'M very excited!!!

*

More flowers? YOU BET...

More giant backgrounds? YOU BET...

Some mini's?? YOU BET!

REALLY?

How small??

*

That's all I'm saying...

*

Rick is off to Fed-Ex this morning with 4 GIANT boxes of supplies & KITS for Buffal0 Stamps & Stuff...

*

We have 4 classes there and also a make & take on Friday evening...

*

We're planning a GREAT weekend...just for you!

If you're in the NY area...please stop by & say HI!

*

And now...

I'm off...

*

Meet me in St. Louie...it's a weekend FULL of...

Mak(ing) art!

wendy

more peeks for the Scrap St. Louis chicks...

I wanted to do a quickie post to tease the Scrap St. Louis gals a little more...

Hmmm...is this a giveaway basket????

One LUCKY...gal carries all these goodies away...



And what do we have here ???? Art by.....?




It pays to have CONNECTIONS!! ha!

Meet me in St. Louie & get a better look...

And...please scroll down to yesterday's post...
I don't want you to miss Samantha's art.

You'll be impressed...I GUARANTEE!

That's it for today...LOTS on the TO-DO list...

May you always be inspired to...

Make Art!
wendy

Samantha Sparks...and Scrap St. Louis peek...

You may remember this post.
It's where I introduced you to a young artist, I met in Carson California.
Her name is Samantha Sparks and she is 12 years old...

Here we are below...she's demoing studio 490 grunge flowers...@ the convention.




I'd like to show you her latest creation....take a look...
Is this not THE COOLEST tag ever?

I LOVE the colors...and I LOVE her choice of stamps.
She's GOT class!



Yes...the back is PERFECT too!




Samantha will be doing videos to show different stamping techniques, for her mom's store...eclectic Paperie.

I'll let you know just as soon as they are up & running.

I don't want to miss it.

THANKS SOOOOO MUCH Samantha, for sharing your art.
GREAT JOB!

Next stop for me in this art adventure...
Scrap St. Louis...this weekend!

Hmmmmmmm...what's this? What could it be??



Looks like a gift basket for some lucky chick...in St. Louis...

I see LOTS of stuff... from tim holtz idea-ology, Maya Road, Ranger and STAMPS from Stampers Anonymous....
How many sets??????????????

More than 1..?? CERTAINLY...more than 2??? You bet!!

Come back tomorrow...I'll show more...

And if you have a minute...
PLEASE leave a comment for Samantha! THANKS...

Make art!
wendy

more studio 490 and it's NOT my fault!

I took a few extra minutes on my (10 minute) lunch break the other day & found more studio 490 lovelies...

This was done by Glenda in the UK...
LOTS of studio 490 stamps...
I LOVE the color combo...

I rarely use purple...but when I see it used in my classes...
I LOVE IT...

Note to self...USE dusty concord distress ink......it's cool.

NEXT...
My friend Linda Cain took the bait & made this awesome metal embellishment...from another studio 490 stamp.
Pretty cool huh?
She's using it inside a journal...
simple & very effective...just the right touch...



And on the shopping scene...

When I was in Columbus, Ohio a few weeks ago...I shopped with Michelle, aka Mrs. Stampers Anonymous...

I rarely buy costume jewelry...but she made me do it!
Here's what she found in the BRIGHTON store...




Hmmm...they only had 2...she got one...I got the other...

Sorry Rick...It's NOT my fault!! Blame Michelle...

I've worn it several times to classes & it's funny...
someone always asks...did you make it?? It looks JUST like you!
Makes me laugh...
I think the design is very inspiring...hmmmmm...

THANKS MICHELLE! GREAT find!

Maya Road news...

I got a few BRAND NEW CHA-Summer things...OMG!!!!!

I about fainted...NO JOKE...to die for cool stuff...

I'd LOVE to show you, but it's in the contract...
KEEP YOUR LIPS SEALED!

So I will...But I'm just saying...

the stuff is REALLY AWESOME! I can't wait to play...

Time to pack up the supplies for tomorrow. It's another grunge flower workshop @ my LSS Scrapbook Friend'z, in Bloomington Illinois.

The last class sold out...so we needed to do another. Looks like I'm not the only grunge flower lover in the area...

So gals...prepare to get inky!

Have a GREAT weekend...
Remember to...
make art!
wendy
oh...one more thing...
I sent some preliminary studio 490 stamp designs to Zach, the computer genius for tweeking...yippee!
Now the wait to get them back...
They will be released@ CHA in July...or maybe Carson??

more studio 490 sightings...

If you read yesterday's post, you'll see that I'm BURIED in kits here.
I've been stamping LOTS, as evidenced below...

Here's...



60 sheets of grungePAPER
and 120 sheets of grungeboard for 2 classes...

We'll be making 6 flowers...
20 images per person=1200 stamped images...
All that stamping and no art to share.
WHAT??


BUT...luckily Lynne Forsythe came to the rescue & sent me this...
she used my stamps on metal...

I've been waiting for this...
I'm thinking my outline stamps are perfect for metal...
the open spaces will work great with the 10 seconds molds...
think about it... if you like metal...

Here's a close up...



and the finished book...

What yummy spring colors...and a very unique look...
It's so different from my normal grungey distress style...
I LOVE IT!




Lynne explains her technique here...

BUT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't go just yet...

I found this today...

Another masterpiece from Nancy Wethington...

You KNOW I LOVE these colors...

And take a close look @ the flowers & leaves...

PERFECTION!



Check out Nancy's blog here...

Thanks gals for sharing your ART!
A post without photos would be oh soooooo boring...

Next on the agenda...
MORE kits...these are for Scrap St. Louis...

I understand there are still a few seats....
so...it's not too late to join the fun...

And here's a tease...to get you excited...

I got a box of goodies yesterday from tim...
& they're JUST FOR YOU... Scrap St. Louis chicks!

And he also sent.........??? ha!

I'm NOT telling...but I'm just saying...
it's COOL!

So to recap...I've got fun stuff from my sponsors...

Special THANKS TO...

tim holtz idea-ology

Maya Road...hmmm...I see a 10% off sale on their site! Check it out!

Ranger ... I scored us something VERY SPECIAL...
not even in stores yet!! I'm just sayin'...AWESOME!

AND...
Stampers Anonymous...I LOVE their stamps!
ha! But then...I may be just a bit prejudice...

So...if you like these products...
you can bet that my workshop uses goodies from these GREAT companies...

don't miss...
Scrap St. Louis...it's NEXT WEEK...

I better get going on those kits...

I hope you can...
Make art!
wendy
ps...now you can go & check out the links!
THANKS for stopping by.

kits & forks

Since the "studios" issue, I've had lots of requests for more house photos...

The question is...
What does your house look like??

The answer...it looks like my art...

When we built our home, one of the things I really wanted was a large counter area...

believe it or not, I USED to bake...
LOTS of cookies...I LOVED it...

BUT...that was BS...(before stamping!).

Now, instead of the cookie counter...
we have a KIT counter...

Yep...that was the activity of the weekend & it will continue this week...

LOTS to get ready for classes...
this is the start of the Ranger techniques kits...

Thank God for that cookie counter...



At end of the counter is this...



See that old fork? I found it @ a flea market...
Rick asked what the plan was...

Why...FRAME it, of course!
What else would you do with a cool vintage fork?
it's ART~!




Check out the wallpaper...
like I said...
the place looks like my art.
Vintage photo??
Agree?

Back to the kits...
BUT...
I'd really rather...

Make ART!
wendy

I had this idea...**updated**

**updated with the finished card @ the end of the post**

@ 2 AM...what?
Yes...a vision so clear I HAD to get up & try it...

Someone in a class told me that art keeps her sane...
that might NOT be the story here...2AM???
I know...
It's TOTALLY nuts!

ANYWAY...

One of the techniques we learned @ Ranger U is tim's wrinkle free distress...it's a FAVORITE of mine.

You swipe the distress ink pads right on to the craft sheet...mist with water from the mini mister, & then press the tag into the inks & dry. FUN...

But since I'm the "official" Perfect Pearls demo chick for Ranger @ CHA...
I've been thinking about what new fun I could have with Perfect Pearls...

You need to gather these ingredients & work on Ranger's craft sheet... if you want to play along...

A border stamp...studio 490, of course
(I'm trying a giant background stamp next)

3 colors of distress inks..I chose peeled paint, broken china & brushed corduroy

a mini mister...add a dab of Perfect Pearls & fill with water up the the last "R" in Ranger...then shake.
I used Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls for the sample.

Pat the inks onto the craft sheet...leaving no space between the colors...then mist the inks with the pearlized mini mister, until you see the ink bead up.

It should look like this...


Stamp the numbers stamp into the ink, then stamp on the tag...
do this 3 times...
no need to clean the stamp in between the stampings...just stamp & go...then dry with the craft tool.

It couldn't be easier...a distress Perfect Pearls background...



So, instead of misting the entire background with shimmer, as I've showed before...
the shimmer is only on the stamped area...
Take a look... I like it!



Remember, once mixed with water, Perfect Pearls are
permanent.
You won't be WEARING glitter and no special fixative is needed.

Now I'm off to find a flower to use on this background and...

Make ART!
wendy
ps...Happy Easter! I hope you eat LOTS of candy!

Here's the update...

Ok...so I didn't use a flower...

It's shocking...

I saw my cute tree stamp sitting there...just what I wanted...

All stamps are studio 490...

It's easy to make the Maya Road bird more dimensional...

Just trace a wing onto the back of grungePAPER, cut it out, ink & stamp...and curl...

An idea-ology snap is the perfect embellishment...

Now I'm off to try this with a background stamp...those class kits will have to wait just a bit...

I'm on a roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

studio 490 build a better bird...digging for treasures

As requested...here's more info on the build a better bird workshop...

This guy will be flying out to either Buffalo Stamps, in NY or to the Stamping Place in Columbia SC.
Both stores have this workshop scheduled in May.

Here's yesterday's creation...another is in the works...but it's not ready for a debut just yet...



a reminder...
distress inks can easily change the color of a fabric brad...
this started out as stark white...
just a little brushed corduroy toned it down for a coordinated look...


I LOVE the grunge wings...there's that leaf stamp again...
looks a little different than yesterday's post...




Each person will start with the same wooden bird (several color choices are available)...
and create a unique...
ONE OF A KIND...piece of art...

You'll have TONS of organized trinkets & treasures to choose from...
here's a partial photo...




And, if you like to dig for buried treasures...
you'll like this pile of stuff...

Other ingredients include grungeboard & grungePAPER...perfect for stamping with studio 490 stamps,
to make custom wings, the tail or even a hat. It's up to you!




I've been collecting STUFF for a long time & this is the perfect time to use it & enjoy it...

After the class, the bird can be left on the wood block for display or it can be added to a base of your choice...

I'm off to build another better bird and...
make art!
wendy

take one of these and 4 of these....

add few more ingredients, pictured below...

you'll also need some scraps of grungeboard & grungePAPER & peeled paint distress ink...


Now you can make this...



here's how...............

Stamp 4 studio 490 leaves onto grungeboard, cut out & ink the fronts & backs with dusty concord.

Using Jet black archival ink, stamp a studio 490 background stamp on all the backs...

Punch one tab from grungePAPER...
ink with dusty concord...& stamp with a background stamp...

Edge each piece, using Ranger's gold paint dabber...

I LOVE that it's so simple...and it dries quickly...
I like that since I have zero patience...

The finishing touch is a few squirts of Perfect Pearls.
I used sunflower sparkle...

It's mixed with water in a mini mister...just mist, then dry it with the heat tool...

Once mixed with water...the sparkly Perfect Pearls are set...no special fixative is needed...

no mess like glitter...I like that a lot...

Sunflower sparkle is my favorite...
but then so are turquoise...perfect gold...and I can't leave our heirloom gold...

HEY...
this is MY BLOG!

I can have as many favorites as I want! ha!

Here's a closer look...



Once again...

a reminder...

Look past the obvious...the leaf...

and see the potential...it's FUN!!

And speaking of fun...

Here's a little teaser for the art chicks attending Scrap St. Louis...

A box FULL of Ranger goodness...it just arrived yesterday...




Want to see what's inside???

Hmmm........too bad..

I guess the photo doesn't show everything.

You'll just have to come to St. Louis to see it all...

I hear that there are some openings...

I hope you can join us...

I'm expecting a GREAT weekend!

There will be...

Lots of workshops...lots of SHOPPING, lots of friends & laughs...

lots of good food...YEA!! NO COOKING!!!

Did I mention LOTS of SHOPPING?????????

And one more thing...

I'm certain we'll all....

Make ART!

wendy

inspiration is EVERYWHERE...

it REALLY is and here's the proof...

Tina works @ Scrapaganza & decided @ the last minute to take the Maya Road 4 inch binder class...
but... she didn't have her craft sheet with her.

So...she grabbed a 12 x 12 chipboard to use as her work surface & to protect the table.

Toward the end of the class, when I was walking around,
this caught my eye...

portions of studio 490 stamps, distress ink...black archival ink...


It was Tina's chipboard...

I immediately saw a wonderful background & showed everyone...
then told Tina, that I would save it & make something...a card...whatever...

Guess what?
She did...and she showed me...

Here's Tina's art...it's wonderful!



Click for a closer look & you'll see the background which could have easily been banished to the trash.

The moral of today's story?

Waste NOTHING!
See the potential, then...

Make art!
wendy
ps...THANKS for sharing Tina! GREAT job!

We misted, inked, stamped, grunged & even fragmented...

@ Scrapaganza in Davenport, Ia.

Don't faint...
I actually did take a few photos this weekend.

We started Friday evening with Maya Road's 4 inch binder class...FUN! Phew...5:30 'til past midmight...but everyone left with a finished project and inky fingers...
I like that!

The first class on Saturday was my studio 490 stamped, inked grungeboard/grungePAPER flowers...

Here's some of the girls hard @ work...
In the foreground are Lolli & Linda..
Lucky Linda won one of the doorprizes...which included the elusive GRUNGEPAPER...
yep...she squeeled!



The second class Saturday was the "use your scraps" fragmented journal.
We take 2 pages from Maya Road's 4 inch binder & make a journal that is actually USEABLE...

I told them @ the beginning of the class, that as many times as I've done this class...there has NEVER been an ugly one made...

SERIOUSLY... they were doubters...but in the end...they ALL agreed.
I didn't get all the journals...some of my photos were really blurry......

Here's the proof...and some inspiration for you...




A closer look @ these...




2 more...




Now I bet you're wondering about the cutie on the right in the next photo...





Here'a a better look...
This was made by 8 year old Emily...
she was for sure...THE CUTEST art chick there...


Very polite, very talented, VERY smart & oh so sweet.




I will NEVER forget this story...

When Emily asked if I'd like to look @ her book...she asked if I thought she should send a photo to TIM HOLTZ...WHAT????????
An 8 year old?????????
Boy, the fans sure do start young...

When I sort of laughed...
(because I thought her mother put her up to that)
she told me that she has "2 emails from tim already".

I smiled all the way home...


Well...all the photos so far have been wonderful...


The next is NOT...


Here's what we woke up to this morning..............



Looks like no new Easter outfit is needed...just a winter coat.
It's APRIL.......where is the weatherman????????
Who do I report this to???
GEEEEEEEEEEEEZ........


Come back tomorrow & I'll show you something very cool.

Tina took what could have easily ended up in the trash & made a wonderful framed piece of art...
it's Cool...very cool...


Stay tuned, stay warm... and...
Make ART!
wendy