this was fun!

This is NOT what I set out to do...

Rick asked if grungepaper tears...

So as I showed him (lucky guy got a private demo!)...
I tore a circle....almost...

Hmmm...looked to me like the beginning of a flower...
then I tore another circle...

and a third smaller...

See where this is going?

FATE!

and here's the result...


Grab these supplies to make this quick flower...

*grungepaper
*inkssentials non stick craft sheet
* distress inks...broken china, brushed corduroy & peeled paint
*inkssentials blending tool, with blending foam
* jet black archival ink for stamping
*adhesive
*idea-ology snaps
*grungeboard scraps
*black glaze pen, Sakura
*vintage button or 2
*pencil

These studio 490 stamps...
*screen background from the "art rules" set
*gingham background from the "natures art" set
*bingo background from the "life & art" set
*leaves from the flower on "all about art" set
*stem from "funky flower art" set

Quickie instructions...
* lightly trace 3 concentric circles on the grungepaper, with a pencil.
trace 3 circles from punches...
or I used a glass, a vase & a spice jar...
VERY technical! not!!

*make a tiny slit & start tearing the grungepaper, following the circle outline...remember...art doesn't have to be perfect!
these circles won't be!

*use the blending tool & ink the front & backs of the smallest & large with broken china

*the middle size with brushed corduroy.

*using jet black archival ink...
stamp the front & back of the smallest with the bingo background stamp

stamp the middle with the gingham

stamp the largest with the screen stamp

*form the flower by rolling the edges...
MAGICALLY..they stay in place!

*assemble the flower, using scraps of grungeboard between the layers to add dimension

* stack 2 buttons for the center & add the snap

* stamp the stem & the leaves on grungepaper scraps using the jet black archival, then ink the front & back with peeled paint, using the blending tool.

* using jet black archival, stamp the leaves with the screen stamp and the back of the stem with the screen stamp also.

* glue the stem to the back of the flower & glue the leaves in place.

* curl the leaves & the stem

*add glaze pen dots on the button & around the flower center

* the snap is the finishing touch!

Like I said...flower fate!

and just another way to...

make art!
wendy

take 10 on tuesday for...

some..."perfect" stamping...

That's what I'm calling this technique, because Ranger's Perfect Pearls are the key ingredient.

This is a take off of tim's "wrinkle free distress" technique.
One of the MANY I got to learn @ Ranger U.

You may remember this post, where I HAD to get up @ 2am to try an idea...
I couldn't wait to see if it would work.

By adding just one more step...to the above post
you get another look...

Here's the supplies you'll need to play along...

*manilla tag
*Inkssentials non stick craft sheet
*heat it tool
*mini mister with water
*distress inks…faded jeans, black soot, walnut
*blending tool with foam pad
*sunflower sparkle Perfect Pearls
*gold paint dabber

* the background stamp is from the studio 490 set “forever art”

READY... SET...

Let's make art...

* Working on the craft sheet, ink the entire tag using faded jeans distress ink & the blending tool. Always work from the craft sheet, onto the tag in a circular motion to get perfectly blended backgrounds.

*It should look like this...





*Take an empty Mini Mister, dip the tip of a craft stick into the sunflower sparkle Perfect Pearls to pick up a small amount of powder.

*Drop the PP into the Mini Mister & add water up the last “R” in Ranger.
Shake to mix. Now you have a shimmer mist.

*Swipe the walnut distress ink pad and the black soot pad onto the craft sheet & mist with enough Perfect Pearls/water mixture to create beads of ink.
The inky area should be larger than the background stamp and should look like this...




* Using the background stamp, stamp into the mixture & then stamp onto the tag.
Repeat until the tag is covered with the background stamp.

*Dry with the heat it tool.

* Here's the result...you may want to click for a larger photo.
It's much cooler in person...
I had a hard time getting a decent photo, because of the shimmer.



* I hope you can see that the Perfect Pearls are only where the stamping is. So, instead of misting the whole tag with Perfect Pearls, you can control exactly where the pearls are placed.

* I like it!

*Another plus...once mixed with water, Perfect Pearls are set...no special fixative is needed & you won't be "wearing" glitter!

* Try this too...oops...
I'll save that for another day...

*I'm off to add an edge with the gold paint dabber...and then maybe a...???

grungepaper flower...(the grungepaper is in stock as of this morning!)

It's your turn to try "perfect" stamping...
let me know how you did!

I'd LOVE to see your results!

Remember...
It's really fun to...

make art!
wendy

helping and holiday

or maybe the title should be...
ENABLING and holiday...

I get emails every day asking where to get the products I use...

Where can the elusive grungePAPER be found???
When are the Fillable alcohol ink pens shipping???
Who has the Memory Capsules in stock???

So...to make your shopping easier...

I'm now working with Joy & Daisy @ eclecticPaperie to provide you with one stop shopping...

Here's how it will work...

They will let me know when NEW products arrive...
and when items are SOLD OUT... (so you don't waste time looking)...

and I'll provide the link here, so you can grab what you need before it's GONE...

I chose to work with them because...

They have EXCELLENT customer service...
quick shipping...I WANT my stuff IMMEDIATELY!
I bet you do too...

They give eclectic goodies with orders over $40.00!
FREE stuff is GOOD!

... they are NICE gals too!

and...

they will have ALL my studio 490 stamps in stock!!

YIPPEE!
I LOVE to help people SHOP!

Your hubbies may not love me...
but they'll get over it when they see how happy you are!...ha!

So...if you've been looking for grungePAPER...
eclecticPaperie just got some in yesterday...

Grab some quick...it flies out the door as soon as it arrives everywhere!

Get a pack or 2...believe me...
it's ADDICTING stuff...

TRUST ME...
you won't want to run out!



Happy Memorial weekend from Rick & I to all of you!

This is our huge flag pole...
It was a Christmas gift to me a few years ago...
I LOVE IT!

As you can see...

we really DO live in the middle of nowhere!!

Critter report...

yes...the skunk is still around...
looks like we'll need to hire a sharp shooter...

I hope I'm out of town that day!

That's it!

Happy LONG holiday weekend and
Happy SHOPPING...
HEY...it's a FACT...

You NEED stuff...
to...

make art!
wendy

cute storage?

you bet...they thrill me!

We got these @ Costco...$129.00 ea.

The web site listed on the box is here.
They don't have the exact same unit...ours are larger...
maybe they are made specifically for Costco??

Nice & sturdy...the bins are solid & look unbreakable...

Rick has them put together & all set up in the basement...
YIPPEE!



CUTE AGREE?



If I'm not making art...I'm quite happy to organize!

Let the fun begin!

I hope you...

Make art!
wendy

art stuff, vintage stuff and skunk stuff...

WHAT???

SKUNK???????

First...the art stuff...

I need to add more info for yesterday's post...

I was in a hurry to leave...Sorry about that!!


Rick said...
ROAD TRIP...get dressed!

We'll go get your organizers @ Costco...
(I'll have photos, as soon as they are assembled!) They're cute!

SHOPPING?

And maybe a quick stop @ an antique mall???

I'm outta here...I moved like the place was on fire!

So...

Here's the scoop about filling the alcohol pens, right from tim.

Filling info & more...check it out on you tube...

The cool striped background paper I used is from My Mind's Eye...
LOVE IT!

The pattern name is BelleBella French Flea Market Bleu Striped Item # BB1027...

Presentation board is a black mat type board...
it comes in large sheets @ Hobby Lobby...
I use it a lot...
Hey...it's BLACK!


Yes...once filled...
the pen works just like a marker on non porous surfaces...

metal, like I did...
transparencies...
glossy paper...
clear rhinestones...
fragments...

try the pens...you'll have fun!

now the vintage stuff...

We found some cool things again...

I love numbers...text...

A whole roll of carnival tickets...LOVE the color...
perfect for a class or 2 or 50!

And...an old drawer with a cool handle...
It's black...
I knew it was meant for me...



This was my best find!!
A vintage garment cutter...
it's about 2 feet tall...

copyrighted 1890!



Right now it's leaning on a hoosier in the dining room...
but it may just end up in the bathroom...
after the redo...
still got to find some cool black faucets...
I need more hours in the day!

Since our bedroom is across from the bath...
I'm planning a bedroom redo too...but that's still a secret!
Don't tell you know who...I'd like to surprise him...
or gently break the news...


We had a lovely day together...
stopped for dinner...
NO COOKING!
YIPPEE!

I sat down to read the newspaper...
looked out the window & saw this...

Click to make the photo larger...
See the spot in the middle???

I thought we had company...
a new mouth to feed...


I think...NOT!!

YIKES!!
A SKUNK!!!!!!!!!!

Now what???

We both love animals...
but ...we have limits...

How can we get this guy out of here??????????





And we saw him again early this morning...horrors!!


Any ideas???
Tell me if you do!!!
PLEASE!

I don't have time to be on "skunk patrol"...

I need to...

make art!
wendy

15 minute ART...aka alcohol ink play

Play is good!!!

I've been working pretty hard...and I NEEDED a little play time...
no assignments...
just some ART FUN...

So, looking around the studio, I thought I'd grab something I'd not played with in a while...

This case of goodness caught my attention...

These are Ranger's new Alcohol Ink Fillable Pens...
hmmmmm...

What could I do with them that's a little different???
I only had a little play time...




But first...if you have one of tim's cases...
(these guys are discontinued...)
the pens are a perfect fit...


If you are lucky enough to find one...
GRAB IT!

Cool storage is another thing I LOVE!



In 15 minutes...here's what I made...


I'm a very slow creator...but this was fast & soooo FUN...
and it made me happy to have a completed project in such a short time...



If you want to play along...

you'll need these Ranger products...

The craft sheet.
I NEVER work without it...ever...

Alcohol inks...a few colors...
or if you're like me...GET THEM ALL!
They last FOREVER, since you only use a few drops...

The NEW fillable alcohol ink pen...
get several...you need one dedicated for each color...
and...
keep one for blending solution...

silver paint dabber

A memory frame & memory glass...
I used the 2 x 2...

Jet black archival ink...it's an essential

Coffee archival ink...I almost always use this for background
stamps...unless I use jet black or olive archival...the 3 basics for me...
oops...sepia too...make that 4 basics!

from studio 490... these stamps...

life is art
polka dot background stamp
scroll and screen background

from tim's idea-ology line...

a washer
the foliage...I used a larger flower & a small one and one of the leaf pieces

a game spinner...they make PERFECT stems for flowers...
and a long fastener...

other stuff...

a frame...I used a square 5 x 5
background paper cut to fit the frame
a scrap of kraft cardstock 2 x 2
black glaze pen by Sakura
a small piece of black presentation board...mine is 3 1/4 square
black rhinestones...
scrap of cardboard

OK let's start...
1. stamp the screen stamp on the kraft cardstock with the coffee ink.

2. stamp the saying with black ink

3. stamp the scroll toward the top left, with black

4. assemble the memory frame...I used the chipboard as a backing, since it can't be seen. I kept the ring to the left, so that I could attach the folliage pieces

5. cut the background paper to fit the frame and stamp with coffee ink & the polka dot stamp

6. Using the fillable pen...ink the leaves with any green alcohol ink & use another pen (filled with a blue alcohol ink) to color the flowers.

7. assemble the flower...insert the brad into the washer, small flower, large flower, leaves, game spinner & thru the ring on the memory frame.

Spread the prongs to hold in place.
Add rhinestones on top of the washer

8. Edge the presentation board with the silver paint dabber...
it's simple...and adds a lot...then
Glue the memory frame onto the black presentation board & glue that to the background & insert into the big frame.

9. For the final details, I added some glaze pen dots around the presentation board and a few on top of the memory glass...
and a row of rhinestones on top of the memory glass.


Here's another look...




and another...




I hope you'll take time to play...
try this simple idea and...


as always...


make art!
wendy

hannah's, vintage finds and emily

I hope your weekend was as much fun as mine was...

On Friday I drove to Hannah's in Antioch, Illinois...it's about 3 hours from here...

LUCKY for me...I had plenty of time to SHOP...
OMG...I had NO willpower...
Sorry Rick!
$$$ later (the first number is a 3!)...YIKES!
I found LOTS of cool fun stuff!




See those mini Jenni Bowlin papers?
I think MINI is soooooooo cool and perfect for the small Maya Road albums...
and cards too..


I HAD to have 2 packs of my favorites...
God forbid I ever run out!


After shopping, it worked out for me to set up for my 2 Saturday classes....
then get my art displayed...
PERFECT...less rushing early on Saturday.


The classes were great fun, if I do say so myself!
Lots of new friends...and I got to see some Scrap St. Louis friends again. COOL!

Everyone left looking inky...
and happy & LOADED down with purchases...

There was NO grungepaper left...no blending tools...no replacement pads...


you get the idea...they SHOPPED too!


They liked studio 490 stamps...lots found new homes.

Get ready Ted & Michelle...
Dana has a special order to call in today!


Thanks to everyone @ Hannah's, all the students
and...especially Dana & Jill...
GREAT store...GREAT students & GREAT shopping!

Here's a few of our vintage finds from yesterdays road trip...
Inspiring stuff...


See that old metal toilet paper holder??
Hmmm...it could be a purse handle...
or I might use it in the bath as a towel holder...
Ah...the possibilities!


There are a few more treasures too...but those will be gifts for friends...
so mum is the word until they get them!



And if you are a blog reader...
you've heard me talk about my little friend...
8 year old Emily, from Iowa.

We have become friends & today is her birthday!
Please join me in saying...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to 9 year old EMILY!!
Emily..I hope your day is PERFECT!

I even got invited to her birthday party, which was on Saturday.
I sent her a note to let her know that I couldn't make it, because I was teaching that day...
but that I would send her a box of goodies.

Her reply was that she would like something"homemade".

SO...that request went right to the TOP
of the To-Do list...
PRIORITIES!

Here's Emily's BD card...



The base is a page from the Maya Road 4 inch binder...
the mini alphabet is Maya Road too...
like I said...
I LOVE MINI...ahem...(that explains the new studio 490 stamps...
make mine mini art!!)

It's hung with tim's swivel clasps...yes they are the same color...
the photographer didn't do a good job...
that would be...ME!

That cute daisy? studio 490, stamped on grungepaper...and using my new favorite distress ink...
MUSTARD SEED...
it's much cuter than the label shows!
TRUST ME!

Emily's card should arrive today along with a HUGE box of art supplies...

Enjoy Emily...I'll be waiting to see what you create!

Now...

Time to unpack the stuff from Saturday and repack it for the next stop on this art adventure...

The Stamping Place in Columbia SC!
I can't wait...
Barbara just added on to her store & we'll be playing in a brand new classroom. It sounds AWESOME!

We have 4 fun classes scheduled...the "Build A Better Bird" is one!
Hope you can join us!!

That's the update from here...

Take care and...

make art!
wendy
ps...don't tell Rick that the first number is a 3...
we girls gotta have some secrets! thanks!

more studio 490 found ART...

Here's more inspiration...from my friends...
Click on the photos to see the details...

I found this on Nancy Wethington's blog...

WOW! How awesome!!!
She used the studio 490 arrows as a stem...

COOL...that NEVER entered my little mind.

I LOVE the idea...I like thinking outside the box...
It's fun to look past the obvious...
Nancy did!

I LOVE the colors & the entire piece.
Check out her blog...she's going to TEACH...

Mary Engelbreit!!


SERIOUSLY...How cool is that?




And from MY MASTER...Lisa Pace...

I am amazed @ how she stamped on (cheapo) felt...
& made it look so rich & elegant...



another look...




Her stitching is PERFECT...
totally amazing...

from a simple studio 490 leaf stamp...



TOO CUTE!




THANKS Lisa & Nancy...GREAT work.
You made my stamps look good!

In other breaking news...
I'm PATIENTLY (NOT) waiting for the release of Lisa's book.
It's due out in the spring of 2010...

YIKES...that's still a year away....

but I'm certain it will be worth waiting for...

Lisa completed 100...
YES...100 PROJECTS for the book...
That makes my head spin...I can't even imagine...


As soon as I have more info...like the book NAME etc...
I'll post it here.
I'd be sooooooooo happy to @ least see a sneak peek of the cover...
just something to hold me over...

I'm betting you might see some glitter used...just my guess!


YIPPEE!!!
I already have some of my MAYA ROAD CHA-S projects DONE...

2 really big ones...I'm slow...so that's HUGE for me...
a mini album takes me a WEEK...
that's 10 hours a day...
SERIOUSLY...SLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 smaller ones...one is TOTALLY different for me...
I looked @ it this morning & thought...
who made that???
You'd never guess that I did...

I like them...but mum is the word, until we get closer to CHA.
Caroline (MS Maya Road) tells us when it's OK to start the peeks...so bug her!


And a HUGE YIPPEE!!! I'm sooooooooo excited & HAPPY!
All 7 sets of studio 490 stamps are sent to Zach...

I CAN'T WAIT to get them...and start making art...

I stayed with 7 sets again...I ALMOST did 8...
BUT....
I must be superstitious...

It's going GREAT...why change a thing??
7, 14 and soon 21 sets...
21
That sounded like a lucky number...

Each again has ART in the set name...

There's a mini set...
It's PERFECT now that we have easy to cut...grungePAPER!
Small is sooooo fun...

And some LARGE too...

More GIANT backgrounds and...
a few surprises...

MORE Flowers?? CERTAINLY!

Like the other 2 releases...
they are all sized to coordinate with the other 14 sets...
No overwealming patterns...
Mix & match... for LOTS of options...

VERSATILE...
That was my goal...

That's all for today...
Gotta pack up art supplies for Hannah's in Antioch, Illinois.
We have 2 classes on Saturday...

Ok gals...
Prepare to get inky and

make art!
wendy

as promised...the shopping report

First stop on the treasure hunt...an antique mall...

These guys will be perfect for our planned REDO of the main bathroom.
It's vintage americana now...
but,
it's time for a change...


The plan is to make it more studio 490 style...
yep...
black, brown & tan...
I already have the curtains...black & tan checked...cute!

Once I find the perfect BLACK faucets and the right wall color...we'll get started...

I'll try to do before & after shots...

So these will hang on the wall ...
These are both larger than they look...
18 inches wide...
I thought they were unique...



And I LOVED this...a vintage shaving mirror...
for Rick's bathroom...



And who doesn't LOVE drawers??
For me...organizing is almost as much fun as creating!

This guy is large...I have no clue what the word is...



but studio 490 large background stamps are a perfect fit...
It now resides in the studio.

Since I use these stamps everyday...I keep them right on the block...

It's quick & easy...





I saved the best for last...
...have you every heard of the "old house society"?
This is the link for the Bloomington Illinois store...

A gal in one of my classes told me about it & thought I just might like it.
THANKS LINDA!

LIKE IT???

OMG....I about fainted when we walked in...
Rick had to hold me back...
but I saw that he was just as excited!

UNBELIEVABLE stuff & TONS of it...

There must have been 200 OLD doors...all sizes & styles...
My photo was too dark to show...but next visit, I'll try again...
It makes me want to build another house!!
Just kidding...dear!

Lots of awesome OLD mantles...
OLD unique screen doors...

OLD built in cabinets...they were huge...like 10 feet tall...

Need a doorplate?????????
WOW!





plinth blocks by the HUNDREDS...



Hinges & handles...every size possible...





Door knobs too...

They also had vintage bathtubs...

TONS of vintage lighting...

TONS of vintage wood flooring & SOOOOOOOO much more.

It was absolutely...AMAZING!

My understanding is that the society is nation wide...if you like cool old STUFF...check it out!

Here's my finds...

Some altered birds will have new resting places on these guys...

The flower plinth block will hang in the bath...

I think...

Ah...I LOVE cool old stuff...

That was fun...

Now it's time to...

make art!

wendy

ps...next post will be more studio 490 sightings & photos from friends...

Don't touch that channel...stay tuned!

a HUGE thank you to Craft Stamper

YIPPEE...I knew this was coming & it arrived in the mail on Friday...

all the way from the UK!

I am the featured artist for Craft Stamper, for the June 2009 issue...

Here's the cover...



It's a 2 page spread!

Here's me...



Next page...




And here's the interview...

INTRODUCTION: The month we chatted to American stamper Wendy Vecchi, the talented designer behind the gorgeous Studio 490 collection for Stampers Anonymous and also a member of the Maya Road and Tim Holtz Idea-ology Design Teams.

INTERVIEW
What is your name and where are you from?
I'm Wendy Vecchi and I live in Oglesby, Illinois. I've been married to my high school sweetheart for almost 37 years. We live in the country with our horses & cats, on a farm that we call Green Acres.

How did you become interested in stamping?
I attended a craft show with a friend and saw a demo using embossing powder. As soon as I saw the image raise, I knew I was hooked. I remember telling my hubby that this new hobby would save us lots of money, since we wouldn't need to buy greeting cards. That didn't turn out to be exactly true! But...I honestly believed it at the time!

What is it you most love about your hobby?
My studio is my most favourite place in all the world. I love stamping because the possibilities are endless and I'm always excited to see where each piece leads me. I find that each stamped piece seems to take on its own personality and I'm never quite sure how it will look in the end. I love the process of creating just as much as I love the end result and I enjoy moving art parts around until they look just right. If my fingers are inky, then I've had a great day!

What other arts or crafts do you enjoy?
I love the art of shopping - for art parts. It's such a thrill to find something in an antique mall or flea market that fits my style. These shopping excursions are also very inspiring. I like thinking about where an item came from & about what it could be.

Tell us about your stamping accomplishments
In addition to designing my stamps, I'm very proud of these accomplishments:
Maya Road design team;
Exclusive Ranger Demo artist; Ranger certified educator;
Tim Holtz Idea-ology design team. I was invited by Tim to be the guest instructor for Artful Voyage in Mexico, this October, making art and cruising with Tim! Guaranteed to be fun and an artful adventure.

Here' are the captions for each photo...
ART SHOWCASE
(((ITEM 1)))PHOTO 4917
This is one of my most favorite creations and I actually used no paper for this project. The base is a Grungeboard book and all the embellishments were custom made by stamping on Grungeboard and Grungepaper.

(((ITEM ONE INSET PIC)))PHOTO 4920
Here’s a close up of the Studio 490 grunge flower. I love the dimension. My favourite technique these days is to stamp (Studio 490 stamps of course!) flowers onto Grungeboard and Grungepaper and to design flowers. I guess my style is vintage, but with a feminine look. I strive to make things look old, worn and well loved, which explains the muted colour palette I prefer.

(((ITEM 2)))PHOTO 4923

This is a book that I created for the Maya Road booth at CHA. It’s entitled ‘A Few of my Favorite Things’.

(((ITEM 2 INSET PIC)))PHOTO 4926
At the top of my favorite things list is my studio - Studio 490. I'm actually living a fairy tale and many days I pinch myself to make sure this is all really happening!

Here's the story of Studio 490...In September of 2007, I drove two hours to a stamp store, because they were having a Stamper's Anonymous truck sale. Ted & Michelle Cutts, who own Stampers Anonymous, actually drove the semi across the country and it was full of stamps! Michelle noticed my art, she showed Ted and we visited for three hours. Next, I was accepted into Ranger U, and met Tim Holtz. We became friends; I made samples for the Stampers Anonymous booth for CHA2008 using his stamps. On the last day of CHA, Ted & Michelle asked if I would like to design stamps. I actually almost fainted and initially said no. I really didn't think that I had the ability. We talked a bit & I said that I'd give it a try. Studio 490 stamps made their debut just a few months later. I was thrilled that they were so well received. Set three is in the works for release in Orlando this July. So right now, there are 14 sets, with more coming soon. Now, the moral of this story is dreams really do come true. I'm living proof. And the best part is to be working with such wonderful friends.
See? I told you it was a fairy tale!

(((ITEM 3)))PHOTO 4932 Another photo caption...
This is a favorite spread. Again, this spread uses only inks and stamps on chipboard and Grungepaper - I really love to combine these two products to make my art multilayered and dimensional. I like the designs and the sturdiness of chipboard for stamping and I like the grunge because it can be molded into shapes. It's the perfect combo. I love the colours in this piece and the saying is a favourite.

(((ITEM 4)))
Bird PHOTOS...the birds!
I was lucky enough to be invited to Tim's Holiday Hideaway last December. I loved the project, where we altered a bird, and embellished it with vintage metal findings. This bird was inspired by that project, but I changed it, to include stamped Grungepaper wings, tail and a funky bonnet. The mini glasses were the finishing touch.

This is another altered bird, also inspired by Tim's Holiday Hideaway.

Find out more:Wendy has been published in the following publications: Studios Fall/Winter 2008 published by Cloth Paper Scissors; Altered Books 102; Coming soon...Paper Creations; Altered Art's Magazine

To see Wendy’s Studio 490 stamp designs and examples of artwork created with her stamps, visit www.stampersanonymous.com. Studio 490 stamps are available in the UK from The Stamp Attic.

To see her artwork for the Maya Road design team, visit mayaroad.typepad.com/dt/

Check out Wendy’s personal blog at www.studio490art.blogspot.com for more of her inspirational artwork.

THANK YOU KATY FOX...It looks great & it was a pleasure working with you.

I'm off to get a subscription...this publication is LOADED with wonderful art & inspiration...

EDITED...Here's the Craft Stamper scoop...
It's $9.99 per issue @ Barnes & Noble...
but...
a 12 month subscription is $86.
I called 1-217-355-2970...if you're interested.

Lots of ideas to help...

make art!
wendy
ps...come back tomorrow for a SHOPPING report...
We visited the ...
"old house society"...OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that's all I'm saying...OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

studio 490 sightings and a few random things...

What a thrill it is for me to see studio 490 stamps used by others...

On my lunch break yesterday, I popped over to the Hero Arts blog & found these cards...done by Lin...

This one immediately caught my attention...
I loved the pastels & the layout too...
It's simple & so VERY effective...

and of course...
I LOVED her choice of studio 490 stamps!
This card could be used for any occassion, just by changing the sentiment...



Then I spotted my leaves...on another...
How COOL...





and another color scheme below...
Thanks Lin! GREAT cards!!




Next...more art from Lynne Forsythe...
We attended Ranger U together, the first time I went...
You've seen her art here before...


She used my stamps with Copic markers to make this awesome journal page...




Here's a better look...what WONDERFUL colors...





Thanks for sharing LYNNE!! I LOVE IT!


Like the infomercial says...


But wait... there's more...

This is from my friend Daisy Sparks...she's the mom of cute Samantha...

and owner of eclectic Paperie...

These cards are just amazing...



She has a you-tube video showing how to make great...simple backgrounds with alcohol inks...

check it out....then go shopping @ eP!
I bet you'll need some alcohol inks and maybe a new stamp or 2...
Hey...it's NOT my fault! Blame Daisy!!
I'm just the messenger!

The tree stamp is one of the most popular, from release #2...
I may be a bit prejudice...but I love it...go figure...

Here's a tree tip...
Turn it upside down & use just a portion of it to make a cool border...

I've said it before...
my goal when designing my stamps is to make them VERSATILE...

Hmmmm...What else???

About all the BIRD requests...
YIKES!! I guess you guys like birds too!
My mailbox was LOADED!!

After I'm done teaching the "build a better bird class"...I'll offer any leftovers to my blog friends here...

but first I want anyone who takes this class to have the opportunity to get a spare...
Believe me...they are really a FUN project!
You can't make just one!

And speaking of alcohol inks...
did you know that just a few drops of the blending solution on a paper towel will quickly & easily clean your acrylic stamp blocks?
It's a quick cleaner for your craft sheet too...

And this is NOT sanctioned by Ranger...
but...
I wanted a small container for traveling, for my eyeglass cleaner.

I found that the mini mister is just PERFECT!!

I mentioned this is a class & one gal had been looking for something for her perfume...yep...try the mini mister...

just watch where you spray it...

I put a tiny red dot on it, so that I could see it without my glasses. PERFECT!

And I heard this in a class...
again...not from Ranger, but a student...

She found that Ranger's bubblegun stamp cleaner reactivates the Cricut cutting mats...

I was amazed...but everyone in the class already knew it.
She said she mists the mat...then takes the craft scraper & gently scraps the mat & somehow MAGICALLY the mat seems to last longer. Interesting...

DISCLAIMER...I have not tried this...but others have...

That's it for today...

We're off on a road trip...to visit some antique stores...I can't wait! I LOVE treasure hunts and so does Rick...
I hope he buys lunch!

We need a day out & I NEEEEED more stuff so I can...

make art!
wendy
ps...I hope your weekend is sunny, fun & full of ART!

birds and butterflies...

Thanks to everyone for the comments about the birds...from yesterday's post.

Before the "build a better bird" workshop started, I showed the gals these BIRDS... from Anthropology...

This guy is cool...but the price tag is $648.00!
Yes...you read it right...
$648!!!!!!!!!!!

This guy is cute too...and his price is $248.00...


In my opinion...the birds from the workshop are worth much more!

Once again...
GREAT JOB GALS!!!

I'm doing this workshop two more times...

First @ The Stamping Place in Columbia SC...

and next @ Scrapbook Friend'z in Bloomington, Illinois...
the dates are on the right sidebar...

Now on to the butterflies...
It must be spring fever...

I've had 3 requests in the last few days to design a butterfly stamp...

GOOD IDEA!!

OH wait...!

I already did...

Here's several samples...
done by me...



This is a 100% grunge book...
NO paper was used...just distress inks & grunge...



and one more...





This was done by 12 year old Samantha...

And another from Samantha...

Now for the requests for a mini butterfly...sized for cards...

guess what's coming in JULY???

I'm just saying...

mini is fun!!

The set name???

Make mine mini art!!

today & every day...

Make art!

wendy