catching up and cages...

Happy Tuesday!
The sun is out...finally, but it's still bloody frigid here.

We had an awesome show in Columbus...
with lots of inky fun...

The BAD thing...someone allowed it to snow...geez...about 3 inches...

and we were also drenched with freezing rain...
I think I need to add to my contract...

...will work in nice weather only!

I know I've been AWOL...

so SORRY...the TO-DO list is growing daily...YIKES.

How can I not have a REAL job & be so busy???

And what is going on?

Yesterday I got my first stamp images from Zach(the stamp magician @ Stampers Anonymous).

He did his part & then sent them back to me for tweeking...

I got that done yesterday...now I'm waiting for the finals.

I KNOW this seems early...but in order to get them made into real stamps...(so I can start book projects...) the process starts early.

What will you see?

More large backgrounds...more...???

and some of those...too!

And I'm REALLY excited about the...

That's it for now...it's way too early to start the teasing...

these don't get released until CHA this summer...

On to the cages...

I had LOTS of emails & questions @ the show about tim's Sizzix birdcage, so I thought I'd give a few tips here...

It's cut from grungeBOARD...
because I wanted it to be thicker & stronger and to have more dimension.

I inked it with jet black archival...
right from the pad...
but I didn't cover it completely...

I inked the bare spots with brushed corduroy & in person...it looks like metal...

I used a piece of wire to shape it...

It's attached to the base with skinny strips of Wonder Tape...per tim's suggestion.

The wings are tim's die cuts...
they come with the awesome heart die.

They are stamped with (today's favorite)...register stamp.

And guess what?

We sold out of the cage @ the convention...

I guess I'm not the only one who LOVES it!


And speaking of cages...

Back in February I popped into Michael's looking for an odd sized frame for Rick's bathroom...

This guy caught my eye...

I tried to order 300...
I had big plans for a fun new class...

However...
Michael's doesn't do special orders...
darn...

So this...

turned into this...
what a fun class it would have been...boohoo...



I wove skinny strips of stamped grungepaper thru the wires...

I LOVE the accent dots with the Sakura glaze pen...
it's amazing that the dots will stick to metal...
and it even works on fragments.



So...instead of a fun class...
this will be a little Mother's Day gift.

The moral of the story here...
keep your eyes open for fun stuff to alter...

just don't expect to order 300 of them!

I hope you have a good day and can take some time to...

make art!
wendy

my bags are packed...I'm ready to go...

but first...
I had to say goodbye to my blog friends...

and tell you all to have a GREAT weekend...

One quick update...
Ted will NOT be in Philadelphia...
OOPS...my mistake!

But the Stampers Anonymous booth will be there & LOADED with rubbery stuff...

Can't have a blog post with out a photo...
so...

I leave you with today's booth sample...


This was...
TOTALLY...TOTALLY... TOTALLY ...FUN!

I was supposed to be packing...
but I had this idea...
I couldn't resist the URGE...

I just HAD to...
make art!
wendy

when favorites all work together...

you can make art!

in no particular order...

1. studio 490 stamps...(hey...it's my blog & I can't lie!)

2. Ranger PIGMENT inks...
the more I play...the MORE I LOVE them...
add some Perfect Pearls for serious fun!

3. Maya Road...gotta have something cool to ink & stamp ON...
this time it's my favorite chipboard heart...

4. Sizzix dies...
especially Tim's new alterations...
be still my heart...I'm IN LOVE!

I'm patiently waiting for the rest of them to be delivered TODAY...I hope the man in the brown truck hurries...

I thought I heard the truck about 6 times already...
even though I KNOW the delivery time is usually 3pm or later...
I feel like a 5 year old on Christmas eve...
I want them NOW!!!

I am NOT known for being patient...are any girls?

So where is rambling this leading???

This is a take off of this post...

using pigment inks with Perfect Pearls to make backgrounds...

So...after using that technique...
I wondered about other surfaces besides tags & grunge...

I wondered if it was possible to use chipboard...

I wondered if it got too wet...would it dry ok???
It was fine...but make sure to immediately dry it well...

So...I started with this Maya Road chipboard heart...

I like it for mini hangings...
cards...
to use instead of a gift tag...etc...

Here's the starting point...the naked heart...



I used denim & butterscotch pigment inks...misted with sunflower sparkle Perfect Pearls & pretty much water...
How's that for scientific...pretty much?

to make this...really cool mottled...
kind of cloudy look, since pigments are opaque...

which also has a little bling...

Pigments give a totally different inky background...as compared to the distress inks...

The polka dots & lined background were both stamped with olive archival...




The leafy border was also stamped with olive archival...
and then the scrolls and saying were stamped with jet black archival...

to make them stand out...

Stormy sky distress ink was the perfect color for adding the distress look to the edge...

The flower is made of 2 of the flowers in tim's tattered floral die...

the large was inked with butterscotch pigment...then stamped with the register stamp & jet black...

the center was painted with the black dabber...

and a Maya Road button was a perfect fit in the small flower.

A little pen stitching and some tiny accent dots ...using the Sakura glaze pen ...finished it off...

So we have...

A quickie blog tutorial...

a little booth sample...

and I had inky FUN!

A triple play!

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I'll be in Columbus this Friday & Saturday...

Yippee...I was there last year & LOVED it!

I'll be there with Michelle...Mrs. Stampers Anonymous...

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Ted will be demoing in Philadelphia...Saturday & Sunday...make sure to stop by...

EDIT...SORRY...change of plans...Ted won't be there...but the booth FULL of stamps WILL!

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Hope to see you in Columbus!

While I'm waiting (still) for the truck...

I think I'll...

make art!

wendy

the saturday evening post...

actually...
it's the unplanned Saturday morning post...
get it?

Corny??

You bet...oh well...

Tomorrow...
the first day of spring...
I think someone needs to convey this message to the weatherman in Illinois.

Yesterday Rick put down fertilizer & Grub-Ex ...
(supposedly skunks eat grubs?)...
we LOVE animals...but NOT skunks...

today the yard is covered in white stuff & it's coming down like a bloody blizzard...

the poor little robins are running around wondering what happened...
me too!

This is obvious...
they're will be NO dining on the deck today...

there's even more white stuff since this photo...
make it STOP!

My reason for this quick post is to let you know about a SHORT SALE...

25% off one item...the highest priced obviously...

Here's the code... 25spring

the whole scoop from the Simon Says Stamp newsletter...

Save 25%off One Item!
Want to save 25% off the highest priced item in your shopping cart? Please use code 25spring this weekend. Enter the code upon checkout after you enter your contact information. Please be sure to register as a customer to enable the code to work. We do not sell or trade any of your personal information. Coupon use is restricted to one coupon per order.The code expires midnight 3/22/2010 EST. Shipping promotions still apply!

So...
if there's a little something you've had your eye on...
I'm just sayin...

it's on SALE!

While you shop...
we'll (that would be Rick!) be shoveling!

Happy weekend...
it's a PERFECT time to...

make art!
wendy
ps...still working on stamps for release @ CHA in July...
some things we REALLY need are in the works...
they work well with other things...
I'm happy so far...yippee!

still kissing rubber...

Here's part B of this post...

http://studio490art.blogspot.com/2010/03/kissing-rubber-is-fun.html

Still kissing rubber...

but a different lighter style...

This is the fern stamp,

inked with the olive archival pad...

To achieve the look below, ink the houndstooth background stamp with olive archival...

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then press the UN-INKED fern stamp onto the inked background...

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then stamp on a tag...

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it will look like this...

another version...

press the UN-INKED fern onto the screen background, which has been inked with olive archival...

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for this look...

here's something to keep in mind...

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for the next sample, I pressed the UN-INKED fern onto the numbers background, which was again inked with olive.

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the numbers are reversed...

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but because the image is very light...it makes a great subtle "filler" stamp for collages.

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More layers make art more interesting...

These kissing techniques work best with solid images...like this scallop stamp.

We better catch up on some Q & A's today...

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1. I wonder if anyone else has this problem? My little foam pieces are not sticking to the blending tool! What am I doing wrong?

Check to make sure the velcro is still attached to the wood blending tool.

One gal in a class was missing hers...

I think it accidently got pulled off & was still attached to a foam pad.

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2. What do you do with all your tags once they are created?

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I put them on a one of tim's D rings and have them available on my demo table @ conventions or for store customers to flip thru...

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BUT...if you like to make tags, they make great gift tags (instead of a card)...

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chop off the top & it's a great card front when layered to cardstock...

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I also use them (background samples) with dies...

think tim's new Sizzix dies...yum!

*it's a great way to make custom embellishments...

you'll never run out of the color you need...

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3. WHERE can I get Stampers Sampler?

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I've gotten lots of emails from people who have subscriptions & have received their copy...

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THANK YOU for the kind words!!!
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I know it's also sold @ JoAnn's, Michael's, Barnes & Noble...

but I'm not sure if the stores have received them yet...

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4. is there just one project, the birdcage, or are there others inside???

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There are 6 pages filled with projects...

and LOTS of close up detail shots...

YIPPEE!

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5. I have a couple of Tim's pens, but I am not sure how to use them.

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The alcohol ink refillable pens are amazing.

It's a very quick & easy way to color bling (clear rhinestones).

*

You have perfect control to color just one or lots of bling.

*

You can also color on the back of transparencies...

you can alter metal or plastic embellishments easily...

They are AWESOME on Maya Road trinket pins! It's simple to make coordinating pins in any color.

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And the cool thing...

*

if you change your mind...don't like the color of alcohol ink you chose...

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it's simple to remove with Alcohol Blending Solution.

Have one pen filled with it...works like a charm!

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6. I have a canvas apron I would like to add some decorative touches to just by using your stamps (no sewing). Can I stamp on them with Ranger archival inks?

*

YES...just heat set by ironing or just blast it with the heat-it tool...

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then you can wash it with no worry that the image will bleed.

Stamping on fabric is FUN!

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7. What die cut machine do you use? Thinking I "need" to get one, not sure which one to buy. Suggestions?

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I use the Big Shot Express (electric) which is made by Sizzix.

I LOVE IT!

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We LOVE that it's electric...saves time when cutting MILLIONS of art parts for class kits...

*

I also have the regular BIG SHOT (non electric) & I LOVE that too.

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They get a workout here...they are a GREAT quality product.

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That's it for today...

I started working on NEW STAMPS for release this summer...

might do more today...

yippee!

Have some fun...

ink...

kiss...

stamp and then...

make art!

wendy

back to brown...

This is NOT ILLINOIS...
we have BROWN...
California has green...

oh wait...
we have noticed a bit of green here @ Green Acres...
unfortunately...
it's...

WEEDS!

But...
green weeds are still better than brown everything...

Moving on...
I MAY BE A BIT PREJUDICE...
but here's a cool sight...
all 33 sets of my stamps & 2 books...

I'm still surprised/amazed every time I see them...




The lucky folks @ the Carson convention got first dibs on tim's new Sizzix dies...

another beautiful sight...
they just arrived on Friday!

it still thrills me to see large quantities of...

ART STUFF!!!!!!

and here's more of tim's Sizzix dies...
I LOVE them...
and so did the shoppers in Carson...




and speaking of shopping...

Several friends asked to see "the bracelet"...
so here's the lovely I got @ Luna's in Long Beach...
there were LOTS of temptations there...



I REALLY REALLY REALLY want this...
it's from Anthropologie...


I collect the vintage shut off valves...
to me they look like...


flowers!


the one on the left is gigantic...
like the size of a dinner plate...HUGE.
BUT..........

It was soooooooo heavy...

I thought about Suze's line..."do you ship?"...


I'm still thinking.
I REALLY love this...
oops..sorry...I already said that...

Look how CUTE!!!!!




The convention is lots of work...
but we have LOTS of fun & laughs...
and...
Ted feeds us well...

I'm assuming this giganto was lo-cal???




Sorry...this is blurry because I was laughing...
here's Ted...
he LOVES ice cream!

then...I came home to this...

YIPPEE...

AWESOME job done by Stampington...

GREAT photos...

I'm 1000% thrilled...

I just spoke with Daisy from eclecticPaperie...

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since I didn't have time to remind you over the weekend about the stamp sale...

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it will continue thru Wednesday the 17th...

that's tomorrow.

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So...if there is something you missed...

you have another short chance to SHOP.

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OH...one more thing...

I see they also have the jenni bowlin buttons I used in stock...both in white & cream...
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they have the butterflies too!

ALL the colors...

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Time to answer more emails & finish unpacking...

then I'll...

make art!

wendy

hello from sunny Ca...

get this...they actually have green stuff here!

GREEN grass...GREEN TREES...nice flowers...sun..

.

My midwest friends will appreciate this.

Had a great flight yesterday & actually arrived early. Thank you Southwest!

Keychain took me shopping to Long Beach...I'll

be coming home with a cool bracelet.

Some days I'm a cheap date...some days not so much. POOR RICK!

MORE shopping today & Daisy from eclecticPaperie will be joining us...

it's our attempt to stimulate the economy.

HEY...someone has to do it!

After that we'll be setting up the booth for tomorrow's stamp convention.

Gotta run...

Have a great weekend..

get inky & make art!

wendy

ps since I'm shopping...you should too. See the info on yesterdays post about the stamp SALE @ eclecticPaperie

metal to the max...

once again I'll say...
I LOVE rubber stamps because they are so versatile...

We know we can use them on cardstock, chipboard & grunge...

Donna showed us earlier this week that they are very fun on fabric too...

Now Hels Sheridan has taken them to the max with Ten Seconds Studio metal...

I about fainted when I saw this...
It's BEAUTIFUL!



The metal rose is so cool...
but the heart really did me in...

I LOVE it...

She's lucky that she's in the UK...
or I'd run over while she was in the shower & swipe it...

She sent us a closer look...
with AMAZING details...
lots of texture from the metal & grunge...
each element is PERFECT & awesome......

How cool that my "art" stamp is a perfect fit in tim's ornate plate!



THANKS SO MUCH Hels...for sharing this...

Ok...I'm off to sunny California...

it's pouring rain here with lots of thunder & lightening...oh joy!

we get to shop a bit today and tomorrow morning too...I'm EXCITED!
I LOVE to SHOP!

I get to demo...I LOVE IT!

I get to see friends...I LOVE IT!

Remember the sale @ eclecticPaperie is good thru Sunday and as evidenced above...
stamps are versatile!

I'll be back on Tuesday...
no guarantees that I can post while I'm gone...
but I WILL TRY!

But hey...
I can TWEET! I'll do that with mini updates!

Have a great weekend.
I plan to...

make art! and shop! and get inky and see the sun...yippee!
wendy

tim's Sizzix stuff & a STAMP SALE!

I better start with a WARNING...

enabler alert (sale info) coming later in this post...
YOU HAVE been warned...
I'm just sayin...(warned)

OK...here's a card I made using several of tim's new Alterations dies...which are manufactured by Sizzix.

The yellow-ish cardstock base is cut with the Baroque die and it's stamped with my leafy background & butterscotch pigment ink.

The large flower is from the Tattered florals die...
it's stamped with my new plaid stamp & inked with red pepper pigment ink...

the small gear is PERFECT for flower centers...

I also used the smallest gear to make the mini flowers...
it's simple...
die cut...
ink...I used denim pigment...
stamp with any background stamp...I used this text...
fold in half & staple with the tiny attacher...
cover up the flower with the flower center...



The scroll/leafy grunge is also a Sizzix die called Vine with leaves...makes sense!

it's stamped with my polka dot background and olive archival ink.

The green paper is graphic 45, again overstamped with olive archival and my text background.

I think it looks kind of like a poppy!

oops one more thing...
the cute button is a new idea-ology button...YUM!

I leave for California early tomorrow morning...so I got a MILLION things to accomplish today, but I wanted to answer this question because I've gotten it several times in the last few days...

I took your ranger ink class @ the stamp convention, is the store class the same? Would I benefit by taking it again @ the store? Is it different?

The 2 classes are very different, because @ conventions we are limited to 2 hours (most times).
So...the Ranger ink class @ conventions is basically about distress inks/ blending tools... and we sneak in one pigment technique...
it's a VERY FUN (very INKY) class with 10 techniques.

The Ranger technique class for stores is 4 full inky hours ...
and since we have more time...
we can play with more techniques & more products.

Some of the products we use are distress inks, pigment inks, perfect pearls, archival inks, stickles & more...

So...if you're INTO inks like me...
the store class is REALLY inky fun.

It's probably my most requested & most FAVORITE class to teach.

Now about the STAMP SALE...
I copied this from the eclecticPaperie newsletter...

It starts out talking about tim's new book...then mine...
and both are included in the sale!
yippee!

Now here comes the enabler part...warning...

So, to celebrate these two new books by a couple of our favorite paper craft designers, both Tim Holtz and Studio 490(by Wendy Vecchi) stamps are on sale. Now through Sunday, March 14th, all Tim Holtz and Studio 490 stamps are on sale at 10% off their regular price. Pick up some older ones that you may have missed and pick up some new releases.

I'm off to pack demo stuff & a few clothes for the Carson CA, Stamp convention this weekend...
believe me..the demo stuff is way more important than clothes...

I'm excited to head to Carson again...
now that I've been there a few times...
it's really fun to see familiar faces....
and they have SUN in California!

And TRUST ME...
Ted will have the Stampers Anonymous booth LOADED with lots of cool NEW stuff...LOADED...
Hope to see you there!

Come back tomorrow for some AWESOME eye candy...
This piece totally blew me away...
I promise...you WILL be amazed!

that's tomorrow...
until then...

HAPPY SHOPPING...
buy lots so you have stuff to...

make art!
wendy

kissing rubber is fun...

this is an old technique that someone showed me a LONG time ago...

I had just discovered rubber stamping & I remember thinking it was MAGIC...
not sure who to give credit to...
but this is NOT an original idea from me...

Anyway...
this is a quick way to alter solid rubber stamp images...

It's simple...

just ink the stamp (fern)...

then press it onto a clean background stamp to remove some of the ink, which creates a subtle pattern...

Exhibit A...

this fern is stamped with olive archival...
the image is nice & solid...



Exhibit B...
the same fern stamp, kissed onto the un-inked houndstooth background...

to create this...




Exhibit C...

This time I kissed it onto the polka dot background...



I used the same fern stamp to make this tag...
click for a larger view to see the detail better...

The background is a combo of the new distress colors...
crushed olive, stormy sky & a bit of chipped sapphire...

After I had the background inked...

then I misted sunflower sparkle perfect pearls onto my craft sheet and stamped into it with the leafy background...& dried it.

I call this perfect stamping...

The Perfect Pearls/water removes & lightens the color...

I like the watercolor-ish (not clear & perfect) leafy look...

Ah ha...this shows it better...

The large flower is colored with Ranger's butterscotch pigment ink...

yep...PIGMENT...which is an awesome opaque ink right from the pad...

here's how...

Tap the pigment pad on your craft sheet...
mist with the mini mister & water...
or the mini mister & water with Perfect Pearls...if you like bling...

now just take your cut out, stamped flower image...

that was stamped with ARCHIVAL ink ...

(it must be waterproof...right?) ...

color the grunge image with the watery pigment ink...

just smoosh it around to ink...

heat to dry & done.

So now the pigment isn't opaque and you have a whole new lighter color pallette of pigment inks to choose from.

This is why I LOVE LOVE LOVE inks...

there are so many options...

OK...back to the kissing...I got carried away...
notice that the fern looks textured now??



I used the jet black archival & my text background to alter this velvet ribbon from Maya Road...

another presto...chango!
SIMPLE to alter & customize with archival ink & stamps.

That's it for today...
just typing this makes me want to go and...

make art!
wendy
ps...tomorrow more Sizzix gadget gears flowers...
see you then