oh...one more thing...

before I go...

I was so excited to tell you about "clearly for art" yesterday,

that I forgot the best thing...

this is really my favorite way to use it...

it is PERFECT for tim's Sizzix embossing folders...

aka...texture fades...

I die cut a flower using tim's tattered floral die...

then I embossed it with his dot matrix texture fade...

then I used the sanding grip to sand the raised areas.

This removes the shine & is really good for helping the ink stick better...

I rubbed sepia archival over the sanded spots...

and then I heated it...

which removes the embossing...

amazingly...it goes right back to flat...

but it's very cool looking...

after you shape it...

it kind of makes the texture fades into stamps...

It's early...I hope this makes sense...

here's my sample...

that's it...

CHA or bust!

I'll be in the Ranger booth #413...

demoing daily... I LOVE IT!!!

and popping in over @ Stamper's Anonymous/Art gone wild...

that's booth #442...

to harass Ted...shhh...don't tell him ...it's a surprise...

I have art made for Ranger...of course...

Maya Road...booth #1907...

tim's idea-ology...#831

and Sizzix...#1006.

I've been BUSY...

it's been lots of work...

but TOTALLY FUN...

it's NOT a job...

it's...

mak(ing) art!

wendy

but wait!!!...there's MORE!

like the info-mercial says...

but wait...there's MORE...

ART PARTS that is!!!

This final product has been planned for a long time...

but we got down to the wire...

and sadly...

I thought it would be released @ CHA 2011...

in JANUARY...

(boohoo)

BUT...NOT SO...

TED came thru...

YIPPEE!

We spoke last night & it's a go for THIS CHA...

like in a few days!

OMG...I'm EXCITED!!!

Let me tell you about the last category of art parts...

it's called...

"clearly for art"...

(there's that ART word again!)

Clearly for art is loaded with possibilities for making clear custom embellishments with other products we currently own...

think ...studio 490 stamps...

think...Tim's Sizzix dies...

think ... punches...

think... Ranger's archival ink...

think... Tim's alcohol inks...

you don't need to buy lots of supplies...

but you'll NEED Ranger's heat-it craft tool...

FOR SURE...

and you'll want to work on Ranger's non stick craft sheet...

FOR SURE...

clearly for art is an 8 x 10 sheet of clear material...

with some very unique features...

when heated...

it does not shrink...

it is simple to mold into a dimensional embellishment...

don't like what you made?

just reheat it and reshape it again...

still not satisfied???

heat it again...

and again & again until you're 100% satisfied...

and as soon as it's cool...

which is just a few seconds...

it's rock solid...

it holds the shape you designed & it doesn't crack or break...

this stuff is TOTALLY amazing & is another bargain of the century...

thanks to Ted!

clearly for art will have 6 sheets in the package & retail for about $4.00...

so each sheet will cost less than 67 cents...

time to show you a few pieces I made with clearly for art...

this sample is made with my new stamp...

it's stamped with cobalt archival

(I LOVE blue so this is a new fav archival)

I heated it & made it into a flower center...

the base is the small art parts flower...

the stem is from art parts too...

that CUTE NEW button is from tim's new ideology release...

it's not the easiest thing to photo...

but here's another look...

for the next sample I used tim's heart from Sizzix and die cut the clearly for art...

it's stamped with my polka dot background & jet black archival ink...

then I heated it & shaped it...

then added it with the tiny attacher to the grungeboard heart...

I think you can see the dimension better here...

next is tim's tattered floral Sizzix die...

again...

it's stamped with COBALT archival...

it's heated, shaped & cooled...

now it looks like this...

yep...

I'm LOVIN' the cobalt archival...

and clearly for art...

now about my bottle stamp...

I'm just saying...

simple to round & shape...

simple...

ah...the possibilities...

Ok...talk to me...

I'm "CLEARLY" excited to hear your thoughts...

gotta run...

it's my last day to...

make art

wendy

YIKES...

today will be another shorty post since I only have 3 working days 'til I leave for CHA...

YIKES!!!

First is a Maya Road CHA project...

which turned out to be another FAT book...

the more stuff...the better I like it!

Probably my MOST FAVORITE new embellishment from Maya Road is the resin flower that I used for the center of the large flower...

(which if you look @ the flower...

it's made from Maya Road snowflakes!)

ANYTHING can be a flower!

I'm IN LOVE with that resin flower...

and remember the new stamp set I designed with no background & NO flowers?

Here's what I had in mind for those mini words...

and the final photo for today introduces...

make art, studio 490 style...

BOOK #3!

It's 56 pages chocked full of ideas for...

making art!

I will have the books available after CHA...

but I don't want to take orders until I actually have them here...

it may be a few weeks...

payments are thru PayPal...

but like I said...

let's wait until they are printed & HERE & ready to ship.

I'll let you know when they arrive.

THANKS so much for your support!!!

I sincerely appreciate it!

ok...coffee break is over...

time to

make art...

wendy

gotta hit the ground...running!

it's another quick post today...

but hey...

it has more photos...

first...

here's our latest BABY pic...

we watched this cute little critter try to figure out how to get out of the fence...

finally, the baby went under & met mom...

how adorable...

I wanted to repost this photo that I showed a few days ago...

this shows that details REALLY DO matter...

look @ the original...

I think it looks much better now with the addition of the long fasteners to the holes...

more details = BETTER...

IMHO...

I had requests to show more of the new Maya Road keyhole book...

the cover is in yesterday's post...

so...here's more...

and another...

and more...

and the last...

I used the punch out from the front cover on the back instead and covered up the keyhole...

CHECK THIS OUT...

here's the SCOOP on a design team call...

if you LOVE vintage...

it's a new challenge from Simon Says Stamp...

called...Simon Says Stamp & SHOW!

The DT co-ordinator is THE LINDA ELBOURNE...

so...if you LOVE vintage...

pop over...

check it out...

then APPLY & have fun!

and speaking of fun...

it's time to ...

make (CHA) art!

wendy

a few FUN photos...

HELLO!

Not a whole lot of time for chit chat today...

CHA is soooo close & I still have soooo much to accomplish before I leave on Sunday...

YIKES!!! It always gets done...

but there are a few scary days...

the extra benefit...no time to cook! ha!

A HUGE YIPPEE!!

This morning I was up @ 4:30...

to do the edit for book #3!

Stay tuned...

I asked for a change on the front cover...

just as soon as Matt gets that done, I'll show you ...

it has a very fun project...

I'm pleased with how it looks...

speaking of FUN...

this turned out to be one of the MOST FUN projects I did for Maya Road...

Here's the brand new keyhole album...

it's got 4 chipboard pages & 4 kraft pages...

the cover has the cut out & the inside pages are solid...

I turned it sideways and made this...

Remember I told you you NEED snow cap white pigment ink??

Here's a good reason why I LOVE it...

it's an easy way to create a shabby chic whitewash look...

I LOVE the chalky matte finish...

next...

I finished the small acrylic cover for my new stamps...

the paper is scraps of graphic45...

I used some grunge & a small art parts flower & an art parts rectangle frame...

art parts & GRUNGE = the perfect combo... IMHO...just saying'...

FUN!

and FINALLY...

how long have we NEEDED this?

it works like MAGIC...

we used it @ Ranger U last month...

MAGIC I tell you.

you will LOVE it...I DO!!!

Now after my inky classes...

everyone can leave with clean hands!

It's REALLY... MAGIC!

you'll see...

That's it for today...

back to the studio to...

make (CHA) art!

wendy

all about art parts...

THANK YOU...

for all the comments about art parts!

You have made me soooo very happy.

I'm over the top thrilled with them...

and I'm glad you're liking them too!

I've had LOTS of questions about art parts...

and I've been saving them in a folder for when I had a few spare minutes......

today I want to answer them here...

#1. Can you tell us everything you made art part wise, so i can make my shopping list& not miss anything?

OK...here are the solid base measurements...

there are 2 sizes of square frames, they are 5 1/2 square

and 3 1/2 square

the rectangle is 3 1/2 x 5 1/2

the circle is 5 1/2 inches diameter

There are 2 sizes of flowers...

the smaller is a speck less than 4 inches diameter

the larger is a speck less than 5 inches diameter

There are 3 sizes of spool bases & 3 different lengths of tubes that hold the spools together...

so, lots of possibilities for mix & match...

The scallop trim is available in 2 lengths...

3 1/2 and 5 1/2 inches

and...

TADA!!!

we have STEMS for the flowers...

I used them for both projects below...

There is a straight stem and a curved...

they're about 7 inches long...

so just what we needed for larger art...

or they can easily be trimmed with tim's scissors...to make them any length ...

since art parts don't have a front/back...

that allows the stem to curve to the left or the right...

depending on your need...

just flip it over...

plus...

The straight stem can also be used as a trim strip...

stay tuned...

#2. I know you said they're sturdy, but does the CROP-A-DILE work?

YES IT DOES! perfectly!

#3. do you show us any art parts samples in your new book to get ideas?

YOU bet!

There are projects with everything except the spools...those guys weren't ready by the book deadline.

But rest assured...you'll be seeing lots of spool samples here...

I LOVE them...

and they were the original idea for art parts...

so...stay tuned!

And I have a brand new class that I'm over the top thrilled with...using the spool.

I'm saving that photo & it's killing me!

#4. did I understand that they are only available thru Stampers Anonymous?

art parts are manufactured by Stampers Anonymous (Arnold is our special cutter guy!)

art parts will be sold to stores directly from Stampers Anonymous...

so they will be available in stores, online & at conventions where Stampers Anonymous has a booth.

#5. Have you painted them? did that work ok?

So far...

I've painted them with Ranger's dabbers...

Claudine's paints will work fine too...

just haven't had time yet...to make a sample...

I've stamped them with Ranger's Watermark Resist ink...

I've inked them with tim's distress inks...

I've inked them with Adirondack dyes...

I've inked them with my FAV Adirondack PIGMENT inks...

enabler alert...

if you don't have the pigments yet...

(they have the black cases)

add them to your shopping list...

I've been using the pigments A LOT...

the more I play...

the more I LOVE them...

for sure get the snow cap white pigment...

it's amazing what you can do with it...

other must have pigments to start with...

denim, lettuce, butterscotch, red pepper...

they are fun...really FUN.

OH... LOOK...they're on SALE HERE!

I've embossed art parts pieces with tim's Sizzix embossing folders for a cool effect...

I've covered them with tim's tissue tape...

and I've used Claudine's multi medium to cover them with paper...

I haven't had time yet...but for those of you who love Ten seconds studio metal...

I think you'll be happy...

very happy!

they're nice & solid...

so they'll be great for metalwork too.

That will be a totally different cool look...

6. how do we buy them in a set?

Hmmm...I'm not 100% sure yet on that. I'll be talking with Ted this week...

but for sure I want to do a "sampler" pack that will include a few of everything...

#7. Will art parts be sold @ STAMPAWAY?

I'm not sure about that just yet. I guess it will depend on how long it takes Arnold (our BFF) to cut the art parts CHA orders...

I'll know closer to Stampaway.

Next...

yesterday I finished my acrylic storage cover for the 8 new large sets...

it's my 5th release...

thus the 5 for the center...

I ADORE tim's paper stash...

just HAD to use it again...

ignore the glare...please...grr...

and here's another CHA art parts sample...

small flower, stem, large square frame & scallop trim ...

I hear art parts calling me from the studio...

they want me to come &...

make art!

wendy

hey friends!

happy weekend to you!

Things are progressing nicely with Paul...we appreciate all the wonderful emails, prayers, comments & cyber hugs so very much.

One treatment done...

yippee!

he has a minimum of 5 to go...

spaced over a 4 month period...

He thanks you too for the messages!

Ok...on to the art...

I wanted to make a simple card using art parts...

I took the smaller flower (we have 2 sizes)...

and stamped it with Ranger's Watermark Resist ink...

then embossed it with clear embossing powder...also from Ranger.

embossing is such a simple technique...

it's what got me hooked on stamping...

when I saw the demo & the image raised...

yikes...HOOKED big time...

but the results are so cool...

because art parts start out as kraft colored...

the ink makes the image look darker...

the only color I added was the old stand by...

faded jeans...which too looks different, because it's used over kraft...

Now did you notice that the art part flowers are larger sizes of these new stamps??

and they are even larger than this one...

Ah...a perfect fit...

just as I planned!

Now we have even more options & combos

for making art...

This next sample had me smiling the whole time I was working on it...

playing?

whatever...

I had the inside left from the art parts circle frame...

so I made this...

Everything is glued right to the top to make a fun display piece...

the canvas is ATC sized...

to give you a general idea...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the new mini house & the mini HER...

they are perfect for ATC art...

the art parts scallop is peeking out from behind the canvas...

and everything is stamped on either grungeboard or grungepaper...

I CAN NOT make art with out grunge!

just saying...it's true...

I should join the grunge support group...

or probably not...I really don't want the cure...

Now I'm off to the studio to create a new large acrylic binder...

new stamps need a new home...

hmmm...

I've got 4 new small sets coming...

I better get a small binder done too...

stay tuned...

I need to hustle...

CHA is only a week away...

still LOTS to accomplish...

I gotta...

make art!

wendy

hot off the press...

right from the studio to you!

I was up @ 4:30am with an idea for this piece...

I had to get up & get it out of my head...

but...

it looks absolutely NOTHING like the idea I started with...

why is that?

art seems to have a mind of it's own some days...

anyway...

When the art parts frames are cut, you end up with the insert that gets cut out...

so I had several of these & decided they needed to be put to use...

here's today's finished piece...

it's quite substantial, since it has so many layers...(I'm thinking gifts...)

now if you click & enlarge the photo...*EDITED*(OOPS...I guess that doesn't work. sorry)

you'll get a better look @ the memo pin embellishment...

remember the original memo pin post?

I made a bunch more yesterday, using the same technique...

and I also made this discovery...yippee!

tim's tissue tape is LOADED with minis that fit the memo pins...

one roll must have a billion choices...

seriously...

just adhere a strip of tissue tape to a cardstock scrap...

punch...

proceed to fill the opening with Glossy Accents...

these are really fun & economical to make...

and I like that you'll never run out of the exact pin you need...

you'll see that the pin above is tinted, because of the color in the tape...it was a perfect fit...

and here's a few more ideas that are brewing in my little brain...

you can also fill the opening with Enamel Accents...

allow to dry & then add a mini...really mini rub-on, for a fun custom embellishment...

you can do the same with the Glossy Accents...

just add a mini rub-on on top...

did you spot the 2 Maya Road star trinket pins...

I bought 500...yep...500!

LOVE them!

MR UPS just dropped off a next day air box of...

ART PARTS!

I'm running to the studio to...

make art!

wendy