cats & questions...and other randomness

the things we do for LOVE...

Hmmm...

sounds like a song...

This furry guy, Ranger the cover cat

(see right sidebar), LOVES fresh pineapple.

Somehow...when Rick cuts it up for our breakfast, he knows & he insists on sharing mine...

Like I said...

the things we do for love...

I put some on a fork for him & he licks it until it's bone dry...

he gets every last drop of juice...

and smiles the whole time he's licking...

SERIOUSLY!

and continuing with cats...

I got this question the other day...

#1...I know you have 2 cats. I want another. Do you have 2 litter boxes?

NOPE...we have NONE.

These guys have us trained to serve them.

They both go outside to do their duty...

never ever had one single problem.

Yes, they both have claws, but have never done one speck of damage inside.

They totally trained us.

Ranger will come & make a certain noise to get your attention, then lead you to the door he wants to go out.

Sometimes it's the front door...

sometimes a patio door...

sometimes he will only go out the kitchen door & he will wait for us to open the garage door...

and...as NUTS as it is...

we're trained to do it!

Now the other critter, Ringo, will rub your leg only when he wants out.

He too leads you to his choice of doors.

and when they want to come in...

they have a different voice for that...

We still wonder how this happened...

I guess we paid attention & like I said...

they trained us. It's PERFECT!

#2 question...when did you know for sure that you were an artist?

This is kind of funny...

many days I still wonder...

like right after I've just tossed something ugly in the trash...

SERIOUSLY...

some days are just NOT good days for making art!

I don't make things I'm 100% satisfied with every single day...

so don't think I do...

it's either THERE or it's NOT...

there's no forcing art...

Ok... before I had my first stamp release we decided to change accountants...

So we made an appointment to explain what was going on & she said...

so you're a nurse, right?

I blurted out...nope, an artist...

then I quickly looked @ Rick...

and thought...

WHO SAID THAT?

I was thinking it came out of HIS mouth!

So I guess once it was listed as my occupation on the tax forms...that made it official.

#3...Is it bad that I'm in MI, and contemplating visiting relatives in IL to see you in Nov?

Not in my opinion!! HA!

Better hurry & decide...

we'd love you to join the fun...

the classroom @ Scrapbook Friend'z holds 28 & a few days ago I heard we were already @ 25...

#4...LOTS of book #3 inquiries...

I could write a book on here! Speaking of "book" where is my Part III book that I'm not so patiently awaiting? LOL I'm getting all Wendyized and am dreaming of art parts and stamps and they thought sewing paper was weird....ha!

SOON...

They are just swamped @ Stampers Anonymous with CHA orders for stamps, art parts & books...

keep in mind they make Tim's stamps, mine, Art Gone Wild, Inky Antics, Darcie's & Claudine's clears too..

So...that's a whole LOT of work...

Just as soon as they are here...

I'll post it...

#5...Pleeeese can you get some of those amazing Art Parts airlifted to the UK urgently. We need them!!!. Seriously, its really hard waiting, they look fantastic.

5A...do you have pull to send art parts across the pond like today?

Here's the scoop...

orders placed @ CHA ship first...

they are shipped in the order they are received.

So...depending on when they were ordered, that determines when they ship.

First day CHA orders ship first, second day second...etc...

and NO...I have NO PULL!

Ted is the boss...

actually...

I really think Michelle is...

but we won't let Ted know that!

It's our little secret...shhhhh...

Here's a reminder that inspiration is everywhere...

even WALGREENS...

I was there the other day & spotted these fake lashes...

I kind of chuckled to myself...

if I were to wear them...

I could see mine falling off in my ice tea...

or worse yet...

my mojito!

But...something clicked &

I went back down the aisle to get some...

and made this...to add to my Ranger apron for classes.

there's those memo pins again...

they are so fun & simple.

Glossy Accents is the MAGIC ingredient.

and see tim's new charm clip?

I'll be getting 1000 of those cuties!

they are perfect for hanging things...

obviously...duh...

and can also be used just like the memo pins to make custom epoxy embellishments...

using Glossy Accents.

the fake lashes are sooo cool looking on her eyes!

it's a small detail...

but it does add to the overall effect!

agree?

Plus it makes me laugh!

Maybe the gals @ JoAnn's were right...

(see yesterday's post)

Maybe I HAVE gone off the edge!

WARNING...

here's a little enabling...

I LOVE these Jenni Bowlin buttons...

LOVE the colors...

the brown & black are sweet...

but the package listed as yellow is an awesome vintage-ish yummy color.

that just might be my new fav...

these adorable butterflies are vellum...

LOVE the mini papers too...

I'll be making art with them early next month...

stay tuned...

Ok...we're off early tomorrow morning, headed to O'Hare for a flight to Columbia South Carolina to spend the weekend @ The Stamping Place.

I was there last year for the grand opening of their AWESOME brand new classroom...

I'm looking forword to visiting, teaching, stamping, inking, grunging, sweet tea & southern hospitality!

I hope you're looking forward to the weekend so you can...

make art!

wendy

PS...I told you comments are GOOD...

just ask...

Mall Rat said...

I can't wait for Art Parts to show up. I signed up yesterday for your Friday night class at For Keeps Sake in St. Louis .. I can't wait !!! I finally get to take a class with you, I'll have to get a pic and put you up on the wall of fame with Tim & Teresa :) LOL

August 25, 2010 3:35 PM

Mall Rat...Please email your shipping info...and there will be some fresh rubber headed your way...

compliments of TED & MICHELLE!

WAIT...

OH...one more thing...

if you really need a laugh...

check this out...

I'm CERTAIN SHE is over the edge...

no doubt...

and...

comments are good...just sayin...

art parts and answers...

it's been quite a long time since I did the Q & A thing...

I have a file all set up & when they come in...

they get dropped right in the folder...

hmmm...

let's open it up & see what's inside...

and answer a few...

#1...I have an idea, but I need to know if the CAD (cropadile) will work with artparts...

YES IT DOES...It's PERFECT!

#2...can you recommend a sewing machine? I see stitching on your work & it looks like it must be a good machine...I need cheap.

I got a $200.00 machine @ JoAnn's about 3 years ago...

It's called Husky Star 207...

It's simple to use.

Works great on cardstock, paper, chipboard & grungepaper.

it was an interesting purchase...

picture me telling them it wasn't for fabric...

but for paper...

they thought I was over the edge nuts...

they kept telling me that I could take lessons & learn how to sew...

I kept telling them I wasn't interested...

They couldn't understand why I wanted sewing machine...

I told them I could show them how to sew on paper...

they just didn't get it...

and I didn't GET them!

on a side note...

Rick made me promise NEVER to hem his pants again...

EVER...

so it's only used for art!

I promised...

That's a story for another day...(embarrassing)

#3...I get excited when I see your home decor posts...did I miss the bedroom redo?

Sad to say...NOPE.

It's almost all done...but we still have no headboard...

No spare time to do any searching...

but maybe we'll hit someplace in September & have a lucky day...

#4...Cowboys are hot & I would love a cowgirl stamp? Got any in the works?

NOPE...don't hold your breath...

it's not happening from me...SORRY!

#5...OMG I just found you. Any chance you are heading to the NE ? I'd drive 3 hours for a class.

How about Amherst NY (Buffalo Stamps & Stuff) or...

Queen's Ink in Salvage MD?

Is that NE-ish enough???

By the way...

all my classes are on the right sidebar...

its all the places I'll be teaching for the rest of this year...

#6...I saw your tweet on AGT, who's your choice to win?

Hmmm...

we have some favorites here, but I think until the semifinals are done I can't say just yet.

We were quite surprised @ some of the acts last night. yikes!

#7...so about the mac? should i dive in? been waiting to hear

we are TOTALLY 100 +++% in LOVE with the iMac.

I had planned to do a few one on one classes, but again...no time...

Even I, the almost illiterate, can figure things out.

It's just a common sense thing...

they really have made it as simple as possible.

I vote...GO FOR IT. I'm impressed.

#9. ART PARTS WHEN????

ha...that makes me laugh...

just get right to the point!

I just spoke with Michelle (Mrs Stampers Anonymous) this morning.

They got tons of orders @ CHA...

She said they are cutting & packaging just as fast as they can...

so...

SOON!!!

believe me...

I'm just as excited as you guys are.

I can't wait to see what you create with them...

But...for now @ least I can show you what the final packaging looks like...

this shows what pieces are in each package...

and the prices...

we also included a photo sample or 2 to show some possibilities...

and here are the others...

and speaking of art parts...

there's a brand spanking new class coming in September...

it's very fun...

kind of shabby chic...

it uses tim's distress inks and Ranger's Snow Cap pigment ink...

LOVE LOVE LOE tim's alterations Sizzix fence ...

and FATE...

it just happens to be a PERFECT fit for the large art parts frame...

LOOK!

yippee!

Now...

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU!

did YOU leave this comment??

ellen said...

As if I didn't already love the paper rosette - this idea of trimming them down and layering them - STUNNING. I can't wait 'til this die is available! Hope the Chemo goes well - as if cancer isn't bad enough, chemo is even worse... hang in there - we're all pulling for him (and you). ~ Ellen xx

August 21, 2010 11:17 AM

If so...

you have won a brand spanking new studio 490 stamp set...

compliments of TED & MICHELLE!!

Ellen...email me your shipping info & we'll get this out to you...

so...Ellen won stamps just for leaving a random comment...

comments are good...

get the hint?

remember...

new stamps are PERFECT to...

make art...

wendy

I couldn't decide...

on a title for this post...

I considered these...

there's a lot of stamping going on...

there's a lot kitting going on...

there's a lot of shipping going on...

buy stock in Fed-Ex...

it's been REALLY hectic...

and then there's chemo...

which all explain why there have been no recent blog posts...

yesterday I gave my brother a shot (Neulasta) to boost his white blood cell production...

amazingly it costs...

$4036.00 for each injection...

he'll get a minimum of 4...YIKES!!!

I worked in surgery for 30 years, so I am familiar with the costs associated, but we were shocked to see the cost of this tiny bit of fluid...

not sure why you need to know this tidbit...

but it's on my mind...

maybe someone from the drug company (AMGEN) will see this & work to lower the cost...

but then again...

maybe not...

other post titles I considered...

rotten eggs...

HUGE thanks to COSTCO for notifying us that we purchased eggs that may be contaminated with salmonella...

I think that's AWESOME customer service.

Costco rocks!

and I thought about these titles too...

I'm honored...

take a look @ the amazing art...

those 2 titles were brought about because of this challenge...

check it out...

there's TONS of inspiration...

over @ Simon Says...

how freaking cool...and what a thrill!!!

the design team projects are all over the top AWESOME!

and wait 'til you look @ the entries...

they are REALLY COOL...

so that challenge prompted me to add these goodies to the prize package...

and sweeten the pot...

so now this week there will be 2 random prizes...

YOU...gotta enter (make art) to win!!

2 more blog title considerations...

if one is good, 3 is better...

I bet you knew this was coming...

those came to my mind because of the following project...

one of the COOLEST items in my DT box from Tim was his alterations Sizzix die that makes the rosette.

the minute I saw it I thought...

FLOWER!

I had an immediate idea for a ...

multi LAYERED FLOWER...

So, using paper from Tim's lost & found paper stash, I cut 3 rosettes...

but before I folded them, I trimmed 2 of them to make smaller...

ROSETTES!

The largest size is right from the die...

the middle one is trimmed to 3/4 inch wide and the smallest is cut down to just 1/2 inch wide...

is that mini not THE CUTEST ever?

after folding & gluing, they looked like this...

you'll see that the perforations were too stark, so I added a bit of brushed corduroy distress ink over them...

I left the smallest to show you the original look...

then inked it after the photo...

and this is the finished piece...

the 3 layer rosette is a good fit for my smallest art parts flower...

more lost & found paper inside the art parts rectangle frame...

some grunge leaves, a butterfly, a portion of tim's flourish, a mini flower & 3 vintage buttons finished it off...

ah...

life is good...

I feel so much better now that I took time to...

make art!

wendy

on the road...

to Midway Airport...

then on to Brighton Michigan to teach @ Scrap Tales this weekend.

I'll be back next week with the scoop on Tim's alcohol inks and...

CLEARLY FOR ART...

it's the perfect combo...

It all starts with tim's alterations Sizzix tattered floral...and then...

oops...

gotta run...

While I'm gone...

have a great weekend...I plan to...

and don't forget...

make art!

wendy

ps...if you're in the Cinci area...

stop @ the Stampers Anonymous booth @ STAMPAWAY...

Tim is there along with Ted, Mario, cute Michelle & the world famous Ms...keychain...

Thursday's tutorial...

good morning!

as promised...

here's a very fun project...

complete with supply list & instructions...

just for you...

my blog friends...

supplies you'll need...

tim's newest distress inks in these colors...

forest moss, stormy sky and rusty hinge

blending tools with foam...

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

and have the heat-it tool ready...

then grab these Ranger supplies...

a silver paint dabber

snow cap white pigment pad

and archival inks in black & coffee...

oops...forgot to include the Glossy Accents...

in the photo...

that holds everything together...

you'll need tim's alterations (Sizzix) dies...

the leaves from regal crest

the styled label

and the tattered florals

and speaking of dies...OMG...

wait 'til you see the vagabond...

it's WAY WAY WAY COOL...

check out the video...

it can't come soon enough...phew...hot flash...too excited...can't think about that now...

ok back to business...

from tim's idea-ology line...

grungeboard

2 memo pins

one jump ring

one ornate plate

a small piece of ball chain

a new button

and a pearl from the new bauble package

and...

2 cut outs from the 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 art parts frame

plus these...

studio 490 stamps:

screen from art rules

script from live & make art

text from botanical art

polka dots from seriously art

remember from collectible art

live the simple life from residential art

general stuff...

this cool tool...opens jump rings like magic

one silver eyelet & eyelet setter

chipboard scraps

precision pen for pen stitching

the info for making the custom epoxy memo pins is here...

ready to start?

*make 2 epoxy memo pins (they take several hours to dry)

*using grungeboard, die cut the leaves and the 2 flowers, using tim's alterations dies

*using chipboard, die cut the styled label

*using snow cap, tap the pad directly onto the flowers, leaves, label & 2 art parts rectangles

*use the heat-it tool to dry, then apply a second coat to each piece, then heat to dry

make sure to cover the fronts & backs of the flowers and leaves

*using the blending tool & forest moss, ink both art parts pieces & also the leaves then dry

*using the blending tool with stormy sky, ink the flowers front & back then dry

*using the blending tool with rusty hinge, ink the label then dry

*using coffee archival, lightly stamp one arts part rectangle with the screen stamp and the die cut label with the script stamp then dry

*using coffee archival, stamp the flowers with the polka dot stamp then dry...

don't forget the backs!

*using coffee, stamp the text over the leaves then dry

*using jet black archival, stamp the plain green rectangle with the word & saying then dry

*using the silver dabber, lightly edge the 2 rectangles & the label

*add the eyelet to the bottom of the label as shown, then insert the pearl bauble on the chain as shown. use a jump ring to attach the pearl to the chain

*using Glossy Accents, glue the 2 rectangles as shown...overlapping them by an inch

*add a scrap of chipboard under the label & glue in place

*shape the grungeboard pieces then glue to the label. add the leaves then the flowers over them

*add the button & embellish with the epoxy memo pins

*add the ornate plate to the back of the hanging...

*a little pen stitching is the finishing touch

*now...sit back & admire the art YOU created!

Here's a closer look...

what I LOVE about this technique is that it totally changes the look of the pigment ink and the distress inks too.

by combining them, you end up with a whole new color palette & TONS of possibilities...

this is the technique that made me fall in LOVE with the pigments...

the chalky look is cool...

and also the fact that you CAN use the blending tool with them too! that's a story for another day...

I hope you enjoyed this...

Get out your supplies and...

make art!

wendy

well...DUH...nice post...

BUT...art parts & a few of tim's things aren't here just yet...

but you'll be all ready when you do get them!

ps...art parts will be shipping soon...

book #3 too!

tim's stuff in Sept...

and that VAGABOND...like I said...

not soon enough for me!