on the road again!

headed south to St. Louis to For Keeps Sake...

and as you can see...

I'm LOADED down with supplies to...

MAKE ART!!!

we're having an art parts weekend...

we'll be creating 3 projects, 2 are for the holidays...

and the other uses Ranger's snow cap white pigment ink with tim's distress inks to create a shabby chic decor piece...

now...

for your shopping pleasure...

or arting NEEDS...

(or retail therapy or if you'd like to help our nation's economy...)

art parts are back in stock... here

and here...

and tim's brand new Alterations Sizzix dies are available here and here...

the wait is over!

I especially LOVE the ornaments & the reindeer...

I NEED a play day...

REALLY...

And a disclaimer...

I am NOT the only enabler...

You'll want to try (NEED) "clearly for art" after you see Tammy Tutterow's tutorial on making awesome " clearly for art" flowers...

check it out! It's back in stock HERE...

I was totally impressed...

bet you will be too...

sorry...gotta run...

have a great weekend...I plan to!

remember to...

make art!

wendy

a week & a day?

since the last post???

YIKES!!!

So...what happened during those days?

I went to Maryland to see the QUEEN & co...

& had a TOTAL blast...

The classes were really fun & inky (thank God for the new Ranger craft scrubbie)...

it cleaned 310 inky fingers, in just one class...

and did a great job all weekend long...

I got to meet some blog friends, which is so cool for me...

to have a face that goes with a name...

I also got to visit with friends from last year's cruise...so FUN!

THANK YOU everyone who came to the Queen's INK!

I spent Tuesday @ home catching up, and then on Wednesday Rick & I took off to Chicago for a little retail therapy...

just doing my civic duty...

shoes x 2...couldn't resist...

Wednesday evening we had an awesome dinner @ Gibson's in Chicago (actually Rosemont)...

giant steak for Rick...

the best lobster ever for me...

we checked into the hotel...

then went to the Rosemont theatre to see the top 10 finalists from America's Got Talent...

minus Jackie Evancho...boohoo...

The show totally exceeded our expectations...

and the performances were so much better than seeing them on TV...

the little getaway was to celebrate 38 years...

I can hear those calculators going...

I was 10 when we married...

I hope you believe that!

And speaking of celebrating...

we came home early on Thursday morning for Paul's LAST CHEMO treatment (we hope)...

he's done...YIPPEE!!

he's got another rough 10 days, but then hopefully he'll be on his way back to normal...

He brought flowers for the nurse who had been with him for every treatment...

we LOVE LORI!!!

he surprised me with some too...awwwwww...

I had treats for everyone to thank them for their kindness & expert care...

and told them if we ever see them again...

we hope it's out of that building...

he has a PET scan before Thanksgiving...which will tell if he's done...

then repeats every 3 months after that...

hmmm...what else?

next stop on this art adventure is For Keeps Sake in St. Louis...

I LOVE that place & ALL the folks there...

they will be the first to use art parts to create Christmas decor with some of tim's new ideology goodies...

I'm looking forward to returning & doing some brand new projects with them...

hmmm...what else has happened???

oh...I know...

I made a little art...

trust me...

it REALLY IS...

little...

just 2 1/2 inches tall with the memo pins...

but it was soooo much fun...

once you use up tim's film strip ribbon, you are left with the cutest mini tin...

the idea has been brewing for quite some time,

but when I got all of Claudine's new stamps & saw she had flower stamps...

I HAD to take a short art break...

here's what you'll need...

an empty film strip ribbon tin...

some of tim's tissue tape...

willow alcohol ink, ink applicator & felt...

grungepaper...

tim's idea-ology curio knob...

tim's ideology lost & found paper stash...yum!

coffee & jet black archival ink...

tim's stormy sky, scattered straw & peeled paint distress inks...

gold paint dabber...(I'm officially addicted)

memo pins...

Glossy accents...

Ranger's Enamel Accents (black)...

Claudine's Bloom stamps...

Claudine's multi medium...

studio 490 screen stamp...

studio 490 text stamp...

my look inside stamp...I ADORE this set!

1 1/4 circle punch...

1 1/2 circle punch...

scallop punch...

just a few tips...

start with these...

apply one strip of tissue tape to cover the base

of the tin...then color with willow alcohol ink, using the ink applicator...

use the gold dabber to accent the edge of the lid & the bottom edge...

use jet black to stamp Claudine's flowers & leaves on grungepaper, cut out & ink...

stamp backgrounds with coffee...

make a few custom epoxy memo pins...

and you'll end up with this...

another angle...

I liked it...

remember I LOVE mini...

but I flipped when I saw that I could add the curio knob as a base...

too stinkin cute if I say so myself!

just remove the screw & you have a nice flat surface to glue to the bottom of the tin...

tada!!!

upside down to show the base...

inside the lid...

a mini Claudine flower, stamped on grunge & overstamped with my text stamp...

inside the base...

I made this to fit the lid, but I liked the funky effect of using it in the base instead...

hello...

I AM looking inside...

makes me laugh!

trying for a better shot...

so there you have it...

Claudine's stamps, studio 490 style...

I think these will make adorable little gift containers for earrings or folded up $$$...

just a little holiday idea for you!

or really...

it's perfect for any gift giving occasion...

that's the update from here ...

time to get going on kits for St. Louis...

once those are done...

I have tim's brand new configurations calling me...

this one might be first...

or I think this one...

but then I REALLY like this one...

decisions...decisions...

have a great weekend &...

as always...

make art!

wendy

off to see the queen!

we're headed to Chicago in a bit...

dinner with my sweetie when we arrive & a little rest before my early AM flight...

Maryland or bust!!

I'm excited to be visiting a new store...

Queen's Ink, Savage Md.

I've heard that it's FAB...

and speaking of SHOPPING...

this is hot off the press...

Ranger's PIGMENT re-inkers are now in stock...

WOW...

THANK YOU RANGER for the QUICK shipping...

here's my favorite...

butterscotch...

and...

denim...

and ...

lettuce...

and sailboat blue...

and

red pepper...

oh...

I really like stream too...

and...

for sure...

snowcap white...(to use with ALL of tim's distress ink colors)...

and don't forget Claudine's gesso...

here's a peek (it's NOT finished) of gesso over grungeboard (cut with tim's Sizzix alterations tattered florals die)...

and inked with pigment ink...

misted with the HOT OFF THE PRESS...

Perfect Pearls mist...

I used sunflower sparkle...

and stamped with coffee archival & this stamp & this one too...

I'll be showing how to create this next week...

hmmmmm...could that possibly be tim's new trimmings?

tinted with pigment ink?

I sure think so!

tim's tinted trimmings...

say that 3 times!

stay tuned...

I can't keep the queen waiting...

while I'm away...

PLEASE...

make art!

wendy

still playing with pigment inks...

but first things first...

stop the press!!

here's the answer to the dozen+++ emails about where to find

Ranger's Adirondack pigment ink re-inkers...

they have been ordered & will be in stock soon @ Simon Says Stamp.

I will update here as soon as I hear that they have entered the building.

See...

I TOLD you that you'd like these pigments...

trust me...

wait 'til you see what's coming later in this post...

and next week...

I had this little idea yesterday...

(I should have been writing instructions & making kits...BAD GIRL)...

but I HAD to try it...

I haven't had time to play with Claudine's gesso, so I have very little experience...

(ok...like NONE!)

now I didn't want to waste an art parts piece incase the idea didn't work...

God forbid...waste an art part!

so my base is a 4 x 4 canvas...

I painted the canvas with an uneven coat of Claudine's gesso...

(I'm newly in LOVE!!!)...

I wanted the canvas primed,

but I also wanted to add a bit of texture...

I intended to let it air dry & get then back to kitting...

but MS. NO PATIENCE...

that would be ME...

decided to blast it with the heat-it tool to speed up the process...

once dry, I swiped a big dose of butterscotch pigment ink on the left side of the canvas (right from the pad)

& a big dose of sailboat blue on the right side...

using the blending tool with foam, I swiped & blended the colors together...

much to my surprise, they dried almost immediately...

interesting indeed...

here's the result...

I thought I could quit there, since the idea worked...

but I was HOOKED big time...

so I added some vintage photo distress ink around the edges to age it...

isn't vintage photo PERFECT for EVERYTHING?

thank you T!M...

then stamped my new script background, using coffee archival...

remember this is a canvas with a wood frame, so only the edges got stamped...

just what I wanted...

to create a frame effect...

I'm LOVIN this...

those little sailboat blue lines were another fun thought...

just a small detail...

I tapped Ranger's craft scrapper onto the pigment pad & used it as a line stamp...

some days ideas are good...

some days...

NOT so much...

the colors looked like they needed a butterfly, so I stamped her on the back of grungeboard...

I only wanted the butterfly shape, not the polka dots...

and inked her with butterscotch pigment & the blending tool...

I used jet black archival to stamp the butterfly again on "clearly for art"...

heat set the ink & then shaped it...

it was looking like a botanical exhibit...

thus the mini grunge frame & the stamp...

tim's curio knob looked like a body to me...

and what butterfly doesn't need a mini grungeboard crown?

remember...

there are NO rules in art!

here's the finished piece...

this shows the curio knob & the "clearly for art" butterfly a little better...

I poked a hole in the canvas & just screwed the knob right thru the clear, the grunge & the canvas...

perfect...

this was sooooo much fun that I could hardly contain myself...

I am now a self proclaimed...

Claudine's GESSO ADDICT....

as a matter of fact...

I was up @ 4:30am today to prime some GRUNGEBOARD with gesso...

this WILL be fun...

I just put some denim pigment on it...

so far so good...

stay tuned...

until then...

make art...(& get yourself some gesso & pigments!)

wendy

ps...I'll be showing another pigment play day result next week...

yum!

more pigment play...

I've said it before & I'll say it again...

the more I play with Ranger's pigment inks...

the more I LOVE them...

it's fun using the pigments to alter metal...

if you want to play along...

you'll need your non stick craft sheet...

Ranger's heat-it tool...

pigment inks...

distress inks...with blending tool & foam...

distress stickles...

and some of tim's idea-ology foliage...

for the example below I tapped the snow cap white pigment pad onto the foliage leaves...

dried it with the heat -it tool...

added another layer, then dried it again...

***remember that heated metal gets HOT!***

just saying...

trust me...

after it cooled, I used the blending tool & added some forest moss over the white & dried it again...

I ended up with this cool color...

I like that you can vary the final result by changing how much pigment you add to the metal...

for the next samples, I used my FAV snow cap white to create a shabby chic look...

here's a better look...

the flower on the left has just one coat of white...

the one on the right has 2 coats, for more coverage...

and the foliage leaves have 2 coats...

after the leaves cooled, I added some the new pumice stone distress stickles...

my favorite of the new distress stickles colors...

at least for today...

the red pepper is awesome on flowers...

here's red pepper on the left & sail boat blue on the right...

I like that the pigments dry to a great matte finish...

which makes them perfect for the vintage look...

but...

if you want some shine...

it's easy to add Glossy Accents over them to create more of an enamel look...

we have LOTS of possibilities here...

the pigments make it so quick & EASY to create any color of embellishment you need to coordinate with any project you're working on...

you'll notice too that the pigments do not stain your hands...

and speaking of hands...

Ranger's craft scrubbie works GREAT!

it even removes alcohol inks & adhesives...

take a few minutes to play with the pigments...you'll have fun!

did I tell you that I'm off to see the queen this coming weekend??

NO>>>NOT the queen across the pond...

THE queen in the USA ...

@ Queen's ink in Savage Md...

the Ranger class is full with a waiting list, but last I heard there were just a few openings in the other classes...

I hope to see some blog friends there...

Next...

THANKS for all the comments on the last post!

You made me laugh lots...

I'll be sending a craft scrubbie to...

Dorothy said...

Nice try...I read every word. I love your blog!!

October 9, 2010 4:24 PM

and...

those new stamps will be living with...

WheatLDee said...

Of course I read to the end of your post even the small print. I have to see how you use make art, it's like the "Good Night Gracie" of Blog Land. Now about those stamps....
I have a wonderful stamping/crafting room with very friendly stamps just looking for that special set to join us for inky fun. Your stamps in need of home would feel loved and welcomed!

October 9, 2010 11:58 AM

ok...time to get going...

there are instructions & photos to print...

new stamps to design...

(OMG...I'm LOVIN them!)...

then maybe...

just maybe...

I can squeeze in a few moments to...

hmmm...

I bet those altered idea-ology embellishments will be just right for some art parts fun...

I GOTTA...

make art...

wendy

ps...anyone NEED book #3?

addicted to butterscotch...

Ranger's pigment ink that is...

Here's a fun tip...

tim showed us how to color his trim with distress re-inkers...

I changed it up & used my fav

butterscotch re-inker.

It's simple...

moisten the trim with water...

drop it in a sandwich bag...

and add 3 or 4 drops of the re-inker...

seal the bag...and squish it around...

pull it out & let it dry...

now you have a perfectly coordinated trim that is a perfect match for any of Ranger's pigment inks...

just what I like...

good looking & simple...

if you don't have the re-inker yet, just tap the pad on the trim & follow the instructions...

not exactly sure what I'm using this piece on yet, but it's ready for when I need it.

and speaking of ink...

YIPPEE!

the magic bars have arrived...

you will be totally amazed @ how effective they are...

after a 7 hour demo day @ CHA, my fingers were really saturated with ink & I thought that was the real test for the scrubbie...

I LOVE it...

it also makes a great guy gift...

think stocking stuffer...(get it ??red & green?)

it takes off grease too...

Rick now has his own magic bar...

just add some soap & water to your hands & scrub with Ranger's Craft Scrubbie...

like magic, you'll have clean hands...

and one more thing...

just got an email that my Clearly for Art has been restocked...get it now if you need it!

the art parts sampler pack is back too...

and they also have a set with all tim's new distress stickles...

and the new Ranger Perfect Pearls mists will be added over the weekend...

well... I better quit & go USE that Craft Scrubbie...

Have a good one...

I hope you can shop &

make art!

wendy

ps...so I have this set of stamps that NEEDS a new home...

just saying...

and checking to see if you actually READ to the end! ha!

art parts + idea-ology + Ranger = FUN

this was so much fun that I didn't want it to end...

The inspiration for this piece came from my berry tree stamp...

I hadn't used it in a while & I forgot how much I like it...

as soon as I spotted it yesterday, I took a break from kitting...

I HAD to...

make art...

the tree was my starting point...

this time I used just the base & the cut out from the large square art parts frame & a scallop trim strip...

see that extra little piece glued onto the scallop??

It's a straight stem from the flower pack...

they are in the sampler pack too...

and just you wait to see what else I have planned for those straight stems...

a totally fun idea...

when used with the...??

hmmm...

I might save that thought for book #4...

but I will share a new hanging idea...

I used the crop-a-dile to make holes in the base...

then used an old hinge...

added 2 swivel clasps & a D ring...

and made a paper bead to keep the swivel clasps apart...

I like it!

art parts are very sturdy, but the crop-a-dile makes holes with no effort at all...

the butterfly is stamped on "clearly for art" with Ranger's jet black archival...

I'LL BE BACK WITH THE "CLEARLY" LINK, as soon as I hear back from Heidi...not sure if it's sold out already??

***UPDATE*** YIKES!!! it IS indeed sold out. But fear NOT...more is ordered. I'll let you know when it arrives.

it's colored with tim's alcohol inks...

terra cotta looks good with rusty hinge distress ink...

next I warmed/softened it with the heat-it tool & shaped it...

and used the gold paint dabber to edge the butterfly & make it stand out a bit more...

I used it to edge the smaller square too...

the game spinner & long fastener make a good body for this critter...

and anchor it in place...

I swiped the gold dabber lightly on the scallop trim...

it's a small detail, but it adds to the finished look...

tim's on the edge townscape die...

is the cutest...(IMHO)

it's cut from grungeboard...

I like the extra dimension...

& the ability to make the roofs dimensional by bending them...

I used a portion of his leaves from the regal crest die & some foliage to add the finishing touch...

a few more product details...

The houndstooth paper is from Graphic45...

it's simple to sand the art parts edges, using tim's sanding grip...

the small square is covered with paper from tim's lost & found stash (my most fav!!)

I stamped over the paper with my new stamp, using coffee archival...

my house is inked with brushed corduroy & rusty hinge...

black soot was used to distress the roof tops...

oh...one more thing...

the mini chandelier is tim's stamp...

a tree & a chandelier???

Hey...

TRUST ME...

there are NO RULES for...

mak(ing) art!

wendy