celebrating #700...

blog posts!

WOW...

when I started this blog, I wondered if I would have enough to talk about...

#700 posts later, I guess I did...

THANK YOU ALL for your support,

friendships developed thru the blog and for the wonderful comments & emails you send...

#700 would not have happened if I was here talking to myself!

I appreciate each & EVERY one of you...

LOTS...

as promised, I have another tutorial to share today...

it's a little THANK YOU of sorts, to celebrate...

and just a hint...

you may want to read the entire post...

when I first started to demo for Ranger, they asked me to focus on the Adirondack line of products...

so, I'm always thinking of what I can do to show

how versatile these products are...

that pretty much explains my fascination with their

snow cap white pigment ink...

it is seriously amazing, because it works with so many products...

the more I play...

the more fun things I discover...

not only is it an awesome ink for stamping on dark surfaces, but

I have found that it can be used with many of Ranger's products, to alter the look of those products...

in the past I have showed how to use the snow cap pigment pad with tim's distress inks, color washes & new distress stains

and now I can add something else...

tim's Adirondack alcohol inks!

SERIOUSLY...

it's cool that one little magic ink pad can do so much!

here's a simple ATC, using this new technique...

before I start the instructions for the ATC, I want to talk a bit about alcohol inks in general...

they are a transparent ink, intended to be used on glossy paper, metals, acrylic/plastic & basically NON porous surfaces...

they dry in about 5 to 7 seconds & therefore if they are used on plain matte paper, art parts, grunge or cardstock, you have no time to blend/mix the colors...

they are NOT to be put in a mini mister & sprayed...

EVER...

remember, I WAS a nurse...

alcohol is something you would NEVER want

sprayed into your eye...

I get asked this question

in every Ranger ink class that I teach...

PLEASE...DO NOT DO IT!

OK...moving on...

here's a glossy ATC from Ranger...

it's inked with the ink applicator (using felt).

I chose denim & stonewash alcohol inks...

just touch the tip of the bottle to the felt, squeeze a bit & then tap the ink applicator to the surface...

here is the result...

a vibrant beautiful background

that will be very fun to stamp on on later...

and because it's on glossy cardstock, you can see the result is a shiny surface...

hello...that makes sense...duh...

the next photo is Ranger's manila ATC...

now NORMALLY, you couldn't use the alcohol ink on the matte finish cardstock & be happy with the result...

BUT...

I tapped the snow cap white pad over the ATC...

and dried it,

then applied the same alcohol ink colors, to show the difference....

here we have the same alcohol ink colors over snow cap...

the result is a matte finish with more muted colors, that are now opaque instead of transparent...

I LOVE IT!

you'll see too that I added some shading to the edges with walnut stain distress ink, using the blending tool...

it's cool to have this option...

and below is a side by side comparison of the dramatic difference...

hmmm...

I wondered if it would still be possible with this technique to

use alcohol blending solution?

YES! it works just fine...

I didn't use it on these ATC's, but it does work!

hmmm...

how about the metallic mixatives?

YES...they work too...

hmmm...

wondering if the snow cap/alcohol ink will work on my art parts??

YOU BET...

I did it here...

and here...

here's the art parts flower now...

the ATC is stamped with coffee archival ink & my text stamp...

the screen background was lightly stamped over the flower, using coffee too...

wish & the polka dots on the mini art parts frame were stamped with jet black archival...

the flower & mini butterfly were stamped on clearly for art blackout, using the gold paint dabber...

I decided not to use the stem that you see above...

instead I cut some leaves from grungeboard, using tim's new mini branch/leaves die...

it's a GREAT way to use up those small grunge scraps...

the leaves were inked with peeled paint distress stain...

sure wish we had the other 24 colors...

and the finishing touches are the accoutrements button

& the charm clip for the butterfly head...

so the moral of the story today is to PLAY...

if you have an idea...

just TRY IT!

that's what I do...

what's the worse thing that could happen if it's ugly ???

you ruin a tag...

no big deal...move on!

no celebration is complete without a...

GIVEAWAY...

and I have one TOTALLY AWESOME GIVEAWAY...

when Heidi from Simon Says Stamp found out this was post #700...

she asked if I would like to giveaway...

GET READY for this...

drumroll.............

a V A G A B O N D !!!

I am over the moon happy to have this awesome gift from Simon Says Stamp, to give to one lucky commenter here...

to enter...

simply leave a comment...

it couldn't be easier...

Heidi will ship the VAGABOND directly to the lucky winner...

wherever YOU live!

the random winner will be chosen @ 7am (my time)

on Monday morning...

that's MAY 2nd...

GOOD LUCK TO YOU...

and...

we'll have a SECOND WINNER too...

that lucky person will receive a package of goodies from me!

that VAGABOND is soooo much fun to use when you...

make art!

wendy

ps...I'll be up @ 3am tomorrow...

got my seat reserved to see THE wedding...

I can't wait!

THE Linda Elbourne, who just happens to be the design team coordinator over @ Simon Says, will be holding Kate's bouquet & she promised to wave to ME! just me... lol!

now that will be something to see!

pigmented & stained...

I *may* have mentioned a time or 2...

or 50...

that I LOVE tim's new distress stains...

and that we NEED the other 24 colors...

just a reminder for Justin & Alain...

anyway...

I had a little idea that I wanted to try...

I tested these 6 distress stain colors...

but it will work with all 12...

here's the *key* ingredient for this technique...

Ranger's snow cap white pigment ink...

always get the re-inker for the pad...

I like the pigments nice & juicy...

for the sample below, I inked the tag on the left with the snow cap...

I tapped the pad over the entire tag...

and covered it completely...

I DRIED it...

the pigments will air dry in about 15 or 20 minutes,

depending on the humidity...

that's a unique feature of Ranger's pigment inks...

but I'm impatient,

so I just blasted it with the heat-it tool for a few seconds...

once dry,

I used the distress stains right over the snow cap

to create a chalky like effect...

the tag on the right has the stains applied

directly to the naked manila tag...

here's the side by side comparison...

note too, that you can still add distressing to the edges with the blending tool...

I used walnut stain (pad) on the outside tag edges for this sample...

you can see that the stains on the manila tag

on the right, are transparent & vivid...

the same stain colors over the snow cap

are chalky/shabby looking...

and the stain colors are more pastel-ish...

the distress stains make this technique quick & EASY for creating large backgrounds...

just use Ranger's new manila cardstock...

it's the same great material as their tags...

now we can use the same inky techniques to make larger than tag size backgrounds...

the moral of today's post...

by using the snow cap white pigment pad with the distress stains, you have even MORE options to...

make art!

wendy

ps...another technique coming later this week...

stay tuned!

art parts shadow box art...

hello & HAPPY EASTER WEEKEND to you!

it seems like I've not blogged in like forever...

yikes!

we had a wonderful show in Akron last weekend...

thanks for your hospitality & excitement...

that was fun...

got home on Monday...

since then, I had a date with my sweetie on Wednesday & we hit a brand new area looking for antique stores & inspiration...

we got some FUN finds...

some vintage things dated 1902...

an old mini paper cutter, about 7 inches square...

and a few other "items" that will be transformed into new stamps for release @ CHA mid July...

I've been gathering ideas for stamps & new art parts too & hope to have them sent to the computer geniuses @ Stampers Anonymous by the end of next week...

they'll tweak them there & make them "stamp ready" for us...

I did take a few hours to...

make art...

here's an art parts "shadow box" type piece I made, by layering several of the rectangle frames together...

the construction is a solid art parts base with 3 art parts frames glued over the base & a scallop trim added to the top...

this creates a good shelf for tim's corked vials to sit on...

art parts are easily colored with the new distress stains...

I used weathered wood, peeled paint, wild honey & faded jeans...

sure wish we had the other 24 colors...

I bet you knew that!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE them...LOTS!

here's a closer look @ the grunge flower, which is layered over an art parts flower...

the grunge is inked with weathered wood distress stain & the art parts flower is faded jeans distress stain...

it was stamped with this background, using jet black archival...

the flower center is a new tim accoutrement

with an art parts circle inside of it...

I LOVE a perfect fit...

the mini art parts circle (the cutout from the spool)

was stamped with this stamp...

it's appropriate, since the next stop on the art adventure is the convention in Novi Michigan...

(I fly into the Detroit airport)...

it's called Great Lakes MEGA MEET & the convention scoop is HERE...

the scroll/leaves art parts piece looks a bit different, because I cut it apart...

the cut area is covered with the flower...

the labels were fun...

the long skinny vial is labeled with the numbers from tim's journaling ticket...

the middle is the door from my house stamp...

and the one on the right is this label...

the art parts hand and the mini butterfly (made with clearly for art BLACKOUT) were added to the sides of the frame...

eyelets can be glued into the holes in the scallop trim & are a good little detail...

I used Ranger's new Glue N Seal...

ok...

we're off for another road trip...

wearing WINTER coats...

it's a balmy 38 degrees & raining...

geez...it's almost MAY!

I hope THE rabbit fills your basket with rubber,

so that you can...

make art!

wendy

thanks, thanks, art parts & Akron...

first...

a MILLION THANKS for the warm reception last weekend @ the Scrapbook Page in Shawnee, Kansas...

we had an awesome weekend, with lots of inking, lots of stamping & LOTS of laughs...

oh...and LOTS of SHOPPING!

if you are in the area, or want to do a fun "road trip" you will find everything you NEED there to make art!

and...

THANK YOU ALL for the wonderful comments

about my 2peas guest artist project both here

& over @ 2peas...

I have to say that project was one of my most favorites...

ever...

I can't wait to make another...

it has so many fun possibilities...

I was thinking that it would make a great gift...

keep in mind that it's never too early

to start on holiday gift giving ideas...

moving on to art parts...

here's another art parts project that I finished up yesterday...

I wanted a new sample for my demo table...

so, starting with the spools...

and the residences...

here's my latest...

the actual starting point was

the awesome Maya Road Antique Button Jewels...

the minute I got them, I knew immediately they would be perfect for a flower center...

they look very pricy...

but they are quite reasonably priced...

here's a closer look...

the flowers are stamped on clearly for art, which was covered with a vintage dictionary page, using Ranger's new Glue N Seal...(I LOVE the matte)...

did you spot tim's new mini leaf peeking out?

it's cut from grungeboard & stamped with the medicine label...

a great way to use up those grunge scraps...

I like the combo of art parts & grunge...

here's the other style button...

my next plan is to buy a cardigan with generic buttons...

chop them off & replace them with these beauties...

the photo doesn't do it justice...

I think these guys would be fun to add to jewelry too...

I used the largest art parts residence & several scroll/leaf pieces...

I adore that mini art parts truck...

I *think* you'll be seeing more art parts with coordinating stamps in the future...

tim's new distress stains are WONDERFUL on art parts...

it's couldn't be easier or quicker...

use them for the base coat of color, then add distressing with the blending tool & distress pads...

I used wild honey, peeled paint, fired brick, faded jeans & walnut on this...

or get them all...

and speaking of ALL...

all 36 who took my Ranger class last weekend AGREED!

WE NEED THE OTHER distress COLORS in the stains...

hello??? Ranger???

and the gold paint dabber...

a tiny detail, that I think adds lots to the finished piece...

I use it on most projects...

here's the base...

I wanted to keep it pretty simple,

since there is so much going on @ the top...

so I layered all 3 sizes of the spool bases &

edged them with the gold dabber...

then added my mini butterfly over the pointing finger...

the butterfly is stamped on clearly for art BLACKOUT...

and the mini art parts hand is stamped

with a portion of this stamp...

here's the whole piece again...

yikes...

ignore the background...

the laundry room was the only place I could get a semi decent photo...

now about those lucky winners...

from my blog the winner is...

savyjade said...

Love, love this project! Heading over to 2 peas for the tut. TFS! You are so incredibly talented!

April 12, 2011 10:26 PM

and the winning comment from 2 peas is...

MKemper said...

Wendy, thanks so much for the tip on not using black

for background stamping...

I saw it in a recent project I did but only now realize

that the lack of black in the background was so

important.

4/12/2011 9:41:03 PM

CONGRATS to the winners...

please send me your shipping info & we'll get the gifts out to you next week...(wbv1213@me.com)

ok, that's it for today...

time to pack because I leave later today for

Adventures in Stamping in Akron Ohio...

if you are planning to come, stop by & introduce yourself please...

I'll be demoing all day Saturday & Sunday too &

it's fun to meet blog friends...

I hope you get a chance to play this weekend and for sure...

make art

wendy

ps...I checked the links & art parts are back IN STOCK!

thank you Ted, Arnold & Ron...

yippee!

a change of plans...

I was invited to be a guest artist over @ the

2 peas...

30 days of stamping & cardmaking event...

my original date was scheduled for April 19th...

BUT...

Jamie emailed yesterday to say that my project would be posted today...

YIPPEE...now I'm day #12...

I had fun...

I got to "make art" and here's the result...

so, if you pop over to 2peas, you'll find the complete supply list & step by step instructions, so that you can recreate this...

I included LOTS of step-out photos too,

to help along the way...

plus...I did a little interview for the post...

if you choose to play along,

you'll be using grungeboard & LOTS of tim/Ranger inky products...

remember last week when I said you might want to have the art parts large creative covers on hand???

and tim's new ring binder too?

this project would be why...

I wanted you to be prepared...

the creative covers make a great solid base for projects...

they don't always have to be a book...

the smaller size covers are so cute/fun too...

and...to celebrate...

I think I'll have a little giveaway...

NO WAIT...

since it's 2 peas...

I think I'll do 2!

to enter...

leave a comment here and also on the 2 peas posting...

I'll draw a winner from the comments here...

AND...

I'll choose a second winner from the 2 peas comments...

2 comments = 2 chances to win...

the drawing will be @ 7am on THURSDAY morning...

that's April 14th...

I hope you will be inspired to...

make art!

wendy

leaving on a jet plane...

it's SOUTHWEST...

so I HOPE the cracks were all detected & the

affected planes have been removed from service...

YIKES!!!

no Wiley Coyote parachute stunts for me thanks...

I see that they are sucking up & have us

on a WI FI flight...cool!

moving on before I PANIC...

I've just added a new store to the class schedule for May...

I'll be teaching the Ranger Inks, studio 490 style workshop...

my MOST favorite ever class...

I seriously LOVE it....

it's in Moline, Illinois so it should be convenient for Illinois & Iowa artists too...

it's a 6 hour inky marathon using TONS of Ranger products...

and it even includes PIZZA for lunch...

hey...we NEED energy to...

make art!

the workshop info is HERE...

this makes me so HAPPY...

no airport needed...

it's only about 90 miles from here, so I can drive...

hope to see some blog friends there...

now...how about a little art share?

this was fun...

I used the insert from the large square art parts frame as the base & then used the smaller square frame set over it...

everything is inked with weathered wood distress STAIN...

and the edges were distressed with rusty hinge distress ink...

I flippin LOVE the art parts hand & the pocket watch ...

I LOVE them more than anything...

but wait...

residences are REALLY my favorite...

or maybe the ferns & leaves??

NO WAIT...for sure it's the guy...

oh geez... I seriously LOVE

the art delivery truck...

but then...I use scallops on LOTS of my projects...

did you see it above?

decisions...decisions...

OK...

it's MY blog...

so I can have as many favorites as I want!

you'll see some of my tim favorites used too...

film strip ribbon, hitch fastener, link chain, foliage, grungeboard (heart) and the tiny photos from tim's lost & found paper stash...

for as solid/sturdy as art parts are...

the tiny attacher works perfectly to hold the film strip in place...

I better quit the chit chat & show the art...

I used just the top portion of the paper fasteners stamp...

it's stamped on grungeboard for added texture...

a little vintage lace from a flea market find...

the alphabet stamp fit right in there on the left side...

the small square is inked with forest moss distress STAIN...

I used this background stamp with coffee archival ink on the small square frame...

I used coffee too on the background stamp on the large base...

I LOVE the mini photos in the pocket watch...

and the flower stamped on Clearly for Art BLACKOUT...

notice the C...for children?

look @ the top of the pocket watch...it's a perfect C...

it was stuck & I rescued it...

the texture on the pocket watch is created with the gold paint dabber...

just pounce it on & it will dry with texture...

you can add aging with the archival inks by rubbing them on the dried paint...

it tones the gold down & looks cool...

works with the silver too...

the textured effect only works with the metallic dabbers...

and it's perfect on the pocket watch...

or anything that you want to look like metal...

like tim's hardware findings or gadget gears...

oh...almost forgot...

the foliage leaf was inked with meadow & lettuce alcohol ink...

totally changes the look...

one more shopping tip before I go...

if you don't have tim's ring binder &

the large art parts creative covers...

just saying there is a tutorial coming soon...

just incase you want to be prepared...

and it is NOT a book! LOL...

I hope your weekend is full of FUN & INK...

I know mine will be!

I hope your hubbies don't hate me for enabling...

sorry boys...

remember...

take time...

make art!

wendy

ps...leaving in less than an hour...

now I REALLY have to pack...

YIKES

shhhh...I was supposed to be packing...

but instead I snuck into the studio for a quick art fix...

here's the result...

a 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch mini art...

and here's how it came to be...

these 3 pieces were still out on my island,

leftover from another project...

for some reason, when I saw that art parts corner, it made me think...

hey...it's a FLOWER!

the new mini scallop trim (designed to be a perfect fit for tim's configurations compartments) looked good under the corner & added another layer ...

I chopped off the flower & used just the art parts stem/leaves...

I used the insert & base of the art parts rectangle frame & saved the actual cut out frame for another project...

the larger piece was covered with graphic45 paper & toned down a bit with brushed corduroy distress ink...

the smaller art parts rectangle was inked with vintage photo distress ink...

then very lightly stamped with the houndstooth background using coffee archival...

I applied very little ink, because I knew I HAD to use that medicine label again...

I inked it randomly with jet black archival...

to create a worn looking image...

the art parts scallop corner & mini trim were inked with weathered wood distress stain...

I stamped the flowers on Clearly for Art, which had been covered with the dictionary page...

I used Glue N Seal...LOVE IT!...

especially the matte...

then I used the weathered wood distress stain on them too...

the stem is inked with peeled paint distress stain...

since I chopped off the mini butterfly antennae, you'll see a custom epoxy charm clip used as the butterfly head...

hmmm...do butterflies have heads?

by the way...

the butterfly is stamped on Clearly for Art BLACKOUT...

using the gold paint dabber...

I wrapped a black thread around the stem to add a little interest & added a mini pin...

oh...the flower center is one of tim's pearl baubles...

did you spot tim's new die cut photo corners?

they are cut from black cardstock scraps...

it was a quick & FUN little art fix...

NOW, since we're friends...

remember...

what happens in Oglesby,

stays in Oglesby...

mum's the word...

remember...I WAS packing...

HONESTLY...

I didn't sneak into the studio to...

make art!

wendy

GOT IT?

and I made this...

long time no blog...

sorry...

we've been busy...

I've making LOTS of custom epoxy memo pins & charm clips for upcoming classes...

with Glossy Accents & Wonder Tape...

if you have my book #3, where I have detailed info on how to make them...

here's an update...

I found that by adding a strip of Wonder Tape under the gluestick line, it holds the pins & clips in place & makes it much easier...

no more wiggling...

and the Wonder Tape, Glossy Accents & glue stick

wash right off the craft sheet...

like MAGIC!

and we shipped 664 + inks to

The Scrapbook Page in Shawnee, Kansas

for my most favorite class that I teach...

Ranger Inks...studio 490 style...

yep...

108 archival inks

156 tim's new distress stains...(still NEED the other 24 colors)

180 distress inks...

140 alcohol inks...

and 80 adirondack pigments...

oh...and tim's color washes too...

I forgot how many of those guys we sent...

thank goodness we have the Ranger craft scrubbies

for the end of the day hand cleanup...

after 6 hours of inking & "making art"...

I have a *feeling* we'll be needing them...

then add in kits & other supplies...

for a total of 250 pounds of art supplies...

should be a very fun weekend...

and...

we've been busy making kits with my art parts...

LOTS of art parts...

and...

I did a *top secret* project especially for____???

stay tuned...

that's coming on April 19th...

which reminds me...

I still need to do the write up & send them photos...

added to the to*do list...

yikes...can't forget...

now for the blog title...

when I went to Carson, Ca for the convention a few weeks ago,

I wanted a new spring-ish piece for my demo table...

so I made the art parts spool that you see @ the top of the post...

I used a combo of grungeboard, grungepaper, art parts, clearly for art...

and lots of my stamps...

below are paper flowers...

here's how they were made...

I used Ranger's new Glue N Seal...

to add a vintage dictionary page to a sheet of Clearly for Art...

I used a brayer to make sure it was well adhered...

lightly dried it with the heat tool...

then stamped my flowers with jet black archival...

cut them out...

then...

here's a cool discovery & another reason

why I LOVE tim's new distress stains...

when I used the stains to ink the flowers...

because the inks are more fluid,

the color saturated the dictionary page & now the backs of the flowers are perfectly colored too...

if I would have applied the distress ink with the blending tool...

the color would not have gone all the way thru the paper...

I would have needed to add alcohol ink to the back of the flowers to color...

but because I used the stain...

it was a simple ONE step QUICK/EASY coloring process...

by using the Clearly for Art under the paper, you end up with a thin flower that looks like vintage paper...

but it's very strong & durable!

both flowers & all the leaves were done with the stains...

here's a look @ the base...

I used the 3 1/2 inch square art parts frame base under the spool for a little different look...

it's stamped with one of my stamps...

the plaid...

evidence of art was a good fit...

when I use the queen face stamps on grungeboard...

I always stamp an extra crown on a grungeboard & glue it over the original to add more texture/dimension...

the funky flower is an older stamp too...

and I still like it lots, especially stamped on grungeboard...

the centers are the cut outs from the spool & they are stamped with the medicine label stamp...

the photo below shows how the peel paint distress stain

went thru the paper & colored the back of the leaves...

the larger flower is weathered wood distress stain with walnut distress ink, applied with the blending tool to add shading...

the smaller is just plain weathered wood stain...

if you look @ the base again...

you can barely see a little something sticking out on the right side...

I forgot a photo, but I used tim's new alpha parts to put my name on the back of the spool...

that little black thingy is the end of the Y...

we'll be making a similar art parts project this weekend...

now about that *top secret* project...

here's a little HINT...

2 peas in a bucket is expanding their stamping section & they are having a special event...

it's called...

30 days of stamping...

you can see it here...

and see tim's post too...

and I'll see you there on the 19th!

hmmm...

guess that was a pretty big hint...

the beans were spilled...

but not the project...

it's brand new...

unseen by human eyes...

ok...Rick did see it...

and it uses LOTS of stamps...

now I'm headed to the studio to...

make art!

wendy