here's how I got started...

here's how I got started...
a 20 minute podcast by Crazy BeYOUtiful

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

tiny details matter...

it's true...

and I'll show you here...

I stamped my paintbrush stamp on grungeboard, using jet black archival ink...
& cut it out...

then I inked the handle with tim's new brushed corduroy distress stain...
I waited so long for this color!
LOVE IT...LOTS!

and I inked the bristles with faded jeans distress stain...

it looks...ok...
but just...OK...

not spectacular...
YET...


now with a few tiny details added...

I used tim's AWESOME drill punch to make a hole in the handle for a black eyelet...

and a bit of Ranger's Memory Foil Tape to make it look more authentic...

the memory foil tape is self adhesive...
so it's simple to use...
just peel off the backing & add to your art...




the foil was a bit too new looking for my project, so I toned it down with sepia archival ink...
applied with a Cut N Dry nib...

did you know that alcohol blending solution, in addition to lightening, blending & removing alcohol inks,
will remove archival ink from NON-porous surfaces?

it's cool...
because if your stamping is crooked...
or if you apply too much ink...

or don't like the color...

you can remove it & start all over...
like magic!

I found this handy dandy little tool in my mom's sewing stuff, when we cleaned out the house about 7 years ago...
I had no clue what it was...
but it looked interesting & I thought it had potential...
so I saved it...

we used it in my class last weekend & the gals said it's a sewing pattern tracer...

now...with those 2 details...
the paintbrush looks so much better...


here's a closer look @ the foil tape accent...

and because the brush was stamped on grunge, it's simple to shape it & make it dimensional...
just bend the bristles...

crackle paint is another option to add to the bristles...
that looks cute too...


and that eyelet in the handle...

is the finishing touch...


the moral of the story today is that tiny details do matter!

so pay attention to the details when you...

make art!
wendy
ps...one more thing...
stop the press!
about that handy dandy sewing tool...
run it across an ink pad...
and then on to your art...

it adds a subtle detail...

and with lots of ink colors to choose from...
the detail can be any color you need!

37 comments:

donna!ee said...

sing it sister...tools & details matter! blest be :)

Lisa M, Pace said...

I LOVE the details... so super cool! Love you!

Gail Bales said...

All the little details do make it look very realistic. Thanks for the tips! Received my new book #5 yesterday. Thanks so much for the autograph! Thanks to Rick also.
Gail in Oklahoma

Shirley said...

Very cool.

Heidi said...

You are right...it's all in the details. The paintbrush looks great!

betjunroe said...

Wendy, this is way cool! Your stamps are so versatile that the sky's the limit to what you can make. Thanks for sharing. Bette

Susan Leslie said...

I will just have to try this, wow Wendy thanks for sharing the details. Love it and it looks amazing!

snazzyoriginal said...

Absolutely, and that is why your work always looks so amazing.

StampDancer said...

I love the tip using the pattern tracing wheel. I have one of those somewhere before I totally gave up on sewing back in the 80s! Love all the details and the blending solution tip is marvelous!

Helen said...

Fantastic tips and little details - no wonder YOU ROCK! Work day is done, now I can go home to - make art!

Kathy Eddy said...

Wow, what a difference! I have one of those cool little tools I got when the faux stitching was all the rage. I got your book yesterday and am saving it to take with me when we leave this afternoon for a couple days of rest/relaxation up in Hudson/Stillwater. Should make the trip in the car go better, browsing that!

Hels Sheridan said...

LOVE IT!!! Teensy details are the most important thing... you are so right! And... I have loads of TSS tools... and off now to see if they will work on ink pads, I never thought of that before! Thanks for the inspirations again X

Vic said...

Super! The little things make a huge difference.

Gillian .... said...

Love the realistic touches to the paint brushes, indeed attention to detail is something you master each and every time, tfs as always. x

rhonda said...

Wendy I love how I learn new things to try! Thanks for being so inspiring!

Winnie said...

wow...love it! the details are amazing. I am sitting here wondering if a pastry cutter in my junk draw would do something similar to that sewing tool..Must try it tonight...thanks for the inspiration.

2amscrapper said...

great project!

sue said...

Wendy I have had one of those tools for years. Never thought to use it for anything other then what it was intended for. Love the way your mind works.

melissa said...

Love that tip with the sewing tool. I think I have a pie crimper that might give an interesting design too. (I don't bake too many pies!)Thanks for the inspiration!

TheLastOfNine said...

You are a genius!!! That is all I'm saying.
GloriaH

france papillon said...

i just love those tiny details that just make it! and you have to be a Lady... a Lady Wendy Vecchi to come up with a detail that looks that good! thank you so much for sharing :)))

Debby said...

I love all of the details that you added.

Tona said...

LOVE what you did with the paint brush. I always learn so much from you. Thanks!

Kris Anderson, The Avid Reader said...

Great ideas. Thank you so much.

Cathy L. said...

Love the eyelet idea!

SusanK said...

I'm a big believer in 'it's all in the details'!

Tara C. said...

So funny how how you notice details in others work and can always find something new when they spend a lot of time on aproject

slbt17 said...

thank you for sharing your techniques!
Sandra ltb

Anonymous said...

This brush is from the first set of your stamps that I have purchased. While I have more sets on the way, I am just so in love with these, I haven't done ANY stamping yet, lol! Thank you for the ideas and inspiration.

Anette said...

Love the details you made! It's a perfect finish. I found the same tool in my mothers sewing box nearly 15 years ago, and of course saved it.( So your story made me smile) cannot run it over my ink-pads though.....it will punch tiny holes in it!;o)

Dorothy said...

Its amazing how small details make such a big difference!
Thanks Wendy!

texasbarb said...

Thanks for the inspiration! This is the kind of thing that makes a project MORE!!

Lori said...

Spectacular idea! It truly does look like a real brush! Awesome!

Julie said...

Love that paint brush! How cool is that with all those added details!!

Art By Wanda said...

Yes, details!!! Love the foil and marks... way cool!!!

Micki said...

I got one of those tracing wheels, always knew what it was for just never used it as it was intended. But then I love to 'repurpose' stuff :-).

That paintbrush looks real.... :-)

Jody said...

have been using my paper pattern tracer for years now, first in sewing, now in paper crafting, who knew???