here's how I got started...

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

Monday, March 5, 2012

answers, inspiration & a winner...

I wanted to start off today & answer the questions about using tim's distress stains with stencils...

yes...it DOES work...
you can see the Lady Dy alphabet stencil below...

for those of you who tried it & didn't have a good result...

here's the tip...
the stain dabber top should be fairly dry...

I actually swipe it on a paper towel to remove the excess ink...

then just lightly swipe the distress stain right over portions of the stencil...

if there is too much ink on the applicator, the ink will seep under the stencil & make a blob...

with just a bit of ink on the applicator,
you have very good control & can ink the exact area you choose...

it's that simple...

and for control freaks like me...

remember that if you put a bit of the distress stain on your craft sheet, you can ink tiny areas of the stencil with the detailer water brush, like MAGIC!

the next question was about stamping over stencils...
does it work & what ink should you use...

here's what I've found...
stencils made of thin material work the best, if you want to stamp over them...

thicker stencil materials hold the stamp off the surface, which gives you a more uneven random stamping...
usually with a large shadow...
which might be OK sometimes & sometimes you might want a better image, depending on your project...

as for the ink to use...

keep this in mind...
archival is waterproof when it's dry...
distress inks react with water...

so you can use either, depending on the look you are trying to achieve...

if you stamp with an archival & dry it...
it's permanent & you can add any water based product (misted water, Perfect Pearls Mists, color washes, distress stains, distress inks) over the archival & the image remains crisp & won't bleed...

if you stamp with distress & add a water based product over it...
it does what it's supposed to do...
bleed...

HOWEVER...if you want to use a distress ink color for your stamping & want it to stay crisp...
just stamp with the distress inks as a last step & don't add any water based product over it...
then it's perfect!

I hope this makes sense...
you have LOTS of inking options...

anyway...
here's where you can see the readable stenciled alphabet letters...
done with the distress stains...

now for the INSPIRATION part of this post...

the simon says design team has lots of awesome art this week...
their weekly challenge is called "bottle it"...

they have used lots of studio 490 products...
yippee!

it's a thrill for me to see how others create with things I designed...
and today blew me away...

they have made TONS of awesome ART...

a while ago I discovered a fun technique I called faux crazed glass...

here's the link to that post...

and here's the original bottle, using that technique...


and here it again, on a CHA project...
this time I used one of tim's corked vials...

the technique works on both vintage & new glass...

you'll see fun beautiful variations of this technique @ simon says...

and here's the metallic clearly for art original art & post...
and here's the Scrapttime video link,
if you missed it...

over @ simon, you'll see another entirely different look...

this is soooo cool...
take the technique & put your twist on it!


pop over & then you can pop to the individual blogs,
to get more info on how each person created their art...

I'm sure they'd love comments too...
if you have a second...

and speaking of comments...

comments win prizes...

I'll be sending some of

40 items??? Hot Dog!! Can't wait to see them! I believe my favorite part of your description of the Ranger paper is "it takes a lot of abuse!"..that's what I need LOL I love watercoloring stamped images but haven't found the right paper yet. Love love love your sunflower and journal pages!

March 4, 2012 7:27 AM

congrats Ms plum?...
please send your shipping info to me @ wbv1213@me.com
and we'll get that off to you...

HUGE THANKS to the gals & GENTLEMAN over @ simon says stamp for sharing your wonderful art...

you've inspired me to...

make art!
wendy
ps...random comments win ...
just saying...still have LOTS of the specialty stamping paper...

46 comments:

Debby said...

Thanks for the tips on using the stencils and the stains. Still have to try the bottle technique. Have made some flowers using the metallic techniques. Just have to put them together and see how they look on a frame I have. Love the inspiration from your blog!

Sarah said...

Thank you very much indeedily for the arty scrumptiousness and sharing a link to SSS&S for us. MERCI! About to have a dabble with some grungy flowers now - even the painter came into my craft room for a nose! Don't think he can manage a faux crazed wall quite yet.

Nancy Wethington said...

This is gorgeous! That bottle looks ancient!

Redanne said...

Thank you so much for all the links, especially the metallic clearly for art, I think I know what I will be doing for the next couple of hours!

Carol McCready said...

Awesome bottles. Can't wait to try out some of these techniques.

Swedie said...

The techniques create incredible results! The bottles are amazing, and I love the metallic flower.

Noreen
http://craftyjournal.com

Helen said...

Great tips today Wendy - I haven't used the stains with stencils yet so now I'll have a go with confidence. I'll gladly leave a comment in case I win!!! Would just lurve some of the new paper!!!

Candy C said...

Hey Wendy!! Thank you so much for the tutorial on techniques for using stencils, stamping and some wonderful Ranger products! Very informative! Thank you, too for the wonderful link on your blog to the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge this week...Bottle It! Your Faux Crazed technique IS SO EASY AND SO MUCH FUN!! I hope, through our design pieces this week, that we have inspired people to give your technique a try! It's sooo fun and the results are nothing short of AMAZING CRAZING! <3 Candy

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Thanks so much for sharing a link to SSSS, much appreciated. I love your faux technique and love how it turned out on my bottle. Thanks for the inspiration. Tracy x

Dan said...

Thanks for the info on stencils and stains Wendy, it couldn't be more timely - only today I was thinking about expanding the range of stencils I have to work with! Thanks for linking to our work on the SSSS blog too, much appreciated! :) Your All Bottled Up stamp looks amazing in shrink plastic!

SusanK said...

Always fun to sit and read your posts - I learn so much from them! Off to play...

Sandi said...

I ordered some and I have almost used it all just playing and seeing what I could do with it. So far it's a winner! I loved the bottles from Simon Says. I have one on hold and am going to play with it this week! Love ya Wendy!!

Myrto said...

I am off to try this stencil-stain technique. Thanks for the tip - never thought it before!

Unknown said...

I LOVE you THE Wendy Vecchi ... just sayin' X

Mandy Makes and Mends said...

Thanks for the pictures of the glass bottle I must try that technique .....am still loving the journal pages soo many layers looks fab ......I hope to get Dyan's stencils tomorrow when I am at her shop so will give these tips a try ...thanks for sharing Wendy ..so inspirational x

Tona said...

Thanks so much for all of the great tips on the stains & stencils.

Terry said...

Wowzerss Wendy soo sweet of you to link the Simon Says Stamp and Show Blog and therefore the fabby work the DT from SSS and S did wowwzerss what an honor and your bottles look amazing, I really gotta try it out eh? Thank you for the fabby compliments Your the best....and We (the DT's) loveeeee to show your fabby stampiness wow Hugs Terry xxxx much appreciated Wendy xxx

Anonymous said...

Good tips. I think I have become addicted to stencils lately. One technique I love is to use one color paint/ink/stain on a stencil, then move the stencil over just a bit and go over the same area with another color for a shadow effect.
Keep the ideas coming!

Karen Goulet said...

Thank you for the great tips Wendy!
You are rockin' as usual.
Karen :)

inkyfingers said...

Wendy, thanks for the techniques, the bottles look fabulous! I'm going to have to try this!

Cher said...

oh what fun!!!!!!!! ty

Dorothy said...

Great tips on stencils!!! and I love the bottles!!

Dawn B. said...

Thank you for all the ink tips! So appreciated! :-) love the bottle technique, gonna have to try it.

Rita said...

Wonderful tips Wendy, especially for newcomers like me, I need all the help I can get ,but I love this style. Hugs Rita xxx

Cim Allen said...

Awesome info on the distress stains, I have to get me one of the water thingys :) Congrats to the winner .. lucky duck !! Have a great day Wendy !!

Unknown said...

I love the ssss blog challenges. Congrats they used so much of your stuff this week! I'm off to have a look at that vintage bottle technique. Cheers, Maddy x

Laura said...

I just love that bottle you did. It inspired me to do some myself, rather than painting flowers on them, I can actually craft them. I just picked up some glue and seal yesterday.
Thanks for the great post.
Laura

Marilyn C. said...

Wendy: You blow me away with all your creativity! Do you dream in ART? Can't wait for you to come back to Buffalo. Hurry!

marci said...

Thanks for the tip on using markers with stencils. Can't wait until my markers arrive and I can play. Thanks so much for all that you share with us - it is so appreciated!mDenl

PlumTuckered's Paper Plays said...

woohooooo! Thank you SO much Wendy!! I've emailed you :-) Looking forward to trying your faux crazed glass technique tomorrow.

slbt17 said...

thanks for all the links - I love looking at art!
Sandra ltb

Larissa Heskett said...

THANKS for sharing and CONGRATS to the winner!! Can't wait to try out the NEW paper!! Have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)

Kate said...

The cracked glass looks intriguing, off to see how it's done. Thanks for all the stenciling tips too!

** Kate **

Lynne Forsythe said...

Ohhh your techniques are SOOOO AMAZING Wendy!! Thanks tons and bunches for sharing them and inspiring the Simon Says Stamp and Show!! YOU'RE THE BEST!!!

Art By Wanda said...

Great inspiration at SS!!!! Thanks for the link and the recap of links to your projects!!!

Dawn said...

Wendy, the cracked glass is beautiful. I cant wait to try it. Thanks for the ink tips, I always get confused about which ones to use for permenent and wchich ones for water.
Hugs from the beach!
Dawn in SC

Gabrielle said...

Oh good! This is one of those save it posts where there's a round up of ideas and techniques that act as reminders later - thank you - I needed this!

Kate Yetter said...

I love your crackled bottle! Gorgeousness!! I really like your play with those stencils. Everything you do is amazing.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the info on stains, stencils & inks. Loved looking at the designs from the design team ... Sarah's dress manequin & Dan's journal are my favs! Both so very creative and original! Thanks for the links!

jill said...

I'm loving the look of the stencils..thanks for the tips! Also the crazed glass and metallic clearly for art techniques rock....can't wait to try!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Distress Stains and stencilling sounds AND looks fantastic ! Thanks for the know how. Your crazed glass is awesome too ! Sue C x

Becky said...

So does the paper take a lot of abuse? It's not really clear from your description...LOL!! Now I need to try some...but I don't have any...maybe I'll get lucky! :) Thanks for the inspiration!

Cindy said...

What a great technique on the bottle! Thanks for sharing the info on the stencils, stamping, etc. Good info!
Cindy K.

Lorraine said...

Thank you for the tips and for showing the faux crazed glass - that looks so cool!

Micki said...

oohh thank you for sharing the link, I'm behind so I'm trying to play catch up on my blog lists :-). Your bottle & technique is awesome, it inspired me to try it on all sorts of objects. (works great on plastic lids, although I was being a bit stingy with the distress crackle I think).
As always, thank you for all your inspiration. As for the new paper, will definitely have to check it out :-). hugs

Weasel said...

Thanks for the tips on using the Distress Stains with stencils - I hadn't thought about knocking back the excess stain on kitchen towel first so will give that a try - great inspiration as always from you!