happy Friday!
like the title says...
just lots of randomness today...
I've spent the week designing new "things" for CHA Summer...
it's only 4 months and a week away...
a HUGE...YIKES!
I've been working on new stamps, new art parts & new Blossom Bucket trinkets...
plus a few "things" for the gift market...
and scheduling more teaching weekends...
the scoop is on the right sidebar...
see?...I'm jumping all over the place...
next I want to share a small portion of an email I got earlier this week...
I've answered emails similar to this in the past...
so I thought I'd share it here...
maybe it will help others...
OMG...I just found you by accident. You are exactly what I've been searching for. I want to jump into your world, but I need guidance. I would appreciate any help with these questions. Where do I start? What supplies do I need? Can you explain the process you used to develop your style? How long did it take?Can I do this stamping?
here are my thoughts for people just finding the stamping, inking, mixed media world...
before you make any purchases,
do some research to help you find your style...
find what appeals to you...
this will help you avoid impulse purchases...
things you may not really need...
or want in a few months...
there is TONS of free info on the internet...
visit blogs, searching for key words to help you find them...
YouTube is also an excellent source of free info...
again, search for key words...
or names of artists you find on the net...
check out Pinterest...but beware...
it's a HUGE time sucker...
it's amazing...
I LOVE it...
but time can quickly get away...
don't ask me how I know this!
I think you'll quickly see what style you like,
be it cute, simple or grungy...
then purchase just the basic supplies you need...
don't buy everything you see...
make sure you really enjoy "making art" first...
here's my list of essentials...
to protect your work space & it's great for inky techniques...
quite simply...THE BEST!
a multi-surface black ink...
Ranger's Archival works on paper, chipboard, grungeboard, grungepaper, fabric, metal, Clearly for Art, art parts and more...
a heat tool...Ranger's is awesome!
quiet, hot & it has a built in diffuser, so your embossing powder isn't blown all over the place...
lol...that fit right in with the title!
some card stock...
to get you started with small card projects...
an adhesive...try Claudine's MultiMedium (matte)...
the mini size is a great trial size...
a few colors of ink...start with the basic colors...
choose a green, blue, red, yellow & brown that you like...
I LOVE the distress ink colors...
a stamp set or 2...
when choosing the stamps, try to have several ideas on how you would use them, before you make a purchase...
now about style...
several years ago I probably didn't know this...
but because of teaching I do,
I have the answer...
the style is already IN YOU...
seriously...
IT IS...
here's my observations...
in my Ranger techniques class, each student has access to the exact same products (tags, inks, mists, stamps etc)...
and what I see is that each person has their own style, whether they know it or not...
and I point this out @ the end of the workshop...
it's very obvious...
some people use more inks,
some use the same inks as their table mates, but apply it lighter...
even their "way" of applying inks is unique...
each person chooses the ink colors that SPEAK to them...
no 2 tags turn out exactly the same...
and that's the fun part...
get the technique down, then put your UNIQUE twist on it...
and the last part...
CAN I DO THIS?
YOU BET...if you want to...
YOU CAN...
NO DOUBT...
take some time...
just play & practice....
and don't expect a masterpiece the first time...
like the old adage says...
practice makes perfect...
and eventually YOUR STYLE will naturally evolve!
and in the future,
when you are addicted & want every ink & rubber stamp you see...
remember...
it's NOT MY FAULT!
YOU ASKED!
now jumping to inspiration...
our new laundry room ART...
was inspired by the photo below...there doesn't seem to be much of a connection...
but in my little mind I guess there was...
keep your eyes & your mind open...
inspiration is all around us...
and speaking of SEEING...Lori GETS it!!!Lori saw these $1.00 generic wood pieces...
and magically transformed one into this BEAUTY...
I think it's pretty spectacular & she started with a $1.00 find...
wouldn't this make a great gift?
and she'll give you the scoop on how she created this ART!
THANKS Lori for sharing with us!
and here's a few pieces from CHA...
don't think I shared these before...
this first is a piece for tim's idea-ology booth...
it's small...done on the small square art parts frame...
I wanted to highlight his new destinations papers...
YUM!
the clocks are sitting on a little shelf, that's made with my new Blossom Bucket black metal shelf...
I LOVE THESE ...MILLIONS!
and they ship in APRIL...NEXT MONTH!
and the dimension on the clocks was fun...
I used Glue N Seal to add the destinations paper to my Clearly for Art...
cut out the clocks & heated them to make them rounded...
the clearly for art didn't add a lot of bulk, which was important, since this is such a small piece...
and it allowed me to have 3 clocks layered & they still fit on the shelf...
and this was a fun one to create...this is my small art chick...
sporting an art parts gear halo & wings...
and some Blossom Bucket trinkets...
the large flower, the mini lips & those cool glasses...
these ship next month too!
her body is a canvas rectangle...made by Canvas Corp...
they are fun to ink with the distress stains...
and then embellish...
the optical label was stamped on grungeboard to add some texture...
a little vintage lace...
& she was complete...
I'll be back on Monday @ 9am Chicago time...
I'll be back on Monday @ 9am Chicago time...I'm participating in a blog hop for an "author" friend...
I'll have a tutorial all ready to talk about the techniques I used to create my art...
until then, I wish you a bright bright sunshiny day
with plenty of time to...
make art!
wendy
What a fabulous email to receive and a great introduction to the basics needed to start! You are right, we all have the style right for us within us but sometimes we need inspiration and guidance from others we respect and who will gently point us in the direction we want to go... and you are pretty darned good at that!
ReplyDeleteSuch great advise Wendy!
ReplyDeleteLove your art today!!!!!
What an inspirational post! I have yet to find my style but I have definitely fallen victim to the buy first, think later trap. Love your arat chick. :)
ReplyDeleteWell I am sure your emailer will be ready to go now! Love the advice you've given her.(I am assuming it's a her!) Love yor art today (but then I always do) Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great advice - always good to hear a reminder - some times things sink in slowly, others take time. Love the art, love Lori's art, too! Enjoy the sunshine!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat guidance to the beginner! :-) love the art girl!!!! She has always been one of my favorite stamps. Can't wait for the new technique!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd had this great advice when I started ! Great pieces of art Wendy. Sue C x
ReplyDeleteLove your frame Wendy and the advice is spot on ....I think I bought everything in sight when I first started! Now have loads of stuff I don't use .....not the first I suppose and sure won't be the last lol .....love your inspiration x
ReplyDeleteWoWzA, these projects rock! Thanks for the inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteLoving your thoughts on all things crafty Wendy. I'd like to become more grungy with my cards etc ,but find it hard to make them grungy. Looking forward to more of your brilliant ideas. Love all your work that I have seen so far. Hugs Rita xxx
ReplyDeleteDang..I keep forgetting about gluing paper on CFA..THANKS for the reminder! Those clocks are so cool! Love those projects, and thanks for mentioning mine! Appreciate it! Nice tips for beginners, too...
ReplyDeleteYou rock! I love everything about this post. TFS
ReplyDeleteGreat advice and beautiful projects! Love the one with the clocks.
ReplyDeletewhat a fabulous post! I love your style Wendy, love seeing art other's have made with your products but sadly I've only gone as far as making books with your Art Part Covers. I did buy your Art Part Pocket watches in January but haven't done anything to them yet, just admired them. This post has me thinking I need to stop "thinking" and just jump in and "do it". Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou ROCK Wendy, the girl is very lucky to have stumbled upon you. You are an awesome person for inspiration .. as well as ENABLING :) Which I love you for .. LOL Happy Friday !
ReplyDeletegreat blog post! Thanks for sharing some art too! Those are great tips even for those who have been stamping for a while.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips for beginners, but also good reminders for the more experienced. Your projects are awesome, as usual. Looking forward to seeing all the new stuff, especially the embellishments.
ReplyDeleteOh, and thank you for making the art chick art part sized to your stamp. :)
Your advice is sooo true - I think I bought one of everything and now my craft room is full of stuff I will never use. I admit I am still trying to discover my style, even after 5 years but with your products it is so much fun trying! Please, please do some washboards in your Art Parts, we need them!
ReplyDeleteLove your little art chick!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice and so true! Happy week-end!
ReplyDeletestill looking for my own style ....
ReplyDeletelove yours!
Sandra ltb
Love all the projects, especially Lori's flower and the colors on the head piece.
ReplyDeleteAll great advice!!!! Totally loved Lori's flower when she first posted it!!!!!!! And your pieces are as fabulous as ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou gave some really wonderful advise for someone who is just starting out. It's so true that in the beginning (if you're not educated that is)you jump in with both feet and just want to buy anything and everything. Then a bit of time passes by and you realize you don't even use half the products you bought. And I think we can all agree buying products can add up really fast. But I think it's all a learning process and going through that helps an artist to figure out what avenue they are interested in.
ReplyDeleteWendy, I wanted to tell you that in the past I have bought a couple of the Arts Parts but really not too many. I was more interested in buying your awesome stamps. However, recently Daisy over at Eclectic Paperie was having a sale on your Art Parts and I bought just about every one of them (two of some of them). Spent $300. So you can only guess how many goodies I have to play with now and I get to construct a bunch of altered mixed media projects, YEAH. I am so very, very excited!!
Lots of great infromation. Thanks!
ReplyDelete