it ends with a GIVEAWAY!

phew...I've been busy...

but haven't created anything new for the blog...

YIKES!

however...

I do have some fun posts coming up for Ranger...

with some fun projects & techniques...

so...stay tuned...

here's a photo I found...

don't think I've shared this before...

this is the inside back cover of an art journal...

it's created with 2 large art parts pages...

and here's the pull out tag...

the saying is clear embossed, 

making it so easy to use the distress markers...

love the saying...and the flourishes too...

and for something random...

ever wonder what 2000 Ranger manila tags look like?

here's the first 1000...

getting assembled for the Ranger classes @ The Queen's Ink...

I plan this assembly to take over the counter, 

so there's NO WAY I could possibly make dinner...

that's double dipping

or killing 2 birds with one stone 

and it works EVERY time!

sorry Rick!

and like the title says...

it ends with a GIVEAWAY...

this shows the prize for one lucky commenter...

it's a big stash of 

my favorite Blossom Bucket pieces...

it's my THANKS to YOU...

for being 

THE BEST BLOG FRIENDS...

EVER!

I'll be back on Monday with the winner...

WAIT...

don't forget the secret code

WVST20

use it over at Simon Says...

it's good until the 30th @ 11:59pm EST...

it gets you 20% off my stamps...

just saying...

if you NEED any...

and if you spot a detail water brush...

you WILL want one...

I have a super fun post coming up that uses the detail water brush in a unique way...

and it's CRAZY SIMPLE...

so if you want to be prepared...

ps...I LOVE the broad tip brush too...

time to go...

just leave your comment & 

you'll have a chance at the 

Blossom Bucket goodie package!

have a wonderful weekend!

as always...

make art!

wendy

I gotta get outta this place...

hmmm...

sounds like an old song...

we're having some work done here & 

the jackhammering has me 

NUTS already...

they were scheduled for the days I'm visiting THE QUEEN...

but thought they'd surprise us & start early...

lovely...

so...to save the little bit of sanity I have left...

I'm out of here!

shopping is just what I NEED...

it's therapeutic!

hey...I haven't had new shoes in __ weeks!

before I head out, I thought I'd share a fun journal page...

it's created on the lovely 

Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper...

using distress inks, my stamps, the polka dot 

and my classic words stencils...

the postage mark is stamped in 

Ranger's French Ultramarine archival...

it goes with everything...

and the postage is a good "filler" stamp for backgrounds...

I stamped this flower stamp, 

then just randomly traced around it,

 so it looks hand drawn...

I have a very hard time keeping pages flat...

so I HAD to add some of

tim's mini gears as flower centers...

they work well, because they're not too bulky...

next photo...

 I like everything finished...

here's the back cover of another art parts art journal...

made from 2 of the large art parts sq frame bases...

the Crop-A-Dile makes holes in art parts very easily...

so you can bind it with rings...

incase you wanted to know that tidbit...

the art parts star is blasted with 

Cappuccino Perfect Pearls mist...

but the photo doesn't show it well...

it has a really pretty shimmer...

I'm totally IN LOVE with my flourishes...

and my new 

honeycomb background too...

"original art" is stamped with jet black archival & 

colored in with the distress markers...

they make it so easy...

a reminder & a little enabling...

STAMPtember continues...

and my DISCOUNT CODE is good thru

Sunday September 30 at 11:59 pm EST...

just type in 

WVST20

at checkout, to save 20% on all my stamps...

that's it for today..

I'm outta here...

it's way too noisy to...

make art!

wendy

catching up...

today's post is a bunch of random stuff...

a few Q & A...

a SALE...

and variation of

a pigment ink/distress ink/markers technique...

I showed for STAMPtember...

#1...I've had several questions about cleaning my stencils...

one gal is freaked out because I suggested stamping over them with archival ink...

and then her stencil...

in HER WORDS...

"wouldn't be pristine..."

Ok...rest assured...

(you KNOW who you are)

alcohol blending solution removes archival ink

 from non porous surfaces...

like stencils, or metal, or glass...

so stamp away with no worries...

and if you don't clean them...

they look USED & well loved!

#2...asked if I clean the stencils when using distress ink ...

OK...keep in mind that distress colors will blend...

so if I have used black soot on my stencil &

 then want to add scattered straw, 

I do rinse it off to remove the black,

 because I know black & yellow will make green...

but if I'm going from a yellow to a green...

I don't bother...

if I've used a red...I do, 

because the reds seem to transfer very easily...

#3. do you ship your hoodies to Canada?

same thing...to France?...to the UK?

you can tell the weather is getting cooler...

lol...

I spoke with Jason...all shipping is done thru him...

he took a test package to the PO and got these rates...

shipping to Canada was $20.00...not horrible...

but...

France & the UK were...

sit down for this...

$45.00...

YIKES...

so sorry about that...

but that's the PO charge...

it's out of his control...

#4...would you consider selling kits for all your classes?

at this time...no...

BUT...

we do have 3 kits for art out already...

2 more coming next month...

and there will be more next year...

and...they were restocked yesterday...

#5...where can I get your new Blossom Bucket...

they should be arriving in the next 10 days or so...

I'll let you know the minutes I hear from Cindy...

#6...I so enjoyed your video. will you be doing more?

hmmm..right now our internet service sucks big time...

I've been shopping & asking questions from friends...

so...maybe...

if we get this resolved...

I thought I found a good service, 

but then I got NOT GOOD reviews

from previous users...

so, I'm still shopping to see what's available here...

moving on...

the new challenge over on the EWVyahoo group, 

is to use the technique I showed 

on the STAMPtember video...

lori, the list mom, has very simple rules...

use the technique and 

at least 1 studio 490 stamp...

that's it!

pop over & you'll be inspired by some very talented ladies there...

I thought it would be fun to participate in the challenge

with the group this time

& show how cool this is 

on Ranger's kraft card stock...

this is the same technique, 

but instead of a black base, it's on kraft...

the distress marker colors are 

tumbled glass, broken china & bundled sage...

watch the video here...

and you'll see this is a 5 minute card...

very simple...

but I like the result...

this makes a fun art journal page too...

Simon Says is still celebrating...

and guess what...

ENABLER ALERT COMING...

but it will save you 20%!

at checkout...

just enter this code 

WVST20

to save 20% on

 all my studio 490 stamps & books...

even this new one, 

with my fav flourishes I used above...

I hope you'll try the technique...

it's easy & fun...

happy Wednesday...

I'm off to 

make art!

wendy

putting the pieces together...

or actually...

the art parts...

here's how this project developed...

I had finished some projects for Ranger & 

I was cleaning up my mess...

and trying to avoid writing the supply lists & instructions...

below are the pieces that were left over & waiting to be put away...

when I picked up the umbrella...

I saw a nose...

kind of a cartoonish nose...

but still...

a nose...

with the umbrella making hair...

see it?

the rectangles are from the art parts bookplates set...

I ended up trading in the mini crown for a flower...

but these were the pieces that inspired me...

remember the old saying...

when life gives you lemons...

make lemonade?

well it fits here too...

when life gives you leftover art parts...

make a collage!

this turned out to be a self portrait...

the umbrella is stamped with this background...

since I wear glasses, 

I snapped the Blossom Bucket glasses in half 

to fit over the eyes...

 I added the large Blossom Bucket lips, after I added some vermillion archival & stamped them with polka dots, 

using jet black archival...

 I added my new small star knob to accent the flower center...

they should be arriving VERY soon!

tim's screw eye holds the chain tassel to make the earring...

next...I tried to clean up again...

when I put the mini crown back in the drawer...

I spotted my large art parts lamp...

and then grabbed this new half flower...

the idea was brewing...

hmmm...

I'll give her a body...

I added my Blossom Bucket star after I painted it with the black paint dabber...

and a tiny bit of tim's new paper string to the base...

and now she looks like this...

you've heard of trophy wife...

here's a trophy artist!

so by now I bet you're thinking...

this chick has had one mojito too many...

might be true!

oh well...

sometimes (OK...most times) I over-think things...

this time I just went with what was in front of me 

& it went together easily...

I might try that more often...

I hope you try it too...

play with random pieces & see what develops!

I'm off to write up the instructions for some fun projects...

and make some flight arrangements...

I'm going to see THE QUEEN & her subjects again!

after that...

I want to...

make art!

wendy

with one stencil...

with my stripes border stencil...

you can...

use just one color of ink...

this is gathered twigs, 

added with the blending tool...

on Ranger's manila cardstock...

you can add 2 colors to your art...

add your first color...

I used gathered twigs again...

then move the stencil over,

 to cover the gathered twigs stripes...

then add the second color in the blank areas...

the second color is faded jeans...

do you want a multi colored border?

use the distress markers to ink each stripe...

or...

use the craft nib to pick up ink from the distress ink pads, 

then add the colors that coordinate with your art...

your stripes can be horizontal...

or vertical...

or you can combine the 2...

to create a plaid border...

you can use them on journal pages...

as a subtle element in the background...

this is on Ranger's specialty stamping paper...

 you can

vary the thickness of the stripes...

you can make the stripes more prominent...

on a journal page...

and you can use them on art parts too...

I'm having a blast with these stencils...

and I've only showed you how to use them with distress...

stay tuned for more fun stencil play...

I've got lots more ideas brewing...

have a wonderful inky weekend...

I'm off to design more stencils so we can...

make art!

wendy

ps...

the BEARS suck BIG TIME...

yikes! UGLY!

a million GIGANTIC THANKS...

for all the wonderful comments...

I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the video & learned some fun techniques...

I sincerely appreciate the time you took to comment here & on the Simon blog too...

I was looking for a photo & found this project...

I don't think I've shared this before...

I created this for CHA back in January, 

for the Ranger booth...

it's my art parts sweetheart frame...

with some art parts florals...

a little residence, that's accented 

with my Blossom Bucket heart...

that gold flower is clearly for art,

 cut with tim's tattered florals die...

the CFA was painted with Glue N Seal, 

so that the rock candy crackle paint would stick...

the gold is the gold metallic mixative...

if you click for a larger photo, 

you'll see some extra texture on that flower...

after I painted on the Glue N Seal, 

I sprinkled on some distress embossing powder, 

while the Glue N Seal was still wet...

(you can use any color embossing powder...the metallic mixative covers the color)

there's some ruler ribbon peeking out from under the flower...

and it's VERY shimmery...

I blasted the whole heart (before embellishing)

with the awesome Perfect Pearls mist...

I used my fav sunflower sparkle...

this heart signifies me...

THANKING YOU...

from the bottom of my heart

for all your support!

since we had so many comments...

I have 2 winners today...

and read the fine print...

(I have a book #7 for a commenter from this post)

 the winner of the stamp set & art parts package is...

 Eileen Bellomo said...

Great video, great technique, great giveaway, great tag. Think I like it all? LOL!

September 8, 2012 6:08 AM

 

and the SECOND WINNER will receive a copy of my new book...

 julie case said...

What a great video and technique! Thank you for sharing your step-by-step process!

September 9, 2012 10:28 PM

 

please shoot me an email at

wbv1213@me.com

and we'll get these sent off to you...

I'm off to conquer some of the 999 things on the TO*DO list...

after that, I hope to have a bit of time...

I want to head to the studio to...

make art!

wendy

aka agent 490

ps...GO BEARS!!!

celebrating STAMPtember...

with Simon Says Stamp!

I first met Heidi, who owns Simon Says Stamp,

when I helped Tim with his Mexico cruise back in 2009...

Rick & I immediately fell in love with her...

her sweet personality & her adorable smile...

we quickly became friends...

 I'm honored to help celebrate

 STAMPtember with Heidi

 & the whole awesome Simon Says Family...

here's how Simon Says came to be...

Simon Says Stamp was founded in 2002 with an interest in exclusively selling rubber stamps. It didn’t take long until we realized we couldn’t stop there. During the past 10 years we celebrate rubber stamping in its full glory by giving access to people around the world to a one stop shop. Rubber stamps still remain the heart of our business and we are celebrating by hosting a STAMPtember™ event intended to inspire, educate, and celebrate the greatness of rubber stamping. Part of the enticement of rubber stamping is that stamps can be used in creating or complimenting ANYTHING! From stamping dates on bank documents and postage parcels in the early 18th century, rubber stamping has dramatically expanded to include card making, scrapbooking, mixed media and many forms of altering and expressing art. 

and here's THE official LOGO...

there's NOTHING better than a SALE to celebrate...

STAMPtember...

and

compliments of Heidi...

this code will get you 

20% off 

all my studio 490 stamps 

& all my BOOKS too...

the code is good now thru 11:59PM 

on September 11, 2012...

the code you need to enter is...

 WVST20 

but wait...

there's more!

I have an extra prize to give away... 

this one is compliments of 

Ted & Michele from Stampers Anonymous...

one lucky commenter will win

 a brand new stamp set, 

a brand new art parts package

and I'll include my STAMPtember project too,

for the random winner...

 I had fun making a special technique video 

just for SSS ...

here's a list of some of the products 

that I demoed in the video...

it starts on a Ranger tag...

LOVE their black tags!

my flourish stamps...

ink palette...

my fav snow cap pigment ink...

tim's distress markers...

the new distress metallic stains...

this background stamp...

this cutie Blossom Bucket piece...

this art part...

distress stain...

this stamp with the really mini text...

the detailer water brush...

my new LOVE stamp...

and embossing powder...

here's a tiny peek at my project...

you can see the video on the

Simon Says Stamp blog...

I hope you enjoy the video...

remember...

leave a comment there...

and wish them a HAPPY STAMPtember...

then I hope you'll come back & 

leave a comment below...

I'll draw the winner Monday morning @7am...

until then...

I'm signing off as 007 today...

watch the video & you'll "GET IT!"

I hope you 

CELEBRATE STAMPtember

and...

make art!

wendy...aka 007