potpourri of a post...

today I have some really random stuff...

aka...

potpourri of a post...

I missed an embossing paste question the other day...

thanks for resending it!

the question was...

do you suggest using a make up sponge instead of wasting a blending tool foam when adding ink over the paste?

I *think* what the real question was...

does the paste dry stiff & will it tear the blending tool foam...

use your blending tool & foam with no worry...

the paste actually dries very soft & sort of squishy-rubbery...

yet firm...

how's that for a description?

I use the same blending tools & foam that I normally do...

the same as for any other surface I ink...

be that a tag, cardstock, grungeboard, art parts...etc...

I see no extra wear & tear on my foams at all...

the paste does NOT dry with any sharp edges...

just got this question too...

can you spread the pastes with a credit card instead of a knife?

what's the advantage of the palette knife?

if you are wanting to cover a large area...

the credit card will work just fine...

but if you want to apply paste over just ONE WORD of a stencil...

or just the stem & leaves...

the palette knife gives you much better control...

plus... the palette knife fits down into the jar easily...

but...

 you could take the paste out with a craft stick...

whatever works for you!

if you want to doodle in the wet paste...

just use the end of a paint brush...

this is fun too...

write a word...

make a pattern...

and speaking of embossing paste...

here's an art parts flower 

with a very uneven layer of the white paste...

it's thicker in some spots...

and in some I used very little paste...

I misted my plaid stamp with water & stamped into the wet paste...

when the paste was dry,

 I used weathered wood stain right over the whole flower...

just pounce the stain over the dry paste...

it's easier than rubbing & you don't run the risk of being too rough & removing some of the paste...

I added some walnut stain to the edges with a blending tool & added the Blossom Bucket embellishment...

can you believe the size of that diamond?

well...

maybe for that price...

it's not a real diamond...

the polka dots were added to both pieces with 

french ultramarine archival...

just dry the ink & it's permanent...

archival = AWESOME!

here's the flower, which can easily be transformed into any color your project needs...

moving on...

 I love organizing almost as much as I do making art...

so yesterday I popped into to Michael's for a frame & found this PERFECT stencil/paste organizer...

and it's 40% off at Michael's this week!

it is PERFECT for my stencils...

and the new 8 stencils in the January release will fit just fine ...

and it will hold plenty more...

and it also holds my embossing pastes...

with room for more...

oh yeah baby!...

coming in January!

and I put my stencil tape, some post-its & palette knife in there too...

it has a locking lid...

it's a match made in heaven!

check it out at Michael's...

on to more random-ness...

here's a 2AM thought...

my Blossom Bucket open windows can be mirrors...

just add tim's MIRRORED behind the "window" & it becomes a mirror...

then add the mirror over the brick stamp or brick stencil...

mirror mirror on the wall...

I WILL do this soon...

hmmm...what color to make them?

we have had so many requests for 

the original Stampers Anonymous phrenology head 

to be sold cling mounted...

it's only been sold as a wood mounted...

HOWEVER...

this kit...

contains the cling phrenology stamp...

YIPPEE...

and all the Blossom Bucket embellishments, clearly for art flowers & instructions needed to create this funky art angel...

just add your inks & any background stamps you have...

that's it for today...

I have some assignments & deadlines that are kicking my butt...

 Rick kidnapped me yesterday to shop...

so no arting got done...

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and you can spare a few minutes to

make art!

wendy

ps GO BEARS...

I *think* I'll be getting a few more grey hairs from that game...

yikes!

and I bet I'll need a mojito to settle my nerves...