tip of the day...

happy Friday!

here's a little tip that I don't think I've shared before...

after I had my pieces all glued together for this sample, 

I decided that I wanted to add a hitch fastener to accent the stem...

why didn't I think of it BEFORE I glued it all?

duh...

this area has 3 layers of art parts, so the long screw wouldn't work this time...

don't fret...

enter plan B...

use an awl to make a hole, where you want to add the hitch fastener...

add a drop of Multi Medium (or any adhesive) in the hole...

put a toothpick in the hole...

cut the toothpick to the approximate length...

test drive the hitch fastener top

 to determine how long the toothpick should be...

if too long...

trim off a bit more...

add a drop of Multi Medium to the hole in the hitch fastener...

the top will dry secure & will sit flush on the art,

just as if you had used the screw...

plan B = SUCCESS!

I discovered this tip before tim came out with the long screws...

I have used this method with the faucet knobs, clock keys & the curio knobs too...

and this works well on thin material, 

where the screw hole would be too large...

like the thin stem above...

I love the long screws...

they are a cool tool & can easily reach thru 2 layers of art parts...

and you still have enough length to screw on the top portion...

**********************

before each new release...

I get lots of questions and requests...

more backgrounds please...

YOU BET!

how many new stencils do you have?

I could have done 40 but...

the magic number is 10!

yes...love love love stencils...

I'd love to see more of your smaller sets, for lower budget shopping...

STAY TUNED!

any new embossing pastes coming?

I *think* I SEE A NEW ONE in the studio...

can you show us more card samples?

lots of the samples I post can be made into cards...

I usually use art parts for the base of my project, because after CHA, the samples travel to all the conventions with Ted, so they need to be extra sturdy...

tag art can also be the inspiration for a card...

would you consider making "outdoor scenes"

like with trees/mountains, but your style...

sorry...it's not happening! lol...

mustaches are so popular, you should make an art part mustache...

hey...I did those about 2 years ago...

there's a mustache stamp on this set & on this one too

& I did 2 mini art parts mustaches too...

I'd love to see more of your flower stamps...

ME TOO!

STAY TUNED!

and they are so cute!

when do you show us everything?

I'm not sure of the exact date just yet...

probably around July 10th-ISH...

and a little reminder from kim 

that all my products are 20% off at eclecticPaperie...

the code to enter is...

WENDY20

stamps, embossing pastes, stencils, 

clearly for art and Blossom Bucket...

all for 20% off...

oh...and art parts too...

I wish you a wonderful weekend...

and I leave you with this little peek...

yep...

still lovin' the stripes...

now it's time for me to head to the studio to...

make art!

wendy

ps...do YOU have any arting tips to share?

there just might be a prize involved...

yikes...stripes!

it's funny how things work...

I totally LOVE polka dots...

always have...

always will...

but my newest love addiction is stripes...

 my yikes stripes stencil has really gotten a workout in the last few days...

you'll see stripes on lots of my CHA samples...

(coming soon to a blog near you)

 the sneak peek below is a portion of a new art journal page...

the base is Ranger's specialty stamping paper...

it's the bomb for mixed media art...

because it takes a ton of abuse...

the page is in a cute small journal, 

made from my art parts small pages...

you can create 3 journals with the 6 pages...

or make a fat 6 page book...

this is a nice size for testing ideas & techniques & for when you don't have a lot of time to spare...

the smaller size makes you feel like you've completed a project...

you'll see "some new for CHA" products below...

I am IN LOVE...

now here's the funny thing...

over at Simon Says, the challenge for this week is...

STRIPES!

if you're looking for inspiration...

check out this post, 

then visit each of the artists' blogs...

you WILL be inspired & you WILL see lots of cool stripes used in their art...

to EVERYONE on

 the SSS & SHOW DT...

I'm cheering for you!

BRAVO!

WELL DONE!

coming up...

more stripes!

I wanted to thank STAMPINGTON 

for the 2 page feature in their summer Gallery issue...

the article is all about Ranger's CHA Winter designer challenge, using Dy's spray inks...

we were each assigned one color & the rules were to use only that color with black & white...

I got the yummy london blue...

but seriously? 

NO DISTRESS? 

NO brown?

yikes...

for me, this truly was a challenge...

but, I guess that's the purpose...

to make you THINK...

it's a large piece...

the base is an 11 x 14 flat canvas...

I normally work much smaller...

like a quarter of that size...

I had the guys at the factory laser cut some giant art parts, proportioned to fit the large canvas...

GIANT CANVAS?

another YIKES...

and again...

NO BROWN?

after a few sleepless nights...

here's my project...

with...

STRIPES!

if all this stripes talk has you wanting needing

some stripes...

Kim (eclecticPaperie) has a special code for you...

she's offering 

20% off ALL my products...

she has recently restocked all the Blossom Bucket cuties

and I see that she has the "yikes stripes" stencil & 

the polka dot/stripes border stencil back in stock too...

and she has lots of art parts to choose from...

and of course stamps...

this one just happens to have a

STRIPES background!

the code to enter at checkout is 

WENDY20

the embossing pastes 

are included in the sale & they are cool, 

when used with the stripes stencils...

especially the black paste...

ok...back to the studio for me...

CHA is fast approaching so I NEED to...

make art!

wendy

ps...talk to me...

what are YOU creating?

what are you looking forward to seeing from CHA?

let the sneak peeks begin...

happy weekend my friends!

it's been a very busy & productive week here...

CHA sample making mode is going full speed ahead...

I'm having a total blast...

it's such a thrill for me to get the actual products to use...

looking at them on the computer screen just isn't the same...

for this release we'll be changing things up a bit &

 I have some 

TOTALLY FLIPPIN EXCITING things

 to share in the next few weeks...

believe me...

I CAN NOT WAIT!

I'll be sending off samples early next week, so they can be photographed for the catalog...

 that was the main thing 

on the TO*DO list for this week...

mission accomplished...

one month from today is CHA "classes day"...

it's a very fun exciting event...

I am E X C I T E D beyond words for this CHA...

like I can barely sleep...

EXCITED...

ok...about that peek...

before I say too much...

here's a decent sized photo...

this has lots of new products peeking out...

new stamps, new stencils & new art parts...

my new favorite color combo is wild honey & broken china...

I put those 2 stains into misters & I'm 

spraying the distress stains on larger art parts...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the distress stains in a spray form...

try it...

bet you will too...

***enabler alert***

Simon Says is offering 20% off all Ranger products...

so that means...

misters

stains

archival inks

markers

my fav embossing powder

specialty stamping paper & more...

like the basic (for sure NEED) 

craft sheets & heat -it tools...

this is also a great time to stock up on

 distress re-inkers...

they are THE BEST 

for adding to my embossing pastes...

they add very little fluid volume &

just one tiny drop of the re-inker 

will create awesome custom paste colors...

it's fun to pre color the pastes before applying them thru a stencil...

you can add color to the white paste & also the metallics...

gold & silver ...

a tiny drop of rusty hinge re-inker added to a bit of the gold paste creates a beautiful rusty metallic paste...

it's REALLY pretty...

to SAVE...

just enter the code

rangersale

at checkout...

to get 20% off ALL Ranger goodies...

that's it for now...

have a GREAT weekend!

I'm headed back to the studio to...

make (CHA) art!

wendy

first of the peeks...

it's tiny...

but LOADED with info...

just a quickie reminder, 

that today is the last day 

to take advantage of the 40% off sale 

on ALL my products over at Simon Says...

stock up on 

embossing pastes

stencils

stamps...

and Blossom Bucket cuties...

just enter the code

salewendy

at checkout...

gotta run...

gotta

make art!

wendy

ps...like the peek?

what do you see?

a S A L E & a winner...

YIKES!!!

I've been so deep in CHA prep, that I forgot to choose a winner from Ranger's Melt art challenge...

CONGRATS to...

 Mallrat said...

I have been wanting to try this, but wasn't really sure how to go about it. I think you outlined it perfectly ! Thanks Wendy .. you ROCKS !! Have a great day

May 23, 2013 at 8:02 AM

you will win the prize package shown below...

please email me with your shipping info &

 I'll forward that on to Ranger...

I'm getting ready for CHA and so is Simon Says...

to make room for NEW products in their warehouse, 

they are having a 

SUPER SPECIAL SALE!

just enter the secret code at checkout & 

you'll save 40% off ALL my products...

the code is at the end of the post...

need some embossing paste??

or some of my stencils...

or some adorable Blossom Bucket goodies 

to embellish your art?

LOVE LOVE LOVE the art parts tags...

also included in the sale...

clearly for art...

and my project/technique books...

the sale makes it a great time to stock up on some basics...

***************************

next...

I've had questions about when sneak peeks of new products will start...

soon...

very soon...

they might be tiny peeks...but none the less...

they will be peeks...

I have some VERY EXCITING stuff to show you & believe me...

it is KILLING me to keep quiet...

K I L L I N G  M E!

I've been test driving  products this week & I am having so much fun...

I can't wait to share...

*******************************

 here's a shot of our new yard decor...

on the agenda for today...

a re-do of the septic system...

the joys of being a home owner!...

NOT!

now about that SUPER SECRET SALE code...

just enter

salewendy

at the checkout to

save 40% off ALL my products...

Sale ends June 17th, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST STD Time!

we gotta have supplies so we can...

make art!

wendy

ps...I hope your weekend is WONDERFUL & inky!

A MILLION THANKS...

to everyone who came to my classes at 

The Crafty Scrapper, in Waxahachie, Texas...

we had 3 FULL inky FUN days with AWESOME students...

at an AWESOME store with AWESOME staff!

Southern hospitality is THE BEST!

many THANKS 

to everyone who came to see us at the convention too...

we had a blast & met so many WONDERFUL folks...

we sincerely appreciate your kindness & support...

I've been gone for 10 days, 

so I have 1001 things on the TO*DO list...

I did accomplish 1 BIG ONE yesterday, 

so now I'm down to only 1000 before CHA!

new stencils...

and

new stamps...

have arrived...

new art parts 

are scheduled to be delivered tomorrow...

now it's time for me to 

make (CHA) art!

wendy

ps... an uninked stamp is an unloved stamp!

get INKY today!