more Q & A's...

hello friends!

I have gotten a few questions recently & I thought I'd answer them here today before I move on to a little art...

#1...I took your advice & bought the jet black archival pad. I'm very impressed with how it stamps & now I'm ready to get your colors. Before I start collecting, I'm wondering if your colors come in the larger pad, like the black I bought? Any plans to add larger pads, if they are not currently available, I didn't see any? I think I'd like my pads to be all the same size.

we have no plans to change...

I like that this size ink pad 

fits my hands very well...

I like the size because I like to lay my stamp flat on my table & tap the ink pad onto the stamp, as opposed to tapping the stamp onto the ink pad...

so...short answer...

no plans for a larger size pad in my colors...

#2...When can we expect to see 

your new stamps and stencils? 

I'm so loving and enjoying using your SiSis so much...talk about a quick make.

THANKS! I do love them too!

I don't have an exact release date...

but probably late August...

I'm expecting them to be here mid August & I'll need some time to make some samples...

but...shhh...

you just might see...

3 new stamp sets...

possibly with flowers...

3 new A D O R A B L E SiSis...

I'm dying to get them...

2 new large background stamps

always useful...

2 new mat minis...

oh boy...they are super cute & so fun for cards...

I have samples done with them...F U N!

#3...If you take requests for stamp ideas, I'd love you to consider a paisley background with a small repeating pattern.

sorry...not happening...

I never connected with that pattern...

probably because they remind me of sperm...lol...

sorry...you asked!

#4...Do you ever travel to the west coast to teach?

I can travel 4 to 5 hours, but all the way to the east coast just isn't in the budget...

my schedule is always updated on the right sidebar...

you'll also find the Ranger designers schedule on the Ranger site...

check here...

thanks for asking!

I am teaching for the FIRST TIME

 in Los Gatos, California in August...

I'm super excited to be invited to 

The Creative Escape!

Laurie has moved her store 

to a new location & rumor is...

it's FABULOUS!...

I CAN NOT WAIT!

here's the scoop on 

the Saturday class...

and here's 

the Sunday info...

hope to see you in sunny California!

come & we'll MAKE ART!

#4...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make potting soil embossing powder.

yes...I agree...

potting soil would be A W E S O M E!

the end...

#5... I need clarification of the ink types. 

Can you point me to a source?

Can dye inks be used for embossing or is it only pigments? I guess that's really my main question.

I did a whole post about inks awhile back, 

because this is a recurring question...

it seems that I get pretty much the same question about inks every week or so...

I'm not sure exactly where 

the confusing info is originating,

so, please feel free

 to pass this info on to your arty friends...

here's the link to that post, 

which explains the ink basics and 

more about my favorite inks...

the post talks about

what they do...

what they don't do...

what to use WITH them...

how & why they work so well together...

why you can't give one answer

 that pertains to ALL dye inks...

again...you can read that post here...

and you'll quickly see

 that not all dye inks are the same...

distress & archival are both DYE inks, 

but what makes them different & unique is their BASE...

check out that post for the full scoop...

#6...Happy Forth of July! Love your centerpiece on the table. Is that all faux graniteware? You were busy if it is. 

she was referring to this photo I had on instagram...

lol...NO way!

it's what I like to collect...

I love the authentic old blue stuff...

and...

 that's what inspired me to figure out

 the faux graniteware technique...

give it a go...

it's addicting & so E A S Y & to upcycle things you might otherwise toss in the trash...

#7...I found you on Periscope after I checked it out via Tim. I'm waiting to see you...

lol...yes...I signed up...

then I realized that there are no re-dos & I think I sound like a chipmunk sometimes...

yikes!

but I'll have a mojito...

get my brave on & do one soon!

or...soon-ish...

I guess the GOOD thing is 

that if it's really goofy,

the video is gone after 24 hours...

lol...

if you have more questions, ask away & I'll do my best to answer them...

to understand inks, please check out the post I talked about above...

here's a peek at some fun play...

it's a page for my flip frame, using the rose SiSi and the mat mini vase...

the rose is actually completely flat...

the iced spruce distress marker

 adds great shading & makes it look dimensional......

I was trying to achieve a watercolor effect with the rose...

the flower was colored with red geranium archival ink (swiped onto the craft sheet) & rubbing alcohol, (from the craft sheet) using the detailer water brush...dried, then I added the tattered rose distress marker over the dried archival ink...

YES...that works!

I'll be doing this again & next time I will take step out photos, to explain how it worked...

love the sentiment...

I REALLY love the lace border used 2 ways...

I used it partially at the top, 

then turned the stamp upside down & 

I used a small portion 

to create a border at the bottom...

it's stamped with watering can...

the old ledger stencil is a great way to add a little more interest to the background...

watering can keeps it in the background...

save the jet black for your main images or sentiment...

keep in mind that this page 

could easily be changed into a card...

ok...

that's it for now...

back to kit making central!

we need kits to...

make art!

wendy