playing with jenni bowlin & studio 490...

well...I didn't actually get to play WITH jenni...

she lives in Tennessee & I'm in Illinois...

but I DID combine some of her cool products with mine & I made her this little "thank you" gift...

I started with an art parts rectangle frame base...

art parts make a nice sturdy base...

an art parts scallop trim...

2 art parts leaves...inked with forest moss stain...

and stamped with the old standby screen background...

her initials are ledger alphas, inked with weathered wood...

and dotted with the BLACK Sakura glaze pen...

MUCH easier than adding mini rhinestones...

the dots dry a bit raised & add the perfect little detail...

the photo below shows a cool discovery...

I heated her black doily flowers & was able to shape them & make them dimensional...

they are flat right out of the package...

but easily made dimensional, with a little heat...

I LOVED the look...black flowers...

I'm in heaven!

they also come in a great red (thinking holiday cards!)...

they could easily be a poinsettia center for my poinsettia stamp......

& an off white, which can easily be altered with alcohol inks...

for a million color possibilities...

the weathered wood flower is jenni paper over my clearly for art...

I adhered the paper to the CFA with Ranger's Glue N Seal...

matte finish...

the flower center is a jenni decorative brad...

and here's a portion of the doily flower peeking out & used flat...

I'll be back next week with a guest designer & a very fun HOLIDAY project...

it's something quick & easy that will make a great hostess gift...

that's it for today...

remember...

take some time this weekend to...

make art!

wendy

Wonder Tape & WINNERS..(.edited...)

this weekend I needed to make 300 custom epoxy memo pins for my new classes...

here's the original post with the instructions...

if you don't have a clue what I'm talking about...

here's a refresher on what they look like...

I made them for this new art parts class...

first class will be THIS COMING WEEKEND @ Buffalo Stamps & Stuff in Amherst, NY...YIPPEE!

since I was making more than a few...

I needed a way to be more efficient and a way to keep the memo pins more stable on the craft sheet...

Ranger's WONDER TAPE came to the rescue...

This was a tiny idea that made a HUGE difference to the process...

If you've made the memo pins...

here a "Wonder" full tip to make this so much easier...

I followed the instructions from the original post...

but then added a strip of Wonder Tape about a half inch under the glue stick line...

the Wonder Tape is the shiny strip you see in the photo below...

you need to make sure you're working on the Non Stick Craft sheet...

the tape pulls right off & the glue stick gets cleaned up with soap & water...

Now the magic is that the memo pin is held securely in place by the tape, so there's no worry that it slips off the punched image...

and they stay straight!

I used some extra craft sheets & just paper clipped the craft sheets to a matt board so I could move them out of the way to dry...

and even though I let the pins dry on the Wonder Tape overnight, it's magic that there is NO sticky residue left on the memo pins at all...

NONE!

PERFECT!

so to put this in perspective, I made 300 memo pins in about 90 minutes...

thanks to Wonder Tape...

and Glossy Accents...

and this time I used some different images to fill the memo pins...

if you look @ the calendar sheet in tim's Lost & Found paper stash...

you can make LOTS with those numbers...

the other thing I used this time is Jenni Bowlin's mini bingo cards...

they're all numbers & they're perfect too!

moving on...

One of my favorite classes is now retired...

the Maya Road mini book...

and I have a few kits left...

but not enough for a class...

so I will offer them here to my blog friends...

each kit comes with everything needed to complete the 6 page mini book...

all YOU NEED to ADD is ...

the INKS, adhesive, gold paint dabber & STAMPS.

here's what it looks like completed...

each one comes with complete step by step instructions & color photos of each page & 2 complete sets of Maya Road's adorable mini chipboard alphabets...

you'll have plenty left for future play...

the cost is $50 for the kit & $5 for priority tracked shipping in the USA...

shipping for international orders is $15.00

if you're interested, shoot me an email (wbv1213@me.com)

and I'll send a PayPal request.

when they're gone...

they're gone...

Maya Road has discontinued this cutie...

to make space for new cute stuff...

EDIT...

They're all GONE...you guys sure were FAST...

19 mini book kits are headed to new homes...

THANK YOU! Have FUN making art...

On to the WINNERS part of the title..

The winner from Jenni's blog is...

Kat said...

Is'nt Wendy an insperation, her style complement your products perfectly,
you two should teem up more oftern,
Jenni your vintage buttons are just amazing,
awesome team up girls.
Kathleen

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 12:35 PM

and the winner from the comments here is...

MICHELLE has left a new comment on your post "3rd happy post...":

Found your blog from link on Tim Holtz's blog. Man o man have I been missing out!!! Consider me your newest fan! Love your project & now I will be spending my weekend reading all your past entries!! Thanks for sharing your creative genius.



Posted by MICHELLE to Studio 490 at September 10, 2010 1:50 PM

CONGRATS to Michelle & KAT...

please send your shipping info & we'll get the prizes off to you...

I'm off for a quickie studio project...

got an idea for a ???...

then the kitting starts again...

stay tuned...

make art!

wendy

3rd happy post...

Continuing on with HAPPY stuff...

I was HAPPY to be asked to be a guest designer for Jenni Bowlin's inspiration blog again...

The box of goodies I received was pure inspiration & I immediately had an idea for a little fall decor...

This was TOTAL fun...

so much so that I can't believe it's not illegal...

I couldn't wait to get started...

I started with the art parts spool & a small art parts flower...

and this time I used the flower as the base.

I covered the spool parts with Jenni's mini bingo cards...

and distressed them with forest moss distress ink...

I inked the art parts flower base & connecting tube with vintage photo & then a little forest moss along the edges...

then stamped it with Ranger's jet black archival ink...

and my polka dot background...

I covered grungepaper with Jenni's mini papers, covering both the front & back of the grungepaper.

Then, I stamped my images ...

flowers & leaves (jet black & olive archival) & cut them out.

By covering both sides of the grunge, the edges are perfect when cut and the images look great when viewed from the back.

Jenni's buttons made perfect flower centers.

And...the cute button package was salvaged...

that's where "buttons" and "vintage style" came from...

just chopped right off the package.

See the really tiny bingo card?

That's from the bingo card package insert...

I glued it onto grungepaper, to make it stronger, since it will be traveling with me.

I die cut 2 of Tim's flourishes from grungeboard...

(I like the added strength & thickness)

added 2 Jenni vellum butterflies...

almost done...

I needed a way to attach Jenni's mini chipboard butterflies...

and had an ah ha (senior) moment...

I just glued them on to one of Tim's memo pins...

now they're ready to stick where needed.

So, lets continue with happy...

You'll find more close up photos on the inspiration blog...

While you're there...

Leave a comment on Jenni's blog...

and I will draw a winner & giveaway some Jenni Bowlin mini papers & MORE...

and for a second chance...

leave a comment on THIS post & I will send someone some mini Jenni papers & an art parts spool, so you can play along...

and be happy too!

We'll randomly draw one winner from each blog @ 7am on Monday morning...

2 comments = 2 chances to win!

hmmm...what else???

Here's the scoop & a chance to win $100 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp...

they are having a fun STAMP-tember hop...

Details are HERE...

I'm thinking there will be TONS of fun HAPPY ideas...

be sure to take a look...

And speaking of HAPPY...eclecticPaperie wants you to be HAPPY too...

to celebrate their new design team, they have something HAPPY for you...

here's their shopping code to save 10% on your entire order thru Sunday...

just enter...HAPPYDAY

It makes me HAPPY to give away goodies & also to...

make art!

wendy

ps...GO BEARS! Hey...I can dream...

cats & questions...and other randomness

the things we do for LOVE...

Hmmm...

sounds like a song...

This furry guy, Ranger the cover cat

(see right sidebar), LOVES fresh pineapple.

Somehow...when Rick cuts it up for our breakfast, he knows & he insists on sharing mine...

Like I said...

the things we do for love...

I put some on a fork for him & he licks it until it's bone dry...

he gets every last drop of juice...

and smiles the whole time he's licking...

SERIOUSLY!

and continuing with cats...

I got this question the other day...

#1...I know you have 2 cats. I want another. Do you have 2 litter boxes?

NOPE...we have NONE.

These guys have us trained to serve them.

They both go outside to do their duty...

never ever had one single problem.

Yes, they both have claws, but have never done one speck of damage inside.

They totally trained us.

Ranger will come & make a certain noise to get your attention, then lead you to the door he wants to go out.

Sometimes it's the front door...

sometimes a patio door...

sometimes he will only go out the kitchen door & he will wait for us to open the garage door...

and...as NUTS as it is...

we're trained to do it!

Now the other critter, Ringo, will rub your leg only when he wants out.

He too leads you to his choice of doors.

and when they want to come in...

they have a different voice for that...

We still wonder how this happened...

I guess we paid attention & like I said...

they trained us. It's PERFECT!

#2 question...when did you know for sure that you were an artist?

This is kind of funny...

many days I still wonder...

like right after I've just tossed something ugly in the trash...

SERIOUSLY...

some days are just NOT good days for making art!

I don't make things I'm 100% satisfied with every single day...

so don't think I do...

it's either THERE or it's NOT...

there's no forcing art...

Ok... before I had my first stamp release we decided to change accountants...

So we made an appointment to explain what was going on & she said...

so you're a nurse, right?

I blurted out...nope, an artist...

then I quickly looked @ Rick...

and thought...

WHO SAID THAT?

I was thinking it came out of HIS mouth!

So I guess once it was listed as my occupation on the tax forms...that made it official.

#3...Is it bad that I'm in MI, and contemplating visiting relatives in IL to see you in Nov?

Not in my opinion!! HA!

Better hurry & decide...

we'd love you to join the fun...

the classroom @ Scrapbook Friend'z holds 28 & a few days ago I heard we were already @ 25...

#4...LOTS of book #3 inquiries...

I could write a book on here! Speaking of "book" where is my Part III book that I'm not so patiently awaiting? LOL I'm getting all Wendyized and am dreaming of art parts and stamps and they thought sewing paper was weird....ha!

SOON...

They are just swamped @ Stampers Anonymous with CHA orders for stamps, art parts & books...

keep in mind they make Tim's stamps, mine, Art Gone Wild, Inky Antics, Darcie's & Claudine's clears too..

So...that's a whole LOT of work...

Just as soon as they are here...

I'll post it...

#5...Pleeeese can you get some of those amazing Art Parts airlifted to the UK urgently. We need them!!!. Seriously, its really hard waiting, they look fantastic.

5A...do you have pull to send art parts across the pond like today?

Here's the scoop...

orders placed @ CHA ship first...

they are shipped in the order they are received.

So...depending on when they were ordered, that determines when they ship.

First day CHA orders ship first, second day second...etc...

and NO...I have NO PULL!

Ted is the boss...

actually...

I really think Michelle is...

but we won't let Ted know that!

It's our little secret...shhhhh...

Here's a reminder that inspiration is everywhere...

even WALGREENS...

I was there the other day & spotted these fake lashes...

I kind of chuckled to myself...

if I were to wear them...

I could see mine falling off in my ice tea...

or worse yet...

my mojito!

But...something clicked &

I went back down the aisle to get some...

and made this...to add to my Ranger apron for classes.

there's those memo pins again...

they are so fun & simple.

Glossy Accents is the MAGIC ingredient.

and see tim's new charm clip?

I'll be getting 1000 of those cuties!

they are perfect for hanging things...

obviously...duh...

and can also be used just like the memo pins to make custom epoxy embellishments...

using Glossy Accents.

the fake lashes are sooo cool looking on her eyes!

it's a small detail...

but it does add to the overall effect!

agree?

Plus it makes me laugh!

Maybe the gals @ JoAnn's were right...

(see yesterday's post)

Maybe I HAVE gone off the edge!

WARNING...

here's a little enabling...

I LOVE these Jenni Bowlin buttons...

LOVE the colors...

the brown & black are sweet...

but the package listed as yellow is an awesome vintage-ish yummy color.

that just might be my new fav...

these adorable butterflies are vellum...

LOVE the mini papers too...

I'll be making art with them early next month...

stay tuned...

Ok...we're off early tomorrow morning, headed to O'Hare for a flight to Columbia South Carolina to spend the weekend @ The Stamping Place.

I was there last year for the grand opening of their AWESOME brand new classroom...

I'm looking forword to visiting, teaching, stamping, inking, grunging, sweet tea & southern hospitality!

I hope you're looking forward to the weekend so you can...

make art!

wendy

PS...I told you comments are GOOD...

just ask...

Mall Rat said...

I can't wait for Art Parts to show up. I signed up yesterday for your Friday night class at For Keeps Sake in St. Louis .. I can't wait !!! I finally get to take a class with you, I'll have to get a pic and put you up on the wall of fame with Tim & Teresa :) LOL

August 25, 2010 3:35 PM

Mall Rat...Please email your shipping info...and there will be some fresh rubber headed your way...

compliments of TED & MICHELLE!

WAIT...

OH...one more thing...

if you really need a laugh...

check this out...

I'm CERTAIN SHE is over the edge...

no doubt...

and...

comments are good...just sayin...

back in business...

for now...FINALLY!

I exaggerated...
it only took 1 hour & 53 minutes to get back to email...not the usual 2 hours...
GEEEEZ........

In the interim, we did check into wifi...
we're not sure if that will work for us or not, with the limit per month...
that will be plan B.

Switching would also necessitate a new email...
YIKES...scarry to notify LOTS of people.

Hughesnet does not allow you to keep your email or to buy it like some providers do...I checked...

So for now, we'll stick with what we have...
and keep my fingers crossed...

While I was "ON HOLD" one of the 4 times...

I found that grungepaper is FINALLY back in stock.
It was sold out everywhere...nationwide...
I imagine because it's so fun...

I think I've replied to everyone who was trying to find it...but if not...it's here for sure...

SHOPPING...while I was on hold, kept me sane...
the mojito was for medicinal purposes only...I needed it really bad...

I was also happy to find the Core Impressions embossed cardstock that coordinates perfectly with my fav Jenni Bowlin papers...gotta have it...yep...I ordered...

HUGE THANKS for all the sweet comments about Rick's BUD art...that was fun! he got a kick out it too.

OK...
no stamp art to show, so I searched for photos to make this post interesting...

This is the daily routine here...

we go into the bedroom to make the bed...
Ranger pops out...
bites my toes, laughs...I SWEAR he does...

then scoots back under the bed...


With the house redo...
I vowed to simplify...
less stuff...

Because...
DUST is a really bad 4 letter word here...
right up there with IRON...
the worst!

Anyway, my attempt @ simple lasted all of about 1.25 hours.
With no stuff...the place was boring...
It had NO personality...

So...we're back to a pile of stuff ...
in the bedroom...


which sits on top of a cabinet that Rick's grandfather made.

It's NOT fine wood...or perfect...
but it has memories and we adore it...
we were thrilled to rescue it...

and speaking of decor...

I'm late...I'm late for a very important date...

LUNCH & antiquing with my guy...

we're...(OK...I'm) searching for a mantle to use as a headboard...

he doesn't know that yet...

I like to surprise him sometimes...

I'd like to surprise him & tell him I want all the hardwood floors ripped out & replaced...

but that just might put him over the edge...let's keep that a secret between us...PLEASE!

Anyway...

we've had a picket fence, an old door, a gate, a garden trellis and a million frames as a headboard...

I think a mantle would be cool...

the hunt is on...

for a mantle to...

make (bedroom) art!

wendy

ps...I'll report on our finds.

back to brown...

This is NOT ILLINOIS...
we have BROWN...
California has green...

oh wait...
we have noticed a bit of green here @ Green Acres...
unfortunately...
it's...

WEEDS!

But...
green weeds are still better than brown everything...

Moving on...
I MAY BE A BIT PREJUDICE...
but here's a cool sight...
all 33 sets of my stamps & 2 books...

I'm still surprised/amazed every time I see them...




The lucky folks @ the Carson convention got first dibs on tim's new Sizzix dies...

another beautiful sight...
they just arrived on Friday!

it still thrills me to see large quantities of...

ART STUFF!!!!!!

and here's more of tim's Sizzix dies...
I LOVE them...
and so did the shoppers in Carson...




and speaking of shopping...

Several friends asked to see "the bracelet"...
so here's the lovely I got @ Luna's in Long Beach...
there were LOTS of temptations there...



I REALLY REALLY REALLY want this...
it's from Anthropologie...


I collect the vintage shut off valves...
to me they look like...


flowers!


the one on the left is gigantic...
like the size of a dinner plate...HUGE.
BUT..........

It was soooooooo heavy...

I thought about Suze's line..."do you ship?"...


I'm still thinking.
I REALLY love this...
oops..sorry...I already said that...

Look how CUTE!!!!!




The convention is lots of work...
but we have LOTS of fun & laughs...
and...
Ted feeds us well...

I'm assuming this giganto was lo-cal???




Sorry...this is blurry because I was laughing...
here's Ted...
he LOVES ice cream!

then...I came home to this...

YIPPEE...

AWESOME job done by Stampington...

GREAT photos...

I'm 1000% thrilled...

I just spoke with Daisy from eclecticPaperie...

*

since I didn't have time to remind you over the weekend about the stamp sale...

*

it will continue thru Wednesday the 17th...

that's tomorrow.

*

So...if there is something you missed...

you have another short chance to SHOP.

*

OH...one more thing...

I see they also have the jenni bowlin buttons I used in stock...both in white & cream...
*
they have the butterflies too!

ALL the colors...

*
Time to answer more emails & finish unpacking...

then I'll...

make art!

wendy