creative chemistry 102...

I know....I KNOW!

long time no blog...

but I've been B U S Y...

HONEST!

have you joined tim's on line class?

it's called creative chemistry 102...

it's over the moon F A B U L O U S!

here's a version of a technique he shared today...

watch the class video & you'll see how to combine some cool products for a very fun result!

YES! those gorgeous brown stripes are my potting soil archival ink & I stamped the flourishes in fern green archival...

thanks for asking! lol...

and the background is my new vintage mesh background stamp...

I could use this background on everything I make...

I'm honored to have contributed 3 card samples to tim's class...

here's a peek at some art from the guest artists...

the moral of today's post?

SIGN UP for 

creative chemistry 102...

you will LOVE IT...

because you'll learn so many ways to...

make art!

wendy

ps...see you soon!

HUGE...Blossom Bucket peek...and THANKS...

it wasn't an earthquake yesterday...

it was Cindy & I jumping for joy & so flipping EXCITED......

Blossom Bucket & I made the 

GIFTS & DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES newsletter 

for new products...

I *think* you'll like Cindy, (who owns Blossom Bucket)...

there are NO tiny peeks from her...

she lets you see 2 full brand new gift items that I designed for them...

and...if you get your magnifying glass out...

you just *might* spot a few others in the background...

these resin items & LOTS more, 

debut in just 2 short months @ the Atlanta Gift mart...

here's the write up from the newsletter...

School House

The houses shown here are designed by Wendy Vecchi, a

 premier designer in the scrapbooking industry who has

 recently partnered with Blossom Bucket. 

The one on the

 left is $12.99 and the one on the right is $8.99.

 Blossom Bucket, 

Lawrence, OH. 330.834.2551.

here they are...

believe me...

just as soon as soon as I can...

I'll be happy to show you the others...

much of the success I've had in this art adventure is due to the support of this guy...

the seriously funny, very hard working, lovable...

Mr. Stampers Anonymous...

aka...TED CUTTS!

it is because of Ted & his wife Michelle, that I get to design stamps, art parts & more...

that I met TIM, who has also been a true friend, teacher & mentor...

Tim lead me to Ranger & the senior educator position...

which then lead to Cindy at Blossom Bucket 

which resulted with the new 

"embellish your art line" 

and now the items for the gift industry...

and I have to add that Mario has been a great "advisor" many times...

a BILLION THANKS to...

Ted, Michelle, Tim, Mario, Alain, Justin and Cindy...

you all have made it so much fun to...

make (studio 490) art!

wendy

embellish YOUR art with Blossom Bucket...

Thanks to everyone @ The Paper Niche in Davie Florida for a very fun VERY inky weekend...

to the gals who were brave & spent the entire weekend with me...

THANK YOU! it was very fun...

Friday evening Mr Fed-Ex delivered my new embellishments from Blossom Bucket to the store...

just in time for some retail therapy after the class...

and shop they did...

I'm thrilled that you like these new goodies as much as I do...

they're fun...

flat backed...easy to glue...

and made from resin...

here's a few projects using them...

the huge flower in cream colored, but was altered with alcohol ink...

LOVE LOVE LOVE the large eyeglasses...

and I MIGHT love the big lips even more...

the flower center is from this package...

the heart was altered too...

this shows the BlossomBucket front door...

the flower bouquet...

and the larger of the 2 scallop circles holds tim's light bulb perfectly!

there's the large flower again...

a little different altering, with different piece for the center...

and everything is sized to work perfectly with my stamps & art parts...plus I'm sure you'll find lots of other fun ways to use them for cards, layouts & mixed media madness...

look how cute the little telephone looks...sad to say, I'm old enough to remember this style of phone...

YIKES!

the cream colored heart was altered with gold metallic mixative & it's  stamped with jet black archival ink...

then misted with sunflower sparkle Perfect Pearls Mist...

aka BLING in a BOTTLE...

the smaller size glasses and the mini lips...

fit the art chick...

LOVE the top hat...

the phone again & the altered star...

yes...I DO have a THING for glasses & eyes...

and here's THE ORGANIZER...

I don't have a link for it yet...

but here's what the cutie looks like...

the bottom tray is 14 x 14 inches

the top is 12 x 12 inches...

it's a huge storage piece...

it's easy to customize it for your needs...

I love finding just the right containers to hold supplies...

this will keep your Ranger supplies contained and within easy reach...

use it to store the distress markers, paint dabbers, scissors, water brushes. paint brushes etc...

it stores lots in an area that has a small footplate...

it's handmade by the Amish craftsmen in Ohio...

so if you're familiar with their work...

it's nice & solid & sturdy...

and...

it's BLACK...

I'm planning to stamp on the stars...then add an embellishment to the center to customize it...

you can use it as is & it sits flat..

or add a turntable under it...

to create a spinner...

want to travel with it?

just pick it up by the big ball handle & GO...

for those who asked...the retail price is $59.99

Now about that giveaway I promised...

congrats to...

 scrappin-scrappin said...

Ohhhh, I can't wait for the embellishments!! Any day 

now!! So excited!! The Clicker Cutts look amazing to!! 

Beautiful flower!!

April 17, 2012 8:20 PM

 

please email me with your shipping info...
wbv1213@me.com

***NEWS FLASH***
Blossom Bucket is sponsoring a little contest/giveaway...

we're working on the details, but basically you show us what YOU created using the new Blossom Bucket items...
and some lucky winner will get some BB goodies...

we'll give you time to shop...and then create...
so, if you make something as a gift...be sure to take a photo for us...

stay tuned for ALL the juicy details...
coming soon to a blog near you...

and as always...
in closing...

make art!
wendy

paying it foreword...

when I started on this art adventure in 2007...

I was extremely LUCKY to be helped by some WONDERFUL PEOPLE...

let's start with the first person I met...

Michelle Cutts (aka Mrs Stampers Anonymous)...

I adore her!

who introduced me to her hubby Ted...

(aka Mr. Stampers Anonymous)...

he is a very hard working, honest...GREAT guy!

which led me to meeting Tim...

Rock star to the world...

but a dear friend & mentor to me...

I think the world of him...

which lead me to the fine guys who own Ranger...

Alain & Justin...

yep...you guessed...

REALLY good guys too!

and along the way, there was also Caroline & David, from Maya Road...

who have become my friends...

ok...gotta say it...

they are great people too...

because these people believed in me & gave tons of support...

studio 490 came to be...

LUCKY me...

now it's my turn to...

PAY IT FOREWORD...

back in May, I demoed @ a convention for Ted, in Novi Michigan...

that weekend I met Jillian Vance & her mom Bunny...

as we chatted the first day...I learned that Jillian had her own stamp line...

that's pretty cool...

but here's the AMAZING part...

Jillian is 12 NOW...and she was only 11 then!

and she was 10 when the company was started!

seriously...

I know I was still playing with Barbie...

I demoed all weekend & we talked about every product that Ranger makes...

and we've corresponded since then...

they are now RANGER users & lovers!

I *think* CONVERTS is the correct term?

recently they gave me a stamp set & asked if I could fit in a little project, using their stamps...

I chose to receive the stamp you see below...

it's actually Bunny's logo for her hair salon...

I spotted it on her email signature & told her it would make an awesome stamp...

so...I'm paying it forward...

please take a minute to look @ Jillian's blog...

remember...she's 12!

she even does fun videos!

and YES...she designs the stamps herself...

the lovely face you see below is her stamp...

I used the textured gesso background technique, that is one of the techniques incorporated into my Ranger workshop...

if you'd like to recreate something like this...

I randomly painted a manila tag with Claudine's gesso...

and dried it...

I stamped the face with jet black archival...dried it, then masked it off & stamped my script background over it & dried it again...

I used coffee archival for the background...

remember to...

***dry EVERYTHING when stamping over gesso***

the face was inked with brushed corduroy, using the blending tool...

and the background is broken china distress ink...

I die cut her with tim's mover's & shapers mini baroque...

and edged it with my fav gold paint dabber...

I used jet black to stamp my gingham background on some kraft card stock...which makes the border...

it's mounted on gold paint dabber edged black card stock, which is then mounted to more kraft...

I used Cut N Dry nibs to ink the tiny flowers & leaves in her hair...

I can't remember the last time I made a card & this was fun!

so if you can spare a minute...

pop over to Jillian's blog...

best wishes to you Jillian...

CHEERS!!!

here's to SUCCESS for YOU!

ok...back to those kits for the QUEEN trip...

as always...

don't forget to...

make art!

wendy

ps...THANKS SO MUCH...I'm thrilled you like the hoodies too!

back from Buffalo...JUST IN TIME...

A MILLION THANKS to everyone who spent the weekend with us @ Buffalo Stamps & Stuff...

in Amherst NY...

thanks to Sharon for the invite...

thanks to everyone for your hospitality...

thanks for sharing your creative spirit...

thanks for the gifts!

thanks for not minding inky fingers...

yes...REALLY INKY fingers...

it was a thrill for me to see so many who had previously taken classes...THANK YOU SO MUCH!

in one word...

the weekend was...PERFECT!

OK...

this has been KILLING me to keep my lips zipped...

I didn't want to say anything until I had THE GOODS in my hands...

and I knew they were PERFECT...

you asked...and I FINALLY did it...

so...just in time for the cooler weather...

this graphic...

is now on the BACK of these guys...

they are pullover hoodies with an open bottom...

NOT the normal band that a regular sweat has...

they slip right over the HIPS...get it?

they come in YAM...the sample on the top...

and they come in WATERMELON...the sample on the bottom...

and...

here's the full zipper style...same graphic on the back...

in denim on the top...

and khaki on the bottom...

here's the scoop...

all 4 styles colors have the same graphic...

on the back...

these are the "authentic pigment" brand...

excellent quality...

it you have one of tim's...it's the same thing...

I asked if he minded...

and he gave me his blessing!

THANKS TIM...

the sizes for both styles are small, medium, large & extra large, and 2 XL...

all are $50.00... except the 2XL is $53.00

priority tracked shipping is $10.95 in the USA

for international friends...

priority tracked shipping is $27.95...YIKES...

Rick said he will check with the PO guys, to see if there is anyway to lower the shipping price a bit...

since they are custom made...

Jason said to allow 2 1/2 to 3 weeks (max) from the time you order until it's @ your home...

they are NOT skimpy...

I wore the large over 2 sweaters...

so they are nice & roomy...

if you NEED a studio 490 hoodie...

just send an email (wbv1213@me.com)...

tell me the color & the size & I'll send a PayPal request...

ok...

now to start the kits for the next stop on the art adventure...

I'm headed to The Queen's Ink for the weekend of October 15/16...

the store is located in Savage Md...

I'm super excited for this trip...

Hels Sheridan is coming all the way from the UK & we FINALLY can meet...YIPPEE!

I'm counting the days...

INSPIRATION STATION is SOLD OUT,

but there is 1 seat left for the Artist shelf &

3 left for DO NOT MESS WITH THE QUEEN...

ok...

let the kit making begin...

so we can...

make art!

wendy

books, books & MORE books...

WOW...THANK YOU

to everyone who has ordered my new book #5!

it makes me happy to see the names of those who ordered/ liked the first 4 & are excited to get book #5...

Rick has made several trips to the PO & our PO workers are happy & thanked him for the envelopes...

there is talk of closing our little post office & the extra packages mean job security for them...

so...THANKS from the Oglesby, Illinois postal workers too!

on to book #2...

Mr. Fed-Ex delivered this beauty yesterday...

It's May Flaum's new book & I'm honored to be included, as a contributing artist...

I like this book, because it's a technique based book...

you know I LOVE techniques & new ways to use products...

and I like that May adds LOTS of tips to each technique...

my technique features tim's tissue tape and Ranger's inks...

to create a fun plaid...

it's fun because it works great on lots of surfaces...

like art parts, grungeboard or grungepaper...

Ranger's manila card stock & MORE...

and it can be done with tim's distress inks, Adirondack Color washes, Adirondack PIGMENT inks & now with the distress stains too...

and you can even add Perfect Pearls Mists to the combo...

here's the cover of the book...

I see it here @ Amazon...

CONGRATS May...it's TOTALLY awesome!

and the post title is books, books & books...

here's book #3 for today...

my studio was featured in Cloth Paper Scissors Studios a few years ago...

I was over the moon excited to see my studio on the cover...

you can see it on the right sidebar of my blog...

that's where I...MAKE ART...

now my friend Cate Prato has written this book...

and I'm included again...

YIPPEE!

when the photographer was here, he took lots of photos, but I haven't seen which ones were used for this book...

so I'm anxious & I guess I'll be surprised when it arrives...

Cate is a HUGE tease...

so I didn't even bother to ask her for a peek...

it's useless...

shhhh...

don't tell anyone...

(what happens on the blog, STAYS on the blog) BUT...

I see my friend in also in this book...

here's a HINT...

the involved party's initials are TH...

doesn't this cover shot make you want to grab it & devour every page?

we have a bit to wait...

but not too long...

it's due out THIS November...

here's the info @ Amazon...

CONGRATS to you CATE!

can't wait to see it...

that's it for me for today...

I'm up to my ear lobes in kits...

and packing supplies to ship to The Stamping Place in Columbia, SC for next weekends workshops...

I hope your weekend is great & that you can take some time for yourself to...

make art!

wendy

hey...I have ANOTHER cool surprise!

this CHA has me jumping out of my skin excited...

I'm exited about my new ART PARTS release...

sounds like you are too...

HUGE THANKS!

I'm excited about my new stamps...

I'm glad you like them too...

and I'm super excited to show you a photo

I stole from tim's blog...

tim designed the PERFECT stamps ...

that are a PERFECT size for...

the new...

ART PARTS creative covers!

how FLIPPIN...OVER THE MOON...exciting!!!

check out his video...

for LOTS of exciting news...

phew...

gotta get my blood pressure under control after that!

Ok...

I leave you with a few quick photos...

LOTS of the individual ART PARTS pieces are interchangeable for lots of mix & match options...

on the photo below, I used a roof from the ART PARTS residences...

with a mini frame...which is 2 inches x 4 inches...

with an ART PARTS floral...

and added a 2 inch new mini scallop trim...

and some CLEARLY FOR ART...Blackout...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this Blackout...

and lots of new stamps...

to make this mini house...

I've showed peeks of this next project...

Hello...RANGER...

I'll be needing a new LANYARD...

I had to chop a piece off mine to accent the base...

this guy will sit on my demo table...

gotta let people know that I LOVE RANGER inks!

OK...

I see stamp pre-orders listed here...

and I'm expecting ART PARTS packages to be listed there soon...

TODAY?

fingers crossed...

I'll update with a link,

if I hear about the update...

while you're contemplating your purchases...

add tim's new Distress Stains to the list...

these are totally awesome...

I've been using them to QUICKLY cover large areas...

they lay down the PERFECT base color...

QUICKLY...with no rubbing!

after the piece had a base coat of color,

then I went back and added my Distress inks

with the blending tool...

to add shading and color blending...

these stains are PERFECT for ART PARTS...

you'll especially LOVE them for large pieces like the creative covers...

I bet it took less than 30 seconds to ink the large cover...

SERIOUSLY...

so flipping easy & FAST!

weathered wood over ART PARTS creates THE MOST BEAUTIFUL bluish/grey color...

OMG...I about fainted...

my only complaint with the stains is that

we have 12 of the distress colors...

not all 36!

I WANT...REALLY NEED all 36!

you can bet the house that

I'll be sucking up to tim, Alain & Justin about that...

big time sucking up...

I'm 100% serious...

use one...

you'll need them ALL...

like I do...

time to pack my new stamps & demo stuff...

I'll be needing my demo stuff to...

make (CHA) art!!

wendy

a set a day #3...

ART PARTS HOUSE??

ART PARTS LEAVES???

What are you guys talking about?

What peek?

You promised...

I thought you saw nothing???

Today...

is day 3 of the new CHA stamps and I can show you...

another large set...

this one is called...

ART GONE POSTAL...

starting @ the top...

"read the fine print"...

LOTS of fun & funny uses for that one...

the mesh is great stamped in coffee or olive archival or any distress ink for that matter...

it's a good collage filler stamp...

it's large...

just what I like...

except when I like mini...

it works well both when stamped horizontal & vertical...

and like to apply the ink unevenly...

for a vintage/worn effect...

I've used the the postal border BUNCHES already...

I LOVE it stamped in the background...

I created it from actual old postage marks from some letters we found @ Rick's aunt's home...

she had a box of letters tucked away in a closet and we rescued them after she died...

I've been wanting another "filler type stamp" for a while...

I was thinking something round that could be used in those odd spaces that just NEED something extra...

this is an actual vintage wood handle rubber stamp, that we found @ an antique mall along with some other postal things...

and...since my dad was a postal worker...

postal things remind me of him...

I've used this guy on several projects...

and I like it LOTS...

stamp it once or stamp it several times to make a longer border...

now that bottom mini quilt is FUN...

here's a very simple ATC I made with it...

probably the first ATC that is actually regulation...

everything is ON the ATC...

nothing hanging off...

shocking!

I stamped it twice on grungeboard, inked the bottom one with denim color wash & the second with meadow...

and cut apart the individual squares from the meadow quilt...

I think it looks like a mini game board...

complete with game pieces...

hey...

about those game pieces...here's a tip...

they are made from the little circle cutouts that come in the art parts spool kit...

and the sampler pack...

I lightly inked them with butterscotch pigment ink...

tim's mini star stamp is a PERFECT fit...

I was happy to discover that tidbit...

use just one for an embellishment...

or use several...to makes a cute border...

the ledge that the game pieces are sitting on is a section of the straight art parts flower stem...

and speaking of ATC'S...

get ready to play with some...

new ART PART ATC's...

YIPPEE!

there are 3 styles in the package...

square corners, rounded corners & cute little cut corners...

9 ATC's total in the pack...

so 3 of each...

they are a great solid surface to work on...

I used the square corner ATC for the piece above...

now for a totally different look from that same mini quilt stamp...

take a look @ how it transforms the 8 petal flower into a flower that looks like 4 hearts...

I was surprised when this developed...

here's what it looks like when this flower is stamped over 4 of the squares...

I didn't see it...

until I stamped it...

a fun discovery!

I'll be redoing this one in red for sure...

make that barn door!

So....that's it...set #3...

art gone postal...

I'll be patiently waiting to hear your thoughts...

keep them coming!

THANKS for taking the time to comment...

YOU MAKE MY DAY!

Pop back tomorrow for set #4...

and here comes the usual...

make art!

wendy

ps....

so...one art parts package of ATC's and 13 more NEWpackages coming...

I wonder what they could be?

like a 5 year old on...

Christmas eve...

That's how excited I am to be headed back to Ranger U tomorrow.

It's 3 full days of fun & inspiration...

3 full days of tim, Suze & Claudine...

3 full days of being with the Ranger family...

3 full days of visiting with our friend Mario...(the king of Twitter...)

I'm betting he'll post some photos...

click on his name to follow him on Twitter...

3 full days of seeing some friends & having the opportunity to meet some new ones too...

3 full days of being with people who "get this ink thing" (addiction)....

and speaking of ink...

that's one of my most favorite parts...the factory tour...

I've seen it before, but I can't wait to see it again...

It's awesome to see the process of the pads being handmade...

the huge volume of inks is so exciting...

if you LOVE inks, seeing a MILLION of them is really cool...

I think about that every time a box of inks magically appears on our doorstep...

hey...I've seen them make these guys!

then there's the

Stickles machine...

OMG!!

that is like the coolest machine...

I'm especially excited to FINALLY meet...

"the Linda Elbourne"...she's coming all the way from the UK...

We've corresponded for a long time...

thanks to Ranger, we get to meet in person...

YIPPEE!

So, that's where I'll be for the next few days...

getting inky & LOVING every minute of it.

I will post via the iPad, while I'm gone...

but my camera connection isn't arriving before I go, so I doubt there will be any photos...

It's now scheduled to arrive the day I come home...boohoo...

While I'm gone...

take care &...

remember to...

make art!

wendy