it's JULY?

seriously?

how did that happen?

June was VERY busy here...

we made LOTS of class kits...

LOTS...

I was in Texas for 10 days to teach at The Crafty Scrapper and then to demo in the Stampers Anonymous booth at the Great American Scrapbook convention in Arlington, Texas...

fun 10 days!

it wasn't all ink & art this trip...

I got to S H O P...

and S H O P we did!

soooo F U N!

if you follow me on Facebook or instagram, you may have seen the evidence...

I'm loving imstagram...

it's quick, easy & there are no limits on the number of words you can use...

after shopping,

I made new friends at UPS...

they packed & shipped for me...

everything arrived in perfect condition...

once I got home it was back to 

TOP SECRET assignments, 

designing NEW stuff (YIPPEE) and 

getting ready for our England trip...

supplies are arriving and kits are in the works

 for both the tour and 

the London class...

we're expecting to have a ROYAL time!

and this is super exciting...

I get to meet 40 of my UK internet art friends 

IN PERSON in the London class!

CAN  NOT  WAIT!

since it is a new month, 

Kim has given us a new challenge...

we are to use polka dots!

that's easy and it can be interpreted many ways...

will you use the spatter stamp to create dots for the faux graniteware technique?

like this...

I added dots to my card with 

the Sakura black glaze pen...

I added dots to the tiny flower centers 

on the hydrangea...

and I also added them to accent

 the add a stencil background...

remember...

you don't always need to use the whole background stamp...

I used just a portion of the plaid background to add borders at the top and bottom of this card...

the dimensional flowers are made with

 clearly for art

 that has been covered with

my newsprint, 

using my FAV glue n seal...

trust me...

it's a fabulous product!

the flower pots are the new mat minis...

I included both black & white pots in the set...

I really like to use the black pots best for 

the faux graniteware technique 

and the white pots are perfect for showing off beautiful distress and archival ink colors...

if you haven't tried the new mat minis...

the material is super lightweight, 

but quite strong...

they're perfect for cards, 

art journal pages and mixed media art!

the stenciled sentiment is from

 the all occasions stencil...

lots of good words on that stencil to mix & match...

I changed up the hosta stamp...

now it looks like a little plant in the pot...

 I just chopped off the flower...

Linda from The Funky Junkie 

is our challenge sponsor this month...

THANKS LINDA!

BREAKING NEWS...

I just got an email from Linda & 

ALL 

STAMPERS ANONYMOUS STAMPS

are on S A L E!!!

in addition to the usual 20% off, 

 she is giving us

 an additional 15% off

thru Monday, July 6th!

so if it's rubber and it's made by Ted, 

it's on sale...

that's all my stamps...

all tim's stamps...

all of dyan's stamps ...

dinas stamps and

bretts stamps too...

this link 

will take you to 

ALL the SALE stamps, 

even the wood mounted ones...

 rubber stamps are fun to use when you...

make art!

wendy

from the bottom of my happy heart...

thank you to everyone 

for the awesome birthday I had yesterday...

230 Facebook comments...

97 emails...

29 texts...

wow!

I'm totally amazed!

and group members/ art friends 

from the everything wendy vecchi yahoo group...

made the day EXTRA special with these AWESOME cards...

they have been arriving for over a week...

but I used EXTREME WILLPOWER

and waited until yesterday to open them...

let me say...

it about killed me...

patience is NOT a virtue that I'm familiar with...

I wanted to share these cards with you...

I think you'll find lots of inspiration & GREAT ideas...

for me, it was super extra fun to see how others use my products...

this is from Debby Podgorski...

LOVE the colors...

love the embossing paste used with my stencil...

it's on Ranger's specialty stamping paper...

I think the saying is perfect for the card she designed...

as is the striped stenciled border...

this next one is from Lori Hassler...

love the front...

flippin LOVE the inside...

look how this guy can carry balloons...

and the strings dangle...

genius...

pure genius!

who doesn't LOVE a pop up card...

simply...amazing!

this next one came all the way from the UK and was created by Gabrielle...

I hate bugs...

but I sure do LOVE this one...

he's done to perfection!

clear embossing onto the art part really makes him POP!

 I adore the colors Gabrielle chose... 

the mini art parts frame works well to accent the sentiment...

look...

next...

 this beauty is from Eileen Bellomo...

I LOVE the bright colors & 

the embossing paste on the art parts flourish 

adds just the right amount of texture...

the raised sentiment is a nice touch...

I rarely use purple, 

but I LOVE it when someone else does & does it well...

Dorothy McCarthy created this next one...

 I LOVE how my guy is a perfect fit on that circle stamp...

looks like he's stepping up to deliver that flower!

VERY cool!

the circles are embossed on glossy paper...

for extra detail...

this is a very fun creation from Susan Kesselman...

LOVE the brick stencil used with embossing paste...

and the door actually opens to reveal the greeting...

pretty cool huh?

I think this is a great idea for a guy card too...

or...

just add a different wreathe & it fits any holiday!

note to self...

remember that...

Susan Salyer sent the next one...

LOTS of texture from gesso?...I think...

I'm wondering how she shrunk down my flower image to fit the domino...

hmmm...

this is so sweet!

next up is my Mrs Worry...

she makes me laugh...

this is a really cute small card, 

created by folding a tag in half...

Michelle Salazar did a GREAT job!

note to self...

fold tags to create cards...

mini is fun!

the next is a card from my friends Heidi & Steph at Simon Says...

hello?

felt flowers?

YES please...

love them, especially on a  kraft card!

the white pen stitching is a small detail, 

but finishes the card off perfectly...

now...

take a look at this giant card...

I totally love what Wanda Hentges created...

really BEAUTIFUL colors...

the texture on the 3 layer flower is done with embossing paste...

I LOVE the honeycomb stamp, stamped into the paste...

and I love the random bricks stenciled onto the background, with a variation of the colors...

the flourish stamps make the perfect leaves & grass!

simply...awesome!

 Margie Kemper sent the next card...

what a beautiful background...

love the colors...

for sure I LOVE the flower!

I hope the photo shows the tiny embossed border...

it's a great detail & really frames & finishes off the card!

I hope you enjoyed seeing these awesome creations...

they sure made me HAPPY!

once again...

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

blog/group friends are THE BEST!

since I had a "play day" road trip with Rick yesterday...

I really gotta HIT IT today...

my deadlines are coming too fast...

with CHA so close to Christmas...

there really won't be much time for teasing this year...

 bet you're sad...lol...

or not?

decent sized peeks will start soon after Christmas...

believe me...

I. CAN. NOT. WAIT. TO. SHARE.

I have been having a blast using all the new *items* and

 I LOVE getting ready for CHA, because I can...

make art!

wendy

ps...I thought about saying...

GO BEARS...

but who would I be kidding?

YIKES! not happening!

so sad...