one ornament done 2 ways...

today I'm over on the Ranger blog with a fun holiday ornament tutorial...

I thought it would be fun to take the same ornament & show you another way to alter it...

with different colors...

and a different style...

here's the ornament I started with for both this post & the Ranger post...

it's a simple, thin wood ornament that I picked up at Hobby Lobby...

I'm sure you can find something similar...

and here's the finished ornament...

I recently updated to another iPad & somehow...

the step out photos are LOST IN SPACE...

they're not on iCloud...

they're just lost in space...

boohoo...

but I think you can follow along with these simple steps...

the ornament tutorial over at Ranger does have step out photos to help...

so I hope you'll check it out...

ok...

for this ornament, ink the large circle portion with tree branch archival ink, sprinkle on the coordinating tree branch embossing powder & then heat it to melt the powder...

when the powder is cool, add shading to the edges with potting soil archival ink, using the blending tool...

ink a text stamp with potting soil archival & stamp randomly over the embossing powder, to add a little extra layer to the background...

then give it a quick dry...

next...

ink the spatter stamp with snow cap white pigment ink & stamp over the embossing powder & give it a quick dry...

it's simple to change the top to metallic with the distress stains...

I used brushed pewter...

remember to SHAKE before using!

when the stain is dry, ink the polka dot stamp with watering can archival & stamp over the ornament top...

to create the holly, brush a thin layer of glue n seal onto a piece of clearly for art...

I used the clear version...

add a vintage dictionary page, brayer it & give it a quick dry...

 use jet black archival to stamp the holly on the paper side...

with the coordinating stencil, use leaf green on the mini blending tool, to ink just the leaves...

you'll see photos of this step over at Ranger...

now cut out the leaves, heat to soften the CFA & shape to make the leaves dimensional...

***no need to ink the berries, since they will be covered***

the next step is to ink the 6 petal art parts flower with red geranium archival ink, sprinkle on red geranium embossing powder & heat to melt...

ink the vintage mesh background stamp with watering can archival & stamp over the art parts flower...

and again...

give it a quick dry...

to create the flower center, ink the reverse dots background stamp with dandelion archival ink & stamp onto a manila scrap...

use a ½ inch paper punch to punch a circle, which is a perfect fit for tim's large custom fastener...

add a drop of multi medium to the fastener center & that holds the polka dot circle securely in the fastener...

use an awl to make a hole in the center of the art parts flower...

it needs to be large enough to accept the custom fastener prongs...

the LOVE art part gets inked with watering can archival ink, sprinkled with watering can embossing powder, then heat embossed...

when the powder cools, use watering can archival to stamp polka dots over the word & dry...

now that the holly leaves are ready & the flower is complete, test drive their placement to help you decide where to stamp the flourishes...

they will be peeking out from under the holly...

use jet black to stamp them...

use multi-medium to glue the pieces in place & add a hanger to the finished ornament...

the back is a perfect spot for a stamped sentiment/holiday greeting...

if you're giving this as a gift, make sure to sign & date it...

 here's a little peek at the other version of this ornament...

 you'll find it over on the Ranger blog...

click here for the Ranger tutorial...

as always...

thanks for stoping by...

have a great day &

make art!

wendy

frosted translucent embossing paste ...

I'm popping in for a quickie post & to show you how I used one of the brayered archival backgrounds that I shared in the previous post...

I used the never enough hearts stencil & stamped thru the stencil with the text stamp, using jet black archival ink & dried it...

the next step was to replace the stencil & spread translucent embossing paste thru the stencil...

while the paste was wet, I sprinkle the paste with frosted crystal embossing powder & heated it to emboss the powder & heat dry the paste...

after the paste was dry & the powder was melted, I traced around it with the black stabilo pencil...then smeared it with my finger, to create shading...

next, I used the checkmate stencil over the page, using tree branch archival with the mini blending tool...

then stamped a few rows of the ornate dots background stamp to create borders at the top & bottom of the page...

this photo shows how cool the frosted crystal embossing powder looks melted, over translucent embossing paste...

there's great texture & dimension...

my FAVORITE text looks great trapped under the 2 layers...

it's a match made in heaven!

Houston...we have a problem!

this is where I got carried away & used some new products, so I can only show a peek here...

sorry!

but the GOOD NEWS...

I just heard that my reveal date is FRIDAY the 18th...

so no long wait to see my newest babies...

a week from this Friday...

stamps, stencils, SiSi's...oh my!

fun new stuff coming to...

make art!

wendy

Q & A and 6 WINNERS!

my plan for today was to include a stencil or SiSi tutorial…

but I had this idea…and I HAD to try it…

which lead to several other experiments…
which explains why there's no tutorial today…

I simply got carried away!

but I did discover that my original idea will work…
I just had to figure out the key ingredients…
shhhhh…don't tell anyone…
BUT it's a new way to use my archival inks…

this will be a tutorial very soon...

so today...

I thought I'd answer some recent questions…

#1…is the vintage floral stencil the same size as the stamp in your heirloom stamp set?

no…I made the stencil larger…I wanted to be able to mix & match the flower with other stencils/stamps…

making the stencil larger also made it a bit easier to cut out the pieces (especially those little leaves) & it fits large art journal pages better…
yes...it still fits card fronts too…

I also wanted it larger to make the holes for the little dots larger, so we could add ink thru the stencil…
when the stencil was the same size as the stamp, those little dot holes were just too small...

but…it you have the stamp, you can stamp the flower on a scrap, cut it out & layer it over the vintage floral stencil flower…
that's easy & really fun!

#2…do you start designing immediately again after CHA or do you get a well deserved break?

don't feel sorry for me! I LOVE my job!

we did have some new product discussions yesterday…these things take time, so we start early!

right now I'm working on my teaching schedule & my demo schedule for Ted at conventions & for Ranger…

I've been in contact with store owners to choose dates & to decide classes…
and after that comes scheduling flights…

I should have at least the start of my teaching schedule up here on the right sidebar in about 2 weeks…(I hope)

at the beginning of the year I also work on new classes and this year I am refreshing my Ranger class to include new products and new favorite techniques…

this year I'm planning to teach a 2 full day large art journal class, where we'll spend the weekend making the cover from my new art parts & then we'll fill the journal with technique pages…
I'm super excited about this…
come spend the weekend with me!

the 2 full days will allow us enough time for everyone to leave with a really cool multipage mixed media art journal...

I also want to revamp my studio & change things around a bit…

and then there's always a house project idea brewing…
mum's the word…I haven't told U_KNOW WHO yet…
surprises are good!

#3…are you planning stamp giveaways like you have done in the past? did I miss them?

YOU BET I AM! I just got the email today from Stampers Anonymous that they are shipping some prizes…stay tuned!
I'll give some away here & some on my FACEBOOK page too...

#4…I just discovered your/Tim's blog. would you recommend a beginner starting with a blending tool or the new round one?

you'll really need & LIKE both & here's why…

I will always use the original rectangle for large backgrounds…
it's much larger, so your background will get inked much quicker...

the new mini is perfect for stenciling or for adding shading to the edges of your art…

the small size will also make specific shading in areas much easier...

so…each is important & has a use…

#5…how are you adding a hole to your stencils for your stencil binder…do the new stencils have a hole?

the crop a dile is what I use. it works like magic…
paper punches are not strong enough to go thru the stencil material easily…

no, the new stencils do not have a hole in the corner…

#6…the mini distress pads are so cute. please tell ranger we want them all…

haha! it's already in the works…

there will be 3 sets released every 2 months…so it doesn't break the art budget…

I agree…they are super CUTE!

#7…would you explain your SiSi? I think I understand, but then I'm not sure I understand all of the idea…

you bet I will…that will be a tutorial in the very near future…
please stay tuned!

#8... when are new things shipping?

YIKES! I HATE this question…because I can't give you an exact answer…

Ted has 9 lasers working 16 hours a day, 7 days a week cutting stencils & art parts…

the factory is BOOMING & the staff is working overtime...

they had a good supply done before CHA…
but the exact date depends on when your store placed their order…
first ordered gets shipped first…

BUT...the new crackled texture paste should be restocked any day…YIPPEE!

as for stamps, that too depends on the order date…

the last I heard,  my 6 new Ranger archival inks will ship early February…
so no long wait there…AWESOME!

I'll keep you posted as I hear more details...

#9…what happens to your CHA samples at the end of the show?
can stores purchase them? 

well…I have NONE here!

the samples I made for Ranger stay with Ranger & get taken to events…

the samples I made for the Stampers Anonymous booth, travel to all the conventions with Ted…so you just may see them at a stamp convention near you…

so that's why they are not for sale to store owners...

YIKES…that reminds me…
I better add to my TO*DO list…
make more samples!

#10 what ONE product (from any company) did you see at CHA that got your attention?

believe it or not…I didn't walk around at all…
I know it's hard to believe…
I came home & checked out the internet to see what was there…

our demo schedule is hectic & there were just a few minutes each day to spare…

BUT…the one MUST HAVE, in my opinion, is tim's new distress marker spritzer…
if you like stencils, this opens the door to so much fun…

those little puffs of air are pure magic…
trust me…the spritzer is a MUST HAVE!

I especially LOVE that it can be used with many brands/types of markers...

#10…will your reinker technique work on glossy paper?
it kind of sort of works OK, but…
because you use so much fluid, the fluid does soak thru the paper…and if you get carried away, you will warp & ruin the paper...

I really like the specialty stamping paper the best, because the magic coating on the paper prevents any seep thru to the back…
which means…if you're doing an art journal page, the back can be used without trying to cover up an ugly mess something that soaked thru…

use it once & you'll be hooked! trust me!

#11…can your crackled texture paste be coloured with reinkers like the others?
YES! you can use just one drop of the archival or distress reinkers to change the color of the crackled texture paste, before applying it to your surface…remember that reinkers are very concentrated, so one drop goes a long way!

any more questions? did I miss any?

since I don't have a tutorial…
I thought I'd show you some different ways to use the large vintage doily stamp…

you can use the whole background stamp, like I did on the back of this art journal cover…
I covered the art parts covers with specialty stamping paper &
I used forget-me-not archival for the doily…
carnation red for the daisy SiSi, leaf green for the leaves, watering can to stencil the stripes & add a stencil & jet black archival for my words/sentiment & the cute mini bird...

on the tag below I used the same background stamp 2 ways…

it's stamped directly onto the bottom of the tag…

with tree branch archival...

to create a tag topper, I stamped the vintage doily with tree branch archival onto a manila scrap, added it to the top of the tag, but didn't glue it flat & then trimmed off the excess...

                                    

use it whole or use just pieces of the stamp…

once again…anything that can be used more than one way makes me very HAPPY…

Ok…on to the winners…

these 3 lucky people have won a seat in the online STENCILED class…

huge CONGRATS…

#1 is…

 Buttons said…

It's just a little cruel to make us choose, but if pushed to the edge of a cliff I'd have to take 'add a stencil' and 'vintage floral' with me. And then you go use them on a gorgeous tag!! I NEED both - simples. Thanks for this amazing chance to win. Jenny x

January 20, 2014 at 10:40 AM

 

#2 is...

 karen barker said...

Love love love your new CHA products. Totally love the little bits and vintage floral stencils along with the basket weave stamp. Please pick me for your online class. I'm also going to give your alcohol rub and re-inkers tutorial a try. Keep up the amazing work

January 21, 2014 at 9:22 AM

 

#3 is…

 Sisters Country Rustics said...

Your stencils combine so beautifully but to choose one only I think I would pick the vintage floral...LOVE your work! Thanks :)

January 20, 2014 at 2:19 PM

 

and we have a jar of the new crackled texture paste for these 3 winners…

#1... SusanK said...

Would love to win some class time using stencils! Your pastes make them even more versatile. Loving the checkerboard pattern...it could be done on the diagonal which I can't wait to try!

January 20, 2014 at 11:17 AM

 

#2... Claire said...

I'm loving stencils at the moment - they are so cool! My fav from your new releases has to be the sunburst - it's fab!! Thanks for the chance to win some yummy goodies! Love Claire x

January 20, 2014 at 2:36 PM

 

#3 is...

 Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

I agree Wendy stencils are so so versatile! I love using them on most of my creative pieces. Combine the stencils with your awesome crackle paste and you have a combination made I heaven . Imlove texture , I love layers , and I love your art. Imlove all the stencils, cannot just pick one lol. Enjoy your day. Tracy x

January 20, 2014 at 9:14 AM

 

please send me an email with your shipping info, if you are a

 paste winner & I'll need your email if you won a seat in the 

class…I will pass that on so you can signed up...

that's it for today!

I'm off to the studio to

make art!

wendy

ps…the Stenciled class starts Friday & the events for each 

day look great…

you can check it out here...

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!

more new studio 490...

today's post takes a bit of an intro before we get to the stamps...

we're changing things up 

big time 

listening to your requests...

you asked...

so...

my giant background stamps will be sold individually!

so many people who are not really stampers...

but love the gelli plates, 

have asked for just background stamps, 

to create patterns & texture for gelli plate art...

these backgrounds are red rubber & cling, 

just like all my stamps...

and they are the usual giant size...

the cling style allows us to use them thru stencils easily...

perfect!

backgrounds are probably my most favorite stamps...

without further ado...

introducing...

top left...

is...

fancy florals... 

and bottom right fancy flourishes...

click to make the images larger...

top left is called

from A to Z...

and the bottom right is ornate dots...

next up...

top left is 

reverse dots

and bottom right is vintage mesh...

and the last 2...

top left is the

vintage pricing chart

and bottom right is called 

vintage tapestry...

have I had fun with them?

OH YES!!!

do I have samples of each background to share...

boohoo...

not quite yet, 

because there's too many "secrets" on the samples...

but soon!

so...how does this change affect my new stamp sets?

in addition to these 8 new backgrounds...

I designed 2 large stamp sets and

9 of the smaller sized sets...

you'll see on the storage sheet that

 the large sets have LCS preceding the number and

 the smaller sets have SCS preceding the number...

today I'll share the 2 large sets...

remember my new favorite word?

this set is titled...

charming art...

it's 3 lovely ladies with attitude & 7 fun sentiments...

click to enlarge the photo to read them...

and the second large set is called...

art chronicles...

it's designed for art journals...

cards and more...

I love the bar codes for the backs of our art...

this set is loaded with so many cool images...

there are so many on the sheet 

that Zach had to squeeze the large splat 

way up in the top left corner...

this set is 

so 

much

 fun...

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

since I'm not able to share new stamped samples today,

here's a photo of

the gold & silver embossing pastes thru the 2 new stencils...

you can see that the flourishes

work well with just the flower from the "lovely large flower" stencil...

I didn't use the stem...

the metallics are dramatic on a black tag...

and...

have you heard about the new distress markers?

hello...shaded lilac & mowed lawn...

I LOVE you with this flower stamp!

that's it for Friday...

have a wonderful weekend...

I'll be back on Monday with the 9 small stamp sets...

until then, 

I'll be waiting to hear your thoughts on the individual backgrounds & the 2 new stamp sets...

I'm off to...

make art!

wendy

STOP THE PRESS!!

I'll have a jar of my new translucent paste

 for a random commenter...

yes...

bribery to comment!

lol...