merry Christmas!

hello and

happy halloween eve!

I know...it's been a while...

yikes!

we took off for a 10 day get-away

 to celebrate our anniversary...

we had fun...

and before that it was finalizing 

NEW STAMPS & stuff for CHA January...

S U P E R  F U N!

so, that's where I've been...

normal blogging

 is now on the schedule...

before moving on to the little art, 

I need to update my schedule...

I started getting questions about attending the OOAK stamping convention, 

at the Alliant Energy Center,

 in Madison, Wisconsin...

I replied to at least 10 people & said it was not on my schedule...

but...

change of plans...

now it is!

so I'll be there November 20, 21 & 22nd demoing and 

doing a make & take 

for the event on Friday evening...

I hope you can plan to come see us!

ok...

I know it's halloween eve...

but Christmas is really my favorite holiday, 

so...

here's a fun little holiday art for you today...

instead of sending a card, I thought it would be fun to make little "arts" that can sit on a shelf...

or they could be hung on the tree 

with a hinge clip...

 magic mat board is a nice sturdy, 

lightweight surface to work on & 

it likes paints, embossing powders & 

both distress and archival inks, very well...

you get a 6 x 12 inch sheet of white and 

a 6 x 12 sheet of black in the package...

for a REALLY great price...

here's the steps...

cut a piece of white magic mat board

 to 3 x 4 inches...

cut a piece of black magic mat board 

to 3 ¼ x 4 ¼ inches...

swipe the cornflower blue archival pad onto the craft sheet, add rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol and mix the ink into the alcohol with a palette knife...

place the white mat board 

into the inky solution & dry...

lightly ink the script stamp with 

tree branch archival and

 stamp over the base...

use the happy holidays stencil 

to stencil the large tree 3 times, 

using fern green archival...

make sure to vary the heights of the tree...

ink the spatter stamp 

(it comes in the faux graniteware starter set)

with glacier white pigment ink & stamp over the base & dry...

ink the large black mat mini pine tree with 

fern green archival, then sprinkle with 

fern green embossing powder & 

heat to melt the powder...

ink the spatter stamp with glacier white 

and stamp over the tree, then dry...

use jet black archival to stencil

merry christmas at the top...

it's easy to add a snow bank to the bottom, 

using white embossing paste...

sprinkle with rock candy distress glitter, 

while the paste is still wet...

glue the mat mini pine tree to the base and add

 a mirrored star to the tree top...

to create the little bird...

use the custom brick embossing powder...

here's the recipe...

mix one scoop of red geranium embossing powder with one scoop of orange blossom embossing powder and add 1/2 scoop of watering can embossing powder and then mix in 2 scoops of frosted crystal embossing powder...

ink a manila scrap with

red geranium archival ink & 

sprinkle with the brick powder, 

while the ink is wet...

heat to melt the powder, 

then use tim's bird punch 

to create a custom little bird...

this is a great way to use those scraps & create custom perfectly coordinated embellishments...

add the bird to the left side of the snow bank...

add a black glaze pen dot to create his eye...

then mount the white base onto

 the black magic mat board base,

 to act as a frame...

you can write your greeting on the back with a metallic or white pen...

or use one of the metallic distress paints to 

stamp a sentiment...

or you could stamp or stencil it,

 using glacier white...

it shows up very well on dark surfaces...

here's the finished piece...

take a closer look at

 the different textures on this piece...

you can see that the 

custom brick embossing powder 

creates a 

 very textured surface on the bird...

and it's much more matte than the embossing powder on the pine tree...

that's because of the 

frosted crystal embossing powder...

it's a jar of magic, because it doubles your embossing powder options...

 it can be mixed with any of 

the colored embossing powders 

to change them from shiny to more matte, 

and it adds texture too...

just mix equal parts of colored powder with the frosted crystal...

I store the "frosted" powders

 in these little jars...

the faux graniteware tree has a smooth shiny surface...

and the embossing paste sprinkled with 

the rock candy glitter

 makes the best authentic snow!

it's a bonus that the glitter sticks to the paste very well & stays put...

so...think about it...

instead of sending a card...

you might want to try this...

I hope YOU have fun and...

make art!

wendy

ps...I thought about saying...

GO BEARS...

but I think it's a hopeless situation again this year...

every moment matters tutorial...

grab your archival inks...

some white magic mat board...

some clear, clearly for art...

some newsprint...

my FAV...glue N seal...

this tim size die...

this cute NEW flower 

and these adorable NEW leaves...

oh...and

 cranberry alcohol ink 

to color the gumdrop...

I'll show you how to create this card

over on the Ranger blog...

you'll find the complete supply list there 

& also a tutorial with step out photos...

I've also included some helpful tips...

so YOU can follow along and...

make (this)  art!

wendy

NEW stamps, NEW stencils, NEW Mat Minis, NEW SiSi's...

finally...

it's time to show you 

what I've been working on...

or...

playing with 

is probably a more accurate description...

I must confess that I have had

SO MUCH FUN

mixing and matching these new stamps...

I designed these 3 sets 

to work together,

 to create new images...

they also work with stamps we already have

 to freshen them up...

seriously...

we have L O T S of possibilities...

there's one flower that can even be transformed

 into "leaves" for other flowers!

I'll show you!

YIKES...this is a long post...

you might want to grab a comfy seat...

and READ TO THE END...

for a "special SALE code"!

I'll start with the

3 new stamp sets...

the first is 

SCS134 & it's titled

"artful life"...

the flowers are open images...

perfect for coloring with markers...

and

easy to cut out to make them dimensional, 

using Clearly for Art/Newsprint...

the open designs allow them to be over stamped with any background stamp 

to totally change them up...

or...

 you can stencil over them to add a pattern...

the leaves work really well with

 the new custom DIY archival pads 

to create multi colored leaves 

with just one inking...

and...they are easy to cut out...

I totally LOVE these sentiments...

they're good for cards, 

tags and art journal pages...

see that bow on the bottom?

it fits a #8 tag perfectly...

I've used it lots...

here's a sample using the set...

the black/white polka dots are from

 the reverse dots background stamp...

it's inked with jet black...

mixing past with brand new is fun...

the second new set is 

SCS135 and it's called 

"happiness and art"...

I am IN LOVE with the hosta...

it's a much larger version of the hosta from 

the last CHA release 

(SCS130 all occasion art) 

I loved that one so much, 

that I wanted needed a bigger hosta...

it looks wonderful with 

the large mat mini flower pots...

 I find myself using just the leaves,

 in combination with other flowers...

it's the perfect focal point for a card or tag...

you'll see lots of samples made with the full stamp and also with just the leaves...

if a stamp can be used more than one way...

I really like it!

the circles are good background fillers & they are sized to work with common circle punches to save time...

they are sized at ¾ inch, 7/8th inch and 1 inch...

they are fun to stamp on scraps, punch out & to create a scallop border...

I'll show you...

and...

they are really cool when inked & stamped using the DIY archival pads, 

for an easy multi color image...

the sentiments are fun for cards/tags/art journal pages...

they have easy to cut out words, 

to make layering simple...

here's the ADORABLE hosta...

it's sitting in the tea time large cup...

on a #8 tag...

and this last cutie is

SCS136 ..."flowers for art"...

more sentiments with cardmakers in mind...

again,

open design flowers for coloring with markers or to stamp over with background stamps and it's fun to add stenciling over them...

the circle fits a 1 ⅛ inch circle punch...

see that flower lower left?

stamp it on a scrap...

color it green, cut it out & 

use some of the "petals" as leaves...

can you see how it changes?

very fun!

meet...

SCS136 "flowers for art"...

here's an example of 

a favorite mix and match

 using these sets...

take the flower (top left) from SCS134...

add the flower from SCS136 over it and

 now it's a dimensional POPPY!

the dots circle stamp created the scallops...

there are 2 fun new background stamps...

"polka dot"...

polka dots are always in style...

this is on an older set (LCS011)

& we've had multiple requests 

to have it available

 as an individual background...

you asked...

we did it!

LOVE it stamped over flowers and used with embossing powders...

and below that you'll see a great 

new "vintage text" background...

I found this amazing

vintage leather bound new testament,

 (dated 1874)

while shopping in Texas with some friends...

we think it's Norwegian or possible Swedish?

it's a great font...

it's AWESOME as a background and it's great stamped over the flowers!

next up we have 

3 new Stamp-it Stencil-it's...

these make life E A S Y and there are 2 distinct ways to create with them...

I *know* I shouldn't have a favorite...

BUT...

I DO...

this just might be it...

this is called

"floral collage"...

just like the name says...

 stamp it first, 

then position the coordinating stencil over the stamped image and stencil it...

this allows coloring with a blending tool for a quick simple flat multicolored image...

the stencil acts as a stencil

 to fill in the open area with ink 

and at the same time, 

 as a mask to protect the background area...

or...

you can stamp the flower on a scrap...

cut it out & layer it over the stamped image to create dimension...

this flower is awesome to use alone...

and to mix with the other flowers/leaves in this release...

here's my fav...

"floral collage"...

and below is a sample card...

this was so fun to make...

the next new stamp-it stencil-it is

"water lily"...

when my violet archival ink was introduced, 

I really wanted a water lily & this is it!

it's great to use the full stamp or you can cut out the little flowers and layer them or

 use them with other leaves to create a whole new image...

here's what it looks like done in pink peony...

I liked it so much that it made the cover of the flyer, inked in violet...

you can see that I added the little red flower from the "floral collage" SiSi & the flower from SCS136 to change it up...

and the 3rd new SiSi is...

"prairie bloom"...

this stencil has 3 stencil sections

 to easily ink the leaves one color,

 the petals another color and 

the 3rd section is the dots

 at the top of the flower...

these can be a different color 

from the petals...

or...

you can add embossing powder

 to just the dots...

or...

 you can add any of the embossing pastes

 to add texture to the dots...

or...

 use just the dots stencil as a background filler...

this is a really FUN one!

or...

spread embossing paste thru the "petals portion...

oh...

and the BUD is easy to cut out & add to other images...

here's a simple flat sample...

moving on...

since we "collect" stamps & stencils,

when designing, my goal is

 to add to the "collection" 

to make it even better and 

to give new life to

products we already have...

so...

that brings me to

 the 2 new mat minis...

mat minis are computer/laser cut 

from a very light weight, 

but very strong material...

 they are perfect for adding to cards and great for mixed media projects too...

the material accepts both archival & distress inks very well...

they can be inked, painted, stamped, stenciled and heat embossed with embossing powders...

and 

they can be embossed with embossing folders...

love the cute textured effect!

first up...

we have mat mini"pine trees"...

these trees are perfect for the holidays, 

but can be used all year...

there are 2 sizes...

a large & a small tree...

6 of each in the set...

for a total of 12 pieces...

these coordinate with last year's holiday release, 

happy holidays,

which included tree stencils...

in the sample below, 

you'll see how they layer...

the mat mini pine trees come in black, 

which I really like to use with embossing powders or embossing pastes...

and white, to use with inks and stamps...

honestly...these guys are so F U N...

here's the adorable 

"mat mini pine trees"...

here's a better look at the tag sample...

too bad the rock candy glitter "snow" didn't show up well...

it adds just the right amount of bling...

last year's holiday release included this

"holiday icons" stamp-it stencil-it...

see the holly stamp on the left?

the new

"holly and berries" mat minis

are perfectly sized

 to use with the holly/berries stamp...

they're super simple to use, 

since it's a 2 part mat mini...

the berries and leaves are individual pieces...

these come in an all white package, so the stamping & inks will show...

just ink the holly stamp & press the mat mini holly leaves onto the inked stamp...

then ink the stamp again & press the mat mini berries onto the berry section of the inked stamp...

color them with ink & pop them together

 for a fun custom embellishment...

there are 16 pieces in the set, 

so you can create 8 cards or 8 tags 

from just one package...

Ted gave us a good price!

look out Hallmark!

one more thing...

because these products 

are made in Cleveland, Ohio...

if you didn't get the holiday icons

or

 the happy holidays stencil, 

from last year,

 Ted can have the guys make them for you...

made in the USA means

nothing needs to be discontinued!

phew...

I HOPE your eyes are OK...

this was LONG, but I wanted to include a sample for each, to help you get the ideas brewing...

if any of these are on your must have list...

just let your store owners know 

that you want need them...

I'm sure they'll be happy

 to order whatever you'd like...

BREAKING NEWS...

I just got this!

here's a special S A L E code to use on the Stampers Anonymous site...

enter this code at checkout...

Sept15Off

here's another SPECIAL TREAT...

this link will take you to view the whole flyer...

http://goo.gl/TBlcc5

it's what store owners see...

it has all the info, 

including prices and the package contents...

ok...

it's your turn...

I'm waiting to hear which is your fav...

or what ideas YOU have brewing...

thanks so much for popping by &

THANKS for

 putting up with the little peeks!

I sincerely appreciate 

each & every one of 

YOU!

I've had SO much fun with these new guys...

I've been happy...

mak(ing) art!

wendy

STOP THE PRESS!!!

the day gets even better with the launch of our new

ACCESSORY BAGS from Ranger!

each designer created art specifically for these bags & I think they are flippin' awesome...

they really are 

a great representation 

of each designer's art...

this is where style meets function perfectly...

I can think of so many uses

 for these adorable bags...

here's a closer look at mine...

under the tag on the right it says...

"discover your passion 

then do what you love"...

I AM!

phew...

breathe...

it's a super exciting day!

THANKS to Ranger

 for a really fun & useful surprise!