What??? No Cuttlebug???

I was talking to some friends @ CHA & the Cuttlebug came into the conversation. I was the only one in the group who does not own this thing. AMAZING...(shopper that I am)!

Anyway...I'm a stamper, not a scrapper so I never thought I really needed one.

Then I saw these embossing folders...




So, I brought them home...but NOT the machine. Still thinking...

Do I NEED this???

Do you have it???

Now it's YOUR turn to be an ENABLER...

Tell me all about it!

Do you LOVE it??? What do you use it for??

Should I buy the machine??? Or return the folders???

Talk to me!!
wendy
ps...the decision would be easier if it was BLACK...that's the OCD peeking out again!

flea market finds and a few other things...

Rick has his horses...I have my art, but the one thing we both really enjoy is the hunt for vintage things. Yesterday we took a road trip and I found these cool things...




The black box is a big steel HEAVY old mailbox. When I looked @ it...I just knew these guys would be the perfect fit...


HA!...I do have a good eye for sizes...So...this has a place now in my studio & is very convenient for storing tim's stamps. And look...

I even have room in there for his new releases. I LOVE it when things work as planned...

Why the #5??? For some odd reason, that number just appeals to me...I have collected quite a few...

Rick collects Starved Rock State park items. He worked there for 30 years & retired from there when he turned 50, a few years ago. We rarely find things for him, but yesterday he got 3 cool items. To say the least...he was thrilled...

We had a very fun outing & then a great dinner. No cooking...no clean up. Works for me!!

Just a reminder for those who ask questions. I read every comment & try to reply to the person who asked the question. However...if you don't give me a way to find you..I can't answer. If you don't have a blogger profile, that's just fine.

NO PROBLEM...

BUT...if you have a question that you'd like me to answer...please send it right to my email. That way I have a way to contact you and you will get an answer to your question. The link is on the right sidebar... THANKS!!

So...for Lori...the class scheduled @ Scrapadoodle in Peoria in September is the Ranger Distress Ink technique class. Since it's my first time @ the store, we decided to get everyone familiar with the inks & tools & how to use them. I use these inks for every class I teach, so that helps everyone with the classes that are scheduled in the future.

Normally I try not to talk about sad things on my blog...but this made me feel so bad. My brother called last night to say that a very good friend of his died. 55 years old...no known health issues...just fell over & died. My brother is devastated...

The moral of the story here??

ENJOY EVERY DAY.

No matter how busy life gets...take at least a few minutes each day for fun. Life is so fragile & short... this certainly was a reminder.............

So with that thought...I'm headed to studio 490!
Make it a GOOD one!!
wendy

questions...comments and classes...

Questions first...

The "use your scraps" fragement journal is indeed a class for this fall. YES...you actually bring your scraps to use...I'll bring the rest. Store owners will have all the info...SOON.

I'll be giving this class @ For Keeps Sake, The Crafty Scrapper and Frenzy Stamper...for sure. So...come join the fun! Additional info is on the sidebar to the right.

Lisa V...looks like I'll see you in Arizona for that class!!

I'm sooo happy that you like the journal...THANKS for all the sweet comments!

Nope...they're not mini brads...Those little accent dots on the fragments are made with the black glaze pen from Sakura. Try it...you'll LOVE it, guaranteed~!

Someone asked about drilling into fragments. DO NOT TRY the CROP-A-DILE...I love it, but NOT for fragments. It cracks them...
A drill does work just fine. I used the Fiskars hand drill and you can also use an electric drill, if you're making a lot of holes...

I got a few laughs from your comments about the OCD...yep...I don't want an UGLY page in MY journal...trash it! I'm glad that I'm not the only OCD in the group! ha!!

NOW THIS IS COOOOOOOOOL!!

My friend Cecile is in Ohio @ the Stampaway convention this weekend. Anyway...she called yesterday to tell me that she stopped @ a stamp store (SHOPPING!!)...I think it's called Stamp Your Art Out...and they had studio 490 stamps there. She was sooo excited that she grabbed a complete stranger & made her look @ them... ha! I had to get the kleenex out after that call!

So, they moral of the story??

They're SHIPPING NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIPPEE!!


And, incase you are wondering what happened here yesterday ...A whole new ADVENTURE.

It was...very exciting...It's HAPPENING, I think...late September...maybe October??

VERY COOL...VERY TOP SECRET...stay tuned!

Hey...it's KILLING me NOT to say a word to anyone...I got excited just typing this!

Let's get to another fall class...


This is the Make it Merry, holiday hanging class. We start with a chipboard base, from Maya Road, add distress inks, grungeboard & lots of studio 490 stamps.

You'll have the option to use different background colors and any choice of stamps, to make it your own!
Here'a another sample...

Yummy dimension with grungeboard...



That's it for now...Next on the agenda...getting all set for my class tomorrow.

Keep those comments coming...Like I said earlier...it's NOT fun to talk to myself!

I hope your weekend is PERFECT!
Make ART!
wendy

Use your scraps journal...

Ok...I'll admit it...I spend LOTS of $$$ buying supplies.

Shhhhhhh...don't tell Rick!

Anyway, that doesn't bother me, but wasting supplies does.




So, this "Use your Scraps Journal" class makes me happy. It's a fun class that helps to use up those tiny bits & pieces that you have leftover from other projects. Since FRAGMENTS are small, they are great for paper scraps & left over tiny portions of rubons.
Have a few left over embellishments...but not enough for a large project?? You can USE them on this journal.


This is a great size...just 4 x 4, so it's easy to carry in your purse, yet large enough for actually USING.

And speaking of USING...

I LOVE bound journals & HOARD them...but actually NEVER use them. Why???

God forbid that I make a mistake...write something stupid...or jot down an idea that doesn't look as good as I had hoped. This journal has easily replaceable pages. Don't like a page??? Rip it out & toss it in the trash. Need more pages??? Just
remove the binding rings and add all the pages you need.
It's SIMPLE & your journal is still perfect!

We'll add a sheer scallopped page to the inside.


The inside has plenty of pages for notes, ideas...sketches.. whatever...

Here's the back.


This class uses ALL my favorites...Maya Road chipboard
covers, sheer page, stamps, rubons & embellishments.

Stamps from studio490 and Stampers Anonymous.

Inks...Ranger, of course!

Grungeboard, fragments and an idea-ology spinner on the front.

It's...fun!
Happy Wednesday!
wendy

Flowers, FATE and friends...

Here's the story for today...

By now I'm sure you know that I'm addicted to flowers.

So, I designed this poinsettia for studio 490. Now keep in mind, I told no one about this & didn't show the stamp to anyone.



Take a look at the Trinket jewel flowers Maya Road made...a PERFECT fit. And believe me...they give NO sneak peeks to the design team...EVER.



But wait...there's more...

Look @ these felt flowers they made. Could they possibly fit the poinsettia too??


YES...it's fate & another option for using the stamp and the flowers.

TOTALLY...unplanned... FATE @ it's best.

I LOVE it when things are a perfect fit!


Now on to the friends part of the story...

Somedays it's hard to take the time to post & get very few comments. It's NOT fun to talk to yourself...(hint...post comments!)

ANYWAY...this makes it all worth it.

I got this email from Sarah today...she's a blog friend from Australia.


Your fabulous work inspired me to create a card for my monthly Inkurable Stampers challenge example, so I thought you might like to check it out! :)

Thanks for all your inspiration - I love checking out your blog regularly! :)

Kindest regards,

Sarah Schwerin


So...it IS worth it!!! Check out Sarah's art...flowers, distress inks & grungeboard. It's outstanding!!

Thanks Sarah...you made my day!
wendy

Now about those Maya Road...

chipboard borders...

Here's the page from the catalog, for those of you who couldn't find them.

FUN??? See those flowers & leaves? I KNOW that they were made just for me...

Happy Saturday.

wendy

August first ???

What happened to July? I remember the 4th...I remember CHA...but...what happened to the rest of those July days?? PHEW.....gone in a flash...

Sorry for not posting the last few days. I've been busy. REALLY...Scheduling classes, typing class instrucions, getting class supplies ordered...sending supply info to stores...and talking to store owners on the phone. I think I NEED a secretary. Anyway...enough whining for today.

I talked to Michelle (Mrs. Stampers Anonymous) yesterday & we have a plan for something VERY fun. We think you'll love it. Can't say more yet...but this is something you've asked for & we REALLY want to do. So...it's been added to the to-do list. This will be fun...guaranteed. More info, just as soon as I can...

We also talked about the second studio 490 stamp release...That's been added to the to-do list too. The first has turned out to be a big hit. THANK YOU so much!! I'm THRILLED!! This has been a great adventure. I already have some ideas for the second set...

She didn't have the cost of the acrylic covers just yet, but as soon as she has the info, I'll let you know.

And yes...they will be available thru the Stamper's Anonymous site and at your LSS too.

Now for some art...


Here are 2 more pages from the Garden Journal that I showed a few weeks ago... This was a Maya Road CHA project...

I LOVE the border at the top of the pages. It's from Maya Road...it's their new chipboard sheets. They're 6 x 12 and there are 4 different styles to choose from. This one is from the "borders" set...& it has 6 cool borders included. They are just right for layouts, cards & mini books. Another must have is the petals & leaves sheet. As soon as I get a sample made...I'll show you how much fun that one is too.

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Add some Maya Road chipboard letters...some studio 490 stamps and a little grungeboard... done.

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This arting is fun stuff.

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And speaking of fun...check this out. Suze started a blog...FINALLY. She writes just as funny as she talks. Imagine that!

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Have a GREAT fun weekend!

Make ART!

wendy