stickles and soup??

Really?

I like it when the title has words with the same letter...I'm so easily entertained...

some days...

Keep reading...

BEWARE!!

...enabler alert!!

DISTRESS STICKLES HAVE ENTERED THE BUILDING!

So...I RIPPED that box right of of the hands of my Fed-Ex guy...and opened the first bottle I grabbed.

Here's a test dose of faded jeans on a kraft colored scrap...



I'm so loving the different sizes of pearly looking bits in them. They really are TOTALLY different than regular stickles...These guys are pure vintage. They add texture & dimension in addition to a little shimmer. An extra bonus...

I just had to play a bit more play last night... I LOVE the scattered straw & the antique linen... and the fired brick and the faded jeans...and walnut...and the peeled paint...Good thing I got them all.



Here I used them on grungeboard (the skinny flower) and on chipboard (the heart). They work great on both surfaces.

So... take it from me.........if you LOVE vintage, you'll NEED all these colors. I WILL be using lots of them in my projects and classes...you can count on it.

THANK YOU Tim & RANGER for giving us another cool product.

Now for a laugh...

Yesterday I TOLD you that I'm addicted to flowers...

It's NOT my fault...

They follow me.........everywhere.........

They're even in my soup.




So yesterday @ lunch Rick asked..."what's up with the soup pictures?" Then he saw the FLOWERS and he got it.........He just shook his head... He got it!

Life is flowery & oh so good...

Have GREAT day and........

Make ART!
wendy

My name is wendy vecchi and.......

I am totally ADDICTED to flowers!
OOPS...sorry wrong group!

BUT...I do know........

If flowers ever go out of style...I'll be out of business for sure.

I was working on a CHA project yesterday (that's why the photo is so small) & needed a finishing touch for a small chipboard flower. I had already added a Maya Road Jewel flower...looking good...but it needed a bit more dimension.

I tested a tiny rhinestone, but it didn't show up enough...it still needed something.

So...take a look...



On the right you'll see the jewel pin before surgery. A simple snip & the point & legnth are gone.

PERFECT...now it's a flower center.

See....I TOLD you...
ADDICTED!

It's Monday & it's another day to...
MAKE ART!
wendy

I didn't have an idea for a post today...

until I read Caroline's blog this morning...

When I was teaching in Texas, I mentioned that the Maya Road jewels could be made any color by applying Alcohol inks. Caroline showed that on her blog today. And...she also colored the new jewel topped pins. COOL!

So...taking it in a little bit different direction...by applying the alcohol ink MIXATIVES...you can also make them silver & gold...and OPAQUE for another look.




On the top is the original version...below left is the silver mixative and on the right is the gold.

So...not only can you make them any custom transparent color to coordinate with any project, they can also look like this.

And a reminder...if the color isn't a match, just remove it with the Alcohol Blending solution & try again.

Just what I like...quick & oh so simple! I think I better try the pearl & the copper mixatives next...hmmm.

Now...not only am I looking for things to use with those addicting Cuttlebug embossing folders...I'm looking for things to alcohol ink...

I'm off to the grocery then I'll come home to...

Make ART!
wendy

Arizona ART and a tip...

Next stop on this art adventure (YIPPEE...it's next week) is Frenzy Stamper in Arizona.

Debbie Bick (the owner) asked for something extra artsy for her customers.

I had heard that "inchies" were really popular there, so I wanted to to be sure to incorporate some in the class.

Here's what we'll be creating in an 8 inch square BLACK frame.



This class uses lots of products. The background is made with distress inks & Perfect Pearls. Just a little shine adds a lot to the look.

We'll use studio490 stamps, tim's stamps and other Stampers Anonymous rubber too.

We'll be stamping on grungeboard and using chipboard.

And speaking of chipboard...here's a little something I figured out...

I LOVE Maya Road's foundations tin. I've probably used up about 20 tins myself. Each tin has rectangles, squares, circles & ovals. They are perfect for framing a saying & a whole lot of other things too...

The circles make fun flowers...You probably KNEW that was coming.....

I'm way too predictable.

Anyway...

I NEEDED brackets for this piece, but they had to be simple & small. Checked my stash...NOTHING...

SO...............this...



made this..............GREAT size & shape...I LOVE it when the lightbulb is on full force, which is not every day... unfortunately.

I've lectured before to look @ the possibilities of what something COULD be...so I took my own advice here.




Here's a better look @ those "inchies". I have to admit...small is fun, but TINY is a TOTAL blast!




Now I need to find more frames like this so we can repeat this class in other places. I've completely used up my stash
of these cool 8 x 8's.


***Any ideas???***

I'm so looking foreward to seeing Sharon & Lisa again and I can't wait to meet some new art friends too.
*
And an extra perk for me...



ARIZONA IS WARM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Illinois is NOT!
*



So...in Arizona, we'll...


MAKE ART!
wendy
*
ps...thanks for the shoe comments. YES...they are SOFFTS, for those who asked.
*

Oops...almost forgot...one more thing...I'm still thinking about the possibility of making extra class kits & having them available here.
THANKS so much for your interest...I'll keep you informed.

Rick asked...

"I wonder if my wife is the only girl in the world who would buy shoes...



because they had FLOWERS on them?

Who cares if they're on the bottom?
NOT ME...
I KNOW they're there!
They make me smile!

And if you look closer...it looks like CRACKLE PAINT & FLOWERS. And...they came in BLACK!





Yep...made for me...
I just know it.
PERFECT!



Kind of inspiring too........I think I'll head to the studio now

and...

Make ART!
wendy
ps...They ARE comfy...but that's NOT important...
They have FLOWERS!

Sweet and simple...

Hey...

Time to get going on those holiday cards!

Here's a very simple card that can be completed in about 30 minutes. Make one...then set up an assembly line to make the process quicker. Complete instructions are on Ranger's site. Check it out here.

I LOVE the idea-ology hitch fastener used as a flower center...

Grab a cup of coffee before you visit Ranger's site... There's TONS of projects & free ideas there, covering lots of their products.

Ok...we're off to VOTE!!

I hope you all VOTE too!

After that...we'll come home &...

Make ART!

wendy

Inspiration and ideas...............

Where do they come from? Most times I have no clue.


BUT...this time I KNOW!


Tagret had an ad in the newspaper this weekend. It was for a quilt/comforter & the design caught my eye. I saved it with the intent of showing it here.


HOWEVER...in my haste to keep the place neat & tidy...I wondered why a Target ad was on the counter. SO...In the trash it went. When I started to write this post, I realized why I had saved it...OOPS!!...too late!


I guess you'll have to trust me...this 4 x 8 page from Maya Road's Landscape binder was inspired by that ad.



The papers are from Graphic 45, Kaisercraft & Creative Imaginations.

What else for today???

I'm still LOVING the metallic crackle paint... it takes a bit longer to dry...so give it time...but the wait is so worth it!

This is painted on tim's large grungeboard wings...




I rubbed Pitch Black Pigment ink into the cracks & left some on for a really grungy/tarnished look. It's just a little peek...since this is a CHA project.

One more thing.........

Friday's shopping yielded...

2 pairs of shoes...2 purses...2 scarves...

Hmmm...maybe this purse will be some ART inspiration.........



Hmmmm...possibly the starting point for a book closure?





Take note...pay attention to the details...........
Inspiration is everywhere!


MAKE ART!
wendy