this was fun!

This is NOT what I set out to do...

Rick asked if grungepaper tears...

So as I showed him (lucky guy got a private demo!)...
I tore a circle....almost...

Hmmm...looked to me like the beginning of a flower...
then I tore another circle...

and a third smaller...

See where this is going?

FATE!

and here's the result...


Grab these supplies to make this quick flower...

*grungepaper
*inkssentials non stick craft sheet
* distress inks...broken china, brushed corduroy & peeled paint
*inkssentials blending tool, with blending foam
* jet black archival ink for stamping
*adhesive
*idea-ology snaps
*grungeboard scraps
*black glaze pen, Sakura
*vintage button or 2
*pencil

These studio 490 stamps...
*screen background from the "art rules" set
*gingham background from the "natures art" set
*bingo background from the "life & art" set
*leaves from the flower on "all about art" set
*stem from "funky flower art" set

Quickie instructions...
* lightly trace 3 concentric circles on the grungepaper, with a pencil.
trace 3 circles from punches...
or I used a glass, a vase & a spice jar...
VERY technical! not!!

*make a tiny slit & start tearing the grungepaper, following the circle outline...remember...art doesn't have to be perfect!
these circles won't be!

*use the blending tool & ink the front & backs of the smallest & large with broken china

*the middle size with brushed corduroy.

*using jet black archival ink...
stamp the front & back of the smallest with the bingo background stamp

stamp the middle with the gingham

stamp the largest with the screen stamp

*form the flower by rolling the edges...
MAGICALLY..they stay in place!

*assemble the flower, using scraps of grungeboard between the layers to add dimension

* stack 2 buttons for the center & add the snap

* stamp the stem & the leaves on grungepaper scraps using the jet black archival, then ink the front & back with peeled paint, using the blending tool.

* using jet black archival, stamp the leaves with the screen stamp and the back of the stem with the screen stamp also.

* glue the stem to the back of the flower & glue the leaves in place.

* curl the leaves & the stem

*add glaze pen dots on the button & around the flower center

* the snap is the finishing touch!

Like I said...flower fate!

and just another way to...

make art!
wendy

take 10 on tuesday for...

some..."perfect" stamping...

That's what I'm calling this technique, because Ranger's Perfect Pearls are the key ingredient.

This is a take off of tim's "wrinkle free distress" technique.
One of the MANY I got to learn @ Ranger U.

You may remember this post, where I HAD to get up @ 2am to try an idea...
I couldn't wait to see if it would work.

By adding just one more step...to the above post
you get another look...

Here's the supplies you'll need to play along...

*manilla tag
*Inkssentials non stick craft sheet
*heat it tool
*mini mister with water
*distress inks…faded jeans, black soot, walnut
*blending tool with foam pad
*sunflower sparkle Perfect Pearls
*gold paint dabber

* the background stamp is from the studio 490 set “forever art”

READY... SET...

Let's make art...

* Working on the craft sheet, ink the entire tag using faded jeans distress ink & the blending tool. Always work from the craft sheet, onto the tag in a circular motion to get perfectly blended backgrounds.

*It should look like this...





*Take an empty Mini Mister, dip the tip of a craft stick into the sunflower sparkle Perfect Pearls to pick up a small amount of powder.

*Drop the PP into the Mini Mister & add water up the last “R” in Ranger.
Shake to mix. Now you have a shimmer mist.

*Swipe the walnut distress ink pad and the black soot pad onto the craft sheet & mist with enough Perfect Pearls/water mixture to create beads of ink.
The inky area should be larger than the background stamp and should look like this...




* Using the background stamp, stamp into the mixture & then stamp onto the tag.
Repeat until the tag is covered with the background stamp.

*Dry with the heat it tool.

* Here's the result...you may want to click for a larger photo.
It's much cooler in person...
I had a hard time getting a decent photo, because of the shimmer.



* I hope you can see that the Perfect Pearls are only where the stamping is. So, instead of misting the whole tag with Perfect Pearls, you can control exactly where the pearls are placed.

* I like it!

*Another plus...once mixed with water, Perfect Pearls are set...no special fixative is needed & you won't be "wearing" glitter!

* Try this too...oops...
I'll save that for another day...

*I'm off to add an edge with the gold paint dabber...and then maybe a...???

grungepaper flower...(the grungepaper is in stock as of this morning!)

It's your turn to try "perfect" stamping...
let me know how you did!

I'd LOVE to see your results!

Remember...
It's really fun to...

make art!
wendy

helping and holiday

or maybe the title should be...
ENABLING and holiday...

I get emails every day asking where to get the products I use...

Where can the elusive grungePAPER be found???
When are the Fillable alcohol ink pens shipping???
Who has the Memory Capsules in stock???

So...to make your shopping easier...

I'm now working with Joy & Daisy @ eclecticPaperie to provide you with one stop shopping...

Here's how it will work...

They will let me know when NEW products arrive...
and when items are SOLD OUT... (so you don't waste time looking)...

and I'll provide the link here, so you can grab what you need before it's GONE...

I chose to work with them because...

They have EXCELLENT customer service...
quick shipping...I WANT my stuff IMMEDIATELY!
I bet you do too...

They give eclectic goodies with orders over $40.00!
FREE stuff is GOOD!

... they are NICE gals too!

and...

they will have ALL my studio 490 stamps in stock!!

YIPPEE!
I LOVE to help people SHOP!

Your hubbies may not love me...
but they'll get over it when they see how happy you are!...ha!

So...if you've been looking for grungePAPER...
eclecticPaperie just got some in yesterday...

Grab some quick...it flies out the door as soon as it arrives everywhere!

Get a pack or 2...believe me...
it's ADDICTING stuff...

TRUST ME...
you won't want to run out!



Happy Memorial weekend from Rick & I to all of you!

This is our huge flag pole...
It was a Christmas gift to me a few years ago...
I LOVE IT!

As you can see...

we really DO live in the middle of nowhere!!

Critter report...

yes...the skunk is still around...
looks like we'll need to hire a sharp shooter...

I hope I'm out of town that day!

That's it!

Happy LONG holiday weekend and
Happy SHOPPING...
HEY...it's a FACT...

You NEED stuff...
to...

make art!
wendy

cute storage?

you bet...they thrill me!

We got these @ Costco...$129.00 ea.

The web site listed on the box is here.
They don't have the exact same unit...ours are larger...
maybe they are made specifically for Costco??

Nice & sturdy...the bins are solid & look unbreakable...

Rick has them put together & all set up in the basement...
YIPPEE!



CUTE AGREE?



If I'm not making art...I'm quite happy to organize!

Let the fun begin!

I hope you...

Make art!
wendy

art stuff, vintage stuff and skunk stuff...

WHAT???

SKUNK???????

First...the art stuff...

I need to add more info for yesterday's post...

I was in a hurry to leave...Sorry about that!!


Rick said...
ROAD TRIP...get dressed!

We'll go get your organizers @ Costco...
(I'll have photos, as soon as they are assembled!) They're cute!

SHOPPING?

And maybe a quick stop @ an antique mall???

I'm outta here...I moved like the place was on fire!

So...

Here's the scoop about filling the alcohol pens, right from tim.

Filling info & more...check it out on you tube...

The cool striped background paper I used is from My Mind's Eye...
LOVE IT!

The pattern name is BelleBella French Flea Market Bleu Striped Item # BB1027...

Presentation board is a black mat type board...
it comes in large sheets @ Hobby Lobby...
I use it a lot...
Hey...it's BLACK!


Yes...once filled...
the pen works just like a marker on non porous surfaces...

metal, like I did...
transparencies...
glossy paper...
clear rhinestones...
fragments...

try the pens...you'll have fun!

now the vintage stuff...

We found some cool things again...

I love numbers...text...

A whole roll of carnival tickets...LOVE the color...
perfect for a class or 2 or 50!

And...an old drawer with a cool handle...
It's black...
I knew it was meant for me...



This was my best find!!
A vintage garment cutter...
it's about 2 feet tall...

copyrighted 1890!



Right now it's leaning on a hoosier in the dining room...
but it may just end up in the bathroom...
after the redo...
still got to find some cool black faucets...
I need more hours in the day!

Since our bedroom is across from the bath...
I'm planning a bedroom redo too...but that's still a secret!
Don't tell you know who...I'd like to surprise him...
or gently break the news...


We had a lovely day together...
stopped for dinner...
NO COOKING!
YIPPEE!

I sat down to read the newspaper...
looked out the window & saw this...

Click to make the photo larger...
See the spot in the middle???

I thought we had company...
a new mouth to feed...


I think...NOT!!

YIKES!!
A SKUNK!!!!!!!!!!

Now what???

We both love animals...
but ...we have limits...

How can we get this guy out of here??????????





And we saw him again early this morning...horrors!!


Any ideas???
Tell me if you do!!!
PLEASE!

I don't have time to be on "skunk patrol"...

I need to...

make art!
wendy

15 minute ART...aka alcohol ink play

Play is good!!!

I've been working pretty hard...and I NEEDED a little play time...
no assignments...
just some ART FUN...

So, looking around the studio, I thought I'd grab something I'd not played with in a while...

This case of goodness caught my attention...

These are Ranger's new Alcohol Ink Fillable Pens...
hmmmmm...

What could I do with them that's a little different???
I only had a little play time...




But first...if you have one of tim's cases...
(these guys are discontinued...)
the pens are a perfect fit...


If you are lucky enough to find one...
GRAB IT!

Cool storage is another thing I LOVE!



In 15 minutes...here's what I made...


I'm a very slow creator...but this was fast & soooo FUN...
and it made me happy to have a completed project in such a short time...



If you want to play along...

you'll need these Ranger products...

The craft sheet.
I NEVER work without it...ever...

Alcohol inks...a few colors...
or if you're like me...GET THEM ALL!
They last FOREVER, since you only use a few drops...

The NEW fillable alcohol ink pen...
get several...you need one dedicated for each color...
and...
keep one for blending solution...

silver paint dabber

A memory frame & memory glass...
I used the 2 x 2...

Jet black archival ink...it's an essential

Coffee archival ink...I almost always use this for background
stamps...unless I use jet black or olive archival...the 3 basics for me...
oops...sepia too...make that 4 basics!

from studio 490... these stamps...

life is art
polka dot background stamp
scroll and screen background

from tim's idea-ology line...

a washer
the foliage...I used a larger flower & a small one and one of the leaf pieces

a game spinner...they make PERFECT stems for flowers...
and a long fastener...

other stuff...

a frame...I used a square 5 x 5
background paper cut to fit the frame
a scrap of kraft cardstock 2 x 2
black glaze pen by Sakura
a small piece of black presentation board...mine is 3 1/4 square
black rhinestones...
scrap of cardboard

OK let's start...
1. stamp the screen stamp on the kraft cardstock with the coffee ink.

2. stamp the saying with black ink

3. stamp the scroll toward the top left, with black

4. assemble the memory frame...I used the chipboard as a backing, since it can't be seen. I kept the ring to the left, so that I could attach the folliage pieces

5. cut the background paper to fit the frame and stamp with coffee ink & the polka dot stamp

6. Using the fillable pen...ink the leaves with any green alcohol ink & use another pen (filled with a blue alcohol ink) to color the flowers.

7. assemble the flower...insert the brad into the washer, small flower, large flower, leaves, game spinner & thru the ring on the memory frame.

Spread the prongs to hold in place.
Add rhinestones on top of the washer

8. Edge the presentation board with the silver paint dabber...
it's simple...and adds a lot...then
Glue the memory frame onto the black presentation board & glue that to the background & insert into the big frame.

9. For the final details, I added some glaze pen dots around the presentation board and a few on top of the memory glass...
and a row of rhinestones on top of the memory glass.


Here's another look...




and another...




I hope you'll take time to play...
try this simple idea and...


as always...


make art!
wendy

hannah's, vintage finds and emily

I hope your weekend was as much fun as mine was...

On Friday I drove to Hannah's in Antioch, Illinois...it's about 3 hours from here...

LUCKY for me...I had plenty of time to SHOP...
OMG...I had NO willpower...
Sorry Rick!
$$$ later (the first number is a 3!)...YIKES!
I found LOTS of cool fun stuff!




See those mini Jenni Bowlin papers?
I think MINI is soooooooo cool and perfect for the small Maya Road albums...
and cards too..


I HAD to have 2 packs of my favorites...
God forbid I ever run out!


After shopping, it worked out for me to set up for my 2 Saturday classes....
then get my art displayed...
PERFECT...less rushing early on Saturday.


The classes were great fun, if I do say so myself!
Lots of new friends...and I got to see some Scrap St. Louis friends again. COOL!

Everyone left looking inky...
and happy & LOADED down with purchases...

There was NO grungepaper left...no blending tools...no replacement pads...


you get the idea...they SHOPPED too!


They liked studio 490 stamps...lots found new homes.

Get ready Ted & Michelle...
Dana has a special order to call in today!


Thanks to everyone @ Hannah's, all the students
and...especially Dana & Jill...
GREAT store...GREAT students & GREAT shopping!

Here's a few of our vintage finds from yesterdays road trip...
Inspiring stuff...


See that old metal toilet paper holder??
Hmmm...it could be a purse handle...
or I might use it in the bath as a towel holder...
Ah...the possibilities!


There are a few more treasures too...but those will be gifts for friends...
so mum is the word until they get them!



And if you are a blog reader...
you've heard me talk about my little friend...
8 year old Emily, from Iowa.

We have become friends & today is her birthday!
Please join me in saying...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to 9 year old EMILY!!
Emily..I hope your day is PERFECT!

I even got invited to her birthday party, which was on Saturday.
I sent her a note to let her know that I couldn't make it, because I was teaching that day...
but that I would send her a box of goodies.

Her reply was that she would like something"homemade".

SO...that request went right to the TOP
of the To-Do list...
PRIORITIES!

Here's Emily's BD card...



The base is a page from the Maya Road 4 inch binder...
the mini alphabet is Maya Road too...
like I said...
I LOVE MINI...ahem...(that explains the new studio 490 stamps...
make mine mini art!!)

It's hung with tim's swivel clasps...yes they are the same color...
the photographer didn't do a good job...
that would be...ME!

That cute daisy? studio 490, stamped on grungepaper...and using my new favorite distress ink...
MUSTARD SEED...
it's much cuter than the label shows!
TRUST ME!

Emily's card should arrive today along with a HUGE box of art supplies...

Enjoy Emily...I'll be waiting to see what you create!

Now...

Time to unpack the stuff from Saturday and repack it for the next stop on this art adventure...

The Stamping Place in Columbia SC!
I can't wait...
Barbara just added on to her store & we'll be playing in a brand new classroom. It sounds AWESOME!

We have 4 fun classes scheduled...the "Build A Better Bird" is one!
Hope you can join us!!

That's the update from here...

Take care and...

make art!
wendy
ps...don't tell Rick that the first number is a 3...
we girls gotta have some secrets! thanks!