the Q & A continues...

PHEW...
We got MORE questions...

Hi Wendy...love, love, love your binder covers! On the second one, is the center of the flower on the lower right side a wooden button? It looks very interesting!

I took a closeup to show it better.
It's a vintage game piece...maybe an old checker??
ANYTHING can be a flower part!



NEXT QUESTION...

I LOVED the binder ideas and the helpful tips. I see the number vol 2 & the 3 is hidden in the flower, but I can not find the 1 on the first. IS it hiddeen for a reason?

You guys are too observant. There is no number 1 on the first binder, because if the stamps didn't sell, there wouldn't have been more releases.
I guess I didn't want to jinx myself! ha!


And I found this yesterday, while looking in my photos...
Another cool acrylic binder.

This one is made by Timi Taylor, one of the owners of For Keeps Sake, in St. Louis.

Pretty cool, huh?



And speaking of For Keeps Sake...

just a reminder...
they have a FUN weekend planned for you...Sept. 26 & 27th.

Ted is driving from Cleveland with a TRUCKLOAD of stamps...

For as many stamps as I have...
I still get excited to see so many in one place...

NUTS...I know...but I REALLY do LOVE stamps!

I'll be there on Saturday for a book signing @ noon & then a workshop for 40...
THANK YOU!
The workshop is sold out, but you can come & SHOP for stamps!
I'm excited!

NEXT question...

These are all FABULOUS! I know you stated it somewhere, but how much is your book again? I'll have to save some $$ for it.

it's $14.95 and priority shipping with tracking in the US is $5.00
International shipping is $10-$12...depending on the destination.
Payment is thru PayPal.

NEXT...

have you done roses in any other color besides blue? i'm thinking about red or maybe orange?

Here's 2 I did using Jenni Bowlin's mini papers...
for a different look...

I LOVE the mini papers because the patterns are small & PERFECT for making flowers.
The paper is adhered to grungepaper.

I have done red(fired brick distress ink) and marmalade roses too...

I think I forgot to take photos before sending them out...but I did like how both colors turned out.

Next ...this is from a cruiser...

ok, i know you won't tell us about the classes but tell me what will be for sale in the ship store...pleeeeeeeeeeese...

NOPE! My lips are sealed...We want you to be surprised.

I'll be surprised too...since I still don't have my stuff decided yet!

It's on that giant TO-DO list I mentioned yesterday...YIKES!

While I work on that list...

I hope you go...
and...

make art!
wendy

9/9/09

The title has NOTHING to do with this post...

I just thought it would be fun to type...9/9/09...
a once in a lifetime event!

Actually...maybe it does...

There are about 999 things on the TO-DO list...

I'm not complaining...it keeps me off the streets & out of the stores...

I have no time to SHOP!

Which explains why you've not seen any new shoes lately!

More Q & A...

You answered a question about the floral wire and wrap with the following: "Cloth covered wire is perfect. I have it in both green & brown. It's available @ JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby & Michaels (in the floral section)...but I've only found the brown @ JoAnn's in our area."Ok - what's "our area"?? Are your stamp sets sold in Joann's? I've never seen any of the good stuff in our Joann's!!!! Sorry, Joann......no offense!

NOPE...my stamps are NOT sold in JoAnn's.

They're only available thru your LSS, on line @ eclecticPaperie & other on line stores or directly from Stampers Anonymous. If you're lucky enough to have access to a convention featuring Stampers Anonymous, Ted has them there too.

"OUR area" is Oglesby, Illinois...we're about 100 miles south & west of Chicago...there's NOTHING cool here...

It's BORING!

MY LSS is 75 miles away...ONE WAY!

I'm happy to drive there SATURDAY to see my friends, do a book signing & teach a FULL grunge workshop! YIPPEE!

NEXT...

Just found your blog. How long does it take you to do a project? It takes me forever and they dont compare to yours.

I'm VERY slow, which is not a good thing when you have a 999 item TO-DO list.

It's rare that I can get a project done quickly.

A really detailed mini book... for example...

a Maya Road CHA project, can take me all week...like 25-30 hours, to get it to the point where I'm satisfied.

Even a simple card can take me several hours.

Next question...

p.s. My book came yesterday!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it! And one of the best things that I love is the stamp index - that is cool! Are there binders to fit Studio 490 stamps and the book? I'm missing them if so...

The answer is simple...You can't find it, because...

I FORGOT to include them in the book.

GEEZ!!!!

BIG...DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that the book is arriving...I got this question like 8 times...

I TOTALLY overlooked it...

YIKES!! SO SORRY!

ANYWAY...

The acrylic storage binders are available here , LSS's and directly thru Stampers Anonymous, click on Accessories & then the category is...STORAGE.

Next...

hello...I picked up my binder @ the convention ...now what?
do you have any tips for me?

where do I start so the glue goesn't show?

*

Here's what works for me...

*

I'll choose the paper I want to use, cut it to the size I want & lay it under the front cover....but NOT use any adhesive yet.

Then...I'll embellish the front and adhere everything onto the front.

*

Then, turn the cover over & you can see exactly where to place the adhesive to hide it.

Any place that has an embellishment will get some adhesive, to hold the paper in place.

*

Depending on the paper you choose, you may want to glue 2 papers together & then cut them for a perfect fit, if your paper isn't double sided.

*

It's fun to stitch them together too, like I did on this first one.

On the binder below...I also stamped the cover.

I used jet black archival & heat set it.

*

It's been shipped all over the country & it's held up very well.

Depending on the stamp you choose, you could also stamp INSIDE the cover to protect it even more.

*

But remember...

*

word stamps will be backwards...if stamped inside the cover...

designs work better.

This paper is from K & Co.

The embellishments are made from grungeboard & grungepaper.

This next binder holds my second stamp release...

I pieced lots of different graphic 45 papers together...

I wanted a quilt like look...

The ink colors are peeled paint, brushed corduroy, vintage photo and mustard seed... with a little bit of one of the browns over it.

The large scroll is grungeboard from this set.

And the newest 7 sets are stored in this last binder...

I mixed some Jenni Bowlin & graphic 45 papers...

The ink colors are brushed corduroy and broken china.

The flowers are all grungepaper.

The scroll is grungeboard, already die cut.

If you have the binders...I hope this info helps.

*

SHOW us what yours look like!
We'd LOVE to see them!

Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments & emails about my book.

You have made us VERY HAPPY!

From the bottom of my heart...

a HUGE...

THANK YOU!

Now...

go...

make art!

wendy

ps...keep those comments coming...

we'll give away a book...sometime...randomly!

studio 490 sightings, the Q&A continues and...

Let's jump right in to the questions...

Are you still answering questions?
I would love to know if you're going to do a tute on grunge flowers? The are so beautiful

and...

I REALLY NEED TO MAKE SOME ROSES FOR A WEDDING...HELP!

Here's the recent rose tutorial...have FUN!
Be warned...they are ADDICTING!

The next...
Do you ever get blocked? If so, how do you get unblocked. (If you don't get blocked, could you just lie to make the rest of us feel better?)

That was funny!
I don't have to lie! Believe me... I do have brain dead days.
I HATE it and it's inconvenient...but there's no forcing art.

So...I have to completely walk away...
For inspiration...the internet is LOADED with cool stuff...

NEVER COPY...just be inspired. (That's my lecture for the day!)

Visiting flea markets and antique malls is very inspiring for me.
I like old rusty stuff...

WHY it works? I really don't know...but it usually does.

Next question...

My question: Will you have projects for the fall season using sticky back canvas? I just got some and am dying to find a "Halloween or Fall" themed project to use it on!

I am swamped with stuff on the TO-DO list right now, so there won't be a formal tutorial...HOWEVER...
this could easily be adapted to Claudine's canvas...

Stamp the butterfly & flower (pumpkin) onto canvas & proceed from there...


NEXT...
"make art" seems to be your signature. it's so simple. where did you get the idea?

YIKES! I was hoping this wouldn't come up.
It' s embarrassing...But since you're blog friends...

The first time I was asked to sign something I was SHOCKED.

ME? REALLY????????

and...she wanted me to sign a cool Tim apron, which made it even worse.

In 3 seconds my thoughts were...

*I hope she's sure...

*your handwriting sucks

*if you ruin this you'll be upset

*if you ruin it SHE'LL be REALLY upset...and it will be all over the net that YOU ruined her apron. God forbid!

So...I thought...

write something short...VERY SHORT and there's less chance of UGLY. I've always liked the word ART...that's one stamp I collect...if it has ART on it, I'll buy it!

So, I wrote "make art" & signed my name...and didn't ruin her apron. YIPPEE!
I thought about it on the way home...liked it, because that's what I do...so it kind of stuck.

Phew...I'm glad that's DONE! Embarrassing...

More Q&A tomorrow...you guys sent a huge list! THANKS!

My blog hopping time is VERY limited these days...

I have LOTS to get done...

I have workshops the next 3 weekends (YIPPEE...I LOVE them) and...

We're in FULL CRUISE MODE!!!

We're working hard...getting stuff done and organized...and believe me...

Tim & I are over the top excited and counting the sleeps!

So...I was happy to get some emails directing me to some
studio 490 sightings...thanks to my ROVING REPORTER!

This is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's my acrylic storage binder...MAGNIFICENTLY done and LOADED with my stamps.

The artist is Linda Elbourne...

Lucky for Linda, that I can't drive over to the UK & swipe this beauty.

I LOVE IT!!! Love the colors...love the design.

THANKS Linda!!



And this wonderful tag is made by HELS...

I thought using the mini flower for a wing on the bird was pure...GENIUS. Or, as they say in the UK... simply BRILLIANT!

This has great colors...& I LOVE the stamp choices!
Thanks Hels!




Now about that GIVEAWAY...

Ok...I entered the numbers...Random.org chose # 30...
Is it you?

Here's the comment...


Tona said...


I too enjoy reading the Q & A's. You have a great sense of humor. Thanks for the chance at a great give away. I got my book yesterday. I've been crazy busy so I only had a chance to glance at it so far but I can already tell that it's wonderful. Without a doubt I will be buying book #2 when it comes out.
September 4, 2009 11:29 AM



CONGRATS TONA!!!


Send me your address & I'll get your goodies in the mail.


I hope you'll use them...MAKE some ART...and show us what you made! I'll be happy to post it here.



Thank YOU... to everyone who took time to comment...



I have another book to give away...


WHEN?

It just might be to a random commenter...you just never know...


comments are good...get it?

Time to...
make art!
wendy

5 more questions...and the GIVEAWAY starts

So...you like this Q & A thing, I see...
ME TOO!
It makes my blogging easy...THANKS!

OK...first one...
Anyway, I do have a question today. What color of distress ink was used on the flower in your very cool antique film frame?

I used my new fav distress ink..brushed corduroy for the flower in the previous post.
In the past I used vintage photo on everything...
but the last month or 2 brushed corduroy is in first place...

HOWEVER...
I REALLY love vintage photo with the faded jeans distress ink.
Try combining them for a background.
They make an awesome custom (teal-ish)color!

#2...these comments are funny...
I love when you answer questions!! The answers are always a hoot!
and...
Hilarious post... maybe Jay Leno needs you on his new show!

Here's what Rick said...
DON'T give up your day job!!

Thanks for the laughs!

#3...
Can you stack 3 tool holders or only 2?

You sure can stack 3 craft spinners & have all 24 blending tools out & READY for action.

#4...
i got my book today!!!!!!!!!!!!! love it lots!!! can't wait 'til Sunday...my day off. are you really doing another already or was that another teaser? i'm never sure with you.

THANKS SO MUCH!! We are beyond thrilled with how well it's been received.

Book #2 is a FOR SURE...
It will be ready for CHA this winter...
so that's LATE JANUARY-ish.

THANKS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for all the wonderful emails & comments.
Like I said...we're very happy!


#5...
What do you use for stems that will be free standing. I want to make a flower for my friend's vase in her VW Beetle.

Cloth covered wire is perfect. I have it in both green & brown. It's available @ JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby & Michaels
(in the floral section)...but I've only found the brown @ JoAnn's in our area.

It comes in several different gauges...large flowers need the heavier wire and mini flowers can use the lighter weight.

OK...Let the GIVEAWAY BEGIN!

To celebrate the LONG holiday weekend...
AND to let you know...

I'm THANKFUL for all of YOU...

These cool NEW products need a new home...
NEW distress stickles...
Hmmm...is that the new Rock candy Crackle paint?


How about some memory frames & capsules?




And you'll need something to put those stickles ON...
so how about this BRAND NEW scallop oval coaster set, from Maya Road...

You can see MORE BRAND NEW Maya Road here...
just scroll down toward the bottom...



We'll make this simple...

No LABOR involved...

Just leave a comment...that's your ticket to win...

you have until 7am CST on TUESDAY...

@ 7am on Tuesday, Random.org will draw the winner and I'll post the winner after that.

Have a GREAT LONG holiday weekend...
Enjoy your family & friends, and take time to...

make art!
wendy
ps...GOOD LUCK!

more Q & A...comments & GIVEAWAY peek

Ok...more questions...
MORE answers...

Hi Wendy,
If you have no plans for the UK do you have any at all to visit Australia? Would love to see you live!!!Regards

NOPE...as enticing as it is...I can't imagine being trapped in a plane for that many hours. I'd need general anesthesia or I might bail out!
How about this?
YOU come here!! That sounds good to me...REAL good!

NEXT...

Hey...help...PLEASE
I don't have time to look thru your blog again...can you tell me quickly...can I heat dry stickles or not?

YES...you CAN use the heat tool on the DISTRESS STICKLES to speed up the drying time. And a little tip...a little of the Distress Stickles goes a long way. I squirt a little on the spot & tap it with my finger to spread it. Tim also recommends using the tip of the Stickles to spread it around. That works really well for small areas.

NEXT...

Do you have any real hobbies?

You bet... I MAKE ART! and if I'm not doing that...we LOVE to hunt for vintage finds...cool rusty old junk. (see below)

and..

another fun thing for me is organizing my supplies. Finding the perfect fit for a drawer makes me ecstatic. I LOVE containers...

and this made me laugh...

good god woman...think you have enough ink?

Actually as a friend pointed out...I AM a product whore! And just an FYI...

that's only the distress reinkers drawer...there's a whole drawer FULL of pigment reinkers!

and another laugh...

really...tell me what we're making on the cruise. i won't tell a soul...

I think I've answered this several times...NO WAY!!! SUFFER!! it's not that far away!!

Like less than 40 sleeps....

you'll survive...and we'll have a BLAST!

and the last for today...

your work is amazing. I can't seem to get ideas on my own...does the art just flow out of you? you make it look so easy.

NO WAY.........believe me there are days that I refer to as being BRAIN DEAD. I'll look @ the supplies & have absolutely NO clue what they could be used for, or why I bought them. And some days are REALLY good...

REALLY good.

On the BRAIN DEAD days...I just have to walk away. Art can't be forced...that's my opinion anyway...

And speaking of vintage finds...

This frame is an antique film holder...
I about fainted when I saw them...
already BLACK...
already distressed...
skinny little odd sized opening...just over an inch!
PERFECT for art!

This was the REALLY good day I mentioned above...

The minute I saw it, I KNEW the mini alphas would fit perfectly in the opening. I had the piece in my head on the drive home...

Normally, I'm sooooo slow making a piece, but this thing got completed in an hour. That's RARE for me.


One more thing...

I think we should celebrate the labor day holiday with a little giveaway...AGREE?

Here's a peek of what's going to a new home...

NEW DISTRESS STICKLES & more...
metallics..picket fence...rock candy...
be still my heart!



GIVEAWAY details here tomorrow...

Hey...who doesn't NEED FREE stuff to...

make art!
wendy
ps...see you TOMORROW!

Christmas & questions...

Hey...it's September already!
Want to get an early start on holiday gifts?

Scrapbook Friend'z in Bloomington Illinois is doing their traditional Christmas workshop weekends on Oct 31-Nov 1st and Nov 7 & 8th. So ...save the date!

Both weekends are loaded with fun classes and feature holiday decor or gift items you can make and give.

Here's a little peek of my DECOR item...
It features...

the brand new yummy...graphic 45 Christmas papers

studio 490 stamps (imagine that!)

grungepaper

new Maya Road mini snowflakes , mini scroll and mini alphas

rock candy distress stickles
and plenty of distress inks too.

Hope to see you there...


On to the questions...and the answers...

Hi Wendy
I am new to your blog. I have a simple question. i love all the tags that you, Tim and others do but can I ask what do you do with them.... do you send them as cards, use them on gifts... just wondering.

Tags are great for demoes and more.
The surface is PERFECT for inks & trying new techniques.

Cut the top off, layer it on cardstock & it's a quick card front...
or...

Stamp or write your sentiment on the back & it's a unique card. Who says a card has to open?

Need a quick gift tag? Tags are perfect.
It's the card & tag all in one.

If you looked @ the Ranger video I posted yesterday, I show making 2 tags with the same technique & the same colors.

Use one for the tag & the second
can be stamped & cut to make coordinating embellishments.

Plus...it's just plain fun to put them on a ring & flip thru them if you need inspiration.

Next...
Can I ask where you found the jenni bowlin papers you used on that skinny book? I can only find her large papers...

I think this is the Maya Road book you're talking about.

The 4 x 4 Jenni Bowlin papers that I used are here.
They also stock several other colors & styles...all mini and absolutely...ADORABLE!


Will your book be sold @ Barnes & Noble?

NOPE...Here's why...
it's not actually published...
instead it's PRINTED by Stampers Anonymous.

So... it's available here on the blog, eclecticPaperie, your LSS or directly from the Stampers Anonymous site or @ their booth @ conventions.

I saw you do a flower in a reinker bottle. Where do you get the reinkers bottles?from Ranger?



Nope...
I get them from the reinker drawer...see below. ha!

Yep, I have lots...and now I figured out they make adorable vases. so I save the empties.

Ranger does not sell them empty. SORRY.

Next...
I saw a photo of your workroom & it looks like you have a double tier holder form the ink applicators. Do I need special parts to attach 2 together?

Here's a look @ mine.
2 craft spinners can be stacked together to store 16 blending tools in a very small space. I LOVE IT!

No special parts are needed...here's how it fits.
The base is actually green when you buy it...
but black spray paint does wonders!



and...
Did that heat gun ever get made again? I keep asking you. so sorry...

YES & YIPPEE...

Ranger has the heat-it tools back!

It's even quieter & hotter than the original.
I can't live without it!

If you like to emboss, it's great because it doesn't blow the embossing powder off your project.

last one...

Wendy, I just love your art - I am hooked and can't wait till your book arrives (I've pre-ordered it here in the UK from The Stamp Attic wo led me to you!) Do you have any plans to come over here?

I am working on my schedule for next year, but no plans for the UK...SORRY.

Any more question? Ask away...that's what I'm here for...

Here it comes!

make art!

wendy

new Ranger pigments & pearls video!

Last month I posted a 3 part tutorial on a new background technique called pigments & pearls.

Ranger's pigment inks are opaque...and great for stamping or covering chipboard.

This technique uses the pigment inks in a new way and combines them with the shimmery Perfect Pearls.

Here are the original blog posts.

Part 1
Part 2
and Part 3

Here's the YIPPEE part...

I made a video for Ranger @ CHA in July & it's the featured video on the Ranger site for the month of September!
YIPPEE!

You can see the video here on the Ranger site...
or on You-tube here...

Thanks to my RANGER family!!! You guys are GREAT!

Thanks to my CHA roomie...Paper Patti...
she is the video-er? She video-ed me...whatever?
Videographer? yep...that's better.

And since every post needs a photo...

here's the pigments & pearls technique ...
it's the background on this tag.



a closer look...



I'll be back tomorrow with a CHRISTMAS workshop peek...

WHAT?

Hey...it's 45 degrees here...
I'm wearing sweats & I'm IN holiday mode!

Take a few minutes...
Get out your pigment inks and perfect pearls and...

make art!
wendy