inspired to play...

from the moment I first saw Dina Wakeley's work...

I was in awe...

it's so unique & it's just plain inspiring...

it makes me smile...

then there's my counterpart in the UK...

she's the UK senior educator for Ranger...

the REAL LADY DY...

Dyan Reaveley...

I watched her @ CHA...

she just plays...

she sprays journal pages with no idea

(or so she says) of where she's headed...

then she collages "funky" images from magazines

on her journal pages...

I was inspired...

so, I took a break from scheduling & supply ordering...

and inspired by these 2 awesome talents...

I played with tim's newly redone Adirondack color washes...

since this is not my "normal" style...

my first thought was that if they turned out ugly,

I'd trash them & no one would know...

and I'd certainly NOT tell you about them here...ha!

but honestly...

I had a BLAST...

I started by covering 6 x 6 manila cardstock with a dictionary page & went from there...

I like having the option to make backgrounds larger than tag size...

thus the manila cardstock as the base...

same wonderful clay coated material as the tags,

but in a larger size...

I had a very hard time not adding any dimension...

(aka art parts)

but my plan was to just PLAY

and see what cool backgrounds I could create to stamp on...

so I got out tim's color washes & just started spraying...

with no clue how they would turn out...

I used sailboat blue, lettuce,

butterscotch & meadow for these 3 pieces...

mine look nothing like theirs...

which is good...

my idea was to be inspired...

copying is NOT good...

here's the first page...

studio 490 style...

LOVE the stars!

and this just might be a class using my new art parts creative covers with tim's ring binders...

maybe??? still thinking...

on a side note...

...the LUCKY gals in the UK are doing a class with tim TODAY using the creative covers!

I'm thrilled & EXCITED to see their creations...

and this is how I feel...

stressed & NEEDING some retail therapy!

I've said here many times that I LOVE mini...

but...sometimes it's true...

BIGGER is better!

Take for instance Ranger's new MISTER...

I LOVE it because it holds lots of water...

for inky techniques...

the misters are also good for mixing larger quantities of custom colors...

think Perfect Pearls & distress re-inkers...

the bottle is 2 ounces!

if you have the older color washes, you can easily pour them into the new misters...

the color washes are the same...

the new mister is the same as the spray bottle that the color washes come in now...

perfect!

now it's easy to USE up those color washes...

now scroll back & look @ the photos again...

do you see that the color washes look chalky

& not transparent?

I had this *idea*...

I used the new mister filled with water

& added about 1/2 of a snow cap white pigment re-inker...

let me just say this...

FLIPPIN FUN!

by adding this one secret ingredient, you can totally change the effect of the normally transparent color washes...

I see a new addiction coming on...

seriously...

NEWS FLASH...

come back tomorrow...

I have something special planned for you...

I *think* it involves a giveaway...

that's what I *think* anyway...

until then...

make art!

wendy

with LOVE from me to you...

Happy Valentine's DAY to you!!!

I have a little video to show you...

but first some thoughts...

or disclaimers!

it's NOT perfect...

it's not edited...

I'm lucky I figured out this much...

so DON'T LAUGH...

I tried!

I had a big DUH...

the tripod was in my way so I moved it,

which changed the orientation of the screen...

so that explains the skinny size...

DUH...

lesson learned...

here's the completed project...

it features my new art parts heart, hand & mini scallop...

the background is tim's new kraft resist paper...

the letters are his new alpha parts...

the trimmings flower was inked with weathered wood distress stain...

forgot to show that in the video...

another duh...

the film strip ribbon was added to the art parts base with the tiny attacher...

and the video...

I HOPE it works...

otherwise there will be a quick "DELETE POST"...

I hope that you can see how beautiful the weathered wood distress stain looks on art parts...

and how cute the little trimmings flower looks...

Have a GREAT DAY my friends!

CHEERS!

Here's to LOVE...

and

mak(ing) art!

wendy

***EDITED AFTER VIEWING***

YIKES......it's kind of small...

I can make it full screen...

I hope you can too...

if not...I hope you have a magnifying glass!

next time will be better...

I HOPE!

idea-ology print tray...

grab a beverage...

this could be a long post...

this was my most favorite CHA project...

ever...

OK...@ least for today...

I LOVE it because it's LOADED with my art parts & LOTS of idea-ology goodness...

both new & current...

I started by misting the outside of the print tray with espresso color wash...

& then spread the color around with a piece of cut N dry foam...

then I edged each little compartment with the gold paint dabber and lined each compartment with tim's papers...

some are from the lost & found paper stash...

and some are the new (YUMMY) crowded attic stash...

here's a look @ the whole print tray...

ink & make 490 art...

the letters are tim's cool grunge blocks...

LOVE LOVE LOVE them!

starting @ the top left...

I distressed tim's new plaquette with coffee archival ink to make it look really old...

it's attached to an art parts scallop...

sized to fit configurations...

(I did 3 new sizes, so there's something to fit the current configurations...PERFECTLY....)

the ink bottles are art parts with coordinating stamps...

and this one too...

the mini flower is a new art part & I used just half of the scroll/leaf art part...

tim's mini star is stamped on a

cutout from the spools package...

#55 was inked with jet black archival to easily change the color of the number...

the "make" compartment houses a new nib...

and the bottom right is my FAVORITE accoutrement button layered over a new one...

I flippin LOVE the art parts pocket watch...

and I have an idea that's brewin...

can't wait to try it...

the pocket watch is painted with the gold dabber & accented with jet black & coffee archival to tone it down a bit...

the inside is a perfect fit for a 2 inch circle punch...

so I stamped my new medicine label on a scrap & punched it out...

I stamped the flower (using the gold dabber) onto Clearly For Art BLACKOUT...

and layered it with some foliage...

the hanger clip is just soooo stinkin cute...

the photo is a mini from the lost & found paper pad...

new stuff in the photo below...

the moth is cut from tim's crowded attic paper...

the "m" is an alpha part...

the numbers inside the corked vial are cut from a calendar in the lost & found papers...

the nib made a good butterfly body...

the butterfly is stamped on BLACKOUT...

the "art" compartment is supposed to look like an envelope...

I cut a piece of felt to look like a flap & added an accoutrement button for the closure...

the mini truck is an art part with a coordinating stamp...

here's the other half of the art parts scroll/leaf...

the light bulbs are sooo fun to hang...

the new art parts scallop corner makes a good roof...

in addition to a corner...

the fractured doll is adorable...

this is the mini one...

proprietor is from the medicine label stamp...

it's stamped on a section of the straight flower stem...

I LOVE the mini art parts hand...

it's stamped with the mini "OPEN" stamp...

I made a bracelet with the ball chain...

more art parts scallops...

a new art parts heart...

and part of an art part residence...

oh...and here's the large art parts truck with coordinating stamp...

and a closer shot of the large truck...

this time I accented the truck with some hitch fasteners...

a snap & added a mini face peeking out the window...

"contents" is a portion of this stamp...

the corner was a good fit...

here's the new heart...

a residence...

the larger fractured doll...

I dyed tim's trimmings with espresso color wash & a bit of heirloom gold Perfect Pearls mist...

dried it...

and then stamped on it with jet black archival...

the hanger clip fit perfectly on the hitch fastener...

"h" is an alpha part...

after each compartment was complete, I glued them right to the tray...

everything was glued with either Glossy Accents or Claudine's multi medium...

it's large...about 12 x 16...

I think it's a great project, even if you only have small increments of time to create...

oops...make art...

just complete a mini collage in each compartment

& before you know it...

it will be complete & ready to hang...

I have to say that making the tray was so much fun...

I really was sad when it was finished...

can't wait to get it back & hang it in my studio...

and speaking of studio...

what's in the box?

oh...the brand new distress stains...

because I'm storing them in the box upright, I added little color swatches to make it easier to grab the right color...

I just dabbed each stain on a manila tag, punched out a 1/2 inch circle & glued it to the lid...

they are in the box...

for easy access, right on my workspace,

because I WILL be using these guys every day!

for sure...

I totally LOVE them...

and...

GET THIS!!!

they have shipped & are in stock...here!

yippee...

THANKS to Ranger for getting them shipped out so quickly...

they're awesome!

next...

Simon Says filmed a video about my "Clearly for ART" products...

here's the link...

I tease Rick because he talks with his hands...

ALL THE TIME...

after watching this video...

I think it's best to not tease him anymore...

just saying...

tie my hands & I probably can't speak either...

AND...

if you happen to be in the Clearwater, Florida area

on Saturday...

pop over to STAMPFEST...

visit with Ted...

watch him demo...

be entertained...

see the AWESOMELY COOL

BEAUTIFUL BRAND NEW BOOTH...

here's the scoop...

Ok...

I think I covered everything...

I wish you a WARM wonderful weekend...

may you be inspired to...

make art!

wendy

ps...I better make a valentine for my sweetie...

boxed & READY...***SOLD OUT***

15 giant priority boxes are stuffed & ready for new homes...

each has approximately 100 sheets of paper...

LOTS of random goodies...

several bags stuffed with alphabets, frames, numbers & MORE...

surprises...

Each box is $40.00 plus shipping...

Rick took 2 to the PO yesterday to determine the shipping fee...

these are HEAVY...

even heavier than we thought...

YIKES...

like 8 pounds...

so, USA shipping with delivery confirmation is $19.65

that makes the total $59.65 each box...

If you NEED one

& promise to give it a good home

& USE the contents...

to make art...

email me @ wbv1213@me.com

I will send you a PayPal request

for the total which is $59.65

THANKS!!!

THESE ARE ALL SOLD...& they will ship TODAY!

I've had lots of requests for more photos of the CHA sample using tim's new configurations print box...

I'll be back tomorrow with some close-up shots for you...

until then...

make art!

wendy

make art & MORE...

good morning from FRIGID Illinois...

where we are counting the days 'til we see some green grass...

I wanted to share the cover of my new book...

it's #4...

this book contains 12 projects with complete instructions, supply lists & step out photos...

the first few pages have been all rewritten & updated with new hints & tips for...

making art...

I'm expecting it to ship in approximately 6 to 8 weeks...

they are SWAMPED with orders in Cleveland...

which is a good thing!

the stamps will ship first, then art parts, then the book last...

I will let you know here when it's available...

anyway, the cake stand & mini book featured on the cover are both projects from the book...

the mini (2 1/2 x 2 1/2) book has grungepaper pages...

it was sooo fun...

and speaking of books...

this leads right into another CHA creation...

this time it's the large creative cover journal...

I started by covering the outside of the covers with tim's kraft resist paper...

the new art parts scroll/leaves was misted with meadow color wash...

and then stamped with that medicine bottle stamp...

how flipping cool are those new grunge blocks?

they are so much fun...

and when I put them together...

there just happened to be the perfect place for the new pen nib...

which (if you look closely) says...

JOURNAL!

perfect!

the journal was assembled with tim's ring binder...

the large size...

now here's a little shopping tip...

to jazz up the inside covers, I misted over tim's new alpha parts with meadow color wash...

here comes the tip...

get one to use just as a stencil...

it's simple to run it under the faucet to rinse off the color wash...

it can be used a million times...

so... keep one whole...

and get a second one, to actually USE the letters...

here's the other font style...

BTW...

the adhesive on the letters is awesome...

here's a page from the inside...

LOVE my new giant tree stamp...

and the saying too...

there's that paint brush again...

I LOVE it with just a dab of crackle paint...

the art parts large scallop trim

is a good fit for the large creative cover...

it fits in either book orientation...

now I'm off to the studio...

time for...

spring cleaning!

I have way tooooo much stuff, like brand new discontinued products...

products that I used for classes, but don't have enough of now for more classes...

and lots of good arty STUFF...

I'm assembling 15 boxes of STUFF...

it's time to make room here for new STUFF...

so some things NEED to find new homes...

it's either THAT...

or we add onto the studio, which did not please Rick...

I got 15 giant 13 x 13 flat rate boxes from the PO & I'm loading them up with 12 x 12 papers...

LOTS of chipboard...

alphabets...

numbers...

and some cool STUFF...

and more...

then, when they are stuffed to the gills,

I'll be offering them here...

(US shipping only, since they are so heavy)

stay tuned...

have a good day...

stay warm...

make art!

wendy

art & shopping...

the perfect combo!

BEWARE...

I am posting links to help you SHOP!

it's my duty...

hey...what are friends for?

Ok...

it killed me go give this to Ted & Michelle for a booth sample,

especially since I realized that I didn't take photos when it was completed...

duh...

in a hurry I guess...

I am IN LOVE with the new art parts creative covers, because they are so versatile...

they can be covered with paper, painted, inked, color washed, distress stained, tissue taped or inked and stamped...

and speaking of stamps...

tim's sized these for a PERFECT FIT for both the large & small creative covers...

below is the small creative cover, adorned with some fun art parts...

I'm thrilled with how some art parts have coordinating stamps...

like these ink bottles...

the outsides are covered with tim's yummy new kraft resist,

then misted with color washes...

the mini butterfly was stamped with the gold dabber onto "clearly for art BLACKOUT"...

the flower is an art part...

as is the scallop...

"evidence of art" seemed a good title for this project...

the paint brush was stamped on grungeboard & cut out...

and don't miss tim's new cute nib...

here's what it looks like when opened...

you can see Claudine's sticky back canvas holds it all together...

grrr...the back cover wasn't complete here...

the dress form was fun...

on the spine I used tim's new alpha parts...

it says...I STAMP!

the letters are mounted on the insert from the new art parts mini frame...

and here's the inside, so you can see how easy it is to assemble...

tim's ring binder is held onto the art parts spine with fasteners...

again, I used the kraft resist for inside the covers & misted them with butterscotch, denim, sailboat blue & meadow color washes...

this shows how the kraft resist really does...

RESIST...

one more thing about the creative covers...

they aren't only for books...

since they don't have holes, they make a great solid surface for the base of projects too...

I like the large size...

tim made a cool project for CHA with the large cover & his ring binder...

I hope he'll post a photo to show you...

I made sure to size the new art parts to fit with our current pieces...

the new heart is on the small square art parts frame...

YIKES...

I REALLY am addicted to the kraft resist...

used it here too...

but this time I inked it with the new distress stains...

the red is fired brick...

the blue is weathered wood...

forest moss was used to ink the frame, after I clear embossed it, with my polka dot background stamp...

the wings were die cut from grungeboard...

& inked with weathered wood distress stain...

the flower is stamped on Blackout...

I used tim's new drill punch to put a hole in the new nib, so I could hang it from a hitch fastener...

it works like a dream...

with love...

alpha parts too...

and @ the top of my new art parts favorite list...

the residences...

there are 3 sizes in the set with lots of mix & match possibilities...

the base for this piece is from the large art parts square frame...

these pieces were all inked with the new distress stains...

this time I used wild honey, walnut stain, weathered wood and forest moss...

the flower is an art part & it has a coordinating stamp...

makes it easy to stamp an extra flower on grungepaper to add some dimension...

it you look @ the bottom of the smaller house...

"proprietor" is from my most favorite medicine bottle stamp...

it's stamped on a straight flower stem, cut down to fit the house...

LOTS of new stamps on this guy...

the roof is this background...

the green house is this one...

art is here...

and the flower...(it was changed from the one on the top right to this style..

I liked it better!)

the little arrow is cut from this arrow border...

here's my shopping strategy...

I'm doing separate orders...

stamps & items shipping in February on one order, so I don't have to wait...

March items with March...

that way there will be something NOW & something coming soon...

I like that...

my stamps are done & shipping to those who ordered first...

art parts are scheduled to ship @ the end of Feb...

beginning of March...

again...

store owners who ordered first, get their orders shipped first...

phew...

after looking @ all these new things...

I think I'll run to the studio to...

make art!

wendy

ps...I hope the hubbies don't hate me...

home & oh so very happy!

phew...seems like I've been gone for a month!

I finally got home from beautiful sunny WARM LA last evening.

LA is where they actually have sun, green grass & even a few flowers...

amazing to say the least...

I can't remember the last time we saw those things in Illinois...

I had a one day delay getting back

thanks to mother nature's little white gift to us...

Chicago really got nailed...

so I went from a wonderful 65 degrees

to a frigid MINUS 12, all within a 4 hour plane ride...

thrilling...

NSM...

but...even if the temp is brutal,

there's no place like HOME...

and sleeping in your own bed...

I had a blast @ CHA...

a total flipping blast...

don't get me wrong...

it's LOTS of work, but it's a buzz beyond words...

the atmosphere is exciting...

the products & displays are amazing...

there is inspiration around every corner...

it's so fun to reconnect with friends from all over the world...

I find it amazing that art changes strangers to friends...

I was THRILLED to see all my products displayed & SOLD in the Ranger booth...

YIPPEE!~!

Product Performer's picked up my stamp line...

so did Notions...

Yippee...

I'll be back with Stampers Anonymous

booth photos & more later...

one of the first highlights of CHA was to be included in this amazing group...

together we taught a Ranger workshop to 80 smiling faces...

(photo stolen from tim's blog)

we each used the same 6 x 6 chunky canvas as our base & then focused on a specific line of Ranger products...

I was assigned the Adirondacks...

each person had 30 minutes to teach the complete project!

YIKES...

it went off PERFECTLY...

and we got LOTS of wonderful comments every day...

and it was so much fun!

from the Adirondack line we used the color washes, pigment inks, metallic mixative & alcohol inks to create this...

what I want you to see in the photo below is the GIANT bag of goodies that each participant received,

compliments of Ranger...

they also got stamps

donated by Ted & Michelle from Stampers Anonymous...

take a look @ all the goodies in the lower right corner...

(another stolen photo...)

where to start???

ok...

I've gotten so many questions about tim's new distress stains that I think I'll start there...

some of the questions are...

do they replace the distress pads?

do you like them?

why do I need them?

are they like a re-inker in another form?

here's my thoughts...

I seriously LOVE them...

and NEED the other 24 colors...

the HUGE benefit is that they quickly & easily lay down the base color on a large area...

you can ink a 12 x 12 in less than a minute...

think about how long that takes with the blending tool...

they DO NOT replace the distress pads...

you use the stains to lay down the base color & then go back & add the shading, blending & distress with the blending tool & the distress ink pads...

so, instead of rubbing & rubbing...

the stains make it so quick & very easy...

they react just the same as distress inks...

because they ARE distress inks...

so all the distress techniques work well...

for those who have taken my classes, those mini book pages can now be colored quickly...

instead of spending an hour getting all the pages inked,

I bet we cut it down to 15 minutes...

and that will include going back to add the distress & shading...

they are absolutely AMAZING...

they are awesome on paper, cardstock, ART PARTS, grungeboard & grungepaper...

and one of my favorite uses...

tim's new kraft resist...

OMG...serious LOVE...

kraft resist is kraft paper, printed in black,

with some clear embossed designs over it...

the distress stains are one of those TRUST ME products...

you will love them!

here are a few fun CHA projects...

I'll be back later with more info...

so just a few little comments about each...

one of my most favorite new art parts is the pocket watch...

the art parts frame was inked with weathered wood distress stain...

the mini flower is Clearly for Art...the NEW blackout...

my medicine box was stamped on kraft resist & inked with broken china distress stain...

love tim's new pen nib...

this next piece was really fun...

the red is fired brick distress stain over tim's kraft resist...

the blue is broken china, again over kraft resist...

and the green is peeled paint over kraft resist...

and it's all glued onto...

art parts...

using the kraft resist made me want to clear emboss my art parts scallop...

& then ink it with the peeled paint distress stain...

now this was a blast...

tim sent out 2 of his new print trays & I was lucky to get one...

it's LOADED with idea-ology goodness and art parts...

you'll see that many of the new art parts were sized to fit configurations...

this guy took me 3 days & I was actually sad when it was finished...

can't wait to do another...

I used the gold dabber to edge the pieces & then glued the individual pieces in place, after they were completed...

I LOVE the plaquette...

LOVE the fractured dolls...

LOVE the face hiding in the corked vial...

the hanger clips are so stinkin cute...

as are the mini light bulbs...

LOTS to look @ here...

ok...

on to the fun stuff...

unpacking & laundry...

yuck...

have a great weekend...

take time...

make art!

wendy

SHOPPING ALERT!!!

use discount code...

luvu2

for $5.00 off any order @ simon says...

and...

ePaperie has a package deal on the stains.