Clearly for Art tutorial...

let's start today with the winner of the final stamp set...

congrats to...

whity631 Mon Aug 08 18:31:54 UTC 2011

What A fab set! I love quote stamps and these ate must haves!

please email your shipping info to

wbv1213@me.com

ok...

boo hoo...I have no more stamps to give away...

but I do have a little tutorial for ALL of you instead...

I *mentioned* that you might need a hemostat in the near future...

here's why...

this is from a project in my new book...

I show you how to make sturdy flower centers with Clearly For Art Blackout...

if you want to play along...

★cut BLACKOUT to 1 inch x 1 1/4 inches, then cut to fringe as shown in the photo, making the cuts about 1/8th of an inch apart

★use the hemostat to hold the Blackout on the far right edge & heat the Blackout at the base. when warm, wind around the hemostat as tightly as possible.

★use the hemostat to hold the rounded base & heat the fringed area. when softened, shape to create the flower center as shown in the photo.

***remember that CFA can be reheated & reshaped as needed***

if you don't like the result...heat it & reshape it again...

my first try was UGLY!

DO NOT TRY THIS without a hemostat...

you WILL BURN your fingers...

the piece you are working with is small...

also keep in mind that heated metal gets VERY HOT...

so please be careful...

the hemostat is key & makes it very easy & safe...

it should look like this...

★make a hole in the Blackout flower large enough to accommodate the flower center

★trim off excess flower center to the desired height, leaving it long enough to be pushed into the art parts flower...

and here's what it looks like in another project...

I used the larger hole maker on the CropADile to make the hole in the art parts flower...

this will work with any of the CFA colors...

you can use tim's alcohol inks to color the CFA Whiteout or the clear CFA...

you can stamp on the CFA first, with Ranger's archival ink...

cut the tips more pointy...

cut them on an angle...

cut them any length you need...

there are LOTS of possibilities...

and the best part is that this is a strong,

very sturdy flower center that won't get smashed or squished!

try it! let me know how you liked it!

I'm expecting some good news this week that I *think* will make you happy...

please stay tuned...

I'll be back when I KNOW FOR SURE!

until then...

it's back to KIT CENTRAL for me...

I hope YOU can...

make art!

wendy

PS>>> I HAVE NOT heard from the winner I announced yesterday...

for the arts...

hello & happy Monday!

today I have the final new studio 490 stamp set to give away...

this one is called...

for the arts...

the gentleman reading the paper has a coordinating art part...

I love the footprints as a border & it works vertically or horizontally ...

this is fun & EASY to stamp across an envelope & it gives the PO folks something fun...

there's no need to send a naked envelope!

I used one of the sayings for this project...

it's the new large pocket watch art part frame...

you can see that I've used both new & current stamps & art parts...

the new mini mustache art part is used as his ascot...

the paper in the background is tim's kraft resist & it's inked with weathered wood distress stain...

have I mentioned how much I LOVE the stains?

they are awesome on art parts & really a time saver...

the belt looks cool stamped on grungeboard...& another advantage of making your own embellishments...

it can be inked any color to customize it for your art...

tim's drill punch makes perfect tiny holes in the belt to make it more realistic...

use this drill just once & you'll LOVE it...

here's a better look @ the saying & the bird with the Clearly for Art wings...

the wings are 2 petals from a flower stamp...

it was fun to use tim's bead chain in a unique way...

speaking of bead chain...I *think* it's discontinued...

don't see it in the current catalog...

I'm ordering more here...

I've had several people ask which of the new distress stains are my favorite...

and which they should start with...

several asked for my top 5 or 6 stain colors...

YIKES...that's hard...

so this is JUST FROM THE NEW 25...

OK...

but FOR SURE...picket fence, because it works with every distress color...

the one I was dying to get is rusty hinge & that makes me so happy...

the other day I used black soot stain over raw wood...

it's flipping cool...really cool...

and I waited FOREVER (or so it seems) for faded jeans...

and I LOVE mustard seed...

brushed corduroy stain is a great color...

and tumbled glass & bundled sage...

seriously...every stain color is cool...

but the colors above seem to be my GO*TO colors recently...

the winner of Friday's stamp set is...

kathrynharpold@sbcglobal.net Fri Aug 05 15:38:17 UTC 2011

Ohhhhhh, wowwwwww! I got my eye on

THIS set!

please send your shipping info & the hot off the press rubber will be headed your way...

if you would like to make art

with "for the arts" ...

just leave a comment

under the photo on the EWV group here...

I'll be back tomorrow to announce the stamp winner...

I'm off to "kit central"...

lots of pre-stamping ...

lots of grunge cutting...

lots of packing for this weekend @ Cafe Crop in Crown Point Indiana...

for those coming to Cafe Crop...

I added something fun to the Inspiration Station class...

I bought these fun muslin bags and we'll............

oh wait...

I think I'll just surprise you...

I'll also be using these bags @

The Stamping Place in Columbia SC later this month...

and later this fall @ The Queen's Ink in Savage Maryland & at Buffalo Stamps & Stuff in NY...

and also another LOCATION...

I haven't seen "the announcement" yet...

so I won't spill the beans...

I'm off to ...

make kits...

so we can...

make art!

wendy

Atlanta & optical art...

let me start this post by thanking you all for the sweet comments about my new art adventure...

I sincerely appreciate each & every one of YOU...

I thought I'd share this photo & the note that came with it...

Hey Wendy...

Since you are a frequent PEEKER on your blog, I'd like to PEEK you a photo from January market in Atlanta. Please jeep in mind that there are 3 buildings, each with 20 floors that are packed with incredible finds. Attached you will find a little PEEK for you.

Hope we cross paths in Atlanta.

OMG...poor Rick has NO CLUE how much trouble I can get into here...

I'll have to duck tape the American Express somewhere safe to keep it out of my reach...

take a gander @ this beautiful sight...

phew... my hands get sweaty looking @ this photo...

today's stamp giveaway is...

optical art...

I adore this background...

and there are some fun sayings on it too...

the background is a good one for embossing...

here I used it on my new bird art part...

and stamped on the new art part bottle like this...

after I inked the bottle with rusty hinge distress stain, I stamped the background over the bottle with vermillion archival...dried it,

then painted rock candy crackle paint over it...

I LOVE this effect...

and a very small detail again...

Ranger's Memory Foil Tape seals the bottle...

new fun charms & labels from tim too...

yes...I have used this background LOTS...

here it is on the new art parts lamp...

tim's chain tassel makes the cutest lamp pull...

the winner of yesterday's stamp set is...

amvics Thu Aug 04 16:02:57 UTC 2011

I just love this set!

please email me your shipping info @

wbv1213@me.com

if you would like the optical art set...

just leave a comment

on the EWV group under the photo here...

I'll be back on Monday with the winner of optical art &

I have just one more set to give away...

have a wonderful weekend and as always...

make art!

wendy

dressed for art & *BIG* news...

I have some *BIG* EXCITING news to share with you today...

studio 490 is expanding & headed in a new totally FUN direction...

here's *the scoop*...

yesterday I signed a contract & licensed my art to

BLOSSOM BUCKET...

here's a little info about the company...

the founder & president is Cindy Lowry and she has

been in business for more than 20 years...

selling to gift stores...home decor type stores etc...

get this...

all over the world!

the quality of her resin product is top notch...

and if you know me...

I'm picky, especially if it has my name on it...

this means that I will design art for Blossom Bucket,

and she will magically transform the art into studio 490 style resin products...

here's the best part...

there are no rules...

I get to create art, my way...

and Cindy said " just do what you do"...

PERFECT!

so, on the TO*DO list for this month is to create 12 pieces of art for Blossom Bucket...

these products will be debuted in Atlanta @ the gift show in July

of 2012...

and will be in stores in November of 2012...

just in time for the big gift giving season...

so, we do have a wait...

but it's something fun to look forward to...

the Atlanta gift show is the equivalent of CHA for gift store owners...

I have seen photos of the displays there & I have been dying to

see the show in person...

the photos seriously made me drool on the keyboard...

the Blossom Bucket "booth" is 2500 square feet of goodness...

so that's the size of a home...

you can bet your bottom dollar that I WILL be in Atlanta next July...

to say that I'm over the moon excited about this wonderful opportunity is an understatement...

the ideas are making it impossible to sleep!

so one of the reasons for telling this so soon, is that you may see less frequent blog posts for this month...

but I WILL do my best to pop in often...

OK...back to the rubber stamp art world...

the giveaway continues & today's stamp set is ...

dressed for art...

I used the giant background stamp in the new large art parts pocket watch that I showed a few days ago...

it looks like this...

I TOLD you I'm not a good cutter, but the frame completely hides the ugly edges...

and the gentleman on this set has a perfectly sized art part...

I like him...he has an attitude!

now for the WINNER of yesterday's giveaway...

label it art...

congrats to...

mcstamperoni Wed Aug 03 17:48:52 UTC 2011

This is a great set. Thanks for the give-away.

please email me with your shipping info @ wbv1213@me.com

if you'd like a chance to win

dressed for art...

just leave a comment on the EWV group...

the random winner will be chosen @ 7am tomorrow morning...

ok...

gotta run...

gotta...

make (BLOSSOM BUCKET) art!

wendy

ps... see you tomorrow for another stamp giveaway,

compliments of Stampers Anonymous...GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

label it art...

let the GIVEAWAY continue!

Rick LOVES mailing packages...

it's job security for the head of shipping & receiving!

today's set is called label it art...

this set has lots of fun stamps, that I reach for often...

the labels are a perfect fit for tim's corked vials...

or my ink bottle art part...

the "serum of art" was designed to fit the new large bottle art part...

and I like it because there are lots of elements that can be used alone...

and a few photos, for a better look...

take note of the seal on the art parts bottle...

just a tiny strip of Ranger's Memory Foil Tape adds the perfect little detail...

and another look @ the labels...

this time I used the tape to add detail to the paintbrush stamp...

it's @ the far left, under the ink bottle...

OK...sorry...sounds like I left out one vital statistic from yesterday's post...

the size of the box used to store ALL my distress stains...

it's 8 3/4 inches square...

it fits the stains perfectly & still has room for a few misters...

here's my very BEST storage tip...

toss the packaging...

when I first started "making art"...

I kept everything IN the packages...

I like nice, neat...organized...

30 years in surgery does that to a person...

then as I collected more & more supplies, I needed a way to gain more space...

the day I tossed ALL the packaging, I'd bet that I tripled my storage space...

this photo shows 12 of tim's ring binders in the original packaging on the right...

and on the left, in a little container with the packaging all gone...

it's a HUGE difference...

try it...

you'll see...

now about yesterday's stamp winner...

congrats to...

eyeleeeen Tue Aug 02 14:49:24 UTC 2011

OK, that background stamp is one I need TODAY!!! Puhleeeeeze pick me! :)

please send your shipping info & the head of shipping & receiving will do his job!

wbv1213@me.com

if you would like "label it art" to be shipped to you...

just leave a comment on the EWV group...

I see that Lori just announced another challenge this morning...

check it out...

play along...

I pop in & every once in a while and a random participant gets a prize from Lori or from me...

there is TONS of inspiration in the files too...

they are a really nice talented bunch!

we'll draw a random winner tomorrow @ 7am...

thanks for all your sweet comments...

you make me happy!

ok...go comment...

toss the packaging...

and then...

make art!

wendy

sentimental art & storage...

hmmm...kind of an odd combo for a title?

but you'll see that it fits the content...

today's stamp giveaway is...

sentimental art...

this set has my favorite new giant background...

LOTS of sayings & a very cool vintage ticket...

once again...

this set will be given away on the EWV group...

just click on the link...

leave a comment under the photo & that's your chance to win this set...

we'll choose a random winner from the group comments @ 7am tomorrow...

one of the questions I get asked a lot, is about storage of art supplies...

I can not create in chaos...

it makes me nuts...

or as Rick says...NUTS..ER than usual...

he's kidding...

*I THINK*?

plus, since my studio is right off the kitchen, with no door,

I want it to look good...

this vintage find had me jumping out of my skin...

I knew that it would be THE PERFECT storage for my distress stains...

ALL 37 of them...

I knew this would look good & allow them to sit on the island, right where I work...

I waited a LONG time to get the remaining NEWEST stains...

and I don't let them out of my sight...

this little oak beauty was $9.00...

now since it's deep & the distress stains would be standing in there & I wouldn't be able to read the labels for the color...

I went to plan B...

here's what I did...

a 3/4 inch circle punch is the PERFECT fit for the lid...

a spot of Wonder Tape...

and some manila card stock scraps...

to make them look like this...

nice, neat & HANDY...

because I'm addicted & use them on EVERY project...

to lay down my base coat of color...

ok...that was the storage stuff...

back to sentimental art...

here's some photos from a project in book #5...

that background looks like this when stamped with olive archival ink...

and the same stamp can be used on the small art parts too...

like this new flower pot...

I used sepia archival this time...

now it's time to announce yesterday's stamp winner...

congrats to...

gillian.murray5@btinternet.com Mon Aug 01 21:48:48 UTC 2011

"Keep calm and find yourself a rubber stamp" ... oh yes and preferably this one:) Thanks again to Ted & Michelle for supplying the awesome giveaways.

please email your shipping info & we'll get these new stamps off to you...(wbv1213@me.com)

Ok...head over to the group to leave your comment,

IF you'd like a chance to win

sentimental art...

thanks for popping in...

GOOD LUCK to everyone...

new stamps are just what we need to...

make art!

wendy

rubber stamp art...

happy August...

who stole July? YIKES...

I don't want summer to be over so fast...

I hope August days move slowly...

let's get right to business...

I've had lots of requests to go back to the question/answer posts...

I will do that, when things slow down here a bit...

but I do want to answer a few that I've gotten frequently in the last few weeks...

#1...what happens to all the art you make?

can we buy it? I'd love an original wendy art.

the short answer is no...

& the long reply...

here's what happens...

the projects I make for the books, get sent to Ted for professional photos for each book I write...

then those samples get displayed @ CHA...

after that, those same samples travel with Ted to conventions all over the country...

they last about a year & after that they get kind of beat up looking...

other art I make gets sent to the stores that I teach at...

and get displayed for the weekend...

as you can imagine, the airlines are NOT real careful...

and after a year of being shipped & handled lots...

they too get a little beat up...

eventually, they get trashed...

so, I don't sell them, because they do get dings on them from all the travel...

#2...when will your new stamps & art parts be ready for us to purchase?

I can't give you an exact date...but "mid" AUGUST-ISH...

and since today is August...

it won't be long...

yippee...believe me, I am just as excited as all of you...

I can NOT wait to see what you create...

I WILL post here just as soon as I know they have arrived...

#3...please help me find your first book, I have looked everywhere.

hmmm..can't help with that one. sorry...

both book #1 & #2 are sold out...

I don't have any copies of book #1 left ...

but I do have 4 copies left of book #2...

you can email me for book #2...

if you're missing that one...

#4...you showed your new large pocket watch. I'd like to ask if you have time to tell how you made it look like metal.

ok...this is so easy & fun...

it works on art parts & grunge too...

I paint the surface with Ranger's Adirondack paint dabbers...

I usually start with silver & dry it...

then sometimes I'll add a tiny bit with the gold dabber...

adding just a bit for highlights & dry it...

then I add coffee Archival ink to tone it down a bit...

I tap the archival pad right on the surface...let it sit a bit, then wipe off the excess with a paper towel...

if (by accident) you add too much archival ink...

and make the surface too dark...

a drop or 2 of Alcohol Blending Solution on a paper towel will remove the excess...

and NOT damage the paint job...

then I like to use my "spatter" stamp, with coffee archival to add some spots...

and I've been using the new monarch orange...

it really looks rusty cool...

and the end result is this...

today...

a perfect day for another brand new stamp giveaway...

this week, ALL 6 new stamps sets will be given away on the everything wendy vecchi group...

it's simple...

just leave comment under the photo...

and we'll choose a random winner from the group comments...

here's todays set...

"rubber stamp art"...

true confessions...

yes I Do...collect art supplies...

and I DO NOT want to join the 12 step to stop!

the winner of the new "remnants of art" stamp set is...

Hels Sheridan said...

Corrrrrrrrr.... I love love love this set... in fact I love them all - tis true, I need them all toooooooo... can't wait to get my inky mits on them!! Loving your heart art too... tis lushly indeed xx

July 29, 2011 12:22 PM

HELS!! send your info & we'll get this headed across the pond.

(wbv1213@me.com)

ok...one last reminder...

leave a comment under the photo on the group to have a chance to win "rubber stamp art"...

that's it...

off to make kits for Cafe Crop in Crown Point, Indiana...

it's a suburb of Chicago...

those class dates are August 12 & 13...

click the link for workshop info...

lots of stamping...

lots of grunge cutting...

lots of mak(ing) art...

wendy

see you tomorrow for more free stamps, compliments of TED & MICHELLE!