art, fit for a queen...

I'm celebrating good news!!!!!

my CHA W-12 stamp images are finished & sent off to be magically transformed into real rubber stamps...

for release late January...

my CHA W-12 ART PARTS are finished...(almost)...

I just need to decide on what's included in the packages...

I been working on *a little something* & it's moving along well...

so... I *thought* I deserved a play day...

and play I did...

the idea has been brewing since tim introduced the rock candy crackle paint...

I wanted to use it on glass...

but since the crackle paint needs "tooth" to grab onto...

the glass was too slick for the crackle to do it's job...

believe me...I did try...

I sanded the glass...or so I thought...

then painted the crackle on the glass...let it dry...

it looked beautiful...

UNTIL...

I picked it up to inspect it...

then it all fell off...

lol...

so I knew it would be a cool effect...

if I could get it to work...

and I did...

the glass bottle below is right from the store...

(a Marshall's find)

I painted on a thin layer of Ranger's Glue N Seal...

I like the matte finish...

and let it dry...

when it was completely dry...

I attacked it with the crackle paint...

I was bound & DETERMINED to make this work...

I don't give up easily...

I wanted big cracks...

so I painted on a pretty thick layer...

then added some extra strength drips...

then I sat & crossed my fingers...

and stared @ the bottle...

pure MAGIC!!!!!

I am IN LOVE...

I used pumice stone distress stain to accent the cracks...

and a bit of espresso pigment ink,

added with the blending tool...

for a little more color...

here's the finished bottle...

a total transformation...

from brand spankin new...

to very vintage...

with the addition of a little lace,

an idea-ology tassel & some foliage leaves,

a Maya Road vintage trinket button...

and some rhinestone trim...

the crackle effect is flippin cool, if I say so myself...

it's even better than I expected...

it's now...

art...FIT FOR A QUEEN!

I think this new awesome cracked glass technique

has LOTS of possibilities...

I've got an idea-ology corked vial drying now...

it's looking really good!

and speaking of awesome...

how about the new seasonal distress inks for winter?

makes you drool...kind of AWESOME!!!

what beautiful colors...

I hope you can grab a generic bottle, some Glue N Seal...

this is the big bottle...no brush...

but more cost effective to refill the small bottle (that has the brush)...

some rock candy crackle paint...

same thing here...large bottle to refill the small...

this is just too much fun...

I hope you're inspired to play along and

make art!

wendy

ps...it's NOT TOO SOON...

to start making your holiday gifts...

YIKES! it's Nov 1st...

pss...I realized why I'm shaky...

I made a project WITHOUT a rubber stamp...

I thought that was IMPOSSIBLE...

I better remedy that NOW...

phew...

a star is born...

oops...

TYPO...

a STORE is born...

and actually...

there's 2!

the first is my new HOME store...

it just opened a few weeks ago...

it's The Scrapbooking Studio,

in Bloomington, Illinois...

just 70 miles from here...

I LOVE that I can drive there & avoid the airport madness...

Amy also has a store, by the same name, in Moline, Illinois.

I taught there back in May...

and LOVED it...

it is STOCKED to the max...very neat & organized...

I'm expecting the same in Bloomington...

I'll be there this Saturday (OCT 29th) for a workshop called...

the artist collectible shelf...

we use art parts to construct this project from scratch & then make embellishments too...

the art parts ruler, stamped with the coordinating stamp =

the. cutest. shelf. ever.

in this workshop we even make our own custom background, using Claudine's sticky back canvas, her gesso & tim's distress stains & inks...

oh...and then we stamp over it using my giant background stamps...

I recently taught this class in NY & Maryland & what was really exciting @ those 2 stores, was seeing the creation of each attendee...

everyone had access to the same ingredients, but each had a totally different result...

and each was totally wonderful...

it's fun to try new things...

I'll try to do a video about this soon...-ish...

anyway...

here's the project & I hope you can come join the fun...

& spend the day getting inky, visiting with friends, learning something new...

making ART & having lunch brought to us!

perfect!

now for the SECOND new store...

If you check the top right sidebar...

you'll see the studio 490 hoodie/tote store...

this makes me happy...

since the response to the hoodies has been so great...

THANK YOU ALL...

the graphic design folks have set up a mini store, to make ordering EASIER & QUICKER for you...

now instead of sending the hoodies/totes to me

in Illinois, from Arizona...

the order gets shipped directly to you...

I'm thinking that will save a week! YIPPEE...

I hate to wait!

it's simple...

just click the hoodie & you'll be magically transported to see the color choices & the sizes available...

I have also added a really cool tote...

I HAD 2 samples...gave them away...

NOTE TO SELF...

NEED to order another for ME...

they too are the pigment brand...sort of worn looking...

with the same graphic...

they are excellent quality too...

nice straps...durable heavy material...

the teal color is much prettier in person...

MUCH!

oh...I see they added more color choices for the tote too...

cool!

(hint...great gifts for friends!) and since Christmas is 2 months away...

YIKES!

let the shopping begin!

ok..I'm off to put the finishing touches on some ***things***

for CHA...

***they*** are coming along quite nicely...

I'm pleased...so far...

yippee!

as always...

I hope you have time to...

make art!

wendy

39 & counting...

yikes...

long time no post...

but I can assure you that I have been BUSY...

yes...ALL CAPS kind of BUSY...

we made LOTS of kits & still have more to do for the next stop on the art adventure...

I'm excited to be teaching @ my new home store...

The Scrapbooking Studio in Bloomington, Illinois.

we'll get inky on the 29th of this month & make the artist collectible shelf project...

it's shown on the link above...

I'm so looking forward to seeing my friends there...

it's been a while...

hmmm...what else have I been doing?

I went to see THE QUEEN!

Queen Patti @ The Queen's Ink...

we had a wonderful weekend with 3 PACKED classes...

GREAT...very talented students...

Hels came all the way from the UK...

so we FINALLY got to meet...

SOOOO flipping cool!!!

the QUEEN & I had an impromptu brain storming session & came up with a really cool idea...

like jumping out of your skin GOOD idea...

I asked her a question...

she answered & the idea bloomed from there!

I can not wait to show you...

what else?

I've been working on new stamps & new art parts for release in January @ CHA...

I'd say I'm about 75% done...

I'm on a mission to get them finished in the next few days...

and I've been working on these art part leaves, with peeled paint stain & my background stamp (in jet black archival, of course) ...

and with these...

fun alcohol inks...

love the black/rust combo...

to make metal look very vintage...

and I've been playing with my new BFF...Siri...

we're totally over the moon in love with the new iPhone...

I love it...Rick does too...

and now I have a little SALE info...

my FAVORITE 4 letter word...

next to SHOP...

Simon Says is giving $5.00 off your order...

just enter...

fright

in the code section...simple!

and eclecticPaperie has 20% off my stamps & 20% off art parts too...

and 35% off tim's stamps & his Sizzix Alteration's dies...

a really good SALE...

about that 39 & counting...

39 years ago today I married the best guy ever...

I couldn't be happier & still so in love...

YIKES...I didn't make him a card...

gotta run...

have a great weekend...

I hope you get inky &...

make art!

wendy

ps...go Bears!!

I hope my UK friends will be there cheering in London!

Alcohol Ink/ Glassine technique...

I wonder if...

that's how this technique developed...

I wondered how tim's/Ranger's

NEW Adirondack snow cap alcohol ink mixativewould work on

tim's cool glassine products...

I was hoping to create a verdigris/rusty looking background...

with texture...

that I could stamp on...

since alcohol inks are transparent, they don't show up well on dark surfaces...if at all...

here's the HOWEVER...

in it's unedited video state...

with the big DUH...still left in...

a blooper of sorts...

but hey...

it's the REAL me...

yikes!

here's a closer look @ the back of the glassine envelope...

I'm very pleased with the result...

the inks/glassine combo seems to make the envelope really strong/sturdy...

perfect for mailing...

or pages for a mini book?

I hope you enjoyed the video & that you'll take a minute to try it!

I used juniper & cloudy blue ...

but try it with other alcohol ink colors...

stream would be a good choice...

let me know how you do!

I'm off to find some archival ink & a studio 490 stamp...

something appropriate for a cute glassine envelope...

in fact...

I think I'll...

make art!

wendy

kits for art...have arrived! **EDIT**

YIPPEE!

I saw them for the first time in person

last weekend @ Buffalo Stamps & Stuff...

and they are also available from Simon HERE...

and @ eclecticPaperie HERE...

and don't forget to check your local stores...

they are $14.95 and include ALL the art parts & Clearly For Art needed to complete the project shown...

SERUM OF ART...

in the package you'll also find...

the supply list...

the instructions...

and some step out photos too...

you'll need to add your own stamps, inks & a few embellishments...if you want to follow along exactly...

or...you can use the kit as a starting point & make it YOUR own!

**EDIT**

I've had several emails asking which stamp sets I used...

here's the list...but again, you certainly can change it up...

Stampers Anonymous/studio 490 stamps...

sm. squares background (optical art)

ribbons, number from ruler & lace background (remnants of art)

screen background (art rules)

polka dot background (all about art)

numbers background (dimensional rose art)

scissors, spool & play hard (art by hand)

pencil & pen nib (speaking of art)

4 labels & warning (label it art)

ink bottle (destination art)

open (book art basics)

flower (she created art)

and speaking of kits...

I'm still in kit making mode here...

& running a bit behind...

YIKES...

gotta hit it HARD today!

still LOTS to pack for The Queen's Ink...

I have a fun tutorial planned...

but it's still in my head...so far!

stay tuned...I can't wait to share it...

THANKS for stopping by...

kits for art will be perfect...

if you want to...

make art!

wendy

paying it foreword...

when I started on this art adventure in 2007...

I was extremely LUCKY to be helped by some WONDERFUL PEOPLE...

let's start with the first person I met...

Michelle Cutts (aka Mrs Stampers Anonymous)...

I adore her!

who introduced me to her hubby Ted...

(aka Mr. Stampers Anonymous)...

he is a very hard working, honest...GREAT guy!

which led me to meeting Tim...

Rock star to the world...

but a dear friend & mentor to me...

I think the world of him...

which lead me to the fine guys who own Ranger...

Alain & Justin...

yep...you guessed...

REALLY good guys too!

and along the way, there was also Caroline & David, from Maya Road...

who have become my friends...

ok...gotta say it...

they are great people too...

because these people believed in me & gave tons of support...

studio 490 came to be...

LUCKY me...

now it's my turn to...

PAY IT FOREWORD...

back in May, I demoed @ a convention for Ted, in Novi Michigan...

that weekend I met Jillian Vance & her mom Bunny...

as we chatted the first day...I learned that Jillian had her own stamp line...

that's pretty cool...

but here's the AMAZING part...

Jillian is 12 NOW...and she was only 11 then!

and she was 10 when the company was started!

seriously...

I know I was still playing with Barbie...

I demoed all weekend & we talked about every product that Ranger makes...

and we've corresponded since then...

they are now RANGER users & lovers!

I *think* CONVERTS is the correct term?

recently they gave me a stamp set & asked if I could fit in a little project, using their stamps...

I chose to receive the stamp you see below...

it's actually Bunny's logo for her hair salon...

I spotted it on her email signature & told her it would make an awesome stamp...

so...I'm paying it forward...

please take a minute to look @ Jillian's blog...

remember...she's 12!

she even does fun videos!

and YES...she designs the stamps herself...

the lovely face you see below is her stamp...

I used the textured gesso background technique, that is one of the techniques incorporated into my Ranger workshop...

if you'd like to recreate something like this...

I randomly painted a manila tag with Claudine's gesso...

and dried it...

I stamped the face with jet black archival...dried it, then masked it off & stamped my script background over it & dried it again...

I used coffee archival for the background...

remember to...

***dry EVERYTHING when stamping over gesso***

the face was inked with brushed corduroy, using the blending tool...

and the background is broken china distress ink...

I die cut her with tim's mover's & shapers mini baroque...

and edged it with my fav gold paint dabber...

I used jet black to stamp my gingham background on some kraft card stock...which makes the border...

it's mounted on gold paint dabber edged black card stock, which is then mounted to more kraft...

I used Cut N Dry nibs to ink the tiny flowers & leaves in her hair...

I can't remember the last time I made a card & this was fun!

so if you can spare a minute...

pop over to Jillian's blog...

best wishes to you Jillian...

CHEERS!!!

here's to SUCCESS for YOU!

ok...back to those kits for the QUEEN trip...

as always...

don't forget to...

make art!

wendy

ps...THANKS SO MUCH...I'm thrilled you like the hoodies too!

back from Buffalo...JUST IN TIME...

A MILLION THANKS to everyone who spent the weekend with us @ Buffalo Stamps & Stuff...

in Amherst NY...

thanks to Sharon for the invite...

thanks to everyone for your hospitality...

thanks for sharing your creative spirit...

thanks for the gifts!

thanks for not minding inky fingers...

yes...REALLY INKY fingers...

it was a thrill for me to see so many who had previously taken classes...THANK YOU SO MUCH!

in one word...

the weekend was...PERFECT!

OK...

this has been KILLING me to keep my lips zipped...

I didn't want to say anything until I had THE GOODS in my hands...

and I knew they were PERFECT...

you asked...and I FINALLY did it...

so...just in time for the cooler weather...

this graphic...

is now on the BACK of these guys...

they are pullover hoodies with an open bottom...

NOT the normal band that a regular sweat has...

they slip right over the HIPS...get it?

they come in YAM...the sample on the top...

and they come in WATERMELON...the sample on the bottom...

and...

here's the full zipper style...same graphic on the back...

in denim on the top...

and khaki on the bottom...

here's the scoop...

all 4 styles colors have the same graphic...

on the back...

these are the "authentic pigment" brand...

excellent quality...

it you have one of tim's...it's the same thing...

I asked if he minded...

and he gave me his blessing!

THANKS TIM...

the sizes for both styles are small, medium, large & extra large, and 2 XL...

all are $50.00... except the 2XL is $53.00

priority tracked shipping is $10.95 in the USA

for international friends...

priority tracked shipping is $27.95...YIKES...

Rick said he will check with the PO guys, to see if there is anyway to lower the shipping price a bit...

since they are custom made...

Jason said to allow 2 1/2 to 3 weeks (max) from the time you order until it's @ your home...

they are NOT skimpy...

I wore the large over 2 sweaters...

so they are nice & roomy...

if you NEED a studio 490 hoodie...

just send an email (wbv1213@me.com)...

tell me the color & the size & I'll send a PayPal request...

ok...

now to start the kits for the next stop on the art adventure...

I'm headed to The Queen's Ink for the weekend of October 15/16...

the store is located in Savage Md...

I'm super excited for this trip...

Hels Sheridan is coming all the way from the UK & we FINALLY can meet...YIPPEE!

I'm counting the days...

INSPIRATION STATION is SOLD OUT,

but there is 1 seat left for the Artist shelf &

3 left for DO NOT MESS WITH THE QUEEN...

ok...

let the kit making begin...

so we can...

make art!

wendy