here's how I got started...

here's how I got started...
a 20 minute podcast by Crazy BeYOUtiful

Friday, January 20, 2012

day 10 is a...

a stampers anonymous/ Blossom Bucket bonanza...

let's get started with this
large fancy flower...

it's 2 inches & a very pretty creme color right from the package...
so you can use it, as is...
or add some alcohol inks...
(my favs are butterscotch & cloudy blue)
maybe a little archival...

it's alterable to any color you choose...
I'll show you below...


now...
be warned...

here comes MAJOR FUNKY...

you may have *noticed* that I have a *thing* for faces, eyes & glasses...

here's the first stampers anonymous stamp I ever purchased...

I found her when I first started stamping & had no clue what was going on...
or what I'd do with HER...

but I HAD to have her live with me...

she probably sat on a shelf for a year before I ever stamped her...
but being a wood mount, she was art, just sitting there...



so when I started my list of MUST DESIGN's for Blossom Bucket, I had her in mind...

which brings me to ...
the large lips!

these make me ecstatic...

they're a toned down red...
I've use them as is...
it's also fun to add some red pepper alcohol ink, for a bolder color...

or some vermillion archival for a little different red...

it's flipping fun to stamp on them too...
using archival...of course...

and add stickles for a really funky fun effect...


so, now if you go back to my original stamp release...
I designed a smaller altered version of the head...

I refer to her as the art chick...
she's on this art rules set...

that explains why we need the
mini lips...
these are the cutest little suckers...
EVER!
just 1/4 inch...
and they fit some other faces too...

how about some large stylish glasses,
perfectly sized to fit the phrenology head?


and there are some small stylish glasses to fit the art chick!
oops...forgot that photo...

but what chick wants to wear the same glasses every day?

how about some large FUNKY glasses?
sized for the phrenology head...


and of course...
small funky glasses for the little art chick...

these all look so cool when you full them with Glossy Accents...
and it's a good way to adhere them...

moving on to today's new stamp set...
this one is called

quality art...

the optometrist label...
another vintage find...
LOVED the graphics...

3 guys...
this is a twist with art parts...
only the guy on the left is an art part...
so if you need just one guy for a card, he's your man...

remember the saying from the other day
about standing out in the crowd?

perfect with this stamp too...
just layer the art part guy over the stamped image...

and their clothing allows them to work with steampunk too...

anyone can be ordinary...
I wanted this for my new business card...

I'll show you later in the post...

air mail...
a good filler stamp...
never send a naked envelope!
one little stamp is all you need...

for the record...
good for mini books/journals & cards...
it worked well for a birthday card I needed...

viewer discretion advised...
I heard an announcer on CNN say that one night & I thought it would be fun for altered art...


optical manufacturers association...
found this ad in a 1904 paper...
loved it immediately...

the giant worn striped background...
LOVE IT!
I used this again yesterday & this time I clear embossed it on an art part & used the distress stain over it...
awesome background...

here's quality art...


I wanted to show you the label, stamped on grungeboard...
and a peek @ the little art chick...


and here's the art for my new business card...


I hope you enjoyed today's post...

I'll be back on Monday with a HUGE post...
I haven't shown you any of the art parts packages yet...
plus I've got a few surprises I've not even hinted about yet...
YIPPEE!!!

have a GREAT inky weekend...

remember...
anyone can be ordinary...

BE UNIQUE...
and just
BE YOU...

when you...

make art!
wendy

Thursday, January 19, 2012

day 9...the voice of art...

thanks so very much for the comments, emails, FB posts & tweets...

I'm THRILLED that you're liking this release...

let me just say...
the best is yet to come...
I had so much fun...
funky to the MAX...

I might save that post for next week...
we'll see what develops...

today we have another set of new stamps...
this set is titled...

the voice of art...




first up is a fun vintage lady...
she is an art part too...
she's a whopping 4 inches tall...

because of her attire...
she fits right in with steampunk...

I immediately thought she looked like a stern teacher...
below she makes an appearance
with yesterdays (art school) stamp set...



the voices only spoke to her...
OMG...I used this the other day
on a REALLY fun & funky piece...
I can not wait to show you...

she thought housework was overrated & certainly NOT for her...
yep...that's me...

this is a good saying to use some of the words individually...

signed, sealed & delivered...
baby I'm yours...
I'll be using this on cards for Rick...

& I've used it with Mr & Mrs Worry...
for funky art...

next is a vintage ink pad...
another flea market find...
I LOVE the graphics on it...
I LOVE that it says St. Louis...

it's simple to cut out & use the whole image...

there's lots of little components that can be used alone too...

...but today...
my favorite thing is to use it
for a background stamp for small art parts...
like flowers...
& the wing below...



and finally a large background stamp...
a vintage receipt...
I girl can NEVER have enough background stamps...

another option is to use just the top portion for a border...

here it is stamped...

hey...GUESS WHAT?

I designed some
Blossom Bucket bottle caps!

I totally flipping love these guys...

I LOVE that they are a dull vintage gold...
I LOVE the dimension...
they are over 1/4 inch thick...
so they don't get lost in
multilayered grungepaper/CFA flowers...

here's the large bottle caps...
I've used them as a flower center right from the package...
I LOVE the worn black center...

you ***might*** have noticed yesterday
that some Blossom Bucket pieces fit in them...
did you?


and they will also be available in a smaller size...
be still my heart!


one of the other things that I have been doing with the bottle caps is punching a circle from an image...

adding that to the bottle caps & then filling them with Glossy Accents, to create custom epoxy embellishments...

LOVE them millions because
you can make anything you need...
be it a word...number...
a perfectly coordinated patterned paper accent ...

I used the bottle caps with some
funky stamped eyes
for a project I'll show you soon...

earlier this week I showed you the pink posies Blossom Bucket pieces...

I found the photo...

here's a SIMPLE gift idea...
I just dropped it in a bezel...
instant jewelry art...




day 9...
the voice of art and
Blossom Bucket vintage bottle caps...

did these speak to you?
(LOL...that fit right in)...

I think I'm inspired to head to the studio to...

make art!
wendy

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

day 8...we're headed to art school...

welcome to day 8!

7 more reveal days to go...
I hope you're having as much fun as I am...

I've heard from quite a few people that Blogger is being a pain when you try to leave comments...
sorry about that...

not sure what's going on there...
sadly, it's out of my control...

I've also been asked about shipping dates...
here's THE SCOOP...

my stamps are made & will ship immediately after CHA...
YIPPEE!!

art parts have been in production for over a month...
so those will ship after CHA too...
YIPPEE!

all the "embellish your art" products will be available early April...
they'll be worth the wait & that spreads out the shopping $$!

book #6 is PRINTED & will ship after CHA!
it looks really GOOD!

Kits for Art...
YES...you asked...we listened...

more kits for art...
Kit #1 is shipping now...

Kits for art #2 will ship in February...

Kits for Art #3 will ship in April...
and is a whole new adventure...

in addition to the art parts needed to complete the project...
kit #3 will include all the Blossom Bucket pieces you need to complete the art!
guess what...that little clear bottle...YES!!

this is so exciting!

I'll show you the kits next week...

today's new stamp set is called

art school...



this is a very FUN useful set...
I love it so much, that the cover project for book #6 uses this set...
(and another coordinating one)...
coming soon to a blog near you...

I thought an art school project
seemed to be appropriate for the book cover...

6 images in this set have coordinating art parts...
making this great for mini books...
and stand alone art...

let's start with the...

the paint tube...

you may remember the peek from about 10 days ago...
some people thought it was a vase or bottle...

it's the paint tube & it's an art part too...

the eraser...
is also an art part...
if you're an artist...
you know we need an eraser...
YIKES! some days are good...
some days NSM...

pencil sharpener...
this is flipping FUN...

it's a 2 piece layered art part...
making it easy to ink the base a color & then paint the top piece another...

here's what the art parts look like...

the base was inked with peeled paint stain &

the top piece of the sharpener was painted with the silver paint dabber, stamped with jet black archival & then I sanded it pretty much for a really worn vintage effect...
and added some walnut stain...


ink & stain remover tin...
a cool vintage find...
it's an art part too...
this looks really cute clear embossed...

lead pencils label...
another vintage find...
a good filler stamp...
very simple to stamp in any color & cut out...
makes a good border too...

there's nothing better than a good sale or a new rubber stamp...
ah...this is so TRUE!

the paint brush...
it's an adorable art part...
I LOVE to add Ranger's memory tape for the finishing touch...
I'll show you in a bit...

the pencil...
I simply LOVE LOVE LOVE this...
it's a nice big size & I use it to make a little ledge on projects...
it's much larger than
the current pencil art part &
they coordinate just as planned...

no thanks...
I'd rather make art...
pretty much says it all...

want to cook dinner?
no thanks...I'd rather make art...

lol! I'll be using this guy LOTS!
poor Rick...
and finally the art school logo...
another vintage find from a 1901 booklet...

here's a peek @ the cover project from book #6...
do not pay attention to the 3 images I have not shown yet...
got it?

remember the 2 piece layered art parts jar I showed you?
see how things fit IN it?


and here's another cover peek...
the art school logo fits in the current art parts mini frame...

do not pay attention to that "thing @ the top"...
got it?
that's a story for another day...

hmmm...
what's that curve?
could that possibly be a new large art parts frame?


now for some embellish your art...
Blossom Bucket fun...

I will be getting a boatload of these guys...

here's a large (2 inches tall)
clear resin star brand jar...

the logo is raised on the front...
the jar is flat on the back with the same little open area as the clear mini bottle I showed the other day...

I wanted this jar to use with art parts flowers...
it's fun to make the stems from wire...
& slip them right in the jar...


use it right from the package if you want a clear bottle...

or below I painted it with Glue N Seal, then
Rock Candy Crackle Paint &
then added alcohol ink to add color...

it also holds the paint brush art part...

and I LOVE these guys too...
very detailed
large flower centers...
vintage gold...
exactly what I wanted...
one inch diameter...
they fit lots of art parts flowers...



here's one used as a flower center...

do NOT look @ the vintage bottle cap the center is sitting in...
got it?



I can't wait to hear your thoughts about these...

only a week left for me to...

make (CHA) art!
wendy
ps YIKES...still a MILLION things to make!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

art works on day 7...

today we start with embellish your art/Blossom Bucket goodies...

one of the embellishments I am always looking for is hearts...

I took the opportunity to make some...

like everything else...

very dimensional on the front...
nice & flat on the back...

I started with beautiful red hearts...

use them as is, it's a good red...

I've also added vermillion archival ink over it, to change them up a bit...

and red pepper alcohol ink over them on another project...

want to add text or a pattern?

simply press them onto a stamp that has been inked with archival ink...
dry...
done...
10 seconds...
simple to alter...

want them a bit more worn?
LIGHTLY sand the high spots & add a bit of coffee archival to the sanded areas...
they're perfect!

but I LOVE polka dots too...
so here they are again...

it's simple to add words between the dots...
or change the color...


now suppose you want a black heart...
or a blue or green...
or a gold...

with these natural color hearts...

it's simple to change them to any color you choose...
stamp on it or not...


LOTS of possibilities to "embellish your art" with these Blossom Bucket cuties...

next up is another new stamp set...

this one is...

art works...


I LOVE LOVE LOVE the flowers...

and they are art parts too...

use them individually or layer them...
like this...

there would have been a Blossom Bucket center on this...
BUT this sample was made before they arrived...
poop...

it you look closely...

you just might see another art parts peek...
spot it?




only where the heart is, can the treasure be found...
just a sweet little saying that I like...
it also fits with the hearts above...

it's not the size of the wings, it's believing you can...
wings remain popular in the mixed media world, so this fits everywhere...
plus...
it's inspirational...

when the head, heart & hands all work together...
it is then that you can make art...

YOU make art...
YOU know this is seriously TRUE!

it takes all 3...
if one part is missing...
it's not a good arting day...

plus I got to squeeze in another...
make art!

this giant background stamp is from a cool
vintage ledger that we found @ an antique mall...

it's great for backgrounds...
duh...
or use just a portion of it on smaller arts...

so that's day 7...

hearts & art works...

thanks so much for popping in...

it's time to head back to the studio to...

make art!
wendy
ps...talk to me!

Monday, January 16, 2012

day 6...


hope you had a good weekend & you're ready for more show & tell...

by far, THE most popular stamp set from the last release was "sentimental art"...

that set has the vintage lace background...

I got lots of requests for more lace type stamps...
and believe me...

I wanted another too...

then came along the Blossom Bucket sewing machine...
now for sure we needed more vintage lace...

introducing...
material art...



seam binding...
we found this @ a flea market...
LOVED it immediately...

easy to cut out with a circle punch...
see that "made in France?"...

it ties in with...

what Eiffel Tower???

acquisition is half the fun...
applies to material art & art supplies...

coming soon to a blog near you...

this is a work in progress...
I like this lots for art journals...
I've use it too with Mr & Mrs Worry...

for your viewing pleasure...
good for mini books...
art journals & more...

tapepax...
stamp in any color to coordinate with your project...
simple to cut out with a circle punch...
good with the sewing theme...

lace border...
again...a vintage find...
it stamps great with awesome detail...

the giant lace background...
this was the starting point for the material art set...

it too stamps with awesome detail...

remember I showed you some $1.oo finds a few days ago?

remember this mini kraft colored book?


here it is, stamped with the lace background & vermillion archival...

i's amazing what a transformation
a little ink & a stamp can make...


and below is an art parts flower that was inked with broken china & stamped with jet black...


I also love the lace stamped over broken china stain with aquamarine archival...
that creates a more subtle background...

next I have 2 new Blossom Bucket flowers to show you...

first up is pointed petal posies...
say that 10 times!

they are another alterable...
use it as is, or add color with alcohol inks...
add distress stickles...

the raised center is easy to swipe with the archival pad to highlight just the raised area too...


and this is shocking...

pink posies...

I LOVE the detail of the flower center...


both of these can be used as flower centers, with art parts flowers or stamps...
or just add a stem for a quick card...

I also used the pink posie to make a simple piece of jewelry...

ok...

that's material art and more Blossom Bucket embellishments...

what are you thinking?

talk to me while I...

make art!
wendy

Friday, January 13, 2012

day 5...meet Mr WORRY...

good morning my friends & happy weekend to you...

it's day 5 already...
I'll be leaving in less than 2 weeks...
YIKES!!!

CHA came up so fast this year...

before starting today,
I have to tell you that I got the preview of book #6 & I about fainted...

it's really cool...

the layout is VERY different & VERY arty...

Ted has a brand new digital printer,
so the format & book size have changed...

nice big photos...
larger text...
I think you'll like it...

I'll show you as soon as I get the real deal...

OK...let's get started...

here's stamp set # LCS077...

it's called worried about art...


first up is Mr. WORRY...
he's an art part too...

and he's perfectly sized to use with Mrs. Worry...
I'll show you a mini peek below...

talk to the hand...
pretty much says it all...LOL!
and we already have 2 sizes of art part hands, to use...
so, lots of possibilities...

don't bug me...
that gets right to the point...doesn't it?

pull...
it's a cute mini stamp & it's sized to fit in tim's charm clip...
you'll see that below...

some days need a DELETE button...
this is soooo true...

I have a really fun project done with this saying.
it's one of the projects in book #6...

don't make me use
my UPPER CASE voice...
perfect saying for the WORRY couple...
makes me laugh every time I use it!

the large hand...
is LARGE...like 4 1/2 inches long...
it has a coordinating art part too!
got any ideas?

what is normal?
I LOVE this for altered/funky art...
who says it's NOT normal to have a flower over your eye?
who makes the rules?

and the last one...
some days you just gotta laugh...
so TRUE?
AGREE?

I wanted to show you the cute couple...
but I had to chop off some of the project...
sorry...
but below you can see them...

and the PULL stamp too...


coming up...
2 more Blossom Bucket cuties...

if you're a blog friend, you know how much I LOVE flowers...
so, one of the main things I designed for BB are embellishments that can be flower centers...

here we have crocheted blossoms...
flat on the back, with lots of detail on the front...

this is alterable...use it right from the package...
or alter it to any color you like,
with alcohol or archival inks...
change the flower color or just the pearl center...

make it your own...

and the second is antique buttons...
I am over the moon thrilled with these guys too...

they are PERFECT for all the flower stamps & flower art parts we already have...
plus they fit the new ones coming...

again...great detail on the front & nice flat backs...

and they're not just flower centers...
see below...

meet antique buttons...

phew...
that was fun!

ok...
I'm always posting a reminder (ok lecturing)
to look at what things COULD be...
and how you can use them in your art...

here's an example...

I found this @ JoAnn's in the Christmas section...
@ 70% off...making is a whopping $2.00...

it's well made, a great color & a nice price...

but Christmas is over...


so, I gently ripped off the snowflake...
and added my Blossom Bucket embellishments
to make this cute accent pillow...



using just a bit of hot glue...

you create a simple little home decor piece...
in no time at all...

what a great gift too...

so...remember to keep those eyes wide open...
you never know what you'll find...

to embellish your art!
lol...that fit right in!

that's it for today...
THANKS so much for all the sweet comments & emails...
I sincerely appreciate the time you take to pop in & leave comments...

oh...one more thing...
who mentioned Eiffel Tower?
not me!

have a GREAT weekend...

see you on Monday!

I'll use the weekend to...

make (CHA) art...
wendy

Thursday, January 12, 2012

more new studio 490/blossom bucket...

phew...
blogger was giving me a bad time this morning...
but I think I won...

welcome to day 4 of the new products reveal!

today's new stamp set is called...

a flair for art...

the first image and the background stamp came from a cool vintage find...

it's from a 1902 Woman's Institute book...
it appears to be a home study booklet...
*I think*...
the owner wrote her answers to the questions in it...
it's an adorable book...

take a look @ a flair for art...



the gal is so much fun...
I hate to play favorites...
but I've used her about 10 times already...
she's 4 1/2 inches tall...
and she is an art part too...
yippee...

she's great as the full stamp...
and she's perfectly sized for peeking out of windows & doors...

WHAT WINDOW? WHAT DOOR?
coming soon to a blog near you...

for the photo below, she's stamped on the coordinating art part...
then I restamped the dress onto Claudine's sticky back canvas, which I added over my clearly for art...

this allows you to add a bit of dimension...
and the clearly for art makes those skinny straps very sturdy when you cut them out...

the canvas is inked with fired brick stain,
then stamped with the polka dot border,
using jet black archival...


this time she has a marmalade dress...
again, I added the paper over clearly for art...
with Glue N Seal...

for this sample, you'll see an extra layer of trim @ the top & bottom of her dress...
and those pieces are accented with rock candy stickles...

I TOLD you I LOVE her...
this time she's sporting some polka dots, compliments of tim's retro grunge paper stash...

*do NOT pay any attention
to the large art part she is attached to*

moving on...
hooks & eyes card...
is another vintage find...
and it was made in England...
HELLO...UK friends!

her domestic skills were quite limited, but she sure knew how to shop...
this is my new motto!
it describes me perfectly...

fashion fades but style is eternal...
I like this saying used with this gal & it has huge potential for altered art...

she had a flair for fashion...
I see this used with photos of children playing dress up...
it can also be humorous too...

some considered her aloof,
but she was actually just shy...
when I first found this lady image,
that was the first thought that popped in my little brain...
I thought she looked aloof...

and here she is again...


chandlers label...
remember the stamp from the other day...
take 3 & call me in the morning?
they go together so well...

and finally...
the large Woman's Institute background stamp...

guess I'll just say that I LOVE it...LOTS!

now here's 2 more embellishments from Blossom Bucket...

the bird!

I adore him...
like all the other pieces,
he's flat on the back, but dimensional on the front...

he's simple to alter to any color you want, using alcohol inks & archival...



and the vintage telephone...

this is over the moon stinkin' cute...
it's much smaller than the stamp/art part I showed the other day...
it's 1 1/4 inch tall...
perfect for cards & ATC's...
in addition to altered art...


on the sample below, I very lightly hit the high spots with the sanding grip & added some coffee archival over them...

I'm in love with this guy...

take 3 & call me in the morning

with this cute phone...



so there you have day #4...

I'll be waiting to hear your thoughts...

for me it's time to...

make art!
wendy
ps... I heard loud & clear that you liked the mini clear resin bottle & the yellow flower...
just you wait to see what I have coming soon...