a PERFECT weekend, a PERFECT trio & a video...

first of all...

I'm sending a HUGE thank you to everyone who attended my classes this past weekend @ The Stamping Place in Columbia, SC.

we had an awesome group of talented VERY fun gals...

& I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the south...AGAIN!

most of the students had attended my past classes there,

so it was so fun to see you & reconnect again...

from the bottom of my heart...

THANKS for your kindness & hospitality!

and for those of you who sent emails telling me to be safe...

THANKS so much!

hurricane Irene didn't bother us one tiny bit...

the weather was perfect...

not a drop of rain...

& my flights were uneventful...

this past week I got several questions about tim's new distress stain...

specifically the PICKET FENCE...

YES...it does separate...

but you will notice that there is a metal mixing ball in the bottle...

so...shake it up before each use & then stain away...

it's AWESOME!

PICKET FENCE is the only stain that needs to be shaken before you use it...

NONE of the other colors have that little ball...

now moving on to the "perfect trio" part of the post...

when I was @ CHA this past July,

I did a video for Christine from SCRAP TIME...

Christine is from Canada & uploads LOTS of videos which are really cool & provide TONS of free inspiration...

check it out...

this time I showed "art parts" with a twist...

the "perfect trio" is art parts, tim's distress stains & Ranger's Perfect Pearls Mists...

in the video I demo this art parts fish...

with the coordinating fish stamp...

using jet black archival ink...

remember...

when dry, Ranger's archival inks allow you to

add water based products (like perfect pearls...distress stains or inks) over the stamped image & the image won't smear or bleed...

you can see the video here, on Christine's site...

I just watched it...

I had to laugh...

it seems like in each video I say something goofy...

this time...I say "WHACK IT" on the table...

instead of tap it...

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bet the bosses @ Ranger are really thrilled to have a professional working for them...LOL!

I'll be interested to know what you think of the video...

Christine likes comments too!

have a fun day &...

make art!

wendy

studio 490/Stampers Anonymous visit...

Australia...

no...not me...

I'm headed south to South Carolina in a few...

but the spider alert girl is featured on the

Aussie Scrap Source blog today,

along with some other awesome art,

using Stampers Anonymous stamps...

the first BEAUTIFUL layout uses my

alphabet border stamp...

this layout is so pretty!

you'll see these leaves used too...

here's spider alert girl again...

with her fun art parts umbrella...

so...grab your big girl panties...

and a beverage & have some fun...

there's TONS of awesome eye candy on this blog...

once you visit, you'll want to take time to admire all the older posts too...

you're guaranteed to be inspired...

if you happen to be in the Hamburg NY area this weekend...

Ted will be there with the whole Stampers Anonymous booth & ALL the new CHA releases too...

here's the info...

I hope you have a good weekend...

I plan to...

make art!

wendy

ps...be safe my east coast friends...

I hope hurricane Irene is very gentle with you...

with the turn of a key...

I went from sad to oh so happy...

a few months ago, the key turned & my local scrap/stamp store closed...

even though it's about 70 miles from here,

it's the closest to me & I considered it my HOME store...

I LOVE the owners, LOVE the staff &

ADORE their customers, who are now my friends...

I was sad to hear of the closing...

back in May I taught @ a new (to me) store in Moline, Illinois called The Scrapbooking Studio...

it's an AWESOME store...

very well stocked with all sorts of goodies...

nice, neat & ORGANIZED...

just what I love...

and a VERY nice staff...

@ the end of the day, Amy Sprague, the owner,

asked my thoughts about opening a store in Bloomington...

she had heard that MY store closed...

fast forward...

the key will be turned on September 17th @ the same location and MY store will re-open with Amy as the new owner...

Jennifer & Malika will be working there again...

they are expert scrappers & instructors, should you need assistance or ideas to get you started...

I'm happy they're back!

rumor is Amy Coon will be teaching there too...

Amy Sprague likes full day EVENTS...

and makes it nice & convenient by including lunch for everyone...

hey... we gotta have energy to...

MAKE ART...

so, on October 29th...

I'll be back @ MY home store for a full day of inky/stamping fun...

workshop details will be announced soon...

now that little turn of the key,

will make me VERY HAPPY...

3 cheers for Amy & best wishes for continued success

@ The Scrapbooking Studio!

since it's getting close to Halloween...

(and everything else I've been creating is TOP SECRET)

I thought I'd share a fun piece I made for tim's idea-ology booth @ CHA, this past July...

it's constructed from an art parts large creative cover, an art parts circle and 2 art parts rulers...

the creative cover was covered with the new Halloween kraft resist paper...

this piece is loaded with fun stuff...

corked vials...

new Halloween adornments...

the title is ransom alpha parts...

you'll see my art parts bottle inked & stamped, then painted with rock candy crackle paint...

and Ranger's memory foil tape creates the seal for the bottle ...

and the dots on the seal are made with the sewing tool that I talked about in the previous post...

I cut the head from the kraft resist paper & used Glue N Seal to add it to Clearly For Art...

that allowed me to heat it & shape it to create a shrunken head, that's nice & sturdy...

I LOVE my spider hanging down...

that's it for today...

I still have LOTS to accomplish before I head south tomorrow to

The Stamping Place in Columbia SC...

I *hope* to be back early tomorrow morning for a quick post with a link to some eye candy...

it's a beautiful sunny day here...

a PERFECT day to...

make art!

wendy

tiny details matter...

it's true...

and I'll show you here...

I stamped my paintbrush stamp on grungeboard, using jet black archival ink...

& cut it out...

then I inked the handle with tim's new brushed corduroy distress stain...

I waited so long for this color!

LOVE IT...LOTS!

and I inked the bristles with faded jeans distress stain...

it looks...ok...

but just...OK...

not spectacular...

YET...

now with a few tiny details added...

I used tim's AWESOME drill punch to make a hole in the handle for a black eyelet...

and a bit of Ranger's Memory Foil Tape to make it look more authentic...

the memory foil tape is self adhesive...

so it's simple to use...

just peel off the backing & add to your art...

the foil was a bit too new looking for my project, so I toned it down with sepia archival ink...

applied with a Cut N Dry nib...

did you know that alcohol blending solution, in addition to lightening, blending & removing alcohol inks,

will remove archival ink from NON-porous surfaces?

it's cool...

because if your stamping is crooked...

or if you apply too much ink...

or don't like the color...

you can remove it & start all over...

like magic!

I found this handy dandy little tool in my mom's sewing stuff, when we cleaned out the house about 7 years ago...

I had no clue what it was...

but it looked interesting & I thought it had potential...

so I saved it...

we used it in my class last weekend & the gals said it's a sewing pattern tracer...

now...with those 2 details...

the paintbrush looks so much better...

here's a closer look @ the foil tape accent...

and because the brush was stamped on grunge, it's simple to shape it & make it dimensional...

just bend the bristles...

crackle paint is another option to add to the bristles...

that looks cute too...

and that eyelet in the handle...

is the finishing touch...

the moral of the story today is that tiny details do matter!

so pay attention to the details when you...

make art!

wendy

ps...one more thing...

stop the press!

about that handy dandy sewing tool...

run it across an ink pad...

and then on to your art...

it adds a subtle detail...

and with lots of ink colors to choose from...

the detail can be any color you need!

books, books & MORE books...

WOW...THANK YOU

to everyone who has ordered my new book #5!

it makes me happy to see the names of those who ordered/ liked the first 4 & are excited to get book #5...

Rick has made several trips to the PO & our PO workers are happy & thanked him for the envelopes...

there is talk of closing our little post office & the extra packages mean job security for them...

so...THANKS from the Oglesby, Illinois postal workers too!

on to book #2...

Mr. Fed-Ex delivered this beauty yesterday...

It's May Flaum's new book & I'm honored to be included, as a contributing artist...

I like this book, because it's a technique based book...

you know I LOVE techniques & new ways to use products...

and I like that May adds LOTS of tips to each technique...

my technique features tim's tissue tape and Ranger's inks...

to create a fun plaid...

it's fun because it works great on lots of surfaces...

like art parts, grungeboard or grungepaper...

Ranger's manila card stock & MORE...

and it can be done with tim's distress inks, Adirondack Color washes, Adirondack PIGMENT inks & now with the distress stains too...

and you can even add Perfect Pearls Mists to the combo...

here's the cover of the book...

I see it here @ Amazon...

CONGRATS May...it's TOTALLY awesome!

and the post title is books, books & books...

here's book #3 for today...

my studio was featured in Cloth Paper Scissors Studios a few years ago...

I was over the moon excited to see my studio on the cover...

you can see it on the right sidebar of my blog...

that's where I...MAKE ART...

now my friend Cate Prato has written this book...

and I'm included again...

YIPPEE!

when the photographer was here, he took lots of photos, but I haven't seen which ones were used for this book...

so I'm anxious & I guess I'll be surprised when it arrives...

Cate is a HUGE tease...

so I didn't even bother to ask her for a peek...

it's useless...

shhhh...

don't tell anyone...

(what happens on the blog, STAYS on the blog) BUT...

I see my friend in also in this book...

here's a HINT...

the involved party's initials are TH...

doesn't this cover shot make you want to grab it & devour every page?

we have a bit to wait...

but not too long...

it's due out THIS November...

here's the info @ Amazon...

CONGRATS to you CATE!

can't wait to see it...

that's it for me for today...

I'm up to my ear lobes in kits...

and packing supplies to ship to The Stamping Place in Columbia, SC for next weekends workshops...

I hope your weekend is great & that you can take some time for yourself to...

make art!

wendy

Hoosier hospitality & HAPPY!

hello my friends!

I had an awesome weekend @ Cafe Crop in Indiana...

each store I visit seems to have something UNIQUE & Cafe Crop is no exception...

in addition to being a beautiful new store...

there are 2 giant flat screens mounted on the walls, with a video system all set up @ the demo table...

this was awesome!

and picture this...

it also has a GIANT fully equipped kitchen...

Tina made us a lasagna dinner on Friday evening...

in the full sized oven...

and then served us HOT chocolate chip cookies for dessert...

she even has a dishwasher there...

and a soda fountain...

and a fancy coffee machine...

all the comforts of home...

so the lucky gals who attend classes there or crop there are SPOILED...

admit it...

VERY SPOILED!

we did 3 fun classes...had lots of laughs & got very inky...

we had gals from Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin & Ohio...

thanks to everyone for the wonderful Hoosier hospitality...

and THANK YOU for the gifts too!

here's the kit for the "inspiration station" class...

I used jet black archival to stamp on the cloth bags with this large background stamp...

archival ink is permanent on fabric...

@ the end of the class we altered the bag with tim's distress stains, which were a huge hit...

they are AWESOME on fabric...

but remember...

NOT permanent...

so not washable...

but perfect fun & easy for art...

next...

here's a peek @ a project from my new book...

book #5...

I LOVE the background stamp...

this set has a fun ruler stamp too...

and the ruler has a coordinating art part...

so simple to ink & make any color you desire...

and here's why I'm HAPPY...

book #5 is on the truck for delivery TODAY!

I didn't expect it until mid-September...

YIPPEE!

AGAIN...THANKS to everyone in Cleveland @ the Stampers Anonymous factory for getting this to us a MONTH early...

they will start shipping out tomorrow...

each book is $14.95 and priority tracked shipping in the US is $5.00...

international shipping is $14.50...

3 books can fit in one mailer, so it you need book 3 or 4 too...

or if you'd like to share shipping with a friend...

that will work out just fine & it will save you shipping $ ...

if you would like to order...

please send an email to wbv1213@me.com

and I will send you a PayPal request...

please let me know if you would like the book signed...

with or without your name...

or if it's a gift for a friend...please include the friend's name...

AND...let me know if it's US shipping or international please...

I'm HAPPY about this too...

this morning I spoke with Cindy, the owner of Blossom Bucket...

we are ON TRACK with our ideas & art...

and we had a brain storming session earlier today...

this will kill me to keep my lips sealed about this new direction studio 490 is taking...

I'm flipping over the top excited...

we have some very fun things planned...

ok...

back to making kits for me...

next stop on this art adventure is the Stamping Place in Columbia, SC @ the end of the month...

this time for southern hospitality...

THANKS for stopping by...

I hope you have a great day & remember...

make art!

wendy

this will make you happy!

3 cheers for Ted & Michelle and all the workers in Cleveland @ Stampers Anonymous!

they always work hard...

but they worked so hard that...

they shipped my new stamps & art parts a full week early!

YIPPEE...

Ted told me the good news last week...

but I didn't want to tell you until I heard that they had been delivered...

so that means they have arrived & are in stock...

if you want to MAKE ART with the new film strip frames...

or the new artful shrine...

or the giant timely pocket watches...

or if you want to play with a potpourri of parts...

YOU CAN!

and all 12 of the new stamp sets have also arrived...

some of my favorites...

SENTIMENTAL ART...this has the vintage lace background...

ART BY HAND...LOVE the scissors stamp with the coordinating art part...

REMNANTS OF ART...because of the ruler stamp with the coordinating art part...

ART FOR MEN...LOVE the fish & the guys...

all with coordinating art parts too!

oh wait...I love them ALL...so I'll quit...

I'm excited to see what you create with these new stamps & art parts...

Ok...back to packing for me...

I'm off in the morning for a weekend of teaching...

I hope your weekend is fun & inky like mine will be...

I hope you can SHOP &

I hope you can...

MAKE ART!

wendy

ps...YIKES...I forgot to say...

ENABLER ALERT! forgive me!

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!