now about that Ranger INK giveaway...

thank you MR UPS...
the Ranger giveaway box arrived yesterday!
but we'll get to that later...

And so did this...
180 of the NEW distress ink colors...yes...180!

and PLENTY more of the coffee and olive archivals too...
and more Perfect Medium...
and LOTS more workshop supplies.

Look @ those colors!
What a beautiful sight!


And...
I DO practice what I preach!

I ALWAYS get the reinkers too...

in my books I say that pads NEED re-inking @ night, when all the stores are closed...
trust me...it's TRUE!

so...we gotta be prepared!



On to a few questions about the Stampers Sampler cover...see photo in the previous post...

#1...PS. Did you use the Sage distress ink on the cover project? Any other colors?

No...actually the art for this issue was requested way back in July...
long before we got the new distress colors.

Because the distress inks stay wet longer, you can create custom colors, which is what I did for this art.
I blended broken china and brushed corduroy.

The background color is brushed corduroy used alone.
LOVE IT!

#2...I love the magazine cover and was wondering if you would share where to purchase the bird cage.

That cutie is made by Maya Road and comes in a set with birds, wings and cages. VERY FUN!

#3...ok, I think? the bird on the cover is Maya Road?, but it looks like the wing is bent? shopping info pleaseee

Yes, the bird is also from Maya Road and the wing is made with grungepaper. Details in Stampers Sampler!

now some other questions...

#4. I know you told us in class you use Perfect Medium, but I forgot why.

I use Perfect Medium for embossing, watermarks and to adhere Perfect Pearls. I LOVE it because it seems extra sticky and with this one pad, I have multiple uses.

#5...this one had me rolling on the floor laughing...

Maybe you can give lessons on tweeting - I don't get it. I get facebook, texting, etc. and I am "computer literate" but just can't seem to get tweeting.

GOOD LORD...NEVER!

There's NO way you'd ever want any techno info from me...phew...never!

That would be as bad as me giving driving directions...

NOT a good thing.

But THANKS for the laugh!

And speaking of THANKS...

many THANKS for all the book orders yesterday and for all the kind words! I sincerely appreciate it!

The books will ship next week.

DRUMROLL...

Here's what I've been teasing about...

Justin and Alain from Ranger have donated ...

ALL 12 of the new distress inks...

to be given away here.

Pretty cool...huh?

HUGE THANKS to Ranger for supporting me and for their AWESOME blog giveaway...

Here's what one lucky person will receive...

Now if you think these inks should live with you...
you'll need to leave a comment.

it's pretty simple...
for a chance @ these awesome inks...

We'll leave the comments open 'til 8am on Monday morning...

then I'll ask Justin to choose the winner.

Hey...I don't want that responsibility!


I know you'll have a GREAT weekend...
if you...

make art!
wendy
STOP THE PRESS...
the Maya Road SEW CUTE minis (hangers, dressforms & more) have arrived!

little things make me happy...

Stop the press!
YES...I'm OK...
just SUPER busy...

I KNOW I ALWAYS post on Monday...YIKES!!
I didn't & you sure let me know!
I'm so SORRY...

I hope your Christmas was PERFECT & fun...
It kills me that the prep takes so long & it's over in a flash...why is that?

NOPE...no new cabinet photos yet...
see #4 below...
plus with CHA deadlines...it may have to stay there 'til February...

plus...that will give the painter time to get here & repaint before the move...

mum's the word...that's a surprise for Rick...
I had this idea...
I think he likes surprises...
hmmm...sometimes NOT!
Maybe not this time...

I KNOW you want to see more color comparisons for the new distress inks...but the camera battery is DOA...
I waited an hour to post, but it's still charging...
so............stay tuned...

***there are 8 peeks in the Christmas eve photo***

Now... the little things that make me happy...

#1...you missing me...or my usual goofy Monday post!
THANKS!

#2...Rick going for groceries AGAIN...
I haven't been in MONTHS. I LOVE that guy!

#3...the BEARS FINALLY WON & played a decent game last night...SHOCKING!

#4...the snow has stopped...
we got 4 inches of RAIN on Christmas day, followed by 6 inches of the white stuff...
enough already!
We don't own a boat!

#5...the SUN is out...
FINALLY...
I'm so much more productive & inspired on sunny days...

#6...we're one day closer to spring...YIPPEE!

#7...FATE...I designed this certain new stamp & Maya Road sent a PERFECTLY coordinated little...can't say.
I used them together yesterday...PERFECT!

You'd think both were designed by the same someone & meant to be used together...
not so...

It's just FATE!

#8..sending loaded goodie boxes to random commenters from the group here...



#9...sending 3 book orders today too...
Christmas cash was burning a hole in 3 someone's pockets!


#10...reading all the BD comments to Rick...
THANK YOU!!!
He LOVED them & it made me oh so happy!


So the moral of the story today...
as evidenced by the photo above...


comments are good...
very good...


Time to...
make (CHA) art!
wendy

it's CHRISTMAS EVE!

YIPPEE!
FINALLY! I LOVE this day!

First on the agenda...
Let's go back to the new distress colors...
several asked (BEGGED) about the new distress color...
rusty hinge.
Sounds like you guys have been waiting for a color like this...you'll LOVE it for sure!

Here's my attempt @ showing the colors...
you can see they are 3 distinct colors...
So for Jill who asked if it matched the U of Texas color...
I hope this helps you decide...

Oh...and look...Wild Honey is so YUMMY TOO~!



Now about the surprise from my brother & nephew...
PHEW...I was totally blown away...sniff sniff...

Rick drove me to his mother's home, where Paul & Brian were waiting...
They opened the garage door & inside was a BEAUTIFUL antique cabinet...

When they found it...I guess it was totally black with old varnish, but in perfect condition...
not a crack or ding anywhere...

they saw a tiny spot where the varnish was rubbed off & knew it was walnut.

They bought it...and had it refinished by our friend who is a master @ refinishing furniture.
He said it was 150 to 175 years old and was shocked @ the great condition...

I don't have a photo...but I will when we get it here.

It's GIANT...about 7 feet tall, so I need to make a place for it, first of all...

PLUS...we had major rain & sleet yesterday, so not a good day for transporting it.

PLUS...it's so large it has to come here in Rick's horse trailer...

I can't wait...hopefully the weather will clear a bit & I'll get it here in the next week or so...
I'll show you then...

so...picture me...sniff sniff...trying not to loose it...PHEW!!!

NOW...
as promised...
a studio 490 4th release PEEK...

look closely...
there are LOTS of peeks in the photo...



The blue on the lower right is the new tumbled glass...
you'll also see rusty hinge & a hint of wild honey in the top right corner...

I'm anxious for you to tell me what you see...
how many new stamps can you spot?

That's it for today...gotta run... (I still have more to wrap YIKES!)

from Rick & I to ALL OF YOU...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS...

I hope it's THE BEST EVER!

Safe travels...enjoy your family & friends...

Remember that desserts have NO CALORIES on holidays...trust me! ENJOY!

I hope Santa brings you lots of goodies to...

make art!

wendy

ps..HAPPY BIRTHDAY (tomorrow) to my bestest friend & sweet hubby...he's a Christmas baby!

take 10 on tuesday for...

some..."perfect" stamping...

That's what I'm calling this technique, because Ranger's Perfect Pearls are the key ingredient.

This is a take off of tim's "wrinkle free distress" technique.
One of the MANY I got to learn @ Ranger U.

You may remember this post, where I HAD to get up @ 2am to try an idea...
I couldn't wait to see if it would work.

By adding just one more step...to the above post
you get another look...

Here's the supplies you'll need to play along...

*manilla tag
*Inkssentials non stick craft sheet
*heat it tool
*mini mister with water
*distress inks…faded jeans, black soot, walnut
*blending tool with foam pad
*sunflower sparkle Perfect Pearls
*gold paint dabber

* the background stamp is from the studio 490 set “forever art”

READY... SET...

Let's make art...

* Working on the craft sheet, ink the entire tag using faded jeans distress ink & the blending tool. Always work from the craft sheet, onto the tag in a circular motion to get perfectly blended backgrounds.

*It should look like this...





*Take an empty Mini Mister, dip the tip of a craft stick into the sunflower sparkle Perfect Pearls to pick up a small amount of powder.

*Drop the PP into the Mini Mister & add water up the last “R” in Ranger.
Shake to mix. Now you have a shimmer mist.

*Swipe the walnut distress ink pad and the black soot pad onto the craft sheet & mist with enough Perfect Pearls/water mixture to create beads of ink.
The inky area should be larger than the background stamp and should look like this...




* Using the background stamp, stamp into the mixture & then stamp onto the tag.
Repeat until the tag is covered with the background stamp.

*Dry with the heat it tool.

* Here's the result...you may want to click for a larger photo.
It's much cooler in person...
I had a hard time getting a decent photo, because of the shimmer.



* I hope you can see that the Perfect Pearls are only where the stamping is. So, instead of misting the whole tag with Perfect Pearls, you can control exactly where the pearls are placed.

* I like it!

*Another plus...once mixed with water, Perfect Pearls are set...no special fixative is needed & you won't be "wearing" glitter!

* Try this too...oops...
I'll save that for another day...

*I'm off to add an edge with the gold paint dabber...and then maybe a...???

grungepaper flower...(the grungepaper is in stock as of this morning!)

It's your turn to try "perfect" stamping...
let me know how you did!

I'd LOVE to see your results!

Remember...
It's really fun to...

make art!
wendy

studio 490 build a better bird...digging for treasures

As requested...here's more info on the build a better bird workshop...

This guy will be flying out to either Buffalo Stamps, in NY or to the Stamping Place in Columbia SC.
Both stores have this workshop scheduled in May.

Here's yesterday's creation...another is in the works...but it's not ready for a debut just yet...



a reminder...
distress inks can easily change the color of a fabric brad...
this started out as stark white...
just a little brushed corduroy toned it down for a coordinated look...


I LOVE the grunge wings...there's that leaf stamp again...
looks a little different than yesterday's post...




Each person will start with the same wooden bird (several color choices are available)...
and create a unique...
ONE OF A KIND...piece of art...

You'll have TONS of organized trinkets & treasures to choose from...
here's a partial photo...




And, if you like to dig for buried treasures...
you'll like this pile of stuff...

Other ingredients include grungeboard & grungePAPER...perfect for stamping with studio 490 stamps,
to make custom wings, the tail or even a hat. It's up to you!




I've been collecting STUFF for a long time & this is the perfect time to use it & enjoy it...

After the class, the bird can be left on the wood block for display or it can be added to a base of your choice...

I'm off to build another better bird and...
make art!
wendy

Some things never change...and some do

One of the things I worked on yesterday was updating my bio for.....??

There were several easy questions...

The question I needed to find the info for was ...

any contests that I've won. hmmm...

I've only entered one contest...now I had to find the date.

I guessed how long ago it was...

2 years? A little more??

Looking thru old photos...I found this...




This card won first place in the 2005
Hero Art's Hearts & Love contest.

What??

2005?? Really? Time flies when you're making art!

My point here?

4 years ago...

flowers and vintage photo...

Some things never change!

BUT........
some things DO change.



Here's a few questions for you...

When is a flower NOT a flower??
When is a leaf NOT a leaf?

Stay tuned and...

Make art
wendy