wishing you...

comfort & joy...

ok...it might be a tad early for Christmas sentiments...
but I had this idea...

another 6x6 art piece...
square is good...

I'm in LOVE with these graphic 45 papers...
it's easy to create a coordinated look, by inking all of them with the same distress ink.

I used brushed corduroy over the entire piece.

and...they FINALLY arrived...
the Maya Road mini houses and mini alphabets...

I like to mix 2 fonts...
jonathan & noah...are my favs...

I LOVE the ability to put larger words on a small space...
another reason why I love minis...

Want to see ALL the adorable MINI'S?? LOOK here.

studio 490 stamps on grungepaper made the trees & holly...

Just add some vintage trim & an old ruler piece...
some of tim's idea-ology snaps...

tada...done and fun!


oh...
and rock candy distress stickles on the mini letters...


and on the holly berries too...

this time the holly is gingham...
but any background stamp is cool...
the holly is versatile...
because it's an outline...

same story with the tree...

Studio time for me now...

getting MARKET PLACE stuff done & ready for our cruisers...

I'm just saying...
the shopping will be so much fun!

So, my wish for you today...

May you have comfort & joy while you...

make art!
wendy

on my lunch break...

I made art!

I found this 4 1/2 inch square piece of wood in my stash...
it's about 1/4 inch thick...
I have no clue why I had it...
or where it came from...

anyway...

This time I mixed the mini jenni bowlin papers with a graphic 45 that I fell in love with...

there's that canvas heart again...
I stamped the scrolls right on the fabric with jet black archival & heat set it...

another grungepaper rose...
this time with a bit of gold paint from the dabber...
then rock candy distress stickles accents...

that stamp on the kraft cardstock is this one...
it doesn't look too cute in the package, but it is one of my fav backgrounds.

Try stamping it with coffee archival...
or olive archival on a peeled paint background...

whoever said that leaves don't have numbers? wrong!

the gold paint dabber makes a quick finishing edge...
quick...
easy...
NO MESS...
even for me!

here's the result...


and speaking of edge...
this is another simple idea that just finishes off the art...

lay your background stamp rubber side up on your table...
ink with archival ink...

then press the edge onto the stamp...
dry & ink with a coordinating distress ink to color the bare wood...
or you can use the distress ink first, then stamp as above.

it's simple to get it perfectly straight...

see...


You can also create an edge on a canvas that way too...

That's the Friday update...

I know you'll enjoy your weekend...
if you take time to...

make art!
wendy

5 more questions...and the GIVEAWAY starts

So...you like this Q & A thing, I see...
ME TOO!
It makes my blogging easy...THANKS!

OK...first one...
Anyway, I do have a question today. What color of distress ink was used on the flower in your very cool antique film frame?

I used my new fav distress ink..brushed corduroy for the flower in the previous post.
In the past I used vintage photo on everything...
but the last month or 2 brushed corduroy is in first place...

HOWEVER...
I REALLY love vintage photo with the faded jeans distress ink.
Try combining them for a background.
They make an awesome custom (teal-ish)color!

#2...these comments are funny...
I love when you answer questions!! The answers are always a hoot!
and...
Hilarious post... maybe Jay Leno needs you on his new show!

Here's what Rick said...
DON'T give up your day job!!

Thanks for the laughs!

#3...
Can you stack 3 tool holders or only 2?

You sure can stack 3 craft spinners & have all 24 blending tools out & READY for action.

#4...
i got my book today!!!!!!!!!!!!! love it lots!!! can't wait 'til Sunday...my day off. are you really doing another already or was that another teaser? i'm never sure with you.

THANKS SO MUCH!! We are beyond thrilled with how well it's been received.

Book #2 is a FOR SURE...
It will be ready for CHA this winter...
so that's LATE JANUARY-ish.

THANKS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for all the wonderful emails & comments.
Like I said...we're very happy!


#5...
What do you use for stems that will be free standing. I want to make a flower for my friend's vase in her VW Beetle.

Cloth covered wire is perfect. I have it in both green & brown. It's available @ JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby & Michaels
(in the floral section)...but I've only found the brown @ JoAnn's in our area.

It comes in several different gauges...large flowers need the heavier wire and mini flowers can use the lighter weight.

OK...Let the GIVEAWAY BEGIN!

To celebrate the LONG holiday weekend...
AND to let you know...

I'm THANKFUL for all of YOU...

These cool NEW products need a new home...
NEW distress stickles...
Hmmm...is that the new Rock candy Crackle paint?


How about some memory frames & capsules?




And you'll need something to put those stickles ON...
so how about this BRAND NEW scallop oval coaster set, from Maya Road...

You can see MORE BRAND NEW Maya Road here...
just scroll down toward the bottom...



We'll make this simple...

No LABOR involved...

Just leave a comment...that's your ticket to win...

you have until 7am CST on TUESDAY...

@ 7am on Tuesday, Random.org will draw the winner and I'll post the winner after that.

Have a GREAT LONG holiday weekend...
Enjoy your family & friends, and take time to...

make art!
wendy
ps...GOOD LUCK!

Christmas & questions...

Hey...it's September already!
Want to get an early start on holiday gifts?

Scrapbook Friend'z in Bloomington Illinois is doing their traditional Christmas workshop weekends on Oct 31-Nov 1st and Nov 7 & 8th. So ...save the date!

Both weekends are loaded with fun classes and feature holiday decor or gift items you can make and give.

Here's a little peek of my DECOR item...
It features...

the brand new yummy...graphic 45 Christmas papers

studio 490 stamps (imagine that!)

grungepaper

new Maya Road mini snowflakes , mini scroll and mini alphas

rock candy distress stickles
and plenty of distress inks too.

Hope to see you there...


On to the questions...and the answers...

Hi Wendy
I am new to your blog. I have a simple question. i love all the tags that you, Tim and others do but can I ask what do you do with them.... do you send them as cards, use them on gifts... just wondering.

Tags are great for demoes and more.
The surface is PERFECT for inks & trying new techniques.

Cut the top off, layer it on cardstock & it's a quick card front...
or...

Stamp or write your sentiment on the back & it's a unique card. Who says a card has to open?

Need a quick gift tag? Tags are perfect.
It's the card & tag all in one.

If you looked @ the Ranger video I posted yesterday, I show making 2 tags with the same technique & the same colors.

Use one for the tag & the second
can be stamped & cut to make coordinating embellishments.

Plus...it's just plain fun to put them on a ring & flip thru them if you need inspiration.

Next...
Can I ask where you found the jenni bowlin papers you used on that skinny book? I can only find her large papers...

I think this is the Maya Road book you're talking about.

The 4 x 4 Jenni Bowlin papers that I used are here.
They also stock several other colors & styles...all mini and absolutely...ADORABLE!


Will your book be sold @ Barnes & Noble?

NOPE...Here's why...
it's not actually published...
instead it's PRINTED by Stampers Anonymous.

So... it's available here on the blog, eclecticPaperie, your LSS or directly from the Stampers Anonymous site or @ their booth @ conventions.

I saw you do a flower in a reinker bottle. Where do you get the reinkers bottles?from Ranger?



Nope...
I get them from the reinker drawer...see below. ha!

Yep, I have lots...and now I figured out they make adorable vases. so I save the empties.

Ranger does not sell them empty. SORRY.

Next...
I saw a photo of your workroom & it looks like you have a double tier holder form the ink applicators. Do I need special parts to attach 2 together?

Here's a look @ mine.
2 craft spinners can be stacked together to store 16 blending tools in a very small space. I LOVE IT!

No special parts are needed...here's how it fits.
The base is actually green when you buy it...
but black spray paint does wonders!



and...
Did that heat gun ever get made again? I keep asking you. so sorry...

YES & YIPPEE...

Ranger has the heat-it tools back!

It's even quieter & hotter than the original.
I can't live without it!

If you like to emboss, it's great because it doesn't blow the embossing powder off your project.

last one...

Wendy, I just love your art - I am hooked and can't wait till your book arrives (I've pre-ordered it here in the UK from The Stamp Attic wo led me to you!) Do you have any plans to come over here?

I am working on my schedule for next year, but no plans for the UK...SORRY.

Any more question? Ask away...that's what I'm here for...

Here it comes!

make art!

wendy