it's the weekend!

and I'm headed to the SSAT convention in Rockford, Illinois.

Today I have 2 workshops and then demo days on Saturday & Sunday.
Sounds PERFECT to me!

If you're in the area...pop on over!

The re-do is going great.
Good job by the painters.
Goodbye...UGLY wallpaper...

The major stuff is all moved back into place.
The fun details (vintage stuff) still needs to be taken care of...

hopefully the decor fairy will visit while I'm gone...(cabinet???)

Still waiting for the BLACK faucets to be delivered...
but they can be installed @ any time.

Here's a little SHOPPING INFO and a SALE!!!
They have the new CINCH...Tim's dies...idea-ology stuff & MORE!

10% off your entire purchase with this code...

APRILSHOWERS

that begins today and ends Sunday, April 18th(11:59p.m PST)

Happy weekend...
make art!
wendy
ps...can I shop from my Blackberry? YOU BET I will...sorry Rick!

let the change begin...

Happy Monday!!

It's been a BUSY weekend here...

Saturday was a blast...
I had 2 workshops with my "regular-always come" friends...

and we had some new gals join us this time.

The new gals had not used grunge before...
or distress inks...
or blending tools...

I gave them the opportunity to bail out before we began...

I told them the stuff was addicting...
that if they touched it...
the addiction happens immediately...


they were warned...
the chose to stay!

it's NOT my fault...

now we have some new (addicted) art friends to join the workshops.

It's a pleasure for me to see someone new "get it", have fun and get excited @ the possibilities.

That's why I do what I do...

The workshops were sold out, but friends still stopped by to say hi and to admire the ART everyone was creating...it's a REALLY great group!!

THEN...I SHOPPED...more on that later...

We spent all day yesterday clearing out the rooms for the painters...
they are here & working NOW...YIPPEE.

I'm still trying to figure out who bought all this stuff???????

YIKES!

Here's the OLD BATH...
Hopefully by the end of the week, I can show you the new makeover...



And hopefully...SOON after...
we'll get that cabinet here & the office all rearranged...
and our bedroom...
and the laundry room...
once they have the painting done...

and we have 999 kits to make too...
and packing for classes this weekend...
and my demo stuff to get ready...

So, if I'm AWOL this week, you'll know where I am...

Now about that shopping...

FINALLY...
for those of us who LOVE to work on the tags...
which are clay coated manila...

but want to make larger backgrounds or larger die cuts...

the same AWESOME material is now available in sheets...
yep...
a HUGE...YIPPEE...

They are available in 12 x 12 and also 8 1/2 x 11.

Imagine the possibilities...larger cards...scrapbook pages...larger backgrounds...tim's die cuts...

We'll also be selling the sheets @ the Stampers Anonymous booth @ conventions...

It's FUN STUFF!

And the Cinch has entered the building!!!

This product blew me away @ CHA...

I've been patiently waiting for it's release...

I watched the demo @ CHA & knew I needed one...

When I LOVE something I'll tell everyone...

so...what is it that I LOVE about the Cinch?

1. it's SIMPLE to use!

2. you can easily punch small or long pages...

any size you want...24 inches or more??...YOU BET!

3. it has a built in rack...just set the coil on it...

add the pages...add the covers...lift off & close the coils. SIMPLE & oh so much easier to thread the coils...

4. the BI ALL coils work with the Cinch...yippee!

SO...no waste if you have them already!

5. a tray catches all the punch waste & is EASY to remove & empty.

6. a nice large handle, which seems to make it so easy to punch...

7. and I saved the best for last...

the video doesn't show this but...

look @ the photo below...

if the plugs are pushed IN, a hole is punched...

if you pull the plug OUT...no hole is punched.

So...say I want a unique binding...3 holes on the top, but 2 on the bottom...you CAN DO THIS...just by fixing the plugs...

AMAZING!!!

you can do any combination you'd like...

odd sizes...LOTS of possibilities...




It's a cinch...you'll LOVE the CINCH!
corny?? ha! I HAD to say that!!

I'm off to Home Depot...

Enjoy your day & I hope you can take some time to ...
make art!
wendy

thanks...thanks and more thanks!

WOW!!

A MILLION thank YOU's for all the wonderful comments about the Paper Crafts blog hop.

I TOLD you it would be really fun!
Talk about amazing contributions from everyone involved....

I was very impressed! It's fun to see what others SEE.

and MORE thank you's to everyone who has signed up for this Saturday's workshops @ Scrapbook Friend'z, in Bloomington, Illinois ...

WITHOUT even seeing one of the projects...
YIKES...

You guys are very TRUSTING!
Last I heard...there were only 2 seats left. REALLY TRUSTING...

Ok...on Saturday we'll start with this very fun...
ALL grunge...
perfectly practical pocket journal...




and then after lunch we'll be making this...???

Well since you haven't seen the final finished real deal...
I'll just show you some peeks...

I LOVE the new memo pins...a LOT!



Oh look...the saying is a perfect fit for the 1 1/2 inch square memory frame...
who planned that???

and yes...the glaze pen dots are on top of the memory glass for more dimension...



one final peek...

we fired up the Big Shot Express & cut LOTS of textured grungeboard with tim's new Sizzix alterations regal crest die...

You KNOW what's coming next...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the dies...
SERIOUSLY...
LOVE them...

and I LOVE to use my background stamps over them!

See that peek of yellow in the lower right corner?

It's my new favorite...butterscotch pigment...

I've been using it on everything...with the blending tool...what FUN!

OK...gotta run...

LOTS to do here...

The painters will start Monday for a redo of the main bath (getting rid of the wallpaper...I'm so OVER wallpaper...loved it...now it's out of here...), our bedroom, the office and the laundry room.

I HATE chaos...but I think that's on the agenda for next week...

I may need a mojito for medicinal purposes only...just thinking ahead...

so...after the painting is done...

we can FINALLY bring my Christmas gift home...

I been waiting a LONG time for sure. My brother was teasing me that if we didn't get it here soon...it would need to be refinished again... YIKES!!! I GOT the hint!

Off to finish the kits and write some instructions for Saturday...

I hope to recruit Rick to help with stamping...

if we can crank the kits out...

and get the supplies all packed...

I may be able to squeeze in a few minutes to...

make art!

wendy

Paper Crafts + Tuesday = a BLOG HOP!

Get ready for some fun & LOADS of art inspiration...

Here's the scoop...
which involves the "top secret" project I mentioned last week...

I want to tell you that...

Paper Crafts magazine recently released their latest special issue called "Go-to Sketches"...

Here it is...TA-DA!



I was excited when my friend Kim Hughes asked me to contribute to a blog hop along with four other designers using a sketch found within the magazine.

The blog hop begins at the Paper Crafts Connection blog.
Three winners will be randomly chosen to receive a copy of Go-to Sketches. YIPPEE! I REALLY hope it's someone from here!

Commenting on as many blogs as you can will increase your chances of winning.
That makes sense!

Comments are good...
really good...
and you gotta enter to win! You already KNOW that!

Comments close at midnight on Thursday, April 8th and winners will be announced on the Paper Crafts Connection blog.

Below is what Kim sent...
My assignment was to create "SOMETHING", using her sketch and to make it studio 490 style...





So...
Kim's sketch...
inspired me to make this...





I used lots of my favorites...
grungepaper, Ranger's distress inks, Maya Road trinkets, Tim Holtz idea-ology, Tim's new Sizzix dies...
and LOTS of studio 490 stamps.


And as you can see...
it's loaded with goodies...



Below are Kim's friends who are also playing along:
I guarantee that you'll find TONS of inspiration on the following blogs...

Alicia Thelin:http://scrappybetties.blogspot..com/
Angie Hagist:http://www.angiehagist.blogspot.com/
Carly Robertson:http://carlyrobertson.typepad.com/
Jennifer McGuire:http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com/

All of the Paper Crafts Go-to Gals are playing along as well....so there's even more eye candy!

Here are their blog links so that you can see what they and their 5 friends have created using one of their sketches.

Betsy Veldman:http://scrapbookgirl.typepad.com/
Jessica Witty:http://www.jesswitty.blogspot.com/
Kim Kesti: http://kimberlykesti.typepad.com/
Maren Benedict:http://zanynotcrazy.blogspot.com/
Teri Anderson:http://terisplace.wordpress.com/

The moral of today's story?
SKETCHES are very fun and blog hops are too!

Grab a beverage, sit back & RELAX...
and let the hopping begin...

I'm certain that after visiting all the blogs, you'll be inspired to...

make art!
wendy
ps...THANKS KIM...that was FUN!

flowers are IN style!

That makes me so happy...

While shopping last Friday I noticed flowers on everything...
purses, shoes, sweaters, scarves, headbands...jackets.

YIPPEE!!

As I passed an accessory area of my fav store...
I spotted lots of flower pins...

They caught my eye...
they were adorable...
they were pricey...

$45.00 -$48.00 for a layered fabric flower?
CUTE...but I think not...

Enter tim's new tattered floral Sizzix die...

I had a bag started for Goodwill...
things the dryer shrunk...
I'm sure that's what happened...

I fired up the Big Shot Express...
chopped up those old clothes and made FLOWERS...
lots of flowers...

This one is my fav...
because I like the colors...
or maybe it's because I ADORE the button...



no wait...this is my fav...



this one is for my friend who cuts my hair...
she dresses in black 99% of the time...
and always wears a jacket...




and another...

and if you're sitting there thinking ...

she's nuts...now she's addicted to dies...

let me just say that there are 8 more all cut, layered, stacked & ready to be assembled...

I just need to find the perfect flower center...

Hmmm...

I wonder if there is a Sizzix ANONYMOUS...

Come back tomorrow...

I'll have my post done EARLY...

really early...

You might want to schedule some extra computer blog time...

I'm just sayin...there's fun grungy stuff coming...

tomorrow!

It's a sunny Monday...

a perfect day to...

make art
wendy
ps...I WILL make kits...not more flowers

I WILL make kits...not more flowers...

I must keep repeating this...

I LOVE Friday's...

and I LOVE today especially...
because I'm headed out to SHOP!!!
YIPPEE!!!

I NEED to hunt down some gifts...
like for next week! YIKES...
I'm down to the wire...

I finished one of the small acrylic storage binders for my stamps yesterday...

This new size is very fun...
what is it about small???
The smaller the better...
too cute!

Anyway... I thought I'd do a quickie share...
I'll try to add the supply list tomorrow...



WAIT...don't go yet...

Tim's Sizzix embossing folders are coming SOON...
YIPPEE...

Here's a special deal on ALL 16...
from my friends @ eclecticPaperie...

Happy shopping to you & to me!
You bet...mine are ordered!!
I REALLY NEED them ALL... dear Rick!!

Some days I'm a cheap date...
some days...
not so much!

I hope the rabbit brings you LOTS of yummy chocolate!
Chocolate is ALL low cal on holidays...
trust me!

Please take some time this weekend to...

make art!
wendy

10 Q & A day...

I have no art photos that I can share today...

I just did a "top secret" project yesterday & that will be the post for Tuesday of next week...
stay tuned...
it was FUN...
and TUESDAY will be fun!

Since I have no good photos, today is Q & A day...

1. I saw tim's dies @ my LSS but the birdcage only had the cage, not the bird, I'm confused & the owner wasn't sure.

Whatever is shown on the package label is actually cut by the die.

We had this question quite a few times in Columbus...the package only has the cage sample, but TRUST me...

you get the bird & wing too.

Same for all the other dies...

the heart has the wings & the crown too...even though you don't see the white samples in the package.

2. I have a question, probably one you have already answered, but here goes...what is the difference between distress inks and pigment inks?

The distress are dye based inks...they are transparent.

The pigments are opaque. Most pigment inks need to be blasted with the heat-it tool or they never dry...

HOWEVER...Ranger's pigment inks are unique because they are a fast drying pigment. They will air dry in about 10-15 minutes (when used on porous surfaces) but they can also be blasted with the heat-it tool to speed up the process...if you are impatient like me!

Since we're talking about inks...
the Archivals are essentials because they are a waterproof ink.
So, once dry...they won't smear and any waterbased product can be used over the archivals...

3. i bought your acrylic cover, but I'm affraid to start...any tips?

Here's what I do...

and YIPPEE...
I just got the new small size in Columbus...

I hope to play & get 2 of them done...
small is REALLY cute...

Anyway, here's what I do...

First, choose your background paper & lay it UNDER the cover, but don't glue it yet.

Glue your embellishmens on the front of the cover, then turn the cover over & it's simple to see where the adhesive is.

Just add adhesive in those spots to adhere the paper. That way all the adhesive is hidden.

4. I can't use Tim's chains without smashing and distorting them. I see that you use them for hanging things. What's the trick?

Here's what I do...
just stick needle nose pliers in the link & push the link further down on the pliers.
The further down it goes, the more it opens the link.

Then I squish it shut with the same pliers.




5. Do you keep a journal or notebook and jot down ideas as you think of them or when its time to create do you just go at it? If you have already addressed this I can look through older posts.

For new stamp ideas, that's what I do. I have a folder on the computer where I jot down a word, a saying or an idea.

For projects...basically I wing it...I work as I go.

6. Why do they call that chipboard heart a chipboard coaster? I read the link and the description says it is a Maya Road heart coaster album. Do you make albums with these coasters? Do you have any examples of coasters as an album?

That's just the name given to that product category by Maya Road.

The coasters are joined by ball chain & have 6 pages...there are LOTS of fun shapes available.

They have lots of other categories like binders...

Another category is "TRINKETS"...which are the embellishments like the pins, buttons, flowers etc.

You certainly can use all the pages to make mini albums.
I've done quite a few of them...

I'll look for some photos later...or you can look thru some older posts in the meantime.

7. still wondering how many sets you will release in the summer...

I'm not exactly sure. What happens is when the images are finalized, I print them out, cut them apart & see what fits together...

and how many I can squeeze on a storage sheet to make it a good value.

We're getting close...real close.
I'll let you know when I'm certain.

8. is there any chance you will make your books monthly...or i'll even settle for bimonthly?
the more the better for me. i'd rather buy tehm than magazines, since you teach us tips.

YIKES! I doubt it...it takes pretty much time to write the instructions & it's my least favorite part of the process.

For now, my plan is to print one with each new stamp release...so there will be a new book...twice a year.

9. is the cage really cut from grungeboard or is it grungepaper?

The sample I posted is grungeBOARD...REALLY!
TRUST ME!!!

10. Ok, when you attach the wire on the bottom with the tape, do you put something over it to cover up the wire? I think that tape is double sided. It's just shaped so nice

I used a piece of floral wire under the horizontal part of the cage. I used wondertape to attach the wire & to attach the cage to the base.

The grungeboard holds the shape really well...but I added the wire for a little more stability, since it will be traveling a lot.

Here's a little tip for going green...
Save the clear packaging from tim's dies...

I use them to mail dimensional cards...they provide great protection...they're free & you're doing the green thing.

You can also stamp on it (archival)...like my bottle or use it to die cut something...

Now this is NO APRIL FOOL...

One of my favorite new releases is tim's memo pins...

So as a thanks for leaving a comment...
these people win a package of memo pins!!!

FOR REAL...NO APRIL FOOL THING!!

Send me your snail mail info & we'll get some out to you...

Congrats to...

Chirpin Is Fun said...
Awesome bird cage...well cages! Love to see what you do with "stuff". The sun is shining today in central Illinois...is the snow going to stay away for a while? I sure hope so. Thanks for inspiring us to make art!
March 30, 2010 10:45 AM

kkaisu said...
Heading to Michaels to find that birdcage....lol. Awesome ideas as always.
March 30, 2010 1:44 PM

denise said...
Love hearing about the new things coming this summer.... so fun. Love the projects today too. You are amazing.
March 30, 2010 9:36 PM

Dorothy said...
Love all your art Wendy!!!
March 30, 2010 4:38 PM

Comments are good...
I'm just sayin...

Now I'm off to...

make (acrylic binder) art!
wendy