locked in the studio...

well not actually...

it doesn't have a door...

LOL...

I still have LOTS to get done before I leave on the 17th...

YIKES...that's just 2 weeks from today...

which explains this mini post...

I'll leave you with this...

I do LOVE tim's Adirondack Color Washes on art parts...

and Perfect Pearls mists too...

just a quick blast of the color...

dry & you're ready to stamp...

and here's a peek @ the end result...

with a few NEW peeks...

*** my newest tool addiction***

tim's drill punch...

it drills thru metal & ART PARTS like they are tissue paper...

it makes perfect holes for jump rings & fasteners too...

I like that the holes have perfect edges...

I used this 4 times yesterday alone...

GREAT TOOL! you'll like it too!

I'll be back on Tuesday morning with LOTS more reveals...

new stamps & new art parts too...

A HUGE thanks to our wonderful military for keeping us safe & allowing us to celebrate JULY 4th!

I sincerely appreciate my freedom to...

make art!

wendy

ps...my other newest addiction...

vintage door knobs...

be still my heart...OMG...

if you find one or 12...grab them...

I made something really fun...

I'll show you soon.

AWOL & LOL...

Happy Weekend my friends!

Sorry to have been AWOL...

there's still LOTS that needs to be done in just 3 short weeks...

now it's really CHA crunch time...

YIKES!!!

BUT...don't feel sorry for me...

I'm having a total BLAST...

I'm creating with new art parts...

and playing with my new stamps...

this stamp almost didn't make the cut...

but I'm glad I changed my mind & added it...

I'm flippin IN LOVE with this guy...

here, it's stamped with olive archival over weathered wood distress stain & a little brushed corduroy...

I've tried it with all the new archival colors...

OMG...serious...

LOVE...........

Now for the LOL...

Lori Hassler has been featured here before...

she's the group mom over @ this group...

she posts fun challenges there...

it's a great group of talent...

and they are very NICE too...

not only does Lori make great art,

but she is one HILARIOUS chick...

here's a GREAT example of thinking outside the box...

or in this case...

outside the body...

Lori took this stamp & changed it up to fit her need...

the idea is simply...

BRILLIANT...

and here's what made me LOL...

she has him doing STUNTS!

so...if you want to see more...

pop over to her blog...

I guarantee you will LOL!

THANKS LORI!!!

since you have been so patient, I thought I'd start a few peeks...

there's that stamp again...

stamped on a new art part...

and there are a few more art parts too if you inspect the photo...

and this is a brand new art part...

I CAN NOT wait to reveal this in full...

oh...and part of a new stamp too...

that BEAUTIFUL color is Tim's butterscotch color wash on the art parts...

color washes & distress stains are perfect for art parts...

especially large art parts...

5 art part peeks here...

and I ***see*** 2 new stamps too...

hmmm...what else?

my part of book #5 is DONE...yippee!

there are 12 brand new projects with supply lists, instructions & step out photos...

I'll just need to do the final editing, after Matt has the formatting done...

the cover project was so much fun...

and I ***think*** that will be the first full project I show you...

the NEW art parts are divided, named & the packages are done...

just as soon as I get the files from Matt, I start showing them here...

so, still on the TO*DO list...

LOTS of projects for Ranger, using their NEW products...

LOTS of art to make for Ranger, for my portion of their booth...

since Ranger now sells my products,

I get a little display area for them...***YIPPEE***

and I still need to make lots more samples for my section of the Stampers Anonymous booth...

and...and...

and...................

ok...gotta hit it...

I hope you enjoyed the mini peeks and as always...

make art!

wendy

ps...full reveals start in a week...or less! stay tuned!

art brings to life...

what the mind can only imagine...

happy weekend friends!

as promised...

here's a fun little project using some of my fav products...

clearly for art (aka...CFA)...

art parts...

tim's adirondack color washes...

and new distress stains...

Ranger's Adirondack pigment inks...

some stamps...

and more...

I'll show you how to make this...

sometimes I don't want my (clearly for art) CFA pieces to be clear...

but I do want the embellishment to be strong & unbreakable...

there are several different ways to change the look...

from clear to opaque...

today I'll show you how to use pigment ink...

start with a piece of CFA...

the size is determined by what you are stamping...

this is a good way to use up scraps...

this mini butterfly is perfect...

ink the CFA by tapping the Adirondack pigment pad onto the surface of the CFA...

I used butterscotch for the butterfly...

lay it on the craft sheet & dry with the heat it tool...

apply a second layer of color with the pigment pad...

then dry again...

ink the butterfly with jet black archival

& stamp onto the butterscotch inked CFA...

dry again...

so the image doesn't smear...

then cut out the image...

because the pigment inks are opaque,

if you heavily apply the pigment ink over the stamped image it would cover it up...

you can get a very clear crisp image by inking the surface first...

then stamping...

with jet black archival...

now lay the butterfly back on the craft sheet...

heat until it softens, then pick it up & shape it...

don't like it?

lay it back on the craft sheet & heat it again...

and again...

and again...

clearly for art goes completely flat every time...

shape it until you are 100% happy...

the background was really fun...

I covered the art parts base with this manila card stock

it's the same clay coated material as the tags,

but it now comes in larger pieces for larger backgrounds...

it's a great durable surface...

it's lightly misted with red pepper, sailboat blue, lettuce & butterscotch color washes...

I used snow cap pigment ink to stamp this background,

dried it...

then over stamped it using coffee archival with the circle background...

I distressed the edges with walnut stain distress ink & the blending tool...

the polka dot border & the saying

were stamped with jet black...

the tiny attacher holds the film strip ribbon in place...

and a closer look...

the colors blend & look great!

next...

the heart was inked with barn door distress stain & then stamped with my fav medicine label, using jet black...

I lightly sanded the edges with the sanding grip & added a bit of walnut stain with the blending tool...

the scroll/leaf art part was inked with meadow color wash, dried & stamped with this background, using olive archival...

the mini art parts flower was inked with faded jeans...

and the art parts scallop trim was colored with vintage photo distress stain...

now just assemble the pieces to look like this...

don't forget the spider!

and add a foliage leaf under the mini flower...

the new distress stains & color washes are both PERFECT for laying down the base coat of color on art parts...

it's VERY fast & oh soooo easy...

I always blast them with the heat tool to dry...

after inking them...

then just go back & add distressing to the edges with the blending tool & distress ink...

STOP THE PRESS!

I just got an email from Heidi that the NEW STAMPS, NEW ART PARTS & Clearly for Art BLACKOUT have arrived.

and...

Preorders have shipped...

YIPPEE!!!

THANK YOU TED & Michelle &

all the folks @ STAMPERS ANONYMOUS...

we appreciate your hard work & quick shipping...

CHA was less than a month ago!

AWESOME!

have a wonderful weekend...

I plan to...

make art!

wendy

inspired to play...

from the moment I first saw Dina Wakeley's work...

I was in awe...

it's so unique & it's just plain inspiring...

it makes me smile...

then there's my counterpart in the UK...

she's the UK senior educator for Ranger...

the REAL LADY DY...

Dyan Reaveley...

I watched her @ CHA...

she just plays...

she sprays journal pages with no idea

(or so she says) of where she's headed...

then she collages "funky" images from magazines

on her journal pages...

I was inspired...

so, I took a break from scheduling & supply ordering...

and inspired by these 2 awesome talents...

I played with tim's newly redone Adirondack color washes...

since this is not my "normal" style...

my first thought was that if they turned out ugly,

I'd trash them & no one would know...

and I'd certainly NOT tell you about them here...ha!

but honestly...

I had a BLAST...

I started by covering 6 x 6 manila cardstock with a dictionary page & went from there...

I like having the option to make backgrounds larger than tag size...

thus the manila cardstock as the base...

same wonderful clay coated material as the tags,

but in a larger size...

I had a very hard time not adding any dimension...

(aka art parts)

but my plan was to just PLAY

and see what cool backgrounds I could create to stamp on...

so I got out tim's color washes & just started spraying...

with no clue how they would turn out...

I used sailboat blue, lettuce,

butterscotch & meadow for these 3 pieces...

mine look nothing like theirs...

which is good...

my idea was to be inspired...

copying is NOT good...

here's the first page...

studio 490 style...

LOVE the stars!

and this just might be a class using my new art parts creative covers with tim's ring binders...

maybe??? still thinking...

on a side note...

...the LUCKY gals in the UK are doing a class with tim TODAY using the creative covers!

I'm thrilled & EXCITED to see their creations...

and this is how I feel...

stressed & NEEDING some retail therapy!

I've said here many times that I LOVE mini...

but...sometimes it's true...

BIGGER is better!

Take for instance Ranger's new MISTER...

I LOVE it because it holds lots of water...

for inky techniques...

the misters are also good for mixing larger quantities of custom colors...

think Perfect Pearls & distress re-inkers...

the bottle is 2 ounces!

if you have the older color washes, you can easily pour them into the new misters...

the color washes are the same...

the new mister is the same as the spray bottle that the color washes come in now...

perfect!

now it's easy to USE up those color washes...

now scroll back & look @ the photos again...

do you see that the color washes look chalky

& not transparent?

I had this *idea*...

I used the new mister filled with water

& added about 1/2 of a snow cap white pigment re-inker...

let me just say this...

FLIPPIN FUN!

by adding this one secret ingredient, you can totally change the effect of the normally transparent color washes...

I see a new addiction coming on...

seriously...

NEWS FLASH...

come back tomorrow...

I have something special planned for you...

I *think* it involves a giveaway...

that's what I *think* anyway...

until then...

make art!

wendy

make art & MORE...

good morning from FRIGID Illinois...

where we are counting the days 'til we see some green grass...

I wanted to share the cover of my new book...

it's #4...

this book contains 12 projects with complete instructions, supply lists & step out photos...

the first few pages have been all rewritten & updated with new hints & tips for...

making art...

I'm expecting it to ship in approximately 6 to 8 weeks...

they are SWAMPED with orders in Cleveland...

which is a good thing!

the stamps will ship first, then art parts, then the book last...

I will let you know here when it's available...

anyway, the cake stand & mini book featured on the cover are both projects from the book...

the mini (2 1/2 x 2 1/2) book has grungepaper pages...

it was sooo fun...

and speaking of books...

this leads right into another CHA creation...

this time it's the large creative cover journal...

I started by covering the outside of the covers with tim's kraft resist paper...

the new art parts scroll/leaves was misted with meadow color wash...

and then stamped with that medicine bottle stamp...

how flipping cool are those new grunge blocks?

they are so much fun...

and when I put them together...

there just happened to be the perfect place for the new pen nib...

which (if you look closely) says...

JOURNAL!

perfect!

the journal was assembled with tim's ring binder...

the large size...

now here's a little shopping tip...

to jazz up the inside covers, I misted over tim's new alpha parts with meadow color wash...

here comes the tip...

get one to use just as a stencil...

it's simple to run it under the faucet to rinse off the color wash...

it can be used a million times...

so... keep one whole...

and get a second one, to actually USE the letters...

here's the other font style...

BTW...

the adhesive on the letters is awesome...

here's a page from the inside...

LOVE my new giant tree stamp...

and the saying too...

there's that paint brush again...

I LOVE it with just a dab of crackle paint...

the art parts large scallop trim

is a good fit for the large creative cover...

it fits in either book orientation...

now I'm off to the studio...

time for...

spring cleaning!

I have way tooooo much stuff, like brand new discontinued products...

products that I used for classes, but don't have enough of now for more classes...

and lots of good arty STUFF...

I'm assembling 15 boxes of STUFF...

it's time to make room here for new STUFF...

so some things NEED to find new homes...

it's either THAT...

or we add onto the studio, which did not please Rick...

I got 15 giant 13 x 13 flat rate boxes from the PO & I'm loading them up with 12 x 12 papers...

LOTS of chipboard...

alphabets...

numbers...

and some cool STUFF...

and more...

then, when they are stuffed to the gills,

I'll be offering them here...

(US shipping only, since they are so heavy)

stay tuned...

have a good day...

stay warm...

make art!

wendy

art & shopping...

the perfect combo!

BEWARE...

I am posting links to help you SHOP!

it's my duty...

hey...what are friends for?

Ok...

it killed me go give this to Ted & Michelle for a booth sample,

especially since I realized that I didn't take photos when it was completed...

duh...

in a hurry I guess...

I am IN LOVE with the new art parts creative covers, because they are so versatile...

they can be covered with paper, painted, inked, color washed, distress stained, tissue taped or inked and stamped...

and speaking of stamps...

tim's sized these for a PERFECT FIT for both the large & small creative covers...

below is the small creative cover, adorned with some fun art parts...

I'm thrilled with how some art parts have coordinating stamps...

like these ink bottles...

the outsides are covered with tim's yummy new kraft resist,

then misted with color washes...

the mini butterfly was stamped with the gold dabber onto "clearly for art BLACKOUT"...

the flower is an art part...

as is the scallop...

"evidence of art" seemed a good title for this project...

the paint brush was stamped on grungeboard & cut out...

and don't miss tim's new cute nib...

here's what it looks like when opened...

you can see Claudine's sticky back canvas holds it all together...

grrr...the back cover wasn't complete here...

the dress form was fun...

on the spine I used tim's new alpha parts...

it says...I STAMP!

the letters are mounted on the insert from the new art parts mini frame...

and here's the inside, so you can see how easy it is to assemble...

tim's ring binder is held onto the art parts spine with fasteners...

again, I used the kraft resist for inside the covers & misted them with butterscotch, denim, sailboat blue & meadow color washes...

this shows how the kraft resist really does...

RESIST...

one more thing about the creative covers...

they aren't only for books...

since they don't have holes, they make a great solid surface for the base of projects too...

I like the large size...

tim made a cool project for CHA with the large cover & his ring binder...

I hope he'll post a photo to show you...

I made sure to size the new art parts to fit with our current pieces...

the new heart is on the small square art parts frame...

YIKES...

I REALLY am addicted to the kraft resist...

used it here too...

but this time I inked it with the new distress stains...

the red is fired brick...

the blue is weathered wood...

forest moss was used to ink the frame, after I clear embossed it, with my polka dot background stamp...

the wings were die cut from grungeboard...

& inked with weathered wood distress stain...

the flower is stamped on Blackout...

I used tim's new drill punch to put a hole in the new nib, so I could hang it from a hitch fastener...

it works like a dream...

with love...

alpha parts too...

and @ the top of my new art parts favorite list...

the residences...

there are 3 sizes in the set with lots of mix & match possibilities...

the base for this piece is from the large art parts square frame...

these pieces were all inked with the new distress stains...

this time I used wild honey, walnut stain, weathered wood and forest moss...

the flower is an art part & it has a coordinating stamp...

makes it easy to stamp an extra flower on grungepaper to add some dimension...

it you look @ the bottom of the smaller house...

"proprietor" is from my most favorite medicine bottle stamp...

it's stamped on a straight flower stem, cut down to fit the house...

LOTS of new stamps on this guy...

the roof is this background...

the green house is this one...

art is here...

and the flower...(it was changed from the one on the top right to this style..

I liked it better!)

the little arrow is cut from this arrow border...

here's my shopping strategy...

I'm doing separate orders...

stamps & items shipping in February on one order, so I don't have to wait...

March items with March...

that way there will be something NOW & something coming soon...

I like that...

my stamps are done & shipping to those who ordered first...

art parts are scheduled to ship @ the end of Feb...

beginning of March...

again...

store owners who ordered first, get their orders shipped first...

phew...

after looking @ all these new things...

I think I'll run to the studio to...

make art!

wendy

ps...I hope the hubbies don't hate me...

normally I type with two fingers...

but this critter will not allow that...

today he insists on me holding him...

if I don't he'll nip...

so I'm down to one...

and yes...I'm serious...

I only know how to use 2 fingers...

never learned real typing...

but I'm FAST!

it took me all day to find a photo I could use for a blog post...

everything I considered had a new something or other...

so that wouldn't work...

I've been working away & accomplished lots on the TO*DO list...but none of it is SHARABLE yet...

so...

if you are a blog reader, you know about a technique I use with Snow Cap white pigment ink...

for a quick review...

I tap the pad right on to whatever I want to cover...

for the sample below I used junk chipboard...

God forbid I WASTE an art part!

dry the ink with the heat-it craft tool, then apply any distress ink color over the snow cap, using a blending tool...

the white changes the distress ink color to a pastel...

so, when I got tim's new color washes, I HAD to see if the same technique would work...

it does...

the chipboard square on the left was misted with just one coat of red pepper color wash & dried...

it was just a sample for the color....

for the circle, I covered it with the snow cap...

dried it & then misted with the same red pepper color wash...

it makes a lovely chalky pinkish color...

so now we have even more options for the color washes by just adding the snow cap first...

meadow over white is awesome...

denim & sailboat blue look great too...

so, what was checked off the TO*DO list?

all 12 book projects are completed...YIPPEE!!!!!!

all instructions & step out photos were sent...

the art is in Cleveland to be photographed by Matt, a professional...

the intro is done & the tips/hints section has been completely redone & updated...

the book projects are...

a really teeny mini book...

a box...

I love these mini thin magnets...I've used them for the box closure & they are PERFECT. you just might want to be prepared...

just sayin'...

and I *think * I forgot the other 10 projects...

but at least you got 2...

my Ranger designer challenge project is done & gone...

I'm working on more booth samples...

yesterday I made THE MOST FUN art parts project ever...

I LOVE it...

it's makes me happy...

a configurations is "in the works"...bit & pieces are done & it's close to being assembled...

I'm working on dividing the ART PARTS into the proper packages...and deciding on the photos for the packaging...

right now it's looking like more than 10 sets! maybe 12?

Believe me...

I am DYING to show them to you...

I've been excited before every CHA for the last 5...

but this one has me over the top...

can barely sleep...

REALLY REALLY REALLY excited...

and it's still 3 more weeks... YIKES!

I LOVE the new stamps, but ART PARTS have totally exceeded my expectations...

Did I tell you that Arnold is the official art parts cutter and that Ron (Michelle's dad) is the official art parts packager? they are my new bff's...

I've been using my new stamps...

LOTS...

LOVE LOVE LOVE them...

all 14 sets...

so there you have it...

that's all the info I can share today...

but there are quite a few HINTS, if you read the fine print...

I'm headed back to the studio...

time to...

make art!

wendy

from the bottom of my heart...

THANK YOU ALL

for the hundreds of emails, comments, Twitter & Facebook birthday wishes...

YOU ALL made my heart so happy...

we had a very fun FRIGID day...

SHOPPING of course...

we braved the brutal Illinois weather...

HUGE thanks to the guy who invented cars with butt warmers...

I REALLY love you...

seriously LOVE YOU...

as we were driving, Rick asked what was going on with all the dinging from the IPad...

well it was message after message...

and then more messages...

WOW!!!

THANK YOU AGAIN!

and speaking of hearts...

here's a holiday gift card holder I made for my friend...

the base is grungepaper covered with Claudine's sticky back canvas...

I must admit that when this canvas first was released...

I was a little intimidated...

but now that I've used it & found out that it's not hard...

I'm REALLY enjoying it...

& now the ideas are brewing for more canvas projects...

and there are 5 sheets in the package...

so a good deal...

and...

the color washes are PERFECT for canvas...

just my opinion, but it's quick & easy...

anyway here it is...

and here's a little quick HOW TO...

I made just for you...

my blog friends...

cover a piece of grungepaper with sticky back canvas...

I used the natural again...

die cut 2 hearts...

PLAN B, if you don't have the Sizzix die...

would be to trace 2 hearts onto the grunge & cut them out...

or even 2 squares would be just fine...

2 pieces of the same size are the ingredients to start with...

mist the hearts with red pepper color wash, then mist with water & a squirt or 2 of heirloom gold Perfect Pearls Mist...

dry with the heat-it tool...

use the blending tool to add red pepper PIGMENT ink to the edges to accent them...

I frayed the edge just a tiny bit...

use the red pepper PIGMENT ink to stamp polka dots across the top of the heart...

use coffee archival to stamp the lower heart with this background...

tip...you'll also want to color the insides of the heart, because they are visible & everything should be colored for a more professional look...

hey...

how did Ranger sneak in here?

this guy thinks he's a dog...

he follows me everywhere...

this is the bathroom...

on a funny note, since he thinks he's a dog, I'm training him to come when I call...

if he DOES...

he gets a bit of COOL WHIP...

I work for stamps...

he works for Cool Whip...

we're quite the family here...

ok...back to business...

put the 2 hearts together & use the Crop-a-dile to punch holes to attach the link chain...

(this is a great tool...ask Santa to bring you one)

add eyelets in the holes...

add pen stitching detail around the heart...

it's simple to make perfectly coordinated ribbon...

just start with a piece of tim's trimmings...

moisten with water, scrunch it up, mist with red pepper color wash & a blast of heirloom gold perfect pearls mist...

dry & then randomly stamp with the text stamp , using jet black archival...

I keep it all squished/crushed up & just stamp randomly...

attach the ribbon with the tiny attacher to the front...(another tool to ask Santa for)...

then wrap around the heart & tie on the right...

add 2 rhinestone swirls (ZVA, I think?)...

add grunge holly...

I highlighted the berries with barn door distress stickles...

add an initials to personalize...

add the link chain to hang & a vintage button or 2 @ the top of the chain...

stuff with black tulle...

(JoAnn's)

note to self...

don't forget the gift card!

here's the final again...

and a closeup...

I used this tiny text on the leaves...

the die really makes it a quick project...

if you're a blog friend, you'll see that I use polka dots a lot...

I like them...

a lot...

but I DO NOT like polka dot windows...

stay warm & be merry while you...

make art!

wendy