here's how I got started...

here's how I got started...
a 20 minute podcast by Crazy BeYOUtiful

Monday, January 24, 2011

hey...I have ANOTHER cool surprise!


this CHA has me jumping out of my skin excited...

I'm exited about my new ART PARTS release...
sounds like you are too...
HUGE THANKS!

I'm excited about my new stamps...
I'm glad you like them too...

and I'm super excited to show you a photo
I stole from tim's blog...

that are a PERFECT size for...

the new...
ART PARTS creative covers!

how FLIPPIN...OVER THE MOON...exciting!!!

check out his video...
for LOTS of exciting news...


phew...
gotta get my blood pressure under control after that!

Ok...
I leave you with a few quick photos...

LOTS of the individual ART PARTS pieces are interchangeable for lots of mix & match options...

on the photo below, I used a roof from the ART PARTS residences...

with a mini frame...which is 2 inches x 4 inches...

with an ART PARTS floral...

and added a 2 inch new mini scallop trim...

and some CLEARLY FOR ART...Blackout...
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this Blackout...
and lots of new stamps...

to make this mini house...


I've showed peeks of this next project...

Hello...RANGER...
I'll be needing a new LANYARD...
I had to chop a piece off mine to accent the base...

this guy will sit on my demo table...
gotta let people know that I LOVE RANGER inks!


OK...
I see stamp pre-orders listed here...
and I'm expecting ART PARTS packages to be listed there soon...
TODAY?
fingers crossed...
I'll update with a link,
if I hear about the update...

while you're contemplating your purchases...
add tim's new Distress Stains to the list...

these are totally awesome...

I've been using them to QUICKLY cover large areas...
they lay down the PERFECT base color...
QUICKLY...with no rubbing!

after the piece had a base coat of color,
then I went back and added my Distress inks
with the blending tool...
to add shading and color blending...

these stains are PERFECT for ART PARTS...
you'll especially LOVE them for large pieces like the creative covers...

I bet it took less than 30 seconds to ink the large cover...
SERIOUSLY...

so flipping easy & FAST!

weathered wood over ART PARTS creates THE MOST BEAUTIFUL bluish/grey color...
OMG...I about fainted...

my only complaint with the stains is that
we have 12 of the distress colors...

not all 36!

I WANT...REALLY NEED all 36!

you can bet the house that
I'll be sucking up to tim, Alain & Justin about that...
big time sucking up...

I'm 100% serious...
use one...
you'll need them ALL...
like I do...



time to pack my new stamps & demo stuff...

I'll be needing my demo stuff to...

make (CHA) art!!
wendy

Sunday, January 23, 2011

a set a day...#14...PLUS MORE!

PHEW...
THE LAST REVEAL DAY...

I hope you've enjoyed these last 2 weeks...

my intent was to break up those winter blahs...
and to add a little fun...

I saved a favorite set for the last reveal...
it's something that has been on my mind for a long time...
since art journaling is so popular,
I wanted something fun to use...

this set is...

TOOLS FOR ART...


the pen lettering is a LARGE stamp...
it fits the current large rectangle art parts frame...

I used it in the frame for a hanging...
and I plan to use is for the title of a journal cover...

the individual words will be fun too...

I LOVE the paint brush...

I stamped it on grungeboard & cut it out...
added a bit of distress crackle paint...
and here's the result...



the bottle is FUN...
I love it so much that it too is...
AN ART PART!
you'll see that below...

"imagination"...how true is this?

"these are a few of my fav things"
pretty much says it all...

the label...
it the same as on the ink bottle I showed before...
but I thought I would want to use it as a border,
so the label is a stamp too...

that's it...
the final set #14...
TOOLS FOR ART...

and speaking of tools...
I'm thrilled to FINALLY show you my other babies...

here are the...
14 new ART PARTS PACKAGES...

I'll be back after CHA with more
info on sizes, projects, tips and more...

the package will show the individual pieces &
the quantity included...

#1...residences...


#2...mini frames...


#3...florals...


#4...leaves...
gotta have them to go with the florals...
yes...
that's my original leaves stamp, made into an art part!


#5...watches...


#6...cake stand...
this makes an adorable display for LOTS of things...
book #4 has 2 mini projects that are fun to display on it...
or...these art part pieces can be used individually...


#7...ATC ART...


#8... small creative covers...
there's today's ink bottle...


#9...scallops...
the cake stand is 2 parts, which makes a little ledge...
when layered together...

it's perfect for displaying a little...
something...


#10...for the guys...


#11...borders and bottles...


#12...dress forms and more...


#13...bookplates...


and the last...
#14...
large creative covers...



once again...
A MILLION THANKS
for all the AWESOME comments...

I sincerely appreciate your enthusiasm &
support of studio 490 products...

I'll be waiting to hear about your favorites...

now it's time to...
make art...

wendy
ps...
before I watch the BEARS beat the Packers...
I HOPE!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

a set a day...#13...

YIKES!!!

the CHA crunch is on...
so this will be a super quickie post today...
I still have mega LOTS to do...

here is set #13...
another large one called...

CELESTIAL ART...



I really like the first saying...
I like what it says...
and it's FUN to use with the ART PARTS trucks...
and I think it can be a card sentiment too...
and good for altered books...

I've been wanting a large star background for a long time...
it's 4 1/2 inches tall...
and 3 inches wide...

I like to stamp an extra star on a grungeboard scrap
& highlight just one star, like this...


"embrace the possibilities" is fun for altered art...
just the word "embrace" can be used with hearts etc...
with mini ART PART hands...
and more...

"become" is another saying that I used with the altered phrenology ART PARTS head I showed yesterday...

I made a funky ART PARTS head collage for tim's idea-ology booth with lots of his fun embellishments...
it is for sure out of THE box...

I'll show you that after CHA...

the large background looks kind of dark on the storage sheet...
but it's exactly what I wanted...

I like to ink it randomly...
to create a worn/ vintage background...

when stamped with my fav coffee archival ink, it looks like this...




so...only one more set to go...

and it's a good one!
I PROMISE!!
it has THE CUTEST matching art part...
it's stinkin cute...

See you tomorrow &
HOPEFULLY, I'll be able to show you
the final ART PARTS packaging...

so far...
it's looking good...

yes...
that's me running to the studio to...

make art!
wendy
ps...
let me just say...
ROCK!!!
WOW... WOW...WOW!

Friday, January 21, 2011

a set a day...#12

hey...
it's FRIDAY & one day closer to CHA...
YIPPEE!

we were both up @ 4am...
too excited to sleep...

yikes! where's my coffee?

I have LOTS to share today...
let's get started...

so, on the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

another large stamp set called...

STEAMPUNK ART...


the steam punk guy has won my heart...
he's 3 inches tall...
so he's good for guy cards...
steam punk collages...
vintage layouts & more...

it's easy to make him dimensional
by stamping just his hat on a
grungeboard scrap & adding it over his hat...

I also like to use the bow tie from this guy, to add another little detail...

and...
because I LOVED him so much,
I made him an ART PART!
look how cute he is...


I designed the light bulb, with steampunk in mind...
and it's perfect to stamp on "clearly for art"...

it can then be cut out & rounded & easily made into a dimensional embellishment...
it too fits in the configurations compartments...

how true...
the hat makes the man...
I thought scrapbookers would like this for children's sport photos...
with baseball caps etc...
helmets...etc...



the vintage shoe fits in the victorian/steampunk era...
and it is
an ART PART too!

it was sized to fit in the configurations compartments...
the little buttons can be accented with long fasteners...

and if you want a shiny shoe...
just emboss it...

for sure we needed a simple saying for a title...
so we have...

steampunk art...
you can also use the word ART alone...

since steampunk involves altering heads with sprocket gears, watch parts, light bulbs and more...
I thought the last saying fit well...

it's large & fits the largest ART PARTS book plate...

and speaking of heads...

when I first discovered rubber stamping,
one of the very first Stampers Anonymous stamps
that I purchased was

I had absolutely no clue what I would do with her?
...him?
I had just started stamping & had only seen samples of "cute" stamping...

but I brought her home anyway...
the stamp IS art...

for some reason I connected with this face...



so, when I was designing this art parts release,
she came to mind & I decided I wanted

the head to be a
large ART PART...
(is that you Eileen? I hear someone cheering...)

she's large @ 4 1/2 inches tall...
I knew she would be tons of fun to alter...
and that there would be lots of possibilities...

I have use her several times & can report...
she really is FUN!

here's one version of what
the ART PART looks like when stamped...
and embellished...

the base is from the large square art parts frame...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE ...
the mini ART PART HANDS!


that's the scoop on set #12...
STEAMPUNK ART...

it was a very fun set to design...

BREAKING NEWS...
if you love "clearly for art"...

we have added 2 new products to the "clearly" line...

introducing...
CLEARLY FOR ART BLACKOUT...

and CLEARLY FOR ART WHITEOUT...

these 2 new materials are opaque, but have the same magical properties of the original CLEARLY FOR ART sheets...

they can be heated, shaped & reshaped until you are completely satisfied...

they can be stamped or die cut...

they can be embossed...

and when they cool, the product is very sturdy...

here's an example of the
CLEARLY FOR ART BLACKOUT...

I used tim's tattered florals die to cut the flowers,
then the layers were stamped with my

the center bling is tim's button accoutrement...



and the CLEARLY FOR ART WHITEOUT is the perfect surface for alcohol inks...

this is denim & stonewash...
the stamping is done with jet black archival...


and here's the WHITEOUT again...

this time I used butterscotch pigment ink to color the WHITEOUT...

and scratched off some areas to make it more vintage...



so...think about this...

if you want that light bulb I showed you earlier to be white instead of clear...

you can stamp it on WHITEOUT...
and shape it...

I also like the bottle stamped on WHITEOUT...

and because the BLACKOUT & WHITEOUT are opaque...
that means the adhesive doesn't show thru...

if you look @ the butterfly sitting on the mini art parts hand (above)
that is stamped on BLACKOUT...

now if you scroll back to yesterday's post...
you'll see more examples of the BLACKOUT there too...

the little black flower in the ART PARTS pocket watch...
and the butterfly on the ART PARTS dress form are both stamped on BLACKOUT...

by changing the stamping surface,
you give stamps a whole new look & life!

other business stuff...
I've had lots of questions about the shipping schedule for my products...

here's what I know...

lots of stamps are MADE & ready to ship...

HOWEVER...
keep in mind that the first orders ship first...

so, those ordering on the FIRST day @ CHA get their orders the soonest...
for those further down on the list, those ship later...

stamp preorders in the US can be placed here...
Heidi will be @ CHA & I remember her RUNNING to order on the first day @ CHA summer...


as for the UK inquiries & the possibility of UK preorders...

I know several retailers are flying over & they will place stamp orders...

I spoke with Lin from LB Crafts in the UK & she will take
preorders for my stamps...
you can email her here...

linda@lbcrafts.com

I don't have an exact schedule for the ART PARTS shipping,
but I do know the guys are working very hard to get an inventory built up...

as for my book #4...
I'm guessing that will be in about 8 weeks...
and that's just my guess...

but that's OK...we have something to look forward too...
and can spread out our crafting $$$.

Have a GREAT Friday...
I'll be in the studio to...

make art!
wendy
ps... see you tomorrow with set #13...

Thursday, January 20, 2011

a set a day #11...

thanks so much for sharing your excitement about all my new stamps and art parts...
ART FRIENDS are the best!

the stamps & art parts were a blast to design &
let me tell you...

they are even more fun to USE!

I am TOTALLY over the top thrilled...
and counting the SECONDS 'til I see them on display @ CHA...

today I have a "special announcement" that has been another thrill for me...

RANGER will now be stocking ALL my products...

so STAMPS, ART PARTS & the "Clearly" products will all be available directly from Ranger...

for store owners,
that means one stop CHA shopping...
anything I demo with or used in my Ranger booth samples
will be available right from Ranger!

HUGE THANKS to Alain, Justin & Tim for having faith in me...
I appreciate your support!

and I'll say it for everyone to hear...
I LOVE RANGER...
it's as simple as that!

one more thing before chatting about today's stamp set...

I think there was some confusion about the "creative covers" post from yesterday.

included in each kit are 4 art parts covers & 4 art parts spines...

these are not tim's ring binders...
they are the ART PARTS spines with holes to perfectly fit tim's ring binder...

you will want to get the ring binders from your LSS or from your favorite on-line shopping site...

ok...back to stamp business...

set #11 is a large set called...

A FORM OF ART...



"Be yourself" is a nice large stamp (4 1/2 inches) that fits in the large book plate that I showed yesterday...
I have a very fun...
out of the box project completed...
and it was perfect...

I like the mixed funky font & it's a reminder that you do NOT have to be like everyone else...
just be you...

the dress form stamp is a perfect fit for...
an ART PART!...
it's about 3 1/4 inches tall...

this is fun to "dress up" with all sorts of fun embellishments...
after it's stamped...

and speaking of dress forms...

here's another ART PARTS...
dress form...

I inked this one with butterscotch pigment ink &
I used the medicine bottle label to stamp over it...
it's 4 inches tall...


"specimen"...I'm hooked on these...
flat out...
HOOKED...

the distressed font makes me think that it was used
"out in the field" to collect evidence...

"every accomplishment" is good for cards for all sorts of occasions...
and again...
for art journals/mixed media art too...

this ledger page is from a vintage notebook that we rescued from an antique mall...

I loved the writing & the numbers...
it had to come here to live...

it's good sized @ about 4 inches tall...
and makes a good background...

the last stamp has a little story associated with it...
in my other life,
I was a surgery nurse manager...

one of my favorite surgeons was an orthopedic surgeon &
from the moment we met, we connected...
he was originally from Korea & has a wonderful funny personality...
his name is Bok Choi...

one day he told Rick that he liked me because I was a little sweet, a little SPICY (because 'd yell @ him when needed) and I had an attitude...
attitude? imagine that! YIKES!

it became a standing joke between us...

I'd yell...he'd say "she's spicy today"...

so that's how the bottom stamp came to be...
I think it fits well with the things we make...

I plan on using it with "the queen" stamp...
and with the new silhouette stamp I showed a few days ago...
I liked her attitude...

this next photo shows another
FAVORITE new ART PART...
it's a pocket watch...

it's sized to fit a configurations compartment...
or it's the perfect embellishment for a collage...

it's simple to use...
a 2 inch circle punch is the exact size of the opening...
so, no need to try & cut a perfect circle...

there's that medicine label again...
I use it on almost very project these days...
addicted...

the photo shows the pocket watch in tim's printer tray...
along with that adorable coat hanger paper clip...



now this next photo is LOADED with brand new
ART PARTS & idea-ology...

we have a total of
40 new ART PARTS being released...

they have been divided into 12 packages
plus the 2 creative covers packs...
so, we have a total of 14 art parts sets...

today I want to show you these art parts...

scallop trim...
there are 3 sizes designed to fit the configurations compartments...
I've used them on everything...
you'll be noticing that, I'm sure...

a heart, the same size as this heart stamp...

and RESIDENCES...
be still my heart...

3 sizes of houses...
they are 6, 4 and 3 inches tall...

I LOVE these so much...
I used all I initially got & HAD to order more...
they are so fun...

they come with 2 styles of roofs & a mini door...
for lots of mix & match options...
I didn't used those pieces on this sample...

how cute is the fractured doll?
and the plaquette and that hanger again?


and the last of the photos for today...

more...ART PARTS!

the scroll/leaf is 4 1/2 inches long...
so any of my background stamps will cover it with one stamping...
lots of backgrounds = tons of options...

this one has been meadow color washed &
stamped with this background...
*FYI*
color washes are PERFECT misted over art parts...
just mist & dry...

the mini hand made me flip...
it's sooooo stinkin tiny cute & just 2 1/8th inches tall...

another perfect fit for those configurations...

and the art parts flower is mini too...

there are 8 new art parts flowers in that set
& a mini stem too...



I'm hoping to have the art parts package photos before I head off to CHA...

if I do...
I WILL certainly share them here...

PHEW...lots of beans spilled today...
and I still have 3 more stamp sets and
a few more surprises...
coming soon...

nails & a hairdo today...
I'd really rather...

make art!
wendy
PS...
WAIT 'til you see...
tim's new...
distress stains...
and...
and...

Ranger made the announcement today...

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

a set a day...#10...*EDIT @ noon*

***NEWS FLASH***
please scroll down & see the UPDATE in RED below...

WOW!!!

Now it's REALLY getting SUPER exciting...
with CHA fast approaching...

I have TONS of arty info to share with you today...

presenting studio 490 set #10...
another large stamp set...

this one is called...

I AM MY ART...



but before I talk about the new stamps...
I want to share some...

ART PARTS scoop...

I'm sure you saw the photo below...
it was posted on tim's blog yesterday...

it's a VERY COOL new product...
tim calls them ring binders...


Now get this...

I am THRILLED to announce that...
art parts "creative covers"
were designed to use with tim's new ring binders...

creative covers are thick, durable paper board surfaces (just like ALL of my art parts) designed exclusively for altering. whether it's covering them with paper or fabrics, coloring them with inks, paints, or other liquid mediums; Art Parts will not warp or bend like thin chipboard...

there are 2 sizes of art parts creative covers...

a small package & a large...

here's what the large package will say...

This do-it-yourself book kit allows you to be the artist and decide what style of book you want to create. Complete with 4 rounded rectangular covers measuring 5 1/2"x7",
and 2 short & 2 long (for a total of 4 spines) 1 1/2" wide book spine pieces to create both a horizontal and vertical book. The book spines also have precut holes to create simple books using Ring Binders from Tim Holtz® ideology®.

HERE'S THE UPDATE!
I spoke with Ted this morning, after I had already done this post.

we have decided to include 4 spines in the creative covers book kits...
So...
now you have even MORE options...

you can create 2 horizontal books...
or 2 vertical books...
or one of EACH!
AWESOME!

THANK YOU TED...

for giving us even more creative options.
STAMPERS ANONYMOUS ROCKS!

so, included in the large creative covers package are 4 covers & 4 spines, enough to create 2 large books...
one will open horizontally & the other vertically...
(see update above)

the small set will also have 4 covers and 4 spines, so that's enough to create 2 small binder books...
again, one will open horizontal & the other vertical...
(see update above)

the small covers are a fun size...
3 3/4"x 5 1/4"

I can't show the outside of the books just yet...
but...here's the inside of the small one...

this shows what the book looks like when it's assembled...

I LOVE that the pieces are individual...
this makes it so easy to work on...

I LOVE that it lies completely FLAT...
making it so easy to stamp on,
even after it's been assembled...

the outside spine is covered with Claudine Hellmuth's sticky back canvas...

another option is to use tim's tissue tape for a totally different binding...


I'll have tons more to share about creative covers after CHA...
but, one more idea I'll tell you now...

since the covers do not have any holes, they are the PERFECT SOLID base for a project...

I used a large creative cover for a
tim ideology booth project & I am in LOVE...

I covered it with paper...and____?

and if you DO want holes...
the Crop-a-dile works GREAT
to place the hole wherever you need it!

and for another
ART PARTS announcement...

creative covers can be embellished with...
any current art parts or...
or the new ones I've already shown...
and the still secret ones too...

and also with...

ART PARTS BOOK PLATES...

here are the 4 large book plates...
the one on the top right is 5 inches wide...

the large square is 3 1/4...

in addition to adding them to creative covers,
these will make great frames for mini collages...
picture frames...

oh...I have LOTS of ideas brewing for these guys...


ok...back to the new stamps...
I AM MY ART...

I designed these with art journals in mind...
see how this ties into the creative covers above?

starting @ the top...

art...I LOVE the word art & I LOVE this one x 5...

the scroll/leaf is a fun stamp & the perfect spot to place a flower or 2...

it can be stamped horizontal or vertical...
depending on your need...

I LOVED it so much, that it too is
an ART PART...
and it can be stamped with ANY background stamp...
the background stamps will cover the whole art part in one stamping...

quite simply...
is my description of me...
it just states a fact...

I Do...
LOVE TO MAKE ART!

the next saying is another statement stamp...
simple, but true...
dreams are important...

then the do not disturb saying...
this makes me laugh every time I see it...

let your family know...
I can't cook or iron...

I'm making art!

I immediately framed this one & when Rick mentions dinner...
I take it off the studio wall & set it on the kitchen counter...
it gets my point across quickly!

I am my art...I flat out love this one too...

and the last is quickly becoming a favorite...
that's set #10...

now just a few quick peeks before I go...

here's one from the large creative cover...
this will be on display in the ideology booth...

it features tim's AWESOME grunge blocks...
these are SOOOOOOO FUN & so simple!


and also from his post yesterday...
he showed the configurations print box...

that was my super duper large gigantic project
for his ideology booth...

it's LOADED with ideology goodness &
LOTS of art parts too...
it's on it's way to Arizona & I can't wait to see it again...

I hope Mr Fed-Ex treats it with love...

here's the new delivery truck art part...
in a print tray compartment...
with a little face peeking out the window...


I'm so flippin excited about this CHA...
like jumping out of my skin...
can't sleep EXCITED...

I hope you see why...

I'm excited to hear your thoughts...

ok...
here's where I'm headed...

to...

make art!
wendy
STOP THE PRESS!!