April's Guest Designer - Anne Redfern

Hello!

We hope you enjoyed Wendy's tutorial from the last blog post because today we have even more for you. There is another special guest on our blog - our April's Guest Designer - Anne Redfern. Anne is a regular customer and visitor to our shop and a very talented artist and blogger who loves Wendy Vecchi products and creates magic with them. She has designed a project especially for us, and we hand you over now to Anne:

I was so thrilled and very honoured to be asked to be Guest Designer for Artist Trading Post where the fabulous Wendy Vecchi is being featured this month.  I adore Wendy's style and products, of which I have many, the hardest decision was - which ones do I use!
I created a card which is very much in Wendy's style but I used a 'variation' on her wonderful faux plaster technique to create my background.

Plain white, uncoated card was used for the base.

Archival inks in Potting Soil and Forget-Me-Not were applied to the card with a blending tool.  There is no need to wait until it dries.

Place some Rubbing Alcohol/Surgical Spirits in a small spritzer bottle and spray lightly over the card.  A fine mist is best (make sure to work in a well ventilated space).  It will dry very quickly.  Next, give it a very light spray with Picket Fence Distress Spray Stain and allow to dry. The result is a beautiful mottled effect.

Using one of Wendy's Stamp it, Stencil it, stamp the design in Archival Ink and use the Stencil along with Archival Inks to colour the flower and leaves.

Colour and cut out several layers of flower to give dimension.  Use a cotton bud to add some shading to the centres of the flowers, again with Archival ink.

Stamp some Wendy flourishes and a sentiment and stencil on the other side to give balance to the card.  Add a small vase.  This one uses Wendy's famous faux crackled glass technique with alcohol ink in Sail Boat Blue dabbed over the top.

Above is a close-up of the background and beautiful Hydrangea flower.

I enjoyed doing the background so much, I created another card.  This time I finished off with Wendy's fantastic crackle paste, coloured with Potting Soil re-inker to create the stencilled pattern on the right.  The jug uses Wendy's faux graniteware technique.

 Apart from the Picket Fence Distress Spray Stain, all the products used can be found in Wendy Vecchi's range of products.  I do hope you like what I have created for you today and that you feel inspired to 'Create Art' the Wendy Vecchi way!  Thank you again to Artist Trading Post for having me as Guest Designer! 

 Hugs, Anne xx

 Products Anne used:

Designer Archival Ink - Wendy Vecchi - Potting Soil	Designer Archival Ink - Wendy Vecchi - Forget Me Not	Art and you by Wendy Vecchi	Stamp-it, stencils-it! set - Hydrangea	Mini Ink Blending Tool
Ranger Mini Misters	Alcohol Ink - 15ml - Sailboat Blue

InLinkz.com

Thank you Anne for sharing your beautiful project and technique with us. You are a constant inspiration! 

Have a beautiful day!

ps. If you would like to be one of our guest designers enter our challenge which ends in 6 days:)

Wendy's Faux Graniteware tutorial.

Hello!
Today we have something special for all of you who like to learn new techniques. Our April Featured Artist - Wendy Vecchi is sharing her Faux Graniteware tutorial with us. We really love it as it's fun and unique, so we're sure you are also going to enjoy it :)

1. Choose a small clear glass jar or vase. 2. Choose one color of Archival Ink and the coordinating embossing powder.

3. Use the mini blending tool to add archival ink to a portion of the vase (just tap it on), then sprinkle with the embossing powder while the ink is wet.4. Use the embossing gun to melt the embossing powder.

5. Allow the glass to cool before proceeding. Heated glass gets HOT.

Continue adding archival ink to the vase & adding embossing powder. Heat the powder to melt. Continue to cover the vase. I did this in 3 sections.

Add a second layer of archival ink, then embossing powder (if desired) to create a smoother finish. This is optional..sometimes I do, sometimes not.

Allow the glass to cool completely.

6. To create an aged effect, use Potting Soil on a blending tool to add ink in random areas, starting at the top.

DO NOT DRY the Potting Soil ink. The Glacier White will absorb some of the Potting Soil and make it less stark.

7. Use the unmounted spatter stamp with Glacier White to add dots to the top of the vase as shown. Dry with the Heat-It tool.

8. Continue adding Potting Soil to the rest of the vase. DO NOT DRY. Use the unmounted spatter stamp with Glacier White to stamp over the vase & dry with the Heat-It tool.

9. Choose remnant rubs and add to the vase with the Remnant Rub Tool. Ignore that red heart! I decided not to use it…lol.

Here’s the completed vase all ready for some fresh flowers.

• THINGS TO NOTE:
  If it can “take the heat” it CAN be embossed. This technique can be used on multiple surfaces including bare wood, glass, metal, art parts, Magic Matboard, die cuts, Grungeboard, cardstock, manila tags, chipboard and more.
• This technique is a great way to transform a discarded glass jar or simple vase. Repurposing and giving a new life to older items is fun.
• ALWAYS use archival ink for this technique, especially when using metal, wood or glass. The archival ink bonds the embossing powder to the surface. Embossing inks will not work.
• An unmounted stamp works well and can easily conform to the shape of your surface.
  Since the vase is glass and the embossing powder is waterproof, this makes a great usable vase for fresh flowers. 
• Vintage graniteware comes in many colors, so the sky is the limit for color choices.
  This makes a great gift and can be color customized to coordinate with any decor.
  Check your stash for metal embellishments and change them to coordinate with your project.

TRUST ME…try this technique just once and you’ll be on the lookout for things that can “take the heat”!

Wendy

Products Wendy used:

Designer Archival Ink - Wendy Vecchi - Sky Blue	Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powder - Sky Blue	Mini Ink Blending Tool	Ranger Heat It Tool	Designer Archival Ink - Wendy Vecchi - Potting Soil
Ranger Pigment Ink Pad - Glacier White	Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Remnant Rubs - Elements

InLinkz.com

* * * And if you want to know what are we up to now let me just say... we're very very busy with preparing  the class room for the next workshop at Creative Wirks - "30 media" (we still have two spaces!). There are also few places left for Lin Brown class in May. More details here.

April's Featured Artist - Wendy Vecchi

Hello! Today we are very happy to introduce you to a new series on our blog - Featured Artist. We're very excited and sure you are going to love it as we going to have some big names on here, with amazing tutorials, interesting techniques and lots of inspiration. 

This April we're having a very talented artist who's style is unique and eclectic with an exceptional attention to detail and a fresh approach to the creative spirit. She shares her love of techniques on her blog and reminds you that whatever you do each day just – "Make Art!”. 

Wendy Vecchi is a full time artist/designer and owner of studio 490.

She is a signature designer for Ranger and Stampers Anonymous, and a past member the Tim Holtz and Maya Road design teams. Wendy loves to demo and teach at stores and events across the country and has been published in numerous publications. She was the guest instructor for the Artful Voyage in Mexico with Tim Holtz, in October of 2009. 

If you’re looking for a cool fresh NEW technique, check out her her blog at www.studio490art.blogspot.com

We asked Wendy a few questions to find out more about her creative life:

What is the most challenging part about being an artist? Talking myself into doing the B O R I N G part of my job. That would be writing up supply lists and writing instructions. Sitting at the computer is not nearly as much fun as being in the studio. I’d much rather be elbow deep in ink! The other thing I LOVE to do is experiment.

What work do you most enjoying doing?  I LOVE to teach. That for me, is THE BEST part of what I do. I LOVE to spend time with people who understand what I do & I LOVE to see them excited to learn & create awesome art. I LOVE the interaction between students & I LOVE the sharing that happens during workshops.  It’s also a huge thrill for me to see what others do with products that I designed. How they use them is so inspiring. That’s how new fun techniques are discovered. My advice...DON’T be afraid to try an idea. It just might be the best technique EVER! And if it doesn’t workout? Everyone has a trash bin in their studio! 

How has your style change over time?  I’d say that it’s gone from pretty flat to very dimensional & more focused on mixed media art. Mixed media is a scary term for some, but really it’s a USE WHAT YOU HAVE approach to art. Remember...Anything goes! Can you use inks, paints, embossing powders & embossing pastes in the same project? YES! Can you combine found objects with stamps and stencils? YES! ABSOLUTELY YES! Old papers with new? YES! 

We really love Wendy's attitude and how she inspires all beginners and people who are afraid to start their journey with mixed-media. Wendy also wants to share some of her beautiful works with you. Enjoy!

 Some of the products Wendy used in her projects:

Stamp-it, stencils-it! set - Hydrangea

Old Ledger- Stencils for Art Studio 490

Background stamp - Lots of Leaves

Embossing Powder - Watering Can

Studio 490 Embossing Paste - White

InLinkz.com

And there is even more coming. Through the whole of April we will share inspirations with products from Studio 490, including more Wendy Vecchi works and a tutorial from Wendy herself. We are also going to have a very talented guest designer so stay tuned.

 In the meantime why not visit our shop - we just filled our shelves with new Wendy Vecchi products - stamps, stencils, ink pads and matching embossing powders.

Please also remember about our massive Spring Giveaway and new April ATP Exchange Challenge where you can win a feature spot on our blog.

Have a beautiful and creative weekend.

The big spring giveaway at ATP!

Hello everyone!

There are so many reasons to celebrate - beautiful spring, Easter, changes on our blog, a bunch of new products at the shop, new ATP Exchange challenge and ATC swap..

That is why we decided it's finally time for a giveaway!

We love our customers and really appreciate all of your support so why not to share some of our favorite products with you? We are giving away prize worth almost £100 - stamps (PaperArtsy, Dylusions), The Crafter's Workshop stencil, Prima Resins, Wooden ATCs, crystals, two packs of Finn's Mechanicals and Glass Beads, Color Bloom spray, Ingvild Bolme pigment inks, Ranger manila tags and Route 52 charm and pendants mix.

<a border=”0″ href="http://artisttradingpost.blogspot.co.uk/" target=”_blank”><img src=http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8754/17031978112_1e30c21204_m.jpg></a>

All you have to do to win the prize is...

1. Share one of the above photos linked to this post on your blog -  the smaller picture in your sidebar or the larger in a blog post.

2. Leave a comment here, leaving a link to your blog or post where you shared one of the above images and telling us about which medium, products or brand you would like to learn more about.

3. Follow our blog on Bloglovin' or click "Join this site" on the right sidebar >>>

We are going to randomly choose one winner on Sunday 19th of April and the winner will be announced on our blog on April 20th.

And here's some close ups of what we are giving away:

Good luck everyone!