A Happy Detour to Random Arts

What comes to mind when you consider a vacation to Asheville, NC? Biltmore Estates? The Montford or Grove Park Historic District? The art deco structures in downtown? These are a few of the many reasons Asheville is a fabulous tourist destination, but when my husband mentioned a trip, my first thought was Random Arts. How could I resist the opportunity to return to Saluda! Just 30 miles southeast of Asheville and a straight shot down Interstate 26, I knew this was a must add destination to our trip.

Last year, I had the pleasure of attending two Michael deMeng workshops at Random Arts. (More on that in the next post.) Saluda is a quaint town that is worth a visit on its own merits. This trip, the cherry trees were in full bloom, and the main street stores, as always, invited strolling consideration.

My first glance inside Random Arts was, as in my prior experience, a sensory overload. First, I walked through to get an overview of what was in stock. Then, it was a leisurely review for initial shopping choices followed by systematic investigation of every nook and cranny. Every place I looked, there were new treasures as well as samples that had me drooling. This was the best shopping fix since I was in Saluda last spring!

The shopping is great, but the thing that really makes Random Arts special is the owner, Jane Powell. Featured in the September/October 2007 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors, Jane and her staff make any visit to Random Arts a heartwarming experience. They exude enthusiasm for their craft and treat each customer as a special guest.

I knew that Jane should be busy packing for the shop's upcoming road trip, but she made me feel like there was nothing that she would rather do than to chat (and pose for the picture below.) The shop has a great selection of stamps, beautiful handmade papers, and unique items that can be used for embellishment or the foundation for a project, but it is the people who make this a place I consider a must visit.

If you, like me, find that travel takes you nearby, you'll want to detour to Random Arts in Saluda. You won't regret it!

On the First Day of Christmas

I remember singing this song as a child - holding the note for "five golden rings" then singing faster and faster as I counted down to the "partridge in a pear tree." I never had a problem remembering the first five items, but I've always gotten confused with the numbers that go with maids a milkin' and lords a leapin'. When I found the "Days of Christmas" cubes by Stampington, I looked forward to creating a Christmas keepsake (2007 November Rubber Stamper) to help me keep the days straight.
From the beginning, I envisioned a monochromatic project in shades of aqua.When I saw a black plastic frame with 12 small openings at the dollar store, I knew that I'd found the perfect format.

First, I painted the frame with Ranger Adirondack Aqua Paint Dabber and edged with Stream Paint Dabber. The veins (Pool Paint Dabber) and crackle (Stream Paint Dabber) were stamped with the Stampendous Faux Finish Quad Cube. I sprayed inexpensive white bridal flowers and leaves with a Ranger Inkssentials Mini Mister filled with 1/3 Ranger Adirondack Stream Color Wash to 2/3 water.
To create the background paper for stamping, I misted watercolor paper to dampen and stamped the Stampendous Marble Texture Cube with Ranger Adirondack Aqua and Pool Ink misting to blend the colors. I then stamped the images with Ranger Adirondack Stream Ink and embossed with Ranger Super Fine Detail Clear Powder. I used my waterbrush to add color to the images misting to blend and mute the colors for a subtle effect. The center section was created in the same manner with Bring Roses (PSX) and Lace Corner (Stampabilities.) You can see the detail here.

"Love" and "gave to me" (Hero Arts Artistic Lowercase & Uppercase Alphabets) were stamped on a transparency with Ranger Big & Bossy Clear Ink and embossed with Ranger Turquoise Embossing Powder. "My" was stamped and embossed on watercolor paper then attached to an acrylic circle tag. "True" was die cut with the QuicKutz Maddie Anne alphabet and edged with a Ranger Adirondack Pigment Stream Pen.
This inexpensive project - less than $2 - is the perfect reminder of Christmas past and a carefree childhood.

Sister "Secret"

The Rubber Stamper asked me to submit several layouts for the July 2007 issue, but when I found out that only one page would be published from each designer, I asked them to use the "Secret" layout. I'm not sure what her older sister was doing - probably telling jokes or subtlely tickling, but this was one of the few photos of our younger daughter with her mouth open when she had braces. You can follow the progression of the photo shoot from the top to bottom right to explosive laughter on the left.

I created the look of mulberry paper with the Inkadinkado stamp and Ranger Adirondack Purple Twilight and Eggplant Inks. By lightly misting the inked stamp with water, the effect is a watercolor look. You may continue to mist and stamp without reinking as long as ink remains on your stamp. Then heat set. A Filigree Heart (The Artful Stamper) is stamped under the letter "e" in secret in the same way.
I stamped the Large Romantic Swirl (B Line Designs) onto a transparency with a Purple Twilight Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Dabber, and "Secret" (Making Memories Fab Font Alphabet) was stamped with a Pitch Black Paint Dabber. The focal picture was edged with Cool Perl and Purple Twilight Paint Dabbers. Tip: Use Ranger's Inkssentials Matte Accents in attach transparencies. You only need a dot or two under the paint where it won't be noticed.