Feb 08 Ranger CHA New Releases!!

Here they are....the awesome new releases from Ranger for the Winter 08 CHA show!!

The first item is a White Pen!!

I can't wait to get my hands on these to give em a try.

I'm very excited because it's so hard to find a good white pen....

Maybe this will end the never ending search!

The next item is this way cool spinner to store Ink Blending Tools, paints or other goodies :)

Love the retro feel of it!

Last but certainly not least....Pigment Ink!!!!!

YES!!

I'm so excited about this ~ pigment ink pads to match the awesome Adirondack line of inks!

They are starting out with 20 inks but I'm sure there will be more added to this ever expanding line in the near future :)

Ahhhh....such wonderful goodies....now if we could all just get our hands on them to play ;) LOL!!!

I Love You from Around the World!!

I thought it might be fun for making those last minute Valentines Day Cards for your loved ones.....I love you translated in lots of different languages :)

Bulgarian - АЗ любов ти

Chinese - 我愛你 (not sure which area of China this comes from.)

Croatian - Volim te

Dutch - ik houd van u

Filipino (Tagalog) -ako ibigin ka

Finnish - I-KIRJAIN lempiä te

French - je vous aime

German - ich liebe Sie

Greek - σας αγαπώ

Hungarian - Szeretlek

Icelandic - ÉG ást þú

Irish - tá mé chomh mór sin i ngrá leat, tá mé chomh doirte sin duit; (actually means I love you so much.)

Italian - ti amo

Japanese - 私は愛する

Korean - 나는 너를 사랑한다

Latin - EGO diligo vos

Latin American Spanish - YO amor usted

Norwegien - JEG elske du

Polish - JA miłość ty

Portuguese - amo-o

Romanian - I dragoste tu

Russian - я люблю Вас

Serbian - JA ljubav te

Slovenian - ljubim te

Spanish - le amo

Swedish - JAG älska du

Turkish - I aşk sen

Sugarlump Studios

I have decided that each week (trying for Sundays but we'll see how it goes) I'm going to post a different stamp site or mfg to share with everyone. This week I found a cool little stamp company that's brand spankin new... Sugarlump Studios!


Sugarlumps specializes in vintage ephemera/family photo images. It's run by Nancy James who is a mixed media artist herself :) At this time she has two 8 1/2x11" UM sheets available - "Heartfelt" which contains ephemera from their grandparents as well as images of her mom, Great-Grandma & her sister. The other "Military Honor" contains World War II photographs, documents, and ephemera from her father, his brothers, her husband's grandparents as well as a few patriotic phrases.

I highly suggest you take a look if you love vintage or photo images!

Polymer Clay ATC's

I wanted to share with you a couple of ATC's I rec'd recently. These cards are made entirely from Polymer Clay!!! Yep, you read that right ~ polymer clay! A friend Brenda S. made these for a monthly ATC swap I am hosting on About.com but decided they were too fragile to share with others....even if they made it through the first mailing unscathed they most likely wouldn't make it through the next trip. She was sweet enough to send me a couple though and oh my! The detail is amazing!!! All of those little flowers and even smaller centers!!! The bow alone would have me pulling my hair out ;)

Anyway, I could keep these little gems to myself. I had to share them with you.

Color Wash Cont...

This is a continuation of the filigree heart box we started the other day.

Today I wanted to show you how to make the rainbow insert in the lid and finish off the box.

Please note that this step can get very messy so I suggest working on a Non-Stick Craft Mat which can easily be cleaned after you're finished. It is excellent for projects like this!! (I'll discuss the mat at a later time but I LOVE this little gem!!)

Supplies:

Adirondack Color Wash - Ranger

Non-Stick Craft Mat - Ranger

Cardstock

Paper Towels

Pencil

Instructions:

1. Draw a basic outline of desired shape. I do this to be sure I have colored enough of the paper for my project. It's very difficult to add more colors at the end.

2. Start spritzing lines of Color Wash across the paper one at a time. It's o.k. if there is a bit of a space in between each color. We'll take care of that in later steps.

3. Continuing layering Color Wash until you have applied all colors desired.

4. Take a paper towel and start dabbing the excess Color Wash off of the paper. Now is the time to fill in any gaps that you may have missed when applying the Color Wash. To do so simply dab a bit of the ink around where needed.

NOTE!!! You will have to change paper towels often!! You WILL cross contaminate colors. I like to start in the lighter sections and work my way towards the dark areas.

When you are finished your paper will look like this. You will need to either set it aside to dry or if you're impatient like I am just dry it using your heat gun. ;)

5. Cut the heart out and attach to the inside of the lid!

To finish off the box lid I first added an elegant ribbon to the edge. I was lucky and found one that fit perfectly!

Next, I applied Glossy Accents to the entire filigree top. This will take a bit to dry (usually over night) but is well worth it in the end. The added dimension and glossy really bring an added element of beauty to the finished project!
Tip: I wanted to point out a little something extra I did with the Glossy Accents. As you know some silk flowers are a bit life-less so for a bit of extra detail I used a very fine detail brush and added some shading using Glossy Accents! It just gives a bit more character. (This works with mulberry flowers as well!) :)

So, there you have it....a Filigree Heart Box Color Washed with Love :)

I hope you've enjoyed this project and give it a try yourself. You'll see just how much fun Rangers Color Wash can be!!

Color Washed with Love!

FINALLY ~ I've not been so ill in a long time...but I'm starting to feel 1/2 way human again! Thankfully no migraine today!!!

Today I want to share a project made with Ranger's Tim Holtz Adirondack Color Wash Dye Inks. These inks are a non-toxic, acid free, water based dye ink that can be used on any number of projects including paper, chipboard, paper mache (as with today's project), fabric/fibers, wood products, etc. It is highly concentrated so it may be diluted for lighter shades or used as is. For this box I used the color wash full strength.


Supplies:

Tim Holtz Adirondack Color Wash - Ranger
Glossy Accents - Ranger
Paper Mache Heart Shaped Box - Walnut Hollow
Cardstock
Silk Flowers
Gemstone Brads - JoAnn Crafts
Ribbon
Lace Paper Doily - Wilton

****Please Note: Today I'm just going to go over the box...I'm going to leave the rainbow insert for tomorrow. I'm hoping to get step by step pics taken so I can show you ~ it's easier to show you how than it is to tell you.

Box Directions:

To make the box you will be working with 3 colors of the Color Wash - Red Pepper, Cranberry and Wild Plum.

Note - Anytime you see a dry time you may use a heat tool to speed drying.

1. Spritz the filigree section of the lid going from left to right starting with Red Pepper, Wild Plum finishing off with Cranberry. It's o.k. if your colors didn't blend together, you may go back over it with a Mini Mister filled with water and gently spritz these areas. This will help the colors gently blend together and fill in any bare spots. If you would like, use a sponge brush and "pull" the ink to the areas needed. Set aside to dry.

2. Spritz the inside of the box using Cranberry & Red Pepper making sure to cover the entire bottom of the box. Let Dry.

3. Still working on the inside of the box, apply the Wild Plum to the inner sides of the box allowing over spray to creep over the edges of the box bottom. Set aside to dry.

4. Spritz the box outside edges with Cranberry and Red Pepper. Let Dry.

5. Create the Lace effect - for this step you will work in small sections!! Holding the Lace Doily over the box side. This will be your lace mask. Lightly spritz with Wild Plum (you don't want to over spritz as it may cause runs in the ink). Move the doily to another section and repeat. Continue until the entire outside area of the box has been "laced". Set aside to dry.

Tomorrow I will finish the box and give step by step instructions on creating the rainbow paper used on the inside of the lid.

Till then....stay healthy ;)

CHA ~ Right Around the Corner!!!

I have a love/hate relationship with CHA....I LOVE seeing all of the new goodies that the companies come out with but man I HATE what it does to my "Want" list - LOL!! I do know a few cool things that are going to be making a debute there and I'm sure if you're a Ranger Addict like I am you'll love it!

Robin Beam - Director of Education at Ranger - has spilled the beans on all the new goodies to come so if you're interested please take a look! I know I can't wait to get my hands on the new inks!!

Sorry it's not a longer post today but I've been fighting a terrible cold/flu bug (not sure what it is) and it's kickin my butt today!

Perfect Pearls & Dabber Technique

Today I want to share with you a fun technique that incorporates Perfect Pearls and Dabber Acrylic Paints in a whole new way! I like to call it "Perfect Paints". Yeah, I know, I'm not very good at coming up really fun and creative names but it works - LOL!!!

For this particular project I also incorporated Fragments by Tim Holtz and Beadazzles.

Supplies:

Adirondack Acrylic Dabber (your choice of color) - Ranger

Perfect Pearls - Ranger

Perfect Pearls Large Brush - Ranger

Beadazzles - Ranger

Glossy Accents - Ranger

Archival Jet Black Ink - Ranger

Fragments - Tim Holtz Advantus

Double Stick Tape (magic tape, red line tape, etc.)

Candy Tin, washed & dried

Vintage Image

E-6000

Alpha Rubber Stamps, Rub-ons or Computer Generated words

Instructions:

1. Sand the tin. By doing so, this will give the paint something to adhere to on the slick metal surface.

2. Working in small sections, paint the tin with the Dabber. DO NOT let the paint dry!! You must preform this next step quickly.

3. Immediately, using the large Perfect Pearls brush pick up a large amount of Perfect Pearls. Dab it over the still wet paint. You will need to pick up additional Perfect Pearls pigment powder often while covering the wet paint.

4. Continue adding pigment powders until that section of paint has been completely covered.

5. Paint your next section and cover with Perfect Pearl pigment powders.
6. Once the lid and sides have been covered in Perfect Pearls either set aside to dry or speed drying using your heat gun. CAUTION: BE VERY CAREFUL if you use the heat tool. The tin will get VERY hot and may burn you!

7. Once the lid has dried, continue using the same process to color the bottom section of the tin as shown. Set aside to dry.

8. Once the tin has completely dried, take a clean brush and dust off any pigment powder that is not adhered to the paint.

You can now see the AWESOME texture this technique gives the metal. By using various color combinations of acrylic paint and Perfect Pearls your possibilities are endless! You could instantly add a layer of "Rust" to your project simply by using Espresso Dabbers with Rust Perfect Pearls!!! You don't have to cover all of the paint either....maybe you want the old world look of aged copper....try using the Copper Dabber and a bit of the Green Patina Perfect Pearls!

9. It's time to work on some "Fragment" embellishments. This is done in the same fashion as previously shown here. Simply apply a small amount of Glossy Accents to the chosen Fragment piece and apply it to desired photo. I also made 2 smaller Fragment pieces adhering them to pattern paper. Let dry & cut away excess paper.

10. Time to embellish the large photo Fragment. Apply the double sided tape to the edge of the Fragment. Dip the tape into Beadazzles coating all four sides.

11. Rub-ons were added to the two smaller Fragment pieces.

12. All three Fragment embellishments were attached to the lid of the tin using E-6000. Set aside to cure.

You're now ready to give this little tin to your Valentine's Day Sweetheart!

Fill it with little conversation hearts, chocolates or other little surprise you might have to offer :) I'm sure it will bring a smile to their face!

Have you altered anything today???? If your answer is no, why don't you give this little tin a try...your sweetie will thank you for it ;)

Rubber Stamp Plantation

In my quest for unique and unusual rubber stamp sites I thought I'd share another gem I found. It's called Rubber Stamp Plantation and it's everything Hawaiian! It's got EVERYTHING you could thing of that has to do with the islands....from hula dancers to loads of different palm trees and everything in between. Hard to find stamps such as underwater life, pottery vases, flip flops & Hawaiian shirts right down to a hula dancing cow!!!

I think some of my favorite stamps are the lei stamps that have various greetings in the Hawaiian language!

Another unique area of stamps that I find totally fascinating are the quilt stamps. I don't know if you're familiar with the traditional Hawaiian quilts or not but they offer up various individual quilt patterns so you can create your own stamped Hawaiian quilt!!

In addition to their Hawaiian themed stamps they also offer Southwestern, Spanish, Asian, Petroglyphs and a few misc. themed stamps.

It really is a VERY cool place even if you're not planning a trip to the islands!

Mahalo Nui Loa & Aloha 'oe

Translation....Thank You Very Much & Good Bye :)

Card Sketch #4

It's been a while since I posted a card sketch so here is #4... It consists of 9 squares or areas for various images, letters, etc. They could be stamped images or letters, pieces of pattern paper, flowers, embellishments, etc.

Card Sketch #4

"Happy Day" - Supplies: Ranger Adirondack Inks; Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink; Bazzill Papers; Prima Flowers, Marvy Paper Punch (for the individual squares); Alpha Stamps & ribbon. "Postage" - K&Co Embossed Pattern Paper; Bazzill Cardstock; Postage Deco Scissors

"happy birthday to you!" - Ranger Archival Cobalt Ink (stamped images); Ranger Distress Ink - Faded Jeans & Broken China; Ranger Ink Blending Tool; DCWV Metallic Paper; Bazzill Cardstock; Stamps - Stampers Anonymous & River City Rubber Works; Sentiment Stamp - Fiskars; Brads - Jo Ann Crafts

"Dandy Flowers" - Ranger Adirondack Inks; Lace Flower - Penny Black; Carstock - Bazzill; Niji Waterbrush

If you've got a bit of time and are stumped for a design...I hope that this and the other card sketches will help spark your creativity :)

Happy Stamping!!