ANYTHING GOES!!

ANYTHING GOES!!!  That is the theme of $imon $ays $tamp and $how Challenge this week!  I encourage you to check out the challenge blog and see what wonderfully unique and creative projects the Design Team has put together for you!  If seeing those wonderful examples doesn't get your creative juices flowing...nothing will!!

And ... if you are the lucky winner of our random drawing, YOU will be rewarded with a $50.00 credit voucher that you can $pend to your heart's de$ire at our generous sponsor's store...


 If you are chosen by our team to have (in our humble opinions) the best projects for this week's challenge, you will receive our coveted Top 3 Blinkie Award to post on your blog.

 How is THAT for motivation????  

Okay....ANYTHING GOES...so.......HERE GOES...........


I decided to try some of the amazing techniques I learned at Ranger U using various mediums on ATC size cardstock.  But then what to do with them?

The perfect solution!!!  I made a wall collage using a black 7 Gypsies Printer Tray.  Each compartment houses a different technique using various Ranger products including Distress Inks, Alcohol Inks, Color Washes, Distress Stains and Paint Dabbers.  After doing the techniques for the backgrounds, I ink stamped, water stamped, heat embossed, dry embossed and tinted them to best showcase the background technique. 

For example, this section of the printer tray is an example of industrial grunge on Tim Holtz' Gadget Gears die cut.  The background is Tim Holtz' Bricked Texture Fade folder colored with Fired Brick, Vintage Photo and edged with Black Soot.  Then I smeared Rock Candy Stickles over portions of the brick for a bit of a glisten-y look.  It is finished out with some of Tim's Sprockets Gears, Game Spinners and a Word Stick.

This compartment is an example of a shabby chic background.  I placed the largest wings from the Regal Adornments over the top of the compartment to resemble a roof top.  I put a little Juniper paint from a Paint Dabber on my finger and brushed it over the wings to give them a patina look.  I thought the wings complimented the shabby chic background.  Finally, I added a Tim Holtz Pen Nib and a Fractured Doll. 

This compartment is an example of a resist technique using a Snow Cap Paint Dabber to resist the Distress Inks.  I dabbed the paint right on to the stamp and stamped the image on the cardstock.  Let it dry or heat tool it dry.  Then I blended the Distress Ink colors over the entire ATC sized cardstock.  I used a damp paper towel and wiped the ink off of the stamped image, revealing the white design.  I then lightly swiped Black Archival Ink over a script stamp and stamped over the entire background.  I finished out this compartment with some Sketchbook Tissue Tape, a Memo Pin, an Ornate Plate and a couple of Tim Holtz Light Bulbs.  

 This compartment is an example of a stamped water color background with faux porcelain flowers adorning the lower corner.  These were done by dipping paper flowers and leaves into hot Clear UTEE, removing all the drips and then arranging them in place.  The Butterfly overhead is done with Grungeboard wings painted with Broken China Distress Crackle Paint, smeared with Rock Candy Stickles and then distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The butterfly's body is another one of Tim's Pen Nibs.

In this compartment, the dress form was heat embossed with Distress Black Soot Embossing Powder and then finished out using gathered tulle and Maya Road flowers colored with Fired Brick Distress Stain.  A Tim Holtz Hanger Clip is hanging on a Hitch Fastener.  It is holding a stamped image of a book of needles from Tim Holtz' Haberdashery Stamp Set.

Next to the dress form compartment is an example of a Rusted Enamel background.  This compartment is adorned with a Steampunk cuckoo clock I made form various Ideaology pieces and link chain.  The stamped images are from Tim's Steampunk Stamp Set.

The vintage picture of the little boy and girl was printed out on semi gloss photo paper and tinted using Stormy Sky and Victorian Velvet Distress Inks.  I tinted one half of the photo so you can see the dramatic difference the tinting makes.  Three pink faux procelain roses are sweetly sitting on the ledge in a small vial from Tim Holtz' Corked Vials.

What is a sampler without Tim's famous Umbrella Man?  He was stamped using black ink on Grungeboard and then lightly sprinkled with Black Sparkle Embossing Powder and a touch of regular black embossing powder.  The background is an example of Distress Wrinkle Free Scribble Stain.  

The JOURNEY and butterfly compartment is an example of faux batik on white mulberry paper backed with white Glossy Paper.  The design was stamped with Clear Embossing Powder and heat embossed.  Then I sprayed various Color Wash colors to create that wonderful blended batik look.  I placed the mulberry paper between a folded piece of newsprint and ironed it to remove the melted clear embossing powder.  Thus, the faux batik look!  The little birdcage is a Prima piece and the pink rose attached to the birdcage is another faux porcelain piece.  

This is an example of a different faux batik background done with embossing powders and inks rather than clear embossing powder and Color Wash.  The metal 1/2 number is a faux porcelain technique.  The Memory Frame was done by pouring hot light green tinted UTEE over the picture of the tree in the frame.  Then I added some "glitz" to the frame.  I finished it off with some Tim Holtz metal Foliage.  

The Alcohol Ink compartment was done with various colors of Alcohol Inks dripped directly or tapped onto a piece of silver Foil Tape Sheet that was embossed with Tim's Patchwork Texture Fade.  I then alcohol inked some Fragments, backed them with white Glossy Paper and popped them in various places on this compartment.  I also made a second portion of weathered clock part of the texture fade and popped it on top of the original; for more depth and interest.

The last compartment is an example of Wrinkle Free Distress that is merely stamped with "LIFE IS THE ART OF DRAWING WITHOUT AN ERASER".  I love that saying and thought it needed no embellishing other than coloring in the heart with a Red Pepper Adirondak Pigment Pen.  Sometimes less is more.
 
I really love the way this wall collage sampler turned out!  It will be a great addition to the wall in my studio and a wonderful remembrance of my time at Ranger U.

I can't wait to see what you've been inspired to create and post on Simon Says Stamp And Show's challenge this week!!  Have fun with it and remember...ANYTHING GOES!

RANGER U - THE BIG FINALE

A week ago today, I was "leaving on a jet plane"...headed for what was to be one of THE MOST memorable experiences of my life!

 Here I am at the Ranger mailbox with "Freckles".  This is Hels Sheridan's constant companion.  
He's been everywhere with her...like a Flat Stanley.  Check out her blog today.  Tim is holding Freckles!!

It seemed as though I had just walked through the door for our first day of Ranger U and in fact, it was our third and LAST day.  The "airport girls" all decided that we were going to stage a sit in and not leave when our last session was over!  Either that or spread Matte Multi Medium or Glossy Accents on our rear ends and glue our behinds to the chair....good test to see just how adhesive those two products really are!!!  (smile)

Our last day together was an incredibly informative day.  It was devoted to the complete Adirondak lines of Pigment Inks, Dye Inks, Pigment Pens, Embossing Powders, Color Wash, Alcohol Ink, Paint Dabbers, and the White Opaque Pigment Pen.  Whew!!

Here is what all of our technique tags looked like for just this one day.  

We covered A LOT of material and techniques but it was so enlightening!  I now have a MUCH better understanding of inks and their properties. That has always intimidated me.  What is the difference between a pigment ink, a dye ink, water based vs. oil based and when is something permanent and when is it not?  Now, I get it!!!

I really had not used some of the products in this line all that much.  Again, I was of the mind set that a pigment ink is a pigment ink and Color Wash was not a big deal.  It's just spray dye.  Oh how wrong I was!!  Color Wash is amazing but it is a permanent dye so you have to take some extra precautions when using it.  But, the results are so worth it!

TECHNIQUE TIME...PAINTING WITH ADIRONDAK EMBOSSING POWDERS!!!

 The colors against the black are VIBRANT!  My camera does not do this sample justice.

1.  Using black cardstock gives you dramatic results but it will work on any cardstock!  Stamp your image onto the cardstock using clear embossing ink.

2.  Place your cardstock on a piece of paper or newsprint (to catch any excess powder).  Pinch a very small amount of Adirondack Embossing Powder between your thumb and forefinger and begin sprinkling it onto different sections of your embossed image.  It only takes a little bit of powder for this...REALLY!

3.  Repeat step 2, using multiple colors of embossing powder to cover the entire image.  Just the image, not the entire piece of cardstock.  I can't stress enough how little embossing powder this takes!!

4.  Now for the MAGIC!!  Rather than doing the usual technique of turning the cardstock on one side and gently tapping off the excess powder...you will hold the cardstock FLAT and lightly begin tapping the UNDERSIDE of the cardstock with your fingers.  Move your fingers across the bottom of the tag, gently tapping it.  As you do this, the powder will begin to move and like magic...the image will appear!  It is the coolest thing to watch!!!  Once your image is completely visible, then you can turn the card on it's side and gently remove any excess powder.  The underside tapping allows the colors to mix and "dance".

5.  Heat emboss with a heat tool.  If you over heat this powder, it will begin to turn white...so stop when the colors are vibrant! 

ONE MORE TECHNIQUE TIME...COLOR WASH BRAYERING!!!

 Usually you think of Color Wash as bold splashes of color achieved by simply spraying it on.  Well, here is a great technique for backgrounds using Color Wash that still gives you the vibrant colors but a completely different look.

1.  Spray a little Color Wash on to a craft sheet, creating a palette of several colors. 

2.  Lightly roll a small Inky Roller into a color of ink.  Don't press down hard or you will smoosh the ink off of the brayer.  Just lightly roll it across the color.  

3.  Roll the brayer across the tag.  Repeat with any additional color or colors you choose.  You can blend the colors even more by spraying water on the craft sheet, blending your colors and then running the brayer on to the tag.  Color Wash is water reactive; so water will change the appearance of the colors.

4.  Heat set with a heat tool.  

Throughout Ranger U, Tim told us stories about his beginnings in the industry and some of the funny things that have happened to him along the way.  He is hysterical; a great story teller.

No, he's not doing a monkey imitation here.  He was telling us about a really funny experience that happened to him involving some bright raspberry paint.

Upon completion of Ranger U, we took our "class photo".  Amazing people from all over the world; Austraila, Canada, Great Britain, South Korea, and all over the United States.

After our class photo was taken, we were all given our certificates and a box of "goodies" that you would not believe!  I am proud to say that I am officially a "Certified Ranger Educator".  But, it is so much more than that.  I am a member of a unique "sisterhood" (this is not to exclude the men who have attended Ranger U).  There is a kinship between us.  A love of what we do and a burning desire to always evolve, always keep learning, always keep sharing.  I hope my stories about Ranger U will encourage you to do the same.

Also...a special shout out to Mario.  He is the most amazing person!  He is the man behind the scenes that quietly keeps things running like a well oiled machine.  He tweets everything that is going on.  He made sure we had our breakfast waiting for us every morning.  He refilled our drinks and made coffee.  He arranged and had lunch ready for us every day.  He never gets flustered...he is simply Mario and everyone loves him so much!  So, thank you Mario for taking such good care of us!!  I am proud to call you my friend.

I encourage you to use Ranger products.  I've seen them...from the vat to the labeled and shrink wrapped bottle.  Their quality control is amazing.  Their attention to detail and performance is unsurpassed.  I was always a Ranger girl.  But, now I'm totally a Ranger advocate!  Thank you to Ranger Industries, Tim, Mario, Claudine and all of the "family" of Ranger who made this dream come true for me!

And finally...a sad farewell to our "inky binkies".  These were towels given to us at the beginning of Ranger U and returned upon graduation.  They were our "security blankets" in a sense.  Security that we could clean up a mess or wipe off a potential disaster.  I'll miss my inky binkie!!