Creative Chemistry

 

I wanted you to know about an opportunity that is truly awesome!  Tim Holtz is doing an online class for the very first time.  It began today and I watched the first installment tonight.  Its a two week class that costs $35.  You'll get a lot of instruction about the "chemistry" of Ranger products, instruction I found very valuable at Ranger U.  I'll be watching and learning and reinforcing what I've already learned, so all of this will be available for you at Ranger Nation, my every other week class.  But I wanted to you know about this chance in case you'd like to take advantage of it.  Today was day one, but its not too late.  Today was just a 15 minute video, so you can catch up quickly.

Here's the link if you'd like to check it out.

Have fun!

They're Here.....

The most frequently asked question when we get back from CHA is "What did you see that you're most excited about?"  Always hard to answer because there's so much to see to be excited about.  But I guess the best answer to that question is what I buy!

Distress Markers are a new addition to the Ranger line and are markers with a twist.  You may think there are lots of markers out there, why do I need these?  Simply answered, because they're Distress.  

• They have most of the properties of the Distress line, but are specialized for a marker application.  
• We all love & use the Distress pads.  Last year we went large with Distress Stains, applying a lot of color to a large area quickly.  Now we can go detail with Distress Markers.  
• They blend beautifully, you can paint with them, use them with Stains to blend, blend with each other, and all the time have all 37 fabulous Distress colors.

 Tim's newest book is awesome.  I read the whole thing last night and its even better than Volume 1.  Lots of new techniques, including the newest embellishments and Ranger products.  The Distress Stains are not even in Volume 1, but both those and Distress Markers are included here.  This is a great resource, one you'll reach for often.

I'll be posting more on the newest things arriving from Mr. UPS and Mr. Fedex.  I'm seeing these happy guys daily now, and I'm unpacking as quickly as I can!

Dusting Off an Old Favorite

So my friend, Charri Hogslett came in and asked for help on a technique problem.  We had been shopping together several months ago and saw some lovely napkins.  I mentioned to her they would make pretty cards and explained how you could use kitchen plastic wrap to fuse napkins to cardstock and make cards with a really interesting texture.

Charri tried it at home recently and it didn't work.  At all!  She brought her things into the store that she had used and we tried it together and she was right.  Zero.  We puzzled over it and couldn't figure out what we were doing wrong, tried to think if we were skipping a step.  Nothing.  It was weird, I had done this before and even included it in a class I taught.

Another couple happened to be in the store then, a husband and wife.  The lady was doing some shopping and her husband was watching us try to figure it out.  He looked and the plastic wrap and said, "This is microwavable wrap.  It doesn't melt."  Duh!!  That was it.  We needed the plastic wrap to melt to make the technique work.

So here's the trick:
Choose a napkin you like and peel away all the layers that don't have print on them.  Napkins have several layers and you have to peel away to just a single layer, its almost see though.
On an ironable surface, layer cardstock, then NON-microwavable plastic wrap, then the napkin.
Cover with newsprint or a page from a magazine.
Iron with a dry iron for 10 or 15 seconds.
The plastic wrap should melt and fuse the napkin to the cardstock.  You have sort of a suede like finish that gives you an interesting texture.

Here's a card I did using Charri's napkins, after we finally figured it out!

I tore the napkin for this one.  The prettier your napkin, the prettier your card.  :-)
Try it!  Send me a pic and I'll post it here.  Thanks for following!  ~cheryl~

Ranger Nation Prep

Like making sausage?  Well, kind of.  I'm working on the month's Ranger Nation classes and its one of my favorite things to do.  Their inks, powders & paints are a part of most everything I do, so its a pretty free form time for me.  My desk gets pretty wild during this time, but I'm learning to love the wildness!

Next comes the filtered down version of what I'll need to teach one technique and a project or two.  I NEED a really big desk with a dining room table right next to it, with the leaves in, of course.  ;-)

I'm adding a Thursday class in front of our regular alternate Fridays for Ranger Nation.  That will formally begin with the March 15 & 16 weekend.  Call the shop 970.577.1415 or email me to sign up.

$20 for the class, bring your basic kit.

Seriously, this class is so much fun.  Hope to see you there!