How about a Bandanna Technique Card Contest???

Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone is well. I was cleared for my surgery, so I'm getting ready, trying to get as much done at work as possible. It's a busy week with Claudine here, but things are coming along so well! I had a blast playing with Claudine today and I'm really stoked on what's coming down the pike this summer! I'm going to be up late tonight finishing up my prepping for the Scrapbook Cupboard classes and tomorrow night, dinner with Miss Claudine and Foofie Toes' Mommy (Nadine!).

I figured that during my recovery from my arthroscopic knee surgery, it would be fun to have a contest...what do you think? Here's the rules:

1. Create a card that features the Bandanna Technique! For those that don't know what that is, I'm going to post the "official" directions below. The key to "bandanna-ing" is using the Inkssentials(tm) White Opaque Pen-it can be over pre-printed scrapbook paper, over Distress Crackle Paint(tm), Adirondack(r) Pigment Ink, or even Tim's Wrinkle Free Distress Technique!

2. Mail the card to Ranger's office as follows:

Robin's Bandanna Technique Card Contest

c/o Ranger Industries

15 Park Road

Tinton Falls, NJ 07724

Since I don't have a P.O. box, this is the next best thing and I'll have someone from my office mail the cards home to me.

3. Make as many as you want! If possible, mail separately so I can keep track of what I get from whom. PUT YOUR NAME ON IT! I know, I'm my own worst enemy of this, but don't forget to do this. Even though this is my personal contest, who knows? It could end up as a sample at CHA?! Hint: since it's no surprise that I work at Ranger, it wouldn't hurt to use Ranger product?????

4. Have all cards to me by FRIDAY, MAY 17th, 2008. My plan is to go through them all and while home, from time to time post some of them (not necessarily will be what's picked as the winners, but just go show all the neat stuff that (I hope!) is coming in!

5. I will (possibly with some help from my cats Minnie and Oliver, who'll be home keeping me company, and maybe even Brian) pick 8-10 "finalists". I'll then set up a poll for you to vote for the winner!

6. I'm still figuring out what you can win. I may contact a few of my author friends to see if they want to cough up some stuff, but I think what the "grand prize" will be.....hmmmm....how about a FULL set of Ranger Adirondack(r) Pigment Ink Stamp Pad and reinkers? That's 20 stamp pads and 20 reinkers...not bad, huh? (Note: this is my contest...I'm going to be buying this from Ranger-wholesale, but still, it's going to be from ME!) Second and Third Places will be a $25 Amazon gift certificate and Third Place-will be a surprise (which means I'm not sure what yet).

So, what do you think? Tell EVERYONE!!!! The more the merrier. PLEASE give me something to ogle and look at while I'm recovering from my knee surgery!

Here's the "official" Bandanna Technique Instructions! Feel free to share...

Bandanna Backgrounds

Supplies:
Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink™ Dye Stamp Pads, Ranger Industries
Inkssentials™ Non-Stick Craft Sheet, Ranger Industries
Inkssentials™ Mini Mister™, Ranger Industries
Inkssentials™ Heatit™ Craft Tool, Ranger Industries
Inkssentials™ White Opaque Pen, Ranger Industries
Adirondack® Pitch Black Dabber or Pigment Pad or Archival™ Jet Black, Ranger Industries
Rubber Stamps (flourishes work especially well)
Watercolor Paper, Strathmore Series 400
Directions:
Creating the Wrinkle Free Distress background:
1. For this technique, the key is what you do after you create the background. Thus, you can use ink or paint. My favorites are using either Tim Holtz’ Wrinkle Free Distress Techniques or painting a Distress Crackle Paint or Adirondack Pigment Ink background.
2. For Wrinkle Free Distress, use watercolor paper cut into 4” squares or postcard size (5-1/2” x 4-1/4”).
3. Rub colors of Distress Ink on the Non-Stick Craft Sheet. Place the ink next to and not on top of one another to keep the ink colors as pristine as possible.
4. Spritz ink with water with Mini Mister; more water is better. If you use too little water, you will end up with “blocks” of color.
5. Press paper on the inks; “squeegee” your hand over the back of the paper (move your hand, not the paper, moving the ink outward). Turn over and dry with the Craft Tool. (Option: blot the wetter areas with a paper towel, which creates wonderful ink spots and helps the paper dry faster!)
6. Note how Distress Inks, when wet, create different tones of the same color.
7. Lightly tap dry inked paper over remaining ink drops on Craft Sheet to build layers of color. Dry with Craft Tool. Note: if you don’t dry the ink between “pressings”, it will muddy.
8. Repeat until desired look is achieved.
9. For Distress Crackle Paint background, paint manila tag or cardstock with Crackle Paint. Shake paint; medium coats create smaller cracks; heavier coats create larger cracks. Allow to dry on own; use Craft Tool to speed drying only after it has started to crack.
Bandanna it!
10. Stamp images with either paint dabber, pigment ink or Archival ink over surface. Use Craft Tool to speed drying. The types of stamps that are best are more graphic ones or ones that have medium to heavier “lines” so they can be embellished.
11. Now’s the fun part! Have fun doodling over and around the images with the white pen. Use your imagination; don’t be shy; add embellishments over or around the lines of the stamp, which is your doodling guide!

Happy Bandanna-ing!

Robin