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

Hazel, I'm not!

Happy Sunday, Everyone! Boy, am I whooped. I did a major "cleaning of the house." By no means is this my favorite job. I wish I had the ability to just snap my fingers and it be done, but alas, that doesn't happen. But I'm working on getting organized and cleaned up because next week I'm teaching at Scrapbook Cupboard in MA and the Tuesday after that I'm having my right knee surgery!

This week will be busy with Claudine Hellmuth coming to NJ to work on her new product line with Ranger. That will be great, but busy!

So now I'm off to finish prepping for the classes, so I'll be ready to go. Enjoy this weeks bevy of beadbabe bloggers!

So clean on my friends!

• About.com Jewelry Making Catch up on some jewelry product reviews and sign up for the About.com Jewelry Making bi-weekly newsletter.
• Art Bead Scene Step into the world of faux-tiques and impossible objects. It isn't Alice in Wonderland, it's the world of Lynn Davis!
• Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie offers a rare glimpse into an even rarer sight: her clean beading
• Jewelry & Beading Need a new idea for bead embroidery? "Treasure Chest" will have you running for your stash! studio!
• Katie's Beading Blog Make these Butterfly Bliss earrings in an evening (okay, so they're really moths...)
• Make It Mine Magazine New online content: shrink art videos and a downloadable pendant project
• Naughty Secretary Club The king of the chain gang, Justin Giunta’s Subversive Jewelry comes to a Target near you.
• PearlEsq. What a Hoot! Check out the artfully individual Owls of Massaustraliranger. HUH?!
• Savvy Crafter It's a Pearl! Click over to Candie's blog to see where pearls come from and a pair of earrings!
• Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! My cool bracelet which I made with wonderful components by Green Girl Studios!
• The Impatient Blogger Madge is off to Japan for a designer exchange between the CHA and the HAJ! Check out this e-newsletter excerpt for the 411.

The Creatively Unique Massaustraliranger Owls!

Happy Wednesday! Now that I'm back on the road to health again, I wanted to share some more of my pics from my Absolutely Everything trip. One of my favorite parts of the "Birds of a Feather" Class was decorating Julie Van Oosten's Collections Owls!

I was so psyched that after I demoed Tim's Wrinkle-Free Distress and the Bandanna technique with the Inkssentials(tm) White Opaque Pen as well as tips and techniques on Distress Crackle Paint(tm), Adirondack(r) Acrylic Paint Dabbers, etc., everyone did their own thing! Every owl was so unique and individualistic. That just makes my day. Years ago when I would teach card classes and students would ask what I exactly used, sometimes I wouldn't tell (I'm so bad!). I really want everyone to experiment and enjoy and not worry! I think everyone also enjoyed what they made, and that's what it's all about!
I really do have fun with the birds and owls following that's going on with art, and these "blingy"-eyed Swarovksi Owls are so creative! As you can probably tell, this "species" of artsy owl came via Australia (Julie) to Kate's (Topsfield, MA) and, of course, "Rangerized" ala, moi!

This weekend will be spent getting prepped for my last week of classes at Scrapbook Cupboard, (check it out!) before my right knee medial meniscectomy, which will put me out a few weeks, but it's all good, because then I'll be ready to roll!

Have a Hootie Blast!

Robin

Taking a stab at...Needle Felting!

Hello, Everyone! Hope you had a good weekend. It was bound to happen, but I succumbed to a cold and have been out for the count for the past 5 days. What a bummer. It really kicked my butt. Brian took good care of me, though, bringing me lots of soup! I'll be back to work tomorrow, but I'm just keeping quiet so as not to have a coughing fit. Ugh!

In the interim, since my trip to Absolutely Everything, one of the things that I got sucked into was needle felting. I've seen a few projects in magazines, on line, as well as the new products that Clover has unveiled this year. Kate had some felting needles, roving, etc. and she gave me a quick lesson. My first go 'round was a felted bead from Art Girlz to which I added some swirlies. It looks like a furry marble. I never do anything half way, so I then began going onto the 'net looking for more information. I purchased a great pattern for needle felting a bear from Marie Spaulding, so I took a shot at it. The bear head was pretty cool, but I ran out of the matching roving and his body looked too thin, so it almost looks like a short Pez!

I then attempted a cat. I used what I had, which was some multi-colored greenish roving. I worked on it here and there, but at least I finished it. For my first attempt, not bad, but I could critique the bejeebers out of it. Of course I then ordered more stuff to improve on this. I will definitely get working on some fun decorated felt beads, and who knows, maybe some felted kitty beads!

I also wanted you to go and check out Hero Arts' new blog. Shari Carroll asked me to create a card for her blog, which she posted last Friday. It was fun to do..."bandannaed", of course!

Because of being away and then with my cold I was remiss with my beadbloggers! Please check out these wonderful blogs! There's some new additions...so click away!

About.com Jewelry Making With the cost of metals on the rise, many jewelry makers are turning to copper. Here are some copper connections for you.
Art Bead Scene Free Project at ABS!
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie digs in deep and picks at the heart and bones of her creative process.
Jennifer Jangles Blog Jennifer shows a sneak peek of a project from her new book, Ceramic Bead Jewelry, due out June 3rd.
Jewelry & Beading What do cherry donuts have to do with jewelry? Come find out ;-)
Katie's Beading Blog Look what happens when spring fever meets beads! A colorful necklace is born.
Make It Mine Magazine A challenge: transform something unpurselike into a purse
Naughty Secretary Club Bead Simple: Essential Techniques for Making Jewelry Just the Way You Want It - A book report by Jen.
PearlEsq. Robin reports on her fun trip to Absolutely Everything and her "Kate's Neighborhood" Creation!
Savvy Crafter Hey Everybody, it's a wrap! Candie shows some finished pendants from the wire wrapping workshop.
Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean interviewed Melanie Brooks Lukacs for Jean's book, Links, as Melanie is a terrific ceramic artist!
The Impatient Blogger What's your Googleability Factor? Madge coins a new phrase and discovers that she's quite Googleable. Help her select a new promo photo too!

Absolutely Everything....truly has Absolutely Everything!!!

Hello, Everyone in Blogger Land! Boy, it was a busy week or so away, but a blast, as usual. The classes went well at Sue Gilman's Show. Thank you to all that were patient with my "gimpyness"...and to all of those that wished me the Happy Birthday Wishes. Sue was sweet enough to have birthday cake for me on Saturday evening when we were doing the Make and Takes. But wouldn't you know it, the only time I got up to go to the ladies room, THAT'S when they they brought the cake out. Murphy's Law, as usual!

By the end of Monday, I packed up my car and followed Kate to her house, where we crashed! I took the next day off, relaxing and vegging out in front of the television. I almost felt guilty...almost! The rest of the week was a blast. I've known Kate from over the years with CHA, Sue Gilman's Show, as well as from attending Tim's Retreats. We have such fun laughing! She had always been asking me to come and teach, but the schedules did not always work out. This time it did. I was there to help her with her Bus Tour. 4-5 stores each had a bus that went all across Massachusetts. It was a chance to cross-promote one another's businesses and to see what everyone else had. While Kate has just about Absolutely Everything, there's still a few different things in some of the other stores....There were make and takes and demos at each store as well as snacks and fun.

As for the Make and Take, we had a good one with a Maya Road chipboard house coated with the new Adirondack(r) Pigment Ink, stamped with a Hero Arts stamp and pigment ink, then bandannaed with the new Inkssentials(tm) White Opaque Pen(a real shocker, huh!?). (As an

aside, check out

Roni Johnson's side-by-side comparison of some of the most popular pens....pictures tell a thousand words!). Everyone had fun with it, and once everyone got set up with the Make and Take, I headed over to another table where I had Melt Art(r) set up and proceeded to show what you can do with UTEE(tm) and Memory Frames(tm) and Amate Pendants...it was exciting to show "newbies" the world of Melt Art and now we'll be looking at when I can come back to teach again! I will be headed back to Massachusetts in about three weeks, teaching with Melt Art Jewelry, the Bandanna Technique and Pigment Inks (3 different classes, not one!) at Scrapbook Cupboard, which will also be a lot of fun!

I also taught classes...Bandanna Memory Glass, Chipboard and Background Techniques Calendar and "Birds of a Feather", which was different types of birds and tons of techniques. Kate has a great customer base and a fabulous staff. And lots of laughs, jokes and goofiness abounding. LOVE YA, KATE!

I had also come to learn that Kate has the various visiting teachers put a little of their art on her wall...and I had to come up with something! How can I compete with Laura Mika, Tim Holtz, Artgirlz, etc.? Well, with my usual silly slant on things, and since I was doing so much with chipboard, I created...tah dah!!!!!: Kate's Neighborhood. I painted the little world of sky, grass and sun with the Adirondack(r) Acrylic Paint Dabbers (which worked wonderfully on the walls, by the way!) and then pigmented, stamped and bandannaed a bunch of Maya Road houses, letters, bugs, flowers, tag and a crown (of course!). I also had a blast with a newer stamp line, Paper Relics...thanks HRH Patti Euler! I also adorned the skies with Julie Van Oosten's absolutely awesome Owls. They were part of one of my classes, but I'll share those in depth in a future blog and show off the many different owly looks that were created!

Enjoy the wall! Robin