Okay.. okay.. I feel like I am slacking in the blog department this week.. but I promise it's for a good reason! I don't know if I told you.. maybe I did.. but I am leaving AGAIN next Tuesday for Donna Downey's Inspired event! I am teaching 2 mini workshops there (a canvas class and a leather jewerly cuff class).. which by the way.. they just opened up 5 more spots in each of my classes! They have been sold out for a while.. but we found out a way to get 5 more students in the room! So if you didn't get in.. you still may be able to.. but get to the website NOW! lol
But so I just got home.. and with leaving again in a few days.. it has left me with a super stressful week trying get all the stuff ready for my classes, playing catch-up from being gone last week, finishing my deadlines for Surtex (due monday) , getting all the new product in the store, uploading the new product and items to the new BeadArt Store (which is launching TODAY check out the new site!!)... ordering product that we sold out of from last week's free shipping sale (holy cow thank you people! Love you!) , putting up the new kits for May, moving our shop into a WAREHOUSE (wahoo!! we now have our stores and kit clubs.. out of our HOUSE into an actual warehouse! yipee!).. AND also keeping on top of emails, workshop sign-ups and just life! lol! So my "blog" is going to suffer a bit this week.. sorry :(..
but I did want to come on here and tell you about my awesome Ranger U experience! I am SOO grateful for Ranger Ink.. ANd my dear friend Tim Holtz, for allowing me to come! Seriously.. I learned so many new techniques.. that I can use in my own art.. but also use to teach you wonderful people! I HAD NO IDEA how many things you can do with The Ranger line of products. I have to tell you.. one of the first things Tim said.. as he started the weekend.. was that the reason behind Ranger U.. was because Rangers products are really different than most other products on the market and that education really is KEY to showing how awesome they TRULY are. His ink pads.. aren't just ink pads.. his embossing powders aren't just for embossing.. the melting pot isn't just for wax or UTEE.. it's AMAZING the thought and detail that goes into their products.. and what they can do and WHY they do it. I can't wait to share them all with you! You will look at your Ranger Products and wonder how you ever lived without them for creative play! My plan is to incorporate some of the techniques into my upcoming 3 Hearts journaling workshop.. but also offer a mini- workshop later this summer or early fall.. plus some fun "behind the art" videos.. and really show you just EVERYTHING those products can do and how they relate to mixed media art. you will be BLOWN AWAY. seriously.
So really this post is a just a fun "re-cap of the weekend.. and what we did.. and who I met! So here we go!
I was super excited to honestly just go and learn. I really hardly ever.. wait infact... I have NEVER attended an event.. where I am just there to LEARN. I have always been teaching in some form or another.. and so seriously for me. It was a great opportunity to just let my mind be filled with inspiration and not worry about anything else! I almost felt like I was going on a mini vacation (even though I knew we would be in class 9 hours a day.).. I was ready! As I sat in the airport.. I just felt so blessed to be able to have this opportunity. And I was ready for sun! lol
Here is me sitting in the Salt Lake City Airport.. waiting for my connection. Relaxing.. enjoying OJ, writing in my journal and reading my favorite magazine :). I think people thought I was going to Hawaii or something.. I had on my long summer Maxi Dress, my flip flops and my "sun hat". I was READY for the warm New Jersey weather (and you will probably laugh at that.. but to me.. having 70 degree weather.. warms winds and humid weather.. and just coming from snow? that is warm to me! lol)
I have never been to New Jersey before.. so I wasn't sure what to expect.. but I have to admit.. I had NO Idea it was on the East Coast!!?? I mean Literally on the coast.. we were going to be 5 miles from the ocean! And when I realized this in the airport.. I wanted to jump for joy! I seriously love the ocean! Couldn't wait to put my feet in the sand.. I also was so surprised at how green it was! I imagined New Jersey to be kinda like Idaho maybe? a little bit of a desert and TONS of high rise buildings.. and city after city of crammed houses.. but it's this compeltly beautiful, green.. place with dense trees line the roads.. and miles and miles of country roads with small adorable towns in between.. I seriously.. would move there in a heartbeat if it wasn't so far away from family! This is a picture i took of us flying in..
I flew into Newark and the Ranger warehouse was in a small town called Tinton Falls.. about 45 miles south.. so I rented a car and headed on my way. Little did I know it would take me nearly 1 and half hours to get there because my GPS took me on the old country roads going SOUTH WESt and then East.. instead of the main freeway that goes straight into town! lol.. but I loved it. LOVED seeing the beautiful land.. and the small towns.. it was worth the extra time :)
The next morning bright and early we arrived at Ranger U. I was SO excited to see Tim and meet all the other gals and guys that were attending. There was 26 of us total! We sat in groups of 4.. at large long tables and that is where we stayed all weekend long! My tables was awesome.. the people I met.. AWESOME!
I quickly found my dear friend Melissa who works for KaiserCraft and lives in Austrailla and sat by her. (yes she flew all the way from Australia! I also sat next to Rosa from Spain and Hells from the UK! CRAZY!!) We also had people from Japan, Canada.. I know there more.. it was an awesome group! We also had two guys in our group. Chad who was sitting right next to me on my left.. was from Australia.. he owns a distributing and stamp company there. Him and I became friends really fast.. he was like my baby brother.. almost 10 years younger than me.. but he is 6' 8" tall!! I am 5' 2".. so it was funny when we would stand next to each other! He was a riot. though he did steal my m&ms, drew on my table and scared the crap out of me with an air blower.. sersiouly.. but don't worry.. I got him back with a "kick me" sign i put on his back.. or at least that what I let him believe! lol. Mark was the other guy in the group. He works for Ranger.. the Receiving manager. He sat across from mekiddy corner and was so quiet at first. He was young too (only 23) and super shy at first.. but oh so cool. and SOOO DANG FUNNY! He was quiet at first.. but oh my check by the end of the weekend.. I was laughing so hard I almost peed my pants!
(that's Mark on the right, Jenn from canada in the middle holding the stamp (another funny girl!) , and Chads big head in my way on the left (haha.. just kidding chad) :))
I also sat across from this awesome beautiful girl.. Sarah.. seriously ADORABLE girl.. and funny. ALso young.. I felt like the "mom" of the group. I also got to finally meet in person a few of my "facebook friends".. Candy.. and YVonne.. oh so many others. It was really so cool. We couldn't have had a cooler group of people! (that's the beautiful Rosa from spain, right down there in the next picture.. in the dark on the right.. such a beautiful woman! inside and out!). We had a lot of laughs too.. so many mishaps (mostly from Melissa.. holy cow that girl can make a mess out of anything! Lol) But SO FUN!
So anyhow.. Tim started off the weekend just introducing us all and letting us know about the schedule and all the products we would get to learn more about!
The way it worked was we would learn about each of the products Ranger carried and we would be taught techniques for each product. We would create a tag for each technique we learned and label the back with the technique info, so we could remember what technique and what product we used on that particular tag. BRILLIANT! The tags weren't meant to create pretty things.. but just to show us HOW the products work and what we could do with them. (however seriously.. how can they NOT look pretty when you are using Tim's, Claudines and Ranger products!)
We had this cool binder with all the techniques we were going to learn and then individual labels to put on the back of each tag we made.. that listed the technique and products.. so we could go back and refer to it later! it was awesome! Seriously BRILLIANT Idea and so great for me.. as I forget just about everything!
Before we started.. we also got a quick tour of the Ranger Warehouse.. where they pack and ship all the products. WE ALSO got a tour of the part of the warehouse where they actually MAKE the products. and I mean from Scratch! They mix their own inks and dyes and solutions right there at Ranger.. and they also fill the bottles, the ink pads, put on the labels.. it's crazy! We watched a batch of stickles being made.. and ink pads being filled.. SO stinking cool. It blew my mind! When I worked for Chatterbox.. we had just about everything done overseas.. in China. so I just assumed Ranger did too. But they do it all in house.. so they can controll how well the products are made, they can also really create cool innovative products because they have their own chemist in house! So cool! (no pictures of this.. as it waasn't allowed.. totally understandable!)
After the tour, we made our way back into the classroom.. and we jumped right in!
Day 1: We learned about Perfect Pearls.. for using with stamps.. but also as paints!(oh soo cool.. gonna use them in the art journaling class!) We also learned a about Perfect Pearls mists.. and why they are different than dry particals.. and how some really cool techniques on how to use them! I ALSO learned they they are permanent!! SO COOL! Most sprays are waterbased.. so even once they dry.. if you re-wet them again (on canvas or paper).. they will re-active and smudge .. which is okay.. because it gives you a cool painterly effect. But the perfect pearls are completly permanent.. so the design you create stays! SOO DANG COOL! and the sprays are colored.. not just have a pearl color to them. SUPER cool. My new favorite wash! We have had them in our store.. but sold out.. so when I got home.. I ordered ALL the colors and a bunch of them! lol Should be here next week!
Day 1 Afternoon we learned all about the MeltArt Melting Pot, UTEE, MEtlArt products and just the bazillion things you can do with that melting pot! I am serious when I tell you.. I was amazed! I mean AMAZED. You can use it not just for melting wax or crayons or UTEE, but you can use it for baking clay or shrink plastic.. oh my heck just about anything! Plus the things you can do with UTEE? I mean seriously.. from Image Tranfer, to Wire dipping, Texutred resin, Faux Soldering making your own jewelry...Using Wonder Tape. AMZING! Plus we learned how to make our own molds and create our own demionsal findings with it and UTEE! Can't wait to do an entire workshop just on that! SO FREAKING COOL!
After our long day of learning exciting new things we had a BBQ right there in the warehouse.. it was awesome!
Got to hang out and get to know some of the other students better and also talk to Tim! And Mario ( a good friend of Tim's.. like his holder brother.. and he also works for Tim)
Mario was the awesome "behind the scences guy"! He kept our tummy's full of delicous snacks and drinks all day long... as well as feed us THE BEST lunches EVER! Sqaure pizza! YUM! thanks Mario!
Day 2 We got learn from the awesome Ms Claudine Hellmuth!
She has a paint and stamp line with Ranger.. so I was RIGHT at home with her! and oh boy did I learn so many new techniques! Things you can do with Gesso, Multi Mediums, Extra Time.. and her paints are like butter.. oh so smooth and rich. Just like the expensive brands.. AND the cool things you can do with her StickyBack Canvas! Make your own fabric with image transfer! SO COOL!
plus fun photo tinting.. and masking techniques!
After lunch: Square pizza.. oh so yummy.. (Buffulo Chicken Pizza.. AMAZING)
We headed back to the classroom for Day two Afternoon: Distressed Powders, Inks and stains.. seriously? I never really understood the difference in his powders or his inks before.. I didn't realize how TRULY different they are from regular powders and inks and WHAT THEY CAN DO!! I mean GREAT for Mixed media and art journaling!
Plus on a lot of the techniques we got to use TIm's stamps from his other lines.. to use with the inks and powders! Can you say Yum??
We also were taught all about the distressed inks pads and their properties.. and why they work so good and what is soo cool about them. And really truly. They are cool. I have always ONLY ever used Staz-On inks.. love em.. but I think I found another ink I can't live without!
We also learned about the Distressed stains.. a brand new product. ANd can I tell you.. I came home and bought just about EVERY color for the store.. oh my heck.. I am so excited to use them in the upcoming Art journaling workshop in my OWN projects! SO awesome!
So that was the end of Day 2.. my mind was on "technique" overload and I was worried I wouldn't remember it all! It was awesome that we had a tag and a label to go with each technique.. to remember what we did and how we did it! Brilliant I say.. BRILLIANT!
I was so tired at the end of day 2 I headed straight for my hotel for a hot bath and bed. I put on my comfy pj's and realized I hadn't eaten since lunch! I didn't want to get dressed again.. so put on a hat and a sweater and called it good and headed down to the front desk to see what kind of yummy snacks they sold! Lol
I got myself a nice 4 course meal.. cup-o-noodles, bbq chips and some fruit (gummy worms! lol) and icecream for desert! lol
Day 3: our last day.. was so sad too.. because I wanted to keep learning and leanring!
The morning was all about Ranger's Adirondack Line.. the ink pads and Color Wash Sprays! (these are my favorite.. use them all over in the She Art Workshop and upcoming Art Journailng workshop! Plus my "Behind the Art" video on my blog.. about using them with Stencils and Masks!) So cool! Love em! But I learned a TON of new fun things you can also do with them! Can't wait to share!
Day 3 Afternoon was all about The Alcohol Inks and Paint Dabbers. Okay.. have to admit.. I have always been afraid of the alcohol inks. I just wasn't sure what they do! I mean I own a ton of them.. but just never quite "got" it. BOY NOW I DO! The layers and textures you can create.. the effects you can get! it's incredible.. TRULY! I can't wait to show you!!! (just brought all of these into the store too!)
and the Paint Dabbers? I bought them when they first came out and had trouble with the paints drying up.. but NOW they have new tips and a new paint formula AND new bottles which squeeze so much easier.. and oh my heck.. the possibllities for these.. for creating texture and on canvas and in art journals? Crazy!!! AND we also got to learn techniques using his Crackle Paint.. amazing stuff too! It Crackles ON ITS OWN! no other paint needed.
I had THE bEST time ever. I learned so much! SO MUCH! I honestly didn't want it to end. Tim was so funny.. had us laughing the whole time.. told us so many cool and inspiring stories.. and funny ones too.
After it was over.. we took a group photo (I forgot to give them my phone.. so I stole this picture from Tim's blog.. thanks tim :))
The cool thing now about Ranger U, is that once you have gone.. you are then considred a Certifited "Ranger Teacher". Which means you are now endorsed by Ranger and can teach all the techniques learned in the classroom. They also support you at events and with products for classes. It's amazing! I am SUPER excited to share all that I learned with YOU now! There is so much info.. it will be great for the next months! I am going to use some of them in the upcoming3 Hearts Journaling workshop, some on my blog in "behind the art" videos.. and a majority of them through a couple of different mini workshop/calsses! The possiblitlies with these products are endless!
Right before i left, i brought in all of their stains, Melting Pots, Wax products and Alcohol inks for the store.. for the upcoming workshop.. (just added them all yesterday).. but then the minute I got home I placed an order for their ink pads, powders, Utee, Paint Dabbers.. oh so much stuff! The rest of it will be here end of next weeek! Can't wait to show you all how to use it! anyhow.. it was a great way to spend 3 days. AMAZING way.
After we all hugged and said our goodbyes.. a few of us decided to head to the beach. Since I didn't have time during the day.. I REALLY REALLY wanted to go and at least put my feet in the sand.. so a few of us.. Melissa and Chad (from Australia), Jenn (from Canada), Rosa (from Spain), and Mark who works for Ranger but originally from the Phiilipines.. headed out to the Jeresy Shore to see the ocean and go out for Sushi..I called them my "international buddies"! lol.. I was the only one in our group from the US.. so I had to show them how we do Sushi here in the states! lol.
it was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend! I was so grateful and felt so blessed to go. Truly. If you are a teacher or a store owner.. or a designer.. you MUST apply for next years RAnger U! It will ROCK your world! The take applications on their website.. HERE.. and to find out more about their products.. Tim has an awsome blog where he is constantly showing how to use all his products! I did the Color Wash products and the Claudine Hellmuth paints and things in my She Art workshop too! Lots of cool things.
so.. thanks for letting me share! I better get back to my long list of "must do's".. so I can head off to teach in North Carolina next week! Holy cow.. don't think I will be sleeping much this weekend.. help! lol
I probably won't post again until Monday.. just too much to do! But I have a fun Behind the Art video I created before I left.. so I will try and post it for a day while I am gone!
Oh and one more thing..
HAPPY MOTHER's DAY this weekend!!! To all you amazing wonderful women out there! Even if you aren't a mom! You are a woman and you deserve to enjoy yourself this weekend! I know I will! Surrounded by my kids and hubby.. can't wait!
Speaking of.. watch for your email tommrow! We are doing a Mother's day Sale for our Mixed Media Store.. So watch for a coupon for that in your email box tommorow and on my facebook page!
AND also.. We just officially launched our BRAND NEW BeadArtTODAY!! wahoo! we had it redesigned with easier shopping cart.. a new look and new designs! and MORE being added weekly!! So check it out!
We are offering a re-grandopening special.. 15% off your entire order!
Just use the coupon code:
Beads2
at checkout!
Scarlet LIme BeadArt
Happy Thursdsay!
I'm glad you enjoyed my home state so much! I so wanted to go to Ranger U this time around but it wasn't in the cards..Next year for sure!!
Posted by: Kim Boken | May 05, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Christy...you are such a doll...I loved getting to know you. SO talented you are...I am so glad you are following your dreams. It was a real treat share Ranger U with you!!!
Posted by: Yvonne Blair | May 05, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Thank you so much, Christy, for taking the time to share with us. Your enthusiasm and fun attitude rubs off on all who read your blog and take your classes, I'm sure. Can't wait for Three Hearts, and I'm still learning from the She Art videos. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOU ALSO - WHAT A BLESSING TO HAVE SIX WONDERFUL CHILDREN AND A HUSBAND WHO WORKS WITH YOU EVERY DAY.
Posted by: Pam Staley | May 05, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Hi Christy. Thanks for the nice words about Jersey. Born and bred here and still love it. I'm glad you came when we had a couple of days of nice weather. Can't wait for your next workshop. Will we be getting the supply list this week or when you come back from Inspired?
Posted by: Regina | May 05, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Wow, how exciting Christy! That sounds like the perfect weekend and I can't wait to hear and see more of what you learned! Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy Mother's Day!
Posted by: Rosie Grey | May 05, 2011 at 12:58 PM
i so wanna see what you learned! can't wait for you to teach it online!
Posted by: Charity Holt | May 05, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Holy Cow. That sounds so fun! I have to say you are such an inspiration to me and I love having you as my teacher. I am so excited to learn about how to use all those new fun products. I seriously have no idea how to use the alcohol inks, so I'm so glad you do and can teach me! Also I love your new BeadArt website. It's awesome! Happy Mother's Day to you too!
Posted by: Juliana Hall | May 05, 2011 at 01:01 PM
hi!!! your journal looks wonderful! where can i find one like this on line?
Posted by: eleni | May 05, 2011 at 02:09 PM
What a great post, looks like you had SO much FUN!! You are one busy lady, but I see you have such a passion for it all. I wish you all the best!
Posted by: Donna P. | May 05, 2011 at 02:37 PM
Looks like a creative blast. I'm so grateful you were able to attend & we get to reap in the benefits. Love the new beadart site. You are so amazing. Happy Mothers Day Beautiful Girl!!! xoxoxo
Posted by: Lori Smith | May 05, 2011 at 03:36 PM
there is nothing more perfect than the mix of you and Ranger products!!! i can't wait to finish your SheArt class and move on to the next ones!!!!
Posted by: diana | May 05, 2011 at 05:30 PM
What an awesome post, I loved hearing about Ranger U. It would be fantastic to go to it....
Posted by: Kate | May 05, 2011 at 09:15 PM
Your happiness is infectious, great post. Happy Mother's Day. Look forward to your videos. Would love to go to Ranger U as I love their products too and I know I should learn how to utilise them all properly. Another one on my wish list or is that my bucket list LOL
Posted by: Dianne | May 06, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Ahhhh, seeing my sweet Jersey shore was special! I lived in NJ from the 3rd through 6th grades, and spent my summers in Cape May, a place you will need to see someday, so beautiful!
It sounds and looks like you had SO. Much. Fun!!!! I can't wait for you to share all of these techniques. I've always wanted to learn more about Tim's products, but he has so many groupies, that you can't get into his workshops because they just take them over and over and it's SO freakin' hard to get in!!! LOL He's coming to San Jose, this summer, I hear, so maybe I'll get lucky this time!
Posted by: September | May 06, 2011 at 10:17 AM
The BEACH!! Oh you lucky duck!!
Christy, you are a walking ad for Ranger U!! I'm sure we'd all LOVE to go!! I have tons of Ranger products and use them in my rubber stamping submissions....really, they are incredible! Guess where I learned how to use them? On You Tube, LOL! I'm looking forward to you teaching us how to use the Distress Stains. Sheesh...your blog entry has me all pumped up for the art journaling class!
Happy Mother's Day to you too!!
Posted by: Dottee O. | May 07, 2011 at 12:26 AM
Oh my word how do you fit all this into your life. You must have so much energy!
Thank you for sharing your Ranger U with us.
Looking forward to the new Behind the Art video!
Posted by: Lesley | May 07, 2011 at 07:02 AM
OMGosh! Don't know if you read these comments but I am taking SheArt2 and LOVING it. It is giving me the confidence to stretch out into painting/collage/mixed media like I've wanted to do for so long!! Love your videos and I am such a RANGER FAN!! Love their stuff and cannot wait until you show me techniques anew - PLEASE hurry home and dazzle us with your love. Happy Mother's Day and thanks soooooooooooooooooooooooo much.
Posted by: Linda Robison | May 07, 2011 at 12:10 PM
I'm glad you had a great time.... you are so cute.....I'm excited to start she has 3 hearts.......
Posted by: collette schildkraut | May 07, 2011 at 07:28 PM
Yikes. You are one busy girl!!! There should be about three of you. Thanks for all the updates on all the amazing products. My mind is spinning of all the possibilities!! Take good care of YOU.(I read your blog on your fibromyalgia)
xo
lynn
Posted by: drichards01@juno.com | May 09, 2011 at 02:27 PM
miss you already, felt like i was back there reading your blog. thanks for sharing so much and really looking forward to catching up with you again in July
love
Mel
Posted by: Melissa Kennedy | May 12, 2011 at 06:07 AM
LOVE the site LOVE the beach LOVE life but.....
I would just LOVE if someone would help me get my SHE ARt class going. I paid but nothing has shown up yet?
tinkwest@hotmail.com
Thanks!
Rosanna
Posted by: Rosanna | June 02, 2011 at 08:44 AM
I cant wait to read much more from you. I just feel like you know so substantially and know how to make people listen to what you’ve got to say.
Posted by: insanity dvd | July 07, 2011 at 01:21 AM
You are one busy girl! Looks like a creative blast. It sounds and looks like you had SO. Much. Fun!
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