Ranger U pictures and post (warning, very long!)

I made it there and back! Had a few delays on the way, and a few coming home, very grateful that I had been able to book direct flights so that I didn't need to worry about connections, that would have been a bummer!

We got started Friday morning with a beautifully organized and clean room, it wasn't that way by the time we were done with it! This is a picture of my work surface. We all introduced ourselves, and then had a tour of the facility, so fascinating! One of the big happy points for me is that most of Ranger's products are manufactured in the USA at the facility in New Jersey!! That is a good thing!!! Tim is the Willy Wonka of the inky world, he knows how to have fun and how to think of fun and clever toys that add new wonder. Suze and Claudine (who I didn't get a picture of except on my phone and that is on my FB page) were delightful and so very knowledgable and inspiring as well. Loved the fact that we learned about all of the product lines at once, it opened up so many possibilites for exploration and fun!
Patti is wonder woman! She knew exactly what was going on at all times, and had the answers for anything! The event was run so smoothly, and everything had been thought of, great planning! Mario was the go to guy! He always had a smile on his face, and I swear, he never held still! He made sure we were fed, had snacks, beverages and empty trash cans! So kind and patient, gotta love him!!!

My table buddy was the darling and oh so fun Debby Shuh! We traded pinks for greens, and if you know either of us, you know that is a good thing!!!

Cindy Lyles was across the room from me, but I tried to bother her and her fun tablemates every chance that I got!!! I have a little envy, not only is she immensely talented, super cute and incredibly sweet, she drives the CUTEST red convertible sports car! sigh.

Lynn Warner and Crystal Rieger were Cindy's partners in crime. (see I told you, super fun tablemates!!!) Crystal is so funny and Lynn is so sweet and generous! My new super FAB BFFs!!!

The darling Donna Salazar was a few seats away but I could catch glimpses of her wicked cool creativity now and then, she has such a playful and free spirit that reflects in her style, LOVE that!!!

Miss Jen Starr is super FANTASTIC! She was attending for a record setting 5th certification! She had it all going on, and it was such a nice experience to have her just a wink away! I could watch her work and find little nuances to the techniques that we were working on, obviously loads of product knowledge and experience! She has got it going on!!!

Sulie was my other tablemate! What a treasure as a new friend, and a fascinating and talented woman! She is from Vienna, Austria and has a shop there, the only one in town! She just might find me on her doorstop visiting! That is a part of the world that I have always wanted to see, and now having a friend there gives me the excuse I have always needed! Anyone want to go with me and make it a par-TAY?!!!

After working on our technique tags from Claudine's segment, we had a chance to just play with her products, and I already had a huge love for them before this event, but now that I have an even better understanding, I am ready to try all kinds of projects that I wouldn't have thought possible before! Everyone was given a box from Cosmo Cricket to decorate how ever they wanted and about an hour and a half to do it. I just went for it, I globbed on paper, paint, glaze and buttons! It was fun to just make something without a plan just to see what it would turn into! I need to do that more often!

In Suze's segment we made all of these great projects while we learned about the product and techniques to use it. Then Ranger provided the frame and the mattes to put it all together! I have plans to Beck-i-tize it, but thought that I would share what the original looked like! It gets me super amped to play more just looking at it! Does it do that for you?

We even got a melting pot! So excited to get it plugged in and goopy again!

The last picture is of my suitcase. I did have a few clothes in there, but not many, wore the same two pairs of jeans for the weekend with a fresh t-shirt everyday (no mocking, I wasn't there for a fashion show, LOL!)

The whole experience was designed to let us explore as artists, but leave feeling like we learned and succeeded in creating projects and samples that would help us teach and share with others! The encouragement and teaching styles of all three were so great, and I am hard to impress in that regard. They all checked to make sure that everyone understood, could complete the tasks and techniques and were patient and generous with their time. Seriously exceptional presentations, these people know their stuff (as if there was ever a doubt, LOL!)

I would do it again in a heartbeat, and if they ever develop a more intense program I would be the first in line to apply! Of course there are many other people I met and interacted with that I enjoyed getting to know, just didn't get a pic. And so many team members from Ranger that contributed so much that are faceless, but gave so much to make it a memorable and enjoyable experience that was without problems, thanks to all of them!

So I am running on no sleep, so I am out of here! Will be back soon with more good stuff!!!

B-

The joke is on me...

yup, it is April fool's day, and it has been hectic!!! I always think I have a reasonable grip on things the week before I am getting ready to leave town and inevitably the wheels will come off somehow! We had a fantastic visit with our friends, and they safely left town after the morning snow storm that blanketed the valley and mangled the morning commute and carpool run. We had a fantastic day of skiing at Deer Valley yesterday, it was gorgeous and no one was there. The upside is that you get a lot of runs in, the down side is that you get worn out from all of that vertical! So during my three hours of tennis today, my legs were quite tired, imagine that...

We have had a lot of changes at CHF that have needed attention, and so much exciting art that has to be scheduled that it gets me so inspired and excited that my head starts to swirl!

I leave quite early to get on my way to the Newark New Jersey airport after a long but gratefully direct flight, I will get into a shuttle that will take about an hour to get me into Tinton Falls. This will get me there in time to hopefully get a little dinner and then some sleep so I can start out Friday with a set of fresh eyes, such a good thing!

So there is laundry to be done, kids that needed to be fed (we ordered Pi pizza, yummers!), and the packing that will probably not happen until the wee hours!

I won't be posting on my blog while gone, but hope to come home with some great ideas and things to share, I can't wait to have a ball!!!

Until next week...

=)

B-

Sweet Sunny Saturday!

Yay, sunshine!!!

It is gorgeous here today, and even though another storm is on the way, we are enjoying today's wonderful weather.

Sorry so long between posts, it was a long week for me with a lot going on. Still missing Tyler alot, but he is doing great so that gives me such a feeling of relief!

I am excited to have my dearest friend visiting us from Oregon with her darling family! We have known each other since we were children, and we call each other sister and our kids call each other cousins, truly family!!! It has been so nice to catch up with them and spend time together with people you love so much! Such a blessing!

I can't believe that in just a few days I will be off to New Jersey for my time at Ranger U! So excited for that, and can't wait to learn so many new things!

Happy Saturday to all of you!!!

B-

It snowed...

***edited*** April 29th 2009

The previous project was picked up for publication. Instead you are looking at the Thomas Kinkade image that used the same technique.

Just when I was convinced that Spring would be here we got a very large winter storm and wow is it white again, LOL!

With the weather like that it was easy to go into my studio and make a mess! I got a couple of things done, and it was the perfect activity for the day!

This little card is so much prettier in real life. It is splashed with Tattered Angels glimmer mist and has a lovely shimmer when tipped at angles. I sprayed the flowers at the same time so that they would compliment the colors used on the background. That is the Vintage City Scrapblock and it was heat embossed with Superfine clear embossing powder from Ranger. That stuff looks almost like flocking when it comes out of the jar, it is so cool!!! And it is very detailed, perfect for this stamp and so many of the others from CHF! Can you tell what my inspiration for this card was? LOL! Dave went out of town for the week as well, and I am telling you, this house is now really quiet. Not sure how I feel about that...

Well, there is a Thomas Kinkade release today, and I have a card that I have been working on that is eerily similar to this that would like some finishing touches.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

B-

Blustery Sunday

It has been a beautiful week with wonderful spring like weather, something that we have all appreciated! Well today it is very blustery with obvious signs of a cold storm coming in behind it. I was so happy to see my little crocus peeking through the mud the other day, such an appreciated sign of spring! But no sooner than they had sprouted a few blooms, were they soon trampled under the enthusiastic running of the boy-zois. Oh well.

Also in the course of this week, they have found it quite entertaining to open the door of my closet and steal shoes from a shelf. The shoes that they stole and then subsequently destroyed were the two pairs that I had just found during my trip to California for CHA, one was my new favorite because it was low and oh so comfy. The other pair was a gorgeous yellow pair of slingback wedges that hadn't even been worn yet, I had been saving them for the warmer spring weather. Oh well. (I do say that alot with regards to them, LOL!)

The layout that I am sharing here was just published in the Photoplay special issue that simple Scrapbooks produced. It is filled with wonderful ideas, and I was very pleased to have been included in such an inspiring and fun project!

Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday!

B-

p.s. we totally miss our boy, I want to thank all of you who left such kind and supportive words, so appreciated!!!

Pictures from today...

This is what two years of stuff looks like when it is put into a very large suitcase, he put his pillow on top of that and zipped it up. His bedsheets, towels, shoes, toiletries and clothing are all in there. Mind boggling to me really.

We took a few minutes to take some pictures before we left home and a few when we got to the airport. He checked in hugged us all once and then turned with a big smile on his face to head into the security check area, with not even a glance behind. We all stood there like lost pups watching him through the whole process and then had a silent car ride home. We miss his presence already.

B-

Our last evening with Tyler and some digi projects

I don't have much to say, just twelve hours before we take Tyler to the airport, so excited for him and have enjoyed spending loads of time with him and our family over the last few days. Yesterday we had his farewell at church and a day with the family and friends who wanted to wish him well. Today was spent at the temple and with our little family in a more private get together that was very special and wonderful in so many ways. Then we ate apple pie.

I have been keeping up for the most part with my assignments for my digi in deep class at Jessica Sprague's site. The layouts are all of

Laurel, it had been awhile since I had done any of her and she actually let me take a few pics of her this weekend!

I have really enjoyed working on my digi skills, this class has shown me so many new workflows, I am really enjoying it! I hope that it will also help me analyze my designs better and also give this old dog some new tricks!

Also a quick note for the tennis fans, the Indian Wells tournament is going, and it has been very good! (will be spending my time missing Tyler in front of the tv watching this...)

B-

Five days and I want to stop counting!

I know, I need to stop whining about Tyler leaving, you are all probably so sick of it!!!

The quote on this card is what I wish for him, and I know that by letting him go he can do anything that he imagines. (it really is so hard though!) They don't tell you that when you leave with them from the hospital to take them home for the first time. Seems that there should be some disclaimers of some kind dontcha think?

Dear Cath has given some wonderful words of advice and comfort and also excellent suggestions for reading that I have really appreciated.

We have a weekend of plans and activities that will allow us to spend extra time with Tyler and our extended family that want to spend time with him and wish him well.

Hang in there with me, I promise I will talk about something else soon!

B-

What a great day!!

I only have Tyler for one more week before he is on the plane to Sao Paolo, Brazil to serve in the Cuiaba Mission. So to get the most out of the time that we have, we have been doing lots of his favorite things! Today we went skiing up at Deer Valley. It was so beautiful, with almost two feet of new snow and cold clear skies, perfection if you are a skier! We came home and ran carpool, picked up some groceries and went to Mr. Mac to pick up his suits, shoes, slacks, shirts, socks and the suitcases to put it all in. (that was quite the alliteration wasn't it, quite proud of myself, LOL!)

So hard to let him go, but I am enjoying all of the time we are spending together, such a treat!

Off to get some rest, another long day tomorrow!

B-

Digi in Deep...

Submersed in this week's work, loads of exciting things going on at CHF, and up to my eyeballs with a course at Jessica Sprague's called Digi in Deep. This layout is the first week's assignment, and it took me more than a few hours to get through the videos to get it done. Honestly it wouldn't have taken me that long to make it using my current skill set, (if I could think like this) but it was great learning more tricks and shortcuts! I am picking up some very nice design ideas too, so it is a program that I highly recommend! It is really well organized, and I can tell that everything is very well thought out and her presentation is impeccable. It has been a great experience so far, but ask me in a few more weeks when I am feeling even more overwhelmed, LOL!

I am off to work on the second assignment for this week so that I don't get to far behind and watch the "Burn Notice" season finale!

Good stuff!

B-

Does anyone have any...

spare time that I could borrow for the next few weeks (month tops!) that I will give back after I am done with it!




Tyler is leaving on the 18th (yes, of this month!!) and I am not ready. He is prepping, and has a few things left to do, but while I am trying my hardest to bend my head around it, just can't seem to be able to get around not crying when I think about not seeing him for two years. I am totally excited about the adventure, the location, the reason and everything else! But man two years seems like forever right now.

This is a layout I made a few months ago with pictures from a trip to visit with Christina. I wrote myself some advice, and it seems really applicable right now for me and Tyler, so it seemed worth sharing.

Off to enjoy an evening with the family watching Chuck and snarfing down some lasagna that Tyler made for us this afternoon! We all went to the Draper Temple open house together earlier today, so beautiful, and now some quiet time together is just what I need!

B-

Hey You!

I have a lot of gratitude today for the amazing people I have had the pleasure of becoming friends with because of my love for crafting and memory keeping. The constant support, generousity and inspiration keeps this hobby so fresh for me, and keeps me playing and having fun, so lucky!!
Celeste is one of those people who is a wonderful friend, but also one of the most talented artists in the crafting community, her designs for Basic Grey are legendary, and her contributions to Paper Crafts magazine are gorgeous! Her latest release is Porcelain, and I can't wait to dig into it!
This little card was made with the Urban Prairie line, I LOVE that little bird, makes me so happy!!!
I had some more happy email from the absolutely darling Brandy! She is so CUTE, and her hubby is adorable too, Their children are going to be gorgeous for sure!
A note from Megan just to say hi, makes my heart melt, she doesn't know that I have a cold, her thoughtfulness is such a gift! My nose may be running and my trash can full of tissues, but my heart truly overflows from friendship and kindness!
A little back and forth with Cath to discuss a couple of details for some projects is such a treat, she knows how to say so much in the most succint of sentences, a gift.
Sweet Claudine is going through a rough time, her sweet Toby got some bad news today. It is so hard to know exactly what it is she is going through and to still not be able to do anything for her. Breaks my heart for them. She is such a wonderful friend, she does so much for so many, I wish I could do something more tangible to give her support.
The ever thoughtful and oh so considerate Julia. She is so talented, and brings so much inspiration to others lives, yet has time to share thoughts and ideas with me as a co-worker and as a friend, so lucky that we can comfortably blur those lines!
Lisa will call and listen to my goofy dog stories, and I hers, and along with that we get to look at beautiful art. Planning the future, adjusting to the current and re-hashing the past is always a challenge that I relish!
My adorable Kim she is that must have everyday phone call.
Then a note from Tim Holtz was the icing on my cake. Tim and I aren't technically friends (yet) but I got the thumbs up to go to Ranger U. There I hope to make many more friends and get to know happy crafters from all over!
Those were just a few of the AMAZING people that I had the opportunity to interact with today, I wish I had more time to write more about everyone that I feel immense gratitude for, but know that I think about and appreciate so much all that you do!

So when I say "Hey You", I mean YOU!!!

You all rock!!!
B-

A mini album for Monday!

I got a lot of projects done in the last few days, that is why there has been no time for blogging. I was also over at the CHF site for the big Thomas Kinkade blitz we had all weekend, that was fun and there are tons of gorgeous projects from the participants in the gallery!

One of the projects that I was most excited to get done was a mini-album from my trip to Colorado for the Crop for a Cure last fall. Used my February Studio Calico kit, and some very yummy American Craft papers and embellishments.

Here are a few pages from it:

There are quite a few more, but I don't want to bore you! Suffice it to say that making the mini was almost as much fun as the trip because I got to relive the moments, good times!!!

Hope you all had a very productive and pleasant Monday! Can't wait for Tuesday, Tyler and I are going skiing!

B-

Happy (e) Mail Day!!!

I am a lucky girl, evidence has been posted often enough that there is no arguing that point.

But today was one that really helped lighten my load and lift my spirits! This wonderful envelope arrived in my mailbox today, and I thought it would be fun to share how FAB a package from Cornish Heritage Farms is.

So the first thing to notice is that this is shipped priority, no waiting anxiously for days on end for your beloved treats, they are sent out and arrive in a few short days. Also, if your order is over $35.00, it is shipped for free!! Yes, free!!! And trust me getting to that point with all of the SUPER FUN art that is released each month, it is SUPER EASY!!! (okay, that is a little enabling, but saving money on shipping is a BIG DEAL!!!)

The next thing to notice is how beautifully packaged these stamps are! Liz and Tricia pack these babies with loads of love! They are neatly stacked, organized and then placed in a SUPER SOFT little bed of FUN bubble wrap! (man I still love playing with that stuff!!!)

The next thing to notice is how many FAB stamps can fit in that tiny envelope, impressive eh?

See, such a lucky girl! I am so proud to work with this company, everything CHF does is with

quality, workmanship and integrity.

And it is SUPER Fun to boot!

I got a few emails for projects today too, and even a phone call asking for a layout that had found its way to a publication a few weeks ago. That is such a wonderful boost to my energy level right now, gives me the mojo to go back to my craft room and make some more fun stuff!

A little more good news is that my dad is scheduled to go home Thursday! YAY!

It has been a very Happy (e) Mail Day!!

;o)

B-

Out with the old, In with the new...

Okay, I will admit, my tennis shoes were getting ready to go on my "B" list. They were getting close to having the sole worn through on the toe and of course they didn't smell so great. But it wasn't time for them to hit the bin. They had a little help getting to that place. And I am sure you can all guess who the helpers were...

Of course after the laces were chewed through, the sole destroyed (can you believe how powerful their jaws must be to do that? Remind me not to stick my head in the lion's mouth...) and the lace up support separated from the sole and laces. Retirement far too soon.

So they had to be replaced, I love this brand of shoes because a percentage of the purchase price is donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation. The perfect fitting shoe and a cause that is near and dear to me, good stuff. Unfortunately they are expensive, so hurts when this kind of thing happens, but what else to do, give up tennis? NEVER!!!!

hehehe!

Have I mentioned that I have an addiction to the CHF "Houndstooth" backgrounder? I used it on this picture frame that I made for this picture of Tyler. He is leaving in a few short weeks for two years to serve in the Cuiaba, Brazil mission. It is hard preparing his stuff to get him on his way, and I made this to remind me that I just wish the best for him. He can best attain that if I leave him to his own choices. He has changed and matured so much in the last few months, and I am so proud of his growth and decision making ability.

Also, my dad has improved a little each day. He is hoping to get back to his home in a few days, and I am proud of how courageous he has been, and how hard he has tried to stay on track. This is his Valentine that I made for him. He had needed some little things like citrus twist tic-tacs and cholula packets from 7-11 for his breakfast eggs. This was a little way to remind him that he was loved and to hold all of those little things that he had requested.

I am so grateful for everyone sending positive thoughts and for those who have remembered us in their prayers, thank you so much.

Anyway, hope everyone had a very lovely Valentine's Day and a restful and respectful President's Day today.

B-

Creativity Kit goodness!

I have been getting a few hits from Celeste's blog, and went back there to see what it is that might be interesting here...

I think I have it figured out, here is a link back to last year's freebie if you like that kind of thing ;o)

Also wanted to share my project that I had made for the Scrapbooker's Creativity Kit that was written by the super cute and Oh So very talented Claudine Hellmuth. This mini-album was so fun and easy to make! I used my bind-it-all after I had the pages made, and it was done in an evening! I will admit that the heavy lifting had been done before I sat down to create. Because I had my colors selected, and the concept to work around, all I had to do was find the pictures and the products that went along with what I had in mind. That is one of my biggest endorsement points for this kit! I sometimes get so bogged down

in what to make, in what color and what will my title/theme be...

Playing with this kit opens so many doors by cutting down on that wasted time thinking and leaving more time for the fun part, the creating!!!

Now all I need is more time in my day for all of the things I want to play with! Anyone have any suggestions on how to find some of that?

B-

Can you feel the love?

Man, I am so blessed!

Thanks so much to all of you who have left comments, sent positive thoughts and taken time to pray for us! It has been a long weekend and a lot of driving up and back to the hospital. Friday we had a great meeting with all of the staff that is involved with his care, and came up with a longer term plan. We explained it to him, and while he "understands" he isn't thrilled and asks when he will get to come home. I am emotionally exhausted, but relieved that we made it over a pretty rough road this last week. He looks soooooo much better than last week, and may be able to get home as early as Wednesday, so happy! I will be heading up again tonight, and it is my FAV tv night, so you know the dvr will be busy trying to catch it all!

I was out cruising a couple of my favorite blogs, and lucked into Celeste's post sharing a freebie and a great idea for valentine's day! She is such a super clever, and uber crafty girl! I loved how she used her digi papers from PcLayers, but decided to use some of those gorgeous scraps that I just can't bear to throw away! So in honor of Celeste I used my delish Basic Grey scraps for this little project!

I did download Celeste's freebie, and it rocks! When I was done putting those together, I got out my circle cutter and cut a bunch of circles.

To correspond with the pictures:

Step 1: What finished "fortune cookies" look like!

Step 2: Stamp on the backside of the patterned paper, now it can be the frontside if you wish!

Step 3: Stamp a sentiment on the inside if you don't want to print out fortunes.

Step 4: Poke hole for brad or use adhesive to get the opposite sides to stick, but don't crease or fold!

Step 5: Insert fortune

Step 6: Fold toward center, this takes a little practice. The backside folds down while the center meets in the middle, picture how a fortune cookie looks and the thinner the paper, the easier this is to accomplish.

Step 7: Use some adhesive between to get the two sides to stick

Step 8: I used a little bobby pin to just lightly hold so I wouldn't have to ;o)

Step 9: Use a die cut for a take out box, mine is from Accu-cut. Stamp one panel at a time and mask the others so that each one looks nice!

Step 10: Fold and apply adhesive to flaps.

Step 11: Put it all together, then use a fun piece of ribbon for the handle.

Step 12: Put valentines into box and deliver!!!

I edited the pics differently so the post wouldn't be so long. If you have any questions please let me know!!!

Hope you had a wonderful Monday...

and can find time to have a crafty week!

B-

Lots of stuff going on...

It has been an interesting week, some of it is hard to share. I rarely write about the tougher goings on because it is far more interesting to read about inspiring ideas or fun events. But this last week my dad has found himself in a tough depression combined with compulsive anxiety. I have spent time everyday going and visiting with him at the hospital he is in, and while it is tough to do, I feel that it is important to make sure that my dad knows how I feel about him and to keep my priorities in line. I am so grateful for my wonderful kids, my mom, who is really amazing, and the kind friends who have lent me their shoulders for support. Dave has been really strong and I am reminded about how lucky I am in this way with him.

Because of the way my time has been spent this week, I haven't had the opportunity to get into my craft room. So I thought I would share my altered notebook that I use to keep track of my work stuff for CHF. When I was prepping my Ranger house project, I painted a sheet of Claudine's Studio Line Sticky back canvas to create the shutters. I had a fairly large chunk of it left over and didn't want it to go to waste, so re-purposed it to cover a notebook that I had picked up at Target. Some American Craft Thickers, Creative Cafe buttons and a super cute Maya Road flower add those extra details that make me smile every time I pick it up to get some work done.

Taking time to appreciate the small things and letting the things go that I can't control is my plan for the weekend. And the gratitude attitude is my mantra.

B-

Cherish

It is that time of year where we think about how we can give gifts to let our loved ones know that we are thinking of them. The Saturday Evening Post release from January tells such a great story, so I thought it would be a very sweet image to use for a Valentine's card. The "Tulle Damask" Scrapblock was stamped onto black Prism cardstock and then embossed in white for extra texture, and then after stamping the "Casual Conversation" in black onto a smooth white cardstock, I put four layers of UTEE on to create that gorgeous cracked glass look. Easy to do and adds so much dimension. A couple of chipboard details from Making Memories and this card is ready to go.

B-