Alcohol Ink Splatter Technique

Earlier this month at Ranger U, Tim Holtz, taught us a really fun technique with alcohol inks and an air can. I taught it to my kids(ages 7 and 12) over spring break and they went wild over this technique. So, Samantha decided to join in the video upload craze...eP style. She chose the music to feature her version of the Alcohol Ink Splatter technique with vast collection of Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink and an air can. You'll want to get your own supplies so you can play this weekend.

You can also view in full screen HERE.

Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper

If you have either the Crop-A-Dile or the Crop-A-Dile Big Bite...then you will love this new hand held tool by We R Memory Keepers. Having debuted at 2009-CHA Winter, this versatile tool was much talked about on the CHA floor. It is two(2) tools in one. You get both a 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch corner rounder with the Corner Chomper. It will round corners of paper, chipboard, acrylic sheets, metal sheets, leather, and fabric, too.

eclectic Paperie if offering both the Corner Chomper with the cute coordinating case at a good value. You can view the details HERE. You can also view this new video to show you how to use this new tool. Our new eclectic Feed episode will make you want to breakdance before you get to your stampin space.

More Alcohol Ink Fun

I had to play with some of the new Ranger Adirondack® Alcohol Inks. You really can't go wrong and it's kinda fun. You can see our eclectic Paper Feed, Episode 2 and get a quick overview on how to apply alcohol inks to glossy paper. The possibilities limitless and no two will ever look the same.

Supplies used:

Alcohol Blending Solution
Adirondack Alcohol Inks (Clover, Bottle, Sand & Pebble)
Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool
Studio 490 - All About Art (Stampers Anonymous)
Rock-a-Blocks
Non-stick Craft Sheet

Some things to know when working with these products:

• Use a non-porous surface like glossy paper. Works really great if you want to use dominoes;
• Alcohol inks are fast drying - so you have to work fast,
• The Blending Solution is a solvent that has no color. IT will blend, remove, and lighten when applied to your projects.
  
• The Craft Sheets are fabulous when working with alcohol inks and is a must! You can easily wipe with a little Blending Solution, too.
• Make sure you work in a well-ventilated area.

I really prefer THIS Archival Jet Black pad. It is a waterproof archival ink. It is oil-based so it needs time to try. You can heat-set it so you won't accidentally smear it(that's my personal testimony form experience-wink,wink).

Ranger U - Day 3

The 3rd and Final Day at Ranger U was totally like boot camp. tim taught us about 25...ish techniques this last day and we had to get them done. But having a technique tag ring like you see here in this photo is completely awesome!

Joy and I were delayed at the Newark airport for 2 hours but we had our Ranger technique tags to look over and plot our course of action to share our Ranger learnings to eP nation soon. We are so excited about what we have planned to offer you in terms of all that is Ranger. We are gonna share all that tim taught us with you so make sure that you and your friends are signed up for our weekly newsletter so you will be the first to hear about our electic-kits and video uploads.

For example, look at this alcohol-ink swipe technique. This one is Joy's tag. It was funny 'cause she thought it looked awful in it's raw swipe form. But it was all the colors that came together that provided for such a great background. tim came over to help Joy discover that having the right stamped image makes for all the "wow" for a project like this. He choose the stamps and stamped the images on Joy's tag so one can really appreciate this technique.


Adirondack Pigment Pens(which must, must be stored horizontal) on Frosted Memory Glass was so easy to do. The image was stamped onto the glass and embossed. Love the outcome. Gonna get some Memory Glass for eP.




The big plus of Ranger U was that it's a small intimate gathering of store owners, designers and teachers. You really get to spend some time making new friends in the industry. Joy and I shared a table with Jennifer McGuire and Jana Millen. It was fun to share supplies, creations, and much laughter with Jennifer and Jana.

I have Ranger U hangover now. I have to go through my Ranger schutff and play with again. Ranger products plus lots of stamp selections is all you need to create goodness. My girls are on spring break so we are gonna break into all the Ranger stuff and stamp the week away.

Ranger U - Day 2

Wow! What another amazing day of Ranger Schtuff! We started the morning with the sweet and lovely Claudine Hellmuth. We were introduced to her line of STUDIO paints. YUMMY! Boy were these fun to play with. Just having Claudine there to explain how she developed the line, how she came up with colors, and then having her there to teach us how to use it was just plain AWESOME! The possibilities are
endless. Wait till we can share with you. Yup...Claudine Hellmuth Studio paints and sticky-back canvas(aka magic paper) is coming soon to eP.




The afternoon session was all about Distress schtuff. Distress inks, Stickles, embossing powders and crackle paints were all adventures into Tim's DISTRESS world. We learned a dozen...yes 12 techniques to create with the Distress product lines. I think I see some kits and classes coming soon. We know you all have some of the Distress products so now we need to share with you what more you can do with them.

Day 2 came to end but Tim, Suze and Claudine all hosted a short informal Q&A session for attendees. The best part was asking each of them share their journey to the Ranger company and hearing each of them tell their story. They each had different story to tell but all were equally fascinating. The personal tid-bits laced within each story also made for much laughter. They shared what their "typcial" work day is like. They were very kind to share to their time experiences and point of view of our industry.



Day 3 coming soon. Looking forward to learning all about Dabbers and more.

Ranger U - Day 1

We are here at Ranger U here in Tinton Falls, New Jersey and we survived Day One! Our Ranger Curriculum is jam packed with an agenda of techniques to learn. We were warmly welcomed with Dunkin' Dounuts and coffee(aka our New Jersey continental breakfast). We then received a walking tour of the Ranger Facility and can I say "oh my goodness". Referred to as "the Ranger-Wonka Tour," we got to see how they package the alcohol inks; saw how Stickles are made and was able to pull one right off the product line. A vat of Starry Night Stickles is quite a site. Seeing the Ranger employees happily packaging the new Alcohol Ink Refillable Pens, inking up fresh ink pads, and shrink wrapping Distress Inks was so fun. Just know there is a lot of loving hands that carefully package your favorite Ranger products.

We then got started with learning all about Perfect Pearls with Tim Holtz. A yummy lunch was provided with lots of TLC. For our afternoon session, Suze Weinburg showed us all about Melt Art for the afternoon session. After playing with the Melting Pot, To Dye For and UTEE, I just wanted to play some more. The color possibilities and combinations are endless. Sometimes, accidents can make for creative discoveries.















Off to get some rest before we face Day 2 with Claudine Helmuth and her products. We're already thinking of different ways to bring a little Ranger U...to you soon.

Cheers!
Daisy & Joy