A New Tutorial on the Ranger Blog

Hey everybody!!!! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I frankly, am ready for Spring!!!!! I can see the flowers coming up in the garden already. Well maybe I'm just dreaming.

BUT, if you want to see a how to make these cute little flowers for a tag or a card....whatever, jump over to the Ranger Blog here and look at my TUTORIAL they put up today. It's a great way to use the Memo Pins, Sticky Back Canvas, Enamel Accents and more. A really fun project to make. Give it a try! Enjoy!!!!

This is a kind of pretty shot of the backyard and the evergreens covered with the wet snow. It would have been prettier with some sunshine, but you can't have everything.

Stay warm. And Etta, if you read this, I wish I was in Florida!!!!! I'm sure it's gorgeous there now...........and much warmer!

Be well, my friends, and have a great day. If it's too nasty to go out...

CREATE ART!

A Good Time Was Had by All!!!

We had a gorgeous White Christmas! This is a shot of the backyard.

Christmas Day at the Cain's.

Erin loved her hat...didn't take it off all day long. This was my best shot of the day...clearest.

The three girls by the fireplace.

The Haifas, or as I call them Mick and Company!

My son Jeff's family....could you tell the sugar high was gone and the steam was running out?????

My daughter Michelle Ann.

Jeff and his gag gifts....like he can read!!!!

Emma at her finest. She just loves everything!

Carlo keeping track of all the papers and boxes.

Annie watching the girls open presents....don't you LOVE that shawl??????

Em is whispering to Brittany, a big secret!

My handsome young grandson...outnumbered by all the girls, but the best sport.

Brit got a Glee shirt and I'm sitting here typing in my Glee lounging pajamas. Yep, we're all Gleeks!!!!

And if the kids let me take pictures, we all get to be crazy for the last shot! And no one is CRAZIER than we are....

Merry Christmas and Big Hugs to Everyone!!!

Linda

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!

Making cookies, decorating, putting up tables for tomorrow, and watching it snow...snow....and more snow!

It's like a Winter Wonderland outside our windows. The rabbits are making tracks in the garden and playing. So fun to watch when they stand on their back legs and look around.

To everyone I've heard from in the comments, ( I try to respond to them all if I can find your email address) and those who just stop by and take a look, I wish you all a Blessed Holiday. Be safe and warm and enjoy your loved ones.

This is a tag from last year, but it's one of my favorites. So from all of us here to all of you out there..........

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Bill and Linda

And the WINNER is.....................

.....................you know that I have to always be fair about these things. Drawing was at 11 AM!


So I cut a piece of paper into little tiny squares...not very good squares...but none the less, everyone had a piece of paper. Then I numbered all 148 of the little papers.

Dumped out the candy bowl and put them in. Said to Bill, "pick one," and number 31 came out of the candy bowl. We are very, very HIGH TECH here!!! I counted down 4 times to make sure!

Lynne Forsythe said:
OMW>...tried to view/comment this on my phone and it EXPLODED!!! jk YOU ARE AN AMAZING OUT OF THE BOX THINKER!!! and I LOVE IT!!
December 17, 2010 6:11 PM

So, Lynne Forsythe, you are the winner of the Configuration and Tim Tools. Send me your address and I'll get them out sometime today!!




I'll leave you with a picture of Emma in the snow last year. Oh, the Joy of a Child in the Snow...........in a pink snowsuit and boots!! She's sneaking up on her Poppie to throw a snowball at him!


Thanks so much, everyone, for playing along. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read all your comments. They warm my heart and make me keep on sharing the fun I have in my Studio with all of you.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas or whatever holiday of your faith. And keep coming back to the blog and leave comments. We all learn from them.
I'll take pictures of what I'm sending to CHA and will share when I can. LOVE these Perfect Pearl Mists!!!!

Big Hugs!!!

Linda

Ok everyone.....

....I'm going to give everyone another day to comment. Then we'll draw a winner tomorrow.

Bill just surprised me with a trip for my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're going to New Orleans in the Spring with our traveling buddies!!!! They are on their way to Arizona now....so sad. NOT!

So I am a happy camper. Everyone stay warm and stay tuned. See you tomorrow! Hope all your shopping and wrapping is done!

Linda

Christmas Configuration My Way & a GiveAway!

Hello Bloggers from the cold and snowy Midwest!!!! At least the sun is shining today. I tried to take pictures yesterday, but wasn't happy with all of them. So today I tried again...a bit better, but never satisfied. That's why the colors may be a bit different as it's 2 different light settings... here goes nothing!

This is no tutorial, so just look and enjoy...then go create! I will tell you some of the products along the way. Graphic 45 papers on the sides, Margies - the Girls Paperie inside as well as BasicGrey, 7Gypsies and Tim Holtz Seasonal paper stash. I also used one of Tim's stamps and the hanging sign Alteration.

This is from Tim's Holiday paper stash. I LOVE this Santa so much. Robin said it reminded her of her childhood and reading "The Night Before Christmas." This had Tim's Tissue Tape and gold garland from Trim-A-Tree on the edges. the boxes are sprayed with various Adirondacks sprays and Perfect Pearls Mists. I LOVE THEM ALL!

Felt stars were glittered using the technique I learned from the"Queen of Glitter", Lisa Pace. You must have her book...maybe Santa will bring it! I really love the Christmas lights hanging on the side with Martha glitter on them and gold cord to hang them. They are years old....and I have not seen them since....from Hobby Lobby. Wish I had a whole bunch more.
The tree is from KaiserCraft. Too cute!

The little girl is from Paper Whimsy....best Vintage Photos ever! Gale is brilliant when it comes to recreating these treasured images. I used a Book Plate and a Facet from Tim for the little girl. And the little tree and wreath I got at Red Lead in St. Louis!!!

The Santa's are Stickers from Tim and the Star is Vintaj. I added some color with metal in the center from Ten Second's Studio.

The vintage button I bought as well as the hand painted Snowman and Angel button on the tree. The Joy is Maya Road that is glittered.

THEN....this is what I really had fun with. You glue it to our ever popular piece of plastic packaging, fold a strip at the top and glue to the top of the little box!

It is brought forward and looks to be hanging. Bill was impressed.


Wrap a wooden block in tissue paper and tie with a bow. Add Glossy Accents to a Bingo chip from Maya Road...glue to a wooden star, a small circle to raise it up, and pop into the box.

Now, if you followed this to the end......WHO WANTS A CONFIGURATION? Leave a comment and we'll send out one with some Tools from Tim, too! May even get it before Christmas!

Be Well and Have a Great weekend!!!!

Linda

A Few Shots Around the Tree

I've been a bit lax in blogging. Been trying out some new stuff in the studio and making a Christmas Configuration. I thought I'd share some shots of our decorations from around the house, just for fun.

Here's a cute little guy. I collect Santas and Snowmen. The Triptych is something I did a couple of years ago. It has such wonderful colors in the papers.

This is a little sled I painted a LONG time ago, but I think he's too cute.

One of my favorite ornaments in my collection.

This little guy came from my son's in-laws. Isn't he cute. He sits on the piano lid when it's down.

This is the fantastic ornament I found in the Quad Cities. One of my students told me about it in class, but they were sold out here in Peoria. Luckily I got one when we were up visiting. It plays the Hallelujah Chorus from Christmas Vacation when Clark gets the lights to finally work....love that movie!

We have all different kinds of transportation on our tree. Bill has 2 Cruisers that hang in "remembrance" of his boating days. Miss the boat...I know he does, too.

And last, but not at all least, here is Miss Erin playing with the 6th grade band in her Christmas Concert. She's only a 4th grader, but having dad as the band director has it's perks! Free lessons!!!! Practices all the time....and I mean ALL the time. She can't walk by my piano without playing something from memory.

***

Not a great day for taking pictures. So I'll get some better ones maybe tomorrow. Hope the sun shines and the snow stops. Wish it was 70 degrees, too, but I don't think that's gonna happen!!!!!

Be Well.

Linda

Townscape Christmas Standup Tag

There's no sunshine in the city today. Just rain, and more freezing rain tonight. So, there's not a very good picture today, but it's the best I could do.

Here's a fun way to show off your little Christmas tags. I started with the manila tag that I'd Distress Inked with Concord and Sapphire and a bit of Marmalade in the middle. Spray with Perfect Pearls Mist Forever Violet. When dry emboss with snowflakes (these are a Cuttlebug set-don't have Tim's...but they would do, too).

Sand a bit of the snowflakes off and highlight with a white pen. I used a Sharpie Poster Pen as it has a soft tip and a pen will smoosh down the embossing.

Then the little snowman is on Ten Second's Studio Peacock metal. LOVE this color. I embossed it in the Snowman Texture Plate from Tim and after sanding and using the steal brush on him, I cut him out . Simple, heh?

The TownScape is a piece of the metal tape again that I mounted onto heavy manila cardstock before I cut it out on the die. This makes it more stable. Then take a refiner tool, and decorate the houses. Using Alcohol Inks, I painted the little houses and sidewalks using a brush.

You can make them as elaborate as you like. Cut the house strip wider than your tag, and add it with a small piece of the metal tape at the sides. Bow it out and the back of the card so it will stand up. I added an oval piece of chipboard on the bottom for support.

The Star is a piece from Maya Road painted and Glittered with Martha's Crystal Fine White glitter. Glue your card to the star and add Texture Paste around the townhouses.

I cut the Snow Flurries out with the metal tape, and added to the top of the card only gluing the very top to the card. Bend the snowflakes out for affect. Detail it with some Turquoise Stickles. Paint some Grungeboard or Chipboard letters and accent with the Stickles. Assemble with glue and pop dots.

Tie a matching metal edged ribbon in the top and it's ready for the coffee table!

This is our little Star, Emma the Ham Hock! She's still so proud of the missing tooth! The Christmas Program always is a treat.

Mommy and Daddy got her to stop moving for a moment afterwards for a family picture. Erin was up in the choir loft with her friends. You've got to get the shots when you can.

So, that's it for me for the week. Have a great weekend. To my Midwest friends, stay warm and safe. Stay in and play along with Tim and the Christmas tags. It's gonna be ugly out there tomorrow! Yuck!

Linda

Another Christmas Tag

This is another Christmas Tag with Tim inspirations.

Product used:
Alterations-Bookplates,Reindeer Flight, and Snow Tree.
Idea-ology-Wordsticks, Baubles, Shabby Chic Paper Stash, Facets, Lace Chain, Grungeboard and Grungepaper.
Distress Inks-Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord, Stormy Sky, Wild Honey,
Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, Forest Moss, Pine Needles, and Chipped Sapphire.
Stamps-Believe, and Snowflakes.
Paint Dabbers-Cranberry, Snow Cap, Copper, Silver, Pitch Black.
Distress Stickles-Pumice Stone, Wild Honey and Burgundy.
Embossing Ink and Clear Embossing Powder.
Texture Fades-Crackled.
Perfect Pearls Mists-Blue Smoke and Sunflower Sparkle.



I used the Embossing Ink and Powders to make the Snowflakes. Then I sprayed with the Perfect Pearls Blue Smoke and Sunflower Sparkle.


Cut out the Reindeer from Grungeboard, the Bookplate from Chipboard, and the Snow Tree from Grungepaper. The Deer has been Embossed with the Texture Plate...arrange as you like, I got a dot for an eye.


Use the DI on the Deer starting with the Marmalade, then Honey and edge with Vintage Photo. When dry, add a layer of Wild Honey distress Stickles.


The bookplate is painted with Copper and Silver, then spots of Cranberry and Pitch Black. Pumice Stone Distress Stickles are added when dry. The stamp "Believe" is stamped on a scrap of Blue paper from the Paper Stash with the Cranberry Dabber and a black Gel Pen adds dots and shadows.


Glue paper and plate together and add some brads.


Burgundy Distress Stickles were rubbed into the Workstick. Let it dry a few seconds, and wipe off excess.

Use the Green Distress Inks on the Snow Tree in different areas and layers. I used some Snow -Tex when dry on the branches.

The little girl is from Paper Whimsy. I glued her to the Facet and added a Jump Ring, Lace Chain, and Baubles.

I used the Snow Cap Paint Dabber to add snow around the edges.

Add a ribbon to the tag adding the embellishments. Glue and Pop Dots are used to add the rest of the elements to the tag.

Have a great week....and find time to Remember to Play.

~

Linda

Christmas Tag

I admire anyone who can make something Simple and Beautiful. I never know when to quit. The more stuff, the better for me. But simplicity is an art in unto itself in my book. You can study for years and still not be able to make it "simple."

So here, I tried to make a "simple" small tag. Just for fun. You know, make it in a few minutes...ha...never happens for me. I over think and overdo most everything.

But I came away from this, liking it a lot. The pic shows a more tar looking effect on Santa's jacket, but in real life, it is just shiny embossing. Trust me!

I started with the small Manila tag from Ranger. I used Tim's Mini Holiday's stamps through all this. Stamp randomly with Embossing Ink and use Clear Embossing Powder with the Branch. Then ink around the outer edges with Forest Moss and Bundled Sage distress inks. See how the snowy branches appear?

Then the cool part is spraying the green inks with the Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls Mist. Heat set. IT IS SO COOL! And it sticks to the embossing. The picture is taken without a lot of light to show how gorgeous the Mist shows up on the tag.

Stamp the Santa and more Branches with Black Archival Ink.

Stamp the Merry Christmas with Fired Brick Distress Ink and clear emboss.

Distress the edge of the tag, add Fired Brick ink, clear embossing powder and heat it up!

Use a gold cord to tie a bow (simplicity). Add 3 Burgundy dots of Stickles in Santa's hat and it's done.

I added a few black ink pen strokes to the hat and the bottom of Santa's jacket, just to fill in spaces....never can just leave things alone. And black pen to shadow the Merry Christmas. Makes it pop!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. It is a gorgeous Christmas Card outside our window today. We got about 2 inches of snow and the evergreens are just beautiful!

Next, wrapping presents............ and mailing off Laure's Prize!