Wow, how do I even begin to describe the first day of Ranger U?  Stimulating, exciting, action-packed, creative, fun, inspiring . . . the list goes on.  We started with a factory tour which was amazing.  While you'd expect everything to be ultra-automated, not everything is.  Their hands-on involvement and quality control is impressive!  I even got to keep a bottle of Stickles and Alcohol Ink mixative that I watched being manufactured.

These are the subjects we covered with Tim Holtz before lunch:

• Perfect Pearls Dusting
• Perfect Pearls Lifting
• Perfect Pearls Doodling
• Perfect Pearls Mist
• Perfect Pearls Painting
• Perfect Pearls on Peel-offs
• Perfect Pearls Faux Suede
• Clear, Super Fine Detail Clear and UTEE embossing powders
• Adirondack embossing posder / opaque vs. clear
• Embossing Antiquities
• Holographic embossing powder
• Powder manipulation

We mounted each technique sample on a tag so I have a great ring filled with samples from these wonderful techniques.  As I learned each new technique, my head was spinning with ideas for classes!  I had so many ideas after the first 1/2 of day one.  Can you imagine how I'll feel after these three days are over?  Holy moly; I cannot even tell you how excited I am!



The completed tags are shown above.  Here are a few more close-up views:

(Below L to R:  Painting with Perfect Pearls, Perfect Pearls on Peel-off stickers, and Faux Suede using Perfect Pearls)




So, after lunch, we had the pleasure of learning from Suze Weinberg:

• Image Transfer with Beeswax
• Beeswax Fusion
• Beeswax To Dye For
• Image Transfer with UTEE
• Textured Framed UTEE
• Faux Soldering with UTEE
• Amazing Agates with UTEE
• Mold n' Pour Basics
• Cloisonne with UTEE
• Stamp and Pour with UTEE

To finish, she had us create our own special framed "Melt Art Mosaic Frames."  It was such a terrific way to showcase what we learned. 




I honestly cannot say enough positive things about Tim, Suze and the entire Ranger staff.  After class, we had a barbeque right at the Ranger facility.  It was so fun to socialize and network with the wide range of Ranger staff and Ranger U attendees.  I should be exhausted from a full day of travel yesterday followed by 11+ hours at Ranger today but I'm so far from tired.  I'm eager and anxious for Day 2!

For more photos, visit:  http://photos.scrappersedge.net/   I have 2 albums -- "Ranger Samples" which includes samples that are displayed in the Ranger Classroom -- and "Ranger U" which are pictures that I took of my personal experiences.

Tomorrow will include a "Claudine Hellmuth Studio" Overview with Claudine Hellmuth AND "Distress Overview" with Tim Holtz. 

Stay tuned!