HAPPY HAPPY JULY!

Welcome July! Yesterday was the postmark deadline for mailing entries to the Cards For Soldiers Contest, I am expecting two packages from Canada and when they both arrive, I will assume that all entries that were sent have arrived as I have not received any emails to the contrary.

I LOVE JULY- for many reasons. (1) It's finally getting warm enough here in Maine to not wear socks everyday, but still sometimes at night. (2) The fourth of July celebrations make my heart swell with patriotism and pride, I am a patriot through out the entire year, but during this time I don't stand out so much as being peculiar, and I have lots of people celebrating WITH me. (3) it's my birthday month! woohoo, I will be in Chicago for CHA on my birthday this year-how fun is that? (4) July is right in the middle-- no more end of school activities, and it's too early to go school shopping! it's the perfect time to relax..........................

So much for that, I'm busy with CHA!!

Other new stuff: I am now a designer for Frances Meyer! Very exciting, such an amazing company (ChartPak) with fine art supplies and trendy products too.

GET READY: for Spellbinders new releases!! You are going to be completely dazzled with what they have designed for Summer CHA, don't miss it; stop by and see what the Wizard can do, the new dies and coordinating rubber stamps.

Ranger U-Perfect Pearls Certification was amazing! we learned over 30 perfect pearls techniques that bring glitz and bling to my art. I cannot wait to incorporate some of these (with my own twist of course :o) into some of my new classes and projects. Check these out:




And I learned how to change a flat tire on the way home!
I've been so busy, I'll come back and post more later.


I am wishing you a very happy and safe holiday with your families,
Cheers!

BeckyC

Ranger Inkling Layout

Here is a layout I did for Ranger Industries as an inkling on their yahoo group. I used their new Crackle Accents medium. I had fun with it and inked over the crackle after it was dry.

Sharing Melt Art

Hi!!!! I have finished with my DT application projects a day early so I'm back to share some melt art techniques with you.

Some fun things to do with Rubberstamps and Melt Art:

In the first photo, the larger project was created by pouring the melted UTEE onto a rubberstamp! The stamp should be coated with clear embossing pigment to protect it and then just dump it on!! Let it cool, then peel off. This one is awesome because there is clear UTEE mixed with colors. if you hold it up to the window, light will come through the clear UTEE (which is actually honey colored) Can you imagine the sun catchers you could make if you put some To Dye For into the clear UTEE?
The second project was created by pouring the melted UTEE onto the heat resistant non stick craft sheet and then stamping into it. Same deal; coat the stamp with clear UTEE before stamping into it, then I brushed on Perfect Pearls. If you would like to make it more stable/sturdy, pour the UTEE onto a small piece of cardstock, this will help reinforce and strengthen the UTEE for handling or mailing on a card etc. Coloring the UTEE with Perfect Pearls is also a great way to use up scraps of UTEE, where it doesn't really matter what color it is, you can color it!!

Did I mention there is ZERO waste with this stuff? I never throw away a bad project or scraps because it can all be remelted and used for other projects.

The round image is a 3 1/2" paper weight that was poured into a muffin topper pan. First we poured and cooled the bottom layer which is about 1/4" thick, then we added cut out art from Suze's Instant Art Book then I sprinkled Beadazzles over it and poured the second layer which is also about 1/4" thick. The clear UTEE gets amber in color, and gets darker the longer you keep it in the pot so for a more clear project work FAST.

More projects will be shared soon.

Enjoy!
BeckyC

Wrapping Up The Summer

Around here, things get hectic with the back to school shuffle. The recreation comes to a screaming halt when we find ourselves scrambling to get the clothes shopping done, school supplies updated and still try to fit in "one more fun thing" before the weather goes bad.
Too late, the weather is bad. Cool and wet.

It's been eventful; I have blogs elsewhere but seem to find myself here for other blogs so I figured I should get connected. My HGTV segment aired on Aug 23, 2006; I was so nervous and it took forever, but I was happy with the results. You can view the projects with instructions and still shots here: http://tinyurl.com/fen35

I attended Ranger Industries trainging for Melt Art this month! Me & Suze Weinberg in the photo. Come back here soon, I'll be sharing all of the fabulous techniques I learned while I was there.

Now I'm gearing up for Fall Classes to start, I'm teaching intermediate scrapbooking classes at Massabesic Adult Ed. http://www.maceplace.org/ArtCraft.htm (Waterboro, Maine)
** please check the class dates, they are NOT in order** and a one-day workshop in Lebanon in November, more details to follow.

Until next time...........................................

keep the art going.....................