i'm official!!

 My bags are packed.
I brought an extra bag knowing that I would leave here with a HUGE stash of awesome, amazing and …magical… Ranger products.
I’m official “Ranger Certified Instructor”!! yeehaw! Feels great.
I have to admit, my head is a little bogged down at the moment. I am still trying to remember all the ‘solvents’ ‘water-based’ ‘resists’ …what can be layered, distressed, blended, built and even cracked. This is the OUTSTANDING group of ladies that were in my Ranger Class: distributors, store owners, teachers, designers, education directors etc…from all over: UK, Canada, France and all over the USA. It was EXCITING to meet these creative minds. I loved loved loved it. what an amazing opportunity.

(i got this image of our whole group from Tim's blog... )

Today was the most intense and full day of learning products and techniques…and this morning I felt like I kinda had a handle on everything, but by this afternoon, I was pretty boggled. This was one of our today kits – I loved learning more about the alcohol inks. And I must say that the color wash was one of my favorite things. I just love that intensity of color.

The process and teaching style at Ranger U is all techniques. Most of them are done on tags that you can keep all together on a huge ring and then refer to.  I just love looking at it…for every single technique, there is a sticker that goes on the back of the tag explaining each step of each technique so that you know exactly what you have to do- to jog your memory. I was there for TECHNIQUES…and throughout the entire weekend, my wheels were turning. You would not believe how amazingly organized and well thought out the entire weekend was. And SO many little bits and pieces that had to be handed out and placed on the table for us to use. There were kits, and kits in kits. They had pre-embossed, pre-cuttlebugged- pre-stamped, pre-cut everything.
HUGE tip of the hat goes to everyone involved: Tim, Suze, Claudine, Mario and all the staff at Ranger but I have to give a shout out and cyber hug to Patti, who makes it all flow perfect, flawless and smooth. Nice work guys… it was truly a class act.

Here are a couple of my tags.. they aren’t fancy, or prettied up, but these are some of my total favorite techniques that I am excited to get home and explore further-- some really COOL stamps were there for us to play with. i have come to the conclusion that i don't have NEAR enough stamps in my collectioN!!







It’s so totally RARE for me to be this indulgent to take a weekend to actually take classes myself. i feel SO lucky, SO spoiled… wouldn’t be possible without ERIC!! Thanks babe… so not easy, but he does such an awesome job with the kids- and the kids did great helping out. Thanks to everyone else that also helped out!!  I love you all!!
T H A N K YOU so much! 

Comments

[erin]

this is truly awesome to read about, YOU being inspired at an event like this where YOu get to be spoiled:)
i cannot wait for CE, my friends and i got in for the first time and we just simply cannot wait to soak all your team has to offer in!
blessings,
erin yamabe

[Tifany D.]

Awesome....sounds like a wonderful time! I am so jealous, but excited for you!

[Suzette]

Thanks for sharing your Ranger U experience. What a treat to get away to learn and be inspired, you deserve it since you give so much back by sharing all your ideas with us.

[Nita]

You lucky girl! I was SO wishing I could be there with you :D ! I have seen Tim create at CHA....the things that he does with those inks, distress, crackle...it's amazing! I so love it when he posts a new technique on his site! It's INSPIRING!! And, you at Ranger U?! AH!! All I can say, I was envious!

And, that amazing husband of yours!! Can I say WOW? I have to admit, my husband is very good about staying home with my two girls when I go away on crops/classes. But to have a man that stays home with five children? That's truly one amazing, wonderful man!!! (There were five kids in my family, and let me say, my dad was awesome, too!)

[Renee]

Sounds like a fantastic weekend!

[Mary Mitchell]

You tags look great. I can get some of the Ranger products in my area...but not all. If it weren't for people like you and Tim sharing your knowlege online...I wouldn't all the options I'd have to unleash my creative mind with Ranger Products.

[Danielle]

Thank you so much for sharing! Looks like you had a great time!

[Samantha]

Hi Heidi,

Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience at Ranger U. I even saw my friend Brigit in your photo - last time I saw her she was also sooo excited to go (and rubbing it in a little - hahah!). Sounds like you had a great time! So happy for you!

[LenaS]

It's so great that you actually got to be a student for a change since you are always giving so much of yourself to us students. Is that Donna D in the pic as well? Would sure like to take a CE class from her...hint. Congrats on your certification--i can just imagine what you will do with all that new knowledge...welcome home! Are your fingers and nails all stained? LOL!

[johanna (from sweden)]

okay- i thougt you are one of the best- i thougt: Heida Swapp can do all the fancy and fanny stuffs... but you learn every day! (me to)
So- now we will se a "new" Heidi??? But i allready love what you are doing.
It's sounds if you had a greate time.

johanna

[Megan]

jealous = me.

I want to go!!!

[cindy]

Thank you for sharing.......is the one with the glass made with alcohol ink? It's amazing!

Cindy

[Kate]

Very cool, would love to know more about the techniques behind the tags!
Aloha, Kate

[kat-in-texas]

Congrats, Heidi!

Love those inks...just need more practice with them!

Good Luck on your newest adventure!!! :D

[Brian Kasstle]

Glad you got to go to the amazing RangerU! Sounds soo cool! Hope to see some things your learned soon!