Ranger U... and a contest or TWO!

Hey Blog Friends,

Wow! Where did this week go?!  I got back from Ranger U on Monday night and hit the ground running.... it's the last month before Summer CHA and my little ankle problem hasn't helped me to put in the normal superhuman hours we all need in the last few weeks before the show.

FIRST!  Ranger U was absolutely an amazing, awesome three day bit of heaven.  What a fabulous opportunity... getting to play with all the Ranger products and learn new techniques... from some of the finest teachers in the industry: Tim Holtz, Claudine Hellmuth, Suze Weinberg.  What an amazing journey we had, I loved every second of it! Here are a few of the photos:

This is a photo taken at the end of Day 1.  The last half of Day 1 was spent with Suze Weinberg and the Melting Pot, making embellishments for our frames (you can see some of them on the tables).  I had never used the melting pot, the embellishments turned out to be a lot of fun.  (I loved the whole "make a mold" thing... going to have to play with that product.)

 
Mario got me a crate to prop my foot up on...it's funny how much less something hurts when you're having fun, lol!  Speaking of Mario... he kept us all filled with goodies the whole weekend.... candy, donuts, yummy lunches (!) which included square pizza (yummy!)...in addition to shuttling me back and forth to the hotel so I wouldn't have to walk so far.  Super nice guy!!  Thank you Mario!! :D

 
On Day 2, we had the opportunity to play with Claudine Hellmuth's entire line of paints, canvas, tools.  I loved the products, and Claudine is so cute and funny with her stories, lol. I can't wait to play with her line of paints... the only bad thing is having to wait until after CHA, too much to do before.  August is going to be filled with creative GOODNESS!!  (The students shown in the photo below are Sharon, from Buffalo Stamps & Stuff, and Linda Elbourne and Anneliese, both from the UK.  Adorable and funny gals!  :)

 
Can you believe the MOUNTAINS of stuff on the tables in the photo below? Waaay cool to play with ALL of Ranger's products.

 

Here we are playing with the Adirondack Pigment Pens on the Memory Glass. Way cool!

 
Here we all are after graduating:

 

This is Melissa Digue from Scrap Tales in Brighton, MI.  She was my table partner all weekend and it was fun getting to know her:
   
I shared a hotel room with Wendy Vecchi.  Wendy is sweet and fun, but unfortunately we didn't have much time together.  In bed at midnight, up at 5:00 a.m. doesn't make for a lot of time to visit, lol.

 

And, of course.... Tim!  I've been fortunate to do some traveling with Tim and Mario this year (Stamper's Anonymous and Darcie's are both owned by Ted and Michelle Cutts, in addition to Inky Antics and Art Gone Wild... which means we travel together as a large...ok, huge... group).  I've discovered some things about Tim this year.  He's an outstanding educator, no one else compares...ever.  He has an energy level that is unmatched.... he's just upbeat and on the go ALL the time (at the trade shows he rarely takes a break of any kind, just go, go, go all day... regular energizer bunny.)  He's hilarious.  No kidding, all the time. Here's an example... when my ankle was crushed by the huge display fixture a few weeks ago, I was laying on the floor waiting for the ambulance. Tim came and sat with me to keep me from freaking out.  He sat and joked with me which really helped  (Thank you, Tim, so very much appreciated!).  One of the things I remember he said is still cracking me up... "Just stare at one of the lights in the ceiling and try not to think about it.  No, wait.... don't GO TO THE LIGHT.... just STARE at it."  Hahaha.  He and Mario are probably the most genuinely NICE guys ever.... well, of course I'm married to a really nice guy too, lol.
 

 
And here's our final dinner with most of the gang after the last day of Ranger U.  We ate at a little Chinese restaurant across from Ranger, yummy!  (Is that about the tenth time I've said yummy in this post, lol?)  The sweet gal waving on the right hand side of the photo is Heidi from Simon Says Stamp.  See you soon, Heidi, I had fun with you!

 

OK.... now about that FREE GIVEAWAY from the last post!  Here's the prize:

This is stamp set # JCS0117, Light up my Life, and it retails for $24.95.  

AND, here's the lucky winner:

Jil L said:

Hello- I was at Stampfest Orlando yesterday & really enjoyed spending time in your booth. I just love your new images & products. I know you're having fun at Ranger U this weekend. It's a blast! JIL

SO! Jil L, if you will please send me your address, I'll get your prize right out to you!  You can email me at darcieheater@gmail.com

I'll be doing a couple more random drawings in the next week.... I'll just randomly choose comments on recent posts and announce the winners on the blog... so be sure to add your comment to be eligible.

Back to work on my CHA releases!  See you soon.

:) Darcie

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Comments

[Terry York]

Forgot to mention I bought some of your stamps...GREAT quality.~Terry

[Terry York]

Okay. That "stare at it, don't go to it" line REALLY cracked me up!!! Hope your ankle will heal quickly!~TERRY

[Cheryl Stapleton]

Darcie! Everything you make is FABULOUS!!!!
Can't wait to see more new stuff....I don't know how you ever have time to do it! Oh, nevermind, I DO KNOW how you get-r-done!!!!!
I think that your shrink design gifty things should be called "HEART ART". Beacuase they have tender messages, and have been lovingly created, and given from the heart. Keep creatin'! Love ya loads, Cheryl :)

[Debee]

Your trip looks like so much fun. I can't imagine working with that many talented artist at one time. I'm sure it was amazing. So glad to see you are getting around. Looking forward to seeing you at CHA and Stampaway.

[Debbie Reaves]

Sounds like you had a blast at Ranger U. I wish I could go there someday. What a treat!

I sure hope your ankle is all better now.

take care,

Debbie Reaves

[Margie]

I recently discovered your products and I'm hooked, I love your stamps! I scrolled back through your posts and just wanted to say thank you for all of the printable projects. I love the recipe book!! Will you be posting more recipes soon?

[Tammy]

You're back! We missed you (virtually!) What an amazing time you must have has at Ranger. Can't wait to see what that inspires you to come up with next!

[stacy G]

I love that stamp set! Gotta order it!

[Jennifer]

Hi Darcie! I hope your leg is feeling better, I can't wait to see your new releases.

[Darcie Heater]

Hi Heidi! It was a joy to spend time with you also, see you soon! I'll be sending you the flyer before the show.... :)

[Darcie Heater]

Hi Kathy, Yay, then I'll get to see you at the Cincinnatti show, I'll be there this year!

[Jenny]

I was looking at the Ranger blog also and I can't believe all of the stuff! It looks like so much fun. Someday!!

[marilou]

Thank you for sharing all those photos, you are SO lucky! That must have been like being in heaven with all those products, and Tim too!

[Kathy JH]

Looks like so much fun! I've been following the Ranger blog and it sounds like it was a whirlwind of learning - so jealous. I do get to take a class from Tim in August in Cincinnati.
Hope that ankle gets better really soon! Take care.

[Heidi]

Boy that was A LOT of Chinese food! Yum yum

See you soon Darcie! Boy time flies :). It was a real joy to spend time with you! Hugs!!

[Heidi G]

So glad you had such a good time at Ranger U. I'm jealous. Would love to do that sometime. Can't wait to see what you come up with using your new techniques.