► Artist Trading Cards

ARTIST TRADING CARDS are 2.5 by 3.5 inch works of art that are made, collected and traded by artists worldwide. They are perfect for little scraps of paper. bits of fabric, found and leftover decorations, trinkets and snippits and for recycling not-so-successful projects.





They are great for the impatient!!!
They are easy for "I'm not creative" types!
Learn six quick ways to make backgrounds, over two dozen ideas for embellishments, six ways to use ATCs and where to trade them.


STUDENTS: Please bring...

... some collage materials = tissue, wrapping & colored papers / painted, inked, or printed backgrounds / leftover paper scraps / fabric scraps / etc.


... any ephemera = stickers / ticket stubs / postcards / letters / real or faux stamps / photos (or copies of) / paper doilies / etc.


... magazine pages = with color / with any text / with "meaningful" text / with favorite objects (shoes, sunglasses, faces) / etc.

... your favorite rubber stamps and stamp pads = along with your stamps of birds or hats or whatever, I suggest a "pattern" stamp such as swirls, wavy lines, or dots. These are good for backgrounds. Also bring whatever you usually clean your stamp pads with -- baby wipes work well.

If you have materials you'd be ok with sharing, please bring them!

I will bring ATC card-blanks in several colors, some collage materials, five colors of acrylics, sponges, a few rubber stamps with three colors of dye ink pads, and a corner rounder. Plus examples of techniques.

Thanks!

► Rubber Stamping Class

If you're new to stamping or haven't checked out the field lately, there's a lot of great materials easily available and affordable.

Stamps and stamping techniques are perfect additions to artwork including greeting cards, visual journals, collages, Artist Trading Cards and handmade books.

Learn about using and cleaning both red rubber and clear polymer "cling" stamps, the difference between dye and pigment inks, positioning your images, the fascination of embossing, and combining stamping with other media.

We'll survey the field from purchased stamps to creating your own. (But we won't do potatoes.)

Plus you'll leave with your own booklet of samples, notes and studio tips.


REQUIRED MATERIALS: Bring at least one stamp you like -- wood-mounted red rubber or clear polymer with an accompanying acrylic block. The stamp should be able to fit in a 2" by 2" square and of low or medium detail.

For example: silhouette of a cat = low detail; cat with just eyes, nose and whiskers = medium detail; cat, mouse and fur on a checkerboard floor = high detail

OPTIONAL MATERIALS: Bring any "stampy" materials -- stamps, ink pads, embossing powder, a heat gun, etc.

Thanks.

► How to Teach Your Art

"How to Teach Your Art" -- coaching for artists who want to start teaching workshops or improve their classes. Experienced instructor Tina K can help you fine tune your presentation to your audience of visual learners. Learn practical tips for:

• introducing yourself and your project
• creating finished samples with variations
• writing the handout (it's more than just the steps!)
• organizing a class notebook for yourself
• smoothing the flow of the session
• deciding what materials to bring and use
• dealing with different types of students
• projecting a confident and enthusiastic appearance -- and feeling competent and prepared

I have degrees in Education and Communications and taught (the dreaded) public speaking and computer software classes to college students and older adults for many years. I've taught paper arts classes for over five years at the San Francisco Center for the Book. Please leave a message for me at SFCB for a free phone consultation.

► Mass Producing Unique Cards

This class teaches one method of producing a batch of holiday cards, each with a personal touch, in "production line" fashion. I'll explain how to design, assemble and embellish works-of-art in record time.

We'll make a simple background and use paper punches, rubber stamps and the right "smart" materials to whip out each card.

This class came from my decision to send hand-made holiday cards to over 80 people. I wanted cards that were hand-made, stylish, quick to make, but not all-the-same. "Mass produced" but also "unique."

As a former systems analyst, I knew there was a way to design such a card, make piles of "smart" elements, and produce them in an "assembly line" fashion.

As an impatient and procrastinating artist, I wanted to add a personal touch to each card, but not spend much time with any one card or with the whole process.


STUDENTS:


IMPORTANT! Bring a 1" to 2" paper punch. This will be the main element for your card design. Note that less intricate shapes are easier to work with.

For example, if you plan to make Valentine cards, you might use a "whale" sized heart punch. To see an example, search the net on "heart paper punch." If you're making Christmas cards, check the internet and the local craft stores for a snowman, tree or star shape.

Also bring...

... a large glue stick, scissors, an x-acto or snap-blade knife, see-thru ruler or triangle for squaring

... small bits of collage materials = tissue, wrapping & colored papers / painted, inked, or printed papers / papers that compliment your paper punch / etc.

... small bits of ephemera = stickers / cards / letters / real or faux stamps / photos (or copies of) / etc.

... rubber stamps and stamp pads = that compliment your paper punch theme (hearts, snowflakes, holly...) I also suggest a "pattern" stamp such as swirls, wavy lines, or dots for backgrounds. Also bring whatever you usually clean your stamp pads with -- baby wipes work well.

Optional materials: metallic pens, black and colored sharpies, any favorite media (such as inks, acrylics, watercolors...)

If you have materials or large punches you'd be ok with sharing, please bring them!

LOCAL CRAFT STORES: Check the "store locator" feature for these stores in the Bay Area = Beverley's Fabrics & Crafts (www.beverleys.com), Michael's (www.michaels.com) and Jo-Ann (www.joann.com).

Thanks!

► Wire Bound Books

These handy books are fast, practical, inexpensive, and easy to make. Make several for class notes, sketchbooks for art ideas and mini-books to keep your To Do Lists straight.

The steps are: find and cut your paper, cut covers, paint the covers, punch the square holes and bind it all together with wire loops. That's it! The San Francisco Center for the Book has a wire bind machine that can be rented. I have one also.

The cool things about wire bind books include: use scrap paper • use any shaped paper • use recycled materials • make your own tracking charts, copy them and bind them • they lie flat • they can be thrown in a backpack and beat up -- they don't have to last forever • no worry about paper "grain" • you can use small to letter size paper (larger if you get creative) • you can decorate the covers • you can make a 5.5 by 8.5" book for less than $2 and in less than five minutes.

The cool way I teach cover decoration: If you choose, you'll make an abstract cover layering sponged acrylics, torn papers, and embellishments like metallic inks, glitter and other collage materials.

Additionally, I found I could use plastic spirals in the holes instead of wire loops which means you can make a larger book and reuse the covers by just "spinning out" the plastic spiral and putting new paper in.

Thanks.