Monday, November 16, 2009

GREY SAVE dot ORG

One of my retired school teacher buddies from my old school, Louise Winders, is SO involved with Grey Save . . . a Greyhound Adoption Group Serving Southern California . . . she's already adopted three gentle, mellow, soft greyhounds that are such wonderful companions for her . . . here is more info on the organization . . .

(866) Grey-Save
(866) 473-9728
Greyhound Adoption Group
Serving Southern California

What a wonderful cause . . .

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Chris Cozen Workshop

I was SO fortunate to have been able to take classes with Chris Cozen from Golden Paint Company . . . it has been on my WISH LIST for a long time! I was in AWE of her knowledge of the Golden products and what they can do for you as well as her gift at mixed media art . . . the first piece is my only "finished" piece learning to use Golden paints . . . glazing liquid . . . collage . . . stamping . . . transfers . . . stencilling . . . it was a lot to absorb in a 6-hour class, but I LOVED it!!!!! The following three pieces were practice pieces learning to use the materials and techniques!!
The second class I took involved using the new Golden Open Acrylics which allow the artist a greater period of moving the paint before it dries . . . it felt so smooth in the application . . . it was amazing!!!! This piece uses Golden Tar Gel which gave me a clear layer to work on . . . it's also "stringy" in texture which is totally fun to work with!

The next of the samples show how to use acrylics to look like watercolors . . .
The following is a sample of painting on top of dried Golden Absorbant Ground . . .

The next two pieces are paint on Golden Molding Paste . . .
The following shows a resist we were able to do with the mediums . . .
If you ever get a chance to take a class with Chris Cozen . . . I highly recommend it! I learned SO much in such a fun, nurturing atmosphere . . . Chris Cozen currently has two incredible books out . . . Altered Surfaces and Transfers and Altered Images . . . I highly recommend them, as well . . .

Have fun everybody!!!!!!!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The Encyclopedia of Greeting Card Tools & Techniques

One of my stamping buddies, Pat Newman, recently introduced me to The Encyclopeida of Greeting Card Tools & Techniques by Susan Pickering Rothamel, owner of USArtQuest . . . Pat and I met at Sylvia Valle's Greeting Card Class held here locally through Saddleback Valley Unified School District Adult Education . . . This book has so many tips on tools and techniques in it . . . the samples are also wonderful!!!!!

Paper Transformed

I'm also loving this book, Paper Transformed . . . A Handbook of Surface-Design Recipes and Creative Paper Projects by Julia Andrus, creator of Ranger Ink's Perfect Pearls . . . WOW-WEEEEEEE!!!! Does this book have great tools and techniques, as well!
I love 'em both!!!!!!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Cards For Heroes dot Org

My second grade retired public school teacher/stamping buddy, Judy Justice decided she wanted to get involved with Cards for Heroes dot Org http://cardsforheroes.org/ . . . she invited a few of us retired teachers (all from the same school) to spend the day with her making cards for soldiers serving overseas for them to send to family and friends . . . we decided to make cards from the beautiful ATC's we exchanged in our card making class last spring . . . Here's Judy . . .
Kay Davis, retired third grade public school teacher/stamping buddy, was there being super productive, as usual . . . whenever we get together to stamp . . . she's the one that gets the most done!
Irene Tatsuta, retired second grade public school teacher . . . volunteered for YEARS after she retired . . . she helped teachers prepare learning tools like bulletin boards, charts, etc. in so many ways . . . she helped me many a time and asked nothing in return . . . here she is . . . volunteering again . . . this time for our troops overseas . . .I couldn't believe all that we accomplished and had a good time, to boot!!!!! There were cards all over the place by the time we called it a day!!!!!