Teaching Techniques

 

While in FL at Stampfest I taught 3 classes, and the most popular by far was on techniques.

 

 

We played with inks and paints, stamps and stencils, sprays and stains, and SO MUCH MORE.

 

 

If you look over the shoulders of Neia & her son John, you'll see I had spraying stations set up away from the mayhem at the working tables.  Dylusions sprays are visible but earlier in the class this was the alcohol ink station.

 

 

We certainly couldn't have those colorants on the tables with everyone working so diligently, now could we?  Neia and John signed up last minute and raced to the local Michael's to buy inks and adhesives on my supply list, and fell into the chaos like a couple of pros.

Meet Donna and Peggy in the first 2 seats on the left, two of my Lovelies who are brave enough to take more than one class from me each year.  I just love watching them leave class with inky fingers, knowing they'll be back for more adventure.

 

On this end of the room we see playtime with Distress Stains.  I'm not saying I'm a jumping bean, but imagine that one table was set up with alcohol inks while the other was filled with stains.  And then Dylusions sprays and Distress Paints were set up for round two at those same tables.

In between using all the messy products, we had quiet, stay in our seats techniques, introducing everyone to some unusual play things that were quite a hit.

 

Above left is Wendy, who'd never attended Stampfest or taken a class.  I can't say she had the most fun, but I can tell you she was loving every minute of it.

 

 

Once we'd tackled all the techniques, those end tables were cleared of supplies and hundreds of rubber stamps took their place.  Everyone was able to move from one side of the room to the other, selecting stamps to use on their finished tags before assembling their books. 

 

I provided both mounted and unmounted stamps from Invoke Arts, Artful Illusions, Stampers Anonymous, Catslife Press, Just for Fun, Stamp Camp, Lost Coast Designs and far too many more to remember.

 

If you wanted to stamp faces, there were dozens...words & phrases? 

 even more

 

  What's the best thing about owning tens of thousands of rubber stamps?  You can provide great selections in your many classes.



I made a lot of new friends this year, which is always great, while catching up with old friends too.  Being a teacher is simply the best.

 

 

Thank you Tammy for enjoying my morning class so much that you signed up for the afternoon class and brought your Mom, Ellen.

 



 

Thank you John for joining all the ladies for 3 hours of inky fun.

 

 

 

And thank you Wendy for coming to Stampfest.  We were both surprised on Saturday night when she showed up for my third class of the weekend.  She said she didn't even realize I was the instructor for both, but was thrilled to be back for more. 

 

That means quite a lot.

 

On the Road to Stampfest Orlando

I have to admit this isn't exactly what I'd planned to post upon my return from FL, but I didn't want to forget.

If you're making the drive down I-95 from NC to FL, or vice versa,  look for Darien GA.  I think it was exit 49 but don't hold me to that.  There was an older billboard, low to the ground, advertising B&J's Steak & Seafood, which we noticed last year and couldn't resist visiting a second time.  Mind you, it isn't an upscale restaurant at all, and it wasn't new or fancy...in fact, when you see the condition of the sign it's a pretty good indication of the restaurant itself.  A place where the locals eat, which always indicates great food. 

But don't let the outside or inside appearance deter you.  We were blown away last year and this year it was even better.  We shared a plate of shrimp, cleaned out back under a metal carport set up in the grass and couldn't eat them all.  Too much black pepper in the slaw and the fries are battered, both must be GA style because we don't do either in NC.  But forget those and concentrate on the shrimp.  Over 30 huge shrimp on that plate.  (Sorry we couldn't resist diving in before I thought to snap the photo.)

And I'm posting this photo of my club sandwich at the International Palms Resort in Orlando, host hotel of StampFest.  How much did I love that little fry basket filled with homemade chips?!  Wanted to bring it home with me.

But I didn't.  Couldn't finish my sandwich either.  But you know me...presentation is everything!

Do come back.  I promise I have photos from my classes to share.

Can you tell it's lunch time?

Accordion Book of Techniques Play Date

What do you get when a handful of ladies agree to be your guinea pigs for a day?

You get a lot of fun, and really dirty, and for this play date, a little light headed.

We had pizza delivered (and pineapple upside down cake for dessert), so we did at least take a short break from the fun.

We played with inks and Distress Paints and Distress Stains, plus stencils and pattern making tools...and so...much...more!

I think there are about 20 ladies signed up for this class at Stampfest in 2 weeks, but there's still space available for a few more...in case you're going to be in Orlando.

And best of all, I know which techniques will knock your socks off, and which ones were too messy to even consider.

I'm packing kits this weekend for the drive down to FL.  Hope there's enough room left in the car for me!

Inspiration Board Guinea Pig Class

There's nothing like a group of ladies willing to play around with too many supplies...narrowing down the choices to find the perfect embellishment to make a teacher know when she's found a winner of a class.

And if you spread your adhesive over the top of your vintage papers as well as underneath, you're going to create a resist whether that was your intention or not.

Marilyn drove up from Myrtle Beach to play and was such a good sport.  We'd had a play date a few months ago down there, but being a guinea pig is totally different from being another creative spirit at a beach house for a weekend of play.

I didn't intend to give them Distress pads, but at the last minute I decided to see what would happen since I always have someone show up in my classes with those, even though I ask them to bring dye-based pads.

And while I'm supposed to be clever, I never thought to turn things on a diagonal.  Leave it to Michele to surprise me every time.

And just when you think you know how it's going to play out, you find you're wrong!

Just because my samples were done in pastel colors didn't make these girls want to play with that color palette.  Although some did...

Everyone did agree they loved Tim's tissue paper.  And loved experimenting with different colorants.

And they loved the little Masonite frames from Coffee Break Designs.

And I already knew they loved washi tape, but wow, I didn't know just how much!  The rub-ons were a true experiment for each one...but the selection of papers was a smashing success, as were the old b&w photos.

 

Old foreign postage stamps were another love it/hate it bit of ephemera in their kits.  And I thought everyone loved those.  Shows what I know.

Old maps of Europe and topography maps were a win-win for everyone.  Which is good because I've already packed those in my kits.

If you're planning to be at Stampfest/Orlando in 2 weeks, I hope you've signed up for this class.  Or if you're joining me for a bit of fun at Stampaway in August. 

Come back tomorrow to see glimpses of my accordion book of tags, a technique class that's filling up fast for Stampfest.  It'll be another bit of chaos with great results.

My step-father came to my house to celebrate his 81st birthday with dinner out, birthday cake & ice cream, and dominoes until 1:15am.  He's earned the right to party as he sees fit and I'm thrilled to be included in his plans.

We attended a family reunion on Sunday at my mother's church.  Grandson Jackson was sleepy when he arrived, but after lunch, lemonade and dessert,  (blueberry cobbler, chocolate cupcakes with sprinkles, cake with chocolate frosting, banana pudding & strawberry cake), he was going full-speed ahead.

Great Grandma had a chance to cuddle with baby Luke, as did Mimi Linda. 

All in all, not a bad weekend.