Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Sweet Treat


The Crafting Chicks had the cutest individualized bite-sized candies posted on their blog  last week and I knew I had to make some. No, it doesn't involve reinventing the wheel, (or harder yet, making candies), just altering the outside of those individually wrapped chocolates using a small punched out Valentine sentiment. 

The blog post has the instructions and even the printable for the candy so I won't reproduce them here, however, I did mine with a twist. After I downloaded the printable (available at the bottom of Crafting Chicks blog post), I increased the image size just a bit in Photoshop so that I could punch the printables to fit candies that are just a little larger than bite-sized. Plus, I wanted to make a couple of magnets from them too and that requires the use of a 1" punch. Oh yeah, I don't have a 3/4' punch and I'll alter ideas whenever possible to use what I already have on hand. 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit The Crafting Chicks for the instructions and the free download.


Happy Creating
Susan

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Lil Feet Boot Auction

Tonight is the night! The firefighters of St Luice County have donated the boots, the artists have "arted them up" and tonight they will be auctioned at a dinner hosted by the Roundtable of St Lucie County. Proceeds are used to purchase shoes for school children in St Luice County. I have heard through the grapevine that last year there was enough money raised, though all fundraising efforts, to purchase more than 500 pairs of shoes. Such a great cause and I am honored to be a part of it.

Several other local artist are participating in this event including Cheryl Boglioli, Janet Fuller from 2nd Generation Art, Debi Crouse, Lisa Jill Allison, Mary Bennett, Dubz, Barbara Fuller, George Love, Doug Macon, Mary Myers, Judith Suit, and Anita Prentice. Hats off to all involved.




Cheryl Boglioli
Janet Fuller


Debi Crouse and Dubz

Judith Suit


Susan Garman 


Happy Creating.
Susan

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Christmas Card Countdown


Original card design by Cheryl Boglioli 
Are you planning your Holiday Season Cards yet?  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years?  Not sure where to start?  Looking for new techniques?  Need someone just to help you plan out your cards and a schedule to have them all made in time for the Holidays.  Join Cheryl and Susan as we create at least 3 different cards and/or tags at each class that can then be duplicated to create a set of cards or used in a series.  You will learn a new technique with each tag/card that can also be applied to many of your other paper arts.  

Sign up for one or all 5 classes.


$25 class fee / $10 supply fee
    • Supplies to bring:  **will be available for purchase on day of class
    • Basic kit – (paper trimmer, scissors, wet glue, dry glue/tape runner, paper piercer)
    • Archival Black**
    • Acrylic block**  
    • Ink blender tool **
    • Nonstick craft mat**

Contact Cheryl – Cheryl@cherylswindow.com 
or Susan – susangarman@gmail.com


Held at Art Mundo
Located in The Orange Avenue Studios
111 Orange Ave
Fort Pierce FL

Visit Art Mundo to sign up.

Card Design by Cheryl Boglioli at Cheryl's Window



Happy Creating.
Susan

Sunday, July 6, 2014

A Clockwork Boot - Lil Feet Entry





Happy Creating.
Susan

Friday, July 4, 2014

Coast(er) Around Florida - Map Coaster Tutorial

I'm loving these stone coasters covered with a map of Florida. They would be a beautiful addition to any room but I'm thinking especially a game room, patio, or living room on a table right next to a big comfy leather chair. My number 1 daughter got me excited about art with maps when she started redecorating her home. This is the same daughter who is altering the letters for a wall display. She is thinking of framing a few maps for hanging in her breakfast nook area and map coasters might be a nice addition to that same area.

I've been making tile coasters for several months now but this is my first exploration, (get it), into creating map coasters. I certainly will be making more using this same theme. Ideas that readily come to mind are waterways, maps of theme parks, and historical areas we have visited.

This is an easy beginners project but if you are reluctant and live local I do offer classes at Loft Studio 310.

Here's what you will need.

Supplies

1. 4x4 travertine floor or wall tile. (I get mine in packs of nine at Home Depot)
2. Map (your choice)
3. Ranger Distress Ink (I used Vintage Photo)
4. Matte Medium (Your choice of brands - I use Golden Soft Gel Matte)
5. Paint brush
6. Cork  (Used for backing)- rolled or the small circle kind. Either can be found at most hardware stores.
7. Glue (This is only for gluing on the cork. I use E6000 but any heavy duty waterproof glue is fine. Remember though you are gluing two porous materials so something too thin might not be a good choice).
8. Blow dryer, heat gun or small air compressor to blow dust off tiles.
9. Brayer or spoon for smoothing out map surface.

Let's Get Started

1. Your first step is to examine your tiles. Sometimes they are not in pristine shape. Remember, this is an unfinished, although somewhat tumbled tile, and it will be filled with imperfections. Go through your set and pick out the ones that appeal to you the most. Don't worry if they have holes, you just don't want your holes so big that they would defeat your purpose and cause a glass set on them to fall over.



2. Blow all the dust off your tiles. I use a mini compressor but a blow dryer would work fine too. A heat gun would also blow off the dust just be careful not to burn yourself. In a pinch a paint brush will work but it will not blow out the fine dust from the holes in the tile.

3. Pick your map, (I just pulled one out of an old atlas but any map will work - how about one from the theme park you went to on your last family vacation), measure and cut or tear slightly smaller than the surface of the tile. If you want your coasters to look like one big map when laid out, remember to cut the pieces so that they line up. This is why I tear my edges so that precision alignment is not necessary. (It's important not to stress over this step).



4. If desired ink the edges of the map.



5. Apply gel medium to the back of map and the tile piece.



6. Smooth down using a brayer or the back of a spoon to work out any bubbles and wrinkles.

7. Allow to dry. I don't rush this step. I think the best bonds come when a piece has had time to cure between coats. It can try your patience but just find another project to work on for a couple of hours.

8. Apply a coat of gel medium to the top of the map coaster. Allow to dry for at least an hour, then apply another coat also waiting for it to thoroughly dry before adding a third and possibly forth coat.

9. Lastly, cut a piece of rolled cork or use four small pieces of cork to cover an area on the back of the coaster. This serves as a buffer between the rough surface of the coaster and your favorite piece of furniture. Glue the cork to the back of the tile using E6000 or your choice of glue. I use rolled cork so once glued down I put a book on top of the coasters with something weighty on top of the book. I leave that overnight to dry.



10. Get a glass, fill it with your favorite beverage and set it on your beautiful coaster. Sip away and enjoy the fruits of your labor.


Happy Creating.
Susan