Tag Archives: Valentine’s Day

Inaugural Class in my Home Studio

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class

I’ve always wanted to be able to teach in a home studio and now I’m fortunate enough to have the space to do it! Last Saturday was the first class, we made polymer clay books that look like candies for Valentine’s Day.

One of my favorite aspects of teaching is that after I share basic techniques, my students create their own versions using their own ideas and vision and this class was no exception:

Stephanie used fondant molds to create elegant embellishments for each candy.

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-2    

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-6

Nancy made candies with debossed details and custom-made accents.

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-3

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-5

Carol decided that her book needed to fit entirely inside her candies and so she made thicker candies with a space for the paper to nest.

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-4

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-7

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-8

Polymer Clay Valentine's Class-9

We had a great time and left with wonderful gifts for our loved ones. Thank you, ladies, for making the first class so fun!

In March , a complete change of pace – I’ll start technology classes. Greg is busy planning the large screen install so that my students will be able to learn techniques in technology programs for artists such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and Lightroom.

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com

Happy Valentine’s Day: Instructions for an Origami Book with Polymer Clay Mosaic Covers

I’ve found that artists are kind and generous people. They happily explain techniques, help with technical problems and give tips about supplies and suppliers.

So, in that spirit,  I’d like to share with you the instructions for an Origami Book with Polymer Clay Mosaic Covers. We made this book in the class that I teach at Palo Alto Art Center last week and it is always fun to see what my students come up with. They are a very creative group of people! In fact, I’ll ask them if I can photograph their books and post in a future blog.

This book can be a Valentine gift or fit any other theme. While my mosaic is a heart, yours can be any kind of image. It is fun and relaxing to do the mosaic, but trust me, it takes longer than you think! If you are a patient person you can also make your tiles smaller. Mine are about 1/4.”

I’d love it if you would email me photos of the books you make using my directions. Consider it a trade – free instructions for a photo of your finished project.

Here is the PDF to download (be patient, it may take a while). Ginger Burrell – Origami Book with Polymer Clay Mosaic Covers.

However you are spending Valentine’s Day, I wish you kindness and love.

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com

Valentine Art Offerings: Make and Wander

I love Valentine’s Day. Not the Hallmark, soap opera version of Valentine’s Day, but the hopeless romantic, look at the world through rose-colored glasses version of Valentine’s Day. The older I get the more realistic I am about people and the world, and yet I still just can’t help being a total softy when it comes to love and romance. Happy ending? I cry. Sad ending? I cry. At this point I just keep a boxes of Kleenex everywhere.

On Friday I’ll give you my Valentine’s gift from me to you, instructions to make an Origami Fold book with Polymer Clay Mosaic covers. But in the meantime, I thought I’d share with you other artists who have Valentine’s offerings.

MAKE:

Thanks to Pati of BABA for forwarding the Pixelated Popup Card by Kate at minieco.co.uk. It’s a great pop-up card with downloadable templates for the card and envelope. I’m looking forward to making a bunch this weekend.

WANDER:

Thanks to Sha Towers from Baylor University for sharing the Books of the Heart || Heart of the Books where “The Crouch Fine Arts Library celebrates Valentines Day with an online exhibition of materials celebrating the heart and things of the heart from its special collections.” Since it is an online exhibition you can see everything from the comfort of your couch. If you click the down arrow on the Home tab you can choose from many different heart related artists’ books. There are many beautiful books worth spending some time.

Do you know of more online Valentine’s offerings? Please feel free to post them in the comments.

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com