Sip & Talk with BPW ladies (updated 04/21/2021)

Let’s take some time during our lunch break to support each other and have some creative fun! Artist trading cards are a thing... but you don’t have to be an artist to have fun with them. Then we will break into groups of 2 and have a quick 5-minute chat about what your favorite color(s) are and why and/or answer the prompt: What is one positive gift 2020 gave you? The purpose of this activity is to connect with one another, be mindful that imagination is more important than knowledge, and have a grateful heart for our community. Now let’s get started. 

AND DON’T WORRY!

I’ll be walking you through all of this and there are no great expectations in the art department. The main thing is for all of us to be together and have fun!! If you can make a cup o’tea or have a beverage or snack nearby that would be awesome!

Supply List

Download my “ Lovely words” list here> download. Or don’t use words at all! Supplies marked with * are the most important to have.

1. *Glue stick, liquid glue  (white or clear), or tape

2. *Cardboard or thick paper is best - The final size will be 2.5in  x 3.5 in

3. *Glue-able stuff of any kind. Old magazines, paint chips, fabric or wallpaper samples, old holiday or birthday cards, paper receipts, music sheets, anything that can be glued. **** I ran around my house and found a tea package, a candy bar wrapper, a dried eucalyptus leaf, a scrappy brown paper bag, aluminum foil, an old box label, a match stick, and a fabric sample swatch. I also turned my handbag upside down and found a treasure trove, sadly :(, not sad ;)***

4. *A pencil or pen

5. Scissors (actually the little scissors in a sewing kit could work really well! and also you could tear things instead of cutting)

6. Colored pens/pencils, crayons, markers, highlighters

7. Bowl of water or wet paper towel

8. Paper towel

9. Sense of humor

The Plan

The plan is to create 3 WSW Artsy Trading Cards. You will choose one of the cards to trade with your discussion partner using her prompt answers to help you make the card just for her. You can share the Trading Card with your discussion partner the next time you see them in person or you can send the trading card to them via snail mail. You can make a few trading cards and decide which one you’d like to give or you can make a few and gift a couple to other special people in your life. I am here just to get you started.

The way we are going to do this is by creating a Collage. By definition, a collage is a piece of art made by gluing/taping/stapling various materials such as photographs, found objects, and pieces of paper or fabric onto cardboard or paper. The only rule for trading cards is the size. All Trading Cards are 2.5 in x 3.5 in. the size of a playing card. BTW, other things that are similar in size are:

1. A sheet of letter paper folded in half 3 times

Now let’s break into groups of 2 and have a quick 5-minute chat with your discussion partner. During this time you will want to have your active listening hat on. Ask each other what your favorite color(s) are and why and/or answer this prompt: What is one positive gift or lesson 2020 gave you?

If you usually have trouble getting started with blank paper here are a few ideas:

1. Use the word list I made—-you can download it here—- and then print it out. You can use the printed paper to cut out the words that best describe your partner’s personality or vibe. You’ll paste the words onto your card later.

2. Start by finding paper or use a colored pen, marker, crayon that represents your partner's favorite color.

3. Write her name on the card, using large lettering, in a fancy way, or repeat her name as a pattern.

4. Just doodle for a bit.

DETAILED Instructions for Creating the Cards

Rough cut the cardboard base

There is ONLY one RULE for this project. The final size of the trading card should be 2.5 x 3.5. The size of a playing card. BTW, other things that are similar in size are:

1. Mobile Phone, kinda

2. A sheet of letter paper folded in half 3 times

If you have a ruler that will help but don’t fuss over this, just do the best you can.

Get your materials ready

Decide on your colors and shapes and how you plan to do your card. Have your materials ready.

Draw a quick sketch of your plan

Take some time to do a rough design of your layout on a blank sheet of paper if this helps you.

Cut the words or images out, trim up fabric, ribbon, or rip-up/cut paper to fit your layout

If you have all the pieces handy you can play around with the layout until you see something you like.

Start gluing in place

Once you have a layout that makes you happy, start gluing down the base paper, color, found objects. We will lay down larger bits of paper first and then layer over that smaller bits and marks.

Start gluing in place

Have fun with this! No rules.

Keep layering

Glue other bits and pieces over the base layers to create texture and interest. If you have colored pencils, crayons,or markers, you can doodle on the card making shapes that are meaningful or abstract...or both! That’s what I do. 

Finish

When you feel ready to say it is finished, let it sit to relax a bit and come back to it later. Tidy up the edges and spray the top with fixative, gloss spray, or even hair spray! When you are finished and the card is dry, wrap it in a piece of tissue paper or kraft paper and tie with a ribbon. It’s now ready to swap. Yay!