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One of the greatest challenges for teachers is finding a continuous stream of appealing projects and topics that participants will love making and, in most cases, that will sell product for the instructor or host organization. Now it's easy to meet that challenge with the Inspired Instructor Workshop Kits from the Artful Tourist.

Norma Anne is happy to consult with instructors about delivery, marketing, and managing the career. She has experience with community groups, schools, retreats, stores, and in-home classes with kids, adults, and disabled adult populations. Just email nachattin@nachattin.com for more information on consulting services for instructors or hosts.

Class Title: Greeting on a Stick

Marketable Description: Make your greeting special by creating this unique two-sided card nestled on its very own display stick. Great for co-workers or to dress up a plant for birthdays, housewarmings, parties, and more. We’ll use decorative tags that you assemble plus stickers, fibers, inks, and die cuts to create this charming greeting.

Basic Kit Contains:

Instructor Ideas: Great project for teens and adults. Teaches design, use of “spare parts" and scraps, tag art, and new ways to use stickers, stamps, and die cuts. If you use the latest fun papers like the M&M design, you may want to mention the name in your description. Could easily add a photo to the design. Could change name portion to greeting or phrase such as I love you, Happy Mother’s Day, etc. Good project for teachers that don’t want to own multiple stamps since they can easily be shared or participants can use different variations on a theme. Excellent paper arts craft for scrapbook store owners wishing to expand their class selections since die cuts and paper can be used exclusively without stamps. Participant skill level—beginner to intermediate.

Supply list:

Card stock base- 2 pieces 5.5” by 5.5” square

Mat pieces- Use scraps about 4” by 4” or rectangles or strips

Two Tags- Can be the same size or different but should be at least 2” by 4”

Tag backgrounds- cut coordinating print paper to cover tag or use ink pads in soft colors or chalks to color tags. Cutting tags from colored paper would also be attractive.

Stickers/Die Cuts- Pick one focal design that takes up 2/3 of each tag

Embellishments- Fibers for each tag plus extra to go on the stick (wire curls on the stick are great too), charms, punches and torn paper scraps

Letters: alphabet stickers or stamps work great

Sticks: Most dollar stores carry packs of shish kabob sticks that work nicely

Basic Assembly

Create two 5.5” by 5.5” bases first-In this case I used ivory card stock

Create two mat pieces, in this case pale blue 4” by 4” on one side and strip for lettering on opposite side.

Decorate tags before attaching to base

Tag bases-Apply pale pink, yellow, and blue inks to ivory tags. “Dip” edges into blue ink and apply eyelets over punched heart or torn square base.

Tag Décor, Ship tag- Stamp word treasure across top right at an angle. Stamp flip flops in bottom right corner. Glue on ship die cut (by Debbie Mumm) and sand dollar sticker. Insert mix of fibers.

Tag Décor, Shell tag- Glue shells die cut to bottom right corner, stamp serenity, calm, peach works on tan print paper and tear out. Darken edges of tan paper with chalk or ink. Wrap words in gold thread and glue on top of shell die cut. Use glue dots to layer star fish charm on top of words.

Note: notice that on both tags designs overlap—great collage tip to share with students.

Put sticker/stamp letters onto mat or strips and attach to base.

Glue tags to bases.

10.

Use glue dots to adhere stick to one base and then the two bases together to complete stick.

11.

Tie or wrap fibers and even a small coordinating tag to stick.

More Inspired Instructor Ideas:

-Great class for mother’s day and father’s day projects.

-If you are doing a wedding/shower or any type of party décor workshop you could easily include this project or just show it as an “added bonus.”

-Take it up a notch by using balsa wood or plastic bases and lots of varnish to make these suitable for outdoor use as garden pokes.

-Make a bouquet of sticks using paper flowers or shaped die cuts and place the decorated greeting in the center.

-Display for marketing in a bud vase or clay pot with Styrofoam.

-See additional photos of other stick greeting ideas here.

Basic Plus Kit contains all of the above plus student handouts. Click here for unformated sample student handouts or click the paintbrush for formatted.

The Max Kit contains all of the above plus an actual sample mailed to you within 5 days of your order.

The Tactile Kit contains all of the above EXCEPT handouts.