Easy to decorate

Textile Markers

• Here's an easy way to decorate fabric items using pens rather than paint
• Suitable for light coloured fabrics made of cotton, cotton blends, silk an linen
• Markers are water based, light resistant and solvent free
• Fix with ironing
• Washable up to 60oC

ITEMS

• Textile Markers Felt Tip 2mm-4mm, Item Number PT930
• Calico All Purpose Case, Pack of 10, 12cm x 21cm with zip closing, Item Number CAL9353

Other items available: Calico Flags, Tea Towels, Carry Bags, aprons and cotton Legionnaires Hats (see website)

• www.schoolclub.com.au, email josephinebluegallery@gmail.com 
• I'm available to visit schools and centres in Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Penrith, Mt Druitt and Riverstone areas. 

Prancing

PRANCING

This is one of my paintings from a few years ago. I used metallic oil pastels over black painted paper. Silver oil pastel for the horse, and copper oil pastel for the background. For the flowing mane and textured details on the horse I used outliner porcelaine tubes.  

ITEMS

Creative Supermix Metallic Oil Pastels PS318ME

Porcelaine 150 Outliner Tubes Black 20m 036006, Pewter 036010 

Painting under glass

GLASS STONES

• This activity was a project at one of last year's School Club workshops from one of the Book Week activity books.
• Trace the exact shape of the glass stone onto watercolour paper
• Cut out the circle - they are each a different size and slightly irregular
• Draw a design onto the watercolour paper using permanent marker
• Paint the design using fluorescent or brightly coloured paint
• Using special Art Potch glue that dries totally clear, glue the painted side to the flat underside of the glass stone
• Presented in a small organza, bag - it's precious! 

ITEMS 

• Glass Stones - Large - transparent glass stones with a flat base, 43 - 45mm diameter, pack of 25, Item number NP170
• Rains Watercolour Paper 300gsm, 230 x 305mm Pad, 12 sheets WP2330
• Stay Anywhere Permanent Pens, smudge free, waterproof, fade proof, 1mm precision tip, Box of 12, Item number J272
• Poster Colour Paint by Zart - Fluoro Palette, 5 colours, PT880-Fl
• Art Potch Varnish Glue 250ml Item Number GZ175
• Organza Bags 10cm x 7cm, Pack of 10 assorted colours, MT130

www.schoolclub.com.au, josephinebluegallery@gmail.com

Please email me if you'd like more information.

Available to visit schools and centres in Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Penrith, Riverstone and Mt Druitt Areas. All orders welcome. Be sure to mention Blue Gallery. Thank you.

Going for a dip

MARBLING TERRACOTTA AND PORCELAIN ITEMS

• At the Term 1 Meeting, we got to try some new marbling paints that are suitable for any type of surface - ceramic, porcelain, polystyrene, glass, cardboard and paper
• Fill a plastic container with water to the depth of the article to be marbled
• Sprinkle the marbling paints onto the surface of the water one drop at a time, being generous with the amount. Swirl with a bamboo skewer to make a pattern with different coloured paint
• Wearing plastic gloves, slowly dip the item into the container and ensure the surfaces are submerged
• Get it right the first time, double dipping is not effective - it can look messy rather than clean
• Remove paint from water's surface and re-ink the water for each item to be marbled 
• Not suitable for food utensils
• For the vase I dipped the base first, turned it upside down, then dipped the top end into the ink - I guess it was double dipping, but not the same surface.

ITEMS

• Magic Marble Paint - 6 x 20ml colours Rainbow Pack, PT935, Contrast Pack 6 x 20ml colours PT940*** (see description below)
• Terracotta Bowls, 6 Pack, CE032
• Terracotta Jugs, 7cm high, pack of 10, CE080
• Porcelain Vases , 10cm high, 3 styles in a pack of 6, CE040
• Porcelain Shapes Assorted, Star, circle, square, heart and triangle, Pack of  5, CE010

*** Magic Marble Paints: 20ml x 6 colours. Multi purpose bright marbling paints which work on a range of surfaces including wood, glass, ceramic, metal, stoneware, terracotta, candles, paper and polystyrene. Fast Drying. Colours can be mixed to create more colours. 

Colours:

• Rainbow Pack: yellow, pink, violet, blue, green, colourless (mix with single colour for single colour marbling)
• Contrast Pack: White, silver, black, neon yellow, neon orange, neon pink. 

Little Boxes to Decorate

LITTLE BOXES 

• It's just a matter of tearing a length of the Washi Monochrome Tape and sticking it onto the lid of the box. 
• The 8 patterns can be juxtaposed with light and dark, saving one pattern for the edge of the lid, to create an attractive gift box. 
• Paint the base and interior of the lid with acrylic or poster paint to enhance it further before adding a gift for Mothers Day or another special occasion.

ITEMS

• Washi Tapes Monochrome - Item AT610, Set of 8 patterns, 10m rolls x 15mm wide
• Cardboard - Papier Mache Boxes - BW901RO, set of 6. Other shapes available - Heart, Rectangle, Square, Star, Flower, Butterfly

www.schoolclub.com.au, or email josephinebluegallery@gmail.com 

I'm available to visit schools, preschools and art centres in Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Penrith, Mt Druitt and Riverstone areas. 

Don't forget that you can register online to access discount school prices. Be sure to mention Blue Gallery! Thank you.

instant patterns with room for creativity

INSTANT PATTERNS

• At the School Club Term 1 meeting last week, we were given some new products to try
• We used the Scratch Critters with the Laser Cut stencils to create interesting patterns
• Stencils are heavy duty card, and can withstand the activity of scratching over them 
• Placed over the shapes and held in place, the stencils provide an attractive pattern when the scratch paper is scratched with a bamboo skewer 
• The snail shape was done in a less than perfectionist way, and results in an attractive effect  
• The swirly pattern stencil suited the snail
• I placed the honeycomb style stencil carefully over moth/bee scratchy critter so that the circles would correspond with the eyes in just the right position  
• Another stencil has a pattern like fish scales

ITEMS

• Scratch Critters with Tools, pack of 24 SA026 - 6 shapes, snail, butterfly, dragon fly, lady beetle, moth and spider
• Special reduced price in Term 1 
• Laser Cuts -stencils, 5 designs, pack of 10. A4, CB122
•  Special reduced price Term 1 (Mothers Day Catalogue)
• www.schoolclub.com.au
• josephinebluegallery@gmail.com

Want me to visit  your school, preschool or organisation? Please contact me by email. Available in Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Penrith, Riverstone and Mt Druitt areas of Sydney and surrounds.
Register your centre online to access discount prices. Personal orders available. Contact me for details.

create a colourful cool breeze

FAN CLUB

• This fan unfolds out like a concertina paper into a circle
• 20cm diameter
• Colourful patterns were created with Paper Marbling Ink
• Set up a tray of water, add drops of  marbling ink to the water's surface and swirl gently with a bamboo skewer
• Place paper item on surface to collect the coloured pattern and remove gently 
• Leave to dry
• Alternatively - decorate with markers for colourful effects

ITEMS

• Paper Fans Round, 20cm, Pack of 10, FN050
• Paper Marbling and Ink Set MB000
• Marbling Tray MB030

Send me a card !

SIMPLE MATERIALS

Last week I attended our Term 1 Meeting, where the consultants got to try new materials and products on special for Term 1. 

• Here is a sample of the Card Set Square from a pack with with 30 Cards and 30 Envelopes: available in Natural or White. 115cm x 115cm, 300gsm. (On special Term 1, 2016)
• I have decorated the Natural card and envelope using Stay Anywhere Marker and Magic Rainbow Pencil which has multiple colours in one pencil that randomly create a pleasing effect,

ITEMS

• Card Set Square, 30 cards and 30 envelopes, 115cm x 115cm, 300gsm. Price discounted for Term 1, 2016

Natural - Item CCWSQ03C 

White_ Item CCWAQ04C 

• Stay Anywhere Permanent Pens Box of 12, waterproof, writes on any surface Item J272
• Magic Pencils: Pack of 5 each with different colour combinations. Thick colour strip, smooth application, quality pigments. Item J893
• www.schoolclub.com.au, email josephinebluegallery@gmail.com, or phone me to arrange a visit to your school/ preschool/centre.
• Stand by for more photos of new products we tested.

Alien Caterpillar

Alien Caterpillar has arrived 

• Creative use of polystyrene balls, joggle eyes, chenille stems and stocking pieces: getting inventive with simple materials. 
• Twist and tie each segment, easy for children to construct. 
• Use craft glue to attach joggle eyes

ITEMS

• Polystyrene Balls: Various sizes:

25mm Pack of 100 DE610

40mm Pack of 10 DE611

50mm Pack of 10 DE612

60mm Pack of 10 DE125

75mm Pack of 10 DE613

Larger sizes sold as single units

• Stocking Pieces, Brightly coloured dyed stocking pieces, Pack of 20, MT412

Glitter Stocking Pieces, 10 assorted coloured glitter stocking pieces MT414

• Joggle Eyes with Lashes 15mm moving eyes, assorted coloured eyelids with lashes, Pack of 100, EE315
• Supertac Glue - stronger than PVA, non toxic, dries clear and quickly, Item AA005
• www.schoolclub.com.au, or email me at josephinebluegallery@gmail.com

Creative Face Art

EYES & EARS & MOUTH & NOSE

• Collage paper features eyes, ears, mouths and noses - 40 x A3 sheets of many and varied pieces of facial anatomy. 
• These can be cut and pasted into other artworks such as the mosaic pieces in the illustration surrounding the eyes and mouth of a boy. 
• Peek-a-Boo illustrates another possible use - imagination and creativity means there is no limit to the use of this paper as a starting point for artworks. 
• The pack comes with other creative ideas such as aliens, or abstract artworks.
• Definite value for money, with 40 x A3 sheets in a pack, plenty for classroom use.
• In years gone by, teachers scoured magazines to find pictures of facial features for students to add to artworks, but with this Face Pack, that tedious job has been overtaken by an easier way. Asking students to find illustrations in magazines is not always appropriate, and many distractions can arise in the classroom by such means ! Here is a better way. 

Items:

• Face Paper Pack- Item PA969, 40 x A4 sheets, 5 each of 8 assorted sheets 
• Corrugated Card - Item CB195, Pack of 10 assorted sheets, 27cm x 39cm
• Adhesive Squares - Item PA430, Pack of 100, 15cm x 15cm. Assorted colours. Sectioned peel- off backing. Metallic and Holographic also available
• Cardboard Mosaic Squares - Item CB830 - pack of 10,000, 1cm x 1cm. Double sided colours. 

These items are available online at www.schoolclub.com.au, be sure to register your school or centre online to access the discount prices. Or contact me to arrange it for you, or for me to visit.

josephinebluegallery@gmail.com

Testing 1, 2, 3

WATERCOLOUR PAINT TESTING

• Three types of watercolour are tested here -

1) Brilliant Watercolours, set of 24 colours - 4 trays of 6 colours

2) Artist Watercolours, set of 24 colours - 4 trays of 6 colours

3) Brilliant Watercolours, set of 12 colours - 2 trays of 6 colours

I have shown these in the same page to demonstrate the different intensities of each.

•  It's best to use watercolour paper for watercolour paint to ensure the best pigment response and absorbency. 
• The colours blend and mix beautifully, and can be intensified or diluted according to how much water is mixed with them. Less water = more intense colour
•  The lids of these sets can be inverted to use for mixing different colours
•  These paints are very long lasting. Ideal for travelling - compact.

ITEMS

• Brilliant Watercolours, set of 24 colours, 174506
• Artist Watercolours, set of 24 colours, J307
• Brilliant Watercolours, set of 12 colours, J308
• Watercolour Paper Pad, 240mm x 320mm, 200gsm, 100 sheets pad, J790

www.schoolclub.com.au, email josephinebluegallery@gmail.com 

I'm available to visit schools and preschools and other centres who use art and craft materials

Servicing areas in Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Riverstone and Mt Druitt.

This is what I do, some of the time

Live and Learn

Technology - wow - finding my way around technology, how to do things - creating a blog, adding photos, learning what a png file is - thanks to my brother Steve for pointing me in the right direction. Found out how to take a screen shot, created flyers and documents - all to bring my work online. I've been a consultant for School Club since 2001, and now is a good time to use this technology to create this blog and bring my work to the attention of more educators, artists, and others who are interested in art and craft. 

Making an impression

PRINTING FOAM

• Printing Foam is easy to use, and safe for young artists - no sharp tools required. 
• Create lines and textures with a blunt pencil or wooden skewer, or found objects that can be pressed into it. 
• Use a roller with acrylic paint, smooth onto smooth surface first, and roll paint onto the foam. 
• Incised lines will not receive any paint. Don't use too much paint or it will clog the incisions.
• Place paper over the foam, rub gently, remove paper carefully to reveal printed design. 

Ideas: 

• Printing Foam can be easily cut with scissors into smaller pieces. 
• Small pieces can be printed in alternate colours or rotated to flip/slide/turn sequences to create a patchwork effect. 
• Another idea is for each piece to be different to create a composite image from many (class project).

Hints: 

• If writing is to be printed as part of the design, or a signature, be sure to remember it will be reversed in the final image. 
• Check how it looks in a mirror to make sure it's ok before printing!
• Acetate sheet - a smooth surface for rolling paint first with roller to obtain even paint surface

Items:

Printing Foam A4 pack of 15 sheets, LT300, A3 10 sheets, LT301, comes with complete instructions 

Scraper Wooden Tools Pack of 100 PN089

Acetate Sheets Heavy weight Pack of 10 A4 AE074/ 29cm x 32cm AE073

Paper Bags  Assorted colours, Medium size 20cm x 30cm, pack of 30 PA028

Small 9cm x 15cm PA027

Rollers Hard Rubber R4 100mm J238, R5 150mm J239

Paint: Acrylic paint such as Global, Chroma or Pebeo

Burlap Garland : 14.4cm x 10m roll HE58641

BakersTwine 80gm BAK9488

Hemp Twine Natural: 2.5/2ply 100gm

Jute Twine Thick 4mm, 140m roll CJT2582

Cover paper 125gsm A4 250 sheets Assorted Colours 90129

Adhesive Paper Squares 15cm x 15cm Assorted Colours pack of 100 PA430 ideal for printing on, adhere to paper bag 

www.schoolclub.com.au, josephinebluegallery@gmail.com - I can organise an order for you, or visit your school or centre to show you a wide range of products

Be sure to mention Blue Gallery when registering or ordering online

Feathers - not just for the birds

FEATHERS 

Not just for the birds, feathers can be used for decorating artworks, masks, jewellery, wearable art, soft sculptural pieces, hats or whatever imaginative and creative uses you can think of!

Pictured here: 

• Cocktail Feathers FT250 - 10cm-30cm in 9 different colours, 18 feathers in the pack
• Guinea Fowl Feathers FT200-AS - assorted colours, 4cm-10cm in length, 4 assorted colours, 10g pack, approx 100 feathers. (Also available in natural colours)

Also available - assorted, Natural, single colour and natural varieties. 

www.schoolclub.com.au, josephinebluegallery@gmail.com

SCRATCH ART CARDS

• Here's another variation on the popular scratch art products 
• Instead of a black surface covering a colourful layer that is revealed with a wooden scratching tool, the cards come in 5 assorted surface colours
• Each piece measures 15cm x 13cm
• Pack of 100 
• Children and adults love scratch art!
• Item SCR7552

Other scratch art products available include bookmarks, flowers, masks, crowns, Australian animals, sea shapes, space shapes, magnetic frames, graduation hats, mobiles, dragons, critters, and windmills. Some come with wooden tools, which are also available in a pack of 100.

www.schoolclub.com.au, email josephinebluegallery@gmail.com 

I visit centres and schools in Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Penrith, Riverstone and Mount Druitt areas.

GIFT BOXES TO DECORATE

Cardboard gift boxes, cut and creased ready to decorate and fold. Ideal for holding a small gift.

• Can be painted both sides, or use collage, print or markers to embellish and personalise. 
• Here I've used Fluoro Poster Colour paint. 
• Another option is to use oil pastels + water colour paint for a mixed media effect. 
• Available at www.schoolclub.com.au, or email josephinebluegallery@gmail.com for more details. 
• Cardboard Gift Boxes - Large - 118 x 122 mm, Pack of 30, CB941
• Poster Colour Fluoro Paint - 6 colour palette, PT880 - FL

I am available to visit schools and preschools, OOSH centres and other centres to show products and samples. 

 WASHI TAPE  

• Washi Tape is decorative paper tape that is easy to tear. I used the tape to create a graph illustration - applied to a sheet of Pattern Cardboard - reminds me of the temperature and rainfall graphs we made in geography lessons in school. 
• The second sample features Washi Tape on a cardboard money box. The illustration of the constructed  money box house is from the catalogue.
• www.schoolclub.com.au 
• contact me for further information - josephinebluegallery@gmail.com 

Washi Tape Item Number AT600 - pack of 8 x 10 m rolls
Also available - Glitter Washi Tape AT630, Christmas Washi Tapes AT620, Designer Tapes AT500 48mm wide x 10m. Pack of 5. (Plastic tape)

Pattern Cardboard CB839, 20 x A4 sheets, 10 different patterns. This cardboard has an almost plastic but not shiny surface and is very durable.

Money Boxes Houses BW923 Pack of 10, 7cm x 15 cm. Sturdy white cardboard.

Magic Cube - the possibilities are endless

MAGICUBE 

• This cardboard magic cube comes blank, ready to decorate. 
• It can be folded and unfolded in a seemingly infinite number of variations to reveal different combinations of the original design that you decorate it with
  
• For this one I used metallic permanent markers. 
• I experimented with various paints, markers and pencils only to find that the surface, being shiny, really only takes permanent markers (or the artwork rubs off when handled).
•  Lots of fun! 
• Other ideas - tell a story in pictures, write alphabet or numbers to show different combinations. The possibilities are endless! 

Magicube Item BW400
Gold and Silver Markers Item GDMB2
Also suitable to use on this surface - Stay Anywhere Permanent Pens Item J272
www.schoolclub.com.au
 josephinebluegallery@gmail.com
If ordering online, please be sure to mention Blue Gallery - thank you

The purpose of my blog is to show product samples online, so that teachers and educators at schools, preschools and other centres will ask me to visit to show the actual products, and become my customers. I visit Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Penrith and Mt Druitt areas of Western Sydney. Here's hoping for more customers! I've done this job for more than 10 years and have noticed big changes in the way educators have changed - they buy online - so this blog is to facilitate the transition to a new way of helping. Please email or call me for more information if interested, or if you'd like to order any products 
Phone Josephine 0411 339 017

•  I recently watched the movie Another Earth, and I recognised that the young woman had a Magic Cube like this but with planets of the solar system printed on it ! 

pebble rainbow

MOSAIC GLASS STONES 

• glued with Supertac AA005 to Silver Foil Board J993Si 
• Arranged in rainbow order, Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. 
• Assorted sizes and colours, from 1.5cm - 2cm. Item GA400. 
• Flat on one surface for successful gluing to surfaces. 
• Other similar items: glass tiles, plastic tiles, plastic shapes, marble granules, black pebbles, white pebbles, assorted pebbles, glow stones and sea shells. 
• www.schoolclub.com.au 
• email josephinebluegallery@gmail.com 

Sun Sensitive Paper 

• reacts to sunlight by changing colour 
• arrange items on paper - use flowers, keys, leaves, coins etc
• leave in sunshine for a few minutes 
• when you see the paper changing from white to blue colour, remove items
• take indoors to wash paper in tap water for 2 minutes
• leave to dry
• the shapes of the items remains as a permanent image on the paper
• if using light weight items, it's best to place them under a sheet of acetate to ensure they don't move during exposure
• another option is to write or draw with permanent black marker directly onto the acetate sheet and place over the sun sensitive paper in sunshine for the same effect 
• great for art and science activities
• Item number PA891 paper size 23cm x 30cm, 15 sheets 
• Acetate Sheets Item number AE074, pack of 10
• available at www.schoolclub.com.au
• email josephinebluegallery@gmail.com for information about how to order

Attractive wooden beads from the Tribal Creative Bead Box SM125, 400g, Leather Cord LJ305 1.5mm thickness, 50m. Photographed on Foil Board BFOILA4 Assorted Colour Pack.

Tested the Scratch-Art Paper - White - 21 x 28cm, pack of 50 sheets. Used a wooden tool to scratch into the black surface. Fine lines can be intricate and crisp. Item SA018 on School Club website.

Important information

   Since you're visiting my blog, I'd like to mention that all the products are for sale on the School Club website.

•  I am consultant for School Club Ltd, demonstrating products in schools, preschools, childcare centres, before & after school centres, vacation care centres, OOSH centres, libraries, art centres, organisations - where ever people are interested in art, craft and stationery items. My area is bounded by Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Mt Druitt and Penrith areas
• I am available to visit schools and centres to demonstrate products and advise  
• If you prefer to order online, please be sure to mention Blue Gallery, for your special discount price, or email me to organise it for you - josephinebluegallery@gmail.com
• www.schoolclub.com.au 

Thank you, I really appreciate your interest. 

My favourite oil pastels

Using my favourite oil pastels: Creative Supermix Oil Pastels Assorted colours PS318-AS, over Brilliant Watercolours (12) J308. A garden in Kurrajong, NSW.

Basics Oil Pastels new product - soft and creamy texture, bright and clear colours. Item PS037(12), PS038(24), PS039 (48).

CALICO TEDDY BEARS MT090 (pack of 10), pre sewn, 28cm tall, ready to stuff with 250g poly filling. Easy to decorate with Fabric Markers PT930 or PM950 - iron to fix colour to make it washable. Hint - decorate before stuffing and finishing.

PAPER MAGICLAY - feels like marshmallow but it's not sticky to touch. 

It sticks to itself, or to paper, cardboard, canvas. Easily moulded by hands, rolled, keeps its shape, air dry within a day. 

Final texture is a bit like polystyrene, light weight and a bit springy.

Cannot be reconstituted once dry. 

Can be coloured with markers or paint, or kneaded with colour before it dries ( I have used fabric markers for that purpose). 

This sample is on black card, A4. A little goes a long way. 

Item ML285 White, 240g pack, or ML300, 6 colour pack (Black, white, red, yellow, blue, green) in tubs, 240g total.  It has a faint odour, reminds me of PVA glue. 

Flower made of Paper Magiclay - kneaded with green fabric marker colour before shaping. 

ARTY CRAFTY - artyjo.blogspot.com

     An online sample blog of art and craft materials from School Club Ltd, supplier of art, craft and stationery products.

     I have worked as a consultant for School Club Ltd for more than 10 years, and I visit schools, preschools and other institutions to display and demonstrate a wide range of materials and products.

     You can see the full range at www.schoolclub.com.au, but my blog is where you can see ideas and products as I have tried them to test quality and add my creative touch to them to inspire others. I use many of the products in my own art making. Look at www.josephineblue.com.au to see some of my work.

     My consultant area bounded by The Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Penrith, and Mt Druitt in Sydney, NSW (postcode areas). I am happy to consult to individual artists as well. Please contact me by phone or email to know more. 

     Over  the years I have built up a large number of samples and realise the time constraints of teachers who opt to make a time for me to visit and demonstrate the products. I realise that many people find online ordering easier, but I've found that once teachers get to see products in real life, they realise the benefit of a personal visit. This leads to wiser and more informed choices. 

Pictured above: Stained Glass Frames (Item CB935) combined with Budget Rainbow Scraper Card (Item PA876): I placed the template over the scratch card and only scratched patterns in the areas that weren't covered by the template. Once finished, I removed the template and the pattern remains. 

          As a way to bridge the gap between what I have to offer, and time constraints of teachers, this holiday period I have begun photographing my samples and hope to inspire creative adventures for children, teachers and adults by displaying my samples on this blog.

.
     
     To order products or to arrange a time for me to visit your school, pre-school or organisation, please contact me at josephinebluegallery@gmail.com
     

     For the above two images I used Scratch-Art Paper-Lite (Item PA853), which has a black coating over rainbow coloured acetate, 21x28cm. Held up to a window, the back lighting illuminates the revealed colours and my patterns beautifully. Scratching is easy using a bamboo skewer as a tool.