Encaustic Tag Book Class with DINA WAKLEY!

For anyone who didn't sign up for this freakin' great class: I'm sorry you're such a loser. So what if it would've involved a drive on the interstate or connecting flights? What else did you have to do today? And I would've taken you out for a wild night on the town afterwards, too. So it would've been doubly worth the time.

So what did I learn? I learned that I am in love with Dina Wakley and will join her cult and buy all her stamps. Hell, I would drink her Kool-Aid spray inks if she had some. I also learned that some beeswax, tissue paper and a hot iron can make some amazing shit. Also: A hot iron can burn you. Who knew?!

While I'm here, I've gotta thank Maura at My Heart's Fancy, for hosting the class, and of course- Darla, who signed me up for the class!  Oh yeah!  Don't miss KORY & DARLA hosting CRAFT WARS Commentary LIVE on the Scrapbook.com forum this Tuesday!  Bring your smarts comments over and join us!

First up:  My inky hands.  That's the sign of a successful class. 

Here's my book- the one you're kindly humoring me by pretending to be exciting to see:

Tied up with an ink-stained ribbon.  I love dyeing ribbon with ink and/or stains.

Untie the ribbons, why don't ya?  There, now you can see the cover.  I cut the wings from a stamped image of a bumblebee to glue on the crowned lady.  The two fellas were from a book page I found in Miss Dina's giant bag of collage papers.  Wasn't that nice of her to not only bring things, but let us take anything from the bag that caught our eye?!  The kraft tissue paper with words all over it was donated to me by the kind (and fun) Texan ladies who were sitting at my table.  See how I called it MY table?  I'm full of myself, aren't?  It was THEIR table, and they were so cool to shout at me that I could join them, when I found I that every seat at Darla's table was taken!

Here's the inside of my book- six tags.  Each one carefully (that means quickly and without thought) designed, colored, painted, waxed- all by ME.  We were given a printed out page of inspirational quotes.  They were all very nice and thoughtful- but you know me, I had to cut them up and reassemble the quotes until they barely made sense and weren't as thoughtful.  Yeahp, I'm the crafty William S. Burroughs.  But I like them.  And they're now ME instead of 'quotes.'  Which, seems very 'me, to me.'  Does that make sense?  Hmm.  Does to me.

The last tag, up there on the right, was made in about three frantic minutes.  When we began to assemble the book, I found that I was one tag short.  I got a spare tag, rubbed some paint on it, sprayed some ink on it, grabbed a couple of pieces of stamped tissue paper, and ran over to the wax and HOT iron table to melt it all together.  And you know what?  I think it's my favorite one.

Aaaaand- here it is, all opened up and standing up, as proud a pimp at 1st and Main:

One more shot of my book, in all it's colorful glory:

Alright, that's it from me.  I've got a wild party tonight.  I need to attempt to scrub the rest of the ink from my hands and try to look presentable.  I shouldn't look like THIS until 2:30am.  

Have a great day, everyone!  Go make something!  Here's a picture of me 'n Dina Wakley, herself!  This just might be my Christmas card.  Don't we look like such a happy couple?  We'd only been together for three short hours.  Looks like years, doesn't it?  

Happy Saturday night, people!  First round is on me!

-kory