Puppets Inspired by Dr. Seuss (Multicultural Lesson)

Puppeteer Liz Ebanks with her cat and latest paper sculpted puppet creation.
Liz Ebanks ©2012

Puppets Inspired by Dr. Seuss
Multicultural Lesson

Written by: Liz Ebanks

National Art Teacher Award Recipient

Liz@RescueTeam.com

"WILL YOU SUCCEED? YES, YOU WILL INDEED.
(98¾% GUARANTEED.)"-Dr. Seuss

"Cat Out of the Bag"
Photo and Puppet: Liz Ebanks ©2012

I love how this teacher demo came together
because, of all the laughs and fond memories
my puppet brought to the stage. 
Inspiration: The loss of a family pet

Welcome back.  Today, I have a very special lesson for you DIY fans that will empower puppeteers of all ages through dramatic play to share in the fun.  Your going to love this art project design team because, its filled with family fun.  My creative solution to introducing cultural diversity and tolerance centers on breaking color barriers for kids in the art studio.  Together we will create the wow factor by putting these wacky puppets together utilizing inexpensive heavy weight 100% recycled construction paper in eight colors.  Now you can create a one of a kind puppet by exploring texture with these insider secrets to rolling, tearing, and cutting paper. Together we will explore the puppet workshop with my step-by-step Teacher Demos.

Join my art students in the gallery to discover how they tackled diversity with teamwork and respect at this link to 
"Kid's Puppet Exhibit:"
http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=510010

Thank you, for joining me on my last blog post entitled,
"DIY Oragami Paper Crafts with Collage Paper:" http://lizebanksartgallery.blogspot.com/2012/03/origami-boxes-with-collage-paper.html

Now, let's get started thinking outside of the box with our fun and easy colorful puppets.  I can't wait to see what you come up with so join me on facebook to share your puppet.

AS COMMUNITY LEADERS IN TOLERANCE:

Young papercrafters will model puppets in the style of one of the Greatest Children's Book Illustrators and Authors Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel.) Simulate Seuss Sculptures best known as Unorthodoxed Taxidermy during their puppet-making adventure. Gain an understanding of the relationship between different cultures use of puppets and their visual arts. Develop group skills, working together in buddy pairs and small groups based on abilities to assemble wildly wacky multi-colored puppets. Puppeteers will explore: subtraction, substitution, addition, and manipulation. Practice reading out loud "Oh The Places You'll Go" while sharing their handcrafted puppets with the community. Practice writing captions and creating background scenery for their Puppet Theater at the Carrollwood Cultural Center. Through dramatic play the entertainers will make friends in all colors and share their stories. This talented cast of characters will explore tolerance and cultural diversity preparing them for success in the workforce. The puppeters will discuss what makes them special that will help them succeed in the future.

 

DESCRIPTION: By acquiring knowledge of historical and cultural qualities unique to this particular art form students can gain an understanding of how Puppetry reflects a part of Chinese History. Students will design and assemble the armature for a Paper Hand Puppet for their Theater Production. During this process they will also compose and edit captions for their puppets to add to their handcrafted stage backgrounds. The students will be lead through a discussion about "Oh The Places You'll Go" and the Seuss Sculptures. In addition, the puppeteers will take turns reading out loud about how they can succeed from the book.

 

PUPPET SUPPLIES:  

Glue Sticks

Bottles of Glue (work best for attaching eyes)

Heavy Weight Construction Paper in Assorted Colors (No Flesh Tones)

Safety Scissor variety pack (include Lefties)

Pencils

Optional Clothesline and Clothespins to hang artwork

BACKGROUND SCENERY SUPPLIES:

White Drawing Paper

Pastels

Markers

Pencils

Rubber Alligator

Acrylic Paint

Paint Brushes

Water and Cup

Newspaper

Safety Scissors

Glue Sticks

BY STEP TEACHER DEMO

BUILDING THE PUPPET'S ARMATURE (BODY)

1. Puppeters will select a sheet of 8.5" X 11" heavy weight construction paper in their favorite color for the body of the puppet.

Teacher Demo
Puppet Armature
Liz Ebanks ©2012

2. Next, the young puppet designers will fold the construction paper into thirds lengthwise. Being careful to premeasure the width of the puppet's body to be large enough to accommodate the size of their hand to approximate their folds. ( Young children may wish to insert their hand inside the puppet's body to bring it to life.)

3. Create a 1/4 inch seam on the back of the paper that overlaps with a flap.

4. Now, seal the left flap to the right panels edge with the glue stick. Pocket measures11" X 3.5"

5.  While the seam is drying on the new long sleeve  participants will crease the sleeve across the width into quarters.  This will divide the armature of the puppet into approximately 3" x 3.5" sections.

6. Check to make sure the puppet body folds transform the paper into the shape of the letter "M." The "M" shape can be seen if the children place the body armature (sleeve) up on its side.

7. Assign which folded section will become the head, roof of mouth, jaw, and neck. The seam will be on the backside of the puppet.

8. Create ears from triangular pieces of paper. 

9. Attach the ears and mane to the back of the puppet.

 

"Missing You"
Photo and Puppet: Liz Ebanks ©2012

DESIGNING 3-D EYES
1. Artists will draw a round, circle or oval on a different color of paper with a pencil.

2. The participants will cut out the round forms.

Note: Expressive eyes do not have to be exactly the same size or shape.

3. Slice into each cut circle making one linear cut.

4. Using the glue stick create a cone shape out of the round form. Guide the students to design a flap and seam on each round form to paste together. This is how students transform a flat round eye into a cone to hold the puppet's iris.

5. Cut out and glue the puppet's iris into the cone. This is best done in a different color. Remember, each eye can be a unique shape and size.

6. Attach the eyes with a bottle of glue more easily than with paste to the top folded part of the puppet.

HAIR:  Students will explore tearing, curling, cutting, ripping, and wadding up paper to create different hair textures for their puppet

CAPTIONS: The entertainers will select one word from the class word cloud to include in composing a short sentence for their caption. The diverse learners will identify and recognize a vocabulary word appropriate to their reading level. Completed captions will be attached to background scenes for the Puppet Theater.

If you enjoyed this post you may like this link to my "Puppets Inspired by Dr. Seuss" Discussion Questions: (Check back)

As a National Art Teacher Award Recipient, my classes are perfect for camps, birthdays, schools, and special events. For more information on registering for my Award Winning Art Workshops- Tampa. Email: Liz@RescueTeam.com

"Miss Independence"
Custom Painted Stilettos
Liz Ebanks ©2012
Email: Liz@RescueTeam.com

Thanks, for joining us in the Upcycling Studio where we give new life and repurpose objects in new ways through art. By Upcycling we reduce waste headed to the redemption center and trim supply costs. As artists we focus on community involvement in fostering the growth of the ecosystem.

DIY Origami Paper Crafts with Collage Paper

 

Paper Folders created Origami Boxes out of Collage Paper.
Teacher Demo
Liz Ebanks ©2012



Written by: Liz Ebanks

National Art Teacher Award Recipient

Volunteer Museum Educator

Liz@RescueTeam.com

Xie xie in pinyin or thank you in Mandarin, for joining me at the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Tampa, Florida. Xie xie in pinyin is pronounced 'sheh sheh'.  We all  had so much fun at the Children's Activities Tent creating these simple Origami Boxes. Children of all ages connected to the Tampa Museum of Art Exhibit featuring Romare Bearden's Collages through this fabulous hands-on art activity.

Origami has its cultural roots as a Chinese Tradition of folding scraps of paper.

Origami Star Box Template

Photo: Liz Ebanks ©2012



Discover more about Origami History at these links: 

        http://library.thinkquest.org/5402/history.html

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_origami

According to Wikipedia, the word "Origami is a compound Japanese word meaning to _______  _________."

 The kids loved designing their own collages.  

 









Left:  The Triangular Origami Box 
 Water Lotus Design
Right:  Origami Star Box
Teacher Demos
 Created by: Liz Ebanks©2012

   The Origami Star Box    Template

was the most popular with the kids as a change purse. Whereas, the larger Origami Triangular Box is the perfect size as a gift box for candy with the bold "Water Lotus" graphic design.

 

 

I challenged students to identify Bruce Holwerda's surreal portrait that I incorporated into my "Water Lotus Collection" Origami Box Teacher Demo.  

Holwerda's design won the Gasparilla Arts Festival T-shirt and Poster Contest.

Check out this link to Holwerda's webpage:

 http://www.adamholwerda.com/bruceholwerda/ 

The children discovered how to create pattern and rhythm while exploring collage on the back of the Origami Template. 



Children created collages filled with patterns, line, and color.

              The collages became decorative paper to
                          fold into Origami Boxes.

                         
                         Photo by: Liz Ebanks ©2012



The young paper masters created their own decorative paper out of magazine images to fold into Origami.  Each collage looked like an abstract stained glass window.






Photo by: Liz Ebanks ©2012

 

 TIP:  Glue Sticks created a smooth ripple free collage with quick clean up with baby wipes.







Teacher Collage Demo
 Photo: Liz Ebanks ©2012

 Can you draw Romare Bearden's Collage onto my Teacher Demo? Bearden as an African American Artist, is best known for his collages of life in the South.  

Bearden's collage exhibit entitled, Southern Recollections at the Tampa Museum of Art. 

Cubism and Diego Riveria's murals influenced him in developing his own style.  Successfully, he merged photocopies, photographs, and painting to Establish Emphasis to focus the viewer's attention parts within each collage. 





Photo by: Liz Ebanks ©2012

When students shifted their focus from subject to abstracting color and pattern they experimented with Bearden's collage technique to create Visual Textures.  Meaning light reflects differently off surfaces within each collage.  Bearden contrasted the reflective light from glossy photo clippings against the matte finish of photocopy textures in grayscale.

Students flipped over the collage to cut
out the Origami Star Box Template.
Teacher Demo
 Liz Ebanks ©2012

Themes in Bearden's Artwork:

Trains
Cats
Families
Musicians


List a few more themes in Bearden's Collages:

___________,  ___________,  ____________,  _____________
Find the answers at this link:
http://www.tampamuseum.org/sites/tampamuseum.org/files/Romare%20Bearden%20Family%20Guide%20lores_0.pdf

I invite you to learn more about the Romare Bearden's Exhibit by clicking on this link to the Tampa Museum of Art.

 http://www.tampamuseum.org/exhibitions/romare-bearden-southern-recollections

Bearden's Southern Series are characterized by  ______colors, _______ perspective, highly stylized compositions. 



This is why I encouraged students to create the collage on the back of the Origami template.  However, Origami is the Chinese Art of paper folding to create decorative pieces.  Romare embraced the timeless quality of Chinese Art Traditions. 







"Stained Glass Collection"
Origami Teacher Demo
 Liz Ebanks ©2012

 See how the same collage was transformed when used for Origami on the smaller Star Box on the right in my "Stained Glass Collection."  Students were surprised that they could no longer recognize Romare Bearden's portrait. Participants repurposed the discarded magazines to create inexpensive decorative paper.  They explored collage.  Historically, only the rich were able to afford decorative paper in Japan.  Therefore, paper was used exclusively for ceremonies and celebrations. 







"The Lorax Upcycled  Origami Triangular  Box"
Liz Ebanks ©2012



All the young artists were thrilled to see how I Upcycled the Lorax's picture and T.W Curtis painting onto the larger Origami box.  I was inspired to celebrate the release of the Lorax in the movie theaters.

Can you find the Lorax? 

Students discovered when they repurposed magazine images they not only recycle they Upcycle.  This reduces landfill waste and reduces supply costs in the art classroom. 

"Fiery Origami Triangular Box"
Teacher Demo
 Liz Ebanks ©2012

It was so much fun repurposing a fiery painting from my sketchbook to create a large Origami box.  

Thank you, for showing your support.

As a National Art Teacher Award Recipient, my classes are perfect for camps, birthdays, schools, and special events. For more information on registering for my Award Winning Art Workshops- Tampa.







"Miss Independence"
Custom Painted Stilettos
Liz Ebanks ©2012



 

Email: Liz@RescueTeam.com

 

Thanks, for joining us in the Upcycling Studio where we give new life and repurpose objects in new ways through art. By Upcycling we reduce waste headed to the redemption center and trim supply costs. As artists we focus on community involvement in fostering the growth of the ecosystem.

 

Designer Ruby Red Slippers

"Ruby Red Slipper"
Photo & Shoe:  Liz Ebanks ©2011
Tribute to Wizard of Oz
Custom Painted Heels




Designer Ruby Red Slippers

Written by: Liz Ebanks

National Art Teacher Award Recipient

Dorothy is celebrating her new designer Ruby Red Slipper makeover by shattering the hour glass in Oz.  After clicking her heels three times the iconic starlet has landed in the Custom Design Studio for Christmas. "There's no place like home."  Follow her lead down the Yellow Brick Road in these glamorous red ruffled 4 inch platform wedges.  I customized these gorgeous Ruby Red Slippers as a Tribute to Judy Garland's character Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.  These heels glitter on the red carpet with every jewel like hand painted detail.  Now this treasured American movie classic's Ruby Red Slippers have a hot new sexy look.  Elegantly, climbing roses embellish each stiletto wedge to showcase her long legs from every angle. These glamorous peep toe heels adorned with tantilizing ruby shimmers reniniscent of Hollywood Couture are perfect for any Holiday party. 

"Celebrity Heels"
Liz Ebanks ©2011
Custom Painted Heels & Purses
Ruby Red Slipper Collection

The versatile glittery shoes paired with a matching nostalgic cigar box purse complete Dorothy's  polished look with jeans.  Confidence is so sensuous.  Like a magic wand the custom painted stiletto design on the wedge empowers Dorothy to comfortably stay on the look out for the Wicked Witch creating the illusion of sky scraping heels in the Emerald City. 

  

Thank you, for joining us today in the design studio.  If you enjoyed this post you may like reading about my other beautiful 
CUSTOM SHOE DESIGNS and WORKSHOPS on these links to my other blog posts.

Click on your guest pass to the COUTURE STILETTOS COMMEMORATE AMERICA: 

http://lizebanksartgallery.blogspot.com/2010/09/hand-painted-high-heels-commemorate.html 

DESIGNER STILETTOS (MAUI COLLECTION)
http://lizebanksartgallery.blogspot.com/2011/10/treasure-hunt-for-shoes-to-hand-paint.html

Look festive and fun for the holidays with are pair of my chic personalized designer stilettos.  As a National Art Teacher Award Recipient and Fashion Designer, I always welcome commissions to customize sneakers, stilettos, and t-shirts.  What are you waiting for if you've already got a favorite pair canvas or dyeable heels ready to be loaded with sparkle?  Look like a celebrity for the holiday party. Treat yourself to my next fashion design workshop. I am offering an exclusive workshop discount for my blog followers.  My Tampa ART WORKSHOPS are perfect for private schools, camps, birthdays, proms, art centers, and the holidays.

Register: liz@rescueteam.com

Happy Holidays!



Degas' Ballerina and Children's Assemblage

From: Left to Right meet Foo Foo, Skully, and Blingo Bomb.  These are a few of the characters the children created during the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts.

Imaginations Soar at the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Written by:  Liz Ebanks
National Art Teacher Award Recipient

Discover what creeps out of our imaginations when our halos slip and we don't color within the lines. Find out which monster or invention stole your eraser, spilled the coffee, and reset the alarm clock. Look out Poke-a-Peek-a-Mites Thingamajigs, and Do Hickeys as our monsters break out of the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Children's Tent and gobble up all the oil pastels. Lurking within the mayhem of shredded paper and staples you'll find each creature has a secret hand-made heart that will make you laugh at serendipity. Watch out the misfits were last sited creeping into the Gold Donor Room of the Tampa Museum of Art and scribbling on portraits.

Chase these creatures firing the staple gun at this link to the Children's Gallery:
http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=378598

Children's Gallery Video:  http://www.artsonia.com/schools/videos.asp?id=128562


DESCRIPTION:
Chase the monsters as they pirouette into the Edgar Degas: Form, Movement and Antiques Exhibition at the Tampa Museum of Art. The monsters are rehearsing their ballet positions and posing next to Degas' bronze statues and pastels of ballerinas in full costume.  Degas original bronze ballerina entitled, "Little Dancer Aged 14"  is the most memorable with her chin pointing up in defiance at being exhibited only once since, 1881. Satin ribbon, real hair, and a fabric bodice transformed the exquisite wax cast assemblage. These found objects were not originally intended to be used for art.  However, the objects find new meaning in artwork.

Do you know how many ballerina's were cast in bronze by Degas heirs? 
The answer to this question can be found by reading this link to Yahoo News:
http://news.yahoo.com/degas-bronze-ballerina-sold-nyc-auction-163228504.html 

Discover how the French Impressionist Degas created some of his greatest pastel drawings of on inexpensive brown cardboard just like our class will create their monsters on brown non-corrugated cardboard. Can you draw your classmates before they move into their next ballet position like Degas' ballerinas?  Remember, to capture more than one ballerina at a time in your drawing. Hurry, Degas', Little Dancer Aged 14 is in a hurry to the Christies' Auction. Perhaps you want to get started on her portrait first.  We need group portraits of the Monster Mash. I bet your monster assemblage will look charming slipping on your toe shoes, racing with the horses, or on the circus trapeze with Degas' other pieces from French Impressionists era at TMA. Continue the tradition of copying Old Masters without going to Italy by joining us at TMA. Learn how Degas' skill as a draftsman helped him emphasize some lines in charcoal darker to communicate gesture, weight, movement, and light within each portrait.

Relax you can use your imagination to create your own monster. You do not have to trace any photos of the ballerinas as Degas sometimes would layer several dancers into a group. No need to experiment with different fixatives to secure your pastel to the paper because, its oil pastel. The oil pastels act more like paint than chalk. Therefore, most do not flake off but, may be blended with your hands. However, several of the creatures do love to smudge and smear the scumbled lines.


PROCEDURE: 
1.  Students will fold a sheet of brown paper in half.
2.  Next, they will use the oil pastels to draw a creature from their imagination on to the top half of the paper.
3.  Then, the participants will tack the edges of their monster with the stapler so that the second sheet of paper will match the top design.
4.  Finally, the children will cut around the edges of the top sheet to create two matching halves of the creature
5.  The students will use the oil pastels to create the other side (profile or back)  of their creature.
6.  The young artists will tack the edges of the monster so both halves line up together.
7.  The children will begin stuffing their monsters with shredded paper.
8.  At last, all edges will be stapled transforming the 2D drawing into a 3D monster with a heart.
9.  Now create the backdrop for the monster mash ballet and then, place your 3D creature on top of  the backdrop after studying Degas pastels and bronzes of ballerinas.
10.  Invite your friends to share the stage w/ their hand-made monster.

WORD SEARCH: 
Staple
Buddy
Monster
Show
Oil
Gasparilla
Collect
Fest
Imagine
Paint
Smear
Blend
Pastels
Creature
Art
Scribble
Scumble
TMA


P  A  S  T  E  L  S  C  R  I  B  B  L E  S  N  F
A  B  C  I  R  T  M B  L E  N  D S  S  V  L A     
I   U  U M P  O  U S  H O W S  T  A P   L E             
N  D M A R  T   D C  R  E A T  U R  E  N T
T  D  B G  A K  M G M O  N S  T  E  R B G
S  Y  B  I  E  W  A  E  L  E  A R N U  Y X A    
E  Q  L N M  Y  G  A  S  P  A R  I  L  L A N
T  M A  E  S  C  O  L  L  E  C T N W X P D


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Young artists use scissors to cut out their monsters
 with their parents assistance.

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

The children gave each creature a heart.

If you would like to learn more about the Tampa Museum of Art of Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts click on these links:

http://www.tampamuseum.org/

http://www.gasparilla-arts.com/about.htm

 

Thank you, for showing your support.  As a National Art Teacher Award Recipient, my classes are perfect for camps, birthdays, schools, and special events.  For more information on registering for my
Award Winning Art Workshops- Tampa. 

Email: liz@rescueteam.com

Thanks, for joining us in the Upcycling Studio where we give new life and repurpose objects in new ways through art.  By Upcycling we reduce waste headed to the redemption center and trim supply costs.  As artists we focus on community involvement in fostering the growth of the ecosystem. 

If you enjoyed playing in the vibrant pastels during this lesson click on this guest pass to another great PASTEL LESSON  at this link:
http://lizebanksartgallery.blogspot.com/2011/01/florida-highwaymen-landscape-lesson.html
     

Couture Custom T-shirts

DESIGN YOUR CUSTOM  T-SHIRT
Written by:  Liz Ebanks
National Art Teacher Award Recipient

Exclusive CUSTOM T-SHIRT GALLERY-Click on your guest pass to our Animoto video http://lnkd.in/5r6miX


6-12 yrs. old with a parent; Teens and Adults welcome
Materials Required: Please, bring your light colored 100% Cotton T-shirt
Materials Provided: Latex Gloves and Permanent Fabric Markers supplied.
Tampa, Florida 
Max # of spots: 20

You guys are the greatest fans!  My dog feels like such a supermodel when he wears his customized t-shirt to holiday parties.  You should see him strut down Bayshore and Old Hyde Park.  This trend setter is ready for Hollywood.  With that swagger the pup must think he's won Best In Show at the National Dog Show.  The little stud muffin shakes his tail on the catwalk flirting with everyone in Tampa.  As the birthday guy he couldn't be prouder to invite families to celebrate their fun fashion style with us in the design studio!  My dog just loves to snuggle over the holidays in his soft handcrafted cotton dog t-shirt.  This rocker inspired "Heart on Fire" designer t-shirt expresses his passion for the red carpet as a fashion model.  At any gala the rich colors celebrate his outspoken personality.  My doggy loves the chic custom tailored fit of fine dog couture made exclusively by his pet parent. He can't wait to shake your paw as an emerging fashion designer.  

Can anyone learn how to
 HANDPAINT & DESIGN T-SHIRTS
like a pro in my class? Masterfully, my
 2nd grade student Naja learned to
control liquid color mixes in this phenomenal
 painting on her t-shirt. Never make your
color palette muddy again w/ these techniques..

 T-shirts are an American Classic. with a twist for any birthday party, camp, museum, or art gallery.  They are affordable, fun, and fast mileage making pieces that capture memories.  Discover how you can create patterns, layer colors, and movement when you customize your t-shirt in this first class fashion studio.   Children, teens, and parents work along side each other in small classes of 5-20 students to crate works of art.  Choose your favorite colors and let your imagination soar.   Explore how simple permanent markers can transform your white cotton t-shirt into a wicked shirt with color bleeds and blooms that pop out.   Safe non-toxic fabric markers are my favorite bcause, the colors are lightfast.  Behind the scenes we will create dramatic tie dye patterns and free hand designs.  We will discuss how to create stylish patterns and resists using anti-fusant to make unique batik designs, rubber bands for star bursts, and Traditional Shibori Wrapping. 

What drawing techniques do my talented young artists explore in making HANDCRAFTED T-SHIRTS in the studio?  Grabbing a fistful of markers participants layered festive colors in a cross hatching pattern in the abstract composition below.

The kids challenged the adults to join in
the fun and  draw with their left hands
on the collaborative piece.

Let's take a tour together of what my talented students have created in the workshop.  "At Liz Ebanks design headquaters teamwork and laughs are the mission."  Everyone has a left hand in participating and trying new things while learning to collaborate on an original t-shirt.  One of the exciting things is that this class is cost effective and perfect for schools to practice working in buddy pairs.  Effortlessly, parents show they care by tauntly stretching the t-shirt over a piece of cardboard to provide a smooth drawing surface.  The difference is kids nominate parents to dare to draw with their left hand with an updated color palette. Families pull together to beat the clock and cover the treasured shirt.   Look at the fantastic t-shirt design that came to life when everyone plays with the markers to create these amazing t-shirt designs. 

When you spray, pour, and  drip the solvent you can achieve different hand painted effects by rotating your wearable design while it is wet on an unwrapped plastic covered broom.  Tilting the painting provides a direction for the dye to flow.  Decide if you want to let your t-shirt air dry so you can add more to complete the design.  Challenge yourself to let your talent free flow as a fashion designer.  Before your eyes the fluid design will dry in minutes just like your custom painted sneakers when the humidity is low. 

 Then discover how to lock in the fabulous color with heat.  Rock the runway as a creative with your customized t-shirt. 

Showcase your talents by creating a collaborative watercolor underpainting to leave with the gallery. Transform your wardrobe into something phenomenal with us.

  

"Miss Indepedence"

Liz Ebanks © 2011

Stiletto Extreme Makeover Workshops

Book your Custom T-shirt Workshop in Tampa, Florida with Liz Ebanks or request your favorite design be hand painted on a 
t-shirt for your pet or for someone special  via email:  liz@rescueteam.com 





If you enjoy this post you may also like my post on CUSTOM DESIGNING SNEAKERS below:
http://lizebanksartgallery.blogspot.com/2011/10/secret-to-reinventing-your-shoes-on.html

TIP #1:  Get the most out of class by printing up a free t-shirt template off the internet.  Then, select which of your designs will be your favorite to paint during the workshop.  Sketch, paint, love.

TIP #2:  Sew basting stiches to secure your pleats before class so you can focus on dyeing your T-shirt.  This will provide you with a time advantage when creating fabric dye resists.

TIP #3:  Research how to alter a standard t-shirt shape with limited sewing.

TIP #4: Use several layers of Elmers glue overnight to completely penetrate the fabric as anti-fusant.  Let all of these layers dry completely overnight before dyeing the fabric during the workshop.  Add your unique design in class. Then, gently wash your treasured t-shirt design by itself in non-chlorine bleach and cold water at home to remove the water soluble glue.

PET TIP #5:  Consider inquiring with your vet if a pet t-shirt would help deter your cat or dog from pulling on your baby's stitches after surgery.

LAUNDRY TIP:  Safeguard the allure of your destinctive handcrafed t-shirt by washing it only with like colors in cool water using non-chlorine bleach.  We will discuss how to heat set the design during the class.  

Personalize your t-shirt with your signature by creating your designer label.





Liz Ebanks
Custom T-shirt Designs
"Heart on Fire"
Teacher Demo
Permanent Markers