The week’s episode gets completely out of control, listeners. I know we have said that before but The Gals are in rare form for this one. Everything starts out innocently enough… it is our Valentine’s episode so there is discussion about Valentine’s plans, etc. Katie and Loni revisit an idea that came up on our tape episode almost a year ago and explore the possibilities of scratch-off valentines. Yes, you will learn how to make the scratch-offs, but it goes downhill rapidly when they start tossing around ideas about ways to incorporate scratch-offs into your valentines. Be warned, there is a lot of cackling so you may want to be prepared to adjust your volume (we tried to normalize all of the laughter but there is just so much!).

Check out the Pintrest board for this episode here.

Katie did some experimenting with different methods of achieving the scratch-offs and as promised, here is the video of her mad art sciencing (and yes, Katie knows she kept calling stuff “clear packing tape” but this was kind of a one shot deal and we are pretty sure you will still know what she is talking about).

Katie made some scratch-off valentines for the mail art group she runs and she documented the process for us. Because many of the people in her Mail Some Art, Yo! group also listens to the show we are only using the one she is sending to her mom and the one for her son as examples.

You will want to prepare your cards and pictures/phrases to be reviled by the scratch-off ahead of time.

For the mail art swap Katie decided to write the phrases on some sticker paper for ink jet printers so it would be easier to put the scratch-off phrases on the cards. You can’t see it well here but all of those phrases are covered with clear packing tape.

If you do this make sure you draw cut lines on the back so you know where you are supposed to cut out your phrases so you don’t miscut after they are painted. If you are doing more than one or two you will also want to make a note in the margin of each phrase so you remember which goes where.

Mix up your paint solution, which is two parts acrylic paint to one part dish washing liquid.

It will take about three to five thin layers of paint to cover your phrase or picture depending on the color of paint you use and the image you are covering. Katie got a bit impatient with this process and her scratch-offs ended up being a bit streaky. Don’t be like Katie.

Katie decided to do funny reveals for this project by captioning the thoughts people were having in vintage photographs. Using the phrase “What’s on your mind, Valentine?” on the front of the card sets up the reveal when people open their cards.

When scratched off this word bubble will reveal this woman’s thoughts as “Oh god, I hope no one notices that fart” because Katie thought she looked a bit uncomfortable/anxious.

Katie decided to do funny reveals for this project by captioning the thoughts people were having in vintage photographs. Using the phrase “What’s on your mind, Valentine?” on the front of the card sets up the reveal when people open their cards.

For her son’s card she started out sweet…

Then revealed the hilarious line she came up with while recording this episode.

We wanted to do our Valentine’s Day episode early in the month so all of you would have time to make your own before Valentine’s Day and send us pictures of them. You can email those to twoartsygals@gmail.com. Oh! And The Gals would love it if you called and whispered sweet nothings into their voicemail so call 503-395-7190 and tell them nice stuff. Make sure you are following Two Artsy Gals on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook so you can keep up with Katie and Loni’s antics. Subscribe to the show through iTunes, Stitcher, or the new PodOmatic app so you will have fresh episodes in your earholes as soon as they are uploaded.
Next week The Gals will be talking about what in the hell Katie should do with the small mountain of soda can tabs she has sitting in her garage so until then… make some cool shit, yo!