Growing up was fun at my house because we always had colorful, artsy things to play with thanks to my Dad's occupation as a Graphic Artist.
Back in the days before computers, "graphic artists" had to do everything by hand. Layering colors one by one; taking colors away, one by one. Manipulating a picture was more of a talent back then. Nowadays everyone has Photoshop and can remove a pimple at the click of a mouse!
However, pre-computer era "graphic artists" weren't always called that, they had a different occupational name that was more appropriate to what they were doing with the colors: layering and removing.
I remember the first time I told my friend's parents what my Dad did, they looked at me so wide-eyed and then laughed their asses off!! Picture it. 1980's, me - probably my hair in a side ponytail (killin' it, per usual!), and then the question from them: "So, what does your Dad do?" Me, "My Dad is a Stripper". MMMhhhhmmm, that's what it was called, folks. STRIPPING!!!!
Hilarious true story, Deia...do you remember? That was you I'm talking about!!
East LA Bob's Big Boy, after church. Those were the days...
So I went off topic a bit, but what I was getting at were all the cool things around the house we had. One of them was this Pantone Color Book below. If you can't already read, it was my Dad's. And now it's mine. :)
It was so cool to play with and see all the beautiful colors! What went together, what absolutely did NOT. Colors are great for children's imaginations! So I thought to make something that could combine beautiful colors, and learning what goes together, and doesn't.
Of course I wasn't ABOUT to ruin my Pantone book, so I took some paint chips from the local Hardware Store - it would've been better (easier) had they been with the full 4 color scheme, but this was all I had so I had to improvise. I took 2 from each color family. Bought some wooden clothes pins for 2.50 Euro, and dedicated some of my precious time to this project!
I laminated the "color family's" together so that I could have the 4 different shade perspective for one "board". Oh, you don't have your own lamination machine?? Well, neither do I! That's what I work for, to use their office supplies. :) Laminating probably isn't totally necessary, but I do think it punches up the color a bit, and (hopefully) will let this "game" last a little longer than if it WASN'T laminated!
All it cost me was 2.50 Euros, however I hope it saves me countless hours (eh, minutes??) while we're on the plane flying over to see all of you!! That's right, I made this (and will only give it to Emma when we're on board) for the plane ride!! October 18-November 1st Emma, Henry and I will be in L.A. and Phoenix - so mark your calendars everyone, we're doing Hollywood!!
**not really Hollywood, it's kinda a dump! :) bwahhhhh
