Shipping box with a holiday theme to show holiday shipping tips

Holiday Shipping Tips from Silly Farm: Make This Season Stress-Free!

The holiday season is magical, but let’s be real—shipping during this time can be less than magical. At Silly Farm, we want to help you avoid the holiday shipping blues, so let’s talk about choosing the best shipping options for your precious face paint supplies.

The Perks of Reliable Shipping

We know it’s tempting to go for the cheapest shipping option, especially with all the holiday expenses adding up. However, during the busiest shipping season of the year, it’s worth investing in a reliable service like UPS. Why?

  • Speedy Deliveries: While all carriers work hard during the holidays, options like UPS generally offer faster delivery times. This is especially helpful if you’re in a crunch to get your supplies for that last-minute gig or holiday event.
  • Peace of Mind with Insurance: Lost or damaged packages are rare but can happen, especially during the holiday rush. Choosing a service with solid insurance options ensures you’re covered. UPS provides automatic insurance for most shipments, which can save you both stress and money in case of an issue.

USPS: Great, But Plan Ahead

We’re not here to bash USPS—they’re an affordable and accessible choice! However, if you go this route, keep a few things in mind:

  • Longer Delivery Times: With higher package volumes, delays can happen.
  • Limited Insurance: Make sure to check the coverage and consider adding extra protection if needed.

Our Holiday Shipping Recommendations

For smooth sailing (or shipping!) this season, here’s what we suggest:

  1. Order Early: The earlier you order, the less you’ll need to worry about delays.
  2. Consider Upgrading: If time is tight or you want extra peace of mind, opt for a premium shipping option like UPS.
  3. Track Your Packages: Stay in the loop with tracking updates so you can plan accordingly.

At Silly Farm, we’re here to ensure you have everything you need to bring holiday joy to your clients. Whether you’re painting winter wonderlands or festive characters, we’ve got your back. Make smart shipping choices, and let’s paint this season merry and bright!

Beat The Heat

Beat the Heat: Top Products to Help You Survive a Summer of Painting

Beat the Heat: Top Products to Help You Survive a Summer of Painting

By Ashley Arrow

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As face painters and entertainers, it’s a delicacy to work indoors with air conditioning. Most of us are under a tent and weathering the great outdoors. Whether you believe in global warming or not, one thing is certain, the summer is HOT! Down here in South Flordia it’s summer year round and we have become masters of dealing with hot and humid weather. Long days standing outside can not only alter your mood but be dangerous for your health. These top tips and products will help you stay comfortable in the heat so you can deliver smiles and a stellar experience to your clients.

 

  1. Wardrobe
    • What you wear affects your body temperature. Surprisingly long sleeves during the summer can be a benefit to you if it’s the correct material. Silly Farm has has 2 amazing shirts options in both long and short sleeves. It helps you looking professional, wicks away moisture, and is the perfect light weight cool material. The long sleeves will help keep away those dangerous UV rays.

Click Here to Purchase

 

Face Painting and Artist Shirt Designed by Heather Green
Face Painting and Artist Shirt Designed by Heather Green. Portable Fans

2. Portable Fans

  • Almost everything comes pocket sized, what a time to be alive! You can snag a portable fan on Amazon to give you hours of portable breeze.

    Tonya's Set Up with Portable Fan
    Tonya’s Set Up with Portable Fan

Here’s are our top two choices:

  • This small oscillating fan is amazing! It folds up super small to fit right in your kit or bag, but it can be placed on the ground or directly on the table with its extendable base. It’s quiet and powerful. It comes with a slim card size remote you can use to adjust the settings. The battery lasts for hours and is rechargeable. And the best part, it comes in pink! Click here Here to Check it out
  • fanThis portable fan can clip directly to your Craft-n- Go or kit. Not only will it provide a breeze, but it also has built-in LED lights for those events that last through the night. Perfect to supply comfort and a little extra light to see. Check it out herefan23. Proper Display
  • Nothing is worse than attending an all-day a pay per face festival in the heat and coming home with dry pockets. Don’t let your tent get lost in the sea of unmarked tents! This 14ft Face Painter flag will let the entire festival know you’re there! It’s an eye catching colorful display that will draw a crowd to your area. Not a Face Painter? We have one for Henna Artist, Balloon Twisters, and Airbrush artist. Check It out here: flagblog4. Stay Hydrated
  • Bringing a water bottle is essential for long days outside. We aren’t always blessed with clients who deliver water to us when our line is so long, and we don’t have a chance to refill our water. Not to mention, taking a sip from a water bottle that has been out in the sun is like sipping on lava. A large thermal and insulated water bottle can make all the difference. Stack that thing with ice and it will stay cold for 12 hours or more! Not to mention, the ice doesn’t melt so if you do run out of water, you can pour the boiling sun water into your ice filled thermal. We love this insulated thermal with a carrying strap and sleeve to hold your phone/id/keys/or debit card so you don’t have to bring a purse with you. Purchase Here.flask5. Waterproof Line Work
  • Sweat in the heat is unavoidable. Beautiful faces you paint can turn into a melted mess. However, if you replace your line work with a waterproof choice, you will save yourself some tears and time! Using a Rainbow Cake as your base with Dips by Proaiir for your line work will save your design. Even if the base runs, the design will still be saved with the solid waterproof outline. It’s a super cost effective addition to your kit. Multiple colors available at Silly Farm
  • Dips Waterproof Face Painting
    Dips Waterproof Face Painting

I hope these products help you keep your cool this summer. As always, happy painting! Stay in the shade, stay hydrated, and stay creative!

-Ashley Arrow

Community Outreach for Kyle Mules

Hello readers, today’s article comes from a face painting mom who has reached out to the community to help her and her son. Kelly Mules posted on our facebook wall about her son and despite sharing it on facebook, I wanted to help them and spread the word more. If you have the time, please find it in your heart to help this brave boy.
The following is from Kelly:

Kyle Face Painted as a TigerLife was good but all that changed in the blink of an eye, Sept. 2010, when my son got a rare disorder called Guillain-Barre-Syndome. He went form being a healthy, active 10 year old boy in the 6th grade to being totally paralyzed fighting for his life unable to even breath on his own in just 12 short hours. We spent months in the hospital. Everything in my life stopped and changed that day and nothing is as it was.

The things I loved most like my Faces Gone Wild, faces painting business, artwork and hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains stopped that day. I wanted to trade places with my son, but that wasn’t an option I was given, so I did what any parent would do for their sick child. I became my sons full time nurse, caregiver, therapist, school teacher, friend and mom over night.
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Kyle in the hospital with his mom by his side.It has been almost 3 years since my son was diagnosed with GBS. He has gotten stronger and his spirit is so amazing and full of life. He is my hero and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for him. I have got my face painting business back up to speed as much as I can and we are learning how to enjoy life and all it has to offer a all new way…in a wheelchair. I have now made it my life quest to make sure my son enjoys life to it’s fullest by introducing him to adaptive sports and looking for creative ways for him to still enjoy the things he loves.
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Kyle in his wheelchair by a lake.Transportation is becoming our biggest issue right now. My son is a growing 14 year old boy and I have been lifting him myself in and out of our van for the past 3 years now. He is getting heavier and almost taller then me now. It is really getting hard on both of us. Sometimes I fall over on his lap or set him down in as awkward position and we just laugh…making the best of things. I have put off looking for a handicap van because not only can we not afford but I was truly hoping my son would be walking again by now. The reality is… it’s time to see if we can somehow find a way to get the handicap van we need so we can keep enjoying the things we love.

I have set up this fundraiser for Kyle below so that if anyone would like to help it is an easy way to give, but please don’t feel obligated. If you can’t help right now that’s ok. If you could please share this link with others or just pray with us about this growing need we now have.

[button type=”button_solid_dark nocufon” url=”http://www.gofundme.com/kylemules” target=”on” ]Donate to Kyle Here[/button]

Waterskiing is a challenge, but kyle did it!Kyle learning to draw again.

Kyle on his stable visit.

Fall Cartoons Face Painting

Face and Body Art Television - FabaTV FABAtv is your online destination for face and body art classes. Whether you are new to face painting, a professional body painter, or even a magician, FABAtv has classes you want to watch. Take a class from the comfort of your own living room with fantastic instructors like Mark Reid, Lynne Jamieson, or how about Athena Zhe who was on Season 2 of Syfy’s hit reality show, FaceOff.

FABAtv brings all the best instructors under one roof and gives you the key to access hundreds of classes and workshops from them! Subscribe today!

Not quite ready for a subscription? Not to worry! FABAtv has been satisfying the urge to learn of face and body painters everywhere for over a year now with free & live classes every month! August’s free & live class is being hosted by none other then Margi Kanter!

Margi Kanter came to the FABAtv studios for her live face painting class all the way from Chicago! Back in Chicago Margi runs her face painting business, Making Faces Chicago, and is known for the animated faces she paints! If you run into Margi on the street you will be greeted by her energetic smile and loving nature. Margi is not only a great friend, but she is a mother of three and still has time to teach face painting workshops, release new books, and teach LIVE classes! She is a bundle of energy!

Margi has released a series of face painting books focusing on the art of animating painted faces. You can pick up a copy of her latest book, Pick Your Nose Vol. 3, over at Silly Farm Supplies!

Margi Kanter LIVE on FABAtv Aug 15th | Face Painting Class

True Grit

How we all feel sometimesWe’ve all been down this road. It leaves us feeling stuck. Unsatisfied with the art we created. Maybe I’m just unable to break out of the plateau?

Believe it or not, this problem plagues even the best of the best. Caitlin from Cait’s Paints compiled some inspiring notes on the topic of “grit” from life coaches, professors, and several tried-and-true successful individuals. Learn how to find it, how to build it, and how to use it as a key to success.

Head on over to Artist Alley to read more about grit, and take the survey to see how much you already have!

Learn How to Face Paint a Venetian Mask with Tina Carroll

Face and Body Art Television - FabaTVFABAtv is your online destination for face and body art classes. Whether you are new to face painting, a professional body painter, or even a magician, FABAtv has classes you want to watch. Take a class from the comfort of your own living room with fantastic instructors like Mark Reid, Lynne Jamieson, or how about Nix Herrera who was on Season 2 of Syfy’s hit reality show, FaceOff.
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FABAtv brings all the best instructors under one roof and gives you the key to access hundreds of classes and workshops from them! Subscribe today!

Not quite ready for a subscription? Not to worry! FABAtv has been satisfying the urge to learn of face and body painters everywhere for over a year now with free & live classes every month! July’s live class is being hosted by face & body painter, Tina Carroll!

Tina Carroll has been body painting for over 13 years and runs Transformations by Tina, offering her services in face painting, body painting, glitter tattoos, and henna to the Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. areas.

Tina’s work has been featured on several face and body art magazines, as well as being featured on the Fox 9 news in Minneapolis. She currently is working with face paint brand Snazaroo to release a face painting book sometime in the future.

Tune in to FABAtv LIVE on July 15th at 8PM EST for this free class on face and body art! Don’t miss it!

Venetian Masquerade by Tina Carroll on FABAtv LIVE

Free Marketing & Branding Class with Tal Thompson

Face and Body Art Television - FabaTVFABAtv stands for ‘Face and Body Art Television’. FABAtv is the place to be if you want to expand your knowledge of face and body art. From face painting & body painting to airbrushing or even balloon twisting, a FABAtv subscription will give you full access to the entire catalog of educational videos. That’s over 100+ classes each averaging an hour long and in stunning HD! Step up your game with classes by Mark Reid, Heather Green, Nix Herrera, and TONS more. Subscribe Today! [clear]

This months live class brought to you free of charge by FABAtv is with Tal Thompson from YBody USA! Take your business to the next level and explore the tips and tricks that have brought many others to the top. In this hour long free class, Tal will share her tips and tricks on marketing, branding, and business growth.

When: June 13th @ 8PM EST Where: FABAtv LIVE

Tal Thompson on FABAtv LIVE

Do You Post Your Face Painting Prices?

Do you post your face painting prices?
To post, or not to post? That, is the question…

Whether or not business owners should list their prices publicly seems to be a source of lively debate. Caitlin from Cait’s Paints took a look at both sides of the argument, and broke it down in her latest article. Worried that clients will be put off by the numbers? Is responding to client emails about rates laborious, repetitive, and frustrating? Different methods will work better for different business models. Don’t worry, there’s a solution for everyone.

Head over to Artist Alley for the pros and cons of listing prices, and add your two cents to the debate!

Free Body Painting Class with Annie Reynolds

Annie Reynolds - Free LIVE Body Painting Class on FABAtv
Face and Body Art Television (FABAtv) is a subscription based, educational website for face and body artists. FABAtv has classes on face painting, body art, airbrushing, henna, and more! Once a month FABAtv hosts a free and live class from one of our many instructors. Take your body art to the next level with FABAtv and subscribe today!

Our featured FABAtv LIVE class for the month of May is Australian painter, Annie Reynolds!
Her company, ACA Larrikans Entertainment, has been providing quality entertainment and body art around Sydney, Australia for over 13 years.

Since she started to paint, Annie decided she wanted her paintings to be as good as her mentors Lynne Jamieson and Jinny MUA.

Body Painting by Annie ReynoldsBody Painting by Annie ReynoldsBody Painting by Annie Reynolds

After watching her paint amazing masterpieces, it was evident that Annie had already accomplished her goal. Her unique style of painting combined with her bubbly and enthusiastic personality has made her a perfect candidate to teach in the Face and Body Art International Convention. Annie’s other talents includes acting, singing and being a hairdresser.

Tune in May 15th starting at 8:00pm EST for this FREE & LIVE class on body painting with Annie Reynolds!

[button type=”button_solid_dark nocufon” url=”http://www.fabatv.com/page/live” target=”on” ]Watch FABAtv LIVE![/button]

Top 10 Reasons to Attend the FABAIC

FABAIC 2013 Welcome Banner
The 12th annual Face and Body Art International Convention (FABAIC) is upon us. May 22-26th the FABAIC will play host to 400+ of the worlds face and body art enthusiasts in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. The FABAIC has been described as a creative sleep away camp for painters. The FABAIC is a unique event that features hands on workshops, nightly painting parties called “jams”, the world’s largest face and body art supplies marketplace, the world renowned Body painting competition, and a weekend full of networking, creative moments, and extreme fun! The FABAIC is different than other make up shows because we focus on education. Our goal has always been to help you learn more so you can charge more and earn more. We design the schedule to be friendly and inviting to all levels including classes covering business, legal, marketing, balloons, face painting and more!

FABAIC FunCircus Body - Andrea O'Donnell at FABAICFABAIC 2012

The reason the FABAIC has achieved longevity and success is largely in part due to the fact that the producers are active face and body painters themselves. We brainstorm after each convention on how to improve classes, what are the popular themes and trends in the industry, and how we can plan the best possible convention for our fellow artists. We acknowledge that artists usually have to save up for the year to attend the FABAIC, which is why we go the extra mile to produce an event that exceeds their expectations. Upon arrival, attendees are greeted with bright colors, a welcome staff, and a convention goody bag filled with a t-shirt, schedule, and free goodies courtesy of the FABAIC and sponsors. Our talented instructor staff is usually in the lobby meeting and greeting attendees or painting their faces to kick off the weekend. Then we open the doors with a HUGE party and get everyone warmed up to express their colorful side. Whether you attend alone or bring a friend, you are guaranteed to leave feeling like you have found your long lost artistic family. So again, why should you make the time, effort, and investment to attend?

Here are our top 10 reasons why YOU can’t afford to miss the 2013 FABAIC!

10. Networking!
Where else can you make International connections with the world’s top artists?

9. Smorgasbord of Classes and Workshops!
ONLY at the FABAIC will you have the opportunity to take classes of this magnitude. We offer classes covering all areas of face and body art taught by the world’s top instructors.

8. Over $1,000 in cash and prizes!
The FABAIC hosts the infamous Body painting competition where you can push your creativity to the edge and win $1,000 cash prize.

7. Largest Body Art Marketplace!
Shop the world’s largest marketplace dedicated to face and body art supplies! Check out the newest products, shop and save!

6. Learning in Paradise!
The FABAIC is hosted at the lush tropical grounds of the Bonaventure Hotel and Resort in Weston, Fl. Escape the cold rainy weather and visit beautiful sunny South Florida. Take a vacation with your paint brushes.

5. Elevate your business!
Learn new skills to apply to your business right away, leave feeling rejuvenated and ready to take your business to the next level!

4. Hands on learning.
The FABAIC knows the best way to learn is by getting your hands dirty and painting the world. The FABAIC features the most hands on workshops anywhere in the world. Learn to body paint, get your hands bloody in our specials effects class, or discover the world of rainbow cakes. the possibilities are endless and the learning is unprecedented.

3. Jam, Jam, Jam!
What’s a Jam? Think of a jam as the world’s largest painting party. After a full day of learning break out your brushes, and get busy! But don’t forget to stop and take a look at your surroundings. What you will witness is magic. Imagine 400 painters jamming, painting, creating and enjoying the influence of art.

2. Once a year opportunity!
Many of our artists and instructors come from abroad to teach at the FABAIC. This is a once a year and maybe once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from the best of the best in one weekend for one low price. If you were to take classes from our instructors individually you would spend over $10,000 you save thousands and have more fun while taking classes!

1. FABAIC is the bridge that connects business success, business growth, everlasting friendships, creative motivation, and personal inspiration. Only at the FABAIC can you experience all of these things at once!

We encourage you to join us, make the investment in yourself and your business if you haven’t already! If there is anything I can do to make the FABAIC more enjoyable for you or if you have questions please don’t hesitate to ask.

The Green Brush Part 1: Introduction

The Green Paint Brush with Heather Green

This is the first installment in The Green Brush, a Marketing and Business tips and tricks series by Heather Green. sponsored by Silly Farm Supplies.

Why

I have spent the past six years making youtube videos on face painting to help you to become better painters, but I totally neglected that being the best painter isn’t good enough. It’s like living on McDonald’s, but then working out every day of the week. You have to combine business skills with talent in order to achieve a winning combination…. So I am dedicating one video blog a month to helping you improve your business, grow your business, and answer your questions.

What

What makes me qualified to be in a position to give advice? For those of you that don’t know me… My name is Heather Green and I am the owner of Silly Farm Supplies, the creator of FABAtv, the co-producer of the FABAIC, publisher of the FABA Blog, a business partner for My FAB Events, a mom, a friend, a face & body painter, and the First Lady of Greater St Mark Ame church. I have been painting for 15 years, have grown my companies into something I am very proud of. I spend much of my time researching, reading, and investing in learning how to be a successful entrepreneur. My goal is to condense my findings into useful information and business advice that you can use and make money from. I feel my face painting Youtubes and teaching style have been so well received because I take a lot of concepts from all the classes I have taken and simplify it to make it attainable for all levels of painters. I want to do that in the business sense too.

Who

My business video blogs are meant to help anyone, not just painters, but all entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. I know that watching my face can be boring, but hopefully the content will make it all worth it.

When

My goal is to publish video blogs at least once a month. If you like them I will try my hardest to post 2 a month.

So what’s on the agenda for today?

Getting Started

In order to get ourselves in the business frame of mind there are a few things you need to do to get started on the right path.

Start with time management…. There is a direct correlation between time spent/ invested and success. When I bought silly farm almost 9 years ago I told myself I wouldn’t take a paycheck until we were out of the red. I face painted on the weekends and used that money to live. I didn’t mind working 19 hours a day, and I believe that my time spent obsessing, building, growing Silly Farm is the reason we have grown from 2 employees to 27 employees. If you are only spending two hours a week improving your company, investing in yourself as an artist, or your phones aren’t ringing like you would like then it’s time to take a look at how you are spending your time. I wrote the book on No Time. I get up at 5:00 am, go to the gym, get home to get my son ready for school, go to work, go home, feed him, bathe him, and then go back to work. Now my life style isn’t for everyone, but if you don’t make the time, you can’t expect the results.

Start by dedicating one hour a day to yourself and your business. Spend an hour emailing customers, or taking a class on FABAtv, or seeking new leads. If you invest an hour each day it’s easier to increase the time you spend on your business daily without feeling overwhelmed.

Setting Goals

How many times have you said to yourself I just want to loose 10 lbs or 20lbs? How many times have you said tomorrow I am going to eat better and start laying weight? For better or worse, goals are a huge part of the human psyche. Goals are important because they help create vision and focus. Set, type, and print your goals, make them visible at all times so that you don’t loose sight of what you are working towards. When I launched fabatv I printed a paper out that said 1,000 subscribers … Ready set go! Every morning I looked at my goal and within 9 months I reached my goal. I wish I could say the same about these last 8 baby pounds, but I won’t be too critical. If you make a goal to book five new parties a month, or a goal to save 30% of all your take home, then you keep it where your mind continuously views it. Then you will train yourself to keep the pot at the end of the rainbow in mind. Don’t let your goals become out of sight and out of mind.

Invest in Yourself and Your Business

We learn from others and feedback is essential! Please like and share this post if it helped you. Leave a comment below or send me an email if you have any questions! Who knows, maybe your question will be on the next video!

The Green Brush Part 2: Marketing Mindframe

The Green Paint Brush with Heather Green
This is the second installment in The Green Brush series sponsored by Silly Farm Supplies. Marketing and Business tips and tricks by Heather Green. Heather is the CEO and Owner of Silly Farm Supplies, an international supplies shop for face and body art. Heather is also the co-producer for the Face and Body Art International Convention.

In this segment of The Green Brush I will show you how to get into the Marketing Mind frame.

I breakdown the FREE steps to marketing your business and introduce the 4 P’s which I will explain in detail in future segments.

Marketing & Sales GraphMarketing and Sales are not synonymous, they compliment each other,. You don’t have to fear marketing your business. Marketing is relationship building. Marketing is taking the time to get to know how you can best service your clients. I will guide you on how to achieve effective marketing campaigns.

I urge you to choose a soundtrack that gets you motivated; to get in a working mode and pursue new business avenues.

I also explain sources of free marketing including grass roots campaigns and getting yourself organized to be able to effectively follow up leads. I have created a “Follow Up Form” for you to download and use free of charge. My goal with this form is to help you keep better records, so that you can keep in touch with your customers and build better relationships.

[button type=”ambitious_button” url=”http://www.fabablog.com/wp-content/uploads/forms/event-followup-form.xlsx” target=”” ]Download Follow Up Form(Excel Format)[/button]

I am focused on helping you create and build a business you are proud of. I hope you enjoy this segment of The Green Brush and I encourage you to share your ideas, stories and business successes. Please leave me a comment with your ideas or questions and don’t forget to like and share this article with your friends!

5 Tips for Budding Entrepreneurs

By no means do I assert that I am no longer “budding” – I remain deeply entrenched in my fledgling status – but I would like to share with you some words that have stuck with me in this journey. Some pearls of wisdom fall on deaf ears, but some seem to ring loudly just when we need them. These are the ear-piercing bits, the ones that resonated with me and shaped my outlook on business.

“Work hard now, coast later.”0acf4f8b2a5234f6fbb4932589da5245
-Mr. Hikel
This was the mantra of my first boyfriend’s dad, which he gave me a solid lecture on during freshman year of High School. Climb towards your goals with all the tenacity you can muster, and you’ll be able to coast on your successes later. The longer I adhered to this, the more obvious it became that the people who work so fervently towards their aspirations don’t actually intend on ever stopping to “coast”, but the point was that success grows exponentially, and hard working people tend to get swept into wonderful opportunities.

“I could be getting in on the first floor of…Google!”
-Claire Stoddard
I’ve always had a penchant for business, starting around 14 years old. The first business I opened was for a clothing line, and I asked some close friends and family for assistance with seed money. Turns out that banks aren’t keen on giving 14 year olds loans. Claire wrote me a check for $500; I was astonished that one person was willing to fork over that much to my measly operation. The quote above was her response, and it was profound for me to consider. It made me realize that if she had so much faith in me, I should too. I assumed it was impractical to aim high, but who’s to say that you won’t end up at the top of the food chain one day?

“Automate it.”
-Dan Gargano.
Dan is a tech savvy fellow who completely redesigned the way I look at business from both an internal and external perspective.  His main focus was to automate, streamline, and simplify as many aspects of his business as possible. I didn’t realize how much energy I was expending towards menial tasks; now I operate with automated email templates, payment systems, databases, and have more time to devote to core functions. Dan also made killer sales pitches and owned the room when he walked in, which would be especially impressive if you could see how mousy and young he looked. I’ve done my best to assimilate his well-dressed confidence into my own life, and started making a point of surrounding myself with other powerful people who I could learn from by example.

“Realize that Despite Your Worst Fears, You are now a Salesperson”
-Kurt Johnson
This quote was part of a longer, and very insightful article that I highly recommend. I briefly worked retail sales, and it was certainly not my forte. I refused to harass passer-bys, felt awkward during my sales pitch, and not even a commission bonus could convince me to do cold calls. But when you run 97e31e6c8ed196012fb09ba7307d896eyour own business, you’re head of the sales department. And marketing department. And secretary. Embrace it! Find ways to promote yourself that are within your comfort zone, but also make a point of stepping outside the box from time to time. You have to become wonderful at all aspects of business, and you don’t really have much of a choice!

 “A good entrepreneur is a heat seeking missile”
– Josh Kopelman
I read this on a website while researching investors, and it was like that missile hit my brain. BOOM. My days of running a business tentatively were over. With renewed determination, I decided all of my goals were within reach, and that my business was going to succeed because I would give everything to make it happen. On hard days, days when I’m tired or feeling burnt out, I remember this quote and it pulls me through.
“If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
-Kim Demulder
I’ve worked with Kim frequently over the last four years. He’s an incredibly talented artist with a big smile and a bounce in his step. He’s worked for DC Comics and is currently teaching at the Joe Kubert School of Graphic Arts and Cartooning in Dover, NJ. He’s spouted off this saying to students for at least the few years, and it seems to have done well by him. Remember that whatever your current business venture is, that you’re in it because you love it. That’s ultimately the end game here – to do so much of what we love that people start to pay us for it. The money is great, but the art is better.

Keep on keepin’ on, friends!
-Caitlin

Spotlight: Alex Hansen – Bones & Muscle Structure

Alex Hansen is an accomplished artist for body painting, airbrush and special effects. He has competed numerous times winning multiple awards all over, and has done special effects work in movies, such as 300 and Death Race. We’re excited to announce that FABAtv is bringing him to South Florida for a FREE LIVE class! That’s right. FREE.

Alex Hansen - Bones & Muscle Structure FABAtv LIVE

Each month FABAtv hosts an entirely free, live class on face painting, body art, magic, balloons and more! Tune in April 15th at 8PM EST to watch Alex Hansen and his class on Bones & Muscle Structure in body art.

We were able to catch Alex away from his busy life to share some details about himself and his journey as an artist.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from?

AH: Well, I’m originally from Brazil now living in Montreal Canada
Was raised my whole life in Canada, I have been an artist since the day I was born

Q: Are you an artist full time or do you have another job?

AH: Yes my other full time job is my Family Life!! My two daughters and my Queen, Lymari Millot

Q: What type of face and body art do you specialize in?

AH: Well Pretty much everything.. but my forte is airbrushing and special effects

Q: How did you get your start(in face and body art)?

AH: I started off in the night clubs scene in Montreal and then moved on to working my own concepts and body artwork…. and then went into teaching and competing

Q: What’s the most enjoyable part of what you do?

AH: Being Creative and also being an inspiration to other artists, teaching and learning new art forms and other stuff

Q: Do you attend any conventions, like the FABAIC?

AH: Yes I do.. I try to be as many events as possible. I might be cutting down alot on my travels pretty soon… I believe that the world needs a break from me and me from the world…

Q: What would you like to do more of, art or otherwise?

AH: Well art is my life…. being a great family man is what I love the most, besides that what else is there?

Q: Outside of art, what do you do for fun?

AH: I love going to movies, playing soccer, sculpting, and dancing with Lyrian my daughter

Q: Do you have any pet peeves?

AH: Well I have three…. Stupidity, tardiness and egos!

Q: Where do you see yourself in a couple years?

AH: well for sure a lot less traveling and starting out something I always wanted to do… Develop my own art school / studio

Q: Do you have any projects going on or in the works?

AH: I have way to many!!! Stencils and many other ideas… a book on the art of body painting which is a big dream of mine, I have had it since I started out in bodypainting

Q: What do you think of FABAtv?

AH: Well I think it is a great idea…. but I also believe you can never get the same effect with a teacher in person!!

As great as FABAtv is, Alex is right. You can’t beat a LIVE instructor! So be sure to tune in for his LIVE class Bones & Muscle Structure, and get a chance to ask him your questions LIVE!

Well, now you know a bit more about this talented artist. His services include and are available for editorials, television/film/video productions, photo shoots, trade shows, workshops, fashion shows, special occasions, promotions, events, and live performances.

If you want to reach Alex, he is available by email or facebook.
Email alexhansenart@gmail.com
Like him at Facebook.com/AlexHansenArt

Spiderman for Girls: Face Painting Tutorial

A few weeks ago we had a special guest come visit from Chicago. Chantal of Fanciful Faces stopped in to Silly Farm and guest starred in a YouTube tutorial for us!

Chantal will show us one of her popular festival faces, a spiderman face painting design for girls! This Spidey Girl is a quick and easy to create and girls love it! Want to paint it on a boy? Just switch the colors up! Instead of pink and purple, you can do red and blue!

For more tutorials by Chantal, check out her YouTube!

Cupcake Cutie: Face Painting Tutorial

Can’t see the video? Watch Cupcake Cutie on YouTube!

This birthday will be one they won’t forget. Face paint can go a long way in making a child’s birthday a memorable one.

2 Minute Spiderman for Young Kids | Face Painting Tutorial

By now you should know that face painting younger kids can be a challenge. My son is almost 3 years old and still wiggles and squirms when I paint him. I was able to sit him down in the Silly Farm showroom and use him for a quick tutorial on face painting little kids a quick and easy Spiderman.

  1. I started using Wolfe White and outlined the eyes. We don’t want to fill over the eyes since he is a younger child and many children are not comfortable with objects near their eyes.
  2. Next, using a filbert brush we are going to fill in the rest of the shape using FAB Makeup Rage.
  3. Pink Power Stencils are very useful for those children that don’t want to sit still! Using a sponge and black face paint, we are going to sponge on the spider using the pink power stencil.
  4. Using a Gold Grip #3 Round Brush and Wolfe Black we are going to finish the details to the mask by outlining and connecting the lines to form a spider-web look.
  5. Last, but not least, we always want to add some glitter and in this case it is the Mama Clown Glitter Black Potion.

London's SpidermanVoila! A quick two minute Spiderman face painting design for younger children!
Don’t forget to check out the rest of my face painting tutorials and head over to Silly Farm Supplies for products! Subscribe to me on YouTube for more!
Happy Painting!

Wild Style Floral Mask – Face Painting Design

Here’s a graffiti inspired floral mask design by Silly Heather. Starting this face painting design off with a Silly Farm sponge, we start the base using a Hippie Rainbow Cake. Next we take our Wildflower Fairyfly Kit and a 3/4″ Flat Brush to create the floral design. Wolfe Black is used for the graffiti effects and outlines. The brush preferred is a Gold Grip #4 Round. Glitter makes everything better, especially the Magic Magenta Glitter.

Can’t see the video? Watch “Wild Style Floral Mask” on YouTube!

Heads Up! Practice Tools Review

Do your volunteer faces keep disappearing when you take your face painting kit out? Maybe your kids now run away instead of towards you when you break out your kit. Sometimes finding a face to paint can be a challenge. Well, we’re going to change that.

Practice heads are a easy and affordable way to practice your face painting and increase your skill set without needing any volunteers or trying to get that squirming child to sit still while you paint. Silly Heather breaks down the difference between each type of practice head in this video review. She will show you proper care and cleaning methods for each practice head as well.

Mehron and ProFace are recognized names that both carry their own type of practice tools. Watch the video to learn more and choose the best practice head to suit you!

Can’t see the video? Watch “Heads Up: Face Painting Practice Tools” on YouTube!

Bonus video! Thanks to Ayanna for this video!

Silly Farm Across the Pond

Illusions MagazineLast year I had the pleasure of touring England teaching classes courtesy of the amazing Illusion Magazine. I got a chance to meet so many talented artists and many of them had the same complaint. That it was hard get Silly Farm products in the UK.

I kindly explained that if any of the lovely Essex ladies could introduce me to David Beckham and figure out a way to get him to marry me then I would gladly move Silly Farm to England, being that David and I are both married. It seemed easier to find someone with the same love and passion as I to help us expand our product reach to the UK. As faith would have it, I met the second best thing out of Essex (after David of course), Miss Nathalie Farmer.

I am entering a decade as the owner of Silly Farm, but it still feels like my baby. I read every email, I cry when I ruin someone’s order, and the thought of trusting someone across the globe to present my products with the same passion and enthusiasm seemed impossible.

The Face Painting ShopThen I met a glitter-iffic, customer service junkie, business woman ready to make it happen. Nathalie is the owner and operator of TheFacePaintingShop.com and she is your UK source for Silly Farm supplies. Nathalie approached me with a vision of providing service with a smile, service with support, and servicing those that want quality supplies. I have watched Nathalie grow her business through her personal touch and concern for her customers. Nathalie makes it a point to work directly with Silly Farm to find out about new products, investigate best shipping options to be able to keep costs low, and never forgets to say thank you. Even though its hard for me to understand every third word she says with her fancy Essex accent, I found that her passion is infectious.

I hesitated expanding Silly Farm because I feared losing the personal touch and involvement I try to give to all my customers. However, I feel confident that Nathalie will take care of painters in her region. Entrepreneurship is scary and the paint industry is not as easy as some may think. There is a lot of inventory and investment involved in starting a business, but Nathalie took the plunge. Her dedication and commitment to our industry is why I am so excited for this partnership. Please take a moment to visit my beautiful friend Nathalie, drop her a line and let her know which products you want, love, or want to see in her shop.

Thank you for supporting Silly Farm and helping us expand across the globe. Happy Painting!

Splotlight Artist: Miss Sparkles

Miss Sparkles free balloon class on FABAtvFABAtv is an online resource for learning face and body art wher you can take online classes by international artists without ever leaving your sofa. By now you’ve probably heard that the next FREE live class from FABAtv is going to be featuring Miss Sparkles Smith and her balloon buddies. You can catch this free class on March 14th, 2013 starting at 8:00pm EST over on FABAtv LIVE!

Following our format with our Spotlight Artist of the month, this month’s interview is with none other than Miss Sparkles Smith!
Let’s get started.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from?

Fun with SparklesC: My name is Corinne Smith and I live in Michigan. I grew up in the small resort town of Houghton Lake. Currently, I live in the small town of Dryden with my husband and our two sons. Dryden is about an hour north of Detroit. I grew up in an artistic home. Both my parents are very creative. I remember my Mother taking painting classes. She would paint on both canvas and china. My father enjoys sculpting, and even today, at the age of 86, his favorite medium is snow! As I look back, it amazes me at where life’s path has taken me. I am a painter like my Mother, but my canvas is the face/body! I am a sculptor like my Father, but my medium is latex balloons! 😀 Pretty cool, if you ask me!

Parker Snow Mountie Sculpture

Q: Are you an artist full time or do you have another job?

C: Besides the full-time job of being a Wife and Mother, I am also the owner of Fun With Sparkles, LLC. This is a Family Entertainment business that I began in 2006.

Q: What type of face and body art do you specialize in?

C: I have interest in many different types of Art and Entertainment! Currently, I offer Face Painting & Pre-natal Paintings. I am also a balloon artist, I apply glitter tattoos, and I enjoy performing Silly Magic and Balloon Shows. I would love to learn the art of Bubbles next! 😀

Face painting with Miss Sparkles

Q: How did you get your start in face and body art?

C: Back in 2004, I took my young son to a near-by event where there was a fantastic Face Painter there. (Who I later learned was June VanPoppelen.) My 3 yr old and I stood in line to get his face painted. I had NEVER seen Face Painting like this before! A new world of art was being opened to me! When I returned home, I immediately got onto the computer and started searching for professional face paints and how to’s. In that year, there wasn’t YouTube Tutorials, Facebook, etc…so proper instruction was not as wide spread as it is today. After I received my face paints, I began having fun with family and friends. Later, I was asked to paint at my sister-in-laws’ church function. Everyone really enjoyed the paintings, and I absolutely LOVED the joy on their faces when I showed them the mirror! I was hooked!!!

Clowning began after I needed to come up with a costume for Halloween that was kid friendly! I have always enjoyed dressing up for Halloween. A nice, green witch was always my favorite choice, but since I had young sons, I wanted to become something more friendly. So, becoming a Clown was what came to mind! I remember my Dad dressing up in Clown to walk in Parades and just to bring joy to people.  But…I didn’t want to be an ordinary clown who wears a jumpsuit and big shoes. I wanted to be a CUTE clown! So, I searched online and found an outfit that a lady had sewn and was selling on EBay. It was adorable! The price was a bit high, and so my husband said; “We are not spending that much money on a Halloween costume.” But, I was trying to tell him that I feel like it will be more than that….I couldn’t explain it, but I had this crazy urge to become a CLOWN!?? So, I went ahead and ordered it to my size, found some excellent Pink Sparkly Platform shoes, a terrifically pink nose and a wig that I found at www.SillyFarm.com!  My Dad’s Clown name was Sparkie, so that was my inspiration for my Clown name. Sparkles was born! 😀

Balloons were next on my agenda! I went to the local library and checked out some books. Learning to twist for the first time from a book was a little tricky and I was wishing that I could learn from a real human being! So, again, I turned to GOOGLE and I found out that Michigan had a TWISTERS GROUP! I couldn’t believe it! So, I went to one of their Jam sessions and the friendly people there, helped get me plugged in to where I could take classes and such!

Q: What’s the most enjoyable part of what you do?

C: The absolute, most enjoyable part of what I do is bringing joy to others, making them feel special, and creating Fun Memories for them!  Another enjoyable part is being able to share it with my family! I have clowned with not only my Dad, but my son became interested in clowning and balloon twisting at the age of 9! We kept his Clown name in the family and named him SPARKS! Sparkles and Sparks the Clowns have entertained together at a New Year’s Eve event at a large Hotel in Sterling Heights, MI for the past 3 years in a row! My stepson has dressed as the Easter Bunny at events, my husband has played Santa, and one of my sisters has even helped with Glitter Tattoos! Fun Times!

Face Painting by Miss SparklesDia Los Muertos Face PaintingRoses Face Painting by Miss Sparkles

Q: Do you attend any conventions?

C: I have always wanted to go to a large convention like FABAIC, but with having a young family, and living very far away from the locations of these conventions, it just never worked out. However, I have attended other local conventions that have been hosted in Michigan or Ohio. The first one was in Ohio, and my Dad offered to travel with me! It was a fun time together! Perhaps one day I will make it to FABAIC!

Q: What would you like to do more of, art or otherwise?

C: The more families that I can bring joy and happiness to – is what I’d like to do more of.

Q: Outside of art, what do you do for fun?

C: I enjoy spending time with my family, photography, singing, scrapbooking, and relaxing at home.

Q: Do you have any pet peeves?

C: One of my biggest pet peeves is when I cannot find something that I am looking for. It is especially annoying when I am trying to collect my things to take to a job! Lol

Q: Where do you see yourself in a couple years?

C: I see myself and Fun With Sparkles, LLC only growing in the next couple years! Currently, I have nine, eager people whom I am training to do what I do – in order to meet the demand. I already have been asked to teach classes on FABAtv and the Midwest Clown Convention this fall. Who knows what the future holds for me, but I am excited to see! 😀

Q: Do you have any projects going on or in the works?

C: Since 2011 – 2012, Fun With Sparkles, LLC business has doubled, so I am currently training up other artists to be able to expand our services. Last year, I had to turn away many customers because I was booked and could not fit them in. Now, I am becoming prepared to send out other artists that I have trained! I have a great bunch of people working with me, from age 11 and up! It is a blessing to see the excitement of the kids, teens, and adults embrace the art of bringing joy to others! I am also looking into producing some PDF file type instructions to share with the Balloon Community. I have subbed for other artists at Restaurants for the past 4 years. I would really like to gain my own Restaurant that I could entertain at on a regular basis. This is a goal of mine in 2013.

Q: What do you think of FABAtv?

C: I think FABAtv is the best ever! Especially, since I have not been able to attend a Large Convention! I can watch the classes whenever I want and as many times as I want. Even attending the conventions I have been to, my memory starts to fail me, and my notes become unclear as time passes. With FABAtv, the class is always there to watch over and over! It has really helped me become a better artist, plus the LIVE classes are a fun way to join together with other artists around the world while you learn!


You can contact Miss Sparkles online via her Facebook/funwithsparkles or on Twitter/funwithsparkles as well.
You may alternatively email her at Sparkles@FunWithSparkles.com.

Free Balloon Class on FABAtv LIVE

Miss Sparkles free balloon class on FABAtv
FABAtv is ‘Face and Body Art Television’. An online video classroom that allows you to learn side-by-side industry professionals all from the comfort of your own home! Don’t have the time at home? Kick it up on the go and watch your favorite instructors from your smart phone or tablet! FABAtv has classes from artists all around the world, covering face painting, body art, airbrushing, balloons, makeup, magic and more! What are you waiting for? Go check out what you’ve been missing on FABAtv.com!

FABAtv hosts a FREE class online every month. The artist for March’s LIVE class is Miss Sparkles Smith! Not only is Miss Sparkles a balloon artist, she is a face painter as well! Balloons are just part of the extra services she can offer her clients, and they are always a hit with kids! Don’t miss this free class on March 14th starting at 8pm est! On Monday we’ll post an exclusive interview with Miss Sparkles and get to know her, but until then have a great weekend!

Supporting Your Industry

Christmas OrnamentsThis Christmas was the most laid back Christmas in my 30 years on this planet. I don’t think I entered a department store or waited in a line. My mother kept asking me if I wanted to go shipping with her and I kept telling her I was done and all the presents were wrapped. This year I did 100% of my shopping online. While some people like my mom think I am nuts, I believe that you have to support your industry. As the owner of an online store, I feel that by shopping online I do my part to support my industry. Not only do I invest in online retailers, I use the experience as a chance to do research, gather ideas, and learn ways to improve our Silly Farm store.

I ordered a set of baby shower invitations from a site called SimplyBabyStuff.com. The transaction of personalized invitations was simple, easy and I loved the overall look of the site. But that wasn’t the best part. The invitations arrived quickly and were gorgeous, but that isn’t the best part either! The best part was one week after the baby shower I received a hand written note that said, “Heather, we hope the baby shower was a success and that everyone enjoyed themselves. If you ever need our services again please don’t hesitate to give me a call or email, always happy to help. Have a great day and thank you for shopping with Simply Baby Stuff.”

I was blown away. I consider myself a customer service junkie and I was so impressed with my card. Sometimes the service after the sale is what counts the most.

Thank you cardSomething as simple as a thank you card, left the best feeling in my mind and I will forever use simplybabystuff.com. Granted, I could have walked into a card shop and received great service, but I didn’t. I learned a very valuable lesson from shopping online. I learned through my experience that just because there was not a personal exchange of goods, that doesn’t mean you can’t make the sale personal. I have incorporated their style into my own business practices. Every month I send several handwritten notes to our customers just saying thank you and reminding them I am here if they need me. I use every opportunity to learn and improve.

I encourage each of you support your industry. I am a crazy birthday person. I love birthdays, or any reason to celebrate for that matter. Each year I plan a super-duper birthday extravaganza for my son. I feel an obligation to give him the best parties because of the field I am in. Because I have been in the “biz” for so long I have a lot of friends that would gladly offer their face painting services for free for my sons party, but I will not let it happen. I am not rich and I didn’t win the lotto, but I like supporting our artists and I don’t mind hiring them. I think it’s good to support our industry and give artists work. When I book them for my party I don’t book them under my name. I use an alias so they don’t feel guilty. I prepay them so I know they can’t be mad after the fact, but I do this so that I get to experience being on the other end of the service industry. I watch and observe, will they show up on time? Will they stay later if they don’t finish every kid? Do they eat on the job? Do they bring their own table and chair? Many of the people I hire are friends and I already know how they operate, but it’s nice to see them in action when they don’t know the client.

By supporting artists, internet shopping, and supporting industry events I feel that I am giving back to the people that have given so much to me. Even if Amazon never places an order with Silly Farm, I believe that the universe creates a cycle of giving & receiving and I get included because I did my little piece.

My handsome husband is the Pastor of the Greater St. Mark AME Church and after every service during the benediction he reminds us that when you give in abundance you are setting yourself up to receive a harvest. You can’t expect that business will bloom without investing in both your business and your industry. I encourage everyone to make it a habit to support one facet of your life each day. Whether its posting a friendly compliment to a fellow painter on Facebook, volunteering for a cause, or supporting small businesses.

Mind ToolI will conclude with this little word of advice. Your mind is the most powerful tool in the world. When you manifest your beliefs they can become reality if you invest enough energy into them. Make giving your motto, make support a daily piece of your vocabulary and you will be surprised at how many doors open.

Happy painting!

Candy Land: Free Bodypaint Class with Marcio Karam

FABAtv LIVE Feb 13th with Marcio Karam

FABAtv.com is your online resource to watch unlimited face and body art classes in crystal clear HD. Learn from the masters of makeup, special effects, body art and more right from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a high speed internet connection!

Soccer Body Paint by Marcio KaramFABAtv also hosts a free & LIVE class every month. Tune in on February 13th at 8:00pm est for this months LIVE class! This live class will be featuring master body painter, Marcio Karam! A painter for over 13 years, Marcio has painted cars, boats, bikes, murals and more. Skin is not his only canvas! Check out his work to the side and below. Visit his website at MKArts.com for more works of art or to contact Marcio.
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“My favorite part of body painting is making my art seem real, and having viewers question if it is actual paint!” -Marcio Karam

Avatar Body paint by Marcio KaramBody paint by Marcio KaramBody paint by Marcio Karam

So tune in to this free class and support your industry! This live class is available to watch for free through the FABAtv website on February 13th starting at 8:00pm EST!

[button type=”ambitious_button” url=”http://www.fabatv.com/page/live” target=”on” ]Watch it LIVE![/button]

Passionate Pickn’s

Margi Kanter - Nose Artimation face paintingI have met many talented artists throughout the years. Most of them have been introduced to me by my aunt and mentor, Marcela “Mama Clown”. Anytime we were traveling through the Midwest she would always say, “Let me call my friend Margi”, but it wasn’t until the FABAIC that I truly got to see first hand how special the infamous “Margi” truly was.

Margi Kanter is the author of the Pick Your Nose book series. The third installment of her wild face and body art Nose Artimation books has been release recently, so I was inspired to write about her and her accomplishments. You can pick up the newest addition to the Pick Your Nose books over at Silly Farm Supplies.
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Pick Your Nose V3 Under the Sea

If I had to pick one word to describe Margi it would be AMAZING! Margi is a mother, an artist, a friend, a yogi, a teacher, a businesswoman, an author, and most of all she is a positive force that turns the wheel of face and body art inspiration. Margi introduced the world to her unique style of face painting called Nose Artimation and face painting hasn’t been the same ever since. Margi took the skills her late fiancé and talented caricature artist, David Levi, helped her fine tune and along with her background in art she put her own quirky spin on your everyday designs.

That combination of fun, love, and animation helped motivate Margi to create a line of books and a series of workshops that she has premiered across the globe. I had the extreme pleasure of teaching alongside Margi in Holland and at several FABAIC conventions. I have watched her grow her style with so much passion that I HAD to figure out a way to help her publish her books. Margi is one of the most giving and gifted instructors I have ever worked with. I have watched her breakdown concepts, share ideas, and give selflessly to her students. Margi’s attitude plays a HUGE role in her success.

[button type=”ambitious_button” url=”http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=5433&parent=398″ target=”on” ]Get Volume 3![/button]

Margi Kanter

Margi Kanter Belly PaintingWhen I initially approached Margi about helping me birth FABAtv(Face and Body Art Television), she jumped on the first plane and made it a priority. When I asked instructors to help with our Paint-a-Thon, again she jumped up to help. When someone asks a questions or needs a little push in the right direction, Margi is there to lend a helping hand. All of these qualities have helped her achieve her dream and will be the reason she will forever be a success and always in our hearts.

I hope that those of you reading this blog will gain some inspiration from Margi. Besides being a best selling author, Margi is also a phenomenal business woman and is not afraid to go after her dream and turn it into a reality. I hope that those following the FABA Blog gain some inspiration from Margi and follow your passion. Margi has gone through many ups and downs to get to this point, and yet her passion, positivity, and perseverance is the reason she is a star.

Please support Margi and her new book, drop her a note on her Facebook and if you ever need a crazy, wild, fun loving burst of energy give her a call. I have a feeling she will change your mood and put you in a pick’n good mood.

Take a class with Margi Kanter on FABAtv

Test Drive: Glitter Powders

Face and Body Art Television - FabaTVFABAtv is face and body art television, a leader in the education of this fine art. Using state of the art technology, FABAtv is able to bring you classes in stunning High Definition videos straight to your smart phone, tablet, or other web-enabled device.

Where else is learning at your finger tips with hundreds of HD video classes from international makeup artists, face & body painters, airbrush artists and more!

Up until February 6th FABAtv is letting you watch ‘Magic of Glitter Powders’ absolutely free! Head over to their facebook page to find out how.


Test Drive FABAtv

Colorful Snow Leopard : Video Tutorial

Colorful Snow Leopard This fantastic feline design is quick and easy to pull off! Watch the video below for my tutorial on this leopard face painting. So what are you waiting for? Grab your Rainbow Cakes, a Bam stencil, and you’re already half way finished! This design is perfect for little girls, and just change the color scheme up and it fits boys was well!

Products Used

  • Moondance Rainbow CakeRainbow cakes are multi-colored containers of paint manufactured by Silly Farm. I started this feline face painting with one of the newer Silly Farm rainbow cakes, Moondance.

  • Pre-Cut Paradise Sponges These pre-cut paradise sponges are made out of high-density foam and are great for applying your arty brush cake or rainbow cake. Sponges are great to pair with stencils as well!

  • Gold Grip #4 Round Brush - at Silly Farm Supplies The Gold Grip brushes are a standard in face painting. These brushes are an excellent investment as the bristles last long and do not wear out as quick as other brands. This Gold Grip #4 Round is one of my favorite brushes.

  • Bad Ass Mini Stencil (BAMS) 1008 Cracks - at Silly Farm Supplies Bad Ass Mini Stencils are amazing stencils for face & body art, created by Andrea O’Donnell of Skincognito Makeup Art Studio & Supply. You can use these stencils for face painting or body art using a sponge, brush, or airbrush. The one I used is BAM 1008.

  • Wolfe Face Art & FX Aquacolor White - face paint at Silly FarmWolfe FX is a staple in the FABA industry. If you haven’t heard of this brand of face paint, I suggest you try some as soon as you can get your hands on it. Wolfe white & black is highly regarded as the best white & black for face painting.

  • Mama Clown White Fairy Dust Glitter Mama Clown’s world famous cosmetic glitter. This polyester glitter is safe for all your face & body art projects. White Fairy Dust just happens to be one of our best sellers.

Caitlin’s Face Painters Hardware Prep List

Face Painters Hardware ChecklistWhat good is a face painter that’s not prepared? Of course your face painting supplies (such as paints, brushes, and glitter) are already something you may have already considered and purchased, but what about hardware and non painting items? Are you prepared for the unexpected at your next gig? Caitlin from Cait’s Paints has been kind enough to put together a hardware checklist that every painter might find themselves needing.
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  • Are you ready to be the superhero at your next event? The mighty band aid has been known to save lives and come in a variety of styles making it easy to be fashionable as well.
  • Hammer time! Do you bring any hardware tools, such as a hammer or screwdriver? You never know when you will need to turn into MacGyver in a hurry!

Head on over to Artist Alley to see the rest of the face painters checklist in it’s entirety! Thank you Caitlin!

[button type=”button_solid_dark nocufon” url=”http://www.caitspaints-artistalley.com/?p=157″ target=”” ]Get the FULL Checklist![/button]

Sticker Stencils for Face Painting

lea-reverse-star-stencilThe Tattooed Lady is back with some helpful tips & tricks for your next face painting gig! Have you ever arrived to an event only to realize you forgot your face painting stencils? Check out Léa’s unique fix for this dilemma.

Fortunately for Léa, missing her star shaped stencil wasn’t the end of the world. Realizing she had star shaped stickers, she improvised and was able to discover a new use out of those otherwise ordinary stickers.

Applying the sticker to the area where the stencil would have gone, Léa was able to create a negative star design using her new sticker stencil! A negative design is one without paint and where only skin is making up the area of the design.

Incorporating this newly found face painting skill, Léa has put together a tutorial on her reverse stencil technique! Head on over to The Tattooed Lady’s blog to watch the full tutorial and expand your face painting tricks!

[button type=”ambitious_button” url=”http://www.thetattooedlady.ca/blog/reverse-stencil-face-painting-with-stickers” target=”” ]Read more & Watch the Tutorial[/button]

Double Spotlight: Léa Selley & Wiser

As some of you are aware by now, the next free & LIVE class by FABAtv.com is on January 15th, 2013 with face & body artist Léa Selley! Léa will be teaching graffiti eye makeup for her live class, as well as filming several more studio classes for future release.

Lea Selley on FABAtv LIVE

Joining Léa on her trip and to film some classes in studio himself is none other than the talented graffiti artist turned body painter, Wiser Oner!

Knowing full well that thousands of painters will be absorbing everything they wrote, Léa and Wiser were both excited to answer our questions and share their lives with the face & body artists that come to the FABA Blog. Continue reading below for the double spotlight interview.

Léa’s answers are on the left.
Lea Selley - Jan
Wiser’s answers are on the right.
Wiser Oner face painting an older lady

Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from?

(Léa) Grew up on a unique landscape in Richmond, BC on a small farm close to a fishing village where the mighty Fraser River meets the Pacific Ocean. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow and learn to develop a close relationship with the natural world. I grew up in a very artistic environment speaking both English and French, endless music lessons ongoing in the house and long days of drawing.

(Wiser) Originally from Denver, Colorado! Now residing in Calgary, Alberta in Canada! :)

Are you an artist full time or do you have another job?

(Léa)I have been working as an artist full time since 2011. Before that I successfully ran my own website development company since 2002. It has been very rewarding to flip the focus from working for clients and telling the whole internet world how great and exciting their products were, and shine the light on my artwork and my passion. I find being self employed as an artist or a web developer has been the same road in terms of running a business, however, it has been SO much more rewarding since following my passion and creating artwork for a living!

(Wiser) Ive been a full time freelance artist since 2006 when I co-founded a Denver based custom graffiti art company called Your Name In Graffiti™. I painted everything from giant walls to sneakers, t-shirts, hats, and basically anything I could stick paint to. :) I had been doing graffiti since I was 15 and was one of the lucky few in my city ambitious enough to be able to progress into doing it professionally.

What type of face and body art do you specialize in?

(Léa)After some unique experience working as a carnie for a couple of years, where I would sometimes face paint over a hundred people a day, I discovered some magical secrets to get kids to sit still and surrender to the face painting experience. This ‘magic’ talent makes parents gasp and grab their cameras in the lineup, because for many it seems like it is the first time they have seen their kids sit still with their eyes closed and a smile on their little lips… calm, still little angel faces, turned up towards me. I can feel the moment when I capture and calm the rambunctious, sugar rushed, or hyper-sensitive children with my painting spell, and that is the moment I know it is on. They are guaranteed to walk away with one of my best pieces of artwork, securing them much love, attention and eye contact all day long.

(Wiser) When I first started instructing I was mainly specializing in Graffiti wildstyle lettering and speed painting (for success at events like Sturgis and Fantasy Fest), but over the last few years I’ve fallen in love with fine art style painting and outside teaching I have found myself doing lots of conceptual fine art pieces meant for photography. But I always throw a graffiti flava into everything I do!! :) More recently I have also been creating some face painting designs too which is so fun!

How did you get your start(in face and body art)?

(Léa)I bought a kit of snazaroo face paint from ebay because I thought it would be fun to paint the kids for my daughters B-Day party since she was born on Halloween. When parents started picking up their kids from the party to go trick or treating people were straight up flipping out! On the long walk that night I was told over and over I should start a business and offer face painting. In my experience people don’t just flip out for no reason, so I took at good look at the road sign on my path and decided the next day that I would be The Tattooed Lady – Face Painter!

(Wiser) After a chance meeting at a street fair in Denver (he had a face painting booth a few spaces down from my graffiti hat booth) I made friends with a man we all know and love, Mark Reid. He thought my graffiti was killer and he invited me to a Body Art Ball event to see him paint! After that I knew I had to try it! I had painted graffiti on many things but never a person, and to me it felt like a match made in heaven! Mark told me what kind of paint and brushes to get. I bought my first kit and never looked back!! I loved it so much I did it for FUN!! Still do… :)

What’s the most enjoyable part of what you do?

(Léa)Being able to ‘break the rules’, and with a little makeup I help other people feel like they are breaking the rules too! It really is amazing how many people live within the invisible confines and norms of society – it is way more fun to be able to put away the Maybelline and pull out the face paint and shock some folks! I have never ‘won’ anything, but every time I put my artwork out there, I am the crowd favorite, and there is nothing like a standing ovation! I really enjoy surprising people with what I can paint in a short amount of time on such a little canvas. I know that each time I paint a masterpiece on someone’s face, they are going to get epic amounts of attention and eye contact that day, which is just what the Dr. ordered for many people who need that special boost!

(Wiser) Connecting, sharing, and interacting with so many creative souls all over the world are some of the most rewarding things about my experience as an artist. I am very blessed to meet so many amazing friends! :)

Do you attend any conventions, like the FABAIC?

(Léa)I have not attended FABAIC…yet, but I have been to the Canadian face and body art convention ‘Bodyssey‘ and the infamous NABPC and FPBA when they were in Las Vegas. Attending classes, watching other artists paint and making new friends and contacts in the industry has been an invaluable learning experience. Education is always a great idea!

(Wiser) My very first convention as well as my very first time instructing was at FABAIC in 2009!! It was a life changing proving ground which led me to instructing at conventions and workshops all over the globe! I love La Fete in New Orleans too! I love juggling fire with Magic Mike and hitting up Bourbon St. with Craig Tracy, but FABAIC remains my favorite because nothing can compare to the creative energy that gets flowing when a few hundred creative minds are slingin paint and having a good time at one of the jams! It’s a very inspiring! :)

What would you like to do more of, art or otherwise?

(Léa)I would like to travel more, and I think I am on a constant quest for it. I majored in geography in university and worked as a Cartographer for a number of years. Making maps and studying people patterns on the landscape, although intellectually thrilling, I felt limited in my life experience. Working behind a computer, making maps and analyzing demographic data didn’t allow for the wild card that I’ve always really wanted of experiencing all these different places in the world! Switching focus to web development left me with the same feeling. I was just making a different kind of map, and still making it for other people. I’ve now decided I am going to make own map and use it! I am ready, and off to find an adventure with a healthy level of certainty that face painting will be pivotal part of my story!

(Wiser) I really would like to learn more about and mess around with molding and casting prosthetic pieces! After seeing what amazing thing are possible from artists like Yolanda Bartram of Body FX and Alex Hansen I am left intrigued and very curious in this realm of body art. :)

Outside of art, what do you do for fun?

(Léa)For fun I like to hang out with my daughters. They are growing up fast and they keep me young!

(Wiser) Going to the movies has always been one of my favorite things to do! I’m also always down for a good hip hop show!

Do you have any pet peeves?

(Léa)Yes. popping bubble wrap… ahhh! I actually have to take a deep breath when thinking about it lol! It drives me totally crazy. It never lasts long because eventually they will run out of bubbles to pop… but I usually end up leaving the room before that happens!
(Editor’s note: My stress reliever is popping bubble wrap. We’re on opposite ends of the spectrum here. *hides bubble wrap*)

(Wiser) My apartment complex doesn’t allow pets! 😉

Where do you see yourself in a couple years?

(Léa)Right here – on the internet, sharing, teaching, learning, traveling, painting, inspiring, loving, laughing…

(Wiser) Definitely still learning, progressing and creating! I consider myself a lifelong student and feel like I’m never done learning. Being an expert at one thing doesn’t matter when you’re an amateur at another, so I’m always looking for ways to expand my knowledge and creativity!

Do you have any projects going on or in the works?

(Léa)Yes, Absolutely! I just started a YouTube channel(TheTattooedLadyCA) with fast, upbeat tutorials to help inspire your face painting routine! It is my time to give back and honor the teachers that mentored me, and I want to share the techniques that I have learned on my entertainment path. I also want to connect with my country as a whole and I just started releasing content in Canada’s other official language, French! I have found in my regular face painting job that loads of kids speak French out here in Calgary, and it is so important for kids to be able to interact in everyday life using both languages as their skills are developing. So I find myself intrigued to integrate more French language content into my projects, and see what direction that takes me in!

(Wiser) Very exited to be making my first ever workshop tour in Australia and New Zealand! I’m looking forward to that A LOT! And also conceptualizing some new pieces to paint at Gallery ML in early April 2013. It’s one of my favorite places to paint!! :)

What do you think of FABAtv?

(Léa)I think it is great! The live component gives all us skin painters a chance to get together and hang out and interact and learn together as a community for free! I bought a membership pretty much as soon as FABAtv was launched. The taped show are great for ideas and nothing compares to watching someone who knows what they are doing! If a picture is worth a thousand words then videos are priceless when it comes to evaluating them as an educational material. I also use FABAtv as company sometimes. Many of the teachers on the show I consider friends. I have painted alongside them at conventions, competitions, and I have worked with others professionally.

(Wiser) Love it! Its definitely where you can learn from all the best in the face and body industry! Essential!

Art by Léa in this column.

Lea Painting

Belly Painting by Lea Selley

Body painting by Lea Selley

Amp Energy bodypaint by Lea Selley

Body paint twin - Lea Selley

Body paint twin - Lea Selley

Face Painting - Lea Selley in Action

Face painting - Lea Selley in action

Fancy Season Butterfly by Lea Selley

Lea Selley

Lea Selley at Sturgis Bike Rally

Lea Selley - Self portrait

Lea Selley painting Jay Bautista

painting-action

Sturgis Bike Rally bodypaint by Lea Selley

Art by Wiser in this column.

Graffiti bodypaint by Wiser

Blue graffiti bodypaint by Wiser

Magical Cards bodypaint by Wiser with Michael Dardant

Card rose bodypaint by Wiser

Mutant Graffiti bodypaint by Wiser

Green Head Graffiti by Wiser

Head Graffiti art by Wiser

Hummingbird bodypaint by Wiser

Wall Graffiti by Wiser

White Graffiti bodypaint by Wiser

Tree frogs bodypaint by Wiser

Steampunk Skull bodypaint by Wiser

bodypainted wood clock by Wiser

Puff the Lil Dragon – Face Painting Design

Puff the Lil Dragon Video Tutorial
In this quick tutorial I show you my girly spin on the popular dragon design. No longer are dragons just for boys! Girls can have fun with this design too! It’s also parent friendly and super fast when using an Arty Brush Cake and the ‘Flower Brush’. The ‘flower brush’ is our Silly Farm Signature Large Point brush, and it will help you create the fastest, easiest flowers ever!

I used the following products in this face painting tutorial.

Win a free Silly Farm Brush Set or FABAtv Subscription!

Silly Farm Face Painting Design Contest

There’s a million different contests and surveys going on around the world wide web as we speak, but only one contest will matter to YOU. Here’s your chance to win a free Silly Farm Signature Brush Set or a free month subscription to FABAtv with the latest Silly Farm contest.

Silly Farm Supplies is hosting a photo contest on their facebook page, and it’s easy to be a part of it! Grab your paints and get ready, because submissions to this contest are now open!

Submitting a Contest Entry

  1. Paint up your best tiger face painting design with all the bells and whistles you can muster.
  2. Snap a clean, in-focus picture of the completed design.
  3. Submit the photo of your design as an official entry to the contest.
    (Multiple submissions are allowed, but entries are limited to one per day.)
  4. The official contest page can be found here on the Silly Farm Facebook. This contest is fan-focused and voting runs from January 15th through the 21st. Winners will be announced after the 21st of January and will be contacted by email.

    Enjoy the contest! Leave a comment below and tell us what you would like to see as a future contest or prize.

FREE Class on Graffiti Eyes with Léa Selley

Lea Selley on FABAtv LIVE
Lea Selley - JanFABAtv.com is an online face & body art classroom at the palm of your hands. A first in the industry, FABAtv brings one-on-one classroom oriented teaching right to the comfort of your own home. All you need is a high-speed internet connection and a web-enabled device, and you have hundreds of classes on face painting, body painting, airbrush art, and more at your fingertips!

FABAtv premieres a FREE & LIVE class every month. Starting off 2013 with a bang, this month’s LIVE artist is Canadian face painting sensation Léa Selley! You might of seen some of her YouTube videos under her alias, The Tattooed Lady. Below is a sample tutorial of what Léa will be teaching in this upcoming class. Tune in to FABAtv LIVE at 8pm EST on Tuesday, January 15th and catch Graffiti Eyes with Léa Selley, only on FABAtv.com.

You can find Léa Selley on Facebook, or contact her through her website, www.thetattooedlady.ca. Read more about Léa and her class on The Tattooed Lady’s blog.

Graffiti Eye Tutorial

*This is not the LIVE class*

Like the tutorial? Buy the Graffiti Spatter Stencil from Léa and save time face painting!

Silly Farm Partners with European Distributor

A South Florida based company, Silly Farm Supplies is an international retailer and supplier of face & body art products & equipment. Known for their revolutionary Arty Brush Cakes, Rainbow Cakes and other multi-colored combination cakes. Silly Farm is now proud to be able to offer their exclusive products from our European partner & distributor.

Silly Farm products in Holland

Da Grime and Silly Farm have teamed up to bring exclusive Silly Farm brand products to Europe without you having to pay an arm and a leg for shipping overseas. European customers can now find Silly Farm Exclusives through the dagrime.nl web store.

Products now available in Europe

Da Grime Phyiscal Store

Da Grime Physical Store

Da Grime Physical Store

We hope that with our new partnership we will be able to continuously serve you with our ever growing product selection, friendly service, great prices, and fast shipping.

Letter from the CEO

Hello friends,

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude and overwhelming appreciation for painters worldwide. 2012 has been a whirlwind year. It has been filled with many highs, lows, new beginnings and endings, but through it all our Silly Farm supporters have been the guiding light. So, for that I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Silly Heather Face PaintingI hate the word CEO. I still blush when my staff calls me their boss in public, and I still feel like the excited college grad ready to take on the world of face paint. Its been 10 years since I took hold of that title and 2012 was the first year I felt comfortable adding CEO to my name.

I am writing this letter to say thank you, but also remind each of you to be proud of what you have accomplished this year. How can we expect anyone to value what we do, when we don’t put enough praise and effort into accepting our accomplishments? If you ventured into the world of entrepreneurship and started your business, or made the investment in FABAtv, the FABAIC, or purchased some new equipment… take a moment to be proud. You could have jumped ship when things got hairy or you could have put it off another year, but you didn’t. You are responsible for helping our industry grow, for helping Silly Farm and FABAtv expand, offer more benefits to our employees, and hopefully our products & services have helped you bring more income home.

The world of face painting is built on creative spirits and a love for people. After all you can not want or continue to face paint if you aren’t someone that likes people. Your energy has established face and body art as a real art form, a legitimate business and has birthed thousands of entrepreneurs. I am proud and grateful for the part I have played in it.

My wish for you and your business for 2013 is that you don’t give up, that you set goals, meet them and exceed them. I made a promise to myself to make 2013 more about giving, receiving, and taking time to be proud. When we realize how far we have come, it’s a motivator for how far we can go.
Thank you again for helping me make my dreams come true with FABAtv, to all the painters that have done stellar work for My FAB Events and helped us gain national accounts; to my FABA Blog team and subscribers, to the supporters of Silly Farm and to all of the amazing painters that invest in their careers and attend the FABAIC.

Your support has helped us in more ways than you can imagine. It gives me great pride to offer my staff benefits, to be able to have an outlet to fundraise over $70,000 for our dear friend Brian Wolfe, to have the means to create free face painting youtubes that help painters worldwide, to have great friends across the pond like Illusion Magazine and Superstar, and for allowing me the opportunity to meet such great painters and give lessons, to be involved in an industry that shares, creates and in one big family. I consider each of you a friend and my door and ears are always open to you. I want to know if I can do better, how I can help you reach your goals, and how we can meet your needs. I built this company on customer service and you have my promise that we will work hard every day to be your one stop, full service, friendly, family-oriented company with the products you love, want and need.

Please keep my personal email, heather@sillyfarm, use it when you need it and if you are ever near our store please accept my personal invite to come and see us, take a picture and join the family. There would be no us, without you.

I wish everyone a Happy and safe New Year! We will be back in full swing next year! See you in 2013!

Heather xoxoxox

Silly Farm Customers & Family

The Pro’s and Con’s of Teaching Body Art

Pros & Cons of Teaching Body ArtAre you getting requests to teach face painting or another form of body art? Are you wondering where you want to take your face painting career and if teaching is your next step?

It’s a great question to ask yourself and put some thought into. Teaching is rewarding, it also requires a level of selflessness, confidence, and organization.

Face Painting Class in Holland

The pros of teaching face painting are that you will share your passion with other painters and hopefully inspire them to transform their love of art into a business. You will no doubt become a better painter, because you will be forced to practice, refine your designs, and constantly be creative. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to teach a class, watch my students exceed my expectations, and leave energized.
Student at Holland Workshop

Heather Teaching in Holland Face Painting Practice Heads

However, there is a downside to teaching. Many of my workshops are 6+ hours. They require a level of dedication, planning, and energy to motivate your students. You also have to be willing to take criticism of the students that are unhappy or be patient enough to handle the students that require a little more help.

When you become a teacher you also have to factor in that you will potentially inspire someone else to try their hand at teaching. Are you willing to share your designs and teaching abilities with others that will use the information for their own personal gain? Will you be okay if one of your students gets booked for a gig you used to do?

The most important question to ask is: How will teaching benefit me?

Traveling to teach can be exciting. I am grateful I have been able to see half the world because of my teaching engagements. I get to travel to different countries, meet artists, try new foods, and advertise my companies. International teaching opportunities are worthwhile for me because I have product to sell after the class. If your money making opportunities stop at the end of the class, you might want to re-consider if teaching is for you. Every chance I have to teach is a new potential market opening doors for me to sell, increase my distribution, and expand my network, but for every day I am away from my desk I am also losing time and opportunities. So I weigh the pros and cons prior to planning classes.

Group Picture at Holland Workshop


My first class I was asked to teach was in Orlando for a clown convention. They did not have a large budget. They could only offer me $100 for gas, tolls, and my class. At that point I was just starting Silly Farm so I didn’t have travel inventory, a system in place to sell on the spot, or a website to direct students to. I jumped at the chance because I was excited and honored, but after I spent $75 on gas and tolls, $100 for a hotel, 8 hours of driving time, and 6 hours of teaching, I ended on a down note. It was a fun experience and helped me get my feet wet. From a business stand point it was not a good investment because I had no means to extend my money making opportunity.

If the local PTA, theater department, clown alley, or any other group want you to teach, start by making a list of opportunities and possibilities.

Ask yourself these short questions.

  1. What am I trying to accomplish from teaching?
  2. Will I cover all my expenses and have anything left?
  3. What investment in supplies, advertising, or travel will i need to make ?
  4. Am I okay if some of my students become teachers?
  5. Am I comfortable in front of a crowd for long periods of time?
  6. What would I like to see happen after the class?

Silly Farm Supplies - Everything Face and Body ArtIf you have a passion for teaching, consider finding additional means of profiting from your class. Do you have your own products to sell? Are you part of a company’s program that allows you to earn commission from selling their products, such as Silly Farm’s Incentive Program? Do you have a company you can work with to sponsor the class?

The difference between a career and a hobby, is that your career should be making money. If you want to take your business to the next level you have to get in the business frame of mind. Place a value on your time, services, and talents. When you sell your services remember the fee for your services should net you at least 10% more than the other opportunities you are turning down.

I love to see face painters blossom into strong entrepreneurs. Sometimes a little guidance and out of the box thinking is all it takes. I wish you a prosperous and success filled 2013!

Happy painting my friends, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!!

Top 20 Must-Haves for Face Painters

As I travel the world I get to meet the best of the best tackle tarts. Tackle tarts are paint hoarders that must have and buy everything related to face painting. I love tackle tarts because they keep Silly Farm in business, however I hate to see things go to waste. Some of you have so much paint that you couldn’t use it in two lifetimes. Then I meet painters that have a hodge podge of this and that, and they are still trying to find the perfect kit and set up.

The perfect kit does not exist, nor does the perfect brand. You will have to kiss a few paint frogs in order to find the products that transform your art into a Picasso or you can read my list of 20 Must haves for painters and hopefully I can save you money and time kissing those frogs!

  • 20) A mesh laundry bag to hold sponges.
    Sponges are lightweight, fly away and are easily lost. I store my sponges in a laundry bag so they don’t fly away and it makes it simple to wash them after a gig.
  • 19) Baby Wipes and not the cheapy ones either!
    When buying baby wipes try to make sure they don’t have a lot of fragrance or are rough on the skin. That way you protect your paints and don’t leave fibers in them. You can also clean the children or your hands without smelling like a baby booty.
  • 18) Business Cards on your table!
    If your goal is to generate more business and solicit new clients, don’t make them do the work. Have your cards and your contact info readily available so they can find you, book you and PAY you.
  • 17) An Acrylic Mirror.Large Acrylic Mirror
    A GOOD mirror too! Would you buy an invisible Mercedes? Probably not, so why would you paint a masterpiece and not be able to show it off? Look for an acrylic mirror at least the size of a sheet of paper. You want your clients to look in the mirror and go WOW, not scramble for a lip gloss mirror at the bottom of their mom’s purse. The reason I mention an acrylic mirror is to avoid 7 years of bad luck as acrylic mirrors are less fragile and clean easier.
  • 16) Bandaids.
    I have saved the lives of paper cut wounded children and was praised as a hero just because I carry bandaids with me. You would be surprised how far a bandaid can go and how you can save the party.
  • 15) A Gallon of Water.
    In order to keep my set up looking clean and keep parents happy with my hygiene practices, I dump my dirty water quite often. To avoid running to the sink every time I need a fresh cup, I carry a gallon of water with me to ensure enough clean water for the entire length of my gig. Clean is the new cool!
  • 14) A Table and Chair.
    It wasn’t until I stepped into the role of party mom that I realized how crazy you are when you are hosting a birthday party for your kid. You want everything to be perfect and you want the least amount of problems thrown your way. When I hire a professional and pay professional rates I expect them to come ready to go, and I expect that they have a table and chair to do their job. A table and chair is part of the required materials in order to complete their duties. The last thing I want to do when I am hosting a party is stop greeting my guests to find a table for the face painter. Being prepared is essential and gives you a professional look.
  • 13) Table Cloth.
    If you want to charge like a professional you need to look like one. I carry my face painting kit, my purse, my gallon of water and other stuff to my job. When I set up I store everything under my table and cover it all up with a nice glittery table cloth. My clients like it because I look professional and I love it because it hides all the things I don’t want kids to touch or mess with.
  • 12) A Smile.
    A smile is the only curve that sets everything straight. Remember, we sell smiles. If you yourself aren’t wearing one, how do you expect your clients to feel? Put your bad day aside when you are on the job and remember to smile because its contagious!
  • 11) Water Bottle, Snacks, and Gum.
    Especially for those long gigs! I have painted at events for 6+ hours and thank goodness I always pack a little something to nibble on and drink during the event. While it feels inhumane to paint on your feet for 6+ hours, sometimes we get carried away. Having a little snack in your pocket can make a huge difference. I try to keep granola bars or raisins in my pocket to help me along the way and keep myself energized. I also bring some water for me to drink on the job so that I don’t have to rely on the host of the party to offer me a drink. Especially during the summer months!
  • 10) Brush Tub.Brush Tub - Brush Caddy & Water Basin
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE my brush tub. I have always had trouble losing my brushes, or them rolling around on my table. I love this brush tub because I can stand my brushes up in the right direction and it has 3 compartments. I always keep one compartment with clean water to use with my q-tips for the lips. The other compartment has ridges at the bottom that help me clean excess paint residue from my brushes. It’s a good size to travel with and easy to clean!
  • 9) Q-tips.
    The best way to apply lipstick is by using a q-tip. This way you don’t have to use your brush on everyone’s lips and you can keep your brushes more sanitary. A little hint to get the glitter to stay longer on the lips. Add a little Vaseline over the lipstick and then dab glitter on. Your model will have glittery lips for a while.
  • 8) Good Round Brushes. Round Brushes
    By now most of you know I am a Gold Grip fan. The Gold Grip brushes are my personal favorites because they hold their point after repeated use in water and the bristles are chiseled to a fine point. The hairs rarely start going awry unless you leave them immersed in water, and they hold paint nicely. Round brushes are the most commonly used brushes by face painters and having a few GREAT rounds in your kit will make a HUGE difference in your line quality.
  • 7) An assortment of Arty and Rainbow Cakes. Multi-colored Paints, Rainbows, Art Cakes, ect
    Even if you just buy one arty and one rainbow cake it will be worth the investment. You would be surprised how much faster you can paint when you can put down five background colors at once. My new personal favorite rainbow cake is the Hippie and Moon Dance Rainbow Cake. They are WOW! I also can’t live without my Bright Leaf and Juicy Fruit Arty Cakes. Rainbow and Arty cakes are impressive to have on your table because parents look at your supplies and think you have a secret product only available to painters. They are also amazed at what it does and really are blown away. I load my table with rainbow and arty cakes because it also shows the parents that I have products they can’t just buy at WalMart or Party City. The products I am using are sold at the super exclusive, Painters Paradise, Silly Farm Supplies. Only painters can shop there (Just kidding).
  • 6) Sponges.Sponges & Specialty Brushes
    In order to apply base coat or to cover a large area, you will want to use face painting sponges. I suggest keeping them in the mesh bag mentioned earlier so you don’t loose them. Cutting them in half is another great way to extend their life and get the most out of them. This way you will also have a nice flat surface to blend with and cover a large area. If you plan on buying sponges from a craft store, make sure they; are soft to the skin, don’t fall apart when used in water, and don’t itch the skin.
  • 5) Cosmetic Glitter.Cosmetic Glitters
    Nothing finishes a face painting design quite like some sparkle. While some people see glitter as the STD of the craft world, I see it as essential as a Visa card. Never leave home without it! If you have to choose just one glitter, I would suggest the White Fairy Dust. The white fairy dust is the most practical because it can go over any color without covering the design. If you want to get fancy then I suggest having a pink, gold, and lime green glitter too to dress up your lips, leaves and tigers. If you purchase your glitter from a craft store please make sure it is safe to use on the skin. Make sure it is a cosmetic grade glitter, made from polyester not metallic. Metallic glitter can be harmful in the eyes and cause the child to feel itchy.
  • 4) Brush Bath.Brush Cleaner, Sanitizer, Conditioner
    It took me 4 years to work with a chemist to come up with a formula that was non toxic, safe for the skin, organic and that can be used while we face paint. Brush bath is a water sanitizer and brush conditioner. You can use it while you face paint to keep your water fresh in between rinses, and it also conditions the bristles while you rinse. It does not contain any alcohol and it is 100% safe on the skin. Adding rubbing alcohol to your face painting water does not have any affect or serve a purpose. If you don’t use Brush bath, I recommend using baby shampoo, but only a very little.
  • 3) Starblend Powders.
    Powders can be just as useful and time saving as using rainbow cakes. The powders serve as a fast background color without having to use a damp sponge. Powders are applied dry with a smoothie blender which allow for fast and smooth application. I love using the red starblend for Spiderman, it has saved me so much in paint and time!
  • 2) Gems.Acrylic Gems
    Gems are like my secret weapon. When a child doesn’t want to get painted, I whip out my gems and make a child’s day! Gems can be used to create a necklace, crown, or a pretty bracelet. Its funny, but something as simple as a gem can leave a lasting memory with both the child and parent. They are inexpensive, but can take your face painting to the next level.
  • 1) Professional Grade Face Paint.Professional Grade Face Paint
    A painter cannot paint without paint. It’s a must. I’m not going to sell you on any one brand, I would rather just push you in the direction of using skin safe, cosmetic grade face and body make up. Avoid acrylics, avoid grease make up that is hard to remove for kids, and set yourself up with a kit that looks professional, allows you to paint like Van Gough, and that you are proud to use on your own skin. Keep your paints clean, build a kit around the colors and designs you like to paint the most, and mix and match your favorite brands. I promise you will love your kit when it becomes a reflection of you.

If I missed anything on my list, send us an email or leave a comment below! Happy Painting !

Free Face Painting Class with Silly Heather

FABAtv Instructor Heather Green

FABAtv (Face and Body Art Television) is feeling the Holiday spirit this winter. If you’re a subscriber to FABAtv, you’ve probably seen the free face painting class they are offering this month. Unlike the usual free & live class that FABAtv hosts around the 15th every month, this is an actual studio-filmed-and-edited class.

Holly Jolly Christmas by Heather Green

The artist behind this free face painting class is Heather Green, aka Silly Heather. Many of you have know of Heather as the owner of Silly Farm Supplies and from her YouTube face painting tutorials. Her latest class is all about Christmas and Holiday designs. You can catch Heather’s free class, Holly Jolly Christmas, on fabatv.com throughout the month of December!

Silly Farm Christmas Commercial

Just in time for the Holidays. This is our very first commercial for Silly Farm and Santas little helper just can’t wait to give you some Silly Farm gifts! Have you been naughty or nice this year?


December only!
Get a free bonus $5 added to your gift card of $50 or more only at Silly Farm Supplies – Everything Face & Body Art. Get yours now!
Gift Card Madness! Bonus $5

Rudolph Face Painting with Video Tutorial

Lil Red Riding RudolphLia face painted as Rudolph

Lia volunteered to be my model for this Lil Red Riding Rudolph, my latest tutorial. This is a Rudolph the red nose reindeer inspired design and it’s a perfect face painting design for boys or girls around the Holidays. I will show you how to create this design step-by-step in my video tutorial below.

Products Used

Free & Live Bodypainting Class with Jinny Makeup Artiste

Jinny Makeup Artiste on FABAtv Genevieve Houle, who the world has come to know as Jinny Makeup Artiste, is a world renowned face and body artist. Co-creator of the Paradise Makeup AQ™, Jinny has traveled the world, teaching & performing her art for international media, shows, commercials and more. Jinny is widely recognized for not only her ability to paint amazing pieces of art, but to objectively critique and advise artists of all talent levels. She has previously been a judge at the World Body Painting Festival in Austria and at the Face and Body Art International Convention in the USA.

Jinny Body ArtJinny Body ArtJinny Body Art

Jinny is an active instructor, always willing to share her passion with others. Occasionally she puts out free tutorials through her youtube channel, but this week she will be traveling to South Florida to film a couple brand new classes for FABAtv! On Thursday, December 13th, Jinny will also be teaching an entirely FREE face and body art class through FABAtv LIVE! Tune in December 13th at 8pm EST for this hour long class on Quick & Wow Body Art!

Jinny Makeup Artist face and body art classes

Jinny Body ArtJinny Body Art

Sweet Treats

Sweet TreatsIf only each of you reading this blog could have been a fly on the wall the day I bought Silly Farm. If only each of you could see where we started and how far we have come, you would look at Silly Farm in a whole new light. But my road to success wasn’t paved with gold, but rather it’s a road built of Starbucks, birthday candles, ladies nights, caring, sharing, and sweet treats.

Allow me to explain:
Your company is only as good as the team that runs it. Man power is powerful, teamwork is essential, and treating the people that work within your company with respect and appreciation can be your GPS to success.

We have a ritual at Silly Farm. When someone is celebrating a birthday we each pitch in money, sign a great big card, celebrate with cake, balloons, and flowers and a roaring, pitchy version of Happy birthday. We stop what we are doing, put aside the work, and take those 20 minutes to acknowledge and appreciate the relationship we have as fellow ‘farmers’. These rituals create loyalty, love, and devotion within our walls. Silly Farmers know that we are a family, and when a family stays together they can move mountains.

Happy Birthday at Silly Farm

Many of you might be operating as a one man show, and some of you have grown your businesses to new levels. Some of you have several employees working underneath you. Regardless of the level of your business, treating your employees right can be the push that gets you over the hump. Simple gestures like an employee movie night, or surprise Starbucks day, shout to your employees that they are important. At the end of the day people want to feel validated, and sweet treats are sure fire ways to make someone feel special.

Starbucks Day at Silly Farm
Rewarding Silly Farm

I had a great talk with a fellow entrepreneur in the previous month, and she was telling me that she is so grateful for her staff. They were working so hard and treated her business as if it was their own. She was saddened because she could not afford to give them a raise at that moment, because she needed to invest in a new processor. So I told her about our Team Twilight (yes, the movie) parties. Everytime a new Twilight movie premieres I sponsor a dinner date with the girls. We dress up, wear our shirts, and have a blast. So, my friend decided to surprise her staff with a dinner date to the karaoke bar, dinner, and a $25 gas card to each employee. It cost her about $700 in all, but the goodwill and enthusiasm it created could not be quantified.

If you truly want to grow your company, you need to start at the top and work your way down. The same way you want your customers to be happy with your services, you want your employees to feel important. Start at the top, set the standard of paying it forward, praising good work, saying please and thank you, sending handwritten notes, and random sweet treats will build the foundation for a strong business.

Silly Farm Supplies

Thank you for supporting my blog. Individually we are one drop, together we are a bucket of paint! Happy painting! Leave a comment below and tell us how you treat your employees!

P.S. Make sure to check out FABAtv, Silly Farm, and the new FaBAIC convention info. :)

Working with a Web Designer

Working with a Web Designer
Google and NewAge IT Services website images are trademark their respective owners.

We’ve talked before about websites, how to make them yourself, and even free resources for those just starting out. But let’s get real – it takes a lot of time, energy, and patience to be a DIY’er! For those willing to shell out the cash, hiring a professional could prevent lots of headaches down the road.


Andrew

I’ve hired professional web designers several times, all with dismal results. From the opposing perspective, web designer Andrew Sutton has had some unsatisfying experiences with crumby clients. He and I recently had a conversation about his involvement with NewAge IT, and came up with this handy guide that you – the client – can use to improve this experience for both parties.

First off, what is NewAge?
NewAge IT Services is an information technology company with a focus on system design & implementation. Besides Web Development and Graphic Design, we offer a wide array of services, such as:

  • Consulting (Small, Medium, or Large Business’s)
  • Business Infrastructure & IT Solutions
  • Data Center Solutions
  • Video Surveillance Solutions
  • Home & Office Computer Servicing

Some of you might have met the owner, Francisco, back at the 2012 FaBAIC. He was the driver, taking everyone to the airport on those late night/early morning trips. Now, let’s see who paid attention at the FaBAIC!

Q: Francisco is the brother of which FaBAIC co-producer?
(the answers at the end of the article)

How does one find a good web designer?
The first step? Connect to the internet! (Believe it or not, some people still don’t know how to use the internet.) Research is first and foremost when looking for ANY product or service.

When you happen across a web designer or website offering design services, ask to see examples of their work. Check that the websites in their portfolio load smoothly, have appealing aesthetics, and function properly. Do the buttons and forms work? If you’ve already hit a bump, I would back up and make sure their other sites don’t have the same issues…or just cross them off your list entirely!

Cait’s Note: Also, check references! Online portfolios will give you a great idea of their talent, but nothing about their personality. Contact previous clients and inquire about their experience with the designer in question.

What would you recommend a client be prepared with when coming to you?

    1. Know your budget, your wiggle room, and keep your expectations realistic.
    2. What do you want your website to do for you? I can’t tell you; I design around YOUR needs.
    3. Do you have a logo? If not, See question 4.
    4. Do you need custom graphics? Do you have your own graphic designer,or am I making them?
    5. Do you need pictures taken for the website? A website featuring YOU is much more personable then a run-of-the-mill stock photo we’ve all seen.
    6. Do you have content (text), or will I need to come up with that too?
    7. Do you know how many pages you need? I include the first 5 pages in my base price to account for the basics: Home Page, About Us, Services, Contact Us, and a Sitemap. (Sitemaps are submitted to search engines so they can better recognize your site. Sort of like an instruction booklet for them.)

What can a client do to make the transaction easier?
Research! Then write down exactly what you want.

Cait’s Note: Drawing the website I had in mind really helped me to communicate the “look” I was going for. Aside from the layout/colors/pages, think about whether the website needs to do something, like accept payments, prompt visitors to sign up for your newsletter, or host an eCommerce store for your products.

What is the most frustrating part of your job?

  1. Clients that want all the bells and whistles, but don’t want to pay for them! If your previous designer only charged you $300,  your website is probably just a pre-made template with your logo tacked on and no formatting. You get what you pay for.
  2. Clients that keep adding on extra functions, pages, and custom graphics during the project and expecting it not to be billed. I don’t work for free, but I do barter!
  3. If a Client can’t tell me what they want, what style they like, etc…I won’t even bother with the project.

What do you most want prospective clients to know?
I’m not cheap :)  But I say this with meaning: I believe that a website is an investment, and you want to see a good return on your investment. It needs to do more than just look nice. It needs to function well, but the more elaborate your design and functionality gets, don’t be surprised to see the cost go up. Keep these features in mind when getting prices; they all impact your site performance and rankings in search engines. Each one takes a certain amount of dedication required to get optimized results.

  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization) –  This will allow you to be more visible to search engines.
  • Opt in to a Content Distribution Network – This will make your website load faster across the globe.
  • Set up advertisements – Just using Google ads has significantly helped my sites in rankings and customer conversion.
  • Email Marketing Setup, Integration, & Strategy – To keep in touch with subscribers & clients.
  • Social Media Setup, Integration & Strategy – Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.
  • Blogging – Posting articles helps you to develop a following, and creates more content for search engines to index.
  • Affiliate links – Used by an advertiser to track the traffic that comes to their site via your website.
  • Google Analytics Setup and Tracking Code Integration – allows you to track visitors & their habits within your website.
  • Contact Form – Some cheap designers will only put your information as the contact page.

Cait’s Note: Having some experience on both sides of this equation has taught me quite a lot about perusing the client/designer relationship. For one, understand that there are limitations to web design, similarly as there are limitations to painting a design: certain effects are difficult to achieve, if not down right impossible or incredibly costly. Additionally, it’s easy to take advantage of someone who is uninformed: make a point to ask questions and understand what your designer is charging you for so you can make informed decisions.

A big thanks to Andrew Sutton for letting me pick his brain. He and I are both be happy to answer any questions – just leave a comment!
-Caitlin St. Angelo

PS. The answer is:
Marcela Mama Clown’s brother is Francisco!

NewAge IT Links:
http://www.newageitservices.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/NewAge-IT-Services-LLC/181064015278185?ref=ts&fref=ts
https://twitter.com/NewAge_IT
andrew@newageitservices.com

Silly Farm Supplies – Throwback Thursday

Of the thousands of times I walk past Marcela’s office door, I see the same collage of pictures. Out of them all, there are four that stand out. They are taped to separate stock papers in pairs and the papers are taped together to the rest of the collage. There’s a tiny note above each paper that says, “The beginning of Silly Farm” and “Silly Farm a longggg time ago!”.

I found some spare time to sneak over and take the pictures down for a couple minutes while I carefully untaped them. After scanning each one, I taped them back up and put them back among the collage on Marcela’s office door.

The Beginning of Silly Farm

The beginnings of Silly Farm.
The beginnings of Silly Farm.

Silly Farm a longggg time ago!

Silly Farm a lonnggg time ago!
Silly Farm a lonnggg time ago!

Silly Farm Supplies Now

(Edit 11/30/12)
I was going to save some pictures of the current Silly Farm for later, but since everyone wants to see them, here they are. Just a few. :)

Silly Farm Supplies Showroom

Silly Farm Supplies Showroom

The entrance to Silly Farm
Silly Farm Supplies Entrance

Thongs for Bodypainting: Review

I run Cait’s Paints, which offers an array of services by multiple artists. But me, personally? I introduce myself as a body painter. Women are my favorite canvas; adapting my work over so many curves and shapes presents a challenge with a never-ending array of possibilities. I truly find cause for celebration in the grace and strength of the human form.

However, not everyone is as gung-ho about nudity: Many models don’t feel comfortable having someone intimately painting their lady-bits, few magazines are keen on publishing nudity, and posting anything “offensive” onto sites like Facebook could get your page shut down pretty quickly. What now?

There are multiple options available for covering genitals: seamless thongs, G-strings, strapless pantiesProShields, Zombie Skin, medical tape, and probably a few more creative options I haven’t heard yet. It all comes down to your personal preference and budget.

My preferred canvas is a topless model wearing nude-colored thong underwear. I’m open to putting pasties on my models (should the model or venue require it) but finding good pasties has not been nearly as treacherous as my quest for the “Perfect Thong”:

Cotton thongs absorbed too much paint, making it time consuming and difficult to paint details. I felt that g-strings “pinched” my models hips. Victoria’s Secret seamless thongs were okay, but I wasn’t willing to shell out and extra $12 in kit expenses.

Then I found La Senza “Barely There” thongs, and something miraculous happened; The thong melted effortlessly into my designs, and painting the fabric was a breeze. My models have found them comfortable and flattering. They even offer a more conservative version, the “Brazilian“.

I had found my Dream Thong, but the price was still hefty…until I found a Dream Retailer as well! Braonsale offers La Senza’s panties for less that $5, with FREE SHIPPING! They also send me a coupon with each of my orders. Just typing this gets my heart racing! As artists, our kits easily contain hundreds or thousands of dollars in supplies; Knowing that thongs are no longer a major expense is a huge relief.

I hope you all enjoy this new find as much as I have. Stock up, but leave some for me!
– Caitlin

Happy Hippie Face Painting Video Tutorial

Happy Hippie Face Painting Tutorial
I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving this weekend, however you spent it( with or without family and friends). For those that worked Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, I hope you’re getting some well deserved rest. I wasn’t able to push this tutorial out before Thanksgiving, but I’m here now and delivering it today.

This is Heather’s latest face painting tutorial, aptly named ‘Happy Hippie’ for it’s free flowing nature. This is a quick 3-5 minute design that pops without spending too much time on detail.

Heather started this design with the brand new, Silly Farm Exclusive Hippie Rainbow Cake. Using a sponge and the BAM 1038 stencil, she started the base on the forehead and then filled around the eyes with just the sponge.

Next, Heather used an Athena #10 Filbert brush and Wolfe White to hand paint a couple more stars and add some strokes above and below the eyes.

Heather then dabbed her sponge in Wolfe White and using the BAM 1038 stencil again, dabs some stars over the Rainbow Cake base on each side.

Next, Heather takes her Gold Grip #4 round brush loaded with Wolfe White and adds some more details around the design.

Depending if you have the time or not, Heather used a Gold Grip #2 brush loaded with Wolfe Black to outline parts of the design.

Finally, Heather added some ‘lipstick’ and some Magic Magenta & White Fairy Dust glitter for the finished design.

The tutorial is below, along with the products used. You can visit Silly Farm’s Create This Look section to see all the products used in each design.

[button type=”button_solid_light” url=”http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=catalog&parent=975&pg=1″ target=”on” ]I want to Create This Look[/button]

Happy Hippie: Create This Look

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, & Cyber Monday

Thanksgiving is two days away for those in the USA, and besides us honoring the traditions of cramming our faces full of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry, you’ll be able to stuff ALL your stockings with gifts from the many deals that go on after the Thanksgiving Holiday. Welcome in Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.


Black Friday Walmart
Image Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

 

Black Friday

One of the best known shopping days of the year, Black Friday falls the day after Thanksgiving. Many retailers open early, some open at midnight, offering insane deals you normally wouldn’t find any other day of the year.


Small Business Saturday

Shop Small - AmexCreated by American Express in 2010, after they realized with all the largest brands and retailers offering amazing deals, what’s the incentive to shop small? The deals are better at the large corporate stores. That’s where American Express came into play and started Small Business Saturday, offering $25 to their Cardmembers whenever they shop small on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, dubbed Small Business Saturday.

If you want to take advantage of Small Business Saturday and get a free $25 back on your American Express statement, you must register your American Express card through their website before 11:59pm on November 24th, 2012, and make a qualifying purchase on Small Business Saturday.

For your purchase to Qualify:

  • Your card must be enrolled (See above on how to register your card)
  • Only in-store purchases qualify. Online purchases do NOT.
  • Your purchase must be at a qualifying Small Business. Visit AMEX to find out where to shop.
  • Your purchase must total $25 or more, in one transaction.

Cyber Monday Sales
Image courtesy of Marin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Cyber Monday

Originally dubbed Cyber Monday in 2005, it is the Monday after Thanksgiving in which many people would rather search for deals online from the comfort of their own home(or work even) instead of fighting the hordes of people during Black Friday. Sounds way safer after hearing some of the crazy Black Friday stories of people being injured by stampeding shoppers.

It’s not just big brands that offer deals on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday. We know the biggest deals everyone looks at are in electronics, but don’t worry, even Silly Farm and FABAtv have some killer Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for all the painters out there.


FABAtv Black Friday Contest

Kindle FireFABAtv is giving away a free Kindle Fire on Black Friday to one lucky subscriber! The catch? Just subscribe to FABAtv on Black Friday and you’re entered in the drawing! It’s that simple, and a FABAtv subscription starts at only $29.99. If you take advantage of the FABAtv annual subscription, not only will you be entered in the Kindle Fire drawing, but you’ll receive a free $50 gift card to Silly Farm!


Silly Farm Supplies Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Silly Farm Deals
Silly Farm Supplies is having a slew of discounts and freebies on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
You will need to sign up your email address to the Silly Farm newsletter to receive all the codes to use for your discounts on Black Friday.
On Cyber Monday they will be offering free shipping to the continental US on all orders over $25!

Free & LIVE Bodypainting Class with Mark Reid

Free LIVE Class with Mark Reid

Master bodypainter Mark Reid will be at the FABAtv Studios on Wednesday, November 14th to film some more amazing face & body art classes, as well as a live class! Tune in at 8:00 pm EST to catch this free class, just click on the banner above!

Mark Reid Tiger Face PaintingMark Red Butterfly eye design

In the past we have had the privilege of Mark teach some of the children classes at the 2009 FABAIC, where he left the parents in awe. Mark is very passionate about art and loves to teach. He is a regular at the Face and Body Art International Convention and we are proud to have him as part of the FABAIC family! So mark your calendars and tune in on November 14th for a free LIVE class with Mark Reid!

RAWards Miami

RAWards City Winners

RAWards is one of the largest indie art shows in the world. Held annually at the end of every October by RAW: Natural Born Artists, they host a national competition that will eventually select nine winners out of the 10,000 artists competing for the national title. There will be one winner in each category:

  • Visual Arts
  • Fashion Designer
  • Accessories Designer
  • Film Maker
  • Hair Stylist
  • Makeup Artist
  • Musician
  • Performing Artist
  • Photographer

This year the 2012 RAWards semi-finals for Miami were held at the The Stage in the Miami Design District. The winners of each of the nine competition categories will be on their way to Los Angeles, California for the national RAWards Finals in January.

We’re proud to have our very own Pam Trent heading to L.A. to compete in the finals for the title of RAWards 2012 Performing Artist of the Year! Pam took a couple minutes out of her busy day here at Silly Farm to answer a few questions and give you an exclusive interview.

Pam Trent Performing Artist of The Year Miami RAWards 2012

Zombie Skinned Spiderman with special effects makeupDay of the Dead Body Art by Pam TrentSugar Skull Body Art by Pam Trent


So Pam, tell us a little about yourself, where are you from?

I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and lived there for 54 years before I moved to south Florida.

How did you get your start(in face and body art)?

I have always painted and was asked by a church if I could face paint for the Fall Festival. I had never done this before but decided – what the heck – should not be too hard. Well, all it took was that one night and I was hooked for good!

How did you end up at Silly Farm?

Funny, I came out here for a Body Painting Competition in Young Circle in Hollywood. I was staying with Marcela – actually several of us were. We were sitting on her balcony one night and she was telling me Heather needed someone to help her and someone that knew the products. I told her I was so interested. That was in Feb and I arrived here, bags (actually a 16 ft. truck, cat and hauling a car) packed on March 18, 2008.

What is your favorite part about face and body art?

First I love the creativity of the whole process – how it just seems to blossom and come together with one idea. Second is the smiles – you cannot beat the smiles.

What conventions would you recommend for those just getting into face and body art?

FABAIC of course. There is no convention where you can be a beginner or master in your trade and not be able to benefit from something at this convention. The other convention that I absolutely love is La Fete. It is small, very laid back, but so much fun!

What would you like to do more of, art or otherwise?

I want to have a show in an art gallery – I want to go out and teach more – and I would LOVE to get my foot in the door for movies!!! Special FX – and maybe FACEOFF one day!

Outside of art, what do you do for fun?

I love the beach!!! I love musical theatre(I go whenever I get the chance), love festivals and love to travel!

Do you have any pet peeves?

All I am going to say is “Yes”!

Where do you see yourself in a couple years?

I have just won Performing Artists of the Year with RAW. I would love to “be discovered”. I would love to work in movies – makeup/special FX. I am still wanting to compete at the World Body Painting Festival.

Do you have any projects going on or in the works?

Well, I just finished working for Fright Nights(haunted house), and I have gone on the road teaching Special FX/Gore. I am also going to compete in the body painting competition in Wisconsin in February, and I have a young lady that is wanting to collaborate on a special project, but I can’t share all the details just yet.