Saturday, June 30, 2018

Little Houses Matchboox Book

Hello everyone.  Gina here today with a quick little project with an art theme.  I used the Little Houses Matchbox Book to create a quote book.  First I assembled the box using Scotch Quick Dry glue.

I papered the outer piece of the matchbox, and covered the inner piece in a contrasting color.




Next I papered the houses book on both sides and inked all the edges.



I decorated the book and box using some quote stickers, images cut from the paper and some charms.

GSLC products used:

Friday, June 29, 2018

An Incomplete Curiosity Composition Box

Ok, my project isn't finished but... But... BUT!!! I have a very good reason.

We've planned a little family getaway to Montreal next month and I've created this in preparation for my memories. I'll keep little mementos from our adventure and tuck them in this box when I return. I'm so excited!


I'll buy postcards. I'll keep tickets and receipts. Bottle caps and coasters will be placed in here too. Maybe a stone or a leaf or... or... or... the possibilities are endless! I'll keep my eyes peeled for a little tacky souvenir and add that to my curiosity box as well.


I've created embellishments for the box with layers from the Steampunk Shape Set and
Stackable Labels Shape Set. I have to toot my own horn and say I'm really digging that top element!

While I usually mix and match collections, I've stuck with Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Deluxe Collector's Edition from Graphic 45 for this piece. If you like quirky and cool and vintage it'll be right up your ally. If that ain't your cup-o-tea, by all means, make something that suits YOU.


Below is a list of all the bits you'll need and I've got a video walk through for pulling all those bits together. Here's hoping we all make some amazing memories to complete our curiosity composition boxes.

Supply List:
Composition Box - 25
Steampunk Shape Set
Stackable Labels Shape Set


Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Deluxe Collector's Edition
White glue
Ribbon
Acrylic paints (I am in LOVE with Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint Iridescent Copper)
Small brass brads

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Thanks Sew Much Greeting Card

Hi everyone!  Barbara Rankin here today on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog.  You know, there's nothing better than laser cut chipboard for adding dimension to your greeting cards without adding lots of bulk and height.  But don't stop there, it's also great for adding layers and cool shapes to all your scrapbooking and mixed media pieces.



First I cut up a piece of pink card stock to make a 5-1/2" square card.  Then I trimmed blue chevron paper to measure 5-1/4" square, and used a distressing tool to rough up the edges.  Set the pink card aside for now.


Using one of the small zipper chippies, trace around it with a pencil, then cut a "V" shape in the paper inside the lines, as shown.  I cut approximately 1/8" inside the lines.


Paint the outer edges of the zipper, first with a coat of Blue Green Light, which is opaque, then after that dries, paint a coat of Cobalt Teal Hue, which is transparent, over that.  Paint the zipper teeth and zipper pull with a silver leafing pen.


You can use the Translucent White to give the color a more pastel look, just by adding a light wash over the zipper edges.


Glue zipper to blue chevron paper.  Add a small piece of pink flower print paper beneath the zipper opening, distressing the outer edge to match the blue chevron layer.


Add a detail to the zipper pull with the Viva Décor Silver Pearl Paint Pen.


Tear white doily in half and adhere to right side of blue chevron paper.  Tear blue flower print paper in half and adhere both strips over torn edge of doily, and tear a few more strips of the pink flower print paper to the card front, as shown.


Cut out two printed decorative portions from one of the sheets and adhere to card, as shown below.


Cut away a small section from the Posey Panel.  Color each posey with a combination of the Titanium White plus Quinacridone Violet (purple flower), Titan Buff plus Diarylide Yellow (pale yellow flower), Titanium White plus Primary Magenta (pink flower) and last flower with only Titan Buff.  Cover all flowers with a wash of the Translucent White.  Let dry between coats.  Then use Faber Castell Pitt Pens in Light Skin over all the flowers except the yellow one.  Cover that one with Cadmium Yellow.  This will color the Translucent White paint and give it a shaded effect.


Paint the body of one of the dress forms from the  Dressforms 1 Miniature Shape Set the same way as the zipper edges and then color the dress form stand with a Pitt Big Brush Pen in Nougat.


Add tiny details to the drop pendants with the Viva Decor Silver Pearl Paint Pen.  


Adhere the dress form and poseys to the card front, as shown.


I decided to cut a few more poseys from the Posey Panel and paint the same way as the zipper and dress form.  

Glue these pieces over the posey panel, as shown, for added dimension.


Add some bling to the posey centers, as shown.


Trim one of the less busy patterned papers from the pad to 5-1/4" square.  I chose the wood grain paper for the inside of my card, and computer-generated the sentiment "Thanks Sew Much!".


Add a strip of lace along the top edge to finish the card off.  


Supplies Used:

GSL Dressforms 1 Miniature Shape Set
GSL Zippers (Coming Soon)
GSL Posey Panel
Lavender 6x6 Paper Pad (My Mind's Eye)
White Doily
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics
  Blue Green Light
  Cobalt Teal Hue
  Translucent White
  Diarylide Yellow
  Quinacridone Violet
  Primary Magenta
  Titan Buff
Faber-Castell Big Brush Pen
  Nougat
Viva Decor Pearl Paint Pen - Silver

I know we all love those flower filled cards that end up requiring a box to mail them in, if you cannot hand deliver them.  This, to me, is an awfully beautiful alternative while still fitting in an envelope, and may only require a small amount of extra postage.  So, I hope I've inspired you to make some beautiful cards with your laser cut chipboard pieces, and like I said, they are fabulous on your scrapbook layouts and in your mixed media projects.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a super crafty day!

Hugs,
Barbara

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Pondering Peacocks

My grandmother collected postcards and after her departure I found her post card collection in our musty, dusty attic. It was a magical treasure and perhaps is the inspiration for my love of all things abandoned and overgrown. There was a dilapidated farmhouse down a long winding country road that I would visit when I was a child. I called it my thinking place, I loved the eerily silence, the quiet solitude of this place. These are the inspirations for this project.
1.   Make photocopies of your vintage postcards.







2.Distress photocopies with Tim Holtz Distress Sprays-Antique Linen and Wild Honey, add a gentle mist of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist of Gold and Blue.
3.  Once dry trace tags where you will be cutting out photocopies of vintage postcards.
4.  Line up the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Large Decorative Tags with about 1/4 inch between each of them.
5.  Use Weldbond to glue together with a strip of Tyvek, This will allow the tags to work like a triptych.
6.  Use small pallet knife to cover both front and back with Ferro Metal Effect Textured Irongold Paint

7.  Allow to dry completely, making sure it is flat and weighted.
8.  After separating Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Peacock Feather spray with Tim Holtz Distressing Sprays Peacock Feathers.
9.  Emboss Peacock Feathers layering with Versa Mark and Rangers Black Sparkle, Tim Holtz Walnut Stain, Pearllustre-Lapis, Judi Kins-Extreme Peacock, Recollections-Tramline embossing powders.
10. Cure with a heating tool between each layer.
11. Add wooden stirring sticks to back of Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Large Tags for added stability allowing to dry completely and flat.
12. Add photocopies to panels using Weldbond to keep them in place.
13. Once dry distress with Ferro Textured Paints of Iron and Silver.

14. I used a damp cloth and was not pleased with the results so I decided to make extra copies and cut with peaking scissors and reapplied using Weldbond.
15. I distressed carefully with Tim Holtz Distress Ink of Vintage Photo
16. I reapplied Ferro Texture Paints more gently this time around the edges of the panels.
17. To add further depth I used FolkArt Moss Painted Finishes.
18. Another thing they will never tell you  on most online blogs is that you are designing as your progress through your projects, at this moment I felt like I needed another element so I used  Versa Mark and the embossing powders I used earlier to emboss a few Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Mini Flourishes Bella curing with a heating tool.
19.  I secured the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Peacock Feathers using an awl and twine.

20. I secured the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Mini Flourishes using blue wire.
21. I used a wooden skewer to wrap the wire around and give it a decorative vine look.
22. I added Vintage Bronze Copper wire to add further depth and interest and used the same technique to add a vine-like look.
My grandmother died many years ago before I grew into a man. She never knew the artist I have become, I like to think that she would be delighted at this project honoring her and her treasured collection.








Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Chipboards Decorative Tags Large, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Peacock Feathers Shape Set ,   Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Mini Flourishes Bella, Ferro Metal Effect Textured Paint Irongold, Iron, Silver, Small Pallet Knife, Tyvek envelope, Weldbond, Photocopies of Old Postcards, Pencil, Tim Holtz Distress Sprays-Antique Linen, Wild Honey and Peacock Feathers, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Gold and Blue, Coptic Marker-Cashew, Versa Mark, Embossing Powders-Rangers Black Sparkle, Tim Holtz Walnut Stain, Pearllustre-Lapis, Judi Kins-Extreme Peacock, Recollections-Tramline, Heating Tool, Wooden Stirring Sticks, Sandpaper Sponge, UHU Gluestick, Seriated Scissors, Tim Holtz-Distress Ink-Vintage Photo, Blending Tool, FolkArt Painted Finishes-Moss, Awl, Twine, Blue Wire-26 Gauge, Vintage Bronze Copper Wire- 20 Gauge, Wooden Skewer

I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!