Christmas Mobile

Hi everyone, its Angela here sharing my mini Christmas mobile with you.

I took the Tiny Christmas shape set(coming to the store soon) and coated both sides with white gesso. I have done 2 sets because you need 4 bows for the wreaths and you need part of 2 scarves to glue on the back of the snowmen and 2 hats to glue on the back of them too.

Once dry I took some ColorArte twinkling H2O paints to paint on the details I also used some cosmic shimmer sparkle pearl glue (its a bit like stickles only the glue has a colour to it)

I cut bits out of the Faux wire Hangers so I could stick them together crossed over to create the top for the shapes to hang from. I coloured the hangers with a silver sharpie once I had stuck them together (note to self - it would be a better idea to colour these first before glueing together lol).

Here is a picture of the finished mobile from a different angle, I used some silver wire to attach the pieces to the hangers but in hindsight I think fishing twine or thread would have been a better option, as wire was a bit too solid.

Supplies:
Tiny Christmas shape set - coming soon
Faux Metal hangers

Twinkling H2O and Silk paints by ColorArte
Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle Pearl PVA
Silver Sharpie

"Best Friend" altered photo frame

Hi there! Lynne here with a wooden picture frame from Dollar Tree that I altered with some great Gypsy Soul pieces and a little stencilling, mist and this 'n that!

I started by priming the frame with antique white acrylic paint, then figuring out which chipboard pieces and other embellishments I wanted to use and their placement. I then primed them with the same paint.

I added some stencilling with texture paste, then attached all the embellishments-I used white glue for the chipboard and hot glue for the flowers. I also added some drywall tape and one more coat of paint over the whole thing.

Before misting, I spongepainted the whole surface (including the embellishments)with white and light blue acrylic paints for some background variation.

Misting is fun! I just sprayed with pretty much every shade of blue I could find in my stash, adding a little more colour in some areas, until I was happy with the effect. I added turquoise microbeads to the heart and clear ones to the wings, and attached the large clear embellishments with hot glue. The quote banner was fussy-cut from patterned paper (unfortunately I'm not sure what line it's from) and popped up with dimensional Glue Dots.

The frame came without glass, so I just cut a piece of clear acrylic packaging to put over my photo, a "selfie" which I took about a year ago on my bestie's balcony. Thanks so much for stopping by; I hope you too have a fabulous best friend in your life like I do!

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED

Steampunk Shape Set 
Five petal flowers with flourishes-coming soon
Valentine shape set

OTHER ITEMS USED

acrylic paint
glimmer mists
Crafter's Workshop and Prima stencils
texture paste
drywall tape microbeads
white glue, hot glue gun and Glue Dots

Starry Tag Set with Tutorial

This month for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts I've used their 3 tag set(stagger tags, coming soon) to create something starry and dreamy.

With some layers of paint, chipboard stars and glitter those kraft coloured tags are transformed.

They are the perfect backdrop for the sentiments and vintage images found on THIS Stars and Dreamers Collage Sheet (which is totally free to download because I love you.)

If you need a little guidance putting these beauties together, I've put together a video tutorial for you.

I do use a fair few layers of colour... but I honestly think that multiple washes add a depth of colour and visual interest that is incomparable to a slap of thick paint.

But hey! if a thick coat of acrylic is your thing... go for it! Art and craft is all about YOU, the maker. I wholeheartedly encourage you to do what works for you.

Here are all the bits I used to create these starry sparkly tags:

Gypsy Soul Tags

Keys Engraved
Printers Ornament Corners
Swirl Medallion Small

Deco Stars

Acrylic Paint (also used 

Glue
Glitter

Metal Ring
Ribbon/Fibers
Stars and Dreamers Collage Sheet  FREE DOWNLOAD

Sweet treasure box

Hi all, and welcome to a new project using the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts faux book box. I decided to turn this on its side and add some little metal pieces as legs to make a pretty little treasure box. 

Here's what it will look like when it comes to you. You will see two pieces without tabs. These will be the hinged pieces. You'll need some tape for those. 

The first step was to assemble the box as shown. I used some paper tape to attach the hinged pieces, so that the box could open and close easily. Next, I gave the whole box, inside and out two coats of white gesso. 

I cut panels of patterned paper to fit each of the faces of the box that would be seen, including the 

inside faces and inner base.

I used a combination of frames and labels to create a feature piece for the top of my box. The bottom layer was painted with gesso, then I applied Metallic Melts embossing powders in varying colors. The next layer was painted white, then coated in clear embossing powder. The top layer was coated in super fine glitter. I layered these three pieces with a triple layer of foam dots on the top piece. I glued a metal button onto that. This created a functional handle to lift the lid of my box.

From there, I framed the main part of the handle base with paper flowers, leaves and some ribbon. I created a similar but smaller cluster on the opposite side, creating a visual triangle with the two clusters and the handle. 

I kept the base plain with a simple ribbon wrap. 

I think these metal things are actually book corners but they worked perfectly for this. I used hot glue to adhere these to ensure they would be strong. 

Supplies used:
  Faux Book Box Large
  Stackable labels shape set

Vintage Fashion Accordion Book

Hi everyone!  Barbara here today to show you a fast and easy way to turn these engraved book covers from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts into a fabulous little mini album. While I have a variety of ideas for making this, I have chosen the simplest way to share with you, which is to make an accordion book. I have chosen Graphic 45's A Ladies' Diary paper collection, but you can use whatever papers you like or have on hand.

Book Cover Front

Book Cover Back

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCORDION BOOK (see video for full tutorial)

The book covers measure 2-7/8" x 4-1/2".

Cut two pieces of cream paper to 5-7/8" x 12".

Score horizontally along 12" bottom edge at 1-1/2".  This will form pockets to hold tags and ephemera.

Score vertically at 2-3/4, 5-1/2", 8-1/4", and 11".  

Adhere the two lengths of paper together along the 1" flap to make one long piece of paper.  Fold bottom edge up to form pockets, and accordion fold the length of paper at each scored line.  Cut remaining 1" flap off.  

Adhere the front and back pages to the inside book covers. Decorate pages as desired.

Here are some photos of the completed, decorated book.  

Supplies Used:
GSL Book Cover Deco Engraved (coming soon)
GSL Miniature Bookplates Shape Set
GSL Miniatures Shape Set - Ladies Choice
GSL Vintage Ladies Silhouettes Set
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics
  TitaniumWhite
  Translucent White (optional)
  Titan Buff
  Primary Magenta
  Primary Yellow
  Interference Gold
  Burnt Umber Antiquing Cream
DecoArte White Crackle Past
DecoArt Metallic Lustre
  Gold Rush
  Cosmic Blue
  Polished Coral
  Black Shimmer
Derivan Liquid Pencil (for shading)
Assorted Paint Brushes
12"x12" cream card stock
Graphic 45 A Ladies' Diary paper collection
Tags, Scallop Combo(Sizzix Original)
Brick/Stone mini stencil (Tim Holtz)
Martha Stewart Deco Fan punch
Assorted embellishments

I hope you like my project today and are inspired to make one of these sweet accordion books using your favorite papers. 

As always, thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful and creative day!

Barbara

Trick or Treat Frame

Hi there paper peeps!  Cherry here today at the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog.  I know it is Summer but I have a Halloween project to share.  How is that for a season change?

I started with the Victorian frame and easel.  I have used this frame before ...this time I had it in mind to use it horizontally. I gave it and this cute Moon some love with the Tattered angels spray in orange.

I also aged it a bit with Tim Holtz distress ink .

while the easel was drying I backed the frame with pattern papers and images and layered the frame on top.

 I added my Moon with foam adhesive and also added this awesome Halloween fence coming soon to store.  I embossed it with black embossing powder.

I added interest to the front of easel with some handmade crepe paper stitched together.

 From there I just started adding some final touches to bring this piece to life!

Here it is finished!

Thanks for visiting the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog, Cherry

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Supplies

Victorian Frame and Easel

String Alongs-Moon and Stars

Haunted Cabana Row Houses By Susan Killam

Hi folks!  Today I have the start of a haunted house series to share with you.  The Gypsy Soul Cabana Row House Set is perfect for those abandoned shacks on the beach.  You know the ones I'm talking about... Let's take a look!

The Cabana Row House Set includes 5 fold-up houses with rooftops.  The first ones I made are "A" and "D", the two larger ones.  See how the "A" house matches up with the "A" roof?  Gina was clever when she cut these out.

I laid the house on top of a 12x12 paper and simply outlined around it in pencil, making sure both the front of the house and paper design were visible.

Using scissors I cut along the pencil lines.

The next step was to score at the paper folds and gently fold the GSL cabana house away from the dark laser cuts.

I found it easiest to use glue medium a little at a time in order to fold as I went along to ensure the glue dried with already-bent corners.  In other words, glue the first two panels, fold fold, then glue the next two, fold fold, then glue the bottom, fold.

Before glueing closed and inserting the bottom, I used my trust brown marker to even out the color on the visible edges.  Just to note, I didn't do it on the second cabana and it didn't really matter.  Anyway, I put glue on the bottom tabs and the side panel in my fingers then clamped about midway past my fingers.  Let it set overnight. (Check out the alternative method in the next photo.)

Alternatively, glue the bottom in AFTER the sides have dried, as you see on my second cabana here.  It worked better.

I used a scalloped die cut to make roof shingles, adhering them together with 1/8" tape.  Once I had enough for each side I clean cut each edge and painted the edges of the roof with black acrylic paint.

A lot of glue later the shingles were attached to both sides of the roof!

These haunted cabanas aren't going to have a lot of decoration, but they do need feet.  Both the feet and apothecary bottles were painted black.  I didn't want to handle so many small things wet with paint, so I put on my thinking cap and got a little clever.  Clever-ish.  You know what I mean!  I used a blade to press out the tiny tabs Gina leaves in the laser cuts, but left them in the original "frame".  This way they fell right out, ready to use.  I used flat glue dots (cut in tiny pieces) on the backs of the wooden feet to temporarily hold them to paper.  No black painted fingers!

To add a little texture and gloss to the apothecary bottle silhouettes I dabbed on the Ranger crazing medium.  Transparent moulding paste would have worked also.

Here are the first two haunted cabanas!  The other 3 in the set are smaller and grouped together will look neat.

Here's a quick tip if you use hole-filled dies for roof shingles:  The glue will show through even if it's matte.  Once you're sure the glue has dried, lightly paint over the shingles with watered-down paint.  I completely covers the glue!

Also, I like the chipboard left over after the bottles were removed.  The paper pad I used happened to have a collage of tiny pharmacy labels  so I'm storing them together for future use.  I'll finish the black around the edges and use this as 3D wallpaper in a shadow box cubby.  Neat!

Thanks for your visit today!

Cheers,
Susan

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Used
Cabana Row House Set H1CR
Tiny Apothecary Bottles C47A

Other Supplies Used
Tim Holtz Paper Stash "Halloween Haunts"
Bazzill black card stock
Sizzix Big Shot and dies
Ranger crazing medium
The endless tub of Mod Podge I'd like to finish with one day
Scor Tape 1/8"
Zig 2-Way Squeeze & Roll glue pen
Fabri-Tac (on feet)
Harbor Freight clamps