Her Industrious Soul

Hi everyone, it's Ann and I am sharing something a little different with you. From the moment I saw this Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts art doll form, I had envisioned her in an industrial/steampunk fashion. What I was thinking was very different from my usual style, but I generally tend to go with an idea once I am inspired and modify, as needed, along the way...

I begin by removing pieces from the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Art Doll Female - small card. Next, I cover each body part with collage medium and adhere Little Women text paper to one side. I find that positioning the pieces as a complete shape helps ensure that the paper is adhered to the correct side.

After the collage medium has dried, I use an exacto knife to trim the excess paper from the doll form pieces. I then coat the back side of each piece with embossing ink and cover with charred gold embossing powder. The powder is melted with a heat gun. 

While I have the embossing supplies out, I also heat emboss some pieces from the GSLC Steampunk Shape Set in charred gold, hammered metal, and vintage platinum embossing powders. I am considering using these pieces on the finished doll.

Once all the pieces are embossed, I begin to work on a background. I want to create something that resembles rusty or oxidized patina. In order to achieve this, I use Distress Oxide inks in walnut stain, cracked pistachio and spiced marmalade. The inks are smooched onto my craft mat, spritzed with water and then heavyweight paper is inked and heat set repeatedly. When I have achieved the desired finish, I splatter the page with distress ink in walnut stain. Lastly, I spritz the page with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in patina.

This paper will be centered in a large Idea-ology vignette tray, above a piece of "riveted metal" textured paper that I created using a Tim Holtz Sizzix embossing folder, Copper colored Kraftcore cardstock and Distress paint in black soot.

 When I begin to layout the pieces on the background, I decide that I would like the industrious soul to have a petticoat beneath her cage crinoline framework. After consideration over materials, I decide to add a lacy feminine touch with a doily, die cut from a piece of sage parchment paper, that has been inked with Distress inks in walnut stain and ground expresso.

Once I have settled on all of the pieces I will be using, I begin to adhere everything into place with a strong glue. Since the pieces are arranged in a layered fashion, the process requires patience while each layer dries prior to adding the next. Everything is glued into place on the patina paper. 

  I trim the lace petticoat to fit beneath the cage crinoline. The cage is held in place with an Idea-ology word band. The band has been bent with a pair of wire shaping nylon jay pliers, and each side is secured with a piece of hemp cord that has been colored with walnut stain ink. The ties secure at the back side of the panel, accessed via 1/8" eyelets.

Once the cage is securely in place, the entire piece is attached to the "riveted metal" background that has been adhered inside the vignette tray.

Some Idea-ology industrious stickers as well as metal hex head fasteners to the top left and bottom right corners of the vignette tray complete the piece. 

Thanks for taking time to check out all the details of her industrious soul.
Hope you find time to create something.
~Ann

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used:
Art Doll Female
Steampunk Shape Set