We Are All Mad Here

I am a man of few words and as an artist I rarely include any text in any of my mixed media creations, but, when I was asked if I would ever consider making an Alice in Wonderland book I came across some wonderful quotes the title of this post being one of them.

"When you can't look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark."

"It's no use going back to yesterday, I was a different person then."

"Have I gone mad? I am afraid so, you're entirely bonkers. But I will tell you a secret, all the best people are!"

They are the inspiration for this piece.

Supplies:  Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts-Alice in Wonderland Chipboard Silhouettes [D171A], Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts-Tiny Alice Props [C2A], a wooden frame from a 3-D model project, Alice in Wonderland Echo Park Scrapbook papers, sandpaper block, Tim Holtz Distress Sprays-Crushed Olive, Fired Brick, Walnut Stain, Wild Honey, and Antique Linen, Tim Holtz Distress Stain-Vintage Photo, Acrylic Paint-Copper, Blue-Red (Maroon), Pearlized Black, Interference Blue(Fine) and Violet(fine), Bookboard, Damp Cloth, Bonefolder, Versa Mark, Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powder-Red Geranium, Ranger Embossing Powder-Gold and Black Sparkle, Heating Tool, Paintbrush, Weldbond, plastic bags filled with kitty litter, clamps,  microbeads, black gesso, rust patinas, and green moss dimensional paints, ArtDeco Single Step Crackle Finish, ArtDeco Antiquing Cream, baby wipes, collection of various embellishments, thin tip Sharpie, red chain, and screw eyes

1. Take apart the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Alice in Wonderland Chipboard Silhouettes and Tiny Props.

2. Stain the wooden frame using Tim Holtz Distress Sprays Crushed Olive, Fired Brick, Walnut Stain, and Wild Honey.

3. Add further distressing by dry brushing on Acrylic Paint-Copper, Blue-Red (Maroon), and Pearlized Black.

4. Decide on how you will place Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Alice in Wonderland Chipboard Silhouettes and Tiny Props into the six sections of the frame. Take pictures to remember your placement.

 

5. Choose Alice in Wonderland Echo Park Scrapbook papers you want to use for the wallpaper in your frames-I chose two complementing patters.

 

6. Fussy cut and glue into place using Weldbond.

7. Gently sand the edges using a sandpaper block

8. Cut a piece of Bookboard to add to the back to give your frame a more substantial feel. Glue into place using Weldbond.

9. Carefully and gently press the wallpaper onto the Bookboard using s damp cloth and Bonefolder.

10. I rubbed too hard and removed some color from the Echo Park Alice in Wonderland paper so I added Tim Holtz Distress Spray of Old Linen to tone it all down.

11. Clamp down the edges and let it dry completely.

12. To give the back a more finished look, choose some Echo Park Alice in Wonderland Scrapbook papers and glue to the back using Weldbond.

13. Gently sand the edges using a sandpaper block.

14. Stain the edges of the frame and backboard with Tim Holtz Distress Stains-Walnut Stain.

15. Add a vintage worn appeal by painting the edges of the frame with copper acrylic paint, and Tim Holtz Distress Spay-Old Linen.

16. Use Versa Mark and Embossing Powders to age the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Alice in Wonderland Chipboard Silhouettes and Tiny Props. I used Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powder-Red Geranium, and Ranger Embossing Powder-Gold and Black Sparkle.

17. Set embossing powder using a heating tool.

18. Dry brush with Acrylic Paint-Copper, Blue-Red (Maroon), Pearlized Black, Interference Blue(Fine) and Violet(fine) to give an aged look.

19. Careful glue the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Alice in Wonderland Chipboard Silhouettes and Tiny Props into the six sections of the frame.

20. Press into place using plastic bags filled with kitty litter or sand.

21. Add embellishments using Thick Gel Medium.

 

22. Add microbeads of black and gold to fill in empty spaces.

23. Add vintage age to areas using black gesso, rust patinas, and green moss dimensional paints.

24. Dry thoroughly before adding DecoArt One Step Crackle Finish to the background area carefully not to cover any of the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Alice in Wonderland Chipboard Silhouettes and Tiny Props.

25. I edged some of the pieces using a fine point Sharpie to offset the glossy finish of the Crackle Finish.

25. I then applied a thin layer of Antiquing Cream allowing it to dry before I buffed it off using a wet wipe. This darkens some of the cracks.

26. Finally I added red chain using screw eyes and jump rings.

 

27. If you wanted to take it a step further you can do a quick internet search and find many of the quotes I have included here and adhere them to the back of the frame.

Here are a few more wonderful quotes from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland:

"If you don't care where you are going any road can take you there."

"Every adventure requires a first step."

"Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality."

"I'm not crazy, my reality is just different than yours."

...and finally.

"This is my dream, I will decide where it goes from here!"