Family Reunion

August is the time of family reunions, and if we are honest we all have some real characters in our family trees. Some fun sayings to remember as you all gather together "Our family put the fun in dysfunction", "Every family has that one weird relative, if you don't know who it is, then it's probably you!", "My family is temperamental, Half Temper, Half Mental!", and "In our family we don't hide crazy, we put it on the front porch and give it a cocktail." And truth be told we all have a few skeletons in our closets, this is the inspiration for this project.

1.  Take the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Miniature Bookplates apart.

2.  Choose three that will work with your Lenticular Halloween Stickers.

3.   Separate Corrugated Cardboard showing some of the ribs below.
4.   Measure the section of Corrugated Cardboard that will fit snuggly inside of your frame.

5.  Cut a piece of Bookboard same size as  Corrugated Cardboard and glue the two pieces together using Weldbond.

6.  Make a wash of Acrylic Paint-Golden Transparent Red iron Oxide, Golden Yellow Ochre, Deco Art Antiquing Cream Raw Umber, use a small brush to get into the valleys of the cardboard.

7.  Next, Use Tim Holtz Distress Oxide of Faded Jeans, Fossilized Amber, and Peeled Paint and a blending tool to patina the elevated portions of the cardboard.

8.  Spray with water to oxidize the inks.
9.  Use Tim Holtz Distress Oxide of Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain to darken the ridges of the ribbed cardboard.
10.                To darken the ridges even more apply StazOn Stone Gray Ink.

11.                Spray again with water to oxidize the inks.
12.                Use Versa Mark to apply a coat of Ice Resin German Silver to your chosen GSLC Bookplates.

13.                Cure with heating tool.
14.                Use Versa mark to apply a second coat of Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powder of Walnut Stain  to the GSLC Bookplates.

15.                Glue cardboard into wooden frame using Weldbond, hold into place with clamps.

16.                Cut and glue Lenticular Halloween Stickers into GSLC Bookplates using Weldbond, hold into place with clamps.

17.                Use small screws and screwdriver to attach GSLC Bookplates "Frames" to cardboard.

18.                Darken small brass screws with Art Alchemy Raven Black Acrylic Paint using a small paintbrush.

19.                Glue Small Skull and Bone Embellishments into each bottom corner using Weldbond.

20.                Allow to fully dry. I always forget this step!!
21.                Use Weldbond to apply Assortment of Seedbeads and Microbeads in random places around your project, allow to dry completely and add more layers if necessary.

22.                Once dry add patina to the beads using Folk Art Painted Moss Finishes using a small paintbrush.

23.                Add a few tiny pieces of bark ribbon to random areas to add even more distress wonderfulness and textures to your project.

24.                Distress once again using Folk Art Painted Moss Finishes.
25.                Because I will be using this for a panel of one of my Hand Bound Tresurebooks  or Houdini-Hideaway boxes I am carefully applying several coats of Dura Clear Satin Varnish to assure stability of seedbeads and microbeads.

26.                If you were giving it as a gift and your frame did not have a way to hang you could use two upholstery tacks to attach a decorative velvet ribbon for hanging.

Some final thoughts on family: “Family gives us two things; one is roots, the other is wings”, “Insanity runs in my family; it practically gallops!” -Cary Grant, “I wish I could relate to the people I’m related to.” -Jeff Foxworthy “My family is my strength and my weakness.” -Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. In the end I know my family would do anything for me and I am the person I am today partially due to my family. I also believe that family is not always those you were born to but those who know all of your deep dark secretes and choose to love you anyhow.

 

 

 

 

Supplies:    Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Miniature Bookplates Shape Set, small vintage wooden frame (I used a reclaimed 3 by 4 inches one that had a metallic finish), corrugated cardboard, Bookboard, Weldbond, Halloween Lenticular Stickers (They change images depending upon viewing angle), Acrylic Paint-Golden Transparent Red iron Oxide, Golden Yellow Ochre, Deco Art Antiquing Cream Raw Umber, Tim Holtz Distress Oxide-Faded Jeans, Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain, Blending Tool, Spray Bottle with water, StazOn Stone Gray Ink, Versa Mark, Ice Resin German Silver, Tin Holtz Distress Embossing Powder Walnut Stain, Scissors, Heating Tool, Clamps, Small Screws, Screwdriver, Art Alchemy Raven Black Acrylic Paint, Small Paintbrush, Small Skull and Bone Embellishments, Assortment of Seedbeads and Microbeads, Folk Art Moss Painted Finishes, Bark Roll Ribbon, Clear Satin Varnish Medium, Upholstery Tacks, Velvet Ribbon

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!