School Daze

Sad to see September come, it's that time of year when all middle school teachers wish they create some kind of magical spell to make summer last  forever as we cry louder than our students who are returning for the new school year. This is the inspiration for this artwork, titled "School Daze"

1.  Take the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Arabian Triptychs Apart, keep the GSLC Tiny Apothecary Bottles together as we will be decorating in a later step.

2.  Find a piece of 12 by 12 Scrapbook Paper you'd like to use for the back of your triptych. I found mine in DCWV Vintage Memories Pad.

3.  Print Random Alchemy Images you find online-I have an ink jet printer.

4.  Print random images for small inside panels on regular paper and on transparencies-use the one designed for your printer.

5.  Trace Alchemy images using triptych as your pattern, do the same for 12 by 12 scrapbook paper.

6.    Fussy Cut all six pieces and use Weldbond to glue to appropriate side of back portion of GSLC Arabian Triptych.

7.  Once dry, gently sand edges with wedge sanding sponge to give it a distressed look.

8.  Spritz ink jet images with water and rubbing alcohol and allow images to fade before hitting with heating tool.

9.  Use a crackle stamp and Staz-On Saddle Brown to add  an ancient look to both sides of triptych.

10.                Distress edges using Tim Holtz Distress Stains of Tea Dye and Brushed Corduroy.

11.                Paint front portion of GSLC Arabian Triptych with Craft Smart Vintage Gold Acrylic Paint.

12.                 Once dry- dry brush quickly and randomly with Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Acrylic Paint.

13.                Once dry-dry brush quickly and randomly with Phthalo Turquoise Acrylic Paint.

14.                Layer again as needed.

15.                Use Versa Mark and a script stamp to randomly add "magical instructions" to Alchemy Backgrounds.

 16.                 Sprinkle with Wendy Vecchi Red Geranium Embossing Powders and cure with heating tool.

17.                Glue Frames to back of GSLC Arabian Triptych using Weldbond.

18.                Secure with clamps and allow to dry fully.

19.                Make transparency and printed images sandwiches and secure with grommets, staples, or glue. Allow to dry.

20.                Use GSLC Foam Crackle Stamp to add interest to GSLC Tiny Apothecary Bottles-I used same three colors we used on frame.

 

 

21.                Stamp bottles using script stamp and black permanent ink.

22.                To add shadowing to bottles use a small paint brush to paint one edge with Phthalo Turquoise Acrylic Paint.

23.                To add a glistening to the bottles randomly add Golden Interference Blue (Fine) Acrylic Paint to each bottle.

24.                Glue Transparency "Sandwiches"  to bottom center of all three frames.

25.                Add Apothecary bottles to each side.

26.                To give the frames a finished look paint sides of GSLC Arabian Triptych with Craft Smart Vintage Gold Acrylic Paint.

27.                 Once dry- dry brush quickly and randomly with Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Acrylic Paint.

28.                Once dry-dry brush quickly and randomly with Phthalo Turquoise Acrylic Paint.

29.                Layer again as needed.

30.                These could be displayed in a frame with a nice piece of tapestry material, mine will most likely be added as an embellishment to one of my handmade art journals or Houdini-Hideaway Boxes. 

Some final thoughts. As I begin my 30th year of teaching I realize there is no magical elixir or spell that can make summer vacation last forever until I one day retire, then all days will be Saturday. But, so much of life is how we perceive it, I've always been an optimist and tend to see the good in people and the world. Hope has carried me through many a dark days. "People are Capable at Any Time in Their Lives, of Doing What They Dream Of" said Paulo Coelho, the Alchemist and I tend to concur with his sentiment.

Another Quote by him that helps me as an educator is, "No Matter what he does, Every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world, AND normally he doesn't know it!" I hope that my students know how wonderful they are and how big the world truly is.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Arabian Triptych, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Tiny Apothecary Bottles, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Crackle Foam Pad-Coming Soon, DCWV Vintage Memories 12 by 12 scrapbook paper, Printed Alchemy Images, Scissors, Transparencies Designed for Your Printer, Pencil, Weldbond, Fine Wedge Sanding Sponge, Misters with Water and Rubbing Alcohol, Staz-On Saddle Brown Ink Pad, Crackle Stamp, Tim Holtz Distress Stain-Tea Dye and  Brushed Corduroy, Small Paint Brush, Craft Smart Vintage Gold Acrylic Paint, Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Golden Interference Blue (Fine) Acrylic Paint, Deco Art Phthalo Turquoise Acrylic Paint, Versa Mark Ink Pad, Script Stamp, Wendy Vecchi Red Geranium Embossing Powder, Heating Tool, Clamps, Transparency and Copies of Random Images, Grommet, Black Acrylic Paint, Black Permanent Ink Pad, Tim Holtz Blue Distress Marker

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!