The Lady In Red

Hello crafty friends!  It's Susan on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog, here to show another project in my occasional Pin-Up series. 

I've been hoarding these 3x5 music cards for years, waiting for the right projects to come along.  "The Lady in Red" is from a 1935 movie musical called "In Caliente". 

Oh! The lady in red
The fellows are crazy for the lady in red
She's a bit gaudy, but lawdy what a personality!

For her stage, I used the Arch Top Cabinet w/Doors, but set the doors aside for a future project.

I glued all pieces except the front together, cleaned up squished glue with a damp Q-Tip and held it together tightly until the glue set.  This can be done with hands, big rubber bands, or clamps if you have 'em.  I used my hands and kept rotating to check that all the joints were snug.

For the front, I outlined the shape on the paper and used a combination of paper cutter, scissors, and straight edge (disposable scalpels are great for this - Amazon.com) to cut it out.  Mod Podge to adhere to the chipboard and set it aside to dry.

I've been putting assorted weights at the bases of my projects lately.  I set up a table at our weekly market and every single week it's been windy.  My defense is weighted bases, darnit!  I have a big bag o' washers from the secondhand store and glued 4 in with E-6000.  I made a false bottom to cover the washers.  Perfect!

I got a little carried sway and didn't take as many in-progress photos as usual.  Here are a few steps I want to tell you.

I painted the base outside and top with a couple coats of black gesso; all the places that wouldn't have paper covering.  I used Mod Podge to attach all papers, allowed to dry, then sanded all the edges.  I  touched up with black gesso as needed, including all the sanded paper edges.  As you can see, I don't try to be neat with the edges.  Once everything was assembled I coated the outside with matte varnish.

The 3x5 music card and the pin-up girl have many layers of chipboard attached to the backs to raise them off the back wall.  I used a scrap of black tulle behind the card, and added small brass stars on the walls.

Oh! The lady in red
Is fresh as a daisy 
When the town is in bed.
Dancing and dining 
And shining with originality.

She's very proper;
She's nothing more than a pal.
But oh me! and oh my! 
You'd never stop her,
She'd be a dangerous gal
If she should ever meet the right guy.

Oh! The lady in red
Is she a study,
Oh! buddy what a personality
She's got vitality

Say! have you ever met
The girl who's the talk of the town?
A work of art without a question
You'd better write her number down.

Lyrics by Mort Dixon, 1935.

Thanks for your visit today! 

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Used
Arch Top Cabinet with Doors #D11B

Other Supplies Used
Mod Podge
Vintage 3x5 music card (print date 1943)
Pin-Up Girl image
Jute
Black netting
Black tulle
Brass stars
Dresden trim
Graphic 45 Communique papers
Black gesso
Metal washers
Aleene's tacky glue
Chipboard scraps
Matte varnish