Repurposed Photo Frame

Hello, everyone! Today I'm sharing a kinda creepy project I made using a 5x7 photo frame that had the glass broken years ago. It's been sitting in a closet waiting for me to go buy a new pane of glass. Apparently, that's never gonna happen so I repurposed it for something crafty. Let me take you through how it was made.

Here's what I started with. A GSL 6 Panel Rectangular Window, one of the GSL Wrought Iron Miniatures, some Black Creepy Critters Set silhouettes and the lid of a GSL 2.4 Inch Suitcase, which was the perfect size for this project! 

Along with the chipboard items, I cut a piece of cardboard to fit the frame, selected a nice brick scrapbook paper from Paper Pizazz, cut a popsicle stick down to window box size and found a sinister image in my Zombie Tarot deck – the page of swords.

I assembled the suitcase lid using tacky glue. Once set, I painted he interior walls in a deep brown acrylic paint. I made a color copy of the tarot card and cut it to fit inside the suitcase lid. 

I glued the brick paper to the cardboard. Once the glue was dry, I marked the location on the wall that I wanted the recessed window to be with removable painter's tape then cut the opening with an X-Acto knife. 

The window was painted in an off white acrylic paint, while the wrought iron fence and window box popsicle stick were painted black. 

To finish off the window box, I selected two dollhouse bricks as spacers. Those were painted black and glued in place.

Time to assemble! The suitcase lid was glued in place behind the opening while the window was glued on top. I added some small greenery inside the window box before gluing that in place. 

The final touches were small flowers for the window box and some fun silhouettes from the GSL Black Creepy Critters Set. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Gypsy Soul Laser Cut Items Used

Wrought Iron Miniatures

Windows 6 Panel

Suitcase 2.4 Inch

Black Creepy Critters Set

Other Items Used

Tacky glue

Acrylic paint

5x7 Frame

Paper Pizazz Brick Wall paper

Cardboard scrap

Tarot card/creepy image

Popsicle stick

Miniature brick

Greenery & flowers

Nativity Triptych-A Peek-a-Boo-Project

I love religious iconic art and have been lucky enough to see “The Book of Kells” while visiting Dublin, Ireland. It is illuminated manuscript of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament. It is said to be the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts for the intricacies, detail, and majesty of the illustrations. This is the inspiration for this instillation.

1.  Use a UHU Glue Sick to randomly glue Old Text Pages to Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Vintage Triptych Florentine.

 

2 1. Once pages are dry use a damp cloth to wipe away excess paper.

32. Add additional pieces of crumpled old text to triptych with a paintbrush and matte medium.

4   3. Once fully dry use a dry brush technique to randomly paint triptych with Antique Gold Acrylic Paint, Quinacridone Nickle Azo Gold Acrylic Paint.

    4. After triptych is dry again use a small plastic spatula to add Ferro Steelblue Texture paste through a Gothic stencil.

6 5. Spray with Seth Apter Izink Spray Honey and while still wet sprinkle with Baked Texture Vintage Beeswax Embossing Powders.

7   6.Cure using a heating tool.

8   7.Add centers to middle of stenciled parts using Ranger         Liquid Pearl Juniper.

9  8. Use Center of GSLC Triptych to trace and cut out image you have prepared to use.

      9. Use Weldbond to add images to center and side panels of GSLC Triptych.

       10. Seal entire piece with Matte Medium.

1   11. Assemble middle portion frame and allow to dry fully.

1   12. When all pieces are dry use metal clamps to secure top portion to bottom portion.

1  13.   Glue two strips of leather around triptych using Weldbond to secure into place.

1  14. Once dry, use an awl to punch holes into the leather and add miniature screws.

1  15. Last step is to add a metal clasp closure.

Some Final Thoughts.

One of my Favorite Winter Song is sung by Tori Amos - "Holly, Ivy and Rose" - Bing video.

Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming
By ancient sibyls sung

A rose doth bear a flower
All in the cold midwinter
And at the midnight hour

And he waits for who to find
The heart she left behind
And he prays she'll find her way
To be his bride someday

Ivy
Of all the trees in the wood
Holly wants/woos the Rose
Holly and the Ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees in the wood
Holly bears the crown
Holly and the Ivy
The running of the deer
For his Rose to bloom
Holly waits every year.

 

 

 

 

Supplies:  GSLC-Vintage Triptych Florentine, Iconic Religious Images of Your Choosing,  Old Text Pages, UHU Glue Stick, Damp Cloth, Matte Medium, Ferro Steelblue Texture Paint, Gothic Stencil, Small Plastic Stencil, Paintbrush, Antique Gold Acrylic Paint, Quinacridone Nickle Azo Gold Acrylic Paint, Seth Apter Izink Spray Honey and Baked Texture Vintage Beeswax Embossing Powders, Heating Tool, Ranger Liquid Pearl Juniper, Pencil, Scissors, Weldbond, Metal Clamps, Strips of Leather, Awl, Miniature Screws, Screwdriver, Metal Clasp Closure

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!

decadent display

Hello everyone, today I am sharing "decadent display" a faux gingerbread village decor piece. This will be my last post as a team member for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. It's been such a pleasure creating for Gina for the past three years. I've truly enjoyed working alongside the many talented designers from the team and have made some special friends. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.

When the holidays wind down, I like to have some pieces of decor that I can leave out through the long cold days of January. I thought it would be fun to create a faux snowy gingerbread village that will last into the new year (and beyond). 

The Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts spool large (coming soon) is the perfect size display base for these GSLC cabana row mini houses. My project uses three of the five houses that come in the set, and I plan on making the two additional houses into "gingerbread house" ornaments for my Christmas tree.

The set of cabana row mini houses contains five different style houses. They arrive flat, with pre-scored lines for easy assembly. The roofs pieces are also scored. For this display, I am using the three smallest houses. 

I measure the outside walls of each house and cut a corresponding piece of dark brown kraft cardstock to match. If you find it easier, you can also trace the gable walls onto your paper and then cut it out. I also cut corresponding papers for each roof. I cut each panel as a separate piece to mimic how an actual gingerbread house would be assembled. Once all of the papers are cut, it is time to draw the facades. 

I use a pencil to draw basic shape outlines for doors and windows then, using a white uniball signo pen, add all the details. I draw different shingle patterns for each house roof. Be sure to edge each panel with a line of white "icing".

While the inked details are drying, partially assemble the chipboard house bases. It is easiest to attach the roof prior to closing up the bottom. This way you can reach into the house and assure that the flaps are secure to the underside of the roof pieces. When the chipboard houses are formed, paint the edges with white acrylic paint or white gesso and allow to dry.

When the white paint has dried, adhere the paper facade pieces to the chipboard house base. White craft glue works well and gives you a little open time to adjust the pieces into place. 

To create the display base, I trace the spool top and bottom onto a piece of white cardstock and cut out the circles. On the opposite sides of these pieces, I attach some patterned tissue paper with collage medium. When the collage medium is dry, I add a layer of vintage collage medium to give the tissue a soft sepia colored finish. The spool core is finished in the same manner. 

After the tissue paper sides with collage medium are completely dry, flip the circle pieces over and attach the cut piece of white cardstock. Arrange the houses and trace the base onto the cardstock. Add texture paste to the areas surrounding the houses and while it is still wet, sprinkle with fine clear glitter for a sparkling snow effect. Allow to dry. 

Attach the spool core to the flat circular pieces with collage medium. Each chipboard circle has an indention where the spool core should be situated. Since the tissue paper  is thin, it allows the indention to show and the core is easily placed central to the circle. Let dry overnight. 

Adhere the "gingerbread houses" to the spool top with white craft glue. I also add a few dyed and glittered sisal trees to create the scene. 

The base of the display contains glittered decorative deer and more of the dyed sisal trees. Place the items along the base and secure with glue, making sure that the composition balances with the houses on the top.

The last step is adding pieces of faux Dresden trim along the edges of the spool top and bottom. I use die cut impresslit pieces that have been rubbed with bronze paint to highlight the embossed designs. 

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by the blog today, I hope that you have been inspired to perhaps create your own decadent display! Each house has the ability to be any style you wish, from traditional to whimsical, let your imagination soar.

I want to thank Gina and the entire team at Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts for the wonderful experience I have had as part of their design team. I could not have asked for a better group of creatives!

life is sweet, enjoy every moment...

Ann

xxx 

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

spool large - coming soon

cabana row mini houses