Altered Relations-A Peek-a-Boo Project

I’m one of many who love finding old pictures at antique stores, online, or if we are lucky maybe our family’s attic. These often have no known name and become adopted as our “Found Relatives”. These are the inspirations for this instillation with a Halloween Twist.

1.  Start by making Photocopies of “Found Relatives” and Transparency of Halloween Masks.

 

 

2.  Alter Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Lace Frames using Embossing Ink with a Roller Applicator and Allure Oil Rubbed Bronze and Hammered Metal Embossing Powders, Curing with a Heating Tool.

 

3.  Once Cooled Add Patina Using Acrylic Paint-Copper, Black, Quinacridone Nickle Azo Gold with a Paintbrush.

 

4.   Place Halloween Masks Over “Found Relatives” transforming them into “Altered Relations”. For this first go around, I taped them to photocopies and printed again.

 

5.  I traced around inner circle of GSLC Lace Frames and glued “Altered Relations” to back before gluing down to red cardstock using Weldbond.

 

6.  I dried them flat and was very surprised and disappointed when I looked at them the next day. The glue had bled the photocopies and they were no longer useful.

7.  So, the mother of invention, out of necessity, I had to come up with a second plan.
8.  With new photocopies of “Found Relatives” and new transparency masks, I used Glossy Accents to attach the masks.

9.  Once dry I used a sharpie to trace the new “Altered Relations” and glued them to the center of the GSLC Lace Frames.
10.                Once they were dried flat, I added a layer of Glossy Accent to make it appear as if the GSLC Lace Frames has a Glass Insert.
11.                Final step was to fussy cut GSLC Lace Frames from the Red Card stock.

Some Final Thoughts.
Some projects turn out just as we planned them, others are happy surprises, this one was neither. I am still not thrilled with the outcome but leave it here as a reminder to “walk away and look at it again through fresh eyes.” I think the process and technique has great potential and I am proud of myself for persevering. Much like our genetic families and found families we must take the bad with the good, the easy with the hard. I by far know that I am not perfect and have many idiosyncrasies that some may find annoying, but I am thankful for those who show me grace and companionship. In this season of wearing masks and pretending to be something we are not may we find solace and solitude in those we have chosen to love and those who walk beside us.
“If we wear a mask for too long, there will come a time when you cannot remove it without removing your face.”
-Matshona Dhilwayo

 

 

 

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Lace Frame, Photocopies of “Found Relatives”. Transparency of Halloween Masks, Pencil, Red Card-stock, Scissors, Embossing Ink with a Roller Applicator, Allure Oil Rubbed Bronze and Hammered Metal Embossing Powder, Heating Tool, Acrylic Paint-Copper, Black, Quinacridone Nickle Azo Gold, Paintbrush, Weldbond, Glossy Accent, Sharpie
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!