Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Travel journal (part I)

Hi everyone!
Myry again and today I start with you this big project for summer: a travel journal
We'll make a shaker cover using the "Portal Frame" chipboard and some natural elements like shells
How gorgeous all the natural elements look!!
I hope you are lovers of add charms or rings to the spine
And whit these wonderful chipboards we'll learn to age...
the simplicity of color...
use glitter without fear...
we'll rescue old crayons...
and we'll have a good time!
You've a small list with all the supplies that we need. You've many marine elements that you can choose in the store; you don't have to use the ones in this list obligatorily.
So from this month we start this tutorial. I hope to finish it in two or three posts. 
I'll be happy to answer any questions in the comments. I'll be expecting you!


Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts items used:

Other items used:
Old book cover
Blue stained papers
Scrapbook papers or something else
Brown and gold cardstock, and acetate
2 different fabrics and sewing machine
Die cuts, shaker filler and some embellishments
Natural elements: shells, sand, branches...
Carboard, cutter, scissors, glue, gold eyelets and brads
Brown, cream, blue and crystal effect acrylic paint, blue and purple crayons and gold glitter
Gesso, brush, sponge, scoreboard and crop-a-dile


Thursday, June 24, 2021

Birthday Card Using a Paper Napkin and Metallic Elements

Hello everyone!
Today I am sharing my second post for June and this time, I have a birthday card to share which uses a paper napkin and some metallic embellishments, including one of the birdcages from this post.

 

Introduction and Card Front

This seems to be the busy time of the year for birthdays and so here is my first birthday card of the season.  This one is made using a paper napkin. To use a napkin, separate the top layer from any of the other layers, usually one or two.

Then cut out the part of the napkin you want to use.  I want to use the design on one quarter of the napkin, which measures 6 x 6 inches.

Adhere the napkin to a piece of 6 x 6 inch card using matte gel medium.  The napkin is very fragile and easily tearable so the best way to do this is to cover the card with matte gel medium then carefully place the napkin on the top.  Then to help smooth out the creases without tearing the napkin, place some tin foil or cling film over the top and smooth out the napkin with your fingers.  If you do it this way, you will get a much smoother result.

Make the card base

As the card front is 6 x 6 inches, to make the card base, cut a piece of card that measures 6 x 12 inches.

Fold the card in half along the short side, then using a bone folder, crease the fold.  

Glue the card front to the card base using PVA.

Gold Metallic Elements

As the napkin has a bird on it, I thought I would use one of the birdcage chipboards I heat embossed in this post.  Then to accompany it, I die cut a happy birthday sentiment and heat embossed it with the same embossing powder.

Using tweezers, apply glue to the back of the happy birthday words including the tiny dot above the "i".

At this point, the birdcage can be simply glued to the front of the card but I thought the recipient might want to use the birdcage.  The birdcage is gold embossed on both sides so it could be used as a bookmark or something similar.
Using gold thread, thread the birdcage through and then tie the gold thread around the card front.
Tie the thread on the inside of the card.  Note:  this could be done around the card front instead, before attaching the card front to the card base.  That way the thread would be hidden in between the layers, but I wanted the recipient to be able to remove it easily if they wanted to.
On the outside, the birdcage can be slid up and down the front of the card.

Finishing Touches

I added some gold paint splatters to the front of the card

I edged the card with gold texture paste as a finishing touch.



And that's the finished card ready for posting!


I hope you enjoyed this short tutorial.  Let me know in the comments.

Elle
Empire of the Cat


Project Recipe:

Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set D69C
white card, paper napkin, previously heat embossed birdcage, gold embossing powder, embossing ink, die cut happy birthday words, gold thread, gold paint, gold texture paste, white glue,


Wednesday, June 23, 2021

So Far From Home-A Peek-a-Boo Project

It is hard to believe it has been almost twenty years since I spent a summer in India. To say it was the farthest I have traveled from home would be an understatement. I was a very different person then but this trip was the beginning of my emergence. As I read my journal from this journey I hardly recognize its author. I was full of worry and wonder, wanting to be understood insisting others see my views. I had a more rigorous religion but less sure of my faith. I was hoping for some kind of enlightenment but lessons were much later learned. When all was said and done and the dust settled one phrase lingered, credited to Dame Julian of Norwich, "All Shall be well, all shall be well, all manner of things should be well" I have never felt so lost or alone in my life as the time I spent in India, but, I survived and came out the other side. I had never traveled to a third world country before, now known as a Developing Nation. India is considered part of an Eastern World Philosophy and the United Sates is of a Western World Philosophy. I had never seen such poverty or enchanting beauty in my small county boy world. The colors of India are vivid  and vivacious, complimentary and complicated. The buildings are ancient and antiquated with intricate wooden doors and intriguing hardware. These are the inspirations for this artwork .

1.  Go Through Your Stash of Embossing Powders and Select Bright Complimentary Colors. I used Pink, Green, Orange, Gold, on One Mandela and Blue, Orange, Red, Gold on Another.

2.  It is Time Consuming But Necessary to do Each Concentric Circle and Layer One at a Time. I Went Color Embossing Powder Largest Circle Then Gold Embossing Powder Until I Reached the Smallest Center Circle.

3.  Set Each Layer of Embossed Circle using a Heat Tool.

4.  Layer Two Circles at a Time and Glue Together with Weldbond, Allowing to Dry Completely Weighted Down. Keep Stacking and Gluing Until You Reach the Center.

5.  Use Pastes and Acrylic Paints to Randomly Paint GSLC Hinges.

6.  Sprinkle With Nutmeg and Chili Powder.

7.  Spray with Cheap Hair Spray.

8.  Sprinkle Tarnished Bronze Embossing Powder and Set With a Heat Tool.

9.  Take Apart 12x15 Frame and Build a Layer of Cardboard to Build Your Assemblage.

10.                Use Black Acrylic Paint on Gypsy Soul-Moroccan Tile-Foam Stamp and Stamp on Top of Indian Print Paper.

11.                Decide on Lay Out of Design.

12.                I Decided to Add an Additional Layer of Texture and Cut a Piece of Fiberglass Screening and Laid it on Top of Stamped Indian Print Paper.

13.                The Hinges Needed Additional Layers and Definition so I Added Goldleaf Rub'nBuff.

14.                To Deepen Their Textures and Interest Even More I Added Additional Acrylic Paints.

15.                  Use Scissors to Cut Foam Adhesive Squares to Attach Your GSLC Prepared Pieces.


Some Final Thoughts.

This project like my time spent in India so many summers ago has layers and unexpected challenges along the way. I know that many wanted me to come back from India a changed man-maybe with a decision to become a missionary or to have a deeper longing to serve the needy. I did not come back noticeably different from my departure. I was worn out and weary. My eyes had seen too much and my senses were over stimulated, I needed time to soak it all in. I will never be a Gandhi nor a Mother Teresa, their shoes and souls are too big for me to fill. This recollection could cause me to feel inadequate and defeated, but I am of the firm believe we all have life to live, a path to follow, a way to interact in our own neck of the woods treating all we see with love and kindness.

This philosophy is reflected in Mother Teresa's Quotes: "There is no great things, only small things with great Love. Happy are those." "Peace begins with a smile." "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." "Spread love everywhere. let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." "Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin" 

Mahatma Gandhi has quotes that also reflect my philosophy: "An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind." "Where there is love there is life." " In a gentle way you can shake the world." "The future depends on what we do in the present." Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed." 

I am a simple man with simple pleasures. I enjoy solitude found in uncrowded places. I am a man of a steady faith but not tied to any organized religion. I see beauty everywhere as look open eyes and a grateful spirit. I will be forever changed because of my summer spent in India, I have seen the Taj Mahal; taken an elephant ride in an ancient encampment. I have taken many motorized rickshaw rides weaving in and out of crowed Mumbai streets, maneuvered my way through magnificent market places, feasting on the fruits and exotic dishes found there. I have beheld ancient relics and new modern heirlooms manufactured using old world techniques. I love all the places I have been allowing my soul to wander and expand, my experiences have enriched me and made me a better man. No matter how far I go I will always look forward to the place I call home for it is where my heart lies and is kept.       

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Mandala Frame 1Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Mandala Frame 2Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Mandala 1Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Circle Frame TracyGypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Circle Doily SetGypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Wooden Medallions 1Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Hinges Shape SetGypsy Soul-Moroccan Tile-Foam Stamp, Assortment of Embossing Powders, Embossing Ink Roller, Heat Tool, Weldbond, Acrylic Paints-Yellow, Brown, Black, Neon, Green, Copper,  Red Oxide Paste, Thick Mud- Brown, Cream Wax-Brown, Nutmeg, Chili Powder,  Cheap Hair Spray, Paintbrush, Indian Print Paper, 12x15 inch Frame, Fiberglass Screening, Goldleaf Rub'nBuff, Foam Adhesive Squares, Scissors

 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!