My Coin Collection-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 

Many of us may have had a coin collection of our own or knew someone who collected coins. I've never been a big coin collector myself, but both my momma and my older brother were. When both died I inherited part of their collections, I have them stored safely away but wish I had the fascination with them that they did. When I traveled to different countries, I was intrigued with how different some of their coins were and how colorful their paper money was. These are the inspirations for this artwork.

1.  Gather Your Supplies

2.  Use a Spray Bottle to Moisten The Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Artist Trading Coins.

3.  Use a variety of Embossing Folders to add texture to GSLC Artist Trading Coins.

4.  Add tissue papers to the embossed coins by first bushing them with Matte Gel Varnish***In hindsight I should have done this before I put coins through the Sizzix BIGkick Machine ***

5.  Once Tissue Paper were on GSLC Coins, I put them back thorough the Sizzix BIGkick Machine.

6.  Use variety of Acrylic Paints to define patterns and add patina to your coins.

7.  To further emphasize patterns, use a variety of inks and dyes to enhance their patina.

8. Seal Everything with Matte Gel Medium   

                  

      

9.  That's it an absolutely Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Type of Project. They can be added to Mixed Media Assemblages or Mounted into Shadowbox Frames.

 Some Final Thoughts 

We were not a rich family growing up so I was always impressed with my momma's frugality. I remember her faithfully going to our small town bank and asking if they had any two dollar bills or Susan B Anthony Coins. She liked them because they were both so unique and different from other USA coins and currency. It has taken me this long to realize that's why my momma loved me so much. I turned out differently than they had hoped I would be but they accepted me for who I was and allowed me to flourish in my own way and time.

"Failure is Impossible" "Independence is Happiness"-Susan B. Anthony

"Keep your coins, I want change"-Bansky

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Artist Trading Coins, Embossing Folders, Spray Bottle of Water, Matte Gel Varnish, Tissue Papers, Sizzix BIGkick Machine, Variety Of Acrylic Paints, Variety of Inks and Dyes,

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!

 

Here Comes The Circus

Happy Saturday, everyone! I have another circus-related project to share with you today, a giraffe wagon from the parade. The Great Circus Parade ran from 1963 to 2009 and recreated how people in the late 19^th and early 20th century gathered along stops on a circus's route to see whether it was worth attending. This little guy's wagon is made from a GSL Bagatelle Box 3 by 3 Inch, here's how I pulled it together. 

I started by making a paper template of the top of the box where the giraffe's head would need to poke through. It took a few tries until I was completely satisfied with the location of the hole I was going to cut.

Once I was happy with the placement, I used the template to mark the opening on the chipboard and used an x-Acto knife and straight edge to cut the hole.

At this point, I assembled the floor and walls of the box wagon, painted the exterior red and added a cheerful blue check from Graphic 45's Mother Goose collection to the back wall. I used a piece of adhesive cork paper to mimic sawdust for the floor.

The roof of the wagon got glued in place and a few gold dresden and flatback embellishments were added. The wagon's bars are lengths of dowel sticks painted yellow and glued in place. The wheels are GSL Wheels 1.5 Inch Straight painted black and decorated with flatback star studs.

The Circus Procession banner is from Graphic 45's Le Cirque collection.

 Thanks for stopping by!

GSL Products Used

Bagatelle Box 3 by 3 Inch

Wheels 1.5 Inch Straight

Other Supplies Used

Tacky Glue

Acrylic Paint

Schleich Giraffe

Graphic 45 Mother Goose collection

Graphic 45's Le Cirque collection

Adhesive cork paper

Wooden dowels

Flatback star studs

 

Travel journal (part IV)

Hi everyone!

Myry again and let's finish our journal!

We're going to do the closing. You need a piece of fabric, a piece of thin cardboard (2x20cm in my case but you can make it longer and wider if you want) and a piece of scrap paper

Mark the center of the cardboard and round one of the corners

Cover the cardboard with the piece of scrap paper

Copy the shape of the carboard on a piece of thin paper...

...and stick it to the piece of fabric, cut the fabric around the paper

Now is the time to decorate the piece of fabric. Instead of sewing as on the cover I decided to use some strips of gold cardsotck

Stick the fabric to the piece of cardboard

Sew (or stick) the corner without rounding to the cover

Put the round corner where you want to place the buckle for the closure

Mark the place where you're going to put the buckle

Use another piece of thin cardboard (2x5'5cm in my case) and another piece of fabric

I've sewn it at 5mm from the edge making sure that there is space for the closure strip to enter without problems, and to cover the seam I also used a gold strips

You can make a closure with two ribbons if it's easier for you!

Behind the front and back cover stick 2 scrap papers (the size of your covers) and make pockets using 2 pieces of lace, fabric...

Stick them once you've sewn everything you want to the covers, you can also decorate the edges of the structure with more gold cardstock

It's always better to decorate the spine before sticking the structure but with this type of spines it can be done at any time. First find the center of the spine and make a hole at the height you prefer

Use another piece of thin cardboard (1'5x4cm in my case) and another piece of fabric

Once it's dry fold it by less than half and sew the top piece leaving the bottom one open

Put a brad on top and put it in the hole in the spine. You can cover the brad legs with a piece of paper or an embellishment. Now you can go through the open space any hanging decoration

And now we're going to do the decoration of the cover. Use the "Portal Frame" to make a shaker window. Paint it with blue and brown paint to give it a rusty touch

Cut a piece of round cardboard the same size as the round part of the chipboard

Paint it the same colors, especially the inner and outer edges

Put gold eyelets in the holes of the chipboard

Cut a round piece of scrap paper and glue it under the round cardboard. Stick all the elements you want and put the shaker filler. 

Stick a round piece of acetate on top to close the window...

...and before sticking the chipboard on top you must stick more elements (if you want)

As the closure strip is higher than the cover itself, use cardboard so that the shaker is straight

Once it's dry decorate the shaker with the rest of the elements such as sand, shells...

And so we finish this tutorial!!

Thank you so much for joining me here!!! It has been a very interesting year, working with these great chipboards and be with this fantastic DT. Please, be aware with everything that is published on the blog and on the FB group. 

Thanks a lot for reading to the end.

I wish you a good summer!!!!

Myry says goodbye for a while!!

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts items used:

Portal Frame

Trading Coin Covers Under The Sea

Compass

Ring Stains

Wander Title

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