Hunting Unicorns-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 

A few months ago we sold our 1930's brick Cape Cod cottage it had a certain charm but it was deteriorating and needed a major over hall that we were unable to provide or commit to. So, we made the decision in the middle of my craziest school year of my 32 year career to put it on the market. We went looking for our unicorn, a condo closer to my work, with no steps, located on ground level. We sought this as there were bidding wars for almost any property on the market. Our house sold within three days and we found our unicorn in less than a week. We felt as if the universe listened to our pleas and gave us more than we anticipated. I'll write more about that at the end. One of the bonuses were amazing windows that brought in tons of natural light, our cottage was dark and dreary with no overhead lighting. This natural light is featured in my tutorial pictures below, and the inspirational of this art work along with unicorns.    

1.  Gather Your Materials.

2.   Decide of Layout.

3.  I Found this Magazine at the Bookstore and it was Full of Inspirations.

4.  There was an Article  About "The Hunt of the Unicorn" Seven Tapestries that Reside at the Met Cloisters, in New York City. I have had the Privilege of Seeing Them in Person.

5.   Choose the Portions of The Magazine Pictures you Want for Your Background of the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Arch Top Triptych 8 Inch-I Used Middle Frame Only, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Triptych-Arch Top-I Used the Two Outside Frames Only.

6.  Paint the Back Part of the Frames with Golden Acrylics-Fluorescent Blue Titan Green,  and Prussian Blue Hue Randomly Mostly Around the Edges.

7.  Make a wash of Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold Acrylic Paint and Matte Varnish to "Age" the Brighter Colors.

8.  Use UHU Gluestick to add Background Pictures to Painted Frames.

9.  Use Oil Pastels to Color Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Oak Scribble Frame, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Queen Anne's Lace .

10.                Use Golden Acrylics-Fluorescent Yellow and Orange, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Van Dyke Brown, and Copper to Paint Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Bird on a Swing Shape Set.

11.                Assemble Your Collage Using Golden Heavy Gel         Matte Medium.

12.                Spray With Hairspray and Sprinkle with Cinnamon             and Chili Powder.

13.                Add a Dusting of Blue Glitter.

14.                Once Fully Dry Use a Scrip Stamp to Add Wendy            Vecchi Red Geranium Embossing Powder in Random          Area of the Assemblage. 

15.                Use Golden Heavy Gel Matte Medium to Attach the           Top Frames to the Back Frame Portions.

16.                Hold Tightly Into Place with Clamps.

     17.                Add Dots of Liquid Pearls-Juniper to the Borders of                 the frames.

             

18.                Once Fully Dry add a Coat of Matte Varnish to  Seal Everything in Place and Give Your Artwork a Uniform Professional Look.

19.                This Triptych can be Hinged Together with Small Metal Hinges and Microscrews or By Using Cloth Tape. I will be Using Mine as Book Cover Panels

 

Some Final Thoughts.

Our Condo Unicorn is not only on the ground  floor but a rancher, end unit, less than five miles from the middle school where I teach Math and Science. There are only fifty-five units and its hidden a bit off the beaten path in a cookie cutter community of Single Family Homes. My drive to work in on a windy country road surrounded by open fields and forested patches, with a meandering brook flowing under a single lane bridge. Yet, within the same five miles in the other direction all of our favorite restaurants and shoppes. We feel truly blessed by our immensely rare creature.

The Article  in Cabana, describe the Met Cloisters, as a "bucolic haven only a few miles away from the hustle and Bustle of Mid-Town." It is where you can go see the exquisite, well preserved, sets of the late Medieval tapestry, "The Hunt of the Unicorn." I have been fortunate enough to see these magnificent enchantments in person. I am intrigued by their intricate weaving and hidden details. They are magical and transport you to a time long forgotten. I want our condo to be such a place.

Unicorn by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

My friends say I should not believe

in things that can't be true.

But my heart believes one must exist

as real as me or you.

So don't listen to those who swear

that things they cannot see aren't there.

I am a unicorn, free and wild,

and someday I will find a child.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Arch Top Triptych 8 Inch, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Triptych-Arch Top, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Bird on a Swing Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Oak Scribble Frame, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Queen Anne's Lace, Magazine Pages of Unicorn Tapestries, Art Scraps of Images of Your Choice,  Pencil, Scissors, Paintbrushes, Golden Acrylics-Fluorescent Blue, Yellow and Orange, Titan Green, Prussian Blue Hue, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Van Dyke Brown, and Copper, Embossing Powders-Seth Apter-Weathered Wood and Gold, Crushed Copper, Wendy Vecchi Red Geranium, Embossing Ink Dabber, Embossing Ink Pad, Heating Tool, Script Stamp, Golden Heavy Gel Matte Medium, Matte Varnish. Blue Glitter, Hairspray, Spices. Oil Pastels, UHU Gluestick

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 making.

The King of Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! When I found this happy little turkey figure at my local farm store I knew he needed to be the Grand Marshal of the Thanksgiving day parade. He's gonna have a role in the centerpiece of our table on Thursday.

The first thing to do was figure out how to make him a float to ride on. The small box I used is from the GSL Mini Shadow Box Set and the larger one is a GSL Store Cabinet Base (available over at Alpha Stamps) that were easily assembled with tacky glue.

The paper on the small box is from Basic Grey Curio and the lovely autumn leaves are from BoBunny's Dreams of Autumn. I painted a set of GSL 1.5 Inch Straight Wheels and glued them in place, using yellow brads for the hubs.

Pumpkins, squash and gourds were made by painting dried putka pods which are sometimes used for vase filler. I also made a few polymer clay pumpkins.

I wanted yellow flowers for this project and ended up painting some white ones I had on hand. Autumn leaves were punched from colored sheets of cardstock.

The King of Thanksgiving needs a crown and I just happened to bring a tiny one home from our vacation in Portugal. It is 'interesting' to vacation with me... this was picked up on a walking food tour. “Hey, I'll catch up with you. I'll only be a minute in this very cool shop that nobody else wants to visit”.

Gluing the pumpkins and squash in place.

Here's a look at the rear of the float acknowledging it's sponsor. The Be Thankful sentiment is from Graphic 45's Time to Fluorish collection.

The 'headlights' are acrylic pumpkins. Happy Thanksgiving!

GSL Products Used

Mini Shadowbox Set

Store Cabinet Base

Wheels 1.5 Inch Straight

Other Supplies Used

Tacky glue

Acrylic paint

Basic Grey Curio

BoBunny Dreams of Autumn

Graphic 45 Time to Fluorish

Colored cardstock

Dried putka pods

Polymer clay

Brads

Paper flowers

Schleich Farm World turkey figurine

Miniature crown

 

Woodland Creatures Upcycle-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 About a year ago I did Autumnal Animals Assemblage Blogpost and this is closely related to that offering. I grew up in a frugal home and we were taught "waste not, want not" and most things probably could be used again. Many of the Pictorial Papers I used in my hand-bound art journals come with sets of stickers I rarely know how to use, as is the case with Graphic 45 Woodland Friends Collection Pack. These are the inspiration for this artwork.

1.  Gather Supplies. I am Using "Free" Sticker Sheets that Came with Graphic 45 Woodland Friends Collection Pack, and Stamperia Spring Botanic Cardstock as It is Back Portion of Cover Sheet Both  Are not Useful in my Hand-Bound Art Journals.

2.  Cut out Strips of Stamperia Spring Botanic Cardstock,  They will Become the Back of the GSLC Small Tags Set.

3.  Glue on Using a UHU Gluestick and Rubbing with Deli Paper, Allowing to Dry Fully.

4.  Choose Stickers from the Sheets that Came with Graphic 45 Woodland Friends Collection Pack.

5.  Make Miniature Collages on Front of Each GSLC Small Tags Set.

6.  Once Fully Dry Spritz With Water From a Spray Bottle Before Using Tim Holtz Lumber Embossing Folder in  Your Sizzix Big Shot.

7.  Once the Wood Grain is to Your Liking Use a Variety of Ink Pads to Add Patina and Interest to Your GSLC Small Tags Set.

8.  Add Further Patina and Texture Using  Folk Art Painted Finishes Moss and Rust and a Thin Plastic Spatula.

9.  Allow to Dry Fully, Then Seal Everything in With Matte Varnish.

Some Final Thoughts.

Woodland Animals-Meish Goldish

Woodland animals live in the woods, with plenty of trees in their neighborhoods. The chipmunk, opossum, squirrel and raccoon, roam the woods all night and noon. The bear and fox, deer and moose, all woodland creatures on the loose. Near shore and Ponds, and in the water are the beavers, muskrats, and otter. Woodland Animals are up in the tree, Owls and birds you're sure to see. Woodland animals like their view, as a woodland creature, wouldn't you?

 Supplies: Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Small Tag Set, Graphic 45 Woodland Friends Sticker Sheets, Decorative Cardstock-Stamperia Spring Botanic is What I Used, UHU Gluestick, Sizzix Big Shot, Water Spray Bottle, Tim Holtz Lumber Embossing Folder, Variety of Ink Pads, Folk Art Painted Finishes Moss and Rust, Thin Plastic Spatula, Matte Varnish

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!