Frozen in Time-A Peek-a-Boo Project

This time of year with the temperatures dropping, and the skies deepening, with the threat of winter storms, I wanted to put a romantic spin to it an imagine our perfect kind of snow day. This is the inspiration for this artwork.

As introverts the thought of getting snowed in is a tantalizing treat. Even much more now that we have moved into a condo community and not responsible for shoveling our long driveway, or sidewalks. We still must excavate our snow-encased cars eventually to go to work. 

But I digress, A perfect snow day is one where neither of us have to work, their is food in the fridge, electricity is heating our home and we have list of shows to binge watch. It’s always to have a sweet snack nearby, warm cookies from the oven, and a Keurig collection of coffees and teas. Half and half to soothe it just so. If we could choose the setting of this enchantment it would be in a cabin in the woods.We are simple people, and love simple pleasures, how about you?

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Paint Two of the GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups with White Gesso
   
3. Paint the Other Two GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups with Turquoise Stencil Butter.
   
4. Spray with Cheap Hairspray and add Iridescent Glitter to White Ones and Blue Glitter to Turquoise Ones.
   
   
5. Spray Again to Adhere Glitter.
6. Trace Images with a Pencil.
   
7. Cut Out and Glue to Back of GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups.
8. Glue and Add top Portion of GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups and Secure Tightly, Pressing Down with a Weighted Object.
   
9. Once Fully Dry add Ranger Glossy Accents to Clock Face and Allow to Dry Overnight.
   
10. Once Dry add a Wash of Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold Golden Paint to the Edges.

Final Thoughts:

I’ve said it many times before that Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost is one of my favorite poems and t would be perfectly joined with these art pieces. 

But I’ll Close with this song by one of my favorite bands, Over the Rhine-“Let it Fall”

Have you been trying too hard

Have you been holding too tight

Have you been worrying too much lately

All night

Whatever we've lost

I think we're gonna let it go

Let it fall

Like snow

'Cause rain and leaves

And snow and tears and stars

And that's not all my friend

They all fall with confidence and grace

So let it fall, let it fall

Have you been carin' too much

How this one ends

Y'know it's not the kind of fight

That you lose or WIN

When you're down so low

You feel the imprint of the ground

On skin

Look around

Breathe in

'Cause rain and leaves

And snow and tears and stars

And that's not all my friend

They all fall with confidence and grace

So let it fall, let it fall

Supplies:  GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups , White Gesso Paint, Turquoise Stencil Butter, Paintbrush, WeldBond Glue, Blue Glitter, Iridescent Glitter, Cheap Hairspray, Manipulated and Printed Images of Your Choosing, Pencil, Scissors, Rangers Glossy Accents

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!

Momma Memories-A Peek-a-Boo Project

It has been over a year since they have sold our family homestead in the foothills of Pennsylvania. I am hoping to finally return and bid my final farewell this summer. We have not traveled out of Maryland since March of 2020. I know many others have traveled, taken vacations, and resumed a normal way of venturing to and fro. We have never felt trapped at our home but have enjoyed the moments of peace and rest. Our home is our refuge as much was my childhood home. My momma always said anyone was welcomed if they did not mind the mess. Our house wasn't messy but it was well lived in. It is hard to imagine the lives our parents had before we knew them. Last June an envelope arrived unexpectedly from a dear cousin whose handwriting is surprisingly similar to my sweet momma's who left us in November of 2018 to be with dad and brother who passed away years earlier to be joined by my sister is December of 2019. She did not know me for the last years of her life as she had Alzheimer's and it had been many years longer since I had received a handwritten letter from her. Within that envelope was a treasure trough of family photographs. They are the inspiration for this Mother's Day artwork.

1.  Make copies of Treasured Family Photographs you wish to use.

2.  Use front portion of Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Alarm Clock Frame Ups to decide what part of the pictures you wish to frame.

3.  Trace with a pencil and cut out carefully.

4.  Decide on Embossing Powers you want to use to highlight each photograph.

5.  Randomly apply embossing ink on front portion of GSLC Alarm Clock Frames. Cure using a heating tool. I never try to fully cover a chippie as I find it is more interesting if left with empty spaces.  

6.  Fill in empty spaces with TH Distress Stains.

7.  Cut Out Chosen portion of photographs and glue to back of embossed GSLC Alarm Clock Frame.

8.  Next glue prepared front portion of GSLC Alarm Clock frame to the back portion of frames using Weldbond.

9.  Once parts are lined up hold securely in place with clamps.

10.                Once fully dry add a layer of Glossy Accent Clear to the inside of the alarm clock face. Allow to dry fully.

11.                Find an appropriate frame to add this trio of momma clocks. I am using a wooden box top.

12.                Print saved handwritten letters from loved ones. They will be glued as a wallpaper to the inside of wood box top I found.

13.                Use Acrylic Paints to paint the rim of found wooden box top.

14.                Once fully dry add clock trio

15.                If you wish to make this a hanging assemblage add a bit of ribbon and a few decorative upholstery tacks.

 

Some Final Thoughts.

At my momma's funeral it was so strange as everyone who knew her called her "June", "Gram", "Grammy" or like me "Momma or Mom" her obituary had her full given name Mary Angus June Lowe. No one, not ever her family called her Mary. Obituaries are so cold and final I think our passing should be a celebration of what we brought to the world, how we made it a bit brighter by being a room enhancer or how we tried to care for those who had fallen. One person left this message for us about our mom " June was our girls' Sunday School Teacher. She faithfully taught hundreds of children over the years. She was a hard working woman, who cared for everyone. If you needed something and she could do it, she did. June will live on in the hearts of many she served. It could have been a meal, produce from her garden, or a kind word. I know she struggled with remembering. However she has a sense of peace when she sang hymns. Those songs were embedded in her soul. So I shall think of June singing and serving with the angels. June was our dear friend and neighbor." May others have such sweet words to say about me and may I reflect all the wonderful things my sweet momma taught me. I hope I make her proud by the way I walk through this world.

 Supplies: Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Alarm Clock Frame Ups, Selected Copies of Treasured Family Photographs, Pencil, Embossing Powders of your Choice-Iced Resin German Silver, Turquoise, Allure Hammered Metal, Rangers Brick, Heating Tool, TH Distress Stains-Broken China, Bundled Sage, Crushed Olive, Scissors, Weldbond, Clamps, Glossy Accent Clear, Repurposed Wooden Box Top, Copies of Handwritten Letters, Acrylic Paints, Ribbon or String, Upholstery Tacks

 

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!

Take Time to Soak it In

We are in the month of Thanksgiving we are reminded and encouraged to be grateful for all our many blessings. To wake up each morning and to be given the opportunity to do what we love, if but for a moment, should not go unnoticed. I am so thankful for my art and it has brought me through many a dark night. I also love how a good movie can give us escape from the burdens of our everyday lives. This is the inspiration for my current blog post, "Take Time to Soak It In."

1.  Cut apart GSLC Alarm Clock Frame Ups

2.  Use WOW Embossing Pad to add Emerald Creek Allure Oil Rubbed Bronze, Hammered Metal, Charred Gold Embossing Powders to the GSLC Alarm Clocks.

3.  Cure with Heating Tool.
4.  Add patina with various Rub’n Buff and a paintbrush.

5.  Choose and print images and transparencies for your GSCL Alarm Clocks.

6.  Adhere Transparency to image with double sided tape.

7.  Cut out pictures and glue to inside of GSLC Alarm Clocks.

8.  Glue Front portion of GSLC Alarm Clock into place.

9.  Use clamps to hold securely in place.

10.                Once dry fill in frame with DecoArt One Step Crackle gel.

11.                When fully dry use DecoArt Antiquing cream and a paintbrush to fill in the cracks.
12.                Take off excess Antiquing Cream with a damp cloth.
13.                Spray with hairspray or a matte spray to seal your art pieces.
14.                Your GSLC Alarm Clocks are now ready to use as you wish.
Some final thoughts.
From Harry Potter “You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” I was born to a humble home and have found my way in a world that is most different than I was born, but I like to say, “You can take the boy out of the country, but not the county out of the boy.”
From Alice in Wonderland, “There is no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then…” So many people let their past define them but the only day we are promised is the one we have been given, I like to say, “Live and let Live”
From the Wizard of Oz, “Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true.” I’ve always had an optimistic personality and have been thankful to see so many of my dreams come true. I never want to loose hope in better days and the fact that all sorrows will one day pass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies:  Soul Laser Cuts-Alarm Clock Frame Ups [D72C], Emerald Creek Allure Oil Rubbed Bronze, Hammered Metal, Charred Gold Embossing Powders, WOW Embossing Pad, Heating Tool, Rub’n Buff, Paintbrush, Printed Images, Printed Transparencies, Double Sided Tape, Weldbond, Clamps, DecoArt One Step Crackle Gel, DecoArt Antiquing Cream
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!