The Journey is the Destination - Mixed Media Card

Hello again friends!

It's Elle again with another fun project using some cool chipboard elements to make a card suitable for many occasions or for any gearheads out there!

 

LET'S GET STARTED - TRUCK PAINT JOB

Firstly, give the edges a wipe down with a slightly damp cloth or paper to remove the residue left by laser cutting. Then paint the chipboards with a layer of white gesso followed by a layer of blue acrylic paint.  For this rusty truck effect, I am using two different paint colours - blue and jade.

After the paint was dry, I added the metallic paint using a sponging technique, except I used a paper towel, which works just as well.

Keep adding more paint until you are happy with the effect - make sure you let all the layers dry in between applications!

THE BACKGROUND

For the background, I selected some gelli printed backgrounds I made last September.  This technique creates a peeled paint/weathered wood effect and you can read more about that technique on my blog as it's not covered in this tutorial, but if you have a gel plate you might want to try it out as it creates a very cool effect and it's really fun to do!  At the time, I made nearly 20 of these backgrounds using this technique!

I pulled together all the bits and pieces I wanted to use on the card to see how they would work together and snapped a photo of it for reference later!

BACKGROUND DETAILING

Then I cut the card down to size - 8.5 x 5.5 inches - and covered it with transparent gesso

Once the gesso was dry (only a few minutes) I added some paint splatters and brush-strokes around the edges just for some extra interest and texture.

Using a blending brush, I inked the edges with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink to make it look a little more vintage.

I added some random stamping in the lighter areas using some light grey Archival Ink

I selected a co-ordinating cardstock for the card base and adhere the background to it.

TRUCK DETAILING

Before adding the truck to the card, I decided to add a layer of cardstock underneath the chipboard to show through the cutouts, and to add some clear acetate for the windows using some old packaging.

This particular bit of acetate has a small crack in it and I like how it looks like the truck has a crack in the windscreen!  I also painted the windows with some diluted fluid acrylic paint to tint them a little.

TRUCK CARD ASSEMBLY LINE

Time to assemble the card - refer back to the reference photo if needed - and adhere all the elements in place on the card front.  I added some touches of colour on the girl and woman's hair and shoes and stockings, added some ephemera snippets and word stickers and a stamped quote to the centre of the gear frame and the card was complete!

Here's a couple of close ups so you can better see the rusty effect

Till next time,


Elle
Empire of the Cat

PROJECT RECIPE:

GSL Cuts - Truck 1 C25C,Chain and Gears Frame D20H
Tim Holtz baseboard dolls, word stickers, Distress Markers, Distress Ink, Snippets, Stuff 2 Say Stamp set CMS110
Finnabair - Azure, Jade acrylic paint, Sepia, Turquoise liquid acrylic, White Gesso, Transparent Gesso
Jane Davenport - Copper metallic acrylic
Archival Ink - Watering Can
Gina K cardstock
Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive
From Stash: gel printed backgrounds, acetate from cake box, blending brush

Dragonfly Altoids Mixed Media Book Cover By Ginny Nemchak

Hey there Paper Peeps. Ginny here to share a great little mixed media project I created with the Altoids Book Cover and layers and layers of chippies from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts and oodles of mixed media supplies.

What's great about this cover is it's like working with a mini canvas. Also is realllly thick so there's no need to worry about sprays and paints and gels. I really went at it with every supply I had I think and it's still nice and sturdy with absolutely no warping. To create a nice base I used some texture paste and a brick wall stencil to add dimension. After giving all the elements a coat of gesso I decided on the arrangement and glued it all in place. I used just about all my sprays and mists to create a very mottled effect. For the bloby areas I took the sprayer out of the bottle and dabbed it on for a more opaque effect.

I used the Chains & Gears Frame snipped in half to give me pieces for the front and back. These were given a layer of Steel Luxe paint.

 



There is an additional gear from the Steampunk Shapes Set tucked under the wing from the Dragonfly.  Itty bitty micro beads for accent and a large bling jewel.

I used some washi tape on the Altoids tin so it would be neutral and give your eye someplace to rest between all the patterns.  Before adhering the cover I added pretty dyed silk ribbon to tie a simple loopy bow.

The back has the same elements and finishes.

This is a better angle to see the layers and shimmer from the sprays.  Those leaves are from the Fanciful Elements set.

~Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Supplies~

Chain & Gear Frame

Butterflies and Dragonflies

Altoids Book Cover ( coming soon)

Steampunk Shapes Set

Fanciful Elements

Okay that's all for me wishing all of you a happy and productive day with lots of time to be creative : ) G



Steampunk Inspired Hello Card

Hey there Peeps! Ginny here and I'm dropping in with a very Steampunk inspired greeting card and a Snapguide Tutorial so you can see the steps I took to create this project.  First the finished project....

I had so much fun creating this card that was inspired by the Chain & Gear Frame.  And with just a quick coat of gold paint and white gel pen it coordinates perfectly with the patterned papers from BoBunny's Somewhere In Time.

I used the frame to create a nice focal point with the sticker and die cut sentiment.

This card is finished inside with coordinating papers.

Matching flowers and simple but still pretty burlap bow with twine to anchor the corner.

Finishing the Chain Link Panel in white helps to add a nice graphic impression and works well between the busy patterned layers. The gear on the frame were finished in white as well.

Adding spacers between the layers really adds a lot of dimension and gives this project a nice weight.

Please enjoy this Snapguide tutorial I've prepared so you can see the steps to creating this project...
Check out How to Create a Steampunk Card W/ Gypsy Soul and BoBunny by Ginny Nemchak on Snapguide.



Okay that's all for me. Wishing all of you a happy and productive day with lots of time to be creative : ) G

Family Heritage Photo Frame by Kim and a Patriotic Layout by Donna

First up today is Kim, with an awesome heritage styled altered frame.

Hi Friends! Today I would like to share with you my Family Heritage Picture Frame. I have this photo showing four generations of my family, with my Great-Great Grandparents in the front, my Great Grandmother in the back left and my Grandmother in the back right. The baby in the photo is my mother. This was taken around 1934.  I wanted to feature this photo and Gina had such lovely pieces for me to use to make this special frame, as this is the only family photo like this that I have.

 The Art Deco Borders & Corners were perfect to add to this frame to give it the heritage style that I was going for. I embossed them with some Stampendous Shabby Ivory embossing powder.  Below you can also see one of the wooden charms from Gina's Store that I have used.  I thought that the word "memories" was apropos.

Below I have used the antique bike, and keeping in the color theme embossed it with more of the shabby white embossing powder, with just a touch of some gold to make it stand out.

Finally, here is another shot of the art deco corners around the photo and on the top of the frame you can see the border. I just love how they have framed out my special photo.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you will check out these goodies in Gina's Store.

Gina's Designs Items Used

Art Deco Border and Corners

Antique Bike Set

Wooden Charm - Memories

Other Items Used

Laces and Trims from MissGardenGrove & Lavish Laces

Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

Stampendous Embossing Powders

Buttermilk Americana Paint

Next up is Donna, one of our new DT members!

Hi everyone,  I'm Donna, and this is my first project for Gina's Designs! I am so grateful for this opportunity to create beautiful things!  I am really impressed with the quality of her products, and all the beautiful shapes, home decor and storage items.

Now on to my first project.  Is everyone excited about the upcoming fireworks?  We live next to a high school that puts on an amazing fireworks show each 4th of July, so we are looking forward to that again tomorrow night!  We just sit in the front yard...everyone is invited! Bring a lawn chair!

I love items that frame a photo. I used the chain and gears frames for both photos. I simply cut off the gears for this layout. I painted the frames with gesso, and used fired brick crackle paint. Not so much for the crackle, but because of the color/texture. I dabbed some red ink to brighten up the color. I did the same thing on the two stackable labels under the bow. I debated about leaving the chipboard natural. I love that look and I think it would have worked well with the burlap and the bow.

Ginas Designs Products

Chain & Gears Frame

Stackable Labels Shape Set

Other products used

K&Co Americana paper

Distress crackle paint-fired brick

Gesso

Bone and red floss

Red ink pad

Vintage brown ink pad

Round pop dots

Thank you so much for taking a look! Have a fun, safe July 4th weekend!