Make a Galaxy Background Card

Hello everyone,
Today I have my second GSL DT post for April and this time, I have a card featuring a galaxy background and some heat embossed elements that could be used as a birthday card or encouragement card.

Galaxy Background

Cut a piece of watercolour paper measuring 5.5 x 8.5 inches.  Start the design by drawing in some zodiac constellations.  You can find a chart of all zodiac constellations here.

For this card, I used Taurus, Gemini and Cancer and drew them in with a wax pencil.  You can also use a wax crayon instead.  If you don't want specific star signs, you could draw random patterns or you could draw one big one using the star sign of the card recipient.

For my galaxy background I started off with this lovely turquoise colour, but you could use blues, purples, greens etc.

Then I added in some purples and payne's grey around the outside.  Black could be used instead of payne's grey.

Keep adding paint and layers, drying in between until you are happy with how it looks.  For an extra pop of colour I added this bright green in the centre along with some magenta.  

Adding star details

Once the watercolour background is dry, I added some white acrylic paint splatters to represent stars of various sizes.

Use a stiff bristle brush and flick the paint to add a fine spray and then splatter some bigger drops.

For added interest add some gold metallic ink splatter to the background.  If your constellations aren't bright enough you can draw over them again with the same wax pencil/crayon.

 

Chipboard Embellishments

For the sentiment I used this Smile curly word chipboard but I cut it in half to fit on the card front, then gave it a coat of white gesso.

 

Once the gesso was dry, I used some white embossing powder to heat emboss the word and the curly tail.

I also used these gold stars that were already altered in this post and glued them into place using PVA glue.

To make the card base, use one piece of 8.5 x 11 inch card, fold it in half along the short side, and adhere the card front to it and that's the card completed.  If you want any further embellishments, draw some little star/asterisks on with white pen. as shown below.

Hope you enjoyed this post.  Till next time, 

Elle
Empire of the Cat

Project Recipe:

Smile curly word D147E
Deco Stars D88S
watercolour paper, watercolour paint, acrylic paint, acrylic ink, white wax pencil or crayon, card base, white embossing powder, embossing ink, white gesso

Gold Metallic Embellishments Three Ways

Hi Everyone!

For my next trick I thought I would make some metallic embellishments out of these chipboard pieces:

Introduction

This post is called "Metallic Embellishments Three Ways" for a reason!  To make my metallic embellishments I thought I would show you three options on how to make them:
1.  Gold embossing powder
2.  Gold Leaf
3.  Gold metallic paint
I will go through each method one by one and then at the end compare them side by side for shininess. 

Gold Embossing Method

For this method, you will need a gold metallic embossing powder and embossing ink.

Tap each of the pieces directly onto the embossing ink pad.

Shake the embossing powder onto each of the pieces

Once they are all covered in powder, carefully pick them up using tweezers or similar tool, and use a heat gun to melt the embossing powder.

Gold Metallic Paint Method

For this method you will need a gold acrylic paint and some white gesso.

Give each of the pieces a coat of white gesso and set them aside to dry for a few minutes.  Work on one of the other methods meantime.

Give each piece two coats of gold acrylic paint drying in between layers.

Gold Leaf Method

For this method you will need some gold leaf (real or imitation), gold size fluid or you can also use any kind of glue that dries tacky.  Drying tacky is key as the gold leaf needs something to stick to.

Cover each piece with gold size (or tacky glue) and leave to dry tacky.

Carefully take a sheet of gold leaf and lay it on top of each piece and press down with fingers or with a dry brush.

Brush off the excess gold leaf and collect it for later use.

Work slowly and carefully and it will soon be free of the excess leaf, leaving your piece shiny and ready to use.

Conclusion

So we have three sets of embellishments with a gold metallic finish, but which one is shinier?

Three gold metallic words top to bottom - embossing, gold leaf, gold paint

Three gold metallic birdcages left to right - embossing, gold leaf, gold paint

Three gold metallic stars (x 2 designs) left to right - embossing, gold leaf, gold paint

All metallic embellishments for comparison

So there we are, three sets of gold metallic embellishments using three different methods.  These photos were taken at night but I think it is still clear which one is the most shiny - the gold leaf - but all three options have their benefits and uses, and they all have different costs to consider.  If you want super shiny, try gold leaf; if you want texture try heat embossing; and if you want simple and probably cheapest try gold acrylic paint.  If you don't like gold, try silver, copper or other metallic colours. There are endless options to add some metallic to your embellishments and into your projects!

I managed to take more photos in the daylight, what little there is right now, so here's another look at what was produced - embossed, gold leaf, metallic paint.

Which one is your favourite and why?

Hope you enjoyed this post.  Till next time, 

Elle
Empire of the Cat

Ingredients

Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set D69C
Chevron Words 
Deco Stars D88S

Method 1
Gold Rush embossing powder
Embossing ink

Method 2
Gold Leaf (real is pricey, imitation is cheaper)
Gold size (or glue that dries tacky)

Method 3
Sunset Gold metallic paint
White gesso

Gingerbread Sleigh

Happy Saturday, everyone! Connie here with my version of one of the GSL Sleigh Ornaments decorated for the holidays in a gingerbread theme. These would be so cute to make multiples of and decorate as placecards for your holiday meal. 

Here are the pieces laid to show you how it comes together. There is the sleigh body as well as the ornamental trim.

The sleigh was assembled using tacky glue.

I painted the sleigh body with brown acrylic paint and the trim with white. I also painted a few GSL Snowflakes and GSL Deco Stars in the same brown paint. 

I also used a few of the GSL Christmas Shape Set pieces; candy canes and peppermint swirls. Those were layered on top of one inch cardboard circles. 

The gingerbread 'cookies' were frosted using white puffy paint. 

Everything was nestled in place using crystal vase filler.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

GSL Products Used

Sleigh Ornament

Snowflake Shape Set

Deco Stars

Christmas Shape Set

Other Supplies Used

Tacky glue

Acrylic paint

Puffy paint

Crystal vase filler

 

 

 

 

 

 

Youngster Greeting Card

Hello there friends and crafty peeps! Ginny dropping in to share a greeting card I created with some of my new favorite chippies from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

Isn't this a fun whimsical card? I love the bright colors and cheerful image.

I thought since this was a more retro than vintage card I might change up my usual doily for this super cool rotary element. It still creates the perfect base and frame for the flowers...but in a more modern interpretation.

I've also brought in this new Chevron Frame to anchor the corner and the Deco Star for added detail.

Of course I still love my layers so spacers are added to provide depth and dimension.

Here's how I altered the chipboard....

After I selected the chipboard pieces for this project I wiped them down to prepare them for altering.

The stars are finished with silvery embossing powder and heat set for a sparkly effect.  The chevron frame is sectioned off to fit the card size and the top has more embossing powder but this time in chartreuse.  The rotary element has flat white acrylic paint.

I used the clipped off section of the frame to help support the layer that was added to the top. .

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts~Chevron Frame (coming soon), Deco Stars, Rotary Dials (coming soon)

Wishing everyone a happy and productive day : ) G

Silver and Gold Christmas Greeting Cards

Hello there friends and crafty peeps! Ginny here to share a set of Christmas greeting cards created with the Christmas Words Tree chippie set. I thought it would be fun to make one design two ways. One in silver and one in gold.

My silver card has a shabby chic inspiration with soft colors and subtle details.

 The large chipboard sentiment takes center stage but finished in white it is not contrasting with the background.

 The flower arrangement is filled in with deco stars and snowflakes.

Coordinating ribbon with a vintage button and silver charms finish off this card perfectly.

For card 2 I'm going for the gold. The same sentiment chippie but this time finished with a gold star and accented with matching gold accents.

As gold inspires a warmer color scheme I chose plaids and reds to coordinate.

 More snowflakes and stars for the flowers.

Matching trim and vintage button with key charms and this card is dressed to impress.

I selected the Christmas Words Tree chippies then wiped them down to prepare them for finishing. A double layer of flat white acrylic paint is topped with sparkly glitter embossing powder then heat set for a shiny finish. Last but not least a metallic finish for the stars.

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts~Christmas Word Trees (coming soon), Deco Stars, Snowflake Shape Set Mini.

Wishing everyone a happy and productive day : ) G