Graham's first Jack-o-Lanterns...layout by Lynne

Hey there crafty friends! I have a shocking confession to make....unlike what seems like pretty much all of my fellow crafters, I am NOT a huge fan of Halloween! GASP! I do however love the trappings of fall: pumpkins, acorns, squirrels and pretty leaves! That's why I decided to create a fall layout this week using a photo I just love of my son when he was about 2-1/2 with his very first Halloween pumpkins (ten guesses what he loved to watch on TV!) I love how the frame allowed me to add the fussy-cut image of my son-in the original photo he had been standing near the pumpkins but there was a lot of background clutter!

Th chipboard pieces were all painted with gold acrylic paint then rubbed with Hero Arts shadow ink in Orange. 

The pumpkins were run through my Cuttlebug in a Darice embossing folder. The orange ink emphasized the lovely embossed leaf pattern.

I randomly punched around the border of the paper with vine edge punches, then tore the paper in between even with the punchwork. I then inked all the edges with the same orange ink that was used on the chipboard. I stencilled with homemade texture paste and misted with Tattered Angels glimmer mist. The flowers and pumpkins were fussy cut from some pretty Prima paper.

I love layering different elements to create interest with a variety of materials and textures.

That little boy in the photo is now 26 years old, so this page brings back a lot of happy memories-thanks so much for stopping by and letting me share them with you, and have a wonderful week! xoxo

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED

Layered Frame Victoria Round
Fall Shape Set
Halloween Word Set-coming soon

OTHER ITEMS USED

Prima flowers and paper
Inkido paper
Tattered Angels glimmer mist
Prima and Tim Holt stencils
Hero Arts Shadow Ink

Vintage School Desk featuring Graphic 45

Hi there! Where I live it's cold and snowy and generally perfect for hibernating in fuzzy jammies these days! In other words, it's a good time to stay inside and craft, so I decided to take on the adorable school desk piece I'd been eyeing for a while, and the Graphic 45 ABC Primer collection was perfect to use on this project!

When putting a 3D project together, I like to  fit all the pieces together so then I know exactly where I need paper to cover right to the edge and where slots need to be cut out. This photo shows a blown-out view after I traced around each piece and glued the paper on; I love Aleene's Tacky glue ofr 3D projects like this one, as it's thick enough to hold the pieces immediately to eliminate one piece popping out while fitting another onto it. This project went together smoothly and easily.

I sanded the edges and inked them with brown ink for a vintage feel, then fussy cut images from the papers and added them along with some flowers to the sides of the desk.for the top, I created some miniature schoolbooks with textured paper, white paper scraps and  used some title stickers from the paper collection.

There is also a mini-album to go with the desk; I covered all the pieces with patterned paper, sanded and inked the edges, and added fussy cuts and embellishments from the collection. I drilled 2 holes in each of the pages-if you have a strong hole punch, you may be able to use that, but mine wouldn't punch through the thick pages. I just tied the pages together with decorative fibers.

I snagged a nice big apple from the Fall shape set, painted it red and heat embossed it with UTEE, and attached it vertically to the seat to hold the mini album in place.

This was such a fun project to put together, and I have a crafter friend who happens to be a teacher, so I think I'll gift her with this next time I see her...thanks so much for stopping by, and happy crafting!

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED
Antique School Desk and Slate Shaped Mini Album

Fall Shape Set

OTHER ITEMS USED

Graphic 45 ABC Primer paper collection
Aleene's Tacky glue
Versacolor ink-Pinecone
Versamark ink and UTEE

Fall Canvas by Sandy Trefger

Hi everyone, Sandy here with a Fall Canvas project that I created for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  I love how it turned out and have it displayed on my fireplace mantel in the living room.  

It's so easy to create a seasonal canvas.  I did this one in an afternoon and you can too!  Below are the supply list and steps:

Supply List:

• Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Layered Frame Aria C7D (I used the top layer only)
• Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Fall Shape Set D85A
• 8x10 flat canvas
• Canvas Fabric
• Embossing  Ink Dabber
• Assorted Gold Embossing Powders and Textures
• Assorted Fall Silk Foliage and Flowers
• Assorted Fall Color Ribbons and Gold Twine
• Glue
• Hot Glue
• 3-in-1 Glue
• Glossy Accents
• Light Brown Distress Ink
• Black Distress Ink
• White Gesso
• Decorative Metal Corners

Step 1:  Lay out your chipboard pieces that you wish to use on your canvas.  I placed mine on some paper towels for quicker clean up!

Step 2:  Apply Embossing Ink (I use a dabber) on your chipboard pieces.  Do one piece at a time and sprinkle each piece with different gold embossing powders.  I think I used 3 or 4 different ones.  Heat emboss to completely cover the chipboard pieces.

In the photo above of the acorns, you can see that I used two different golds with more texture to the gold on the top of the acorns.

Use different gold powders and some with texture like what I used on the pumpkins above.

For the crow, I used gold powder that had a bit of blue in it.

Step 3:  Ink the canvas with brown tone Distress Inks.  You can leave the center light or not inked as that will be covered up.

Step 4:  Cut and ravel a piece of canvas fabric and glue down onto the canvas.

Step 5:  Start layering and gluing down the chipboard pieces. (I used Beacon 3-in-1 glue)

Step 6:  Next, add ink to the fabric around the chipboard pieces.  Then, select various fall foliage, flowers and a bow  for your canvas piece.  Arrange and glue them to the canvas using hot glue.

Step 7:  Glue three of the chipboard acorns onto the flowers.

Step 9:  Keep adding ink to get the color you want for your fabric and add in bits of embossing ink & powder to get a spattered effect.

I added in some black Distress Ink and then brushed in some white Gesso.  Keep adding until the background is a color that you like.  I would have added in some orange or yellow but did not have those colors in ink nor paint.

Step 10:  Glue on some decorative metal pieces to the corners if desired. I used Glossy Accents to attach these pieces to my main canvas.  Then add splotches of gold embossing powder (added to the main canvas with Embossing Ink Dabber) and heat emboss.

Your Fall Canvas piece is finished and ready to be displayed.

Here's a closer look at it on my worktable...

And on display...

I hope I've inspired you again to order some of the wonderful Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts chipboard sets to create a lovely decor piece for your home.  I'll be back on December 6 with a Christmas project.

Happy Crafting!

~Sandy

 www.sandytrefger.blogspot.com

Fall straw wreath by Lynne

Hello friends and happy Fall! I decided that this week it was time to take down my spring/summer wreath with the soft lavender florals and create something just right for this time of year, and the Fall Shapes Set provided me with exactly what I needed.

I spray painted my straw wreath gold, using this paint (although I'm sure any brand would work equally well)

The leaves were  run through my Cuttlebug in this embossing folder: , then painted with gold acrylic paint. I then lightly rubbed them  here and there with Art Alchemy Metallic Wax and a bit of copper acrylic paint.

The pumpkin was painted with the copper paint, but I wanted to add dimension, so I cut the shape out from patterned paper (7 Dots Thoughts Keeper), scored it, and rubbed over the scored lines with the metallic wax. It was then glued onto the chipboard pumpkin.

I coloured the metal embellishments and paper flowers with the same supplies as these pieces, but the banner pieces were simply painted with the 2 colours of acrylics, then I lightly brushed a bit of metallic wax on the outer edges. The pieces were glued together, then attached to a piece of twine.

The hanging metal acorns are bells that I found at a cute shop here in my town; I just added a little metallic paint and wax to soften the colours and help them coordinate better with everything else.

I have to confess that the bright oranges and rust colours that are often used in fall decor are not my favourites, so I was pleased with the effect of the metallics combine with natural elements like straw and twine, and I hope you like the finished look as well! Thanks so much for stopping by, and may you "fall" in love with creating all over again!!

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED
Fall Shape Set

OTHER ITEMS USED

Art Alchemy Metallic Wax-aged copper

Darice embossing folder

& Dots paper
Krylon gold spray paint
Gold and copper acrylic paints
assorted paper flowers

Harvest Fox Fall Greeting Card

Hey there Peeps!  Well despite the fact that I am not ready to give up on summer yet the nights are getting cooler and the trees are taking on their autumnal hues. I created this card with thoughts of brisk walks in the crisp leaves and hot cider and warm doughnuts.

I chose the frame chippie to give a finished border to the fox image.

 Once I decided to alter the frame with antique gold embossing powder I knew it would be the perfect base for the Fall Harvest sentiment. I pulled the chartreuse color from the beautiful leaves in the image and I think it makes a wonderful accent.

Netting and flowers and ribbon and twine create a generous arrangement and helps to bring the fall colors to the outside edge of the card.

I added more of the flowers to the top being careful not to cover too much of the chipboard frame.

Pearly headed stick pins in a warm pumpkin color and coordinating sequins add the perfect not too flashy finishing touch.

I used the Flourished Frame Marie in an antique gold embossing powder finish and the harvest sentiment from the Fall Shapes Set in a rich chartreuse embossing powder finish and heat set them to create a warm and welcoming accent to this Fall-Thanksgiving Card.
Okay that's all for me. Wishing everyone a happy and productive day : ) G