Last Butterflies of Summer-A Peek-a-Boo Project

It seems like as summer turns to Autumn the likelihood of seeing butterflies diminish. Where they seemed bountiful in Spring arriving with all the blooming flowers, now that September is here they are harder to spot in the Autumn garden. These are the inspirations for this artwork.

 

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Use Leftover GSLC Fern Fronds and GSLC Honeycomb & Queen Bees ATC Sized Pieces. 
3. Spray Wooden Tags with Water Bottle.
4. Sprinkle with Infusion Rusty Cars Stain. Dab Until You are Satisfied with the Coverage.
   
5. Use a Paintbrush to Spread a Layer of Turquoise Acrylic Paint on Dry Waxed Paper.
   
6. Gently Press Stained Wooden Tags Into Paint.
7. Dry Thoroughly.
8. Collect Wooden Butterflies you Like to Use. 
   
9. Decide on Design of Tags so you can Add Metallic Rub-Ons Flowers.
   
10.  Use WeldBond to Glue on GSLC Fern Fronds and GSLC Honeycomb.
    
    
    
    
11. Add Decorative Silk Ribbon to Hang the Completed Wooden Tags.
    

    
    

    

    
    

    

    
    

    

Final Thoughts

There is a butterfly who has been looking forward to this change of seasons from Summer to Autumn. The Monarch butterfly is such an iconic insect and its beautiful story repeats every year through their migratory pattern. Each September this butterfly begins its long treacherous journey back to Mexico.

As daylight shortens, along with the aging milkweed, their exclusive food of their larvae form. Adult Butterflies enjoy a variety of nectar bearing flowers-sunflower, coneflower, ironweed, zinnia, and salvia to name a few.

As nourishment is depleted each fall, North American monarchs travel from their summer breeding grounds to overwintering locations. East of the Rocky Mountains, monarchs travel up to an astonishing 3,000 miles to central Mexico.

Using environmental cues, the monarchs know when it is time to travel south for the winter. Monarchs use a combination of air currents and thermals to travel long distances. Some fly as far as 3,000 miles to reach their winter home.

One of my favorite podcasts, Atlas Obscura, did  show about this journey, How This Tiny Mexico Town SavedTheir Monarch Butterflies-For Now.

Although the monarchs have left our home in Maryland, the queen is dead, deceptively we believe. They have but just flown to regions unknown. South by Southwest, a journey never taken alone, they fly in form of a magical fluttering cone. Wearily they to mountains in Mexico they come, Seeking the oyamel fir, there they will rest once again wings gently fluttering in the sun.

Supplies:  GSLC Fern Fronds, GSLC Honeycomb & Queen Bees ATC Sized, Wooden Tags, Infusion Rusty Cars Stain, Spray Bottle, Turquoise Acrylic Paint, Paintbrush, Wooden Butterflies, Metallic Rub-Ons Flowers, WeldBond Glue, Decorative Satin Ribbon

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!

Double Sided Coins-A Peek-a-Boo Projection

In early spring, March through April, billions of birds migrate back into the United States from their southern wintering grounds. These birds are teaching for nesting locations for breeding season, with abundant food sources. In the United States the bird most associated with our coinage is our bald eagle, but around the world there are other coins with birds on them. Usually when tossing coins, you want a two-sided coin that are different. For these trick coins, tails side always wins. They are the inspiration for this artwork.

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Glue GSLC Artist Trading Coins to Magazine Pictures Using a UHU GlueStick.
   
3. Once Dry, Take a Damp Cloth to Rub Around Coin Edges. Gently press out coins.
   
4. Use a Nail File to Sand Edges.
   
   
5. Use Highlighters on Edges of Sanded Coins.
   
6. Seal With Matte Gel Medium.
   
7. Search Through Antiquarian Sticker Books for Desirable Stickers and UHU GlueStick to Create Compositions.
   
8. Use Assortment of Green Acrylic Paints and Dry Brush Technique on GSLC Fern Fronds.
   
9. Spray with Cheap Hair Spray and Sprinkle on Iridescent Glitter.
   
10.  Cut Apart Fern Fronds and Secure to GSLC ATC Coins Using WeldBond Glue.
    
11.  Press Flat with a Weighted Object.
12.  Use Polymer Clay Leaf and Flower Molds to Make Additional Embellishments.
     
13. Use Mica Powders and an MakeupBrush to Add Shimmer to the Pieces.
    
14.  Cure as Directed on Package in a Polymer Clay Oven.
15. Once Cooled Add Clay Embellishments to Prepared Coins.
    
16.  Add Patina Using Colored Pencils and Seal with Cheap Hair Spray.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Final Thoughts

One cannot talk about coins without mentioning the Witcher. Toss A Coin To Your Witcher, is such a catchy tune. Just as we all know there are two sides to a coin There are two sides to every story.

Besides the American Eagle being featured on many of our coins, there is a Cuban Coin with a Hummingbird on it, UK Farthings with Wrens, Russian Federation Ruble wit a Two-Headed Eagle, a mythological bird, the Simurgh, on the Iranian Rials,  Australia has coins with a lyre burn and an emu on them, The Canadian Loonie coin has a loon on it, and at one time they had a River Dollar Flying Goose coin. I am sure there are others but these re the one I discovered during my research. 

For Migrating Birds there are two most prominent seasons, Spring and Autumn, and two lands where they call home. While not all birds migrate and have adapted to survive the cold winter, many do. Some may only migrate a few hundred miles to escape the worst of the winter weather and food shortage, others  wile other may fly thousands of miles.  The Arctic Tern fly more than 49,000 miles round-trip each year  from their breeding grounds in the Arctic to winter foraging areas in the waters off Antartica.

Supplies:  GSLC Artist Trading Coins,  GSLC Fern Fronds, Antiquarian Sticker Books, UHU GlueStick, Magazine Pictures, With cloth, Nail File, Highlighters, Matte Gel Medium, Paintbrush, Assortment of Green Acrylic Paints, Cheap Hair Spray, Iridescent Glitter, WeldBond Glue, Polymer Clay, Leaf and Flower Molds, Mica Powders, MakeupBrush, Polymer Clay Oven, Colored Pencils

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!

Angels We Have Heard on High-A Peek-a-Boo Project

I Loved the stained glass windows in the cathedrals throughout the lands. While touring in Europe long ago we stopped  in Köln to see the Cathedral there. We also enjoyed the 1987 U2-the Joshua Tree Tour while there.

They are the inspiration for this artwork. 

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Print Images of Stained Glass Windows. 
3. Glue Images to Back Portion of GSLC Arabian Triptych.
   
4. Once Dry Use a Wet Cloth to Rub Off Excessive Edges.
5. Paint Edges of Back Portion of GSLC Arabian Triptych with Turquoise Stencil Butter.
   
6. Also Paint Top Portion of GSLC Arabian with Triptych Turquoise Stencil Butter.
   
7. Add Patient to Top Portion With Gold Design Cream and Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold Golden Paint.
   
8. Use a Metal Ruler and Metal Clamp to Add Lines of Iridescent Copper Paint to Stained Glass Images.
   
9. Use a Metal Rules to Add Lines From Liquid Chrome Pen to Stained Glass Images.
   
10. Use Triple Thick Medium to Add Clear and Vintage Bee’s Wax Embossing Powders to Stained Glass Images. Cure With a Heat Tool.
    
11. Use Leftover GSLC Fern Fronds and Queen’s Anne Lace to Add  3-D Element. Securing with Heavy  Matte Gel Medium.
    
12. Use an X-ACTO knife to Cut Off Edges of GSLC Fern Fronds and Queen’s Anne Lace so Top Frame Will Lie Flat.
    
13. Glue Top Portion to Bottom Portion with Glue. 
    
14. Dry Pressed Flat and Weighted Down.

Final Thoughts:

I Believe in Father Christmas

~U2

They said there'll be snow at Christmas

They said there'll be peace on Earth

But instead it just kept on raining

A veil of tears for the virgin's birth

I remember one Christmas morning

A winters light and a distant choir

And the peal of a bell, the Christmas tree smell

Eyes full of tinsel and fire

They sold me a dream of Christmas

They sold me a silent night

They told me a fairy story

But I believed in the Israelites

I believed in Father Christmas

I looked at the sky with excited eyes

'Til I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn

I saw him through his disguise

I wish you a hopeful Christmas

I wish you a brave new year

All anguish, pain and sadness

Leave your heart, let your road be clear

They said there'll be snow at Christmas

They said there'll be peace on Earth

Hallelujah, Noel, be it Heaven or Hell

The Christmas we get, we deserve

Supplies:  GSLC Arabian Triptych , GSLC Fern Fronds , GSLC Queen Anne's Lace ,Stained Glass Printed Images, UHU GlueStick, Turquoise Stencil Butter, Paintbrush, Iridescent Copper Paint, Metal Ruler, Clamp, Gold Design Cream, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold Golden Paint, Liquid Chrome Pen, Triple Thick Medium, Clear Embossing Powder, Vintage Bee’s Wax Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, X-ACTO Knife,Glue

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!