March Winds

Many of us know the proverb April Showers Bring May Flowers but few of us know that the proverb begins with the words March Winds. It was also a song in the 1930's by the same name by Abe Lyman and His California Orchestra, a slightly different version was sung by Judy Garland in 1955. While a child we were taught another proverb, "In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb" to tentatively predict the weather. I know that in my area of Maryland March is the windiest month of the year. These are the inspirations for this project.   

1.  Use Versa Mark and Ice Resin Enamels randomly to transform the GSLC Flourished Chains, add touches of copper embossing powder and cure with a  heating tool.

 2.  Further tarnish GSLC Flourished Chains using dry brush technique and green and teal acrylic paints.

3.  Use teal acrylic paint and extreme peacock embossing powder to transform GSLC Fancy Frame. Cure with a heating tool.

4.  Take apart GSLC Hot Air Balloons use Acrylic Paints of shades of purple to paint one top part to one balloon and blues for the other.

 

 5.  Shade edges of GSLC Hot Air Balloons with gray acrylic paint.

6.  Once fully dry use GSLC Honeycomb and Decorative stamps to add patterns to your balloons, I used spring green acrylic paint of blue balloon and magenta on purple balloon.

7.   Use browns and yellow acrylic paint to paint basket portion of GSLC Hot Air Balloons.

8.  Glue GSLC Hot Air balloons together and hold securely with metal clamps. 

9.   Once everything is dry assemble your Hot Air Balloon project  placing it inside an appropriate sized frame.

 

Some final thoughts. March may begin as winter but it is the hope by month's end that springtide will be upon us. We can't control the winds but we can adjust the sails. I used to love the song "Wind Beneath My Wings" sung by Bette Midler

Lyrics in part:
 It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

 Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Hot Air Balloon Stack Up, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Fantasy Frame & Flourishes, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Flourished Chain Large, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Flourished Chain Medium, Coming Soon Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Foam Honeycomb and Decorative Stamp, Versa Mark, Resin Enamels German Silver, Turquoise, Embossing Powder Copper and Extreme Peacock Gray, Teal and Green Gold, Red iron Oxide, Burnt Sienna, Nickel Azo, Yellow Iron Oxide, Sapphire, True Blue, Violet, Magenta, and Spring Green Acrylic Paints, Color Shift Purple Paint,  Paintbrush, Weldbond, Clamps, Ariel View Magazine Picture, Large Wooden Frame.

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!

Making Mixed Media Elements by Betsy Skagen

Let's face it, thousands upon thousands of crafters, myself included, use the same mass-produced decorative elements in their projects. However, there is another option. If you don't want your art to feature the same materials hordes of other artists are using, you can easily create your own elements.

By applying mixed media techniques to chipboard elements you add unique texture and interest to journal pages and other craft projects. This particular journal page combines some of those mass produced decorations with elements I created.

I recently was lucky enough to attend a mixed media class by artist Seth Apter. If you have the chance, I highly recommend taking one of his classes. The class inspired me to tweak a couple of Apter's techniques to make my own mixed media elements.

Tutorial on How to Make Mixed Media Elements

Before we begin, I just want to note that while I adapt some of Seth's techniques to create my own process, this tutorial does not cover the wonderful techniques Seth teaches in his classes.

Begin by punching out the chipboard. Use a utility knife to cut the tiny segments that keep the chipboard intact for shipping.

Next, cover the chain with black gesso.

After the gesso dries, dry brush Quinacridone Gold and yellow acrylic paint over the surface.

 Dry the paint with a heat gun. Don't worry if you overheat and get a few bubbles as that will add to the finished texture.

Cover the entire surface with embossing ink.

Cover with Chunky Rust Embossing Powder and set with heat. Repeat until you get the effect you want.

 Adhere your elements to a journal page that you have prepared and your project is complete. Have fun creating your own mixed media elements!

Great Stuff

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Flourished Chain Small
Black gesso
Quinacridone Nickle Azo Gold acrylic paint
Yellow acrylic paint
Embossing ink
Seth Apter Chunky Rust Embossing Powder
Ribbon
7Gypsies Architextures typewriter element
Tim Holtz word band

Washi Wheelbarrow

hey there! Lynne here with a little wee addition to my collection of storage items; I discovered that the adorable chippie wheelbarrow was the perfect size for the 5 small rolls of washi tape I keep handy to use in my journaling Bible and finished it to coordinate with the GSLC storage caddies on my worktable.

This is the blown-out view showing how the pieces fit together; be sure to put the hole all the way through if you cover both sides of the side pieces with paper; the axle for the wheels must go through these.

I didn't do anything too fussy to this piece, but the new Flourished Chain piece was a perfect embellishment. I used paper from a 6x6 Momenta pad to cover the main part of the wheelbarrow, then inked the edges with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. I left the handle section bare so I could use the same finish on it as I used on the chain and the wheels

The chain, handle and wheels were all primed in brown, then heat embossed with Distress Embossing Powder in Vintage Photo, then sprinkled just a little Colorbox embossing powder in Peridot over the surface and heat embossed that as well then rubbed with Finnabair's fabulous Waxes in Lucky Emerald and Rich Copper (I just rubbed each one onto the surfaces randomly, here and there, to create a blended look.)

The small piece to the left in the photo above keeps the wheelbarrow standing; as an afterthought I added some of the embossing powder there as well, although in the photo it appears darker.

The photo below gives a closer look at the light flecks of green on the embossed surface; it's fun to combine and layer embossing powders to create new effects! I prefer layering them because if you combine the powders you can't pour them back into either of the original bottles, but if you don;t mind losing a bit of excess powder, it's definitely easier to get a uniform finish that way.

I am in love with the new flourished chain pieces, which come in 3 different sizes (I have used the Small) and it makes me happy that I was able to use this cute 3D wheelbarrow to create useful storage-now I have my eye on the Flower Cart....hmmm....what can I store in that one??!

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED

Wheelbarrow 1:12
Flourished Chain Small-coming soon!

OTHER ITEMS USED

Ranger Distress Ink and Distress embossing powder-Vintage Photo
Versamark Ink
Colorbox embossing powder-Peridot
Finnabair Art Alchemy Waxes-Lucky Emerald; Rich Copper