Goin Downy Oshun - A Peek-a-Boo Project

Many dream of a summer vacation at the beach, I am more of a mountain person myself. Growing up in Pennsylvania we never went on family vacations, but my da had sister who lived in New Jersey, we’d go visit them sometimes. I don’t remember ever seeing the ocean until I was in college. Here in Maryland many enjoy “goin downy oshun” meaning going to Ocean City. These are the inspirations for this artwork.

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Trace Center Circle of onto Magazine Image of Your Choice.
   
3. Set Aside for Later
4. Paint Top Part with Neon Acrylic Paint and Fuchsia Stencil Butter.
   
5. Paint Bottom Part with  Ocean Blue and Turquoise Stencil Butter.
   
6. When Fully Dry, Glue Both Parts Together and Press Flat and Weighted Down.
   
7. Go Through Sticker Book and Choose Stickers of  Your Choice.
   
8. Layer and Glue Stickers to Prepared Circle. 
9. Glue Sticker Assemblage to Back of Frame.
   
10. Press and Weight Down Full Assemblage. 
11. Once Dry Add Glossy Accents to center of Frame.
    
12.  Use Tweezers to Add Mini Gems to Assemblage.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

Final Thoughts

When we went visiting my Aunt Irene and Uncle Robert in New Jersey the bathroom we used in the basement had wallpaper with mermaids in bathtubs. They were risqué retro in design and something my tender boy’s eyes never could have imagined. Cousin Val had a Show and Tell Phono Viewer & Record Player that was magical to a country boy without a television. 

To many the beach is just the getaway they are looking for as summer slips away and the return to the school year for students and teachers is on the horizon.

When I went to the beach for the first time in college I did enjoy watching the waves, walking on the boardwalk, and saltwater taffy. I however hated the crowds, the heat burning off the hot sands.

The beaches I prefer are of the Pacific Northwest or those found in Northern New England. They are less crowded, the water much cooler and covered in pebbles not sand.

A Favorite e.e. Cummings Poem

maggie and milly and molly and may 

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea.

Natalie set it to music,  maggie and milly and molly and may , on her Leave Your Sleep the double concept album is "a project about childhood" and is a collection of music adapted from 19th and 20th century British and American poetry about childhood.

Supplies:  Stencil Butter Ocean Blue, Turquoise, and Fuchsia, Neon Pink Acrylic Paint, Scissors,  Paintbrush, Magazine Pictures, Stickers,  WeldBond, Accent Glossy Accents, Mini Gems

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!

Explosion box Sunday...

Hi and welcome to the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog on this beautiful Sunday.  I hope that you are having a wonderful weekend and maybe will have just a bit of time to get in a little crafting today.

There are so many new things in the store this month it was really hard to chose what to make for my share this week but a few things called my name and one was the new Explosion box and the other was these gorgeous new "Tudor Rose" medallions.  These are such fun little boxes to make for gifts so i found lots of fun Kaisercraft papers and other goodies in my stash and set to work.

To start the box you will need the Explosion box that you can get here... and the ? medallions.  You get three medallions in the set but i used the smallest one just because it fit perfectly.  

Next measure and cut papers to fit the top of the lid and the sides.  Ink around them and then glue to the lid.  Chalk the medallion with brown ink and blue ink to match the papers.  Glue it to the top.

Try something different and ink just parts of the medallion.  It gives it that antique look that way and makes it a real one of a kind gift for someone.

Next you can measure and cut papers to decorate the outside of the box and the inside of the box.   Don't cut one for the center square because you will be adding other paper strips over it to add more pictures.

Once you have the papers cut, chalk around them and glue them to the explosion box as shown.

For the next few layers cut strips of paper that measure from one side to the other but about 1/4" less on each end.  Making the layers gradually smaller as you go inside will make the box easier to fold. Be sure and use a Scor-board or tool to make sure you get the lines even and in the right places so that they lay down nice and flat.  Glue the next four layers in the center square.  Let it all dry.

Once it's all dry you can cut papers to fit inside and also add pictures and journaling.  I am going to give mine as a gift so i am going to let them finish it and add extra stickers to tuck in with it.  And the best part is it didn't take but an afternoon so you can make them up fast and easy.  Baby boxes, Graduations and weddings would be super cute to make too.

And here is a quick photo of the top with the added flowers and tulle.

Here is a supply list just in case:

GSLC Explosion Box- Coming Soon

Tudor Rose Singles - Coming Soon

Kaisercraft Paper collection

Kraft paper

Adhesive

scissors, paper trimmer

Chalk inks 

Aqua colored tulle

Thanks so much for stopping by and if you have any questions be sure and let me

know and i will try and answer you back.... Teresa