Hunting Unicorns-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 

A few months ago we sold our 1930's brick Cape Cod cottage it had a certain charm but it was deteriorating and needed a major over hall that we were unable to provide or commit to. So, we made the decision in the middle of my craziest school year of my 32 year career to put it on the market. We went looking for our unicorn, a condo closer to my work, with no steps, located on ground level. We sought this as there were bidding wars for almost any property on the market. Our house sold within three days and we found our unicorn in less than a week. We felt as if the universe listened to our pleas and gave us more than we anticipated. I'll write more about that at the end. One of the bonuses were amazing windows that brought in tons of natural light, our cottage was dark and dreary with no overhead lighting. This natural light is featured in my tutorial pictures below, and the inspirational of this art work along with unicorns.    

1.  Gather Your Materials.

2.   Decide of Layout.

3.  I Found this Magazine at the Bookstore and it was Full of Inspirations.

4.  There was an Article  About "The Hunt of the Unicorn" Seven Tapestries that Reside at the Met Cloisters, in New York City. I have had the Privilege of Seeing Them in Person.

5.   Choose the Portions of The Magazine Pictures you Want for Your Background of the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Arch Top Triptych 8 Inch-I Used Middle Frame Only, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Triptych-Arch Top-I Used the Two Outside Frames Only.

6.  Paint the Back Part of the Frames with Golden Acrylics-Fluorescent Blue Titan Green,  and Prussian Blue Hue Randomly Mostly Around the Edges.

7.  Make a wash of Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold Acrylic Paint and Matte Varnish to "Age" the Brighter Colors.

8.  Use UHU Gluestick to add Background Pictures to Painted Frames.

9.  Use Oil Pastels to Color Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Oak Scribble Frame, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Queen Anne's Lace .

10.                Use Golden Acrylics-Fluorescent Yellow and Orange, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Van Dyke Brown, and Copper to Paint Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Bird on a Swing Shape Set.

11.                Assemble Your Collage Using Golden Heavy Gel         Matte Medium.

12.                Spray With Hairspray and Sprinkle with Cinnamon             and Chili Powder.

13.                Add a Dusting of Blue Glitter.

14.                Once Fully Dry Use a Scrip Stamp to Add Wendy            Vecchi Red Geranium Embossing Powder in Random          Area of the Assemblage. 

15.                Use Golden Heavy Gel Matte Medium to Attach the           Top Frames to the Back Frame Portions.

16.                Hold Tightly Into Place with Clamps.

     17.                Add Dots of Liquid Pearls-Juniper to the Borders of                 the frames.

             

18.                Once Fully Dry add a Coat of Matte Varnish to  Seal Everything in Place and Give Your Artwork a Uniform Professional Look.

19.                This Triptych can be Hinged Together with Small Metal Hinges and Microscrews or By Using Cloth Tape. I will be Using Mine as Book Cover Panels

 

Some Final Thoughts.

Our Condo Unicorn is not only on the ground  floor but a rancher, end unit, less than five miles from the middle school where I teach Math and Science. There are only fifty-five units and its hidden a bit off the beaten path in a cookie cutter community of Single Family Homes. My drive to work in on a windy country road surrounded by open fields and forested patches, with a meandering brook flowing under a single lane bridge. Yet, within the same five miles in the other direction all of our favorite restaurants and shoppes. We feel truly blessed by our immensely rare creature.

The Article  in Cabana, describe the Met Cloisters, as a "bucolic haven only a few miles away from the hustle and Bustle of Mid-Town." It is where you can go see the exquisite, well preserved, sets of the late Medieval tapestry, "The Hunt of the Unicorn." I have been fortunate enough to see these magnificent enchantments in person. I am intrigued by their intricate weaving and hidden details. They are magical and transport you to a time long forgotten. I want our condo to be such a place.

Unicorn by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

My friends say I should not believe

in things that can't be true.

But my heart believes one must exist

as real as me or you.

So don't listen to those who swear

that things they cannot see aren't there.

I am a unicorn, free and wild,

and someday I will find a child.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Arch Top Triptych 8 Inch, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Triptych-Arch Top, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Bird on a Swing Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Oak Scribble Frame, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Queen Anne's Lace, Magazine Pages of Unicorn Tapestries, Art Scraps of Images of Your Choice,  Pencil, Scissors, Paintbrushes, Golden Acrylics-Fluorescent Blue, Yellow and Orange, Titan Green, Prussian Blue Hue, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Van Dyke Brown, and Copper, Embossing Powders-Seth Apter-Weathered Wood and Gold, Crushed Copper, Wendy Vecchi Red Geranium, Embossing Ink Dabber, Embossing Ink Pad, Heating Tool, Script Stamp, Golden Heavy Gel Matte Medium, Matte Varnish. Blue Glitter, Hairspray, Spices. Oil Pastels, UHU Gluestick

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 making.

Fall tag

Hi everyone!

Myry again and this time I gonna show how to make this fall tag!

You need one of the 3 tags of the set Chipboard Decorative Tags Large, some leaves from

Fern Fronds and the Oak Scribble Frame.

Use the tag as a template on the scrapbooking paper; we need two paper tags. Optionally you can sew around the one of the tags.

Then use gesso or white acrylic paint to paint the edges of the chipboards.

And use Distress ink (any autumn color) around the edges. Glue both paper tags to the tag and remember to only work on the side that you have sewn.

Paint the frame very carefully (I'd to cut one of the leaves) and the rest of the chipboards. I used this old gold color.

Glue the frame on another piece of paper and cut the edge.

Use your stencil (bubbles in my case) with paint. You can also make a mix between texture paste and paint if you want to give some volume.

So that the flowers are the main elements of the composition do the following: position the frame slightly to the side of the tag, not in the center, and make sure that the leaves aren't hidden with the rest of the embellishments. Then use die cuts and chipboards to make a "nest" on top of the frame. If you want to add a title put it goes to the other side of the composition.

This is optional. Put a glue on the petals and then spread glitter on top. Let it dry for a few minutes and then shake the tag with the help of a brush carefully retracting the excess of glitter.

To finish use the cabochons as if they're water drops.

Easy peasy! And this is the final result!

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts items used:

Chipboard Decorative Tags Large

Fern Fronds

Oak Scribble Frame 

Other items used:

Scrapbooking paper and diecuts

Flowers and clear cabochon

Glue, pencil, cutter and scissors

Stencil, sponge and acrylic pain

Glitter, gesso, texture paste and brush