Faucet Flowers-A Peek-a-Boo Project

  A nostalgia image of summer is kids splashing in a open fire hydrant or a lawn sprinkler. Growing up in the country I had my own summer fun as a creek was just across the road from our family homestead. We would spend our summer days building dams, looking for crayfish, or making our way to our favorite swimming holes. The homestead was sold last year and the renovations to the old home are bringing new life into the estate. My parents grew up in the Depression era and were frugal with their belongings. We were upcycling before it was trendy.  It is these memories and hopes for the new owners that inspire this artwork.  

1.  Gather Supplies  

2.  Use a Thick Plastic Spatula to Randomly Paint GSLC Propellers with Lumiere Metallic Rust, Metallic Copper, and True Gold Paints. This Unconventional Tool can be Used in a Spreading Motion or in a Dabbing Motion Depending on your Desired Effect.

     3.  While Pint is Still Wet Sprinkle with Cosmic Shimmer         Gilding Flakes.

4.  Secure Gilding Flakes Into Place Using Matte Gel Medium.

                 

5.  Spray with Aqua Net Hairspray and Sprinkle with Chili Powder and Nutmeg.

     6.  Seal in Place by Spraying with Aqua Net Hairspray.

7.  Use Matte Gel Medium to Adhere Seth Apter WOW Embossing Powders-Crusty Copper, Weathered Gold and Etched Platinum to GSLC Gears Shape Set.

8.  Cure with a Heating Tool. 

9.  Add a bit of Metallic Copper Paint to the Finished Gears Using the large Plastic Spatula.

10.                Paint the GSLC Hardware Silhouettes with Shades of Green, Blue, and Pink Acrylic Paints with a Large Bristle Paintbrush.

11.                Use Same Paintbrush to add Tiny Flicks of Metallic Copper and Neon Pink to These Pieces.

                   

12.                 Use These Same Steps to Color the GSLC Waterworks Shape Set.

  

           

13.                Allow All GSLC Chippies to Dry Fully and Flat.

14.                Use Large Plastic Spatula to Upcycle a Christmas Wall Plaque-Waste Not Want Not- I Dabbed with These Texture Pastes-Red Oxide, Russian Mud, Deep Brown. Allow to Dry Fully

                                

       15.                Add Blue Acrylic Paints to Cosmic Shimmer Lava Paste and Randomly Dab onto Wall Plaque. Cure with Heat Tool.

16.                Cut Strips of Leather from an Upcycled Vintage Pocketbook aka. Purse.

17.                Punch Holes into Leather Strips and Attach to Wall Plaque Using an Awl to Start the Holes for the Microscrew. Securing with Your Screwdriver.

18.                Preview and Plan the Design of Assemblage.

19.                 Use Heavy Matte Gel Medium to Secure Your Pieces. Allowing to Dry Fully Flat and Weighted Down.

20.                Braid Three Different Shades Of Deerskin Lace.

21.                Put Through Plaque Opening and Tidy up ends of the Leather Lace Wrapping With Thick Thread.

Some Final Thoughts.

I like unexpected finds, the treasure troughs found in junk shops, a swimming hole just off the long county dirt road, a roadside orchard or farmers market, a county fair full of concession stands  stand and all their naughty pleasures-funnel cakes, corn dogs, kettle corn, bloomin' onions, Italian Sausages, cactus taters-ribbon fries, whoopie pies, shoofly pie, pierogies, and birch beer. May we all take the time to safe a tossed out treasure, to dip our toes in the cool water of a mountain stream, to take a road less traveled and to constantly choose gratitude over grumbling.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Waterworks Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Gears Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Propellers, Upcycled Christmas Wall Plaque, Metallic Paints-I Used Lumiere Metallic Rust, Metallic Copper, and True Gold,  Large Plastic Spatula, Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes, Matte Gel Medium, Chili Powder, Nutmeg, Aqua Net Hairspray, Seth Apter WOW Embossing Powders-Crusty Copper, Weathered Gold, Etched Platinum, Heat Tool, Acrylic Paints-Green, Blue, Pink Tones, Paintbrush,  Upcycled Leather from Vintage Purse, Texture Paste-Red Oxide, Russian Mud, Deep Brown, Cosmic Shimmer Lava Paste, Blue Acrylic Paints, Micro Screws, Screwdriver, Awl, Heavy Gel Matte Medium, Leather Deerskin Lace, Thick Thread

 

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!

 

Have you Seen the Jellybean Factory?

 

You might think you know how jellybeans are made, but you probably haven't seen this walking egg jellybean factory full of colorful gizmos!

This is a great project to make with your kids this spring. Plus, since Easter is tomorrow, you may very well have some spare jellybeans on hand, making it extra easy.

To make this fun Jellybean Factory, begin by using a craft knife to cut the secondary eggs off the Little Easter Egg Niche.

Adhere colorful paper to the front of the egg and trim. Cut another piece of colorful paper to fit the inside of the niche, but don't adhere it in place yet.

Use the same process to apply colorful paper to three Propellers.

Glue the edges of the niche box with a strong glue, such as Beacon Fabri-Tac. Hold in place with masking tape while it dries.

Next, it is time to create some chicken legs. Bend some wire into the shape of chicken legs.

Normally, I would then use a paper clay to form the legs around the wire, but since most of my studio is currently in storage as we are preparing to move, I instead used Rigid Wrap paper mache. I absolutely love using Rigid Wrap, but I will admit it wasn't the easiest way to create the legs.

To use the Rigid Wrap, cut it into small strips, drop it for a few moments into a cup of water and then gently squeeze it between your fingers. Wrap the material around your wire form to shape the legs. Leave 1/4" of wire free at the top of each leg. Once you have the legs shaped, let it dry for a few hours.

Next, fold aluminium foil into long strips to make a form for your jelly bean conveyor belt.

The Rigid Wrap was great, however for making the conveyor belt. Wrap the wet wrap around the foil and shape the conveyor belt into fun loops and swoops. I suggest laying your egg shaped piece on the desktop and forming the conveyor belt loosely around it. Set the conveyor belt aside to dry.

Once the legs and conveyor belt are dry, go ahead and paint them with acrylic paint.

After the paint is dry, pierce the wire at the top of the legs through the bottom of the niche box. Fold the wire down to hold it legs in place and then add hot glue to further secure them.

Now, go ahead and adhere the paper inside the niche and then adhere the niche to the back of the egg.

Cut three colorful strips of paper and adhere at an angle inside the niche to create a multi-tiered conveyor belt.

Cut three hat pins to about a half inch length. Push each pin through a propeller, then a small bead and then through the egg. Add hot glue to pin on the back of the egg to secure it in place.

Trace the shape of your small box or tin (I used a tiny loaf pan) onto colorful paper and cut out. Apply matte medium to both the box and the back of the paper and adhere in place. After it dries, adhere two layers of colorful Dresden trim to the box.

Next, use a strong adhesive to adhere the chicken legs to the box. Once it securely dries, adhere the conveyor belt to the egg and box.

For a sweet finishing touch, hot glue miniature jelly beans to  your factory.

I wish you all a happy Easter filled with delicious jelly beans! -Betsy

Great Stuff

Little Easter Egg Niche
Propellers
Rigid Wrap
Colorful paper/cardstock
Aluminum foil
Wire
Acrylic paint
3 hat pins
3 small beads
Beacon Fabri-Tac
Hot glue gun
Small box or tin
Matte medium
Decorative trim such as colorful Dresden
Jelly beans

Moving Day

Hello all, Lora here for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts with a little guy who after living in a busy village has decided to move his little house into a nice quiet, peaceful forest.

 He's got all the necessities - books, butterflies and a bottle of fizzy lemonade. What more could a person want?!
I started with Tiny Little Shadowbox House 4 
I love these little shadowbox houses-there are four different sizes and they are great separately or all together in a little wee neighborhood.

I glued my house up and bent up some fourteen gauge wire that will become the connection between the house and the 'ground'. I chose this wire because it was sturdy and bent well.
I knew I was going to use a propeller, and Hey presto! Gina just happens to have one......or twelve! (Propellers)

I chose one that was a good fit scale-wise for my house and painted it black, along with
Chipboard Shingles - Pointed

 And Tudor Rose Singles

I set them all aside to dry.

I found an old paint brush whose handle fit through the hole of the propeller and drilled a hole to fit into the top of my house. I painted the propeller black as well.
I covered the house inside and out with the papers I cut (and also painted the inside of the house a buff color so it reflected a bit of light)
After all was dry, I glued the house and wire together and then used linen hinging tape to help strengthen the bond.

I covered the hinging tape with an image that went well with the papers I used. (used Graphic 45 Old Curiosity Shoppe)
And let it dry. This takes a few hours.
Whilst that was drying, I cut out all of the things I wanted to put inside the house.
I used foam tape to stick everything in and give stuff some dimension. I added the propeller and shingled the house.

I also cut up the smallest Tudor Rose Singles and glued a piece to the gable of the house and the rest to the roof around the propeller. You can see the detail below...

At this point, I realized that in order to complete the base I had in mind I would need to straighten the ring of wire I made, which I did.
I drilled a hole in the center of an Artist Trading Coin,
stuck the wire through the hole and re-bent the ring.
And with a lot of glue, I sandwiched the ring between the top coin and a second coin (both of which I had papered with neutral green paper)
and clamped it together.

After everything was dry, I glued some cute green crocheted ribbon around the edge of the base and glued moss and little bottle brush trees on the top of the base.
I added some little touches like the buff and black paint dots and butterflies....

And here he is flying over the forest scouting for a good place to land!
Thank you for stopping by!

 SUPPLIES:
Tiny Little Shadowbox House 4 
Propellers
Chipboard Shingles - Pointed
Tudor Rose Singles
Artist Trading Coins

Graphic45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe Scrapbook Papers
Acrylic paint
Wire
Old paint brush stem
Bottle brush trees
Moss