The Good Life

Hi friends!  It's Susan here, and today I'm sharing scenes from beach vacations past using the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts dimensional diorama.

First off, glue the two center panels together and then into the slots of the base.  Allow this to set up for a bit.

I knew I wanted to use some type of fastener to attach the lazy susan base to the diorama, so I marked the holes with pencil and punched them with a 1/8" Crop-A-Dile.  Heavy duty glue like E-6000 will also work.

I've measured out the paper to put in each window - about 6 1/8" x 7", with a score down the center.  Spread glue or Mod Podge and use a straight edge to get full coverage.  Adhere the paper carefully - I started on one side and moved through to the center and the other side, using that straight edge in the center to make sure it doesn't bubble or stick too soon.

Next I measured and cut paper for the underside of the top piece, leaving the the tabs paper-free.  Adhere with glue and set aside.

Measure out the four outside corner pieces - if you want a piece to wrap on each corner, cut it to 1 1/16" x 7" and score down the center.  The extra smidge over 1" makes up for the corner.  It doesn't have to be exactly 1/16",  just make it slightly larger than an inch.  I also cut four 10 1/16" x 1/2" strips for the top and bottom.  Two for the top and two for the bottom.   Set all of these pieces aside.

Next I cut triangles for the inside bottom.  Basically, just stick a corner of a scrap paper into the space and mark the front edge with a pencil, leaving the tabs free of paper.  You can see this best on the right side in the photo below.  All the bottom triangles have been added in this photo.

Before gluing the window frames on, I did a dry run (no glue) to match sides to top, and numbered everything in pencil.

Take the top off and start gluing in the window frames.  Don't glue the top yet - having the opening can be helpful when adding to the scenes.

All four sides are on and the glue is dry.  I've also attached the lazy susan to the diorama using Tim Holtz knobs.  I used these for two reasons - I knew some kind of dimensional material would go on the bottom to hide the knob, and I have so many and rarely use them.  Otherwise, brads or heavy-duty glue would work.

In this photo you get a better view of the previously cut corner and top/bottom wraps.   Don't adhere them yet, though.

Next I started filling in the windows.  I usually keep the extra bits from my GSL Cuts pieces.  I think these long strips were between fence posts, but I'm not sure.  Here they are handy for helping create dimension on my travel posters.

For "The Good Life" phrase, I pressed the phrase into embossing ink and sprinkled custom blended embossing powders that remind me of sand.

I gesso'd an umbrella from Seaside Decor, then painted it with brown and a brown-red mix.  The extra post will be glued to the bottom in order to extend the umbrella in my finished scene.  Once dry, glue the pieces together.

Remember the bits I saved?  I've used them here as well.

These are leftover bits from something... round.  They fit behind the stamps perfectly and already have brown shadowy edges so I don't have to ink them.  (I don't like my supporting pieces to be visible, so I ink them.)

At this point I have finished my windows and can finally put the top on.   Despite this photo, I suggest you measure your paper and set it aside.  Glue the top onto the diorama and add the paper last.

The window frame wraps can go on now.  I added the tops and bottoms first, then trimmed the corners of the corner wraps to give a false mitered look.

The finished diorama!

Thanks for your visit today!  I hope you can also visit us at the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group on Facebook.

Cheers,
Susan


GSL Cuts Used
Dimensional Diorama #BA10A
The Good Life #C5K
Seaside Decor (beach umbrella) #C40B
Small pieces saved from other GSL Cuts


Other Supplies Used
Graphic 45 "On The Boardwalk" paper
Brown moss (to look like sand)
Thin wood veneer (boardwalk floor)
Shells
Cheese cloth
Stickles glitter glue
Ranger Glossy Accents
Embossing powder ( white and browns mix)

Beautiful Sea Maiden Large Tag

Hello there and happy Sunday friends! I'm going a bit mixed media today with a nautical inspired large tag. I dug deep in the chippies and came out with so many great pieces to layer up.

I'm all about the texture that  the layering adds.

Alternating the finishes also adds loads of detail.  Some are glittery and some are super smooth.

I'm even using them to extend the flower arrangements.

You can add a metallic look by topping off the chippies with shiny embossing powder and heat setting them...now they look like little metal charms : )

Taking advantage of gaps in the chippie layers I've added Prills and sequins for a very pulled together look.

I've selected beachy themed chippies and flourishes here to start the arrangement.  Wiping them down with a soft cloth is a great way to prepare the surfaces for their final finishes.  I've used embossing powders to maintain a super clean crisp edge.

I couldn't help myself but add a few more to the mix. Those bronze colored waves are really taking the nautical theme to another level!!!

~Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts~
Flourished Frame Elizabeth, Henna Doodles, Beach Shape Set, Seaside Decor.

Wishing everyone a happy and productive day : ) G

Beach Dreams

Hi Everyone, 

Jess here with a fun postcard inspired post for you. 

I've been dreaming of the ocean.  I grew up near the beach and every summer all the girls in our family used to spend a week in York, Maine.  I am now in Arizona and don't get to the beach nearly enough.  I think this postcard is as close as I will get this year.  Here is how you can create your own. 

I started with a piece of paper mounted on a piece of mat board.  I randomly added crazing medium and then added Distress Crayon to show off the cracks.  

Both umbrellas were colored using Distress stains.  I did not prime them with gesso.  I wanted them to look slightly faded and the stain seeps into the chipboard.  Once the stain was dry I covered them with Emerald Creek's clear embossing powder. It's not completely covered.  I left some blank spots so it looks a bit tattered and sun faded.  

The waves are all embossed using various embossing powders and then layered.

The sand dollar was punched with white acrylic paint using a dry brush so some of the chipboard color is still visible.  The starfish and shells are embossed. Don't the starfish look real?

The sand is torn paper that is inked with Disttess Ink and then glued in layers. I love how her foot is buried in the sand. All of the little pieces are tucked into the sand. 

 My sentiment is the finishing touch; 

I added some shadow around it, and the lady.

Anyone want to take me to the beach this summer?

Jess

Mermaid's Lantern by Lynne

Ahoy mateys! I spent some time playing around with some sea-themed goodies this week and managed to capture a mermaid in  my crackly vintage lantern:

I started with the Cage Style Lantern,, which I painted with gold acrylic paint.

I then painted it with a thick layer of Folk Art crackle medium and when hat was dry, finished it off with antique white acrylic paint and some gold ink along the edges and here and there on the surfaces. I fitted pieces from a clear blue acrylic sheet to the inside panels of the lantern'

The waves were painted with blue acrylic paint and attached to the inside of each panel along the bottom; I ended up covering most of the one in the front with the sponge, shells and compass, but they show quite clearly on the sides and back.

I ran the mermaid's tail through a Cuttlebug embossing folder that came in a set of 4 animal print folders...

I then primed her with acrylic paints and the used Twinkling H2Os to add deeper colour and a little shimmer. She was attached to a battery-operated tea light that was covered with sheer teal ribbon to soften the glow of the light.

I diecut the anchor from metallic gold paper, then heat embossed it with Distress embossing powder and rubbed it with black and brown inks for an old rusty look. I attached it with a Tim Holtz clip and chain.

I treated the Tim Holtz metal compass with the same finish. The sea sponge here is real and was found on the Queen Charotte Islands when we were there some years back (as were all the shells and driftwood that are in the background of my photos-my suitcases weighed a ton!!)

I added a small piece of driftwood and some shells to the top of the lantern, along with a little Spanish moss to give a seaweedy look.

This lantern is so versatile; it could be used for any theme or as a Christmas decoration, in any colour scheme and finish you choose. Thanks so much for stopping by to see my version, and have yourself a fabulous week!

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED

Lantern, cage style
Mermaids shape set
Seaside Decor (waves)

OTHER ITEMS USED

Ranger Distress embossing powder, metal compass and chain
Memory Box anchor die
Folk Art crackle medium
DecoArt acrylic paints

Windows On The Boardwalk With Susan

Hello crafty folks!  It's Susan from Killam Creative with a little nostalgia for warm-weather days gone by.

Sometimes I'm lucky enough that a base object instantly inspires.  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts' Dimensional Window Kit and Seaside Decor did exactly that, allowing me to create four different scenes for this fantastic G45 paper.

The Dimensional Window Kit is made of 5 separate parts: 3 duplicate window layers, a solid back, and a cellophane window to fit between the layers of your choice.  I didn't end up using the cello sheet but will save it for another project.

I started out gesso-ing the window front panel and all the seaside pieces.  I chose to leave the seaside pieces in their original frame in the hopes I wouldn't cover up too much of the yummy laser-burned shadow on the sides.  In hindsight, it also helped speed up the process since I didn't need to handle small fiddly bits.  You'll see further on how I handled excess gesso on the sides.

Next I picked the paper to cover the front frame, flipped it over and outlined the windows and outer edge with pencil.  I used a finger blade to cut along the lines and turned it over.  The next step was to take that paper and decide which scenes to put in each window.

As you might guess, I changed my mind on the blue wave paper and went with a darker one, below.  I glued it to the front window panel and allowed to dry.  Then I sanded the edges down with fine and superfine sandpaper.  Brown ink went all over the edges to give it an aged feel.  

To preserve the shadow effect *and* fill in spots I touched with the white gesso, I used a brown marker on and around the edges.  Yes, I'm that picky.  ::grin::

Time to work on the Seaside Decor bits!  This was all kinds of experimentation.  Haha!  To create texture on the waves I painted slightly-watered-down molding paste.  After it dried I painted a couple shades of blue.

The umbrella got a multi-color treatment.  It's vintage-y!  I glued sand to the starfish and sand dollar by smearing them in the medium then sprinkling a lot of sand on them.  Once they dried I was able to gently rub the edges to clean off excess glue and sand.  Not pictured is a peachy coat of paint on the 3rd shell.

The next two photos show the pieces I've cut out and edge-inked with brown.  I wanted to take advantage of all the Dimensional Window Kit layers so I started planning out where to put them.  

Before anything was attached, I added hanging hardware to the back.

In these panels, I glued the inside layers and laid out the top layer.  From left to right, Dad's first layer and the boy's only layer are attached, as well as the first wave layer in the lower right.  The second panel has the postcard stamp and the second wave layer.  

Here all the inside layering bits are glued in and I wanted to assemble the Dimensional Window Kit.  I used more of the matte medium and a lot of clamps to dry overnight. Next day it was time to attach all the fun pieces to the top layer!  

Here you can see the layering completed.  I also added the cut-out Coney Island sign to give that window pane a little more dimension. 

Thanks so much for visiting today!  Each day you'll find new Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts inspiration projects here on the blog.  Happy crafting!

Cheers,
Susan

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Used
Dimensional Window Kit #D174WD
Seaside Decor #C40B

Other Supplies Used
Graphic 45 "On The Boardwalk" paper
Tim Holtz Distressed Ink Pad & Pen in Gathered Twig and Ground Espresso
Helmar Scrap Dots dimensional glue under dad and son
Zig blue pen glue
Ranger Glue & Seal Matte Medium
Golden Molding Paste diluted with a little water
Acrylic paint - Liquitex, Golden, craft, gesso