April Apothecary Trading Cards-A Peek-a-Boo Project

I been intrigued by apothecary and curiosity cabinets most of my life. I enjoy searching for hidden treasures is roadside junk shops and random thrift stores. I love the mystique behind the apothecary lifestyle and a more holistic way of viewing our world. Although Apothecary has been misunderstood through the centuries at their core they are herbalist or pharmacists.  The labels on the jars of ointments, elixirs, and cures are the inspiration behind this artwork.

1.  Gather Supplies.

2.  Use Weldbond to Adhere Torn Vintage Script to GSLC Chunky ATC Blanks.

3.  Distress with Distress Stains Randomly. Sealing with Matte Gel Medium.

   

4.  Use a Small Plastic Pallet Knife to Randomly "paints" GSLC Small Tags with Pale Green, Nickel Azo Yellow, and Titan Buff Paints. Seal with Matte Gel Medium.

   

5.  Choose Apothecary Labels and Stickers to Embellish the GSLC Small Tags.

6.  Once Fully Dry use Emboss it Dabber and Seth Apter Vintage Beeswax Embossing Powders to Age the Prepared Tags. Cure with Heat Tool.

7.  Add Patina and Interest Using Dry Brush Technique and Metallic Copper Paint and Fluorescent Blue Paint.

8.  Cut Scraps of a Flannel Shirt and Fray the Edges.

9.  Use an Awl, Micro Screws and a Screwdriver to Assemble your Trading Cards.

   

Some Final Thoughts.

How sad to think that some herbalist and apothecaries were accused of practicing witchcraft when in many cases they were just trying to cure people's ailments. many of them held the belief that plants have a "signature"-color, texture, shape, sent, even the environment in which they grow that resembles the body parts and diseases they heal. For example blood root whose roots when cut ooze red were thought to heal blood disorders and hasten wound healing.  The concept of using herbs and minerals as cures is both ancient across numerous cultures and healing traditions.   

In Medieval Europe There was a close connections between Christianity and Herbalist. Paracelsus was a 16th-Century Swiss physician, alchemist, and philosopher wrote "God does not want things to stay hidden, which he created for mankind's benefit and which He gave man as his property God did mark upon it outer, visible signs that are special marks." as if God himself divinely  orchestrated a scavenger hunt for us to find herbs healing powers.

With the advent of modern medicine, herbalist fell out of favor and nowadays is mostly viewed as pseudoscience. But as with most things in more recent years it has had a resurgence as many people are now weary of the conglomerate overpriced medicine of Huge Pharmaceutical Companies.  

As with many things there are two sides to the story and we should adhere to the cautionary saying "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water" meaning something good id eliminated when trying to get rid of something bad, or rejecting the favorable along with the unfavorable.

Supplies:  GSLC-Small Tag Set, GSLC Chunky ATC Blanks, Vintage Script Index Pages, Weldbond, Paintbrush, Distress Stain-I used Gathered Twigs and Scattered Straw, Acrylic Paint I used Pale Green, Nickel Azo Yellow, and Titan Buff, Small Plastic Palette Knife, Apothecary Labels Stickers or Printed Images, Emboss Dabber Clear, Seth Apter Vintage Beeswax Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Metallic Copper Paint and Fluorescent Blue Paint, Pieces of Flannel Shirts, Awl, Micro Screws, Screwdriver, Matte Gel Medium,

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!

Woodland Creatures Upcycle-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 About a year ago I did Autumnal Animals Assemblage Blogpost and this is closely related to that offering. I grew up in a frugal home and we were taught "waste not, want not" and most things probably could be used again. Many of the Pictorial Papers I used in my hand-bound art journals come with sets of stickers I rarely know how to use, as is the case with Graphic 45 Woodland Friends Collection Pack. These are the inspiration for this artwork.

1.  Gather Supplies. I am Using "Free" Sticker Sheets that Came with Graphic 45 Woodland Friends Collection Pack, and Stamperia Spring Botanic Cardstock as It is Back Portion of Cover Sheet Both  Are not Useful in my Hand-Bound Art Journals.

2.  Cut out Strips of Stamperia Spring Botanic Cardstock,  They will Become the Back of the GSLC Small Tags Set.

3.  Glue on Using a UHU Gluestick and Rubbing with Deli Paper, Allowing to Dry Fully.

4.  Choose Stickers from the Sheets that Came with Graphic 45 Woodland Friends Collection Pack.

5.  Make Miniature Collages on Front of Each GSLC Small Tags Set.

6.  Once Fully Dry Spritz With Water From a Spray Bottle Before Using Tim Holtz Lumber Embossing Folder in  Your Sizzix Big Shot.

7.  Once the Wood Grain is to Your Liking Use a Variety of Ink Pads to Add Patina and Interest to Your GSLC Small Tags Set.

8.  Add Further Patina and Texture Using  Folk Art Painted Finishes Moss and Rust and a Thin Plastic Spatula.

9.  Allow to Dry Fully, Then Seal Everything in With Matte Varnish.

Some Final Thoughts.

Woodland Animals-Meish Goldish

Woodland animals live in the woods, with plenty of trees in their neighborhoods. The chipmunk, opossum, squirrel and raccoon, roam the woods all night and noon. The bear and fox, deer and moose, all woodland creatures on the loose. Near shore and Ponds, and in the water are the beavers, muskrats, and otter. Woodland Animals are up in the tree, Owls and birds you're sure to see. Woodland animals like their view, as a woodland creature, wouldn't you?

 Supplies: Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Small Tag Set, Graphic 45 Woodland Friends Sticker Sheets, Decorative Cardstock-Stamperia Spring Botanic is What I Used, UHU Gluestick, Sizzix Big Shot, Water Spray Bottle, Tim Holtz Lumber Embossing Folder, Variety of Ink Pads, Folk Art Painted Finishes Moss and Rust, Thin Plastic Spatula, Matte Varnish

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!

King of Fools-Jokers Wild-A Peek-a-Boo-Project

I’ve always enjoyed the look of playing cards and fondly remember playing cards with my family growing up as we had no television in our humble home. The joker was my favorite card because sometimes he would become a “wild card” and trump all. So often the joker stayed in the box on the table and was not used at all. The joker is the inspiration of this “April Fools” Instillation. I wanted to bring some humor to our crazy world.

 

1.  Print Images of Jokers and Back of Playing Cards adjusting size to fit on GSLC Small Tag Set.

 

2.   Use dry brush technique and Acrylic Paint-Copper, Van Dyke Brown, Transparent Iron Oxide to randomly paint all tags front and back.

 

3.  Cut and glue images to front and back of each tag using Weldbond.

4.  Crinkle a piece of wax paper or deli paper to dab on some of the above used acrylic paints.

5.  Once completely dry sand the edges of the GSLC Tags making them looked aged and vintage.

6.  Distress edges of GSLC tags using TH Antique Linen Distress Stain.

7.  Make a glaze of DecoArt One Step Crackle Finish and Triple Thick Glass Glaze and Burnt Sienna Acrylic Paint.  This will further the ancient, archaic look I am known for.

8.  Once completely dry use Deco Art Antiquing Cream-Red Oxide, Burnt Umber, Patina Green to fill in the cracks, wipe off with a baby wipe.

9.  Seal GSLC tags with a Matte Varnish.

 Some Final Thoughts.

Although April 1^st was a week ago, I wanted to celebrate this often-forgotten holiday, much like the joker card itself hidden among the deck of playing cards. We need laughter in our lives, to look for the everyday joys that are sometimes hidden especially nowadays. Here are some fun quotes from the Joker of Batman Movies fame.

“I don’t suffer from insanity, I enjoy every (explicative) minute of it!”

“I keep telling myself to stop talking to weirdos but then I wouldn’t have any friends left.”

“I don’t care what others think about me I enjoy my Life with my own rules”

“if you are good at something never do it for free”

“Some people want to see you fail. Disappoint Them!”

“Sometimes you have to play the role of the fool to fool the fool who thinks they are fooling you”

 

 

 

 

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Small Tag Set, Images of Jokers and Back of Playing Cards, Scissors, Acrylic Paint-Copper, Van Dyke Brown, Transparent Iron Oxide, Burnt Sienna, Paintbrush, Weldbond, Deli Paper, Sandpaper Blocks, Antique Linen Distress Stain, DecoArt One Step Crackle Finish and Triple Thick Glass Glaze, Antiquing Cream-Red Oxide, Burnt Umber, Patina Green, Matte Varnish, 

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!