Springtime Tag Tutorial

Hi it's Elle (empireofthecat) again and this time I have this Spring-inspired tag tutorial for you.

Spring is almost here or so I am told, so let's make something to welcome it!

We are going to be using a very large tag base, and this spring shapes chipboard set from GSL.  I am also using my precious Fresco chalk paints, some stamps and a few different mediums, so let's get started. These tags are BIG!  There's a ruler marking along the bottom of the photo if you don't believe me!

And this sweet spring shapes set has so many useful shapes included

I started by choosing and arranging the shapes I wanted to use on the tag and once I was happy with the layout, started to stick them down using Collage Medium and allowed it to dry.

Then I covered everything in white gesso.

Once the gesso was dry, I added a layer of crackle paste and left that to dry overnight.  Here's a close up of how it looked the next morning.

It was then time to start painting, and I had a colour palette in mind, so I pulled out some of my Paperartsy Fresco Chalk Paints and got started.

I covered the whole tag with this gorgeous sky colour.  Here's a close up of the bird again so you can see how it looks with the paint on top.

Don't forget to also decorate the back of the tag!  I painted this side with Stone paint.

Then when it was dry, did some stamping using this Rubber Dance set and some green Archival Ink.

Time for a stamping close up

 OK, so now it was time to get back to work on the front of the tag. I don't have any more photos of the painting process but you can see the colours I used here.  I also added some stamping of little dragonflies and text to the background using the same green Archival.

And another close up of that birdie and the paint splatters I also added to the tag.

I love this paint as it dries super fast so I could move on and find some ribbon to add to the tag. 

And here is the finished tag!

I hope you enjoyed this Springtime Tag tutorial, even though it may not feel like Spring outside at least you can look at this pretty tag and pretend :)

Elle
Empire of the Cat

PROJECT RECIPE:

GSL Cuts - Spring Shape Set D85B, Tag Set Super X Model: D92C
Paperartsy - Fresco Chalk Paints, various
Decoart - White Gesso, Crackle Paste
Tim Holtz - Ground Espresso Archival Ink, Collage Medium
Ranger - Archival Ink Library Green
Rubber Dance - stamps
Finnabair - stamps
From Stash:  variety of ribbons

Trading Cards Magnets

Something slightly odd and cheerful for my turn on Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts today.
I tried to come up with a name for this trio of trading squares, but I just couldn't make up my mind...
When Pigs Fly, Time Flies (or a Flock of Clocks) Air Mail Trading Card Magnets was just a wee bit too long.
So Trading Square Magnets it is.

 (magnets from the hardware store....they are gnarly)

I started out with these little guys...

I cut paper for the back and the fronts and painted some bird cages black. I also cut out door openings where needed.

I had a scrap of pretty blue sky with clouds paper and cut them to fit the backs of the bird cages and glued them in.

I sanded all my squares and inked around the edges with gold ink and cut out little tiny clocks, stamps, pigs and butterflies and glued the butterfly wings on the backs of the stamps, the pigs and the clocks.

I used washi tape, green leaf ribbon and dots of black paint (the round end of a paint brush dipped in paint and then daubed on) as the background on my squares.

I glued the bird cages on, then the critters in arrangements I liked and added the Tiny Number Plates and any extra leaves or dots.

I like 'em!

SUPPLIES:
2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch Trading Cards  (On the way!)
Mini Bird Cages
Faux Metal Number Plates

Black acrylic paint
Scraps of scrapbook papers
Images from Graphic 45  Olde Curiosity Shoppe
Moss Green Stitched Leaf Ribbon  from Alpha Stamps (you can get it HERE)
Magnets....I got mine from the hardware store, they are stronger and stick better.

Thank you for visiting!

Trixie Likes Bees

Hello everyone, Lora here for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.
Beatrix Mellifera likes honeybees.
A lot.
And they like her.
She draws them, studies them, talks to them and generally looks after their well being.
She cultivates their favorite flowers and fusses over them when it gets cold and shoos away naughty insects that might do them harm.
She is a great friend and guardian.
She's a little quirky, but aren't we all?

She has lots of personality and if you ask about bees, she can talk about them for a very long time. And she has great hair...

I began with the Art Doll Nicho (which is coming to the store soon).
I glued down the inside folds of the box and clipped them together until the glue set.
NOTE: the flaps are not glued down, just folded in to help the clips hold the wet gluey bits.

Next, I painted the inside of the box cream and aged up the corners a bit with some brown ink using a Q-tip and cut the papers front and back using the nicho as the template. Notice that when I cut the back paper, I included the circle (head). I did this to give added strength to the piece when I glue the collage sheet face onto the circle.

In the picture above, I glued the box on to the backside of the nicho, painted the side of the box cream and inked it up a bit to give it a little patina. After it dried, I dry fit the paper on to the back, pushing it over the box carefully, adjusting the fit as needed. I carefully removed the paper after I had a good fit, added glue and stuck it down.

I glued Beatrix' head on and then the front papers. I added bits of cotton lace around the nicho opening and gave her a pretty lace collar. I attached the brass bee to a small cork and did the same with some of the sequin flowers, cutting the corks to different heights to give things depth.

I put the flowers and little bits of glitter and sequins in the box before I added the bee. That made it a lot easier to add or subtract detail without having to work around a big object.

 I made a little skirt out of leftover paper and arms and legs for Beatrix from a collage sheet (you can get this or something similar at Alpha Stamps)

 I stuck a command strip on the back of the box to attach her to this pillar. You can do the same thing anywhere in your house.

A little lace, glitter, sequins and a pretty bee....... you can't go wrong!

Thank you for stopping by!

SUPPLIES:
Art Doll Nicho (coming soon!)

Additional:
Acrylic paint
Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper
Collage sheet
Tea stained lace
Sequins
Glitter

Waiting for Spring Display Tray Dome

Hello all! Lora here for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts! I love winter. But with all the bone chilling rain we have had, I admit I am beginning to look forward to spring. Here is a little dream of spring.....

I began with the Display Tray Dome.

The Henna Doodles 2

And the Delicate Frames and Ornaments

I gave the front of the dome tray, the Henna Doodles and the Delicate Frames a coat of gesso and then a good coat of white acrylic paint and set them aside to dry.

Using the back of the Dome Tray as template, I cut paper for the front and back side.
It looks pretty already!

I set it aside and started making fun little components for inside each of the frames within the tray. I used the Graphic 45 Flutter papers...perfect for spring.
I played around with the layout until I liked where everything was placed. Some things I used and some I didn't. I have a pretty box I save all the bits and bobs I don't use for another day.

I placed the top of the display tray dome on the back piece and lightly traced around each of the frames to give me some reference on where to glue things down. Then did just that, making sure to adjust things as they fit within the confines of the frame. Then I glued the frame down.

After things dried, I attached the Henna Doodles to the frame and added little details with some Stickles Cosmos glitter glue.

As you can tell in this photo, I used a lot of foam tape to make things pop off the background and give the piece some depth.
Come on Spring!

SUPPLIES
Display Tray Dome
Henna Doodles 2
Delicate Frames and Ornaments
Graphic 45 Flutter Collection
Acrylic paint
Gesso
Stickles 'Cosmos'
Ribbon and bead for hanging the piece
Thank you so much for stopping by!

A Mother's Nest by Cherry Nelson

Hi there GSLC peeps...Cherry here today on the blog.

I have a soft sweet Mother's day card for you.

I started with the Hanging Sign Number two laser cut.  I painted it gold and than traced my rose image by using the main part of sign and adhered the image to it.

 I then covered my card stock in my chosen papers.

I added my ribbons and adhered the hanging sign piece to card.

From there I added a rose and stamped sentiment and added a nest from the For the Birds set.

Some fun accents were added like eggs, banners, more flowers, and two more chipboard accents including a Victorian corner two piece and Banner Border strip tucked under my bows.

Here it is complete.  I love the bright colors and natural elements.

This will make a lovely greeting for a Mama this Mother's Day.  Thanks so much for visiting the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog. Cherry

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Supplies used:

Hanging Sign Two

For the Birds 

Victorian Corners 2

Banner Border Strips