School's Out-Almost-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 This is Jon David Lowe for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts, everyone knows June is every teacher's favorite month of the school year, it's the month when Summer Vacation begins. For me it is my self-imposed isolation time of working full time in my artist studio creating the new Fall Collection of books and boxes. While working I like catching up on my podcasts, two of my favorite episodes are Unfictional-The Rowing Man and Nocturne-Blackfish, both of them are nautical in nature. I am not sure what fish do for summer vacation but as long as I'm not responsible for them I'm fine. These are the cheeky inspirations for this artwork.  

1.  Gather Supplies

2.  Use Water Colors to Paint GSLC Shrine Nautical- We Are Not Going for Perfection, We Want a Worn and Weather Look.

                    

3.  Once Satisfied Cover all Pieces With DecoArt  One Step Crackle.

4.  Put GSLC Shrine Nautical Together with Golden Heavy Gel Matte.

5.  While Still Wet Sprinkle With Green Ground Cover and Pencil Shavings.

6.  Make Copies of Pictures you Wish to Use.

7.  Cut a Long Piece of Paper that Will Fit Inside of GSLC Shrine Nautical.

8.  Glue Printed Pictures to One Side of Cut Paper.

9.   Roll Up Into a Scroll Make Certain It Will fit Inside of Shrine.

10.                Drill Holes in Top and Bottom of Shrine, Where Dowels Will Go.

11.                Attach One End of Scroll to a Prepared Dowel and Roll and Then Attach Final Side to Other Dowel.

Some Final Thoughts.

In Unfictional-The Rowing Man, the story of Ove Joensen is brilliantly told by Rikke Houd. He was trying to be the first to row from his home in the Faroe Islands to Copenhagen in Denmark in the late summer of 1984. He hoped to kiss the statue of the Little Mermaid. He failed on his first attempt and had to be rescued below the cliffs of the remote Shetland Islands. This  is the story about finding a village of friends even when you are rowing alone across a ferocious sea told by the villages there who still think of him as family.

 In Nocturne-Blackfish Vanessa Lowe interviews  Malcolm Saunders, a fisherman from Cornwall, on the southern tip of the UK. While most of the old fishing ports have transformed into tourist attractions, there are still some working fish boats, manned by seasoned weathered fishermen. They're holding onto an almost forgotten way of life-one that ties their livelihood to nature, with all the thrill and hardship that goes along with it. Their lives  are governed by the tides, the weather, and time-A fisherman goes out where and when the fish are, day or night. There's nothing else to do.

Here's to wishing you all a happy and healthy summer. Take time to do a few of the things that bring you pure joy. Rest and know.

Supplies:  GSLC Shrine Nautical, Watercolors, Brush, DecoArt One Step Crackle, Golden Heavy Gel Matte, Green Ground Cover and Pencil Shavings, Clamps, Printed Pictures of Fish and other Creatures, Used Artist Shop Towel, Fancy Cut Scissors, TH Wild Honey Distress Stain, Used Postage Stamps, Long Piece of Paper, Double Sided Tape, Drill, Dowels, Metal Bobbins,

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!

Time Flies By-A Peek-A-Boo Project

It may have seemed this past year that we have been stuck in slow motion and that circumstances will never change. The new year has not brought the turnaround we’re hoping for and we once again may be feeling we will never see the light at the end of the tunnel or find our way to a new normal but I am going to try my hardest to hold on to hope and try to lift my spirits. These are the inspirations for today's artwork. 

  1. Use a paintbrush to quickly add Metallic Copper Lumiere Acrylic Paint to the GSLC Little Niche Pocket Watch.

2   2. Once it dry add texture and patina with dry brush technique using Golden Acrylic Paint. I used Titan Green Pale, Quinacridone/Nickel Azo Gold, and Green Gold.

  3. Assemble GSLC Little Niche Pocket Watch and glue together with Weldbond.

     4. Add included hanging portion so your creation can be displayed on a wall

  5. Choose decorative papers to add wallpaper and borders to the back portion of GSLC Pocket Watch Niche.

 6. Use Gold Leaf Rub'nBuff to Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts 2" Bird Cage.

    7. Choose an image to glue to back of GSLC Cage-I chose a decorative hot air balloon.

8  8. Add a bit of cardboard to keep birdcage from directly glued to background.

9  9. Paint Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Rose Border with  Metallic Russet and Metallic Rust Lumiere Acrylic Paint.

   10.  Add detailing and patina with Neon Pink and Green Acrylic Paint.

    11.Cut and glue GSLC Rose Border to front of GSLC Pocket Watch Niche.

Some Final Thoughts.

I have a collection of "show hats" each season we design a new top hat for me to wear at our art shows. They often gave a steampunk appeal. I  have always loved Miley Cyrus, I think she is a very talented singer. I like how she can see any genre of music. I think her song "The Climb" is a wonderful anthem for us as we press on in hope.

 I can almost see it

That dream I'm dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head sayin'
"You'll never reach it"
Every step I'm takin'
Every move I make feels lost with no direction
My faith is shakin'

But I, I gotta keep tryin'
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments
That I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep goin'

And I, I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

Yeah

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Keep on movin'
Keep climbin'
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about — it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa, whoa, oh

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Little Niche Pocket Watch, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-2 Inch Cage with Solid Back, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Rose Border, Decorative Paper, Golden Acrylic Paint-Titan Green Pale, Quinacridone/Nickel Azo Gold, Green Gold, Metallic Copper Lumiere Acrylic Paint, Paintbrush, Weldbond, Gold Leaf Rub'nBuff, Cardboard Scrap, Metallic Russet and Metallic Rust Lumiere Acrylic Paint, Neon Pink and Green Acrylic Paint.

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!

Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Hey, Hey Hey Goodbye-A Peek-A-Boo Project

 

To say I am happy to see 2020 fade into the sunset is  a huge understatement. Never in my life could I have imagined a year so full and angst and frustration. In my 32 years of teaching it was by far my most challenging year. We started out teaching virtually to a group of students we have never met face to face, they on their devices appearing as a colored lettered circle on my laptop Google Meet. We finally went to a hybrid model which was even worse than the original all virtual model as I was teaching a group of students socially distanced in my classroom 6 feet apart, while simultaneously I had another group of student learning virtually.

I  missed out going to the sale of our family homestead, that had been in our family for over 80 years.  I have not been back to Pennsylvania since last spring.  When I return my childhood home will no longer be ours. I have photographs and memories I'll need to process when I am able to go pay my last respects.

I had wounds on my feet that would not heal and I  could not enjoy a quiet early morning walk through my newly discovered older neighborhood from early in the pandemic. I would take walks through the narrow streets and alleyways seeking signs of life, beholding bits or beauty, and hunting for hints of hope.

All of our art shows were canceled and time in my studio making my creations came to a screeching halt in September. This project is one of my first attempts at being creative again.

I am still very weary from the journey as I still go into school to teach my students virtually from my classroom, trying to convey any sense of normalcy.  I have tried to stay positive and maintain balance and a sense of humor.  This is the long introduction, to my longest titled blog post to date and the inspiration for this cheeky banner.

1.1. Gather your supplies, we will start with the GSLC Number Cards and white acrylic paint.

     2. On a protective surface quickly  cover the GSLC Number Cards with white acrylic paint we are not aiming for perfection but want some of the chipboard to show through. Be sure to paint on both sides as this will help the chipboard to stay flat.

3. While paint is still wet sprinkle with Infusion Walnut Stains- I used Rusty Car, Lemoncello, Slime, and Emerald Green.

4. Spray gently with spray bottle. Can set with a heating tool if you so desire. I do because I am an impatient artist.

5. Use Weldbond to attach prepared GSLC Number Cards to Thick Black Cardstock.

6. Cover with waxed paper.

7. Allow to dry fully pressing down with heavy books.

                           

8. While the GSLC Number Cards are drying using the same process described above to paint and patina your GSLC Corona Shapes. Do not cut out individual pieces but paint in its entirety. Once fully dry carefully remove desired pieces.

                             

9. When GSLC Corona Shapes are dry cut them apart with scissors.   

                       

   10. Once all GSLC Number Cards are separated lay out the GSLC Corona Shape Pieces you want to use on each slide.

                      

 11. Find Alphabet Paper set and choose the letters to spell the phrase of your choosing.

    

                           

 1   12. Assemble cards using Weldbond to attach each piece, cover with waxed 

        paper allow to dry flat a fully, being weighted down with heavy books.

         13. Next we will use Crop-A-Dile Eyelet and Snap Punch to punch holes into the top corners adding decorative eyelets in a variety of colors.

14. Use decorative ribbon to attach the completed GSLC Number Cards.

   I put ribbon through the front of the cards and taped down with scotch table

  15.As I did not want the scotch tape to show I cut pieces of decorative paper to 

seal in the tape and give the back of the cards a more finished appeal.   

Some Final Thoughts.

There are many songs I could use to end this post, Over the Rhine-Don't Let The Bastards Get You Down, Simon & Garfunkel-Bridge Over Troubled Water, Tracy Chapman-Fast Car, Seal-Crazy among others. The title is taken from an oldie Steam-Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye. Any of these songs could adequately describe by salutations to 2020. May we find ourselves in a better brighter world soon. 

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Number Cards, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Corona Shapes, white acrylic paint, paintbrush, Infusion Walnut Stains-Rusty Car, Lemoncello, Slime, Emerald Green, Spray Bottle of Water, Heating Tool, Weldbond Glue, Thick Black Cardstock, Waxed Paper, Heavy Book, Scissors, Letter Pieces, Eyelets, Crop-A-Dile Eyelet and Snap Punch, Decorative Ribbon, Scotch Tape, Decorative Paper, 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!