Winter Wonderland

Hello and Merry Christmas to all our Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts friends who celebrate!  Today I have a sweet winter wonderland scene to share with you, using the House Shrine Box, selections from the Winter Shape Set, and a couple 'flakes from the Snowflake Mini Set.

In order to fit the inside paper layer, I laid out the back and side chipboard pieces and traced around with a pencil.  Once cut out, I used a scoring tool to mark the inside folds.  An alternative to this fiddly method is to cut individual back and side pieces, but I like the continuous design (and I'm not a fan of seams).

I used Mod Podge to adhere paper to the back piece first, then cut out the notches for the roof boards.

The sides aren't added yet, so I used the table edge to fake the 90 degree angle in order to mark the notches for the sides.  You'll see I originally cut more than I needed for the walls, knowing it would be trimmed later.

Here I have the bottom inside layered with paper, and I've cut out the roof inside piece.  When assembling, it's best to glue one side to the back, then the bottom, then the other side.  Save the roof for last, since it will have to fit into the front pieces top notches.

I used a paper cutter to reduce the tree width a bit.  I inked all the pieces dark brown, then embossed for texture.  Not pictured, but here I put spots of glue and snow on the brach tips and allowed to dry.

I glued the small branches toward the back of the box, then added the full tree in front for dimension.

This scene needed icicles since it almost looks like we're peering out a window.  I cut the icicles apart and painted white, then used glitter glue on top.

I outlined the front piece on coordinating paper, cut, and used Mod Podge to adhere to the board.  I sanded down the rough cuts in the center and along the bottom.  You can also see I painted the inside bottom black,

Add the icicles to a corner with white glue.

Carefully glued the front to the rest of the box.  Now it's time to add the roof.  You can see here I ended up cutting the single roof paper into two pieces.  It was easier to handle.

I used two snowflakes for a star -- painted gold then layered with gold glitter glue.

And that's the last in-progress photo!  The roof is a single cut of paper, scored in the center.  The back was measured and cut in the early stages and set aside.  The feet and inside bottom are all black paint.

Thanks for your visit today!  I hope you have a great day.

Cheers,

Susan

House Shrine Box D11A
Winter Shape Set (tree, icicles) D38C
Snowflake Mini C33D

Cozy Mittens Greeting Card

Hello there friends and crafty peeps! Ginny here to share a cozy mittens greeting card created with the gorgeous chippies from GSL.

I just love the homespun country inspiration of this card.

I altered the mittens to look hand painted with a little help from some pretty plaid paper.

The border strip of snowflakes is layered over embossed kraft paper. A bit of faux snow on the edges of the paper for a frosty look.

Some handcrafted flowers and die cut foliage are a nice touch for this whimsical card.

Red satin with swiss dots ribbon and burlap string are stacked for a perfect poofy bow.

I wiped down the chippies to prepare them for finishing. Trace the backside of the mittens onto patterned paper and clip out.

Adhere the cut paper to the fronts of the chipboard with good wet adhesive.

Use a file to clean the ragged edges. In the same manner prepare some glitter paper to be the fuzzy tops of the mittens.

Water down some white acrylic paint and add light layers to the patterned paper until you reach the desired amount of coverage.

Add a dot and dash line with a white Unibal pen.  Trace select lines of the plaid with clear Stickles to begin adding detail back to the pattern.

Add tiny punched hearts. Once the first layer of Stickles is dry add additional lines with red.

~Gypsy Soul laser Cuts~Winter Shape Set

Wishing everyone a happy and productive day : ) G

Ice Skate Christmas Greeting Card

Hello there friends and GSL peeps! Ginny here dropping in to share a very festive and fun Christmas greeting card with some of my favorite holiday chippies.

Oh how I love plaids for Christmas! I've created a dimensional frame for my altered chipboard using an oval die to cut out the center to the paper then added it with spacers for just the perfect showcase for the ice skate.

This hand made by me poinsettia looks picture perfect when layered with the chipboard snowflakes, die cut leaves, and loopy bows of burlap string.

Petal corners brightens up the dark plaid and add extra texture. Last but not least is a poofy bow topped with jingle bells as a metal skate charm.

I wiped down the ice skate chippie to prepare it for finishing then gave the top section a coat of flat white acrylic paint. After drying I used some Distress ink in a Pumice Stone shade to distress the areas on the skate where it would be shadowed from the contours of the foot and ankle. Next I added some antique silver metallic paint to cover the blade. Using a Pitt Pen I added black to the heel and shoe base. Using a thick stick pen I added holes then strung metallic thread through for lacing.

Please enjoy this video tutorial on how I created the card...

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts~Snowflake Shape Set, Petal Corners, Winter Shape Set...coming soon.

Wishing everyone a happy and productive day : ) G

Caged Fairies

I continue my September lament, some days 'adulting' is a real drag, especially as a middle school teacher when you had off for summer vacation. This is the inspiration for this artwork, I've titled "Caged Fairies" as I feel like I cannot be my true self with all the expectations and requirements that are part of many jobs!! Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book was released many years ago when I first saw it I was very amused. It tickeled my sense of humor. Having a good sense of humor makes many "adulting" entrapment less daunting.

1.  Take the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Doodled Cage, Birdcages and one wing from GSLC Steampunk Set and Icicles from GSLC Winter Shape Set, and chosen fairy apart.

 

2.  Use Versa Mark to add layers of copper, antique gold, and Verde embossing powders to birdcages.

3.  Cure with heating tool.

4.  Once cages have dried, dry bush with black acrylic paint to "antique" them.

5.  Trace Birdcages onto Scrapbook Paper and fussy cut out background shapes.

 

6.  Use Weldbond to glue decorative paper to largest birdcage to give them a background save the medium and small backgrounds for later.

7.  Trace edges with purple marker.

8.  Use Versa mark to color fairy  and wings using Black, Blue, and Extreme Peacock embossing powders.

 

9.  Cure with heating tool.

10.                Use Versa Mark to color cut out heart from scrap, and icicles using red embossing powders.

11.                Cure with heating tool, and "antique" using a dry brush and black acrylic paint.

12.                Sandwich Fairy, Heart, and Wing inside of birdcages-trapping them using Weldbond on edges.

 

13.                Secure with clamps and allow to dry fully.

14.                Add Blood Icicles to birdcages, securing with Weldbond, using clamps to assure stability.

15.                Once everything is complexly dry use a small hole punch to punch small holes on top of birdcages and bottom corners of Doodled Cage.

16.                Use flat nose pliers to add smaller birdcages to bottom of larger birdcage using decorative chain.

17.                Your Caged Fairy Mobile is now ready to display!!

 

 

 

 

Some final thoughts. There are not many quotes about caged fairies but there are a few for caged birds. Maya Angelou, "The caged bird sings with a fearful trill, of things unknown, but longed for still, and his tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged bird sings of freedom." Stephen King, "I have to remind myself that some birds are not meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright" I've learned many lessons along the way of becoming a grown up, and I believe that we have freedom to choose how we will respond to all that comes our way, and we are not trapped or caged in, there is always the hope of better days.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Doodled Cage with Solid Back, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Garden Fairies Small, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Steampunk Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Winter Shape Set, Decorative 12x12 Scrapbook Paper Fairy Theme, Pencil, Scissors, Weldbond, Purple Marker, Versa Mark, Heating Tool, Embossing Powder(Gold, Copper, Verde, Black Sparkle, Blues, Perfect Peacock, Red). Black Acrylic Paint, Paintbrush, Clamps, Small Hole Punch, Flat Nose Pliers, Jump Rings, Decorative Chain

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!