GSL Cuts: Wooden Shape Set

Monday, September 11, 2017

Gypsy Journal with Gypsy Soul and 7Gypsies/Canvas Corp

Hey there crafty friends! I'm excited at the chance to combine goodies from two great companies to put together a fun project; as soon as I saw the 5x7 Naked Journal, I knew I wanted to work with it! I just happened to have some older 7Gypsies paper in my stash that worked great with the newer line, and I put it all together to create what I have called my "Gypsy Journal":

I used the burlap for the cover; I just love the natural, earthy feel and texture of burlap and thought it would create a great backdrop for the Botanical journalling block from GSLC and the other pieces I used.
I painted the journalling block gold, then brushed it with crackle finish; when that was dry I finished it with black acrylic paint and then ran jute through the holes along the edge.

On this page, the chipboard pieces were painted black, then heat embossed in clear before being treated with Dusty Attic Rust Paste and Prima Aged Brass Wax. I used crumpled pieces of a sewing pattern and some similar-coloured burlap as added embellishments.

For this page, the image from the paper takes center stage, but I added a music note which was heat-embossed first with Ranger Antiquities California Stucco, then Lindy's Adobe Fire. A tulle skirt and gemstone "sun" add some extra dimension.

This page features quotes from both the Wanderlust and Gypsy Moments collections-I love how well they work together! I covered the chipboard balloon in patterned paper, then sanded and inked the edges; the horseshoe was heat embossed with Stampendous Aged Copper embossing powder. The feather is real; I found it on the ground at work the other day!(I work at a golf course)

I started this page with an Architextures background, then used the Architextures baskets sticker and an image & quote from the Gypsy Moments paper as the focal points here. I then added the baggage ticket from the Wanderlust paper and the lasercut propeller and hasp. Both pieces were painted black, then rubbed with silver ink. It doesn't take much to alter your chipboard pieces to match any page theme or colour scheme; that's something I love about them!

The chipboard doodles here were painted black then heat-embossed with Lindy's Midnight Gold.

I absolutely loved this image from the Wanderlust paper but had a bit of a freakout when I realized I also loved something from the other side of the paper...(the struggle is real....sigh....) so I used the upper part of the image and saved the rest for the following page! I thought these celestial pieces were perfect accompaniments to this image; the moon was dry-embossed with this Darice stencil, then painted antique white and brushed with Perfect Pearls. The stars were painted burgundy then brushed with Perfect Pearls as well.I dabbed a tiny bit of water onto my brush to make a paste with the powders.

I loved the door image along with the Milton Berle quote, so created a 2-page spread here. The Architextures wheel sticker was lightly brushed with Aged Brass wax, which I also used on the GSLC lock. The Parchment rub ons are fabulous; they go on so easily and are full of great images and quotes! By the way, I used packaging from the journal on this page-it's the beige patterned rectangle in the middle!

There are six pages left in the journal, and I plan to add quotes, images and embellishments I find that speak to me of the "free my gypsy spirit" theme. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope I've been able to inspire you a little; I so enjoyed putting this project together and sharing it with you-have a wonderful and creative week!

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED

Botanical Journaling Blocks
Steampunk Shape Set (crown, gear)
Music Symbols Shape Set
Birthday Shape Set (balloon)
Feeling Lucky Charm Set (horseshoe)

Hasps
Propellers
Doodles Set 1
Celestial Shape Set
Wooden Shape Set-keys and plates

OTHER ITEMS USED

burlap from Canvas Corp
Architextures Parchment Rub-ons: Live
7Gypsies 5X7 Naked Starter Journal
Architextures Treasures: Stacked Wicker Trunks
Architextures Junque Pack-Garage
7Gypsies Wanderlust papers, 12x12
7Gypsies Gypsy Moments papers, 12x12
Ranger, Stampendous and Lindy's embossing powders
Plaid FolkArt crackle medium

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Standing Flip Book by Rhonda

As a mixed media artist, I naturally have many old photos, millinery flowers, buttons, and other treasures to use in my art. I hoard them and then a project comes along in which I just have to use some of my treasures. This was one of them.

I have so many wonderful old photographs, as I'm sure many of you do as well. But I've never really displayed them, except for propping up the occasional favorite. While doing Guest Design Team work for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts, I knew from the get go that I wanted to use the Standing Flip Book that I received. Then I put two and two together and came up with a project that was so relaxed and great fun to create.

I bet you can already see where I'm going with this one. I find such pleasure in mixing up vintage lace and treasures to create art. I have several altered books I have made on my own and in swaps that use these same items. Why not a Standing Flip Book to display? Exactly! Too good of an idea to pass up. So I got busy. The stand comes with six pages laser cut from heavy duty graphics board.

First I ran my pages through my Xyron adhesive runner. I love this baby when it comes to applying adhesive to larger surfaces. I chose several papers that blended nicely together including this Juliet Verona 12x12 sheet, this fabulous Tan Faux Leather Paper, Lotus Scrapbook Paper and more.

A quick trim and file, (yes that is an emery board) and I'm off to the next side.

OH OH OH, DON'T forget to re-punch your holes before covering the other side.

Done covering and filing, next a bit of Antique Linen Distress Paint so that my edges blend in with the front and back of the page.

Now it's time to play with my photos, which I want and where, as well as larger and smaller pieces of vintage lace. I love to layer it all and just add to the page as much as I like.

For this photo, I decided to make a frame using vintage lace, folded over and glued into place. Clothes pins are a MUST to give you extra fingers while glue dries. Just be sure to remove them before the glue dries all the way, other wise they too will be glued into place.

Above is the back and below is the front, just so you can see how the finished process looks during dry time.

For this page I used a large piece of vintage lace that I was able to wrap all the way around the page, meeting the edges in the center of the back of the page.

I added another piece of lace down the center to cover the seam.

After adding my photo, of course I once again used my clothes pins to hold it all in place for a bit.

I love the design of this mirror (Mirror 1). It reminds me of the frames you would find on old pictures. So I decided to alter it so I could frame one of my favorite old pics.

After cutting the "stand" off, I filed the cut edges smooth. Of course I saved the left over parts to use on another project. The detail is just too perfect.

The frame looks gilded with the use of Distress Paints in Tarnished Brass.

The main thing is to just have fun with it, no stress, no time line, just use the things you love to make it your own. I made a huge mess in my studio with lace and buttons everywhere, but each page was given a life and I love the end result.

I wanted the actual flip book to be somewhat manly, but in those natural tea stain colors I adore. I used several layers of this printed tissue and lots of watered down glue. While wet, the tissue easily peels apart so "trimming" was easy. After I put all of my layers on, I did a final, thicker coat of glue to "seal" the piece.