decadent display

Hello everyone, today I am sharing "decadent display" a faux gingerbread village decor piece. This will be my last post as a team member for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. It's been such a pleasure creating for Gina for the past three years. I've truly enjoyed working alongside the many talented designers from the team and have made some special friends. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.

When the holidays wind down, I like to have some pieces of decor that I can leave out through the long cold days of January. I thought it would be fun to create a faux snowy gingerbread village that will last into the new year (and beyond). 

The Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts spool large (coming soon) is the perfect size display base for these GSLC cabana row mini houses. My project uses three of the five houses that come in the set, and I plan on making the two additional houses into "gingerbread house" ornaments for my Christmas tree.

The set of cabana row mini houses contains five different style houses. They arrive flat, with pre-scored lines for easy assembly. The roofs pieces are also scored. For this display, I am using the three smallest houses. 

I measure the outside walls of each house and cut a corresponding piece of dark brown kraft cardstock to match. If you find it easier, you can also trace the gable walls onto your paper and then cut it out. I also cut corresponding papers for each roof. I cut each panel as a separate piece to mimic how an actual gingerbread house would be assembled. Once all of the papers are cut, it is time to draw the facades. 

I use a pencil to draw basic shape outlines for doors and windows then, using a white uniball signo pen, add all the details. I draw different shingle patterns for each house roof. Be sure to edge each panel with a line of white "icing".

While the inked details are drying, partially assemble the chipboard house bases. It is easiest to attach the roof prior to closing up the bottom. This way you can reach into the house and assure that the flaps are secure to the underside of the roof pieces. When the chipboard houses are formed, paint the edges with white acrylic paint or white gesso and allow to dry.

When the white paint has dried, adhere the paper facade pieces to the chipboard house base. White craft glue works well and gives you a little open time to adjust the pieces into place. 

To create the display base, I trace the spool top and bottom onto a piece of white cardstock and cut out the circles. On the opposite sides of these pieces, I attach some patterned tissue paper with collage medium. When the collage medium is dry, I add a layer of vintage collage medium to give the tissue a soft sepia colored finish. The spool core is finished in the same manner. 

After the tissue paper sides with collage medium are completely dry, flip the circle pieces over and attach the cut piece of white cardstock. Arrange the houses and trace the base onto the cardstock. Add texture paste to the areas surrounding the houses and while it is still wet, sprinkle with fine clear glitter for a sparkling snow effect. Allow to dry. 

Attach the spool core to the flat circular pieces with collage medium. Each chipboard circle has an indention where the spool core should be situated. Since the tissue paper  is thin, it allows the indention to show and the core is easily placed central to the circle. Let dry overnight. 

Adhere the "gingerbread houses" to the spool top with white craft glue. I also add a few dyed and glittered sisal trees to create the scene. 

The base of the display contains glittered decorative deer and more of the dyed sisal trees. Place the items along the base and secure with glue, making sure that the composition balances with the houses on the top.

The last step is adding pieces of faux Dresden trim along the edges of the spool top and bottom. I use die cut impresslit pieces that have been rubbed with bronze paint to highlight the embossed designs. 

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by the blog today, I hope that you have been inspired to perhaps create your own decadent display! Each house has the ability to be any style you wish, from traditional to whimsical, let your imagination soar.

I want to thank Gina and the entire team at Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts for the wonderful experience I have had as part of their design team. I could not have asked for a better group of creatives!

life is sweet, enjoy every moment...

Ann

xxx 

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

spool large - coming soon

cabana row mini houses

Documenting December

 Hello everyone, I can hardly believe that we are nearing the end of November. When the pandemic hit, it seemed as though all of the months started blurring together, and before I knew it, six months had passed, then seven, etc... I've heard a lot about how people like to do daily journal entires for the month of December, helping them to stay focused on the joys of the season and allowing them to highlight and appreciate some of the important moments. I think this year, more than ever, this will be a valuable exercise. For this reason, I have created a December journal.Today, I am sharing the journal I made for "documenting December." I start with a die cut journal base made from the Eileen Hull Sizzix Journal die. I cover the die cut pieces with some of my favorite Tim Holtz holiday papers and use a bunch of Gypsy Soul Laser Cut chipboard pieces as embellishments inside. There are so many different Christmas and holiday chipboard pieces in the GSLC shop to choose from. This post will highlight some that I use in this journal.

On the cover, I add an altoids tin topper 1 piece in each corner. I love how the design of these pieces plays off the paper pattern. For these pieces, I coat one side with Versamark embossing ink and then randomly sprinkle Distress embossing glaze in rustic wilderness onto the ink. The embossing powder melts when heated. To give it a grungy look, I sand off areas of the glaze, allowing the chipboard to show through. If you happen to add to much powder and are not happy with the shine, you can use a piece of steel wool to dull the finish. Its best to only add the embossing to one side of the piece, this will allow you to easily secure it to the cover with craft glue.

Inside the journal, the "signatures" are made from mixed media heavyweight paper and cut to size. Using a heavy weight paper will give me freedom to add different mediums to the pages. I stamp numbers into the corner of each page to correlate to the days of the month. I do not sew the signatures together, leaving them free to be removed. This will allow me the flexibility to journal, paint, stamp or draw onto the page without worrying about dirtying up any other pages. When I complete that day and it is completely dry, I can simply slip it back into place. I add some additional vellum sheets to the signatures for interest.

I use one of these vellum pages to showcase the GSLC believe Santa. After carefully removing the piece from the surround, I paint the chipboard with black soot Distress paint. Once the paint is completely dry, I use a silver leaf metallic paint pen along the outermost edge to highlight the figure and deer in the night sky. I attach the upper portions of some house die cuts along the bottom edge so that Santa can soar above the rooftops.

The Christmas shape set contains so many fun pieces that are perfect for embellishing the journal pages. I use various colors of Distress paint to add details to the pieces. Festive holiday lights stretch across the top of one of the pages. Each painted bulb is glued to the page and then I add the "wire" by drawing a curvy line between the bulbs so that they appear as if they are a string of lights, all connected to each other.

The stockings from the Christmas shape set can be decorated to look any way you chose. I opt for a simple approach by only painting the bottom portions with candied apple Distress paint. A very fine burlap string allows the three stockings to be "hung" across the page. You can also add stamped images or a monogram to really personalize the look.

I prepare a number of extra pieces that will be incorporated as I fill the journal. The smallest trees from the pine tree shape set are some of these pieces. I think it will be fun to add one when documenting the day we select our Christmas tree, as well as when we decorate our tree. These pieces are prepared by painting them with a coat of rustic wilderness Distress ink. If the weather is snowy on the day we pick out the tree, I may add a bit of grit paste to the branches or maybe even sprinkle some blizzard embossing powder onto the tips of the pines. The best part of having prepared pieces is the ease with which they can be added when the time is right. With December being such a busy month, being prepared will allow more time for other things as well as make it easier to create fantastic pages in minutes.

I intentionally leave many of the journal pages unadorned. This allows me the freedom to add notes, artwork, stamps, or even tags where I want. The GSLC small tag set is the perfect size to add into the journal. The set comes with ten (10) small tags. I make up a handful to coordinate with my journal. On one side of the tags, I attach a piece of holiday paper with collage medium. The edges of the paper are trimmed to fit the tag. I punch a hole in the decorative paper at the location of the existing hole in the tag, and insert a 3/16" colored eyelet. The reverse side of each tag is simply inked to allow for the addition of  notes or a picture. These will definitely come in handy when I begin documenting December.

Another piece that I have painted and am keeping handy is the layered frame carlon. This can frame up a nice saying or image, or maybe even a mini Santa pic! 

Maybe you are inspired to create your own December journal; Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts has a wide variety of pieces that would work perfectly for adding special touches to your pages. I know that I am looking forward to documenting December and being able to appreciate the little things each and every day.

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today, I truly appreciate it. If you live in the United States, or celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you and yours a day filled with gratitude and love. I will be back in December with my last Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts project of the year.

Be safe and take care,

Ann

xxx  

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used:

Altoids tin topper 1

Believe Santa 

Christmas shape set

Layered frame Carlon

Pine tree shape set

 Small tag set

morbid manse

Hello everyone, today I am sharing my October project for Gypsy Soul Last Cuts. I could not let the month go by without a project befitting the spookiest of holidays. Imagine a foggy, moonless night in Old Salem. Adjacent to the rows of tombstones and monuments stands a historic manse. The door is ajar, why not take a peak... what's inside is absolutely morbid.

I begin with a Gypsy Soul Last Cuts mini house room box. Using an exacto knife, I cut apart wall, roof and divider pieces. As usual, I do a test fit to understand how all the pieces fit together. Then, using acrylic paint, I add paint along all the edges and at areas where pieces join together. This allows me a bit of play when I am cutting and attaching papers into the sections (if a paper cut is slightly off, the gap does not show). The "attic" area is covered completely with the paint. Since I want it too look like an unfinished attic space, I will not be covering any of these surfaces with paper.

When the paint is dry, I assemble the house. Applying a thin line of glue along the edges and tabs, I then secure the pieces in place. Sometimes it helps to clamp the pieces while drying. When the piece is assembled and the glue is dry, it is time to add the details. I begin with the outside of the house.

Using a die that cuts different styles of shingles and shakes, I select a style to use for the main exterior clapboards. I cut rows of siding from blackout kraft cardstock, then lightly sand and ink them to create an aged and weathered appearance. I begin adding the die cut pieces to the house, working from the bottom up so that the shingles can overlap and stagger mimicking traditional siding. Work on row at a time all the way around the three sides before moving onto the row above. 

I have always admired the special details that are found on historic houses. I thought it would be fun to add a section of fish scales in the upper gabled area. Before switching patterns, I add a frieze (trim) board across the rear to transition to the new pattern. When the fishscale shingles are all in place, I add trim boards along the angled edges to finish the look. The roof is completed in the same manor as the exterior walls, but using heavyweight kraft paper inked with distress ink.

Now it is time to finish the interior rooms. I select papers that give the look of historic wallpapers and plaster. Each "room" is finished in a different paper. Measure and cut a square for each rear wall. Then, cut a strip of matching paper that will cover both the side walls and the ceiling. When papers are cut for each room, ink all of the edges with a dark brown or black ink. 

To add an element of authenticity, create "cracks" by tearing into the paper and inking the torn area. You can also create the appearance of leaks within the walls by dripping dark ink down the wall sections.

The "wood" floors of each room are made by cutting pieces of woodgrain embossed paper that's been inked and and painted. All of the papers are attached to the surfaces using collage medium.

In keeping with the undertaker theme, I decide to give each room its own function that would be found in a funeral home. Starting with the attic, I adhere small pieces of hay randomly on the floor where a skeleton lies. The only remains of a long forgotten guest from years ago. 

Located on the second floor is a mourning room,  complete with prayer candles. An area to gather and contemplate lost souls. 

Adjacent is a store room for found objects; misplaced parts and pieces.

The selection room can be found on the first floor. Here you can find items for all your funeral needs- from flowers to urns and caskets. 

The undertaker's office completes the tour.

Two tiny eye hooks are screwed into the gable to secure a hanging sign. The undertaker is open for business, established 1876.

I hope you have enjoyed this haunting holiday make, perhaps you are inspired to create one of your own. If you've run out of time, consider making a house for a different holiday. I can imagine a wonderful Christmas inspired elf's workshop, or an easter egg factory. The possibilities are endless with the GSLC mini house room box.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I truly appreciate it.

Enjoy these hallowed days.

Ann

xxx 

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used: mini house room box 

specimen shattered

Next week I will begin decorating the house for Halloween. For me, this is the best part of the holiday. I have a china cabinet in the dining room which I convert into a creepy cabinet of curiosities.  I thought it would be fun to make a piece to add to my curiosities. Using the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts 6x6 shadowbox as a base, I created the specimen box. Some shards of mica formed the perfect "shattered" enclosure.

As mentioned, I begin with a 6x6 shadowbox kit from GSLC. The eight piece kit arrives flat. It's a good idea to wipe down the edges of each of the sections before getting started, to remove any residue from the laser cutting process. Any soft rag or paper towel will do the trick. Once the edges have been wiped clean, I like to test assemble the piece (without any glue) to familiarize myself with how it all works. This also helps me to formulate a vision for my final piece. 

I coat all the edges of the pieces, as well as areas where dividers are located, with a light coat of dark brown paint. I plan on adding dimensional woodgrain embossed papers to the outside of the box so that it will look as if the box is made of wood. Having the edges painted a dark brown will ensure that the faux finish is more believable. I also like to coat the interior corners with a dark color so that when the decorative paper pieces are attached to the interior, any unintentional gaps do not show.

I set aside the box pieces to dry and begin working on the interior papers. I begin with a piece of scrapbook paper that has subtle markings and appears aged. I add ink and some random script stamping onto the paper to give it even more dimension, this paper will be used to cover the inside base of the box. A coordinating paper is cut into strips that equal the depth of the box. These strips are inked around the edges with the same ink that was used on the background paper. When the painted edges are completely dry, I use glue along tabs and edges and form the box.

I measure each of the box compartments and cut the base papers to fit, making sure to ink any cut edges. I label the backs of the papers with a letter designated for each compartment. Typically, the three smaller sections will all be the same size; however, the designation allows me to know which "specimen" stamp will be used in which compartment. Using a stamp platform and black archival ink, I stamp the selected "specimen" in the center of the cut paper. I also stamp each image onto a piece of clear acetate with black StazOn ink. The acetate images are set aside to dry.

The next step involves creating the faux wood box exterior. Using a 3D embossing folder and some damp mixed media paper, I run the paper through the diecut machine to add the embossed woodgrain texture. These pieces are then inked, painted and coated with various mediums resulting in a true "wood" look. I make sure to incorporate some of the paint color that was used on the base box to ensure that the transitions are seamless. The wood grained papers are cut to size and attached to the box sides and back with collage medium.

With the main images in place for each section, I am able to visualize where I want to add rub-ons  and additional stamped images. I want the compartment to appear as if the base papers were taken straight from journals or documentation related to each specimen. I add date stamps, signatures, numbers and various other markings. When I am satisfied with the look, the papers are secured in place with adhesive. 

When the StazOn ink is completely dry, I turn the stamped acetate pieces over and use alcohol ink to color the images. When dry, I cut out each image, being careful to get as close to the edge as possible without compromising the image. These acetate images are then attached above their respective stamps within the box. I only attach the acetate pieces along the thorax/abdomen. This allows the wings to be folded upward  enhancing the dimensional effect. 

 The final step in the process is adding shards of mica to the exterior edges of the box. I use a strong, clear drying glue along the edges where the mica touches and then add a weight on top while it dries. You can add as much or as little mica as you want to achieve the desired look. I love how the largest piece spans across the compartments, yet still leaves random areas uncovered.

I hope that you have been inspired by this piece to perhaps create your own themed piece, It is always a lot of fun making pieces that can be displayed year after year.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today, I truly appreciate it.

~Ann   

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used:   6x6 Shadowbox