Life Lessons art journal page by Lynne

Hey crafty folks! Happy November! I've got some Christmas themed projects underway but thought I'd get one more regular project up before I start bombarding you with Jingle Bells and Joy to the World stuff!

This art journal page uses lyrics from a George Michael song that came out when I was just barely out of my teens (yeah, I know I'm dating myself here!) It came to mind recently when I was pondering how difficult some life lessons can be and how I'd really rather not have to go through the experiences necessary to learn them. I think most people can relate to that sentiment at one time or another, and creating this was a form of therapy for me.

I used papers from the Authentique "Curiosity" collection, tearing and collaging them to form the basic background. The collection has the feel of an old-time classroom, so I thought it was perfect for the "Teacher" theme and lyrics...




I painted all the chipboard pieces with red acrylic paint first, using pieces from the Vintage School Set, the Eyeglasses Shape Set and the Scribbled Frames and Lines set.

I then rubbed them with the black ink and silver wax, the apple with much less and the eyeglasses with quite a bit more. Those two pieces were heat-embossed with UTEE, and all the others were brushed with the matte medium to keep the product from rubbing onto the facing page in my art journal.

These two after UTEE was added:

I stencilled with the clear paste then rubbed over the stenciling with the black soot ink when it was dry; the letters and numbers are a Tim Holtz stencil.

I found this word on one of the papers and tore it out separately to use as art of the journaling. Circling it with red pen makes it stand out and adds to the classroom feel.

I added some misting with a couple shades of yellow and some tan and white sprays, then attached the journaling strips which were cut from some of the coordinating paper.

 I did some hand journaling around the edges after this photo was taken, printing in block letters to stay with the theme. Thanks for checking out my page, and may all your visits to the School of Life be happy ones!

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED

Vintage School Set (contact store)
Eyeglasses Shape Set
Scribbled Frames and Lines

OTHER ITEMS USED

Authentique Curiosity collection
Ranger Black Soot Ink
Red acrylic paint
Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Wax-Aged Iron
UTEE (Ultra thick embossing powder)
Ranger transparent gloss texture paste
Ranger Multi Medium Matte
Tim Holtz stencil-Schoolhouse

Merry Modern Christmas In July

Hey there Gypsy Soul Peeps! I'm so very excited to share that I've begun my Christmas in July projects. I just have so much fun creating with all the Christmas goodies when it's nice and warm out and I can wear tank tops and flip flops and know that I am going to be well prepared when the actual holiday rolls around with all the extra stress of decorating and shopping and holiday parties!

This is a very modern card for me. And maybe even a little bit glamourous with the golds and blacks.

The inspiration for this card was the tag and the gorgeous deer ephemera die cut.

I created a unique layered frame by  finishing the chippies with a modern look then stacking them up.

Holiday cards always need elebenty hundred flowers and a generous amount of coordinating ribbon trim.

These sequins add extra detail and sparkle.

 The star chippies are tucked in behind the deer and add a lot of extra glam.

Really easy to alter these pieces. First I wiped them down to prepare them for finishing. The scribble Frame and solid star pieces just have a nice coat of flat white acrylic paint. The Feather Flourishes and star borders have gold embossing powder heat set to a pretty sparkly shine.

Gypsy Soul Laser Cut Supplies~Feathery Flourishes Set, Scribbled Frames and Lines, Deco Frames.

Wishing you all a happy and productive day with lots of time to be creative : ) G

French Country Hidden Drawer Book Box by Pam Bray

Happy first Saturday of June!!! Can you believe it is June already!!! Today I am sharing my French Country Hidden Drawer Book Box using some amazing GSLaser Cuts Chippies!!!

I began my French Country Hidden Drawer Book Box  by first cutting papers to fit inside and outside of the Hidden Drawer Book Box using my Xyron Creative Station.

Form Hidden Drawer Book Box and then adhere papers to inside of box...

And to the top of the Hidden Drawer Book Box.

Adhere Scribbled Frame to top of prepared Hidden Drawer Book Box .

Add French Country Journal Ephemera to top of Hidden Drawer Book Box ,

Fussy cut sunflower from French Country pattern paper and place on top of Hidden Drawer Book Box with pop dots.

Decorate side of Hidden Drawer Book Box with fussy cut diamonds from pattern paper.

Add clock knob to front of drawer.

I hope I have excited you about summertime and sunflowers...so grab some of Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Chippies and create yourself something fabulous for summer. Hugs Pam

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Supplies:

Hidden Drawer Book Box

Scribbled Frames and Lines

Other Supplies:

Graphic 45 French Country Collection

Xyron Creative Station

Clock Knob

DecoArt Media Yellow Oxide Paint

Paintbrush

All Our Love Vintage Beach Inspired Greeting Card

Hey there Peeps! I'm sharing a card today with a vintage beach theme that is near and dear to my heart. Our little family loves the beach so much we spend our Christmas holiday there.  A little sand....a little surf. IHOP(for those not in America IHOP is International House of Pancakes) for Christmas dinner. What could be better?

I think these warmer tones of blue and kraft adds to the vintagy effect.

The shells and sand dollars make a great accent and work well to fill in the flower arrangement.

A scribble frame in a circular shape breaks up the square edges.

Tucking in some cheesecloth gives the effect of netting...a natural choice for a beach card. I love the texture it adds and helps to fill in the arrangement.

The bow has white stitching and helps to break up the dark blue satin.

Last but not least.....some coordinating Prills to give the effect of  water.

These chippies were fun and easy to alter to coordinate with the vintage beach theme....

1. The bare chipboard was wiped down to prepare for finishing. 2. Flat white acrylic to top off the scribble frame and gold to base coat the shells and sand dollars. 3. Crackle medium is added to the sand dollars and once dry a thin coat of white acrylic. Stamping on the frame and a bit of inking. 4. Distressing the edges makes the elements pop.

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts~ Beach Shape Set, Scribble Frames and Lines.

Okay that's all for me. Wishing all of you a happy and productive day : ) G

A Moment in Time

Hello, chipboard fans! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! It is Gloria with you today, and I am sharing another 8" x 8" scrapbook layout. I plan to use these as dividers in a box of monthly layouts...if I ever get them all finished! 

This week I made a sparkly, snowy January page. I used a ton of glitter and embossing enamel on the project (unfortunately, the camera did not pick up the sparkle very well). I added lots of layers of paper and chipboard to create my frosty layout.

Start with some chipboard tags (Decorative Chipboard Tags Large and Small Tag Set) and the mittens from the Winter Shape Set. Paint the edges of the chipboard with white acrylic paint. Set aside to dry.

Pull out other shapes and items in a winter theme. For my project I selected: snowflakes and the "Let it Snow" sentiment from the Winter Shape Set, a clock from Skeleton Clocks, Clockwork Penny Farthing, the circle from Scribbled Frames and Lines Set, the circles and arrow from the Mixed Media Fragments 3 Set, and a phrase from Words and Phrases 1.

Paint all shapes with white acrylic paint.

While the paint is wet, add glitter, embossing powder, and embossing enamel to the shapes as desired.

Assemble the layout by cutting a piece of black cardstock to 8 1/4" x 8 1/4". Attach the Graphic 45 Childrens' Hour 8x8 Calendar Pad January page to the cardstock.

Begin to assemble the layers. Cut banners from Graphic 45 Place in Time January paper  and attach to the top of the page as shown. Cover the large tag with Graphic 45 Children's Hour January Montage paper and sponge the edges with white paint.

Attach the tag to the layout as shown.

Begin to add the other chipboard shapes as desired. Use foam adhesive to pop some of the shapes off the page. (Please note that I prepared more shapes than I actually used on the final layout.)

Cover the mitten shapes with Graphic 45 Place in Time January paper and sponge the edges with white paint.

Add the mittens and a sentiment from Graphic 45 Children's Hour January Collective paper.

The "A Moment in Time" sentiment is covered is glitter!

Add some metal elements for more sparkle! I used silver buttons to keep with the winter theme.

Thanks for looking!

~ Gloria Stengel: Scraps of Life

Supplies Used:

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts:
Decorative Chipboard Tags Large
Small Tag Set
Winter Shape Set
Skeleton Clocks
Clockwork Penny Farthing (not used in the final project)
Scribbled Frames and Lines Set
Mixed Media Fragments 3 Set
Words and Phrases 1

Partner products:
Graphic 45 papers: Place in Time January paper, Children's Hour 8x8 Calendar Pad, Children's Hour January Montage paper, Children's Hour January Collective paper

Other: black cardstock, white acrylic paint, shabby blue embossing enamel, white embossing powder, white and blue glitter, white pigment ink, various buttons, tape runner, foam adhesive, wet glue

"Light" - an Art Journal Page

Hello crafters! 'Twas the day after Christmas and...as much as I enjoyed all the Christmas crafting, it felt good to get back to basics a bit! I haven't done any art journaling in ages and along with my Bible journaling, I want to start taking the time to create at least a page a month. I found a verse I really liked on Facebook and it inspired me to put this page together:

I started by tearing a piece of Inkido paper to fit the page in my art journal; I roughed up the edges a bit and added a few extra tears.

I sprayed with yellow Ayeeda mist; the paper buckled a bit when it was wet but flattened as it dried. If your page doesn't flatten you can either put it under something heavy for a bit or run a hot dry iron over it.

I placed my frame where I wanted it then marked where my journaling would go. I can't print straight so I drew light pencil lines, one for each line of writing.Be sure to use a pen that won't smudge when you erase your pencil lines (test on a scrap if you're not sure).

I painted the chipboard pieces with yellow acrylic paint, then dabbed a paper towel in white paint and randomly patted it on when the yellow was dry. I set them aside to dry and moved back to the journal page.

I stenciled with texture paste, putting the starburst pattern where my light bulbs were going to go, and added the other designs randomly for interest. I used homemade texture paste made with baby powder, white glue, and acrylic paint, but the commercial pastes are great as well-just make sure it's fairly thick to get clean lines and no bleeding under your stencil. Some people don't mind a less crisp look, but I confess I freak out a bit if my stenciling isn't at least pretty crisp and clean!

While the texture paste dried, I heat embossed the chipboard pieces with clear embossing powder; it brightened the colours and added a nice sheen. For a perfectly smooth finish I usually do two coats, but I liked the irregular and slightly bumpy effect of the single coat on these pieces.

I attached yellow vellum to the backs of the light bulbs for a semi-transparent look and placed them over the starburst rays. One of the bulbs had a cord on it which I cut off so they would both be the same; the chain stickers were perfect and have been in my stash for ages!

I used the hot glue gun to attach the frame and light-bulbs. The ladies were cut from a 7 Gypsies paper and popped up with foam tape.

This was fun to put together; I love adding meaningful pages to my art journal and playing around with techniques and products. It's a great way to express yourself and get a little messy-thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish you a happy, creative and colourful New Year!

GYPSY SOUL LASER CUTS ITEMS USED

Scribbled Frames and Lines

Steampunk Lightbulb Set

OTHER ITEMS USED

DecoArt acrylic paints

Inkido and 7Gypsies papers 

Ayeeda mist

clear embossing powder and Versamark ink

Prima and Crafter's Workshop stencils