My Boy canvas art with Alicia Barry

Today I thought I would try something for my son. I love playing with pretty papers and flowers for my daughter, but I also have two sons who like to be featured occasionally. I took this right after his 13th birthday, so this is a milestone piece for him. (Can you believe I got such a good photo on just my iphone!)

I started by applying white gesso to my canvas, then added crumpled layers of tissue paper under where my photo will go, and secured with more gesso. I used my heat tool not only to speed up the drying process, but it creates some very cool effects on the gesso.

By applying heat fairly closely, the gesso will bubble up  leaving a really interesting texture. This will show up more as I add colour.

I applied four different shades of blue paint spray first, and heat set, then added some green tones over the top. Notice how the texture of the tissue paper is showing up now.

To visually anchor the piece I wanted to create a vignette effect. Since this is a masculine piece, I chose shades of brown.

I then went over the brown with some metallic copper to create a grungy rusty effect.

For more texture, I wrapped some jute twine around the top of my canvas where the main focus of the piece will be.

I took some Flourished Open Circle Frame pieces and Feathery Flourishes and painted in metallic silk paints, in Spicy Tomato and Ginger Peach.

Next, I started to arrange my chipboard pieces onto my canvas. Because of all the texture, it was necessary to use my hot glue gun for this part. Notice also that although the pieces are from two different sets, I overlapped them to create the illusion of one piece, and then mirrored it at the bottom.

Time to add the photo. For the title, I used Words and Phrases 2, and the same metallic paints as the other pieces so that it would co-ordinate, but then also swiped black ink over the top so it would stand out.

Now, it was time to add embellishments.  I used some cogs from the Steampunk Shape Set and  inked in black along with some metal pieces.

I added a few small flowers, which I dry brushed with metallic ink for a cohesive look. Being a male project, I didn't want the flowers to stand out too much.

I also added some dimensional paint dots randomly across the project.

 I also added some random little pockets of black glass glitter.

Supplies used:

Flourished Open Circle Frames 

Feathery Flourishes

Steampunk Shape Set

Words and Phrases 2

Canvas

Gesso

Silks metallic paints

Lindy's Stamp Gang paint sprays

Metallic charms

Twine

Ultimate Crafts dimensional paint

Finnabair glass glitter.

Steampunk Spells Mini Album

Hello steampunk fans! It is Gloria with you today, and I have a remarkable mini album to share! 

This project is a joint project with Graphic 45 and GSLCuts. G45 is a sponsor here at GSLCuts and many of us on the GSLCuts team enjoy using their papers!

I have created a 6" x 6" x 2" mini containing 18 pages (36 sides). This little gem is chock full of pretty papers and awesome chipboard embellishments! This is the perfect project for photos and journaling. Display this beauty on a shelf or easel for maximum enjoyment!

 Each page contains pockets or tags or ephemera. It is a steampunk-ers dream.

The spine sports a metal door plate and knob, plus two wonderful metal keys.

You need the following Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts embellishments for this project:

Steampunk Gentleman

Steampunk Lady

Butterfly of Gears

Steampunk Shape Set

Steampunk 2 Shape Set

Steampunk Lightbulb Shape Set

Clock Hands Shape Set

Dressforms1 Shape Set

Dressforms 2 Shape Set

Gears ShapeSet

Wrought Iron Set

Mini Bird Cages

For a full supply list, scroll down to the bottom of the post. 

The front of this album is packed with metal charms, grungy steampunk chipboard shapes, and flowers. To create the large, butterfly embellishment, ink one Butterfly of Gears with black pigment ink. Cover the shape with Black Soot Distress Embossing Powder and heat set. 

For all the other chipboard shapes in the album, either keep them "raw" or color them with a black marker or black ink. I sprayed a few shapes with black glimmer mist. See the printable tutorial for specific directions. (COMING SOON!)

The inside front cover contains an envelope for hidden journaling or photos. I have used two of the corners from the Wrought Iron Set to decorate the envelope.

The inside back cover also contains a pocket for a square tag. This pocket is decorated with a spectacular Steampunk Gentleman. I sprayed this shape with glimmer mist and weighted it down with some heavy books so that he could dry flat.

This is just a sneaky peaky of all the chipboard shapes contained in this book!

To see all the pages of this wonderful, little album, check out the video! 

You can also print a step-by-step project sheet for this project. Click HERE to print the tutorial.

Thanks for looking!

Gloria Stengel: Scraps of Life

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts:

Steampunk Gentleman

Steampunk Lady

Butterfly of Gears

Steampunk Shape Set

Steampunk 2 Shape Set

Steampunk Lightbulb Shape Set

Clock Hands Shape Set

Dressforms 1 Shape Set

Dressforms 2 Shape Set

Gears Shape Set

Wrought Iron Set

Mini Bird Cages

Partner products:
Graphic 45:

DCE - Old Curiosity Shoppe (with stickers and decorative chipboard)

DCE - Steampunk Debutante (with stickers and decorative chipboard)

DCE - Botanicabella (with stickers and decorative chipboard)

Rare Oddities (retired)

Artisan Style (retired)

Steampunk Spells (retired)

Eerie Tale (retired)

Square Tag and Pocket Album - kraft

Square Tags - black, kraft

Artist Trading Tags Tags - black, kraft

Policy Envelopes - Square Black

Metal Clock Keys

Metal Door Plates and Knobs

Door Knocker

Ornate Metal Keys

Other: 

Cardstock: black, kraft

Markers: Zig black, Stampin' Up black
Ink: black pigment
Embossing powder: Ranger Distress Black Soot

Embellishments: decorative brads, metal gears, paper and fabric flowers, filmstrip, bingo tile, lightbulb, metal frame, metal spigots, charms, pen nib, wishbone
Punches: Stampin' Up 1" and 1/2" circles, Creative Memories corner rounder, EK Success bumpy road border
Dies: Spellbinders standard circles large, small; Cheery Lynn Designs French Pastry Doily

Magnets: Basic Grey

Adhesive: ATG double-sided tape, Scor-tape, Scrapbooking Adhesives by 3L 3D foam squares, 3M foam tape, Ranger Multi Medium, hot glue

Tools: Paper trimmer, scissors, craft knife and cutting mat, bone folder

A Stroll Down Sweet Street

Yep, the holidays are over, winter has us all in her cold clutches. What better way to warm up than make some snuggly cute houses for Valentine's Day? Lora here playing with the House Oddities Box and having a grand time! I love this kit! I love anything house shaped and the possibilities with this awesome kit are pretty much endless.
I decided to take a stroll down Sweet Street,  a charming little block of confectionery delights.

It was lots of fun using pink papers and lots of glitter! And, of course, chocolate was eaten throughout the project. For inspiration. Just sayin'.

 

The papers kind of remind me of the Licorice Allsorts I got when I was in college in the UK.
I wasn't over fond of licorice, but the sweets were so colorful and pretty, they always looked like they should taste like something else.

A couple of detail shots.....

I started this project by gluing the box together and giving it a coat of gesso. I usually like to do this for two reasons. The main one is that matte medium loves to stick to gesso, so it's very easy to glue papers down. The second is that there is sometimes what I call 'burn residue' on die-cuts and this keeps your hands from getting ashy and transferring it to your papers when you're gluing them down.

I pre-cut all the papers I wanted to use for each house, back and front. Next I used linen hinging tape to connect all my little houses together.

I made sure to leave plenty of space between the houses to account for the bulk of papers and ephemera I wanted to add. If you tape the pieces too close together, the houses won't fold up properly.
Keep the bottoms of your houses straight and even so nothing is lopsided.

I glued all the papers on the houses and trimmed them where needed. I then inked the edges and the linen tape so it would blend in a bit with the whole ensemble.

I collected a bunch of fun little doodads and bits and composed little house layouts. I usually don't plan this part, as it's more fun to just be spontaneous and I'm not locked into  a fixed idea, so fun things start happening and my project starts to get a personality.
I made a little flap with a message underneath by cutting out a pretty shape from scrapbook paper and once again, using lined hinging tape.....

I laid the tape over the house and measured out (roughly...it's not brain surgery) the width and length I needed and stuck it down.

Now it's ready for embellishing and a cute little message.

Supplies List:
House Oddities Box
Window 6 Panel
Steampunk Shape Set (wings)
Stackable Labels Shape Set

Additional Supplies
Bo Bunny Sweet Moments 6x6 and 12x12 Scrapbook Papers
Stickles-Diamond
Linen Hinging Tape
Paper Roses
Collage images from Sandy Gordon (Art, Tea, Life)
White acrylic paint marker
Gesso
Matte Medium (I like Liquitex)

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Find Joy Every Day Greeting Card

Hey there Paper Peeps! Ginny here to share a greeting card with a lovely sentiment. Finding joy every day would be a great life motto. There certainly is enough to be thankful for!!!

I selected several great Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts chippies and gave them a base coat of white acrylic paint then played with the pieces until I had them just where I wanted them. Once I knew where they were the most happy I finished altering and layering them with the patterned papers.

This paper seemed to be fairly feminine with a nice range of brighter and darker shades so I took advantage of that and did the same for the chippies.

The sentiment in the center is a coordinating sticker and just the perfect size to fit into this frame.

The birdhouse was finished simply with a light coat of metallic silver paint then a layer of velum added to the back to conceal the layers underneath it. The Hinge Strap chippie got multiple coats of Liquid Pearls in two shades and smooshed down with a cosmetic applicator being careful not to fully blend the colors. Smooshing instead of brushing helps to add a texture similar to hammered metal.

The Wrought Iron Chippie looks a bit like delicate lace to me and finished with a Pitt Big Brush marker in black preserves the intricate details and doesn't gunk up the corners like paint might.

This Scribble Frame Birds stayed white....then was brushed with Coral Pearlescents and topped with Sugar Glitter Paste. It's pale and dreamy and the perfect base for some dimensional flowers.

~Gypsy Soul Laser Cut Supplies~

Scribble Frame Birds

Hinge Strap

Steampunk Shapes Set

Wrought Iron Set

~Other Supplies~

Petaloo Flowers

BoBunny patterned papers and Mixed Mixed Media

Okay that's all for me. Wishing all of you a happy and productive day with lots of time to be creative : ) G

Time Flies Card by Gloria

Good morning! It's Gloria and I decided to share a card today, rather than a 3D project. Don't despair, I will be back in two weeks with something dimensional. {wink}

I created a fun birthday card, with the theme "time flies." I really like orange, purple, and green color combinations, so using the Graphic 45 Rare Oddities paper, along with some matching flowers, hit the perfect note for me! We have some amazing partners who have supplied the DT with product so I tried to highlight those as well (see the supply list below). 

The centerpiece of the card is this pocket watch that I created from several GSLCuts shapes and the Altered Pages stamp set Muse Time. Around the face of the clock are words, such as Marriage, 1st Day of School, 1st Kiss, etc. I thought it was a fun way to show the passage of time for a birthday card!

I added lots of little details to the card with lots of Steampunk shapes.

Thanks for looking! Find all these wonderful chipboard items at the GSLCuts Store! Find amazing Graphic 45 papers HERE.

For the step-by-step tutorial, visit my Snapguide below.

Check out How to Create a Steampunk Card by Gloria Stengel on Snapguide.

~ Gloria Stengel: Scraps of Life

Supplies:

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts: 

Chicken Wire 6-inch panel

Steampunk Shape Set

Steampumk 2 Shape Set

Waterworks Shape Set

Partner Products:
Altered Pages: Mailbox Muse Stamps (Muse Time)
ColourArte Radiant Rain Daubers: Nutmeg, Copper

Graphic 45 Rare Oddities Collection

Xyron: 1.5-inch Sticker Maker, 3-inch Sticker Maker, 9" Creative Station (older model)

Other: 
Ink: Ranger Distress (Gathered Twigs, Old Paper), Colorbox Pigment (Black, Bronze, Copper, Burnt Copper, Gold, Silver, Gold Brocade, Verdigris, Pheasant Gold), Versafine Onyx Black
Mini brads: craft supply
Gesso: Liquitex
Twine and Flowers: Really Reasonable Ribbon
Cardstock: black, ivory
Tools: Circle punches, Crop-a-Dile, bone folder, sponge dauber
Adhesive: ATG tape, hot glue, white glue

Steampunk Mermaid Matchbox Theatre by Jessica Armstrong

This week I got to work with some steampunk under-the-sea bits and bobs. The whole theme of this piece is blue and gold - I used gold leaf on all the chipboard pieces, which I'm a huge fan of.

The outside of the box, decorated with a top-hat wearing mermaid, who is holding a steampunk gear-shell.

Simple blue and white scrapbook paper was used to give the piece a watery feel.

Build on top of each previous layer, with the new layer of chipboard gives more dimension.

And out slides the theater piece

I've used some waves and another mermaid and a gear in the background. More layering!

The theatre on its own, with crumbled blue scrapbook paper in the background.

Materials Used

Matchbox Theatre (coming soon!)

Mermaids Shape Set

Steampunk 2 Shape Set

Steampunk Beach (coming soon!)