home is where the heart is

Hi everyone, Ann here today,  sharing these valentine putz houses.
 I love decorating my house for the various holidays throughout the year; with Valentine's day just around the corner, I thought it would be a lot of fun to create a small vignette of sweet putz.

The GSLC chipboard house ornament kit makes these super simple to create, and you can let your imagination go with all of the details. Each kit contains the pieces for one house, including a bottom with access flap in case you want to put a battery operated tea light inside. The houses have holes in the roof for hanging; however, since I will be using mine in a home decor display, I have simply covered the holes. I use some of the additional house parts that are available, like the house ornament porch, the house ornament window trims, and the the house ornament chimney and dormers. There are even more pieces that can be incorporated that you may be interested in, available in the shop.

The first step is constructing the basic house. The house ornament kit arrives flat. The pieces should be carefully removed from the surround. Run a thin line of glue along the edges and then secure the tabs into the slots and allow to dry. I suggest adding small pieces of mica or acetate on the inside at the window locations before gluing the roof in place. (This is a step I did not include on my houses, but looking back wish that I had. Having the windows sealed would be helpful when adding the glitter to the outside surfaces.)

When the three house kits are assembled, the next step is deciding which additional features to add to each house. The chimney and dormers set includes two dormers and one chimney. These can all be used on one house or split up among the houses. You can see that I use the chimney on one house and two dormers on another, while my third house uses a full set, two dormers and the chimney, as well as the porch. The window trims are added later. Location and placement of the additional house features is entirely up to you, simply glue them in place with a craft glue and allow to dry.

 
With the additional features in place, It is time to paint the houses. [Note: I recommend attaching the window trims AFTER the initial paint coat] I select colors to represent the Valentine's holiday: pinks, blush, victorian velvet, and cameo as well as brushed pewter. I paint directly on the chipboard, two light coats, allowing time to dry in between each coat. When the base coats are completely dry, I add the painted window trims to the houses with glue. [Note: a pair of tweezers is very handy during this step.] It is much easier to paint the trims prior to attaching them to the house.

 

Using a paintbrush and distress collage medium, I paint the areas where I want the glitter to stick. It is easiest to do one roof plane/side of the house at a time. The degree that the house is glittered is entirely up to you. I use a super fine clear glitter (Distress clear rock candy) since the houses are small. You could use colored glitter if you prefer. A more chunky glitter would give an entirely different appearance. I prefer the look of a fine coat of glitter which allows the details to show. I want each of my houses to be a little different, so one house is only glittered on the roof and I added other embellishments to the exterior walls. One of the other houses is covered completely in glitter, while the third is only glittered on the walls, dormers and chimney.

I added extra details by incorporating some X & O sequins along the eaves, a large heart brad at the circular window, heart trim as a wainscoting, and even added shingles to the roof on one of the houses. For my roof shingles, I used painted die cuts from the village rooftops die; however, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts makes a wide variety of shingle styles that would work very well.

My putz houses are arranged on an antique silver serving tray with glass glitter and dyed bottlebrush trees to create a sweet valentine vignette. I hope you are inspired to create your own putz houses, they really are so much fun to make and adorn, and can be done up in any style you can imagine.

Thank you so much for stopping by today,
I really appreciate it.
~Ann


  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used:
House Ornament Kit (x3)
House Ornament Porch
House Ornament Chimney and Dormers (x2)
House Ornament Window Trims (x2)

love letters folio

Being that February is upon us, and everywhere we look we are reminded that Valentine's day is near, I am sharing a tutorial for my love letters folio. This piece is something that could be used anytime of year, to store special love notes received, or even simply to store your favorite stationery for writing letters.

Before starting my project, I like to assemble the pieces I plan to use (without adhesive). This gives me a visual of how the final piece will present, as well as an idea of the areas that will be covered. I have really been enjoying creating my own papers lately. I am using these along with preprinted designs. This allows me to coordinate the colors exactly as I like. The GSLC folio and mini book has many surfaces that will need finishes.

With an idea in mind, I raid my stash of special papers and select some pieces to use as accents. Using distress oxide and distress inks, I create custom papers that coordinate; then, also gather some embellishments that I might like to incorporate.

 All of the edges of the bare chipboard base are inked with distress ink. This makes for a finished appearance at the edges where the paper and chipboard meet. Along the areas that will be opened and closed repeatedly, I add linen hinging tape and ink on top of that. This serves to reinforce the edges that will repeatedly be folded back and forth, thus extending the life of the folio.

Depending on the area of each surface, I determine what will be the best adhesive for attaching the finished paper. Along the spines, I use collage medium and in the larger, flat areas, I use sookwang double sided adhesive tape. I begin by covering the interior surfaces of the folio. Glittered washi tape adds a bit of interest along the edges of the paper at the fold locations, while sparkle ribbon edges the pocket that will hold the mini book.

In an effort to create more spaces to tuck special notes, a piece of my inked paper is attached only at the top and bottom, creating a central pocket and the two squares of decorative papers that flank either side are open at the top for additional secret compartments. A die cut heart is inked and wrapped with copper wire and beads, then attached to the special pocket.

Included with the folio and mini book set is a 4 page chipboard book base. Instead of creating a book to slip into the folio pocket, I use one piece of the folded base to create a stationary holder. 

T create the insertable holder, I adhere decorative paper to the outside cover and add "X" and "O" from the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts alphabet stencil blanks. These stencil blanks are so fun to incorporate into your project, they can be used separately (as I have here) or even as a complete set.

Each stencil blank is painted with copper colored paint and allowed to dry. I then attach a piece of distress oxide inked paper behind each stencil blank and the combined pieces are secured to the cover with decorative brads. The stencils are only attached at two corners to allow additional opportunities to tuck special things. 

The interior of this part is simply covered with papers. When open, each side contains a pocket along the edge to hold stationary and envelopes or, treasured, keepsake love notes, whichever you prefer. Pieces can also slip into the bands on the pockets.

As much as I had anticipated keeping the outside of my folio simple, I could not resist using the GSLC double hearts flourish as an accent. 

It's size fit so perfectly onto the back outer panel, and I saw it as an opportunity to bring a bit of the copper accents seen on the inside to the outside. This heart piece can be used in so many ways. Either layered (as I have) or separately, it is wonderful as a frame or even just as a decorative element.

For my piece, I paint the top scrollwork heart with copper colored paint and allow to dry. Is is adhered atop the bottom layer which has been inked with distress ink and then crackled. After they are secured with collage medium, I wrap some copper wire around the edges at three locations to form "X"s. Then some spiraled pieces of wire are attached. This piece is adhered to the back cover (distress oxide inked paper) with hot glue. 

The folio and mini book set comes with a belly band; however, I did not use this piece. The front flap of my folio is secured by means of a piece of lace that has been inked. 

The colored lace, once dry, is secured with collage medium along two and a half inches in from each side.  The middle portion of the lace is not attached, which allows the flap to slide under it. Another die cut heart (inked and coated with crazing) is attached to the lace piece with mini staples in an "X".

 
I was so pleased with the way this folio turned out, I think it will be a beautiful way to store treasured notes and other things.

I hope that you have enjoyed my post, and perhaps it has inspired you to create something. The design team and I'd love to see what you create with Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. If you haven't joined already, please consider sharing your work on our Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group facebook page.  Thanks so much for stopping by.
~Ann
  xxx

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used:

Alphabet Stencil Blanks
Double Hearts Flourish 

Folio & Mini Book

Love Note

I am a huge fan of handmade valentines.
 There is something so absolutely wonderful about a token of love that has been created with care, for someone special. Handmade love notes seem to be few and far between these days. Today I am sharing "love note," a piece I created with Valentines Day in mind.   

I started with Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Arch Top House Silhouettes. These chipboard pieces are so nice and sturdy. This set could be used to create three individual pieces or used in multiples, as a pair or even a trio.
 I used all three to create my piece.

Once I had an idea in mind, I looked through my stash of paper in search of something that would lend itself to being a good base to build upon. I then coated one side of the chipboard piece with collage medium and placed my paper onto the shape, centering the design. I used a brayer to make sure there were no air bubbles and that the paper was completely flat. I repeated this process for each of the three panels. After allowing the glue to dry completely, I turned the pieces over onto a cutting mat and used my Exacto knife to trim the paper around the edge of the chipboard shape.

Next, I completed this same process for the back side of each panel using a coordinating paper. I inked the edges of the pieces and inner areas of the paper with Distress Ink in brushed corduroy. 

I knew that I wanted the pieces to be "hinged" at the two interior seams when the pieces were situated side by side. Contemplating a few ideas for how I would accomplish this, I settled on using wire.

I first marked the location of each hole. Using a dremel, I drilled four holes onto each panel edge. Be sure to use a cutting mat or board beneath the piece that you are drilling through so that you don't ruin your tabletop. These holes aligned with four holes along the edge of the adjacent panel. I threaded a piece of soft wire through the holes to create an "x" at two locations along each seam.

Now it was time to add all the special details. Using the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Words & Phrases 1, I carefully removed the word "Love." I covered it with embossing ink and coated it with Ranger embossing powder in pink. Using a heat gun, I melted the embossing powder.  I repeated this step three times, giving the word a faux enameled finish. This set of Words & Phrases contains two sheets of different sentiments, and can be used in so many different ways.  

I cut a piece of pink parchment paper and using black soot archival ink, I stamped an image from the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Nature set and allowed it to dry. I distressed the edges, inked with worn lipstick and brushed corduroy distress ink, and then spritzed with a bit of water and rumpled the paper to give it a tattered look.  

I die cut some roses out of coordinating paper using Tim Holtz Sizzix tiny tattered florals dies. These were inked along the edges and rolled into shape, then glued and set aside. I colored a Tim Holtz idea-ology paper doll with distress ink, Copic marker and distress crayons. Everything was arranged on the panels and manipulated until I was pleased with the layout. I like to play around with the embellishments before gluing everything down. That way I can make adjustments and decide if it needs additional pieces without disrupting everything.

 When I examined the piece, I decided that I wanted to increase interest by adding a few more elements and removing some others. On the first panel, I added an idea-ology sticker from the clippings collection. The sticker was inked around the edges and then layered onto a piece of chipboard that had been inked with worn lipstick distress ink. Using a charm from my stash, I cut a circle of coordinating paper inked around the edges and added the "love" rub-on to the middle. I used a mini hex-head fastener as an "attacher" and glued this onto the face of the panel. I also added a charred gold heart and a couple mini heart cutouts leftover from a different project.

 On the central panel, I decided to add a larger heart to give added height. Using the Tim Holtz Sizzix mini love struck die, I cut a heart out of thin chipboard.  I inked directly onto the chipboard with Distress Ink in worn lipstick. I then embossed around the edges with Emerald Creek charred gold embossing powder. I brushed a small amount of Ranger alcohol ink in gold onto an idea-ology pen nib and then adhered it on the heart to give the impression of an arrow. When the piece was dry, I adhered it to the top of the middle panel with a quick dry multi-purpose glue. I also added some mini hearts that I inked around the edges with brushed corduroy distress ink.

The third panel only needed a few hearts to tie it in with the other panels. I heat embossed a small and a medium heart with charred gold, and combined them with a few mini hearts.  

 Once I was satisfied with the layout, I glued everything into place and allowed it to dry.

Wishing you a love-filled February and beyond, and hoping that this inspires you to create a love note for someone special.

 ~Ann

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used:

Arch Top House Silhouettes

Words & Phrases 1