Cosmos Mini Album

Hi crafty friends!  Leigh Ann here today showing off the Bracket Edge Double Mini Album that I decked out with the Cosmos line by Stamperia!

This album ships flat and needs minimal assembly which makes it so easy to create any look you want. This is what you will get in the package.  I coated all of my pieces with black gesso front and back as well. 

I measured out all of my paper pieces and adhered them to the chipboard prior to assembling the book holder.  I did the same for the pages of the mini albums into.  This will even include templates to cut your paper the same shape as the bracket edge.  Once I finished adhering the paper, I assembled the books and outer book holder using Scor Tape. 

My next steps were to add the hardware that I wanted for the book closure as well as the ring to hang some charms and ribbon on the spine. 

Then I used the cut aparts from my paper kits to fill the pockets I made throughout the albums. 

The final step was to embellish and this book is great for me because it leaves plenty of room for chunky embellishments and flowers throughout.  Here is the link to the album: Bracket Edge Double Mini Album. Definitely check it out if mini albums are your thing.  Now I will let the pictures do the speaking for the finished album!

tag book trio

Hi everyone, it seems as though the dog days of summer are upon us; I was glad to spend some time in the studio creating this trio of tag books. Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts makes this set of three, extra large heavyweight chipboard tags that were perfect for my project. Today I am sharing this tag book trio.

As I mentioned earlier, the set is comprised of three chipboard decorative tags x-large. Each tag has a distinct shape to the top, which makes each tag book unique.

 

I want to use the hole as part of my closure for each book. I measure from the end of the tag to where I want the base to meet and divide that in half to find my crease point. (Note: since all three tags are a little bit different, it is best to measure each one.)

When I find that center, I use a bone folder and straight edge to score the tag at the crease line. I score both sides and then fold the tag. Next, I select some papers from my stash and cut then to fit the width of the tags, adding a little extra to the length to accommodate the folds. Be sure to cut two pieces for each tag book, one that will serve as the exterior cover, and a second for the inside.

Once all of my papers are cut, I add a strip of linen hinging tape along the outside fold edge. I then ink all of the edges with distress ink. I have used black soot as well as gathered twigs, select inks that coordinate with your decorative papers.

Before I begin attaching my papers, I decide on closures. Each of my tag books utilizes a little different method. Understanding how the books will be closed allows you to add pieces under the cover paper if necessary. Any ties can be glued to the raw tag and this will strengthen the bond.

 Once the closure is settled on, the next step is to attach the interior paper to the tag. I like to use distress collage medium for this. It dries quickly and is not overly wet, so there is not warping of the paper or the tag. Allow the interior decorative paper to dry and trim the decorative edge and hole with an Exacto knife. 

Next, create the internal signatures for your tag book. Each of my tag books has six pages inside. I cut a piece of paper 3 1/8" x 6" and fold at the center of the rectangle. stack the three folded pieces inside one another. Measure an equal distance in from the edges at the fold and pierce through the stacked pages. Align the stacked pages with the interior fold of the tag book. Pierce the cover directly through the existing holes so that the signature will be aligned with the book cover. 

Using a needle and some sort of binding thread (I used fine jute) sew the pages together through the cover and tie together at the outside. It is also a good idea to add the signature to the inside of the tag book prior to the external cover paper. This allows you to hide the binding threads. If that is not important to you, then you can add the signature after the outside cover paper.

With the signature and closure method secure, I add the decorative cover paper to the exterior and allow the adhesive to dry. The edges are trimmed around the decorative edge and the tag book is complete.  I just love the size of these tag books, they are just large enough to stick into a pocket and take with you easily. I made three different tag books with the set of GSLC tags. By simply using different papers, you can achieve very different looks.  

 

 

I just love this trio of tag books and look forward to using them! I think they would also be a lot of fun to create in holiday themes to send to friends. I hope that you are inspired to try some for yourself.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today, 

I truly appreciate it.

Be creative every day.

~Ann

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used:

Chipboard Decorative Tags X-Large

other products used:

Distress collage medium: matte

Distress Ink: black soot, gathered twigs

Exacto knife

Lineco: linen hinging tape

MayArts ribbon: string burlap ribbon black

Neenah: creative cardstock naturals

Tim Holtz Ideaology paper stash: dapper, memorabilia, wallflower

Tim Holtz Ideaology trimmings: crinkle ribbon, naturals black and cream

Tim Holtz Ideaology design tape

Moving Day

Hello all, Lora here for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts with a little guy who after living in a busy village has decided to move his little house into a nice quiet, peaceful forest.

 He's got all the necessities - books, butterflies and a bottle of fizzy lemonade. What more could a person want?!
I started with Tiny Little Shadowbox House 4 
I love these little shadowbox houses-there are four different sizes and they are great separately or all together in a little wee neighborhood.

I glued my house up and bent up some fourteen gauge wire that will become the connection between the house and the 'ground'. I chose this wire because it was sturdy and bent well.
I knew I was going to use a propeller, and Hey presto! Gina just happens to have one......or twelve! (Propellers)

I chose one that was a good fit scale-wise for my house and painted it black, along with
Chipboard Shingles - Pointed

 And Tudor Rose Singles

I set them all aside to dry.

I found an old paint brush whose handle fit through the hole of the propeller and drilled a hole to fit into the top of my house. I painted the propeller black as well.
I covered the house inside and out with the papers I cut (and also painted the inside of the house a buff color so it reflected a bit of light)
After all was dry, I glued the house and wire together and then used linen hinging tape to help strengthen the bond.

I covered the hinging tape with an image that went well with the papers I used. (used Graphic 45 Old Curiosity Shoppe)
And let it dry. This takes a few hours.
Whilst that was drying, I cut out all of the things I wanted to put inside the house.
I used foam tape to stick everything in and give stuff some dimension. I added the propeller and shingled the house.

I also cut up the smallest Tudor Rose Singles and glued a piece to the gable of the house and the rest to the roof around the propeller. You can see the detail below...

At this point, I realized that in order to complete the base I had in mind I would need to straighten the ring of wire I made, which I did.
I drilled a hole in the center of an Artist Trading Coin,
stuck the wire through the hole and re-bent the ring.
And with a lot of glue, I sandwiched the ring between the top coin and a second coin (both of which I had papered with neutral green paper)
and clamped it together.

After everything was dry, I glued some cute green crocheted ribbon around the edge of the base and glued moss and little bottle brush trees on the top of the base.
I added some little touches like the buff and black paint dots and butterflies....

And here he is flying over the forest scouting for a good place to land!
Thank you for stopping by!

 SUPPLIES:
Tiny Little Shadowbox House 4 
Propellers
Chipboard Shingles - Pointed
Tudor Rose Singles
Artist Trading Coins

Graphic45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe Scrapbook Papers
Acrylic paint
Wire
Old paint brush stem
Bottle brush trees
Moss
 

Stitches Sewing Greeting Card

Hey there friends and GSL fans! Ginny here dropping in with a sweet and vintagy sewing themed greeting card.

It's just so perfectly shabby with the soft colors and lovely floral patterns.

I've paired the patterned papers with some sewing themed chippies.

I purposefully picked a smaller focal image to make room for all these lovely layers.

The altered chipboard pieces really help to fill in and extend the floral arrangement to anchor this corner. I've even layered in  a smaller doily shape so I would have a nice flat surface to add my little scissors.

 The chipboard frame takes the place of my usual die cut doily and adds great texture and depth.  Additional embellishments like the sewing machine charm and vintage buttons finish this card off perfectly!

After selecting the chipboard pieces I wanted to work with I wiped them down to prepare them for altering.

The scissor s got a coat of metallic silver paint and the rest have a flat white acrylic added.

I used a Pitt pen to add the details on the scissor then a tiny metal brad for a realistic look.

Clear Nuvo drops are added to the handles then allowed to dry. The thread spool is coated top and bottom with a sand colored paint.

Last but not least I wrapped a coordinating thread around the spool and tied a sweet little knot in the front.
~Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts~ Circle Doily Set, Fleur & Flourish Frame, Vintage Seamstress Shapes Set

Wishing everyone a happy and productive day : ) G

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere

Happy Saturday, everyone! Today I'd like to share what I made with one of the GSL Art Doll Nichos - a little shrine dedicated to happy hour.

The shrine comes in three pieces; the doll's body, a round disk for her head and an easily folded box. When I was studying this piece to see how it spoke to me I noticed the doll's body is shaped like a bottle and the idea took off from there. I set aside the round disk for a future project then cut a small calendar image to fit the interior of the nicho.

It was glued in place and the interior got a wash of white acrylic paint mixed with water.

The paper I chose for the bottle is from BoBunny's Weekend Market Collection. I simply traced around the chipboard bottle and cut the paper to size.

Since the name of this little shrine is 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere', I knew I needed a clock for the front. I used a metal clock face with a glittery brad for the center. After searching my stash for clock hands that would fit, I realized the legs of the brad would be perfect and were going to have to be removed for this project anyway. I snipped them off and glued them in place. 

Here are the components, including some Architextures Found Glass Bottle stickers. 

I glued the nicho to the back of the piece and found a nice piece of gray ribbon to use for the bottle top, which was wrapped around and glued in place. 

The only thing remaining was a tiny cocktail. I rimmed a miniature martini glass with some fine crystal glitter. While the glue was drying, I cut a small section from a polymer cane lime slice and mixed just enough Ice Resin with a dot of red oil paint, poured it into the glass and secured the lime on the rim. 

It came out pretty dang cute!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Products Used

Art Doll Nicho

Other Products Used

Tacky Glue

BoBunny Weekend Market Collection

Canvas Corp Brands Architextures Findings - Found Glass Bottles Collection

White acrylic paint

Tim Holtz metal clock face

Brad

Miniature glass

Polymer cane slice

Fine crystal glitter

Ice Resin

Oil paint