Film Noir Stage by Trish Alger

Hello, this is my final project as Guest Designer for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts this February. The array of exciting choices at Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts set my imagination in thousands of directions. 

 

When I spied the stage I knew Film Noir was the theme.  I limited my color palette to a gray scale and dove in. Please browse with me through the steps; I'll share some tips and provide the supply list at the end. Let's go...

Rather than paint the pieces and then assemble them, this time I glued the stage together first (except for the top curtain piece). Tacky glue worked great to hold the pieces in place as they dried. (E6000 was not as friendly to work with.)

  I used some leftover spray paint to change the color. (A shade that looks like aluminum.) I placed the stage in a shallow cardboard box and sprayed in light, even, sweeps out-of-doors. Let it set for an hour for most of the fumes to dissipate.

 

 The top curtain section was covered in black gesso.

 

 I wanted the other leftover spray paint for the filmstrip. (This shade looks like chrome.) Then I taped off the curtain sections for stripes.

 

 Again, I placed the stage in a shallow cardboard box and sprayed in light, even, sweeps out-of-doors. Let it set for an hour for most of the fumes to dissipate.

 

 This is the backside of the pieces to show the difference.

I wanted the filmstrip to stand out visually, so I mixed some gum Arabic, water, and PearlEx macro pearl.

 I love the subtle shine it gives the filmstrip.

 

 Here is the stage all striped out.

My black stripes were too intense for me so I toned them down with some PearlEx micro pearl.

 Then the film reel and my mysterious dame needed a coat of black gesso.

 

 The film reel received a coat of PearlEx silver.

 The tone difference is amazing.

 My mysterious dame needs a gun in her silhouette. I altered her handbag with my X-acto knife.

 

 

 I needed a cool film noir movie image for my screen and to set the dramatic theme. AlteredPages.com had a great one. I printed the image on white cardstock and adhered that to some chipboard for stability.

 

 I added pop-dot adhesive to the back.

 

 Here all of the parts before assembly.

 

 Notice the raven was given a coat of black gesso and then added to top edge of my stage. It rests just perfect up there.

 

 Assembly time. I used tissue paper to prop up parts while they dry.

 

 Love the look and negative space.

 

 The filmstrip needed to be adhered with some elevation. Clear pop-dots, stacked up, performed well.

 

 Almost there. Some dramatic placement.

 

 Love how the negative space creates interest.

 

 My mysterious dame needs a place.

 

 A different angle. She creates another dramatic shadow.

 

 Let's add a mirror to the top of the stage.

 

 Here is the stage in many types of lighting and backdrops:

Outside...

 

 Studio lighting...

 

 Indoor natural lighting:

 

 I wanted to show the amazing differences in each lighting situation. I can't wait to see how this scene looks each day at differing times. 

Thank you so much for being with me this month! It has been an amazing creative journey. Please let me know what you think, of what you have seen, and any crafty ideas you have come up with.

Ciao for now,

-Trish Alger

justchickenscratch.com

My supply list:

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Supplies   
-Stage   
-Hollywood Shape Set   
-Lady Silhouette (Coming soon!)
-Raven from Steampunk 2 Shape Set  

Other Supplies;

Rust-Oleum

-Spray paints, aluminum and chrome

AlteredPages.com

-Film Noir digital image

-Mini mirror

-Aleene's Clear Tacky Glue

-Pop Dot Adhesives white and clear

Jacquard Products

-PearlEx Silver, Macro Pearl, Micro Pearl, Gum Arabic

Scotch

-ATG Adhesive

Liquitex

-Black Gesso

Eclectic Products

-E6000

White Cardstock

Scrap chipboard

Easter Greetings from Gloria

Hello everyone, it's Gloria with you for Tutorial Tuesday! It is time to start those Easter cards and projects, so I am here with a fun card and mini tag tutorial!

I created a 6" x 5 1/2" card and three mini tags in the colors of spring! I love the little vintage girls peeking out of the window!

To get started with the project first select one of the large window frames from the Windows 4 Panel Set and ink it with gold ink. (For my full supply list, see the end of the post.) Next, cover all of the Mini Flourishes Bella with green pigment ink. I ended up using most of the package, so ink them all, just in case.

Next, ink all of the eggs from the Decorative Eggs Set with pigment inks. (I used six of the eggs in the set.) When using pale inks to color the chipboard, it helps to cover the items with white ink FIRST and allow that layer of ink to dry before adding the pale ink colors. 

Chose an image to fit behind the window openings (approximately 3 1/2" x 2 1/2") and glue in place on the back of the chipboard window. Trim a piece of text print paper to 3 3/4" x 2 3/4" and sponge the edges with gold ink. Attach the chipboard frame to the text print paper.

Create a 6" x 5 1/2" card from ivory cardstock and round the bottom corners. Trim floral paper to 5 7/8" x  5 3/8" and sponge the edges with gold ink. Attach the paper to the card front. Trim am Easter border from decorative paper and sponge the edges with gold ink. Attach the border to the top of the card. Use foam tape to attach the window frame element to the left center of the card as shown.

Glue two flourishes to the window frame, one on the left edge and one on the right edge. Add an Easter image to the lower right corner of the window frame using foam tape. Glue two small decorative Easter eggs to the bottom of the frame.

Glue paper flowers around the edges of the frame as shown. Choose colors to match the paper and the inks. 

Decorate the inside of the card with leftover paper scraps, as shown.

Using three tags from the Small Tag Set, create three matching Easter tags. The tags are each approximately 3 1/4" x 1 5/8". 

Cover Tag 1 with text print paper and sponge the edges with gold ink. Glue one of the medium decorative eggs and one of the mini flourishes to the tag. Add an Easter image and some paper flowers and finish off the tag with a bit of gold and ivory chevron ribbon.

Cover Tag 2 with floral print paper and sponge the edges with gold ink. Glue one large and one medium decorative egg to the center of the tag. Glue two mini flourishes to the tag, one in the lower left corner and one in the upper right corner. Add an Easter image and some paper flowers, and then finish off the tag with a bit of gold and ivory chevron ribbon.

Cover Tag 3 with text print paper and sponge the edges with gold ink. Glue one large decorative egg to the center of the tag. From the Words and Phrases 2 Set, glue "hope" (sponged with silver ink) to the center of the tag as shown. Add an Easter image and some paper flowers, and then finish off the tag with a bit of gold and ivory chevron ribbon.

The card is ready to mail and the tags are ready to tie on to an Easter basket!

Thanks for joining me today! 

~ Gloria (Scraps of Life)

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Products:
Windows 4 Panel
Decorative Eggs
Mini Flourishes Bella
Small Tag Set
Words & Phrases 2  

Other Products:
Paper: Graphic 45 Gilded Lily (Creme de la Creme), Sweet Sentiments (Spring has Sprung, Be My Valentine, Easter Greetings, Signature sheet)
Cardstock: ivory
Ink: Colorbox Pigment (Cyan, Lavender, Turtle, Sweet Tooth, Papaya Cream, Thistle, Baby Blue); Delicata (Silvery Shimmer, Golden Glitz)
Trims: Really Reasonable Ribbon Chevron Striped Twill (gold)
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Adhesive: Ranger Glossy Accents, Scotch 3M ATG tape, foam tape, hot glue