Friday, March 25, 2016

Stage - Thor's Fishing Trip by Jessica

Hey crafty people! Today I'm bringing you a project based on the Norse legend of Thor going on a fishing trip where two whales are caught before they continue the quest to find Jormungand.


If you want to read up on this myth, here's a handy link: Thor's Fishing Trip

This stage was designed in the classic 1920's theater productions, where the water could be moved back and forth by stage hands to give the impression that the waves were actually moving.


Actors would be positioned behind flat stage props as they acted out the scene.


The set features a viking ship with a dragon or possibly serpent head, "moving" water, a whale against a night sky.


This was my first project using glitter and now I'm finding glitter all over the house!

What are you going to make for your stage?

Materials
Stage
Ocean Creatures Small

Dragons Shape Set

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And a whole lot of glitter! <3

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Easter Tags

Hey there Peeps! Ginny here and I've got two sweet and vintagy tags to share.  I'm using Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments patterned papers and ribbon trims to join the gorgeous chipboard Eggs and scribble frame.  A few dimensional flowers and these tags are ready to decorate the house for the holiday.







Gypsy Soul laser Cuts~Decorative Eggs, Scribble Frames Hearts & Flowers.

Make sure you check out my dear friend Barbara's post too..more fabby inspiration on the GSL blog today!  Wishing you all a happy and productive day with lots of time to be creative : ) G

Easter Blessings Camvas

Hey there chippie fans!  Barbara here, and since Easter is coming up this weekend, I wanted to share a mixed media Easter wall hanging for your home.  I used the Gothic Cross Set from Gypsy Soul as my focal point, and I did a little research about the two shapes of these crosses.  Here is what I found.
Budded Cross:  A cross with circles or discs on the end of each arm.  Budded crosses can be fashioned with anywhere from a single to five buds per cross end, each arrangement having its own symbolism.  The most common is three, which represents the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Four buds usually symbolize the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The three-budded cross is also sometimes called the Apostles Cross, with each bud representing one of the twelve Apostles.  When designed with gemstones for each bud and a single gemstone in the center, the central stone symbolizes Christ. 
Passion Cross:  Named for the Christ’s Passion - His betrayal, the scourging, mocking, and the agony of the Crucifixion; this cross features at least one sharpened tip.  Crosses with three pointed ends represent the nails used during the Crucifixion.  With four points, the three shorter ones symbolize nails; the fourth, longer end represents the spear that pierced Christ’s side.  
I really like to learn about the historical meaning of things, especially those that I use in my art.  I found this to be very interesting. I hope you do too.  Now here is my Easter Blessings Canvas.



Adhere torn pieces of used dryer sheet to an 8x10 canvas.

Lay out chosen chipboard pieces on canvas.  (Tip:  Sometimes I will take a picture just to use as a reference later.)  I die cut the phrase onto a piece of cream card stock to use as a stencil, as shown.  


Run the top cross through an embossing folder.  Be careful not to get it stuck in your machine.  I used a manual die cut machine to ensure I had total control.  Sometimes, the chipboard could be too thick and get stuck in an electric die cut machine.

Spread sand texture paste through the die cut stencil, let dry.

Coat each piece of chipboard with DecoArt Media white gesso and set aside to dry.
Begin painting canvas with a wash of teal and purple acrylic paints.

Use a sponge to color the leaves with a several colors of green acrylic paint, and use a dark grey color to darken the green on the leaves.

Use the sponge to paint the crosses with brown and lighter brown acrylic paints. Use the sponge to paint the decorative corners with a mix of brown and gold for a vintage look.
Add the Victorian Corners on the ends of the cross, then cut a strip of chipboard and adhere to give you a level space to adhere the pointed cross.


Adhere your chipboard embellishments and use a gold leaf pen to highlight the letters, as shown.
At this point, I felt I needed more, so I pulled out these gorgeous wrought iron corners.  I first painted them white, then added green, gold, and dark grey acrylic paint to get the color I wanted, as shown on the right.
These were adhered to each bottom corner, giving the balance I felt my canvas needed.

GSL Supplies used:
Gothic Cross Set
Victorian Corners 2
Fern Fronds Shape Set
Wrought Iron Set

Other supplies used:
8x10 canvas

Texture Sand Paste
Gesso
Acrylic paints
Adhesive 
Electronic die cutting machine
Easter Blessings cut file
5x7 embossing folder
Card stock
Used dryer sheet

I hope you enjoyed my canvas today, and perhaps I have left you with some inspiration to play!  Be sure to look for Ginny's post also on the blog today and make sure to visit the GSL blog often for even more inspiration from the design team. Check out the GSL shop for more new products!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a very Blessed Easter!!

Barbara

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Love My Beautiful Life Frame by Pam Bray

Hi!!! It is Pam here today on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog!!! I am sharing with you my "Love My Beautiful Life Frame".  As we are looking toward Easter this weekend I wanted to share something special so when I seen the Crosses on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Shop, well needless to say I thought they were perfect!!!
I began by first cutting a piece of pattern paper and the Textured Flourish Sheet to fit inside the Cottage Base. I ran both piece through my Xyron Creative Station.
Leave both pieces on the adhesive backing. Paint the Textured Flourish Sheet and Love with white paint. Allow it to dry completely.
Take VersaMark and stamp across the painted Texture Flourish Sheet. Sprinke randomly with 5 different shades of embossing powder. Heat emboss.
 Carefully remove the embossed Texture Flourish Sheet and place on pattern paper.
 Form Cottage Base. Remove prepared Texture Flourish Sheet off off adhesive backing and place to inside of Cottage Base.
 Paint Gothic Cross, Flourished Frame Evie, Art Deco Border and Love with white paint.
Emboss the Flourished Frame Evie by inking with VersaMark and randomly sprinkling three of the embossing. Heat emboss.
Emboss the Gothic Cross and Art Deco Border with VersaMark. Sprinkle the Gothic Cross with two of the embossing powder and use only the Garnet on the Art Deco Border. Heat set.
Adhere Intricate Doilies to inside of frame. Adhere prepared Gothic Cross to inside of frame.  Adhere pattern paper strips to the sides of inside of frame.
 Adhere prepared Art Deco Border to inside of frame.  Add metal handle to top of frame.
 Add random flowers, bow, beads and embellishments to the inside of frame.
 Adhere metal corners to the corners of Cottage Base, along with more random flowers and beads.
Adhere prepared  Flourished Frame Evie to top of journal block. Adhere to inside of frame. Add embellishment.
 Adhere small Intricate Doily to top of Gothic Cross.
 Using VersaMark ink "Love" and emboss with embossing powder. Adhere to  Gothic Cross.
I hope I have inspired you to grab a Cottage Base and some of the Gothic Crosses from the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Shop and create yourself a fabulous piece for your home or to give as a gift. Happy Easter. Pam
Gypsy Soul Laser Cut Supplies:
Intricate Doily (Contact Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts) 

Other Supplies:
 Graphic 45 Ladies Diary
Distress Paint: Picket Fence
Stampendous Embossing Powder: Aqua, Garnet, Detail Gold, Nutmeg, Rose Gold
Journal Memory Block
VersaMark
Beacon Zip Dry
Glue Gun
Xyron Creative Station
Random Flowers, Beads, Metal Legs and Hanger

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Once Upon a Time Mini Album (Part 2) by Gloria

Welcome to Part 2 of my Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Enchanted Castle and Once Upon A Time Mini Album Tutorial!



Today, I am sharing the tutorial for making the 6" x 5" mini album that matches the Castle Box that we made on March 8th. 



If you missed the Castle Box Tutorial, please click HERE.



The Castle Box opens and the mini album slides right inside for storage!




There is plenty of room inside the box! 
Let's get started making the Once Upon A Time Mini Album. Collect your supplies (see the list at the end of the post), including the chipboard mini album pieces that come with the Castle Box and Mini Album Set (coming soon from GSL).



We will be using two pieces of chipboard, set the rest aside. Cut the two pieces of chipboard down to 6" x 5". These will be the covers of our album. Cut two pieces of decorative paper to 7" x 6" and attach to the chipboard with strong adhesive or with gel medium. Miter the corners and place 1/4" tape around the edges of the chipboard as shown.


Wrap the paper around the edges of the chipboard and secure at the back with the tape. 


Next, create the tab-hinge binding for the mini album by cutting a piece of black cardstock to 5 1/2" x 9 1/4". Score at: 2", 2 1/4", 2 3/4", 3 1/4", 3 1/2", 4, 4 1/2", 4 3/4" 5 1/4", 5 3/4", 6", 6 1/2", 7", 7 1/4". Place adhesive tape in the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth 1/2" spaces as shown.
Fold on each score line and adhere each 1/2" space to the next 1/2" to form four tabs with 1/4" gutters between.
Flip the hinge over the glue a 5 1/2" x 5 1/4" piece of Tyvek to the back of the hinge. Sponge the edges with black ink and allow to dry. Trim a piece of decorative paper to 5 1/2" x 5 1/4" and glue to the top of the Tyvek. (The Tyvek will give the hinge strength and stability.)


Fold the hinge on the 2 1/4" and 7 1/4" score lines and burnish with a bone folder. Place adhesive on the back of the hinge system, to the left and right of the folded lines as shown. Trim two pieces of decorative paper to 6" x 5".

Remove the adhesive from the hinge and attach it to the front covers as shown, with the tabs facing up.


Adhere the two 6" x 5" pieces of decorative paper onto the inside of the covers.


Fold the album closed, curving the spine gently with your hands.

Cut four pieces of black cardstock to  5 1/2" x 4 1/2". These cardstock pieces are the pages of your album. Trim eight pieces of decorative paper to 5 3/8" x 4 3/8". Sponge all edges with black ink.


Place adhesive tape to the back of each tab hinge. Attach one piece of black cardstock to each hinge.



Cover each side of the black cardstock pages with the decorative paper.Your album is now ready to be embellished!


Select your GSL chipboard elements. Paint some of the elements black and ink some with metallic inks. For this project you will need: Dragons Shape Set, Keys and Plates Shape Set, Build a Banner Dove Tail Minis, Build a Banner Pennant Minis, Victorian Corners 2 Set, Flourished Frames Evie Set, Steampunk Shape Set, Grape Vines Set, Words and Phrases 2 Set



Chose a few elements to "age." For example, paint a frame with black acrylic paint. Once the paint dries, sponge with metallic pigment ink.

Decorate each page as desired. 




For details and close-up views of each page, please visit my blog HERE.



Now you are ready to decorate the cover! I always save the covers for last so that I don't mess them up while decorating the rest of the mini.


We will be using another of the chipboard sheets from the Castle Box and Mini set. Cut the chipboard to 5 1/4" x 4 1/4". Cut a piece of decorative paper to 6 1/4" x 5 1/4" and attach to the chipboard with strong adhesive or with gel medium. Miter the corners and place 1/4" tape around the edges of the chipboard, as you did for the covers. 

Wrap the paper around the edges of the chipboard and secure at the back with the tape. Cut black cardstock to 5 3/8" x 4 3/8" and attach to the back of the covered chipboard panel. Trim decorative borders from the paper and wrap around the top and the bottom of the panel. Attach the panel to the center of the mini album cover with strong adhesive.

Glue the Once Upon A Time phrase from the Words and Phrases 2 Set to the top of the panel. Glue printed chipboard embellishments and paper flowers to the album cover as shown.

Enjoy!

~ Gloria Stengel: Scraps of Life

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Products:
Castle Box with Mini Album (coming soon)
Dragons Shape Set
Keys & Plates Shape Set
Banner Builder Dovetail Minis 
Banner Builder Pennant Minis 
Victorian Corners 2
Flourished Frames Evie
Steampunk Shape Set.
Grape Vines
Words & Phrases 2 Set

Other Products:
Decorative paper: Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest (12x12, 8x8, 6x6), Renaissance Faire Tags, Gilded Lily Tres Chic
Other Graphic 45: Enchanted Forest Chipboard, Ephemera Cards, Tags and Pockets; Regular Tags - Black
Ink: Colorbox Pigment (Burnt Copper, Gold Brocade, Copper, Bronze, Gold, Verdigris, Celadon, Cranberry, Sweet Melon); Delicata Golden Glitz; Memento Tuxedo Black
Paint: Martha Stewart Sating Acrylic Beetle Black
Punches: Creative Memories corner rounder, Stampin' Up 1" circle, Fiskars border
Ribbon and string: May Arts black silk ribbon; Really Reasonable Ribbon black burlap string
Brads: Creative Impressions
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Tyvek: recycled envelopes
Magnets: Basic Grey magnetic discs
Cardstock: black
Adhesive: Ranger Glossy Accents, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares, Score-tape, Scotch 3M ATG tape, hot glue, white glue