Celebrating our Day

Hi friends!  Leigh Ann here today for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  I have another cute mixed media project featuring a family photo today.  I've never been one to use photos in my mixed media projects, but I was inspired to give it a try recently... and I am in love!!  I'm hoping you will take a step outside of your comfort zone and try something new!  You never know, you might just fall in love with a new technique!

For this canvas I used pieces from the Fanciful Elements Set and the Window with Shutters.  I simply coated the window with white gesso.  I gave it two coats to give it a fairly solid white color.  The Fanciful Elements pieces with through quite a process to get to where they are now.  First I coated them with the Prima rust paste set to give them a rusty look.  I didn't like how this looked as it was too rustic for this piece.  I added a couple colors of embossing powder to add shine and different texture.  This looked closer to what I had in mind, but wasn't quite there yet. I then added 3 different colors of brown sprays, two of which were shimmer sprays.  This gave me the look I was after.   The chipboard held up amazingly which all of the products on it. 

I used these same brown sprays to color my canvas as well.  The blank canvas started with a layer of tissue paper held on with clear gesso, then some paper texture paste, then the brown sprays, and then modeling paste through a stencil.

I assembled all of the layers using heavy body gel medium and then added art stones and glitter using soft matte gel. I completed the canvas by using gold wax on the sides and top edges.  I also dry brushed all of the elements including the chipboard with white gesso. 

I used the following products from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts on this project:

Fanciful Elements

Window with Shutters

Pretty Little Storage Hutch

Over the last few years I've been slowly making pieces of 1-12 scale dollhouse furniture to fill a doll house I've been building. I love using the kits, bits and pieces and great miniature furniture that Gypsy Soul laser Cuts has in their vast inventory of cool and interesting things!
Here is the latest piece I made out of the Storage Hutch.
Here it is empty...

 And here it is full of odds and ends and maybe the beginnings of a crystal ball collection.

I started out with the Storage Hutch.

I painted all of the shelving and the top and bottom pieces a nice shade of cream.

Using the back piece as a template, I drew and then cut out the back pieces. (both the front and the reverse side) And the bit that belongs to the fancy front top edge.

I glued the papers on their respective parts and dry fit the hutch, making sure everything slid together smoothly and adjusting or trimming paper went it was too tight a squeeze.

I love it already!
I had initially planned on the sides and top being painted cream but I decided I liked it better with the stripey paper on the top (cut to match the valance)

And some black printed paper for the sides.
Sometimes one can have too many stripes.
Except for socks. One cannot have too many pairs of stripey socks.
A view of the back and side.

I added some stamped metal flowers and lastly little painted details. It's not a complicated project, but it has it's own charm.

Thank you for coming by!
SUPPLIES:
Storage Hutch
Gold Paint
Scrapbook paper (what I used was bits of Graphic 45 Curiosity Shoppe and Communique)
Stamped brass findings
Gold stamp pad

Trojan Rabbit

Happy Saturday, everyone! Connie here with another project inspired by one of my favorite movies – Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In the movie, King Arthur's knights built the rabbit to help them sneak  into the castle controlled by Frenchmen. How very crafty of them!

My version started with a GSL MiniHouse Shadowbox 2 which is easily assembled with tacky glue.

Once assembled, the roof hangs over the side walls of the house a bit to form eaves. I didn't want those for this project so I marked where to remove the overhanging bit and carefully cut away those pieces using a straight edge and a sharp knife.

The exterior walls and roof of the house were covered with coffee stir sticks. I cut the sticks longer than needed and glued them in place. When the glue dried the excess was easily snipped off using a flush wire cutter.

I drew out a pattern for the rabbit head and used it to cut identical pieces from an MME Necessities wood grain paper.

The rabbit heads were glued together with the exception of the top half of the ears, which got turned down. The eye is white cardstock. I made a wash of burnt umber acrylic paint with a bit of water to stain the wooden exterior. 

I added GSL Wheels 1 Inch Fancy that I painted a darker brown and glued into place onto a skewer. I used E6000 to adhere them to the bottom of the rabbit. 

Since the house is a shadowbox, I papered the interior with the same wood grain paper I used for the rabbit's head. To show the intended purpose of the rabbit, I added an image of the knights inside set on a piece of double sided foam tape.

This project came together really fast and I pretty much giggled the entire time I was making it. Thanks for stopping by!

GSL Products Used

Mini House Shadowbox 2

Wheels 1 Inch Fancy

Other Supplies Used

Tacky glue

E6000 glue

Acrylic paint

MME Necessities paper

Coffee stir sticks

Wooden skewer

Printed image

Foam tape

Vintage Advertisements - ATC Bookcase

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all staying safe and staying crafty!

Today I have a quick and easy tutorial for you using minimal supplies to make this cool little bookcase for your ATCs or in this case, my little mini books!

 Here's how it came together: A few weeks ago I painted a few different elements with white gesso, including this bookcase in preparation for upcoming projects. So this time I am working on the bookcase.

I knew I wanted to cover it in collage paper so this time I decided to use one of my own designs, so I printed off a few sheets using a lightweight paper in my printer.  These are made using vintage ads from many places including ads for bookbinders, schools for boys, and other educational type advertisements.  So I started by tearing up some of the sheets, choosing the images I wanted for each side.

Then using collage medium (or matte medium), I started applying the paper to the bookcase base.

 This is a relatively quick process but you have to take care not to trap any air bubbles underneath! I covered all of the outside and inside of the bookcase but only the front panel on the drawer. I wanted the rest of the drawer to remain white.

 I decided to change the colour slightly and make it more vintage looking by wiping Burnt Sienna Fluid Acrylic paint diluted with a little water on it. These fluid acrylics dry very fast but you can help it along with a hairdryer if you don't like waiting.

I found this little wooden knob in my stash, complete with screw, so I just attached it to the drawer using the predrilled hole in the front of the drawer.

Once everything was dry, I painted all the edges using Black fluid acrylic paint.

   To protect your bookcase, add a couple of coats of varnish, gloss or matte, your choice. Then you can fill it up with all your favourite ATCs or little books.  If you are interested in making little books like those shown, you can find a tutorial here.

I hope that you found this tutorial useful and something that would be fun to try yourself.  Let me know in the comments.

Till next time, stay safe,

Elle

Empire of the Cat

 

PROJECT RECIPE:

ATC Bookcase - C56L
White Gesso
Collage Medium
Printed Collage Paper by Empire of the Cat
Fluid Acrylics - black, burnt sienna
Matte Varnish
From Stash: knob for drawer, paper for printer

Mother's Day Crèche-A Peek-a-Boo-Project

I know Mother’s Day was a few days ago and since my momma passed away in 2018, I had no need to send any cards, but I think if her often and honor her in my artwork and disposition. She was an avid gardener and loved being outside hanging clothes on the clothesline to dry in the fresh spring air or looking through her flower gardens spotting any new blooms. She is the inspiration for this instillation. 

1.  Take apart Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Little Niche Scalloped and paint both pieces using dry brush technique with Acrylic Paints of Van Dyke Brown Hue, Indian yellow Hue and Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold. 

2. Measure and glue an Original Collage Artwork piece to center of back portion of the niche.

3.  Secure and hold into place using metal clips.

4.  Add Glossy Accents and One Step Crackle Finish on top of collage.

5.  While this is drying paint the GSLC Vine Corners using the same drybrush technique with Acrylic Paints of Hues of Green. I did not take apart the corners but painted while still attached to background.

 

6.  Allow to dry fully then take apart GSLC Vine Corners they are ready to add to your niche.
7.  Next I used Rub ‘N Buff to distress the GSLC Gothic Cross Miniatures. I did not take apart the corners but painted while still attached to background.

 

 

8.  Allow to dry fully then take apart GSLC Gothic Cross Miniatures. They are ready to add to your niche.
9.  Assemble Front Portion of GSLC Scalloped Niche using Weldbond to secure the corners and cross of your choosing.

10.                Secure front of GSLC Scalloped Niche with Weldbond to the back portion that contains your collage piece.

11.                Add more Rub “n Buff to cross and around edges of niche.

12.                Add details using Liquid pearls (Teal) and Fine Tip Bottle Applicator with Black High Flow Acrylic Paint.

 

13.                Once fully Dry seal everything with a quick coat of Matte Gel Varnish.

14.                Add GSLC clip on piece for easy hanging if so desired.

Some Final Thoughts.

My momma liked to say that from the time she arrived at the hospital to the time I was born was just about a half hour. She would say I came into this world in a hurry and have not slowed down since. In truth I am not a man known for his patience, but I am learning as I progress through this life to slow down and appreciate the daily miracles that come our way. I miss seeing my Momma’s flower gardens, eating her amazing cooking, hearing her voice on the phone, her laughter that lit up a room…None of us know the days granted to us so please take the time to love and appreciate the ones who are near and dear to you.

  

 

 

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Little Niche Scalloped, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Vine Corners, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Gothic Cross Miniature, Original Collage Artwork, Acrylic Paint-Vann Dyke brown Hue, Indian yellow Hue, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold,  Hues of Green, Weldbond, Paintbrush, Metal Clips, Rub ’n Buff-Gold Leaf, Autumn Gold and Spanish Copper, Deco Art One-Step Crackle Finish, Glossy Accents medium, Matte Varnish, Liquid Pearls-Teal, High Flow Black Acrylic Paint, Fine Tip Paint Bottle Applicator

I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!