Thursday, August 24, 2017

Upcycled Toiletries Box

Hi everyone!  Barbara here today on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog with a fun and easy upcycle project. 



I saved this box that once contained a tall coffee cup because it seemed nice and sturdy.


I have a pretty wire shelf on my vanity in my bathroom, where I keep ugly pill bottles and other commercial products with not-very-pretty labels.  So I started storing them in this box, which is the exact size I needed for my shelf.  I've been wanting to decorate it to fit my bathroom colors, and found this beautiful paper from Prima's French Riviera paper collection.  So, I covered the outside of the box first, wrapping the pretty paper over the top edge.


Next, I found this solid paper I've had in my stash that I purchased years ago from Target.  The color was a perfect match, so I cut it to size to fit the inside.  (Measurements were not given as it will depend on the size box you have on hand.)  Now it is completely covered and ready for the embellishing.  


But, at this time, it is a good idea to brush on a matte varnish over the papers.  I used DecoArt Ultra Matte Varnish.  This will protect them from anything wet that may get dropped or splashed on your box.  You can also use a glossy varnish for a different look.  This is, of course, optional, depending on whether or not you plan on putting it in a more wet environment.


Make yourself a template from a piece of scrap paper.  Cut it to the same size as the shorter side of the box, fold the paper in half to mark center.  Use a ruler to measure 1" down from the top  of the paper, center the handle at the fold, and align top of handle with the edge of the ruler.  Mark holes with a pencil.


Align the template with the top of the box and centered.  Use an awl to punch the holes, where needed.  


Do this for both sides and attach handles with the brads. 


Since I attached the handles after covering the box with paper, the brad prongs show inside.  If you don't like that, you can punch small circles of the same paper and glue over the prongs. 


Choose one of the Stackable Labels and use the top piece to fit a computer-generated "Articles de toilette" onto a scrap of the solid paper.  I looked it up and that is French for "toiletries".  I thought it sounded better.  


Cut the paper out and adhere to the top piece.  I  like to use an emery board to neaten the paper edges.


Paint the bottom part of the label with Lilac chalk paint.  Next, dry brush the  Rustic chalk paint over the edges, as shown.  If you put too much of the Rustic paint on, dry brush  another coat using the Lilac paint again. 


I chose two of the birds from the Bird on Branch Assortment to fit on either side of the label.  First,  paint the birds with the DecoArt Vintage chalk paint, the branches with the Rustic chalk paint, and the leaves with Spanish Moss chalk paint.  I used the Inktense pencils to add details to the bird and leaves.


Adhere the label and bird pieces to one of the longer sides of the box, as shown.


For the opposite side, I chose to use the Flower Leaves Flourish.  I used a ruler to center the piece, but you could also just eyeball it.  


I also used a couple pieces of washi  tape to hold it in place while I traced inside each opening with a pencil.


Remove chipboard and paint traced areas with a coat of white gesso or white paint.  Let dry.


Paint over the gesso, painting the leaves with Spanish Moss, the flower petals with Lilac, and the flower center with Vintage Mustard chalk paints.  You should have something that looks like this.



And now is a good time to check your work.  Lay the chipboard piece over the painted areas and see if you have full coverage inside the openings.  If not, fill them in with the appropriate color now.  You can see I have a few spots that need a slight touchup.


Paint the flower with the Twinks Terracotta Rose, the leaves with Golden Jade, and the flower center with Sunflower.  Let dry.


Once you get the areas painted to your satisfaction. paint the chipboard with DecoArt Timeless chalk paint.


Dab ColourArte Solar Gold over the chipboard and dry with heat tool, or let it dry naturally.


Now add glue to the back and adhere chipboard over painted flowers and leaves.  Be sure to add the glue to the correct side, otherwise it will not match up with the painted design because it is not symmetrical.



Supplies Used:

GSL Stackable Labels Shape Set
GSL Bird on Branch Assortment
GSL Flower Leaves Flourish (coming soon)
FolkArt Chalk Paint (Spanish Moss, Lilac, Vintage Mustard)
DecoArt Chalk Paint (Rustic, Vintage, Timeless)
DecoArt Media Ultra Matte Varnish
ColourArte Twinkling H20s (Golden Jade, Terracotta Rose, Sunflower)
ColourArte Radiant Rain Dauber (Solar Gold)
Prima Tales of You and Me paper collection
Olive Green/Pale Green Double-Sided Paper (Target)
Aleene's Quick Grab Tacky Glue
Assorted Brushes


I hope you enjoyed this upcycle project.  Just think, with Christmas just around the corner, wouldn't something like this make a wonderful gift?  Check out the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts online shop for more chipboard to personalize your box, whether for yourself or as a gift.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful, craft-filled week.

Barbara

Friday, August 18, 2017

ColourArte Mixed Media Textured Tags by Barbara Rankin

Hi everyone!  Today I have a couple of textured tags to share with you that I hope you will enjoy.  I will show you one tag with molding paste and a stencil, and one tag using Creative Paperclay® for some spectacular texture.  Of course, the finishing touches are using ColourArte's Primary Elements Artist Pigments.  These colors are so beautiful, and there are so many to choose from.



I hope you will enjoy my video tutorial here!




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ColourArte Supplies Used:

Primary Elements Powdered Pigments
  African Jade
  Sunburst
  Ancient Coin
  Bronze Medallion
  Burnt Umber
  Rose Gold
  Yellow Rose
  Moss Agate
  Mandarin Citrine
  Black Orchid
  Bolivian Blue

Other Supplies Used:

Tags from Product Packages (Prima, Graphic 45)
Golden Molding Paste
Creative Paperclay®
Honeycomb Texture Sheet
Rebecca Baer ST-614 Urban Jungle Stencil
Jewelry Findings
Metal Embellishments
Tim Holtz Quote Chips
Tim Holtz Trinken Pins
Various Ribbons
Aleene's Quick Grab Tacky Glue
E6000 Glue
Shabby Shutters Distress Ink
Black Archival Ink
Script rubber stamp
Krylon Gold Leafing Pen

I hope you enjoyed my video today, and I would love for you to subscribe to my YouTube Channel.  As always, I appreciate your stopping by, and have a wonderful, crafty-filled week!

Barbara

Thursday, August 10, 2017

How To Video Tutorial: Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Steamer Trunk

Hi everyone!  Barbara here today on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog, and I have the cutest piece to share with you today.  It is the 8" Steamer Trunk, and just think of all the possible uses for this sweet piece.  I was thinking it could be used on your desk for small office supplies, or a jewelry box to keep some of your precious "jewels".  How about using it on your craft desk to keep some of your small embellishments, buttons, ink refills, glue sticks, etc.  Just change up the paper design to suit your style.




Closed Front


Closed Back


Here are a few more pictures of the steamer trunk on the inside. 


Trunk Open- Desk Lid Closed


Trunk Open - Desk Lid Open
Supplies Used:

GSL 8" Steamer Trunk
Basic Grey Plumeria print paper
Handmade leather like paper
Tim Holtz Idea-ology metal hinges, box corners, hitch fastener, and buckle
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics
   Transparent Red Iron Oxide
   Titanium White Antiquing Cream
   Black Shimmer Metallic Lustre
Folk Art Lilac Chalk Paint
PVA or white glue
Assorted brushes

I hope you enjoyed my project and video today, and be sure to check out the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts shop for all your laser cut chipboard needs.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by, and have a super day!

Barbara

Friday, August 4, 2017

Part Two - Finishing Acrylic Poured Canvas with ColourArte

Hi everyone.  Today I am sharing the second part of my acrylic poured canvas video tutorial in which I did a lot of manipulating and experimenting with pouring products and, of course, ColourArte.  You can CLICK HERE to see that first video.  

The canvas has completely dried since taping of that video, and here are photos of how it looks now.


 


Although I did not get very many cells in this pour, I still thought it was pretty, but not quite pretty enough to stand on its own as a piece of abstract art.  So, I decided to use it as my background for an assemblage piece.  In the second part of this project video tutorial, I will show you how I finished the piece and hopefully saved it from trash can.  I hope you will gain some inspiration from my second part of this video tutorial here.  



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ColourArte Supplies Used

Vivid Ultra Metallics
  True Metals Dragon Gold
  True Metals Autumn Flame
  Solar Gold
  Pink Azalea
  Teal Zircon
  African Jade
  China Black
  Sunflower
  Bolivian Blue
Radiant Gels Dimensional Paint
  Copper Pearls

Other Supplies Used

Golden Light Molding Paste
DecoArt Media White Crackle Paste
Gyspy Soul Laser Cuts Diamonds Texture Sheet
Sizzix 656562 Key & Keyhole Bigz Die
Black Chipboard
Graphic 45 metal brads
The Crafter’s Workshop TCW380s Mini
  Grandma’s Doily stencil
Krylon Crystal Clear Coating spray
Ranger Blending Tool
Kanban Flight of the Butterflies paper collection
Frayed Burlap distress ink

I hope you enjoyed today's project, and I am always pleased to have you stop by.  Thanks so much for watching, and have a super day!

Barbara