Medieval Cathedral Frame with Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope you all are enjoying the holidays and getting ready for the coming year.  I sure am.  As a matter of fact, this will be my last post with Gypsy Soul, unless they will have me back on occasion as a guest designer <hint>.  

I am one of those people who thinks there is always room for improvement, especially for myself.  I am always striving to learn new things, new crafts, new techniques, and more importantly, I continue to try to improve on things I feel I may already know but perhaps I have not perfected.  So, I will still be about on social media, hopefully with some new techniques and new ideas to share.  

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So, let's get to today's project.  I will be using this beautiful Cathedral Frame and an image from the Medieval Triptychs collage sheet from AlphaStamps. 

I simply laid the top frame with the opening over the images on the sheet until I found the one that I liked and that fit inside the frame the best.  

Use a makeup sponge to apply a coat of the Limestone Stone Effect Paste to the front and back sides only of the frame pieces.   Set aside to dry.

Paint front and back of frame pieces with Glorious Gold acrylic paint and let dry.

Delaminate a piece of mica large enough to fit over the collage image, and another piece large enough to fit behind the opening of the top frame piece.  Glue mica  pieces with Glossy Accents or a clear drying adhesive.

Trim excess mica from open top are of frame, and around collage image.  Glue pieces to front of frame (right).  Be sure to carefully burnish the collage image down to the back piece to ensure there are no air bubbles or wrinkles.  

The back frame piece (left) is ready to be glued to the front (right) piece, as shown.

Glue the frame pieces together.  

To conceal the seams along the edges where the two pieces have been glued together, I used a small spatula and my finger to add a layer of the Limestone Stone Effect Paste.  Let it dry.

Paint the edges with the Glorious Gold acrylic paint and let dry.

Glue metal embellishments to the frame, as shown.

Paint the embellishments with Glorious Gold acrylic paint and let dry.

Pick up the Fire Ruby wax with a brush and lightly hit the high spots over the frame and embellishments.  

Continue doing the same on the back of the frame, as well.

Glue rhinestones to the center of each embellishment.

Supplies used:

GSL Cathedral Frame
Medieval Triptychs Collage Sheet (www.alphastamps.com)

Limestone Stone Effect Paste (Prima/Finnabair)

Fire Ruby Antique Brilliance Wax (Prima/Finnabair)

Mica pieces (USArtQuest)

Makeup sponge

Small spatula

Ranger Glossy Accents

Metal embellishments

Amber gold rhinestones

I hope you enjoyed this quick and easy project today, and be sure to come back to see all the inspirational projects from the design team.  

I've enjoyed my time with Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts, and I hope you have enjoyed my projects during my time here.  Thanks so much for your support, and have a wonderful New Year!

Barbara

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts' Christmas Mini Folding House Shrine

Happy holidays to everyone!  I hope you are enjoying the winter weather, wherever you are!  Today, I am going to be using a couple of Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts' newest sets, the Little Folding House Shrine and the Tiny Christmas Shapes sets.  These are so cute and are sized just right to work together perfectly!

Outside with doors closed

Outside with doors open

Inside with doors opened

Make hinges by cutting two pieces of Tyvek to 2-1/2" x 3/4".  Paint both sides of the Tyvek with gold acrylic paint.  Paint both sides of the house with the gold acrylic paint.  One side (showing) only needs to be painted around the edges.  Set aside to dry.

Glue Tyvek "hinge" pieces to the three house pieces, as shown.  Leave enough space between pieces to allow the doors to open and close.  

Outside

Inside

This is a great time to use some of those paper scraps you've been saving.  These two pieces are from a Basic Grey Mistletoe & Pears paper pad.  

Run paper through Xyron 3" sticker maker.

Xyron 3" sticker maker

Cut paper just slightly smaller to fit each section, leaving a scant hint of gold edge.  Adhere to each panel. 

Inside

Outside

Apply triangle paper pieces to the roof top, as shown, on each side, using the opposing prints. 

Inside

Outside

Outside when closed in front

Add a strip of the gold Dresden border along the edge where the two papers meet, as shown.

Inside

Outside

Outside when closed in front

Cut two of the tiny scalloped shingles in half and paint with white acrylic paint or white gesso.  Let them dry, then glue to the top portion of the roof, as shown.

Outside when closed in front

Outside view on back

Fill in both sides of the roof top with the snow writer snow, as shown. 

Outside when closed on front

Paint each of the pieces with acrylic paint, as shown. 

Glue a small piece of mica to the back of the window frame.  Use the Snow Writer to add snow to the window frame and the green tree. (NOTE:  I added a wash of Burnt Umber acrylic paint to the window shutters to age them.)

I found a little white button in my stash, so I stamped "25" on it with black permanent ink, then ran a piece of red floss thorugh the button and tied it off. 

Glue it to the top portion of the roof on the outside of the house, as well as the painted chipboard pieces, as shown.

Inside

I cut a printed word "NOEL" from one of the papers in the pad and glued that to the roof portion of the outside of the house.  Glue remaining chipboard pieces, as shown.  (NOTE: I glued a tiny strip of chipboard beneath the shutters, close to the window, so that I could angle them up and outward from the house.  This is optional, of course).

Outside

I have included a few more close-ups of the painted chipboard pieces for you.

Supplies Used:

GSLTiny Shingles Sampler

GSL Little Folding House Shrine (contact store)

GSL Tiny Christmas Shapes (contact store)

GSL Gingerbread House Mini Tall (window &  shutters)

2 strips Tyvek (2-1/2" x 3/4")
DecoArt Glorious Gold Metallic paint
DecoArt Americana Lamp Black acrylic paint
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics
  Diarylide Yellow
  Hansa Yellow Light
  Primary Magenta
  Translucent White
  Cadmium Red Hue
  Burnt Umber
  Sap Green
DecoArt Snow Writer

Basic Grey Mistletoe & Pears paper pad 

Xyron 3" sticker maker
Gold German Dresden border
Liquitex white gesso
Mica Pieces
Alphabet/Numbers stamp set
Black archival ink pad
White button
Red floss


Thanks for stopping by, and have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Barbara

Dragonfly Embroidery Hoop Redux with ColourArte

Hi everyone!  Today, I want to share a mixed media project that I made a couple of years ago, but I was not really happy with how it turned out.  I just could not figure out what I needed to do to improve it.  Fast forward two years, and here is my "new and improved" redo.  Okay, I am very easily entertained, but when you see the "before" and "after", you will have to admit that it is now much more colorful.  I have also added much more texture and interest to the piece.

Here is my video tutorial where I show you what I did differently.   Mainly, I used the ColourArte Vivid Ultra Metallics, which did not even exist at the time of my first video.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL

If you are interested, I have also included my first video process here.  In it, I show you how I stiffened the fabric with Paverpol, and attached it into the embroidery hoop.  You may, also, learn a few techniques and uses for some of the other ColourArte products.  

ColourArte Supplies Used:
Vivid Ultra Metallics
  Black Cherry
  Burnt Umber
  Moss Green
  Daffodil
  Bolivian Blue
  Douglas Fir
Radiant Rains Colour Concentrate (Dabbers)
  Mediterranean
  Nutmeg
  Plumeria
  Yellow Rose

Other Supplies Used:
Liquitex White Gesso
Prima Metallique Wax
  Vintage Gold
  Bronze Age
Clear Glue Pen (Paper Studio)
Gold Mini Glass Beads
Metallic Jade Glass Beads (Judi-Kins)
Beadazzles (Suze Weinberg)
  Macarena
  Jazz

Whether you prefer my redo or not, I hope you enjoyed watching the processes used, and perhaps I was able to inspire you to make a canvas using only a simple embroidery hoop and a piece of fabric.  You can pick and choose the techniques and/or products you prefer, and most importantly, you can have a blast while you do it.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you will consider subscribing to my channel so that YouTube will let me continue to bring more videos to you.

Have a wonderful and crafty day!!!

Barbara

Mixed Media How To - The Good Life Art Journal Page

Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings to all.  In the US, we celebrate Thanksgiving, so since today is Thanksgiving for us, I wanted to use my art journal to commemorate all that I am thankful for.  I will be using some Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts chipboard and ColourArte products to help me out.  I love using chipboard in my art journals because it adds some dimension and not too much bulk.  Also, when I find just the right shapes, it seems to get that ole' mojo started again.

I have prepared a video tutorial for you in the hopes you will enjoy watching the process.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL

Supplies Used:

GSL The Good Life
GSL Mushrooms Shape Set
ColourArte Vivid Ultra Metallics
  Peaceful Poppy
  Black Cherry
  Autumn Leaf
  Burnt Umber
  True Metals Autumn Flame
  Bolivian Blue
ColourArte Radiant Rains Dabber
  Yellow Rose
  Nutmeg
  Mediterranean
Prima Metallique Wax
  Aged Brass
  Vintage Gold
  Bronze Age
6"x9" Art Journal (Ranger)
Studio 490 Crackled Texture Paste
Faber-Castell Glass Bead Glitter Gel
Dylusions 5x8 Luscious Leaves stencil
Tree Branch Archival ink pad
Paper Parachute AT-002 cling stamp
Viva Décor Pearl Pen - Cream

I hope you enjoyed today's project, and be sure to check out all the fabulous products found at ColourArte and  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a super holiday!!

Barbara

Fast and Easy Thanksgiving Wreath with Gypsy Soul

Hi everyone!  Can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving, and Christmas isn't far behind.  You'd better get busy on your holiday decorations, and here is one that should be quick and easy to make, and look great, too!

I am using the largest of the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Wreath Rings as my base, along with the Page Frame Flourished and the Chickenwire Large.  That should be a really good start.  Separate the largest wreath from the two smaller ones.

Adhere wreath ring to the back of 12x12 printed scrapbook paper.

Trim excess paper from outer and inner edges of ring.  Save inner circle piece to use later.

Turn ring over, back side up, and glue chickenwire to back of ring.  The color of the bare chipboard is perfect for Fall, so I didn't change it in any way.  Set aside to dry.

With a stiff bristle brush, like a stencil brush, apply Vintage Gold Metallique wax over the page frame flourished.  If you don't have this wax, you can certainly use a metallic gold acrylic paint instead.

This step is optional, but I guess I was in a super blingy mood.  Apply Cosmic Shimmer glue to a makeup sponge and dab the glue randomly over the page frame flourished.  (TIP:  If you don't have this glue, you can use Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue or any glue that dries tacky).  Then apply the gilding flakes to the glued areas.  Be sure to turn all fans off as this stuff flies around very easily.

Use a clean, stiff stencil brush to remove excess gilding flakes.  Use the brush to pick up the flake "crumbs" and move them into exposed glue spots.  I did not try to cover the entire frame with the gilding flakes.

Your piece should look something like this.

Glue the page frame to the wreath ring.  Set aside to dry.

Wrap Fall multi-colored trim around wreath ring and glue ends to the back.

Ink the words "Happy" and "Fall" from the Fall Word Set with Versamark  ink and heat emboss with gold embossing powder.  I embossed the words twice to get smooth coverage.

Grab two small tags, add adhesive and glue them to back of the same print paper.  I used the circle portion that was left from covering the wreath ring in the step above.

 

Trim excess paper from around the tags and edge with the Vintage Gold Metallique wax.  Adhere the words "Happy" and "Fall" to each tag, as shown.

I misted my small sunflowers with Tattered Angels Golden Terracotta glimmer mist to give them a more orange tint that would match my large sunflower.  Set flowers aside to dry.

Add sunflowers, word tags, leaves, and vines to finish off the wreath.

Supplies Used:
GSL Wreath Rings
GSL Page Frame Flourished
GSL Chickenwire Large
GSL Fall Word Set
GSL Small Tag Set
Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes
Cosmic Shimmer Flake & Glitter Glue (or Tombo Mono Multi Liquid Glue)
Art Alchemy Vintage Gold Metallique Wax (Prima/Finnabair)
Fall multi-color trim, flowers, leaves, vines (Hobby Lobby, Michaels)
Stencil brushes
Golden Terracotta Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels)
Versamark Ink Pad
Gold Detail embossing powder
Heat tool

I hope you enjoyed today's project and will consider making one, or two, or three, of these truly fun, fast, and easy home decor wreaths.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful time making things for the holidays.

Barbara