Geisha Trifold Pocket Mini with Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

Hi everyone!  Barbara here today on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog.  I want to share with you one of the newest laser cuts from Gypsy Soul called the Trifold Pocket Mini.  I love how it folds up into a small notebook, yet has pockets to hold all sorts of memorabilia.  Here is a picture of the finished cover.

Cut a piece of handmade paper to fit the front of the trifold mini and use a white glue to adhere the paper.  Trim excess paper away.

Cut strips of the same paper to cover the inside flaps and score lines and adhere with white glue.  This will cover the inside of the pockets where it opens and also strengthen the score lines.

Apply a fast grab tacky glue along the two long edges of each pocket, as shown.  

Fold them up and clamp each pocket together until the glue dries.  I used a heavy weight for the center pockets since I didn't have any clamps long enough to reach.

I used an Adirondack Gold paint dabber to edge the two side edges and the edges along the flaps.  

Cover the front of each stagger tag with notecards from the Tea-Thyme collection, cutting off the excess paper.  Be sure to punch the center hole before covering the other side.  Here you can see how the notecards looked before they were glued to the tags. 

Turn tags over and cover the back  of each stagger tag with a print paper from Tea Thyme.

I printed these collage images of Geishas, trimmed them, then layered each onto a piece of gold paper, then onto black card stock, before gluing them to the inside pockets, as shown.  I also added the large photo clips with brads, which will work to keep the flaps closed.  (NOTE:  I should have done this before gluing the pockets, but with determination, I was able to carefully get inside the pocket to spread the brad prongs.)

The three tags will fit nicely inside the three pockets.  You can add small photos, collage images, quotes, or add some personal journaling to the tags. 

I finished off the front and back of the trifold pocket min with a few more Geisha collage images, flowers, and a few metal embellishments I had on hand.  I used a piece of gold elastic to keep the mini book closed.

And for the inside, I added a few square metal embellishments to the flaps, as shown.  I did not add any 3D embellishments to the inside as it would make it quite difficult to close.  Once I inserted the tags into each pocket, I slid the photo clips into place to hold the flaps closed.  Each picture was offset, rather than centered, to accommodate the clips.  You could also use small velcro tabs or magnets, which would be adhered to the trifold before covering it with the paper.

Supplies Used:

GSL Trifold Pocket Mini
GSL Stagger Tags Small
Japanese handmade paper
Prima Tea-Thyme Paper Collection
  Linsey 12x12 paper
  Journaling Notecard set
  Flowers
King's Gold card stock (Neenah)
Collage Images - Geishas (Altered Pages)
Black card stock 
Metal photo clips
Metal embellishments
PVA Glue (or white glue)
Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Gold elastic

I hope you enjoyed today's project.  Thanks for stopping by, and have a super creative day!

Barbara

Happy Sunshiny Day Mini Tag Booklet with Altered Pages

Hi everyone!  Barbara here with my last post as part of the Altered Pages design team.  I am saddened to leave this fabulous group, but never fear, I've been asked to come back on occasion as a guest designer, and I happily agreed!

I decided to make a cute little accordion style mini note book with tags using simple coin envelopes. And, best of all, these are so quick and easy to make.  I love quotes and used some on the back of my tags, along with some fab collage images for the tag fronts.  Altered Pages has a great selection of collage images, too! 

 

Cut a strip of gray card stock 2-1/2" wide by 11" long.  Use a scoring tool, like the Scor-Pal, to score at 1", 1-3/8",  5-1/2", 5-7/8", and 9-3/4".  Cut off excess paper at the 9-3/4" score line.

Fold top flaps to inside and place double-sided tape down the center of each coin envelope.

Adhere coin envelopes together.  Make sure they are going in the same direction, with the opening at the top.  Then adhere them to the back section of the card stock.   Place one more strip of double sided tape down the center of the top coin envelope.

Fold front of cover over.  It should look like this.

Trim a print paper from the pad slightly smaller than the front cover (2-1/4" x 3-1/2").  Distress edges with blending tool and black ink.

Adhere to front cover.

Trim a coordinating piece of print paper slightly smaller than the back cover (2-1/4" x 4-1/4), distress edges with black ink, and adhere to back cover.

Remove paper line from double sided tape and close front of cover over the coin envelopes.  When you open the booklet, your envelopes will open like an accordion.

To make tags, cut five pieces of coordinating papers 2-1/8" x 3-5/8",  round corners and distress edges with black ink.  Cut five 7/8" circles from scraps of paper, edge each with the black ink.

Fold each circle in half and adhere to top of tags.  Resize ATC Cards 2 1318 Collage Sheet images to 75% and print.  Cut each image out, adhere to slightly larger piece of gray card stock, then adhere to tag front.

Tag Fronts

Resize Pocket Quotes 2367 Collage Sheet images to 75% and print.  Cut each image out and adhere to tag backs.  Stamp floral image from Muse Altered Artist stamp set with black Stazon ink.  Use a water brush with gelato to color the images.

Tag Backs

Insert tags into each envelope, add tiny magnet (or velcro) for closure, and adhere a pen nib with dimensional adhesive to the front.  

Stamp "Altered Artist" onto a scrap of matching card stock with black ink, trim to size of front flap, round bottom corners, and adhere to front flap.

SUPPLIES USED:

8x8 Glitz Paper Pads (Sunshine in my Soul)
Coin Envelopes
Create Your Flowers (Create Me Crazy)
ATC Cards 2 1318 Collage Sheet
Pocket Quotes 2367 Collage Sheet
Muse Altered Artist stamp set
Double Side Tape 1/4 inch
Mixed Media Salazar Inkx (Black)
StazOn Midi ink pad (Jet Black)
Ranger Blending Tool
Gelatos
Water brushes
Pen Nibs
Scor-Pal Mini tool
Dimensional Adhesives
Gray card stock
Corner Rounder

7/8" circle punch
Mini magnets (or velcro)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful and creative Summer.  And until next time, I won't say goodbye, but instead, see you soon!

Barbara

Be Brave Art Journal Page with Dixie Belle

Hi everyone!   I am working in my Dylusions Small Journal today.  Art journaling is really fun, and gives you permission to do your own thing without rules.  So let's play!

Tape the seam in your journal to keep the paint from seeping down into the pages below.  Paint both pages with a coat of the Liquitex Gesso and let dry.  Tear a few pieces of paper from the Authentic Accomplished 6x6 pad and adhere to the page randomly.

Add a wash of gesso over both pages to push the darker paper into the background.

Resize and print the hand with palette and brushes collage image, fussy cut and adhere to journal page.  Print  Pocket Quotes 2 collage image, cut out quotes for your journal.  Coat paper with Dixie Belle Clear Coat Satin to protect the inkjet printer ink from bleeding.

Cut the quotes apart and adhere them, along with the paint palette image, to the page, as shown.  I also penciled in a hand-drawn image of a paint brush at the top right.

Paint background with the Dixie Belle Soft Pink paint, watering it down a bit as you go over the images.  If you get too much on an image, use a damp baby wipe and wipe away any excess before it dries.  It will be very easy to remove because the images are sealed.

Paint the images and color the background with Gelatos using a Water brush, your finger, and a damp baby wipe to spread and blend the colors.

Stamp randomly over the background with StazOn Spiced Chai.  Draw a line with the blue Gelato from the brush tip, wet line with water brush and allow the color to drip from the image.

Shade around images using black Gelato and a Tortillion to blend the color out.

Cut strips of Adhesive Corrugated card stock, glue down to lower left side of page.   Hand write "Be Brave!" above card stock with black Pigma Micron Pen 01 and outline with Uniball white gel pen.

And here is the finished page.  I really like how this turned out.  No rules, no pressure, just fun!

SUPPLIES USED:

Dylusions Small Journal
Liquitex Gesso
Authentic Accomplished 6x6 pad
Collage Sheets:  Pocket Pages 2, I Create, Therefore I Am
StazOn Spiced Chai
Water brushes
Muse Altered Artist rubber stamp set
Ranger Blending Tool
Mixed Media Salazar Inkx (Leather)
Uniball white gel pen
Pigma Micron Pen 01
Adhesive Corrugated card stock
Tortillion

Dixie Bell Paints (Pale Pink, Clear Satin Sealer)

Dixie Bell Paints are not just for home decor!  I found this product to work extremely well in my mixed media art, and you can see how well it smoothly glides over paper.  Just imagine how well it works on wood and furniture.

I hope I have inspired you to create something fun in your art journal and try new things in your mixed media art projects.  Be sure to stop by Altered Pages to see what else is available for your use.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful, creative week!!!

Barbara

Mixed Media Family Crest Wall Decor

Hello everyone! Today I want to share a really fun project using Dixie Bell Paints, our partner this month.  I am so delighted with this product, and I want to share how easy it is to use.  

I love working with chipboard because it allows me to add wet and heavier objects to my pieces.  So here goes.

I started with this Laser Cut Crests chipboard as my base.  

I painted the chipboard with a coat of Liquitex Gesso.  If I were working on wood or furniture, I probably would not have used the gesso with this paint, but I like to save my expensive paints from soaking into the very porous chipboard, and the gesso does give it a nice base to work on.  Plus, your color will be truer if you have the white base beneath the paint.

I printed my collage images and, using a soft brush, coated them with the Dixie Bell Clear Coat Satin.  Since I only have an inkjet printer, this will keep the ink from running while I am mixing up my wet media.  Tear around the images and set aside.

While those are drying, I cut two 1/4" wide strips of card board and one was cut to 1" wide and cut that strip in half.  To miter the 1" pieces, you need a 45º angle.  To do this easily, you can simply measure 1" down and 1" across the top (the width of the cardboard strip), mark spot with a pencil, draw a line to meet the two points and cut off the triangle.

These pieces will be used to separate portions of my Crest.  Use a ruler to align the vertical chipboard strip straight.

Before I adhere the chevron piece and the horizontal piece on the left, I needed to decide where the collage images would fit best by laying them out to determine placement of everything.  I glued the images down first, as shown.

Now, I know exactly where to place my chipboard "crossbars".  Use a ruler to align the left strip and adhere to the base.  

Measure and mark the center of the right side for placement of the center of the mitered corners.  

Trim off excess ends and adhere all with Aleene's Tacky Glue.  I drew pencil lines to mark where to cut off that excess.

Adhere Paperclay molded pieces to the key and crest with the tacky glue.  The slightly darker Paperclay pieces were molded, allowed to dry partially before removing from the mold, and then glued down to the chipboard pieces.  This allowed me to curve some of those pieces that needed to follow curves on the chipboard.  Allow them to dry completely, then paint Paperclay molded pieces with a coat of white gesso to seal the clay.

Add dimensional accents to the chipboard using Crystal Lacquer.  You can create these by simply following the lines of the chipboard.  Let dry thoroughly.

Paint patches of crackle paint to the Crest background to age the piece.

Paint a wash of Timeless chalk paint over the chipboard background, making sure not to fill in the cracks with the paint.

Add another layer of aging by mixing the Timeless chalk paint with the crackle paint and blending the two directly onto the chipboard pieces as you dab the paints onto the surface.  You will get this mottled effect.  Let paints dry.

Paint both chipboard  pieces with a coat of the Dixie Bell Paints in Soft Pink.  Let dry.  I was pleasantly surprised at the nice coverage of this paint.  It seems to be highly pigmented, and I did not need to use a lot of paint. 

Paint both pieces with a wash of the Timeless chalk paint and let dry.  This is going to give it a very shabby chic, vintage look.

Use a soft brush to paint both pieces with the Dixie Bell Paints Clear Coat Satin.  I had to take a picture of it while still wet because once it dries, you will not be able to see it at all.

Use your finger to pick up the Gold from Kit #1 and Deep Gold from Kit #2 Metallic Rub-on Sets to highlight and give this piece even more vintage shabbiness!

Add pearl and gold  Dew Drops to add more accents to the piece, as shown.

Make a hanger and bow with the Twill Tape, run it through the hanger openings in both pieces of chipboard, and tie it off at the top.   (Tip:  You can color the twill tape with inks or paints to match your project.)  Now you are done!

And a few closeups of that shabby goodness!

ALTERED PAGES SUPPLIES USED:

Laser Cut Crests
Liquitex Gesso
Dixie Bell Paints (Soft Pink, Clear Coat Satin)
Paperclay
Crystal Lacquer
Collage Sheets: Castles of the Ages;  Bookplates
Metallic Rub-on Sets
Dew Drops
Aleene's Tacky Glue
Twill Tape

Thanks so much to our partner, Dixie Bell Paint Company.  I hope I have inspired you to take a look at their website for more color choices, and as always, there will be more inspiration from the team this month.  In addition, Altered Pages is your one-stop shop for your crafting needs.  Be sure to check them out.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful, crafty week!

Barbara

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