Rusty Steampunk Altered Notebook Tutorial

Hi everyone!  Barbara here again with another fun project using Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  I found this inexpensive little hardback notebook in the $1.50 bin of my local craft store.  I am always making notes of things I want to create, or things I want (need) to do, and so, a notebook with a hard cover is the perfect substrate to add layers chipboard embellishments.

This is my finished "Bright Ideas" notebook, hence, the light bulb, which suggests that there just might be some good ideas hiding inside this little book.  And, as you can see, it is rusty and very Steampunk!  So scroll down for more information on l how I made this rusty, crusty and dusty cover using Andy Skinner's rust technique with and a few added products for even more crustiness.

Cut two pieces of paper to measure 4-3/4" x 7-1/8" for this particular book.  If your book is a different size, cut the paper slightly smaller than the front of the book, without covering the spine.   Adhere the paper to the front and back of the book.

I cut the gears texture sheet apart, leaving the top and left edges straight to line up against the edge of the book.  The bottom edges were cut more randomly between the gear shapes. 

Adhere this piece to  the top of the book, a shown.

Arrange and adhere the chipboard pieces to your liking.  I layered some of the gears, clock hands, and propellers for added depth and dimension.

Paint front and back of book with a wash of white gesso.  Remove some of the gesso from the script paper with a damp paper towel if you want to see more of the print show through.  Place a piece of paper between the book covers and the pages to protect them during this process. Let gesso dry.

front cover

back cover

Spread splotches of texture sand paste randomly over the chipboard and open areas of the book cover.  Let dry.

front cover

Turn book over and spread modeling  paste through gears stencil.  Let dry.

back cover

Let modeling paste dry.  This is how your back cover will look.

back cover

Paint front and back covers with a wash of Paynes Grey + water.  In the photo of the front, you can see the gritty texture left by the texture sand paste.

front cover

The back cover shows the stenciled gears and the texture sand paste I added after painting.  I simply used my finger to apply a very thin, random coat over the background.  Let paste dry.

back cover

Paint both front and back cover with a wash of Quinacridone Gold and let each side dry.  Then paint both sides again with the Quinacridone Gold direct from bottle for a deeper tone.  Let dry.

front cover

back cover

Add highlights by painting covers with Translucent Yellow Iron Oxide, concentrating on the sanded sections.  This adds a really subtle color variation.  

front cover

back cover

Next, add splotches of Titan Buff randomly over covers by applying with finger and very little paint.  Let dry.

Apply Cobalt Teal Hue in the same fashion as previously done with Titan Buff.  Let dry.

Now apply a wash of the Quinacridone Gold + water over the entire cover, front and back. This will tone down the colors and make them look more grungy.

Apply small amounts of Rusty with finger, just hitting high spots and edges very randomly.

Highlight high spots and edges with Rose Quartz Treasure Gold.  Use sparingly and apply with your finger.

Shade chipboard pieces with a slightly watered down Paynes Grey, allowing the paint to collect in the nooks and crannies.  Glue metal letters "Bright Ideas" along the left edge of front cover, as shown.

Repeat shading process on back cover with slightly watered down Paynes Grey, allowing the paint to collect in the nooks and crannies.

Finish off inside covers by adhereing print scrapbook paper of your choice to the inside, as shown.

Supplies Used:

GSL Steampunk Lightbulb Set
GSL Texture Sheet Gears 6x6
GSL Steampunk Shape Set
GSL Gears Shape Set
GSL Propellers
Hardback note book (5"x7")
7Gypsies print papers
White gesso (Liquitex)
Mixed Media Adhesive (Derivan) (or any white glue or gel medium)
Light Molding Paste (Golden)
Texture Sand Paste (DecoArt)
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Paints 
  Quinacridone Gold
  Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide
  Paynes Grey
  Titan Buff
  Cobalt Teal Hue
Rust Effect Paint (Viva Décor)
Rose Quartz Treasure Gold metallic wax
Metal Embellishments (from my stash)

I hope you enjoyed my remake of a fairly non-descript notebook into something  you just might want to record your "Bright Ideas" for posterity.  Of course, if Steampunk is not your thing, I would suggest that you check out the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts online shop to see the wonderful selection of chipboard in just about any theme you can imagine.  Make it your own!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

Barbara

Mini House Shadowbox with Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts and Graphic 45

Hey chipper gang!  Barbara here, and it's my turn on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog to share a project with you today.  I love making things with dimension, and when I saw these adorable house shaped mini shadowboxes from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts, I knew I had to play with them.  I expect this will be a series of projects that I will post, so stay tuned.  Today's box is using the fabulous Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe.  

I always lay my chipboard out the way it will be glued together, just to make sure I have it positioned  correctly.  I like to use Aleene's Fast Grab tacky glue to put my chipboard together.  It does just what the name says, grabs fast so you are hands free to continue working on your project.

After gluing the house together, I painted it, inside and out, with green chalk paint.  I cut a piece of blue print paper for the inside of the box.  Next, I carefully cut along this tiny diamond border from the paper collection and adhered along the front edge, as shown, piecing as needed.

NOTE:  All papers were edged with ink before adhering to help hide the white cut edges.  

I covered the outside (back and both sides only) with the red flourish print paper.  The roof was covered with red circles paper.  

I painted a small piece of the Texture Sheet Diamonds with black chalk ink and adhered inside the box.  

I then fussy cut small images from the Graphic 45 paper collection to see what would fit inside my mini box.  For added strength, I coated each piece with the ultra matte varnish.  It is totally invisible.  I place all of my images inside the box, as shown, including a tiny flower pot miniature I had in my stash.

Two strap hinges, gears, and propeller, were painted with black chalk ink, then I added a bit of the rust paint.  You will want to paint both sides if the backside of any of these shapes will be seen, as with the propeller, the lower part of the strap hinges, and a few gears. 

Glue the strap hinges to the roof.  The propeller with brad were added between the roof eaves that have been covered with the strip of wording from one of the papers from the collection.  

The curio cabinet was fussy cut, then pop dotted with two layers of dots to give it enough lift before adhering to the bottom of the house.  Half of the eyeglass and the peacock head were fussy cut, then adhered to the back above the curio cabinet image.  Wind up girl was shaped and adhered to the left edge of the box.  She is curious and is thinking of going into the shoppe.

Gears were added to the box, as shown. Some were cut in half and added to the box sides.  

On the back, the Olde Curiosity Shoppe sign was made by using a 1 ¼" square punch, and then I used a ticket stub corner punch on all four corners.  The raven holding the Carter's Liver Pills sign was fussy cut and also adhered, as shown.

Here is a closer look at the inside of the shadow box, as well as the sides and back.  

GSL Supplies Used:

Mini House Shadowbox 3

Hinge Straps Shape Set

Steampunk Shape Set

Texture Sheet Diamonds

Other Supplies Used:

Graphic 45 8x8 Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper collection

Black Chalk Paint (DecoArt)

Green Chalk Paint 

Ultra Matte Satin Varnish (DecoArt)

Rust Paint (Viva Decor)

Mini brads and flower pot

1-¼" square punch

Ticket stub corner punch

I hope you enjoyed my version of an Olde Curiosity Shoppe with this fun little Mini House Shadowbox 3 from Gypsy Soul.  I have a few more of these little cuties, so stay tuned to see where my imagination takes me next.  

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a very curious, and crafty, week!

Barbara