Pyramid Base Display Shelf Tutorial

Hi everyone!  Barbara Rankin here today with another video tutorial using Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Pyramid Base Display Shelf.  This is such a fun and useful piece, and can be personalized to any taste simply by changing the paper, or paint, or what have you.  Use whatever you have and proudly display your mini collections.  

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I found these miniature vintage items on eBay and I've just been waiting for the right display piece to come along.  I am so pleased with the way this turned out.  

Supplies Used:
GSL Pyramid Base Display Shelf
GSL Stackable Labels Shape Set
GSL Words and Phrases 1 (Memories)
GSL Art Deco Corner Set
GSL Border Sticks Floral
GSL Topiary Trees
Blue Fern paper collection (Timeless)
PVA Glue (Paper Source) (optional: Elmer's Glue)
Aleene's Tacky Glue
Aleene's Quick Grab Glue
FolkArt Chalk Paint (Spanish Moss)
DecoArt Chalk Paint (Timeless, Rustic, Carbon)
Jacquard Lumiere 3D Metallic Paint (Brass)
Makeup sponges
1" Sponge Brush
Flower Soft (Christmas Green, Shamrock Green, Ultra Fine Pine)
Distress Ink (Tattered Rose)
Sand paper and sanding grip (Tim Holtz)

I hope you enjoyed my project today, and I hope I have inspired you to try making your own display shelf, whether for yourself or for a gift.  Remember, Christmas is just around the corner, and who doesn't love a handmade gift?  

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful, crafty day!

Barbara

Mixed Media: Antique Flower Cart

Hello everyone!  Are you ready for Spring?  I sure am, and when I saw this Flower Cart from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts, I couldn't help but think of the coming of Spring.

I always like to lay my chipboard pieces out so I can see how they will fit together.

Prime both sides of all chipboard with a coat of DecoArt Media white gesso.  I like to use a flat sponge or blending tool to prevent filling up the delicate lasercuts with paint.

Glue flower cart together and set aside to dry.

Spread DecoArt Media white modeling paste through a stencil with a spatula.  Keep edges rough and uneven for a worn look.  Let paste dry.

Mix DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics (Cerulean Blue, Blue Green Light, Phthalo Turquoise) together with water on a palette and paint cart, inside and out. 

I decided to add a second coat to the cart to give it a more patinated look.  Set aside to dry.

Dry brush DecoArt Media Blue Green Light over the stenciled areas, as well as the edges where the paste was roughly spread, and the top edges of the cart.  This will add to the patina.

Each Border Sticks Floral was cut to fit the sides of the card, and primed with white gesso.  Some strips that I had left were not long enough, but as you can see, it is easy to piece them together. 

Paint the Border Sticks Floral with DecoArt Media Gold Metallic Fluid Acrylic.  Only one side needs to be painted since these will be glued down.

Paint both sides of the wheels from the Flower Cart with the DecoArt Media Gold Metallic Fluid Acrylic. 

To give the wheels and border sticks more of a copper look, I painted each with DecoArt Media Quinacridone Gold.  This paint is transparent and allows the metallic gold color still show through.

Darken the outer edges of the wheels with black archival ink (black paint could also be used).

Glue the Border Sticks Floral around the top edges of the cart, just below the decorative scroll and along the back of the cart.  Use your finger to apply DecoArt Burnished Brass Metallic Lustre over the high spots made from the paste, and along the edges of the cart and handles.

Attach the wheels to the cart with decorative metal brads.

Here you can see the how the brad extends through the holes in both the cart and the wheels, making it very easy to attach them.

Here are a couple of views of the cart from each angle.

Supplies Used:
GSL Flower Cart
GSL Border Sticks Floral

DecoArt Media white gesso
DecoArt Media white modeling paste
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics
  Cerulean Blue
  Blue Green Light
  Phthalo Turquoise
  Metallic Gold
  Quinacridone Gold
DecoArt Metallic Lustre - Burnished Brass
The Crafter's Workshop TCW334s Mini Window Screen stencil
Two decorative metal brads
Blending tool
Black Archival ink
Dynasty brushes

I really love how this flower cart turned out, and I can think of several uses for it.  As you can tell, I used mine to display a beautiful bouquet of Spring flowers.  But I also thought this would make a lovely centerpiece to hold candy or small party favors.  What about a nice housewarming gift with a small potted plant, or even a hostess gift.  What will you use yours for?  Let us know and be sure to share your photos if you decide to make one for yourself or a friend.

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to play!

Barbara

My Steampunk Spirit with Gina's Designs

Hello everyone!   I am really excited about my project today.  Okay, I know I am easily entertained, but when it comes to steampunk, I really am, easily entertained, that is!  I could not wait to work on Gina's Steampunk Cage Dressform.  And here she is!!!

Directions:

I painted the cage portion (front and back) with the Iron paint from the VerDay kit and let dry for one hour.  Then, following directions with the kit, I painted a second coat of the Iron paint and sprayed with the Patina Solution while the paint was still wet.  You will probably need to work in sections if your paint is drying quickly.  Here are the rusted pieces after the Patina Solution was allowed to sit for 24 hours and do it's thing.

Use the same process to paint the Dressform pieces, but use the Copper paint instead of the Iron paint.  The Patina Solution gives a bluish green patina to the copper.

I used Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue to put my dress form and cage together.  I have found it to be the easiest glue to use, and it really does "grab" the chipboard nicely.

• Very Important Tip:  I discovered that my chipboard had swelled from the Patina Solution and I was not able to slip the chipboard strips through the holes in the base and top.  What I ended up doing was using a craft knife to trim the little extender pieces so I could push them into the holes.  So, you may prefer putting the cage portion together before painting and adding the patina solution.

I wanted all of my remaining chipboard pieces to also have a metal look, so I heat embossed the floral border and scrap pieces of the Chainlink with Silvery Shimmer ink and silver embossing powder.  I wanted the chain link to look weathered, so I used a Versamark pen randomly, mostly where the links join, and heat embossed with Black Soot distress embossing powder.

The floral border and some metal embellishments were adhered to the top of the cage, as shown.

The bird cage was inked with Golden Glitz ink and gold embossing powder.  Metal gears, bird, and resin flower added to cage, as shown.  I added a small piece of jewelry chain to hang the bird cage.  The chain link was adhered to the cage posts.

Some metal clock hands were adhered to each post, as shown.  Square metal jewelry pieces and tiny metal beads were adhered to each gear "tooth".  

I glued some tiny watch parts to the body of the  dress form and found these tiny metal bird beads in my stash, adhering one to the shoulder and two to the top of the cage.

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Supplies:

Steampunk Cage Dressform
Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set
Chainlink 8x8 Panel
Border Sticks Floral
VerDay Paint Kit (TenSecondStudio)
Silvery Shimmer and Golden Glitz Delicata ink pads
Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Black Soot distress embossing powder
Silver embossing powder
Gold embossing powder
Watch parts
Metal jewelry bits and pieces

I absolutely love how this turned out and had so much fun embellishing it.  I want to do another one and see what other ways I can come up with to embellish a "sister" piece.  What great "things" do you have in your stash to add to her?

I hope I have been able to get those creative juices flowing and inspired you to try making one of these for yourself or a friend who loves steampunk.  It will make a wonderful inspiration piece to sit on my desk and admire, and hopefully keep the mojo going.   So, head on over to Gina's Store, Blog and Facebook Group to keep up with all the fun things we have in store for you!!!

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

Barbara