Botanical Memo Board with Gypsy Soul Lasercuts

Hi everyone.  It's Thursday again, and that means I am up on the Gypsy Soul Laser Crafts blog!  When I got this Memo Board, I knew I was going to love it.  I am sure you will, too.  Just think of all the uses.  You can hang it on the wall, set it on an easel, add magnets to the back to hang on your fridge.  The possibilities are endless.

Lay your pieces out to determine how to glue them together.

Paint portions of chipboard that will not be covered with paper.  I mixed two colors of pink and salmon chalk ink to get a color to match my paper.

Cut scrapbook paper of your choice to size and adhere pieces to front and top and bottom of tray section.  Leave back uncovered for now.  (Be sure to cut out the holes you may have covered with paper so that you can still glue the pieces together.)

Now glue the tray shelf to the bottom of the board, as well as the trim pieces.  

I cut thin 1/4" strips of the same paper to add to the bottom of the tray shelf to cover where the chipboard joins.   I think it gives it a really nice finish.

Next, lay out your chipboard pieces to see how they will look, as well as the clip that will be placed in the center.

I first gave my chipboard pieces of coat of chalk paint in the color I wanted as an under tone.

Next, I gave details and dimension to the pieces, first with ColourArte Twinkling H20s, and then some extra shading was added with Gelatos.  I computer-generated "MEMO" onto a scrap of my paper to fit inside the miniature bookplate.

Before adhering any chipboard, I wanted to get the clip attached.  I centered it and penciled in where I needed to punch my hole for the brad to go through.  I used my Big Bite crop-a-dile to punch the hole.  Then I used some quick grab glue on the back, as well as inserting the brad through the clip and the board to hold it in place.  

Then I covered the back of my memo board with another coordinating paper.  Now it is nicely finished off on the back, as well.

I started adding my chipboard pieces, as shown in the close-ups below.  You can see where I added the MEMO bookplate to the clip, and some flower embellishments to my leaves. 

Supplies Used:

GSL Memo Board
GSL Bird on Branch Assortment
GSL Butterflies and Dragonflies
GSL Fern Fronds
GSL Skeleton Leaves
GSL Miniature Bookplates Shape Set
ColourArte Twinkling H20s
Folk Art chalk paints
Faber-Castell Gelatos
Metal clip and flowers

I hope you are inspired a bit to try creating your very own memo board.  Wouldn't this make a beautiful gift for someone.  Christmas is not too far off.   So pop on over the the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts store and see all the fab choices there.  

Thanks for stopping by, and have fun crafting!

Barbara

Altered Pages Memo Board Featuring MD Hobby & Craft

Hello everyone, and welcome back to my regularly scheduled post.  As you know by now, we are featuring products from this month's fabulous sponsor, MD Hobby & Craft.  The design team has been making some wonderful projects for you that should really get those creative juices flowing.

I have been trying to figure out ways to display some of my artwork in my studio to give me my own inspiration and, hopefully, get my creative juices flowing.  When I received this 1' x 2' Lincane Perforated Aluminum Sheet, oh boy did the ideas start coming.  I made this magnetic memo board with other supplies I had on hand, just waiting for the perfect project.

Print the two Altered Pages collage sheets listed in the supply list below onto Craft Attitude (CA).  I suggest doing this first to allow the ink to dry on the CA sheets.  Remember to reverse the images for printing if you have any words on anything.

Insert 12"x12" Magnetic Steel Sheet into memory frame, check fit.  The perforated aluminum sheet that I am using on top is not magnetic, so I need this second piece beneath it to make it magnetic.

Run a strip of washi or painter's tape around the edges of the frame to protect it from painting.  Sponge on Copper acrylic paint; allow to dry.  You could always paint the metal outside of the frame, but I was afraid I might scratch it off by handling it.  

Sponge a lighter coat of the Verde Gris glaze over the Copper paint; let dry.  Remove washi tape.

Use a guillotine cutter or metal shears to cut the 1' x 2' Lincane Perforated Aluminum Sheet down to 12" x 12".  

Add a 1/4" strip of metal tape to the cut edge.

I used to do my own framing, so I happen to have a framer's tool and points, which I used to secure my metal sheets.  I know not everyone has these, so a good metal adhesive will work just as well.

Closeup of framer's points

Adhere Double-sided tape to five strips of German Scrap.  Be sure to burnish the tape down really well.  This will help it adhere better, and make it easier to get that dad gum liner off.

Adhere the strips around the perimeter of the metal sheets to cover your glazing points (or glue), or just for the sheer elegance of it.

Closeup of German Scrap border

I had purchased this metal flower embellishment, but I wanted to make it my own.  

So, I used my Art Anthology Dimensional Acrylic Paints (June Bud, Baby Blue Eyes, Red Velvet, Kenyan Copper) to make it more to my liking.  These paints are transparent and very thick, but I needed to make them more opaque by adding some white gesso to them.  

After that coat dried, I came back with either the same color without gesso, or added another color on top.  See photo for details.

Now for some magnets to use on my magnetic memo board.

Choose a collage image from the CA sheet that will fit nicely onto a domino.  

 

Use two to three alcohol inks with felt adhered to your Ranger blending tool to color the top of a domino, let dry.  Use light colors so your CA transfer will show through.  

Follow Craft Attitude for adhering the film to the domino.  Adhere a strong magnet to the back of the domino.

Make a second domino from another image of paint tubes.  I made a third one, ART,  that I glued to several layers of mat board with a white background.  Here are all three.

A couple more pics of the metal topper... 

and the magnets in use on the board. 

So, what do you think?  Pretty cool, huh?  Are you thinking of the multitude of collage images you can use on various shapes and pieces to make your own set of magnets?  I'm thinking about Pen nibs, wooden bingo markers, and Bottle Caps, to name just a few.  You know three are not enough and I will be making a bunch more, especially since there are so many fab images on just those two collage sheets.  Imagine what you can make with any of the fun Altered Pages collage sheets available.  

Supplies used:

Altered Pages:  AP-2550 Create Art collage sheet; AP-2565 I Create, Therefore I Am collage sheet; German Scrap; Double-sided tape; Art Anthology Dimensional Acrylic Paints (June Bud, Baby Blue Eyes, Red Velvet, Kenyan Copper); White Gesso; Glue stick; Ranger blending tool;

MD Hobby & Craft:  12"x12" Magnetic Steel Sheet; 1' x 2' Lincane Perforated Aluminum Sheet
12"x12" Memory Frame (Hobby Lobby)
Acrylic paint:  Copper, Verde Gris Glaze
Kraft colored washi tape (or painter's tape)
Sea sponge
Craft Attitude
Domino
Alcohol inks:  Espresso, Latte, Caramel
Alcohol, blender tool, felt

Thanks so much to MD Hobby & Craft for allowing us to "play" with their fabulous products this month.  I have another fun idea in the works for my next post in a couple of weeks.   

And a big thanks to you for stopping by today.  I hope you will check out the rest of the team's projects this month combining these great products from MD Hobby & Craft and Altered Pages. 

Have a wonderful and creative week!

Barbara

Fall Magnetic Memo Board with The Robin's Nest

Hello again, and welcome back to my blog.

I have a special Fall project I made, and I am very excited to show it to you.  I am always trying to remember things I need to do, especially during the holiday season.  I make lists only to lose or misplace them.  So, what better way to keep track of my "to do's" than to have a pretty memo board hanging where I can readily see it.   All of my notes are in one place and easily removed and replaced with a new note.  You could also use it to hang a few of your favorite holiday photos, too.  So, without further adieu, here is my Fall magnetic memo board using some of the Black Forest collection papers and embellishments.  They are so pretty and speak Fall to me with the dusty greens and the glittery copper accents.  I am afraid pictures simply do not show their true beauty.

Supply list:

Family-Glitter Getaway Double-Sided Cardstock
German Edlewiess Paper

Getaway Glitter Stripe
Glitter Coffee Creme Swirl Paper
Family Rub-On
Travel Sticker sheet
Chipboard Shapes
Regency RN Paper Clips

Getaway Dew Drops
Fall Foliage Dew Drops
Large Clear Dew Drops
Victorian Clippies
Butterfly Clippies
metal sign or metal flashing
chain for hanging
glimmer glaze paint
3D crystal lacquer
Helmar 450 glue
Sheet magnet (TIP:  I used a magnetic business card I received in the mail)

I started with a metal sign board I got from my local craft store for 80% off.  You can usually find these with seasonal prints already painted on them.  It does not matter, though, because you are going to cover it with some beautiful Robin's Nest papers.

After removing the hanging chain, I covered the sign with the Family-Glitter Getaway Double-Sided Cardstock using my Helmar 450 glue.  I trimmed the excess paper, then sanded and inked the edges with a rust color ink.  Adding some copper glitter to the edges enhanced the tiny glitter elements in this gorgeous paper.  

I covered one of the oval Chipboard Shapes with Getaway Glitter Stripe paper, edged with rust ink and copper glitter, then adhered to the base with pop dots.  Black glitter alphabet stickers to spell "Memo" were centered on the oval shape, and Fall Foliage Dew Drops were placed decoratively along two sides.

I fussy cut the leaves from the Family-Glitter Getaway Double-Sided Cardstock, edged with gold pen, and painted with a glimmer glaze paint.  Because Robin's Nest papers are so sturdy and keep their shape, even after being painted, I was able to shape and manipulate the leaves to look more three-dimensional and adhere them beneath the "Memo" oval piece.  I love the way these leaves turned out.  They almost look like metal.

I also cut the border strips from the Family-Glitter Getaway Double-Sided Cardstock , edged with gold pen and painted with a glimmer glaze paint.  I glued the strips down on the ends only, leaving the center free.  Then I removed the prongs and added decorative brads to each end of the strips with Helmar 450 glue.  I clipped the Regency RN Paper Clips to the strip so that more notes could be added at any time.  One of the fleur de lis was red, so I covered it with more of that copper glitter I had on hand.  I think it turned out pretty nicely.  I also made two additional magnets by simply gluing a strip of magnet to a Victorian Clippies, and another one to a Butterfly Clippies.

I had so much fun making these magnets to use on the board.  I am partial to rosettes, so I used the Glitter Coffee Creme Swirl Paper to make my rosette, and matched colors by spraying a caramel colored mist over the paper.  I was so pleased with the way it matched the prints in this beautiful paper. Then I added those beautiful dew drops to enhance the center.  Doesn't it look wonderful?  In the picture below, I used a sticker from the Travel Sticker sheet , adhered it to a piece of magnet, and glued a clear, slightly iridescent, flat marble from the craft store on top.

Below is an image I punched from the  German Edlewiess Paper, adhered to the center of a bottle cap, and attached a piece of magnet to the bottom.  I used 3D Crystal Lacquer to the surface.  I used a second circular sticker from the Travel Sticker sheet to make the next magnet shown, glued it to a magnet, and adhered clear teardrop dew drops around a Large Clear Dew Drops.

Here is another close-up of those magnets, and one more I made by punching an oval shape from a scrap of Family-Glitter Getaway Double-Sided Cardstock, adhered the fleur de lis rub-on image from the Family Rub-On sheet, and adhered it to another piece of magnet.  I also coated this piece with a thick layer of 3D Crystal Lacquer.

Oh my goodness, I had so much fun making this project.  The magnet pieces are so addictive, and I just love this paper collection.  And here is a little tip from me:  Each one of these magnets can also be used as embellishments for any of your other projects, i.e., cards, mini albums, page layouts, altered books, etc.  Just glue them to a piece of chipboard for stability and dimension, and you have tons of beautiful little bits of art to add to your projects.

I hope you will stop by The Robin's Nest and check out their collections, and see what is new in the shop.  And beginning today through November 26, you can get 25% off of your purchases during their Black Friday Special this week.  I also hope you have been inspired to make your own memo board with lots of magnets and/or embellishments for other projects.  Thanks so much for stopping by, and I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Barbara