Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Shabby Chic Mask Tutorial

Hi everyone!  Barbara Rankin here on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog.  Today, I want to share this pretty, shabby chic mask using the Masks Shape Set,  along with Prima's new Lavender paper, and lots of lace and trims.

Trim a piece of 12"x12" paper to 7-3/4" x 12".  I used the mask shapes to get this measurement.

Run paper, right side up, through Xyron Creative Station.

Place paper with sticky side up.  This paper is double sided, so the script you see in the photo is actually the sticky side now.  Lay right side of each mask onto sticky side of paper.

Trim excess paper around each mask and cut out inside eye holes.  Repeat process to cover back of each mask with solid purple card stock.

Run purple card stock through Xyron Creative Station.

Adhere back of each mask to sticky side of cardstock.  Trim excess paper and cut out area inside the eye holes.  If needed, you can use sand paper, an emery board, or sanding tool, like the one shown, to smooth any rough edges.

Choose three feathery flourishes and the smallest star medallion from each set.  Ink with Versamark ink and heat emboss each piece with Charred Gold embossing powder first.  Reheat the embossing powder and while embossing powder is still hot, randomly sprinkle a small amount of Queen's Gold embossing powder and quickly reheat until melted.  Repeat process for back of each piece.  You only need to cover the parts of these pieces that might extend past the mask and be seen from the back.

Adhere pieces to each mask, as shown.  The star medallion is centered and attached to the top mask, while the flourishes are adhered to the bottom mask, just above where the top mask will sit.

Cut a piece of 4" long white fringe to 13".  Place onto a craft mat and spray with water first,  Then spray both Shaded Lilac and Spun Sugar Distress Spray Stains over the fringe.  Spray more water to help the colors lighten as well as blend.  Allow the fringe to dry.  It will dry to a lighter color.  Then cut off any excess trim.

Glue purple trim around bottom mask, as shown.   I also outlined the eye openings on the bottom mask with the gold Krylon pen, as shown. 

When the top mask is placed over  the bottom mask, you will be able to see the gold outline around the eyes, as shown below.  

However, before we glue the two masks together, let's finish the top mask.  Glue purple trim around the edges of the top mask.  When glue dries, cut off any excess trim.

Next, glue a line of flat back pearl trim centered over purple trim. 

Cut two dangle daisy pieces from dangle daisy trim.  Lay onto craft mat and spray with Ranger Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist.  Then dab ColourArte Solar Gold onto each piece.  Let dry.

Glue dangle daisy trim piece to each side of top mask, as shown. 

Spread a thick bead of fast grab tacky glue along outer edge of bottom mask, as shown.  Let set for a minute or two.  Gently curve upper mask, and have a few clamps nearby and ready to use.

Align both top and bottom masks together and clamp along edges until glue dries. 

You may need to insert something between the two masks to keep the upper mask curved.  I used an extra clamp and shoved it between them.  Let the masks sit until the glue is dry.

Next, I inserted and glued small white feathers between the feathery flourishes to soften the top edges.  I glued matching gold buttons to the two daisy dangles and start medallion, as shown.  You may need to cut the shank off of the buttons before glueing them down.

Now, we need to add a handle.  I painted a 12" dowel that is 1/4' wide with  pearl paint.  You may need two coats for good coverage.  If you are right handed, you will want the handle to be on the left side of the mask so that when you are holding the mask, your right hand is free to use.  If you are left-handed, then place the handle on the right side of the mask. 

Use a good glue to attach the handle to the back of the mask, and cover the top of the handle with a small piece of the solid purple card stock to help keep the handle in place.

Here are a few closeups for you.  

Supplies Used:

GSL Masks Shape Set
GSL Star Medallions
GSL Feathery Flourishes Set
Lavender paper collection (Prima)
Coordinating purple card stock
Lumiere Pearl White paint
Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stains (Shaded Lilac, Spun Sugar)
Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist (Heirloom Gold)
ColourArt Radiant Rain Solar Gold Dauber
Krylon 18kt. Gold Leafing Pen
Embossing Powders
  Charred Gold (Emerald Creek)
  Queen's Gold (Ranger)
Xyron Creative Station
E-6000 Fabri-Fuse fabric glue
Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Various ribbons, lace, trims, buttons, and embellishments
Diamond gemstones (Paper Studio)
Small Clamps
12" wooden dowel (1/4" wide)

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to check out the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts online store to see more of the fabulous laser cuts available for all your art needs.

Have a wonderful, crafty day!

Barbara

Valentine's Day Cards with Altered Pages

Hello everyone, and happy Monday.  Today, I want to share a couple of Valentine's cards with you. Did you know that Altered Pages has a huge selection of collage images that are perfect for Valentine's Day?  And each sheet contains so many different images that will help you create the perfect cards.

Let's get started with Card 1.

Card 1

Cut Red Cardstock to 9"x 6" and fold in half to make a 41/2" x 6 inch card.

Cut brown print paper  to 4-1/2" x 6" and emboss with an embossing folder.  Distress edges, and hit high spots with Jasmine, then Schoolhouse Red Mixed Media ink pads.  Dry ink with a heat tool.

Adhere to card front.

Delaminate a piece of Mica.   It is very easy to do.  Just slip the blade of a craft knife (or your fingernail) between layers and start peeling.   I was fortunate to find this piece in my package that resembled a funky heart shape, so I used it.  However, mica cuts easily with scissors, so just cut any heart shape you want.

Emboss the piece of delaminated Mica with an embossing folder.  I used one with cracks on it.  Look how the embossing has brought out this silvery reflection.  It really is amazing stuff.

Adhere it to the floral print paper with a thin coat of 3D Crystal Lacquer.  Trim excess paper.

Ink edges with Leather Mixed Media ink pad. 

Layer pieces as shown in the photo of the finished card above.  Punch a strip of red card stock with decorative punch and adhered along left side of card.  Add a bingo card beneath the mica heart.  (Check out the bingo cards selection here.)  I also fussy cut the little angel from one of the heart images and adhered to the top of the mica piece.  

I colored a 12" piece of Dyeable Seam Binding with a Faber-Castell red Gelato and water and let it dry before making a bow and adding it to the bottom portion of the card.  One last element was needed, the Proud Arrow was glued over the mica heart.

Card 2

Cut Red Cardstock to 9"x 6" and fold in half to make a 41/2" x 6 inch card.

Cut a piece of dark pink and pink stripe paper and glue together, cut to measure 4-1/2" x 6" before distressing the edges.  Adhere to card front.

Cut a square of light pink paper, distress edges and adhere to card front.  Cut a smaller square of Adhesive Corrugate paper (Kraft), distress right edge and adhere to card front, offsetting a bit, as shown.

Cut a Serviette Paper in half and using a Scor Pal, score every quarter inch, as shown.  Accordion fold along the score lines.  

Pinch bottom of serviette and staple ends together to form a fan shape.  Adhere to card front, as shown.

Fussy cut Heart with Cherub image and adhere over accordion folded serviette.

Make a bow with a length of Dyeable Seam Binding and add to bottom of card.  Stamp sentiment onto a scrap of ivory card with Schoolhouse Red Mixed Media Inkx and dry with heat tool. Punch corners with decorative punch and adhere to card next to the ribbon.

Lastly, cut apart five flowers from the Floral Trim and glue them above the fan shape, as shown.

Altered Pages Supplies:     
To Thy Own Self Be True collage sheet
Red Cardstock
More Glitz 6x6 Paper Pads (Hello December)
6x6 Glitz Paper Pads  (Pretty in Pink)
Adhesive Corrugate paper (Kraft)
Mixed Media Salazar Inkx (Jasmine, Schoolhouse Red, Leather)
Faber-Castell Gelatos (red)
Serviette Papers
Dyeable Seam Binding
Proud Arrows
Mica chips Natural
3D Crystal Lacquer
Scor Pal
Floral Trim
Aleene's Tacky Glue

Glue Stick
Adhesive Dimensionals
Double Side Tape Mini

Other supplies used:
Diamond Fence Trim punch (Martha Stewart)
Ivory card stock
Rubber Stamp (sentiment)
Embossing folders

I love the look of shabby chic, can you tell?  There is something about those worn edges on the paper layers that really excites me.  I think it is the texture, and I am all about texture and dimension.

I hope my project today has inspired you a bit and perhaps given you some ideas for you to try yourself.  Be sure to stop by the Altered Pages blog regularly for daily inspiration for the fantabulous design team.  

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

Barbara

Art Journal: Christmas Butterflies with ColourArte

Hi all!  Barbara here with another project for the ColourArte design team.  I thought I would work in my art journal today.  I love quotes, and sometimes, well, most of the time, that is my inspiration for a project.  Today's inspiration is...

"Snowflakes are Winter's butterflies!"

Spread white crackle paste through holly stencil on lower right and lower left of each art journal page.   Let dry.

Spread light molding paste through festive stencil at top right of page.  

Reverse stencil and do the same at top left.  Use post-it notes (or tape) to cover areas of the stencil you do not want to use.  Let dry.

Your pages should look something like this.  I later added another holly berry stem at the lower center of the page for balance.

Spread light molding paste through flurries stencil randomly in the open areas of the pages.  Let dry.

Randomly paint splotches of white gesso over background, let dry.

Dab Radiant Rains Daubers in Mediterranean Blue and Nutmeg over journal pages.  

Spritz with water and move colors around with a paint brush, adding and blending colors until you like the background.  I used a heat tool to dry the colors as I worked.

Paint stenciled fir branches, holly, and berries with Silks Moss Green, Emerald, and Coral Berry, respectively.  Paint pinecones, branches and stems with Silks Chestnut Brown, let dry.  I realigned the stencil over the paste to help keep the paint where I wanted it.

I painted the holly, berries and stems with the same colors as used above.  

These pages look lighter than the photos of the finished project because I continued to dab the Radiant Rains Daubers in Mediterranean Blue and Nutmeg with lots of water over the background as I worked in the book. The Radiant Rains daubers are waterbased, highly pigmented colors and make beautiful watercolor washes.   The Silks Acrylic Glazes dry permanent, so I can continue to add water based washes over my background without disturbing the botanicals that I painstakingly (not really) colored. 

Stamp script stamp around page with black archival ink so it would dry permanently and allow be to continue adding washes of color.

I added white gesso over the stenciled snowflakes to bring them out more and give a bit of a shabby chic look.

I also wanted to bring more of the coral color used on the berries into the background, so I simply used my finger to dab the Silks Coral Berry onto a clear stamp and randomly stamped around the background.  

In the photo below, you can see the snowflakes coming to life, and the bits of coral color showing up.

Die cut three butterflies from grunge paper, emboss each with matching embossing folder.  

Paint both sides of each butterfly with white gesso, let dry.  Paint both sides of each butterfly with Silks Oyster, let dry.

Add Silks Coral Berry to a makeup sponge and color each butterfly.  Do not blend the color.  Add Radiant Rains Egyptian Gold dabber to makeup sponge and blend over the butterflies, let dry.  

Use Tree Branch archival ink to highlight the embossing on each butterfly, then use a makeup sponge to pick up black archival ink and add shading around the edges.  You can see how this effect turned out in the close up photos below.

Use fingertip to dab Silks Coral Berry over Prima clear stamp and stamp image randomly over background.  This will help solidify the colors on the butterflies.

Glue centers of butterflies to the pages, with a pop dot beneath each wing to give them a proper lift.

Glue a plastic snowflake button to the center of each butterfly and add a bit of the Radiant Rains Dauber color in Mediterranean Blue and Nutmeg, just enough to knock down the bright white.

Print sentiment onto parchment paper.  Cut words apart, distress edges, and adhere to journal pages.

And here are a few closeups of the finished pages.

ColourArte Supplies used:  

Radiant Rains Daubers:  Mediterranean Blue, Nutmeg, Egyptian Gold

Silks Acrylic Glaze:  Moss Green, Emerald, Coral Berry, Chestnut Brown

Other Supplies used:

The Crafter's Workshop TCW164s mini Flurries

Tim Holtz THS029 Festive Layering Stencil

Tim Holtz THS015 Holly Bough Layering Stencil

Tim Holtz grunge paper

Cuttlebug Cut & Emboss die:  Butterfly 

Paper Artsy (Ink the Dog) Clocks 1 Rubber Stamp set (script)

Prima 960902 clear stamp

Golden Light Molding Paste

DecoArt White Crackle Paste

Liquitex white gesso

Ranger Archival black ink 

Thanks so much for hanging in there with me.  I do hope you enjoyed the project, and that you are inspired by how easy the ColourArte paints are to use.  They blend beautifully, and rather than making "mud", they simply make another color.  How cool is that?

One more thing before I sign off, and that is to let you know that today is SCAVENGER HUNT DAY!  Be sure to check the ColourArte Facebook page for more information and your chance to win some fabulous ColourArte products!

Have a wonderful  and creative week!

Barbara