Creepy Critter

Hi Everyone,
 I'm up on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog today. 

 I promise next month I will get back to doing step by step photos for you.  Work has been a bear lately and I have hardly had any time to create.  I wanted to get a bit spooky though.  It's cooling off around here-it's been under 100 degrees at least twice!

To begin cover your Reliquary- Arch Top with a thin layer of gesso.  Then layer on your inks.  It is key to allow time for each layer to dry naturally to achieve the faux marble look. Using your blending foam, apply a layer of Pumice Stone Distress Ink and then add a bit of Espresso Distress Ink.  Spritz these layers with water.  Once they are dry add Distress Oxides in Iced Spruce, Hickory Smoke, and Black Soot.  These are applied one at a time and spritzed with water.  I switched back and forth between using the blending foam and just stamping thep pad directly onto the arch.  Using the pad I was able to get some veins in the marble.
Add your paperdoll and bunny head charm.  Set the piece aside to dry.

Cover the Extra Large Tag with a piece of patterned paper.  Use Distress Oxides in Hickory Smoke and Forest Moss to get the mottled effect.  Edge the tag using Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  Socre the bottom of the tag to create a bend. 

Use the large piece from the Layered Flourish Aria.  Paint the back piece using Tarnished Brass Distress Paint.  Paint the front piece using Sterling Distress Paint.  When the paint is dry pounce on Alcohol ink in Patina, Mushroom, and Latte.  Glue the two pieces together and adhere to the top of the tag.  

Using the same colors of Alcohol INk color your gravemaker and attach to the arch using brads.  Glue the arch to the bottom of the tag.  

Cover the base of the tag with moss and add some skulls and bones.  Paint the Meadow Flowers using Forest Moss DIstress Paint.  Stipple on the same alcohol ink color you used before.  Cut the flowers in half and adhere them to the back of the Reliquary- Arch Top.  

Your creepy masterpiece is complete!

I hope you enjoyed this creepy tutorial.

Jess

Artist Trading Coins

Hi Everyone,

Jess here today.

Have you jumped on the Artist Trading Coin bandwagon yet? They are super fun and quick to make.  Today I will show you how I made a bunch of coins using a single sheet of cardstock.  

Blank Page Muse Stamps Used:

Dress Form Stamps

Hot Air Balloon

Typewriter Keyboard

Sequin Waste

Butterfly

Floral Medallion

Rosette Medallion

Crackle Pattern

Postmark

Jane Austen Profile

Bird

Other Supplies:

Jet Black Archival Ink

Distress Inks

Tim Holtz Chit Chat Stickers

Adhesive

Gel Pens

Circle Punches

Start by stamping your largest images on a sheet of white cardstock. Using masks, made from post it notes, add your smaller images until you have filled the entire sheet.  

Using the two and a half inch punch(this is the ATC size) randomly punch out circles.  

Once you have punched as many circles out as you can go back with smaller circle punches and punch out more.  Use as much of the paper as possible.  

Here's an example of the different size circle punches I used to create the coins.  

Use Distress Ink to add color to your coin.  Flick water to create drips and splatters. 

Don't forget to ink your edges!

Layer your circles together and glue them down.  Don't feel you have to use the entire circle.  Experiment with your layers.  Trim the circles up if you like.  

Add word stickers and highlight areas using gel pens. 

I hope you enjoy and share your coins with us in the fan group.

Jess

Alice in Wonderland

Hi Everyone,
I'm up on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog today with a little Alice in Wonderland inspired project.  I want to apologize for the lack out step out photos here.  Work has been consuming my life as of late and I have barely had any time to do what I love.  I hope my instructions are clear enough for you to follow along. 

 I started with a simple number 10 tag and turned it into a mini album. 
To begin, fold your tag in half.  Cover the spine with washi tape to give it a bit of extra strength.  Cover all pages with bits of Tim Holtz wallpaper and washi tape.  Once all of your paper is adhered give it a white wash using acrylic paint.  Use Distress Crayon in Gathered Twigs to age some areas and all edges.  Splatter some Distress Paint on the background in Vintage Photo to tie it all together.

To make the cover, run your stencil letter(coming soon to the store) through your die cutting machine using the Sizzix 3d embossing folder.  Use Cracked Pistachio Oxide Ink on the raised areas and smudge around with your finger to coat the entire stencil.  Cut a found relative card down to fit behind the stencil letter and adhere using double stick tape. Add a tiny brass clock charm and some spun cotton mushrooms to the bottom corner.  Set the image aside.  Do not glue the image onto the cover yet because you will need to add sari ribbon to hold it closed. 

For the first page, gather various clock faces.  Some of these are vintage, some are paper, and some are charms.  Glue your faces down in a pattern you like and add your mini white Rabbit.  The Rabbit (along with the other silhouettes) was painted black and embossed using Rangers Frosted Crystal Embossing powder.  The result is an awesome matte finish.  Glue your Rabbit to the center of the largest clock face.  Add a word sticker and outline in black.  

What's a Mad Hatter without his tea? This tea cup die has a slit in the top so it was easy to slip in the Mad Hatter once he was embossed.   A bit of bakers twine holds on his hat size.  I distressed this page a bit more than the others by curling back some of the paper.  

Finish the book, but keep your head! The Queen finishes out the little book.  I found lots of Rose ephemera to add to her page, but I wanted to make sure some were not painted the right color.  I love the cowering card in the corner.  

Wrap your ribbon around the entire booklet.  Adhere your stencil onto the front cover and this will hold the ribbon in place.  

I hope you enjoyed our quick trip through Wonderland!

Jess