Merry and Bright Lantern

I'm up on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog today with a Christmas Lantern.

I have to admit I had one idea for this lantern and it turned into something completely different.
I started by assembling the lantern, just to be sure I was doing it correctly and so I would know what I would need to paint.

I disassembled it and started painting.

This is a really heavy duty chipboard and paint doesn't absorb into it like it does with thinner chipboard.  I did not put down a layer of gesso. I just went right in with a thin layer of black acrylic paint.  The entire piece was covered.  Once the black was dry I stippled on metallics.  I used Dina Wakley Paints in Gilt, Ancient, Penny, and Sterling.
To decorate the top I used the snowflake border from the Winter Shape Set.  Two snowflakes fit perfectly on each side of the top.  The snowflakes got a quick coat of silver paint.I wanted to add glitter, but didn't want to deal with using glue to make the snowflakes tacky. I decided to run them through my Xyron sticker maker on the painted side.  I added a clear glitter and had very little mess.
The snowflakes were glued to the top.

Here's where I changed my mind.  I decided I wanted to make this look like an actual lantern and not a winter scene inside the lantern like I had originally planned.  I took plain tissue paper and Tim Holtz's Frosted Film to line the inside of the panels.  Vellum would work too, but I like the frosted film because it gives an icy look and feel.  I did not attach the one side that isn't notched so you can add a flameless candle inside to make it look like a real lantern.

Grit paste with glitter sprinkled on top made the snow on the lantern.  The top was covered with grit paste and my pieces were stuck in while it was still wet.

The santa was colored using acrylic paint and then aged using alcohol inks.  The deer were aged using alcohol ink too.  The berries on his neck are old mercury glass that I colored using alcohol ink.   

The front of the lantern has the Tim Holtz Holiday Wreath that I stuck some extra greeny into and then added some frosted berries.  The big bow is from the fold up bow die.  The bells are from the new ideaology assortment. The sentiment is from the holiday chip quotes. 

This thing is really hard to photograph!

Happy holidays!

Simon Says Stamp Icy Inspiration

A Vintage Journey- Winter Wonderland

Thankful Frame

Hi Everyone,
I'm up on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog today with a super fun and easy Fall decor project.  This project uses two different frames from Gypsy Soul the Flourished Open Circle Frame(Medium) and the Round Grapevine Frame(coming to the store soon).

Cover your frames in Emerald Creek Embossing powder in Charred Gold.

 Line the back of the large frame with paper.  I used Distress Crayons to age the paper .  Glue on your paper doll and give her some pops of color using Distress Markers.

The vintage flowers were dyed using Distress Spray Stain and bundled with ribbon.  Glue on paper flowers,leaves, and sentiment.

  Flick metallic distress paints and black soot distress paint all over the piece.  And just like that you're done!

A perfect little hostess gift. 

Enjoy! 

Jess

Snarky Clipboards

Hi Everyone,
I have joined a new design team.  This is my first project for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  You must check out the blog for some crazy good inspiration.

I created some mini clipboards and they are super easy to make.

I started with my blank clipboard.  They come four to a package and you get the bases, the clips, and the clip cover.

I did a light messy layer of gesso on the base and clip cover.

Once my gesso was dry I started to layer on vintage papers.  I used a whole bunch of random bits.  I can't read dictation, but how perfect is this little bit for this project? I just ripped and layered until I covered the whole board.

I added some scraps of patterned paper, smudged on a bit of acrylic paint, and topped the whole thing off with a layer of collage medium.

Once the collage medium was dried I used Distress Crayons to grunge up the paper.

 The lovely lady was added and her quote.  I stuck these on with collage medium too.

While the collage medium dried I glued my clip to the clip cover.  I painted the clip cover, but decided that wasn't quite working.  Embossing powder was the answer to my problem.
A few scribbles were added around the lady and the quote.  Clipboard complete!

I made a second board using the same technique, but I added some stamps and washi tape to this one.

I hope you enjoyed my first project.  I can't wait to show you what I have up my sleeve for my next post.
Jess

Gypsy Soul Products Used:
mini clipboards

Other Products Used:
Acrylic Paint
Archival Ink-Jet Black
Collage medium
Distress Crayons
Embossing Powder
Gesso
Strong Adhesive
Various patterned papers and vintage papers
Washi Tape

Trick or Treat

Hi Everyone, 

I'm back with more spooky delights.  I am not sure if I've talked too much about what I do for my pay the bills job.  Last year around this time I left the company I had been with for 15 years and moved to a new retail spot.  I am a store manager for a company that makes stuffed animals(yes, I am being intentionally vague here).  I try to keep it fun.  I know that most of the kids that work for me aren't going to be with me forever and for many it's a first job.  I loved my first job.   I want my team to look back on this job and remember it fondly.  This month I challenged them to take home one of the boxes we send our animals home in and transform it into something for Halloween.  We will use them to decorate our break room.  I never ask them to do anything I wouldn't do myself, so here is my take on the project. 

When I started this I had no idea where I wanted to take it, but once I used my Graphic 45 paper for the sides it really took off.  

Doesn't he look happy to see you? And he has a pumpkin for you too. 

There is a metal band that runs all around the top that I painted with a thin layer of black paint to grunge it up a bit.  The border is a Tim Holtz die and it makes a perfect little fence.  

When I glued it down I left gaps and bubbles so I could cram moss in there.  

I don't know if these little kids are frightened by the skeleton or the giant spider.  

Ok, here you can really see the labor of love on this project.  That roof!

I think I put down about a million tiles. 

I have more respect for roofers now.  

Until next time,

Jess

SanDee and amelie' Steampunk Anything goes challenge

Southern Ridge Chipboard- Anything Goes

Guest posting for Emerald Creek Designs

I am so excited to be guest posting for Emerald Creek Designs today.  Emerald Creek is an online store that specializes in embossing powders, stamps, and carries a ton of Ranger product. 

The current challenge they have running is Blast from the Past-Anything Goes. 

 I decided to take a piece I still love, but remake it using Emerald Creek Supplies and see what I could come up with.

Here is the original.  It's very soft and feminine.  I still have it hanging in my craft room.  

I wanted to have the remake be a little bit darker, kind of like her bad big sister. My more recent work has a much looser look.  I am loving splatters and drips.  I have been using my fingers to spread on inks, stains, and paints.  It doesn't look pretty when I have to go out, but it sure is fun.  

Her wings are so cool.  I used the Charred Gold embossing powder and this stuff rocks.  It's super chunky and you can layer it on really thick.  It moves around so you can create drips and waves. 

The flowers have some sprinkled in the centers too.  Some of the petals were dipped in the Soft Fallen Snow Embossing powder for an added layer.  The leaves were embossed with Vintage Ivy. The bottom corner has some Hammered Metal to mimic the metal corner I used in the original piece.  

Here's one more close up.  I hope you liked my redo.  

What have you been crafting? 

Jess

Emerald Creek Supplies I used:
Hammered Metal Embossing Powder
Charred Gold Embossing Powder
Soft Fallen Snow Embossing Powder
Vintage Ivy Embossing Powder
Sea Chest Stamp

Other products available on Emerald Creek:

Mowed Lawn Distress Stain
Broken China Distress Stain
Salty Ocean Distress Stain
Crushed Olive Distress Stain
Mowed Lawn Distress Ink
Broken China Distress Ink
Salty Ocean Distress Ink
Crushed Olive Distress Ink
Peacock Feathers Distress Crayon
Mermaid Lagoon Distress Crayon
Twisted Citron Distress Crayon
Black Soot Distress Crayon
Tim Holtz Craftcore Cardstock
Distress Markers

Other Products:

Sizzix Layered Wing Die
Sizzix Tattered Pinecone Die
Sizzix Tiny Tattered Floral Die
Cabinet Card
Found Relative Card
Archival Ink
Tissue Wrap
Acrylic Paint
Fude Ball Pen
Canvas Panel
EZ Steam II
Paper flowers
Foam Tape
Double Stick Tape
Hot glue

Altered Matchbook

Over the weekend I posted a sneak peek of this before I had my blog post ready to go.
Wow! I got a crazy response to this little matchbook when I posted it on Facebook and Instagram. Please excuse the wiggly camera.  I was shooting it myself and I also had terribly chippy nails I was trying to keep out of the shot.  

I followed this amazingly simple tutorial to make mine.  

Here are some better photos of my little matchbook!

I used manila to make my base and covered it with Distress Inks. Black acrylic ink was pounced through my stencil to complete the back.  The little book is just a light weight cardstock folded according to the tutorial instructions.  

All of the ladies are from Art Chix Studios.  

I hope you enjoy seeing some closer looks!

Jess

Creative Carte Blanche Blossoms and Book Pages

More Mixed Media Challenge Anything Goes

Guest Posting on Our Creative Corner

I am so excited to be guest posting over at  Our Creative Corner today! My mermaids won their Return of the Challenge challenge.  Here is the project I created for them.  Please pop over and check it out there too.

I started by using my gelli plate, stencils, and acrylic paint to make my background on a canvas tag.

My focal image is from the Tim Holtz Winged Things stamp set.  The little fairy is colored using Distress Inks and Crayons.

 I made the tiny tattered floral flowers and branches using the tissue paper and collage medium technique I showed a couple posts back.

Once they were dry I ran them through my die cutting machine and added some bling to the flowers.
I stamped on the tag using Archival ink and used white acrylic paint to highlight areas.  Black Soot Distress Crayon darkened up the stitching around the tag.  I also scribbled with my black Fude ball pen around the fairy and the sentiment.

What have you been crafting?

Jess