Artfully Musing: July 2012

Monday, July 30, 2012

The Magician Tarot Card Designed For Alpha Stamps

This is the third of four tarot cards I designed as an inspiration piece for the Alpha Stamps "Gypsy Fortune Teller Swap”. The base of the card is made from a chipboard pennant which measures 4” x 6”. The magic stick is made from a wooden skewer.

On the back, I added the explanation for the card.

Alpha Stamps Products Used in This Piece

Weekend Market 6 x 6 Paper Pad

Concertina Chipboard Pennants

Vintage Gents Collage Sheet

Mini Playing Cards

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Christmas in July Bookshelf and Mini Albums - Designed for Alpha Stamps

Let’s take a short break from gypsies with “Christmas in July”! It’s never too soon to start thinking about your Christmas projects. Here’s a project that could be used as a festive piece of art to display during the season or as a gift for a loved one. I’ve decorated the sample for Christmas, but it could be used for any theme. The Mini Album Bookshelf with books is made from an easy to assemble Masonite kit. The assembled bookshelf is approximately 9 1/4 “ high (without the embellishments you see in the sample above).

The bookshelf holds several mini albums depending on the thickness of each album. The albums are also made of Masonite and come in packages of 3 albums.

Below are some tips on assembling and decorating the bookshelf and mini albums and a supply list.

Decorating and Assembling the Bookshelf

Before I started decorating the bookshelf I figured out how it was assembled. Familiarizing yourself with the assembly helps when deciding where you want different pattern paper to go and to make sure it’s on the side you want and going in the direction you want.

You’ll also want to do as much decorating as you can before assembling the bookshelf, as it is much harder to decorate once the piece is assembled. I painted, added all of the paper and borders before assembly.
I started by painting what will be the visible edges of the bookshelf red and the pages of the mini albums green.

Next, I glued paper on all of the visible surfaces of the bookshelf. I used an X-acto knife and sandpaper to trim the paper from the edges.
If you use paper to cover the surfaces you will need to reopen the holes used to assemble the bookshelf. Reopen the holes on the inside of the pieces not the outside so that the outside paper hides the construction.
To give the piece a more vintage look and to cover the white edge of the paper I used Ranger Distress Ink (Brown Corduroy) on the edges of the paper.
I added Visions of Christmas Foiled Die-Cut Cardstock Borders to the outside and inside of the pieces. I love these borders. Some of the patterns can be used for non-Christmas projects.

I glued the bookshelf pieces together.
For feet I bent Brass Filigree Corners and attached them to the bookshelf using E-6000 glue. You need to use a strong glue to support the weight of the bookshelf. I also used tiny brass nails to add extra support to the feet.

Next, I added collage sheet images and other decorative embellishments to the outside of the bookshelf and trimmed the edges with Dresden borders.

To create the wreath at the top, I cut the center out of a plastic lid so just the edge remained. I then wrapped the edge with gold, red and silver tinsel. And of course added lots of embellishments. I glued the wreath to the bookshelf with E-6000 glue.

Decorating and Assembling the Books

The mini album pages come in a sheet. I broke the sheets apart, clipped the tabs off with a pair of sturdy scissors and then used sandpaper to file away the excess.

There are different ways you can assemble the album pages. You could use paper to create an accordion fold album or you could glue the pages to a spine (which is what I did).
If you are going to glue the pages to a spine you need to decorate the pages first and stick to flat embellishments (paint, paper, rub-ons stamping etc.). Whatever you add will create bulk. If you attach the spine before decorating the pages the book won’t close.

I covered each page back and front with decorative paper. I inked and embellished the inside pages.
I cut a piece of paper to act as the spine.
I glued the front page to the spine paper.
Next, I glued just the edge of the two inside pages to the spine. I used E-6000 glue as you need to have a strong bond between the Masonite pages and the paper spine so that when you open the book the pages won’t separate from the spine. Alternatively you could use fabric tape (bookbinding tape) as a spine.
I glued the back page to the spine paper.
Lastly, I decorated the covers of the albums and the spines.

Book Covers

Spines

Inside Pages

Alpha Stamps entire line of Christmas collage sheets are on sale plus all of the Christmas paper. This includes the collage sheets and papers I used in this project. Some of the embellishments I used are also on sale.

Alpha Stamps Products Used in This Piece

Mini Album Bookshelf

Mini Albums

Festive 6x6 Paper Pad

Joyeux Noel 6x6 Paper Pad

Brass Filigree Corners – Bookshelf Feet

Visions of Christmas Foiled Die-Cut Cardstock Borders – Bookshelf & Wreath

Tinsel (Gold/Silver/Red) - Wreath

Brass Snowflake Charms Wreath

Large Brass Snowflake with Hole - Wreath

Gift Box Buttons - Wreath

Christmas Filigree Set – Wreath / Bookshelf

Red Sheer Dots Ribbon (Red/Green) - Wreath

Metallic Stickers – Fans – Gold & Silver – Bookshelf

Metallic Stickers – Vines – Gold – Bookshelf

Metallic Stickers – Deco Bars (Gold) - Books

Gold Mini Rosette Dresden Borders Bookshelf and Books

Gold Zig Zag Dresden Borders – Mini Album

Cameo Frames: Ovals – Mini Album

Small Dresden Oval Frames – Mini Album

Red Round Beads with Brass Loop – Mini Album

4mm Silk Ribbon – Dark Moss - Mini Album

Collage Sheets

Victorian Umbrella Kids

Santa and Children

Santa’s Toys

Winter Kids

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Pretty Potions and Poisons Apothecary Event September 2012

It's time to wave your wands (or glue sticks) and start building your own potions and poisons apothecary. Whether your style is cute, pretty, spooky, gothic, creepy and crawly; all takes on Halloween are welcome here! This event is all about having fun with Halloween and creating something that you will enjoy displaying during this spooktacular season. So turn on your favorite Halloween tunes and get your witchy grove on.

I’m also excited to announce, that as part of this event I’ve created a series of apothecary collage sheets for purchase.

NOTE

As of 1/13/18 Create for Less online store is carrying a 7 1/2" x 5" x 3" box that would work perfectly for this project. You would need to purchase 4. if you want the link to the product, email me using the "Email Me" button in the right side column of my blog or post a comment on the YouTube video.

ASSEMBLING and DECORATING THE CABINET

This haunted journey starts with viewing the tutorial below which covers assembling and decorating an apothecary cabinet. Once you finish the first video you'll want to continue on to the others which cover altering bottles and tins, making books, decorating coffins and cauldrons.

Video Tutorial #1– Assembling and Decorating the Apothecary Cabinet

FREE IMAGES

Feel free to download the images below and use them in your art.

The haunted journey continues with viewing the second tutorial in the series which covers altering bottles and tins.

Video Tutorial #2– Altering Bottles and Tins

I’ve broken this tutorial into two pieces so be sure to watch them both.

Part One of Two

Part Two of Two

FREE IMAGES

Feel free to download the images below and use them in your art.

Witches Hat Template

The haunted journey continues with viewing the third tutorial in the series which covers creating books, decorating cauldrons and coffins. You don’t need to be experienced in bookbinding to make the simple and fun books I’ll be demonstrating.

Video Tutorial #3– Books, Coffins, and Cauldrons

Monday, July 23, 2012

The Moon Tarot Card Designed For Alpha Stamps

This is the second of four tarot cards I designed as an inspiration piece for the Alpha Stamps Gypsy Fortune Teller Swap”. The base of the card is made from a chipboard pennant which measures 4” x 6”.

The moon at the top is covered with various rhinestones and pearls.

On the back, I added the explanation for the card.

Alpha Stamps Products Used in This Piece

Weekend Market 6 x 6 Paper Pad

Concertina Chipboard Pendants

Man in the Moon – Raw Brass

Cleo #1 Collage Sheet

Yellow Gold Beaded Fringe

Iridescent Star Mix

Iridescent Moon Mix

Mini Chandelier Crystals

Brass Halo

Friday, July 20, 2012

Gypsy Caravan Designed For Alpha Stamps

Whenever I get a new assignment from Alpha Stamps I like to create at least one over the top piece. This time it’s a gypsy caravan. The frame is built with the Concertina Chipboard Pennants. The overall dimensions of the piece are 6" wide by 11" tall (that includes the moon topper). I thought the curve at the top and bottom pennants was an interesting shape for the caravan. I used the pennants for everything but the roof. At the bottom of the post you’ll find a complete list of the products I used.
The picture above is of the back of the caravan. I used stars, moons and beads to create the beaded curtain. The steps are made from dollhouse shutters attached to pieces of swirled chipboard.

SIDE ONE

The square piece is a Phases of the Moon Rubber Stamp that I stamped in paper clay and once the piece was dry I colorized it with various colors of guilders paste.

SIDE TWO

I used two different beaded trims to accent the sides.

BACK
The doors are made from dollhouse shutters.

TOP PIECE

I used a bead cap to mount the top piece on the roof. The jeweled moon and silver ring are floating in the middle of the clock.

Side That Opens

One of the sides is hinged and opens to reveal a gypsy fortune teller. There is a small latch under the roofline that keeps the side closed.

To the inside I attached pillows and a rug made of paper and cotton balls. When the side closes they fold up into the caravan.

Inside, the gypsy sits behind her table with lace, fabric and lanterns made of beads hanging from a false ceiling that is under the roof.

Here is a picture of the table before I glued it into the caravan. I used bead caps for the candlesticks and the crystal ball (a marble). The candles are wooden skewers. The tarot cards you see on the table are small versions of ATCs that I made a few years ago. I thought it was fun to use my art as a prop for another piece of art.

Alpha Stamps Products Used in the Piece

Concertina Chipboard Pennants

Gypsy Sisters 6x6 Paper Pad

Celestial Stickers - Top Piece

Antique Wood Clocks - Top Piece

Gilders Paste - Patina – Clay Piece on Side / Moon on Front / Sun on Back

Gilders Paste - Black – Clay Piece on side

Gilders Paste - Copper - Clay piece on side

Metallic Stickers – Bows & Vines - Sides

Cranberry Alcohol Ink- Railing on Front

DRESDEN

Gold Tassels Dresden Borders - Pillows

Half-Round Dresden Borders - Pink - Pillows

BEADS/CHAINS/FRINGE

Wine Beaded Fringe- Roof Fringe

Yellow Gold Beaded Fringe – Roof Fringe

Amber Gypsy Bead Mix in Bottle – Beaded Curtain

Coin Fringe - Side

Large Fancy Oval Beads- Lantern Inside

Iridescent Moon Mix – Beaded Curtain

Iridescent Star Mix- Beaded Curtain / Top Piece

Rosary Chain - Garnet – Table inside

Mini Chandelier Crystals- Table Inside

Mauve/Red Bead Mix – Beaded Curtain / Pillows

Violet Gypsy Bead Mix in Bottle- Beaded Curtain

Lavender/Pink Bead Mix – Beaded Curtain

COLLAGE SHEETS & RUBBER STAMPS

Phases of the Moon – Rubber Stamp

Gypsy Fortune Teller #1 Collage Sheet

Gypsy Fortune Teller #2 Collage Sheet

Gypsy Beauty Collage Sheet

Gypsies Tramps & Thieves Collage Sheet

Talisman Collage Sheet

BRASS & METAL

Small Square Brass Hinges - Used to Hinge the Side That Drops Down

Tiny Faux Ring Handles– Front Door

Brass Halo– Top Piece

Large Game Spinners– Top Piece

Man in the Moon – Raw Brass – Over Front Door

Fancy Star Bead Caps– Candlesticks and Lanterns on the Back

Fancy Swirl Bead Caps– Crystal Ball and Top Piece

Gypsy Coin Mix– Table Inside

Stay tuned as there is a lot more of my gypsy art in your future!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

The Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card – Designed for Alpha Stamps

The Gypsy’s have come to Alpha Stamps and they are one of my favorite subjects! As you can imagine I was so tickled when I found out that they were our next theme. I’ve been super busy over the last few weeks creating tons of gypsy themed art. I’ll be posting the pieces throughout the rest of July and into August.

This first piece is the tarot card “The Wheel of Fortune”. The base of the card is made from a chipboard pennant which measures 4” x 6”. On the back, I added the explanation for the card. The background papers I used for this piece and several other pieces is the yummy Weekend Market 6” x 6” paper pad that is full of rich vintage colors and images.