WELCOME TO ATLANTIS - TRIPTYCH & FAUX BOOK - NEW IMAGE SETS

I have two projects for you depicting a lost world beneath the sea (Atlantis), where the merpeople and sea creatures have adapted and integrated the materials and technology to suit their needs.  

The inspiration for these projects came from the Sea World Paper pictured below.  This is one of the most beautiful and whimsical paper sets I’ve seen in a long time.  I love the merging of Steampunk with sea creatures, which then inspired me to create two new collage sheets along the same vein, which are “Welcome to Atlantis 1 & 2” and other complimentary sheets containing seashells, coral, seaweed, and fish.

Further down in the post, I cover how I put these pieces together and the techniques I used to alter Steampunk and sea-themed chipboard shape sets.

WELCOME TO ATLANTIS #1 COLLAGE SHEET

These sheets contain whimsical steampunkish sea creatures I imagined a lost world beneath the sea (Atlantis) where the merpeople and sea creatures have adapted and integrated the materials and technology to suit their needs.  The scale of these images works well with my Mermaid Gardens and other sea-themed collage sheets and digital image sets.  

To purchase this sheet, click on the image below.

WELCOME TO ATLANTIS #2 COLLAGE SHEET

To purchase this sheet, click on the image below.

COLORFUL FISH COLLAGE SHEET

This sheet contains 48 unique colorful fish.  The scale of the fish works well with my Mermaid Gardens, Welcome to Atlantis, and other sea-themed collage sheets. 

To purchase this sheet, click on the image below.

SEASHELLS COLLAGE SHEET

This sheet contains 42 unique shells with 2 sizes of each for a total of 84 images.  The scale of the seashells works well with my Mermaid Gardens, Welcome to Atlantis, and other sea-themed collage sheets and digital image sets.

To purchase this sheet, click on the image below.

CORAL & SEAWEED COLLAGE SHEET

This sheet contains 22 unique coral and seaweed images.  The scale of the coral and seaweed works well with my Mermaid Gardens, Welcome to Atlantis, and other sea-themed collage sheets.

To purchase this sheet, click on the image below.

THE DETAILS - TRIPTYCH

The triptych is constructed using three chipboard frames.  To connect them and make them stand, I trimmed some of the scroll work from the bottom of the frames and from the sides of the frames.

I painted the frames with copper-colored paint and then used Distressed Ink to add touches of teal.

I backed the frames with paper from the 8x8 Sea World paper pack and used images from my Mini Hardware Collage Sheet to attach the frames to each other.

 

I started adding background components which were a combination of images from the collage sheets and chipboard seaweed.

To add color to the seaweed, I painted them with metallic paint and then rubbed them with Distress Ink for additional color.

Next, I added the focal point images (mermaids and a sea horse). 

To add more dimension to the seahorse, I added a chipboard propeller and metal gear.  On many of the images, I added Glossy Accents to add dimension.  

At the top of the center frame, I added a chipboard clock and compass. 

I then added more images on top of and around the focal point images.

Click here to jump to the complete supply list for the Triptych at AlphaStamps

DETAIL SUPPLY LIST - FRAMED TRIPTYCH

Welcome to Atlantis #1 Collage Sheet

Welcome to Atlantis #2 Collage Sheet

Colorful Fish Collage Sheet

Seashells Collage Sheet

Coral & Seaweed Collage Sheet

Mini Hardware Collage Sheet

Sea World 8x8 Paper Pad

Elegant Chipboard Frame

Coral Chipboard Set – 4 Pieces

Chipboard Tall Seaweed Silhouettes

Deep Sea Shape Set

Steampunk Gears Chipboard Set

Metal Gear Mix

Enameled Seashell Charm Mix – Set of 3

Large Patina Anchor Charm

 THE DETAILS - FAUX BOOK

I started with a faux book I purchased some years back at a craft store.  The colors worked great with the papers. So, I didn’t need to paint or paper the edges or spine.

I started by papering the outside (except the spine) and inside using Sea World Paper.  As I was using 8x8 paper and the surfaces of the book were larger, I cut up and pieced the paper with the designs I liked.

For this project, I used chipboard and wood gears to embellish both the paper pad images and the collage sheet images.  To make them look rusted, I added glue and then sand from my yard.  The sand makes it look more like it is rusting, bubbling up, and flaking pieces of iron.

Next, I painted the gears with a flat dark orange color; then, to give them more dimension, I applied a small amount of bronze paint to various areas on the gears (don’t cover all of the oranges).

I used the same coloring techniques for the seaweed and coral that I did for the triptych, but I also used clump foliage to add more dimension.  I started by painting one side of the chipboard.  Next, I tore the foliage into smaller pieces.  I applied glue to the painted side and then pressed the chipboard into the foliage.  Once dry, I used scissors to cut away the access foliage.

Below you can see how I used various gears (chipboard, wood, and metal) plus clock hands to embellish the paper image.

For the chipboard turtle, I added blobs of paint and, when dry, painted over the blobs of paint with a gold color paint, which is how I achieved the bumpy texture.  I added a chipboard key, a clock part from my stash, and then metal gears.  To the face, I added a bronze anchor.

To the image of the submarine, chipboard and metal gears and a steampunk sea creature attaches themselves to the front of the sub.

The architectural pieces seen in the picture below, which help to give the scene structure, are from my MermaidGardens Digital Image Set.

Below you’ll find the “Welcome to Atlantis” sign I used on the front cover.

FREE IMAGE

Feel free to download the image below and use it in your artwork.

Click here to jump to the complete supply list for the Faux Book at AlphaStamps.

DETAIL SUPPLY LIST – WELCOME TO ATLANTIC FAUX BOOK

Welcome to Atlantis #1 Collage Sheet

Welcome to Atlantis #2 Collage Sheet

Colorful Fish Collage Sheet

Seashells Collage Sheet

Coral & Seaweed Collage Sheet

Mermaid Gardens Download Set

Sea World 8x8 Paper Pad

Chipboard Shorter Seaweed Silhouettes

Chipboard Tall Seaweed Silhouettes

Deep Sea Shape Set

Steampunk Gears Chipboard Set

Flourish Sea Turtles

Anchor, Starfish & Fishnet Medley

Coral Chipboard Set – 4 Pieces

Metal Gear Mix

Wooden Gear Mix

Bronze Anchor Charm

Clump Foliage – Fall Mix

Teal Glitter

Large Patina Starfish Charm

MERMAID DRESSING TABLE with an OCTOPUS BASE

This project is inspired by an easy-to-assemble chipboard Gothic Mirror with a Drawer pictured below.

I wanted to do something unexpected, so I thought it would be fun to come up with a dressing table that a mermaid might have.  I imagined the table decorated with treasures from the sea. The mirror needed a base with legs, and what has legs in the sea; an octopus (something I just learned).  The back two tentacles are used as legs to walk on the ocean floor.  

The iridescent patina is created by using Prima’s new Metallique & Opal Magic waxes.

For the table, I created mermaid versions of what you might find on a dressing table; a crown, hand mirror, jewel box, and a portrait of her partner.

Further down in the detail area of the post, I cover how to build the octopus base using paper clay.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OF MY MERMAID AND BEACH THEMED COLLAGE SHEETS & DIGITAL IMAGE SETS AT ETSY

THE DETAILS

I started by assembling the drawer and mirror supports.  In the picture below, you can see how they fit together.

Next, I painted the pieces black as the waxes show best in dark colors. The lighter waxes give the piece a delicate colored sheen in lighter colors.   On darker colors, more of the wax's colors pop.

I then traced the outside and inside dimensions of the mirror on a piece of paper.  This is to ensure that I don’t add embellishments that make it impossible to attach the mirror to the mirror supports.

Next, I laid out some large pieces (coral chipboard and brass mermaid) around the mirror. 

I painted the chipboard coral using various colors of Liquid Pearls paint and glued them to the mirror frame.  I also attached the mermaid to the top of the frame.

NOTE:  I filled the bottom part of the back of the mermaid’s tail with Glossy Accents until the glue was flush with the brass.  This gave me a large surface with which to attach the mermaid to the frame.

I continued adding more embellishments, such as seashells and fish. 

Next, I painted all of the added embellishments black, careful not to paint the exposed chipboard coral.

Using my finger, I began rubbing the darker waxes (Rich Copper & Bronze Age) onto the black areas.  Next, I added lighter colors (Turquoise, Satin & Green Brocade).

I then added more embellishments, such as a brass seahorse painted with Liquid Pearls, seashell sequins, brass seashells, and pearls.  I added clear micro beads to the chipboard coral for texture and sparkle.

This is one of those patinas that are difficult to fully appreciate in a flat photo.  The colors are much more visible as the object is moved.

The last thing I added to the mirror was non-breakable mirror material.  It’s made of plexiglass and looks like real mirror glass, and is easy to cut.  Just peel off the protective coating before attaching it to the back of the mirror frame.

I also rubbed the waxes on the drawer and mirror supports.  I added shells to the front of the drawer and used two octopus beads as pulls.

THE OCTOPUS BASE

I started by shaping the head out of paper clay.  I looked at pictures of various octopuses to come up with the shape.

Next, I shaped legs out of paper clay.  I need a way to bend and control the shape of the legs as they dried, so I rolled out sections of clay, pressed a thin piece of wire into the clay, and then rolled the clay into a leg.

You’ll need to make 8 legs, think of making clay asparagus where the shape tapers from a fat end to a pointed end.

Next, flatten the clay of the fat end, which is used to attach the leg to the head.

Now bend the legs in the desired shape.

NOTE:  You need at least 4 legs to support the mirror, so they must be the same height regardless of how you bend them. I used a craft mat with a grid to make sure the 4 were the same height.  Also, think about the direction of the bend.  You need two bent in one direction (right legs) and two bent in the other direction (left legs).  If you look at the two legs at the top of the picture above, you can see what I mean.  I choose to just make 4 of the 8 in one direction and 4 of the eight in the other, with the tips of the legs bents slightly differently.

Once dry, glue the legs to the bottom of the head.  Next, add more paper clay around the legs and head to cover where the legs are glued and fill in any gaps.  You can get a smoother look if you dampen your fingers as you apply the clay.

If for some reason, four of the legs are not level, you can also make some minor adjustments by adding more paper clay where needed.

Don't fret if you have some imperfections (cracks, small holes, etc.), as once you add the Twinklets Diamond Dust (covered further in the tutorial), you won't see them.

Next, I made a wash (watered down) rusty colored acrylic craft paint and painted the octopus.

I attached black jump rings to the legs to function as suckers.  The view below is of the bottom of the octopus.

I then sprayed the octopus with Vintage Photo Stain.

I added Twinkles Diamond Dust for sparkle and finally used a paintbrush to flick white paint onto the octopus.

The final touch was adding black beads for the eyes and painting the inside of the suckers blue.

ACCESSORIES

THE CROWN

To make the crown, I used pieces of sparkly tulle from my stash with jagged cuts on one end and gathered on the other.  I then added beaded stick pins.

I also used more of the chipboard coral painted gold, sequin shells, a brass shell, a pearl, and real seashells.

Everything is then glued to the crown frame, which is made of twisted wire.

THE MIRROR

I painted a fancy bronze brass mirror with Liquid Pearls and attached pearls and brass seahorses.  The brass starfish are from my stash.

THE JEWEL BOX

I glued two shells together to make the box and filled it with various colored rhinestones.  The closure is the same brass starfish I used on the mirror.

THE PORTRAIT

For the portrait, I used a chipboard frame from my stash.  It’s decorated with brash and patina shells and pearls.  The image is one of the mermen that you'll find on my Mermen Collage Sheet or Mermaid Garden Digital Image Set.