Gypsy Screen–Another Alpha Stamps Guest Designer Project

We were given a package of chipboard pennants and asked to use at least four in a project.  Well, you saw my previous project where I used several.  This one here is actually the first one I completed and I decided to use the four pennants to make a folding screen.

So, using tons of Gypsy papers, collage sheets, and embellishments from Alpha Stamps, the below is what I came up with.  Yes, the screen is double-sided.  Just click on the pictures to view them in a larger size in a separate window.

  
Small hinges were applied with glue and then beads where used to cover the holes.  The chipboard was too thin to allow for the nails that were included with the hinges.  The gypsy’s veil was covered in clear Stickles to add shimmer.  The fringe is from Alpha Stamps.

  
I found some sequin string in my stash and decided to use it to outline the picture on the left.  The frame on the right is from Tattered Angels.

  
Black roses from my stash and silver stickers (not currently in stock) from Alpha Stamps were used in the first picture.  The brass scroll at the top and the dominoes in the second picture are also from Alpha Stamps.


Here, I used a small plastic embellishment at the top with a metal rose adhered to it and then the Fortune stamp from Alpha Stamps, stamped in gold ink and adhered it to the bottom.

This was a very fun project to do.  I’d never made a screen before so used one I had sitting on one of my work desks as an example.  The trick was to alternate the placement of the hinges.

Here is a list of the Alpha Stamps products I used:
Concertina Chipboard Pennants
Gypsy Beauty Collage Sheet
Talisman Collage Sheet
Queen of Hearts #3 Collage Sheet
Gypsies, Tramps, Thieves Collage Sheet
Gypsy Fortune Teller #1 Collage Sheet
Gypsy Fortune Teller #2 Collage Sheet
Gypsy Sisters Paper
Weekend Market Paper
Yellow Gold Beaded Fringe
Acrylic Dice
Small Gold Hinges
Dominoes Set
Fortune Text Stamp
Phases of the Moon Stamp
Brass Shell Scroll
Black Wrought Iron Dresden Scrolls

I hope you enjoyed viewing this project.

Until later…………….

Gypsy Pennant Mini Album

Hi everyone!  Not too long ago, Alpha Stamps gave me the opportunity to be a Guest Designer.  Yes, I was thrilled!  Jumping up and down doing the Happy Dance Thrilled!  I’m a big fan of Alpha Stamps and follow several of their designers, so being asked to guest design was like a dream come true.  Now that the cat is out of the bag, I can share some of my projects I did for them.

First, I want to show you the mini album I created.  Never having made an album before, I knew this was going to be a challenge.  However, you never know what you can do until you do it, so I jumped in with both feet!

The theme was Gypsies (I LOVE Gypsies!).  Here are the results:

  Cover Page  Page 2   Page 3  Page 4  Page 5  Page 6  Page 7  Back Page

The cover is by far and away my favorite.  If you’ll notice, I did insert journaling spots that are scattered throughout the album.  However, this was made more as an album to look at than to journal in.  It’s bound with binder rings and lots more pages can be added.  I strung beads from Alpha Stamps ……… mix and also used a strand of rosary beads from them to decorate the rings.

The base of the album are concertina chipboard pennants backed with Gypsy Sisters paper.  I used several collage sheets (Palmistry, Queen of Hearts #3, Gypsy Beauty, Gypsy Fortune Teller #2, & Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves), dresden scrolls miniature dice, the violet bead mix, the mauve/citrine bead mix, garnet and black rosary chain, & a stamped flourish from Alpha Stamps;  the Red Mixed Media Kit, red punchinella, and rectangular puchinella from Gauche Alchemy; and Prima flowers.  Other miscellaneous embellishments came from my stash.

Stay tuned for more projects from my Guest Designer stint with Alpha Stamps!

Until later………………

Tropical Paradise 4 x 6

Last week, Gauche Alchemy and Viva Las Vegas Stamps held a swap.  Each design team member each created projects using the other company’s products.  For my second project, I once again went with a 4 x 6.  It gave me plenty of room to have FUN!

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I have fallen in love with mechanical board.  It study, strong, and easy to cut with a straight edge and an Xacto knife.

The only problem I’ve run in to is that it has a slightly glossy texture that resists mists.  In this instance, I used aqua alcohol ink applied with a cheap child’s brush (I love the wavy results I got) for the background.  I then stamped the Parasol Lady in Chair from Viva Las Vegas Stamps, filled it in with my colored pencils, and then fussy-cut it.  Since this brought to mind the beach, I went with a beachy/nautical theme.

I glued netting from The Robin’s Nest, real colored seashells from Hobby Lobby, and copper colored glitter for sand onto the board.  Next, I stamped the words Tropical Paradise with acrylic stamps on to scrapbook paper and cut them out, trying to be decorative with my cutting.  For the crowning touch, I used birds, sequins, and a paper umbrella from Gauche’s Blue Streak Mixed Media Color Kit. 

Hope you like it as much as I do.  Now off to dream of beaches and sea breezes.  Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh

Until later……………………………….

Regal 4 x 6 Card

Hi there! Yep, I’m back again with another project.  Told y’all I’d been busy, just not able to post my projects.

This 4 x 6 card was done for the Viva Las Vegas Stamps/Gauche Alchemy blog hop currently in progress.  I used the Charred Wood Background stamp from Viva Las Vegas Stamps, Versamark ink, and emerald embossing powder.  I was literally playing around in my studio when I came up with this idea.

This is done on a piece of mechanical board (LOVE IT).  I took my Versamark ink pad and inked my Charred Wood Background stamp, making sure I covered the entire stamp.  After stamping onto my board, I liberally applied emerald green embossing powder,shook off the excess, and then hit it with my heat gun.  I fussy-cut out the woman and the furniture (I don’t remember where I got them from) and using foam squares, “popped out” the furniture from the background.  I used two layers of foam on the woman to make here really stand out.  Next I added white fringe from Gauche Alchemy’s Black Out Mixed Media Color Kit and flat-backed rhinestones and a stick pin from their Banana Hammock Yellow Mixed Media Color Kit.

And there you have it.  A quick and easy 4 x 6.

Now, some items of note:

In honor of the blog hop with Viva Las Vegas Stamps, Gauche Alchemy is offering a 10% off coupon this week.  Just enter VLVS10 at checkout.

Gauche Alchemy will be drawing one random name from all the comments left on THEIR blog this week to win a mini ACME kit.  Drawing will be held 7/14.

Viva Las Vegas Stamps is also offering a giveaway on their blog, so click HERE to find out all the details!   For a 10% discount in their store, enter GA10 at checkout.
 

Until later…………………………….

The Grand Finale!

Okay, now for the main project….the star of the show…..master of them all…..!  The Cinema Stage I created for Gauche Alchemy using their Showstoppers Kit. 

When I was asked to showcase the kit for Gauche Alchemy, the first thing that came to mind was a stage.  So, with that idea in mind, I set off to create my own cinema stage.  Lucky for me, Coffee Break Design had just come out with their Ornate Theatre Shrine Kit. 

After deciding what papers to use from the kit (there were plenty included!), I laid out all the pieces and traced around them.  If you will notice, the bottom part of the front of the stage is hanging off the edge of my paper.  There is a good reason for this….you’ll see.

Next, I chose white ouchless cardboard for the interior in order to keep it from being so dark – remember, it’s enclosed on all three sides, the top, and the bottom.

I then dry fit everything together, making sure all edges were covered.  It’s very, very important to dry fit the inside since you will have a snug fit and you don’t want to crush the cardboard.  

I loved the big band magazine page I found in my kit.  It was almost a perfect fit…..I just had to trim a little off.  The next step was to glue it all together.  I used Modge Podge – but here’s a word of advice.  IF your surface is made of masonite (like the stage is) you will need TWO coats of Modge Podge.  The masonite will absorb the first coat of the glue.  The second coat will sit on top and actually adhere your paper.

The curtains are fabric that was included in the Showstoppers Kit.  To make them, I traced the outline of the front of the stage (the faux curtain part) to a piece of cardstock, cut the cardstock out, and pinned it to a piece of cork tile.  Using this template, I arranged the pleats in the fabric to my satisfaction (using a lot of pins) and then gave it a good spray of hairspray. Yes, HAIRSPRAY.  Works wonders when your working with this small amount of fabric.  I carefully used my heat gun to dry the hairspray, reapplying on the areas that weren’t stiff enough.  I then took the completed curtain, glued it to the masonite, and trimmed around the edges.  (Flip the template and repeat for the opposite curtain.)  The tie-backs you see are actually pieces of broken chain (yep, from the same kit).  For the valance at the top, I just glued on a strip of the fabric and then trimmed around the shape with my scissors.

I then glued on the outside paper and for interest, inked up some tickets I found in the kit and glued them to each side.  For the movie posters (one of each side), I cut out small images from the Burlesque paper included with the kit.  All cut edges were inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Old Paper.  Beads and buttons found in the kit were used to add interest to the front. 

I made the easel from three tiny pieces of dollhouse wood, cut out and matted an appropriate picture on black cardstock, and then made the movie camera out of a piece of confetti and a dollhouse miniature tripod.  The stage was ringed in gold sequin string that I found in the kit.  Red satin roses complete the look.

TA DA!  The completed project!  Just a hint.  The edges of the top of the stage will be bare.  I used black Stickles (they matched the curtains), to cover up the edge and give it sparkle.

This was a TON of work, but also a lot of fun.  I want to thank Heather, Amy, Chrissy, and Maggi for giving me the opportunity to work with the Showstoppers Kit.  Guys, it’s AWESOME!  The kit is jammed packed full of vintage paper goodness and great embellishments.  Only the easel, red roses, and movie tripod were not included in the kit. 

I hope you enjoy my stage.
Until later…………….