Magical Miniature Musings-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 I am forever in love with Ireland and will always associate it with March and St. Patrick’s. These are the inspiration for this artwork.

St Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time, a day to begin transforming Winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.

Supplies:  GSLC ATC Folder Frames 2,Digital Downloads, Digital Manipulated Images, Ink Jet Printer, Washi Tape, Golden Green Gold, Phthaol Blue (Blue Shade), Van Dyke Brown Acrylic Paints, Paintbrush, Gold Design Creme, Metallique Hazelnut  Paint, WeldBond,Tag Punch, Paper Punch, Brown StazOn Ink, Blender Tool, UHU GlueStick, Matte Gel Medium

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Create Digital Design of your Downloaded Images- Mine are Moth Clipart Images from Etsy and Emerald Isle Vintage Postcards
3. I Removed Backgrounds, Changed Sizes, and Added Vintage Postcard Backgrounds.
4. Print You Digital Designs.
   
5. Add a bit of Washi Tape to the Hinge Portion of the GSLC ATC Folder.
   
6. Dry Brush on Golden Green Gold, Phthaol Blue (Blue Shade) Acrylic Paints.
   
7. Paint Upper Frame of the GSLC ATC with Gold Design Creme.
   
8. Use Van Dyke Brown and Metallique Hazelnut Paints to Dry Brush Bottom Portion of the GSLC ATC Frame.
   
9. Glue Golden Frame to Top of Brown Base with WeldBond.
   
10. Use  a Tag Punch to Punch out Base Tag from Scraps of Cardstock and a Smaller Punch to Cut out Printed Pictures of UK Trip.
11. Use Hole Punch to Add Details to Top of Tags.
    
12. Glue Smaller Tag to Top of Larger Tag with a UHU GlueStick.
    
13. Use a blending tool and Brown StazOn to Darken Edges of Layered Tags.
    
14. Glue Tags to Front Portion of GSLC ATC Folder.
    
15. Cut Collaged Irish Papers into 2.5 by 3.5 Rectangles and Glue to Inside Portion of GSLC ATC Folder Using a UGU GlueStick.
    
16. Trace Portion of Prepared Collages to Use Inside GSLC ATC Framed.
    
17. Glue Prepared Collage Images to Back  of GSLC ATC Frame.
    
18. Once Fully Dry Use Matte Gel Medium to Coat Entire Assemblage. 
    
    
    

Final Thoughts:

Two of the photograph mini tags are of or near DunLuce Castle mentioned oil my last blog post. One is of the Giant's Causeway, a most intriguing place, featured in Hellboy II:The Golden Army.  I have forgotten where the other three were taken.

Quotes for Hellboy II:The Golden Army

"The human have forgotten the gods, destroyed the Earth, and for what? Parking lots? Shopping malls? Greed has burned a hole in their hearts that will never be filled. They will never have enough."

"I know what's important. It's you. I can turn my back on the world, all of it, as long as you stay with me."

Irish Wisdom

May you never forget what is worth remembering , nor ever remember what is best forgotten. 

~Irish Blessing~

Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.

~Irish Proverb~

May the dream you hold dearest, be this which come true. The kindness you spread, keep returning you.

~Irish Favor~

May your joys be as deep as the ocean. Your troubles as light as its foam. And may you find sweet peace of mind. Wherever you roam.

~Irish Proverb~

Mysterious Moths-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 I fell in love with vintage postcards asa child when I found my grandmother’s immense collection in our farmhouse attic. It was tattered and torn and many of the postcards had escaped their tiny photo corners and were mashed together.  They were scented with mothball and mildew. They are the inspiration for this artwork.

Supplies:  GSLC Chunky ATC Blanks, Digital Downloads, Digital Manipulated Images, Ink Jet Printer, Maroon Watercolor Marker, UHU GlueStick, Ranger Glossy Accent Dimensional Medium, Small Plastic Spatula, Scissors, Tartan Fabrics, WeldBond Glue

1. Gather Supplies.
   
2. Create Digital Design of your Downloaded Images- Mine are Moth Clipart Images from Etsy and Emerald Isle Vintage Postcards
3. I Removed Backgrounds, Changed Sizes, and Added Vintage Postcard Backgrounds.
4. Print You Digital Designs.
5. Edge Prepared Digital Pictures and GSLC Chunky ATC Blanks with a Maroon Watercolor Marker.
   

   
6. Glue Prepare Images to GSLC Chunky ATC Blanks using a UHU GlueStick.
   
7. Cover with Ranger Glossy Accent Dimensional Medium using a Small Plastic Spatula.
   
8. Allow to Dry Fully.
9. Use a GSLC Chunky ATC Blank to Trace Tartan Material. Cutting with Scissors.
   
10. Use WeldBond to Glue Tartan Material to Back of GSLC Chunky ATC Blanks. 
    
11. Next Time I May Cut My Fabric a Bit Bigger so More of it Shows Along the Edges.

Final Thoughts:

I wish I had seen all of the castles featured in these amazing vintage postcards when I traveled to Ireland so many years ago. I did visit Dunce Castle, it was a magical experience. I added the moths to the postcard to give them a more whimsical appeal. I find moths mysterious harbingers of nocturnal delights.

Dunce Castle is now a ruined Medieval Castle in Northern Ireland, it is the seat of the Clan MacDonnell. Its more recent claim to fame is that it was used in the filming of Game of Thrones. When we went there years ago Game of Thrones was not even on the radar.

Castles and Fairy Tales go hand in hand, “ I love fairy tales because of their haunting beauty and magical strangeness. They are set in worlds where anything can happen. Frogs can be kings, a thicket of brambles can hide a castle where a royal court has lain asleep for a hundred years, a boy can outwit a giant, and a girl can break a curse with nothing but her courage and steadfastness.” ~Kate Forsyth~

People are drawn to castles because of their  grander and poise, much like butterflies get first glance while the moths go unnoticed.  I loved combining the two in this artwork. I am a fan of juxtaposition, the noticing of the unfamiliar, the combining of the unexpected. Moths lifespans are fleeting but they have existed longer than butterflies. Some believe that butterflies evolved from moths. 

Moths can symbolize immediacy  and urge us to seize the moment, “at every moment something sacred is at stake.” As a moth is intensely dawn to the flame, it can symbolize a desire or an unfulfilled longing. It can also reflect or show a sense of unconditional love. Renewal and transformation are close to a moths memories. Moths can also camouflage and conceal so in this form we may think  of them as protectors.

Some of my all time favorite moths include the Luna Moth, Hummingbird Moths, Any of the Sphinx Moths, and the Cecropia Silk Moth.