Pondering Peacocks-Peek-A-Boo Project

My grandmother collected postcards and after her departure I found her post card collection in our musty, dusty attic. It was a magical treasure and perhaps is the the reason I love all things abandoned and overgrown. There was a dilapidated farmhouse down a long winding country road that I would visit when I was a child. I called it my thinking place, I loved the eerily silence, the quiet solitude of this place. These are the inspirations for this project.

 Supplies:  Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts-Chipboards Decorative Tags Large, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Peacock Feathers Shape Set ,   Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Mini Flourishes Bella, Ferro Metal Effect Textured Paint Irongold, Iron, Silver, Small Pallet Knife, Tyvek envelope, Weldbond, Photocopies of Old Postcards, Pencil, Tim Holtz Distress Sprays-Antique Linen, Wild Honey and Peacock Feathers, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Gold and Blue, Coptic Marker-Cashew, Versa Mark, Embossing Powders-Rangers Black Sparkle, Tim Holtz Walnut Stain, Pearllustre-Lapis, Judi Kins-Extreme Peacock, Recollections-Tramline, Heating Tool, Wooden Stirring Sticks, Sandpaper Sponge, UHU Gluestick, Seriated Scissors, Tim Holtz-Distress Ink-Vintage Photo, Blending Tool, FolkArt Painted Finishes-Moss, Awl, Twine, Blue Wire-26 Gauge, Vintage Bronze Copper Wire- 20 Gauge, Wooden Skewer

1.   Make photocopies of your vintage postcards.

2.  Distress photocopies with Tim Holtz Distress Sprays-Antique Linen and Wild Honey, add a gentle mist of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist of Gold and Blue.

3.  Once dry trace tags where you will be cutting out photocopies of vintage postcards.

 

 

4.  Line up the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Large Decorative Tags with about 1/4 inch between each of them.

5.  Use Weldbond to glue together with a strip of Tyvek, This will allow the tags to work like a triptych.

6.  Use small pallet knife to cover both front and back with Ferro Metal Effect Textured Irongold Paint.

 7.  Allow to dry completely, making sure it is flat and weighted.

8.                After separating Gypsy Souls laser Cuts Peacock Feather spray with Tim Holtz Distressing Sprays Peacock Feathers.

9.                Emboss Peacock Feathers layering with Versa Mark and Rangers Black Sparkle, Tim Holtz Walnut Stain, Pearllustre-Lapis, Judi Kins-Extreme Peacock, Recollections-Tramline embossing powders.

10.                Cure with a heating tool between each layer.

11.                Add wooden stirring sticks to back of Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Large Tags for added stability allowing to dry completely and flat.

12.                Add photocopies to panels using Weldbond to keep them in place.

 13.                Once dry distress with Ferro Textured Paints of Iron and Silver.

14.                I used a damp cloth and was not pleased with the results so I decided to make extra copies and cut with peaking scissors and reapplied using Weldbond.

15.                I distressed carefully with Tim Holtz Distress Ink of Vintage Photo

16.                 I reapplied Ferro Texture Paints more gently this time around the edges of the panels.

17.                To add further depth I used FolkArt Moss Painted Finishes.

18.                Another thing they will never tell you in on most online blogs is that you are designing as your progress through your projects, at this moment I felt like I needed another element so I used  Versa Mark and the embossing powders I used earlier to emboss a few Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Mini Flourishes Bella curing with a heating tool.

19.                I secured the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Peacock Feathers using and awl and twine.

20.                I secured the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Mini Flourishes using blue wire.

21.                I used a wooden skewer to wrap the wire around and give it a decorative vine look.

22.                I added Vintage Bronze Copper wire to add further depth and interest and used the same technique to add a vine-like look.

My grandmother died many years ago before I grew into a man. She never knew the artist I have become, I like to think that she would be delighted at this project honoring her and her treasured collection. The postcard of the peacocks is one of my favorites and I have used peacock feathers in many of my permanent botanical arrangements. 

 

 

As the Deer Pants-Peek-A-Boo Project

I am not an overly religious man but was raised up attending a small, little white church on the hill several miles from our small country home. I always loved the Psalms the best as they expressed just deep emotions and longings. I was a bit of an outsider growing up in this rural setting as I was an artistic emotional child. I comforted myself reading the Psalms and always believing in better days. This is the inspiration for this piece. Many people try to keep deer out of their gardens I am inviting them to be part of our gardens as I try to include all outsiders into my art.

Supplies: Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Flourished Deer, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Creepy Tree 5 Inches, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Vine Corners, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Layered Frame Bella Oval, Upcycled Seed Packet Plant Holders(can find them by doing an internet search sold by Amazon, garden centers, some Big Lot stores), photocopies of woodland scenes, Ranger Vintaj Patina Set, Small Natural Sponge, Coptic Marker-Pistachio, Weldbond, Clear Matte Varnish, Paintbrush, Versa Mark, Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powders-Tree Branch and Fern Green, Ranger Embossing Powder-Brick (Use to be named Rust). Heating Tool, Antiquing Cream Raw Umber, Weighted Bags of BB's or Kitty Litter, balsa wood, micro-screws, screwdriver, Ferro Textured Paint Irongold and Silver,  24 jump rings-12 gauge x 3/8 i.d.(inside diameter) anodized aluminum in black ice, and  two pairs of flat nosed pliers
1.   Separate Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Flourished Deer, Vine Corners, and Creepy Tree 5 inches.

2.  Make copies of woodland images you'd like to use. I made copies of two I had taken form my many walks in the woods.

3.  Use Ranger Vintaj Patina set to distress the Seed Packet Plant Holders using a small natural sponge.

4.  Cut out photocopied pictures and use a Pistachio Coptic marker on the edges.

5.  Glue pictures into Seed Packet Plant Holders using Weldbond.

6.  To make the outdoor friendly coat with two coats of Clear Matte Varnish.

7.  Emboss Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Flourished Deer with Wendy Vecchi Tree Branch Embossing Powders.

8.  Emboss Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Vine Corners with Wendy Vecchi Fern Green Embossing Powders.

9.   Emboss Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Creepy Tree with Rangers Brick Embossing Powders.

10.                Cure all using a heating tool.

11.                To antique the shiny pieces I used a dry brush to apply Raw Umber Antiquing Cream.

 12.                Coat all embossed pieces with Clear Matte Varnish as the Antiquing Cream is water based and will run unless coated.

13.                Use Weldbond to layer the embossed pieces onto the Seed Packet Plant Holders.

14.                Allow to dry fully using a weighted bag of BB's or Kitty Litter to hold pieces into place.

15.                Once dry add several more coats of Clear Matte Varnish to assure they will be able to withstand the outside weather. ***Some artist might stop here but I always like to take it a few steps further and pushing the envelope a little closer to the edge. I've heard it said "If you're not living on the edge, you're wasting too much space***
16.  Using Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Layered Bella Oval Frame to make a "Salad Bar" sign.

 17.  Print the words "Salad Bar" using your word processing program.

18.  Distress the paper sign using a stamp and permanent ink of your choosing.

19.  Use Rangers Brick Embossing Powder on the back portion of the frame curing with heating tool.

20.  Use Ranger Vintaj Patina set to distress the front portion of the frame.

21.  Use a Coptic  marker to determine proper placement of printed inked words.

22.  Glue into place using Weldbond.

23.  Dry flat and weighted down with your trusty bag of BBs or kitty litter.
24.  Distress sign using antiquing cream of raw umber, copper paint, and Coptic markers.

 

 25.                Add a layer of Gloss Accents to center of sign.

26.                Sprinkle with Finnabair microbeads and mica chips.

27.                Add an aged look using Finnabair Red and Brown Rust Paste.

28.  To add weight the salad bar sign so it would hand correctly I cut out and oval shape from a piece of balsa wood.

29.  Distress with Ferro Textured Paint of Silver and Irongold.

30.  Secure smaller more delicate sign to larger balsa wood using screwdriver and micro-screws.

31.  Use Finnabair Red and Brown Rust Paste to tie it all together.

32.  Drill two holes into balsa sign, add 12 to 13 aluminum jump rings to both sides so sign can dangle between two deer signs.

33.  Once everything is dry, add several more coats of Clear Matte Varnish to assure it is outdoor ready.

34.                Once everything is dry, add several more coats of Clear Matte Varnish to make it outdoor ready

.

I find great comfort walking in the woods. Every gift I receive while there comforts me. Seeing a deer drinking from a stream restores my soul and lets me know all is well in the world. I find Nature can be a great cathedral and wisdom often comes in unexpected places. And, a sense of humor makes the darkest days brighter.