Signs of Spring-A Peek-a-Boo Project

I’ve always loved forcing crocus bulbs in the dead of winter making springtime come just a little bit earlier in the dead of winter. This is the inspiration for this instillation.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Arch Top Triptych 8 Inch, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Triptych Arch Top, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Fern Fronds, Magazine Pictures of Crocuses, Embossing Powders in Shades of Green,  Wow Embossing Ink Pad, Heating Tool, Distress Stains in Shades of Green, Distress Oxide Spray in Shades of Green, Mister of Water, Scissors, Sandpaper Blocks, Ferro Blackberry Texture Paint, Plastic Spatula, Acrylic Paint- in shades of Brown, Purple, and Green, Weldbond, metal Clamps, Silicon Basting Brush, Small  Metal Hinges, Small Micro Screws, Screwdriver, DecoArt Triple Thick Glaze and One Step Crackle Medium

1.  Choose the center portion of the GSLC 8 Inch Arch Top Triptych and the side portions of the Arch Top Triptychs.  

  

2.  Use Wow Embossing Ink Pad and Embossing Powders in Shades of Green to layer onto the frame portion of the GSLC Triptych pieces until you have a pleasing effect. Curing with a heat tool between each layer.

 

3.  Use Distress Stains in Shades of Green, Distress Oxide Spray in Shades of Green to randomly color the GSLC Fern Fronds, spritzing with water in between layers.

 
  

4.  Fussy Cut Crocus Images you found in Magazines.

5.  Gently distress Crocus Images using Sandpaper Blocks.

  

6.  Use small plastic spatula to splatter and texture back portion of GSLC Triptychs using, Ferro Blackberry Texture Paint, and Acrylic Paint- in shades of Brown, Purple, and Green.

7.  Use Weldbond to glue down Crocus Images and GSLC Fern Fronds.

8.  Glue the GSLC 

Triptychs together and secure with metal clamps.

9.  Once Dry use a Silicon Basting Brush to paint the back part of the GSCL Triptychs.

10.                Once Dry attach GSLC Triptychs together using small metal hinges and micro screws.

11.                Gently drizzle DecoArt Triple Thick Glaze and One Step Crackle Medium onto the fronts of the combined GSLC Triptychs.

 Some Final Thoughts.

The crocus symbolizes Cheerfulness and Gladness, a perfect flower to bring into your home during wintertide when these emotions can be hard to come by.

Spring Flowers ~ Crocus - Poem by Mary Havran

Crocus flowers daring tiny warriors

Fighting their way up through

The winter ice

Crocus darling early Spring harbingers

Promising days will soon 

Be turning nice

Tiny Crocus flowers grow in close groups

Strength in numbers seeking

Where winter snows still may lie

Encircled encampment of floral troupes

“We march onward to spring”

They raise this brave battle cry

Bold strength contained in Crocus so small

Should winter challenge again

They simply refuse to die

Delicate blossoms possess such wherewithal 

I cannot help but wonder then 

Should not likewise you and I.

What the Finches Said-A Peek-a Boo Project

I’ve always been a big birdwatcher and springtime brings about a flutter of activity. There are nests to build and yummy morsels to discover. The Purple Finches and Goldfinches begin to get their more robust plumage. This is the inspiration for this instillation.  If Finches could speak I think they would remind us that winters always pass, time to get busy is upon us, follow the seasons, listen to the spring winds, beauty is sometimes hidden, and don’t be afraid to sing your sweetest most haunting songs.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-For the Birds, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Wrought Iron Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Tiny Shingles Sampler, White Gesso, Paintbrush, Fusions-Slime and Rusty Car, Aqua Net Hair Spray, Wooden Cigar Box Bottom, Bird Tissue paper, Matte varnish, Acrylic Paint in Shades of Brown and Yellow, Weldbond, Metallic Paint in Shades of Gold and Copper, Chili Powder and Ground Nutmeg

1.  Paint GSLC For the Birds Birdhouses and eggs with White Gesso.

 

2.  While still wet sprinkle with Fusion Slime and Rusty Car stains.

3.  Layer and Spray with Aqua Net until you have an interesting effect.

4.  Allow to dry fully before taking apart GSLC For the Bird birdhouses and eggs.

5.  Find a old wooden cigar box to tear apart and use the bottom to create your panel.

6.  Coat wooden Cigar box with matte Medium and add Bird Tissue paper randomly.

 

7.   Use Acrylic Paint in Shades of Brown and Yellow to paint a GSLC Bird Nest.

8.  Glue GSLC Bird Nest Together Layering with four eggs.

9.  Dab Metallic Paint in Shades of Gold and Copper using a paintbrush sprinkling with Chili Powder and Ground Nutmeg to add further textures on to GSLC Wrought Iron Corners.

 

10.                Add GSLC Tiny Shingles to the top of the GSLC Birdhouses you chose.

11.                Layer your Art Panel together using Weldbond

12.                Weight down with a bag of kitty litter or other weighted item to squish all the layers together.

Some Final Thoughts.

All Over Ohio- Over the Rhine

Well the rain it has been falling

Like it wants to drown us all

And the trees are gently swaying

Like they're thinkin' 'bout the fall

I still get shivers when I hear

You singin' down the hall

I'm gonna kiss you all over Ohio

And the starlings they were flying

Earlier today

Doing their maneuvers

Clouds of feathers on display

Makes me wanna kneel in prayer but

I've forgotten what to say

I'll just name all the birds in Ohio

Now the reason I am writing

Is to tell you 'bout the flood

Ahh, the river is so beautiful

But it leaves a load of mud

All I have now are these dirty songs

I guess they're in my blood

They make me wander so far from Ohio

(Yeah) It's a silly undertaking

To fly halfway 'round the earth

With an imaginary womb of songs

Intent on giving birth

I gave all that I had to give

I'm not sure what it's worth

Scatter the ashes right here in Ohio

All I wanna be is a thousand black birds

Bursting from a tree into the blue

Love - let it be not just a feeling

But the broken beauty

Of what we choose to do

And the halleujah

Used to make my Daddy cry

I still wonder 'bout the ruckus

Angels make up there on high

In the meanwhile there are measures

We can take to get us by

Lay me down next to you in Ohio

But my expectations stand still

Like beggars at the door

I'm flat broke from the dues

I've paid them all before

Gonna let the Cuyahoga

Wash me up on burning shores

Shipwrecked with you in Ohio

All I wanna be is a thousand black birds

Bursting from a tree into the blue

Love - let it be not just a feeling

But the broken beauty

Of what we choose to do

I have seen the slow corruption

Of the best ideas of Christ

In the pulpits of our nation

Gospel turned into white lies

If you preach a subtle hatred -

The bible as your alibi

Goddam you right here in Ohio

But my shameless hallucination:

He's still knockin' at my door

And I know how this one's gonna end

He's gotten in before

I've run as fast as I can run

I've had to ask, What for?

He haunts me all over Ohio

All I wanna be is a thousand black birds

Bursting from a tree into the blue

Love - let it be not just a feeling

But the broken beauty

Of what we choose to do

Well the rain it has been falling

Like it wants to drown us all

And the trees are gently swaying

Like they're thinkin' 'bout the fall

I still get shivers when I hear

You singin' down the hall

I'm gonna kiss you all over Ohio