Irish Landscapes Through the Looking Glass-A Peek-a-Boo Project

As stated in my last post I have enjoyed traveling to the UK on several occasions and have saved some photographs from my travels there. These are a few of my favorites hidden beneath GSCL Latin Script Background. It is a cheeky play on the phrase "through a looking glass"  which can mean "the opposite of what is normally expected." Here I am using the background as a foreground and the looking glass somewhat old-fashioned way to say mirror is reflected and if you look closely in the reversal of the Latin Script Background, my nod to April Fools coming to a month near you soon.

Supplies:  GSLC Latin Script Backgrounds (4), Bookboard to Accommodate GSLC Script Backgrounds,  Watercolors, Paintbrush, Printed Images of Your Choosing, Rangers Glossy Clear Dimensional Medium, Small Plastic Palette Knife,  Scissors, Weldbond,  Distress Oxide Sprays of Your Color Pallet, Cheap 5" by 7 Frames from  Your Local Hobby Store, Art Foamie of Your Choosing, Acrylic Paints of your Choosing, Ruler, Glitter Paper to Make a Border for Your Art Pieces, Double Sided Tape

1.  Gather Supplies.

2.  Print Images of your Choosing to Glue to Cut Bookboard base. I Cut mine 5" by 6"

3.  Use Weldbond to Glue Images to Bookboard.

4.  Coat Entire Picture with a Generous Layer of Glossy Accents, Spreading Carefully with a Small Plastic Palette Knife. Allow to Dry Fully.

5.  Use Watercolors to Randomly Paint GSLC  Latin Script Backgrounds, I Reversed Just for Added Interest. There are Metallic Watercolors I used to Highlight the Script. You Could Also Use Metallic Paints or Markers.

6.  Spray with Distress Oxide Sprays to Make them Look More Aged.   

                     

7.  Once Fully Dry Lay on Top Of Prepared Picture. Once Again Coat Entire Picture with a Generous Layer of Glossy Accents, Spreading Carefully with a Small Plastic Palette Knife. This Will Act and an Adhesive Bonding the GSLC Latin Script Backgrounds to the Foregrounds of Your Pictures. Allow to Dry Fully.

8.  While Drying Use an Art Foamie and Acrylic Paints to 5" by 7" Store-bought Frames. Being Careful to Remove the Glass or Plastic  and Backing Before Stamping.

       

     

                   

9.  Cut Out Pieces of Glitter Cardstock to Act as a Border for Your Prepared Art Pieces.

10.                Attach Fully Dried Picture to Glitter Cardstock with a Piece of Double Sided Tape.

11.                Reassemble Frames and Enjoy Your New Art Pieces of Treasured Travel Memories.

Some Final Thoughts.

While traveling you can see unexpected sites that surprise you. The pictures I have hidden beneath the GSLC Latin Script Backgrounds are of a Castle in Ireland, the Irish Shoreline, a Crystal Clear Stream in Scotland swarming with baby eels, and a Landscape Scene from England's Lake District.  I am forever grateful for places I have traveled in my younger day as their memories still enchant my county boy's quiet heart. I never imaged I would be able to travel and see the amazing locations I have been too. These memories still feed my soul and spur on my creativity. Never pass up an opportunity for a road trip or a grand adventure even if it just to you local sushi shoppe, or a Home Goods or TJ Maxx Store. Not all travels need to take you far if you have an imagination and a grateful heart, there are worlds to explore just outside of your front door or within an hour's drive from your neighborhood. On the other hand sometimes travel does involve a longer journey by "planes, trains, and automobiles."

Lessons learned from travel and the 1987 film. Be Thankful for What You Have, Time with Family is Important, friends Come When You Least Expect Them, Keep the Faith, Always Be Kind, Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover, All Shall Be Well, Make a Plan but Be Willing to Step Off the Path...

 

 

Kells Comes a Knocking-A Peek-a-Boo Project

I have spoken of my time in Dublin and Seeing the Book of Kells housed at Trinity College in Dublin, with its intricate embellishments and illuminations stunning to behold. To honor my time there I have a collection on our bedroom walls of images from the Book of Kells and Items I picked up while traveling. They are the inspiration for this artwork. I like how travel and art can knock on your heart's door of creativity.

Supplies:  GSLC Triptych Arch Top, Printed Images of Book of Kells Images and Script, Matte Gel Medium, Green Embossing Powders, Brown Acrylic Paint, Tea Grounds, Plastic Pallet, Pen, Heat Tool, Weldbond, Sharpie  Metallic Sapphire Marker, Decorative Cut Scissors, Scraps of Decorative Papers and Vintage Script, Used Tea Bags, Clamps, Clear Embossing Powder, Emboss it Dabber, Scraps of Flannel Shirt, Two Sided Tape, Awl, Micro Screws, Screwdriver

1.  Gather Supplies.

2.  Print Images and Script From Book of Kells.

3.  Make a Mixture of Tea Grounds, Green Embossing Powders, Brown Acrylic Paint and Matte Gel Medium.

    

4.  Spread on Front Portion of GSLC Triptych Frames. Use Heat Tool to Cure Embossing Powders.

5.  Use a Pen to Trace Book of Kells Images and Script.

6.  Cut Out and Use Weldbond to Adhere Images to GSLC Triptych Portions.

                    

7.  Edge Images and Script with Sharpie  Metallic Sapphire Marker Making Sure It Will Show Once Front Frames are Added.

8.  If Too Much Blue is Showing Add Strips of Decorative Paper.

9.  Randomly Add Bits of Used Tea Bags to Both Sides of GSLC Triptych Frames Using Matte Gel Medium.

   

10.                Add Other Strips of Vintage Script to Both Sides of GSLC Triptych Frames Using Matte Gel Medium.

11.                Use Weldbond and Clamps to Attach Front Frames to GSLC Triptych Backs.

   

12.                Once Dry Use Emboss it Dabber to add Clear Embossing Powder to Book of Kells Images. Cure with a Heat Tool.

13.                Use Strips of Old Flannel Shirt to Make "Hinges" to Attach GSLC Arch Top Triptych Together.                 

14.                Attach Hinges with Micro Screws and a Screwdriver.

 

Some Final Thoughts.

In the Animated Movie "The Secret of Kells" A young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers.

Some Quotes:

I have lived through many ages, through the eyes of salmon, deer, and wolf. I have seen the Northmen invading Ireland, destroying all in search of gold. I've seen suffering in the darkness. Yet I have seen beauty thrive in the most fragile of places. I have seen the book. The book that turned darkness into light.

You can't find out everything from books, I think I read that once.

Quotes from Book of Kells:

"We are not Allowed Miracles." she told John. "We traded them in for technology some years ago and now we're stuck with finding out how things work."

"What was she after all, except the memory of all she had done, telling her the sort of person she was and guiding her next act consistently? Without that, what was left but blind chance and leaves blown meaninglessly through the trees."

Irish Wisdom:

Old Fools should learn to Keep Quiet...Unless Young Fools want to Listen.

Sometimes one day changes everything; sometimes years change nothing.

May your day be touched by a bit of Irish luck, brightened by a song in your heart and warmed by the smiles of the people you love.

Grant me a sense of humor, Lord, the saving grace to see a joke, to win some happiness from life, and pass it on to other folks.

Here's to a fellow who smiles when life runs along like a song. And here's to the lad who can smile when everything goes dead wrong.