Peek-A-Boo Project-Queen of HeARTs

Today I said goodbye to my sweet orange Tabby named Ruby. She like the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland were both gingers and knew what they wanted. Ruby was short for Rhubarb because she was so sassy. This is my way of honoring her in a in a ruby inspired piece.

Supplies:  Reliquary - Arch Top from Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts, decorative paper, sand sponge, distress stains of your choosing,  permanent ink of your choosing, stamp to add details, ink blending tool, iced enamel medium, embossing enamel or powder, heat tool, Weldbond glue, clamps, small stiff bristle brush, focal point I used a polymer clay piece I created using molds and metal angel wings and mica powders,  Ziploc baggie of kitty litter, heavy gel medium,  assortment of metal and plastic embellishments, microbeads

1.  Take the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Reliquary Arch Top apart.

2.  Use back panel to trace a stencil on a piece of decorative paper you will use for back panel.

3.  Cut out decorative paper panel and adhere to back panel using Weldbond.

4.  Allow to dry fully.

5.  Use a sandpaper sponge to lightly distress the edges.

6. Apply Tim Holtz  Distress Stain Ripe Persimmon to the edges.

7.  Next use a stamp of your choosing to apply so interesting layers to your background. I used Wendy Vecchi Cactus Flower Archival Ink.

8.  Use a blending tool to add depth and interest to your background and to darken the edges.

9.  On top portion of Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Reliquary Arch I added Iced Enamel Medium.

10.                Sprinkle with embossing enamel or powder. I used Susan Lenhart Kazmer Iced Enamels Garnet

11.                Cure with your heating tool.

12.                I added more age by apply some Susan Lenhart Kazmer Iced Enamels Torched Coppers in random areas.

13.                Cure with a heating tool.

 

 

 

14.   Glue the two pieces of the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Reliquary Arch together using Weldbond glue and clamps. I used a small stiff bristle brush to remove any Weldbond that squeezed through the frames.

15.                Gather central focal point. I used a polymer clay piece I made using molds and following instructions on package.

 

 

 

 

16.                Glue focal point using Weldbond I left room at the bottom to add smaller details.

17.                I use a bag of kitty litter to press securely on to background and allow to dry overnight.

18.                Assemble your project by building layers securing embellishments with heavy gel medium and a small stiff bristle brush.

 

19.                Before everything dries sprinkle with microbeads, I used copper and black.

20.                Allow to dry for 24 hours so heavy gel medium will cure clear.

 

This makes a great stand alone piece or 3-D Mother's Day gift.  I will be using it as panel for one of my Classic Combo Limited Edition Alice in Wonderland Treasure Books.

 

Peek-a-Boo Project-Creating a Masterpiece

My masterpieces are not pretty and pristine, they are messier more chaotic creations of my artistic aesthetic...which is sometimes describe as controlled chaos or eclectic enchantment. My art is a perfect union of form and function. From the madness that is me has escaped some outstanding pieces of art. This is a glimpse into the many techniques it takes to create one of my treasure books.

Supplies: Lineco Acid-Free Binder's Bookboard, Carl DC-220 15" Heavy-Duty Rotary Paper Trimmer, painters tape, shredded tissue paper, matt gel, decorative paper, Tyvek, UHU glue stick, various inks, stamps, washi tape, micro screws, screwdriver, parallel wire cutters, cut 2 jeweler file,  acrylic inks, crackle paste, embossing paste, polymer clay embellishments, wooden cradle, awl, waxed nylon thread, pictorial scrapbook paper, Southworth Specialty Parchment Copper Paper, Weldbond glue, Ziploc filled with kitty litter or other weighted items, rust pastes, alcohol inks, bone folder, ink jet prints of images, rubbing alcohol and water in spray bottles, and needle

1.  Using Carl's Cutter cut Bookboard for front and back covers and spine. Tape edge of cover that touches the spine with painters tape.

2.  Use shredded paper technique to cover front cover attaching with mat gel medium. Use decorative paper to cover inside cover adhering with UHU glue stick. Use bone folder to flatten and smooth out any bubbles. 

3.   Cut Tyvek and color with ink and add stamp details.

4.   Take off painters tape and glue together covers using UHU glue stick. Use bone folder to make edges tight and smooth.

5.  Add washi tape to further secure the Tyvek to the spine. Allow to dry for at least 5 hours.

6.  Work on panels for front and back covers using Crackle Paste Technique and Polymer Clay Embellishments.

7.  Work on Images you will use in inside covers using Printed Image Upgrade Technique.

8.  Use awl to punch holes into spine where signatures will be attached.

 

 

9.   Attach panels to front and back covers using Weldbond glue. Allow to dry flat and use Ziploc plastic bag filled with kitty litter to press panels onto covers.

  

10.                To further secure the panels use micro screws and screwdriver. This also adds a decorative industrial appeal to my work. 

11.                Sometimes the screws go through the Bookboard, if this happens use parallel wire cutters to trim the tips.

12.                Smooth out cut screw tips using a cut 2 jeweler file.

13.                Add some shredded paper and distress inks to cover up any areas that were rubbed while filing off micro screw tips.

 

14.                When panels are dried and secured on front and back covers add images to inside covers using UHU glue stick or Weldbond glue flattening with bone folder.

15.                Use rust pastes, alcohol inks, and acrylic paints to add depth and details to covers. Allow to dry fully.

16.                Add closure to front cover, I am using a Tim Holtz curio knob here, and deerskin lace to back  cover securing with a dab of Weldbond.

17.                Choose Pictorial Scrapbook Paper and  cut along with Southworth Specialty Parchment Copper Paper to create signatures for book. Cut to size using Carl's cutter.

18.                Fold Signatures and place an "X" in top right corner, this will help with orientation when  you are sewing signatures in place.

19.                Make template to punch holes into folded signatures for book. Use awl and wooden cradle to place holes into each signature.

 20.                Using waxed nylon thread attach signatures to spine using long stitch technique.

21. Erase "X's" from top right corner of each signatures.

22.                Attach Artist's Signature Sticker inside of back cover.

24.                Each treasure book is a one-of-a-kind design never to be repeated and is now ready to be released to the world.