Time's a Travelin'-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 

            

Back in my younger days June was my month of rambling and gallivanting to and fro. As You know I grew up in the countryside of Pennsylvania in a humble home, the lower end of middle class. We never felt poor or went without but we stayed close to home. There was one summer when my sister Nean or Nina short for Anita was living in Eugene, Oregon and my momma decided we would travel by bus across the United States to visit with her. So my momma, sister Joan, nephew Frank and I departed on a Trailways I think it was at the time, but in my high school mind's eye it was a Greyhound one. These are the inspirations for this artwork.

Supplies:  GSLC ATC Shrine Time, Seth Apter Weathered Gold, Crusty Copper, Embossing Powders, Embossing Ink Pad, Heat Tool, TH Gathered Twig Distress Stain and Wild Honey, Acrylic Paint-Green Gold, Grey, Titane Green Pale, Weldbond, Parchment Papers, Cutter, Old Leather Purse, Hole Punch, Pencil, Thread Needle, Awl, Printed Pictures, Small Magnetic Closures, Grommet, Jump Rings Metal Gear, Used Artist Towel, Clock Face, Metallic Gear, Golden Heavy Gel Matte, Clamps, Clock Key Handle

1.  Gather Supplies.

2.  Use an Embossing Ink Pad to Randomly add Seth Apter Weathered Gold and Crusty Copper to entire GSLC ATC Shrine Time, Cure  With Heat Tool.

3.  Fill in Any Empty Spots with TH Gathered Twin Distress Stain.

4.  Dry Brush on Acrylic Paint I Used Green Gold, Grey and Titane Green Pale.

5.  Put Together GSLC ATC Shrine Using Weldbond and Hold into Place With Clamps.

6.  Use a Vintage Leather Purse to Make a Wee Book Cover.

7.  Use a Cutter to Cut Parchment Papers for Pages of Wee Book.

8.  Use a Hole Punch to Place Holes Where you Will be Sewing in Signatures. 

9.  Use a Pencil to Place Marks on Folded Paper and Then an Awl to Punch Through Folded Signatures.

10.                Use Thread and a Needle to Sew Pages into Wee Book Using the Pamphlet Stitch.

11.                Print Pictures of Your Choosing to add to The Pages of Your Wee Book.

12.                Cut Pictures Using Fancy Cut Scissors to Give Them a Postage Stamp Look.

13.                Add a Vintage Weathered Look to Pictures Using TH Wild Honey Distress Stain and a Used Artist Towel.

14.                Go Through Stamp Collection and Choose Ones to Add to the Pages.

15.                Assemble Your Travel Journal Adding Pictures and Stamps to Pages Using a  UHU Gluestick.

16.                Add a Small Magnetic Closure Using Grommets and Jump Rings.

17.                Add a Gear and Clock Face Medallion to Front of Wee Book Securing with Golden Heavy Gel Matte.

18.                Add a Clock Key Handle to the Front of the GSLC ATC Time Shrine.

Some Final Thoughts.

I would not recommend traveling across the United States via Greyhound bus, but when I went with my family it was a magical journey even though it was dark both times we went through the Rocky Mountains, I did see them later on one of my own road trips to Colorado Springs to visit friends. I was amazed how huge the Mountains were compared to my Childhood ones. I've also seen the Swiss Alps and the Matterhorn, among others.

 I am so thankful for all the places I have been lucky enough to visit, much of the United States, Europe on several occasions-England, Scotland, Ireland, Austria, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, India and each broadened my horizons and my sense of being in many ways. Now days I am more of a homebody and happy for smaller adventures to favorite antique stores, or restaurants, and shops.  

 

Where Do We Go From Here? Peek-a-Boo Projects All Grown Up-Part 1

As we begin a new year many often reflect on the year gone by, to weigh what was, goals realized, magical memories made,  the good, the bad; the ugly. 2021 was a year of changes for us, we were skeptical homeowners, wanting to get out of our charming, but in need of repair 1930's brick Cape Cod house in Catonsville, Maryland. We doubted we would ever be able to move into a more suitable condo for our needs. But through incredible circumstances and an amazing realtor agent we managed the impossible in May we moved to our single level ranch condo, just seven minutes from my middle school job.

We returned to full in person learning  this school year, with interruptions made by close contacts and student needing to quarantine for days or weeks depending on the mandate at the moment. I said last year was my most challenging in my 32 years of teaching, I was wrong. This school has proven to be even more challenging as we try to get our student back into a routine and practicing social norms.

My foot is finally one hundred percent healed as I changed podiatrist when we moved and they immediately started me on a new regime of skin grafting. I was unable to attend our largest art show as it was on uneven terrine and my foot could not be forced to endure those conditions. But we have had two very successful shows. Former customers are commenting on how my artwork has become so much brighter. It is amazing what the natural light in our condo has done to evolve my art.      

Many of you ask where I get my creative inspirations, many of them come from my love of nature and a desire to try to be unique and not copy other artist but further my brand. I love to Upcycle my Peek-a-Boo Projects and use them on my Hand Bound Treasure Books and Alter Boxes.

I will be posting my "Top Ten Peek-a-Boo Regenerations of Favorite GSCL Products"

10. My favorite GSLC Frames are often used on my book covers and boxes.

GSLC-Arabian Triptych, GSLC-Reliquary-Arch Top, GSLC-Triptych-Arch Top, GSLC-Triptych-Tower Tops

9. Fern Fronds, Ginkgo Leave, Mushrooms were fantastic  additions to these project.

GSLC Fern Fronds, GSLC Ginkgo Leaves, GSLC Mushrooms Shape Set

8.The picture patchwork tiles make a great addition to book covers also.

Picture Patchwork Tiles-Peek-a-Boo Project Picture P 

 

7. The Tribal Tidal Pools Project was the inspiration for this book cover.

Tribal Tidal Pools-Peek-a-Boo-Project

6. The  coins from My Coin Collect make nice additions to many book covers.

My Coin Collection-Peek-a-Boo Project

Halloween Embellishment-Peek-A-Boo Project

Halloween is the most magical of all holidays, welcome to my first blog post for October. As you know from some of my previous posts, I have dark sense of humor and a love to explore it in my artwork. This is a simple tutorial for a Halloween Embellishment I hope to add to one of my Houdini-Hideaway Boxes. From a vintage postcard, similar to the ones my grandmother collected, " By pumpkins fat, and witches lean, By coal black cats with eyes of green, By all the magic ever seen, I wish you luck this Halloween."

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Barbed Wire Deco Frame Square, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Creepy Critters, Coming Soon-Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Foam Spider Web Stamp, Scrapbook Paper for Background, Pencil, Scissors, Black Acrylic Paint, Paintbrush, Versa Mark Pad, Susan Lenart Kazmer Ice Resin Enamels-Tarnished Bronze and Torched Copper, Heating Tool, Ranger Black and Black Sparkle Embossing Powders, Weldbond, Vintage Wooden Box, Prepared Greeting Cards, Small Decorative Frame

1.  Take the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Barbed Wire Deco Frame Square Apart and Choose GSLC creepy Critters you want to use in your design. I used a cat and a bat.

 
2.  Carefully trace frame onto Halloween Scrapbook paper.

3.  Fussy Cut background.

4.  Using Black Acrylic Paint and Foam Spider Web Stamp the background paper.

5.  Carefully edge sides of background using dry brush technique and black acrylic paint.

6.   Use Versa Mark to randomly stamp GSLC Barbed Wire Frame.

7.  Randomly sprinkle with Susan Lenart Kazmer Ice Resin Enamels-Tarnished Bronze and Torched Copper, alternating and curing with heating tool until you have desired results.

8.  To tone down the frame and to give it a tarnished look paint using dry brush technique and black acrylic paint quickly and randomly.

9.  Use Versa Mark to randomly stamp GSLC Cat and Bat.

10.                Randomly sprinkle with Rangers Black and Black Sparkle Embossing Powders alternating and curing with heating tool until you have desired results.

11.                To tone down the GSLC critters paint using dry brush technique and black acrylic paint quickly and randomly.

12.                Use Weldbond to glue GSLC Barbed Wire Frame to background.

13.                Use Weldbond to glue GSLC Bat and Cat to make a pleasing display.

14.                Weigh down with a heavy book or a Ziploc baggie filled with kitty litter.

15.                Your Halloween  Embellishment is now ready to use in variety of ways. I hope to add mine to a vintage wooden box and make it part of one of my Houdini-Hideaway Box Collections. It could also be added to a prepared card, or displayed in a small decorative frame.

 
Some final thoughts. I not only love Halloween the best because of its magical images and creatures but also that it is celebrated in Autumn. I love that one night out of the whole year we can be whomever our hearts desire, the costumes shroud us in mystery and security, most people wear masks that are not as easily removed as those we adorn on this special holiday.  I love the fact that if you are given sweet treat just for the asking, that monsters are welcomed on this All Hallows Eve, and magical spells can make the world seem brighter for but a moment.