My Coin Collection-A Peek-a-Boo Project

Many of us may have had a coin collection of our own or knew someone who collected coins. I've never been a big coin collector myself, but both my momma and my older brother were. When both died I inherited part of their collections, I have them stored safely way but wish I had the fascination with them that they did. When I traveled to different countries, I was intrigued with how different some of their coins were and how colorful their paper money was. These are the inspirations for this artwork.

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Artist Trading Coins, Embossing Folders, Spray Bottle of Water, Matte Gel Varnish, Tissue Papers, Sizzix BIGkick Machine, Variety Of Acrylic Paints, Variety of Inks and Dyes,

1.  Gather Your Supplies

2.  Use a Spray Bottle to Moisten The Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Artist Trading Coins.

3.  Use a variety of Embossing Folders to add texture to GSLC Artist Trading Coins.

  4. Add tissue papers to the embossed coins by first bushing them we Matte Gel Varnish***In hindsight I should have done this before I put coins through the Sizzix BIGkick Machine ***

5.  Once Tissue Paper were on GSLC Coins, I put them back thorough the Sizzix BIGkick Machine.

6.  Use variety of Acrylic Paints to define patterns and add patina to your coins.

7.  To further emphasize patterns, use a variety of inks and dyes to enhance their patina.

8. Seal Everything with Matte Gel Medium   

                  

      

9.  That's it an absolutely Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Type of Project. They can be added to Mixed Media Assemblages or Mounted into Shadowbox Frames.

 Some Final Thoughts 

We were not a rich family growing up so I was always impressed with my momma's frugality. I remember her faithfully going to our small town bank and asking if they had any two dollar bills or Susan B Anthony Coins. She liked them because they were both so unique and different from other USA coins and currency. It has take me this long to realize that's why my momma loved me so much. I turned out differently than they had hoped I would be but they accepted me for who I was and allowed me to flourish in my own way and time.

"Failure is Impossible" "Independence is Happiness"-Susan B. Anthony

"Keep your coins, I want change"-Bansky

 

 

An American Original-A Peek-a-Boo Project

 Snow White is the original Disney Princess, I've always loved watching the video and found delight in the magical world that Walt Disney created. The woodland creatures and the famous poison apple are the inspiration for this artwork

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-ATC Sized Faux Book Box, Book Tape or Medical Cloth Tape, Painters Tape, Weldbond, Copper Metallic Acrylic Paint, White Gesso, Paintbrush, Brown Acrylic Paint, Cosmic Shimmer Lava Paste, Blue Acrylic Paints, Matte Gel Medium, Decorative Napkins, Collected Embellishments, Bits of Branches, Heavy Gel Matte, Felting Materials

1.  Collect Materials

2.  Use Painter Tape to Hold Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts ATC Sized Faux Book Box together.

3.  Use Book Tape or Medical Cloth Tape on Inside Box, Paint Outside With White Gesso. This Will Become the "Pages" of "Book".

4.  Paint Inside of with Copper Metallic Paint

5.  Use Book Tape or Medical Cloth Tape on Spine.

6.  Add Blue Acrylic Paint to Cosmic Shimmer Lave Paste, Spread on Inside of "Book Cover", Cure with Heat Tool.

             

7.  Add Assortment of Brown Acrylic Paint to Cosmic Shimmer Lave Paste, Spread on Outside of "Book Cover", Cure with Heat Tool.

                 

8.  Seal Everything With Matte Gel Medium.

9.   Use Decorative Napkins to Add Layers of Front of "Book Cover".

10.                Assemble Book Box, Gluing with Weldbond.

11.                Select Collected Embellishments, I chose a Resin Poison Apple, A Wooden Panel Assemblage, A Polymer Clay Motif, Bits of Branches, and A Tiny Art Card.

12.                Use Heavy Matte Gel to Adhere Your Chosen Treasures.

13.                Add Bits of Mossy Texture Using Felting Materials.

Some Final Thoughts.

One of the main lessons of Snow White teaches is the danger of vanity. The Evil Queen Wants Snow White dead because she cannot image there is someone more beautiful than her. It is this vanity in the end that destroys her. The concept of real beauty is often found in lowly places and humble creatures.

"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Who is the Fairest One of All?"

"Oh, Queen, Thou Art Fairest of All I can See, But Over the Hills, Where the Seven Dwarfs Dwell, Snow White is Still Alive and Well, and None is so Fair as She"

"Are You Afraid of Poison? said the Old Woman, Look, I Will Cut the Apple in Two Pieces, You Eat the Red Cheek, and I Will Eat the White."

Snow White Quotes:

"Come on, Perk Up, Won't You Smile For me?"

"I'm Sure I'll Get Along Somehow. Everything's Going to Be Alright."

"There's No Use Grumbling, When the Raindrops Come Tumbling."

"What do you do when Things go Wrong? Oh! You Sing a Song."

"Just Whistle While You Work, And Cheerfully Together We can Tidy Up the Place. So Hum a Merry Tune, It Won't Take Long when There is a Song To Help You Set The Pace.'

The Evil Queen Quotes

"Thirst? Have a Drink."

"Don't Let the Wish Grow Cold."

Dwarf Quotes

"Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!

It's Off to Work We Go"

"Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!

It's Home from Work We Go"

 

Faucet Flowers-A Peek-a-Boo Project

   

A nostalgia image of summer is kids splashing in a open fire hydrant or a lawn sprinkler. Growing up in the country I had my own summer fun as a creek was just across the road from our family homestead. We would spend our summer days building dams, looking for crayfish, or making our way to our favorite swimming holes. The homestead was sold last year and the renovations to the old home are bringing new life into the estate. My parents grew up in the Depression era and were frugal with their belongings. We were upcycling before it was trendy.  It is these memories and hopes for the new owners that inspire this artwork.  

Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Waterworks Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Gears Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Propellers, Upcycled Christmas Wall Plaque, Metallic Paints-I Used Lumiere Metallic Rust, Metallic Copper, and True Gold,  Large Plastic Spatula, Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes, Matte Gel Medium, Chili Powder, Nutmeg, Aqua Net Hairspray, Seth Apter WOW Embossing Powders-Crusty Copper, Weathered Gold, Etched Platinum, Heat Tool, Acrylic Paints-Green, Blue, Pink Tones, Paintbrush,  Upcycled Leather from Vintage Purse, Texture Paste-Red Oxide, Russian Mud, Deep Brown, Cosmic Shimmer Lava Paste, Blue Acrylic Paints, Micro Screws, Screwdriver, Awl, Heavy Gel Matte Medium, Leather Deerskin Lace, Thick Thread

1.  Gather Supplies  

2.  Use a Thick Plastic Spatula to Randomly Paint GSLC Propellers with Lumiere Metallic Rust, Metallic Copper, and True Gold Paints. This Unconventional Tool can be Used in a Spreading Motion or in a Dabbing Motion Depending on your Desired Effect.

     3.  While Pint is Still Wet Sprinkle with Cosmic Shimmer         Gilding Flakes.

4.  Secure Gilding Flakes Into Place Using Matte Gel Medium.

                 

5.  Spray with Aqua Net Hairspray and Sprinkle with Chili Powder and Nutmeg.

     6.  Seal in Place by Spraying with Aqua Net Hairspray.

7.  Use Matte Gel Medium to Adhere Seth Apter WOW Embossing Powders-Crusty Copper, Weathered Gold and Etched Platinum to GSLC Gears Shape Set.

8.  Cure with a Heating Tool. 

9.  Add a bit of Metallic Copper Paint to the Finished Gears Using the large Plastic Spatula.

10.                Paint the GSLC Hardware Silhouettes with Shades of Green, Blue, and Pink Acrylic Paints with a Large Bristle Paintbrush.

11.                Use Same Paintbrush to add Tiny Flicks of Metallic Copper and Neon Pink to These Pieces.

                   

12.                 Use These Same Steps to Color the GSLC Waterworks Shape Set.

  

           

13.                Allow All GSLC Chippies to Dry Fully and Flat.

14.                Use Large Plastic Spatula to Upcycle a Christmas Wall Plaque-Waste Not Want Not- I Dabbed with These Texture Pastes-Red Oxide, Russian Mud, Deep Brown. Allow to Dry Fully

                                

       15.                Add Blue Acrylic Paints to Cosmic Shimmer Lava Paste and Randomly Dab onto Wall Plaque. Cure with Heat Tool.

16.                Cut Strips of Leather from an Upcycled Vintage Pocketbook aka. Purse.

17.                Punch Holes into Leather Strips and Attach to Wall Plaque Using an Awl to Start the Holes for the Microscrew. Securing with Your Screwdriver.

18.                Preview and Plan the Design of Assemblage.

19.                 Use Heavy Matte Gel Medium to Secure Your Pieces. Allowing to Dry Fully Flat and Weighted Down.

20.                Braid Three Different Shades Of Deerskin Lace.

21.                Put Through Plaque Opening and Tidy up ends of the Leather Lace Wrapping With Thick Thread.

Some Final Thoughts.

I like unexpected finds, the treasure troughs found in junk shops, a swimming hole just off the long county dirt road, a roadside orchard or farmers market, a county fair full of concession stands  stand and all their naughty pleasures-funnel cakes, corn dogs, kettle corn, bloomin' onions, Italian Sausages, cactus taters-ribbon fries, whoopie pies, shoofly pie, pierogies, and birch beer. May we all take the time to safe a tossed out treasure, to dip our toes in the cool water of a mountain stream, to take a road less traveled and to constantly choose gratitude over grumbling.