Christmas Countdown Shadow Box

Hello!! How is it already December? I have been in full Christmas Crafting mode here. This project is inspired by the beautiful advent calendar made by Paula Cheney. As I was thinking of making my own version I thought that the Mini House Room 4X4 would be the perfect piece for a Christmas scene and calendar.

Start by assembling and gluing together your Mini House Room. 

Cut Background paper to size and decorate as desired. Cut coordinating paper to size for all remaining surfaces of the Mini House Room. I ran all my pieces thru my Xyron for quick application. I covered all of the exposed edges with design tape. I used papers for the Tim Holtz Christmas Paper Stash. 

I used the numbers from Tim Holtz's Christmas Alpha Tiles. I colored them with Gold Alcohol Ink. I did need two packs of the Alpha Tiles to have enough numbers. I used a nail to poke a hole thru the House and used mini brads to hang my numbers on. 

Then came the fun part!! Making a mini scene within the box. For the snow I used Grit Paste and Distress Rock Candy. Apply Grit Paste using a palette knife. While the paste is still wet sprinkle with Rock Candy for the perfect shimmer. I added snow to the peak of the roof and the floor of the house. 

The tree is a mini bottle brush tree. I removed it's original base and added it onto a bingo marker.

Santa and the reindeer are also from the Holiday release. Santa was painted with red and black acrylic paint and aged with Mushroom Alcohol Ink. The reindeer was painted with Tarnished Brass Distress Paint and aged with Mushroom Alcohol Ink. 

. I am so excited to start counting down to Santa's arrival!! I hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial. And I hope you are finding time to sneak in some Christmas crafting. Happy Creating ~ Jennalee 

Snow and Joy

Hello!! Jennalee here today. I have a fun step by step tutorial to share with you today. It all started with this vintage photo I found while out junking. The release of Tim Holtz's Christmas line really got me in the spirit to create some Christmas projects early this year. 

I started with a small size Etcetera Tag. These tags measure 5.5"x10" and are made of thick board. They are very sturdy and can handle a variety of mediums. I covered my tag with a piece of paper from Tim Holtz's Christmas Paper Stash. Adhere paper to tag with Distress Collage Medium. 

With a palette knife spread Grit Paste thru the Starry Night layering stencil. While the Grit Paste is still wet sprinkle on Rock Candy Glitter. I covered my entire tag with stenciled stars. I thought I had overdone it but once you start layering your ephemera you'll be glad you covered the whole tag.

Using your palette knife add some swipes of Grit Paste around the edge of your tag and to the reinforcer and sprinkle with Rock Candy same as before. Grit Paste needs to be air dried, so set your tag aside. Be sure to clean your stencil and palette knife while the Grit Paste is still wet. 

While your tag is drying begin prepping your picture. I made a photocopy of my original picture onto photo paper. It didn't look quite vintage enough so I added some aging using Antique Linen Distress Ink. Using a glue stick lightly tack down photo to piece of black cardstock. Stitch around edge of photo and trim down cardstock with pinking shears. 

 From the Christmas Ephemera Pack pick the pieces you wish to layer on your piece. The music piece is from the Christmas Bookboard Baseboards pack. To add some visual interest I added a strip of black text from the Paper Stash pad. Adhere all pieces using Distress Collage Medium. 

Cut a pair of Ice Skates from white cardstock. I adhered my cardstock to a thin layer of chipboard for some added definition. Tip: Save the chipboard pieces that come in your Myrustycrown.com orders. It is the perfect thickness for die cutting. You can even use it with some thin lit dies. 

Cover both skates with Distress Crazing Medium. Allow to air dry. Once your skates are dry add a bit of aging with Antique Linen Distress Ink. Color in heel with Distress Crayon. Paint blade of skate with Distress Paint. Using a needle and baker's twine lace skates and wrap laces around the top of skates and tie a bow. 

I am obsessed with Distress Crazing Medium. It is the perfect vintage touch. 

To decorate the skates cut some foliage from the Festive Greens thinlits set. Using Distress Oxides in Peeled Paint and Cracked Pistachio color cardstock. Smoosh ink pad on craft mat and spray with water, dip paper into ink and heat set. For the berries I used Beaded Berries colored with Distress Spray Stain in Picked Raspberries. 

Attach foliage and berries to skate. Adhere skates to bottom right corner of tag using Distress Collage Medium. Pick words from Christmas Words and Phrases Chipboard pack and adhere with Distress Collage Medium. At this point also attach the tag reinforcer. 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I had so much fun making this piece and using Grit Paste and Rock Candy. It is such fun combination!! If you try making this piece for yourself or try any of the techniques I hope you will stop by and share it in the Facebook Group. Happy Creating~ Jennalee 

Santos Cage Doll

Hi everyone, Jennalee here today!! I've had the idea for this Santos Doll for awhile. When I was digging thru my Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts stash I found the perfect halo background piece and frame ends, and from there it all fell into place.

I have long admired Santos Dolls and had been wanting to make one for some time, but needed to find all the perfect pieces. I had been looking for the perfect halo of light piece. When I  saw this Swirl Medallion-Large (coming soon) I knew that painted gold it would perfectly offset the Santos figure. 

To begin, remove the top layer on a piece of corrugated cardboard. Using a palette knife apply a layer of Distress Grit Paste or Grout to cardboard piece. For the cage skirt I used wooden coffee stirrers from my stash or you can also use a flat wooden dowel cut to size. To the skirt pieces apply a generous layer of grit paste. Allow pieces to air dry. 

Once dry paint cardboard background using your choice of paints or inks. For mine I used acrylic paints and Distress Oxides.

 To add "rust" to skirt pieces paint with brown acrylic, while paint is still wet dip piece into cinnamon. Allow to dry. Using your finger and a very light touch add highlights of gold and aquamarine for a patina effect.

For the background halo paint Swirl Medallion with brown acrylic paint. Allow to dry. Once dry spray generously with a gold shimmer spray. 

For frame pieces emboss 1 Herald Medallion (coming soon) with Burnt Copper Leaves. Cut Medallion in half. Use the top half of  the Medallion to frame the top of your piece and the larger bottom half of Medallion as a frame for bottom edge of piece. 

To add texture to your Santos figure add a very thin layer of gesso to book text. Using a palette knife allows for control and to add some rough texture for a clay like effect. Stamp out figure and color in using watercolors or choice of medium.

Now for the fun part putting it all together. Using hot glue attach Swirl Medallion. Layer on Santos figure and arrange cage skirt as desired. Attach skirt pieces with hot glue. Add top and bottom Medallion pieces to edges. Step back and admire. 

Thank you for stopping by and spending a few minutes with me here at Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts today. I hope you enjoyed this project and that you can find all the right pieces for that project that you've been dreaming up. ~Jennalee