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Welcome

I love answering your questions. If you ask them in the comment section, I have no way to answer you (if you haven't heard from me, that is why). If you use the "EMAIL ME" in the left column of this page, I will be able to respond to you. You can also use it if you want to be added to my newsletter. Laura

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Steampunk Domino Book by Sandy Scholz


I received this fabulous steampunk domino book from friend Sandy Scholz in a swap.
Thanks so much Sandy!!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Pretty Potions and Poisons Apothecary - TUTORIAL

It's time to wave your wands (or glue sticks) and start building your own potions and poisons apothecary.  Whether your style is cute, pretty, spooky, gothic, creepy and crawly; all takes on Halloween are welcome here!  This event is all about having fun with Halloween and creating something that you will enjoy displaying during this spooktacular season.  So turn on your favorite Halloween tunes and get your witchy grove on.

I’m also excited to announce, that as part of this event I’ve created a series of apothecary collage sheets for purchase
NOTE
As of 1/13/18 Create for Less online store is carrying a 7 1/2" x 5" x 3" box that would work perfectly for this project.  You would need to purchase 4.  if you want the link to the product, email me using the "Email Me" button in the right side column of my blog or post a comment on the YouTube video.
ASSEMBLING and DECORATING THE CABINET
This haunted journey starts with viewing the tutorial below which covers assembling and decorating an apothecary cabinet.  Once you finish the first video you'll want to continue on to the others which cover altering bottles and tins, making books, decorating coffins and cauldrons.  
Video Tutorial #1– Assembling and Decorating the Apothecary Cabinet
FREE IMAGES
 Feel free to download the images below and use them in your art.
The haunted journey continues with viewing the second tutorial in the series which covers altering bottles and tins. 
  Video Tutorial #2– Altering Bottles and Tins
I’ve broken this tutorial into two pieces so be sure to watch them both.
Part One of Two
Part Two of Two
FREE IMAGES
 Feel free to download the images below and use them in your art.

Witches Hat Template


The haunted journey continues with viewing the third tutorial in the series which covers creating books, decorating cauldrons and coffins.  You don’t need to be experienced in bookbinding to make the simple and fun books I’ll be demonstrating. 
Video Tutorial #3– Books, Coffins, and Cauldrons

Friday, August 24, 2012

Bon Voyage ATC

This dapper fellow is off to see the world.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Up, Up and Away Steampunk ATC


This is another piece for a swap.  The theme was balloons so I decided to go Steampunk.  You can see that the gentleman in the center (from Land of Nod Studio’sis the same one I used for the domino book.  The basket is a top hat and the smoking pipes function as the exhaust.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Steampunk Time Machine Domino Book

I made this domino book for a Steampunk swap last month.  I love the idea of a time machine so I thought I would try to create one in a domino book.  The image of the gentleman on the front and inside is from Land of Nod Studio’s.  Deborah is very generous in posting free vintage images that she has cleaned up and colorized.
I stuck as much mechanical stuff as I could inside, outside, on top of and under this piece.  The round glass is an optician’s glass to which I applied a rub-on that I made using Grafix Rub-Onz Transfer Film.
The gauges are paper to which I’ve added Glossy accents to add dimension.
Unlike other domino books I’ve made, the inside image is horizontal instead of several vertical images on each fold.  
I incorporated lots of watch parts and gears all over the piece.
The flaps on the side are latches that when open, hold the book closed.  To open the book you must close the latches, which creates enough slack to unhook the chain. 
The glass cylinder on the back is mounted between two bead caps and is a tiny working hour glass complete with sand (I bought some of these years ago, knowing that someday I would find a use for them).
If you are planning on participating in the “Pretty Potions & Poisons Apothecary Event” in September be sure to check out the top left-hand column of the blog were I’ll be posting a new teaser piece every day until the event starts!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Video Tutorial - Madam Rue’s Fortune Telling Machine Designed for Alpha Stamps


The inspiration for this piece was the mechanical gypsy fortune telling machines that you might encounter at fairs, carnivals and amusement parks of the past.

I think this was my favorite gypsy project for Alpha Stamps and I’m hoping you will enjoy making one for yourself.  The name “Madam Rue” is another reference to the Madam Rue from the song “Love Potion #9” (I also used her as inspiration for the altered bottle and the gypsy caravan I posted earlier).
The basic construction of this piece is a blank Altoid’s tin (in the center) and arched chipboard pennants in the front and back.  The overall size of the piece is 7 ½” tall by 2 ¾” wide. 
TOP
BACK
In the tutorial I’ll cover the tools you’ll need and the Alpha Stamps products I used to create this piece.  As you are watching the video you don’t need to worry about taking notes as there is a companion PDF document that you can download and or print that contains the supply lists, measurements, pictures and the detail instructions from the video.

Alpha Stamps Products Used in This Piece

COLLAGE SHEETS
Fortunes
Most of the products I used are on sale as well as many other gypsy themed items.

Here Are Other Images I Used That You Are Welcome to Download and Use in Your Art
To download an image, click on the image to expand it, right-click and select Save As.
This is the last of the gypsy themed pieces for a while.  I’ve switched gears to Halloween and am having lots of fun getting ready for the Pretty Potions and Poisons Apothecary event.  But before that event starts in September, I’m going to treat you to some Steampunk themed art and art inspired by Edgar Allen Poe.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Gypsy Necklace Designed For Alpha Stamps

I don’t often make jewelry but when I received the crescent moon connector and the round filigree from Alpha Stamps I thought they needed to be made into a necklace.  I used Liquid Pearls and Ranger Alcohol Ink on parts of the round filigree piece to give it the look of cloisonne.  After finishing the piece and looking at it for awhile I decide to add more beads where the chain connects to the filigree.
My friend Julia loaned me her pretty neck to model my necklace.
Alpha Stamps Products Used in This Piece

Friday, August 10, 2012

Fortune Telling Game Designed For Alpha Stamps

The challenge from Alpha Stamps for this piece was to come up with artwork that used dominoes and tiny dice.  I thought about doing a domino book or a piece of jewelry but eventually decided to create a Fortune Telling Game.
The overall height of the piece is 6 ½” high and by 3 ¼” wide.  I built the area holding the dominoes from chipboard.
On one side of the domino is a picture of a tarot card that I colorized using colored pencils and gold paint.  On the opposite side of the domino is the fortune.  The dice acts as the pull.
Alpha Stamps Products Used in This Piece
Italian Tarot Cards Collage SheetUsed on the dominos
Fortunes Collage Sheet – Used on the dominos

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Gypsy Tambourine Designed for Alpha Stamps

The tambourine is 4 ½” wide.  I started with a lid from a package of Laughing Cow cheese wedges.
I glued a double strip of cardstock around the edge.  To accommodate the symbols (which are made from brass coins) I cut rectangular openings in the cardstock.  To make the symbols I punched holes in the brass coins and slid them on needles.  I used needles because they are stiff.  I glued the needles between the layers of cardstock.
I wrapped the sides with seam binding tape and glued coin and beaded fringe to the sides.
If you shake the tambourine it jingles!
Alpha Stamps Products Used in This Piece

Friday, August 3, 2012

Madam Rue’s Love Potion #9 Altered Bottle

This is another gypsy inspired piece designed for Alpha Stamps.  The inspiration came from the song “Love Potion #9” (one of my favorites!).  The total height of the piece is 4 ½”.
The bottle is triangular so I used three brass feet for the base.
I applied silver metallic stickers to the glass.  I used black rub-ons to decorate the number inserted in the cork at the top.  The black liquid in the bottle is a combination of black Ranger Alcohol Ink diluted with Ranger Blending Solution.
Alpha Stamps Products Used in This Piece