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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

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Dress Forms

The base of these pieces is the size of an ATC.  I used the same chipboard dress form as I used in the altered fashion postcard.  I used different materials to create each dress (ribbon, beads, lace, sequins, acrylic leaves, paper flowers and embroidered bits and bobs).

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Video Tutorial – Creating an Armoire to Showcase ATCs, Tags, Domino Books and other Small Art Pieces

I hope you've been having fun gathering up your supplies and getting ready to make an Armoire.  Once you make one, I know you’ll want to make more.  These boxes are a great way to store and display your small art pieces like ATCs, tags, domino books, mini books etc.  I have two new samples (Time Machine Steampunk Themed and Peacock Dress Form) to show you in addition to the ones you've seen in previous posts.  I also have a new collage sheet 
In the video tutorial I cover how to create an armoire using either a cigar box or building one out of foam core board.

In addition to the watching the video tutorial you’ll also want to check-out the detailed photos and product supply lists for all four samples, the link to the stained glass transparency tutorial and the free images all listed below.  Per usual, I have a downloadable PDF document that contains all the information in this post as well as the steps covered in the video tutorial.
Time Machine – Steampunk Themed Armoire
Made From a Cigar Box
On the fronts and sides of this armoire I used images from the Hardware and Tick Tock collage sheets.  I used a Gold Bangle Bracelet to act as a frame for the collage of gears, clocks, numbers and chains.
The large acrylic Bulb at the top magnifies the image of the man with goggles.  The bulbs come with words on them but it is easy to remove the words with some Windex and your finger nail.
Alpha Stamps Products Used in the Time Machine Armoire
Peacock Dress Form Domino Book Armoire
Made From Foam Core Board

To embellish the dress forms I used real bits of peacock feathers in addition to peacock feather images from my Whimsical Frames collage sheet.
After making the French themed cabinet with an area to stack and display more small pieces of art at the bottom, I decided to make a cabinet just for small pieces like domino books.  The shelves are made of the same foam core board as the cabinet.
The doors are made from two pieces of heavy chipboard with the transparency film sandwiched in between.  To create doors with inserts that look like stained glass I used a technique of printing and embossing on a transparency.  Click here for the tutorial on this technique.
Alpha Stamps Products Used for the Peacock Dress Form Armoire
FRENCH STYLE ARMOIRE
 
I created raised panels on the front of the doors using 2 layers of thick chipboard.  At the bottom I added a decorative chipboard panel where I can display more ATCs.  The area in front of the panel is large enough to display small pieces.
Alpha Stamps Products Used for the French Style Armoire
Tick Tock Collage Sheet (Pediment and clocks)
REGENCY STYLE ARMOIRE
Alpha Stamps Products Used for the Regency Period Armoire
Resin Round Frame and Corners Set – On the front
The image below is the one I used on the front of the chest.  Feel free to download the image and use it in your art.
HANGERS & CLOTHES PINS CARRIED BY ALPHA STAMPS:
In addition to the pediments on my collage sheet Tick Tock, below are a few pediments that you can download and use for your armoire.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Altered Postcard Masquerade

Here is another 4x 6 altered postcard I designed for Alpha Stamps.  This card is loaded with all kinds of lovely ladies in fancy dress.  I’m hoping to entice you into the shop to purchase or hire your own costume!
Products I Used For This Project

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Butterfly Queens Fan and New Whimsical Frames Collage Sheet

The inspiration for this fan was the chipboard dress forms.  The first time I saw the dress forms I thought they would make a great fan.  Next, I decided on the images for the faces and then but I needed a way to frame them and that idea spawned my new collage sheet “Whimsical Frames”.  I designed the framed images so that they could be blades of a fan, a standalone piece or incorporated in some larger project.
Because I used dimensional embellishments I decide to permanently glue the fan open.  Once I made that decision I decided I needed a stand for the fan.  

I’ve build these stands in the past to display an ATC or other piece of art.  The stand is made from chipboard shoes and ornate name plates.  The only difference in this stand and others that I have made is that the back of the stand is made from combining two name plates rather than just using one.  
For embellishments on the top of the frame and the tops of the shoes I used images from my “Bejeweled” Collage Sheets.
Alpha Stamps Product I Used For This Projects
FAN

Collage Sheets

SHOE STAND


Sunday, April 7, 2013

Fashions Meilleur Postcard

This is a postcard sized piece designed for Alpha Stamps.  I really enjoyed making the little outfits for the dress forms out of ribbons, fibers, leaves and flowers.
In the side photo you can see the dimension of the little resin birds. The teardrop beads under the clock where clear.  By painting them with alcohol ink I could match them to the paper.
Products Used In This Project:
Mixed Faceted Teardrops – Crystal AB (Painted with Alcohol Ink)
Stitched Leaf Ribbon – Moss Green

HOLLY M - WINNER OF THE BEJEWELED COLLAGE SHEET I NEED YOU TO EMAIL ME AS I DON'T HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS FOR YOU SO I CAN SEND YOU THE COLLAGE SHEET. YOU CAN EMAIL USING THE EMAIL BUTTON ON THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN OF THE BLOG. THANKS!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Alice in Wonderland – We Are All Mad Here

I love Alice in Wonderland but for some reason, I have never created a piece with an Alice theme so this is my first but not my last! 
The overall size of the piece is 8 ½” tall by 5” wide.  The base is chipboard I painted red and then applied a chessboard image.  The box on the top is an ATC Shrine that I turned sideways and covered with sheet moss.
To create the stairway of cards I cut slits into a wooden candlestick and inserted and glued the cards in place.
The rabbit charm is painted with various acrylic paints.
The Arched fairy Door hanging from the bottom of the box opens to reveal a mouse.
On the top of the box, Humpty Dumpty is pouring tea into a stack of teacups.  The tea coming from the spout is Glossy Accents.  I spread the Glossy accents on a non-stick craft sheet.  Once dry, I painted it with Caramel Alcohol Ink to give it the color of tea and glued it to the spout of the teapot.  The box is about 1 ½” deep so there is lots of room to create a dimensional scene.