Be Curious

Hello friends,

I'm so excited to be here and share a fun idea-ology project with you all! Before I dive into the details, I wanted to talk about the spark of inspiration behind it. As I do every year, I recently watched the captivating entrances at the Met Gala. This year, Janelle Monae's truly brilliant outfit, a Thom Browne creation featuring a striking monocle suspended from a bowler hat, completely captivated me. It immediately sparked an idea: I had to recreate that iconic element using idea-ology products (I promise to share the inspiration photo at the end just in case you didn't see it).

To get started, I pulled all the red Collage Strips from the package. You can use any color combination from the package, I just decided to go with red.

I decided to cut up the the Collage Strips to edit out the photos since my centerpiece is a big photo image. 

The four rows of Collage Strips do not fit perfectly on the panel. Three strips fit + one strip that needs to be trimmed to fit. I placed the skinnier strip towards the center so it would be covered by the 2nd panel. If you look at the image of the final panel, you will see that you don't even notice the difference in the size of the vertical rows.

NOTE: The open space will be covered by the 2nd panel. 

The panel is thick so I added Design Tape to the edge. I picked a black trim with numbers. I used Collage Medium on the edge of the panel before adding the tape. Then set it aside to dry.

Once the tape was secure, I scribbled some Walnut Stain Distress Crayon on the edges and used a wet wipe to move the crayon around until I was satisfied.

While that is drying, I worked on the 2nd panel. I added Backdrop paper to the panel + a bit of Collage Medium over the top.

Again, I added more Design Tape to the edge of the panel. This time an alphabet with a cream background.

Once the tape was secure, I added a bit of Distress Crayon on the edges.

I used my fingertip to add Picket Fence Paint to 4 Screw Heads. Once it was dry, I added Walnut Stain Crayon over the top and rubbed it in so it looked aged.

Add the 4 Screw Heads to each corner of the panel with Collage Medium.

TIP: just between me and you, I should have waited to add the Screw Heads till after I had sandwiched the two boards together, so I could have placed heavy books on top for the drying process. It was difficult to do this with the Screw Heads in place. Live and learn!

Use your clear ruler to get a 1" straight line on the left side, then add the panels together with Collage Medium. 

While the panels are drying, I worked on a Baseboard Frame. Even though I did not take photos of the process, here's what I did:

1. Paint frame black

2. When dry, sand heavily with steel wool 

3. Scribble heavily with Walnut Stain Distress Crayon

4. Pounce over crayon with wet wipe to remove some of the crayon

Add Scor-tape to the back of the frame.

Add a transparency to the back.

(Now you can see the finished texture of the frame...paint, sand, crayon, wet wipe)

Use 3D foam squares to add the frame to the vertical panel. The foam squares are important so the frame sits up above the panel. A gear will slip under the frame at a later stage.

Next up, a wood ruler. I needed it to be thick so I decided to sandwich two rulers together. Here are the easy steps:

1. Cut rulers to size (use your Tonic scissors)

2. Punch holes at ends with Crop-A-Dile

3. Glue rulers together

4. Once dry, rub ink directly over wood surface 

5. Use your fingertip to add Collage Medium over the ink so it wicks and creates a smooth surface.

6. Dry with a heat tool or set aside to dry

Add the ruler to the bottom of the black frame with Scor-Tape. Drive two Tack Nails into the holes to secure (no I did not hammer on my glass mat).

For our centerpiece, I chose this Portrait figure and colored him with Distress Crayons. The Aged Mahogany over his jacket is just divine. The jacket, vest and neck scarf were colored directly with the crayon, then rubbed over with my index finger. I also used a Detailer Water Brush to color the buttons on his coat and his eyes. Cheeks are always done with a cotton swab + pouncing with my fingertip.

I wanted some kind of hat, so I cut this guys hat off!

Then colored it with Blueprint Sketch, Salvaged Patina (highlight) and Fossilized Amber for the hat band.

I added the hat to his head with Scotch Tape.

I loved the scarf color but then I thought it might be even better with the white dots. I made those with a POSCA Paint Pen.

I added the man with double stacks of 3D foam squares.

I used Collage Medium to add the "monocle" under the brim of his hat. It was made with a Memo Pin that I painted white, then added Walnut Stain Crayon to. He is looking mighty dapper, don't you think?

PLEASE NOTE: If you choose to cut the Memo Pin shorter, you must wear protective eyewear and cut with wire cutters. Memo Pins are made from steel so you cannot cut them with the standard Tonic scissors.

Now the gears!

I used the entire pack of Industrial Gears. 

Here are the four easy steps:

1. Paint with Iced Spruce Distress Paint.

2. Use a wet wipe to wipe away (or pounce over) the paint to give more variation. If you wipe off too much, just add more.

3. Use your fingertip to randomly add Black Soot Paint.

4. Once dry, sand gears with steel wool to remove the harsh black color and reveal the metal or paint below.

Add a wood plug to one of the gears. Add a Quote Token to anther gear with 3D Foam Squares.

Now to add everything to the panel.

On the right - the large half gear and the Quote Token (use a Tack Nail to secure to the frame).

On the left - the gear with the wood plug. The wood plug helps it to sit up above the frame and not fall off to the left. Then the small gear slips under the frame that was raised earlier with 3D Foam Squares.

Add a stamp from the Postmarked Sticker Book to the top of the frame. Secure with a piece of Cello Tape. 

Paint a Hinge Clip with Black paint, then sand with steel wool to age. Tie a bow with heavy string and add the Hinge Clip to the top of the frame. Again, another reason to have that Baseboard Frame raised from the surface.

Gosh he looks good in his fancy duds!

I love all the layers of the Industrial Gears - I think that is what makes this so interesting!

I guess its time to share my inspiration!!

Now that you've read all the steps, you can see just how easy and straightforward this project is. I sure hope you'll give it a go!

Now carry on,

paula

Prize Ribbon Project: Be Curious

Hello friends,

I am here today sharing another project featuring the new kid in town, Prize Ribbon! You can find all the details (including a step-out tutorial) for this project, on the Ranger Projects Page.  

Thank you for stopping by!

now carry on,
paula

The Liverpool Three

 Hello friends,

Thought I would share a fun project using another of the new Paper Dolls GROUPS.

As I thumbed though the pack of Backdrops 2, I spotted a vintage map of Liverpool.  I loved the colors of the orange and blue together and knew I had found the catalyst for the project.  Next I went to the bag of Paper Doll Groups and picked these three young men I could see working at the docks.  Of course here they are on their day off!  Well lets get started so I can explain more of the details!

I started with the small Vignette Tray as my substrate. It was the prefect size for the three young men.  I covered the outside of the tray, including the lip edge, with Backdrop paper that looks like an old piece of crackled wood.  On the inside, I added the Liverpool map making sure I centered the word, Liverpool, at the center top.  Once the tray was fully covered with paper, I painting a thin layer of Collage Medium over the top to seal the surface.

Backdrops are smaller than the paper we have produced in the past so I did not have enough of the crackle paper left to cover the entire back of the tray.  That was not a problem as I just chose a couple other papers from the pack to cover the back.  The Backdrops work together so seamlessly, crackle can go with typography which goes with pattern.  It's just that simple.

The next step is to add the shelf. I used one of the Eclectic Elements Pinked trim pieces since they can be easily cut to size with Tonic Scissors. I cut the trim piece and glued it into the tray with Collage Medium, leaving it to dry for while I worked on the Paper Dolls and some of the metals.  Once it was dry, I added a strip of the same crackle paper that I used on the outside of the tray.  I brushed Collage Medium over the top of the paper to seal so I could use my Walnut Stain Distress Crayon (with a damp paint brush) over the the surface - especially in the corners.  I also took a little bit of Speckled Egg Distress Paint on my finger tip and ran it along the pinked edge so the blue paint would skip along the surface.

You might be asking how I knew where to glue the shelf?  Well I placed the Tin Top (the thing with the star on the front) into the bottom of the tray.  I knew the shelf had to be just above the Tin Top - just that easy.

I wanted to add the wood Number Block 3 to the right side using the new Hook Clasp.  The Hook Clasp is the same one that I used as the closure on my Shrine project in my last post.  I added an eye screw to both the top of the Vignette Tray and the Wood Block. The eye screws are easy to twist into place if you start with a pilot hole made with an awl. 

I colored some string with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and dried it with my heat tool.  The string was looped through the eye screw then evened up.

I had previously glued a Hitch Fastener to the left side of the tray.  Once it is was secure, I was able to wrap the string around the Hitch Fastener and secure it with Collage Medium on the backside.  Once it's set, it's not going anywhere.

The new Paper Doll Groups have some wonderful characters to work with.  The three boys were colored with Distress Crayons.  I only colored one of boys suits - obviously it's the suit on the right.  I used the Chipped Sapphire Distress Crayon directly on the suit, then rubbed it with my finger till I could see the details of the coat.  The flowers were colored using a dry Water Brush (I like how the stiff bristles of the Water Brush move damp crayon onto the Paper Doll surface).  The Paper Doll Group was added to the tray with small wood blocks to give them the needed height over the string that runs behind them.

I grunged up some Mini Sprocket Gears with paint and Alcohol Ink and added them beneath the feet of the group. The string is just some cheesecloth I added to mimic straw.

For the bottom portion of the tray, I created a grungy bottle using Distress Crackle Paint Clear Rock Candy.  To do that, coat the Corked Vial with Collage Medium and let it dry.  Rub Distress Crackle Paint over the surface and let that dry.  Drip Mushroom Alcohol Ink over the Crackle Paint to color the bottle.

I also added Remnant Rub numbers to a Metallic Sticker and a bug to the tiny tag.

To complete the bottle, I rubbed some paint into the recessed portion of a Machinery Head and added it the top of the cork.

On the right side of the lower section, I added the Tin Top, Mini Flair and two of the new Industrial Gears. Both the Tin Top and the Industrial Gears have a wood block behind them for support. I used a small amount of shredded cheesecloth to disguise the wood block that sits right behind the center of the gears. I bet you can't even see it. I just glued the block in place, then added the gears with more Collage Medium to the Tin Top and wood block.  Once set, the Collage Medium holds everything like cement (those gears are not going anywhere).

I liked the idea of an industrial handle at the top of the tray.  I used paint and Alcohol ink, Distress Crayons to grunge up the handle and the added Hardware Heads.  Once glued with Collage Medium, I kept the tray in a standing position until it was set.

As you can see this tray is easy to create.  You just need to include some drying time to add the Hitch Fastener, the shelf and the Industrial Gears.  Other than that, it moves along quite easily.

Thanks for stopping by to read my post...I really appreciate it!

Now carry on,
paula