Old Style Gramophone Box with Graphic 45 Curtain Call paper

This project started off as an idea I got at the 2015 CHA. At the Sizzix Eclips booth, they were building 3D items, like an Iron Man mask. I found out that they had created the objects in a 3D modelling program (like Max or Maya) and flattened it out (unwrapped) for cutting. Well considering my degree is in Game Art & Design this sounded VERY exciting!

 

So, I dusted off my modelling skills. And created a very simple model of the speaker horn. And after a few false starts I unwrapped my model and cut it on the Eclips. I was pretty happy with how this worked overall. But I did not make the best pattern when I unwrapped the model, so the base of the cone needed extra support. Which it got via a cardboard cone (which got a copper metal jacket) and apiece of copper piping.

After creating my cone, I went ahead and made the base cabinet for the Gramophone. I decided I wanted to make a drawer unit and built a 9 x 9 x 4.5 box with three sides. I then made a slightly smaller bow sans top to be the drawer. (I used medium weight chipboard for all my construction.)

At the bottom I added a second box that was 10 x 10 x 1 that I attached to the bottom of the open sided box as both support and extra decoration.

After I finished my basic construction, I began to decorate the box.  I decided on Graphic 45's Curtain Call paper because it suited the vintage feel of an old time Gramophone and reflected the idea of music and dance in its patterns. Around the sides of the box I used a pattern of dancers interspersed with a geometric pattern. To get a little more dimension, I glued the top piece of pattern paper to some of the chipboard scraps and trimmed it with a slight border.

On the box top I used the beautiful peacock feather pattern. I added a "record" made up of polka dot and geometric patterned paper. I pop dotted the "45" to give it a little more height.

I used the same yellow geometric pattern as the label to line the drawer. And on the sides, I used the black and kraft colored music notes.

For the cone, I started with the music note paper. But when I looked at the size of the cone when placed on the box it seemed really small and unimpressive, I decided I needed to improve my speaker cone.  To do this, I added teardrop shaped petals to the inside of the original cone. I made these with black card stock adding a smaller teardrop of peacock feather paper on one side and the showgirl ladies on the other.

The new and improved cone looked much better and suited the size and shape of the base. (What a relief!) Now to attach the speaker and add embellishments.

To add the speaker I used a paint bottle lid that fit inside the copper piping. I first tried attaching the cone with E6000. But this glue was a bit too flexible. Instead I ended up using a hot glue gun and lots of glue.  But in the end it was attached well and stayed.

For embellishments, I added a matching G45 door knob, large brad and small brads to look like they could be the controls for the gramophone. I also added a clothespin colored with copper paint to match the metal on the speaker cone to be the needle on the record.

On the box base, I added a G45 drawer pull to the front for the drawer. I also added some G45 washi tape and  Prima Finnibar square brads to the lip of the base. And to finish the gramophone, at the bottom I added the new G45 claw feet. Oh My Gosh these feet are so cool looking; they add just the right amount of vintage. (Gotta get another set!)

I decided not to add alot of bling or extras because I felt like the speaker horn was so complex that it was best to keep the decorations on the simple side. And I really dont think the project needs a lot of bells whistles or sparkle added to it.  What do you think? does it need anything else?

G45 Precious Memories Shadow Box

I really enjoy how this project came out. I think it is very pretty, fanciful and fun, just like a project about these silly sweet and beautiful kiddos should be. (It started out a wee bit different. read about that here.) I wanted to make a wall or window hanging decor piece that could hang in almost any room.
 

I began with the cream, four windowed Graphic 45 shadow box. And to decorate I used G45 Precious Memories papers and some Prima embellishments. First, i lined two of the inner windows with the Sugar & Spice and Puppy Dog Tails papers. I love these little paper doll baby outfits. How darned cute.

In fact, I liked how these papers looked so much that I added it around the out side edge too.

I then used the pink and blue floral paterns from the Cherish and Patty cake designs to line the last two inside boxes. On the front, I used the plain pattern from Cuddle time. I then cut 1/2 inch strips of the hearts from Cutie pie and centered them in the frame. I added small chip board pieces to the corners.

On the top and bottom of the frame I added the phrases from Puppy Dog Tails (Snips and snails....) and Sugar & Spice (Sugar and spice....) I really like how these finish off the front of the shadow box.

I added some ribbon to the sides for hanging the shadowbox. I chose a pink and white stripe and layered a blue check over it.

I then began to work with the flowers. To start, I punched hydrangea blossoms using the Martha Stewart punch. I really just used the selvage from the paper I used to cover the frame. I bent/rounded the petals after punching.

I started in the corners by the ribbon and added bigger flowers from Prima's Butterfly and Watercolor collections. Then I began surrounding the lager flowers with the ones I punched and a few smaller Prima flowers.
 

I added flowers around all four outside corners. Since the piece will be hanging, I didn't have to worry about the bottom being flat. In the top corners, where the bigger flowers are, I added two of the vellum butterflies by Prima. These look so weirdly real that they seem like they could move.

After finishing the decoration on the outside, it was time to work on the focal points on the inside. I chose some pictures of the two amazing kids. (Photos were taken by xxx for a friend.) And printed and fussy cut out the figures. I played around with which boxes to place them in, then glued the photos directly to the back acrylic piece.
 

Steampunk ATC its a Contest Winner (Honorable Mention)

On March 14, I attended the Original Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson, CA for the first time. I decided I would also enter the ATC contest while I was there. And my card got Honorable Mention! Yay!!
 

 

I took the theme from my monthly ATC group at Custom Impressions - gears or wheels. For the card, I started off with a pattern paper base. I used the "Clockworks" paper from Graphic 45's Steampunk Spells 8x8 pad. I love the dimension in this pattern, especially for a monotone looking print.

I then added some multicolor metal gilding to the right side and upper left corner. I really like the texture and color the gilding brought to the ATC. I also added a Tim Holtz word band on the left side.

Next, I diecut gear shapes on metal sheets and grunge board. I tinted the grunge board with brass distress paint and walnut distress ink.

The gears were added to the card background, with one being pop dotted to add a layer of dimension. A G45 brad was added to the center of the grunge board gear.
 

 

For the central image of the ATC, I choose a stamp of a woman with gears in her hair from Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante line. I stamped it on watercolor paper with black Stazon ink.

I colored the image with Prima watercolor pencils using a water brush to blend. I tried to achive a vintage, hand colored look. After the watercolor was dry, glitter and shine was added to the gears with Zig wink of stella pens.

When the image was colored, I fussy cut the lady. And then added some embellishments, gears and a number die by Tim Holtz, then a Graphic 45 brad.

The stamp was popped dotted onto the background. And as a finishing touch, I added s little glitter. to the gears.

Class Alert! Gift Box for a Wine Bottle with Artisan Style by G45

Come join me at Custom Impressions on April 11th from 1:30 - 6 to learn how to make this really cool box. It is sized to hold a wine bottle and features Graphic 45's Artisan Style paper. Would make an awesome house warming gift. Cost is $30. Bring a standard tool bag.

Space is limited. Kits may be available upon request. For more information or to secure your spot contact Custom Impressions. phone - (562) 430-8100 or website - http://www.ciscraps.com/

An Exciting Month of March!

I am very happy to announce that I am this month's guest designer for  Blacque Diamond's Art Theapy Creations (ATC) design team.

This March should be very exciting. I will be teaching some new classes at Custom Impressions. (Announcements coming soon.) And will be adding some new projects and tutorials on the blog.

I hope you have some exciting plans for March too!
<3L

A Mother of a Pop Up Card

 
This ia a pop up card I made using the New Prima Bloom stamp "Mother." I love all the flowers in her hair. And I am really into her having such a neutral expression, I think the stamp can work well to express different feelings and emotions. To color her, I used the Prima watercolor pencils. (Also a new arrival.) These pencils really are amazing, giving you that light, airy look of water color paints.

For the pop up mechanism,I used Stampendous' new die. It is really cool and designed specifically to work with their stamp and die sets like the butterflies on the bottom and background of the card. These butterflies are part of a set of matching stamps and dies, also by Stampendous.

The die looks weird, I know. The part that does the pop up is the center section of connected rectangles. I creates flaps that you attach the popped up pieces too. I actually left 2 of the smaller ones blank.

 really like how well the stamps from these two lines work together to make a beautiful card. As I get some of the New stuff from CHA and also sort and clean my Old crafting stuff, I realize that I dont have to keep products and brands separated. That combining different stamp lines or paper companies will really extend the use of what you already have.

Do you like this pop up die's style? would you use to expand your card library?