Daydreams and an Altered Chocolate Box

Hi everyone! Maggi here to show you a new project from Alchemist Jo, an altered chocolate box:

Jo says: I used an empty chocolate box as my base. (I had to scoff the contents really quickly so I could use the box, tee hee!)

I particularly liked this box because it had a wide edge, much like a box frame.

I LOVED the GA retro/vintage papers in my ACME Kit and was totally inspired by the page with the picture of the little boy eating an ice cream while resting from his chores. He had such a day dreamy facial expression and it just got me thinking……

I covered the box with torn strips of GA old printed paper using Mod Podge, and then gessoed over the top, wiping away the excess so that the the print was still visible. Once this was dry I tinted the paper with Distress Inks (Weathered Wood and Pumice Stone). I cut out the GA image of the boy with some of his background and stuck it in the bottom right hand corner. I then used more images from the ACME Kit and collaged them around the boy, suggesting that he his daydreaming about different ‘boy’ things (terribly sexist I know, but he is a kinda retro image when sexism was alive and well!) – fishing, ships/explorers, butterflies, nature, America etc. I used a GA ADMIT ONE admission ticket from the Blue Streak Mixed Media Color Kit, smearing gesso over it to dull the bright colour. I tried to keep the colour palette blue.

I found the parachute man in a charity shop (yes, I’m the mad woman who is rummaging around in the children’s pocket money toy baskets. You’d be surprised what treasures you can find in there!!) and suspended him from the top of the box using old string. I secured this string through the top of the box using GA jean rivets from the Wedding Night Mixed Media Color Kit, knotting the string to stop it pulling through.

I cut out a sentence from the GA page which the boy picture had come from, “He ate ice cream while he rested” and stuck it to the front outside edge of the box.

Around the edge I then stamped a quote/poem by H Wadsworth:

Sit in reverie and
Watch the changing color of the waves
That break upon the idle seashore
Of the mind.

I loved the way it summed up daydreaming.

Another amazing altered project, Jo!  The parachute guy is pure genius!

Now go glue something awesome onto some awesome something!

Maggi

Wendy’s geek chic

Hello!

Michelle here with a FUN project from Wendy Morris!

Wendy is a very cool and multi-talented woman- someone I would turn to for advice on all things crafty.

Today she shows us that she has a wonky fun side too- yaay!

Oh MAN- this page uses all my fave scrap motifs! Numbers? check! Misting? check! Strips? check! Stars? Check! Friggin' AWESOME!

As Wendy explains:

“Yes, I can be a lil’ bit nerdy, a lil’ bit quirky, and a ‘lil’ bit energetic.  Nerdy in that that I crunch numbers and I’m always up for a challenge in my day job as an auditor. I will also admit I have a passion for learning new things. But I always tap into that other side of my personality to unleash my creativity, find the humor in everyday, think positive and enjoy life.”

I LOVE this particular detail:

Cork letters continue the school theme established by the title. The layering of text papers from the Hot for Teacher kit is subtle but provides great pop against the title. I'm LOVING the Tattered Angels Olive mist here too!

Wendy used the Hot For Teacher kit and a strip of red punchinella for this page. The kit includes some great number and letter themed papers which Wendy made her own by misting with Mister Huey in Calico Cream. I also love cluster of details focused off to one side- asymmetric design is really hot right now.

Details please!!!

Eye glasses rub-ons, numbers brads and Maya Road star pin and wood ruler- awesome! That Lawn Fawn glasses stamp is so darned cute!

Wendy's lively self portraits always make me smile! When she uses them in multiples like this I'm reminded of the paintings and newspapers in the Harry Potter books where the subjects move and interact with the viewer.

One last great detail shot:

This seemingly random handwritten detail adds a contrasting curved element to a page that uses white space and linear embellishments very effectively.

So Wendy you rocked it yet again! What’s next? (I hear a chorus softly singing Disney World)

Chells out!

Visit with us on the social net- we’d love to see you around!


Scrapbooking With Texture and Technique

Hi everyone! Maggi here to share a fantastically distressed, gorgeously grunge-y scrapbook layout from Alchemist Misty!

Misty says: The photo is of my grandparents. My Grandpa died about 7 years ago and I was very close to him and continue to be extremely close to my Grandma. I love seeing the pics of them together from that time because I can’t help but to imagine what they must have been like. My Grandpa was always incredibly ornery and full of jokes. In fact, my Grandma and grandpa’s first date was a result of his ornery little ways!

My Grandma had a date with a guy from her high school one night but my Grandpa told her that her date had to cancel. My Grandpa, being the sweet guy he was, insisted that she still go see the movie with him. My Grandma was reluctant but decided to go out with him and his cousin (who was her best friend) anyway. You can imagine my Grandma’s surprise when her date who had supposedly cancelled showed up to that same movie. It obviously impressed her that Grandpa would go through such great lengths to get a date with her, because they were inseparable ever since!

This was the first page I have ever made without already having a photo in mind. I really just wanted to play with the PVC punchinella (my main inspiration) and modeling paste and knew that the rectangle sequin waste would create an awesome textured background! So, I started using the punchinella as a stencil and smeared modeling paste randomly around different parts of the page. Then I misted the page with some mists I made (I used Dr. Ph. Martins calligraphy ink, water, and perfect pearls powder.)

I painted some White Ouchless Cardboard with Folkart gold glitter to give it some shimmer. I also added a braille page from the ACME Kit and misted it with some purple and blue mists and added gold glitter paint.

I made some flowers from music sheets and used a leaf from the Wedding Night Mixed Media Color Kit I found some white ribbon in the Lace Ribbon Variety Pack and stained it with coffee to give it an aged look.

Amazing job Misty! There is so much texture and technique on this layout, I have a hard time picking out my favorite part! I love the idea of using coffee to give an “aged” look. Have you used this technique before?

Don’t forget go glue something awesome onto some awesome something!

Maggi

Chrissy’s Mini cabinet of curiosities

Hello!

Michelle here with a great project from the multi-talented Christina Colon using our Knick Knack Paddy Whack Kit.

Check it! Isn’t this AWESOME? I love the color and finish of this project!

We've all seen those great Printer's Trays during our Sunday flea market runs. Here, Chrissy has really made her project shine by painting it white and adding some beautiful metal corners and a drawer knob on top.

Chrissy explains: ” My vision was to keep this project true to my personality, style and character. I’m funky, fun and quirky and this shadowbox is definitely all of those things.

I usually stain wood projects so this time I painted it with gesso and applied Tim Holtz
crackle paint here and there to add texture.  Once the crackle paint dried, I rubbed some distress ink into the cracks.”

I love Chrissy's hand made touches. The beads and skullies in the center are remainders from a previous project and the stained acrylic bubbles in a jar is a great detail- I'll have to try painting some in a future project.

“The square bird and girl images were cut from the acetate sheet used to store clear stamps. (I thank the marvelous Miss Amy Wing for that bit of inspirational genius)! I used ephemera that came with the Knick Knack Paddy Whack Curio kit as well as some Hot Pink punchinella and numerous pieces from the Pink Parts, Green Envy and It’s All Gravy,Baby Brown mixed media color kits.

The blue tile in the top cubby is an altered Scrabble game piece Chrissy painted blue and applied a Hambly rub-on to. She then covered it with Crackle Accents and added a Tattered Angels frame on it.

I used papers from Sassafras Lass, Origami papers from the Moshi Moshi kit and a magazine page to which I applied a light layer of gesso so just the colors of the page peek through.”

A great tip from Chrissy- use hot glue on a wound up hemp twine to create that wonderful roll around the key.

“My finishing touches are the fancy-schmancy corners by Tim Holtz and that WONDERFUL treasure of a drawer knob!  I love that li’l touch!  And no curio is complete without a rusty key.  I wrapped some hemp twine around it tightly and let go of it.  It loosened up and when I liked how it looked, I hot glued that bad boy.”

This is a great project Chrissy! I have my own curio kit just sitting there all lonely right now… I think I’m… OFF TO THE SCRAP DESK (wooshy flying noise).

Chells out!

Check us out via the social nets mi gente!


Altered Matchbox

Hi everyone! Maggi here to show you a new project from Alchemist Jo, an altered matchbox:

Jo tells us:
I used a larger size matchbox, 6.5cm x 11cm. I chose the gorgeous peacock feather design napkin from the Paper Napkin Art Kit. I peeled away the top layer of the 2-ply napkin and stuck it to the outside of the box using Mod Podge. The ribbons around the edge was snipped out of clothing (you know the annoying ribbon that is suppose to help you hang up your clothes but then always hangs out when you’re wearing them?!) I have so much of this ribbon in many different shades!!

While this was drying I wiped Staz-on black ink pad over the outside surface of the inner drawer, and painted the inside with black acrylic paint. I also gave the inner surface a light cover of glitter glue to add a dark shimmer. I lined the ‘floor’ of the drawer with mirrored card (from my stash, saved from some underwear packaging – the packaging turned out to be better than the underwear!) I knew I wanted to use a film negative image of a glamorous film star and to create a grown up glamorous style of matchbox. Using 2 types of tape, I adhered the film negative.

I took a grey paper flower, tinted it with ink and using a paintbrush, added more shimmer with glitter glue. I took a black bead from the Black Out Mixed Media Color Kit and stitched it to the centre of the flower. I stuck this to the inner drawer using Mod Podge. To the front of the ‘drawer’ I stuck some more mirrored card, and then used a found earring as a drawer pull, bending over the stick part of the earring and securing with tape on the inside of the drawer.

I then covered the outside box with cheap black net. I liked the extra layer and texture achieved. Onto this I glued a piece of Punchinella – I LOVED the petrol blue colours shimmering in this Punchinella. I then took another grey paper flower, this one is bigger than the other one, and gave it the same treatment as the smaller one – ink and glitter glue. I had a found ‘diamond’ button (missing a couple of the gems but I like that, faded glamour and all that) – I broke off the shank and stuck it to the flower using Mod Podge. I adhered this to the surface of the box, on top of the Punchinella. To the underside of the box I stuck 4 jean-type rivets from the ACME Kit, to make little box feet.

Fantastic work Jo!

Now go glue something awesome onto some awesome something!

Maggi

Plastic, hot glue and you. Some do’s (more don’ts)

Hello, Michelle here.

My idea of a good time is: cut paper up, glue it onto more paper. But I must admit adding paint, 3D items and mixed media techniques to the mix is very exciting. Today I’m sharing 2 projects along with a few DOs and DON’Ts I learned while on the make.

First up:

A page I made for the True Xoxo Girls challenge blog using one of my favorite color combos. That little pink monkey came with the Pink Parts kit- LOVE HIM!

DO: Use the Scarlet Fever and Pink Parts mixed media color kits together. The color clash is AWESOME! Throw in some Gauche punchinella for texture why don’t cha? And feel free to cluster brads. They multiply in their packets if left unsupervised for too long.

DO: Reuse plastic bubble packaging to make “shaker” embellishments. To make this photo backed shaker, I glued the plastic cover over an Instax print. Inside went heart punches as well as glitter, sequins and beads from the mixed media kits. I used Zip Dry glue. Which leads me to:

DON’T: Use Zip Dry glue for this project- especially in an enclosed windowless space. After I came to (ha ha!) I realized hot glue is easier. Zip Dry dries FAST (No.way!) so the top edge was rock hard by the time I got around to the other end. Hot glue gets cold quickly but remains pliable so you can move the photo around after you attach it to the loaded bubble. Oh and:

DO: Glue the edges of your PHOTO and attach it to the loaded bubble… not the other way around. I learned this the hard way. I blame the fumes.

My husband's idea of a proper outfit consists of a too small summer shirt and striped pants that match nothing so I was very pleased with this. WTG, hun!

DO: mist the color red. If you STILL think (as I do) that it looks a bit… RED RUM!, tone it down with pink and cream colored mist. Or put a loud distracting piece of paper over the mess- that works too.

DO: Use a mascara brush and flick it energetically over the paper for an extremely fine spray (with “no clumps”). You can use a paint brush but that uses a lot of product. I get chintzy when using 5 dollars per ounce of anything.

DON’T: Ready, Aim, FIRE straight down onto the page- unless large unpredictable blobs of color are intended. Straight down is great for stencils or layering but if you just want some color on the page it’s better to use a brush or the tube end of the misting sprayer.

Here’s a quick card with scraps left over from other projects:

October Afternoon Rocket Age paper, American Crafts Amy Tangerine fabric paper for the pleats, and alphas from My Little Shoebox. Sequins from Scarlet Fever mixed media color kit.

DO: make photos part of the shaking fun. Buuuut….

DON’T: Add pinked edges and red mesh to the photos without an outside smooth edged layer to prevent everything sticking together when shaken. I had to futz around with this for a while to get all three photos to show. It was quite… vexing.

Getting the red and white twine to STAY STILL over the pleats led to major scrap dramz- hot glue to the rescue. Finger prints? Who needs those?

DO: use an anti-static cloth (the kind you may have for your camera lens) to keep small punches from sticking to the plastic cover. The glitter needed a spray of Static Guard anti-static spray to lay still.

How about you? Do you have a favorite technique you’d like to share? Link your project up to our Flickr page and we may just feature it here on the blog!

Have fun creating!




Jo’s Altered Postage Box

Hi everyone! Maggi here to share a terrific altered box from Alchemist Jo!

Jo tells us:

I took a plain wooden box bought AGES ago from a charity (thrift) shop. This box is used as my postage stamp box (postage stamps from round the world to use in artwork rather than for sticking on letters). I tore strips of paper from the Foreign Text Paper Kit – I particularly liked using the foreign language text because the stamps are also from all around the world, and stuck them to the outside of the box with Mod Podge. Once dry, I then smeared gesso over the top, wiping away the excess. I lightly sanded the edges to give even more of a distressed look, and it also ensures any inks ‘take’ really well where the gesso has been sanded off.

I dragged Distress Ink (Forest Moss and Pumice Stone) over the edges of the box, smearing it with kitchen towel to soften any hard edges. I took a piece of Punchinella, and stuck it to the lid with Mod Podge. Once thoroughly dry I smeared this with gesso – I did this to dull the shine. This left quite an uneven look but I’m cool with that. I used a gold acrylic paint dabber over an area on the Punchinella, and extending slightly beyond the punchinella. I took one of the napkins (with a bird design) from the Paper Napkin Art Kit, and peeled the top thin layer of paper away from the white lining paper. I cut out the bird, not worrying about fussy cutting, just leaving a small margin around the image. I stuck this over the punchinella with Mod Podge. I chose a few mixed foreign stamps and stuck them on the opposite side to the bird, giving them a light smearing of gesso to soften their colours.

(The next technique I learned from Carmen) For the quote – part of a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson – I printed this out onto tissue paper, cut out each line and then stuck this to the lid. For my fussy printer, I have to lightly spray a piece of A4 printing paper with repositional adhesive spray and then smooth another piece of paper over it a couple of times to take away the excess stickiness. THEN put plain white tissue paper on the printing paper, smooth it with your hands and trim to size. The tissue should quite easily be removed from the paper once printed. I drew around the edges of poem with charcoal pencil.

I dragged the gold acrylic dabber round the box, particularly at the edges. Finally, for the box, I smudged charcoal pencil around the edges.

For the clasp hook:
I took a precut rinchie (round inchie) and stuck another piece of napkin from the Paper Napkin Art Kit as a background, then cut out another bird’s head from the same napkin. I edged the rinchie with the gold dabber and also painted the back of the rinchie with it. I stuck the ‘stamps’ word onto the circle. I used a big bite to make the hole at the top and attached a metal round thing (I can’t remember what it’s called!!) and twisted some rusted metal to make a hook which fits through the clasp.

Fantastic work Jo! I love the idea of having a dedicated (and altered!) box for stamps to keep handy for projects!

Now go glue something awesome onto some awesome something!

Maggi

Wendy’s homage to a true lady- her Mom

Good Morning folks!

Michelle here with an astoundingly beautiful project for design team member Wendy Morris.

For this project, Wendy turned inexpensive raw pine shadow box from her local craft store into a touching homage to her Mom.

Take a look:

The front cover is a modern mosaic of clear tiles, photos and fun vintage patterns.

Wendy explains:

“I created this mini altered shadow box in tribute to my mother, Josie.  She is truly an inspiration and an icon of beauty, endless love, dedication, support, and loyalty.  I’ve always been in love with these vintage photos of her and made copies to use for this project. “

Here is a close up so you can see two of the things I love about Wendy’s work: her ability to work with vintage materials and she her total ROCKAGE of Tim Holtz fragments in her work: (Yes, “rockage” is a word. I use it in Scrabble, so there!)

Materials: Paper from Simple Stories, Glitz, Fancy Pants and Echo Park. Lace from Gauche Alchemy Ribbon Lace kit, ephemera from Gauche Alchemy Lady Marmelade Orange mixed media kit, Tim Holtz- Ideology Clear Fragments. Krylon Spray Paint.

“I call my Mom ‘sassy diva’.  She’s a lady who doesn’t look her age, someone of strength and independence who brings sparkle to those who meet her with her sweet personality.  She is truly a beautiful soul who also can make you laugh as well. “

Once open, the box reveals four compartments which Wendy decorated to represent different aspects of her mother's life and personality.

“The embellishing really started to unfold as I thought of how I wanted to symbolize the story of my mother. If you look closely, the paper behind her mini photos is made from old recipes.  She can cook some soul food that makes the soul jump through the roof! “

This makes me want to raid my Mother's photo stash! Materials: Recollections Glitter Alphabet, Maya Road Mini Wooden Spools, Bingo Number and Ribbon , Martha Stewart Doily, Tim Holtz Mini Clothes Hangers and Flowers from Prima.

“The mini thread spools & dress pattern symbolize her love for sewing.  She makes the most amazing hand stitched quilts, clothes, embroidery and crochet. She even upholstered furniture back in the day. “

LOVE those mini spools and cookie cutters! Mod Podge and dress pattern paper make for the perfect neutral but textured backdrop.

“The flowers signify her amazing “green thumb” and the beautiful flower gardens in and around her home.  I’ll always have memories of my Mom’s amazing love for flowers and how they are always picture perfect!”

A perfect way to use some of your flower stash for maximum WOW effect.

For this project Wendy used the Lady Marmalade Mixed Media Color Kit, The Lace Ribbon Variety Pack and the Acme Subscription kit for the dress pattern and recipe papers.

I imagine this gift went over extremely well. I know my Mom would FLIP if she opened a hand-crafted box with clusters of bright flowers inside! I may have to try this for Mother’s Day. Thanks for the tip Wendy!

Go on and have a productive day!

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Music to Create By

Hi everyone! Maggi here!

So what’s going on in the background while you’re creating? Sometimes I have the TV on, I catch up on shows while my kids are taking a nap or if they’re still awake I’m probably gluing things together while listening to the kiddie chaos that is a three year old screaming along to Barney or The Wiggles.

Some artists prefer to create in silence, with only their thoughts for company. Me, well I’ve got too many voices in my head for silence to be relaxing so I always reach for music to get me in a creative frame of mind. So here’s a small sampling of what I reach for in my more artistic times. I also listed some project types you can work on while listening to them, although any of them would be great while you’re making anything.

An American Prayer by Jim Morrison with music by The Doors

An American Prayer is an album that was put together after Jim Morrison’s death containing some of his poetry (recorded by him in previous studio sessions) with added music by the surviving Doors members. I have to say that this is one of my all time favorite CDs and it sets the creative mood perfectly. I find it so inspiring every time I listen to it.

Perfect For: Art journaling

Temptation by Emma Wallace

I’ve been a big fan of Emma Wallace for a few years now. She describes her music as “modern ragtime” which is a perfect phrase for her style. Temptation is one of her more recent collections and I find it so soothing and inspiring. She’s got a voice like no other and I can’t get enough of her poetic songs.

Perfect For: Painting and collage

Complete Best by Perfume

If you have not discovered the world of Jpop (Japanese pop music) yet, you are MISSING OUT HARDCORE. There is nothing that can get my paint brush bopping like the sugar coated fun that is Jpop. And Perfume is one of my favorite groups. You can’t help but smile and create something sunny and fun when you’re listening to Perfume.

Perfect for: ATCs, scrapbooking and staying sane while you’re fussy cutting.

Cat Stevens Box Set

Any album by Cat Stevens is worth having but the Box Set of Cat Stevens is truly amazeballs. I first fell in love with his music when I saw Harold and Maude. (My mom would force me to watch it when I was a kid because it was “so great”. It wasn’t until I was older that I truly appreciated the mastery of this movie.) Cat Stevens did the entire soundtrack for the movie and this box set contains everything Cat.

Perfect For: Art journaling, collage, painting

With Teeth by Nine Inch Nails

Oh boy, this was a toughie. I love me some NIN but I had a hard time choosing between With Teeth, a more recent NIN offering that is truly awesome or Pretty Hate Machine which is a freakin’ NIN classic. But in the end I chose “With Teeth” as it really gets my creative blood pumping.

Perfect For: Freaking out when you’ve messed something up. Also art journaling, image transfer, stamping

I’ve got to stop now because if I don’t, this post will be 2,000 CDs long, I love creating to music that much. Thanks for taking a peek at my favorite music to create by! Now I have to know, what music do you have to have when you’re creating and what are you making when you listen to it???

Let me know in the comments and then go glue something awesome onto some awesome something!

Maggi

**All images from Amazon.com**

Giveaway: Win Some Gauche Alchemy!

Happy Saturday! Amy here to announce a Gauche Alchemy giveaway!

Unlike the poor dude pictured here, our contests are designed to be humiliation free. No risk participation! Go for it!

So, here’s the idea. Spread the word about Gauche Alchemy and get a chance to win a delish goody bag on us. It will have a little of this and a dash of that – guaranteed some of our favorite finds.

From now through Valentines Day, any Tweet that includes the hashtag #GaucheAlchemy and a link to our blog (http://GaucheAlchemy.com) will be entered to win. Simple right?

Same goes for Facebook – any post that meets these two criteria will be entered to win (make sure to mark that post public so we can see it).

You can also enter on Pinterest by pinning your favorite product from our shop (found at http://GaucheAlchemy.artfire.com) or pinning a project that features our products (yours or anyone else’s, including our designers), of course including #GaucheAlchemy and our blog link in the description of the photo.

Three ways to win! Get crackin’!