Showing posts with label Gemstones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gemstones. Show all posts

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Turn Your Favorite Scrapbook Paper Into Wall Art in 4 Simple steps!

Welcome back  for an extremely easy project that is sure to spruce up any room. It can be made as simple as you want or you may embellish it with stunning flowers, gems and trinkets.


 Turn your favorite scrapbook paper (you know the stuff... it's been in your stash for so long because you won't dare cut into it or cover it up with photos because it is so pretty) into decorative wall art panels.


Are you ready to get started?

Here we go... 


Supplies: 
  • Beautiful Scrapbook Papers to match your room
  • Embellishments of  flowers, gems, book pages and trinkets and words
  • Picture Hanging Hardware for the back  
  • Helmar Acid Free Glue 
  • 12 x 12 wood board 1/2 inch thick so you can add the hardware to the back (as many as you desire to make... it works best if you make them in pairs, 2, 4, 6, 8 depending on the space you wish to hang them.) 
  •  

Step #1: 

Spread your Helmar Acid Free Glue over 1/2 of your board (I bought a board at the big box hardware store and they even cut it for me into 12 x 12 blocks for free) or you can purchase them at a local hobby and craft stores pre-cut.  This is raw wood so the glue will absorb faster to into the surface, I used a bit more then I would usually.   You can gesso the wood prior to this step and use less glue and save a painting step later on.


Step #2: 

Place your beautiful scrapbook page over the top of the Acid Free Glue while it is wet and use a Helmar Glue Spreader/Old Credit Card/School ID to smooth out all bubbles and creases. I prefer for this step a flimsy credit card type card so that there is a softer touch to the paper minimizing the chance of snagging (Paper vs. Cardstock). Begin smoothing out in the center of the paper and then to the edges. 

*Repeat step #1 for the second half of the board and then repeat step #2 to finish adhering the scrapbook paper to the board.
 

Step #3: 

With a sanding block, distress/remove any excess parts of paper from around the edges. Round the corners with this tool as well.  Clean up any excess Acid Free Glue that may have seeped out in Step #2 and paint the sides of the boards (if you did not gesso them prior to step #1).

* If you want some simple panels (like the teal ones in the display photo at the top of this post) you could be done. How easy was that? (Skip to Step #6)

Step #4 (Optional): 

Use your glue to adhere your lettering prior to any embellishments.  I used a tiny paint brush to apply the glue to the back of the letters so there would not be much excess. I lined it up with my quilting ruler to help keep a strait line with the board. The praise I chose to add was the Chinese Proverb: A Book is like a Garden carried in the pocket.


Step #5 (Optional): 

Embellish with your style! I added these book pages using steps #1 - #3 and more flowers, bing, gemstones and trinkets too. Have fun with this!

Step #6: 

Install the picture hanging hardware on the back side of our panels. Make sure to have the right side up.

I hope you enjoyed this project. It is one of my favorites and oh so easy to create something for a powder room, livingroom, kitchen and can be done in almost any scrapbook paper size, 6" x 6", 8" x 8", 12" x 12".

These could also make great gifts for Mother's day, Teacher appreciation, birthdays etc.

Have a fantastic day!

~ L. Grace Lauer

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

"Troisième Presenting" a Canvas Diptych - Peacock & Ballet Inspired

Good morning everyone!  Today I am very excited to show you a painting project.

My daughter is my biggest fan to say the least. She makes me smile, giggle, feel loved and I adore her like any mother would. I have been wanting to do an art piece for quite some time for her room that she could keep forever. We are military so painting her walls is something she can't keep with her.

"Troisième Presenting"

An Acrylic Painting with Pastels on Canvas

Troisième Presenting 2' x 4' (Click on image to see larger)
This painting was inspired by my daughter, her face, her body, her eyes and her passions. She loves to dance and for almost two years now she has loved peacocks and everything that has to do with peacocks. It started with a Peacock Princess Costume for Halloween in 2012. Then her love for the bird and colors moved into making Peacock Ornaments for her little Christmas tree she gets to keep in her room. I started to see a trend in her clothing choices from pink to peacock colors as well. In 2014 her birthday party was an international theme with the focus on India and the colors of a peacock. Now we have moved to a new home, in a new state and one thing we did for the kids was let them redecorate their rooms to help them get excited about our family's transition. Can you guess what she chose? She calls it...

 "Vintage Peacock" 

Troisième Presenting Diptych Piece #1
Troisième Presenting Diptych Piece #2

This painting was created to go in her room, solely inspired by her. It is called "Troisième Presenting" because her arms are in the third position for ballet (bringing in her love for dance) and the representation of a peacock plumage in all it's glory with the hair, peacock feather stencils from The Crafters Workshop, the colors chosen and the peacock feather in her hair.

Close Up of "Troisième Presenting"
My daughter had input through almost every step of the process this piece went though. She even made the suggestion to lightly color in the eyes to match hers, a beautiful light blue.
"Troisième Presenting" close up of half of face
The peacock thing has gotten out of control here, but out of control is how we have fun in our family. I too went as a peacock for Halloween the following year using her tail we extended with longer feathers. I have made a Peacock Tutu Halloween Costume with coordinating hair piece. I have made an adult sized peacock tail for a local art gallery owner. Her peacock costume inspired an entire altered dress, pair of wings and a peacock crown that was created for +Elena Lai Etcheverry at +Charity Wings for the Live Stream from CHAW (The Winter Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show). The Peacock Couture Outfit was again used during the CHA Gift Lounge at the 64th Emmy Awards. It is currently entered into a craft awards called "The Craftys". You can go vote for it there though the 26th of May.

http://thecraftys.com/peacock-couture-wings-tail-crown-altered-dress/

I created this piece while taking two online Bloom Girl classes from Jamie Dougherty. They were her Bloom Girl Workshop 2 class and her Bloom Girl Elements class. I highly recommend +Jamie Dougherty 's classes. She gives thorough instructions and support. She teaches how to use acrylic paints, PanPastels, India Ink and other products properly within her project.


http://www.jamiedoughertydesigns.com/#!bloom-girl-elements/c22xvhttp://www.jamiedoughertydesigns.com/#!blank/c1isx

Thank you all for your time. If you desire to learn how to make such a project then please check out these classes. I would love to know your thoughts about this project as well, please be so kind to leave me a comment below and follow me here on my blog or on Facebook on my artist page L. Grace Lauer Artist.
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Mixed Media Artist and Paper Crafter
Coordinator for Party Time Tuesdays Challenge Blog

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Henna and Homecoming - A unique expresssion

Good morning everyone. Recently I had the opportunity to make three lovely high schoolers very happy. I was able to create the Henna designs for their homecoming dance. The designs included Gemstones, Gilding and Henna.

This first young lady has a really unique design. All she requested was in infinity sign be somewhere in the design on her back. This is what she got...
 This is Light Pink Gilding and Light Pink Gemstones with Henna.

These next two were on the same young lady. However the lighting is off in the image of her back due to the room she was in. And I didn't have my good camera. Red Gilding and Black Gemstones with Henna

Hope you all have a fantastic day!

Some of my other Henna:
Henna Hands - lotus, paisley, fun
Hand and Matching Foot
Henna for Homecoming
Henna Belly Blessing (baby shower)
Special Occasion Henna and Gilding
Classic Car Henna
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Monday, September 30, 2013

Special Occasion Henna and Gilding with Gemstones

Hello my dear readers,

Today I am going to share with you all a fun special occasion accessory option that will surely make a unique impression.

Henna and Gilding done specifically for Prom, Homecoming, Quinceaneras, Weddings and other special occasions.
Each Henna and Gilding design is unique and customized to your liking.






Special Thanks to my model Jordyn Taylor.

Some of my other Henna:
Henna Hands - lotus, paisley, fun
Hand and Matching Foot
Henna for Homecoming
Henna Belly Blessing (baby shower)
Special Occasion Henna and Gilding
Classic Car Henna

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Certified Helmar Educator