TELL ME A STORY

TELL ME A STORY
"Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." Joel 1:3

Monday, December 15, 2014

PENCIL ANGELS

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/

  Here's my version of
Sandra Malone's Pencil Angels.
Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood
 
Here's how I made my  Pencil Angels.



  I purchased the book, Hang Ups, at Hobby Lobby.

You can order the book from Sandra's online website.
 www.sandrastudio.com

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood
  
I always make a copy of the pattern, and cut it out.

The page below lists the acrylic 
paint colors Sandra used.




Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


 The 3/4-inch dowels 
(available at craft stores and Home Depot and Lowes)
are cut approximately 8-inches long
and tapered at the tip to resemble a pencil.



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood




One of the carpenters at my house
took my stationary belt sander.
So - I turned a hand-held sander upside down,
and used it to carve/taper the ends of the dowel
to look like a pencil. 


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


This process is messy, so I went outside to do it.

Wear a mask so you don't inhale sawdust.

Wear eye protection.

I love the smell of sawdust.

It reminds me of working with my Dad in his workshop.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood
  
Tools & Supplies

 Screw Eyes 
(Available at Hardware Stores)
Hammer
Pliers
Nail/Brad
Sandpaper (Fine & Medium)
Brown Bag 
(Grocery or Lunch Bags are great to use
as FINE sandpaper.)


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


 Screw eyes go in the top of the angel,
so a hanger can be added later.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


I use a small nail or brad to make a
small hole in the top of the dowel,
so the screw eye goes in easier.  



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

 Use the pliers to screw in
the screw eye.

Having the screw eye in now
gives you something to hold on to
when painting later,
and you can add a hanger 
to let the dowel rod dry when painted. 


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood
Proper Preparation is Important
Sand the dowel rod to remove price labels.
Sand until dowel is very smooth.

Use a soft wet rag to wipe down the dowel
after sanding.  
 
Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


Gather paints, brushes, palette and container for water.
If you don't have a paint palette, use a paper plate.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


 Acrylic paints are available at craft and hobby stores.
They cost from 99 cents to $1.99.

I didn't use the exact paint colors or brand of paints
listed in Sandra's book.

You don't need ceramic paints for painting on wood.

Acrylics dry fast, and clean up with soap and water.


 
Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Purchase the most expensive brushes you can afford.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

WORK ON YOUR PALETTE 
Put a few dots of paint on your palette (paper plate)
and add a tiny bit of water
until the paint is a nice consistency...
not too thick and not too thin.

I used a small sponge brush to blend two paint colors 
to achieve the base color of the dowel.




Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

 
Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

I added hangers to the screw eyes,
and hung the dowels (painted with the base coat) 
 from my pot rack to dry. 

If you don't have a pot rack to hang your angels from,
use a coat hanger.  

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

When paint is dry, 
sand the angels with a piece of brown paper bag/sack 
or fine sandpaper to remove rough places.  
Painting raises the grain in the wood.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



Paint the top (eraser area) of the pencil angel.  
Remember to work on your palette first,
and add a tiny bit of water to the dots of paint.
Be sure it is a nice consistency before painting the dowel.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Paint the tip of the pencil black.
Paint thinned brown or burnt umber 
over the tapered area of the pencil,
just enough to divide this area from the rest of the pencil.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood
 FACE AND CHEEKS

Dry brush the face area and cheeks.

Add a tiny oval for her mouth.

Streak white down the front of her face to resemble a nose.

I used an ultra fine point Sharpie 
permanent marker for the eye-lashes.  


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood




Spatter or fleck the angels (and later on the wings)
with black paint, using an old tooth brush. 

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

 Dab the brush on a paper towel first,
almost using a dry bush.

This gives an aged effect of old wood.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Try spattering either on a flat surface,
or when dowels are hanging up.

Be careful - you will spatter things behind the dowels.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Sandra painted on hair to make curls.

I  used a hot glue gun to
add  Spanish Moss for curly hair.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Have FUN making and shopping for angel accessories!!!

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Aren't they beautiful?

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



WINGS

Glue scrapbook papers to card stock.  

Sandra used Liquitex Matte Gel 
or Americana Decoupage Medium.

I used Mod Podge and glued three papers together:
one cardstock between two scrapbook papers...
so that the patterned papers were facing outward,
and the scrapbook paper was on the inside.



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

I tried making wings  two ways.

First I cut out wings from scrapbook paper and cardstock,
and then glued them together.

They didn't always fit together perfectly.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood




Apply Mod Podge with a disposable foam brush.


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

The second way worked better.
1).  Glue all three papers together.

2). Let them dry.

3).  Trace around the pattern.

4).  Cut out the wings.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

I also used the three-layer paper  
to cut out hearts as angel accessories. 


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


 Paint edges of wings on both sides
with brown or black paint.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Spatter or fleck the wings with black paint,
using an old tooth brush.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood




Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Spray Clear Matte Acrylic Coating
on both sides of the wings and accessories,
in a well ventilated area, or outside. 
Let dry. 

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Before adding the accessories... 
spray the angel and wings 
with Clear Acrylic Coating 
to protect the paint and paper surfaces.  

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



Poke  a hole with a large needle,
to insert the wire for the wings.
You will be able to hang 
angel accessories from the wire.


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood
 Roll the wire around a pencil or brush...for the ends.

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Hot-glue the wings to the back of the angel.

I also wired the wings in place.
Sometimes the hot glue comes undone.
 

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Angel Accessories
Mini-lights, burlap roses, paper hearts, feathers, keys...

Use your imagination!

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Sign or initial and date the angel ornament.

I did this on the back. 

You will be glad you did this in years to come.


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



I've been working on these pencil angels
on and off for one month.

They are a JOY to make,
and I'm excited to give them to friends and family
as Christmas gifts.


I found some beautiful boxes to wrap them in.

What a wonderful way to remember
the angels who announced the birth of our savior!


"Glory to GOD in the highest...
and on earth - peace, good will toward men."


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood





Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood



Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

"Fear not!  Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy.
Unto you is born this day, in the City of David,
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." 


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood
  
"You shall find the babe,
wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger."


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and invite a friend!

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

 Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking


Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood




Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood





















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