Deja-Vu Doo for Macabre Monday

Happy Monday? No. 

Maybe not an especially happy Monday, but it is Macabre Monday, 

and that means the second week of the theme 

Deja-Vu Doo has begun.

The challenge is to revisit a relatively recent project or supply

and use it again, but in an entirely new way.

I decided to try my hand at another altered box.
I made this one a few weeks ago, in case you missed it. 

This time I went with a hinged coffin box made of wood.

I sealed the blank wood box with Americana sealer from DecoArt

before doing anything else. I've learned that this is beneficial to the overall

effects I am trying to achieve here. 

Next, I painted the box with a black acrylic paint. I applied two coats of the black

paint and let it dry completely (with the help of a heat gun), before applying the

Weather Wood medium. I used this project once before but didn't get good results.

Now I realize I misread the directions the first time, but I got it right this time.

The key is to apply a nice, even coat of the WW medium, ending up with a nice,

glossy finish. Let that dry completely. Try to be patient and let it dry by itself to avoid

burning the paint or the medium. Ask me how I know this....  

Once the Weathered Wood medium has dried completely, I chose a highly

contrasting color of acrylic paint. The key to getting a good crackled finish

is to apply a thin coat, quickly. And try not to go over the areas you have already

painted, as it decreases the crackled effect. Work fast, and in the same direction

as the wood grain. 

As a side note: I have had this paint for 17 years....

Once it was all dry, I was thrilled with the weathered effect, but that paint

color was just too garish, and bright for this coffin box.

So I made a wash of watered down brown paint,

and applied it, and wiped it off almost immediately, leaving it in the

recesses of the coffin for an aged effect. I think it toned that purple

down nicely. 

I still felt it was lacking a bit, so I added some

Inka Gold Metallic Rub in green yellow to all of the edges.

This really made it all pop.

I glued a bat I made (using polymer clay and a Martha Stewart mold)

onto the front of the coffin. I like the simplistic look of it. Since there is

so much going on with all the textures and layers, this felt right. 

I glued some wooden balls to the bottom of the box for feet.

I think this makes it feel a bit more special than just a box that sits on it's bottom.

I decorated the inside of the box using various collage cuts from

Itkupilli , and random stuff from my stash. 

It felt like something was missing, so I added some Tim Holtz Halloween rub-ons

to the edges of the box.  

Yup, that's what was missing. I like it. 

More rub-ons, and green metallic rub.

That's it for me. 

Thanks for stopping by today.

I'd like to enter this box in the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenges - Favorite Things

Halloween is my favorite thing in the entire world.

I bleed orange and black, 24/7.

Crafting at the Weekend - Anything Goes

Altered Eclectics - Anything mixed media/altered

PunkyouGirl - Anything Goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Goes - must be altered art

Happy Hallowe'en!!!!

Happy Hallowe'en!!!

Geesh! 

The day is almost over and I have barely even gotten started!

After getting my monster off to school this morning all decked out in his

finest Amanda Bynes costume and wig, I must have watched all of the 

Halloween movies back to back, starting at 7 AM. Nothing like a little

horror in the morning to get your day started off right!

  I did manage to complete a few Hallowe'en projects

that have been on my 'to do' list for quite a while.

Like this cute card featuring one of the sweetest Pumpkin Sprites ever,

and her kitty. The image is from Aurora Wings, by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff.

Mitzi is our sponsor this challenge at HDH, and she is also one of my favorite

artists. She has such a unique and beautiful style of artwork. I'm a huge fan.     

I have been trying my artistic hand at relief carving/sculpting.

This was my very first attempt. I thought I'd try to keep it

pretty simple. All made from white Sculpey polymer clay, painted in acrylics, 

and then some glitter and rhinestone bling was added. 

This is my second attempt at relief sculpting.

A little more involved this time around.

I'm still learning and acquiring the right tools, but overall,

I'm pretty pleased with this Lycanthrope.

This piece (and the other one, too) measure about 

2.5" x 3.5", like an ATC. I really like this type of sculpting quite a bit,

and I have some really cool ideas for lots more of these!

Thanks for dropping by, and 

Happy Hallowe'en!!! 

I'm on a roll!

What's this?! Two weeks in a row?

I must have that Hallowe'en fever that's going around!

This week's challenge theme at Dilly Beans challenges is....

Hallowe'en!!

Once again, I have chosen a witty word art from Ginger's House,

and paired it with probably my favorite and most used image from 

Dilly Beans called,  Monster Boy (#230).

After setting the usual color scheme with my Copics, I destashed this

cute skull border from Tim Coffey/K Designs. I also used some dp

that I could never figure out how or when to use previously.

Throw some rhinestones on it, and everything just kind of works.   

More destashing of glittered spider die cuts, and some awesome

and super cheap cheesecloth. Cheesecloth is perfect for conveying

a Hallowe'en, haunted feel to any project. You can bet you'll be seeing

more of it in the projects to come.  

Check out the other Dilly Beans Hallowe'en inspired projects 

here.

Creepy, but cute.

Hallowe'en has kicked into full gear!

The smell of pumpkin candles and wet paint permeates the air in my house.

The race is on to finish all of the Hallowe'en projects on my numerous lists. 

Some may, but most won't see completion this year, at least.

The current challenge at Wicked Wednesday ATC challenges is 

Cute and Creepy sponsored by Dilly Beans.

I have used #483 Monsters for my Cute and Creepy ATC.

I colored the trio with Copics, fussy cut, and popped them up

from the shoulders up, with foam dots. I added a small

premade tag and some rhinestones. Lastly, I added some white

accents with a gelly roll pen. 

Ta-dah!

Thanks for stopping by!  

I wanna be Steampunk Peg for Hallowe'en

The current challenge at Haunted Design House is

"Who are you supposed to be?",

and we're sponsored by 

I chose to work with the stunningly gorgeous

Steampunk Peg image.

I would love to dress up in full Steampunk regalia

for Hallowe'en or any costume party! 

I used an EK Success web punch on a dictionary page, and daubed it with

some purple ink to match Peg's ruffles. I also used some Recollections glitter tape,

and some orange rhinestones for just the right amount of bling.    

Peg is colored with Copics, and Stardust Gelly Roll pen,

some Icicle Stickles were used on the netting of her hat.

Just a touch more bling. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Keep it Creepy!!

Hallowe'en is on it's way!!

I'm running a bit behind, but for a good cause.

Cause I was busy getting ready for the best holiday ever,

HALLOWE'EN!!!

It's no big secret that I bleed orange and black,

or that I was born into a family who relished the season.

It's in my DNA to be an Autumn People.

So first up, is my guest DT make for the Hallowe'en release at Simply B Stamps  

and for the layers challenge at Simply Steampunk challenges.

I have used the new "Jude Spook" image available here.

After a ridiculous amount of time, I got the boa trim to stay

behind the cool bat brad. Sometimes I spend way too much time on 

the teeniest of things. But I like how it looks, and that makes all of the

cussing and fussing worth it.  

I am stuck in a coloring rut of sorts. I just can't seem to color anything

in a Hallowe'en scheme, without the use of yellow greens, violets, and

yellow reds. Those colors just scream, "Happy Hallowe'en!" to me.  

I hope you'll stop by the Simply Steampunk blog to see the other

marvelous samples using the new images from Simply B Stamps,

and maybe make a layered project as well. 

Next up, is my make for the current challenge at Dilly Beans.

The new theme is buttons.

See what I mean about the color scheme?

I just can't help myself. It's a sickness.... 

I have a TON of buttons that I rarely ever use, so I tried to get as many

as possible on here. I managed to use six buttons. Not bad. 

 I have used the #406 "Worried Skellie" image.

I took some liberties with his eyes and the heart on his

shirt. I replaced them all with buttons in keeping with the theme. 

I also went to town with the white gel pen, too. Still getting the hang of it.

I hope you'll drop by the Dilly Beans Designer's challenge to see

all of the other wonderful samples and maybe even play along

using your Dilly Beans images and some buttons.  

Keep it creepy!!!

I'm ready for Fall

I am so ready for Fall to begin.

I have been working on Hallowe'en schtuff all year, and now

I am ready for the weather to reflect the season.

It's supposed to be 99 degrees here tomorrow.

Boo. Hiss.

The challenge is Fall is in the air at Dilly Beans this week.

I decided to rebel against the weather and make a fall inspired

Hallowe'en card using #461 Halloween Skellie framed.

He is available at Dilly Beans Digi Stamps.

Okay, now I feel a little better.  

 

THIS makes me feel alot better though.

Yup! It's a Zombie Flamingo creepy lawn ornament!!!

One of my dearest friends picked it up for me at the Spirit Halloween store.

I have yet to check out Spirit this year. It has been kind of a disappointment the

last few years, so I may just skip it.

 

This Zombie flamingo is awesome, but the damn sticks that they provide

and the stupidly shallow holes for them to fit into, really irk me!!!

I ended up modifying him to accommodate a single stick right up the center.

Works better, but it sucks that they are selling them like this in the first place.

But, I am glad that they are selling these instead of the black ones with a stenciled

skeleton on the side. This is way cooler, although I did want the skellie ones

when I first saw them years ago.

 

  



Wretched Wednesday HDH108 You're Making a Scene!!!

Horrific Hump Day Haunters!!!

Can you feel the crispness in the air yet?

I can't. We're still flirting with the 90's here in California,

but I am getting a bit giddy with all of the Hallowe'en decorations

out in the stores.

A little retail therapy really helped my mojo this week.

I kinda went cwazy on this challenge.

HDH are challenging you to make a Hallowe'en inspired scene

for this week's Macabre Monday. 

We are very fortunate to be sponsored by

Make it Crafty.

Since I am to lazy too make a step card, I decided to make a really

a labor intensive project instead. Using a thrift store frame,
lots of card board, some MS punches, lots of glitter and Spica pens,

and some awesome MIC digis, I have created a great scene!!

Okay, first I painted the thrift store frame with black, silver, and 

purple acrylic paints. I used black as the base coat and then

used a dry brush technique to apply the silver and purple paints.

While that was drying, I colored in the Mini Monztas from MIC

using Copics.  After fussy cutting the images I used a Spica pen to

go around the outside of the images for some Vampiric sparkle.

Now let's not forget that Haunted House! That detailed baby was

quite a work out! LOTS of details!!!!

I had to get out the magnifying specs for that one!

I layered in some QuicKutz and Martha Stewart graveyard

punches togive more depth to the scene.

I even managed to pop in a teeny tiny skull on one of the headstones!  

I popped everything up on corrugated cardboard in varying thicknesses.   

I topped off both of my Vampyres with Glossy Accents.

It makes them a bit more sturdy, especially the little

lady since she is outside of the glass.

I love this house image!!!

I Stickled the windows to make them sparkle,

and outlined the entire house in Sakura Stardust pen.

I also added some rhinestones. More sparkles!

I think this will make a nice addition to my Hallowe'en

decorations this year.

There is still time to play along with HDH this week.

If you like these images, they (and others) are up for grabs as this

week's prize schwag. But ya gotta play!  

The Punkins are coming....

That's right, the Punkins are making their way

to my Etsy shoppe today!

I have many different Punkins to choose from and keep in mind,

they look great in a group!!!

"Mini Jacks"  jack-o-lanterns

Flourished Punkins

Even a couple of "Steampunkins" too!