Time for Halloween Projects?????

Last week I got a great package in the mail...from the Master....Mr. Holtz.

I guess I've been a good girl, heh?

Anyway, I was never crazy about Halloween before I started stamping. I guess it was just a "kid" thing that usually had me hopping for costumes at the last minute.

But now, it's more of a ghoulish thing and I know not everybody likes that, but hey, life's too short. Just play around and have fun.

After visiting New Orleans and seeing how they celebrate a funeral...it's just a part of the process.

So here's my take on the Apothecary Stamp set from Tim and a couple of techniques thrown in.

Some pictures are taken in the Studio and some on the Sun porch...hence the difference in some colors...the shiny parts are hard for me to photograph...so I just do my best.

First let me say, the Specialty Stamping paper was used here, and it is AWESOME!

If you've not tried it, you're missing the boat.

For the background I randomly globbed Brushed Pewter Crackle Paint on the top of a piece of paper from the Crowded Attic Paper Stash.

Then before it dried, I sprayed Black Marble Dylusions Spray Ink around on it. Then held it up to let it drip down the page.

As it cracked, it really left a very cool background that you see here.

It's then mounted on a 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 inch piece of black chipboard.

Then I stamped the Spider Web from Mini Halloween set and embossed with Seafoam White embossing powder.

 The web was extended with a white Posca Pen. Then set with a fixative.

Here is a good shot of how the Pewter color shows through.

Each Skull was stamped onto the Specialty Paper with various Distress Inks.

I like to use more than one color to add interest.

Then they were embossed with Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder.

Next just cut them out....there's bits of the EP that came up on the Skulls that add GREAT effects!!!

The 1st of many happy accidents, so to speak.

I dabbed Distress Stains onto my Craft Sheet and picked up the color with my "Digital Applicator or Transdermal Applicator." (A fun phrase borrowed from the extremely talented Kelsey O'Mullane for "your finger.")

The one on the left has Fired Brick and Vintage Photo for the stamping inks.

I added White Uni-Posca Pen on the teeth as well.

The center one has Vintage Photo and Black Soot.

The one on the right has Ripe Persimmon and Vintage Photo.

This happy little Spider added a spot of interest....it also covered up a tiny spot of sprayed ink that somehow found it's way over to my ALREADY COMPLETED Skull..

Works for me!

I used 4 pieces of chipboard to raise the middle Skull and Happy Halloween.

Two pieces are used on both the Skulls on the right. The Autumn Tinsel Twine is glued around the edges for a bit of sparkle.

You can really see the embossing on the phrase here! LOVE it.

This is how it looks on Instagram...really like it here, too. What do you think???

The power of technology!

Have a great one.

Linda

Products Used:

Tim Holtz Stamp Collections - Apothecary and Mini Halloween

Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Fired Brick, Black Soot, Vintage Photo, Ripe Persimmon

Tim Holtz Distress Stains - Many various colors

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Autumn Tinsel Twine

Tim Holtz Crackle Paint - Brushed Pewter

Ranger - Specialty Stamping Paper, Super Fine Detail Clear Embossing Powder, Seafoam White Embossing Powder,

Dylusions - Black Marble Spray Ink

Uni-Posca - Ultra-Fine Tip White Pen

Bird Song from Graphic 45 & a Paper Mache Box

**Added 2 new pictures to try to explain how this thing works better.**

First, I'll try to keep it simple...the GORGEOUS papers speak for themselves.

I was fortunate to have been able to follow Deb Emmons fast retreating footsteps at CHA and get one of 45 new paper pads of  Bird Song  at the  Graphic 45 booth...could not have done it without her leading the way!!!!

That said.....this is what I did to honor the papers I was given!

Thanks to all the G45 ladies...soooo talented and beautiful.

This is a cabinet box I found at Ben Franklins a few weeks ago...very cool, but wait till you open it up!

This is what it looks like when its drying on my worktable having the edges painted and propped open to dry.

While waiting for paint to dry....hmmmm...I got out my various markers and began adding shadows and bits of color to certain areas.

Isn't she breath-taking???

This is a top view after all the layers of paper are glued on.

You could not add embellishments or the creation would not close...so it's rather flat.

I LOVE the butterflies in the turquoise papers Endless Spring that contrast wonderfully with the red-orange fans of the Good Fortune strip paper on the front lids.

The other panels with the flowers are trimmed in the green Harmony paper.

This is the back when the piece is opened up.

The birds are enhanced with markers as well and a bit of watercolor pencil on the flowers.

The skinny red paper with dots is from an older line, but it was the perfect red for contrast without having a pattern that was too busy.

The inside of the boxes have the STUNNING Joy Luck flowered paper with the black background.

Probably one of my all-time favorites...black outlining color...works for me every time!

Here you can see the fence post top that I found to fit perfectly for the base.

One of my favorite places to browse is Lowes....or Menards...I love wood.

Here you can see where I used 2 pieces on the front to make a large enough section.

The birds are soooo pretty with the white flowers.

Both are panels from the Tranquility paper.

**New Picture**

**New Picture**

This shows a little different angle of the front being open...it's hard to realise how this really looks...it wraps around the corner and the black emblem acts as a closure...sort of.

And finally, this is a shot looking down from the top.

I HAD to use the fantastic Jasmine Dream with my favorite color combination...Red, Black, and Tan that you see here.

Now, if you want to see another piece using the Bird Song papers...go check out the NEW SITE for The Gentleman Crafter....with Jim Hankins.

HE IS AMAZING!!!!

So that's it for today...got to get to the TV to watch the Olympics.

Good luck to everyone....it's thrilling to watch, but the gymnastics are so hard on me. I don't take the stress well for those kids...the soccer is easier. You always get a few more chances to shine.

Be well and be good to each other.

Linda

Back to Painting...Back to my Roots

Back from CHA and had a WONDERFUL time!

There truly is NOTHING more fun than having friends that love ART! I am so blessed.

This is a piece I did a while back for a Breast Cancer Awareness benefit auction.

It's on a 5x5 stretched canvas with Golden Heavy Body and Fluid Acrylics.

The canvas is encased in the plain wooden frame I learned to make YEARS ago from Claudine Hellmuth in one of her books.

It works great for stretched canvases and is a rustic way to add something to your art.

The Butterflies are Graphic 45, of course, as is the gorgeous lady by Alphonse Mucha.

She's from the Monaco-Monte-Carlo print.

He is definitely my favorite Art Nouveau artist.

I added Glossy Accents to the butterflies for dimension.

The doily is underneath all the layers of paint and I love how it turned out!

The lovely lady is accented with pens and layered onto black chipboard. She's protected with a thin layer of Micro Glaze by Judi Kins.

That stuff is WONDERFUL.

I've had it for years and a small jar lasts forever.

That's it for today.

I've got another 8x8 piece I'll show you later.

Always movin'...never standing still...jumping from one medium to another.

What shall I play with next...perhaps a bit more sewing!!!

Linda