Friday 17 October 2014

Halloween- to die for

Hello everyone and thanks for dropping in! It's time for challenge 17 (can you believe it?) over at A Vintage Journey. The lovely Red Anne has chosen the theme HALLOWEEN TO DIE FOR.
Well, I decided to play with both aspects of the theme. This is what Anne had to say about it:
Halloween is one of my favourite times of year, I love when the children come to the door, in their costumes, to 'trick or treat'. You do not have to make anything scary (but it would be fun if you did!) but you must use at least one die on your creation and it must be strongly influenced by Tim Holtz. It can be a tag, card, canvas or mixed media piece.
And this is what I came up with:
Now, though like Anne I love Halloween, I don't actually own any Halloween themed dies apart from the little Movers and Shakers pumpkin and acorn, and in the end I did not even use that particular pumpkin, so I decided to make my own Halloween themed embellishments, using the dies I had at hand.
But, let's start from the beginning:

I wanted to use a Triptych blank that I have had in my stash like forever.
I coloured it with my new Distress Sprays (love them!!!!), I used Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge and a tiny bit of Vintage Photo, then added a first layer of stenciling using the Halloween Words Layering stencil and Walnut Stain DI.
As the card blank was not very good quality card, it soaked up the colour big time, so it needed more depth and also more stenciling for interest. I used the Shatter stencil and Walnut Stain and Black Soot DI.
Alright, now for to use some dies....
I cut three ovals with one of my Spellbinder dies. 

Ovals? Why you may wonder, - this is Halloween, not Easter. Well all shall be revealed:
Tadah!!
Home made pumpkins!! I had this idea in my head, and I think it actually worked lol. As you can see I cut a further 3 ovals, slightly smaller, so I could make a smaller pumpkin too. I layered them up as shown in the picture, one in the middle and two on either side, glued and then coloured them with the same sprays and added Rock candy Crackle paint. Once the crackles had appeared I gave a quick spritz with the Walnut Stain spray, wiped off the excess and that was it for the basic pumpkins. I then added some bits of greenery from the garden Greenery die, hand drew and cut some little stalks and added some curled raffia covered wire, - all done!

Next came some bottles: I have the Movers and Shapers mini apothecary bottles, and they of course always come in handy for Halloween projects. I cut both bottles, once from plastic packaging and once from card.
The plastic packaging ones were coloured with alcohol inks: Terra Cotta, Butterscotch and a tiny bit of Espresso. I then covered them first with Glossy Accents and then Rock Candy Crackle. When it had dried I added some depth and shadows with a Faber Castell Big Brush pen. The card one was coloured with Pumice Stone and Vintage Photo DI. I then glued the packaging one on top of the card one, to keep the glass effect, but have more depth of colour (forgot to take a photo of that, but you can see it on the project of course). I did the second bottle in exactly the same way. 
Next I had more spritzing fun with various colours of Distress Spray and some thinned gold paint and when dried cut a whole number of leaves with various leave dies that I am lucky to have collected over the years:
Alright, onto the three panels now:
I cut 3 of the large Vintage Cabinet Cards in Black card and three of the small in white.
I had to slightly trim down the sides of the black ones, so they would fit onto my Triptych.

I'll talk you through what I did with the white ones, one by one:
I stamped the witch from the Mini Halloween 4 set by Tim in Black Archival, masked her with Pebeo masking fluid and then stamped with a mix of stamps (Darkroom Door London and Clarity Trees) around the edges. I then inked with Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans and Stormy Sky DI. I used the faux bleach technique (just using a wet brush and blotting with kitchen paper) on the moon and the light around the street lamp. I then removed the masking fluid from the witch and coloured her and the pumpkin with Distress markers.The little stars were added with a gel pen.
On this one the Skeleton from the Mini Halloween 4 was white embossed, the spider from the same set was stamped in a corner and then I did some more stenciling and inking with the same sort of colours.
The last one, which is probably my favourite, uses the same Darkroom Door stamp and the little owl is from Sin City stamps. I used the faux bleach again for the light and shadow effects.

Well, that is pretty much it. I layered it all up, added a few acorns etc still  from the Autumn Gatherings strip die and that was it.



Here you can hopefully see how the bottles turned out. I added some little labels still which were computer generated, as I don't have any of the stamps that include the cool labels.
Well, hope you like my project and sorry for yet another mammoth post, but I think particularly beginners in crafting and blogging like to have some of the detail.

The Day of the Dead sentiment was computer generated and mounted on a piece of black card.

Make sure to check out this latest challenge, my teamies, including two new ones, have made an amazing collection of projects to inspire you, so celebrate Halloween with us and play along!

Almost all product in this project are available from Countryview Crafts, our wonderful sponsors.

Now before I finish, I want to just share a couple of photos with lovely blog friends I met up with this last week. On Saturday The lovely Julie and I, (she  is one of our two newest Creative Guides at a Vintage Journey) met up for a coffee and a chat here in Edinburgh. And just yesterday the wonderful Kath Stewart and I met for a great chat at the Papeterie in Aberdeen. I am always amazed how time seems to fly when meeting with crafting buddies, so much to laugh and chat about. Loved meeting you both!!!
Julie and I outside in our street
Kath and I in front of all the Tim Holtz goodies (of course)
I have decided to add this project to the That's Crafty Challenge, where the theme is Spooky

Thank you for visiting like always

55 comments:

Julia Aston said...

I LOVE the images on your panels Astrid - what great stampings and shadings! Your pumpkins are SO clever - as well as those wonderful bottles! How fun to meet with stamping friends - looks like you had two lovely visits!

Maryanne said...

Wow! This is just fantastic, Astrid!! I love your pumpkins, what a great idea! Everything about it is wonderful!

Anonymous said...

A wonderful Halloween piece Astrid! Very clever making pumpkins from ovals, they look amazing. I always love your little bottles too. Love all three scenes especially the owl flying over the town. How wonderful to be meeting up with crafty friends, what a great way to spend the day. Karen.x

Susie Bentz: My Time to Play said...

Love the rock candy on the pumpkins! The owl panel reminds me of Harry Potter...Brilliant!

experiments in paper said...

Thank you, as always, for great inspiration. I am one of those newbies - and yes, I love as much detail as I can get to learn how to use this already big stash I have!

S@ndy Diller said...

So great Astrid - what could be better than Halloween goodness to the third power? Simply fantastic!

Unknown said...

Very cool! Love those pumpkins!

Maryann Laursen said...

What an awesome card Astrid. You did an awesome job on these embellisments especially thinking that you didn´t have any Halloween themed items, but awesome job on making your own, that´s for sure, and the final result looks really wonderful. Idon´t like HAlloween too much, I must admit, but this is really cool and a wonderful job made here.
Wonderful pictures of you with your crafting friends here, it is always soo special to meet people, you´ve been talking to online for a long time. Have a wonderful week-end now too and maybe even meet more friends there, who kows?

Jane said...

O my Astrid this is just a delicious Halloween creation. The pumpkins are fabulous, such an inspired idea to use the oval dies...I must try that. The little scenes are so atmospheric the bus with little bat flying is my favourite. Thanks for sharing all the step by steps I think everyone loves to see how ideas come together. How lovely to meet Julie and Kath too, the photos show your happy smiles.Enjoy the upcoming weekend, I hope to get some crafty time on Sunday x

Deborah said...

Such a brilliant piece, Astrid! Those pumpkins are ingenious.

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful piece Astrid, love the Halloween ladies on the photos, too! Valerie

Redanne said...

This made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up - which is a great thing considering the topic! It is a masterpiece of spookiness and I love every single little detail. Love, love, love!!!

So pleased you got to meet the lovely Julie and Kath - this blog world is so fantastic for meeting wonderful friends! Have a great weekend. Hugs, Anne xx

Anneke said...

Halloween does'nt say anything to me. But I love this project. Love the way you made the bottels. Great way to make pumpkins I would'nt have come to this idea.
Everything fits well together. Wonderful Colors and great design. Thank you for showing us step by step. Anneke.

Sophie said...

Meine liebe Astrid...
ich bin so froh, dass du uns weiterhin deine fabelhaft Kunst zeigst.
Auf Grund meiner schwachen Englisch-Kenntnisse hatte ich verstanden, dass du nicht, also garnichts mehr machen willst, und dein Blog geschlossen ist.
Ich war sehr geschockt und traurig.
Umso mehr freue ich mich, dass ich mich so sehr verlesen habe <3 <3 <3
Ich hätte dich und deine ART schon sehr vermisst.
Ich liebe deine prächtigen aufwändigen Arbeiten, in denen immer so viel Liebe steckt.

Umarmung und einen kleinen Kuss
Sophie xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Absolutely amazing work Astrid...love your beautiful leaves and those pumkins are fabulous...
Just fantastic....

Anne

Juliz Design Post said...

Hi Astrid, fabulous spookiness. I love all the stamped detailing and faux bleaching and as for your owl flying right out the page, brilliant. Pumpkins what a great idea, love the decoration, crackle and 3d look.
Looks like you had a fab time up at The Papeterie meeting up with Kath and managed some Retail Therapy.
Julie x

Jennie Atkinson said...

Oh my Astrid - where do I start! Not only a fabulous project but so many wonderful details. The pumpkins are just stunning!!! and those leaves look as though they have just wafted down from a tree outside your house. Such a fabulous piece and full of Halloween spookiness!

Glad you had such a great time with Julie and Kath this week. Sometime we shall have to have a Scottish get together !! Have a lovely weekend x

tjs said...

Beautiful as always! Thank you for the inspiration & all the details!

barbarayaya62 said...

fantastic work! Colors and details are absolutely fabulous! BArbarayaya

barbarayaya62 said...

fantastic work! Colors and details are absolutely fabulous! BArbarayaya

ornate splendor said...

Fantastic, Astrid! Love the layers upon layers. You put a lot of time into this! Beautiful images and painting. Well done! Catherine

Marisa Job said...

Another stunning creation!! Love the colors!! Hugs!

Pamellia said...

Just gorgeous Astrid! Your background is so vibrant and I love the ghosting designs! Wonderfully creepy images and your leaves are incredible...but my favourite are your pumpkins!! They are perfect, the texture, the little vine and those fabulous little twirls! What a spectacular Halloween make! hugs :)

mamablitger said...

Gorgeous, stunning, amazing.. I can only repeat what all the above followers said !! Astrid you always create the most fantastiv projects !! You are so unbelieveable talented. Love your work !!!
Even I'm not a geginner I enjoy your tutorial and step by step explanation. Please dont stop adding these. You have so many fabulous ideas to achieve the effects you are going for !
I'm grateful for all you share ! Thank you so much for this fab Halloween project..
Hugs from Monica..... Spain

Terry said...

So loving your spooky triptych, Astrid! The orange background looks amazing with the blackish panels and the scenes you created are totally spooky awesome! Great pictures to share of your wonderful time. Happy Weekend!

Nicole Wright Designs said...

How amazing! Great creativity without many spooky dies. I think I almost have all the creepy dies. Love your project and your pumpkins are perfect. So many goodies... EEEEEK!!!!

Rosie said...

Wow, Astrid, this is absolutely gorgelous, as always.

Have a wonderful weekend

Netty said...

Terrific use of the diecuts and stamps Astrid, love them. Thank you for sharing the photos of your friends. Enjoy the weekend, Annette x



http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

froebelsternchen said...

Such a brillant make Astrid.. it's just GORGEOUS..
fantastic to meet nice artsy friends... happy photos are this!
Thank you for sharing!
Happy weekend Astrid!

artwolf2009 said...

a beautiful triptichon, love and adore your London scenery with the owl - a Little Harry Potterish :)

Paper Profusion said...

I'm blown away by this Astrid!! Each and every scene is fantastic and wonderfully spooky. Incredibly innovative use of dies too - love those v clever pumpkins. Superb make altogether!!

So lovely to see Julie who I know a little and Kath too. You remind me of Juliet Binoche in first photo - very similar and striking bone structure. Have a lovely weekend. Nicola x

Paper Profusion said...

I'm blown away by this Astrid!! Each and every scene is fantastic and wonderfully spooky. Incredibly innovative use of dies too - love those v clever pumpkins. Superb make altogether!!

So lovely to see Julie who I know a little and Kath too. You remind me of Juliet Binoche in first photo - very similar and striking bone structure. Have a lovely weekend. Nicola x

Jools Robertson said...

Beautiful Triptych, love the colours
amazing orange tones contrasting with the rich darker backgrounds gorgeous colours as always

The images look magical and I love the leaves and cool crackle pumpkins

Jools x

Meggymay said...

Fantastic Halloween project. love all the details especially how you made the pumpkins.
Yvonne

Jenny Marples said...

A fantastic triptych Astrid. I love the stamped panels and oh, those pumpkins! J'adore! Great to see your 'meet up' photos too. Jenny x

May said...

Fabulous Halloween creation Astrid...Love the scenes... the detail & colours are perfect... Love the stamps you used....Hugs May x x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

What great photos of the buddies, and LOVE your Halloween triptych! Love the London scene!

Barbara Rankin said...

Your creativity never ceases to amaze me. This triptych is awesome, as is all that you do. TFS the details about how it came to be, too!

Barbara Rankin said...

Your creativity never ceases to amaze me. This triptych is awesome, as is all that you do. TFS the details about how it came to be, too!

Margaret Mifsud said...

Wow! Wow! Wow! An absa-bloomin-lutely amazing piece of art Astrid!! Colours, of course, are fabulous and your stamping superb!! Your little home made pumpkins are brilliant!! If I did Halloween I would definitely pinch that idea from you! Hehe!! I just love how you bring all these gorgeous little random bits together and created the most amazing projects!! Once again, pure magic!! ox

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

oh how awesome! You always do such beautiful work!

Ros Crawford said...

Another terrific project!! I just love those leaves ... they look so real! And how lovely to meet up with your friends ... That shop looks tempting!!
BTW thanks so much for your kind words ... all worked out well with the family

Annie said...

Your Tryptich is fabulous Astrid...amazing details and I loved reading your how to. As I have said in my fellow DT's projects 'Spooktacular'
Lovely to see the photographs of you with Julie and kath. Guess you will be doing overtime at work now that you have been to the fab Papeterie.

Huge Hugs Annie x

Solange Barreto said...

Maravilhoso trabalho. Obrigada pelo PAP.

She Reads Late Into the Night said...

Love how this piece came together! Thanks for the how-to, also.

She Reads Late Into the Night said...

Love how this piece came together! Thanks for the how-to, also.

Cocofolies said...

Hi Astrid, sorry to not come more often on your blog though you make fabulous creations!!! Wow, this one is really amazing, I adore it!!!! Your hand-make pumpkins are just so cute and so beautiful.. Everything gorgeous, that's a feast for the eyes. Crafty hugs, Coco xx

Jackie PN said...

Love love love how you made all of the elements for this! Great depth of colors and what fun it is! TFS!
Love the pics of you and your friends too! ")
xo

Unknown said...

Beautiful, Astrid! All of the panels that you've created for your triptych are awesome and your pumpkin & bottle embellies are fabulous!! Such a wonderful Halloween inspiration "to Die for" for sure :) XOXO-Shari T.

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Astrid, SQUAWK, this triptych is just GORGEOUSSSSSS, I don't even like Halloween but I love this the back panel the colors are stunning the images are fabulous and embellished beautifully, I love it, there is nothing better then getting together with our crating friends, thanks for sharing..

Nikki Acton said...

Amazing project, love how you have altered everything! Thanks for sharing your techniques. Love your homemade pumpkin too. Nx

Maggie said...

Fabulous Triptych Astrid love the atmospheric panels.
MaggieH

crafty creations said...

Wow - amazing so much to see and so much to learn thank you for sharing your brilliance

Anonymous said...

Fabulous, Astrid! The whole 'card' sings and pops with colour and beauty. Such a pretty piece of artwork. I love it. ~ Cobs. x

sarascloset said...

This is just a fabulous project, with astounding creativity. I love the scenes, and am sold on those stamp brands I must have! Your pumpkins are a genius use of oval dies! I love everything you've done here! This is truly a work of art!!!

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