The Apothecary

Hello Friends,

It is my favorite time of year to make samples!  Something about Halloween and Christmas product always brings ideas to my brain.  Today I am sharing a Display Panel I created with idea-ology.  This project mimics one I did for Christmas in 2021 (you can see that one HERE if you are interested).  The concept is the same, but the Halloween take on it makes it look very different.  Lets get started and I'll talk you through how I created this.

As I said, I started with a Display Panel which is 9 x 9 x 1".  I used Collage Tiles for the front panel but added in pieces of Halloween Worn Wallpaper to the mix.  Each Collage Tile is 1 1/2 x 1 1/2" square so it's very easy to figure out how much Wallpaper you need when you add up the 1 1/2" squares.

Two are 3 x 3" and the bottom left is 4 1/2 x 3".  You can do any kind of arrangement depending on how many Collage Tiles you want to use.  Once you have decided, adhere the paper with Collage Medium, butting them right up against each other for a tight fit.

Once the board was complete, I added a layer of Collage Medium over the top to seal and prepare for the next steps.

First is Walnut Stain Crayon.  

Just scribble along the edges of the paper squares.

Lightly spritz the entire surface with water, then brush over scribble markings with an old brush.  Dry surface with a heat tool.

Once dry, spray Decayed Distress Mica Stain over surface to create an aged look (but with a hint of gold).  This is my favorite of the Mica Stain release - really should be an every day product, but it is seasonal.  I circumvented that by buying more than I could use in year (which is good since it will not come back till Halloween 2024).

Just look at that...yummm!

I was able to build this project because I had a vintage folding ruler on hand (I glued it together so it would not shift).  The folding ruler created a wide enough ledge to add many of the Halloween embellishments.  I added a heavy dose of Collage Medium to the back, placed it on the panel and then set it aside to dry completely while I worked on the pieces that will sit on top of the ledge.

The main man is from the Paper Dolls pack.  There are 5-6 small cabinet cards included in the pack and I picked this guy because his eyes are so mysterious.

I colored the background by masking off the face, then spraying it with Harvest Moon Distress Stain. Then it was a back and forth between drying, spraying, pouncing to get this result. I did use a bit of Fortune Teller (purple) at some point to get the darker spots.   Really anything goes!

Once I was satisfied, I just needed a frame.  This a Curio Frame...I used my finger to wipe back paint over the top.  Then I just kept wiping away the paint till I could see the de-bossed pattern. 

I added the photo to the frame, then shoved a couple pieces of mica under the frame edge to give it an eerie feel.  There are two bingo chips on the back to raise it off the panel surface.

Starting on the right side,  lets work our way from the shelf and move up since that is how I built it.  

Test Tube:

The idea-ology Test Tube is filled with Mummy Cloth and bones from the Boneyard pack.  I inked them lightly with Mushroom Alcohol Ink, then flicked black paint.  Once dry, just fill the Test Tube (I think I only used 3 and one I cut in half).  I also inked the cork to darken it and rubbed a little Mushroom on the Test Tube too.  If it gets too dark you can remove the alcohol ink with hand sanitizer.  The label is from the Ephemera Snippets pack - Curator. 

Toadstools:

I used all 3 Toadstools that come in the pack (the 3rd is on the left side).  I used my Tonic scissors to easily trim the back of the two larger Toadstools so they could lay flatter against the panel. Then all I did was paint them haphazardly with black paint and let them dry.  You could sand them with steel wool once the paint is dry, if you want more of the base showing.

Now just add in the small flashcard from the Ephemera pack (foam squares on the back) and then the Entomology metal bug (crawling up the wall).  NOTE: I did use my fingertip to wipe black paint over both bugs before adding them to the panel. Can you tell I use my fingers a lot instead of paint brushes? 

Now to the left side of the ruler shelf...

Urn/Drippy Candle:

I painted the Urn with black paint then rubbed some away to reveal the undertones.  Set aside to dry.  I painted the candle black, then used a paintbrush to add Harvest Moon Mica Stain over the drips.  Once that was dry, I added a glob of hot glue into the Urn and pushed the Drippy Candle down into it.  Once the hot glue was dry, I just painted the glue with black paint so it looks like the candle is melting into the Urn.

Flowers:

I sprayed 3 or 4 Bouquet Flowers with Black Soot Spray stain and dried them with a heat tool.  Then I sprayed the black flowers with Decayed Mica Spray to make them look old.  I also sprayed 1/4" rayon ribbon with the Black Soot Spray Stain and crumpled it while I was drying it.  I tied the ribbon around the cluster of flowers so the flowers extended upward so they could wrap around the bottom of the urn.

Laboratory:

The Laboratory glass beaker is filled with idea-ology Bubbles I colored with Lettuce Alcohol Ink.  I added another label from the Curator pack and a bit of Mummy Cloth and string (yes, it's just that easy). 

The Skull on the end is right from the package.  This year they are larger and very detailed.  All I did was wipe some Crypt Paste over the Skull and let it dry. This just gave it a bit of texture.

Fringe:

The last thing I did was add the Fringe.  This is a new SKU this year and it is made with real crepe paper - and I love it!  Cut the Fringe the same length as the ruler.  Lay it on a craft sheet and spray with Decayed Mica Stain on both sides.  Dry with a heat tool, then roll into a ball and rub back and forth between your hands to fluff it up.  Once it was fluffed up, I folded it in half along the stitching line and glued it to the panel (I only put glue on the panel, not on the ruler).

Metal Word Band:

I love the word bands with this new font.  I chose The Apothecary but there are 3 others in the pack to choose from.  

I rubbed black paint into the Word Band, then once dry, I sanded it lightly to bring back the silver of the words.  The little dots on the ends are also new. They are called Droplets and come in different colors in the pack.  And there is something like 8,000 in the pack...or so it seems.

This is a terrible photo but I painted the sides of the panel with Hickory Smoke Distress Paint.  It looks blue here but in reality, its dark gray.  So much for good lighting.

I hope you like this Halloween panel as much as I do.  I created it in once afternoon but admittedly my desk was a disaster once I was done!  Something about speed making, where there is no time to think about the process, you just do it and if it works it works!  I'm glad this worked (and I would do it all again!)

Now carry on,

paula

Grateful Life - Sizzix Acorn 3D folder

 Hello Friends,

Celebrating Sizzix Halloween release today, starting with this colorful make for fall.  The creamy new Halloween Mica Crayons are perfect for coloring the leaves... as long as you remember one simple step (you can read about that below).  So follow along and I'll show you how I created this beautiful fall background.

Open the 3D Folder and rub Ground Espresso Archival Ink over the surface until coated.  Spritz lightly with water.

Insert precut piece of Kraft Heavystock (remember with a 3D Folder - you need to spritz the paper with water before placing in the folder).

Close the Folder and run through your die cut machine. I still use my trusty Vagabond!

So here is the card once it was run through (At least 2 passes).

I quickly coated the entire card with Collage Medium (thats the magic step so you can use crayons later in the process).

While the Collage Medium was still wet, I sprayed the card with Decayed and Iron Gate Mica Stain.

Then dried it with a heat tool.  Once the Mica dries, it turns metallic and quite beautiful.

I repeated the process to create a second card.  

A small Etcetera Tag was used as the substrate.  Glue the two paperpieces to the tag and cut away the excess at the top and bottom.

NOTE: I will cover the break in the cards with the words so it does not matter as long as you keep the break at the bottom.

Since I coated the Kraftstock paper with Collage Medium it has been sealed - that means the Mica Halloween Distress Crayons are in play. 

Starting with fortune teller (purple) - scribble the creamy color onto the edges of the leaves.  I'm going to add many colors so start small.

Next up burning ember (orange).  Just scribble and rub with your finger to slightly blend towards the purple.

Next up, wicked elixir (green).  I adde this one to the other side of the leaves and on the stems.

I added harvest moon (yellow) and Walnut Stain to the acorns, completing the full background.

To prepare the focal point, I cut a piece of purple cardstock, then cut gold metallic letters using the Alphanumeric Bold die.  I did cut two sets of the letters so they could be combined to create a thicker letter.

I used the design ruler to help me place the letters on the purple card.  The ruler is see-through so you can easily see the straight line.

Before the purple card was put into place.  I added Trim Tape to the sides to cover the flat part of paper.  The skinny tape fit perfectly along the edge.  I think the tape comes with 10 rolls so there are plenty of designs to choose from.

Now I added the purple strip to a piece of Kraftstock to stabilize/strengthen the paper since I wanted to add foam squares to the back.  The white/gold metallic sticker "HEART" was added to the end - hard to read here but it looks nice in person.

Once the strip was in place, I added the skinny ruler strip to the top from the Memoir Ephemera Pack.  The feathers, cut using the "Feathery" die and Mixed Media cardstock, were just dipped in Distress Mica.

The colors of the feathers are 

fortune teller

wicked elixer

decayed

I painted an idea-ology Vintage Clip with black paint.  Once dry, I brushed on Foundry Wax and used a embossing gun to change to color to metallic.  I love the brushed look over the black paint.

The ribbon is silk - just something from my stash.  I thought it went beautifully with the project.

The No. 251 is from the Snippets pack.

thank you for stopping by to see the coloring of the background.  I hope you will try this technique on something you make - the new Halloween products are so fun to use.  I am thrilled with the new colors of Mica sprays and how awesome they are on so many paper surfaces.  I know you will not be disappointed!

now carry on,
paula

Sizzix Chapter Three - Bird book

 Hello friends,

We are celebrating the EPIC release of Sizzix chapter 3 today and with that I have a few photos from when I created this tiny book made from Specimen file folders.  If you missed the Live with Tim today you must find the time to watch the replay, which will be posted on his blog.  I will link it here once it become available.  My project is very simple, but others are so detailed that you MUST watch to see them.  So many ideas for these Chapter 3 dies, it is overwhelming.  You are going to need a notebook and paper to jot all the ideas and impressions down for later use.  Trust me on this, you will be blown away with the creativity.

- Use the Specimen die to cut 4 file folder from Kraft Heavystock paper.
- Dry brush both sides of the folders with Distress Picket Fence Paint, leaving some of the kraft color showing through. 
- Using different colors of Oxide ink, stamp the Ornate stamp (CMS348), Here are the simple steps.

1. Pounce stamp with different colors of Oxide Ink.
2. Spritz with water.
3. Stamp on file folder (no block, so you do not get a solid impression, but more random).
4. Dry with heat tool (pat off any excess ink)
5. Repeat on the backside

It's just that easy (and very satisfying)

Once the folders are complete, stitch two together, making a pocket in the center.

I've added a few photos of the stitching so you can see it from all angles.

At this point, you need to stitch together the two signatures you made. You can create another pocket by stitching on the top and bottom, but I decided I wanted a pocket at the top.  If I want to add anything inside I can.

The book is now one complete piece so I needed to cover the folded spine.

I added Collage Medium on the folded edge, then laid a double layer of vintage netting over the glue.

I also cut 4 cards - two for each pocket using a card from the same set and the number die-cuts.  I did the same dry brush technique, then added Salvaged Patina Oxide over the top.

I cut multiple Silhouette birds from Kraftstock and started pressing them into Oxide Ink spritzed with water.

Round One:

Round Two:

Round Three:

here I spritzed the ink lightly with water.  Once dry, I went in and pressed the birds one more time into some very tiny ink droplets.

Then added a contrasting color of Crushed Olive Oxide in text over the body.

I used Clipping stickers to create a Poem that runs throughout the book. Start reading on the cover and continue to the end. The Slide Frame and the number are a fun way to introduce the Poem. The lace on the birds wing is vintage.

Looking out the window

page 1 and 2

A bright white moon

the stars of 

heaven

page 3 and 4

Sweetly singing 

"Promise me one thing",

love greatly...

page 5 and 6

Generous and true 

O little friend,

page 6 and 7

To fly it to your heart

Soaring

like a star

page 7 and 8

where only the

imagination can go.

I hope you like this tiny book made from the File Folders.  It's a great one to start off with, especially if you are beginner with the Chapter 3 dies.

Now carry on,

paula