Troublesome Endings

Hello Friends,

Popping back on the blog today to share a quick Halloween inspired Mini Etcetera Tag. This is easily a one afternoon project that would be great for anyone. 

The background of the Mini Etcetera tag is covered with one of the fantastic 2024 Halloween Backdrop papers. I cut it to size, stitched around the edge a few times, then added it to the Etcetera Tag with Collage Medium. Once secure, I splattered it with Rusty Hinge Distress Spritz and dried it with a heat tool.

The windows and planks come in the Baseboards pack, but they do not match. I wanted them to be similar to each other, so I decided to use a easy technique to make that happen. 

Paint over the Baseboard (window or plank) with black paint. I used some black craft paint that was already on my desk (craft paint dries quick too). 

Dry with heat tool.

Once the paint was dry, I sanded the Baseboards with my sanding block, removing some of the paint.

Then I took my Distress Ink pad in Gathered Twigs and rubbed the pad over the entire Baseboard. 

Now both the window and the planks look like they go together.

Use Collage Medium to add Screw Heads to the ends of each plank. The Screw Heads make the planks look like they are screwed to the window frame. I also added a bit of black paint to the top of each Screw Head so they look age appropriate.

The curtain in the background is from the Halloween Layers pack and has been colored with Distress Crayons (Crackling Campfire and Villainous Potion) before being glued to the Tag.

I added a "broken glass" Transparency to the window before adhering the window to the Tag with a double stack of 3D Foam Squares.

The Paper Doll was colored with Black Soot (jacket) and Villainous Potion (vest and tie) Distress Crayons.

Hard to tell in the photos, but the Entomology Bugs were colored with Wilderness Alcohol Ink. It's a nice dark green color. Perfect for bugs. I adhered the bugs to the Tag with Collage Medium.

I think the metal elements really make this piece look realistic. The Screw Heads are small but they add so much!

The Optic Frame was painted with white paint, then Mushroom Alcohol Ink was added in several layers. The words are of course from the Clipping Sticker Book.

You can also see the use of Cello Tape Stickers on the edge of the paper and in the Optic Frame. Because I can't imagine a Halloween project without using Cello Tape!

One thing I really love about this piece is the dimension. Using double stacks of 3D Foam Squares allowed me to not only place the bug under the Transparency, but it also gave so much depth to the piece. Something very satisfying about all the layers.

This was a quick tutorial today! I will be back next week with another Halloween project. This time a spooky Display Panel using more Baseboard pieces.

Now Carry On,
paula

Day 8 - Halloween Card File

Hello Friends,

Can you believe this is our last day? You are almost done!
I have saved the best for last! Because these cards use absolutely everything we have learned over the last week! Lets get started!

gather supplies

All of the zig zag cards build a little scene across the 4 sections of the card. You will need to think about how the 4 sections work together, how the Portrait fits into the scene, how to compensate for the width of the Portrait since it goes beyond the fold, and how you can make the the most of the space.

Card 1 supplies

I worked on panel 2, 3, and 4 first, then added the Collage Strip and Backdrop on panel 1. I did this so any stamping on panel 2 did not have to masked off, since panel 1 would be covered with paper.

I followed this order when putting the cards together:

1. Stamping (with both Hickory Smoke and Scorched Timber Oxide Ink).
2. Backdrop paper
3. Collage Paper
4. Ephemera
5. Collage Strips
6. Cello Tape

I apologize for the small photo of the entire zig zag card. The blog format does not allow for large horizontal images. To compensate for that, I have taken a photo of each section of the card to see the details.

panel 1

Backdrop + Collage Strip + mask

panel 2

stamping + ephemera strip + cheesecloth

You might notice I added some dyed cheesecloth (or Mummy Cloth) to some faux stitching. I say faux stitching, since it's only purpose is to hold the cheesecloth to the page.

Please note - the ephemera strip is one strip that has been cut so it will reach to the other side (in other words, it does not really go behind the back of the portrait - it just looks that way).

panel 3

Backdrop + Collage Paper + Ephemera + Clippings + Cello Tape

Each of the zig zag cards has a portrait inside. These are from the Layers + Paper Dolls pack. I chose the three that looked the scariest to me! You'll notice that each portrait is wider than the fold of the zigzag. That presents a problem since if the arm sticks out of the folded card, it will not fit into the Card File box. I decided to fold the shoulder around the page. Sometimes I stuck it down with Scor-tape or I stitched it down with the sewing machine and once I just left it. Do whatever works best for you.

To age the Portrait, I dipped him into the ink puddle, then dried with a heat tool. Because the Portrait is a Layer, it is made from heavy coated paper. The paper will resist the ink (as it should) but I know that if you keep dipping and drying, some of the ink will remain on the image. I only want a small portion of ink to stick to the surface, so using the puddle and the heat tool is a good solution. Once you try this technique, I know you will love it! I also colored his tie with Crushed Olive Distress Crayon before adding the ephemera and the Cello Tape.

panel 4

stamping + Ephemera + Postmarked stamp + Cello Tape

Don't you just love the stamped numbers? Gets me every time! I also like the use of the two Oxide colors. The Hickory Smoke in the background, with the Scorched Timber in the front makes for a great combination.

card 2 supplies

The 2nd zig zag card is held together with a ribbon. I will show how the ribbon is stitched on later in the photos, but for now you can see all the wonderful colors of Distress Ink!

Panel 1

Backdrop + Collage Strip

stamping + ephemera + sticker book + stitching + cello tape

I used thin foam squares behind the head of the Portrait. Just enough to give him some dimension but not too thick that I can't close the folder. The bird also has a thin foam square.

Note that stamping is always done first, then the Collage Paper is laid over the top creating a haze of layered lines and numbers.

The stitching of the ribbon was done last.

card 3 supplies

Again I used ribbon to close the zigzag, but this time the ribbon runs horizontal around the folder.

I used a stamp from the Ephemera pack to hold the ribbon in place (no sewing needed).

After I did all my stamping and added the Backdrop paper to the bottom of the card, I just started stitching the labels in a stack. If you are not sewing, just use glue and Cello Tape.

I used a Villainous Potion Distress Crayon to color her dress. I continued the stitching all along the bottom edge to hold her in place. Everything is so random!

On the last panel I just added more Backdrop paper and a piece of ephemera, nothing more.

Don't they look awesome together?

Now there is nothing left to do, except fill your Card File with all your handmade cards and enjoy what you have made!

This is has been such a fun tutorial series. It's one of the reasons I love the Card File so much...you can do just a little bit of work each day and end up with a fabulous end result. Definitely the sum of its parts! Thank you so much for joining in on the journey!

Now carry on,

paula

Day 7 - Halloween Card File

Hello friends,

Back here today with Day 7 of the Halloween Card file. 

Today our pockets and tags feature images from the Collage Strips. You might go through the strips to pick the images you like before starting. It's good to have the images in hand so you can test the spacing for the transparencies. Lets get started!

gather supplies

Let's start with the pockets. 

Each pocket is done similarly, but pocket 3 has the transparency on the inside of the pocket, instead of the outside.  

Pocket 1 Supplies

Pocket 1

1. Adhere Collage Paper to the pocket. Use ink puddle to color the Collage Paper.
2. Once dry, rip paper away from the center hole (this does not have to be perfect).
3. Use Scorched Timber to stamp directly on pocket.
4. Cut a piece of the spiderweb transparency. Do not cover too much of the hole with the web pattern so the image can show through (see main photo for reference).
5. Adhere spiderweb transparency with Scor-tape and Cello Tape Stickers. Note: I only used the Scor-tape on the right edge of the transparency. The rest of the web is held on with the pieces of Cello Tape.

Pocket 2 Supplies

Same as Pocket 1, except I used the Scor-tape on the left side of the transparency.

Pocket 3 Supplies

This time I taped the cracked window transparency to the inside of the pocket (it's very fiddly). I made sure to put the opening where the face on the card would show through the hole. You can see I also left the Collage Paper very long. I loved the way the paper tore when I was removing it from the hole so I decided to leave it. Once Collage Paper has Collage Medium over it (even if it is not adhered to anything) the College Paper becomes thicker and sturdier than before.  Yes, it will still rip but not as easily.

I added the Cello Tape so the transparency would be connected to the center hole...the added tape also makes it similar to the other 2 pockets. Repetition is good in a Card File.

Now lets work on the cards to put in the three pockets.

Card 1 Supplies

1. Adhere the Collage Strip down the center of the card, making sure that the image is in the right place to see through the hole in the pocket.
2. Add stitching. I wanted lots of rows of stitching with long tails of string. But you do you.
3. Add a stamp from Postmarked, Cello Tape and Clippings stickers (if you want a sentiment).  
4. Add some kind of 'pull' at the top (all from the ephemera pack).  

Card 2 Supplies

Card 2

Card 3 Supplies

Card 3

I love how the people are peering out from inside each card. The transparencies have been perfectly placed for each one to take the stage.

So, there you go...Day 7 is done and we are ready to move on to Day 8 - The last day of our Card File series! 

Now to gather supplies for Day 8 - We are going out will a bang with the zigzag cards! 

They are the biggest and most fun to make! Can't wait to share!

Day 8 supplies -

Halloween Collage Paper

Halloween Backdrops

Halloween ephemera

Halloween Layers + Paper Dolls

Cello Tape

Postmarked

Deconstructed stamp set

Tidbits stamp set

1/4" ribbon

thin foam squares

Bouquet flower (optional)

Tiny Clip

Mummy Cloth or cheesecloth 

Hickory Smoke Oxide Ink

Now carry on,
paula