Miss Amelia Hardy

 Hello Friends!

Time is getting away from me so I better get in the last few Halloween projects before the 31st arrives! Today I am sharing an idea-ology Shrine project I created using the Halloween Paper Dolls, Baseboard Windows and Layers Ephemera.  Follow along and I'll show you how I did it!

I covered the inside and the front lip edge of the Shrine with Worn Wallpaper Halloween - you don't see much of it once the frame goes in, but it does look like old ripped wallpaper. The outside was covered with a woodgrain from the Backdrops Halloween pack (you will see that later in the making process).
I drilled a hold in the back of the Shrine (or you could use an awl and hammer) for the Halloween Tiny Lights. I pulled the lights all the way through to the front and loosely wound them in an oval shape. You will need to use hot glue to keep the wire in place.

You know I LOVE the Halloween Window Frames!  This one with the curved top is a favorite, not only because of the shape, but that bit of gold going around the inside edge.  I used Scor-Tape to add the spiderweb transparency to the frame. It may not look transparent, but the purple light will show through perfectly.

I wanted the frame to sit out, away from the lights, so I added a double stack of tiny wood blocks.  You could also cut a dowel to use instead of the blocks.  I glued the blocks together with Collage Medium and then to the frame.  Let it sit to dry for at least 30 minutes.

Adhere the frame to the shrine with more Collage Medium.  You will need to leave it laying on its back till the frame is securely in set in place.

The Paper Dolls from the Halloween pack are so wonderful!  So many new people to tell stories about!  Some are a little creepy, but most are just regular people...it's just the setting you put them in that makes them what they are.

I chose this civil war era lady because of the full skirt.  I colored her dress with a Peeled Paint Distress Crayon, then rubbed away the excess till I could see the details of the dress.  I added a bit of Dusty Concord which made the "stripes" in her skirt, then used my Detailer Water Brush to remove some crayon to let the dark dress underneath come through.

To add the note to her hand, I took a sharp cutting knife and cut around the hand so I could slip the tiny paper up underneath.  That tiny paper comes from the Halloween Snippets pack - this is a must have product in my world.  Love all the different sizes, shapes and colors of the tiny labels.  It is the same pack of labels I used on the idea-ology Test Tube HERE.

NOTE: there is a 1/2" wood block at the bottom back of her skirt to stand her up. Her skirt is also glued to the left side of the Shrine, yet she appears to be standing freely. 

For the spider, add thread to the loop in the spider.  Even up the thread ends.  Thread the two cut ends through a large needle and push the needle through the hand (from the back).  The two cuts ends are tied in a bow and a dot of glue is placed on the string on the back to keep it secure.  When I was completely done with the shrine, I glued the spider to her dress.

One the right side I added Drippy Candles, Candlesticks and pumpkins that I painted Iced Spruce. The shredded Mummy Cloth helps disguise the fact that I only had one Candlestick left once I got to the project!  A girls gotta do, what a girls gotta do!

I wanted to talk about the Distress Texture Paste - Crackle I added to the sides of the Shrine.  Once I added the woodgrain Backdrops paper, I used a small Palette knife to add the paste.  I let the Crackle Paste dry for 30-40 minutes then added Walnut Stain Distress Crayon over the top with a damp paint brush.  What I like about using the Palette Knife is that you can add the paste as thick or thin as you want to.  I also think using the Palette Knife creates a more realistic look, like real crackle that has highs and lows.

And here is the Shrine all lit up in purple!  The purple lights look amazing at night.  I also love how the lights look like stars in the window!  The Shrine just glows!

Thanks for stopping by to read my tutorial.  I hope you will try making something with Tiny Lights - they really add a magic feeling to any project!

Now carry on,

paula

Beware Vignette Book

Hi friends,

I have a fun little Halloween zig-zag book project to share today.  I call this a "fun" project because anything goes!  It could be any color or size and the inside could contain anything that suits your fancy.  I decided to use a fabulous green and yellow paper from the Halloween Paper Stash called Abandoned.  I'm just going to say, buy two packs because you'll need more of this paper than you think you might.  Super cool designs and colors, from pink and purple to green, black and orange!

I started with one of the Vignette boxes that is 2 3/4 x 4" and the matching Vignette panel (for the lid).  So in theory, if you have one set of Vignette Boxes and 1 set of Vignette Panels, you could create 4 books in 4 sizes.  

I cut a piece of the Distress Heavystock... this piece wraps from the back of the Vignette Box, up the left side and over the lid.  For my project, the measurement was 7 x 4" - you will have to adapt that measurement depending on the size of the box and matching lid.  I adhered the green patterned paper to the Heavystock (on the backside of the white piece shown here) and scored it where the paper turns a corner to create the spine of the book.

This is what it will look like once glued to the box and lid.  NOTE: I painted both the lid and box BEFORE adhering to the paper cover.  Once it was dry, I painted the spine too.

Maybe this will help - this is what it looks like finished.  The lid opens like a book and the paper spine is not attached to the box.

I smeared Opaque Crackle Texture Paste over the edges of the cover and let it dry before adding Distress Crayon to age it.  The owl has been inked with Gold and Mushroom Alcohol Ink and then splattered with black paint using the Distress Splatter Tool (love that tool).

The zig-zag book was created with Distress Heavystock paper and then sprayed (both sides) with Distress Oxide Spray.  That keyhole is actually a sticker, yes I said sticker!...it's from the new Halloween sticker book.  I added Distress Crayon and Hardware Heads to make it more realistic.

 The inside is ephemera, paper dolls and clipping stickers (also in the new sticker book).

 I colored the paper dolls with Distress Crayons and a Water Brush to get all the fine details.  NOTE: If you want to know more about how to color a paper doll you can find that here.

More stitching and stamping!  The Stampers Anonymous stamp is from the CMS187 Purveryor stamp set.  One of my all time favorites for backgrounds.

 Once the little book is done, add to the box.

I painted the Vignette panel with black paint.  You could easily put additional paper on the Vignette lid, I just choose to leave it black.

 A book should have a title so I added this perfect little token to the spine.

And another token on a chain (I swiped the chain from a Swivel Clasp) so you would have a "pull" to open the book.

I love this little book (just something about the size).  It was easy to make and very fun to fill the inside with ephemera and stitching.  I hope you will give it a try!

Now carry on,

paula