A visit with Miss Havisham

 Hello friends,

So happy to be here today sharing one of my favorite projects from the Halloween release!  This is my take on the character of Miss Havisham from Great Expectations.  If you have read Charles Dickens book, or even seen a movie adaptation, you know that Miss Havisham is a wealthy spinster, jilted at the alter, who insists on wearing her wedding dress for the rest of her life.  The bride Paper Doll (found in the Halloween pack) was the catalyst for telling the story as she looks the part of the tragic Miss Havisham. You might notice I have also added the letter written by former suitor and the wedding cake that remains on the table in her crumbling manor.  Now let me tell you how I created the rest...

I started by cutting a vintage file box to fit the Backdrop paper I wanted to use. The file box was made of book board so it made a great substrate because it does not bend. If you don't have something like this, then just use a piece of heavy chipboard and cover with paper - there are plenty of choices from the Backdrop Halloween papers.  My substrate is approximately 7.5 x 11.5".

Before we move on I just wanted to show some of the Backdrops papers that come in the Halloween pack.  By far my favorite Halloween paper release in our history.  The mix of colors is amazing and the designs work together so beautifully!  You can see the one we are going to use on the bottom left - one of my favorites!

This is one of the windows from the new idea-ology Baseboard Window Frames.  I cut the windows out of the "frame" and then in half so they could be used open.  It's not hard to do, but your craft knife needs to be sharp.  I used a metal ruler to guide all the straight cuts. That makes it much easier.

PLEASE exercise caution when using a craft knife to cut chipboard.

It is very hard to tell here but I have added a piece of a Mica Sheet to each window.  I decided I wanted the mica to show up more, so I added Mushroom Alcohol Ink to the backside.  It will not look nearly as dark in the final piece, as it does here again the white paper.

Back to the substrate...

1. Adhere the Backdrop Halloween paper to a piece of heavy chipboard.  Brush on a layer of Collage Medium over the top of the paper.  Once dry, sand the edges.  
2. Shake the bottle of Mushroom Alcohol ink over the paper to add the age spots. Dry with heat tool.
3. Add 3d foam squares to the back and adhere to the base, making sure there is enough room at the top for the grommets.
4. Adhere the window frame with Collage Medium and let dry.

I very carefully aged the large grommets (bought in the notions section of Joann) after they were in place.  I added Grit-Paste to the grommet and let it dry completely then used a small paint brush to add the Mushroom Alcohol Ink over the Grit-Paste.  If you don't have Grit-Paste, at least color the silver grommets with Mushroom Alcohol Ink.

I used a good amount of Collage Medium to add the windows to the frame.  

I wanted the windows to be at an angle, so I slipped a 1/2" wood block under the edge of the window while it was drying.  The Collage Medium dries like cement if you give it time to do it's thing.  My project has been shipped to Tim and back again and the windows never moved.

While the windows dry, start on the embellishments.

The clock is the Baseboard Halloween pack.  I added the Clock Hands, an older idea-ology product, with a Long Fastener.  To age the clock hands I added Picket Fence paint and Mushroom Alcohol Ink (you can see why I need the 2oz bottle).

The Long Fastener in the center, holds the hands in place, but allows you to set the time to whatever you wish. Once you have the time set to what you want, tap on the center with a small hammer to keep the hands in place (I still need to set this one).

The large flower is from the Halloween Layers pack and is the prefect fit for the space above the frame. I added the bingo chip below the rose so the clock face could have something to sit on.

In Great Expectations, Miss Havisham has all the clocks in her manor stopped at twenty minutes to nine, the exact time she received the letter.

As for Miss Havisham herself, I tinted her with a few Distress Crayons.  You might notice that in the end, I wiped away much of the pink on her skirt since she looks more like she may have killed her suitor!  That is one reason I like to use Distress crayons to color with, if you do something you don't like, just wipe it away with a damp cotton swab.  Very forgiving medium on slick or coated paper.

I added a ledge created with Etcetera Trims (pinked and bracket combined) and painted it with a few layers of Distress Paint to create this aged look.  I added the Paper Doll to the panel using two bingo chips - she needs to sit up above the white frame and the bingo chips worked perfectly to do this.  You could also double or triple 3D foam squares.  You might notice I used brown crayon on the bottom of her dress because I figured, if she had been walking around her house for years wearing it, the hem would be dirty!

So lets talk about the cake.  This cake can be made using anything you have on hand...that's what I did. This is actually my favorite kind of making...looking around and using what's at arms length!  I have a bowl of junk that I throw all kinds of stuff in and in the bowl were some bingo chips (large and small) and a few wood bases that came off old Woodland Trees (the base on the current Woodland Trees is much thinner).  

top - idea-ology crown painted with Gold Mixative + resin flower

top layer - thick base from old Woodlands Tree

bottom layer - x- large bingo chip 

stand - idea-ology candlestick turned upside down

base - standard bingo chip painted silver + Mushroom Alcohol Ink added later

vintage tatting lace added at the very end

I glued the two wood pieces together, and added them to the upside-down candlestick. 

Once dry, I painted the cake with Picket Fence Distress Paint, let dry.

Rub Glossy Accents over the white paint and sprinkle with Clear Rock Candy glitter, let dry.

I wanted the cake to look old so I added a bit of Walnut Stain Crayon over parts of the glitter. 

As you can see from the final photos (taken with much better lighting), the cake really is white with just a bit of brown.

The new Drippy Candles were added (I love these so much - why I didn't buy 100, I don't know!)

The spider webs are just the plain 'ole spider webs they sell at craft stores.  Start with a small piece around the top of the window and stretch it across to the bottom.  Start again from the opposite window and repeat until you have enough webs.  I love the the webs stick to the glitter on the cake!

I added black Crinkle Ribbon to the top.  You might notice it looks old - I think that is because after I colored it black, I went back and sprayed Picket Fence Distress Stain Spray in random places.  Because there is pigment in Picket Fence it leaves the white stains and makes the ribbon kinda crunchy.  Once I had the ribbon tied just how I wanted it, I sprayed it with hairspray and dried it with a heat tool to keep its shape.

The condemned tag is from the ephemera pack - I just ripped off the bottom part so it did not hang down too long.  I rubbed Collage Medium on both sides of the tag (to make the paper sturdy) then added Distress Crayon to age it.  The eyelet was added (because you should always add an eyelet when you can) and a Loop Pin secures it to the ribbon.

Clipping stickers were added to a chipboard strip at the bottom.  I used a chipboard strip that I already had that was black.  I used gold Mixative over the top to cover the printed words, then added the words, "Here in the darkened house of weeping".  The perfect sentiment!

Oh that Mica is everything!  The added Mushroom Alcohol Ink really brings out the cracks.

Thank you for stopping by to see this project! I just love that little cake!  I had SO MUCH FUN making this piece and telling the story. 
now carry on!

paula

Country Village with "Village Collection"

 Hello friends,

I am here today sharing the small village I created with the NEW Village Collection from Tim Holtz/Sizzix.  So you can create your own unique village scenes!  This 87 piece set has everything you could need to bring your village to life!  They are a bit smaller than the original Village.  And if you watch Tim Live re-play he shows the difference, all the pieces, and how to put the basic house together.  The second half of the live features samples made by the makers, including a gothic manor built by the master himself, Tim.

Let me show you what I made!

To create the base, I used a vintage cheese box. I cut a heavy piece of chipboard to match the top of the box. Once I decided on the placement of the houses, I punched three holes for the lights. I had to use a screw punch (made for book binding) since the holes are in the center of the board.

Adhere Tiny Lights with thin foam squares.  Run the lights under the chipboard and up and down the holes.  Use Collage Medium to glue the Chipboard in place once you have the lights set.  Hot glue the wires so they stay in place once the houses are added.

This is what it looks like from the front with the three lights.

Use scissors to cut holes in the cotton batting for the lights. 

Brush Collage Medium over the Chipboard and pull the lights through each hole.  If you use two layers of cotton batting, you MUST glue the two layers together before adding to the chipboard.  The batting HAS to be securely glued to the surface before the houses are glued down.

Cut strips of more cotton batting.

Pull both sides the strip to create a band that will wrap around the box.

Use Collage Medium to add the fluffy band around the cheese box.

PLEASE NOTE: I did this next step at the beginning of the process.  If I was to do it again, I would NOT add this to the edge till the end.  I kept touching it when I was building the village so it was not nearly as perfect as in the beginning.  Anyway, just a piece of advice!  

Church - watercolor cardstock + Clear Rock Candy Glitter

Roof - watercolor cardstock with 3D folder Cobblestone then painted with Black Soot and Hickory Smoke Distress Paint.

Door - transparency with Alcohol Ink Alloy Gilded

Trees - Sprayed Iced Spruce then the top half was dipped in water to create the ombre look.  Mica Flakes added once tree was dry.

Deer - idea-ology + Clear Rock Candy

Windows - transparency with multiple colors of Alcohol ink (to appear as stained glass when lit).

Snow on roof top - white warm and natural + Distress Mica Flakes

The small house is from the original Paper Houses that came out last year.  I decide to use it to create a kind of "forced perspective", like the little house is really in the distance.  

The original Paper Houses do not come with window frames, so I used two different window frames from the new set to create the frames.  Cut the windows, then trim down till you have one small window. Please Note: I added a transparency (that I colored with Alcohol Ink) inside the house.  The transparency helps the tiny window stay in place. 

The cobblestone pathway was created using the same folder as the church roof.  I ran the 3D folder through my Vagabond using watercolor paper, then cut a path from the card following the edges of the "stones".  I colored it with ink and crayon and then added Clear Rock Candy Glitter to the top.

For the little cottage:

roof - woodgrain cardstock colored with Iced Spruce Distress Ink

House - watercolor cardstock painted Candied Apple Distress Paint + Clear Rock Candy

Smoke - batting

Snow of shingles - Distress Grit-paste Snowfall (seasonal release)

Snow on roof top - white warm and natural + Distress Mica Flakes

Wreath - green metallic pipe cleaner but very close the the wire + added Idea-ology Mirrored Star

It's easiest to see the star from the back.  I glittered a star (front and back) with the new Distress Glitter Garland (Holiday Sparkle Set - seasonal release). Then I bent a heavy wire into an arc and painted it gold with Dina's Media Paint Gilt, that I love so much.  I hot glued the star to the gold wire and let that dry completely.  How did I make it stand up?  a small upside down cork.  Just push the end of the wire into the cork and hot glue it to the base.  I covered the cork with the new idea-ology wood slices.  

I added Distress Grit-paste Snowfall (Holiday Texture set - seasonal release) to the tops of the wood slices like fallen snow.

The last thing I did was wrap the cheese box with ribbon.  This cotton twill is from May Arts.

Lets talk about storage.  

I know Zoe (igirlzoe.com) will have a post on her blog if you use Magnet sheets and envelopes - so please check that out.  

I didn't have any magnet sheets at the house so I just decided that it was easier for me to keep the dies in small bags and then in the envelopes provided.  Totally up to you which method works best.

Hope you liked my village! I know I do!  It did take a bit to organize all the dies at the beginning, but once that is done, it was just a matter of choice..."what window should I use?", "what door is right?"...that kind of stuff.

I would love to make more houses for my village display for Christmas. So let's see if that happens!

Now carry on,
paula