Hello Friends!
At Anything But Cute this month our Challenge #17 is hosted by the fabulous Branka who has chosen Friendship as her theme. Here is what Branka had to say...
'Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between two or more people. We want you to show us a mixed media creation that's inspired by friendship. You can create anything, from tags to art journal pages but make sure it's a mixed media piece. Let's celebrate friendship together!'
Hmm, what has this project got to do with friendship?
My lovely friend Sandy (of Simply Sandy) in the USA and I have been blog friends for a few years now and we love to send cards/projects/gifts to each other. Sandy very kindly sent me the new Tim Holtz Village Manor die (how lucky am I!) and since we share a love of all things Halloween, I have made this little scene to send back to her, as a special thank you for sending me this wonderful die... I do hope she likes it!
I got a bit carried away making the haunted Village Manor but I do have a few step by steps to share with you.
I used three dies to complete the Manor, the Village Dwelling (660992), Village Rooftops (661197) and the Village Manor (661591).
After applying the Grit Paste to the lower part of the Manor I decided I would like to 'render' the top half and I wanted it to have a grey, aged appearance so I added some Distress Paint and Distress Re-Inker in grey tones.
The coloured Grit Paste was dabbed on with a sponge to give an uneven appearance. This is where I got a bit carried away and forgot to take photos but here you can see that I built the little 'attic' part, added the windows, front door and roof to the bottom part and also constructed the two chimneys (adding some Industrious Stickers to finish them off). The attic part was painted with IndigoBlu Raven Black Metallic Paint, which gives a lovely sheen.
The roof was cut from Tim Holtz patterned paper, using the Rooftop die. Once constructed I roughed up the edges and wiped over them with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.
To create the base for the house to stand on I used a piece of thick foam board that I embossed with a stone wall type embossing folder. This was painted in various tones of Distress Paint to give the appearance of 'aged stone'.
To create the front 'path' I used pieces that were left over from the fence and glued these to a piece of white card. Once dry I applied a watered down coat of Hickory Smoke Distress Paint.
I added some Fantasy Film to the windows and used some offcuts from the fence to decorate the front door. The door knobs are seed beads. The piece at the front of the roof over the porch is an offcut from the Manor die, I thought it looked good over the porch and it fitted perfectly - a happy accident!
A close-up of the finished house. To give you a sense of the scale, it measures 6" tall and 3" across at the widest point, so it is quite dinky!
One final overhead shot.
It is very easy to construct and I can already imagine many different ways to use the dies - I am already constructing more, which you will no doubt see in due course! This one is winging its way to Florida to my lovely friend Sandy!
It would be lovely to see you join in with us at Anything But Cute, we would love to see how you interpret and celebrate Friendship! You can see what my talented teamies have made HERE.
I am adding this to my dear friend Darnell's NBUS challenge HERE. My NBUS is my Manor House die and also the stone embossing folder.
As always, thanks so much for your visit! Anne xx
What a super gorgeous project love all your detailing
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Dr Sonia
What a wonderful creation Anne. Your friend is going to love this.
ReplyDeleteToni xx
Your friend is going to be thrilled with what you created from her lovely gift. I love all the texture and incredible detail you added to your spooky vignette. The little people look like they want to head for the door in case there are treats being handed out but also look very wary that they might encounter someone or something else.
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Cec
For me to be THERE in your GRAVELY CREEPY CASTLE like setting with a holding a "friends" hand.... would mean I was much braver than was ever possible in my lifetime Anne!!!!!!!!! WOW - I so admire you tenacity and creativity - your project is.... well... I would say BEAUTIFUL and it IS in it's own right but instead - lets just say it's UNDER THE MOON AMAZINGLY MARVELOUSLY EERIEeeeeeeeeeeeeee.j.
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed your world Anne - you own it. Your 3D projects are always fabulous and this is a winner - I love it!! Well you know how much I love Halloween. Anne this looks fabulous - and will go on permanent display in our home. I have a special place just for Halloween and I keep the little house you sent me on display all the time! I only wish I could make for you the same quality that you make for me!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe ghosts are way too good! I love it Anne - Thanks you so very much so here we go again, now I have to find a way to thank you -- BWA-ha-HA-Ha-ha-HA!!!!!
Sandy xx
Jaw-droppingly incredible Anne!!! Your imagination goes places others only dream of achieving and the results are incredible. LOVE the rendering, the crooked path, the graveyard in the garden, the ghostly apparitions and the fall tree. This is a work of 3D art Anne xx
ReplyDeleteFabulous Anne, I adore the footpath so authentic and I love the little children and graveyard with added grass, so realistic. Fantastic dimension and texture . I am sure Sandy will treasure this . Hugs. Tracy x
ReplyDeleteWell Anne, I had to go pour myself a second cup of coffee so I could settle in to this post and not move for a while. I am just blown away by this project, your ability to create art that I want to live inside of, is amazing! Every little detail has me enrapt, from the ghosts hanging off the side of the house, to that amazing pathway made from leftover bits!! The cemetery, the trees, the mossy ground, even that little owl you have tucked in there... love love love! On top of the incredible visuals, this project has such great meaning as well, your friend is just going to go gaga over this amazing gift! Loved your tutorial as well, what a treat to watch as you built this from the ground up!! Thanks again Anne, for always putting the WOW in Wowzers!! hugs :)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness oh my goodness Anne! What a delightful treat to see this baby being built. Gobsmackingly intricate and the devil is in the wonderful details. I am drooling over this and your dear friend sure is a super lucky girl to get this as a gift. Totes amazeballs and fantabulous! The use of the offcut from the die was genius and looks like it was perfectly made for the front. The seed beads as the door knobs-brilliant!!!! Gorgeously awesome sauce and did I say I was drooling here? I sure am! Loves loves it! Hugz to you muffin! ~Niki
ReplyDeleteI don't know where to being, Anne! Every detail of this house and scene is over-the-top beautiful! You re amazing! Thanks so much for sharing the process of creating this! Your friend is indeed a lucky gal!
ReplyDeleteWow! I love how this turned out. Fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteWow, wow, woooow, Anne, I am completely blown away by this incredible masterpiece of 3d art! Your attention to details is brilliant and no one can create dimensional projects like you do! So many genius ideas, from those offcuts you used for the front, to those awesome seed beads for the door knobs! Everything is perfect here and I am in love in every single fabulous detail of this spectacular creation, my lovely friend! Your friend is really a super lucky lady! Oh, I could look at this for hours! Big hugs to you! Branka xx
ReplyDeleteI have been visiting your blog for the last fifteen minutes, studying every picture!! This is absolutely spectacular, Anne!! Wow!! The details on the house are amazing!! I love the different textures you added!! Your attention to detail is incredible!! The ghosts might be my favorite touch!! Or maybe the trick-or-treaters!! I just love, love every single thing about this!! It's a 3d Halloween masterpiece!! Your friend is so lucky to receive this!! It truly is a work of art!! Wow!! Completely blown away!! Have a great day my friend!! Big hugs :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
OMG Anne this is spooktacular!!! Just stunning, you are just such a master at projects like this! Amazing detail! How lucky is Sandy to be getting this, - just wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a Magnificent piece of architecture you have produced Anne. The detail alone is so perfect and the creepy graveyard scene is fantastic. I,m sure Sandy will treasure this piece for ever. Hugs Rita xxxx
ReplyDeleteOh wow Anne, this is so very fabulous! Very beautifully put together, with such a great attention to detail. LOVE it! x
ReplyDeleteI'm not keen on Halloween but I do love what you do. The spooky house is fab but it's all the details in the scene too. Fabulous!! Elaine x
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning Anne! Your 3d projects just keep getting better and better. The attention to detail on the whole project is amazing, I love your little shrink plastic ghosts. I bet Sandy is eagerly awaiting its arrival. Mo x
ReplyDeleteoh my word Anne - you have really outdone yourself here - this is absolutely brilliant! The details are amazing - and that house - wow!!! Big hugs rachel x
ReplyDeleteSTUNNING Anne!! absolutely blown away with your talent here!!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! What a stunning 3D work of art ..... this has to be your best yet. The details are simply amazing ... I love how you did the crooked path and the texture on the haunted house looks brilliant xx
ReplyDeleteAs always, such intricate details to create a fabulous spooky scene, and I was delighted to read who is going to be the lucky recipient of this masterpiece. I enjoy reading through the creative process and seeing the photo steps all the way through to the finished piece. Sandy is going to enjoy this and display with pride. Such a wonderful way to celebrate your fine friendship! TFS & Big hugs.
ReplyDeleteThis is SO wonderful Anne! So many little details - love those ghosts - they fit perfectly in chimney and graveyard - clever design for the walk and the yard base - My dies are sitting in my craft room unused - I need to get crackin' and make a haunted house now that you have shown me how!!! Sandy's a lucky girl - I'm sure she will ADORE this!! Julia xx
ReplyDeleteYour Halloween house may be dinky Anne but it is just bursting with awesome spooky detail!
ReplyDeleteI love every thing about this hauntingly exquisite house and I am sure your friend Sandy will do too. Celebrate friendship! Yep you nailed it Anne! Hugs Lottie xxx
This is just awesome! I love all the detail you put into this and the stunning scene of the children coming up the walk. The greenery is so authentic and so is the walkway. The house is just as spooky as it should be for Halloween. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI have been waiting to see your village manor. It is wonderful. The whole setting is incredible - the halloween shadows kids, the graveyard, the walkway, the pumpkin. Great details.
ReplyDeleteSandy knows you very well, Annie! I can just see the huge grin across your face when you opened her happy mail to find this die!! And now Sandy will grin when she opens your happy mail to her with this amazing creation you've made! This is what I call bloggie love and it makes my heart happy! Your meticulous work on your stunning Halloween piece is so inspiring!! Thank you very much for playing in my NBUS Challenge #7!! Lots of love and hugs, Darnell
ReplyDeleteOh wow Anne this is beautifully designed and put together, love everything about it and what great friendship gifts you and Sandy have exchanged xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm speechless and that doesn't happen often...your project is amazing my friend...so much texture and wonderful detail...hugs kath xxx
ReplyDeleteOh,my Halloween heart has melted with this delightful haunted house, Anne! I just had this big old smile on my face as I read through your steps--it was like I was a bat on your craft room wall! What an amazing gift to send to your friend and ours-Simply Sandy! What a way to say thank you for that AWESOME useful gift she sent you! I wish I could be one of those trick or treaters! That door is open and willing to accept guests, and I know I would HAVE to go in an see all the spookiness INSIDE, too! Boy, this is truly a labor of love and a perfect way to inspire so many for Branka's Friendship challenge. I adore those fantasy film windows, the few leaves in the trees, the ghosts popping our of the chimney, the girt and the spookiest graveyard EVER! Let's just say I love EVERYTHING about this eerie project! big hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteOkay, there used to be a really cheesy thing we said at school when something had knocked us for six - to be said in a tone of astounded admiration: "steps back in amazement!" And that's what leapt to mind when I saw this fantastic creation, Anne. Every detail a delight... You're welcome to come and play (work!) in the dollshouse museum any time!!
ReplyDeleteAlison x
I want to trick or treat there! I love that it's not scary, but festive and inviting! Great scene and lovely details Anne!
ReplyDeleteOh wowsers!!! What more can I add Anne!! No-one and I mean NO-ONE rocks Halloween like you! Adore all the teeny tiny little details eg seed beads for door-knobs!! Brilliant and hugely inventive use of TH various dies and so many other lovely ingredients. Enjoy it Sandy!! Nicola x
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet with the little friends holding hands as they bravely approach this scary house, gorgeous project Anne. Happy crafting, Angela x
ReplyDeleteabsolutely amazing as always; love all the little steps and details that you shared with us. i too used distress grit this week but never thought about applying with a sponge.. probablywould have turned out better!!! and shrink plastic is an amazing product that i forget i have to use!!!
ReplyDeleteWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!! Speechless probably best describes my sentiment....Entire scene is breathtaking, but the house, oh my, the house!!!! It is a masterpiece!
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Samra
Paper Talk with Samra
Oh my, Anne!! I love the way you get carried away!! Keep it coming!! And many thanks for the detailed step outs.... I am still challenged with these kinds of dies, and I so appreciate all the detail you put into explaining, as well as on the piece!! Absolutely fantastic!! xxx Lynn
ReplyDeleteThis is masterfully crafted, Anne! You are one amazing friend and are ever so thoughtful to create this and ship across the pond. ;0 Big hugs, Autumn
ReplyDeleteI adore the Manor! your version is amazing! barbara
ReplyDeleteWowser!!! What a fabulous make Anne xx an amazing make that Sandy will love for sure.
ReplyDeleteLove everything about it
Huge hugs Annie x x
A fabulous creation! The little scene is so perfectly balanced. I love the children approaching, and well, every little thing about it!
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