A Couple of Challenges - It is a bit macabre!

Hello Fellow Bloggers

Thank you so much to my latest followers (I really appreciate you being along with me on my crafting adventures) and my trusty other followers.  I am not sure what you are going to make of this creation but I can tell you I had the most fun making it!

The Frilly and Funky Challenge is to create a tag - but a Different Kind of Tag and one with a theme.  The challenge is sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique and the prize is $25 gift voucher to spend in the Funkie Junkie Boutique.

The Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge is named Rustification where they want to see some rusted materials on the entry.  The prize for this challenge is a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp Shop.

I am also entering into Haunted House Designs Challenge 154, Bats in the Belfry where bats are a requirement.  I have two bats attached to the Boo sign, I just hope it is scary enough for their challenge - if you like Bats/Halloween, it is certainly worth a peek.

I have also seen a great challenge at Inspiration Emporium blog where the challenge is to create a 'Spooktacular Decoration' and the prize is $50 in Emporium Dollars to spend in the store.  My little piece is intended for a decoration on Halloween night so I thought I would enter this one too!

OK, anyone of a nervous disposition please turn away (only kidding!) now because here is my entry:

I created my tag by using a piece of galvanised mesh panelling which I formed into a tag shape by using a No 8 Manila tag.  The mesh was then bent at right angles so that it would stand up on its side, with two/thirds of the wire tag left to form a back.  I added a small 'shelf'', approx 2" wide from card,  for the coffin to stand on and I coloured the mesh with pitch black alcohol ink to give a more tarnished and weathered look.  The coffin was made from plain card and covered with wood effect paper and then distressed to within an inch of its life with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Bundled Sage and Black Soot.  A piece of dyed crinoline fabric has been placed inside the coffin.

The broken picket fence and tree are die cuts and the bats were a gift in my recent purchase from the Funkie Junkie Boutique.  The gravestones were drawn and cut out by me.  The two fabulous skeletons are a recent purchase from a well known auction site and I covered these brass coloured skeletons with Tim Holtz Mixative in Snow Cap and gave each of them a set of amber eyes to make them even spookier.

The rusting was great fun.  The word Boo has been taken from Tim Holtz Kraft Idea-ology Chipboard Letters and I used rusting powder to rust them up and then distressed by adding a little acrylic paint.  I finished off the tag by adding some of Tim Holtz's new tinsel ribbon and a piece of vintage ribbon, again purchased from The Funkie Junkie.

I put orange glitter card behind so that it would show up the mesh better when photographed.  Here is a picture from above to show the inside a little better.  Love the way the skeleton in the grave yard looks so relaxed.......

I know it is a bit macabre and a very unusual make for me, but a family members loves this kind of thing so after I put it in the window on Halloween with a battery operated tea light, it will go to them.......

I hope you like it!  If you do visit I hope you will leave me a comment, I always do my best to return the compliment.  Crafty hugs, Anne x