'Til Death Do us part.... for Halloween

 Hello Friends

I guess it is no secret by now that I love Halloween!  Growing up in Canada meant we celebrated Halloween every year and since moving to the UK I have seen it grow in popularity here too, albeit to a much lesser extent....

I have been avidly watching Tim Holtz's Saturday live sessions and having made some drippy candles following one of those sessions and I decided to incorporate them into a coffin vignette (as you do!!).

I did my best to photograph it in poor light but hopefully you get the idea.

  I started with one of Tim's new Coffin Vignettes and covered it with paper from one of Tim's paper pads.  The inside is decorated with Tim's Halloween Wallpaper.  This was then edged with some of the new Halloween Design Tape.

Inside the top deck I added the candles I created (adding some tiny lights for effect), some decorated bottles and a mini dome which I decorated with Clear Rock Candy Distress Paint and added an Idea-ology skull and pumpkin.

To create the middle deck I added a 'shelf' where I could display the Idea-ology Number Blocks.  These were painted with Crackling Campfire Distress Paint and then glazed with Crackling Campfire Distress Glaze.  To finish off I added a skull and a Found Relative (which I originally coloured with Distress Crayon but I preferred her plain and simple and so wiped off the crayon with a baby wipe.

In the bottom section I added some of Tim's Tiny Lights and used some of the new Halloween Vellum Haunts to cover the section.  I attached a spare Vignette shelf to the bottom of the coffin, painted it black and added the Idea-ology bat, a tombstone and skull along with some moss from my stash.

When I add tiny lights to my projects I like to contain the battery packs by creating pockets at the back of the project, you can see them here...

And here are those lights lit up!  

They both look quite spooky in the dark...

I had great fun making this project, I am almost sorry that Halloween will be over so soon.  Thanks so much for your visit, I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs, Anne xxx

Wobblers and Shakers - Tim Holtz Stamptember 2020

 Hello Friends

Today I am sharing some wobbler and shaker cards (I love interactive cards!).  I created the fun cards with Simon Says Stamptember 2020 Limited Edition release of stamps.  I was so honoured to have received this stamp set as a gift from Tim Holtz and Mario Rossi - I have enjoyed every single minute of using this stamp set, which features the fabulous Snarky Christmas Cats.  Thank you so much to Tim and Mario for their very generous gift, I truly appreciate it!

First up are the wobblers.  I created Distress Ink backgrounds and used Tim's greenery die to create the foliage.  I added wobblers to each of the images and they wobble beautifully.  I wonky stitched around the edges of each card and added layers of card to create a snowy effect.  I did do a video but new Blogger will now allow me to upload it (:( - sad face).

Again, Distress Ink backgrounds with some added foliage, and of course, the robin.

Next up are the Shaker cards.... this is just a selection of the many I made - apologies for the light on the domes!

 Finally, here are some of the Wobblers alongside their Shaker pals, to give you a better look.

I really did have such fun creating these cards and now have a dozen cards made for Christmas, which is a big bonus for me!

Thanks so much for your visit, I hope to see you again soon.

Keep safe and well.

Hugs, Anne xxx

Day of the Dead - Tim Holtz

 Hello Friends

I am back today with another project - this time I used my brand new Day of the Dead Colorize die set by Tim Holtz for Sizzix (664969).  

I had such fun creating this but not so much fun trying to load the pictures onto the new Blogger - Grrr!

I do not have a step by step because I just made it up as I was going along but I have a few close-ups to share which will give you an idea of how I did it.

I started with an Idea-ology Vignette Box, the largest from the set of 4 and covered it inside and out.  The inside uses Ranger Distress Watercolour cardstock that I coloured with Crackling Campfire Distress ink using Tim's Wrinkle Free technique.  I added the Bigz Cathedral window die cut (a gift from my dear friend Kath while I wait for my die to arrive) from Tim's latest release of dies by Sizzix.  This was backed with a vellum picture (cobweb from Tim's Idea-ology Vellum Haunt pack). 

I constructed the characters according to the picture on the die, changing the colours here and there and I added some silk sari ribbon to the lady's shoulders.  I do love this set of dies, the guitar fits beautifully into the hands of the man.  I added some guitar strings with a fineline pen.

I added various Idea-ology pieces (Pumpkins, Skulls, Grave relics) along with some gauze from my stash.  To create the platform I used some thick card from my stash and I added the 'steps' using Tim's Etcetera Trims, painted with Black Soot Distress Paint.

Here is a view of the back of my project, I covered the Vignette back and sides with gorgeous paper from Tim's Departed Paper Pad and I created a light pack holder with card from my stash (sorry, make unknown).  Well, I had to add lights didn't I - no project is complete for me these days unless it lights up!  I used Tim's latest Idea-ology Halloween lights which are orange.

To finish the project I added an Idea-ology knob to the top of the box, I finished the edges of the box with some of Tim's older Design Tape and I added an Idea-ology Word Band, highlighting the words with Distress Crayon.

And finally, a view of the box lit up, it looks super cool at night-time!  I know  Day of the Dead is traditionally celebrated on 1 & 2 November and not 31 October but even though we are unlikely to have any Trick or Treaters this year but I will pop this in the front window, just in case.

I would like to share this project over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is 'Spooky!'.

I have just realised that Country View Challenges have a challenge this month of Halloween (Make a Scene) and I would like to enter my project.

Thanks so much for your visit, I hope you like my Day of the Dead Vignette.

Keep safe and well and I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs, Anne xxx

Butterfly Specimen

 Hello Friends

Hope you are all well!  This is just a quickie post, I don't have any real steps to share because I just made this project for fun.

I absolutely adore butterflies and I was totally inspired by a project that the talented Ann Sullivan Barnes created HERE.  Isn't it gorgeous?

My project is an altogether simpler affair, I just wanted to create a piece that looked like it came from a collector's drawer.  

 It contains my two of my most favourite butterflies, the Monarch and the Swallowtail, the first found in North America and the second in the UK.  Both butterflies are from Tim Holtz stamp sets.  The Monarch is from Tim's new stamp set CMS410 - Specimen and the Swallowtail is from an older stamp set, CMS213 - Perspective.

I covered the outside of the vignette box with woodgrain cardstock coloured with Distress Ink in Antique Linen, Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain.

For the inside, I used some beautiful handmade paper, spritzed with Distress Oxide in Antique Linen and then splattered with more Oxides to give an aged look.  I attached some Tim Holtz design tape around the edges.  I have yet to decide whether to add an acetate cover to the box....

The labels were typed on my new vintage typewriter, I love the type face!

 I added an Idea-ology knob to the top along with a number band, coloured with Distress Crayon.  

That's about it and the box/drawer now sits proudly on a shelf in my craft room and really brightens up my days.  I could never kill or mount a real butterfly this way, but Tim's stamps really do bring these glorious creatures to life!

Thanks so much for your visit, I really appreciate it and I hope to see you again soon.

Take care and keep safe and well.

Hugs, Anne xxx

Mini Books with Washi Tape

 Hello Friends

Sadly, this is my last Guest post for AALL & Create, I am definitely going to miss making weekly projects with their wonderful products.  

I am not usually a great user of Washi Tape but this latest release by AALL & Create really caught my eye and so I just had to have a play.  I made three tiny books.

I used Eileen Hull's Tiny Book die (Sizzix 664423), the book itself is 2.5 inches by 3 inches but is just the perfect size for the Washi Tape and some of AALL & Create's tiny images.

I simply applied the Washi to some matboard and then die cut each book.

I cut a piece of card for each book measuring 14 inches by 2.1/2" and scored this at 2 inch intervals.  I also cut some mats to fit each part.  These were decorated with some stencilling and inks in colours to match the cover.

The little characters below are from a variety of stamps by Janet Klein.

The second book was decorated inside and out with Washi, ink and a background stamp by Tracy Evans.  I love how the words pick up the colour from underneath.

In each case I added an elastic closure and on this one I used the Washi again to create a title.

The last little book is, I think, my favourite, I love the boldness of the red and black crosses against the white background.  To create the button closure on this one I applied Washi to some thick card and die cut the circle, adding some holes for the elastic to thread through.  The inside, at the moment is blank.

Thanks so much for your visit.

Keep safe and well.

Hugs, Anne xx