wicked ways

I always enjoy working on Halloween projects throughout the fall, and today, I am excited to share my latest piece, "wicked ways." This piece uses a Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts filigree front shrine as its base. I love the size of this shrine, its generous interior provides the perfect opportunity for me to create a spooky scene. I have opted to use the WICKED word from the halloween word set in lieu of the filigree piece that comes with the shrine. I plan to use the beautifully detailed filigree piece for a future project.

I first paint all of the shrine pieces that I will be using with black paint. I do not add water, and try to use a light hand when applying the paint, ensuring that all edges are covered. This piece has a few edges that are exposed when it is assembled, and if you are not planning to cover the outside with paper, it is essential to paint the exposed edges the same color so the appearance will be seamless.
When the paint has dried, I select a paper for the interior of the shrine. I want the scene that I am creating to have a spooky quality, and find an old piece of decorative paper from my stash that will be perfect to achieve this. Since the paper is 12x12, and I want to be sure to include the area with the full moon, I lay the front piece of the shrine on top of the page to determine the area that I will need to cut out. The interior (back) panel is 4-3/4" x 5- 3/4". I also cut two adjacent strips (on either side of the main panel) to use on each interior side. These papers are inked around the edges and adhered to their respective pieces with collage medium. Once the papers are secured, I assemble the shrine box with more collage medium. I use clamps to make sure that everything stays in place as the glue dries.

Setting the shrine box aside, I work on the word Wicked that will adorn the top of my shrine. This piece is from the Halloween word set. I have other ideas for the remaining words from this set and really like how each word is cut from a different font. Knowing that there is a possibility that some sections of the word might extend beyond the top of the shrine, I paint both the front and back of the word with black paint. When the paint has dried, I coat the front side with VersaMark embossing ink and sprinkle with dragons egg embossing powder. This is then heat set. I consider adding another layer of embossing, but really like the texture that I have achieved with only a single application. I love the subtle metallic finish and the color works perfectly with my scheme. In order to keep the subtleness, but also ensure that the title is noticed, I use a silver metallic paint pen around the exterior edge of the letters. This will help the word pop without having to raise it off of the front panel. When the silver edge has completely dried, I attach the word piece to the shrine using collage medium.

Now it is time to set the scene inside the shrine. I spritz the cauldron piece from the GSLC be witched shape set lightly with water on both sides. I then gently bend the shape to create a 3-d effect. I allow the piece to dry in this altered shape. After it has dried, I coat the outside of the cauldron with embossing ink, then a layer of hammered metal embossing powder. Using a heat gun I melt the powder to a wonderful finish. The embossed piece is allowed to cool. I cut a piece of foam to raise the cauldron away from the back panel and use collage medium to attach the foam in place along the back.

A die cut witch figure is inked then covered in black soot glitter. To achieve the look of moonlight shining off her silhouetted figure, I die cut a second witch from silver cardstock and offset the two pieces. She stirs her magic potion with a "wooden" stick.

The interior base of the shrine is covered with moss; a few bones and a skull add to the spooky effect. Within the cauldron, pearls (colored with alcohol inks) create the perfect bubbly potion. Die cut bats are suspended with wire or attached to the interior of the shrine, enjoying the witch's cackling chant.

For the exterior of the shrine, I wanted it to remain simple. Black cardstock skeleton leaf die cuts are adhered to the side and fold-over to the back. An ephemera "poster" for the Witches Dance is the main attraction.

 
 
I hope that you have enjoyed this wicked piece, I look forward to sharing more of my Halloween projects over the next few weeks.  Feel free to leave a comment, I always enjoy hearing your thoughts or answering questions.

Thank you so much for stopping by,
 I hope that you have a creative day!
~Ann
      

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used:

filigree front shrine

halloween word set

be witched shape set

Bewitched Candy Box

Hello!! Jennalee here today with a Bewitching candy box. My favorite part of Halloween is most definitely the candy and who doesn't love having a cute way to display or gift a favorite treat. With an easy gusset, we can make the cauldron from the Be Witched Shape Set 3D. Let's get started!!

Begin by painting both cauldrons black front and back. Once dry run thru Xyron sticker maker. Apply glitter. This is my favorite way to add glitter because there is no dry time for glue and it's way less messy!!

To make your gusset cut a piece of black cardstock approximately 1.25" wide by 4.5" long. Score .25 inch from the long edge on both sides. Once scored cut V shapes approximately every quarter inch along each long edge. Fold the score lines, working one side at a time apply adhesive along the edges and adhere to the back side of each cauldron piece. 

Paint a base layer on the witch's feet both front and back. Apply purple glitter to the shoes and create stripes for the stockings using glitter tape dyed with Alchohol Ink. 

Prepare the second set of legs from the set by painting front and back black. Prepare two small wood skewers painted black. Cut a block of foam to size to fit in cauldron. Once the paint all pieces have dried adhere skewers sandwiched between the front and back legs.

Once the legs have dried insert skewers into the foam block.

Prepare hat by painting both front and back purple, run thru Xyron and apply purple glitter. 

Dye the Baubles that will overflow from the cauldron. Using a small zipper seal plastic bag add a few drops of Alcohol Ink and insert Baubles. Roll them around and add ink as needed. Remove from bag and set Baubles aside to dry.  

Color a variety of sizes of Baubles using Sunset Orange, Purple Twilight, Citrus, and Watermelon Alcohol Ink. 

Adhere Baubles down the front of the cauldron as if they are bubbles cascading over the edge. 

Spray Mummy Cloth with Twisted Citron Distress Spray Stain and heat set. Glue Mummy Cloth over the foam piece inside the cauldron and on top of the Trinket Box under the cauldron and hat. 

Cut Trinket Box from Mat Board covered in paper from Halloween Paper Stash. Blend edges with Black Soot Distress Ink and fill in fold lines with Black Soot Distress Marker. Use double sided super tape to assemble box. (Not all pieces are shown here.)

Cut a length of purple seam binding to wrap around the box and layer a Halloween Quote Chip on the front. Finish off by adhereing the Mummy Cloth, cauldron, and hat to the box top. Once the cauldron placement is figured out add remaining Baubles cascading onto the box top, fill with candy and enjoy. 

Although I think this project rounds up my Halloween creating that doesn't mean I won't continue the celebration with more candy!! 

Happy Creating ~ Jennalee 

A "Wicked" Canvas

Hello, everyone! Mary here with a canvas I call "Wicked." Halloween is not normally my thing, but I had a lot of fun making this.

The first thing I did was cover the entire canvas with black gesso. Next, I took different sheets of paper and tore them into small bits. After that, each edge of the small paper bits was inked with Gathered Twigs. The next step after attaching the paper to the canvas was to apply a thin coat of white gesso over the entire thing to tone down the brightness of the paper. The ink will turn the gesso a soft brown. Once the gesso was dry, I applied small strips of drywall joint tape to random spots. I then used two of the spiderwebs from the Spiderweb Shape Set as stencils. I applied embossing paste over the webs, various spots on the canvas, and on the joint paint. When the embossing paste was dry, I removed the joint tape and sprayed the canvas with Tears on my Pillow Tangerine and Summer Lovin' Sun. After that was dry, I used Gathered Twigs and Black Soot along all four edges of the canvas.

For the chipboard pieces I used, I first covered them all in white gesso. As I started working with each piece, I did recover each one in black gesso. I have listed below how I altered each piece!

Corner spiderwebs: Magic Moon Pearls embossing powder

 Bats: Black acrylic paint. The large bat is applied with foam pop squares.
Wicked: Glitter

 

Witches Hats: Black embossing powder and on one, splattered with gold paint marker. The belt on the hats -  orange acrylic paint and silver paint marker

Spiders: Glitter glue
Cauldron and witches feet: Gloss black,  silver, green and black paint, gold paint marker.
       Attached to the canvas with pop dots

I hope you inspired to make a canvas of your own!

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Products
Spiderweb Shape Set
Be Witched Shape Set
Spiders & Webs Shape Set (Please contact store)
Title Wicked

Other Products
11x14 Canvas
Graphic 45: Steampunk Spells
DecoColor Opaque Paint Markers: Gold and Silver
Black and White gesso
Glitter: Recollections: Muse, Rust, Ebony
Glitter Glue: Studio G
Paint: Gloss Black, Shimmering Silver, Pure Orange, Classic Green, Black
Embossing Powder: Ranger - Black, Lindy's - Magic Moon Pearls
Sprays: Lindy's - Tears on my Pillow Tangerine, Summer Lovin' Sun
Embossing Paste
Distress Ink: Gathered Twigs, Black Soot
Drywall Joint Tape

Facebook Challenge for March by Dianna

Hi Everyone, Dianna here with a new Tag for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Monthly Challenge.  The first of each month there is a new challenge.  March is a color challenge and it is Green! Anything Green! 

All you have to do is become a member of the Craft Group on Facebook and submit your entry.  The winning entry will receive a $10.00 gift certificate to Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

For this months Tag from the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts -Tags in a Box Display, I used Graphic 45 - Mother Goose for the Tag.  I then painted a light coating of white paint.  I then used a shamrock die, Graphic 45 - Humpty Dumpty and three different plain green papers.  There are about 50 shamrocks on this Tag.  I distressed all the shamrocks and used a light mist of waters to "shape" the shamrocks.

I painted the cauldron from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts - Be Witched Shape Set and cut off the feet.  I then painted it black, used black and green Stickles all over the cauldron.  I then used a medium hole punch and gold paper as coins.  The Irish girl is a stamp from Taylored Expressions colored with Copic Markers.  The flags are from a special order from Gyspy Soul Laser Cuts. The Best of Luck was cut out from Graphic 45 - Children's Hour - March.

Thank you for looking!

Items Used

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

Tags in a Box Display

Be Witched Shape Set

Other Items 

Graphic 45

Mother Goose

Children's Hour

Halloween Shadow Box

It's finally here! Halloween!!! I love working on Halloween projects and I had the best time creating this one. I used an old wooden shelf my daughter used to use to display her perfume on. I broke out a ton of chipboard for this one!

Once it was finished and I sat it down on the table, Jake laid right in front of it and spent some time checking it out. I think he likes it! The process video link is below! Click on over and see how I made this!

Halloween Shadow Box

Gina's Designs:

Be Witched Shape Set

Spiderweb Shape Set

String Alongs Gothic

Cobblestone

Coffin Box

Witches

Hinges Shape Set

Tree 3

Other products:

black gesso

ink sprays

chain

eye screws

flowers

seed beads

Glossy Accent

Fabritac 

Twinkling H2O's

St. Patrick's Day Tag by Dianna

Hi Everyone, Happy St. Patrick's Day! Being part Irish, I just simply had to do something with Gina's Designs Chipboard and my Prima Media Doll Stamp.

I started with Gina's X-Large Tag and covered with Authentique "Lucky" Collection paper.  The Layered Border (Victoria) from Gina's Designs comes in two layers. I used gold Stickles on the bottom layer and Sparkling H20s on the top layer to give the chipboard more color.  The ivy under the Irish Blessing is Gina's Ivy Corners, which I spritzed with Fireworks Spray and Stickles.  I cut out the Irish Blessing, the shamrocks "Lucky", the large and small shamrock  from Authentique "Lucky" Collection.  I used two different Stickles on the shamrocks in caldron.  I painted Gina's caldron black then used green Stickles,  The phrase "May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow...." is cut from the top of the Authentique paper.

I used Julie Nutting's Media Doll and stamped doll dress twice using the Authentique paper.  I then layered the dress and cut the "folds" of the first layer of the dress to give the dress more fluff.  I created sleeves with the solid green paper and placed an extra clover in her arm.  The top hat was cut out of the Authentique paper.  I used Copic Markers on the hair, body and shoes. 

Gina's Designs Items Used

Chipboard Decorative Tags X-Large

Ivy Corners

Be Witched Shape Set

Layered Border Victoria

Other Items

Julie Nutting Media Doll

Authentique - Lucky Collection

Copic Markers