Ectomobile Reimagined

Happy Saturday, everyone! I've had one of the incredible GSL Funeral Coaches for a while and couldn't decide how I wanted to finish it. I kept flipping back and forth between painting it black and trying to make it authentic to the late 1800's vs. making it into something really unconventional like a doughnut delivery vehicle. Once I got into my head that it's basically a hearse, I hit on the idea of turning it into a funky version of the Ghostbusters' Ecto-1. 

To get started, I set aside the wheels and chassis and laid out all of the pieces that form the coach's body. This makes both assembly and planning out which pieces need to be painted what color very easy.

I used white, black and red paint for the coach. Here are all the pieces with the exception of the wheels which were painted black with metallic for the spokes. 

Here is the main part of the coach's body assembled using a bit of tacky glue.

The ectomobile carries a lot of equipment on it's roof. I used the base of a GSL Suitcase 2.4 Inch for gear storage.

Finding stuff for the roof rack was pretty fun. I ended up using an Altoid tin, spent CO2 cartridge, some wooden beads, acrylic bits, spool, wire, light bulbs, sewing bobbin, and a black lego. The amber lights were made by gluing large rhinestones onto flat square silver beads. The satellite dish is made from a flower nail, which is the base you use when piping flowers from frosting.

I fretted over how to make a red light working only from stash then found a jar of these vase filler acorns. When you set a red one inside a polymer clay base and add a split key ring, I think the effect is quite convincing. 

The vehicle needs a companion to ride along. I sculpted a Slimer out of polymer clay. Here is an in-process picture.

I glued the chassis in place, added some signage and it's ready to roll.

Thanks for stopping by!

GSL Products Used

Funeral Coach

Suitcase 2.4 Inch

Other Supplies Used 

Tacky glue

Acrylic paint

Polymer clay

Printed images

Bits & bobbins

 

 

caravan to the catacombs

As October marches on, there is a shift, of sorts, in the atmosphere. The leaves begin to die; the days grow shorter; and we prepare ourselves for the long winter nights. It is with the fading of the bright and active autumnal days that I present to you "caravan to the catacombs."

The Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts funeral coach is truly a remarkable piece; one that I have been looking forward to working with. The sturdy chipboard funeral coach arrives in eighteen pieces, it includes all of the elements needed to complete the coach, including two axels and four wheels.

Whenever I begin a new project , I always find it helpful to initially construct the piece in its unaltered form. Figuring out the puzzle and understanding the basic construction helps me to determine the order in which I will need to complete the parts. It’s also helpful to get a clear vision of how it will look in it’s 3D form. 

 I paint all of the pieces with black soot distress paint on both sides, making sure to paint the edges of the interlocking tabs so that when assembled, it is completely colored. The pieces are set aside to dry. 
I cut 4 rectangles from acetate that has a spider web pattern printed on it. I love the papers included in the new Halloween paper stash from Tim Holtz. Each rectangle is approximately 1-5/8" x 3-1/4”. I also cut two 2-7/8” x 3-1/4” pieces of clear acetate for the central windows on each coach side panel. The clear panels are stamped with “The Undertaker“ stamp, and adorned at each corner with remnant rub decorative corners.
 Each of the openings in the side walls is edged with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Emerald Creek hammered metal embossing powder. This gives the window openings a spooky elegance. When the embossing has cooled, I flip the side panels over and adhere the acetate pieces in place with distress collage medium.  

With the side panels complete, I begin to construct the base of the coach. Both of the runners that will hold the axels are glued in place. Be sure to check that both runners are oriented in the same direction. The smaller hubs are where the larger wheels are located, and the larger hubs are where the smaller wheels will be. Next, I attach the side panels, as well as the wall that separates the driver from the coffin compartment. The interlocking tabs assure that everything is aligned correctly. 

The solid surfaces on the interior of the coffin compartments are lined with a burgundy cut velvet. I measure and cut two pieces of cardstock that fit the floor area and partition wall then adhere the velvet to the cardstock with collage medium. When dry, I trim the edges and adhere each piece to its respective panel in the coach. The rear doorframe is attached after these velvet pieces are secure.

The rear door panels are embossed with hammered metal on their exterior sides. Pieces of stamped acetate are adhered to the openings in the same manner as they were on the sidewall openings. When everything is dry, the doors are hinged in the doorframe. 

I want the wheels to look as if they have somewhat worn, as if they have travelled many miles. To accomplish this, the four wheels are lightly painted with black soot distress paint on both sides. The outer edge of each wheel is colored using an brushed pewter distress crayon. Some areas of the wheel/spoke interior edges are also colored with the distress crayon, using a paintbrush and water to make the pigment more fluid. The paintbrush can easily access the tight areas between the spokes.

Decorative “metallic” skull elements are located at the four corners of the roof. The hammered metal look of the skulls is created by embossing, once again using the Emerald Creek powder. Be sure to use tweezers to hold the piece you are embossing and take care not to overheat as the skulls are plastic and can melt. Once the skulls are cool, I color any deep recesses with black sharpie marker. A wooden skewer is inserted into the hole at the bottom of the skull to create a post and a wooden bead forms the base.  The wooden parts are painted with black soot distress paint. These decorative skull elements are not attached to the roof until the assembly is complete, thus making less opportunity for the pieces to break off when the coach is being handled.

The compartment beneath the drivers seat is finished with cut velvet in the same fashion as the rear compartment. A metal Halloween vignette adornment is adhered to each side of the cab with collage medium.

 The coach would not be complete without a “vanity plate”, which is located on the front grill panel. A Halloween quote chip is adhered to the painted chipboard panel and hammered metal embossing powder creates the faux grill effect.

A Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts 6 inch coffin box fits perfectly inside the funeral coach. This piece is made from lighter weight chipboard and arrives in two flat pieces. Each piece has score lines at every fold location. I recommend using a bone folder to score along the lines prior to assembly.

I assemble and paint the coffin box with black soot distress paint. Using black soot archival ink, I stamp a wooden plank pattern onto a piece of mixed media heavy stock. I color the piece with  weathered wood, black soot, hickory smoke and gathered twigs distress inks to create the look of real wood. My patterned paper is cut to fit the top and bottom of the casket and planks are individually attached to the sides.  

When the coffin and lid have been completely covered, a jolly roger embellishment is adhered to the lid and a skeleton is nestled into his final resting place.

This coffin box slides right into the rear compartment of the funeral coach, allowing the doors to close fully. 

Once everything is intact, I attach the "metal" skull decorations at each roof corner with collage medium and allow them to dry overnight. The funeral coach, complete with "passenger" is ready to for its caravan to the catacombs.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit the blog.
If you still haven't had a chance to make something for this spooky season, I hope that you can find the time; its always a fun time of year to let your creativity take flight.
I hope that you are inspired to create something spooktacular!
~Ann

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group on Facebook  is a great place to share any of your GSLC creations. Please, feel free to join in the fun.

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts products:
Funeral Coach
6 inch Coffin Box

Breaking News: E. Bunny Finally Reveals How Those Easter Baskets Get Delivered

The chocolate eggs and jelly beans have all been delivered (and probably eaten) by now, but I'm certain many of you are still wondering how Mr. Easter Bunny gets all those baskets delivered on Easter Morn. He certainly doesn't have the benefit of flying reindeer.

You can put all your wondering to rest because for the first time in the history of Easter baskets, Mr. Bunny aka Peter Cottontail is allowing the public to see just how he gets those candies to you.

Mr. Bunny agreed to the photos after tiring of all the "fake news" surrounding his delivery methods. "People actually thought I hopped around the entire world," he scoffed.

Instead, he delivers the Easter baskets via a pink wagon, designed by Betsy Skagen of Paper Calliope. The wagon is pulled by a clutch of draught chicks.

Putting fuzzy white paws in front of his mouth, Mr. Bunny whispered, "Don't tell anyone, but it used to be a Funeral Coach." "Knowing it used to carry bodies might be bad for business."

When quizzed about the possible cruelty of using baby chicks in such a manner, Mr. Bunny assured us that they were treated exceedingly well. While he refused to reveal the specifics, he alluded to the fact the chicks were magical. Pausing his carrot nibbling and quivering his pink nose right in front of the reporter's face, he sputtered, "Ya don't think some ordinary barnyard chicks could get me round the world in one morning, do ya?"

After wiping flecks of carrot from her glasses, the reporter pacified Mr. Bunny by asking what he did with the wagon the rest of the year.

"Oh that's easy," he said, setting down his carrot. "I run a candy business. The finest candies in the world. You can see my sign on my wagon and on my fancy glass doors."

Mr Bunny seemingly did not hear the reporter when she reminded him that according to the artist Betsy Skagen, the doors were in fact made from transparency sheets. Instead he gave a dismissive flick of his cottontail and hopped away to gather carrots. 

Great Stuff

Funeral Coach
Pink Sweeper Fringe
Alice in Wonderland Rabbit
Chess piece
Gold beads
Pink beads
Miniature knobs
Transparency sheets
Large paper straws (stability for axels)
Paint
Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive
Ribbon
Window/Door images
Bunny & Chick graphics
Plastic packaging to make stands