Sunday, August 19, 2012

BOO ... IT'S A SCARY NO RULES WEEK

Hi everybody! It's another Monday at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  This week is a "NO RULES, JUST CRAFT" challenge.  Hop on over to the blog and see the amazing ideas that my Design Teammates have waiting for you!   Then let your creative juices start flowing and post an entry to our blog.

I recently participated in a fabulous online course by Andy Skinner called "Timeworn Techniques".  I found it a challenge and fascinating.  The course was all about technique and the amazing things you can do with acrylic paint.

Halloween will be here before we know it.  I thought I'd get a jump on it by incorporating some of the products I love with the techniques I've just learned. 


Here is my finished piece. 

I started out with a plain paper mache coffin.  Not very interesting!  (smile)
In order for the new techniques I'd learned to really be effective, I needed to create texture and detail on the coffin.  
Enter Tim Holtz' die cuts....
Movers and Shapers Mini Ticket, Alphetical Decorative Strip, On The Edge Ornate and On The Edge Iron Gate.  I cut the shapes out of Plain Grungeboard and then attached them to the coffin.  The "RIP" was cut out of cardstock three times and then layered on top of each other for more dimension.

    
Here is the coffin with the Iron Gate added around the base before painting.

 

 I built up the top and bottom of the headstone by adding layers of the On The Edge Ornate Grungeboard pieces.  I glued them together with Glossy Accents.  On either side of the headstone is a piece of ornate wood trim that I purchased at a craft store.  I also added two Melissa Frances half pearls from her Trinkets and Baubles at the bottom.  As you will see in the finished piece, those turn into rivets.


This is the headstone portion of the coffin before painting.  


I also added the pearls around the top of the coffin lid.  They will also look like rivets in the finished piece.


So here are the pieces before they are painted.  The skull is a plastic one that I bought at a craft store last Halloween.  I cut it in half so that the skull would lay flat on the coffin headstone.

Next step, all of the pieces (except the skull) are painted black to give them a good base coat to work from.  Even just the black is a dramatic difference.  The skull is painted with an off white paint base coast.

Out of respect to Andy Skinner, I will not give the specific paint colors or the details of the techniques I used on this piece.  But, if you are fascinated with this, I encourage you to visit his website and check out his online classes.


Again ..... coffin lid before


Coffin lid painted black.  See the difference in those "rivets" already?


And here is the finished coffin lid...using a technique to make it appear rusted.

Coffin painted black.


Coffin with rust technique added.  Don't those Melissa Frances pearls and Tim's Iron Gate piece just POP?  Love it!


Plain headstone painted black.


Plain headstone after the rust technique.  Again, see how the wood trim, the pearl "rivets" and the built up On The Edge Ornate die cut really pop? 

Now all I needed to do is add all of the embellishments.

 The skulls and the "RIP" are all done using an aged ivory technique.  I added some Crackle Accents to the top of "RIP" for even more dimension and aging.


The skull in the center is hot glued in place.  The two skulls on either side have red glowing eyes courtesy of Hero Arts Red Gemstones that are held in place with Glossy Accents.  I added the chain, the little keys and the little door knocker and hot glued them all into place.  Since I love interactive stuff, the chains and keys hang freely.


The RIP plate is done using Tim Holtz' Mini Tickets die cut.  I glued it on top of plain Grungeboard and cut out a slightly larger ticket behind it.  I then added two more little pearls for rivets on either side.  The plate is then aged using a burnt copper technique.  I love this effect and there is actually a rough texture where it looks like the copper has oxidized on the plate.  

There is a "resident" inside the coffin.


He was a sort of yellowy plastic little fellow that I purchased last Halloween.  I replaced the head on him with a larger one.  I think it gives him much more character than the little boring head he had before.  (smile)  And...after taking Andy's classes, this is exactly how MY head feels...like's it's exploding with all of the techniques I learned in his classes.  (smile) 
  
So that's it....no rules this week!  Only crafting for the sake of crafting and loving every minute of it!  I hope you'll join in on the fun at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  Post your entry to the blog and you could be the lucky winner of our most generous sponsor's 


$50.00 voucher to spend any way you like in their store!  Now ... I warn you ... with all of the wonderful products at Simon Says Stamp and Show and with all of the new products being released after Summer CHA, you're probably going to spend more than $50.00!  But, what a great start!!!

You may also be chosen as one of our TOP THREE entries for the week.  That is quite an honor, considering the level of entries we receive each week.  Beautiful work from so many talented people!  

Good luck!  I can't wait to be inspired by your entry this week.

 Here are the products from Simon Says Stamp that I used in the creation of this piece:


       
           
                                           
           
       
       
           
                                           
           
       
       
           
                                           
           
       
       
           
                                           
           
       
       
           
                                           
           
       
       
           
                                           
           
       
       
           
                                           
           
       
       
           
                                           
           
       
       
           
                                           
           
       










   

44 comments:

  1. This is soooooooo fun and totally amazing! You Rock!

    ~Linda

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  2. very cool- great little tut too :-) Debi x

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  3. I already saw it before, but still it's an amazing piece!
    And I love to see all the steps and how it turned out.
    Brilliant and funny, too!

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  4. Wow Candy, the techniques you have used to transform the coffin look amazing, I even thought it looked great in plain black - great idea to use pearls for rivets. Those eyes in the two skulls look quite eerie... great job. A x

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  5. That is totally A.W.E.S.O.M.E!

    I found Andy recently and can't wait to take this class.

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  6. LOVE your coffin - the texture is amazing with all the layers underneath, and the rusty technique is FAB! May have to go visit Mr. Andy's website and check it out! Hope you are well, my friend... Ellen xxx

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  7. Absolutely gorgeous - I love it! The rusty, shabby colors, the mix of shapes, the delicate surfaces and the wonderful little skeleton inside (where the heck do you get those cool parts from?) - amazing!
    kind regards, serafeena

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  8. Your coffin is a real masterpiece. I just love how you put it together. And this rust technique is fabulous. :))

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  9. Love your piece! I have to go check out that website.

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  10. Such a spooky and fabulous project Candy! Love it! I especially like the iron gate around the coffin, the beads turned into cool rivets and the double layered ticket on the front. And how fun that it has a resident too. Fabulous!

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  11. This is incredible, Candy!! I just started following Andy - he is amazing. I guess I need to take that class! Was it recent? Ongoing?

    The way you layered everything on this is so perfect. I am in awe!!

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  12. Fabulous and clever crafting Candy. Loving that door knocker (great touch), as usual your pieces are perfection, x

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  13. Fantastic project! Love the technique and the look you achieved. Must look into this class. Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring.

    Mary

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  14. You take Halloween to new heights!

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  15. Whimsical and scary at the same time! Those skeletons are actually cute...lol! Love the coffin so deeply colored and grunged up. Cute project Candy!

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  16. I absolutely love this coffin! The details you put into it are fantastic. Thanks for sharing and inspiring us.
    Alison J.

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  17. Wow!!!!
    LOVE your coffin it is awsome!

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  18. Very spooky, very cool... the rust technique is fab. (I'm about to do an Andy Skinner class online so looking forward to getting very rusty and weathered!)
    Alison x

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  19. Wow, that is all I can say! I am breathless with the amount you have done to the original paper mâché box, off now to Andy skinners blog to have a look around thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment and for the inspiration. Hugs Tracyx

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  20. OOPS Well I went, and signed up for the Book Class LOL!! Thanks Cindy, Tracy xx

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  21. Wow! This is ultra fabulous! lol! I totally LOVE it, and am going to check out the Andy Skinner class! So cool!

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  22. Love this piece, gonna have to get out my Halloween stuff early this year lol. Off to check out Andy Skinners blog, thanks

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  23. Fantabulous! Love your spooky, creepy coffin! Thanks for the step outs too! This is wonderful!

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  24. Hi, Candy, thanks for popping over to my blog and leaving a comment. If it's wrong to say I love a coffin, I don't want to be right -- lol. This is creepy and cool. I would never have guessed it was made of paper mache -- it has a much more substantial look to it with the painting and layering.

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  25. I'm totally in love with your spook fest of a piece, I love the presentation and the AS paint treatment, I've yet to try any of his techniques YET, but I will!

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  26. This is fab!!! I love the way you have rusted your coffin!!!! Those pearls have been utterly and stunningly transformed, it is spookily delicious! Love it!thanks for the kind comments, we are back from holiday now, having had a magical time! Hope I can do as amazing things after doing Andy skinners course as you have!!! Love trace x

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  27. Hey there girlfriend, you did it AGAIN, your spooky covin is AMAZINGLY made wowzersss I just love it and who would have thought that you can make such an amazing piece with the pearls and the paper mache my goodness FABULOUS and yep you did it AGAIN, one amazingly made Piece of ART wow pretty darn cool xxxx Terry xxxx

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  28. WOWSERS! What a fun and funky project! Love it :)

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  29. Very cool Candy, I love it, good to see you putting the course to great use, looks like you have learnt loads, the finish looks perfect. fantastic job.
    are you now in the Outersanctum??

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  30. WOWOWOW what a unique awesome scary art work!I love that projet very much. Thanks for the progress photos.

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  31. I REALLY like this piece! I'm about to begin the Timeworn Techniques course and after seeing this I'm looking forward to it even more. This is just so imaginative and I love the spookiness!

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  32. Your stuff never ceases to amaze and astound me. brilliant and inventive as usual. I really must try some of this myself.

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  33. Super cool no rules Halloween decoration! I love the layering of the die cut pieces, it provided a really cool effect!

    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  34. I have read many blogs in the past, but to tell you the truth since i came across this one i found that it really stands out. People need to post more quality content like this.

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  35. Stunning coffin! You've mastered this technique very well! I really like Andy Skinners techniques. Starting another workshop this week! So excited! Hugs, Sandra

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  36. really scary :),thanks for your lovely comments on my blog

    kavitha
    www.snapkavi.blogspot.com

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  37. Stunning coffin and a superb painting technique. (:o)

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  38. Thank you for your kindly commments on my blog Your creation is fabulous! A lot of work on it and thank you for the pictures it helps to see all the steps you made Amazing job !
    hugs
    Helene from Quebec

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  39. Wow, very impressive, Cindy!!! what a cool idea! Thanks for sharing how you did it! Hugs, Elizabeth

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  40. Wow Candy what a fabulous transformation, I love your step by steps. Love how you have used the on the edge dies and the rusted technique is wonderful, so effective and striking. Love the paint effect on the skulls and what a fabulous idea adding the red gems to the skulls eyes, really spooky. Fabulous as always Candy and well worth the wait to see it in all it's glory. Tracy x x

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  41. WOWZERS, this is the most awesome Halloween project! Thanks for showing all the details. I've never been too interested in painting and 3D projects like this, but I am NOW! LOVE IT!

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  42. Outstanding! I am not even a little bit amazed that you could come up with something so fantastic. Love it and all the fine details:)
    Tons of Hugs, Dangina

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  43. I am just ga ga over this project! I have most of the materials to make it but I wondered what you used for the headstone piece itself? Thanks for your help/

    Mary

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  44. Just pouring over this again for the third time!!! Love how you layered the grunge to make the headstone, and the pearls and iron to add the texture! It's so believable that that would be how it came originally! You pay extreme close attention to detail! Where in the world did you find that knocker and those big heads? Ok...that sounds bad...but you know what I mean! ;0)

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