MY VINTAGE STYLE HALLOWEEN JOINTED SKELETON TAG FEATURED ON RANGER'S BLOG

Good Tuesday morning everyone!

I want to send lots and lots of special thoughts out to my friends and especially to my Ranger family on the east coast.  I hope that all of you are minimally affected by the devastation of Sandy.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of those people in harm's way.

I am so pleased to have another piece being featured on RANGER'S BLOG....my vintage style jointed skeleton Halloween tag.

I remember having toys kind of like this as a kid....where you would pull on a cord and the arms and legs of the character would move in unison.  I always love those!  So, I decided to create this vintage style tag, reminiscent of those old toys.

This vintage style tag is pretty much all Tim Holtz' products.  Imagine THAT?!  Me, a Tim Holtz junkie? ....Yep!  I love his retro and vintage products!

The tag is a #8 manila tag that has been embossed using Tim's Poison Texture Fade.  Check out RANGER'S BLOG for all of the instructions to create this fun interactive tag.

Here is a picture of the skeleton before pulling down on the black cording and making him "jump".  He's just chilllin'.  Some orange and black beads are strung onto the cording and at the very bottom, a metal bat from Tim's very cool Seasonal Adornments.  I punched a hole through the bat's head using Tim's Two Hole Punch and then attached the cording.  

 Pull down on the cord and the skeleton's arms and legs spread out, 

like something spooked him!

 

The skeleton is from Tim's Retro Halloween stamp set.  The arms and legs are stamped twice on white cardstock so that I could give them more strength and also create their "jointed" feature.  Again, check out Ranger's blog for all of the details.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Take time out for yourself to create some Halloween fun!  After all..........it is TOMORROW!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!  

 

A PEARL OF A GIRL

Hello Everybody and Happy Monday!  It's another week and another challenge at

 Simon Says Stamp and Show.  This week, the theme is "Pearl".  Check out what my Design Teammates have waiting for you.  Such beautiful projects and unique ideas!

I took this week's theme literally and figuratively.  I included pearls on my project as well as working with Perfect Pearls powders in both a powder and liquid form to create my shabby chic style vintage tag.

I also found the loveliest portrait of a beautiful lady in need of a name and a story ... so meet "Pearl".  She was my inspiration for this tag.  According to my story, this lovely lady was an aspiring fashion designer in the early 1930s who dreamed of making gorgeous gowns and costumes for the beautiful actresses of the then new and fabulous talking movies.  

I began this project with a large #10 size Manila Tag.  I love them!  I colored my tag with Broken China Distress and Picket Fence Distress Stains that were scribbled onto a Non Stick Craft Sheet.  I dragged my tag through the color and heat set it.  That gave a really pretty marbled effect.  Next I distressed the edges of the tag Gathered Twig and Black Soot Distress Inks. (My camera messed up on that picture).

Portrait and lace before creating Pearl's portrait.

Then I found "Pearl" online and sized her to fit my tag.  I printed her out onto Claudine Hellmuth's Sticky Natural Back Canvas.  I peeled off the sticky backing and backed the photograph onto kraft paper, to give it some extra strength.  I love the texture and the rich photograph appearance that the canvas gives.

Next I dyed some white lace to look old and vintage. I did this with some Raw Umber Liquitex ink and a little water in a bowl.  It only took a couple of minutes to do.  Then I heat set it with my Heat It Craft Tool.  I then gathered the lace on a single thread and placed it around the edge of my photograph; sticking it in place with 1/8" Scor-Tape. 

Pearl's portrait after putting everything together.

I colorized the photograph with Victorian Velvet and Shabby Shutters Distress Markers for the color of the flowers that Pearl is holding.  I swiped the pens onto the Non Stick Craft Sheet and then used a Small Sakura Water to apply the color and blend it.  Then I pulled out Pink Gumball and Sour Apple Perfect Pearls powders and using the water brush, I created a "paint" and brushed over the flowers and leaves to give them shimmering highlights.  Next I wanted to give dimension to the pearl necklace and bracelet that Pearl is wearing.  So, I added Broken China to the pearls with the Small Sakura Water Brush.  Then I dotted Glossy Accents over each pearl.  When it dried, the pearls were colorized and they look and feel like little pearls.  Next, I added just some blush to Pearl's cheeks by lightly brushing over them with Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  

 Close up of colorization using Perfect Pearls.

Finally, I lightly brushed Pink Gumball Perfect Pearls powder onto the canvas background, behind Pearl's head.  Then I set the portrait to the side until I was ready to attach it.  

Button cards before constructing the tag.

I found the vintage button cards online.  I sized them to fit my design, printed them out, backed them on kraft paper and then cut them out.  I edged them with a Chestnut Roan and Black Cats Eye Ink Pads.  Then I gave the top button card (with the buttons) more dimension by adding Glossy Accents over the buttons and let it dry.  It looks like real little buttons on the card! Then I set those to the side.

Button cards after constructing the tag.

Next came Tim's On The Edge Sewing die cut.  I cut it out of Grungeboard and the colorized it with Tim Holtz' new Brushed Pewter Distress Stains.  They are awesome.  They go on so quickly and cover so completely in just one application!  After that dried, I added just a hint of Gold Paint Dabber and then edged it with a black cats eye ink pad.  I added Copper Perfect Pearls to the die cut button and then topped it with Glossy Accents. I love the vintage shiny rose-ish color (not yet completed in this picture).  I wrapped a little string of "pearls" around the spool and left a tail so that I could let them trail off when I put all of the pieces together.

Organza roses before constructing the tag.

To cover the bottom of the die cut and the tag, I sprayed a piece of organza roses from Tim Holtz' Trimmings with a concoction of Worn Lipstick Refill, Forever Red Perfect Pearls Powder and water in a Mini Mister.  I also sprayed the piece of white ribbon at the top of the tag with this spray.  I added a Melissa Frances pearl to each of the centers of the roses with Glossy Accents and let it dry.

 Organza roses after adding the pearl centers and adding to the tag.

 Almost as an afterthought, but so glad I added it, I made little Memo Pins that say "PEARL".  I stamped the letters onto manila cardstock and covered them with the Memo Pins. Then I added Glossy Accents to the openings of the Memo Pins and let it dry.  When dry, I cut away the excess cardstock.

 

Now it was time to put everything together.  I also added a piece of vintage lace down the right side, a portion of Black Pearl Blink (white pearls colored with Pitch Alcohol Ink) and a piece from an old pattern that I stamped with some vintage button images.

Here are the the steps I used to assemble my shabby chic tag:

1.  I glued the old pattern paper across the tag.  
2.  I brushed over parts of the tag with Copper Perfect Pearls Powder.  
3.  I stamped the button images in the upper left corner.
4.  I attached the long piece of vintage lace to the right side of the tag using Tim Holtz' Tiny   Attacher and a piece of 1/4" Scor Tape underneath where the portrait would be placed.  
5.  I attached the black pearls on top of the vintage lace.
6.  I glued Pearl's portrait in place.
7.  I layered and glued the two button cards on top of the portrait and vintage lace.
8.  I added the Sewing die cut at the bottom of the tag.
9.  I hot glued the organza ribbon roses in place.  
10. I glued the string of pearls to the back of the button card and let them trail off through the scissors handle and down into the organza roses.
11. I added the black "bling" and pearl button at the left top of the tag.
12. Finally, I hot glued the "PEARL" Memo Pins in place.  

So, that is my "Pearl" project.  I love the size of the #10 tags!  You can add so much more detail and layers on them over the #8 size tags.  

In case you were wondering what ever happened to Pearl; she lived happily ever after with her handsome movie star husband and a wonderfully successful design company.

Now it's YOUR turn to use your imagination to create something with pearls...be it real pearls or Perfect Pearls or both.  Then enter our challenge.  You could be the winner of our 

$50.00 gift voucher.  You could also be selected as one of our TOP THREE entries for the week.  Not an easy task considering all of the unique and creative pieces we are blessed with each week!  So, come on, join the fun!  I can't wait to see your work!

Here are the products available at Simon Says Stamp that were used on this project:

InLinkz.com

NEW TIM HOLTZ INSPIRED HALLOWEEN BOX NOW BEING FEATURED ON RANGER'S BLOG!

Hello all and welcome to my blog!  

Today, I am honored to have my very much TIM HOLTZ inspired Retro Halloween Box featured on RANGER'S BLOG!  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge Tim Holtz fan.  I love his products.  From his stamps to his Ideaology, I am hooked!  I am also a Ranger girl through and through! I love Ranger products because they are affordable, easy to use and you get great results!

So, let me share with you this fun Halloween home decor piece 

and how it was put together ...

If you will remember, a couple of weeks ago, I featured a vintage style Halloween box on my blog.  The construction of the basic box is the same as that tutorial.  But this time, almost the entire box is dripping with spooky die cuts, Ideaology, Seasonal Papers and Tim's unmistakeable Retro Halloween image stamps.  The box is covered with papers from Tim's Seasonal Paper Stash featuring Retro Halloween images of Trick or Treat bags.  I used Tim's Vintage Lace Die cut to make black "lace" out of black cardstock and place it all around the upper edge of the box.  You can see it on the picture below, underneath the crepe paper ruffle of the top.

 

 The Right Side Of The Box

1.   Distress manila cardstock with Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge and Walnut Stain and Distress Ink.  Heat set.  Stamp the witch hazel label onto the cardstock.  Cut the sides straight and tear the top and the bottom edges.  Distress with more Walnut Stain around the edges, followed by Black Soot (also on the backside of the torn sections at the top and bottom of the label).  Paint Rock Candy Crackle Paint over the entire label front.  Let dry. 

2.   Stamp the crow from Haunted Mansion onto manila cardstock.  Cut out around it, leaving just little manila edge.  Ink the edge with Black Soot Distress Brush.  Lightly distress with Scattered Straw.  Add just a touch of Black Diamond Stickles for highlights on the crow’s feathers.  Let Dry. 

3.   Add a Bottle Cap with “31” (from a Bottle Cap Vintage Halloween Images 2) on the interior.  Add a cabochon and let dry.  Glue all into place...pop dotting the crow.

 The Left Side Of The Box

1.   Stamp the anatomical drawing of the skeleton from Mini Halloween 2 onto manila cardstock that has been  distressed with Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge and Black Soot.  Cut out and tear out as done on the witch hazel label.  Paint Rock Candy Crackle Paint over it and let dry.

2.   Stamp two of the black cat images onto cardstock:  one on orange and one on manila.  Leave an edge of the cardstock when cutting out.  Then edge with Black Soot Distress Marker.  Puncture the cat where indicated with a small hole and add a Long Fastener to join the cats.  Lightly add some Black Diamond Stickles to the top cat to highlight the fur. Set aside to dry.

3.   Stamp the small label from Apothecary out of Rusty Hinge on to manila cardstock.  Color around the edge with a Black Soot Distress Marker and then cut out the label, leaving some of the black edge.  Stamp the poison image from Little Labels in the center of the label.  Attach the label to the small vial using Glossy Accents.  Glue all pieces into place. 

 

 The Front Of The Box

1.   The front – Create a double rosette by cutting a rosette twice out of coordinating papers.  Scotch tape the backs of each rosette and then tape them together, leaving about ¼” edge for the second rosette.  Put the rosette together as you would a single rosette (with Glossy Accents) and let dry. 

2.   Stamp the witch head onto manila cardstock. Colorize her head with Distress Markers and a Detailer Brush.  Start with Shabby Shutters on the face.  Then colorize the tongue and cheeks with Worn Lipstick. Then use a white opaque marker for the white of the eyes and the tooth.  The hat is done with Spiced Marmalade and highlighted with Black Diamond Stickles.  Cut out the head and leave just an edge of manila cardstock.  Edge with Black Soot Distress Marker. 

3.   Cut a little piece of ruffle out of black crepe paper and tape it onto a scrap circle approx. 1 ½” across.  Trim the crepe paper and then slit it up to the circle to create “fringe”.  Glue the crepe paper on top of the double rosette.  Glue the witch face on top of the crepe paper.  Edge the double rosette with Paprika Stickles on the inner edge and Black Diamond Stickles outer edge.  Let dry and then glue in place.

 The Interior Lid Of The Box

1.   Stamp the skeleton from Retro Halloween onto a piece of white cardstock that has been doubled and glued together for more stability.  Cut out around the skeleton, leaving an edge of white showing.  Distress the edge with a Black Soot Distress Marker.  Lightly distress the skeleton with Gathered Twig.

 2.   Cut a little piece of link chain and attach each end to a large Jump Ring.  Attach each jump ring around the wrists of the skeleton to create “handcuffs”.  Punch a small hole in the skull of the skeleton and into the interior lid of the box using the small hole on a crop a dile.  Attach the skeleton to the interior lid of the box with a Long Fastener.

3.   Glue the larger chipboard finished top of the box directly over the interior lid of the box that has the ruffled crepe paper exposed.   I stamped the spider webs using black embossing powder onto some orange cardstock and glued them onto the interior walls of the box...for added interest.  (I inked all of the edges with Black Soot prior to adding them into the box).

The Top Of The Box

 

1.    Place Wonder Tape all around the exterior edge of the top lid of the box that is attached to the box. 

2.    Cut a long piece of orange crepe paper and distress it with Black Soot Distress Ink.  Create a ruffle by attaching the crepe paper around the exterior of the lid and smashing it onto the tape to hold it in place.  I started and ended the ruffle at the back of the lid.  Then edge the ruffle with Black Diamond Stickles and let dry.  You may need to add some extra stickles after the first round dries. Set the box to the side.

3.    Create the larger exterior lid – all four edges of the lid should be covered with hinges that have been cut in a mitered fashion.  This will create nice, finished edges.

4.    Take the piece of cardstock that is cut into a 4 ¼” square.  Since the chipboard top is cut into a 4 ½” square, that will leave a small edge of black.  Take four Tim Holtz silver corners and color them with Sunset Orange Alcohol Ink.  Then lightly tap them with Jet Black Archival ink to slightly darken them. Heat set.  Add them to each corner of the cardstock.  Glue the cardstock in place, centered on the top of the LARGER chipboard square.

5.    Take a scrap of corrugated cardboard and paint it with Spiced Marmalade Crackle Paint and let dry. 

6.    Stamp the skull from Apothecary onto a piece of white cardstock and heat set.  Cover the entire skull with embossing ink and then clear embossing powder.  Heat set.  Repeat the embossing ink and clear embossing powder and heat set again.  Let cool.

7.    Distress with Gathered Twig and Rusty Hinge Distress Ink.  Heat set.

8.    Then paint over all of the white areas of the skull with Rock Candy Crackle Paint and let dry.  Set aside. 

9.    *HAPPY ACCIDENT – when the rock candy crackle paint was completely dry, it shrunk up a little bit, becoming very brittle pulling away from the skull.  But it has great texture and absorbed the Distress Inks in a cool way.  I glued the crackle paint back into place with Glossy Accents.  It left a bubbling type look that is very cool on the top of the skull. Optional – (Glue the Seasonal Adornments spider onto the skull).

10. Size and fit the corrugated piece onto the center of the lid and glue in place.  Add some distressing with Black Soot distress ink and then some lightly added Black Diamond Stickles.  Pop dot the skull in place on top of the corrugated cardboard.  Create some little banners by stamping the Happy Halloween from Mini Halloween 3 onto manila cardstock.  Heat set.  Distress with Spiced Marmalade, Gathered Twig.  Cut out and distress the edges with a Tonic Paper distresser. Ink the edges with Black Soot. Place underneath the skull in a “X” formation. Set the outside lid to the side.

 So there it is...my vintage Halloween box.  I hope that it inspires you 

to create some of your own Halloween fun using some of 

Tim's wonderful vintage Halloween images.  They are so fun to play with; 

to emboss, the stamp, to colorized, to die cut.

So have some fun and get your "BOO" on!  

Here are all of the products available at Simon Says Stamp and Show that I used in this product:

  

InLinkz.com