Mirror, Mirror!

I will start out with an apology, because this will be photo and detailed heavy! SORRY! This project was started last Tuesday and I knew it would be Halloween themed, but was not sure which direction this would take me! I finished this yesterday and no I did not constantly work on it, I am slow, but not that slow. Several months back via my blogger friend Sandra, I learned of this guy named Drew and a technique he uses for mixed media. In recent times, a few of my UK friends have been showing some fabulous artwork after taking a Finnabair workshop, which I believe is similar! Oh how I wish to take one of her workshops!

It started with a cheapy mirror from Ikea and I knew from the beginning I was going to use the Gothic 31 female skeleton for the mirror part, but was not sure how! The first thing I did was to apply various layers of trim and goodies and all that will be explained later and I did actually remember to take some pictures along the way, which is either good or torture for you!

I also took some pictures in different lights to give you an idea. Sadly here in the desert the outside light is very bright and sunny and inside pictures are never that great.

When I was looking at the mirror and trying to think how I would stamp on it, I remember one of Tim's acrylic fragments being about that size and with just a little sanding, it did fit perfectly! This fragment was alcohol inked and at first I used lighter colors and had to switch back to darker colors for the image to show through. After I stamped the image in Black Archival, I quickly removed the ink with a soft cloth for the mirror to reflect through! I love that! To show you how the inset looks without the camera and me in the photo, I place the fragment on a piece of glossy white paper just for photo purposes, it is not backing the fragment.

This process involves using white gesso, adhering items, sprays, stenciling and what have you!  The flower was a leftover piece I had used for something else, which had kind of a faux leather look by the time I finished with it! I do remember I had applied tissue paper to grunge paper.

Added a couple of pins, the owl was a metal sticker and a skeleton, I kind of broke apart (so gruesome).

I had also embossed some spider webbing and torn up some pieces to add and of course no spooky mirror would be complete without spiders, which are shrink plastic. Oh those skulls are a new find at Michael's that came in a bag and I added chain to connect them.

Some metal pieces indicating the strike of midnight and a few extra goodies.

Halloween is not complete without pumpkins, which were also gesso and colored and also highlighted with orange paint. I also stenciled along the side.

The hanging charm was stamped on alcohol inked foil paper, that I added a drop of blending solution in the center and then stamped and embossed the skull with clear EP, added the glass dome and hung it from the key!

My fair which from Haunted Halloween, was colored with Distress inks after stamped in Black Archival.

The graveyard is leftover from another project.

The doll was gifted to me from Brenda and that lovely lace next to the fair witch is a gift from Lucy!

The "Happy Halloween" was stamped, inked and clear embossed and obviously added after all the spraying, inking, painted and what have you!

Fun project, so much fun! There is still some time to enter this month's September Referral Program at Artistic Outpost for a chance at a prize and just remember to use the AO stamps! This will be shared at AO tomorrow if you want to visit and say hello.

This will be finding it's little spooky way over to the following challenges:
Country View Crafts - Layers
Frilly & Funkie - Eat, Drink and be Merry 
Inspiration Journal - Falling for Faux 
Our Creative Corner - Forgotten Things - Mirror, trims and other goodies
Unruly PaperArts - 3-D Wood

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you enjoyed my project as much as I enjoyed creating it. I am listing below the products and some before pictures with some instructions. Enjoy the week!

Stamps: Artistic Outpost, Haunted Halloween, Gothic 31
Whtie Gesso, Multi Medium, Spray Sealer, Glossy Accents, Trims, Stencils, Gears, Metal, Bones
Inks: Black Archival, Distress Inks: Tattered Rose, Shabby Shutters, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Wild Honey
Sprays: Adirondack Wild Plum, Butterscotch, Meadow, Espresso, A mix of Dried Marigold, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge and Dylusions Black
Alcohol Inks: Black, Espresso, Wild Plum, Lettuce, Sunset Orange

I will do this quickly just to show you the beginning. I applied a coat of Claudine's Multi Medium layered my trims and a few items and then applied a layer of white gesso over that.

Added more items along the way and then did a little stenciling along the way with modeling paste.

Everything is covered in Gesso and left to dry prior to spraying the inks. Once you spray the inks, dry and blot up any excess with a paper towel. Thought I had taken a picture after sprayer, but guess not. Then you highlight with white paint or gesso. These is a step to use black paint, but I have not done this. After all is done, I always spray with a Matt Sealer to keep the colors in place! Here is a video link to Drew's technique.

Come On!

Come on and join in the Artistic Outpost's New Release of "Hayride" and "Christmas Chalk"  Blog Hop with Gerrie, Lisa, Suzanne, Tracy, Linda, Alison, Terry (Me) and Kate.

Today I am sharing a wall hanging using Hayride and Chalk It Up!

This ended up being a fun project, but it did not start out as such! I first inked up some paper with Antique Linen and a little Brushed Corduroy, knowing I would use the ledger stamp from Ephemera Backgrounds for a subtle background. Once the background was stamped using Brushed Corduroy, the Frame and Tractor (love this) was stamped in Coffee Archival. The edge was die cut with Tim's notebook!

That was my start and I tried this and that and this and that and could not find a decent home for my duly noted tractor!

I looked around at this and that, you get the picture and then saw the frame that I had from my good old painting days! The brain power kicked in!  The frame was painted in French Vanilla and stamped with Sepia Archival and clear embossed. I did think about adding some crackle, etc., but decided no.

Something told me to go with corrugated cardboard and make some leafy matter!  Once I cut the leaves and pine cone, I stained them using Mustard Seed, Barn Door, Bundled Sage, Rusty Hinge and Dusty concord. After nice and dry, I applied Crackle, let dry and brushed on Vintage Photo stain. I was thinking these were a little bright and remembered that talent ball, Astrid, mentioning toning down color with Dylusions "White Linen" and this worked quite nicely! Thanks, Astrid!

The corrugated cardboard background was cut and cracked and stained with Vintage Photo. All cardboard edges were highlighted using Treasure Gold, White Fire!

Really love these new releases and I can't wait to share more of my completed projects over the next few weeks. The September Monthly Referral Program is waiting for you and your AO stamps, so come on and have some fun!

Thank you so much for visiting today!

September Layers!

Having a little fun with Tim's September 2013 Tag - Layers! Mostly followed Tim's guidelines, so pop on over there for all the details!

I did have to improvise, as I do not have Tim's tag stencils at the moment, so used a mix of what I had on hand.

The stains I used were, Peeled Paint, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo and same color choice for ink pads. For the pen nib, I inked over that with Black Archival and clear embossed with specks of UTEE Gold. I love embossing metal. This will also go for a visit at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, "Embossed." I love the embossed look from the modeling paste through the stencil!

I can't believe it is already Thursday, but I guess that is what happens when you go off for awhile! Hope you are having a great week and thank you for visiting me today!

Do Not Conform!

Hope you are all doing well! I just returned from 5 days in the Portland, Oregon area and can say I am a bit tired and had a great time! So that is why I have been MIA and will be getting around to visit all of you! I had my mobile phone, but just no time to see what you all have been up to!

This tag is being shared today over at Artistic Outpost and all the details and extra photos can be found there. Sorry, but I just had to hurry up with these posts!

Will be linking this up to Frilly and Funkie's "Anything Goes" and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge "Emboss." Can't get easier than that!

September 11th will always be a day to be thankful for the people in our lives and to never take anyone for granted. My heart goes out to anyone who lost a loved one on 9/11 and also to those who have lost someone to a sudden and tragic event. Loss is such a difficult part of life, but sudden loss just adds to that grief! Always remember those little words and use them freely! Hugs to all and thank you for taking time to visit!

More Halloween and the Dreamer!

How are you doing today and is it starting to cool down where you are? We are still quite hot, but I would say that Summer is coming to an end! Now we will be getting ready for the Autumn and you know that means Halloween for some and lots of spooky fun!

This altered coffin box I created during the AO's Halloween Blog Hop and promised to share a little later, so here it is!

The first thing I did was to stamp the "Lady Skeleton" frame from Gothic 31 on the box using VersaMark and clear embossed. The we had some fun with Distress Stains and Rock Candy Crackle, but only up to the frame. 

I stamped a second "Lady" after Distress Inking and clear embossed (added a stickle eye), then inked over the colors with Black Soot. Then added several layers of clear embossing powder and popped it in the center. Edged with some Treasure Gold - do love that stuff!

The insides were covered with Tim's Halloween Kraft paper, Inked and stamped.

But I'm not the only one! Yes, I have been singing that song and I bet you are also? I am loving the new releases from Artistic Outpost and I can't wait to see what those of you who have picked up these stamps, come up with!

Since I am sharing this over at Artistic Outpost today, for all the details about this canvas and more pictures, pop on over. This is also the start of a new month and a new "Monthly Referral Program" and as again it is anything goes, but use those AO stamps!

Thank you for stopping by today! In a couple of days I will be off to visit Portland, OR and my family. Will share that with you upon my return! Enjoy the rest of the week!

Stamps: Artistic Outpost Gothic 31, Chalk It Up, Chalkboard Wisdom
Inks: VersaMark, Distress Black Soot, Spiced Marmalade, Dusty Concord, Peeped Paint, Shabby Shutters, Archival Black
Stains: Dusty Concord, Rusty Hinge, Black Soot, Peeled Paint
Treasure Gold