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.