Tuesday, September 24, 2013

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.




53 comments:

Netty said...

wonderful decorated mirror Terry, so many great decorations and textures, terrific project my friend, Annette x

Shelly Schmidt said...

Whola- what a piece of art is this!!! I love seeing the step by step and and just looking at this over and over taking in all of the fun elements- like the flower, the pumpkin and the stamped and embossed skull charm! Awesome job!

SHAWN said...

This is a wonderful piece.

Jo said...

this is fabulous!

Sharon said...

OMG this is just the most amazing creation - what fabulous detail and love all the things to look at! Truly inspiring Terry!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Very cool! Love all the great embedded elements! Thanks for playing along at UPA!

BarbaraW said...

Terry This is an awesome project. Love all the detail and texture. WOW!

Michele said...

wow there is so much amazing rich detail throughout this whole piece! it is fabulous. and definitely quite spooky as well! xo

Michele said...

wow there is so much amazing rich detail throughout this whole piece! it is fabulous. and definitely quite spooky as well! xo

Inkypinkycraft said...

Terry this is absolutely brilliant!! gorgeous layers and wow love this xhugs xtrace x

Valerie-Jael said...

Beautiful and spooky. I love making things likt this, too! Valerie

Jenny Marples said...

Oh boy this is a triumph Terry. I love how you've translated Drew's layering techniques onto this. Great deep colours perfectly toned back by the gesso. Thanks so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Hugs, Jenny x

Unknown said...

Wooooow Terry,this is fabulous,beautiful and spooky

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh wow Terry, this is completely STUNNING!!!! What a fabulous make, using all the techniques that Drew and Finn (both Prima designers of course) demonstrate. This is gorgeous from beginning to end! And such wonderful colour combinations! I totally love that flower with the tissue over the grunge that you recycled, it looks fantastic! Thanks for some great inspiration here, I totally LOVE this!!!

Redanne said...

Hi Terry, you have done a fabulous job with Drew's technique with your Halloween creation. There is so much to see, love how you placed the elements, especially the skeletons and bones (I love Halloween!) and the colouring is amazing. This is such a wonderful creation! Thanks so much for joining in our Forgotten Things Challenge at Our Creative Corner. Hugs, Anne x

Words and Pictures said...

Don't apologise - it was completely fantastic to get a proper look at your amazing project. Just brilliant from start to finish - all those wonderful 3D charms and pieces in the frame, and such ghostly stamping of the skeleton lady in the centre - it's all just brilliant!!
Alison xx

Karin said...

wow what a gorgeous project!!
Very detailed, love it!
Groetjes Karin x

Brenda Brown said...

Oh my gosh what a fabulous altered frame, thanks so much for sharing the steps, I just love seeing how your creative mind has built up this magnificent halloween work of art. All those gorgeous halloween goodies look spectacular together, what a great job you have made of it my friend.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Anonymous said...

I am so glad it was a photo heavy post as it deserved to be as I definitely wanted to see all the work involved in this mirror - an absolutely terrific project.
I smiled at your Bingo counter as I love to use them. Last year I used them whether for birthdays, Halloween and Christmas and have carried into this year. E-bay is a wonderful source of such items.
Wishes
Lynne

Gez Butterworth said...

Absolutely STUNNING Terry, it doesn't get much better than this.. I LOVE it!

Well done, you must have had tons of fun putting this together :)

I have something along the same lines planned.. just no time atm!

BRILLIANT!

1CardCreator said...

Wow Terry, this is awesome! I love all the beautiful and detailed details! This is just perfect! ~Diane

Lynn Stevens said...

You don't need to take a class Terry, you have it down pat.
Awesome haunted mirror.!!!!
Hugs lynn

Lynn Stevens said...

You don't need to take a class Terry, you have it down pat.
Awesome haunted mirror.!!!!
Hugs lynn

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is terrific, Terry! Thanks for the link to Drew's video!

Lucy x

Meggymay said...

Awesome project Terry. Thanks for showing all the detailed photos. Wonderful textures and elements.
Yvonne x

Lisa Somerville said...

Just stunning Terry - so many fabulous details to look at. Wonderful texture with all your embedded embellies!

Unknown said...

I absolutely LOVE this! It is AMAZING!

2amscrapper said...

This is fabulous! Wonderful photos. You would enjoy that workshop but you probably could teach it!

Vada said...

WOW OH WOW!!! What can I said that has not been said before me...
Totaly Outstanding!!!
You Rock!
Hugs Vada

Sugar Lump Studios said...

What an AWESOME project! I love the texture you created and thanks so much for showing us the stages of your project!
Gorgeous work! Leaves are starting to turn here --- :)

Shelley said...

Terry you are Amazing!! Love it!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, I'm missing words, that's a breathtaking piece of art.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely stunning Terry ! Love the texture and the colours.

Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Sue C x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Fantabulous!!! The texture absolutley rocks on these! Cool Halloween make!

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh girly, You have to be so happy with the way this tuned out. It really is amazing. A work of Art indeed...

Hugs~

Dianne said...

Wow Terry this is AWWWWWESOME, Never apologize for showing all the fantastic photos of the steps in your creation. the texture you created is fabulous,I'm sure I looked at those pics a dozen times,this project is SPOOKTACULAR.... thanks for showing it all to us, your creativity is outstanding,hope you have a wonderful day. PS I'm slow too, it takes us a little longer to work our magic and that's okay..

Marjie Kemper said...

Terry, this is outstanding! Loved the peek on FB but now getting to see all these detail shots my jaw went 'thud'. Love love LOVE it.

Words and Pictures said...

I should, of course, also have said thank you so much for playing along with us at Our Creative Corner with this beauty!
Alison xx

Sue said...

This is amazing Terry, a true work of art! xx

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Terry, I cannot even find suitable words worthy enough to compliment this project. This is a truly ghooly masterpiece! All the textures and shades, this is just jaw droppingly gorgeous! I am so going to try creating something like this!!! Wooooow!!! xxxx

Jenny Marples said...

You're so right Terry! I can't vote for myself so you got mine!! As I genuinely adore your altered frame it makes perfect sense of course. Thank you so much for thinking of me. You are one of life's special people. Huge hugs, Jenny xxx

Hettie said...

Oh My Terry! Wow. This is truly WONDERFUL!! Love it! And showing it step by step is fantastic.
Love Love Love this.
Hugs
xx

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

A stunning halloween piece Terry! Great details

Beth Norman-Roberts said...

Fantastic work. Great detailed post. TFS with the TJ group.

Sandra said...

Wow o wow o wow! Terry, this is amazing! I love it so much! That it's Halloween themed makes it even better! Love the dramatic look of it with the skeletons and pumpkins and all the other details! Really gorgeous! Your mastering the technique. So glad I got you hooked on it ;), because it's uber stunning! Hugs, Sandra

Terry said...

Hey there Terry, here is the other Terry, my goodness loving your piece of ART and art it is, love all the tiny detaills and the colors you have used, really fabulous Thank you for sharing with the DT from Frilly and Funkie hun hugs Terry xxx

Claudine said...

Woohoo, well done! This is a great transformation and what an awesomely spooky piece. I love it. Thanks for joining us over at Unruly this month.

Unknown said...

IMPRESSIVE!!!!!! Gosh, Terry, I just keep looking at all these amazing details, this is truly a piece of art, totally fabulous!! Hugs, Ira x
Ira’s Crea Corner

Margie said...

Lots of lovely spooky details on your fab mirror. Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Our Creative Corner. Margie x

Shirley said...

Jaw just dropped when I saw this, going back for a more detailed look. AMAZING.

Crafty hugs from Shirl x x

Brenda Brown said...

Just popping back to say thanks Terry for sharing your wonderful creation at Country View Crafts September Challenge.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Dianne said...

Congratulations on being one of the top 3, this was a fantastic project,yahooooo...

Christine Kiehl said...

Wow, This is an out-of-this-world mirror! Nope, LOVED all the pictures and descriptions you included in the post, Thank you-THnak you!! Loved it....love it....love your work..Do you get that I loved it? LOL!!! Happy Halloween!

Blog Archive