THE RAVEN'S LANTERN

Hi Everyone!  Halloween is just a week away, but I'm still in the mood to create!

I have a small Halloween Vignette here, featuring Sizzix's Tim Holtz Lantern die and his Ravens & Feathers Thinlits set.

I needed a base for my Halloween Vignette, so I created this book.  I had an old pocket dictionary  which I used half of it and cut it down to fit this Tim Holtz Halloween Base Board (TH93622). I used a craft knife to cut through the pages, it's uneven but I like that look.  The back of the book was created with chipboard cut to the same size, covered in paper from Tim Holtz Halloween Paper Stash Pad (TH93696).

For the spine, I cut a piece of adhesive backed linen (Tim Holtz Textile Surfaces TH93294) and sprayed it with Distress Spray stain.

Before putting the covers on my dictionary pages, I used a couple of very small nails to nail the pages together. I didn't want the book to open, just wanted it as a base.  I applied adhesive to the backs of the front and back boards and adhered these to my book inside.

Next I die-cut two small bases out of Distress Woodgrain Cardstock. One from the Sizzix Tim Holtz Matchbook die (659447, this is an older one, not sure if it's still available) and the base with the pinked edge is from the Tim Holtz Village Dwelling Bigz die(660992). These were both sprayed with Rusty Hinge Distress stain.  Once dried, I inked them with Gathered Twigs Distress ink (run the pad across the paper so it just highlights the raised areas).  

I applied some Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide ink to my craft mat, then spritzed with water.  Lightly touch the inked base and box to the Oxide ink for this spotted aged look.

Adhere the base to the top of the book.  I used foam 3d adhesive squares under the base so the base doesn't dip down.  The matchbook is adhered at an angle on the left side of the base.

Next die-cut a lantern (Tim Holtz Sizzix 661818) out of black cardstock.  Assemble and then apply Distress Grit Paste (TDA53422) to the entire lantern.  I did not apply it to the flaps that are on the inside top of the lantern. Using a Tim Holtz Rosette Stencil (THS092) I applied a rosette on each side with Grit Paste.  Once the paste is dry, paint with Black Soot Distress paint, and then highlight areas with different colours of Distress paint.

Here's what my lantern looks like.  The top still can open up to put embellishments in.  I used a bit of spanish moss, and Tim Holtz pumpkins.

For the pedestal of my lantern, I painted the medium size of finial (TH93573) with Black Soot paint, and dry brushed with Spiced Marmalade. Glue this to the bottom of the lantern.

Using the Tim Holtz Feather and Ravens Thinlits die (662376), I die-cut two of each bird with black cardstock.  These were lightly highlighted with Distress Oxide inks.  Either apply the inks to your craft mat first, then spritz and dip your die-cut in or apply to the bird, then lightly spritz with water. I adhered the two matching pieces together with pop-dots in the middle of the birds. Fluffing up the feathers of the top layer, gives a more dimensional look.

I dyed some Tim Holtz Baubles using Ginger and Caramel Alcohol ink.  

On the larger ones, I added a few Halloween words from Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs (TH93604).  These (a bit of glossy accents first to glue them down) and a couple of strands of Spanish Moss go into the opened Matchbox drawer.

I like to play around with different sprays and inks on Ranger's Mixed Media cardstock, keeping them for future use.  This one was with Distress Oxides and I believe I started with a stencil(sorry can't remember!).  I used this piece to die-cut leaves from Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlit Set Fall Foliage (660995) then inked the edges with Gathered Twigs ink.  The branch (from the Raven & Feathers die set) was cut out of Ranger's Woodgrain cardstock, then sprayed with Gathered Twigs Distress spray.

Here's a closer look at the Raven and leaves.  I applied Distress Rock Candy Crackle glue to Tim Holtz Pumpkin Pieces (TH93312), then a bit of Ginger Alcohol ink to grunge it up a bit.

The backside of my Vignette.  I adhered a Poison label on the box and spine of the book (Halloween Ephemera TH93603).  There's also a skull and crossbones Remnant Rubs (TH93604) on the box.  A bit of Halloween Fringe to add some colour (TH93615) was also added. The small Apothecary Vial(TH93302) had Rock Candy Distress Crackle glue added to it.  Some of it flaked off, but I don't mind.  

A few pumpkins and moss added to the inside of the lantern.  There's a couple of leaves and a painted Spider Adornment (TH93597) tied to the lantern with a piece of Halloween Trimming (TH93608).

Can't have a Halloween project with these wonderful skulls (TH93606) and bones(TH93596)!

A closer look at the Raven in flight.  I glued a very fine short piece of wire in between the two bird pieces and glued the end to the inside of the lantern handle.

Here's another look at my finished piece!  Hope you enjoyed my tutorial!

Until next time,

Jan

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DECORATE FOR HALLOWEEN WITH THIS COFFIN VIGNETTE TRAY

  Hi Everyone!  Today I'm sharing a project for Tim Holtz Halloween Inspiration 2017.

When you see all the new amazing Halloween Idea-olgy products, how can you not want to make a 3D project!  Every year, there's just so many cool pieces added to Tim's collection of goodies and they all fit so well with past products.  I also have a thing about boxes with wheels or neat legs, so I had to add some to my project!

Here's the back of my coffin.

I love creating with Tim Holtz Vignette boxes and trays, and this Tray Coffin (TH93621) is a great size (9 x 4 3/4") for a spooky scene.  I covered the inside and outside with patterned papers from the 8x8 Halloween Paper Stash pad (TH93595).  The edge was covered with Sparkle Design Tape (TH93612) which even though it is adhesive backed, I like to adhere it with Tim Holtz Collage Medium just to make it more secure.

I knew I wanted to hang some sort of little sign, so I screwed in these Tim Holtz Screw Eyes (TH93010) to the top inside.

This Tim Holtz Witchcraft Die (662386) from Sizzix is one of my favourites from this year's release.  I die-cut several of the witch and adhered them together to create a thicker piece.  One of the pieces was embossed with the Damask Texture Fade(661592) embossing folder.  This piece was the last piece adhered on top.

This is what my witch looks like close up.  Now that the witch die-cut is thicker, the piece will stand up better.

After picking out my word I wanted to spell, I attached the black Idea-ology Alpha Dice(TH93620) together with glue dots.  I made them a little lopsided, so it looks like the witch has stacked them up herself.

I chose this die-cut hand from the Idea-ology Ephemera (TH93603) for my "sign".  I was going to use the word wicked, but it was a little too crowded, so I went with "31" instead, using the Halloween Typography Findings (TH93611).  I think these Typography letters, whether they are white or black,  are my favourite 3d letters to use!  Insert two rings and place a bone from Boneyard Findings (TH93696) through the rings.

There's a Twisted branch behind the witch, which was die-cut from Sizzix Twisted Edge 661589 and Tim Holtz Distress Woodgrain cardstock (TDA51022).  I sprayed these pieces with Black Soot Distress spray, and then Distress Mica Spray in Bronze.

I've added a bit of Distress paint in Ripe Persimmon to the edges and raised areas of my witch, branch, and "31". 

Before creating my vignette, I wanted to construct my platform for the coffin.  Of course it had to be on wheels!  These Mini Pulley Wheels were lightly painted with Distress Paint (Black Soot and Ripe Persimmon).  

I covered a small Vignette Box (4 x 2 3/4") with paper from the 8x8 Halloween Kraft Paper Stash(93609).  This paper looks so good when distressed!

Previously I've had a bit of a dilemma when attaching legs or wheels into structures that are thicker than the screws.  I've actually carved out some of the wood to attach them, which was kind of a pain! I came up with this idea, which is also makes it easier to remove the wheels if you need to.  I wanted the flat surface on top, plus I wanted just half of each wheel showing under the box.  I cut a piece of thick chipboard, covered one side with the Kraft paper and screwed my wheels into that piece.  I also cut out a couple of pieces of chipboard to adhere inside the box (it was a little too deep).

After adhering the chipboard to the inside, I adhered my piece with the wheels attached.  Use a strong adhesive, or even a glue gun to make sure it stays glued.

Here's how it looks after the wheels were attached.  Adhere your coffin tray to the top center.

I have made my own tissue fringe garland in the past, but it's time consuming.  So nice to have this Fringe garland (th93615) ready to scrunch up!  Just scrunch it up in your hand, the more you do it, the smaller and tighter it gets.  This piece is for the perimeter of my base.

I coloured one of these Halloween Word Bands (TH93605).  Just apply your paint and wipe off the excess, leaving it in the recessed areas.  This was adhered to the front with the fringe attached on each side.

Added to my display, were flowers made with Sizzix Tattered Florals Thinlits Dies (661806) and cardstock.  The centers have Heirloom Halloween Roses (TH93613) highlighted with a bit of paint.  There's a Halloween Framed Portrait (TH93616), a stack of Mini Pumpkins(TH93607), an altered Apothecary Vial(TH93231), Spider Adornment (TH93597) and Broomstick (TH93598).  I added some glitter to my broomstick by dipping the bottom into Ranger's Glossy Accents and then Distress Black Soot Glitter.  The little glitter stars were die-cut with the stars die from the Sizzix Witchcraft set (662386) and double sided adhesive.  Remove the backing from one side of the stars and apply your glitter, then remove the other to adhere.

A closer peak at the back!  My web was created with Sizzix's Tim Holtz Cobweb Die (662375) and Mixed Media Cardstock.  It was inked with various colours of Distress Oxide Inks before die cutting. The dapper Skeleton is from the Halloween Ephemera Package (TH93603).

I hope I've explained everything, here's another look!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Make sure you check out all of the Halloween projects featured through out the month on Tim's Blog!

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DECORATE FOR HALLOWEEN WITH THIS DIY OWL LIGHTBOX

Hello all fellow Halloween enthusiasts!  It's that time of year again, when Halloween takes over the craft room!  

I feel very honoured that I have been asked, along with some very talented crafters, to showcase the Tim Holtz Halloween 2017 release!  I'm always amazed at the imagination and talent of these creative people.  If you haven't already, make sure you visit Tim's blog, Facebook, and Instagram for lots of Halloween Inspiration.

Today I have an Owl Lightbox on the blog!

                                    

When I saw this Tim Holtz Ornate Owl Thinlits die, I knew this was first on my list of favourites!  I've added a little tea light inside, creating a small lightbox.  Here's how I created it:

First I die-cut my owl with thin chipboard (about cereal box thickness).  I embossed the entire owl using Ranger's Emboss It Dabber and Gold Embossing Powder.  I re-applied the embossing ink randomly and used Iced Enamels Relique Powder for a more vintage, heavier embossed look.  You can see some of the gold still peaks through where I haven't applied the embossing ink.

Cut out a piece of Tim Holtz Halloween Paperie(TH93595) to fit on top of the 2 3/4" x 4" Vignette Box (TH93279).  I lightly traced around my owl shape and cut within those lines.  Don't worry about getting it cut out right inside the edge or all of the owl, mostly so light will shine through the main part.  It's better to cut less paper on your piece,  you can always adjust and cut a bit more out.  Ink the edges with Distress ink.

Adhere your owl to the cutout paper.

You can leave the wood showing on the back and sides, but I covered mine with the same paper.  I always use either Distress Collage Matte Medium(TDA47933) or Ranger's Multi Matte Medium(INK41535) to glue paper to hard surfaces such as chipboard, wood, etc.  It does a great job of adhering your paper.  I have even applied the matte medium to the outside finished part with a very thin layer, sealing my paper and protecting it without shine. Great if you know it's going to be handled a fair bit.

For inside, I wanted it a little lighter and brighter.  With Ranger's Mixed Media cardstock and Distress Oxides inks, I created this background.  I used the Tim Holtz Leafy Stencil (THS078), Oxide  inks; Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, and Frayed Burlap.  Just spritz water to create that wonderful vintage distressed look.

Here's my tea light on the back.  I drilled a small hole, just big enough for the candle part to poke through the front.  Adhere the tea light to the back.  You can still turn it off/on and change the battery.

This is what the front looks like.  This tea light has a nice yellow glow to it, so it's not too harsh of a light.  I  also chose to put the tea light in an area where the paper was solid, the corner of the owl and branch.  This way you don't have the bulb showing.

I've added Halloween Design Tape (THS93612) around the edge of my box.  I do like to secure it with Collage or Multi Matte Medium so it doesn't start to peel off.  Our climate here is so dry, so adhesive backed items seem to dry up quickly!

For my Finial base and top, I painted these raw wood finials(THS93573) with Black Distress Paint.  Once this had dried, just dry brush with orange or yellow paint.  Dry brushing is; removing the paint from your brush on a piece of paper towel first, then lightly touch your brush to the surface.  It gives your item that slightly worn look and highlights the raised areas.

For the added embellishments to my top finial, I made my own personalized tiny tag.  I used one of my small labels from the Ephemera Pack (TH93603), punched a small 3/4" circle with Sizzix's Tim Holtz Paper Punches (662199) to fit the smallest Tag Ring( TH93576).  Before creating my tag, I used a "31" Remnant Rub(TH93604).  Tim has a short video on his blog showing how to create tags with his Tag Press Tool(TH93575). I added a touch of Distress Paint to my Owl Charm (TH93597) before tying the tag and charm together with Eclectic Black Thread.

I finished off the top with a Skull (Love, love these! TH93606) a couple of bones from Boneyard Findings (TH93596), a black Heirloom Rose touched up with a bit of orange paint (TH93613) and lastly, Halloween Trimmings; jute and tinsel (TH93608).

It's a bit hard taking a photo in the dark, but this is what your light box will look like!

Here's the finished box again! If Halloween isn't your thing, this owl box could be made with outdoors or Autumn paper for a completely different look. Hope you enjoyed my tutorial!

Until next time,

Jan

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