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