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Welcome

I love answering your questions. If you ask them in the comment section, I have no way to answer you (if you haven't heard from me, that is why). If you use the "EMAIL ME" in the left column of this page, I will be able to respond to you. You can also use it if you want to be added to my newsletter. Laura

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Halloween Carnival Event September 5th 2013

The Halloween Carnival has finally come to town and you are all invited.  There is something for everyone but first you’ll need a ticket.  Mr. Bones is working the booth tonight and he’ll be happy to help you.  Once you have your ticket you’ll want to check out all the carnival has to offer; lots of games, rides and of course sweet treats to tempt you.
Next, you’ll need to dig out your Halloween stash plus your tin cans, pie pans, cake pans, Tinker Toys, wooden skewers etc.; yes, we are doing some serious up cycling with this project.  I’m going to throw lots of ideas at you to help bring the carnival to your town. 
 
The great thing about this project is that you can tackle as many pieces as you like with whatever resources and time you have, and add to your carnival over the years.  This is a project your whole family can enjoy.

For the event I’ve created 12 new Carnival Themed collage sheets (click here to see them in detail).  Or if you prefer there are 3 digital kits which contain all of the collage sheet images plus more. 
All of my Carousel Themed Collage Sheets and File Sets are on sale at Alpha Stamps.  I also have a free collage sheet for you to download (you’ll find it at the bottom of this post).  Alpha Stamps is once again carrying many of the products I used and for those of you who participated in the Apothecary Event last year, you’ll see some of those products used again.  Of course like the collage sheets the products are on sale too!
GIVEAWAY - Winner Anna Hedberg
An event must have giveaways!!  The first is for those who make a carnival.  To participate:
  • You must make at least three pieces for your carnival.
  • They can be any three pieces.
  • They can be like the ones I demonstrate or anything else you desire.
  • You do not have to use the products I use except that you must use at least one image from one of my Carnival Themed Collage Sheets or Digital File Sets.  The free collage sheet does not count.
Once you have your pieces made, either email me pictures or post them on your blog, website or photo album and let me know where I can find them (by October 30th).  I will showcase your work on this blog and link back your website or album.  Last year during the Apothecary Event, it was so much fun for everyone to enjoy all of the creative talent by the participants.  On October 31st Random.Org will draw a winner who will receive the huge pile of Halloween themed supplies  pictured below.  There are so many goodies I couldn't get them in one picture!  Click the image to see the details.

CHALLENGE - Winner Debra Rollier
With a Giveaway
For this event I thought it would be fun to have a challenge.  To participate:
  • You must create one carnival piece that is different than any you see in the video tutorials. 
  • The piece can be a game, ride, or some other type of booth you would see in a Halloween Carnival. 
  • You do not have to use the products I use except that you must use at least one image from one of my Carnival Themed Collage Sheets or Digital File Sets.  The free collage sheet does not count.
Once you have your piece made, either email me pictures or post them on your blog, website or photo album and let me know where I can find them (by October 15th).  I will showcase your work on this blog and link back your website or album.  I know you guys are going to come up with some cool and fun stuff!  On October 16st Random.Org will draw a winner who will receive the huge pile of Halloween themed supplies pictured below.  Once again there are so many goodies I couldn't get them in one picture!  Click the image to see the details.

Alpha Stamps Boo Bash Giveaway
I'm not the only one having giveaways in honor of this event.  Alpha Stamps is giving away all of the products they carry that I used in the Boo Bash (see pictured below) including my collage sheets plus more!!
Just look at all the goodies!!

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The tutorials, collage sheets and free images will not go away after October 31st.  They will continue to be available for as long as I have a blog so no worries.

Since this carnival is so large and there were some thing’s that didn’t make it into the tutorials, I will be showcasing individual pieces here on the blog throughout September plus the ones not covered in the tutorials. 

Questions – If you have any questions use the Email Me button in the right hand column of the blog (it's the raven sitting on the ball) so that I have a way to contact you to answer your questions. 

Since this post will start moving down my blog I’ve added a tab at the top of the blog for the event.  The tab will always contain all of the event information and any new updates that arise after this post.

If you are new to my blog and are into Witches Apothecaries, below is the link to last year’s tutorials for that event.
TUTORIALS
When you finish watching each video be sure to download the companion PDF document which includes pictures of the pieces, complete supply lists, step by step directions and other information.

VIDEO  TUTORIAL 1
In this video I cover making an Entrance Sign, Directory Sign, Ticket Booth, Pumpkin Pets Booth (guaranteed to bite), Boo Bash (where you can dance the night away) and the Trick or Treat Smell My Feet Give Me Something Good to Eat concession stand).

Below is a panel used to make the spider web umbrella I used on the Ticket Booth.  To download the panel, click on the image to expand it, right-click and select Save As.  Print 5 panels and assemble using the orange tab.

VIDEO TUTORIAL 2
This video is all about carnival games.  Included are; Scary Meter, Bat the Rats, Stump the Owl, Stare Down a Gargoyle, and Dodge the Zombies.  

VIDEO TUTORIAL 3
Video three covers carnival rides.  Included are; Haunted Carnival, Spinning Cauldrons, Ride a Witches Broom and the Black Widow Web of Horror Ferris Wheel.
Click here to open and download the Video 3 Tutorial companion document.

Haunted Carousel Pole Placement Template
To download the template, click on the image to expand it, right-click and select Save As.

Round Tinker Toy Pieces for the Ferris Wheel
I know that some of you are having trouble finding sets of Tinker Toys.  Two round pieces with the pre-drilled holes are the important parts.  I bought my set on Ebay and there were several of the pieces in the set.  I have listed my extra round pieces in sets of 2 in my Etsy Store.  I’ve priced them at $2.00 for a set, which covers shipping, the bubble envelope and the fee I have to pay to Etsy for listing them.  This price covers shipping in the US.  If any international participants want to purchase a set, please email me first so I can calculate the shipping for you.  Here is the link to my store:

If I run out of sets, and there are other participants with extras that they would like to sell, just let me know and I will try to hook people up.

FREE COLLAGE SHEET - HALLOWEEN BORDERS
Below is a collage sheet which contains the vintage Halloween poem borders I used on many of the pieces.  Feel free to use it in your art.  To download the sheet, click on the image to expand it, right-click and select Save As.

I hope you have lots of fun creating your carnival pieces and while you are busy I will be working on more Halloween inspired art to share with you over the next two months!
Fellow bloggers, it would be great if you help me spread the word by grabbing the event badge code below!
CODE FOR THE HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL EVENT BADGE BELOW
<a href=" http://artfullymusing.blogspot.com/2013/06/halloween-carnival-event-september-5th.html"><img border="0" src=" http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/lauracars/HalloweenCarnivalEvent_zps6c9f2e11.png" width="170" height="400"border="0"/></a>

I’m so excited about this year’s event and I hope you are too!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Mermaid Bookmark

This is a piece I made a while ago while I was designing the Whimsical Frames collage sheet.  The mermaid tail, frame and teal shells are from the sheet.  I used Glossy Accents to add dimension to the shells.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Fun and Flirty ATCs by Gina Peake

Gina’s great sense of humor translated into ATCs!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

If You’ve Got it Flaunt It! Digital Art by Jeanne Draachreider

I just had to share the fabulous digital artwork by Jeanne Draachreider.  She used images from my Bejeweled Collage sheet for the beautiful hair piece and other bits.  The original image (seen below) was extracted from Young Woman by Bartolomeo Da Veneto from the early 16th century.  For the background she used Itkupilli Golden and Holliewood Once Upon a Time images.
 You can see more of Jeanne’s art on Pinterest.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Alice in Wonderland Tunnel Book

Just as with the Peek-a-boo cards I started with the  4x4 Die Cut Chipboard Frame Set.
Next, I cut two more pieces of lightweight chipboard the same size as the frameset.  I then cut holes in the center of the chipboard.  In the first piece of chipboard, I cut a hole smaller than the one in the frameset and then in the second piece I cut a hole smaller than the first piece.  When all three pieces with holes are stacked together it creates a tunnel effect.
I attached the chipboard pieces to each other using cardstock.  I cut cardstock pieces the length of the chipboard then make two folds leaving a gap between the folds. 
The gap between the folds creates space between the chipboard to accommodate dimensional embellishments.
This is a really simple method for assembling any book.
Now the fun and the challenge begins.  The fun is that in there is so much surface to junk up; the challenge in how to add items so that you can see them peeking through the holes but not blocking the items peeking out of the next hole.  You also have to consider what you can see looking from the front of the book to the back and then looking from the back of each page to the front of the book.
Below is a “Drink Me” tag I created for the project.  Feel free to save it and use it for your art.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Perfume Bottle Necklace

This perfume bottle necklace is something that I made for a swap in the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group.
The bottle is coated with Gold Alcohol Ink and accented with Patina Gilders Paste.  Next I attached beaded trim and gold leaves a bee.  The stopper at the top is a bead.