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The final business in the Streets of Paris event is an apothecary. Just as with the Bookstore, I’ve used a smaller bay window attached to the second floor on one of the sides to create a faux business. In the window are bottles, vintage drugstore ads, and a mini scale with weights.
You’ll notice that the window has a pretty blue awning and the faux glass in the window has the business name and other details printed on it; you’ll find both of these free images further down in the post.
On the front of the building, I used die-cut scrollwork to hang vintage drugstore ads that you’ll find in my new Vintage Drugstore Ads collage sheet or in the larger Vintage Drugstore Ads digital image set.
Once again, for lighting, I’ve used a tea light that is hidden under the awing.
This sheet contains 19 images, some funny and some creepy. To purchase the sheet below, click on the image.
NEW - VINTAGE DRUGSTORE ADS DIGITAL IMAGE SET This image set contains 35 images, including all of the mages found on the Vintage Drugstore Ads Collage Sheet. Some are funny, and some are creepy. To purchase the digital image set, click on the image below.
Halloween must be just around the corner because I’ve made another apothecary. This one is a mini version packed with books, bottles, steampunk-style goodies, and more. If I haven’t tempted you before with my apothecaries, maybe this time I will!
The construction of the cabinet is made easy by using a split front chipboard box kit. It’s simple to assemble and decorate, so you can spend all your time making cool things for the inside.
Guarding the front of the apothecary are two battling dragons made from chipboard. In the video tutorial, I’ll show you how to transform them into the textured pieces that you see in the picture above.
This project has a few mechanical steampunkish pieces, like the Mad Scientist Laboratory. There is a bookstand, scale, candle holder, and a couple of crystal balls.
With a library filled with magical books, you’ll need a special bookstand with a mechanical gizmo that lets you decipher hidden text and tricky spells.
I’ll show you various bookmaking techniques in the video using my new collage sheet images and other materials.
I’ve written a series of spells, enchantments, and potions to incorporate into small handmade books. Well, except for the “Witches Brew” by Shakespeare. Some are dark and some are light, something for everyone.
I think one of my favorites is the “Protection from Evil” spell.
Spin a cloak of spider webs;
turn the wheel, and roll the thread.
Weave in delicate fingers of light
to chase away the demons at night.
Sing a song and fear no more,
witch, demon, ghost, or boar.
This cloak will be your shield,
your armor from all harm.
The dark forces that surround you
are vanquished and disarmed.
You can also find all these spells in a large 7” x 5” version for making full-sized spell books (See pictures and links below). If you try any of these spells and they work, let me know!
Indispensable to any apothecary is a scale to weigh potion ingredients, another one of the items I cover in the video.
If divination is your thing, this apothecary sports two crystal balls.
I wonder what’s in that bottle that's tucked into a book.
A book’s got to be pretty dangerous to need locking up. You might recognize it as the cover is a mini version similar to my Book Apothecary from last year.
Of course, you can’t have an apothecary without bottles. In the video, I’ll the various types of spray paints I used to color and texture the bottles. Check out the bowl held by two dragons. It’s made from half of a ping-pong ball.
NEW COLLAGE SHEETS & DIGITAL IMAGE SETS
Want to start your own mini magical library? Then my new Magical Books & Magical Book Pages collage sheets and digital image sets are a great start. If you're into larger books, there is a digital image set filled with 7”x 5” magical book pages. You'll find the details below.
MAGIC BOOK COVERS COLLAGE SHEETS
These two sheets are filled with all kinds of magic book covers and spines. Mini book covers are a great way to create your own mini magic library.
This collage sheet contains 13 pages of spells, potions & enchantments, plus more. These pages are a mini version of the Magic Book Pages Large Version Digital Image set and are sized to fit the books in the Magic Book Covers Collage Sheet.
Included are:
Banish a Ghost - Curse Removal - Love Potion - Moonlight Enchantment - Protection from Evil - Raise the Dead - Sleeping Curse - Transformation - Witches Brew - Element Symbols - Magic Chart - Two Pages of Incantations - Blank Paper - Zodiac Image
This set includes 13 pages sized 7” x 5”, perfect for creating a book of magic. The pages contain spells, incantations, enchantments, and potions.
Included are:
Banish a Ghost - Curse Removal - Love Potion - Moonlight Enchantment - Protection from Evil - Raise the Dead - Sleeping Curse - Transformation - Witches Brew - Element Symbols - Magic Chart - Two Pages of Incantations
All of the images in the set can be re-sized for your project as they are high-resolution (300dpi) PNG formatted images.
Want it all? This set is filled with magical-themed book covers and pages containing spells, incantations, enchantments, and potions. Included are the images from the Magical Books #1 & #2 collage sheets, the Magical Book Pages collage sheet, and a few decorative bits. There are a total of 36 images that you can use to create your own magical library. Included are:
12 - Book Covers
6 - Book Spines
14 - Pages
4 – Decorative Bits
All of the images in the set can be re-sized for your project as they are high-resolution (300dpi) PNG formatted images.
This sheet contains 40 unique mini apothecary bottle labels. They are a miniature version of my Pretty Potions and Poisons Apothecary labels.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
DRAGON EYE
This is the eye graphic I used for the book stand. You may already have this, as I have used it in other projects. This version is sized to fit the book stand in this project. Feel free to download the image and use it in your art. Just click on an image to download, and a menu will pop up. Select the "Save as" menu option and select where you want it saved on your computer.
“Boooooook
come home or make thyself known” cries Winnie in the movie Hocus Pocus. This movie is a must-see for me every
Halloween season. It’s the only one of
my spooky movies that I can get my husband to watch with me. He loves the “I put a spell on you” scene when
the Sanderson sisters sing. You can tell
by the eye on the book that this apothecary draws inspiration from the Hocus
Pocus spellbook.
Unlike the book in Hocus Pocus, which
is filled with spells; this one opens to reveal an apothecary.
The book is constructed from two Tim Holtz Mini Configuration Books hinged together.
The texture and patina on the covers
is achieved with tissue paper, stamped paper clay and Modern Masters Metal
Effects Iron Paint and Rust Activator. I've
been working with these products for years, and love them so much, I rusted an entire wall in my house.
You can find Modern Masters
products on Amazon.com, online paint stores, and some neighborhood paint
shops. Their products are easiest to
find in the US & Canada. For those
in the UK, you can find them on Amazon.co.uk.
For other countries, the best thing is to Google the product name to see
if anyone in your country carries it.
Notice how the middle of the book
looks like pages - it’s really just an image, which you’ll find for
download further down in this post.
By using two of the configuration
books, you’ll have lots of room to display all kinds of cool bits and bobs.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
In the video tutorial below, I’ll
step you through making the covers and assembling the book. If Halloween or this particular project is not your thing, you might still want to watch the video as the
techniques to create the cover can easily translate into other projects and
themes.
