Angel Miniature Metal Book

I designed this tiny metal four page book for Alpha Stamps.  I think this is the smallest book I’ve ever made.  You can see in the picture below that the book is slightly larger than a quarter.

The book is made up of a square metal washer on the front and back and two copper stamping blanks in the middle.  I used Metal Patinas (Verdigris, Jade and Antique Copper) to color the square washers.

The four pages are hinged together.  I attached the hinges using E6000 glue.

The textured bits around the edges of the pictures is melted embossing powder.

This is the back of the book.

Alpha Stamps Products Used in This Book

1 Inch Square Stamping Blanks – Inside Pages

1 Inch Square Copper Washer – Book Front & Back

Verdigris Angel Collage Sheet - Images

Small Gold Hinges

Tiny Bronze Keys
Turtle Doves

Metal Patina – Weathered Copper (Verdigris, Jade)

Metal Patinas – Ancient Coin (Antique Copper)

Gilders Paste – Patina – Used to color the doves

Come Little Leaves

Here is a little fall inspired art for you.  The image of the woman is from a vintage magazine cover.

Bird Waltz

Over the last few months, in addition to all of the Halloween projects, I’ve been slipping in a few other projects plus participating in various swaps groups.  Throughout November is catch up time.  I'll be posting these items and the swap returns I’ve received from other artists.  This little vintage piece is called “Bird Waltz”.

The North Wind – Accordion Fold Book

Now that Halloween is over I’ve been busy working on fall, winter and Christmas inspired art.  The first piece is one I designed for Alpha Stamps.  The overall size of this accordion folded book is 2" x 1 ¾” (including the snowflake).The cover is made from a silver snowflake painted with metal patina paint and then lightly sanded to expose some of the silver.  The snowflake is the same one I used for the base of some of the bottles in the apothecary event.  The prongs of the snowflake act as feet.

To the snowflake I glued a square metal stamping blank that I painted with the Ranger Metallic Pearl Paint Dabber.  This is the same paint I used on the bottle for the “Bottled Ghost”.  The stamping blank acts as a solid cover for the accordion folded pages.

The song inside is from an old children’s song about the north wind and the robin.

The north wind doth blow,

And we shall have snow,

And what will the robin do then, poor thing?

He’ll sit in a barn

To keep himself warm

And hide his head

Under his wing, poor thing.

Alpha Stamp Supplies Used For This Project

1 Inch Square Stamping Blanks

Giant Snowflakes – Antique Silver

Small Brass Snowflakes

Silver Snowflake Charm

5 mm Coil Rondelles

Violet Gypsy Bead Mix

Winter Birds Collage Sheet

Kraft Reflections Bed of Roses Scrapbook Paper

Paint Dabber – Metallic Pearl

Metal Patina – Weathered Copper (Verdigris)

Caramel Alcohol Ink

Ghoul and Sons Chemists

GHOUL & SONS CHEMISTS

Trusted Name for the Last 500 Years

“All Our Best Customers Are Underground”

This is my last Halloween treat for you!!

This piece has three tiers consisting of matchboxes, two Altoids tins and a chipboard potion bottle for a back (the same kind I used for the potion swap).  All the tiers are hinged together.  The first tier is a matchbox chest with drawers that open.   The matchboxes are sitting on a decorative piece of chipboard.  The chipboard is hinged to the first Altoids tin.  By lifting the copper colored spider charm you can lift the top to reveal the contents - the matchboxes and everything are still attached.

I used one of the chipboard potion bottles that I used for the potion swap for the back of the piece.  The first layer is a matchbox chest with drawers that open.  The matchboxes are sitting a decorative piece of chipboard.  The chipboard is hinged to the first Altoids tin.  By lifting the copper colored spider charm you can lift the top to reveal the contents. 

Inside the Ghoul sons are busy at work mixing their concoctions.  The bottles you see are resting on a piece of chipboard.  By pulling on the ribbon handles you can lift the bottles out of the tin.

At the bottom of the tin are Masonite bottles – the same ones I used for the book apothecary in the tutorial.  You can use them to prop up the glass bottles attached to the chipboard; like a traveling samples case.

The first and second tins are hinged together. By pulling on the two spider web copper colored charms you can lift the entire piece and access the second Altoids tins.    That’s where the Ghoul family keeps its spare parts!

I hope you have enjoyed my little engineering project!   
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Alpha Stamps Products Used In this Piece

Blank Altoids Tin

CHIPBOARD/MASONITE

Chipboard Potion Bottles

Ornate Chipboard Tags

Potion Bottles with Label Stickers

Gravestone ATC Border Overlays

Ornate Chipboard Tags

PAPER & STICKERS

Chillingsworth Mannor 6x6 Paper Pad

Chillingsworth Manor Element Stickers

Halloween Enchanted 6x6 Paper Pad

Lost & Found Halloween 6x6 Paper Pad

Haunted Labels Scrapbook Paper

COLLAGE SHEETS

Skeleton Slides Collage Sheet

Skeleton Slide Mailers Collage Sheet

BEADS & CHARMS

Tiny Skull Charms

Bumpy Bead with Loop

Antique Bronze Spider Charm Set

Glass Teardrops with Loops - Black

Red Round Bead with Brass Loops

Rose Skull Beads

Resin Skull Beads

METAL BITS & Other Items

Brass Gate Hinges

Copper Colored Cone Filigree

Raw Brass Box Feet - Cones

Small Fold Over Bails

18 x 13mm Resin Cameo Sets – Skeleton Women

Halloween Fiber Set – Black Fiber

BOTTLES

3cm Tall Bottle with Cork

Mini Inkwell Bottles

Chunky Little Bottles

Halloween Blog Party – Witches Ball

Welcome!  I’ve been very busy getting ready for the witches ball.  This annual even hosted by the gals of the “Black Hat Society” is the premier event of the season.  The invitation just recently arrived so I’m in a tizzy about what to wear.  I know that many of the witches will have already ordered their outfits from the best shops in Transylvania, but I don’t have enough time to do that.   I guess I’ll just have to whip up my own.

This is from one of my collage sheets and the little ditty is written by me.

I don’t know about you, but I have a thing for shoes!  I whipped this one up using paper.  I accented the design of the paper with glitter.  I added sparkly fabric and twigs.  The brass spiders are painted with Metallic Olive Lumiere paint and accented with black Swarovski crystals.

Itsy Bitsy Spider wanted to go to the ball, so I told him he could if he hung off the end of my hat and promised not to annoy guests by biting them.

I think this necklace will work perfectly.  The spider on the top is painted with red Liquid Pearls.  The spider at the bottom is accented with Swarovski Crystals.

I can’t go to the ball without a mask.  This one is made from paper, fun wire and fantasy film and accented with beading and glitter.  I’ve also embellished it with bats and swirls.

Oh I just know I’m going to be late.  My "Witching Hour" – Hour Glass says its time.

This is a working hour glass made from two bottles.  I’m thinking I’ll do another winter themed one and include a tutorial for you guys.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you there!

Click here to continue on to more fun by visiting the other participants of the Halloween Party hosted by AFANCIFULTWIST.

Shadow Box Book – Spells & Magic

 “I’ve Put a Spell on You, And Now You’re Mine”

This is a book I intended to include in the third apothecary tutorial “Books, Coffins and Cauldrons”.

The cover and spine of this book is constructed the same as all of the other books in the tutorial.  The covers of this book are 4 ½” x 3”.  The size will fit in the apothecary I demonstrated in the tutorial.

The difference is in the inside where there is a box made from chipboard.  All I did was cut four pieces of chipboard (2 long pieces and two short pieces) so that when glued to each other they would create a frame slightly smaller than the book cover.  The depth of the frame is up to you.  My frame is 5/8” deep.  You don’t need a back as the back book cover gives you the back.  I would recommend that make your frame first before assembling your book so that you make sure the spine of the book is big enough to accommodate the frame and you can close your book. 

The frame creates a great niche for dimensional embellishments.  I draped spider webbing that I purchased at the craft store around the front of the frame.

Supplies Used In This Piece

Book Spines & Labels #1 - Collage Sheet

Apothecary Large Labels #3 Collage Sheet

Cleo de Merode ATCs Collage Sheet

8 x8 Heavy Chipboard

Wood Flourish Frames

White Pumpkin Resin Stickers

Alcohol Ink – Purple Twilight

Antique Brass Spider Web

Arching Cats Stickers

Black Mini Paper Blooms

Antique Brass Leaves

Mini Velvet Leaves

Pewter Spider Charms

Black Seam Binding

Stitched Leaf Ribbon - Black

Metal Stickers – Fans (Gold)

Bat Cut-Outs

Apothecary Event Giveaway – Update

I hope you have all been enjoying the apothecary eye candy I’ve been throwing at you from the giveaway participants.  I know I have been inspired by the direction each person has taken and all the clever ideas.  Below is the list of participants I have on the list so far.  I’ve posted the artwork of all of them with the exception of a couple.  Today I discovered that some of the entrants emails had been dumping into a spam file of mine.  I think I recovered everything and contacted all the people affected.  If you have sent me your entry, and you don’t see your name on the list below, please contact me again so I can get you on the list and post your pictures.

You have until October 30^th to send me your entry.  You can send me pictures or the link to your blog where your pictures are posted.  I’ll be doing another big post (like today) of entrants on the 30^th. 

 LIST OF GIVEAWAY PARTICIPANTS – SO FAR

Tracey-Anne McCartney

Gene Fisher

Hazel Thomson

Joanne Parkin

JoAnne Webster

Carmen Daspit

Martina Fuchs

Wendy Aspinall

Janice Bryanted

DiAnn Denson

Rhea Freitag

Ginger Benedict

Ginger Brame

Janice VanBeek

Sandra

Paulette Lancaster

Sue Young

Virginia Johnson

Raeven

Debbie Lynch

Elaine

Celine Verdegaal

Ruth Hanslbauer

Donna Humphries

Karen Mallory

Laurie Davis – Not posted yet - holding for a question

Barbara Thompson – Not yet posted - holding for more photos

Other Things Coming In October

I have more Halloween stuff planned for you!  I have another type of book that I’ll be posting that didn't make it into the video tutorial on books, coffins and cauldrons.  I’ll be participating in the Halloween Blog Party Saturday that is hosted by Afancifultwist.com so I have a bunch more art ready for that event.  And for Halloween, in addition to posting the winners of the giveaway I have another apothecary of mine to show you.  

Beware Chipboard Potion Bottle

This is my third and last bottle for the chipboard bottle swap.  The centerpiece is the same cameo used for my apothecary.

Supplies Used In This Piece:

Chipboard Potion Bottles

All Hallows Eve Borders Scrapbook Paper

Laced with Grace 8x8 Paper Pad

Halloween Fiber Set

40x30 mm Resin Cameos & Settings

Apothecary Labels #2 Collage Sheet

Dazzles Gothic Halloween Stickers

Glittered Spider Stickers

Gilders Paste - Copper

Mold and Mildew Chipboard Potion Bottle

Graveyard Mold and Mildew

“You can’t have one without the other!”

This is my second bottle for the chipboard bottle swap.  The label is from one of my new potion label collage sheets designed to fit the chipboard bottles.

Products I Used For This Piece

Chipboard Potion Bottles

All Hallows Eve Eerie Notes Scrapbook Paper

Haunted Labels Scrapbook Paper

Iron Fence Wood Flourish

Gravestone ATC Border Overlays

Apothecary Large Labels #4 Collage Sheet

Halloween Fiber Set

Bat Cut-Outs

Cast Pewter Owl Charms

Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint

Owl Domino Book

I love making owls out of bits of jewelry findings.  I decided I would use one for the cover of a domino book.  I first colored the domino with a combination of alcohol inks.  I then added black stickers.  Unlike the previous domino book which was tied closed with ribbons, this one is hinged and closed with a clasp.  

The poem inside says:

When darkness welcomes Halloween –

And owls hoot long and low,

The witches in the deep ravine,

Move wildly to and fro.

It comes from a vintage postcard.

Supplies Used In This Piece

Muse Tokens

Curved Brass Hinges

Small Box Latches

3 Tiny Brass Leaves

Antique Silver Filigree Teardrop

Antique Brass Leaves

Brass Oak Leaves

7mm Flower Washers

Fancy Fleur Drop

Brass Halo

I’ll be posting more of these owls in November with fall inspired art.

Beaded Spider Tutorial by Caroline Ouzts Hay

My friend Caroline has posted a great video tutorial on how to make a beaded spider. 

You can check out the tutorial on her blog Glitter Tart Designs.

My Haunted Family Tree – Domino Book

I couldn't go through Halloween and not make some domino books.  On this book I started by coating the front of the dominoes with Glossy Accents, then sprinkling on black glitter.  The gate, ghosts and tombstones are all buttons (with shanks removed).  I used Copper Gilders Paste to add color to the gate and tombstones.  I used a punch to create the black branches (I think it is a Martha Stewart punch).

I used two different 12 x 12 papers on the inside of the book.  One of the papers is the strip with the gate and hearse and the other had all the images of the gruesome silhouettes (which I cut out).  

Supplies Used In Making This Book

Stickles Dry Fine Glitter – Black Diamond

Gilders Paste - Copper

Graveyard Ghost Buttons

Spooky Ghost Buttons

All Hallows Eve Haunted Mansion Scrapbook Paper

Midnight Dreary: Dead on Arrival Scrapbook Paper

Halloween Words Collage Sheet

Dominoes – Full Size

Black Seam Binding

Antique Silver Skull & Crossbones Charms

Click here to see a tutorial on how to make a domino book.

Dancing Cat Whiskers Chipboard Potion Bottle

This is my first bottle for the chipboard bottle swap.  The label is from one of my new potion label collage sheets designed to fit the chipboard bottles and large glass bottles.  For the nose and whiskers at the neck of the bottle, I found some small round glittered Styrofoam balls at Michaels Craft Store.  I cut them in half and added wire whiskers.

Supplies I Used:

Chipboard Potion Bottles

Apothecary Large Labels #4 Collage Sheet

Witchy Business Collage Sheet

Wood Flourish Frames

Laced with Grace 8x8 Paper Pad

Craft Wire on Spools 20 Gauge Black

Stitched Leaf Ribbon – Rust

Mini Black Paper Blooms

Bat Cut-Outs

Brass Pumpkin Charms

Dazzles Black Thin Lines Stickers

Dazzles Swirls, Flourishes Borders Black Sticker Set

THE BLACK HAT SOCIETY

The girls are all gathered for the annual meeting of the “Black Hat Society”!

Chipboard Potion Bottle Designed for Alpha Stamps

I’ve been showing so many altered bottles for Halloween.  How about a bottle made from chipboard.  Alpha Stamps is now caring a set of chipboard bottles in three different sizes.

The bottle pictured above is 6 ½” tall with candelabra and skulls.  At the bottom is a shadow box shrine with a skeleton and his pet wolf inside.  I used real wax to create the black drips on the bottle.  The candelabra is made by Prima and is part of their Shabby Chic Collection.  I think that lots of stores carry it.

Alpha Stamp Products Used on This Piece

Chipboard Potion Bottles

Chillingsworth Mannor 6x6 Paper Pad

Haunted Labels Scrapbook Paper

All Hallows Eve Eerie Notes Scrapbook Paper

Rose Skull Beads - Gold

White Glitter Skeletons

3D Pewter Wolf

Picket Fence Crackle Paint

Labels Starters Collage Sheet

Spooky Tree Stickers

Shadow Box Shrine Kit – Gothic Arch

Stickles Dry Fine Glitter - Paprika

Bat Wing Cut-Outs