Saturday, October 5, 2013

DARK MAGIC

Dark Magic Halloween book . When my friend could not find a cool Halloween book on etsy for his Halloween party, I showed him some that I had made in the past. He liked them but wanted something more authentic looking with real pages that had stuff on and in them, not just a book with a creepy cover. So the
creating began.
 
I decided to try a new technique with paper mache pulp to make the snake on the outside to the cover. It was fun. I put tons of glue and mod podge on it to make sure it would not fall off. Then I covered the whole book with tissue paper and mod podge to give it the texture of an old used leather book.
 Then I painted the book and the snake black. The snake needed something extra so I added some eyes. I then outlined the snake with white to make him show up better. It makes the snake look Creepy and Cool. 
 This is how it began;
 First I took one of the old books I had on hand from DI. I stained each and every page with a water base stain, drying them with my hair dryer as I went. then I had to let it dry for a few days. Next came burning the pages. I used a candle instead of a lighter, easier on my fingers, I did it over the sink and had a cup of water and a brush handy, if the page started to burn too far, simply wet the brush and brush next to the flame. Then came the fun part. After searching the internet and looking at endless books that had cutesy pages.
I was on my own. 
 Each day I would look at different things from the internet see something I thought was cool and started to create more pages. Hours and hours went into the book, but It was so fun doing it, a labor of love.
 I glued several pages together of each finished page, making sure that every page that is seen is a creepy saying or potion and pictures. The writing for the book is on brown poster that I had on hand from DI. I crinkled it up, then flattened it out and wrote the sayings, then tore all the edges and mod podged them to the pages in the book.
 As I saw a cool creepy picture I would look through all the downloads of spells and create my own unique pages. 
 This page is one of my favorites of a partial transformation.
This spirit guards the book and hides in the black pages of the book. Be careful not to let him out!

  The book had three cool pictures of ladies, I thought "A HA" turn them into vampires, so I painted them scary, sealed them with mod podge. I called my friend and asked for some names, and this what he came up with Opal Nicolletti. Then I had to make stories about them.
I loved this label so I added it and it needed something on the other pages so I thought why not add a miniature potion bottle.
Finding a label for this tiny bottle took some looking, but I found one on the internet. I cut a hole in the pages and glued some black tulle and mesh to hold it in the book. soo tiny and soo cute!
 oops I mean soo creepy!
 
 The book had some unique chapter titles. I ripped them out and turned them into a page.
Painted the edged black to cover all the regular print in the book.

The book also had some cemetery pictures that I incorporated into my pages. 
 More creepy pictures.
 Another vampire.
This is Bellatrix Mabuse. 
The third vampire Justine Vossen.
Did you notice the fangs and yes those are bite marks on their necks.
 I had a big spider that was way to fat to simply stick  in the book. So yes, I cut a big space in the book and glued the pages together and wa lah the perfect spider hiding place, The Black Tufted Spider of 1641. Last known in existence. Safe  in the Book. This is the end.
 The black mesh keeps him safe from falling out of the book, and certain death. 
The book holds magic powers keeping him alive. 
 
 I saved some space in the back in case Chad decide to add some more creepy things for another year! 
This is what it looks like, from the front. 
Jenny

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Money Wreath....Happy 60th!!!

So for My mother in laws birthday we wanted to do something a little different.
A money tree..... Then when the hubs went down stairs to workout... this wreath was hanging on the wall...
Hench the Money Wreath..
First off you will need lots of ones in this case SIXTY: ONE DOLLAR BILLS...
Paper Clips, and a wreath.
After starting this I wish I would have used a green circle foam form, would have been so much easier to just push the paper clips into one of those instead, of clipping them on to this wreath.

Just crinkle the dollar bills in the center and put paper clip in the center to keep it crinkled.
Then I just started placing them here, then there.......

Then here, and then there........
Then it just starts to fill in and look RICH and full......
I added some embellished flowers, made out of scrap booking paper, fabric flowers, cupcake liners, more scrapbook paper, and buttons.
 Some of the flowers I attached to the money with cute miniature sparkled clothes pins.
 Attached a bow so she could hang it on her front porch... Not really for her front porch, but so she could hang it in her house.
 Another Flower..
and the final pieces all together. I am really excited for how it turned out. 
Hope Syb likes it as much as I do....
Happy 60th Birthday!!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Mantle....Mantle....Mantle

We have lived in our house for 9 years, and never had a mantle.
So when the hubs said I could get a mantle. I was so excited and he didn't have to tell me twice. 
I was on it that night.
So here is the before pic.
I looked on Pinterest to get some mantle ideas(I swear that thing is the death of me).
This what I cam up with. 
This is before the last piece had to be built and installed.
She is all taped of and ready to be painted and primed.
Not in that order, though!
It's is so pretty, almost to pretty to paint!!! not really..
If you know me I love to paint things.
White is my new favorite color.
 all primed....... This pic makes me dislike our TV even more. 
It's so GINORMOUS.... One day we will have a flat screen, until that day this will do!
Back to the Mantle!
Look at all the plastic and tape. Didn't want any over spray.
This is primed and painted. 
Can't wait to decorate it, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to me.
I know it took me a bit to post the pics.
 I love the way it turned out. No more bare empty wall.
 I love how tall it is. It 59 inches tall. 
That's sad that my eyebrows are the same height as the mantle.
You don't have to tell me... I already know I am short.
I love all the different dimensions of the mantle. 
 I love the boxiness of the bottom. 
The boxiness matches our new railing.
 I am so loving having a mantle, it only took 9 years to figure out what I wanted.
But it was worth the wait.
Our stinkin couch is in the way to take a picture of the whole mantle.
I was to lazy to move it..... Valentine Mantle decor is under Labels: Valentine.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Victorian Picture Frame Turned Mirror

While I was at my visit to the Salvation Army, I came across this beauty. To most it may seem ugly, dirty, and just old fashion. Especially the lovely scenery in the picture. 
But I new the potential this frame had.
 Look at all the detail, it's so beautiful. I knew where I was going to hang it. We were in the process of getting a new railing when I found this frame. It would be perfect for our entry way. I had to have it!
It was marked $30.00...Steal.... I was so excited and giddy.
Like a little girl in a candy store.
 This boy looks like he is drowning to me....odd!
I know he is suppose to be drinking the water, but that's not what it looks like at all.
This is the beauty all painted and stained. 
I am loving white lately. So this is what color I painted it.
Just off the subject, when I take pictures of mirrors I wish I was a vampire.
Then that person with crazy curly hair and hot pink fleece would not be seen in this pic....
So much detail.
 The stain brings it all out.
(Again I am a vampire....)
  I am a vampire....
You CAN'T see me. You only see the BEAUTIFUL mirror.
I am so happy with how it turned out.