Hallowvember

We had 89 trick-or-treaters! We’ve lived here three years, and the number has steadily gone up. Might have something to do with the giant (20 feet!) cat in our front yard. We’ve become so known for him, I decided I’d better get a spare before they’re no longer available. It’s this guy, if you’re wondering. He’s $50 less on Amazon, but Fraser Hill is the source.

He’s a pain to deflate for windstorms and such because his legs tangle on the re-inflate, but we had to do it last night, because those last seven ToTs ignored the closed garage and the dark porch, marched themselves right past the recycle bin blocking the path, and came to our door. Yeah, we gave ’em candy. Then we deflated the yard.

A yard full of deflated inflatables.

So apparently it’s NoBloPoMo? Which I guess is November Blog Post Month, or something. NaNoWriMo has much to answer for. Well guys, I just posted for 30 days straight, so I’m not sure you’re gonna get every day for November. But the car is still in the shop, so I suppose I have to fill my time somehow.

And there’s Hallowvember to consider, right?

Spent yesterday cleaning, so today I thought I’d post a flashback to the my first Month of Spookdays, in 2011.

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These Felted Pumpkins were a blast to make. I gave them away just last year as part of my October raffle. The post includes step-by-step photos. I love needle felting, but mostly I do pictures, not 3D modeling, so this was a nice change.

The bonus on that post is good, too. Think I’ll share it again:

 

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I’ve been wanting to play with my Gelli Plate for ages, so I finally got it out. Then I remembered why it had been a while. For some reason, I get stuck when I’m trying to use it. I’m rarely happy with my results, and just feel like I’m burning through prodigious amounts of paper. So I did what I often do when I’m stuck: follow directions.  Gelli Arts is one of my favorite Youtube channels. They have a hell of a designer, and I always find their videos inspiring. I decided this video on making transfer film with packing tape looked like fun (seriously, go watch–it’s cool), so I followed along, copying as closely as I could. I loved the results, so naturally, I had to do it again–with skulls.

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I used my Dyan Reavely Skulls stencil, and followed the video again. I used all mica powder on the background of these. You can’t see it well here, but they have a great shimmer. I think the bottom strip is my favorite–the yellow bits are the mica powder.

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So what to do with this sparkly largesse? Just so happens, I have a ton of pre-cut ATC paper. I even have some that is leftover from other sets, so it already has pretty backing.

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I started by cutting the strips and attaching them with some gel medium. Of course I goobed–see that one with the smudge? I actually put that on sticky-side UP. Which is the wrong way. So I had to cover it with gel so I wouldn’t get mica powder everywhere. We’ll see how it turns out.

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Next, I used light molding paste to apply a spooky stencil.

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The paste and paper areas get a light wash of color. I love how this brings out the texture of the paste.

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Shimmery paint, either Lumiere or Silks, is added just to the stenciled shapes. Because I didn’t want to lose the texture, I blotted the paint back.

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Here’s the set, and I’m pretty pleased with them! I like the contrast of the slick Gelli Plate art and the organic molding paste.

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Here is the last of the series, with a thoroughly gruesome poem snippet. Heh.

Supplies:

  • Golden Soft Gel, Matte
  • Docrafts Lace Paper, Midnight Blush
  • Golden Gesso
  • Golden Acrylic, Red Oxide
  • Golden Acrylic Glazing Medium, Satin
  • Dylusions Ink Spray, Black Marble
  • Lumiere Paint, Pearl White, Halo Violet-Gold
  • Golden Acrylic, Carbon Black
  • Dyan Reavely Skulls Stencil

I lovelovelove the way the lace paper turned out. I may have to go looking for more of that.

 

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I spent yesterday taping three videos at once. I would put the first card aside to dry, then film a bit on the next one. I thought editing would be a nightmare, but it ended up being pretty easy to separate them, and it was a lot of fun.

This is the first card I worked on, and also the last, because it gave me problems. So at the very end, you get to see what my work table looked like after I’d finished all three.

These are made with the extra board from the Raven card. Other than the lace, which is from my stash, here are the supplies:

  • Golden Gesso
  • Golden Fluid Matte Medium
  • Fab Lab Autumn Craft Decoupage Papers
  • Golden Light Molding Paste
  • Dritz Longarm Allover Crackle
  • Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Satin)
  • Golden Acrylic Payne’s Gray
  • Dylusions Ink Spray, Black Marble
  • Silks Acrylic Glazes, Golden Monarch, Persimmon
  • Golden Soft Gel, Matte
  • Golden Acrylic, Carbon Black
  • Inkadinkado, Nevermore stamp set
  • Versafine, Onyx Black

Once it finally got unmuddied, I really liked this card. Hope y’all enjoy my little series.