The Spell Book

I can't get through the Halloween season without making at least one project other than cards; this year was a little frustrating because I still have so many things in storage and I am not used to having to go hunt for an item I want {and hopefully I can find it!}   Personally, I think this is one of my favorite creations and I hope you like it, too! 

The Book

I have used mostly Tim Holtz Idea-Ology products in making this; some are discontinued, but you can find most of the items online if you must have them.  If there is no link, I couldn't find the product.  I am in no way endorsing the stores to which I have linked.  They are merely the first link that came up with the item in stock when searching with Google.

What I Used in my Project:

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Configurations Book

Tim Holtz Paper {I think I used Materialize but I can't find it anywhere}

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Type Charms, #TH92819 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Paper Dolls, Halloween, #TH94057 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Industrious Stickers, Gothic, #TH93236

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Pumpkin Pieces, #TH93312 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Quote Chips, Halloween, #TH93728 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Spider Adornments, #TH3717 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Zombie Hands, #TH93737 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Hitch Fasteners, #TH92731 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Quote Tokens, Halloween, #TH93733 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Decorative Domes, #TH93265 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Broomsticks, #TH93598 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Skulls, #TH93606 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Boneyard, #TH93596 

Tim Holtz/Idea-Ology Creepy Eyes, #TH94061 

Metal Letters and Numbers 

Various Other Odds and Ends 

Folk Art Black Paint in Licorice

 

The whole book, opened

I am not positive about the paper I used as I only found a few pages in my Halloween stash and couldn't locate the full pad, but I am pretty certain I used “Materialize” which I cannot find anywhere online.  That's sad as the papers are beautiful black & white patterns.  Anyway, I started the project by painting the book and the boxes with black paint.  Since I never know what I am going to do with the items I chose until I know {heeheehee}, I figured starting out with everything black was a good beginning.  I wrapped some of the boxes with really old washi tape that I have had for so long; I know some of it is Tim's, but can't recall the name. Other washi tape as well was used but again, I'm blank on the name.  I papered some of the boxes, as well as the background of the book.

Added some witches, a black cat, pumpkins, and other spooky items.  The skeleton is from the Dollar Tree and his red eyes are gems from my stash.

I used various Quote Chips and Quote Tokens to fill in some spaces as well as some very, very old metal letters and numbers and I can't even remember getting them.  If you look close you can see the spider climbing up the wall near the Quote Chips. I actually used some of the metal letters when I made the hanging word “SPOOKY.”   I glued them on top of the Type Charms and then put the acrylic bubble on top of that.  I placed my witches and surrounded them with all the boxes and bits since they are really the focal point of my book.  After I finished, I realized I didn't really have a way to tie in the fact that this was a book so I decided to make it a magical Spell Book.  I made a table of contents in fancy font and solved that issue. I hope you can read the table of contents, I had a LOT of fun thinking it up!  I also had to size the pictures down to small so if you'd like to see them bigger, just give them a click.

I am such a craft supply hoarder!  I really must work on that.  I just hate to use something that I love so much!  I am very sure you can relate to that.  I hope you enjoyed my Spell Book and if you have any questions about it, please feel free to let me know in the comments or by email.  Happy Halloween!!  Christi {and can I just say this new version of Blogger is a NIGHTMARE - I can't add admin, people I invite aren't getting the invite emails, the spacing is all wonky. . . UGH!!}

 

I am happily entering my Spell Book in the following challenges:
The Corrosive Challenge {OCT} - Anything Goes 

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge {OCT} - Anything Goes Halloween

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Not a Card

Use Your Stuff - Halloween/Fall

Mix it Up Challenge, #42 - Anything Goes

Shopping Our Stash, #431 - Happy Fall Y'all!

 

Spooky Skeleton Shadow Box ~ Autumn Magic with Anything But a Card

The current challenge over at Anything But a Card is a seasonal one; you can choose between "Autumn Magic" and "Spring Wonder".  Since fall is my very favorite time of year, with my very favorite holiday smack in the middle of the season, I chose to work with "Autumn Magic".  What is more magical than Halloween?  How about a skeleton in a cemetery? OK, so not exactly magical, but I had so much fun making my Skeleton Cemetery Shadow Box that I had to share it!

The cool stand with the skeleton heads isn't part of the box - but it's awesome isn't it?

What I used to Make this Project:
Tim Holtz Configurations Box - 5 3/4 x 5 3/4, TH92883
Big Shot machine
Tim Holtz Mover & Shakers Die, Vintage Cabinet Card Mini, 657206
Scraps of Grey (various shades) & White cardstock
Scrap of Chipboard
Skeleton (Dollar Store)
Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink in Potting Soil
Somerset Studio paper "Dark Woods"
Distress Paint in Gatherd Twigs
Tim Holtz Mover & Shakers Die, Mini Bat & Skull Set, 657458
Pumpkins (I got mine from Alpha Stamps)
2 Small Red Gems
Dresden "Arch" - black
Embellishments
Crafters Pick The Ultimate Glue

Almost looks like wood

First, take all the little boxes out of the configuration box and set aside. You won't be needing them now but won't they make cute Holiday Ornaments?  Then paint your box with Distress Paint in Gathered Twigs, I just used the sponge dauber on the bottle and rubbed it all over the box, both inside and out.  I took the Somerset Studio paper and cut  it to size so it would fit in the box, covering the back wall and the sides.    

The Mini Cab Card Die

I discovered the tombstones by messing about with the Mini Vintage Cabinet Card die.  I noticed if you trim down the sides of the die cut you can make some pretty cool tombstones.  So that is what I did.  I actually made 3 to use, but I ended up using only 2.  The white stone was to be my focal point because the skeleton fit nicely behind it.  I made the tombstone names in Word and printed them on cardstock and trimmed them to size, as well as the

other shade of grey I used behind the names (in case you can't read them, the white tombstone says  "Eve L. Minion" and the grey reads "Reid N. Weep").  I also drew some cracks into the grey tombstone using a Micron Pen and aged the white one using Wendy Vecchi's Potting Soil ink (truthfully, I wanted the white one to stay white, but I got a bit of the Gathered Twigs paint on it after it was all ready to go and there was no way I was making another one. Don't tell anyone).

Next I fixed the tombstones so they'd be sturdy enough not to bend.  I had already cut them out of cardstock, and I considered re-cutting them out of chipboard, but then I decided to make chipboard "brackets" to glue on the back of them that would be fine.  At the bottom of each tombstone I bent a small lip and attached the bent strip of chipboard to the back of the stone so the

bottom was a longer lip (and stronger) part of the chipboard was available to glue to the scene (picture a long L made of chipboard). Shockingly, it worked like a charm! No one was going to be poking or touching the stones, so they didn't need to be seriously anchored down.  Next was attaching the skeleton to the white tombstone.

 Since the skeleton was too tall, I snapped his legs off and daubed him with the Gathered Twigs paint to age him a bit more. I really wanted to get some dirt and roll him in that but I wasn't about to go out in the freezing cold yard and try to dig some up - plus it was late (after midnight) and we have a sensor light in the back of the house.  So I settled for some Gathered Twigs paint and dried him with my heat gun (the paint didn't really dry on the plastic, so be careful! You don't want a situation like I had above).  I also glued some little red gems in his eyes, reminiscent of the skeleton I used here.  I draped him behind the tombstone and set him up to dry overnight.

I already had the bat cut out - it was cut out of chipboard and painted black with acrylic paint.  The pumpkins, black cat, cameo and leaves are from my stash. I do have to tell you about these leaves. I am not sure where I bought them, but they were made for people who make those elaborate railroad displays and this bag has lasted me many, many seasons.  The Dresden arch came from a sheet I had gotten many, many moons ago.  I was tempted to hang a Happy Halloween" banner of some sort on the bottom of the box, but, after consideration (and the fact that somebody wants to display it all year long in his room) I decided to leave it off.

 

And another look.  Hope you enjoyed the tutorial!

So there we go - my first ever Configurations box! I have been pinning them and drooling over how amazingly creative people have been using them, but I haven't had the occasion to actually use one (and I have a few more in the stash).  I had a blast making it and the weight is so light compared to wood.  And, as I said, those little divider boxes that I didn't use will make cute ornaments, in fact, the top and the acrylic cover will make a nice frame. . .hmmm.  Better go write this down!   There is still time to enter the "Autumn Magic/Spring Wonder" challenge at Anything But a Card - even if you don't want to enter, pop over and check out the amazing creations my teamies have made.  We recently had a DT call and now we have so many creative people on board that you will want to check the blog at least once a week - trust me! Have a great day and thank you so much for stopping by.  If not for you. my followers, I would have no reason to do this.  Blessings to you & yours, Christi 

I am happily entering my Spooky Skeleton Shadow Box in the following challenges:
Delicious Darkness - #3 (October Challenge), Anything Goes, optional Halloween Twist
Buckwells Crafty Challenge - #1 (October Challenge), Anything Goes 
Altered Eclectics - (October Challenge), Anything Goes

Crafting at the Weekend - #6, (October Challenge), Anything Goes
Stuck on U Sketches - Die Cut Challenge, Anything Autumn
Open Minded Crafting Fun - #21, Pumpkins/Jack 'O Lanterns
Punk You Girl - (October Challenge), Anything Goes with an optional Halloween Twist


On another note, we are looking for some help over at Challenges for Days - it's really simple to help us keep the lists updated, you only need about an hour a week.  Why not help others (and yourself) find some awesome challenges to enter? If you think you can help us out, please drop an email to our wonderful founder, Zoe (zoechaos@icloud.com).  Even if you can't help right now, please take a look at all the exciting challenges we have listed and don't forget to bookmark us - we update the list daily and we are always adding new challenges!