Monday, October 5, 2015

31 Day of Halloween at Anything But Cute

October is here and that means another challenge at Anything But Cute. Our super inspirational, and Halloween loving hostess is Sara Emily! For this challenge she would like you to make a mixed media card or project for Halloween. It can be spooky or not, but you MUST include the number "31" somewhere in your project. Let your creativity take over and enjoy! 

Let me take you through "31 Halloween Hauntings!" Mwahahahaha! Enter if you dare!
I started with a Tim Holtz assemblage clock and applied so many different sprays, inks, DecoArt crackle glaze, DecoArt texture paste, and acrylic paints as well. Let's see the process! 
I applied 3 coats of gesso and dabbed some texture paste and texture sand here and there. Then waited forever for it to dry! 
This is after the first coat of LSG sprays and DecoArt Turquoise Waters Satin acrylic paint and DecoArt Patina Green Antiquing Cream (I used the Cream after all the layers were on the clock as well as before)
While the clock was drying (when you heat metal it gets hot so I opted to wait for some stages to dry, my fingers thanked me), I started on my moon background using Distress inks and TH crackle paint for the tree. The moon is yellow and orange and the black smudges are dark clouds. The smallest gravestone includes the number 31. 
The graves are all handmade out of polymer clay, I used various objects to create the graves and then I "aged" the graves using a wash of DecoArt acrylic paint in Zinc and gesso, as well as LSG spray. 
The skeletons were purchased at a local dollar store (4 on a string) and I sprayed those with Heidi Sawpp's Black Velvet spray, I dry brushed both skeletons with DecoArt black acrylic paint. I made the females clothes with leftover fabric tidbits from other projects. Both skeletons accessories are made from polymer clay. 
The small pumpkins are made from polymer clay and painted with black DecoArt acrylic paint and the brushed over with Silks-Spiced Pumpkin. You can see one of the pumpkins beside the lady skeletons head and one in the graveyard.
I added some Halloween stickers and moss that I handpicked near a friends cabin, and some Spanish moss was used for the floor of the gaveyard. The bats are inked with alcohol inks and attached to rusty wire that I twisted around the end of a paintbrush. I adhered those to the clock with a glue gun. 
Here is a close up of the inside of the clock. These 3D designs are sometimes hard to photograph!
I do hope you have enjoyed reading this post and it gets you to thinking about the number 31 and also Halloween, which is right around the corner! I have my hat almost done for October 31st! I wear a hat for the trick or treaters that come to my house, never too old to join in the fun! 
Thank you all for reading this, I know it was a long one! Hope you all have a terrific October and remember: this month candy has no calories, right? Snickers and Milk Duds here I come! What is your favorite candy? Carpe Diem! ~Niki

I would really love to share this altered clock design with the following challenges:





I used the center of Bat, Free Space, Moon

I chose to go LOC with the Halloween theme and Horror theme

DecoArt Mixed Media Haunts Challenge-Showcase their mixed media product line





35 comments:

  1. Gorgeous! This is very much my cup of potion - must see what I can dream up for this challenge! Hugs, Valerie

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  2. Punki"!!!!! You have outdone yourself mydear, with this fun, fun, FUN altered clock! Oh, I'm squealing with delight with every photo! I could spend the day here, seriously! Those headstones are delightfully eerie (Squeal!); and you used a kid's ring to make that skull impression! How clever! (Squeal!). Your skellies are the best dressed I've ever seen and the candelabra is such a spooky touch! (EEK!) Oh, and that moon is so sinister! (Squeal again!) Great use of the "31" and overall, just a delightfully menacing piece of art! I wish I could be there to pick it up and give it a good look! Big hugs, Niki!

    PS Happy Halloweenies! Twix, Kit Kat and my favorite-- Milky Way Special Dark!! I buy the huge bags of candy at Costco and pick out all the MWSD's! No calories at all in these!

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    1. Oh, my WORD! I am the lucky recipient of this fabulous work of art! It's even better in person! Words cannot express how honored I am to have this assemblage bless my home! Thank you SOOOOO much, Punkin! I wished I could pick it up and give it a good look, and now I can, and have been for almost an hour! Huge hugs, Niki!

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    2. Haha! Sara doll, glad you are thoroughly enjoying this design! I am so happy you like it and were so surprised. Lol! I bet Mr. And Mrs. Skeleton have a wonderful home with you, with many years off being shown off to come. I can't wait to see pics of your yard this year! Between you and Sammra's mantle design you two have Halloween covered! Hugz to you muffin!

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    3. Yippee, your clock is a winner at LOC!!!!

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  3. Wow!!! This is an amazing apiece of altered art, thanks so much for sharing your step by step photos too. This looks so fun I may have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing with us at LOC challenges this week.

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  4. Wow, Niki, you have outdone yourself again with this amazing altered clock! Actually, it's a whole spooky scene! I love everything about this stunner especially those dressed skellies! Bravo, my friend!
    Hugs to you, dear! Branka xxx

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  5. Niki...I really like this Halloween piece! It's clever, creative and I love the several techniques you've used to create your weathered clock and altered pieces. Your blog post is nice and I love how you've shared how you put your piece together. Love the flying bats and your skeletons are really stylin'. Great job! Thanks for joining our Haunts Challenge.

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  6. Spooktacular Niki! I love the tombstones you made and all the amazing details! So creepy wonderful :) Would love to see you play at Dream in Darkness!
    ~kim

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  7. Brilliant, fantastic, wow, totally fab and to dress the skeletons is a genius idea.
    Julie x

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  8. Love this!! I grew up in the American Southwest, with the Day of the Dead is very popular, and I continue to have an affinity for skeletons with clothes on, lol!! Great job here all round - hope to join in this month! xxx Lynn

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  9. Oh my...this artwork is outstanding. It looks like you had a lot of fun creating this "creepy scene"...love it! Thanks for entering the "Monsters" Challenge at Left of Center this week. Wendy (DT)

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  10. WOW!!! This is one amazing Halloween display! My eyes are darting here, there and everywhere!!! So many cool and gorgeously creepy details!!! Love it!!! Halloween delight!
    Hugs
    Samra

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  11. I absolutely love how you altered this Tim Holtz clock. Your handmade gravestones are amazing. My favorite part is the male skeleton with the top hat and bow tie. Genius!

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  12. OMG! Your handmade tombstones are gobsmackingly brilliant - as is your whole project! Absolutely bloody spooktacular! LOVE it!
    Hugs,
    Claudia x

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  13. Had a good look and read and I love LOVE this!
    Your gravestones/polymer work is brilliant. Do you ever use that (can't think of name at present) re-useable clay type stuff to make your own molds?
    Gill x

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  14. My head is reeling! what an amazing arty blogpost where each item is worth a long look. Love how you bought the skeletons at a dollar store and that you made them hats and other accessories, and the gravestones - oh my gosh! - how you made them is so creative. I could easily ooh and aah over each and every piece, all fascinating.
    Right, I'm going up for another long look.

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  15. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful artwork at Corrosive Challenges, hugs, Jackie DT member

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  16. What a cool project ~ it's amazing! Thanks for sharing your process, and thanks for sharing your piece in my Gothic challenge at LunagirlMoonbeams.com ~ Karen

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  17. I absolutely freaking LOVE your clock piece! And all of the items you have created for it. Very talented. I am so grateful for you sharing your project with us over at LOC challenges.
    Peace,
    KristyLee
    (LOC DT)

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  18. Amazing what you did with the clock! A lot of work, with super result ! Thanks for playing with us at the Haunts Challenge, good luck!

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  19. Saw your picture on Instagram Niki and as I said there, fabulous! Amazing Halloween assemblage clock, the skeletal couple are inspired! Thanks so much for sharing it, Deb xo

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  20. Boo-lishes altered clock. What a cool Haloween center piece! Thanks for sharing all your steps.xoxo

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  21. I like the Gothic Steampunk theme you have on your blog this month!

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  22. Stunning creation! Thanks for joining us at Creatalicous Challenges.
    Mieko xx

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  23. Such amazing technique, skill and time you put into this masterpiece. Amazing work and thank you for sharing your talent with us at Corrosive Challenge.

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  24. I so love skellies and this is fab hun - Thank you for sharing with us over at Altered Eclectics this month and hope to see you again in future challenges.

    Handcrafted by Ellapu
    Mother Hen for Altered Eclectics
    Mother Hen for Eclectic Ellapu
    DT Rhedd's Creative Spirit
    DT The Mirror Crack'd
    DT Anything but a Card

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  25. Totally diggin' this spooky little scene. Fantastic tutorial too :D. Thank you for joining us for the DecoArt Media October challenge!

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  26. Totally diggin' this spooky little scene. Fantastic tutorial too :D. Thank you for joining us for the DecoArt Media October challenge!

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  27. Oh wow! What a brilliant Halloween scene... love your lord and lady skeleton (inspired cobwebby gown), and the altered clock looks stunning!
    Alison xx

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  28. Oh wow - I'm completely awed Niki. Wow. This must have taken forever - so intricate and very very special. Love the grave stones and clothes too!!! And no... I will not be entering - I'm afraidy cat for sure. This is downright CREEPY through and through. FABULOUS creations and inspiration. Wow.... just Wow. j.

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  29. A wonderful Halloween project!
    Thank you soo much for taking part in our "Halloween” challenge over at Creatalicious & good luck in the draw.
    Hope to see you again in our new challenge as well…

    Hugs,
    Melanie
    (DT Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges)
    (DT-Coordinator Creatalicious Challenges)
    (DT Come and Get It)
    (DT Crafty Friends)
    (DT Tuesday Throwdown)

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  30. wow, that clock and the skeleton couple are o cutely spooky. I love it. Perfect for The day of dead as well. TFS

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  31. Fabulous project. Thank you for sharing with us at Altered Eclectics October Challenge

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