Spooky Fun....With an Autumnal Twist ! ~ Stamps and Stencils ~ New Challenge.

Hi everybody! It's that time again, when a new challenge starts over on the Stamps and Stencils blog. Rachel is our talented host this month and she has chosen a fun, seasonal, challenge. She has called it.... 'Spooky Fun with Autumnal Twist'. I was pleased when I saw Rachel's theme, as it gave me a chance to use some of the Halloween stash, I've been hoarding since last year!
My project is a large tag made from a piece of corrugated card......

I always get a sense of satisfaction when I'm able to use some recycled materials in my crafting. The tag measures around 23 cm x 12cm. I removed some of the surface paper from around the edges and gave the tag a coat of white gesso. Although applying gesso to the surface is a bit of a faff when it's going to be painted further,  it really does provide a good ground for the coloured acrylic paints, making them more true to their colours, than if they were painted straight onto the cardboard. once the gesso had dried, I painted the surface with Decoart, Media Paint in Green Gold. I then used one of Tim Holtz's Layering stencils, with black gesso, to stencil the harlequin pattern.......

I love that Green Gold colour, though for my spooky tag, I felt it looked a little too bright. in order to grunge it up a bit, I gave the surface a little 'dirty wash' and added some faux rusting to the exposed corrugated card.....

I then turned my attention to the main focal image. I Took a piece of  light weight card and sprayed it with Distress Spray.  I used a combination of Marigold and Spiced Pumpkin. I then used my Stamping Platform to stamp the raven image.The stamp is by Stampendous. The advantage of using the Stamping Platform with a stamp such as this, is that you can stamp it several times if the image doesn't come out perfectly first time. I am, of course, speaking from experience, with my first effort ending up in the bin! After stamping out the image, I tore around the edges and scrunched up the card. I then used Distress ink over the surface to highlight the folds, as well as around the edges.....

 As usual the photographs tend to peter out at this stage as I started to have fun with trying different elements to layer with the image. Underneath the focal image I added some die cut 'twigs and die cut, embossed planks of wood.......

I made a little picture frame for the image of Edgar Alan Poe.......

and tucked a fun skeleton image at the top of the tag..........

Both of these die cuts are from a pack of Tim Holtz Ideaology, Halloween Ephemera. The final addition of a dyed ribbon to the top, was the finishing touch.....

So there you have it! Spooky fun...... tick......Autumnal colours..... tick ! Ha ha! If you fancy having a little spooky fun, or if you prefer a project with an Autumnal feel, then why not join us in this months challenge. We would love to see what you come up with. Just hop over to the Stamps and Stencils blog, where you'll see some fabulous inspiration. You'll also find the challenge rules, there aren't many, just remember to use some stamping or stencilling or both ! I look forward to seeing you there. x

I'm also going to join in with the Spookalicious Challenge over on the 'That's Crafty Challenge blog'