#Cre8time Cryptkeeper Pendant for 31 Days of Halloween #DominoArtChallenge

Hello boys and Ghouls! Welcome to a very special project that is part of the 31 Days of Halloween Challenge at Domino Art... devoted to altering dominos, puzzle pieces, and game pieces - all those little things we love to save for the most special projects. Today is my project and you want to jump over to the Domino Art Blog to see all the other spooktacular altered creations!

My project today is an altered puzzle piece turned into jewelry from the crypt! Creating for Halloween comes a close second only to creating for Christmas and I go ALL OUT. I invite you to read along as I share details on how this came to life...

Supplies: Puzzle piece; recycled chess piece; detail scissors; scraps of pre-painted distress marbled papers; copper wire; Crop-A-Dile; copper eyelet; copper wire; wooden bead; "hello sweetie"; "barb wire background" and "skeleton rising" stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps!, Ranger Distress Paints; Versafine Black Ink; waterbrush; Maroon pigment ink; VLVS! ultra fine clear embossing powder; Diamond Glaze; assorted markers; Ranger Old Paper and Gathered Twigs Distress Ink; Ranger Embossing Antiquities in Rust; dark amber sticky-back gems; and double-sided adhesive tape. 

Starting with a leftover scrap of Distress Ink marbelized cardstock, I traced my selected puzzle piece {this being a generic blank craft version} and cut out with detail scissors. I adhered to puzzle piece with a generous slathering of glue stick.

The backside was blank as well, so I wanted to give this side a grungy rusted finish. I used Ranger Distress Paints to create a marbled, drippy background... I just love this effect!!!

While my paint was still wet and drippy, I dragged the color around to the front and made some creepy, bloody drippings from the top and also painted the edges.

While my paint is drying, I stamped the skeleton rising onto white cardstock with black Versafine ink and set with VLVS! ultra fine clear embossing powder. I added a little color with a waterbrush and an assortment of markers. By the time I was done fussy cutting this character, my puzzle piece is ready to stamp.

I used my heat gun to finish drying and set paint on the puzzle piece. I inked up a barb wire background stamp with maroon pigment ink and pressed the rusty colored side of the puzzle piece into the stamp. I could have used clear or black ink, the ink gets lost when this opaque embossing powder is applied.

Now the magic... turning this barbed wire into fabulous faux rusty wire. I applied Ranger Antiquities Rust embossing powder - a lovely distressed rust mixture, and tapped off excess. When heat set, the rust comes alive!

I finished off with a rubbing of distress inks to and a grey marker to bring out depth and create shadows. The back is it's own gorgeous rusty mess!

I brought a little rust around to the front by adhering "hello sweetie" sentiment to a piece of double sided adhesive tape, leaving edges exposed to create a matted edge, then applying the same rusty goodness in a bottle. A zap with the heat gun followed by a gentle rubbing with some Distress Inks, and a rusty sign is ready. I added a kiss of Diamond Glaze for a little dimensional shine.

A adhered the skeleton to the puzzle piece and trimmed to match edges. With black and grey markers I smudged out some shadowing. This cryptkeeper comes to life with some dark amber sticky back gems. I punched a hole in the top and set a copper colored eyelet with my Crop-A-Dile tool for a reinforced hole to accept some wire-wrapping and beaded detail.

With matching copper wire, I wire wrapped a wooden bead to the top and formed a loop for stringing onto a necklace. I also wire wrapped a random chess piece I happened upon during the process... it's a charm now! I added a dark amber sticky back gem to the bottom for a little added bling. I braided black and sparkly orange fun fibers with a natural raffia to use as a chain to complete the look. I can't wait to wear this with my dancing skeleton earrings!

"Hello Sweetie"...

a Puzzling Proposition

Thanks for dropping by! What are you creating for Halloween? Leave a comment and your link I would love to see. Please visit the Domino Art Blog art to see all the other spooktacular creations!  Sb :)

Flippin' a CREEPY, Crawly Switch... Halloween Crafts with Designer Crafts Connection

Good morning friends! October has arrived and today brings a new bloghop with the Designer Crafts Connection focused on "HALLOWEEN CRAFTS". So today, I am sharing how to make some spooky home decor for the spooky holiday season.

What do you do with a blank light switch plate and some of last year's leftover Halloween party favors??? You create a spooky lightswitch plate!

Supplies needed: a light switch plate, hot glue gun, your choice of halloween favors {I'm using skull rings and spiders, scissors, masking tape, acrylic paints, silver Rub n' Buff®, Amazing Mold Putty and Creative Paperclay®.

I wrapped torn pieces of masking tape onto the light switch plate to add texture, making sure to wrap around the backside and burnish edges. I cut off the rings sections on the skulls, then using hot glue, I adhered skulls to the corners and finished off with a plastic spider. ** A TIP ** Be careful when applying hot glue to plastic parts... it's very easy to melt them.

Now for the FUN to BEGIN! I got out my Amazing Mold Putty to create a mold of my altered switchplate! To see how-to of mixing Amazing Mold Putty please click here. I begin by taking equal parts of Amazing Mold Putty parts "A" and "B" and gently mix together both parts, working quickly so that the colors are evenly mixed together with no striping. Press the Amazing Mold Putty around the switch plate gently pressing it around the item and sides.

I let the mold sit and cure for about 15 minutes, then the mold is ready to fill with resin, polymer clay or paperclay. OH... did I mention that Amazing Mold Putty is FOOD SAFE. It can be used for custom candy molds, ice cubes, cookies, fondant shapes... and so much more! What creepy, tasty treats can you dream up?

I pressed some Creative Paperclay® into the mold, leveling it out flat to meet the edges of the mold. I let the mold dry overnight before attempting to remove. 

I gently removed casting from mold then let paperclay fully dry out {being in hot and humid South Florida... this took a couple days}. It looks like something that might be found at some ancient ruins - the texture and detail is captured beautifully. Wouldn't it be so fun to make a whole bunch of these and let the kids join in the fun of decorating?

While cutting out the holes, I dropped my lightswitch plate and one of the corners broke off. Along with the cracks from drying, this just added to the charm of this ghoulish lightswitch plate. Time for the transformation! By adding some acrylic paint this switchplate came to life in minutes.

Flippin' a Creepy, Crawly Switch...

I really love the distressed plasterlike texture that you get from the paperclay. I've rubbed casting with some acrylic paints and silver Rub n' Buff® to create a rusty, grungy patina. I dipped my screw heads in paint to match, wrapped some faux barbed wire trim and affixed to the lightswitch next to my front door... this is so creepy cool. I'm working on a resin variation to affix outside onto my doorbell to really scare the kiddies on all Hallow's Eve.

Thanks for visiting! Continue on the Designer Crafts Connection "HALLOWEEN CRAFTS" Bloghop by selecting hop back/forward on the logo below. Sb :)

Designer Craft Connection

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