The Undertaker

Hello friends!  I'm so happy you've stop by today!  I have a really fun Halloween project to share with you!  I was so happy when I was asked to create a few projects, using Tim Holtz's new seasonal products.  When I received my box of goodies, I was so excited…it felt like Christmas, my Birthday and a great vintage find all wrapped up in one!  My first project is a Mini Configurations wall hanging, that will be focusing on Tim's new Halloween Idea-ology and Sizzix Cobwebs Texture Fade.

  I'm going to show you how to transform a mini configurations book into a spooky Undertaker Halloween wall hanging today.

It all started with a Tim Holtz Mini Configurations Book.

 An 8x10 clearance open back frame.  You know that isle at the craft store that everything is ridiculously cheap in because it has some dents, dings and chips to it, well it was perfect for this Halloween project!

  A plain 8 x 10 flatback canvas!

  To start with I painted a layer of Black Soot Distress Paint onto the canvas.  Then let dry thoroughly.  I sanded the canvas a little with a sanding grip to expose some of the texture.  Then added some Vintage Photo Distress Paint here and there using a baby wipe to move the color around so that it created more of a wash.

After that was thoroughly dried, I stamped some texture onto the canvas using the scribbles stamps in the Slight Alterations stamp set with Walnut Stain Distress Paint.  It's very subtle, but I love the affected it give to the overall aesthetics of the piece.

  I took the configuration inserts out of the book and set them aside, I didn't paint them because they will be covered with paper and designer tape.  I gave my Configuration Book a base coat of Black Soot Distress Paint on the inside and out.  After that was thoroughly dried I used a combination of Hickory Smoke, Walnut Stain, Black Soot, Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Distress Paints to give the appearance of a vintage book.  After that was thoroughly dried, I stamped some texture onto the book using the scribbles stamps in the Slight Alterations stamp set with Walnut Stain Distress Paint.

 For the front of my book, I cut a piece of paper from the new Regions Beyond Paper Stash, distressed and inked the edges.  I die cut the headstone out of grungeboard and distressed with Black Soot, Hickory Smoke and Peeled Paint Distress Paints.  I stamped the Undertaker (one of Tim's new stamp sets) with Jet Black Archival ink on vintage book paper and cut out.  Then shaded him with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I added the number 31 from the new Wicked Alpha Parts and colored this with Distress Paints.  Then applied Glossy Accents to give a shellacked appearance.  I also used an Oddities Adornment adhered with a Regions Beyond Fastener pearl brad.   It was distressed with Iced Spruce Distress Paint and Mushroom Alcohol Ink.

 I painted and distressed a Cabinet Card with Crackle and Brushed Corduroy Distress Paint.  That awesome cobweb is one of the new Halloween Texture Fades, I love it!   First I cut out a plastic transparent sheet and ran it through my Vagabond using the Cobwebs Halloween Texture Fade.  I wanted to dull the appearance of the shiny plastic, so I brushed a thin layer of Matte Glue n Seal onto the surface.  After that dried thoroughly, to bring out the cobwebs I applied a little Black Soot Distress Paint with a blending tool just to the raised portions of the web.  I wanted to distress the cobwebs even further, so I applied a little Mushroom Alcohol Ink sporadically to the surface.  I attached some of the spiders from the Gothic Industrious Stickers Set and distressed with Mushroom Alcohol Ink.

 I distressed a Skull and Crossbones with Iced Spruce Distress Paint and Mushroom Alcohol Ink and attached to spine of book.

  For the inside of the cover I selected some paper from the Regions Beyond Paper Stash and the skeleton is from the Frightful Ephemera pack.  I inked and distressed the edges before attaching to the inside cover.  I used the Linen Ribbon to create a band for the ephemera, attaching black pearl Regions Beyond Fasteners to each end of the ribbon ( I did actually cut the brad portion off and just glue them to the linen ribbon).  Then hung one of the spider charms from the Oddities Adornments. It was distressed with Iced Spruce paint and Mushroom Alcohol Ink.

 All the papers used on the inside of configurations throughout are from the Regions Beyond Paper Stash.  I colored most of the glass vials with alcohol inks.  This glass dome also got some crackle to it as well.  All of the configurations have been framed with Regions Beyond Design Tape. I attached one of the spider charms from the Oddities Adornments on a Shield Charm.  It was distressed with Iced Spruce paint and Mushroom Alcohol Ink.  Then hung up with a Ring Fastener and a little chain.

  For this configuration I hung one of the Crypt Cameos wire wrapping it to a Adornment Arrow.  Then glued the arrow to the Foundry Frame.  The tiny spider on the glass vial is from the Curiosities Remnant Rubs.  The eye is another piece from the Frightful Ephemera Pack.  All of the metal, glass and plastic pieces were distressed with Iced Spruce and Mushroom Alcohol Ink.

 The photos from this configuration are from the Regions Beyond Paper Stash and the undertaker sign on top is from the Frightful Pack.  All paper pieces were inked and distressed.  I tucked a small piece of a mica tile behind the photos and some dyed cheese cloth behind the pocket watch for just a little extra something.  The pocket watch is so fun!  I used some of the new paper, new brad fasteners, a skeleton Oddities Adornment and a Wishbone.  All pieces were distressed with Mushroom Alcohol Ink.  The new Apothecary Vials are so cool, I love that they are amber…they look so authentic!  I added some Wishbones in the amber Apothecary Vial and attached one of the stickers that come with the collection to the front of the vial.  I painted some Heirloom Roses black and added to the clear Corked Vial.  For a little something extra, I added a few drops of Silver Alcohol Ink into the vial.  I let that dry thoroughly before attaching the cork.

I painted and distressed the word Halloween from the Wicked Alpha Parts, using Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint and Hickory Smoke Distress Paint.  Then added Glossy Accents for a nice shellacked look.

For the last three configurations I used a new Apothecary Vial,  Tiny Vial, Monocle, a rose from the Nature Adornments, a Wishbone, Ephemera from the Frightful Pack, the hand and another spider from the Curiosities Remnant Rubs and a fun Boneyard Resin Skull!  All of the metal, and resin was distressed with Iced Spruce Distress Paint and Mushroom Alcohol Ink.  I got a little creative with the Boneyard Resin Skull and drilled a small hole in the top of his head and screwed in a Screw Eye and hung from a Ring Fastener.  After I had finished my configurations, I drilled a couple of small holes in the back of the book and the fatback canvas (making sure they lined up).  I secured the configuration book to the canvas with wire and then adhered the canvas to the open back frame with some small staples.  I ended up gluing all of my configurations to the inside of the book, so they would be permanent for my spooky Undertaker wall hanging.

Wow, are you still with me…I hope so!  I'm so excited to add this piece to my Halloween decor, I hope you give it a try!   I have listed links for all the products that I used in making my Undertaker wall hanging below.  There are a few items that have been retired and are no longer available, I added a few ideas to substitute.  Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day! xx

Bobbi

I've listed the products below, used to create this project.  I am part of various affiliate programs including Simon Says Stamp.  When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase thru that link (at no extra cost to you), I receive a small commission.  Thank you, I genuinely appreciate your support!