Crafty Effusions: Craft Stamper

Now I don't do Halloween - but as those who saw my post last weekend will know I am determined to use the Mixed Media projects in Craft stamper magazine to develop my techniques for card making and Art Journalling as I don't make altered or 3D objects very often. So because there are several Halloween themed challenges about at the moment I double challenged myself and chose the Curious Apothecary feature by Louise Crosby in Novembers issue for my inspiration. Here is the card I made -

I got so engrossed in this I forgot to take step by step photos - but I started by applying crackle paste coloured with acrylic paint through Tim Holtz Gothic stencil onto black card, once dry I added touches of treasure gold. While that was drying I rooted through my stamps and cutting dies for anything that looked remotely gothic/Halloweeny. I was surprised by how many things I had that I could adapt considering I don't ever make Halloween projects.

The bottles at each end are Tim Holtz die cuts - I've cut them twice each, once on card coloured with distress inks and again in acetate stamped with a PaperArtsy numbers stamp. I then sandwiched Stickles glitter glue between one pair and bead gel coloured with alcohol ink between the other two. The bottle of 'blood' is a sizzix die cut and the feather 'quill' a Craft Stamper freebie.

The jar of frogs eyes are stamped eyes sandwiched between stamped (Artistic Stamper) jars - one is stamped and embossed on a layer of acetate coloured with alcohol ink and the other behind it is on white card.

The skull is a Stamp Addicts stamp and the wings another Craft Stamper Freebie - I've added big blobs of diamond Stickles to the eye sockets. My Halloween card is by no means anywhere near as spectacular as Louise Crosbie's amazing Apothecary, but I had an amazing time creating it (not sure my other half was so impressed though as dinner was an hour late).

I'm sharing my card here -

Craft Stamper - Take it Make it technique challenge
Mixed Media Monthly - Spooky Word search (Skull)