Trick or Treat

Hi Everyone, 

I'm back with more spooky delights.  I am not sure if I've talked too much about what I do for my pay the bills job.  Last year around this time I left the company I had been with for 15 years and moved to a new retail spot.  I am a store manager for a company that makes stuffed animals(yes, I am being intentionally vague here).  I try to keep it fun.  I know that most of the kids that work for me aren't going to be with me forever and for many it's a first job.  I loved my first job.   I want my team to look back on this job and remember it fondly.  This month I challenged them to take home one of the boxes we send our animals home in and transform it into something for Halloween.  We will use them to decorate our break room.  I never ask them to do anything I wouldn't do myself, so here is my take on the project. 

When I started this I had no idea where I wanted to take it, but once I used my Graphic 45 paper for the sides it really took off.  

Doesn't he look happy to see you? And he has a pumpkin for you too. 

There is a metal band that runs all around the top that I painted with a thin layer of black paint to grunge it up a bit.  The border is a Tim Holtz die and it makes a perfect little fence.  

When I glued it down I left gaps and bubbles so I could cram moss in there.  

I don't know if these little kids are frightened by the skeleton or the giant spider.  

Ok, here you can really see the labor of love on this project.  That roof!

I think I put down about a million tiles. 

I have more respect for roofers now.  

Until next time,

Jess

SanDee and amelie' Steampunk Anything goes challenge

Southern Ridge Chipboard- Anything Goes

Bibliophile take 2

Ok confession time.  I had this blog post ready to go for a long time.  I worked on this project forever and just had it stashed in my file for a far off future date.  Guess what? That date came and I totally forgot to move it forward so it posted.  Boo.  So now I am reposting it and entering it into the  CC#3 challenge 23.  I was so bummed it posted before this challenge came around.  I knew it would be since it is in the book.  If you don't have a copy of Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities you need to order it ASAP.  And if you haven't been participating in Linda's challenge you need to jump on the bandwagon now.  It is so much fun.  There are fabulous prizes to be won from Tim and from The Inspiration Emporium.Without further ado here is my take on the folio.


I am a huge reader.  I have worked in a bookstore for almost 15 years.  When I bought this Tim Holtz folio I knew I had to make it all about books and reading.  This was a huge project.  It took me way longer than I thought it would.  I wanted to be sure each page was just right. 
Here come the photos!

This is the front cover.  A while back I bought a card catalog.  It is chock full of cards and I knew I had to use some on here.  

This is what happens when you remove the elastic band.  Books!

Pardon my hand.  I couldn't get the tab to stay open without it.  

That glasses sticker kills me! I would wear those glasses if I could find a pair.  

Tiny handmade books.

This image is from Graphic 45.  I painted it using watercolors. 

Another catalog card.  

The library card is a German flashcard.  

Here are some close ups of the flaps.  Both of the small top and bottom flaps have a card catalog paper as the background and a bookshelf as the foreground.  I cut out a few extra books and popped them up to add dimension.  

The back cover. 

I love how this tuned out.  

Bibliophile Folio

I am a huge reader.  I have worked in a bookstore for almost 15 years.  When I bought this Tim Holtz folio I knew I had to make it all about books and reading.  This was a huge project.  It took me way longer than I thought it would.  I wanted to be sure each page was just right.
Here come the photos!

This is the front cover.  A while back I bought a card catalog.  It is chock full of cards and I knew I had to use some on here.  

This is what happens when you remove the elastic band.  Books!

Pardon my hand.  I couldn't get the tab to stay open without it.  

That glasses sticker kills me! I would wear those glasses if I could find a pair.  

Tiny handmade books.

This image is from Graphic 45.  I painted it using watercolors. 

Another catalog card.  

The library card is a German flashcard.  

Here are some close ups of the flaps.  Both of the small top and bottom flaps have a card catalog paper as the background and a bookshelf as the foreground.  I cut out a few extra books and popped them up to add dimension.  

The back cover. 

I love how this tuned out.  

Unruly Paper Arts Inspire your Heart with Art

What have you been crafting?

Jess

The Witching Hour Clock

Back with another altered clock and this is a big one!  You can't really tell from the picture, but this clock is about 5 times the size of your average alarm clock.
Halloween is fast approaching and I love creating for this time of year.

The clock was spray painted using a graphite color.  The background paper is from Graphic 45.  The medallion in the middle is from Michael's, as is the hat on top.  There are some sparkly flourishes from Prima too.

I can't wait to decorate the house for Halloween.
I am entering this into a couple challenges:
Vintage Journey with a Flourish challenge
Eclectic Paperie Fall Challenge
Our Creative Corner Autumnal Inspiration Challenge- I was inspired by the gorgeous green leaves that are echoed in the berries on the hat.  The close ups of the wood look like the background on the witchy medallion.  The berries remind me of the color of the background paper.
What have you been crafting?
Jess