Followers

10/25/2013

A Halloween Friday Fun Day Challenge

Hi, and welcome to another Friday Fun Day challenge over at Jo's Scrap Shack. Today the challenge is Anything  but a Card, with a Halloween theme, and our sponsor is Bugaboo Digi Stamps.  Now I don't scrapbook, am not into making baskets/boxes/treat bags or the like - yes I know I am rather set in my ways! But there you have it...a truth about my character. So what to make? Here's what I came up with, using this really spooky digi, printing it out on plain whiteWalmart GP Brand cardstock.


Let me tell you about this hanger. We got the slate maybe 20+ years ago, and it came off a New England house that was built about 1820 or thereabouts. It belonged to friends whose family owned a farm for generations, and as each generation passed, fewer children were left. These roof slates were attached by 2 holes  (where the buttons are fastened); over time, some would be blown off by storms, and had been left lying around the base of the house. Occasionally would get picked up and stacked in an old dairy barn. The last generation's lone survivor(who lived to be 102) allowed us to scrounge in the dairy barn prior to having the barn torn down, and we nabbed a bunch of these slates - which were headed for the dump. Had no idea how they could be used - but they looked interesting. Over the years, we've used them for different things, and I thought this Bugaboo Make It Snappy -Halloween House would look good on a tile hanging by our front door. (Gotta give some credit to DH here...he had the idea first, but he was going to use a big skeleton in his version). The house has now been empty about 5 years, waiting for the estate to be settled, and although it was once a very elegant looking house, it now resembles the spooky house in the image. I've heard rumors that it's haunted, and I, for one, would not spend a night in it!! Alone or otherwise!!

Here's the scoop on the how-to:

- Bugaboo digi printed out, used the orange & red families of Distress Ink, along with some purple to smudge color over the printed digi. Although it had dried well, the black ink still smudged up a bit, but I thought it would be ok for this. It gives a sort of darkish tone to the DI coloring. Went back over the cat, skulls, spider and bats with some black spica pen & that glittered (for a while...more on that!)
Added some Silver Star gel pen to the spider web and fencing. Used some deckle scissors to cut out the image, edged with the DI Purple.

- cleaned the tile with alcohol as well as possible. Blobbed on a coat of Mod Podge glue and let it dry, helping along with a heat gun after a bit. Used Dylusion Black and Orange Zest,  added a splash of White Linen. Dried with a heat gun because it puddled quite a lot, and I didn't want to wait for natural drying. Once the tile was quite dry, Mod Podged the back of the digi, placed on the slate tile, started smoothing the glue over the entire surface. I tried to use thin coats, letting it dry between each application. The glue sort of faded the glittery look of the spica & gel pins alas.  The tile looked a little plain with just the digi, so I added the Tim Holtz Witch Die - again with the Mod Podge routine. Once all had dried, I added some 3D stickers from a pack.

- the buttons are from my old button box, and were black. I sprayed some Dylusions Orange Zest over these a time or two, but probably should have rough sanded first, because the spray only blobbed up on the button surface. IRL it has a nice splotchy look, but it ain't orange! I threaded some floral wire through the button holes, fed this through the nail holes in the slate tile - secured at the back for hanging. Added the batty-ribbon which is what will show when it's hanging.

We hope you'll take a little visit over at Jo's Scrap Shack, and be inspired to play along with us for the Friday Fun Day Challenge #23, where the very simple rules are listed at Jo's blog. We'd love to see your Halloween spookies.

Thanks for joining me today. Have a super Friday, give a hug to someone who needs it - if you can. A Big Hug to You from Me!

9 comments:

  1. Wow, this is very cool. I had to click it bigger to get all the details. You really made a fantastic tag and thanks for sharing the story of the slate. It is perfect for this to hang by the door. Plus it will keep for years to come.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What an interesting post about how you got the slate. I wouldn't spend the night there, either, and would stay far away...especially, on Halloween night. LOL

    Good idea hubby came up with and you did a fantastic job. It'll be perfect by the door.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Talk about recycling!!!!!! Mary - this is awesome. Not only do I love the slate but the mere fact it's on a slate and where that came from is just so cool. Love how you've decorated it - perfect!!!
    Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Mary, this is a lovely spooky piece of slate and a lovely spooky tale. I would love to spend a night in the house to see if it was haunted although i would need some company. Hugs Mo x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Mary,

    I love this project! Too bad about the old house though. This will definitely be something fun to hang by the front door for the little spooks that come visiting!

    Hugs,
    Kay

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great idea for your wire and button hanger!

    What a great story about how you got the slates! I love that you have made something that can be used year after year...this slate will live on!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Mary :)
    What a great way to use the slate-and how lovely that you have something to cherish and remember each year:)
    We didn't get the gale force winds as they predicted in my part of the UK,thank goodness,the storm tracked over in a different direction,and we were very glad both for us and for the horses who are so scared in such strong winds.The south coast of the UK has taken a real battering,i feel very sorry for home owners who were affected ;(
    Have a lovely day,Hugs,Nessa xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Mary - that slate tile - WOW. Thanks for describing how you did that - its just amazing! I also enjoyed reading your story on how you got it. Such a cool project!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey Mary, I was sure I had commented but it isnt here so something must have eaten my comments :D
    Love the slate, the story and your project. You are soooo creative. I love it. TFS

    ReplyDelete