Monday, October 6, 2014

Dream On

Good afternoon!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  We are finally getting some gorgeous fall weather, and I just want to get out and decorate for Halloween.

But before I start that, I want to show you what I have made using a yard sale find--a little wooden house.  I had to clean it up a bit before I could distress it to creepy, run-down perfection. Craft Hoarders Anonymous wants us to drag out our hoarded fall-themed (mine is Halloween) items to make a project to share with them for their challenge Happy Fall, Y'All. I have a few of those!



The latest challenge at Frilly and Funkie is A Haunting Halloween. Be sure to stop by the blog and check out all those fantastic scary works of art by the design team. Everyone who enters the challenge will have a chance to win a generous $25 shopping spree at The Wonderful Funkie Junkie!  I made this project as a Halloween haunted house, in honor of my daughter, who loves miniatures and Halloween.  This measures approximately 15 x 7 inches. The inspiration behind it is my departed Dad, but he did not believe in nor celebrate Halloween because of his religious beliefs, so there is no written reference to Halloween on it out of respect to him.



 I painted the outer walls and bottom with gesso. When dry, I inked with Distress ink. I then swiped texture paste through a stencil by Prima, and allowed this to dry.  Again, I inked with a variety of Distress Inks. My intent is to mimic old stone walls with mildew on them. This is on the bottom, also.




Next I papered the interior walls.  For the attic I used a spider web printed paper from my stash.  For the parlor, I used a patterned paper from Recollections and dirtied it up a little with Distress inks and curled it to look like it peels away from the walls. I glued some trim between the two papers and added the  owl from my stash.

The paper I used for the "basement" is a Michael's receipt I accidentally ran through the laundry this summer. (Michael's just oozes arts and crafts!)  I thought it looked like cobwebs and  saved it for a Halloween project. Perfect for this!  I slopped in some glue and sprinkled some embossing powder over it to look like dirt.


I had not added the "dirt" yet.  This looks red, but must be the flash.  There is no red!

I painted my "hardwood floor" using my finger to blend Distress paints and using a dry brush technique over that.  It's a shame to cover the hardwoods up with a rug--a crocheted doily stained with Distress stains.



I installed Tim's Idea-ology lantern and ran the cord through a hole in the back. The light seemed too bright for my haunted house, so I layered over some vintage lace I had in my lace hoard--no altering needed!




Next,  I made my chimney.  I embossed card stock with Tim's brick wall Texture Fade, and swiped on some gesso in random areas using a piece of cardboard.  Once dry, I inked with Distress inks and glued this onto the chimney.  I applied black texture paste to the top.  I made "flashing" with copper ink on orange paper and wiped with metallic rubs.  Most of it ended up being covered by the shingles, but can be seen here.




I made about 150 shingles out of a cereal box using Tim's Effect Powders technique from his  Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3 (Tea Stain and Peeled Paint powders). I painted the backs and edged each with black soot.  Each shingle was curled a little and glued into place.

I wanted to hang some portraits on the walls, sinceI found some great miniature frames in my stash hoard of frames. A new fun challenge over at Linda Ledbetter's Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities 3, Challenge 12 is to use Tim's Distress Photo Tinting technique found on page 41 of Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3.  Entries to this challenge must use the technique as it's presented in the book.  I can't tell you how it's done out of respect to Tim.  You can order your copy of the book directly from Tim, and he will autograph it for you, and you can try this technique for yourself! You'll love what you can do with it!

A Curiosity Crew Choice winner will receive an awesome assortment of Tim's products courtesy of Tim and Mario.  The Funkie Junkie Boutique is sponsoring Challenge 12, and Linda Coughlin,  the generous owner of the Funkie Junkie, has a fabulous $25 shopping spree to one lucky CC3Cer! Be sure to check out all the inspiration over at Studio L3, as the design team has worked their magic with this technique!

Here are the portraits I made using Tim's Distress Photo Tinting technique. I used photos out of a book on Bonnie and Clyde, and followed Tim's instructions exactly as they appear on page 41 of his book. The paper  in my Bonnie and Clyde book was perfect for this technique. I framed them in the plastic frames which I altered using Distress paint and metallic rubs to make them appear to be metal.  The "glass" in them was made using another technique out of CC3, using throw away (ha!) plastic from some item or another.


There is no blue on this; that is a shadow from the candelabra!



My chandelier is  new (!) from Paper Studio, which I painted with Distress paints, inks and Stickles.  I popped it up using a slice of the foam insert that comes in Texture Fades and adhesive foam.  I used a section of ball and chain from my stash to "hang" my chandelier; it already was the perfect shade of grunge.  I glued it onto florist wire to give it rigidity and then to Rexlace before gluing it to the background. My owl sitting in the "rafters" is repurposed from an old "cute" Halloween project from years past.




I glued two black glittered pumpkins together from a spray I had in my stash and added them in a corner.



The candlestick is a game piece from my favorite game (I have a box full of old game pieces--they just don't make them like they used to!), and I made the candle from melted wax and Distress ink.


Mr. Skeleton is relatively new to me from a local craft store, toned down with a little Distress ink--  his dreamy eyes popped with Liquid Pearls and Stickles. I have many skeletons in my Closet.  I fell in love with him the first time I set eyes on him, and knew he had to be a part of my Closet skeleton collection. Well, he's out of the Closet, now!

I made my poison bottle using a technique  from Tim's CC3 book, and the "poison" label was cut from his Seasonal Paper stash.  My poison is a homemade concoction using Lumin Arte paint. The bottle is an old innoculation vessel from a veterinarian.

In the "basement", I added a rubber rat I dug out of my Halloween "creepy closet". I inked him with Distress ink to make him really grungy. The three tarantulas, which started life as tiny harmless plastic spiders  are also from my Halloween hoard. I used a little clay embossing powder and hit them quickly with my heat gun.  When I applied the heat they started to move!!! Eek!  The spider web is from my stash of Halloween papercrafting stuff, which is different from my Halloween hoard. (Big smile--you should SEE my Halloween closet!) You can see the tiny headstones I added to the bottom of the basement using texture paste and a stencil from Hampton Arts and inked with Distress inks.


Sorry for the blurries.  Didn't realize it when I took it.  Maybe it's best...way too creepy!


No haunted house would be complete without a full moon and a bat.

                                       
 A Vintage Journey has a new challenge--Heavy Metal.  The design team would like us to share our artwork with anything metal in it in Tim's style. For the winner there is a 10L shopping voucher from Country View Crafts.

  In addition to the metallic look to the frames, the "copper flashing" around the chimney,  the ball and chain, the metallic painted chandelier, metal candlestick, Idea-ology,  and the curled wire attaching the bat, I have also used  the metal foil  liner from an artificial sweetener package which I have glued onto a cereal box to back my vellum "moon".  My intent was to use foil backed paper, but it was too small for my needs. This worked just as well, and provided a nice glow to my moon. The moon itself was cut from metallic gold vellum and highlighted with Perfect Pearls in violet, swiped on over Perfect Medium.  I stamped an owl from Martha Stewart using Staz On ink, and highlighted his eyes with Stickles.  The black glittery bat is from my stash, and I attached him to the chimney with wire which I curled around a pencil. I also attached one wing with foam tape to the moon (he kept trying to fly away!).






Lastly I've glued on an Idea-ology word plate and 2 metal brads, which I've clipped the ends off and glued onto the plate.  I highlighted the words using Tim's technique of swiping on Distress paint and after drying some, wiping off the excess.

I think I've used Tim's style quite a bit in my project through use of many of his techniques and products.




I hope you have enjoyed looking at my haunted house as much as I did making it.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities 3, Challenge 12
A Vintage Journey Heavy Metal-Challenge #16
Frilly and Funkie "A Haunting Halloween Challenge"
Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge #17 "Happy Fall, Y'all"
Country View Challenges "Sparkle and Shine"
Rhedds Creative Spirit "Halloween or Not?" (Definitely Halloween!)
Artist Trading Post Exchange Anything Mixed Media Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Falling in Love With... (Mr. Skeleton!)
Inspiration Journal October Challenge "In Disguise" (My cereal box  and artificial sweetner packaging is disguised as a moon, my cereal box is also disguised as shingles, my store receipt is disguised as the walls, floor and ceiling of my basement...etc, etc. etc.)
Please visit all these blogs to see the wonderful, creative inspiration from all the design teams!

80 comments:

  1. Wow, so much detail I love it, happy Halloween!

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    1. Thank you, Jan! I'm happy you like it! And thank you for your Halloween greetings! Spooky greetings to you, too!

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  2. Oh my goodness Sara...this is way too cool!!!!! Everything about this piece is AMAZING! Love the chandelier, the skeleton, the images in frames, the candle stick and the little poison bottle. Everything is perfect. BRILLIANT PIECE!!!! Karen.x

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    1. You are so kind! My head is swelling to two times it's normal size! Thank you! You made my day!

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  3. Wow Sara this is stunning - so much to see and so much texture created on the walls - brilliant

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    1. Gee! Thank you so much! I really am happy to hear that!

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  4. Great little pics of Bonnie & Clyde! I love how you used the photo tinting technique (very effectively!) and then framed them, complete with distressed "glass" over the pics. Cool!

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl! I'm so happy you liked my Bonnie and Clyde photos! The technique took a little practice, but so well worth taking the extra time!

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  5. wow, gorgeous, brilliant, soo cool, I love your little spook house with all the great details! Greetings, Kerstin

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    1. Such a wonderful comment coming from such a brilliant assemblage queen! Thank you! You made my day!

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  6. Love this,very inspirational.Thanks for sharing with us at Country View.xxx

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  7. Oh wow. What a perfectly spooky fall piece.
    Thanks for sharing with us at Craft Hoarders Anon :)

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    1. Thank you, Christy! What a fun challenge it was!

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  8. Just amazing, love every detail! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. Thank you to one talented lady! Your comment is very special to me!

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  9. Love everything about the house, so much detail. Thanks for joining the ATP challenge.
    Sharon x

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    1. Sharon, I'm so happy you like it! Thanks for your comment!

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  10. Sara...this spook house is awesome! What a very cool Halloween home decor piece. Your imagination on this is super! I love all of your elements. The Bonnie and Clyde portraits hanging in the parlor are awesome. Everything about this piece is really amazing! Thanks for sharing with all of us at CC3C. <3 Candy

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    1. Candy, Your comments are always such a pleasure to read! Thank you for all the nice things you say about my work; it always makes me feel so good about what I've created!

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  11. Wow Sara, what an amazing project ! I love all the little details you've added, this will look fantastic over the Halloween period ! Thanks for joining us at ATP Exchange. Sue C x

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    1. Thank you, Sue! It was so fun to make, and it is proudly displayed in my china cabinet, so curious kitties can't play with it:)!

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  12. Fabulous Haunted House Sara! you have quite the imagination! Your attention to detail is amazing! The portraits are the perfect embellishments and the tinting well done!

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    1. Susan, you have just made my head swell, again! I do enjoy Halloween, and this all just comes so naturally!

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  13. AMAZING! Every detail is simply swoon worthy. Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. Oh! You are so sweet! Thank you for the challenge! It was so much fun to play with my creepy stuff!

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  14. What a wonderful spooky house you built! Love all the ghostly details! Thank you for sharing with us at A Vintage Journey.

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  15. Oh my goodness, this is just so creative. I love everything about it! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. I'm so happy you liked my house! It made me happy to make every step of the way!

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  16. What a fantastic creation! So inspiring Sara and the detail is just wonderful. Thank you for sharing with us at Artist Trading Post Exchange this fortnight
    Hugs Annie x

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    1. Annie,
      I'm loving your comment; it makes me feel very special about my creation--happy to inspire others!

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  17. What a fabulous project,. love all the attention to the little details, bravo! Thanks for playing along with the CC3 Challenge, hope to see you again soon x

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  18. These tiny photos look wonderful! LOVE them in this spooky cool house! Awesome project...so much work! Thanks so much for joining us on the Distress Photo Tinting Challenge at CC3Challenge!!!

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    1. Anita, Thank you for your very uplifting words! This was such a fun challenge; so inspiring to me!

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  19. Sara your attention to detail is fantastic. Such innovative and interesting ideas you have used too!
    Thank you for joining in at Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Julie Guest Designer

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    1. Thank you, Julie! What a sweet comment! Happy to have found Rhedd's challenge blog!

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  20. This is amazing...The tiny photos and the whole way you put together this spooky house! Wow...I had to study so as not to miss a single delicious detail!
    Thanks so much for sharing with us at CC3C!

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    1. Oh, Yvonne, you are so sweet! I'm so happy you liked my house!

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  21. Absolutely gorgeous! I love every single detail of this! Thank you for entering your project at Rhedd’s Creative Spirit. Sammy-x

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    1. Sammy, thank you for your uplifting comment, and I'm so happy you liked this!

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  22. Very spooky and amazing detail - there has a lot of time been spent on this! Many thanks for joining the Rhedd's Creative Spirit challenge and good luck!!! Melissa (DT)

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    1. Thank you, Melissa! Worth every second spent; it makes me smile when I see it, and I'm smiling because of your lovely comment!

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  23. WOW Sara, just WOW!!! The attention to detail in this is positively incredible! I LOVE IT!!! Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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    1. Wow! Jenny! You have just made me one happy creative camper! I'm so happy you liked it!

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  24. Back with my AVJ hat on and as I said before Sara.....this is such an amazing creation. Full of wonderful details/Tim techniques and products. A Halloween masterpiece
    Lovely to have you join in the Heavy Metal challenge at AVJ
    Hugs Annie x

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    1. Annie, I'm so happy you're back! It must be difficult to comment on the same thing twice, so I am very grateful for your comment!

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  25. Oh My, What an incredily detailed project, spooky and soo awesome! Thanks for sharing it with us at the Inspiration Journal! / Karin

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    1. Karin! You've really made me feel so good with your sweet comment!

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  26. Wow, wow, wow! I cannot get over all the incredible details in this gorgeous altered house! You really took it to the next level with this amazing project. I love the framed portraits...probably my favorite part along with the wonderful texture. You ROCKED this challenge, girl! Thanks for sharing with us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. Kathy, thank you so much for your comment! It is always a pleasure to read what you have written; it really comes from your heart! Your favorite parts are mine, too! So happy you liked it!

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  27. Beyond amazing! I don't even know where to begin!! The workmanship and detail is over the top fabulous!! A hauntingly beautiful piece of art. Thanks so much for joining us at the Frilly and Funkie!
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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    1. Nancy, I am humbled in your presence, and I'm just thrilled to receive such a wonderful comment from you!

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  28. Hi Sara, I've got some good news for you if you could email me at carringtons22@yahoo.co.uk
    Sue C
    x

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  29. Fabulous Birdhouse, just love all the details and all the spooktacular elements. Thanks for joining us on the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog.

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    1. Pammejo, Thank you so much for your uplifting comment!

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  30. Oh my, you really have that SPOOKY touch! Amazing project! Thank you so much for sharing with us at Inspiration Emporium Journal Challenge! Love looking at all the fun details, esp love the texture you added on the outside of the 'haunted house'! ♥ Sue Kment

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    1. Hi Sue! Your comment just made my day! I'm so happy you liked it! I was inspired to do the walls this way by the house in the garden I tend. So your comment on them is near and dear to my heart.

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  31. OK, I could have sworn I commented on this already! Maybe I need a CT scan! I came to say congrats on your Frilly and Funkie win! So deserved! This is just beyond incredible Sara! I am always just so taken by your attention to detail! I would love to be a fly on the wall in your craft room so I could see how you work! Not to pick a favourite bit...but the tipped over bottle of goo is just such sooooo much fun!! LOVE IT! hugs my crafty friend! :)

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    1. Pamellia,
      Thank you for coming by to give me your wishes! I don't think you would want to be that fly. You might get smooshed by a falling object! My Closet is a disaster! I had to make my last project in the garage! I like the poison, too! Always love those little bottles! I have a few more Halloween projects up my sleeve. Stop in again! I've been too busy to get around to see your latest and greatest, but will soon! I need to case a man card for my hubby's birthday! :) Hugs back at you!

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  32. Oh my goodness Sara!!!! I haven't been checking on the entrants over at Funkie Junkie. I should have though. Wow!!!!!! You have some amazing entries. I've looked at them all (including the current one). This is such a fantastic haunted house. Your details just amaze me. Love the portraits and the chimney and all the those spiders are fantastic. Congrats on your win!!!!!. -- Mary Elizabeth

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    1. Thank you, Mary Elizabeth! and Congratulations to you! I'm jealous, but I hope you enjoy your shopping spree! I read your blog post (a second time--sorry, not sure if I commented, but your tag is chilling for sure, but so is your story on your health. Thanks be to God for your improved condition! Where are you in NC? I live in Wilmington, NC. Thanks, again, for your visit here!

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  33. Spookilious project! Amazing attention to detail, and so very inspiring! Thank you for sharing how you made this Haunted House, ( with a little help from Tim!) :)

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    1. Faith, What a nice comment! I really appreciate it!

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  34. Unbelievable! Wonderful! Full of creativity and talent!!
    Sandy xx

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    1. Thank you, Sandy! I appreciate that sweet comment!

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  35. Hi Sara, thanks for joining in our challenge Heavy Metal at AVJ. What a stunning creation, I love your roof tiles, your creepy spider and ghostly pictures. Great attention to detail.
    Julie x

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    1. Julie, thank you! What fabulous words spoken from the queen of detail! You made my day!

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  36. What a fantastic spooky house. Love all the details, especially the pics on the walls. Thanks for joining us at CC3C!

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    1. Hi Marjie, So happy you liked it, even the portraits! I really loved making this and this challenge was so inspiring!

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  37. Where in heaven's name do I start?! Wow! Your attention to detail is jaw dropping. I mean - really - down to the flashing on the chimney! (I mustn't use all my exclamation points on this one comment!)

    Thank you for taking the time to describe the many ways you added color and texture to this beauty. Even the moon glows because of your extra care with details. That stash of yours must have been carefully built over a number of years to yield such treasures. I bet you see potential in just about everything your eyes come across.

    The thumbnails are very tiny on the CHACB, and I really didn't even get a hint of the caliber of your haunted house. Thank goodness I took the time to visit. Your post is a real treat....no tricks!

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    1. Marcie, Thank you for taking the time to visit; you are right, the thumbnails don't give much of an idea of what's been done. Most times I end up messing it up anyway!

      You are most certainly welcome for the step out on what I did...it brings me such pleasure to share with others, and I hope others will try my ideas, the way I do theirs...it's all about sharing with one another. The stash has been built over some time, but not carefully. I take what I can get, because I can't afford much. Yard sales are the answer! I also have many friends who save their "junk" for me. Not too much in the way of new products on my projects. You are right...I see potential in absolutely EVERYTHING! Thank goodness I found these blogs, they have finally gotten me to let go and use stuff!

      I'm happy you took time to notice the details I put on my house...it means so much to me!

      And thank you for the wax paper tip on die cutting! I have to try that!
      :) Sara Emily

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  38. Just love your Haunted House - wonderful textures and details! Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey.
    Alison x

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    1. Thank you, Alison! I'm so happy to share it with you, and that you like it:)! Sara Emily

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  39. How do you have the time or patience to do such a wonderful piece??!! This is fantastic. So out of my wheelhouse! I am full of admiration!! Thanks for playing along with us this week at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. Thank you, Gloria. You are puffing up my head! I find the time in 5 and 10 minute increments between life, most of my work gets done in greater time periods on "laundry day", as my Closet is off the laundry room. I can do two things at one time with this. Also, loves these little projects, as they are portable. If I can think ahead, I can save the portable portions for when I am waiting at the orthodontist, in carpool line at school or when my daughter is having a horse back riding lesson. My shingles were mostly made at the farm! My ideas come when I am at work, since gardening is a mindless job!

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  40. This is amazing!! Every little detail has been so carefully considered and created. It's wonderfully spooky. Do you draw and plan your ideas beforehand or just go for it and let creativity take over? Either way you have amazing talent. :) This piece is definitely a winner in my book x

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    1. Wow, Georgie! (love that name!) You are most generous with your compliments! Ha, Ha! I have to laugh at that plan thing...no, no plans at all. Just let it happen as it happens. I pick up an object and just instantly see the potential, although what that final piece is going to look like, I never know. I have such a blast making this stuff! Hugs! Sara Emily Thank you so much for your visit!

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Thank you for leaving your comments...they mean so much to me.