YES!!! I Did It - 31 Days of Blogging

Yay!!! I completed #Blogtoberfest14 - 31 blog posts one for each day of October hosted by Shells in the Bush.  I have to admit it wasn't easy some days I struggled with what to post about and if it would be anything that would be of interest.  But I had challenged myself and I did it so I'm going to give myself a pat on the back.

Today I went into Altrincham for the SpookyWoo Spectacular and what a fantastic turn out.  Just walking down George Street there was evidence of little witches and ghouls it was lovely to see people taking part in the event and the enthusiasm of the parents to get involved.  The event was organised and setup by volunteers and they did an amazing job.

Here are some pics from the event 

This was what it was like inside at 3pm and I had to queue up to get in so you can see how busy it was.

Karen Wroe project Director of Art With A Heart  (link to website)- she wasn't sleeping on her feet honest - ohhh just look at that spooky face on the table.

The lovely Bex Wild gallery curator Art With A Heart (link to facebook page)  - I think she rather likes dressing up

Anita

#blogtoberfest14 day 31 the finale.

Finished Halloween Costume

Today I finished off the halloween costume for my niece - theme Corpse Bride.  I've sewn on the decapitated skeleton bones to the stenciled bones and they look great even if I say so myself.  I especially like the three skeleton hands on the bodice of the dress.  To finish the whole thing off I have to make a black bow and attach it to a headband.  I can't wait to see my niece in the dress complete with painted face.

Well here it is - let me know what you think.  Hopefully I will be sent a picture of my niece in full costume.

Anita 

#blogtoberfest14 day 28

Halloween Costume - Corpse Bride

Today I've been doing my auntie duties and making my niece a halloween costume in the style of the Corpse Bride.  Having traipsed around the local market and not finding anything that was suitable we decided to go ahead and make the dress instead.  First thing to do was dye the fabric to a similar blue that is shown in the film -we or should I say I did this by mixing turquoise and ultramarine brusho powder paint in some cold water.  This was a total experiment as they're not meant to be used as fabric paint but this was the more economical way of colouring the fabric and I'm happy to say it worked.  Not sure the colour will stay if washed but as this is only going to be worn for a few hours I can't see it being a problem.  

Next step cutting out the pattern - well there is no pattern so I had to adhoc it using one of my nieces dress as a template for size.

Then onto sewing and fitting - after a few nips and tucks dress is ready to wear...but hang on it looks too plain.  Okay so we (that is I) have some skeletons in my little magic box - so we take them apart limb by limb - team effort here by auntie and niece.  

Next - they're going to look lost on their own.............okay bright spark..........lets make a bone stencil and add some along the border and waist of the dress.  Out comes silver acrylic and black paint.  Bones stenciled next step........................that's tomorrows post.

Decapitated skeleton

Sewing begins

All made up

Stenciling begins

Nearly there

Checking to see how the decapitated skeleton parts look on the dress.

Anita

Linking up with - 

Handmade Harbour - Handmade Monday

Claire Justine - Creative Mondays

#blogtoberfest14 day 27

Where's The Party Tonight?

At my house on the dance floor that's where it's at hahaha.  Can you tell I had fun dressing up my skeletons?  They will be leaving me and going to a new home soon so I shall make the most of them while they are still here with me.  I might even make a few more just because I can and have a few more left over.

I managed to get these from Asda a little bit pricier than I've paid in the past but the head and legs are jointed so they do have some movement to them.  My initial idea was to dress them up in a sari but it didn't suit them and didn't have the right look so I ditched that idea and came up with this.  The skirt is made from some left over flowers from the outfit I made for my cousins wedding.  The beads I have a whole stack of so there was no problem finding something to make some bling with.  The bindis are little gems and the nail polish is actually polish from my stash.  

The Ghouls wanted in on the party to hehehe

#blogtoberfest14 day 20

Anita

Time For Tea

It's coming up to that time of the year when the masks come off and the broomsticks come out.  Of course I'm talking about Halloween whether you embrace it or not it seems to be getting bigger every year.  I'm all for having a good time..................or should that be a ghoul time hahahaha. 

A member over on one of the artist trading card sites where I'm a member is hosting a trade/swap named "Odd Ball Ornaments".  The aim is to make unusual ornaments which can then be hung on your Christmas tree or around the house............really wherever your heart pleases.  I've had several ideas including altered skeletons, eyeballs etc.  One of them includes altering foam ghoul shapes.  I found some in a local pound shop they are light weight and having a blank canvas to work on is great.

I've used some spray inks, acrylics, stencils, rubber stamps, buttons and one of them even has some watch parts.  

Spray inks and stenciled designs

The one on the left is completed and the other one I need to add some words.

I'm linking up with

 Handmade Harbour for Handmade Monday

Shells In the Bush for Blogtoberfest14

Inky Dinky Doodle for Sunday Sentiment 

Claire Justine for Creative Monday

Do go and visit the above blogs as they have some fantastic artist and blog links.

Anita

Halloween Cuteness

Day 6 of Blogtoberfest14 and today I have been finishing off a Artist Trading Card for a Halloween swap I am hosting over on Art With A Heart - our theme is a mix of Halloween or Autumn.

This young man is made on mixed media card and I've used in most part Faber Castell polychromo coloured pencils.  I've added some white acrylic paint for the stripes and used a black copic pen (04) for the outlines.

I also made this 6 x 6 inch boxed canvas with a similar Halloween figure - we're going to name him Edgar Bertrand as suggested by a couple of my friends over on facebook.  On the canvas I've used mainly acrylic paint and added a few stencil elements.  I took the picture before I finished off the eyes so he does have the bloodshot look.

Want to know more about #blogtoberfest14 then pop on over to Shells in the Bush 

Till tomorrow

Anita

WOYWW #278 and Blogtoberfest

Good morning to you all on this sunny Wednesday.  It's time for WOYWW - What's on your workdesk Wednesday #278.  You can find out more about WOYWW at the Stamping Ground.  

Today is also the start of Blogtoberfest - the idea behind this is to blog everyday of October - more details here on Shells In the Bush blog. 

I have a messy desk with not much going on today.  There is a card which is something I've been working on with rubber stamps from Oak House Studio where I'm on the DT and was trying out some different uses for the stamps.  The skellies and cotton reels are for a swap on iATC  called Oddball Art Ornaments.  Not sure what I'm going to make yet.  I have an idea but how to execute it is the next step.

So that's it from me for this weeks WOYWW.  I'll be back tomorrow (hopefully) for Blogtoberfest. 

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 276

I'm trying to get back into regular blogging again and have re-found the blogs I used to participate in one of which is run by Julia called the Stamping Ground.  Every Wednesday Julia runs a blog post called What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday or WOYWW for short.  The idea is that you show a photograph of what is on your work desk - cause we're a nosy lot of artists and love snooping around other artists work area.  I do hope Julia will let me play again.

On my desk today are 2 hands.  These are for a swap on an ATC site that I am a member of.  The theme for the hands is Things That Go Bump In The Night.  I'm afraid my little pumpkin monsters aren't very good at making anything go "bump" in the night but are very good at collecting for Trick or Treat.  I have another 2 more the make so I guess I'd better get off here and go get them made.

Fancy a snoop around what other artists have on their desks pop on over to the Stamping Ground.

Have a wonderful Wednesday

Anita

Things That Go Bump In The Night - WIP

I've been playing with a couple of ideas for a trade I signed up for on iATC.  The theme as you can tell by the post title is scary creepy things.  For me it's a challenging theme as it's not something I am asked to make for my clients.  

Here is one that I've started and am quite happy with.  I want to add some spiders and spiders web to add some texture and dimension.  You'd think with Halloween not so far off there would be some bits and bobs in the shops already but I haven't been able to find any.  

I think he turned out pretty well.

Anita

Pumpkins and Pumpkins

Mention pumpkins and you conjure up an image of carved out evil looking faces with candles burning inside them.  Well mine is a pumpkin but no candles inside and not carved either.  This is done to ATC size (2.5 x 3.5 inches - ATC = artist trading cards). Firstly I sketched out a rough design then I transfered it onto some calico and painted it with Derwent inktense water colour pencils. For the outline I used a grey/black embroidery thread - 2 strands and back-stitched it all around the pencil lines.  For the eyes I've used yellow sequins and beads down the front.  The edges are bound using button-hole/blanket stitch.

Fabric ATC

This one is the original sketch which I have cleaned up and painted with Polychromo pencils.

Original Sketch

Now head on over to Handmade Monday over at the Handmade Harbour blog and see what the other clever artists have been making.

3 Eyed Green Monster

Since the 29 Faces Challenge finished I've had a bit of a withdrawal week or 2.  However I've joined in with a daily drawing thread over on ATCsForAll and this weeks challenge is to draw Halloween monsters or Autumn scenery.  The challenge starts on a Thursday so we have the weekend to draw something.  There are no prizes and you don't have to draw everyday.  It's a group of people who want to practice their drawing skills, get feedback and generally get support and encouragement and most importantly have FUN.

For my card I drew (or attempted to) a monster but I think it's more of a cute monster than a scary monster.  Its painted with Polychromo pencils with a hint of white acrylic paint.  The background was coloured using Pro-markers.

Here's my monster with her 3 Eyes.

Have a great weekend

Anita