Thursday 10 September 2015

Abracadabra, my spell book comes alive.

Hello, today I am delighted to have been asked to guest design for Frilly and Funkie after winning their recent things with wings challenge with my pencil holder. The theme for this fortnight's challenge is "Stamps be gone" in other words projects with no stamping at all. Do pop over and join the fun, there is always gorgeous inspiration to be found.

I thought that "stamps be gone" sounded a bit like a spell, particularly now that we are heading towards October and Halloween. I have never been in to Halloween but I am sure that my nearly 2 year old granddaughter will be at some point so I decided that I would make a spell book for Daisy. I thought it could be something she could draw in, stick photos in or even use as a prop for a Halloween outfit when she is older. I remembered that I have had a set of eyes in my crafty stash for ages and also thought of the Disney film Hocus Pocus and an idea took shape. In the film the witches have a spell book with an eye. After looking at some pictures on line I decided that I needed to make my eye a little friendlier with more of the appearance of a tree elf than something evil. So here is what I came to life.........

I had such fun making this and took some photos as I went along.

My spell book started life as a plain black hard-backed book which I bought in Tiger for just £1.


I covered it with tissue wrap and added some stencilling using gold embossing paste. I then added using Fresco paint and metallic Distress paints. To blend the colours I used baby wipes, such fun messy play.


 I decided to make a socket for the eye using Fimo and as I rolled out a sausage shape I tried to think how I could write my words. I thought about cutting them but I am a bit limited with my left hand at the moment (that's a long story but I am 5 weeks through weeks being immobilized after fracturing my scaphoid bone in my wrist) so I can't cut or use my left thumb, however I can roll things with my fingers. As I rolled out the letters I thought they looked like little snakes so I fashioned them heads and tails as I made the letters to make SPELLS...here is the P taking shape.

I baked the fimo letters and eye socket and then added metallic paints.
I also added some archival ink through my TH shatter stencil to my covers.
 By now the texture was looking very skin like!
Next I wanted some cobwebs so I got out my Memory Box die and cut some in white card
 I then added archival ink and black embossing power, much more spooky.
I needed to tone down the "eye" from being too snake like so I coloured some snippets of papers in autumn shades

and die cut some leaves.
 and crackled them over night with crackle paste so that the eye was more like a leaf man.
 Hope you're still with me......................

I also added gold paint to some black stars which the lovely Wendy Vecchi gave us at the recent workshop in our goodie bag.
and I used my new Halloween remnant rubs....these are great fun.


OK now this is a witch's spell book so to make it come alive we need a witch's cat............................................................

OK well I had to make do with my Billy......

OK Billy you need to put on your spell cap and look scary....

hmmm not sure this is working as planned...............
 This is about as scary as Billy can get so it will have to do.....OK he's  ready to chant the spell.................

Abracadabra.....snakes and eyes
Make Jane's spell book come alive

3...
2............
1...............

Boo.....

Here it is , hope it didn't make you jump too much.


and some of the details in close up....sssss snakes and stars
 I've got my eye on you ..................
 I kept the back cover with free of embellies so that the book can be used and lays flat.



I have written in the front for Daisy and she can keep her halloween memorabilia in it. It may also be a fun talking point if she ever goes to a fancy dress party


 perhaps the first spell could be turning it black and white to blend into the night.....

Oh come on Billy I didn't mean for you to do it now....... I will have to find the restore spell.......................now where is it.....................

I hope I managed to raise a smile, thanks for visiting me today and seeing my work and my creative process madness.

I would like to enter my spell book into the following challenges;

Natalie and Amy Charming
Country view crafts Numbers I have used the number 31
Crafting Muskateers autumnal colours
Rhedd's Creative spirit anything altered art
Pixie's Snippets playground #193 I used lots of  snippets on my spell book, tissue wrap, card for the leaves and even left over snippets (if you can call them that!) of Fimo!
Our creative corner shades of autumn
Crafty Catz anything goes
Cute card Thursday numbers mine is the number 31
Creative Inspirations Vintage
That craft place anything goes mixed media
Crafting from the heart anything goes
Try it on Tuesday Try something new it's the first time I have tried using Fimo in my papercrafting and also this is the first eyeball I have used....LOL!

Back soon......... unless my spell book has other notions and turns me into a pumpkin! Thanks for visiting me and thanks to F&F for inviting me to guest design for them today.

Bye for now,

Jane (and Billy, the witch's cat ...purrrr) xx


34 comments:

  1. What a super post Jane which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I can see you have been totally absorbed in creativity making this delightful spell book. I love the textures and web layers and the eye is a super creepy touch as is your snakes. As for Billy......I don't think he would make a good witches cat, his face is too adorable. Daisy I'm sure will love carrying this around when dressed up for Halloween.
    Congrats on being GD at Frilly and Funkie, hugs Julie xx

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  2. Lovely creation.

    Thank you for joining in with our Anything Goes challenge at Crafty Catz.

    Good luck

    Tracey GDT xx

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  3. What a gorgeous make! I love everything about it!!!
    Congrats on being GD at Frilly and Funkie :)
    Crafty hugs,
    Catherine xx

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  4. Fabulous! I am just starting to experiment with mixed media so have loved seeing your process come alive - and thank you for sharing your spell book with us at CCT this week.
    hugs, annie x

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  5. Have you turned your friendly tabby familiar into a fierce black familiar now I wonder!???

    What a FANTASTIC spell book you've created. Thanks for sharing the step by steps . . . it's a smashing result - especially as you weren't allowed to use stamps AND you've got a poorly hand.

    I'm sure this book will be treasured.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  6. Wow! Fantastic project Jane. TFS all of the great photos.
    Flo x

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  7. A very fun post to read. A lot of thought went in to this spell book. I hope your grandaughter will love it. Billy is so cute.

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  8. Oh my Jane!! Yes, you have made me smile big time!
    You are amazing!! Your book of spells is simply, well, magical!!
    THank You for writing such a fun and detailed post.
    Hugs~

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  9. Brilliant book cover and so much detail. I love the eye, not seen those before. Thank you so much for sharing this with us at That Craft Place and good luck with the challenge, Angela x

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  10. FANTASTIC!Thank you for joining Try It On Tuesday!
    oxo
    Susi

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  11. A fantastic project, amazing details and textures. Thank you for joining us at TioT's this time.
    Yvonne

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  12. oh so very cool Jane - love this to bits and i know Daisy will in years to come - fabulous! So much detail and a great step by step - love it! Hugs rachel x

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  13. This is amazing Jane, I love the shatter effect,

    Lucy x

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  14. Fantastic - I do love the cover -- with more "spooky" makes to come I hope!!! I hope you will not mind if I steal a couple of your ideas - brilliant!
    Sandy xx

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  15. Oooh Jane this is amazing...Loved seeing how you brioght it alive...the eye and the snakes are simply stunning
    Cheers
    Dr Sonia
    Cards Crafts Kids Projects

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  16. Scary! Good job on that. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  17. Such a transformation Jane...your Book of Spells is definitely magical! ,....Lovely pics of dear Billy too...Hope your injured wrist is well on the way to recovery Jane ♥
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Susan x

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  18. I think Billy has already put a spell on all of your visitors here, Jane! You must have a crystal ball in your studio to see into the future and plan ahead so wonderfully and "craftily..." ;o) But what a fun book for little Daisy to enjoy in the years to come!

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  19. What an amazing creation, Jane - so much love and care, so many cool ideas and fun techniques - those snaky letters are fabulous and that eye is dead spooky!!
    Alison xx

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  20. Totally amazing...you have added so much detail for your Book of Spells...love the spiderwebs and well I love everything actually,lol...
    Thank you for joining us over at http://rheddscreativespirit.blogspot.co.uk/...x

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  21. Congratulations on being one of Sarn's picks. Your cover is truly amazing. I enjoyed reading through the process. It's an amazing piece of work. Barbxx

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  22. What a super spell book. Love all the detail. Thank you for sharing it with us at Crafting From the Heart.
    Mary

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  23. A fantastic spooky creation! Thanks for playing in this week's challenge of Vintage over at Creative Inspirations! xxx

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  24. Brilliant spell book....I saw it over on Sarn's picks....great project....Joolsx

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  25. Brilliant spell book....I saw it over on Sarn's picks....great project....Joolsx

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  26. BIG wow!!!Wonderful work, thanks for joining us at TIOT, Valerie
    Love your cat, too!

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  27. Oh my! This really is amazing and definitely scary! Thank you for joining us at Try It On Tuesday! Chrisx

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  28. It is a wowser! Gorgeous piece Jane! Thanks for sharing it with us at TioT challenge.

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  29. Seriously Creepy and so creative! Thank you for joining us at Rhedd's Creative Spirit this month.

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  30. What a wonderful book, Jane,

    Although I am a bit scared by the eye :) but it really makes it all perfect! And I KNEW Billy was a really special cat, what I did not know was just HOW special he is... Oh my! Thank you for sharing all the steps for creating this wonderful piece! And I wish your poor hand will be better soon, maybe Billy could help with that too by casting a little spell...?

    Wishing you a wonderful and creative September-days!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  31. Hello Jane, Lucky Daisy.... I'm sure she will treasure this Halloweeny book. I'm not into Halloween, either. Here's to more creative days and projects.
    Please take care of yourself.
    Anne and all xxx

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  32. Wow Jane - a great deal of work has clearly gone into this. Great detailing and imagination and the colours work so well. Thanks for entering Crafting Musketeers Challenge :) xx

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  33. I should of course also have said thanks for playing along at Country View Challenges.
    Alison xx

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  34. Wonderful effects you've achieved Jane and that eye really creeps me out! Thanks so much for joining my challenge at Our Creative Corner. Julia x

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