Eeek! My Pretties! Todays lesson is a BEGINNERS Guide to Spells & Curses

Today

 My Pretties 

I am going to show you how

 to 

CURSE 

someone !!!!!

Eeeeek!

I know you have 

ALL 

wanted to do that to someone

 at 

one thyme or another!

Today 

I am going to show you how to make 

your very own 

SPELL BOOK!

Please find a place to park your BROOM !

Now let's head into the STUDIO !!!

I see my shipment of Spell Books has arrived!

You can order these online at Michaels or find them in your local craft store.

They are paper mache.

I used DecoArt Acrylic Paints 

for my books

My Palette

Antique Green, Burnt Sienna, Antique Gold

I first base coated my books

 using

Antique Gold.

I let that dry then applied a second coat using a different color. 

I used Antique Green on some of my books 

and 

Burnt Sienna 

on others

 I actually did not paint this on evenly or neatly. 

I wanted the books to have an old distressed look.

You can leave some of the

Antique Gold 

showing through as you paint on your second coat.

After the second base coat had dried 

I brushed on a thick coat 

of

DecoArt Gel Stain

Apply the stain only to the TOP of the book for now!

Take lint free small cotton rag and scrunch it up.

Quickly press and lift your rag over the top of the book. 

Turn rag frequently for a clean area.

You should have a mottled sort of look.

Let dry!

Repeat the same process on the BACK of the book and then the SPINE of the book.

Remember to press and lift the rag across the surface rather than wipe the stain off!

You can speed the drying process by using a blow dryer.

Once your stain is completely dry use a sanding block on the corners to give them a worn look.

I had purchased some of the digital images I used for this project quite awhile ago on Etsy.

You can also search Pinterest

 or

 look for FREE digital images on the Internet.

You can even design your own !

Just have fun with it and add your own flair!

I printed my images out on a good quality linen colored computer paper.

I used a paper cutter to cut the images to the sizes I wanted.

This 

NEXT STEP 

is 

VERY IMPORTANT !!!!!!

****** Spray all your images with Krylon Workable Fixative ******

I spray my images so that they are WET!

Let your images dry completely!

The 

FIXATIVE 

prevents your computer ink from smearing.

 This is important for when we move on to the next step which is decoupaging!

DecoArt Decoupage

I began by using a sponge brush to apply the Decoupage to the BACKS of my images.

I worked on applying ONE IMAGE at a time!

Once you have applied the Decoupage to the back of your image smooth it in place on your book.

**HINT**

You can use the side of an old credit card to further smooth out any air pockets

Now apply Decoupage to the TOP surface of your image.

I made several of these books!

Let your images dry completely before proceeding to the next step!

I used my Traditions Dome Blender Brush and  dry brushed around the edges of my images.

I first dry brushed around the edges using the Gel Stain.

You can wipe off any excess.

On some books I then dry brushed over the Gel Stain with some Lamp Black paint.

On other books I dry brushed over the Gel Stain with Splendid Gold Dazzling Metallics.

Be Creative!

That is what will make your book unique!

I used the same technique to apply the images to the spine of the books.

I painted the stripes 

with

Splendid Gold Dazzling Metallics.

I painted the inside of my book with a 1:1 mix of Lamp Black 

and 

DecoArt Multi Purpose Sealer

I painted over the Lamp Black on the insides of my box with

DecoArt Craft Twinkles

The craft Twinkles come in a variety of colors and are really fun to work with!

I then decoupaged another image inside the cover of my book.

I painted the "pages" with 2 coats of Antique White

After I had all the "pages" painted I thinned some Lamp Black paint

I used a Wisp Brush or a Rake Brush will do to paint the "individual pages"

Close up of the "pages"

Let the Lamp Black dry completely!

I then painted over the "pages" with a thinned coat 

of

  Splendid Gold Dazzling Metallics .

I varnished my books with several coats of 

DecoArt Ultra Matte Varnish

I also added some Gold Craft Twinkles to the finished covers of my books!

You can fill treat bags and put inside your books for Halloween!

You can use your books to create a SPOOKtacular display for your home!

"Beware of all those who read the secrets that lie within ! "

DecoArt provided me with the paints to complete this project as part of their 

Helping Artist and Blogger Outreach Programs.

Thank you DecoArt and Rosemary Reynolds!

Eeeek! My Pretties! 

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial on how you can create your own 

Spell Books!

*****Remember*****

Happy Painting !

Lynn

It's thyme to Grin and Bear It!

It's really hard to believe that 

SUMMER

 is coming to an end!

The weather has been perfect

 here on 

Cape Cod

I've done lots of bike riding

kayaking

and

boating

But now

 it's thyme to step inside

 my STUDIO 

to see what I have been painting!

Today I wanted to show you a design

 by 

Cynthia Erekson 

that I have been working on

 called

 Grin and Bear It

My Palette

DecoArt American Acrylics

Lamp Black, Burnt Umber, Burnt Orange, Milk Chocolate, Spiced Pumpkin, Tangerine, Avocado, Camel, Antique Gold, Buttermilk, Persimmon

LETS PAINT!

I began my project by first sanding my surface

 and 

wiping off the dust

I then base coated the surface 

with

Lamp Black

After it was dry I added a second coat

 of 

Lamp Black 

to the paddle front 

using a "press and lift" motion

 with a 2" sponge brush

Repeatedly press the brush down and lift it straight up

This will create a bumpy , bubbly textured surface

You can "pat" the brush lightly over any areas that are too raised

I base coated the flag 

with

Antique Gold

The dowel 

is 

Milk Chocolate

I then measured up 2 3/4" and drew a line

I placed masking tape along this line

Next I traced the pattern 

and

 then transferred the 3 pumpkin sections

 and 

stem to my surface

I painted the 2 outer sections Burnt Orange

and

the center section Persimmon

I added shading to these sections

I then place a herringbone stencil 

over the 

left section

with the design in a vertical position

I used a stencil brush loaded

 with 

Spiced Pumpkin 

to unevenly pounce the design over the area

I then lifted the stencil 

and

 moved to the right section

I turned my stencil

 to a 

horizontal position 

to

 stencil this section

I used a honeycomb stencil for the middle section

I loaded my brush 

with 

Tangerine

I stenciled the center section

in the same manner as I did the outer sections

I used a 

Traditions Dome Blender Brush

loaded with

Persimmon 

to lightly 

"dry brush" 

unevenly over the stenciled areas

This causes the stenciled areas

to 

"disappear" somewhat

and

blend more with their background colors

I shaded between the pumpkin sections,

 below the stem and around edges with Burnt Sienna

I removed the tape and remeasured  5/16" down from the pumpkin

I taped this area off and pounced Avocado in that space

I used

  Silver Brush Ultra Mini Lettering brushes 

to paint the words

GRIN AND BEAR IT

Next I painted in the teeth

I painted a coat of Star Lite Varnish over the teeth

I applied 1 coat of Dura Clear Matte Varnish

I then spattered my surface

 with thinned

  Lamp Black 

paint

To do this I loaded a large stencil brush 

with my thinned paint

I then hold the brush over surface

 and

 repeatedly flick the bristles of the stencil brush 

using my palette knife, pulling towards me

I let this dry completely!

I then apply several additional coats of Dura Gloss Matte varnish

You can either use a brush 

or

 I like to use "blue shop towels" for the additional varnish coats

Next I took the zipper , opened it and spread Tacky Glue all around the edges

I then positioned the zipper over the mouth and pressed it in place

He is SPOOKtacular!

I then used brown and orange bakers twine

to wrap 

around the handle

DecoArt

provided me with the products to complete this project

 as part of their 

Helping Artist

 and

 Blogger Outreach Programs

Thank you DecoArt for all your wonderful products to create with!

Are you ready to see my completed project???

SUMMER

is

 GONE

so

GRIN AND BEAR IT!

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint this project!

Happy Painting !

Lynn