I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Friday 1 September 2017

Haunted Jars

Hello all!  I'm very happy to be hosting this month's A Vintage Journey challenge.  We're looking for Altered Art, and I can't wait to see the journeys you go on with this one.  As always, the Creative Guides have been busy making inspiration projects to get your creative engines started, and I think they've outdone themselves yet again.  Do hop across to A Vintage Journey to see what everybody else has been up to... after you've taken a look at my offering, of course!

As you'll know if you saw my sombre ATCs I've been a little low on mojo lately.  I started on a couple of altering possibilities which didn't really go anywhere, before deciding to simplify things, and to borrow the ideas from my own Candlelit Foliage jars to create some Halloween lanterns.  There's nothing quite so eerie as the flicker of a candle flame as the night draws in...


They're really very similar to the Candlelit Foliage jars.  There's a detailed how-to for those over at last month's Destination Inspiration post, so I won't go through all the steps again.  I kept things even simpler this time.  Since these new Tim Holtz Thinlits are so fabulous in themselves, I didn't feel they needed much help from me!


I know we're a little early for Halloween but, as you'll see over at A Vintage Journey, I'm not the only one who got tempted in that direction.  It must be the distinctly autumnal weather that's fooled us into thinking All Hallow's Eve is around the corner.










I'm in love with the intricate detail on these dies.  Just look at the lacy cuffs on the glorious witch, for instance...
















... or the gnarled twigginess of her broom.  I'm not surprised the cat is alarmed!














The large cobweb is almost unbelievable in its delicate fragility.














Okay, you have to do quite a bit of poking to get all the pieces out, but it's completely worth it as far as I'm concerned.















The haunted house is one which I think might get some usage at other times of the year.

I love the candlelight shining through the windows.















And the shadowy crescent moon and the bat silhouettes are the perfect accompaniment.













You've already seen the crows in action on my Autumnal Oxide Journal.  There, they were just being nicely autumnal, but now they've got their Edgar Allan Poe spook on!













And it's the only one of the set that has a different silhouette to enjoy around the other side...















... as well as following the migrating birds in between.













(Mind you, the little scene with the witch and the cat does go much of the way round the tall slender olive jar, to be honest - stars and all.)
















Just as with the foliage lanterns, I created the background detail using the Harlequin stencil, this time with gel medium for the transparent texture.















I selected the spookier tissue tapes to add extra interest.  There are some cobwebby strips, like clouds drifting across the sky...
















... and some old-fashioned script, spelling out a spell or charm, perhaps.















As I said, it's only the crow-jar which has die-cuts all the way round.  With the others, you can turn them the other way and just enjoy the textured candlelight if you so desire.















I used a little more of my discoloured Pumice Stone Distress Spray than I did on the foliage lanterns (I think I've mentioned before that it has aged with a sort of greenish tinge).

I like how it gives the jars a slightly more mottled, murky look.












As you can see, I've given my black card a spritz or two of the same DecoArt Shimmer Mister as I used on the jars themselves.

It tickles me that you can't really tell whether it's a silvery moonlit gleam or a hint of mouldy decay!













Some simple twine finishes them off - nothing to distract the eye too much.







So those are my haunted jars.  I think they'll look great on the windowsill or on a festive Halloween table.  I prefer my Halloween eerie rather than full on gory, so these definitely fit the bill for me.


I do hope you'll hop over to A Vintage Journey to see the incredible altered artwork from my fellow Creative Guides, and I can't wait to see what you'll come up with for this month's Altered Art challenge.  See you there soon.

Oh, and I'll be back in just a few hours with a really exciting piece of news, so I hope I might see you again even sooner!

It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination.
From the introduction to The Twilight Zone by Rod Serling

45 comments:

S@ndy Diller said...

Oh Alison, I can't tell you how wonderful your creation is. Love it and "it lights up" it doesn't get any better than this. Thanks for hosting our challenge this time around. Hugs, S@ndy xx

My name is Erika. said...

These are super cool! Very clever!

Astrid Maclean said...

A great theme and super alteration Alison, these will look fantastic at Halloween!! I am not a huge fan of that particular festival, but I think I am now pretty much persuaded I really "need" these.... They look truly fantastic with all the additional elements, crackling etc!

Brenda Brown said...

Fabulous jars to put in the window on All Hallows' Eve the twinkling light and shadows cast with those amazing designs will be spooktacular xxx

Helen said...

your jars look gorgeous! Hope your mojo returns fully firing on all cylinders soon; but these jars are a joy.

Valerie-Jael said...

Gorgeous jars, very cool indeed. Hugs, Valerie

Monika Gulyas said...

Fabulous Halloween project Alison!!! They look so cool with candlelight!!! I love them!!! Big hugs

Cestina said...

Wonderful! They'd be fantastic for the kids to take Trick or Treating - super spooky.,xx

toni said...

These are fantastic Alison ! A great idea which works so well with those dies, very inspirational! X

Redanne said...

Oh how I love these Halloween jars Alison!! I could spend the morning just scrolling up and down to gaze in awe at these beautiful creations...such a fabulous and creative way to use the dies. I agree about the cobweb, it is definitely worth all the poking! These jars look great lit and unlit and will certainly attract lots of attention at Halloween if you put them in your window! Love them so, so much! Anne xx

Marci said...

I love the way they look, lit and clustered all together. Gorgeous.

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

I do so love making these but have never thought about Halloween. What a fabulous idea and the images really do seem to magnify when woken with light. Magnificent creations. Hugs Tracey xx

Annie said...

Totally fabulous altered jars Alison xx The details are amazing and they look absolutely wonderful xx Great home decor piece at Halloween. A great challenge theme x

TFS and have a lovely weekend
Annie xx

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Oh my, how fabulous! I'm dotty over these new Halloween dies and you have done something extraordinary with them. So so cool!

Hugs,
Linda

Jennie Atkinson said...

Totally fabulous Alison! What a wonderful make over and despite not being a fan of Halloween I can see how lovely these dies are. Wonderful altered art! Jennie x

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

I LOVE your jars sooooo much Alison, they're so atmospheric and just beautifully made. I'm really going to try and create one for myself too ;)
Hugs
Donna xx

Susan said...

It is never too early for Halloween. Love the jars.

Nan G said...

How do I love these?.......T H I S muucch! In other words a whole bunch!

Dorthe said...

They are so wonderful Alison, and so cozy in a scary way :-) with the candles lit. Must have made great fun to create them. I love the first jars you created, and these are gorgeous too, and will look spectacular in your Halloween windows.
Thank you for beautiful ideas, and also thank you for your kind visits to my blog and That`s Crafty blog, it is so very treasured , dear friend.
Hugs, Dorthe

sarascloset said...

Alison, you are an enabler, you know! I thought I could get through this Halloween without too many new dies and goodies, but now I think these must go on the must-have list! Love what you've done with your jars! Hugs!

Amanda said...

Nearly missed these, so glad I didn't they look fabulous, what a fabulous idea for Halloween. By the way it's never too early for Halloween
Stunning!
Love Amanda x

Chrissy said...

Oh, your haunted candle lit jars are just wonderful Alison..I love the haunted house and the fabulous cobweb..brilliant.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Lys said...

I' m not in the Halloween season feel yet, really not, but I love your lightening jars. Light is always welcome wherever it comes from.

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Love these! I keep stalking a favorite store of mine for Halloween decorations. Nothing will be as cool as these spooky eerie flickering lit jars. They are the perfect accoutrement for All Hallow's Eve.

rachel said...

These are really wonderful Alison - what a brilliant idea for this challenge - and nice and early so that I can get some made using your wonderful ideas before Halloween arrives!!! Thanks!!! Rachel xx

Julia Aston said...

wonderful repurposing of your jars Alison! The silhouette die cuts look so spooky in the dark when lit inside! Julia xx

Fliss said...

Very spookilicious and fabulous jars Alison and the silhouettes really stand out when all lit up. A wonderful idea.
Fliss xx

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous Halloween alterations. The silhouettes look fantastic in the candle glow.
Yvonne xx

Patty O'Malley said...

Even though the images are meant to be on the eerie side, there is a certain coziness of the jars when the candles are lit!

Kate Yetter said...

So lovely! I really like the frosted look to your finished project. So pretty and a bit spooky. ;)
Kate

Sandy said...

Fabulous!!!!
sandy xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

It's probably a little late in the evening to be looking at these but I couldn't resist having seen a peek on my phone! These jars are both super spooky and beautiful at the same time! Hugs, Chrisx

Craftyfield said...

I don't do Halloween but this year I was so tempted by Tim/Sizzix offering... Great use of the die-cuts for a suitably spooky, but really stylish, Halloween décor!

Deb said...

Fabulous Alison, adore your spooky haunted jars, what a perfect decoration for the upcoming Halloween season! Tim's new dies are truly spooktacular, thanks for sharing this wonderful way to use them! Deb xo

A Pink said...

Oh how I LOVE your altered jars! Alison . Your DI jars stole my heart and these do too. You have showcased those halloween dies so effectively and boy do your halloween jars really come to life with the glowing light! Love the subtle sense of eerie they evoke! Brilliant concept , wonderful design and execution.
Thanks for a great challenge
hugs x

sally said...

Ooh! Spooky jars....roll on Halloween as there is definitely a change in the weather:-)

Sally xx

Jackie PN said...

Alison!!!
I am so glad you left that little reminder at the end of the post!!
These tea lights ROCK!!!! Oh my gosh, I can't even imagine how long it took to pop out those pieces from the web and then to apply it on a curve- very clever! I love each of these and really love them as a set- how cool to have these decorating your window on Halloween eve!
Jackie xo

Cocofolies said...

This is SOoooooo spookilicious!!!!!
I adore all your jars Alison.
And I agree with you, these new TH thinlits are just awesome!
Pinning your set of jars on my Halloween inspiration board, thank you.
Hugs again xxx

Pamellia said...

Wow Alison, these are just brilliant! I love the whole idea, and the images that you chose are just fantastic! I think my favourite is the haunted house, I totally agree that one could be used for more than just Halloween too! The light coming through the windows when the candle is lit really creates an amazing mood! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Sue said...

These are wonderful Alison, you can't beat a good spooky jar! These really are fab die cuts, and although not really a fan of Halloween, I'm starting to get with the programme. Have a fun week xx

Julie Lee said...

How eerily splendid are these!!! I admire your ability to photograph glowing lanterns so effectively too! I love all illuminated projects, but I'm very challenged when it comes to capturing them on camera. These look absolutely fantastic and perfect for this magical and fun celebration. xx

Etsuko said...

Always i love your lighting jars.And multiple layers create a fantastic atmosphere. xx

maj. said...

These are fantastic! Love them all!!!!

Louisa Ellingham said...

Just fabulous. I have done a fair amount of crafting but recently stopped to do academic work. But these jars are so cute, I might have to get out the scissors and glue again! I usually make my own cutouts use paint, etc., to get the effects you produce, since I can't afford much of the ready-made stamps and other items that would make it easier.
Anyway, thanks for an excellent blog. I'm enjoying your projects!

Mrs.B said...

Fabulous makes.
Avril xx