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Thursday 12 October 2017

Haunted Churchyard





Hello all!  I realise I've fallen behind in sharing the details of my PaperArtsy samples from the launch of my latest sets of word stamps, so I'm back with another today.

It's using EAB04 The Autumn Edition and, since Halloween creations seem to have taken over around Craftyblogland, the time is probably right to share my spooky Haunted Churchyard.

This is one of the larger quotes on the plate.  If you want to use it on a tag or card, you'll have to snip it up, but I wanted to use it on a bigger page - as though it were in an art journal (though since it had to be sent away to go up on the PaperArtsy display boards, it couldn't really be in an actual book).

I don't have it any longer to measure it for you, but it's about 6x9 inches, so a pretty standard medium-sized journal size.










The words are from Hamlet, and definitely counts as one of the eerie quotes on the Autumn Edition plate, intended for the Halloween fans... but Hamlet himself is not referring specifically to Halloween, only to midnight.  So you can use it any time of year you like!












I still can't believe it's taken until my fourth set of words to get a Shakespeare quote involved but, as I said on launch night, there are two of them on this plate - both of them pretty creepy.  (You can see the other in action in my wingman Nikki's launch post.)













This sample took a bit of a shortcut, to be honest.  The background is formed from a couple of pieces of cardstock which I used for experiments when I first got my Distress Oxides.

They've been hanging around ever since.  I simply stuck them together to make my "page".  I'd worked out that the quote could go at just the right height so that it would disguise most of the join.












I added some gnarled tree branches, courtesy of the fabulous twisty roots image from Scrapcosy 06.  In fact, most of the stamping here is from that plate, apart from the tombstones... but more of that later.













All the gravestones were cut from kraft card which I'd sponged very roughly with Fresco chalk paint in Stone, and then inked over with Walnut Stain in places.

The small ones in the background are cut with one of the newer Tim Holtz Thinlits dies - the Village Graveyard.












I've got large gravestones in the foreground, and those have had a bit of extra spooky attention.  The hovering images, stamped in Watering Can Archival, are from the Hot Picks Halloween 05 plate.















I used a Movers and Shapers arch die for these, but then trimmed a couple to different shapes for variation.













Positioning was key.  Obviously I needed the quote to disguise the background join, and then I wanted my skeleton to stand with his hand on top of the quote, in a nice debonair way.













He's stamped in Versamark and embossed with Vanilla White Wow powder to give a nice ivory look to the bones.














I used some Walnut Stain DI to add extra shading at the foot of the page and under the gravestones, so that the churchyard has a more solid earthiness, and mounted the whole thing on some contrasting card, just so it has a nice framing effect when it's displayed.










On all these samples, I added a layer of Micro Glaze at the very end.  It seals the inks to protect them as they go off into the world.  DIs remain vulnerable to moisture otherwise... if they were to get wet, everything would shift!  It also helps to prevent the colours from fading over time, as well as giving them a slight boost in intensity because of the gentle sheen it has.

That's your spooky lot for now - happy crafting all, and make sure to avoid the witching hour!

Midnight hags,
By force of potent spells, of bloody characters,
And conjurations horrible to hear,
Call fiends and spectres from the yawning deep,
And set the ministers of hell at work.
From The Tragedy of Jane Shore by Nicholas Rowe, 1714

I'd like to play along at Try It On Tuesday where It's Halloween Time

41 comments:

Kerstin F. said...

Fabulous Alison, love your wonderful background design with this old trees, very inspiring! Hugs, Kerstin x

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful page with a great, spooky background. Hugs, Valerie

Helen said...

oh that is so creative and a great way to disguise the join (visions of Eric and Ernie now...) I must get creating again!

Redanne said...

This is just so deliciously spooky Alison, the skeleton does look very debonair indeed and the ghostly images on the gravestones have such a lovely eerie quality. Everything matches the quote so perfectly! Love this! Anne xx

Amanda said...

Fabulous words for Halloween, and make this spooky piece more chilling
Love
Amanda x

Dortesjs said...

awww great backgrounds,,,no ooo short cuts, we all do the same..its awsome pretty and your stamping is fab. love your cards ;O)

froebelsternchen said...

This is absolutely AMAZING! Can't tell how much I adore it! Wonderful made Alison.
We would be delighted to have it linked to TIOT !
oxo Susi

Jennidee Mills said...

wow, I love this, spooky, but so classy at the same time

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

So love these words Alison, i'm trying so not to look to close as i'm trying to be so good with my craft pennies, but they have really put a spell on me.
Love your Halloween playground..
Hugs Tracey xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wonderfully spooky! Love the gravestones - they really do look like stone! Hugs, Chrisx

Cestina said...

I am blown away by this one, not sure quite why but it seems to speak to something very deep inside me. I have always loved wandering around churchyards, this is a brilliant skeleton, and the colours and words are perfect. xxx

Cestina said...

...and I just realised the trees are skeletons too. Mesmerising. xx

My name is Erika. said...

That's a great spooky piece Alison. Your quote works so well with it. I picked up this set. You definitely have a way of finding excellent quotes- and I lvoe quotes. Hugs-Erika

Patty O'Malley said...

Very spooky, Alison! I like how you cleverly disguised the joining of the two separate papers.

Sandy said...

Wonderful - perfect for Halloween! So very spooky!
Sandy xx

Meggymay said...

Its a fabulous background for your' Spooky' project. Awesome Halloween images and your quote is perfect for the scene you created.
Yvonne xx
p.s. We have a Halloween theme at TioT's if you would like to join us.

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous spooky Halloween piece, love the trees and the skeleton. The colours in the background are beautful too! I will never be a great fan of Halloween, but Shakespeare knew how to get the feeling across and the quote really suites this piece!

Margik said...

A really spooky project, Alison! You've made a stunning background. All the details are super!
Thank you for joining us at Try it on Tuesdays.
Mar x

Kate Yetter said...

I am not really into Halloween or scary but I am loving your background on this piece! Just fabulous. Your have created a very spooky scene indeed.
Happy Weekend,
Kate

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Ooooh this is deliciously spooky Alison, a beautifully atmospheric creation although I’m glad I’m not there!
Hugs
Donna xx

Mary Elizabeth said...

Hello my friend! I'm so excited to be back to visiting your blog and it's for your Autumn Edition (with Will finally making an appearance!) So many details to absolutely love (besides the Alison Bomber stamps, of course). The Distress Oxides are absolutely perfect for this eerie witching hour background. Yes -- I've bought my own and I played with them while in South Africa (incredible product!). I love how cut down the arch die cuts for more tombstones. And what tombstones they are with that incredibly spooky stamping. I am quite envious of those gnarled tree branch stamps. The entire composition, with Mr Bones doing quite a nice job of highlighting Shakespeare's quote, is wonderfully wicked. Gives me chills :)

Many thanks to you for your warm words on my last post. It was so good to see you this summer and I'm thrilled to be able to visit with you again via the Internet ether. Can't wait to catch up over the next few weeks on all your lovely work.

Hugs -- Mary Elizabeth

Annie said...

Fabulous details on your journal page Alison xx The background looks amazing and of course I love your words stamp xx

Have a great weekend
Annie xx

froebelsternchen said...

♥♥♥ Thank you for joining Try It On Tuesday dear Alsion!
Happy weekend!

hazel said...

I love your spooky piece, the background and colours are lovely.
xxx Hazel.

Jackie PN said...

Excellent job on the disguising Alison!
Such a brilliant piece and your Shakespeare quote is perfect for it!
Gorgeous oxide mixes behind Skellie!!")
Jackie xx

Dorthe said...

A gorgeous piece,-- your background is simply perfect for this Halloween theme .
You created such spooky feeling with the frightening tombstones , the Mr. skeleton man, is fantastic, and love the trees, too, Alison. This will be loved, where ever it goes !!
Dorthe, xx

Rosie said...

A fabulous take of the theme, Alison

Thank you for joining us at TRY IT ON TUESDAY

Fliss said...

Very spookilicious Alison. A wonderful background for your eerie artwork and love the treatment on the tombstones. The quote fits so perfectly and the skeleton really pops in the creamy white.
Love this!
Fliss xx

Anne (cornucopia) said...

This is fantastically spooky with ominous words. I love this.

Craftyfield said...

Fabulous page Alison, I love the background (and how you took a shortcut!) and the stamping.Great quote of course...

Julia said...

Such a lovely Halloween project. The gravestones look really good with the walnut stain on top of the stone paint, they look so authentic. The quote is very dramatic and a perfect focal point for the artwork. This is really stunning. x

Sue said...

This is wonderful Alison, those purple oxides are very spooky. I love your quote, it really helps with the eerie atmosphere. Have a very happy week, Sue xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Just popped back to say Thanks for joining in at Try It On Tuesday! Chrisx

Diana Taylor said...

Oh my goodness, this is stunning - I am bowled over by the delicate colours, I would never have thought to use that gorgeous lilac yet it works so well and looks beautifully spooky. A fabulous creation Alison.

rachel said...

wow wow wow - this skelebob is getting his groove on - I adore this! Brilliant! Hugs rachel x

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous background, very atmospheric.
Avril xx

sarascloset said...

Alison, so sorry to be late, but better late than never from my point of view! this one really knocks my socks off,because you know I adore Halloween and especially graveyards. Love the Alison Bomber stamps, which goes without saying, but you've given it a cleverly constructed scene as a backdrop. Your DOX background is deliciously eerie and your headstones tickle me pink! Awesome Halloween make! Hugs!

Jane said...

O wow Alison, this is wicked! A brilliant piece, so well constucted and with a fun touch of humour.The quote is just fab! You are so talented xxx

Little Artbee said...

Great background design and colors, the water color effects look very good. A fabulous composition.

Dear Greetings
Sabine

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Spooky or what! love it Alison. xXx

Kirsten said...

A very spoooky cemetery and another gorgeous background.