Monday, July 29, 2013

Christmas and the Macabre....

Hello wonderful crafty friends and welcome back!
Today I have such a fun post as I have had the incredible opportunity to create with images from an amazing artist by the name of Rick St. Dennis.  If you've heard of him, I need not say another word, if you haven't....Oh my word...check out his Etsy Store here!!! 

My hope was to create something 3D with these elaborately detailed images and so here is my matching gift set of an ornament and card using the fabulous EEK A Mouse digital stamp.
The process began by sizing it, printing it out 8 times in black and white and then coloring each of them one after the other to duplicate the look.  Yes, I could have colored one and then copied it, but seriously...something this fun needs to be colored manually. 
Cutting out two Stampin' Up! Apothecary Accent frames as the ornament base, I then fussy cut around 2 of the colored images and double foam mounted them to the ornament base; creating the front and back of the holiday gift.
Then the fun and tedious part of deciding which aspects of the image to decoupage, I cut out each section from two extra colored images and applied them with crystal effects and then repeated on the opposite side. 
(Santa's hat and leg, Snowman's hat, Elf's face and knee, little mouse and the golden star were all decoupaged)
Once the decoupaged pieces were in tact, I punched out the holiday greenery using the Tim Holtz Festive Greenery in a soft blue and then inking with Old Olive Ink.  Gluing the greenery into place on the front and back, I then added the red Stickles for berries, frosted the snowman with crystal effects and the fluffy white trim on Santa's outfit with Snow-Tex.
Since this is designed as a gift, I wanted this ornament to have a sentiment on it, so using the Cameo Silhouette machine, I cut out a banner shape and then designed the sentiment to fit the scenery. 
The wording was applied with clear crystal effects and the edges of the banner were inked in Antique Linen.

Last bit was to attach a bit of vintage red wire so that this gift will hang from a tree proudly.
Here is the card that I've designed to match the ornament, also decoupaged, but with flatter surface area so it's not too difficult to fit into an envelope.
There you go...
Project one for Christmas, but.....
Now to another holiday using even more incredible images from Rick St. Dennis.
Halloween!

Here is a fun little 3D Haunted Mansion to sit on the entry table come All Hallow's Eve
using the following images from Rick St. Dennis himself.

Colored up in nearly every Copic marker I have and then carefully using the X-Acto knife to remove the glass panes from each window.
Picking out a simple 3D house form on my Cameo Silhouette, I cut out a black house that would be used to transform the flat image into a workable 3D lighted image.
Below to the left you can see that I've attached the black 3D form to the inside of the haunted mansion and then re-cut the windows again. To the right below, you'll see the actual folded house that I'll bend and wrap the colored mansion around.

Setting the mansion, the resident and the unsuspecting trick or treaters to the base of a flipped lid with glue, I then sprayed the base with TH Dylusions black ink.
Below you can see how the white turned to the perfect shade of hazy, creepy, gray.
Introducing the resident of the spooky mansion....
How awesome is she?????? Totally awesome! 

Here's our little Trick or Treaters all ready to receive their surprise....mhwahahahaha
To add a few elements of eerie ambiance to this incredible mansion, I cut out a few trees, gated pieces, and hanging bat by light of moon as well as the required quota of tomb stones in the yard and then glued bits of moss and dead grass as well.
The image above is how it appears when under indoor lighting and just about to be transformed into the most fun nightlight and topic of conversation for our Halloween callers....


Oooohhhh, creepy!!!  
If you love the holidays and you love the ability to color images from cute to creepy then I highly recommend the wonderful works of Rick St. Dennis.
Here is the direct link to his Etsy store  and here is the fabulous blog.

Thank you SO very much for your visit and I appreciate all your time and comments truly.
Hugs n' Happy Crafting,
Lisa xx

30 comments:

Monique's art said...

wooooaaaa this is so freaking amazing!!!!!!!

looooooove the haunted mansion

welcome to the EDT

Monique

Croms' Cubby Hole said...

OMG WOW!!!! love it ALL. SO well done. Such inspirational works of art

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Q
I am SPEECHLESS!!!!!!What do I say and where do I start with both of these A-mazing creations. It is so so you, these images, and I can see how you love working with them, very unique and creative.
Great work my friend.
Smiles:)
Onion

Marie-Louise said...

Totally stunning. Amazing. You really are a creative genius.

Chrissy said...

I wonder how many words I know that can describe these masterpieces..not as many as I wished, but let's go..
Fantastic..
Amazing..
Brilliant..
wonderful..
Stunning..
Incredible..
Phenomenal..
Superb..
and just plain AWESOME..Love everything about both projects..but that haunted house gave me shivers..OUTSTANDING..

Luv CHRISSYxx

Peanut said...

I don't think I can find the right adjective for these projects, Lisa. Outstanding work...in fact, you've outdone yourself! I hope you're having a great week. Thanks for your lovely comments on my blog. Always a pleasure to hear from you, my friend!
xxx Asha
Sunny Summer Crafts

Dr Sonia S V said...

Lisa this is simply mindblowing..each detail so exquisite.You are so talented!!
Cheers
Dr Sonia
Cards Crafts School Projects

Sarah said...

Words fail me, although exquisite just about covers it!! xx

SD pooja said...

Wow ! Amazing Projects ..I loved how you have given them 3D effect ,Thanks for sharing the steps !

McCrafty's Cards said...

Fantatic Lisa, I have been sitting here ages looking at this fantastic haunted house there is so much detail, I love the ornament and christmas card too, the image is such fun
Kevin xx

Kelly said...

I am at awe right now thinking of all that work on two outstanding projects. They are gorgeous pieces too. Do your eyes hurt from all those little pieces that you cut and maneuvered? Fingers hurt? Wow both of these are just great!!! I love what you did and thank you for showing the steps. Pretty awesome!!
Hugs Kelly

Words and Pictures said...

Oh, my word, Lisa - you have outdone yourself... Can I borrow Chrissy's list please?! What astounding dimensional creations (and just after I was just saying that the other day too...), and the colouring on all those amazing images is crazy-fabulous too. Open-mouthed in awe here...
Alison xx

Nicecrane Designs said...

woww,wowww love it, love , love it, love , love it,,,no more words anre necessary,,,,, Lisa

Sandy said...

Lisa, Lisa - I am speechless. Your Christmas ornament and card was enough to make me foam at the mouth over your creativity. Really amazing work. And then you hit the jackpot! Halloween, my favorite holiday!!!! This post brought back memories of your make on the Bates motel. The movie Psycho and how it scared us all half to death. I still can see that project. And now you have done it again with the haunted mansion. You have a great since of the ridiculous and that truly is a gift along with your talent to bring your vision to life. Bravo Lisa!!!!
sandy

Pia S said...

I'm out of words to describe how I feel about your fabulous projects! Let's just say I think you must have put both your heart and soul into the making of these... I'm SO impressed!

Sparkly Engineer said...

That haunted house is colored freakin' awesome I am in love with it. Wowsers!

The Christmas project is so detailed and so much is happening in it. It's fascinating.

krcmasterpiece said...

Your fussy cutting & coloring is exquisite!!
Really adds so much to the projects.
I can tell your in love with paper crafting! As am I!

Hugs!

Lisa Jane said...

wow wow wow ... love the Christmas project - but being a Halloween freak .. that house is AMAZING!!! your cutting and colouring is out of this world ...
Hope you are well and sorry i haven't been by in a while
Lisa x

Tammy said...

I'm just without words! Absolutely incredible and fabulous! Both words are understatements for these terrific projects!

Karon said...

OMG - I just don't know where to start!!!! The Christmas creations are just amazing!! The details and depth and oh my the colours and attention to all the little pieces - wow! The Haunted house - well oh my goodness the colours are fabulous and all the elements you have included are amazing - you have totally amazed me! WOW, hugs, Karon.

Tracy said...

You've outdone yourself Twang. I don't even know what to say. Both projects are so imaginative and you put so much work into them. You've been a busy girl. :-) Hugs!

Barb said...

AMAZING haunted centerpiece!!!

Jane said...

Hi Lisa I just found your blog via Nicecrane...omgoodness your work is just awesome. These 3d projects have blown me away. I have joined as your newest follower and I am looking forward to seeing your amazing creativity. Thanks for sharing. Hugs from the UK x

lilyandthelotus.blogspot.com said...

This is marvelous I just love your awesome piece..thanks so much for sharing the awesome this is grand!
susan s

catz said...

Lisa.......Holy Crap.......these are awesome! I too Love rick's art, he has some amazing creations doesn't he! Thank you for stopping by, and yes, I finally got the digi this morning! I was confused because all the other sites I get them from typically come right after you order, or actually with the receipt! Oh well, got her now, cannot wait to do her up........and thank you so very much for the inspiration, you're awesome! Teresa*

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOVE your Christmas card...cool stack up! The mouse theme is FUN too! The Halloween house is cool too...love the light up!

Jenny Marples said...

SERIOUSLY AMAZING!!!! How much fussy cutting?! I adore layering at the best of times but these projects take it to a new level Lisa. You are utterly inspiring. Hugs, Jenny x

Margaret said...

Another coordinating Christmas gift set?! Sheesh! Are you trying to make the rest of us look bad???
LOVE the image and all of the time consuming steps you took to really bring it to life!
And then there's the haunted house!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that you cut out the windows, made it 3D and it lights up!! As far as Lucy wants Dolly...I'm thinking she played a few too many games of Red Rover with her pals...But she is too fun!!

Jill Norwood said...

These projects are incredible! So much detail and dimensionality!

wannabcre8tive said...

Wow, that is awesome. You need to come and teach me how to use my Silhouette.