Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Wood Connection Guest Post

Hi all!  I'm so excited to be sharing today!  I've been sitting on this for over a month and it's been oh so hard not to share.  This week I am so honored to be doing the Guest Post for The Wood Connection in Utah.  I hope you all enjoy.


Let's get started!  

Supply List:
1 11"x14" Box Sign from The Wood Connection
Gel Medium or Mod Podge
Acrylic Paints in Black, White, Brown, and Orange
White Gel Pen
Pencil
Vinyl Squeegie from The Wood Connection (pictured below)
Paint Brushes
Foam Brush
Assorted Halloween paper scraps (I used papers from the new Echo Park Chillingsworth Manor line)
Alphabet Stickers (I used the Echo Park Apothecary Emporium stickers)

With your pencil, sketch out your ghost on the 11"x14" Box Sign.  Don't worry about messing it up or having to erase, you're going to cover the entire box anyway.  This sketch will just serve as a guide.


Now start tearing up pieces of your Halloween papers and applying them to the box with Gel Medium or Mod Podge and a foam brush.  Make sure you cover the back side of your paper thoroughly with medium to ensure the whole piece sticks well.  Once you have the paper adhered to the box use your vinyl squeegie to smooth the paper out and make sure there are no air bubbles underneath. Work in small to medium sized sections.  After you have a paper down that covers part of your sketch, go back in with pencil and fill the sketch in on the paper.


Here's a pic of the blue squeegie thingy.  LOL.  I have no idea what they are called but they are awesome for this type of work.  I picked mine up at The Wood Connection location in Murray Utah.


This is what my box looked like after I finished covering it with paper.  Notice you can still lightly see my ghost shape in pencil.


Now my favorite part begins.  Bring on the paint! 



I started with my ghost.  Using a color wash of white acrylic paint and water cover the whole inside of your ghost very lightly.  I do this part in layers of paint.  It's always easier to add layers than to realize you've used too much paint and can't take it off.  Once your ghost stands out from the rest of the background start adding more layers of white acrylic paint around the inside edge of your ghost.  This will make your ghost really begin to "pop"  Just keep working in layers around that edge until you get the desired effect.  I like to leave the center lighter.  It adds depth and interest to the project, plus you want your awesome collage skills to show through.  Once the white paint is dry paint in the eyes and boots with black acrylic paint.

Now I add a very light color wash of brown to the rest of the background.  Then I start shading again with brown paint and water.  All the way around the edges of the entire box, the ghost and the eyes.  This really makes the ghost stand out as well.  Once that is all dry, paint orange scallops around the box.  I also painted the sides of the box orange and added black scallops to that. When those sections are dry, go back in and add white centers to the scallops.  And shade all the way around your orange scallops with a brown wash.


After I painted the boots black I dry brushed a little white for highlights and used a white gel pen to add laces and accents.  At this point it's time for the alphabet stickers.


You can finish up the piece by covering the entire thing with Gel Medium or Mod Podge.  This will protect your paint and adhere the alpha stickers so they won't peel off or lift in the future. Be sure to let your piece dry very well before adding the finishing layer of Gel Medium.

I hope you all enjoy the project and that it brings some Halloween cheer to your home.  As part of my Guest Post I'm giving away a $25.00 gift certificate to be used at The Wood Connection.  To enter simply post a comment here on my blog.  You will either want to be a Utah resident or planning a trip to the area soon as the gift certificate must be used in the store.  I will use a random generator to pick a winner on Friday, September 21.

If you would like on of these for you home but don't have the time to make one yourself, I'll be taking orders.  $48.00 each + shipping.  You can email an order request at heatherkross@gmail.com.  Shipping will begin Friday, September 28 on a first come first serve basis.  Thanks so much.

16 comments:

  1. Congrats!! That's awesome. I love Wood Connection!!! And your project is simply aDorAble!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You are Sooooooo talented, I love seeing new ideas so I can update my decor! Thank you for sharing:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is so cute. I love it! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is so CUTE!!! Way to go Heather!! I have never been to Wood Connection but I sure would love to!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So cute! I just bought the 11x14 box (from the Wood Connection of course) to do a Halloween Subway Art. But, I think I'm definately going to try this instead!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I loved your project! I haven't been to wood connection in over a year but this makes me want to go back and do another project!Good Job!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love, love, love this project! I visit Wood COnnection on a regular basis and really enjoy seeing these ideas! this is super cute, and once I finish it, it will be sitting on my desk at work until after Halloween! Keep 'em coming!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I absolutely love Halloween and this is such a cute idea! I love how it incorporates the tole painting with the paper collage and the cute transparency of the ghost! Thanks for sharing a great idea that will definitely give me an excuse to go into the Wood Connection!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love this, now to see if my painting skills are as good as yours!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am new to Wood Connections...but am so addicted now!!! The spider on your wood totally captures my eye first and kinda really creeps me out:) Hope I win...thanks for the post!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Super cute! I love how you ripped the paper and pieced it together. I'll have to try it sometime. Wood Connection is my favorite craft store and I always love seeing fun new ideas :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. OMG How have I not known about Wood Connections?? It's on my list to visit this weekend! You are very talented!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're the winner! Please email your mailing address to heatherkross76@gmail.com so I can get your Gift Certificate out to you. Thanks so much.

      Delete
  13. What a great idea! I have a hard time coming up with things myself, so I love when I find a project that I LOVE that I can mimic! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...