SKULL APPRECIATION DAY 2012--hop with us :)

Howdy Skull and/or Art Fans!!

I have always been keen on skulls and skeletons,  

drawing them with charcoals in art class way back in 1978 (first semester of college) was my favorite and best-by-far-project from that class.

This is my second year celebrating the "Holiday" along with the great ning art community SMEARED and SMUDGED through a blog hop!

Please check out this edgy and different art community, and hop along to view some great skully art!

You should have arrived here from Fabulous Alison's blog

when you leave here go on to Smudgy Andrea's blog

The entire Blog list is to your left, take your time, and be sure to comment as there are surprise prizes along the way, 

and prizes on some of the stops along the way as well as the SnS blog. 

You have until Wednesday to visit us all and comment!

Now onto my project

I made a sign for my SAMHAIN Alter or just to hang in the room, or maybe even on my front door for the SAMHAIN holiday,  I haven't decided yet. :)

I knew from day one, that this would be my project. the only thing I didn't know was what skull images to use. I have several. Then just last week SMEARED INK provided any of us who participated in the monthly challenges (any of them) on the SnS group would get this FABULOUS skull and roses image for FREE!

 I took several photos, and the colors look a little different on all :(  but I have 3 here for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure, LOL) Hubby helped a bit, LOL!

 I used a piece of Luan (thin smooth plywood) which I sanded all the edges of. Then I covered it with a layer of LIQUITEX BASICS white gesso. when dry I added a 2nd coat, when the front was just a bit tacky, I dry brushed on black paint, it mixed and blended with the gesso and gave it an aged gray look to the wood.  

In the meantime I had printed out 2 exact images  of the wonderful SKULL With ROSES Digi Stamp from SMEARED INK, and computer generated my Welcome Ancestors sentiment using the Transylvania font.

All are colored with PRISMACOLOR pencils and blending pencil. I cut them all out leaving the tiniest edge all around, about 1/8". I coated the backs of all with ELMERS glue with a brush. I smoothed them all down and left them to dry.  

When dry I added some of the thick gesso to the small amount of thinned gesso I had in a cup,  I added the rest of the black paint to the mix. I used a palette knife to mix it, and then just blob it on all around the images and words, so it is kind of lumpy and textured. In  the center and around the edges you can still see some of the original background.  

Once that was all dry I asked the hubs to drill me a small hole on each of the top corners and bring me a length of wire. I attached the wire to the right side and then  added 5 loops before attaching it to the other end and cutting off the excess. I said the center was left with the original background, it is a bit hard to see now, as I added a rose and a smaller bud, leaves and white sprigs that I wired together and then glued using BEACON'S 3-in-1 glue. Once that was dry I added another larger rose and leaves to the left side of the sign, through the wire loop, and glued to the back. 

I tied 5 strips of red fabric that I used pinking shears all around on to each of the loops.

Then I took out my Tim Holtz for RANGER distress inks and used 3 different colors on the roses and the fabric strips to age them a bit...I used the ink pads directly on the roses and fabric, using a "smooshing, rubbing, and brushing" technique.

The colors I used are:  Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Tea Dye. I let the entire sign sit for a bit, and while it was sitting, I cut a piece of cheesecloth, and kept "smooshing" it into the Black Soot distress ink pad. (my fingers were black also, LOL) I let that sit for about 20 minutes or so, and then folded it in half and tied it into a bow. I added some of the glue, and attached it under the center rose grouping.

I have been debating about using a bit of stickles on the roses that are part of the digi images. I am leaning towards NO, as I am going for the aged look. What do you think???

Thank you for visiting, and I appreciate your comments :)

for more information about SKULL APPRECIATION DAY, visit SKULL-A-DAY

entered in:
Smudgy Antics ...anything goes
Smudger Challenge ...skulls
One Stitch at a time ...use a digi
Catch the bug ...anything goes
Simon Says ...anything goes
Order of the Opus Gluei ...it's all relative
Secret crafter ...anything goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show ...texture