Monday, June 4, 2012

SKULL APPRECIATION DAY 2012--hop with us :)

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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

49 comments:

ShersL84bed said...

Cool project!

~Lady B~ said...

Fabulous wall hanging! All of your hard work shows. I am in LOVE with the final result!!! I would say no to the stickles. Your piece is perfect as is. Thanks for hopping and thanks for sharing your awesome piece with Smudgy Antics :)

petoskystone said...

I like the roses just as they are!

DVArtist said...

Ohhhh I had no idea there is a skull holiday. Now this is something I should have been aware of. LOL I think your art is wonderful. Your blog looks amazing too. Hope you are feeling well.
Nicole/Beadwright

Erin said...

brilliant work love your plaque and ur skulls are fab xxx

Anonymous said...

Susan~This turned out great. I am leaning towards no on the Stickles too.

DonnaMundinger said...

Hey hon! so good to see you. WOW! I absolutley ADORE your wall hanging! Great texture and design and the font is perfect. I'm voting no on the Stickles because you've captured the aged look perfectly. Fabulous work! xxD

Jenn Borjeson said...

I think this came out awesome - what a unique piece to display. Great job!!!

Laura B said...

Beautiful sign! The roses are very pretty. And I would say no on the stickles for this one.:)

Corinne said...

Great wall hanging, I agree to "NO" to the stickles!
Hugs

Monique's art said...

Wow it's sp gorgeous beautiful colors. You made a fab sign

Wendy said...

Susan - your skull creation is stupendous! Wow!!! You put a lot of love into your project and it shows.

silvia said...

Cool wall hanging!!

Unknown said...

Fantastic wall hanging awesome work xxx

Alison said...

This is great, Susan! I really think this was a great idea, and I may need to borrow it for my Dios de los Muertos celebration! I do not think you need the Stickles. I think it's perfect as is. Great job!

Kathi said...

I say no to the Stickles.

Great coloring on the skulls and a wonderful project.

Croms' Cubby Hole said...

This wall hanging has turned out really well even with the gesso being over thick. I'd def. not be using stickles on this. TFS

LisaVeronica said...

I think it looks fab! xxlisa

KristyLee said...

Susan,
I love how your colored the roses, I'd leave them as is no Stickles IMO. I just love this wall-hanging! I love the way your painted your wood and colored the skulls! You did a lot of work and it paid off, great job GF!
Peace,
Kristy

Croms' Cubby Hole said...

oops forgot to thank you for sharing this with us at Smudgy Antics this week

Divaeva said...

What ancestor wouldn't love being greated by such a fantastic piece! :) Great job!

N Valentine Studio said...

I think it's gorgeous!! Lots of work went into it and it shows, really cool piece!

Love crafts forever said...

Fantastic project.
Hugs Nataliya

Suzi McKenzie said...

This is so cool, and definitely doesn't need any stickles, i love the aged look you've gone for and achieved. Wonderful work
hugs
Suzi
xxx

GlitteryKatie said...

Excellent!!! Love the sentiment!!!

I Don't Do Straight said...

The roses are just beautiful the way they are......Great wall hanging :)
Thanks for sharing with us at Smudgy Antics and joining in with our Blog Hop :)

Nydia said...

Lovely piece!


Happy Skull Day! Visit my blog if you have some time, there’s a giveaway for the blog hop!

Kisses from Nydia.

DK Spins said...

Wow, Susan! I love how your ancestors sign turned out for Samhain. It's perfect the way it is- Love it!

Delightful Designs by Katherine said...

Super wall hanging.

happyscrapper said...

This is a gorgeous door hanger. I love it.
Hugz,
Christine Garner aka Wicked Lady

Unknown said...

This one makes me smile. whimsical. great job!

Renee said...

Susan,

Lovely door hanging. Thank you for sharing.

Ms. Ruin said...

Oh I love this! Great job.

Embley Veronica said...

Love it, love it, love it! I'd say yes to the stickles, but I'm a glitter maven so you have to take that opinion for what it is. Still, what's wrong with being a little festive? I love the "Welcome Ancestors" sentiment. Now I want one for my house! :)

Andrea C said...

Haha welcome ancestors, just brilliant and it looks great too. x

Hazel said...

No to the Stickles, perfect the way it is, thank you very much! lol Thanks for joining us at OSAAT. Hazel x

Toriz said...

Skull appreciation... LOL! Love it!

Steph said...

Beautiful artwork Susan! I would say no to the glitter too, looks perfect as is :)

Sara said...

susan I love it. I didnt realise there was a skull appreciation day, will have to check that out. Hugs Sara

Uniquely Yunikua said...

Wondering if I can have one like this for my house front door ^^
this is awesome!

KC said...

super awesome piece! I'm sure it has great texture! I love that image and I can't wait to use mine! and I like the aged look...I agree with no on the stickles.

Netty said...

Loving your fab hanging, x

Dan said...

I love how you used a pallete knife to add extra texture to this! The Design Team are really pleased that you joined us for the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge this week - Thank you!

Julia said...

Wonderful creation!!!
Hugs,
Julia

Jana said...

This is wonderful. I LOVE the process AND that you shared it with us. This is perfect as is. I wouldn't add the glitter. Thanks so much for joining us at OPUS GLUEI.

Cindy Groh said...

Interesting hanging. I love glitter and think you should add Stickles. Thanks for joining us this week at One Stitch at a Time.

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

This is a marvelous piece. Blessings!

CG said...

So fun! This would be a groovy Day of the Dead project too! Thanks for joining us this week at OSAAT! Best, CG

Rosemary said...

This is a really well done project, I also like getting a sense of the work and creative process that went into it. That hard work shows and the aged look is definitely there. I would agree with your assumption about the Stickles, they might detract from the effect you are achieving.

This is perfect for our Opus Gluei challenge, I like your take on the theme. I look forward to seeing more of your projects in the future.