Twinkle wonderland-skull canvas

I thought it was time for another mixed media piece, so if you are going to get messy what better theme than Halloween! I have a couple of skull dies and was thinking for a while of making a canvas combining these and some stencil work. today I’ve gone for a monochrome look, just for a change. Its interesting to let the texture do the talking rather than colour this time.

You will need;

The Basics

White 12 x12 canvas;Black and White cardstock;White glitter paper;Black gesso;Texture paste in clear, white, black; and silver sparkle;Silver gilding wax;Glitter;Foam pads;Black and white stamping ink.

The background texture

Selection of stencils, I used flowers and swirls, rose and dots;Tattered lace mini honeycomb panel- cut to make a stencil;Tattered Lace flower tuck-in dies;Mixed buttons;Wooden flowers;Black and clear flower gems;Script writing stamp.

The feature

Tattered Lace Skull die;Sheena Douglass day of the dead skull die and perfect partner stamps;Sizzix Christmas words-Tim Holz Alterations.

How it is done

Step 1.

Using your choice of stencils and some clear texture paste, stencil elements from the stencils across the canvas. I tried to create a pattern in a diagonal cross mainly contained in the top half of the canvas. I combined swirls, roses and dots.

Step 2.

Add buttons and wooden flowers into the paste again in a diagonal sweep from right bottom to top left.

Step 3.

Die cut three of the tuck in flowers in white card and again using the paste already on the canvas stick down. I arranged mine in a triangular pattern. Leave all to dry for a couple of hours.

Step 4.

Once dry, paint the entire canvas using black gesso. Try not to apply the paint too thickly. The idea is that the dry texture paste and embellishments will create texture. Leave gesso to dry. It will not take long.

Step 5.

Highlight some of the raised areas sparingly with the gilding wax. A tip is to dab a tiny amount on to your craft mat and use your index finger to gently spread across the surface.

Step 6.

Using the rose stencil again and white texture paste place some white roses across the canvas and allow to dry.

Step 7.

Using the honeycomb die cut, randomly stencil through a little more texture in black and in silver glitter pastes. Leave to dry. Then stamp the script stamp either side in white ink.

Step 8.

Prepare the skulls-Die cut the TL skull twice in both black and white card. Cut away the foliage from the black die cuts leaving the skull shape. Stick white glitter card behind these. Then cut away the foliage from the white die cuts and add to either side of the black skulls so that one is on the right and the other to the left. I also backed the small flower on each side with black card which had been glittered. Leave both skulls to one side. Die cut the SD skull then stamp the matching image on top. Highlight parts with glitter and edge with black ink.

Step 9.

Line up the larger skull die cut with the two buttons on the middle of the canvas, placing them in the eye sockets, (yuck!). Stick down. Arrange the other skulls either side and stick down using foam pads.