7th August, 2015

Frightful Burlap

I can’t quite believe I am writing this…

A month ago I was asked to make some samples with the new seasonal products by Tim Holtz! As a bit of a “fangirl” you can imagine my reaction when my box of goodies arrived from the North Pole! So with dizzy excitement let me share my first sample with you.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Using the really cool new Sizzix Vampire thinlits die by Tim Holtz, allow me to introduce you to Count Frightful, don’t come too close though… he bites!

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Cut a piece of core-dinations kraft core and paper from the new regions beyond paper stash. Distress and ink the edges.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Layer the papers and stitch.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Run a generous line of glossy accents along the back of the layered papers and place onto an idea-ology 6″x 8″ burlap panel and set aside to dry.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Cut a frame from grungeboard with the Sizzix postage stamp frame and rectangles movers and shapers dies.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Cover with black soot distress paint and allow to dry. Using the sanding block, gently sand portions of the frame and swipe vintage photo distress ink over the top with a blending tool.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Dab a little mushroom and espresso alcohol ink onto border strips from the new gothic industrious stickers with a cotton bud. Trim to fit inside the grungeboard frame.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Once dry attach with a line of glossy accents.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Die cut “frightful” from coredinations kraft core with the new Sizzix Halloween Words: Block thinlits dies.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Cover a manila tag with foil tape and coat with red pepper alcohol ink directly from the bottle.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Once dry, cut to size and mount underneath the “frightful” die cut.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Lay out the Tim Holtz Sizzix Vampire thinlits die.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Die cut from mixed media cardstock and core-dinations kraft core.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Fold the head down the center and gently crease the cheeks following the score lines. Cover the top of the head in brushed pewter distress paint to give a streak of silver to the hair, (this isn’t necessary). Cover the lips and blood drip die cuts with festive berries distress marker and assemble the head. There are lightly scored lines which show you where everything goes, so clever!

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Assemble the body as per the step-by-step, (there are score lines to show you), but do not attach the head yet.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Lay the grungeboard frame and vampire die on top of the burlap canvas but do not adhere. Once happy with the position, use a pokey tool to mark the position of both eyes, pushing through the back board, (no vampires were hurt in the making of this canvas)!

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Using the poked holes as a guide, cut the backing die with a craft knife being careful to only cut behind the eye area.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Again, using the poked holes as guides, drill 2 holes into the canvas and use a lighter or match to burn away any frayed strands of burlap.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Cover a piece of shrink plastic with red pepper alcohol ink and adhere over the holes with glossy accents.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Hot glue a battery operated lightbulb to the inside top of the canvas allowing the canvas to still lay flush against a wall. You could use battery operated LED’s or fairy lights too.

iGirlZoe: Frightful
The darker it gets, the more frightful he becomes!

iGirlZoe: Frightful
BOO!

iGirlZoe: Frightful
To make a vial of blood to hang from the canvas, gather together the frightful ephemera pack, curiosities remnant rubs, a tiny glass vial bottle and some idea-ology findings.

Cover the cork from the tiny vial with glue n’ seal to make it water resistant. Unscrew the spray nozzle from the fired brick distress spray and drip into the tiny vial until about half full. Put the cork into the vial and seal around the join with a layer of hot glue. Push a screw eye into the cork and hang from idea-ology chain. Cut up remnant rubs from the curiosities pack and make a label.

iGirlZoe: Frightful

iGirlZoe: Frightful
Thanks for stopping by my blog and thank you so much to Mario, Paula and Tim for inviting me to the best party ever! You can see all the new Halloween dies on Tim’s blog and be sure to check out Tim’s social media and blog all month long for a chance to win some of the incredible new products. Have a great weekend.


87 Comments »

  1. Spooktacular!!! Love that the eye light up and all the great details are awesome. Thanks for the inspiration.

  2. Bobbi says:

    Zoe, your Count Frightful is AWESOME!!! I love that the eyes light up! You have packed so many amazing details into this spooky piece! Thanks for the great Halloween inspiration!!!

    • iGirlZoe says:

      Thanks so much Bobbi. I absolutely love “The Undertaker” it was an honor to be blog buddies. You’ve given me some awesome inspiration too! ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Emma says:

    This is just wonderful Zoe and Count Frightul looks amazing! I LOVE how his eyes light up, such a clever touch and all the little details are what make this such a fabulous project!! xx

  4. Diana says:

    Beyond blown away!!!! Love it all. The colour created for ‘frightful’. Amazing. !!

  5. Chary says:

    Oh girl this is awesome!! I must make this!!

  6. Tracy Evans says:

    fsntadtic piece, love how it lights up and the dimension on the face. Your piece of art is brilliant and the details are fantastic. Tracy x

  7. Rosann says:

    WOW … eyes light up and everything !! Such fun details … great tutorial and loads of inspiration !!

  8. Deb says:

    I love, love, love this!!! Must make this!!!

  9. SusanK says:

    Wow, he looks very creepy! Your project is just ‘to die for’!

  10. kath says:

    wow wow wow I’m terrified…what a fabulous project Zoe xxx

  11. Deb Lorence says:

    Oh my, Count Frightful is pretty darn scary! Amazing piece Zoe!

  12. Sharon Young says:

    Spooktacular! Amazing really. Your attention to detail really brings our vampire friend to life.

  13. Anne R says:

    What a fabulous Count Frightful you have created! He already looked amazing but I just love how you lit him up – fabulous work!! I so want this die set!! xx

  14. Like how you created this & it is wonderfully frightful lit up.
    Melissa
    “Sunshine HoneyBee”

  15. Luci says:

    It’s too beautiful to be spooky. This is just awesome

  16. susan salyer says:

    Oh my gosh I just wanted to squeel. I just love your project. It is fabulous! I love that imagination you have and how you put it to use..Fabulous and exciting project..!

  17. Carol Watson says:

    Count Frightful is delightful with his light up eyes and blood dripping mouth! What has he been doing?

  18. kat says:

    You rocked it! this is awesome and I love that the eyes light up!

  19. barbarayaya says:

    Zoe , your project is totally gorgeous! love love love this! Barbarayaya

  20. Martine says:

    wow Zoe marvelous and so frighten at the same time ! Love it !!! J’adore !

  21. Inge Bekaert says:

    Hello Zoรซ,
    your idea for the eyes is awesome ! Not only the lights, but how you burned the holes with the red acrylic on top.
    I wish halloween was celebrated more here in Belgium !
    Inge

    • iGirlZoe says:

      Thanks so much Inge! Halloween isn’t very celebrated in Switzerland either, so it’s especially fun to make my home decor very frightfully festive. Perhaps we can bring Halloween to Europe. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  22. Laura says:

    This is insanely cool — I love it! Time-consuming, but so worth the end result.

  23. Les says:

    Totally freaky! Thanks for sharing the “how to” with us!

  24. Linda K says:

    Funtastic! and sooo scary.

  25. JudyB says:

    What an amazing project,love it!!! Awesome job creating this vampire. Thanks for sharing how you made it.

  26. LOVE LOVE LOVE! I cannot believe it lights up…so cool! Love the whole design!!! Congrats to you too!

  27. Denise says:

    Zoe you did it again girl! Another amazing artwork, xx

  28. Muddy Kinzer says:

    Love this! So spooky!

  29. Debbie P says:

    Wow…I was just following along and then BAM…the light-up eyes just blew me away! Very clever girl!

  30. Susan G says:

    Absolutely fabulous. So very creative. I really love your vampire. Marvelous!

  31. Amazing creation! Love the lighted eyes. Frightfully fabulous!

  32. Roxanne says:

    Wow…I love this…if these dies ever come out in time…I can’t wait to try it! Great tutorial and thanks for sharing! ๐Ÿ™‚

  33. Mel Roberts-Hareld says:

    I’M certainly not surprised that you were asked to make items for Tยกm’s new line! Everything you DO is just SUPER! This frightful dude is proof of that very thing! Your directions were done as wonderfully as your work, as well!!! You are an awesome source of inspiration, Ms. Zoe!!! Thank you!

  34. paula says:

    What a great tutorial! The idea for the eyes is genius my friend! Thanks for joining us on the journey! p

  35. Judy Dewitt says:

    OMG so freaking cool! I am so totally gonna have to buy that die. Amazing!! xx

  36. Lisa H says:

    love the glowing eyes!!!

  37. jan metcalf says:

    Frightfully delightful!

  38. Donna Gibson says:

    Oh my! I had no idea that the new die created a 3D creature! That’s fantastic! And the glowing eyes! Just Wow!

  39. Lisa Leavitt says:

    Just fantastic – from the lighted eyes to the dangling blood

  40. ann travis says:

    that’s absolutely brilliant. you’re so talented

  41. Oh, the hair on the back of my neck is standing straight up! How frightening in a great way! Huge congratulations to you, and oh, so well deserved to get to join in this party! You rocked it, girl! I am NOT a fan of vampires, but you created this with such class and finesse, that I can’t help but fall in love with your guy! He actually looks as if he’s been carved from a wood block! And those eyes! I was totally taken back by this, what a wonderful surprise! Your panel is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing it with us!

  42. Phyllis Zart says:

    Hey girl, how exciting to see you creating for Tim. I am sure you were absolutely thrilled to get a box of goodies from him. Love your vampire! I am just so happy for you. Congrats!

  43. Joan says:

    The count is so darling…and scary, of course. Thanks for the inspiration and tutorial.

  44. Oh my gosh, this is amazing and brilliant idea to light him up,spooktacular!

  45. Nicole says:

    I’m here FINALLY! OMG your project and tutorial is AMAZING! I am SOOOOOO proud and happy for you. You really rock this!

  46. Anna-Karin says:

    This is so spooky!! The light was a brilliant idea, it made him superspooky. Wonderful tutorial!

  47. TOTALLY AWESOME!! Thank you! Love the lit up eyes and vial of blood! Bwwwaawwww

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