Sunday, October 28, 2018

Star The Gypsy Witch's Apothecary Cart

Hello there! All the new Tim Holtz Halloween Idea-ology got me so excited this year, I had to just keep on making, so I have a few more things to share with you for Halloween. Today, I present Star the gypsy witch and her apothecary cart. Grab lots of Halloween candy for this post...sooo many photos. Enjoy!
Star makes a great living traveling around and healing people with all her concoctions. Well, mostly she heals, but don't make her mad. Yikes! She's a true alchemist!

I took apart an Idea-ology Halloween Trinket Tin, simply by using pliers and gently bending back the tabs that hold the lid and bottom together. The tin is so cute, so I left it as is, and added Mini Pulley Wheels that I colored with Pitch Black Alcohol Ink. The Pitch Black sometimes makes a purple hue, so I added more black with Black Soot Distress Paint to the wheels. I used my dremel to drill holes into the the tin, and attached the wheels with a screwdriver.
This was my favorite part! I pounced Mushroom and Pitch Black Alcohol Inks onto a Mirrored Sheet, and then stamped and lifted the Apothecary image from the Mr. Bones stamp set from Tim and Stamper's Anonymous, using the Alcohol Lift Ink. The image was removed easily one time, but there was a residue left over on the Mirrored piece. I let it dry somewhat for about 30 minutes, and then gently laid a paper towel on to remove the rest of the Lift Ink. It removed some of the image and left a bigger print, but I loved it as it looked more vintage. I'll definitely be using the Mirrored and the Lift Ink again! LOVE it! I painted a small Vignette Frame with Antique Linen Distress Paint, and then rubbed Black Soot paint into the recessed parts of the frame, wiping the excess off. Then I mounted the mirror into the frame, and added the computer generated word to the mirror to make it all Star's. I also adhered paper to the back of the frame...the flocked damask design...my new favorite.
I added paper from the Halloween Paper Stash to the inside of the wagon. I adhered the mirror to the inside back edge of the lid of the tin with Ranger Multi Medium. It was a tight but good fit. I painted a dowel with Antique Linen, wrapped black glitter Design Tape around it, and adhered this into the tin to hold up the lid. I painted two small Vignette Finials with Black Soot, sanded them a bit, and then inked them with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. I adhered those to the front and back of the tin to act as engine and hitch pull. I attached a 31 Typed Halloween Token to the back of the engine, that I painted with both Antique Linen and Black Soot in the recessed area. I did the same with Halloween Word Stick, and attached it to a Chain Clasp to act as the hitch pull. I needed a counter space to hold all the concoctions, so I adhered two Measurement rulers to the tin, longer one in the back, and the smaller one up front and adhered to wooden cubes underneath the counter. I had a black glittered star in my stash, and added a Halloween Word Band to it and several Star Fasteners.
I thought the tin needed more support, so I stacked Mini Pumpkins that were painted with either Alcohol Ink or Distress Paint, mounted them between moss and into a wooden planter that fit perfectly into a Zombie Hand, and then adhered that onto the side of the tin base and lid. I had good luck on that fit, and the cart became super sturdy. I added a jack-o-lantern face to orange pumpkin from the Remnant Rubs. Again, I used Alcohol Ink and Distress Paint to color Apothecary and Corked Vials. I filled each with different things, like paper strips for spider legs, glitter, Glossy Accents, Bones, and even water. I used Screw Eyes on three of them so they could be hung with Carousel Clips (LOVE). I had a mini metal typewriter and book in my stash, so I altered those with paint and Remnant Rubs. I made a storage cabinet out of wooden cubes to hold the typewriter. Each bottle also got a label or Halloween Remnant Rub as well. I painted a star pin with Black Soot, and added Glossy Accents to it before covering it with Black Soot Distress Glitter for her wand. I made the bag containing magic tea (moss) from a stamp set package. I had a tiny bottle in my stash that was broken on the top, so I used Mummy Cloth to make a cap for it...I love that look. I used a mini wooden bowl and Bone for the mortar and pestle, and filled it with a mixture of embossing powder and Glossy Accents. Not seen, I colored in the Ancestor Paper Doll (Star) with Faber Castell Pitt Pens, added cardstock to the back of her to sturdy her more, and painted the back with Black Soot as well as the wooden cubes that hold her up. AND...I gave her a hat and ribbon. As if I needed more, I added a Corked Dome filled with Bones to the mix, but couldn't find where to put it. I used an Index Clip that I opened to a 90 degree angle, adhered it to the back of the Zombie Hand, and sat the Dome on it...so perfect! Oh yeah...I added in a Skull to the counter too.
This is the part that me swell up with pride and brag to the hubs!!! I knew the star was going on the front on the cart, but I wanted another counter as I was running out of room for all the bottles. I had one Blossom Bucket metal corner/shelf piece in my stash that would fit perfectly over the star if it had a hole in it. I pondered and pondered as to how I would do this, because I couldn't get any of my punching tools to work. I finally added a sawing bit to my dremel and slowly cut away the metal so that the star point would fit through. It's a little longer than I needed as the bit was wider, but I couldn't believe it worked! The metal heated up quite a bit, so I had to stop to let it cool many times, but it only took about 10 minutes to do. I slipped the star point through, added Multi Medium, and then added it to the front of the cart. Also, no photos as I was too busy to care at this point...I decided the cart needed a base. I took the small Vignette Tray, and used the Stone Layering Stencil to make a road using Distress Grit Paste. Once the paste was dry, I painted over the stones with Black Soot, Antique Linen, Hickory Smoke, and Walnut Stain Distress Paint. I figured the stones needed some grass around some of them, so I adhered moss around a few areas.  I added more Design Tape around the edges of the tray. I added Mini Foundation Feet to the bottom. I pulled out the Wicked Alpha Parts (remember those?!!) and used the word Halloween, covering it with Glossy Accents and Black Soot Distress Glitter, and added it to the front of the tray. I used a Big Chat Sticker for 'happy'. I adhered the cart and witch to the tray, then decided it needed a tree. I just couldn't stop!!! I used a tree from the Woodlands Lot, sprayed it with Black Soot Distress Spray Ink, and added Glossy Accents and more Black Soot Glitter to it. Finally finished! Oh wait...I added a flag too! Finished now?...NOPE!...I added a Broomstick and birdcage to the back, and painted the bird in the cage with Black Soot. Then came another star, and then one more star charm for the front. NOW I'M FINISHED!!!
 
 
 
 
  
If you made it to the bottom...THANKS!!! This was a long one! I'll be back again tomorrow with a Halloween Ranger Ink Tutorial, and then again the next day...if I finish up the project. Until then, glad you stopped by!

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

11 comments:

  1. Every single little detail of this magnificent construction just makes my heart sing Anita! I love the way you tacked the star 'issue', it looks fantastic. All of the bottles and bits look amazing, and I just adore the little typewriter. A real labour of love but worth every moment of your time!! Hugs, Anne xxx

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  2. Just magical. I adore your broken apart tin to create the market stall, and the goodies all packed inside look amazing too. A brilliant, inventive creation full of inspiration.
    Alison x

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  3. Shut the front door! This is the most amazing Halloween project I've seen this year! It's just so charming and whimsical and filled with imagination! Wow! The details like that frame Apothecary sign (I haven't tried the Alcohol LIft ink yet...but now I think I have to!) and all the trinkets hanging from the sides of the wagon just blow me away. The way you used the monster hands is pure genius. Every surface is just filled with magic. And it's so TINY! How did you do that? You are a rock star...that's how!

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  4. Your attention to detail is staggering! This project is amazing to look at, it should be a family heirloom for future generations to marvel at.

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  5. Anita, this apothecary cart is just incredible! I love all of the attention you have given to each and every minute detail! The mirror effect is genius! I always enjoy seeing your creative talent come to life and this cart is a true representation of that! You have the most wonderful imagination and have brought it all in amazing fashion with this project! Thank you for sharing it with us. xxx

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  6. This is really fun and playful Anita. Nice creation!

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  7. This is so freaking fabulous!!! I keep going back and looking at all the details. You knocked it out of the park.

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  8. Fantastic piece. Love how,you incorporated the tin. Every time you look at this piece you find something new to gaze at. Love love. Tracy xx

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  9. This is so AWESOME!! Love that you used the tin and how you took it apart...who would have thought to use it as a cart!!! Love it!! It’s so jam packed with so many lovely details!! What an amazing make! Fantastic job, Anita!! ♥️

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  10. Wow Anita what a fantastic project full of magnificent Halloween details and ideas, great job xxx

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  11. I can just imagine you poring over this for hours on end Anita ... and it was worth every minute. Absolutely fantastic project! Love each and every dinky little element and your brilliant imagination. Nicola x

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