The Halloween Ravens

Hello everyone, especially all the crafty Halloween lovers! Today, I finally have photos of what I've been working on for awhile, as the weather here has been rainy and cloudy for days, and no pictures could be made of my new obsession - these crazy Halloween Ravens made with tons of Tim Holtz Idea-ology. I saw some birdies all dressed up for Halloween in a magazine (can't remember which one) a few years ago and just loved them, so when I saw some birds at the dollar store, I purchased a a whole flock of them. I have made so many I had to start giving them away, except for these...all mine...and they love to wander and party all over my house! They are so super easy to make, and I can whip one out in about 15 minutes. Make some for yourself! Enjoy, and come back again tomorrow for another Halloween make. 

Heckle is always front and center, and his buddy Jeckle is never far behind. There is always a party when all the Ravens get together, and they are never hard to find!

Aren't they so darn cute?!! They are addicting to make so be ready to make more than one, and any type of bird (so many available at this time of year) will probably work.These wooden types are about 5 inches tall. I have a few more birdies left for other holidays...my mind is wandering now...and I cannot wait to dress them up too.

I used the largest Framelit in Tim's Sizzix Stitched Circles to die cut with the new Idea-ology Halloween Paper Stash. Each circle will make two hats, because you cut them in half. I rolled one up (straight side will go around the head) to see how tight it needs to be to fit around the bird's head. Then I added a piece of two sided tape to a little more than half on the edge of the straight side. I smushed and crinkled up a 1.5 inch piece of Idea-ology Halloween Fringe, and laid it in the middle of the straight edge of the hat. I cut about a 4 inch piece of wire, and curled one side up for a better hold, and then laid that in the middle of the Fringe. I rolled up the hat tightly making sure it fit the bird and Fringe was hanging out properly, using the two sided tape.

I added glittered bats to the end of the wire, and then added Idea-ology Tinsel Twine around the base of the hat with more tape.

I colored an Idea-ology Halloween Token with Sunset Orange Alcohol Ink from Tim and Ranger, added a Jumpring to it, and put it on another piece of Tinsel Twine that fit around the bird's neck loosely. I smushed and crinkled more Fringe, and wrapped it around the bird's neck using tape, and then tied the Tinsel and Token around the neck, making a knot.

To make the socks, I cut pieces off of a drinking straw the same length of the legs, and slit the straws lengthwise down the middle so they wrapped around the legs. I added two sided tape over the straws, and then wrapped alternating colors of Idea-ology Materialize Design Tape around the straws. The two sided tape makes it much stickier for the Design Tape to stick to as the straws are very slick. Once the socks were on, I added more tape to the inside of the hat, and stuck it onto the Raven's head, and alive he came.

I used the same goods to make black and cream versions as well. These are my favorite, and they think they are the Rat Pack instead of the Raven Pack. From left to right, meet Deano, Sammy, and Frankie! Man oh man can they sing!!!

Deano is a sly one and loves to play tricks. He loves the ladies and invites them to mix.

Sammy can dance even better than he sings, and his feet move faster than even his wings.

Frankie sings so beautiful it makes tears run down your cheeks. When the ladies hear him they go weak in the beaks.

 

Here's Jeckle, to tell you to remember to come back again tomorrow, as these Ravens caused "him" so much sorrow.  Can you guess what it is?!!

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

New Holiday Collection Stamps - September

Happy Autumn everyone!!! It's my favorite Season for sure, and I'm so glad it is finally here, and the days have cooled off. Today, I have September samples from my last set in the Holiday Collection Stamp Series from WeCraft. It also happens to be my favorite set, and I had such fun drawing these, and as with anything, practice makes you better and better. A big thank you to everyone for supporting me with all 12 of these sets, my cup surely runneth over. I'm not sure what's next for me, but with the holidays right around the corner, I'm gearing up for lots of projects. Enjoy!

September Set - 8 Images

I decided to break out the Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Lift Pad from Ranger for these, and while I still need to practice up on that technique, I like how they came out.

Although it's hard to tell, I made a plaid basket weave background with Alcohol Inks on this one, and then lifted off the ink with the poppies. A stamp platform helps in doing this, as the Lift makes things slippery...live and learn for me. I covered up the Lifted sentiment, as it really was not clear, and decided to stamp one in Archival instead. Then after matting, velvet ribbon finished it off.

I stamped the Lifted poppies and sentiment onto Mixed Media Cardstock. I love the variegated tones on them. Just is just something about poppies and sympathy for me, and I think they go well together. I matted and sewed onto a kraft tag and added more velvet ribbon.

The Lift is so addicting, and so I carried on. This time I tried to go for a toile look, and I stamp Lifted the images all around creating a pattern, on heavily Alcohol Inked Yupo with Autumn tones. I had several of the sunflowers given to me at a conference, and used gold paint on some of the back petals, and added micro beads to the center. More velvet ribbon finished it off using Long Fasteners to secure it.

I stamped the Lifted images from the above card on muslin fabric to really create a toile look. The fabric didn't allow for crisp images using the Alcohol Ink, but I still liked the subtle look, and decided to keep going with it, and quilted the square. It looks so much better in person. I stamped the wreath and sentiment onto Mixed Media Cardstock with different tones of Archival Ink from Wendy Vecchi and Ranger, and added leaf punches from Tim and Sizzix using Shattered Cardstock, and added string as well as more velvet ribbon. I LOVE how this turned out.

I made these just so you can see the detail in the images much better. I stamped them all with Archival Ink. I am really proud of this set...or maybe just because they are for Fall.

That's it for today. I'm off to teach at the Crafty Scrapper this weekend, and then it's a holiday crafting frenzie. Thanks again everyone! Until next time.

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

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