THE HALLOWEEN TUBE

i thought that i would try something a little different this time for me. i have to admit that the season of the GOOGLIES.. WITCHES and all those HOT BREWS that contain all sorts of nasty things. i have to hold my hand up and admit that this was not a planned journey of a project. i had an idea in my head and i had a empty tube. The result is what your about to see evolve. i hope that you like it and who knows in the future your able to take those empty tubes re-VAMP them......... and hand them back out to friends and family.

This project does rely upon the use of a electronic die cutting machine. However i know that there are lots of alternatives out there that can be used in place of where i did an electronic die cutting. its the same with the paints. Over the years we build up collections of things, so where i have used something i have directed you to an alternative on the site. This way like me you can build up your collection of crafting goodies. Some of my things i have had since i was a graphic designer out there in the work place. Even back in those days that were pre-computers i was able to experiment and build up 3D projects for clients to see. So the links will direct you to the on line store so that your able to add items and now the web site has been RE-VAMPED!!!! your able to form your own WISH LIST so your able to add items for later when the budget for today is limited and you can pass that wish list along to friends and family's so that when those special days come round they know exactly what to get you!

So bookmark THATS CRAFTY ON LINE you will not be disappointed at what your able to purchase today, tomorrow or next week/month or year. Its being updated weekly.

Right then back to this project. The paints and in some cases where i used the cut out there are rub-ons available. 1 such has been added to my crafting collection but alas a little to late for this one but its there for the future! So i know i keep saying this but any newbies to either my blog of Thats Crafty's Blog they will be able to adapt this with items that they have or waiting for the post office to deliver to them from Thats Crafty On Line store.

MATERIALS USED:
Old Cardboard Tube
Cricut/Cameo Electronic Die Cutting machine.
Black Card
Silver Card
Stampers Anonymous Stamp Sets ~  Classic #3
Memento Ink Pad - Lady Bug
Big and Juicy - Mountain Meadow Ink Pad
Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Walnut Stain ~ Black Soot
Friskars Clear Stamps - Tartan 'n Time
Scrolled Leafy Style Stamp A good set is:  Autumn Leaves Acrylic Stamps ~ Flourishes v.3 by Rhonna Farrer.
Stampendous Cling Rubber Stamp: Lacey Background ~ Music Score
Crafters Workshop Template - Mini Well Rounded
Tando Creative Andy Skinner Stencils - Code Breaker
StencilGirl- Journalling Left Hand
Collection of Bright Acrylic Paints A wonderful collection of True Colours that are at a nice price.
Decoupage Glue
Wide brimmed brush
Enamel Water based Paints ~ Copper and Silver.
Paint Pallet
Pallet Knife
Hot Glue Gun
Heat Gun
Scissors
Small Peice of Black Packing Foam
Super Fine Sparkle Glitter
Water Spray Bottle
Black Indian Ink
Eo-Crafts Orange Acrylic Paint.
White Gesso
Black Gesso
Sand Paper Block
Glazing Medium
Elastic Bands
Paper from an OLD Book
Craft Mat
This would work spot on with this project: Tim Holtz Ideaolgy Rubs ~ Halloween Apothecary

LETS MAKE A PROJECT:

The old tube that had been sitting in a cupboard filled with small jars of high end mustards. So the first thing to do is using a sanding block just give the tube surface a 'key'. By doing this the next layer would be able to adhere to it a lot easier. So using papers that had been ripped out from an old book and some découpage glue the original surface was covered. When it was dry from all the glue we have used to adhere the papers a thin layer of 'Watered down' white gesso was used to act as a key for the next layer. Orange paint.

For this i wanted to use a bright true orange coloured acrylic paint. The Eco-Craft range of paints is just perfect for this.

To help the paint go further and also be wet that little bit more i used a glazing agent. This helps keep the true colour of the paint but enables you to move it around the project that bit more without drying out.

The finished Orange tube ready now for what ever we want to throw at it!

Stencils PERFECT for laying down layers of interest in our projects.

Select your Acrylic paints. Here i have gone for Bright colours. This is where you have to rely upon the paints you have in your store cupboard. We use what we have. If it comes time to replace then i have linked paints on my blog and on this project that will give you perfect results.

When using a small template that has several things on it and you don't want 'Over Spill' then by using those little sheets of glued papers your able to mask off what you don't want to use. These are a lot better to use than masking tape. A lot of the masks now a days have a lot of small cuts in them. By using masking tape you might bend something out of place or worse still rip something away. So these are just what is needed.

This now where you just dive into your stamp box and use what ever you have and that you want to lay down an image onto your project.

This stamp set is an oldie but a great one. The main stamp is a nice large back ground stamp! Its been a while since i dived into my box and have used this one, Good Quality Stamps never let you down!

One thing i did learn is that if i placed the stamp onto a flat surface and then just rolled the tube over it it gave me a much better stamped impression. You may want your stamp to leave marks all over the project. This time i wanted a good all over impression.

Again i dived into the box and pulled out a stamp from a set i have not used for a very long time. im not sure they even make this stamp any more so i have left you a very good alternative if your after a stamp like this one.

This is what the layers of stamping was beginning to look like. Layers of interest. it makes the project that bit more interesting when someone has a closer look.

 You don't just have to use dark coloured in pads. By adding complementary colours your able to add even more interest and details.

 Even the good old tried and trusted ink pads are brought into this project. i can still not understand as to why they are not making this brand of ink pad any more. They are still one of the best around and give such bright and vibrant stamping impression from Acrylic or Rubber stamps.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Now its time to start to build up what we are going to be using to make this a 3 Dimensional project. By using my electronic die cutting machine i first on silver paper cut out some barbed wire from a bought item. [if you want to know where from please send me a message and i will let you know]. 

 Using the silver card gave me my base. However i want the barbed wire to be ages as if it had been outside in the rain for ages. By using a Enamelled Acrylic Water proof paint i was able to build up layers of the paint to give the aged effect.

 Now the turn of the other elements. For this i used a black card stock as i was going to adhere these onto the tube its self. So there was no need for them to be coloured. This is where that rub on set from Tim Holtz would be just perfect!

 To keep the spiders web onto the card i had to rely upon those very underrated crafting items.... The Rubber Band!

 When it came to the spider i wanted it to be in a position where it stood out and not just flat on the tube. i also didn't want to have to use dimensional as that just wouldn't look right. The other option was to make it look as if it was spinning a web. That wasn't going to happen right now maybe another time when l can give it some more time in construction. But hey i WOULD LOVE to see if you crafty lot out there come up with something just like that. Let me know send me a photo of your project so i can show it on my blog and give you a name check!

 To give the spider more depth i took some packing foam and then secured it onto the spider. With a sharp pair of scissors then started to give the foam a more natural look.

 When i was happy with the dome, to give it a base for the next layer and to make the black uniformed the best option was to use Black Gesso.

 Then while i still had the black gesson on a brush i tipped just a little of the glue that us being used so that l could add a glue to the black ready for when i sprinkled on some ultra fine glitter. This is the first time in over a year i have used Glitter so do l have to arrange a party?

The next part of this project was to protect all the items l had secured onto the surface [spider not included!] so using a wide brimmed brush and the decoupage glue a layer of glue was dabbed on over the black die cuts.

Photographs of the tub after all the glue has dried and its ready for the next stage of the project.

 There was a extra item that i decided to cut out and that was this key and lock. it was going to be fixed at the top of the tube so that it looked as if the tube was in fact locked up and had to be opened.

The next step unfortunately i was not able to take a photo of at each step. But involves the use of acrylic paints and the Glazing Medium. This was a mix up the paints and then using the palet knife place some at the top and allow it to drip/run down the tube.

 The final job for the surface of the tube was to drip down some black Indian ink down over the paint runs. One thing i did notice that to help force dry the paint when a heat gun is used it does distress the paint causing the paint to bubble up and this is a added bonus when we are after a aged grunged look.

Close up photographs of the tub completed. You can see the barbed wire that's going around the tub. To secure them onto the tub the best way is to use a Hot Glue Gun. Please be extra careful while using this crafting tool as it can burn if not used with care. The spider stands out from the base layer this was also secured using the hot glue gun as was the lock and key. You can also see how the paint has combined and become an interesting layer
Any questions about this project please send me a message and i will get back to you as soon as possible.