Is it Too Early for Halloween ? Mixed Media Canvas

Hi everyone Toni here with another Halloween post. I'm sorry, I know it's a bit early but I found this adorable witch's cat picture and just had to go with it. It also gave me a great excuse to put my new Tim Holtz Dies into action. I started this canvas in a rather back to front way, as I started work on the die cut elements before the background. This is how the background looked before I painted and inked it....

I started by applying some torn book pages, to a 7x9 canvas. I then stamped this brocade pattern onto a 2 ply tissue, using black Archival Ink. The stamp is from an Artemio set I've had in my stash for sometime. I then separated the layers and adhered the stamped layer, using Studio Matte Multi Medium. Once this was completely dry, I set to with Distress Paint in Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Vintage Photo. This is the result...

I used a little Black soot Distress Paint around the edges and added some Vintage Photo Distress Stain to blend everything together. I also stamped the sentiment onto a piece of the tissue and adhered it to the surface. I actually really like the way this turned out, I think it looks like a piece of old wallpaper. ( a quick aside: I've got the TV on and there's a programme on about wallpaper, with lots of vintage examples!) I cut the bottles from manila card using Tim's Apothecary Bottles Die. I coloured them with Distress Inks, and followed on with clear embossing powder.

I used the Ornate Frame die and a Movers and Shapers Mini Pocket Watch Die as well. I coloured these with Tarnished Brass Distress Paint, and adhered a piece of acetate to the back before adding the print out of the cat and the stamped watch face. I also stenciled a piece of card to use as a base  for the bottles. Here's a couple of close ups...

Don't you just love that cat! It's actually a digital download from Alpha Stamps. I curved each bottle over a pencil before adhering just the sides of each one. I was thrilled to have an opportunity use one of these fab little metal Skull and Cross Bones charms from the new Ideaology range. They are so detailed! To complete the canvas I added  a die cut number 31, which I coloured with Black Soot Distress Ink and clear embossed. I even managed to get another  of my favourite Donna Downey stamps in on the label around the bottle !!! So that's it for now, This is my second Halloween style project so far, such good fun, I wonder how many more I can do before the end of  October ?
Here's a list of the products I've used which are available from Kim's lovely eclectic Paperie shop. Happy creating folks x

Unity Stamp Company - Art & Possibility (Donna Downey)	Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Adornments, Crossbones	Tim Holtz Alterations - Bigz Die - Ornate Frame	Tim Holtz Alterations - Bigz Die - Apothecary Bottle	Tim Holtz Alterations - Mini Clock Key and Pocket Watch - Movers & Shakers
Distress Stain - Vintage Photo	Distress Stain - Pumice Stone	Distress Stain - Frayed Burplap	Distress Stain - Antique Linen	Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo
Distress Ink Pad - Stormy Sky	Distress Ink Pad - Peeled Paint	Distress Ink Pad - Embossing	Distress Ink Pad - Dusty Concord	Tim Holtz - Tarnished Brass Distress Paint
Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Vintage Photo	Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Frayed Burlap	Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Antique Linen	Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Black Soot	Claudine Hellmuth Studio-Multi-Medium Matte