Steampunk Halloween!

It's Tuesday which means it's time to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. It's still October and I'm firmly stuck in Halloween mode. If you've been here before you'll know that I love skulls and Steampunk, so they're combined in this card made with the Memories Never Die Mixed Media Foam Stamps by Antonis Tzanidakis for Stamperia and the 6 x 6 Cogs Corner Stencil by That's Crafty. I also used Lime Punch, Russet Orange, and Violet Chalk Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps to stencil the 5" x 7" card.

Here it is!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Memories Never Die Mixed Media Foam Stamps by Antonis Tzanidakis for Stamperia

6 x 6 Cogs Corner Stencil by That's Crafty

Lime Punch, Russet Orange, and Violet Chalk Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Black Blending Brush Set by Time for Tea Designs

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Tuxedo Black, London Fog, and Desert Sand Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers:

   Spider: E07, E19, YR23, YR27, Y21, Y23, Y26, Y28, BG90, C0, C1, C2, C3

   Light Bulb: Y00, YR20, YR21, YR23, YR31

   Skull: E40, E41, E42,E43, T0, T1, T3, W00, W1, W3,W7

Spider Web Mini Stencil: Source Unknown

Clear Glaze® 3D Glossy Gel Pen by Sakura® of America

Diamond Glaze by Judikins

Stamping Platform
Repositionable Labels by Avery®
STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Two-sided Tape by Sookwang.

Instructions:

1. Secure a piece of white cardstock to the base of the stamping platform with magnets.
2. Since these are foam backed stamps, apply two-sided tape to the back of the stamps and remove the backing strip.
3. Position the skull and spider stamps facedown on the paper, press the platform's lid onto the stamps, and lift the platform.
4. Ink the stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, stamp the images onto the white cardstock on the platform, then remove the cardstock.
5. Secure the label paper on the platform.
6. Re-ink the stamps and stamp.
7. Carefully remove the stamps from the platform's lid.* The tape "should" stay on the platform's lid and be easily removed.
8. Fussy-cut the label paper versions of the images and adhere atop the images on the white cardstock.
9. Use magnets to secure masked image panel to the STAY-tion.
10. Position the Cogs Corner stencil so that it's flush with the bottom and left edges of the cardstock. 
11. Add magnets to the stencil to secure it in place.
12. Brush Desert Sand, then London Fog Memento inks over the onto the image panel.**
13. Remove the stencil, rotate the STAY-tion 180° with the image panel still in place.
14. Repeat Steps #10 through #12 until you're happy with the ink coverage on the image panel.
15. Remove the image panel from the STAY-tion.
16. Lift the masks and color the images with Copic markers.
17. Apply Diamond Glaze to the bulb on the spider, then move the image panel completely out of touching distance so there's absolutely no temptation to touch it.***
18. Cut and fold a piece of white cardstock to create a 5" x 7" card.
19. Use magnets to secure the white card to the STAY-tion.
20. Position the spider stencil on the top left of the card and use magnets to secure the stencil to the card on the overhanging bits.
21. Brush Lime Punch Elements ink over the spider stencil onto the card.****
22. Move the stencil down, secure with magnets, then brush Russet Orange Elements ink over the stencil.
23. Move the stencil to the bottom middle, secure with magnets, then brush Violet Chalk Elements ink over the stencil.
24. Continue to move the stencil, brushing the various colors of Elements inks over it onto the card.*****
25. Retrieve the image panel but don't touch the light bulb!!!
26. Use Clear Glaze pen to build dimension on the spider's legs, the screw-head, and the screw-head on the skull. Let dry, then repeat until you're happy with the dimension and gloss.
27. Trim the image panel and mat with black cardstock.
28. Adhere the matted image panel to the stenciled card.

Notes:

• Remove the stamp from the platform slowly and carefully because the black foam backing can stick to the stamp.
• Brush the inks more heavily on the edges, softening your touch as you move towards the center. This should allow the inks to subtly blend.
• It takes a while for Diamond Glaze and/or Glossy Accents to dry. Be patient. Do NOT touch it before an hour or so has elapsed. Go have a cup of coffee and cruise the interweb.
• Elements Ink pads are very strongly pigmented and are juicy, so it's best to ink to your brush or sponge, then dab some off onto the STAY-tion before you apply the ink to the paper. The upside of using a STAY-tion or a craft mat is that the ink stays wet, so you can pick it up with the brush/sponge.
• Since you'll be covering the bulk of the card with the matted image panel, you just need to blend the inks slightly. Again, apply the inks more heavily on the outside edges of the card and lighten the application as you move inwards.

Thanks for visiting today!