Carey Burns

During the shelter at home, I've been finishing more project including these framed creepy 'family portraits.' Supplies: Metal Frames (these are vintage frames I found at an antique shop) Alcohol Inks (I used Tim Holtz in Botanical, Orange Sunset, Teakwood, Gunmetal, Pitch Black, and Mushroom) Tim Holtz Paper Dolls (I used dolls from a Halloween pack) Scrapbook Paper (I used Tim Holtz paper from a Halloween stack) Distress Marker in Black Soot Distress Ink in Black Soot Distress Spray Stain in Aged Mahogony Duralar (or any other sheet of acetate) Thick backer board (I used a piece of heavy backer board from Tim Holtz packaging) Glue (I used Glossy Accents) Tools: Cotton Swabs Paper Towel Scissors First, I washed both frames to remove any dust or grime and let them dry. I dripped on Botanical, Orange Sunset, and Teakwood alcohol inks on the frames and once dry, I rubbed on Gunmetal with a cotton swab. To make them more tarnished-looking, I swabbed on Pitc...

Our state is officially on a 'shelter in place' order and my little pumpkin diorama is complete! There was a lot of finger crossing going on while making the end bits, but thankfully, everything turned out great. Supplies: Aves Apoxie Clay Model Trees Black Acrylic Paint Tim Holtz Boneyard Tim Holtz Skull Fragments Tim Holtz Tiny Lights Clean Applesauce Cup Thick Foam Sheet White Paper Shrinky Dink Paper (frosted) E-6000 White Acrylic Paint Tools: Rotary Tool w/ Drill Bit Paint Brush Scissors Plastic Paint Cup First, I had to get the courage to drill a hole in the back of the pumpkin so I could feed the Tiny Lights through. Once I did, I had to widen it so the thicker plastic part of the strand would fit through. Next, I kneaded the two-part Aves Apoxie and created a base inside the pumpkin. I added small balls of the clay to the trunks of the trees and then added them to the clay base, making sure they were anchored well and then smoothed out the ra...

I've been away from the blog but I've been really busy making new pieces. Since times are so uncertain and a little scary, I thought I'd get back and share some inspiration. This project began with a very plain, very smooth black faux pumpkin diorama I snagged for about 90% off. It had a lovely black glitter interior and immediately, it made me think of a spooky Halloween night in the woods. Supplies: Faux pumpkin diorama Hard Molding Paste Sophisticated Finishes Rust Kit White Gesso Acrylic Paints: Yellow Oxide Transparent Burnt Umber Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold Quinacridone Crimson Phthalocyanine Blue (Green Shade) Tools: Metal Pick Paint Brushes Plastic Paint Palette Plastic Paint Cup The first thing I had to do for this project was add some texture to the pumpkin and it's stem. There wasn't much product left in my tub of molding paste so I just reached on in and grabbed as much as I could and patted it all over the pumpkin where I w...