Carey Burns

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...

This little number is almost complete and I just want to shrink myself down so I can live in it! There was a lot of trial and error, but I think it is turning out great and I've learned a few things along the journey. There aren't a lot of "in-progress" photos because my hands were pretty inky while making it and I didn't want to ruin my camera or phone. Here's the low-down so far: Supplies: ***All of the supplies for this project so far are Tim Holtz except for the LED lights and acrylic paints*** Vignette Tray (large) Vignette Box Vignette Frame Vignette Hardware Tiny Vials Corked Vials Bouquet Skulls Baroque Frame Mini Pocket Watches Lantern Boneyard Halloween Paper Stash (2017 and 2018) Alcohol Inks in Gunmetal, Watermelon, Jet Black, Terra Cotta Distress Stain in Walnut Stain Distress Ink in Aged Mahogany, Candied Apple, Black Soot, Walnut Stain Distress Collage Medium in Vintage Perfect Pearls Gold Scraps of cardboard packaging ...

It has been a long hiatus, but I'm back to blogging. Right now I have about six projects in process along with a very messy craft room! This piece came about in large part due to my hubby. He brought home a religious icon and said, "I thought you could use this." It sat for a while until I was looking through some metal items in my junk bin. Add caption The antique wooden box came from an auction and still has an old, hard-to-read tag on it. The ornate metal corners were from a beautiful photo album a friend had given me a few years back. I dry brushed some white, thalo green and burnt umber over the high spots of the metal to give the old brass even more character. Just an old box with small dolls in it... Old tag still in place! I love these corners so much I dry brushed the iron paint over the icon, but it hasn't rusted as well as I'd hoped. Will add another round of rusting agent tonight. Slightly rusted. Slightly unnerving? ...

March is here and I'm hoping that means spring is just about here. I'm tired of being cold all the time! I sure do miss those warm Arizona days ... and the smell of orange blossoms. Right now, I've got three projects going on my work table and am really enjoying my progress and the process. 'Secondhand Angel' is a broken bisque doll with brass wings, a monocle frame for a halo and a brass candle holder as a base. She's the antithesis of my ' Handsome Devil ' and I love her for her simplicity. 'Pride' is another of my 'Seven Deadly Sins' pieces and he's a wee bisque doll who wears a base metal crown to show his importance but he isn't big enough to fit his ornate pedestal, a brass vase. He's done, except for maybe a clear coat of paint. The last is an untitled piece and it's another Halloween clock assemblage. This one will feature an unconventional seating arrangement ... I don...