Free Digital Download for Halloween: Good Witch

"Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?"  Glinda from The Wizard of Oz

How-to DIY Retrofabulous Halloween Masks

DIY Retrofabulous Halloween Masks

Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate

“These are your grandmother’s crafts, ya gotta problem with that?”

I found these vintage inspired paper mache masks at Target and my only regret is that I didn’t buy every last mask.  Alas, they’re sold out locally and I’m kicking myself for not getting more.  If your local Target is sold out don't fret, you can find similar masks made of fabric and paper at craft chains and costume supply stores.  It’s so easy to dress them up with inexpensive glitter, gems, feathers and decoupage using Aleene’s Tacky Glue, Fabric Fusion tape and decoupage medium.  These also look fabulous painted or covered with sequins or ribbon, so make them your own.  I love them for Halloween, but they’re so fun you could use them for Home Décor year round!  You can give these masks even more vintage appeal if you remove the stretchy straps and attach a painted dowel and satin or lace ribbons.  

(See the video on Knoxville's WBIR Channel 10 Live at Five at Four here!) 

How To Make Sugar Skull Shrink Plastic Earrings for BeadsDirectUK

Sugar Skull Shrink Plastic Earrings
Margot Potter for BeadsDirectUK

Ah, shrink plastic.  I can clearly recall myself as a younger and impatient Madge marveling through the oven door window as my colorful creations folded, flipped, flopped and flattened into delightful miniature works of art.  Some things never change.  I've been making shrink plastic jewelry for a number of years.  It does require just a little bit of patience, but the end result is absolutely worth the effort!  I've always had a deep adoration for The Day of the Dead celebration and the many colorful, lively, beautiful crafts that surround this holiday.  What an amazing way to celebrate life and those who have passed away.  I've taken a permission free skull and added some sugar skull embellishments, you can take the skull and add more details or take some away, remember to add a little loop at the top for your jump ring.  Use permanent markers, take your time and make sure you bake colored side up. 

iLoveToCreate: Ribbon Wrapped Nevermore Halloween Pumpkin

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door."

The Raven

Edgar Allen Poe

DIY Halloween for Scrapbooking Attitude and Dollar Store Crafts!!

(Margot Potter for Dollar Store Crafts)

Make it, with Madge: How To Use the New Tulip Screen-It Machine! DIY Chevron Print T-Shirt

Make it, with Madge
iLoveToCreate Retrofabulous Crafts
How-to Use the new Tulip Screen-It Machine DIY Chevron Print T-Shirt  
Margot Potter 

Team Potter made a new video tutorial this weekend using our new Tulip Screen-it Machine! Here it is! All you'll need is a cotton t-shirt, a chevron print image and the kit. It took a few tries to get it right, if you have any issues with your print or holes in the sides of your screen, a little blue painters tape fixes things right up. Hope you enjoy!

Note:  To make our shirt, we screened the image four times, just line it up and print! We used a size large t-shirt, you may need to do just a little math to get the image to fit around the center of the shirt. 
Cheers, Margot

 (This is an iLovetoCreate exclusive blog by Margot Potter.  Blogger was compensated and provided with machine)

Day Six of Halloween FaBOOlosity: Glitterati Skull Earrings Video!

What the what? Can it be? Day SIX of Halloween FaBOOlosity?! Huzzah! Today's spookcraftular selection is a video we made way back when...one of our first...and it has perhaps about 57 too many sound effects. There's a fun dance break and Avalon makes an ADORABLE cameo. Now that I know more about UTEE, I would not recommend stirring it like I do in the video and I would suggest adding some UTEE Flex. Though I still have the jewelry I made that day and it all looks great!

Lots of stuff happening here at Studio Madge, so stay tuned!

Spookily yours,
Madge

iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts: Hallowe'en Jack-o-lantern Earrings

Hallowe’en Jack-o-lantern Earrings
Margot Potter for Avalon Potter for iLoveToCreate

Avalon was busy with school this past week and I had some free time, so I agreed to make her project for her. We love Halloween around Casa de Potter, but Avalon isn’t into scary stuff. These little vintage jack-o-lanterns were so cute; they seemed like the perfect fit for a flirty seasonally apropos pair of earrings. Permission free images are easy to find and decoupage on Grungeboard allows you to create water resistant and lightweight jewelry. A little touch of Collage Pauge sparkly and some Glam it Up Crystal accents add the perfect dash of sparkle!


Materials
Grungeboard plain sheets
Permission free jack o lantern (image can be downloaded from here)
2 Small Glam it Up crystals
2 10mm silver tone jump rings
2 silver tone ear wires
Traci Bautista’s Collage Pauge sparkly
Traci Bautista’s Collage Pauge glossy
Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue

Tools
Hole punch (I used a Crop-a-dile)
Sharp craft scissors
Foam paint applicator tool
Computer with publishing software
Printer

Download this permission free pumpkin image to use for your project!

1. The image should be sized correctly, but if you want to print multiples you can size it and put it into publishing software before printing. Print a sheet with at least two jack o lanterns on it. Cut out two.

2. Use glossy decoupage medium to attach images to Grungeboard. Smooth any wrinkles gently with finger tip and allow to dry.




3. Use crop-a-dile to punch a hole in the top center of each jack o lantern.

4. Use sharp scissors to cut out dried jack o lanterns.



5. Paint two thin layers of sparkly decoupage medium on each earring. Allow to dry.

6. Adhere crystals to eyes using glue. Allow to dry.

7. Attach ear wires to earrings using the jump rings.

8. You can decorate the backs of your earrings as you wish, I painted some sparkly dimensional fabric paint on the back of mine.

The Impatient Crafter for iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts Spooky Sparkly Flower Clip

Spooky Sparkly Flower Clip
Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate Teens!
"Mom crafted, kid approved"

If your teen is still not sure what to wear for Halloween, here’s a little idea that’s big on possibilities. This sparkly flower clip is a breeze to make and you can easily remove the faux web and spiders so it becomes everyday friendly. I purchased my flower clip at H&M, but I’ve seen these all over the place this season. You can opt to make these in any color, but I chose black for Halloween. Pin this to a thick black ribbon for a Morticia/Vampire style choker or to fashion a wrist corsage for a Dead Prom Queen, glitter up a bouquet of black roses for a Corpse Bride or attach a few glittered flowers to a headband for Frida Kahlo, or a bunch of them in various colors to a huge hat for a La Catrina Day of the Dead costume. You can find old prom dresses and wedding dresses for a song at your local thrift shops, then just shred and spray with black fabric spray. Easy peasy!

Materials
Large fabric flower pin/hair clip
Faux spider webbing
Three plastic spider rings
Tulip Fashion Glitter Bond
Tulip Fashion Glitter in black
Liquid Fusion glue




1. Pour a puddle of glitter bond on a non-stick sheet or a plate and dip the flower into it. (You’re looking to get a thin bead of glue on the edge of all of your petals; you can also opt to carefully squeeze the glue on the petal edges.)


2. Pour a small pile of glitter directly on your flower. Allow to dry for ten minutes and dump excess glitter on newspaper and back into jar. You can also opt to dump glitter on a non-stick sheet or a plate. Dip flower into glitter and let dry for a half of an hour and then dump excess glitter back into jar. Let glitter dry overnight.


3. Cut of a small section of faux webbing. Tie it around the width of the flower loosely with a knot in the back (you don’t want to lose your flower shape.)

4. Dab glue on the back of the body of your spiders and press the webbing into the glued areas on spiders. (Don’t glue the spiders to the flower or you won’t be able to remove them later.) Allow to dry.

Avalon looking Spooky Sparkly!

In Case Of Emergency Free Halloween Craft Project Mixed Media Necklace

(Click on image to view close-up)

It had been exactly ten days, ten hours and ten minutes since he’d last fed. The hunger was maddening. She’d locked him in this godforsaken basement and even the rats had the good sense not to hang out down here. It felt more than a bit like a scene from Psycho, the only thing missing was a mummified ‘mother.’ Truth be told, even a mute mummy might be good company at this point.

He had worn this amulet for years, just in case. The blood was so old, cold and stale it would taste vile, but desperate times and all that jazz. The skeleton key was sturdy and could easily break the wax seal on the tiny flask.

Success!

It was only a momentary solution to a monumental problem...but he would find a way out. There was no way in hell he was going to spend eternity like this, and when he got out, she'd be his first victim.

A vampire must always be prepared...
In Case of Emergency
Mixed Media Necklace
Free Halloween Craft Project
Copyright 2009 Margot Potter
All Rights Reserved (For personal use only and not for resale)
This little bottle that my daughter found in our backyard has been begging me to put it into a design for a while now. I think I've mentioned it here at least twice! Finally, yesterday, at the end of my work day, I got this project completed. Just in time for Halloween! I have to say, these macabre designs are becoming a guilty pleasure of mine.
Insert evil laugh here...
Materials1 tiny glass jar (I used a vintage jar from our backyard, but a new one would work fine too)
1 skeleton key (I used a vintage key I scored at a local salvage store, but there a plenty of reproductions out there)
5 4mm light siam CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements™ 5000 rounds
11x5mm siam CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements 6000 teardrop
1 three link section of hammered oval gun metal chain (Rings ‘n Things)
1 32” section elongated oval gun metal chain (Similar styles available at Rings n Things)
Dark Annealed Iron Wire
Ranger Melt Art Beeswax
Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink cranberry
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink vintage photo
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink black soot
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint rock candy
Printed paper centered In Case Of Emergency in Viner Hand ITC 10pt.
Beadalon BeadFix Squares
Tools
Computer with word processing software
Printer
Ranger Ink Applicator Tool
Ranger Blending Tool Foam
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Memory wire shears
Melt art pot
Suze Weinberg Wax Stylus
Non stick craft sheet for wax if using stylus
Disposable paint brush if using melt art pot


1. Create a centered document with the words “In Case Of Emergency” in Viner Hand ITC 10pt. or a font of your choice. It needs to fit your jar.
2. Print document and cut label to fit jar. Crinkle paper and gently dab vintage photo on paper using a foam applicator. This gives an aged effect. Edge the paper with black soot and foam applicator. Work from outside in gently moving applicator in a circular motion, be judicious!
3. Apply label to jar using BeadFix Squares. Glue sets fully in 24 hours, but works on contact.
4. Apply a thin layer of Rock Candy Distress Crackle paint and allow to dry.
5. Squeeze alcohol ink into jar.
6. Cut a 3” segment of wire using memory wire cutters. Wrap jar with wire several times, making a small loop on the front and a larger loop at the back that will serve as your bail. Tighten wire with pliers.
7. Seal cap and wire with wax. You can melt the wax in a melting pot and apply it with a small brush or you can use your stylus to melt it and apply. Wax gets VERY hot...so be careful! Allow wax to dry.
8. Use foam applicator and alcohol ink to stain wax red. Allow to dry.

9. Attach the three link chain to the bail on the back of your jar.
10. Wrap a small section of wire around the bottom of your key, making a small loop. Attach the small loop to the open end of your three link section of chain.
11. Create a rosary style chain with four of your crystal rounds, ending with a tear drop. The head pin threads through one side of the teardrop and you bend it flush to the top of the pendant and create a small loop at the top.
12. Attach your fifth crystal round on a head pin with a looped top to the loop at the front of your jar.
13. Slide the chain into the top of your skeleton key, folding it in half.
14. Create a simple hook clasp attaching it to the two open ends of chain.

(Note: The following materials were donated for use in my work: CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements™, Beadalon BeadFix squares, Ranger products, hammered chain from Rings n Things. I purchased the remaining materials.)

Free Halloween Craft Project for iLoveToCreate: Sparkly Skull Halloween Ornament Centerpiece

Sparkly Skull Halloween Ornament Centerpiece Copyright Margot Potter 2009
(This sphere is 8" in diameter!)

It has been positively Poe-esque around these parts this week and it looks as if it's going to stay that way for a few more days. Insert melodramatic sigh...here. Alas and alack it also means my step out photos for this post are rather dark and dull as well. Do forgive. Would that I had a state of the art photo studio and a team of stylists to make my projects look fabulous, but I am the entire team and this is a 130 year old school house with limited lighting capabilities...therefore I'm dependent on the sun for good pictures.

That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

Sparkly Skull Halloween Ornament Centerpiece
Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts
Copyright Margot Potter 2009
Mom Crafted-Kid Approved

My daughter has officially stopped trick or treating this year, so instead one of her friends is throwing a Halloween bash. That got me thinking about teen friendly party décor. I’ve been working on some retro style Christmas ornaments using Styrofoam, sequin and ribbon for an upcoming taping, so doing a Halloween version wasn’t a stretch. This is a fun and easy project and the potential variations are endless. Put this 8” ball in the center and add some smaller sizes wrapped in netting and other thematic ribbons and sequins and some Halloween themed confetti and you’ve got an adorable centerpiece for a teen party. You could also hang several of these on a wire from the ceiling.

Materials
8” Styrofoam sphere
Crafty Chica Little Chica Paints in black
Crafty Chica Glitter in Be Bop Black (you’re going to need TWO tubes to cover this ginormous sphere!)
Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky SprayAleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Orange crystals (I used CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements™ 6mm Hyacinth bicones)
Off white flower sequins
Thematic ribbon (I purchased this ribbon at Michael’s last year, but all of the craft chains have fun Halloween ribbon around this time of year)
1” thick satin ribbon with loop edges
18 gauge Colourcraft wire2" silver plated head pins

Tools
Wooden dowel or paintbrush handle
Paintbrush

1. Begin by painting your sphere. I inserted a paint brush handle into my sphere so I could hold it while painting. Styrofoam sucks up a LOT of paint, so you may need two containers to cover an 8” sphere. Allow to dry.
2. Spray sections of the sphere with Spray glue and pour glitter over them on to a newspaper or non-stick craft sheet. Keep refilling glitter container as you work. You will need two tubes of glitter to cover an 8” sphere. When finished, tap off excess glitter and allow to dry overnight.
3. Use your paint brush handle to shove one end of a pre-glued ribbon into your original indentation. I used a thick smearing of Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue along the entire length of ribbon.

4. Measure and mark an indent in the opposite side of sphere and repeat. Mark equal placement for four ribbon sections, using your paint brush handle to insert them into the indentations. There should be glue on the ends so they dry inserted in the indentations.

5. Insert a crystal and a sequin on a headpin and dab the exposed end of your headpin with Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue. Insert this into an open section of your sphere. Repeat filling each section with sequin and crystal accents. Try to evenly space your embellishments. (I started with just crystals, but we decided the sequins added so much to the design, so we did a redo!) Allow to dry.


6. Create a bow using the thick looped ribbon.
7. Insert a 5” section of Colourcraft wire bent into a ‘u’ shape threaded through the knot of your bow into the top of the sphere as in photo. Allow to dry.(Disclosure of Payment and Samples Links: http://cmp.ly/2 http://cmp.ly/3)

Free Halloween Craft Project: Vintage Plastic Hooty Owl Necklace

Hooty Owl Necklace Set Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

Hoot, hoot! I gave you a sneak peek of this necklace a while back. It's so seasonally apropos, I thought this would be the perfect time to share the instructions. This is another easy to whip up in a flash idea and you can sport this puppy all year long. These adorable owl beads come in a variety of colors. I'm a HUGE fan of vintage plastic beads and Beadin' Path has a phenomenal selection. I think plastic is a highly underrated material. It's lightweight, it comes in fantastic colors and effects and often you find far more whimsical ideas done in plastic than would ever be done in gemstone or crystal. I'm not a materials snob...I'll make jewelry from anything! Heck even trash if it's clean! (Designer note: I ended up going back and taking off the last two black beads after I photographed this, so the instructions reflect the updated version. You can add more beads if you want it to be longer.)

Free Halloween Craft Project
Vintage Plastic Hooty Owl Necklace
Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

Materials
6 15x30mm "limey" vintage plastic owl beads
5 18mm white with black polka dot vintage German plastic rounds
12 10mm _Plastic&search=yes&page=search.html">filigree white vintage plastic rounds (these are available in bulk only on Wolf Myrow)
2 15mm frosted black Plaid Fresh rounds
2 3.5" segments Beadalon polyester chain
Frosted black Blue Moon Beads Noir toggle clasp
2 sterling silver EZ-Crimp ends
11 5mm silver plated jump rings
6 2" silver plated head pins
4 1.5" silver plated or sterling head pins
2 silver plated or sterling French ear wires

Tools
Round nose pliers
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Mighty or EZ Crimp Tool
Scissors

1. Cut off 2 3.5" segments of Beadalon polyester chain.

2. Create 6 coiled owl dangles, 2 coiled polka dot dangles and 2 filigree double loop dangles.

3. Attach an EZ-Crimp end to a 12" segment of .018 19 strand Beadalon wire
.
4. Slide beads on in the following order: filigree, owl, filigree, polka dot, filigree, owl, filigree, frosted black, filigree, owl, filigree, polka dot...continuing this pattern until you reach the final (12th) filigree bead.

5. Thread wire into EZ-Crimp, use chain nose pliers to pull it through. Keep piece rounded to prevent it from being too stiff. Attach EZ-Crimp. Cut off excess wire.

6. Use jump rings to attach EZ-Crimp ends to your two poly chain segments.

7. Use jump rings to attach the clasp to each open end of poly chain.

8. To create earrings, attach ear wire to one end of double looped filigree, attach open bottom of filigree to coiled polka dot and repeat for second earring.

Designer Note: All materials used in this design were donated by the manufacturers and website owners for use in my work.

Free Halloween Craft Project for iLoveToCreate: Halloween Hootenanny Invitation

Free Halloween Craft Project
Halloween Hootenanny Party Invitation
Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate Teens

If your teen isn’t into the spookier side of Halloween, here’s a super cute retro party invitation they’ll love! Stack up layers of vintage and new paper and add a printed invitation and you’re good to go! These are and fun to throw together, so making a whole bunch won’t be a problem. If you’re into upcycling his is a great way to use up your scrap paper!

MaterialsKing & Queen Font 14pt. (daFont.com)
White computer paper
Old book pages
Bright orange cardstock
Acid green cardstock
Black and silver patterned scrapbook paper
Sizzix Hello Kitty Bigz Daisies die
Aleene’s Tacky Glue Stick
Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue
ToolsWord processing software
Bone folder
Scissors
Paper cutter
Sizzix Big Shot
Fiskars 1.5” circle squeeze punch
Fiskars 1.5" scalloped circle squeeze punch
Fiskars 1/4” diameter circle hand punch
Round standard size dinner plate

1. Type out the following in 14pt. into a Word document. Center the title and left margin the info: It’s a Halloween Hootenanny!
Time:
Date:
Location:
RSVP:

2. Print and allow ink to dry. Cut into 4”x4” square using a paper cutter.

3. Cut a 12”x6” sheet of acid green cardstock on your paper cutter.

4. Find and mark the center point of the width of the paper. Use a bone folder to fold and crease paper so the ends meet in the center.

5. Starting at the top corner of the folded paper, center and angle a ruler to mark the tufts. This angle should be 1.5” in length. Use a dinner plate to mark a rounded space between the tufts; this is the top of the owl’s head. Cut out tufts and top of owl head.

6. Mark the bottom of the folded paper edge to edge using the plate. Cut out bottom of owl head.

7. Use Sizzix Big Shot to cut large Hello Kitty flower with vintage book paper. Use same die to cut black patterned paper into a smaller flower.

8. Cut a small dot using a hole punch with a ¾” diameter.

9. Use Fiskars punch to cut out a 1/5” circle in the orange cardstock.

10. Use glue stick to stack and layer papers, starting with the old book flower, the orange circle, the black patterned flower and the green dot. Glue flowers to the cardstock base.

11. Hand cut a 7/8”x5/8” owl beak, this is shaped like a guitar pick!

12. Adhere half of the beak to one side of the slit in the paper using Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky glue.

13. Adhere your pre-cut invitation into the center of the inside of your card.

14. Cut a triangle shaped segment of patterned paper (this will fit between the eyes at the top of your card.)

15. Trace the back of the top of the triangle so it fits the rounded head of the owl. Cut out.


16. Make a cut the triangle in half starting at the center point so it fits on each side of the card split. Adhere to card with Tacky Glue so the points meet up.

(Blogger's Note: The Aleene's glues, Fiskars punches, Big Shot machine and Big Shot Bigz Dies were donated for use in my design work, all other materials were purchased.)

Free Halloween Craft Project Idea Goulie Girl Necklace

I've been waiting for some phone calls this morning and I remembered these great ceramic skulls I got from Jennifer Heynan of Jangles. (It looks like she's out of skulls, but if you scroll down she's got pumpkins, ghosts and cats that'd be great substitutions.) I've been meaning to make something with these skull beads for quite some time and with a few spare moments here, I whipped up this jaunty little Goulie Girl necklace. I used carnelian beads, three strands of fancy gun metal chain I bought from Rings and Things and some dark annealed iron wire I bought from Metalliferous. The wire is cut into short segments and used to create a rosary style chain to connect the beads. Basically I just added a loop on each side and connected them. You could also opt to add jump rings in between. If you use iron wire, cut it with Memory Wire shears and not regular cutters, it'll chew up a regular cutter blade in a flash. I have been mad for bows this season, so I couldn't resist adding one on here.

I love how this is part whimsy, part fashionista...for your inner Goulie Girl.

Until next time....craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

For the edification of the FTC, the gun metal chain and skull beads were given to me for use in my design work and I purchased the rest of the materials in the above project.

Free Halloween Craft Project: I Love to Create Jackolantern Tote Bag

I Love to Create Teen Crafts
Jack-o-lantern Purse
Copyright Margot Potter

I know I’ve got a winner when my daughter begs me to let her wear the project to school. She didn’t even want to wait for the tote to dry! I made a series of sketches with half images of iconic Halloween items: a skull, a bat and a jack-o-lantern. I decided on the jack-o-lantern, but I may revisit the other images. These half images have been showing up all over the place lately, so I thought it might give a ‘cute’ project just a little edge.

My daughter is finished with trick-or-treating but she’s got a party to attend and she loves wearing Halloween themed t-shirts. I thought this would be a fun way to look stylish and seasonally apropos. I may sport this bag myself, you never know!

Materials
Black blank canvas purse
White marking pencil
Crafty Chica Little Chica Paint Pack
Tulip Fashion Glitter Rock and Roll (clear crystal)
Tulip Glitter Dimensional Fabric Paint (crystal sparkles)

Tools
Fine tip paint brush
Square tip paint brush


1. Hand draw half of a jack-o-lantern on the right side of your purse using a white marking pencil or gel pen. You can opt to use a template if you prefer, you may need to size the image on your computer to fit the dimensions of your purse.
2. Mix equal parts red and yellow Crafty Chica paints to make a deep orange. Paint a layer of orange and allow to dry. Use a fine tip brush for details and the flat tip brush for larger areas.
3. Paint the stem green. Allow to dry.
4. Paint a second layer of orange. Allow to dry.
5. Use black paint to cover any white lines left from your pencil.
6. Paint a layer of dimensional glitter on purse and sprinkle clear crystal glitter on it.
7. Shake off excess glitter and allow to dry.

Free Halloween Craft Project: Drop Dead Gorgeous Mixed Media Necklace!

All designs, images and text copyright Margot Potter

(Click on images to view in close up)

Drop Dead Gorgeous
A Darkly Romantic Short Story
Copyright Margot Potter

She was walking home from an evening of dancing with her friends. It was late. The streets were empty. Perhaps she'd had one too many glasses of chardonnay...perhaps...okay definitely. Her hips swayed in a syncopated rhythm as she struggled to maintain the illusion of sobriety. In the city, a girl needs to have her wits about her. One never knows what might happen if she doesn't.

She heard the faint sound of footsteps about a block behind her. Slow and methodical and most definitely male. She casually turned her head and saw him. Tall, dark, pale, dressed head to toe in black. He was strikingly handsome and she was sure she'd seen him before, but where? He smiled slightly and she quickly turned around. Something about this felt off. She was only a block away from her apartment and she needed to focus. Where was that key...she reached into her purse and began rummaging. Five different shades of lipstick, two lip glosses, a wallet, some breath mints...damn...she knew it was in there. She tried to ignore the footsteps behind her as they quickened.

She wanted to stop so she could find that damn key, but he was getting closer and she didn't dare give him any indication of vulnerability.

"Just keep walking, you'll find the key." She told herself.

He'd been watching her for months. He had spent centuries looking for the perfect red head and she fit the bill. His first love had been a red head...and...well...they'd had a complex relationship. That was in the past and this girl, this girl was most definitely the future. He'd waited patiently for an opportunity to get her alone. He would make her his. He would show her things that would blow her mind. They would travel the world, seize every moment, drink every last drop of every evening from sunset to sunrise...for eternity.

She heard him begin to whistle. Soft and slow. She recognized the tune. It was an old song that was meant to be darkly romantic...and one she happened to love...but it took on a darkly sinister tone here in the quiet of the city night. Then he began to sing softly. Find the key, find the key...

"I put a spell on you..."

Damn where the hell is that key? I know it's in here. Fine tip marker...subway ticket stub...another lipstick. Why do I have so many lipsticks? I always wear the same color. Still no key.

"Because your mine."

He was right behind her. She was only a few feet from her front door. She could hear his raspy breathing and the song was crawling under her skin. Should she yell? Was she being paranoid? What if he was just a guy, walking home? He probably lived in the neighborhood, they'd probably stood in line at Starbucks together. Sure. Calm down. He's just a guy. The key...she found it.

Then she felt his hand slowly slide around her left arm...

"I put a spell on you."

She tried to break free, but his grip was too strong. She started to scream, but his right hand covered her mouth in an instant. She felt his hot breath on her neck...then she felt his teeth...

"Because your mine."

"Drop dead, gorgeous."

Ah, Halloween.

I don't usually like horror flicks or shows, but give me a good twist and a complex hero or heroine and you may just have me. There is nothing quite like a villain who has redemptive qualities, something in the human psyche finds that endlessly compelling, which is why vampires are iconic and Dexter is a hit show. We are simultaneously drawn towards and repulsed by these dark characters. So here is the first in my bi-weekly offerings of Halloween themed projects...BOO!


Drop Dead Gorgeous
Copyright 2009
Margot Potter
For inspiration purposes only and not intended for resale

MaterialsTim Holtz Fragments large square pendant
Tim Holtz Ornate Plates
Tim Holtz Foliage Flowers in gun metal
Tim Holtz link chain in gun metal
Tim Holtz link chain toggle clasp circle only
Tim Holtz Grunge Paper
6 5mm CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements rounds
18 gauge dark annealed iron wire (Metalliferous)
Beadalon BeadFix AdhesiveTraci Bautista Collage Pauge Matte
Crafty Chica paint in redAleene's Liquid FusionEdwardian script font size 12 "Drop Dead Gorgeous" printed on white paper
Dover Books permission free Great Anatomical Drawings skeleton image printed on white paper

Tools
Scissors
Computer
Round nose pliers
Memory wire cutters
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Hole punch (1/16")
Pencil

1. Create the words Drop Dead Gorgeous in a document on your computer using Edwardian Script ITC font in size 20. (Or similar vintage style font) Print. Trace with acrylic pendant and cut paper.

2. Mark and punch a small hole in paper so it’s in the same spot as the hole in the tile.

3. Adhere paper to back of tile with a thin layer of Collage Pauge. Seal back of paper with another thin layer of Collage Pauge. Allow to dry.
4. Use an old toothbrush or a small paintbrush to flick a small amount of red paint across surface of acrylic tile. Allow to dry.
5. Print Dover skeleton image. Place metal frame over image, centering skull. Trace around inside edge of frame using a pencil and reaching under the lip. Cut out image.

6. Place frame on grungeboard paper. Trace around inside of edge as before and cut paper. Adhere image to grungeboard with decoupage medium. Allow to dry.

7. Glue image edge to lip on frame using a thin bead of Liquid Fusion. Paint a thin layer of decoupage medium on image. Allow to dry.

8. Use the Beadalon jump ring making tool to create 2 15mm jump rings with the iron wire. Cut rings with Memory Wire shears (iron wire will ruin your regular cutters.)

9. Attach pendants together with jump rings.

10. Glue small flower on top of the hole in fragments tile with jeweler’s glue. (Make sure you don’t cover the hole!)

11. Glue a second flower on the lower left side of the pendant. Glue a crystal in the center of the flower. Allow the glue to cure.

12. Create a large hook using the iron wire

13. Thread five crystals on a length of steel wire. Create loops on both sides.
14. Attach loops to chain on one side and your hook clasp on the other.

15. Slide chain through top jump ring on your pendant. Attach the circle end of the toggle clasp to the open end of your chain.