Creep Your Tree This Holiday Season!!!

For people who like a more unique and creepy approach to holiday decorating and gift-giving, my new Tree Creepers offer dark art at fantastic pricing! And right now, you can add a personalization at no charge.

http://www.coffincritters.etsy.com

And don't forget...comments get you entered into my contest to win a FREE ornament, personalized just for you!

Happy Haunted Holidays!

Tree Creepers are coming! Hide your Santas!

Coming soon to my etsy shops (as soon as I can get my camera to work) is my new line of creepy holiday ornaments...Tree Creepers! Feast your festive eyes on these examples of non-traditional holiday decor! Do you like vampires? Zombies? Victorian Goths? Skeletons who think they are snowmen? Muertos skeletons? Then you will love these Creepers!

If you fancy lighter, more whimsical art then my up and coming Fae Keepers are more your style! Stay tuned for links and purchase info.

NEW CONTEST!!! Who wants a free personalized Christmas gift?

Entering this contest is easy!

Simply leave a comment on at least one of my November blog posts (excluding this one) and your name will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a free personalized Christmas ornament! Your choice of style:

*Fantasy
*Gothic/Creepy
*Cute
*Animal

and you choose your own subject matter and colors! Just send me the text to personalize it, and leave the rest up to me! One winner will be chosen on December 1st. Your prize will be created, signed by the artist (moi) and shipped to you the first week of December! Just in time for the holidays.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

Ornament size not to exceed 1.5"w x 3"h. Will be made of polymer clay at artist's discretion.

HOW-TO: Make your own "Crystal" Ball with stand for around $5!

Etsy Dark Team gave me an idea to start doing How-tos once in awhile.

This is a really fun, easy project that is great for kids also! It won't break the bank either. :) Try using these as centerpieces for receptions and parties, or add them to your Halloween decor. Or do what I do...leave yours out all the time to enjoy!

Difficulty level: 2 (1 being least difficult, 5 being most difficult)

Time: Really depends on how involved you want to get with this. Can take 1/2 hour, or many hours. Dry time is up to a week.



Materials needed:

*Clear glass Christmas Ornament Ball, approx. $.50
*Taper candle stick, can be as simple or elaborate as you want. Dollar Stores usually have plenty of them, and they work just fine.
*Transparent glass paint, (like Delta) approx. $2.50. Your choice of color, but my personal preference is a white shimmer.
*Embellishments (optional) such as beads, findings, tags, trims, natural materials, glue

1) Carefully remove the metal base from the glass ball. You will not need it for this project, so you may recycle it for another project! :)

2) Very cautiously, squirt small amounts of paint into the hole at the base of the glass. As you do this, shake, rotate and swirl the glass orb until you have a THIN, fairly even coat. Does not have to be perfectly even.

3) Place the glass orb with the hole towards the top (so air can get to it to dry the paint) on a safe surface, or in your candle stick. At least twice a day, shake and rotate the orb to ensure even paint coverage. You may add small amounts of paint if needed. This may take a few days to a week or so, depending on the brand of paint and the thickness of the coat, but you will want to continue to do this until the paint is dry.

4) While waiting for your glass orb to become dry and coated evenly, you may opt to decorate the candle stick, as this will be the base of your crystal ball.

5) Once glass orb is dry and base is to your liking, insert the orb into the base with the hole facing downward. Voila! You made a lifelike "crystal" ball!



I welcome your comments on this, and remember to stop by etsy shops and take a look around!

http://www.faerydustpixy.etsy.com
http://www.coffincritters.etsy.com
http://www.gossamerhollowear.etsy.com
http://www.gossamergraphics.etsy.com