I just had to make one more diorama.
It took a lot longer than I expected it to. Like, a lot. Every day I’d wake up and think, today, I’ll finish! And I did not finish.
I learned a lot, though. I bought a soldering kit, and soldered something, and it worked! I made my first wire tree, and was pretty pleased with the result.
Overall, I like it, though it has too many flaws to put it in the shop. I shall happily keep it around as part of my collection. Maybe someday I’ll give it to a friend.
I don’t think I ever shared this when I made it, because it would have been a letterboxing spoiler. Letterboxers, especially in the PNW, love gatherings. After I’d moved to Florida in 2015, some friends back home requested I make a special box for their Halloween event. This would not be planted in the woods like most boxes, but shared at the table during the event. I got a notification that it was shared just recently, which made me so happy! I figure eight years on, I’m safe to share it here.
I loved making this thing so much. This might be the first time I used Verday Metal Paint, which is still available from Sandra Evertson. Love this stuff.
The book contained six coffin boxes…but only four had stamps in them. The other two had screamers. I wonder if the batteries are still good?
Every year, I participate in a small Secret Pumpkin exchange between a small group of friends. This year, my giftee received my first shadowbox:
I often buy bits from Sandra Evertson, and that panel on the left is a fave. I bought four, and I think I’ve used three already. Here it is a cemetery gate that opens to reveal…
I had a lot of fun making this. For some reason, the owl inside the little door makes me so happy.
Dolly Grim, from 2014, is no doubt one of the creepiest things I’ve ever made. My husband had to pass through my studio, stopped and said “Jesus Christ! What the hell is that“? Of course, this is when I know I’ve won.
You can see the original post, and my process, here. It was a learning experience. Dolly probably still lives happily with a far-away friend.
Another new diorama in the shop.
It’s funny how this looks simpler than the Witch’s Study, but took longer. I’m not even sure why. Things were built mostly from resin bits and polyclay.
I have a whole story for this one in my head. Once the portraits of these two vampires faced one another, but over time, disdain has grown. The portraits swapped, the vampires sleeping in opposite corners of the room.
The cat does not care about vampire politics, and sleeps peacefully on someone’s favorite chair.
Do you know all the vampire authors on the shelf?
At first, I thought the mold was just roses. Once it was on and I started painting, I realized it had all the flowers. That’s okay, still pretty.
New item in the shop! I’ve been doing the diorama thing lately, and I’m really pleased with the result.
I am, however, disappointed with my photography skills. Eh, I’ll figure it out. Seems like I shouldn’t need better than a modern phone, but maybe I’m wrong. Some less blurry details:
Fancy shelves filled with jars I built from resin bits, scrolls, and a nifty skull.
I love the haphazard piles of books. There’s also a little broom, a cauldron, a journal on the desk, and a kitty sleeping beneath.
Leaves and berries wind around the outside frame.
Ever make something, and later, you can’t believe you really made that? The Halloiuja board falls into that category for me. I always do my best work for friends. This was a Secret Pumpkin gift for Jenna of The Art of Darkness. It remains on of my favorite makes.
I love these new molds! Two of them are boxes, which is always superior. I would have added details to the little pumpkin cottage, but see…the resin was not the best for this application. I used Let’s Resin 4-Hour Cure. It is very thick, and pretty much impossible to de-gas. So there are too many bubbles for me to put a ton of effort into it. But I loved doing the candy corn colors. I will be pouring these again in a more suitable resin. I think I need more contrast between orange and yellow, too.
And yes, I missed the yellow on the right-hand pumpkin. I thought it was a lid for something, so only needed the two colors. Oopsie.
