07/5/17
Creepy Halloween Books - Adding Texture with Paper Towels

Creepy Halloween Books – Adding Texture with Paper Towels

Spooky, atmospheric decorations are part of what makes a Halloween party so much fun. I love creating objects that my guests can pick up and examine, and that add that next level of creepiness to a display. Last year, I made a couple of spooky books and expanded on my bottle collection by experimenting with a texturizing technique using paper towels and glue.

Creepy Halloween Books - Adding Texture with Paper Towels

Creepy Halloween Books – Adding Texture with Paper Towels

Continue reading

10/5/16
how to distress artwork in photoshop

How to Distress Halloween Artwork in Photoshop Using a Photo and Layers

When it comes to Halloween decorating, oftentimes the older something looks, the spookier it seems. One ever-popular way to dress up your home for the season is to create potion, poison and apothecary bottles with creepy labels such as “Eye of Newt” and “Witches’ Brew.” As a graphic designer, I love creating these bottles because I get to design all kinds of labels for them. I also use these labels for other items, like invitations. To really add a finishing touch to the labels, I make them look worn and distressed using a layer effect in Photoshop and a photo I took of something that sounds very ordinary and random — the table on my deck.

how to distress artwork in photoshop

Continue reading

09/25/16

Spooky Skull & Roses Wreath – A Halloween How-To

My sister-in-law is almost as obsessed with Halloween as I am. Almost. When her birthday was approaching this year, I knew exactly what I would make as her gift, for the front door of her new house. This spooky yet classy wreath will be greeting trick-or-treaters in style.

Halloween wreath project

Continue reading

09/4/16
Intro to Carving and Painting Foam Board

A Basic Introduction to Carving and Painting Foam Board for Halloween Projects

From tombstones and signs, to pillars, columns and coffins, foam insulation board (also known as rigid insulation) is an incredibly useful and versatile material for Halloween projects. You can find it in home centers and stores that sell building materials and it comes in varying thicknesses, most commonly 3/4 inch and 2 inch. It’s lightweight and easy to carve, melt, distress, and paint, which makes it perfect for constructing Halloween decorations. Many of the handmade tombstones you see all over the internet are made with foam insulation board. Today I’m going to show you the basics of carving and painting this foam board with a tutorial for a simple small sign with a faux stone look.

Intro to Carving and Painting Foam Board

Continue reading