Crafter's Companion 'Inspirers' Design Team - October Project #1

Good morning everyone

Well I'm here today to share the 1st of my October Crafter's Companion Design Team project with you. Today's project is particularly seasonal...Halloween. As soon as I spotted the 'Country Cottage' template in the Crafter's Companion online store I decided then and there to make it into a spooky house.

This was such a fun 3D project, and so different for me. I loved every minute of it of making it. All the little feature on the house have been made using Crafter's Companion products apart from the large pumpkin and the witch, which I hand drew and cut out on my electronic cutting machine. I place a battery operated candle inside and it glows beautifully through the door and windows.

Why not have a go, you still have time before Halloween. You don't have to be as elaborate as I've been, just have fun with it and use your imagination. If you do make a Halloween house or even a card using Crafter's Companion products why not share it with us, we'd love to see it on our Facebook page. I hope you like spooky my house....sorry but it's a bit picture and text heavy. 

Happy Halloween :)

 

Photo with the tealight on

 

Here's What I Did

(The instructions are very detailed so I've broken them down into sections - I hope this helps!)

 

House Template: I drew around all the template sections (inc house, roof and chimney) onto 2 sheets of strong 12" x 12" black card. All the sections were then cut out and scored were indicated.

Walls: I drew around the house template again onto white card and cut up the house sides to create separate panels - 2 x sides, 1 x front, 1 x back. Next I die cut a rectangular* opening large enough to so that the window die could be place over it when it was time. When both side windows were cut out I placed the relevant sides of the house template and carefully marked with a pencil (make sure you mark which side goes where, so they line up correctly later).  The back wall has no window. For the front panel, I die cut a circle into the white card and again placed this on top of the house template and marked it with a pencil, this was repeated for the doorway but the actual door was cut away. All the panels were then dry embossed and distressing inks was added. I glued pale orange vellum** behind the window and door apertures. 

House: This was the tricky part as the house way too large for an A4 embossing machines and meant a lot of folding which is why I used good cardstock. So to cut out each of the windows I taped the relevant die in place (I did one window/door at a time) where I marked earlier, then folded the house sides over the top of the die and cut it. The reason I folded the sides over the top of the die was so I didn't accidently cut into places I didn't want to. I repeated the process for the windows, door and window in the door.

Windows: I die cut 2 window frames and a 2 circle frame from black card, and then glued strips of thin card across the circular ones to match the others. These were all glued in place onto the front and 2 side wall panels and the door. The house template was then glued together.

Roof: The roof was scored, and a hole was die cut* into one side where indicated to accommodate the chimney, then glued together. To make the tiles, I die cut lots of scallop strips which I inked and glued in place on the roof, overlapping them slightly each time. The tiles were placed around the chimney aperture, and when completed the chimney was glued into place.

House Base: I matted a piece of black card 7¼" x 8¼" with a printed out sheet of Halloween patterned paper, and die cut lots of fence panels which I attached to the base, and left one open to create a gate***.

Embellishments: To decorate the house I die cut a tree, leaves, vines, and some flowers then glued them in place around the house and base. I printed off a black cat, a bat and a few small pumpkins from the Crafter's Inspiration CD, then fussy cut them out and made them free standing. To finish off I hand drew and cut out a large pumpkin and a witch which I suspended from the roof. along with the bat using acetate strips. To make the spooky house glow I place a battery operated tea light inside.

Tips: *This could be done using a craft knife if preferred. ** You could use printable vellum and print a pale orange colour onto it (as I did). *** To make the fence stand upright, score along the bottom section of the panel depending how high you want it, and fold it and glue into place.

Here's What I Used
Crafter's Companion Products Used:-  Crafter's Companion Country Cottage Template, Crafter's Inspiration Magazine Kit #11, Die'sire 'Louise' Create-A-Card Die, Signature Collection English Country Garden 'Lazy Daisy' & 'Cottage Window', Signature Collection Autumn Morning 'Picket Fence', Die'sire 'Four Seasons', Crafter's Companion Matt Black Card, Crafter's Companion Printable Vellum, Crafter's Companion Acetate, Crafter's Companion Textures Embossing Folder 'Dry Stone Wall', Sheena Douglas Stamping Card, Diamond Press 'Love Today' Stamp & Die set, Core'dinations Cardstock 'Brights'

Other: Distressing Inks, Hand Drawn Images, 12" x 12" Black Card, Rectangle Die, Battery Tea Light, Manual Die Cutting Machine and Electronic Cutting Machine

Don't forget....if you want to see more Crafter's Companion creations made my lovely teamies why not join our Facebook page - just search for Crafter's Companion UK or USA, and for more magazine inspiration definitely checked out the Crafters' Companion Inspiration Magazine group.

Just a little heads up...we are also on Twitter, Instagram and have a Pinterest Board, so why not follow us.I look forward to seeing you soon. Why not leave me a message so I know who's out there or if you have any questions about the products - I'd love to hear from you :)

I look forward to seeing you soon. Why not leave me a message so I know who's out there - I'd love to hear from you!!

Challenge Entered:

Hugs & kisses

x Janine x