Monday, October 3, 2011

31 Days of Halloween: Day 3- Eek Boo Tree

Day 3 is here, and along with it another day of marvelous projects! Just as a reminder, if you need to know the rules for 31 Days of Halloween, take a look at this post.

Before I show you my project, I have some sponsor info for you! Once again, you have the opportunity to win the fabulous Rick St Dennis digi set, so be on the lookout for that hidden image. But wait, I do believe we have another sponsor for today!



"Graphicat Designs is a Canadian based stamp company specializing in their own line of snarky and sarcastic, humorous sentiments and images. We carry both digital and rubber forms of our sentiments and are the only Canadian retailers of fabulous companies such as Simply Betty Stamps, Tickled Pink Stamps and Glo Skulls (more to come soon). We carry a selection of other paper crafting necessities and are adding to our inventories constantly. Come on by and check us out, sign up for our newsletter and join in our challenges. We'd love to have you! And we're proud to sponsor Smeared and Smudged!"

Graphicat Designs will offer the winner a choice of a $10 Gift Certificate to the store, or their choice of 5 digi images! Isn't that awesome?!? So when you are hopping today, you should be on the lookout for TWO hidden images! When you find them, shoot us an email and let us know where they are. Don't forget to come back by later on to check for the Day 2 winner as well.

Ok, now I am ready to show you my project for today. I so fondly named it my Eek Boo Tree. I'm sure you have seen all the cute little Halloween trees popping up in the stores lately. I really wanted one, but not a plastic or wire one, and not one that would cost me $30! So, I decided to make one myself for practically nothing.

I started by gathering some dried up branches from my cherry tree and wrapped them with floral tape in the spots where I needed to attach them together. I then drilled a hole in a scrap piece of wood and stuck the "trunk" through it for stability. After wrapping that as well, I spray painted it all black.

It looked amazing already, but I wanted to go for a different feel. So I sponge painted all the branches (very tedious!) with white, then did a brownish color wash after the white dried. I added rocks to the bottom of my container, which is a small plant container left over from buying seedlings, and then stuck the wood piece with branches in.

*click pics to view larger


In my backyard I have a birch tree and I've wanted to use the paper-like bark on a project for quite some time now. This ended up being the perfect opportunity!! After removing all the bugs (gross!), I hot glued the bark to the outside of my container. Then came the fun part...

I took air dry clay (10 lb box is only about $8, and I already had some) and shaped all my little ornaments, which include small birds, a pumpkin, a cat, and a ghost. I took tiny alphabet stamps and pressed them into the birds to spell eek and boo, and did the same on the pumpkin's hat. After drying, I painted them up and added hemp hangers to them. I have to say I cheated a little as this and the painted spool words are the only stamping I did, but I just love how it looks! Speaking of the spools, I just painted them and small wooden beads, stamped my words, and added them to hangers as well.







The final steps were to find spots to hang everything, add one bird to the front of my container, and then add my jewels to the inside of the pot. The colors mimic the colors of paint I used on the ornaments.


And voila! There you have it!! Super inexpensive handmade Eek Boo Tree!


I hope this gives you some ideas, and that you are enjoying 31 Days so far! I know I certainly am. Now it's time for you to hop along; and don't forget hidden pictures and checking back on winner info. Have fun!

23 comments:

  1. i love your eek boo tree! the colors on it are wonderful, the bottom is so touchable! wonderful!

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  2. Wow... I am loving your Eek Boo Tree! I have never played with clay! A new thing to add to my list of want to try techniques! I love your ornaments and the fact of how vintage they look; almost like a family heirloom that has been passed down through the generations!!! Thank You for sharing with me!!!

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  3. This totally kick butt on the ones you can buy. I really wanted one myself until I saw this! Now I want YOURS, lol!

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  4. Fabulous to the extreme! I adore your eek and boo tree! Clever, trifty, and GORGEOUS!!!

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  5. OMG this is FABULOUS - what an inspiration. I LUV it :-D
    Hugz
    Ike xxxx

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  6. OMG, this is sooo gorgeous! Much better than anything bought. The real organic feel is just AMAZING! xxD

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  7. Very wicked indeed! I've seen halloween trees before but they were always cute and colorful. This is spooky looking. A lot of work and it shows!! Great job!
    Susan

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  8. Holy Cow, Terra! That is just about the coolest Eek/Boo Halloween tree I've ever seen. Now on my to-do list. LOVE IT!!! Those ornaments are wonderful - you should make more to sell! You are too talented, girl!

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  9. that is so creative! I want one!!

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  10. that is the coolest tree ever. Love the kitty.
    It really turned out good for you.
    I am getting so many new inspirations from this blog hop so far. Look forward to getting home from work and jumpin online to start looking around.
    Learning alot.

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  11. Awesome tree! Love the "eeks!" Great idea!

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  12. spooky, love your tree and the clay ornaments

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  13. Terra, I'm blown away by this project! I look at those trees and go,"Ick", but this is wonderful. And your mini ornaments are way too cool!

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  14. Love your tree what a fantastic idea
    Luv Jane xxx

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  15. That is for sure the best Halloween tree ever! You are very talented, using air dry clay and all those ornaments!
    Peace,
    KristyKee

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  16. wow, love it! thanks for the great idea, another one to add to my list to do.

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  17. What an amazingly clever and creative project! This is so cool! And you've given me the idea to make some ornaments for Christmas! Lol!

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  18. Fabulousness! This project rocks, I love the little clay ornaments you made too. You've inspired me today :) Watch out trees I may have to attempt this project.

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  19. This rocks so much! It's absolutely wonderful, and so much better than the ones you can buy :D

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  20. I LOVE your Eek Boo Tree, Great organic natural feel to it:)

    Fiona. x

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