Flying Unicorns Skeletons in the Closet = Spooky Altered Home Decor -with Instructions

Skeletons in the Closet ( Skelly in the Closet)

Flying Unicorns Going "Off the Page" with Spooky Altered Home Decor 

This was created using the "OTP" from the Flying Unicorn September Kit of the Month - Your Passion Your Art.  I thought I'd play off that age-old idiom of having "skeletons in your closet" - meaning a shocking or hidden secret from your past.  I'm turning this  idiom into an actual closet for my darling skeleton doll.    

Let me back up a bit.  What the heck is "OTP"?   Often I toss around terms not even thinking of the folks who have no idea what I am talking about. I apologize.  "OTP" means "off the page" - or in other words, not a scrapbook page, but an altered piece of home decor.  

Every month, each and every kit comes with an OTP project that you can alter and decorate anyway you choose.  The options are limitless.  The OTP items vary from month to month.  September's project was a wooden hinged box from Darice.  It measures 7.9x2.2x1.6 inches - perfect for something like a necklace/bracelet box or jewelry box.   

 I chose to make it into a small closet for my newest doll stamp by Prima and Julie Nutting...meet Skelly.  

Here's how I made the wooden box:  

Step 1.  I painted the box black.  I had some black gesso with a matte finish available so that is what I used.  And it is true...I have the world's yuckiest paint brushes because I do not take care of them.  ( Husband and I are painting a room in our house today and my husband is in for a wild-eyed awakening if he is relying on me to actually clean the paint brushes. Ahhh but back to crafting....)

Step 2.  I added some gold accents to my box using the  Prima Art Alchemy Acrylic Paint that  came in last month's kit.  It's always great to find ways to use the supplies from prior kits.    I didn't add a lot, but enough to give some interest.  

Step 3.  In order to gussy up the wooden box, I pulled out the Prima IOD moulds and the IOD paper clay.  After I removed the paper clay from the moulds, I set the paper clay moulds on top of the wooden box to dry because the wooden box had a curved dome-like shape and I needed the moulds to conform to the box.   They need to dry overnight before proceeding.  

Step 4. The photo below shows the steps needed to finish the moulds.  Paint with purple (Prima Art Alchemy Dark Velvet),  add some gold accents ( Prima Art Alchemy Ancient Coin Gold), and top with a few sprays of gold mist ( Prima Color Bloom Mist in Antique Gold).   

Why bother with step 3 - mist with an antique gold color?  Because the mist soaks into the crevices on the moulds to enhance the details of the moulds.  It also adds some beautiful golden sheen to the finished project.

Step 5.  Add ribbons, flowers and embellishments.  Note - I used a super strong glue to adhere my moulds and embellishments.  My glue of choice is Beacons 3 in 1 glue because it holds darn near anything in place quickly - wood, metal, fabric, plastic, foam, clay, ceramic.  Plus it dries clear and without a shiny gloss finish.    I even touched up my flower with some gold paint for a nice blended look. 

Here's how I made the dimensional doll:  

Step 1.  Cut two Skelly dolls - from Prima and Julie Nutting.   

Step 2.  One doll will be decorated and the second doll will be used for the backside as support.  

Ink the edges of both dolls with black ink for shading and blending.   It's very important to make sure you ink the edges of the doll that will be used as the bottom layer.  You do not want any white edges peeking out when the doll is finished.   Once the doll is glued together, it's nearly impossible to add ink to the inside edges to cover up white.  The extra steps and care taken ahead of time will make the finished product so much more appealing.  

Select the doll that will be on the backside and flip her over.  Cut some small pieces from a wood skewer and glue to the doll. Wood toothpicks will add support as well, however I always have wood skewers on my craft table so that is usually my go-to supply.  

Make sure you add wood supports to all areas that may bend - like the legs, neck, arms.  

   

Step 3.  Color the doll as desired.   Add small black pearls to the eyes and shirt as buttons.  Create a statement hairbow or couture fascinator headpiece with some black cheesecloth,tulle, ribbon and a decorative brad.  Skelly likes dramatic headpieces.  I do too!

Special tip:  I bought my creepy black cheesecloth at the dollar store in the halloween decorations section.  Don't have a dollar store near you?  Grab some ordinary white cheese cloth that can be purchased anywhere....hardware stores in the paint department, grocery stores in the baking area, and on-line.  Pop your cheesecloth in a small plastic bag and mist with black mist or use black ink to transform and dye.  

Step 4.  Add layers to Skelly's skirt, along with some additional creepy black cheesecloth, and she's all done.  Paper Used on Skelly:  My Mind's Eye -Lost & Found Paper 6x6 Sunshine collection LF2104

 Here's the completed look.  Skelly's ready to take a stroll about town and turn some heads in her new scary couture outfit.  

Here are the rest of the photos:

I decorated the rest of the closet box using a variety of Prima supplies from Frank Garcia's Memory Hardware collection.   The complete list of products can be found at the end of this post.  Note the pretty little Prima mould clock on the left side.  

Want Skelly to come live at your house?  

This darling spooky box and Skelly doll are available in my ETSY shop.  Grab her while she is available!

You can see her right here!

Did you miss out this month? 

If you missed out on the Flying Unicorn kit for Sept., you may want to think about taking advantage of the pre-order option available on the 20th of every month.   The beauty of this option is that you get to preview all the goodies in the kit and decide if it is something you will like...and of course it will be!  You can find all the details here and never miss a kit that you want.  

Kits are limited

so do not delay in getting yours!

Product List:

Flying Unicorn September Kit of the Month - Your Passion Your Art
Prima Julie Nutting Doll Stamp - Skelly 911621
Darice wooden box - measures 7.9x2.2x1.6 inches
Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Dark Velvet Acrylic Paint - 963125
Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Ancient Coin Gold Acrylic Paint -963057
Prima Color Bloom Mist in Antique Gold-573843
Prima Frank Garcia Memory Hardware - Pearls 990381
Prima Frank Garcia Memory Hardware -Montpellier Apothecary Vial Labels 991098
Prima Frank Garcia Memory Hardware -Montpellier Apothecary Vials 990619
Prima Frank Garcia Memory Hardware -La Rochelle Antique Trinkets 990725
Prima Frank Garcia Memory Hardware -Strasbourg Gold Trinkets -991142
Prima Frank Garcia Memory Hardware Chains - Antique 990633
Prima Frank Garcia Memory Hardware Vintage Trinkets -991135
Prima Mechanicals Stars-936654
Prima IOD Moulds - Vintage Art Decor Mould - Baroque 6 -814823
Prima IOD Moulds -Vintage Art Decor Mould - Baroque 4- 814809
Prima IOD Paper Clay - 814991
Black Matte Gesso
Black Cheesecloth
Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Black Soot, Crushed Olive,  Mowed Grass
Decorative Brads
Black Pearls
Flowers

Christmas Carol Lantern- Home Decor with the Flying Unicorns

Flying Unicorns Off the Page Home Decor for July with "A Christmas Carol"

The OTP (Off the Page )altered project for July was really cool - a bit unusual and fascinating.  I looked at it and it brought images of the "Christmas Carol" to my mind so I had my sweet little Julie Nutting dolls help me create my mini carolling scene.   

This piece is available in my ETSY shop while it lasts.  You can see it here.    I also have 30% off all items in my ETSY shop through Labor Day - Sept 4th.  Use code "KITTY30" at checkout.  

The metal lantern is from Darice and stands only  3.5 x 3.5 x 7.5 inches so I had to use the smaller children doll stamps by Julie Nutting.  I chose Toby and the little girl.  

  

I wanted the little girl to have a long Victorian styled dress so I made extra ruffles for her skirt and gave her a cape wrap instead of a shirt.  If you scroll down the page, I'll show you how to adapt your Nutting doll stamps to work well with an "off the page" project and yet be durable. 

Papers and flowers are from the Prima Victorian Christmas collection by Frank Garcia. 

How did I make the dolls? 

Julie Nutting's doll stamps are meant to be used in a variety of ways and not for just tags.  Sure tags are fun, but then so is any project you make with the little darlins.  

The real trick to using them on "Off the Page " projects is to make them as durable as possible so they do not bend.    This is how I accomplish that:

Step 1.  I stamp the doll shape twice and cut both out.  One shape will be for the front and the second for the back. This is the "Toby" doll stamp. 

 Step 2.  Go ahead and decorate the front of your doll as you desire.  Leave the second blank for now. 

 Step 3.  Once the front of the doll is done, ink all the edges of the second doll - both front and back.   This is in preparation for making a doll "sandwich".  When I glue the two dolls together, I do not see any white edges.  The project blends nicely. 

 Step 4.  After the edges of the second doll are inked, it's time to give the doll some "legs" to stand on.  

I love wood barbeque skewers.  They are inexpensive and I use them almost every time I craft.  Today they are going to become the "backbone" of my dolls.  haaaaaaa.  Little wood doll stamp humor.    Cut the skewers to fit head to toe and glue to the doll.  

Yes you do want to have the stamped side facing up.  This is the side you want to use when adding the wood skewers.  

 Step 5.   After the skewers are in place, you can go ahead and glue the sandwich together.  You may need to hold the edges together as they dry.  Once dry, you can continue to dress the back of the dolls. I just stamp the clothes and flip them around to use the backside if I do not want a lot of clothing detail.   

Here are the rest of the close ups of the finished lantern and "Christmas Carol " scene. 

Here are more close ups of the lantern and the whole piece. 

 I added Prima's snowflake paste to the lantern and embellishments after I was done to give that snowy winter feel.  It's also topped with a bunch of Prima products from the Victorian Christmas collection by Frank Garcia.  

Thanks for stopping by.  The Flying Unicorn kits move fast.  If you missed the kit already, you may want to think about the pre-order option avail starting the 20th of each month.  This provides you with a complete look at all the items and products contained in the kit.  You have 48 hours to purchase.  Now that's a great deal.  All the details can be found right here. 

Don't forget to visit my ETSY shop for 30% off everything

 (use code "KITTY30" at checkout).  

The lantern can be seen here and everything else is here. 

Products Used
Flying Unicorns July Kit - Your Passion Your Art
Darice Lantern
Prima Julie Nutting - Toby Stamp
Prima Julie Nutting - Little Girl -910600
Prima Frank Garcia Victorian Christmas - Flowers Midnight Kiss 583460
Prima Frank Garcia Victorian Christmas - Flower Rudolph's Nose 583477
Prima Frank Garcia Victorian Christmas - A4 paper pad
Prima Snowflake Paste

Going Off the Page - With Flying Unicorns Wooden Birdhouse and Frank Garcia

Going Off the Page with Flying Unicorns 

Hello  - I'm here to take you "Off the Page".  

The Flying Unicorns June "Your Passion Your Art" kit was chock full of wonderful delights this month (well always actually). This month, Alda added a cool wooden birdhouse to the kit as the monthly "Off the Page" surprise.  

The "Off the Page" projects or OTP's - are a fun way to stretch your paper crafting skills and challenge yourself to perhaps reach outside your comfort zone.  

This is a wooden birdhouse by Darice.  It's a cute size - 5"x4"x3".

I opted to work within the natural color of the wood and not paint it.  I choose the easy way and less messy way of not painting.  I looked in my stash of papers and decided that Prima's Tales of You & Me collection by Frank Garcia, would work with the natural color of the wood nicely.  

Here's How I Made the Roofing:

Step 1.  My layered roof was made by simple punching out rows and rows of paper using my favorite punch - the Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edge Punch.  I started the roof at the bottom and working my layers as I moved to the top of the birdhouse.  

Step 2.  Glue a very thin strip of foam or cardboard to one end of the shingles making sure the scalloped edge is not covered.  This gives each row of the roofing a little lift and dimension and yet still lets you keep building up the roof without too much bulk. 

Tip:  I also built both sides of the roof at the same time - so for example I glued the bottom rows of the house on both sides then progressed to the next row.  This is how I was able to make the roof look symmetrical. 

 This is a better photo of the symmetry of the roofing.  

After everything was in place, I gussied the roof with Platinum Stickles.   You can also see each row has a little dimension and "lift".

The hole in the front of the house has a cut out stamp from the Tales of You & Me collection, then accented with the same Platinum Stickles.  

All the flowers are from the Prima Tales of You & Me collection as well.  

This piece is available in my ETSY shop right here.  Grab it before if flies away.  

If you missed the June kit, then you may want to consider the pre-order option available on the 20th of every month - with no obligations to purchase other months.  The kit does sell out quickly each month.  All the details are right here.  

Supplies Used: 

Flying Unicorns June Kit - Your Passion Your Art

Darice Wooden Birdhouse 9184-74

Prima- Frank Garcia- Tales of You & Me clear stamp - 990930

Prima - Frank Garcia - Tales of You & Me flowers -Je t'aime 586256

Prima - Frank Garcia - Tales of You & Me flowers -586294

Prima - Frank Garcia - Tales of You & Me 6x6 paper pad 584399

Ranger Platinum Stickles

Martha Stewart Punch - Doily Lace Edge Punch

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Chicken Wire Sea Shell Holder - Flying Unicorns

Chicken Wire Sea Shell Holder -  Flying Unicorns

 Included in the Flying Unicorns April Kit each month is an Off the Page Project.  The April project was a cool chicken wire jar holder from Darice. I decided I did not need a jar holder but I did need a cool place to hold my hand picked treasures from my beach vacations.  So it was transformed into a shell keeper thanks to Darice, Prima Marketing Flowers and Frank Garcia. Special thanks to the ocean for it's beachy, sandy, wonderful treasures which I adore.


I have a little before/after action: 

The jar holder is 3.5in x 5.75in so it's a nice size for my perfect shells and sand dollars.  

Here is another close up.  My embellishments are from Prima's French Riviera collection by Frank Garcia.  The large starfish is a resin that I purchased at Michaels a few years ago. 

Big Tip Alert:
Attaching items to a cylinder shape can be tricky.  I used fishing line.  It's clear, strong and will secure all my embellishments like a champ.   I tied my starfish and my floral vines as well.  This is actually in my top 5 favorite tools in my craft room - a "must have".

 PERFECT for so many projects and altered pieces and almost invisible.  

So here is another close up of the project. 
 Aren't those Prima French Riviera flower vines perfect here?  Thanks to Frank Garcia's brilliant product design. 

Thanks for stopping.  If you missed out on the kit this month, consider the pre-order option on the 20th of every month. Details here. 

Flying Unicorns - April Kit
Chicken wire jar holder from Darice 6614-520
Prima French Riviera Flowers -Plage de la Bouillabaisse 586157
Gingham trim 
Prima Buff Trim 577070
Resin Starfish

Prima French Riviera SIIC Say It in Crystals 584801
Fishing line

DIY Faux Wood Photo Frame - With Prima, Frank Garcia and the Flying Unicorns

DIY Faux Wood Photo Frame -  Flying Unicorns and Prima's French Riviera by Frank Garcia

I'd like to share my Off The Page project for the Flying Unicorns March kit.  I'd also like to share my process further on down the page.  I've been in a sharing mood lately.  I feel that sometimes projects look complex and confusing - but when broken down, they just become one big "ahhhhhaaaa" moment. 

I love anything beachy, sea shorey, sandy and oceany - yeah I know those are not words but the real word for that is way to fancy.   Thalassophile   - means preference, fondness of the sea.  I prefer my words better.  At least I can pronounce my made up words.

I hope that someday I can fulfill my dream of living by the ocean along with my husband and cats, but till then, I'll keep making beachy, sea shorey, sandy and  oceany things. 

Prima's French Riviera, designed by Frank Garcia, made my job so easy.  It's gorgeous, warm, and peaceful looking -with that sandy weather worn feel. That's exactly the look I wanted to achieve with my Darice photo frame.  

Here is a close up of the faux wood frame.  If you scroll down, I'll share how I made it. 

This photo frame by Darice was included in the March, Your Passion Your Art from the Flying Unicorns.  The frame is not flat.  It has rounded sides.  The trick to the frame is to work with the rounded frame sides and create something that is durable.  For this reason I do not use hot glue.  Hot glue simply does not stand the test of time.  And by that, I even mean a year.  It starts breaking down and your beautiful embellishments could fall apart.  Well, that just isn't good. 

Think about getting a bottle of good strong glue that dries clear.  There are many brands.  My favorite is Beacon's 3-in-1.  It's clear, fast, durable and adheres darn near anything TO anything. 

Step 1.  I started with this sheet of Prima French Riviera paper Journees De Reves et Aventures 990787.  I cut 4 strips from the paper for each of my sides..  These 4 pieces look weather worn and sand beaten.   

Step 2. I used Prima's Soft Matte Gel Medium to adhere the paper to the frame.  Brush the gel medium directly onto the paper mache frame, and some on the strip of paper.  Place the strip onto the frame and brush a coat of gel medium over it making sure there are no air pockets, ripples and bubbles.  You can use a brayer as well to flatten out and remove bubbles.  

After all the sides are covered in gel medium, let dry.  The gel medium will seal the paper and make it durable, as well as protect the frame from fingerprints, stains and messes. 

Step 3. This is where my beloved Beacon's 3-in-1 glue comes into play and is important.  I am adhering thick jute to the sides of the frame.  I really would like my jute to grab and hold for me.  I have no patience for wrestling with trims, jute and cording to make them stay on projects.  They get one chance to behave for me or they get the boot. 

Step 4. I want to add some blue and sea glass colors to the projects so I decided to make my own perfectly colored embellishment.  I misted a small piece of cheesecloth and heat dried it with my heat gun.  The heat really stiffens up the cheesecloth.  I used Prima's Color Blooms in Glistening Waves and Summer Sky. 

Step 5.   Adhere little snips of the cheesecloth to the frame. 

Step 6.  Cut some images from the French Riviera paper.  Adhere to the project.  If I am placing an image onto the frame, then I will use the gel medium. Slather some gel medium onto the frame, some gel onto the image, then cover it with gel medium to smooth out.   The next few photos show the embellishments. 

I added some cardboard to the back of this to make it more dimensional.  The shell came back from Florida in my suitcase.    

This starfish image was adhered using gel medium.  

Step 7. Last step before all the final embellishments are added.  I  painted some watered-down white acrylic paint here and there onto the frame, embellishments, and jute.  

The final embellishments can be anything - shells, flowers, floral berries, sea glass, die cuts, drift wood...whatever you desire.   I added flowers from the French Riviera collection and floral berries. 

See how easy it is to bring the peaceful ocean to you?  Grab your collection here while it lasts.  


OTP - Supplies
(grab the  French Riviera collection here)
Flying Unicorns- Your Passion Your Art Kit for March
Prima Color Bloom Mists - Summer Sky 573867
Prima Color Bloom Mists - Glistening Waves 573942
Prima Art Basics Finnabair - Soft Matte Gel 961428
Prima French Riviera Collection - paper  990756
Prima French Riviera Collection -paperJournees De Reves et Aventures 990787
Prima French Riviera Collection Flowers
Cheesecloth
Darice 5x7 Paper Mache Photo Frame 2839-12
White acrylic paint
Seashell from my stash
Floral berries from stash