Second on the 2nd: Honoring Halloween

 

As most of you know, I like my second look each month to reflect our host at Art Journal Journey's (AJJ) theme. That means I needed to find something related to Elle from Empire of the Cat's theme which is Halloween or Steampunk or both.  I'm really not good with Steampunk, even though I actually love and appreciate it.  That means my second look will focus on Halloween only.

I love Halloween and often show off some aspect of it for T on Tuesdays around that time.  Here's an altered book I created in 2004, not long after I started making them. 

This tip-in above is especially important, because it came from my dear departed friend Gina Wise. It is the only tip-in made for a swap that I will show, other than a few I made myself. This was sent as a gift from Gina because whatever the swap was in which Gina participated, I was not one of the original players. 

For this page I stamped a pumpkin using a foam stamp. I also added a slide holder that I covered with handmade (by me) paper and stuck some Halloween confetti behind a bit of organza.

Here I used several UNICEF boxes left over after collecting for UNICEF. Actually, this is from two different years, because I was quite involved with UNICEF back in the early 2000's.  Note the left side of this spread is backed with a Halloween napkin, while the right side has my handmade paper.

To compliment the tip-ins, I decorated pages near the tip-ins. This is one I actually liked. Once again, I used my handmade paper, something I had an ample supply of when I was first getting started making altered art.

I have a few more pages to alter before it is finished.  I will also need to decorate the cover 

then I can call this book finished after seven years.

This page was created directly in the altered book.  I was happy when I found a use for the skull napkin that Darla sent me.

I'm not a card maker, but I made these cards several years ago to send to a few internet friends.

Of course, I also made a few tip-ins, too.

This is the reverse side.  Were it not for the wonky sewing, these would be a bust.

These were two Halloween themed ATCs for a swap. I made each person one of each. The left one is called "The costume." I started with a black napkin for the background, then layered die cut paint chip pumpkins over it. Finally, I added a glittery pumpkin that I bought at a garage sale.

I printed the cats and made one extra. I'm glad I did, because the first "Happy Halloween" I used a Sharpie and it didn't give me the look I was going for. Consequently, I switched to orange paint and a liner brush. Since I'm not a painter, I had about as much control over the brush as I would have painting the Sistine Chapel. I felt very fortunate that the words are half-way legible. Any other time, I could have gotten drips from the paint without trying. Since I was going for a drip, of course I couldn't get one on its own. I added Halloween ribbon and named it "Black cat Halloween."

I made these ATCs for a private swap.

I must have loved ATC swaps when I first started making mixed media art.  This is another one I made for a swap.  I got the copyright free image from a web site. I added the hat and painted the "trick or treat" bag with orange paint. I punched a bunch of leaves from paint chips and a moon from a German textbook. I mounted all on a black napkin background. The hardest part was mounting all those tiny leaves!!

Another year I made these cards I sent at Halloween.

This was for a Halloween houses swap in which I participated in 2011.

These are Halloween inspired playing cards for a weekly challenge.  I altered two cards a week in 2014.

I made this small art quilt (quiltlet) for a friend who celebrates Halloween.

I made this journal page to celebrate Halloween one year.  The sacrifices I make in order to create art!

Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  It could even be one that holds special meaning.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit.  This link will be good until Monday October 6 at 4:00 p.m. my time.