Friday, October 22, 2021

Eileen Hull 2021 Halloween Screaming Skull Journal



Hey, Crafty Friends!! It's that time of the year again! My favorite season, SPOOKY SEASON... Halloween!! And you know I just had to continue with my tradition of making a creepy-cool Halloween journal. So here is my new 2021 "Screaming Skull"!!

This year I kick it up a notch because this one lights up!!

Let me show you how I created this horrifically haunting masterpiece...




Supplies Used
Black Gesso (Golden)
Mint Tape (Scrapbook.com)
Plastic Skulls
Black Netting 
Plastic Halloween Toy Bugs
Spider LED String Lights
Chipboard Frame
Quick Dry Glue
Bone Folder
Scissors
Paper Trimmer


I started by making the base, the journal cover. For this, I used the Eileen Hull Full Size Journal Die. I trimmed a piece of 12" x 12" black chipboard down to 8-1/2 " x 12". Then laid it over the die and ran it through my Big Shot Plus Machine. This die has to use the Big Shot Plus or Pro Machines. It is a very large die and will NOT fit in the other smaller machines. 

To make a single journal you must cut the die out twice.


Once you have all your pieces cut, take the two cover pieces and attach them together.
 Add glue to the spine portion and overlap the spines. I like to use clothespins while the glue is drying to keep them in place.

When the glue is completely dry, I ran the entire cover (FACED DOWN) through my Xyron Creative Station. Then I burnished the protective film thoroughly to get maximum adhesion before peeling.


Then I peeled the protective film completely off and immediately covered it with the black netting.
I trimmed off any overhanging excess with kitchen sheers... this stuff is pretty thick.

I found a chipboard frame and painted it with black gesso then attached it to the front of my journal cover using quick-drying glue.


I bought these cool "spider" string lights from the dollar store and really wanted to incorporate them into my journal but it has a big battery pack so there was no way to hide it IN the journal itself... so I hid it in plain sight by adding it directly to the cover.

Keep reading to see how I disguised it!!

And it is important to note that I placed this pack with the switch facing down toward the bottom of the cover. You'll see why.


Here's how I did it... I used the skull head!

These plastic skulls are hallowed. I cut off the entire backside of the skull and sliced it in between the lower and upper teeth to create a separated jaw.

Then attached the upper part of the skull over the battery pack with more quick-drying glue, concealing it. Once I liked the position I attached the bottom portion of the jaw to the cover as well.

Then draped more netting around the skull to cover the rough edges and any gaps.


I strung the light around the skull around the back cover. Then glued on an assortment of plastic bugs. I used more black netting to conceal the wires and glued those over them. It's ok if they faintly show because the next step will completely hide anything else showing...


First I used mint tape to cover the lights. And added some black netting into the skull's mouth.

Then I painted over EVERYTHING with black gesso. And when I say EVERYTHING, I mean EVERYTHING!


The skull, hands, bugs, and yes, even the netting itself!

Once the gesso was completely dry, I rubbed a bit of Rose Gold Luster wax over everything. It really highlights all the raised areas and really brings out all the gorgeous textures.


Once it was completely covered here is what it looked like!



Remember, I placed the battery pack inside the skull...
So to turn it on and off you actually have to reach inside its mouth!! Ewww!! LOL!

This was why it was important for me to place the switch in the direction I did... So you could access it through the mouth!


It was worth it because here it is all lit up...




I am obsessed with it! I think this is my favorite creepy journal I have made so far!

I hope you enjoyed my process!!

Thanks for stopping by!

And until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!
~Mitsyana






 

11 comments:

  1. Wow! This is absolutely amazing! You are very talented!!

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    1. You are incredibly kind! Thank you! I'm so glad you like it!

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  2. You are my crafting idol!I loved the previous one and didn't think you could outdo yourself, but you did! It's fabulous!

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    1. I loved my others too but I was trying to find a way to kick it up a notch! I'm so glad I did!!🥰

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  3. Replies
    1. Susie, you are to funny!! I love you girl!!😘😘😘

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  4. This is so cool! I love all the texture on the cover. Is this an art journal or is this a writing journal? I would think that having a journal insert would make it easier to write on the pages as I'm sure that skull is bumpy. lol Thanks for sharing your wonderful creativity with us! Love it!

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  5. It's whatever you want it to be. I usually fill my books with inserts. That way when the pages are filled I just swap them out. This one is empty for now... but for these I generally create all black inserts for them. If you search my blog my other skull post show how I create the inserts.

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  6. Wow! That's absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for including step-out photos and great instructions. Pinning!

    Happy Halloween!

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    1. Thank you so much!! And you are so welcome! When I post tutorials I usually try to be as clear and thorough as possible so that readers can easily follow along and recreate projects.

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