Monday, September 16, 2013

Halloween Configuration

Hi bloggers! Today is all about configurations. 
Several years ago I took a class from Tim Holtz and we did a box. It was not my favorite project and I had no ideas how to decorate the box. I sat there for the longest time thinking and Tim would come by and tell me "don't over think it". Something he still tells me to this day! He is so right! So....being the smarty pants that I am I took on the theme of zero. Because I had ZERO ideas. LOL 


Then a few years ago I followed along with Tim's Twelve Tags of Christmas and made a configurations tray instead of tags. Here's the link for the start of my tray.

My love for configurations has grown and it's one of my favorite mediums to work with these days. When I create a configuration I get drawn in and I can't seem to keep up with the thoughts going thru my mind. I love every minute of the process. I'm so excited to share with all of you my Halloween Configurations Book that I created for Tim to display at CHA. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing a full step by step tutorial. I hope you will play along with me. On the final post you will be able to upload your Halloween configurations project via inlinkz and I will choose some winners randomly for some great prizes from the uploaded projects. Sit back, grab a configuration book, tray or configuration box and let's have some spooky fun together. 


I used several of the new Alterations dies from Sizzix, lots of Idea-ology, distress ink, distress paint, shrink plastic and even a few small pumpkins. 

It all started with the new paper line from Tim Holtz called Laboratorie, love the black and white don't you. 

Are you ready...let's get started! With permission from Tim Holtz I created a template that was inspired by the Rickety House Die. Just click here for the downloadable template! If you have trouble I can email it to you.

Once you download the template, glue it to a piece of cardstock with a glue stick. This will make it easy to trace on the front of the Configuration book. Remove all the litlle boxes on the inside before you start cutting. 

Carefully cut the house shape from the cover of your book. I used an Xacto knife. Xacto knives are sharp, use extreme caution. If you don't want to cut the cover of your book you could also cut the house from paper and just glue it to the cover. Either way is great. 

Here's what it will look like. 

Carefully sand the edges with a sanding grip. 

Cut the cover paper a little smaller then the cover (9 3/4" x 11 3/4"). Tape the edges in a few spots to hold in place.  

Flip the cover open and trace the house cut out onto the backside of the paper. 

Using scissors cut out the house shape. 

Check the fit and trim as necessary. 

 Use Black Soot Distress paint to paint box. Paint the edge on the front cover. 

I used a brush for corners and areas the dauber couldn't reach. 

Paint the inside cover completely. 

Paint the edges were the little boxes will be in the inside. 

Paint around the edges on the back. 

Paint the side of the book. 

 Sew on the edge of the paper with black thread. 

 Use the Paper Distresser on the edge and then ink with Vintage Photo Distress Ink on an Ink Blending Tool. 

 Adhere the paper to the cover with Glue 'n Seal. 

I'll be back on Wednesday to cover the inside of all those little boxes. 
I hope you will share the journey with me. I can't wait to see what you create! 

Thanks for stoping by! 
Richele 

Check your local craft store for supplies or click the links below!