Mixed Media Halloween Wall Decor

Using a scrapbook collection for a mixed media project

This mixed media Halloween project is created from a scrapbook paper collection. The project previously posted on the original Artful Adventures website. However, I have removed info about old products that were used and reposted it here. You’ll get the idea. I will apologize up front for the quality of the photography, but I hope you enjoy this idea for mixed media Halloween decor!

Halloween has become an incredibly big retail extravaganza, and as crafters I don’t think we will complain about how that has increased our options! There are always great Halloween themed scrapbook collections. I used one of those collections for this project.

Halloween Mixed Media Decor Item
Halloween Mixed Media Decor Item

Getting started on a Halloween Mixed Media piece

You can easily create a project from a scrapbook collection on a 12″ canvas. Paint the edges and you don’t even need to frame it. If you wanted to, you could use a canvas panel so that it would be thin enough to place in a regular picture frame.

First off, select what you’ll use for the background. I chose the Slate paper for the top or sky, and the black for the ground bottom. I cut a strip off the bottom of the Slate paper and then tore a tiny bit along the edge. That way, the layers ease together nicely. Now, use an adhesive medium to coat the back side of your paper. Turn it over onto the canvas add a layer of your medium over the top to seal it.

slate background paper applied to canvas
Tear along the bottom edge to create less bulk when adding the next layer.

Next, I tore an edge on my Black paper to create the ground. Again, coat the back of the paper with your adhesive medium, turn it over onto the canvas and add another layer of the medium.

Black paper turn to give curves for the ground portion of the project.
Black paper turn to give curves for the ground portion of the project.

Next, you can either add some texture to the background or you could just continue to the next step. Adding several different textures can create interest, so I used black StazOn as well as some white paint and a bit of a dark purple ink. Yikes! Too much white! I quickly made a gray color. I then brushed this over the sky portion of my background and restamped my texture in StazOn.

Texture added to the background
After my night sky became too light, I ended up creating gray with my paint and toned it back down.

Now for the real fun!

Now it was time to really start having some fun. Between the paper pack and some stickers from its coordinating set, there was a lot to play with. You can get a lot of mileage from a paper pack. Especially the cut-apart papers! Be sure to use them to their fullest. Here is what it looked like:

Major pieces placed and doors and windows added.
Major pieces placed and doors and windows added.

Adding details

Next I added details with a fine line marker, placed more stickers, and then used a black Pitt Pen to smudge around the edges of everything to give it more definition. I smudged in a bit more black into the sky to add a little more darkness. NOTE: You MUST have sealed everything with your medium over the top, even the stickers. The Pitt Pen will smear for a second as soon as you put it on, but it will not smudge if it is on unsealed paper. You have to act quickly, and you may need to dampen your finger, as well.

The last thing I did was use a white gel pen to add some final definition to a few areas. You’ll notice that I didn’t try to make perfectly straight lines.  That’s it. Complete! Here are some close ups.

White Gel Pen used to add some details
White Gel Pen used to add some details.
Black Pitt Pen smudged around edges
Black Pitt Pen smudged around edges.
Night sky with more black smudged in over the Slate background
Night sky with more black smudged in over the Slate background.

Here is the final piece. I may go back in and use my fine tip black pen to outline the witch and broom over the moon. What do you think?

Halloween Mixed Media Decor Item
Halloween Mixed Media Decor Item

Here is the FINAL piece. I went back in and outlined the witch!

Halloween Mixed Media Decor Item
Halloween Mixed Media Decor Item

Cheers to YOUR Artful Adventures!

Kristie

originally posted October 20, 2014

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