Tombstone Stand Ups for Halloween And a Look at a Famous Cemetery

Happy Howl-o-ween, and welcome to my version of Hollywood Cemetery.  When I saw this set of tombstones from Gina's Designs Lasercuts, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.  I want to share a bit of history behind Hollywood Cemetery with you first.

Hollywood Cemetery is a large, sprawling cemetery located next to Richmond, Virginia's Oregon Hill neighborhood at 412 South Cherry Street. Characterized by rolling hills and winding paths overlooking the James River, it is the resting place of two United States Presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler, as well as the only Confederate States President, Jefferson Davis. It is also the resting place of 28 Confederate generals, more than any other cemetery in the country; these include George Pickett and J.E.B. Stuart.^[3]

My inspiration for this goulish project is simple.  As a kid, on Sundays after church, my father used to take us to this famous, historic cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, to visit relatives buried there, as well as show us historical burial sites for very famous people.  You see, my father grew up in a house across the street from this pre-Civil War cemetery, and as a boy, he used to play all over this garden-like setting.  He knew every inch of it, and knew exactly where interesting people were interred, as well as the history behind it.  It may sound eerie to some, but it is a beautiful and very serene place to visit.  Modern cemeteries do not have beautiful tombstones or mausoleums to honor loved ones, so some of the architecture here was quite stunning.  For this reason, many movies and TV shows would be filmed in the cemetery throughout the years, including a scene from the move, The Jackal, starring Richard Gere and Sidney Poitier in 1997. 

Monroe's grave at Hollywood Cemetery.  
John Tyler's grave is visible in the background. 

George Pickett's grave

The Sauer family Mausoleum
in Hollywood Cemetery

I took liberties decorating my tombstones, as I put the architectural elements where the names and dates would be, but art is art, and this is just my interpretation of the beauty I remember.  

I first cut pieces from the Wrought Iron Set and the Border Sticks Floral and Border Sticks Lace,  glueing them onto the tombstones to make them more ornate.  I even used some of the punch out parts from the Wrought Iron Set and put them together to make different designs.  Nothing went to waste here. 

Then I base coated each piece, front and back, with black gesso, using a dabbing motion to get some texture.  When that dried, I painted each piece with a wash of dark grey acrylic paint and water.  I used a heat tool to dry it and bubble the paint a bit for more texture.  Remember, some of these tombstones are over 150+ years old. 

I painted the smallest skeleton from the Skeleton Shape Set with grey paint, then dry brushed the white over it for an aged look. I shaped the skeleton gently with my fingers and glued his feet to the bottom of the double tombstone.

For a mossy look, I added the green Flower Soft, which was a bright green.  I wanted it to look old, so I added moss green paint to it when it dried.  See the difference on the angel tombstone where I added the paint.

I wrapped the bead garlands around the tombstones to look like vines growing up around them, some of which I colored with the orange distress paint. 

I removed the prongs from metal cross brads and glued them to each tombstone.

Here are some closeups of the different Tombstone Stand Ups in the set.

Gina's Designs Lasercuts Supplies used:

Tombstone Stand Ups

Border Sticks Floral

Border Sticks Lace

Wrought Iron Set

Skeleton Shape Set

Other supplies used:

green flower soft 

acrylic paints

white glue

embellishments (my stash)

If you would like to read more about this famous and historic cemetery, you can visit the Hollywood Cemetery website.

Thanks so much for stopping by and for sticking around for my history lesson.  I encourage you to visit Gina's Designs Lasercuts shop for all of your chipboard needs.  She has the most intricate and high quality shapes around. 

Have a very safe and Happy Halloween and stay crafty, my friends.

Barbara

Maggie-a vintage layout

Hello and happy Monday! Lynne here with a heritage page of my great grandmother. My aunt recently gifted me with several family photos and I'm so looking forward to including them in my heritage scrapbooks.

I used the lovely Frolic paper collection by Blue Fern Studio some Prima flowers and of course some wonderful pieces from Gina's store. The vintage lady was covered with coordinating paper then run through an embossing folder. I inked the edges and the raised pattern for added contrast. I love the way the chipboard holds the embossed designs, whereas they can flatten over time when just embossed onto paper.

The heart border was embossed with the same design then painted with acrylic pint before I inked it lightly. The adhesive pearls were added between the hearts for a little extra interest and dimension.

I absolutely love the intricate cardstock doilies and use them every chance I get-they add the look of vintage doilies without the bulk of the crocheted pieces.

A few fussy-cut butterflies, a little stenciling with texture paste here and there and some delicate die-cut foliage, and my layout was complete-thanks so much for visiting and have yourself a fabulous week!

Gina's Items Used

Vintage Ladies Silhouette Set

Border Sticks-hearts

Cardstock Doily set-Intricates

Other Items Used

Blue Fern Studio papers

Prima roses

Prima and Crafter's Worshop stencils

Memory Box Die

"Always Remember" Canvas

Hello! Today I would like to share a very special piece I created in honor of my husband's grandmother. I found this picture of her holding my baby daughter and knew that a canvas was going to be made. I found the perfect accents from Gina's Designs to enhance the layout. I love the effect and hope you do to!

 I coated all of the chipboard in gesso and once dried, I spray them with various shades of gray and blue. With an old credit card I layered some thick gesso in the background and sprayed it. Next I arranged the chipboard borders around the photo and adhered it down to the canvas. 

 These words were done the same way, but I also added embossing powder. The shadows were added with a paint bush.

These words are perfect to honor someone in your next creation. I hope you give it a try! Thanks for stopping by! I also have a video of this project Gina's Designs Lasercuts' YouTube channel and on my YouTube channel.

Gina's Designs Items Used:

Border Sticks Lace

Butterfly Corner Top 

Curly Word Always

Curly Word Remember

Other items used:

Gesso

Lindys Stamp Gang Sprays

& Embossing Powder

Shabby Chic Embellishments by Kim C.

Hello everyone!  This week I have created shabby-vintage embellishments!  These are so fun and so easy to make. I am so addicted to making these cute embellies!!!  So let me tell you what I have done!

I have used the Button Shape Set to make these super cute button embellishments.  The paper I used was in my stash. I glued the buttons to the paper then cut around the buttons. Victorian Velvet distress ink was used all around each button.  I then added trims and flowers to them.

For the next embellishments, I used the Dangles collection.  I also used a few pieces from Miniatures Ladies Choice to decorate them, along with flowers, trims, seam binding and pearls.  I also used a heart from Border Sticks Lattice Hearts.   The butterfly and mason jar where created with punches.  I punched out 4 of each and glued them together to stiffen them up.  I then added pattern paper and then decorated them.

 Please check out my blog to close ups of these super cute embellishments!

Kreations by Kimber

Gina's Designs Products used:

Button Shape Set

Dangles

Miniatures Ladies Choice

Border Sticks Lattice Heart

Other items used:

Flowers

Lace

Trim

Pearls

Paper from Kittys Scrap Post

Seam Binding

Victorian Velvet Distress Ink

Brush Caddy by Kim C.

I everyone and welcome to this weeks project!

I have altered this Brush Caddy!

This was so easy to put together and so fun to decorate.  So let's get started!

The picture above shows the front of the caddy.  I used Graphic 45 paper to cover it.  I added laces and trim from my stash.  I also added beautiful flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I used several collections from Gina's store.  The top left corner I used a small dress form, a heart piece and a leaf flourish.  I painted them all with gesso and then I inked the heart with Victorian Velvet distress ink.  I then inked the leaf flourish with Forest Moss distress ink.  I then inked all the edges with Black Soot and then added some small open roses in pale pink.  The top right corner has a large trellis rose, a smaller black open rose and a cream hip rosebud.  I also added another leaf flourish.

On the front left bottom I added a frame and a butterfly that I painted and inked and then added the word "Inspire".  The bottom front right has a larger dress form that I painted, inked and added pattern paper to along with some flat back white pearls.  I then added several different flowers along with another leaf flourish.  I gessoed everything to soften it just a bit.

The photo above is the back of the caddy.  You can see where I added the Lace boarder strip to the bottom.  I inked this with Black Soot and used gesso to make it stand out.  The next two photos are closeups of the larger dress form.

The bottom photo you can see where I added the flat back pearls to the top and to the fringe on the dress form. 

I hope you like what I have done!  Below is a list of what I used.

Gina's Designs Products Used:

Brush Caddy

Delicate Frames & Ornaments

Boarder Sticks Lace

Word & Phrases #1

Parisian Shape Set

Boarder Sticks Lattice Hearts

Miniatures Ladies Choice

Other items used:

Gesso

Distress Inks: Victorian Velvet, Black Soot, Forest Moss

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Graphic 45 Paper: Le Romanique

Lace/Trim

Check out my blog for more detailed photos!!

Kreations by Kimber

Valentine Card and Gift Bag

Good morning, Deann here with a Valentine card and gift bag.

Instead of decorative paper, I used laces to cover the card base and Glassine bag.

On the card I used the "Love You" from Build a Layout Lovebirds and the Hearts Border Sticks.

I thought the aluminum roses look great in the center of the hearts.

   

The gift bag was made with a Glassine bag that I covered with lace and trim.

The center of the bag started with a doily. I added a leaf, a flower, and then a button on top. I painted an arrow from the Say Cheese Shape Set. 

(((HUGS)))

Gina's Designs Products Used

Say Cheese Shape Set 

Border Sticks-Hearts

Build A Layout Lovebirds

Other Products Used

 KraftSupplies4u

Composition Box by Kathi and Layout by Melissa

Hi Crafters!  Today we have two projects to share.  First up is Kathi with her version of the Composition Boxes we've been sharing with you this month.


Hi everyone, it's Kathi here to share my composition box & a video on how I altered it. It's hard to believe it's been 40 years since I graduated from High School in 1974.  I thought it would be fun to create a memory box representing Lewiston Senior High, Lewiston Idaho, home of The Bengals.  I decorated the box with my school colors.

Bengal Tigers 

Full view of box, 

High school colors purple & gold.

close up of top

Video :

Supplies Used:

Gina;s Designs:

Composition Box

Boarder Sticks

Other supplies:

Quick Quotes paper "Julie Je T'aime"

Distress paint

WOC flowers

Recollection flowers

Flat back beads. 

Miniature photo frame

Stuffed Bengal tiger

Chipboard letters & numbers from my stash


Next up is Melissa with an amazing mixed media layout.

Hi everyone! Melissa here with a 12 x 12 layout for Gina's Designs Lasercut Chipboard.

This is a photo of a beach in Greenport, on the north shore of Long Island, New York.   It was taken in September, almost October, so I put a little Halloween in here too, just for fun.

All of the chipboard was first prepped with some gesso, followed by some texture paste painted on with a brush. I only put a tiny bit on the sea horse.  The chandelier got painted with blue metallic acrylic paint, then glossy accents, then a little gold ink. For the chains I applied gold ink over silver glitter.  The flames have gold leaf on them.  The crows were painted with black acrylic, then glossy accents, then gold mica powder and water.  I went around the edges with a black sharpie to make the colors stand out more.

The blue mermaid was painted with watercolors. I drew fish scales over blue paint on the dress, then put a little green gel pen on. To make the hair look like strands,  I scratched wet texture paste with a straight pin.  I painted it with gold mica powder and water, and followed that with a little purplish- blue mica powder.

On the green mermaid I put scales on by using a piece of netting and texture paste. I painted it with blue watercolor, then watered down green acrylic silk.   I rubbed in some gold mica powder.

The sand dollar I first painted with wet gold mica powder, then a little brown watercolor around the star part, to give a little definition.  I rubbed in pewter mica.  

The seahorse is brown watercolor. I added detail with a pencil, using a print of a seahorse as a guide.

Thanks for looking!

Chipboard used:

Gothic Chandeliers

Sweet Summer Shape Set

Mermaids Shape Set

Sea Horse Shapes

Other products used:

Jaquard mica powders

Glossy Accents

Butterfly by Reneabouquet

Winton and Lewis Watercolors

Stencil by Finnabair for Prima

DCWV paper

Swarovski flatback crystals

Tiny pieces of Vintaj

Jolees bling

China Cabinet by Kathi

Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me today.  It's Kathi here to share my China Cabinet, one of our home decor projects.

 

Supplies Used:

Gina's Designs Laser cuts:

China Cabinet

Wings Assortment

Corset Cards

Cardstock Doily Set - Intricates

Border Sticks

Other supplies:

Graphic 45 - Botanical Tea

Craftsupplies1 - ivory trim & Crochet doily

Wild Orchid Crafts - Roses

Crochet trim 3/4"

Skeleton leaves

White Gesso

Distress Paints

Thanks for stopping by & have a blessed day.

Layout A Burst of Spring w/ CraftSupplies1

Today I'm sharing my first project I've created for our month long cross promotional with CraftSupplies1.  This layout features my Willie boy.  The photo was taken on the day he came to live with me in the Spring of 2001.  He passed away early last Summer and I like to think he's still enjoying the gorgeous flowers in some other realm.  I really loaded this one up, and I have it hanging on my wall in a deep shadowbox frame behind protective glass.  Most of the flowers I used are from CraftSupplies1.  As soon as I saw these gorgeous flowers, I knew exactly what I was going to do with them.

Gina's Designs Products Used:

Grass and Foliage

Hot Air balloons Net Style

Scribbled Frames and Lines

Border Sticks

CraftSupplies1

Lavender Flowers

Cream Roses

Two Tone Blue Roses

Two Tone Purple Roses

Lavender Roses

.50 inch Lace Trim

Other:

Design paper and cardstock die cuts by K & Company

Victorian Frame with Easel by Kim and Wall Art by Heidi

We have two projects to share today beginning with a gorgeous Victorian Frame and Easel set by Kim.


Hello Friends and Happy Valentines Day! Today I'm sharing my altered Victorian Frame & Easel.  I just love this Frame set, it really harkens back to the time when photography was just starting to come into its own. The photo I chose for the center is a copy of a vintage one taken back in 1887, the name on the back of the photo was "Aunt Emma" so that is what I call this lovely lady.

I embossed all around the frame, and used Gilders Paste to give the effect of aged copper. I added some metal copper corners to add to the metallic look.

The bottom left corner of the frame has some of Gina's Feathery Flourish Pieces, which I embossed and then layered on some two toned burgundy and tan roses to complete the look.

Above is the front of the easel. I have gone over it with gesso, then used Gilders Paste in 2 different colors to give a worn metal look. I layered on some vintage laces, a metal Love embellishment in bronze, velvet ribbon, flowers and  a crochet button. I have also added a gorgeous metal peacock to the side of the Love frame.

You can see more of the Feathery Flourish there, which I embossed with the same colour as the other pieces on the frame.

Above is a close up of some of the Steampunk Angel Wings from the  Dressform and Wing Set on the top right, and an applique and flower from my stash.  

Below is a photo of the Easel you receive in the set. You can see how I distressed it to give it a worn look. The frame just sits nicely on top of it.

I hope you like my project today and thanks so much for stopping by!

Gina's Designs Items Used

Victorian Frame & Easel

Feathery Flourish Set

Wings from Dressform & Wing Set

Other items used

Stampendous Embossing powders in Aged Copper, Aged Silver and Shabby White

Making Memories Love Frame

Wild Orchid Crafts Flowers

Lace and Applique from my stash

Metal corners from ButterBeeScraps

Next up is Heidi with a beautiful home decor wall art piece, one of several new products that were designed with Valentine's Day in mind, but can used anytime of year.  

Hello, it's Heidi again with a little wall art from Gina's Designs.  The actual kit comes with the chipboard square that I covered with Valentine papers, the corrugated board  and then the letters L O V E. I used the swans from the Valentine set as the hanger at the top!  

I painted the letters with a deep red paint and then left everything else natural!   Adding a few bits and pieces from the Valentine Sets that Gina has along with the ever so lovely doilies! 

Gina's Designs Products: 

Love Wall Art Kit

Cardstock Doily Set Intricates

Border Sticks

Valentine Shape Set

Valentine Cards by Mary and Heidi featuring The Robin's Nest

Hello everyone!  Today we have more projects from our January cross promotional with The Robin's Nest. What could be more representative of Valentine's Day than some gorgeous cards!  First up today is Mary with three beautiful cards.

Happy Saturday! It's Mary here, and I am thrilled that it's the weekend!  Today I am sharing three cards I designed using Gina's cute chipboard pieces and paper from the Robin's Nest.

 

As you can see from the above photo, Gina's pieces work great on cards! I started each of my cards using white card stock.

For this card, I added Robin's Nest paper over the white base, then swans and a heart from the Valentine's Shape Set. I also used the words "together" and "forever" from the 10 Words set. I embossed all four of the chipboard pieces.

On the card above, I used more paper from The Robin's Nest, and topped it with some of Gina's Doilies and the "love" from one of the new String-alongs sets. Gina's chipboard pieces are so much fun to work with!

For my last card, I used one of Gina's doilies, cut in in half and layered behind strips of paper from the Robin's Nest. I embossed some double hearts from the Valentine's Shape Set, and used some of the alpha stickers from the Robin's Nest on top.

Thanks for stopping by and having a look. I have the items I used from Gina's Store and the Robin's Nest listed below. If you would like more details and a list for other products I used, please visit my blog HERE.

Have a great weekend!!

Gina's Designs

Valentines' Shape Set

10 Words

String Alongs - Hearts

Cardstock Doily Set Intricates

Robin's Nest

Wild About U Collection


Next up are three more very different and very beautiful cards from Heidi.

Hello everyone, it is Heidi again and today I am showing off a project in collaboration with the Robin's Nest.  We got some really cute Valentine prints and so what could be cuter mixed with my Gina's Designs chipboard. 

Here is a photo of all the cards together. I kept all the backgrounds white and then layered the printed paper with red.  

This card uses a doily and one of the sweet little Valentine String Alongs- so darned cute!  

 This one was fun, a little block card with one of the heart pieces as a center.  

And then this final one has the most chippies on it- all misted with glimmer mist. These pieces are so easy to use on your Valentine projects, leave them natural or color them!  And you get lots of pieces!  

Don't wait though- get them now so you can work on those heart shaped goodies! 

Products: 
The Robin's Nest: Wild About U collection
Gina's Designs:  Valentines Shape Set 
Gina's Designs: Cardstock Doily Set Intricates
Gina's Designs: Border Sticks
Gina's Designs: String Alongs Hearts
Gina's Designs: Cupids Shape Set