Hello friends! I’m back again..and this time with a tutorial for a background that I made on a tag, then it was used to create a little #8 Etcetera Tag vignette.
This background was made using the new Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Mini Stencil Set 61 which includes this Mini Jacks Stencil along with two others. The Jack Stencil also came out in the large Layering Stencil Size which makes a slightly bigger jack-o-lantern…either way, I instantly fell in love with it and couldn’t help but use the background on a vignette. It is a classic and instantly reminded me of vintage Halloween. Both of these are available now as they came out in the new Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Halloween release..you can check out the LIVE by clicking HERE to watch Tim share the sets and inspiration using them.

I mean, come ON…isn’t it THE CUTEST…not to mention the cute little boys all dressed up for Halloween, those are from the idea-ology Halloween Layers & Paper Dolls Ephemera pack.



I created the inky background, then using a Distress Blending Brush and Distress Oxide Ink, blended the orange jacks and finished them using Distress Black Texture Paste!


Now, let’s get to making that background!
I started with a #8 tag that I spritzed with water and a combination of Spray Stains that included Black Soot, Pumice Stone, Crackling Campfire Oxide plus Distress Mica Stains in Burning Ember and Decayed, then the tag using a heat tool.


Next, I used a Distress Blending Brush to blend some Crackling Campfire Oxide Ink into the areas where I wanted my pumpkins to go. The stencil doesn’t have to be specifically used in the exact layout of the pattern, simply move it around on your background to find where the best place-age will be.
Now, why oxide ink and why a blending brush? Well…let me tell you. Oxide Ink is an opaque ink and one that oxides when it is spritzed with water. Since I was blending over top of the already inky background, oxide would show up best since its opaque! And the Blending Brush? Because it can get into the pumpkin shapes because they are more intricate and defined. The distress brushes are nice because you can adjust them to be more of a stipple brush, which is how I used it here.


I spritzed the tag with a bit of water, then dried it with my heat tool. This just added some spots of oxidation to the pumpkins and background.


Here’s a closeup of the drips and sparkle!


I then took a palette knife and some of the Distress Black Opaque Texture Paste and placed the stencil over top of the pumpkins, then using the knife, added the paste. I did this to all the pumpkins.


..and here are all the smiling jacks…so CUTE!! I also added some of the black paste in a couple random areas around the jacks. This just added some interest around them and a good way to use up the extra paste on the knife.
I then set that aside to dry and went to designing the vignette.


After I set it aside to dry and decided what I’d be doing with the tag, I decided that I wanted some stamping in the background, but I didn’t want to stamp over my jacks, so…I got out my handy dandy stamping tool and using some scraps of computer paper, tore pieces that would cover the pumpkins, then stamped a spider web into the background. The spiderweb is from the new stamp set entitled Boo Crazy CMS495. I just LOVE my stamping tool as it always seems to come in handy.




I loaded up the stamp with Black Soot Archival Ink, then stamped it into the background of the tag.


While the ink was still wet, I added some Frosted Crystal Embossing Powder over the web and embossed it using my heat tool. Frosted Crystal is a matte embossing powder but once embossed gives images more depth.


Here’s an up close look at the web background after it was embossed…you can see the details that the powder brings.


Now, on to the embellishing…



The tag was set aside as I worked on the embellishments for the tag. I started by spritzing some Halloween Fringe. The Fringe was a product from a couple years ago and was fun to use since I was going for that classic Halloween look. I spritzed the fringe with a quick spritz of Crackling Campfire Oxide, plus a little Black soot and finally some Burning Ember Mica Stain. Then I crunched it with my hand and dried it with a heat tool.


I colored the paper dolls using a variety of Distress Crayons and added a small orange baseboard circle that I found in a previous Tim Holtz Halloween release. It fit right behind the little boys circle so I adhered that using a foam tab.


I found some Ephemera scraps amongst my things which included a tag, the Halloween Oct 31 piece and a frame that you can barely see in the background. That became my base and I added all the bits and pieces around it using my sewing machine and adhesive. I tore some scraps of black tulle and stitched pieces of it to just behind the frame and adhered the boys with foam tabs to add depth.


Finally, I stitched around the edges of the tag using black thread and my sewing machine adding bits of the torn tulle here and there and stitching it in place. I adhered the #8 tag to the front of a #8 Hardboard Etcetera Tag, then tied a bow to the top of it through the circle at the top. I added some bits of idea-ology confections that I had sprinkle with Clear Rock Candy Glitter to give them the look that they were sugared up. I attached the candy around the tulle edging and tied two candy sticks to the bottom and then attached a small idea-ology spider charm. With that, my project was complete.


Vintage Halloween couldn’t be better! I love it! Thanks for stopping by…see you again very soon!



The products used to create this project are listed below with links to Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com. Thank you so much for supporting me through shopping through them. I appreciate it so much! – Creatively yours, Stacy
To shop at SIMON SAYS STAMP click HERE. To shop at SCRAPBOOK.COM click HERE.


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What a fun project. So Vintagegy…love the tulle that was added and the sprayed fringe for the win!!! Thanks for the tutorial.
Awesome Ideaology tag, I love how you used the stencil randomly and the Frosted Crystal with the spiderweb stamp is fantastic!!
This is one spectacular tag! I love how you explained the background colors and how it looks with the stencil.
This is my favorite holiday and I just love this tag! You are extremely talented!