The Mysterious Boo Sisters by Guest Artist theresa mARTin

Please join me in giving the incredibly talented theresa mARTin a very warm Somerset welcome! Theresa has been featured in Somerset Apprentice and our award winning Digital Inspiration. Her artwork, regardless of the medium, is always stunning and absolutely gorgeous.

Today she joins us with a very special Halloween-themed project that’s both enchanting and a teensy bit creepy. The Boo Sisters are a pair of lovely ladies who are ready to captivate your heart and imagination with their hauntingly beautiful expressions and fabulous outfits. Follow along as Theresa gives step-by-step instructions on how to recreate this frightful duo!

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The Halloween deadline is approaching.  Halloween makes me think about being a kid again, and it’s fun to dream about masquerade balls and mysterious happenings. As a member of the design team for Paperwhimsy, I am fortunate to be able be create art specifically for the holidays.  Halloween is a favorite of mine as it walks the edge of being dark yet still fun.

The Mysterious Boo Sisters are decked out in their fanciest ball gowns made from black velvet leaves and bits and pieces of collage paper. Each wears a cage, from which another secret sister peeks out. Familiar crows sit on their shoulders and their fine rhinestone crowns give them an elegant final touch. With their candy corn lace collars, bat wings, orange and black colors, and black velvet dresses, they are ready for any Halloween party.

They ask: “What will you wear to the Midnight Halloween Masquerade Ball?”

 

Boo Sister Project Material List:

Findings
Rhinestones
Patterned Paper
Collage Sheets
Fabric Findings
Paperwhimsy Alterable Dolls
Adhesive
Scissors

 

Boo Sister Project Tutorial by theresa mARTin:

Step 1 – I started by painting the alterable dolls all black. For this project, I used the  Santos Bird Cage Dolls. For this project, I used the Santos Birdcage Dolls. If you want to speed up the painting process, you can spray paint the figures.

Step 2 – The sister’s dresses were traced from collage sheets and patterned papers. Creating these elaborate gowns was simply a matter of cutting out the desired shapes and arranging them on the dolls.

Step 3 – Once you’re happy with your arrangement, glue the cut-out pieces of paper onto the fiberboard dolls. When all the pieces of your dress collage are in place and secured, place the bird-cage outline over the doll’s body. This helps create even more depth. Also, don’t forget to add the hidden sister within the folds of the gown, peeking out from behind the cage.

Step 4 – As the Boo Sisters sat on my work table, I brought out a lot of the mixed-media items that I collect. I experimented with different options such as rhinestones, bits of ephemera, and fiberboard embellishments, all in an attempt to find what would fit the sisters the best.

Step 5 – The next step is to create the sister’s gorgeous black ball gowns. I made these gowns by repurposing some vintage millinery leaves, but you can trim nearly any fabric to recreate the look. You can also add ribbon, patches, and buttons.

Step 6 – As a final touch, I added a few additional rhinestones and created belts and crowns.

These lovely ladies are straightforward and easy to make.

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Halloween definitely doesn’t have to be scary — it can just as easily be dark, elegant, and mysterious. Paperwhimsy’s fiberboard dolls provide the perfect mixed-media canvas to create stunning characters, just like the ones created by theresa mARTin. Make your own set of Boo Sisters, or go in a different direction and try something new. There are so many fun and creative possibilities with this artistic project.

 

PaperWhimsy is Here!

We’re very proud to announce our first collection of PaperWhimsy products. Currently, we’re carrying a wide range of ready-to-alter pieces. From delightful dolls to stunning frames, these unique finds are waiting to be created anew! Just add patterned paper, vibrant paints, and whatever other embellishments you can think of. We are so in love with these little alterable dolls that you can expect to see many more PaperWhimsy goodies in The Shoppe at Somerset in the upcoming months.

 

 

Want to See More of theresa mARTin’s Artwork?

Our Autumn 2014 issue of Somerset Apprentice is bursting with wonderful works that are sure to inspire you, including a detailed Q&A with theresa mARTin. Read along as she offers advice and talks about her favorite artistic medium.

 

To learn more about this talented artist visit her blog, Theresa Martin: Mixed Media Art.