Janet loves 2 stamp

Matchbox Tombstone

This is one of the projects for my Halloween stamp camps this Sat., Sept 19th, and Mon. Sept 21st. I have seen where several different people have made these cute tombstones using the Sizzix Matchbox XL die and the Stampin' Up" stamp set "Graveyard Gala", so I just had to make one, Since I have seen several I don't really know who to give credit to. The ones I seen used Halloween dsp, but I wanted mine to be all grey so I opted to go with the "Nouveau Chic" dsp, using Basic Gray and Basic Black patterns, and Basic Gray cardstock. Since the writing on old tombstones can sometimes be faint, I opted to stamp the tombstone (being careful not to ink the words "date, time & place") in Versamark on Basic Gray cardstock and emboss with clear embossing powder. I then stamped just the skelton head and wings and the right facing Raven on a scrap of Basic Gray this time using Basic Black craft ink, and embossing again with clear embossing powder. I attached the raven to the top of my tombstone. Using the Versamarker I wrote "RIP" and embossed with clear embossing powder. I then stamped the left facing Raven in Basic Black craft ink appprox. 3/4" from the bottom, so that when I added my match box, it would look like he was sitting on it. The raven was also embossed with clear embossing powder.

Before making the matchbox, I took a piece of Hemp Twine approx. 5" long and dyed it Basic Gray. (I leave 1" not dyed to hold on to, then I place my twine on my Basic Gray ink pad , using a sponge dauber I pull the twine, pressing down with the dauber, so that as I pull the hemp the twine is coated with ink on both sides, I repeat this step several times, until totally covered. I then set that aside to fully dry.

On the matchbox die I place a piece of 5 1/2" x 6 1/4" Basic Gray cardstock on the box portion of the die, and a 6 1/2" x 3 piece of the Nouveau Chic designer paper on the lid portion and cut. Make sure you use the premiem crease pad for the XL die, and not the cutting pad at the top of your sandwich. My sandwich is as follows, bottom to top: cutting pad, shim, dye (face up) paper, crease pad. By using the crease pad instead of the cutting pad, you will have nice score lines, without the crease pad, your score line could cut. Before assembling the lid, I stamp the pumpkin with flourishes on the the two sides of the lid, (Basic Black craft ink and clear embossing powder) making sure both will be right side up when assembled. Sponge both the matchbox and lid on all score lines, with Basic Gray and assemble. Remember to put your Basic Gray courdory button and hemp twine on box bottom before assembly so that when you fold your box it will hide the hemp that you pulled through. Once bottom is completed, attach tombstone to the back using sticky stiip. Cover 2 miniture candy bars with the "Cast a Spell" designer paper and place in match box and slide on the lid. Ta Da, you have your tombstone completed!