Don't you just love this pair of creepy girls is from the Lunagirl Edwardian Gothic digital collage sheet? I happened to find some paper dolls that were just their size and thought they could do with a a makeover. They've been wearing those some old white dresses for over a century! And once they got  dressed it seemed fitting to give them a few friends to go trick or treating with. This collage really makes me laugh because in spite of they fun outfits and fun friends they still refuse to crack a smile. 
I did a little research on why people rarely smiled in old photos. One reason is that they had to hold a long pose for the long camera exposures. Another seems to be about what was "in" at the time. People with big smiles in photos were considered to be lewd, poor, drunk or stupid. Throughout the history of portrait photography people have the same goal, they want to impress other people. So being serious in a photo back in the day was just as important as looking like you're having fun in a selfie is today. 

This mixed media collage is inspired by Lunagirl Edwardian Gothic digital collage sheet and the fact that my roommate thinks that moths are the souls of dead people. Yes, moths are surrounded with a ton of international folk lore associating them with death. An Edgar Allen Poe story, The Sphinx, was inspired by moth lore.  
Maybe my friend doesn't really believe it, but she does say it. She says it when the moths are looming around my brown rice and when they are hovering around my treasured vintage cashmere sweaters. At that point, if she isn't in the room, I admittedly will do away with them in one way or another. They can go the easy way (cooperate and go outside) or the hard way. Either way, it was much easier to accomplish before she started hounding me about how they are souls of the dead. 
If you are interested in finding out more about moth lore (tis the season, right?) I highly recommend this beautifully written post by Stu Hovath on Unwinnable. 

I've just joined the Design Team for Lunagirl Vintage Images and created this altered Altoids tin for the October challenge "gothic". Lunagirl is running the Gothic challenge during the month of October and its a really fun way to express your creepy creative side in any medium. 
​First I covered the tin on all sides with the Lunagirl Gothic Black backgrounds paper. Then I added the monument and text from ad in a 1928 National Geographic. The wonderfully creepy girls are from the Lunagirl Edwardian Gothic image sheet. I covered them with a sheet of mica and used black photo corners. A coat of Diamond Glaze finished it off and sealed it.
One of the best things about making altered tins or boxes is that there are so many surfaces to work on. I'm not sure what I'm going to put inside yet, but I'm thinking of a tiny story book inspired by the photo. 
In "real life" this case looks quite a bit thicker (3/4") but looking at this photo I can see that this technique could be used for some amazing iPhone cases. I'd substitute resin for the Diamond Glaze so it would hold up better with daily use. 

I'm always looking for cool vintage images to add to my mixed media art & jewelry. I have a huge collection/archive. Huge. Really huge. But sometimes when I'm making jewelry I need a really small detailed image and Luna Girl has a great selection. I'm challenging myself in a new way by joining the Luna Girl Design Team. I'll be creating mixed media jewelry and art that will be featured on their blog. The theme for October is "gothic". I know I'm going to have fun with this one! 
To make this necklace I:
1) Found a photo I liked, glued it on cardboard and copped it off with ice resin.
2) Cut a rectangle slightly longer than my photo from a sheet of 24 gauge copper and wrapped it around the photo, overlapping the top and the bottom. 
3) Punched two holes in the bottom and the top of the metal wrapped photo. I used tiny screw and nuts to attach the bottom. I used 16 gauge wire to attach the top.
4) Used Glue 6000 to glue on a the vintage rhinestones. 
5) Attached the pendant to the necklace using a piece of 16 gauge copper wire.