Craftside

Recipe for A Corpse Reviver Cocktail from the book Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails

I thought with Halloween just around the corner you Craftside readers might be on the lookout for a fun new drink, so I thought I'd share this recipe for the aptly-named cocktail The Corpse Reviver featured in the book Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails by Ted Haigh.

Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails:
From the Alamagoozlum to the Zombie 100 Rediscovered Recipes and the Stories Behind Them

by

Ted Haigh

In this expanded and updated edition of Forgotten Cocktails and Vintage Spirits, historian, expert, and drink aficionado Dr. Cocktail adds another 20 fine recipes to his hand-picked collection of 80 rare-and-worth-rediscovered drink recipes, shares revelations about the latest cocktail trends, provides new resources for uncommon ingredients, and profiles of many of the cocktail world's movers and shakers. Historic facts, expanded anecdotes, and full-color vintage images from extremely uncommon sources round out this must-have volume. For anyone who enjoys an icy drink and an unforgettable tale.

Ted Haigh, a.k.a. Dr. Cocktail, makes his living as a graphic designer in the Hollywood movie industry and has worked on such spectacles as O Brother Where Art Thou?, American Beauty, and The Insider. He has been researching cocktails since the ’80s and has been referenced by the New York Times, Esquire, the Malt Advocate, Men’s Journal and writes regularly for Imbibe Magazine. He is a partner in CocktailDB.com, an encyclopedic database of cocktail knowledge and curator and designer of The Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans.

 

How to paint a pumpkin and bell pepper from the book The Chinese Brush Painting Bible

Yes, Halloween is just around the corner and if you need a last minute decoration why not paint yourself a pumpkin with this easy tutorial featured in The Chinese Brush Painting Bible: Over 200 Motifs with Step by Step Illustrated Instructions. Kick it up a notch and add a face to turn it into a Jack-o-lantern! If you aren't in need of any more Halloween decorations, try it out for Thanksgiving along with the how to paint a pepper tutorial! (That was fun to type :)

Click on this page from The Chinese Brush Painting Bible: Over 200 Motifs with Step by Step Illustrated Instructions to enlarge and read how to paint a pumkin and bell pepper.

More about the Chartwell book:

The Chinese Brush Painting Bible
Over 200 Motifs with Step by Step Illustrated Instructions

by

Jane Dwight

Chinese brush painting uses minimal strokes to describe the essence of a subject and capture its rhythm and grace.  This beautiful book contains 200 exquisite motifs to re-create, from flowers and fruits to wildlife and scenery.

Each motif includes an explanation of its symbolic meaning, a palette of colors, and step by step instructions in order, direction, and type of brushstrokes.

An introductory section explains all the tools, materials, and techniques required, from choosing brushes and paper to achieving perfect color mixtures and the correct consistency of ink.

Includes advice on composing and combining images to create perfectly balanced, harmonious paintings, and ideas for using and displaying your finished art.

 

Paint Me Plaid and Craftside Double Giveaway

You know how much I love teaming up with companies. In this case the company is Plaid, the peeps behind Mod Podge and the new Martha Stewart glass paints and stencils. Together we're giving all you Craftside readers an opportunity to win copies of some of our latest titles and Plaid's newest products. This post also shows off a fun Halloween project I made with inspiration from the books and using some of the great Plaid products!

You can get yourself in the running to win this first prize package that contains:

-A copy of the book Acrylic Fusion: Experimenting with Alternative Methods for Painting, Collage, and Mixed Media

-1 Mod Podge Sampler Set
-1 box of new designer acrylic shapes
-2 packs of podgeable papers
-1 photo transfer medium

3 ways to WIN:

1. Leave a comment here in this post by Midnight ET on Thursday,October 25, 2012 telling us what you are thinking about crafting up this holiday season.

2. "Like" us on Facebook and give us a "shout out" over there.

3. Join our mailing list (top right column of the blog).

Now comes the "double" part of the double giveaway. You can get yourself in the running to score this second prize package over at the Paint Me Plaid Blog.

This second prize package contains:

-A copy of the book Daring Adventures in Paint: Find Your Flow, Trust Your Path, and Discover Your Authentic Voice-Techniques for Painting, Sketching, and Mixed Media
-An assortment of new Martha Stewart glass paints (Available exclusively at Michaels)/
-Glass Paint Squegees (available exclusively at Michaels)
-1 Glass Silkscreen (available exclusively at Michaels) 

And here is the cute candy corn filled jar lamp embellished with a jack-o-lantern face and a coordinating shade decorated with a vintage treat bag I whipped up.

So I was flipping through  Acrylic Fusion: Experimenting with Alternative Methods for Painting, Collage, and Mixed Media and Daring Adventures in Paint: Find Your Flow, Trust Your Path, and Discover Your Authentic Voice-Techniques for Painting, Sketching, and Mixed Media and these pages are what started me down my creative process.

Here is how I made my Halloween jar lamp:

I used the Martha Stewart black glass paint to make the jack-o-lantern face on the recycled mason jar. It worked great because it has a tiny tip. I filled the jar with candy corn.

I found an old lamp shade that I thought I could recycle for this project. I didn't think the red roses looked right so I used a brush tip Sharpie to color them black. Worked like a charm.

Then I Mod Podged a Halloween graphic from a vintage treat bag onto the lamp shade.

All that was left to do was assemble the lamp and plug it in!

This is my treat to all you Craftside readers!

More about the books:

Acrylic Fusion:

Experimenting with Alternative Methods for Painting, Collage, and Mixed Media

by

Dan Tranberg

Free yourself from traditional approaches to painting and get motivated to explore new techniques! This unique guide exposes you to a diverse range of alternative methods, unconventional processes, and the integration of unique materials that stimulate creativity and encourage experimentation.

Dan Tranberg is an award-winning artist, writer, and critic currently based in Cleveland, Ohio. His writing has appeared in national and international publications including Art in America, NY Arts, ArtUS, BOMB, Glass, and Art on Paper, and he has been a frequent contributor to The Plain Dealer. Since 2000, he has taught painting and writing at the renowned Cleveland Institute of Art. Visit him online at www.dantranberg.com.

and

Daring Adventures in Paint
Find Your Flow, Trust Your Path, and Discover Your Authentic Voice-Techniques for Painting, Sketching, and Mixed Media

by

Mati Rose McDonough

Daring Adventures in Paint is a colorful, whimsical adventure of a book that explores inspirational paint and mixed-media techniques. Written by the well-loved artist/illustrator/blogger Mati Rose McDonough, this book's approach to making art is a bit like uncovering a hidden treasure, a treasure that resides within each aspiring artist. Through a myriad of both practical applications and creative exercises, Mati shows artists how to "find their magic"—the place of confidence from which they can access the vision of what they want to share with the world.

Mati has also been included in several magazines and books including features in Artful Blogging magazine and The Handmade Marketplace book. www.matirose.com.

  

Spider tattoo art and symbolism from the book Temporary Tattoos for Guys

Spiders are everywhere right now... the Halloween decoration kind of course! And the tattoo-styled spider art from the book Temporary Tattoos for Guys is so inspiring. Along with art, Temporary Tattoos for Guys is full of fun facts and info on tattoo images like the Scottish legend that came to make the spider a symbol of perseverance.

Click on this page from Temporary Tattoos for Guys to enlarge and read all about spiders and their meanings and symbolism.

More about the Chartwell book:

Temporary Tattoos for Guys:
Includes 100 Temporary Tattoos

by

Russ Thorne

Andrew Trull

Includes 100 high quality, long lasting transfers in the 10 most popular styles.  Whether you want a tribal design, gothic tattoo, or something fun for the beach, there are so many to choose from.  You'll love the explanations of each tattoo, giving you the symbolism and meaning behind every design.  Complete with flash drawings and color photography, this book is your one stop shop for needle free body art.

 

10,000 Zombies: Create More Than 10,000 Zombies and 10,000 Stories

I love books that pages are split in thirds like 10,000 Zombies: Create More Than 10,000 Zombies and 10,000 Stories. And why, you may ask, did I choose these 3 page sections? If I were a zombie this is how I imagine I would look: scissors in my hair and wielding a chainsaw, all while wearing big high heels!

Click on this page from 10,000 Zombies: Create More Than 10,000 Zombies and 10,000 Stories to enlarge and read the fun combination of story parts when these three pages are open.

If you like zombies and zombie stories, this book is sure to have your skin crawling in the best way possible!

10,000 Zombies:
Create More Than 10,000 Zombies and 10,000 Stories

by

Alexander Cox

Illustrator:

David Hartman

This features a ghoulish gallery of the undead, illustrated by master of the zombie arts David Hartman.

The split page format divides the figures at the neck and waist, so that zombie heads, torsos and legs can be chopped and changed at will.  For example, flip the top and you have a ghoul with his eye hanging out, flip the middle to reveal its skeleton body and bloody stomach, and flip the bottom to find its decomposing lower half and mechanical legs

Every time you turn a page a new story is revealed as the text is completely interchangeable.

David Hartman is an award winning illustrator and Emmy-nominated director.  He has worked for many studios, including Disney, MTV, and Hasbro.

Alexander Cox is a writer and script consultant.  He has worked for Pathe Productions, Fragile Films, and Universal Pictures on films such as Creep (2004) and The Descent (2005).