Halloween greetings ....

... Hello! I hope you're all keeping well. Autumn has most definitely arrived - leaves are blowing all over the place around here and it's quite cold. I can't think of a better reason to play in my craft room! I've made a clean and simple Halloween card today:

Stamps: Impression Obsession - Mr P Umpkin, Bump in the Night; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Crazy Talk
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Die-namics - Cross Stitched Ovals Stax #4 & #5; Lil Inkers - Stitched Panels
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Pumpkin Pie; SUDP - Halloween Night, Pumpkin Pie; Copics; Zig Pens; Wink of Stella - Clear; Gems

I used the sketch from, a new to me challenge, Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#138, the colours from Colour Q - cQc#365 and the theme of Halloween from Left of Centre - LOC#153.

I made the horizontal panel from some orange card and some design paper. I used stitch edge dies to give the detail. I stamps Mr P Umpkin on some white card in Versafine ink as it's waterproof. I used my new Zig pens to paint the image (I used some grey Copics on the legs and hat), they are really vibrant. I added some sparkle with a clear Wink of Stella brush and then I fussy cut it out. The oval frame, which started out white and I coloured with a black Copic, was left over from another card. I stamped a simple sentiment and finished off the front with some frosted gems. On the inside I cut a mat layer of orange design paper and on the white panel stamped a sentiment and another Halloween monster. I used the Zig pens to add some colour.

I've posted all my Halloween cards for this year, so this one is the start of next year's collection! That's all for today. Do stop by tomorrow to see my reminder card for our Uniko colour challenge. See you soon!

Happy Halloween ....

... Hi! I've been messing around in my craft room - I should have been tidying, but I made a card instead :) I suddenly realised that it's just over 3 weeks until Halloween and I've not got many cards in my stash. So that's what I made! Here it is:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digital - Voodoo Motif; Clearly Besotted - All Occasion Sentiments; Visible Image - Mr Bone Jangles; Ranger - Dina Wakley Halloween 16
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Stampin' Up! - Green Galore; Hero Arts Neon - Orange
Dies: Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Ovals #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SUDP - Pumpkin Pie; Copics; Kaisercraft - Pens; Wink of Stella - Clear, Orange, Purple, Green

This is a fairly clean and simple Halloween card. I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#257 for the layout. I'm also playing along with The Paper Players - PP#315 where the theme is Halloween, and at Left of Centre - LOC#150 they want Halloween too!

I printed this fun voodoo image directly on white card, coloured it with a mixture of Copics, Kaisercraft pens and coloured Wink of Stella brushes and then I cut it out with a stitch edged die. I cut a piece of design paper in bright orange, adhered it to the card and then stamped a sentiment. I attached the image flat as I want to post this card. On the inside I cut another mat layer in design paper and on the white panel added a fluorescent sentiment and skeleton.

I also took a close up photo of the voodoo skull, on which you can clearly see all the shimmer and sparkle from the Wink of Stella brushes.

We are very lucky here in Michigan as we seem to be having a bit of an Indian Summer. Today we reached a temperature of 24C (76F) with gorgeous blue skies and lots of sunshine. And it looks like we've got this weather for the rest of the week. To my friends in Florida and along the coast, I do hope that you are taking precautions for the arrival of Hurricane Matthew - be safe.

That's all for now!

Art Journal page ...

.... Good afternoon from a very sunny and hot Northville!! I don't have a card to share with you today, but an art journal page instead. Kat and I went to our regular monthly meeting of the Scrappy Chic Kitchen Roll Sprayers yesterday - it was so much fun. Normally I just create backgrounds, but I was determined to produce a finished page. I took my inspiration from the Dylusions Facebook Challenge - where this month the cue is TURQUOISE, ORANGE AND BONES! Here's my page:

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz Day of the Dead 1
Inks: Dylusions Ink Sprays - Fresh Lime, Vibrant Turquoise, Calypso Teal,Tangerine Dream, Squeezed Orange; Dylusions Paints - Tangerine Dream, London Blue; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Black Soot
Accessories: Dylusions - Large Creative Journal; Stencils: Dylusions - Skulls; TCW - Mini Spiderweb; Stencil Girl - Peacock; Tim Holtz - Halloween Script (THS063); Black Fude Pen; Staedtler - Aquarell Pencils

I found the Dylusions Facebook Challenge last year and actually joined in for the August 2015 challenge, but for various reasons I've not played along since. So I printed off a list of all the past challenges - I'm going to catch up - and decided to start with the current challenge.

In my journal I had a page that I'd inked and ghosted last year - mostly in shades of turquoise with a splash of lime. I'd used a large Stencil Girl peacock feather for the main ghosted image, and added some skulls in blue. Yesterday I saw the new Day of the Dead stamps and decided that this image would be perfect.

I stamped her in black permanent ink on white card and coloured her with a mixutre of Staedtler Aquarell pencils and Dylusions inks. I then carefully cut her out and edged the image with a black marker. I used Tangerine Dream paint to add the words from the Halloween Script stencil. Once dry I outlined the words with a black Fude pen. I lightly spritzed some Lindy Stardust over the page - sadly you can't see the shimmer here, but it's fab! I added some more layers to the background by lightly going over a cobweb stencil with black soot ink and finished by added some more small skulls with Tangerine Dream paint. I went around the image with a black pencil which I smudged to blend into the background. I finished by adding a light dusting of black ink around the page - but you can't really see it here, so I'll add more later.

 

Above is a close up photo of the main image - you can just about see the Starburst spray here! I'm going to submit this page to the current Left of Centre Challenge - LOC#145 where the theme is Altered Images or Left of Centre. I think I've got it covered both ways!!

I had so much fun creating this page and I'm going to be doing more soon! That's all for now. See you soon.

52CCT - Stash ....

... Morning! I can't quite believe that it's already the last Saturday in May! Fabiola has a stash challenge for us this week at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT21-16 - she wants us to use our dies and/or punches. I actually made two cards! Here's the first:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Poppy Stamps - Mod Snowflake Background
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Card - Basic Black; SU Glimmer Paper - Silver; SU DP - Basic Black; White Lustre Card; SU Punch; Craftwork Cards - Sentiment Label

This is the first time I've used the snowflake background die - it's fabulous. I cut it from silver glimmer paper and used my precision cutting plate (which helps) on the Big Shot. I ran the die through several times to make sure that it cut through all the paper, but I still had a bit in the middle that didn't cut (can you guess where?) I adhered the die cut to a black card and simply added a greeting to the front. On the inside I cut a panel of white card and stamped a greeting, and added a punched snowflake in black design paper.

I'm submitting this card to a couple of challenges - Jingle Belles - JB:16:11 where they don't want to see any blues (done), and Fab 'n' Funky - FNF#306 where they want to see Christmas cards (done).

My next card is very clean, crisp and simple:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Poppy Stamps - Celestial Star Border
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Glimmer Paper - Silver; SU DP - Basic Black; SU Punch

I used Jenni's card over at Muse - MUSE#167 as the inspiration for this card. I changed my card to portrait and opted for a monochromatic colour scheme. I die cut the stars from silver glimmer paper and adhered them directly to the card. The sentiment is bold black and contrasts beautifully with the silver stars. On the inside I cut a mat layer of black design paper and, on the white card, stamped a sentiment and punched out a snowflake to reveal the mat paper beneath.

As there are stars on this card, I'm going to submit it to the current challenge at Left of Centre - LOC#131 where, if you're not making a left of centre card, then the team want to see stars.

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration from the rest of the team. That's all for now!

Scary Creepmas - 12DOC ...

.... Hello.  It's Wednesday and only two more days to go before the big day!  It's also the last day of the 12 Days of Creepmas Blog Hop sponsored by Smeared Ink.  I hope you've enjoyed my venture into the odd mix of Halloween and Christmas that is Creepmas.  Our daughter, Kat, has loved all the cards that I've made and when she saw this image by Rick St Dennis, she just said "That's my Christmas card!!!  Love him!"  So, here is my final card, especially for our unique and much loved daughter, Kat:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Creepmas Scary Creepmas; Uniko - Essentially Christmas; Paper Source - Joy & Cheer
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Real Red
Dies: Spellbinders - Lables 25 (S5-077) #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Holly Jolly; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents; Glitter

I have to admit that I love this creepy pumpkin Santa as much as Kat does.  I printed him on white card, coloured him with Copic markers and cut out the image with a die.  I added tinsel glitter to his hat, cuffs and collar.  I used a clear Wink of Stella brush on all the little Creepmas lights and then added Glossy Accents.  I covered the card with some bold red design paper featuring festive words and adhered the finished image directly on top.  On the inside I cut another piece of design paper and added a simple greeting and some stars.  I'm submitting this card to the current Colour Throwdown Challenge - CTD#373 where they want any Christmas card, and this really is a Christmas card, in any colours.  I'm also submitting this to Left of Centre - LOC#109/110 where it's Anything Goes.

Here's a close up of the finished image showing all the lovely sparkle and shimmer - I took this photo a few days ago - when it was much brighter!

And here's the link to all those taking part in the 12 Days of Creepmas Blog Hop.  It's been such fun playing along and I hope you've enjoyed it too!

Fiona
Black Dragon
Susan R
Jessica
Suzi
Airless Chambers
Deborah
Susan S
Val
Sarah
Kat
Leigh
Lady Brayton
Sue

That's all for today - lots of Christmas preparations to do today!  See you soon.

Deck the Halls - 12DOC ....

.... Hello again!  We've reached day 5 of the 12 Days of Creepmas sponsored by Smeared Ink.  I don't make 3D projects and tend towards clean and simple.  This card is a cute Creepmas card and is certainly clean and simple!

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Creepmas Tree Lights; Stampin' Up! - Christmas Messages, One Tag Fits All; Uniko - Jolly Christmas
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Lil Inkers - Dual Stitched Ovals #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Real Red; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents

I think this is one of my favourite images from Rick - he's a cute little demon who just wants to put up the lights!  Shame he gets into such a mess.  I printed him on white card, coloured him with Copic markers and cut him out with a stitch edge die.  I added clear sparkle to the lights, his eyes and horns and added glossy accents to the lights and his eyes.  I finished by drawing an eerie green glow around him.  I used bold red card for the base and adhered the image flat to the card.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the bold sentiment in the corner of the card, and added a few words on the image.  He's singing as he works!!  On the inside I cut a panel of white card and added some Christmas lights in the corner along with a Christmas greeting.

I'm submitting this card to Left of Centre - LOC#107 where the theme is Baa! Humbug! with Rick St Dennis.  I'm also playing along with Cardz for Guys - C4G#100 where the team want us to make Christmas cards with traditional colours, and you can't get much more traditional than red!!  I took a close-up photo of the image to show how the glossy accents really adds great detail:

I guess that some of you might be wondering what I plan to do with my Creepmas/Christmas cards. Fortunately I have several friends and some member of my family who just love the quirky nature of these cards.  They will be winging their way soon!  Listed below is the full 12 Days of Creepmas Blog Roll - do drop by and check out the creations.

Fiona
Black Dragon
Susan R
Jessica
Suzi
Airless Chambers
Deborah
Susan S
Val
Sarah
Kat
Leigh
Lady Brayton
Sue

That's all for today - I really need to write some Christmas cards today and get them in the post - most have a very long journey to the UK!  See you tomorrow.

The Festivities Begin - 12 DOC ...

..... Hi!  It's day 2 of the 12 Days of Creepmas sponsored by Smeared Ink and my card today is on the cute side of Creepmas!

Stamps: Smeared Ink - Brass the Steampunk Reindeer; Stampin' Up! - Wonderland, Project Life Holiday Cheer; Uniko - Simply Said Christmas
Inks: SU - Sahara Sand, Blackberry Bliss
Dies: Spellbinders - Wonky Rectangles (S4-306) #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Moonlight; Copic Markers, Wink of Stella - Clear

I think Brass is cute, although he's totally mechanical and perfect for Creepmas.  I covered the card with design paper and used the same colours for the image.  I printed Brass on white card, coloured him with Copic markers and cut him out with a wonky shape.  I added lots of little snowflakes after I'd coloured the image.  I edged the image with a Copic marker for a little definition.  I finished the front of the card with a simple greeting.  On the inside I cut another piece of the design paper for the mat layer and added a Christmas greeting to the white panel.

I'm submitting this card to Left of Centre - LOC#106 and also to The Challenge - TC#53.  Here's the 12 DOC Blog Hop List:

Fiona
Black Dragon
Susan R
Rebecca
Jessica
Suzi
Airless Chambers
Deborah
Susan S
Val
Sarah
Kat
Leigh
Lady Brayton
Sue


That's all for now!