AC - I can feel it in my bones ....

..... Hello!  I'm giving you all fair warning after all the pretty roses, birthday balloons and confetti from Uniko Studio's February release; today's card is NOT cute. 

I think it's fair to say that I'm making an early start on this year's Halloween collection - today's card features one of the more scary images from Rick St Dennis.  The image - Dark Holidaze Skullcracker is available at Smeared Ink as an individual digi or as part of the digital collection - Dark Holidaze.  Okay, now for my card:

Stamps: Smeared Ink (Rick St Dennis) - Dark Holidaze Skullcracker; Waltzingmouse - All Hallows Eve; Impression Obsession - Hand Over the Candy
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler; Memento - London Fog, Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - A2 Modern Stationery (S5-219)
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kanban DP - Mechanica; SU Card - Basic Black; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear, Gold; Perfect Pearls - Red, Rust

I actually got this image for the 12 Days of Creepmas at the end of last year, but didn't get around to using it.  So this creepy soldier has been sitting on my desk for a while looking for a place to go.  I covered a card with the diamond print design paper which turned out to be the perfect match for my perfect pearls!!  I stamped the church ruin in Versamark and rubbed on red and rust perfect pearls, set it with a light spritz of wather and then adhered the panel to the card.  I added the soldier at the front - guarding the ruin!  On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and on the white panel added a fun Halloween sentiment.  I've also taken a close up of the ruin so you can see the shimmer!

Well, that was fun!  It's to do something a littlle left of centre after all the pretty stuff!  If you like this image from Rick St Dennis, then check out his Zibbet or Esty shops - there's a huge selection of images to pick from - have fun!!!  See you tomorrow.

Beauty and the Beast ....

.... Good morning!  Today's card is based on the story of Beauty and the Beast - and many of use will have seen the Disney movie too!  At the heart of the story is the fact that love overcomes all.

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Belle et Bete; Waltzingmouse - Frosty in the Meadow, All Hallows Eve; Winnie & Walter - The Big, The Bold and The Happy
Inks: Memento - Grey Flannel; Distress - Evergreen Bough, Iced Spruce, Chipped Sapphire; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella - Clear

I'm submitting this card to the Progressive Challenge Part II over at Sparkle and Glitter.  It's the final part of the challenge and we have all been given this fabulous digi - Belle et Bete to use on our projects.  It's a cute image, but with a bit of edge.  I used the colours from last week's Colour Q - cQc#263 for Belle's dress and for the Beast, and I created the forest background using Waltzingmouse stamps.  I had so much fun colouring this image and I'm really pleased with the way Belle's dress came out (yellow, like in the movie).  On the inside I've put a mat layer of black card and on the white panel is a tiny cottage in the woods.  I've also put a close up photo of Belle's dress showing the sparkle!!

That's it for now - I can't put off the ironing any longer!  I'm going to have a marathon Walking Dead session while I do the ironing and then it's on to more boring housework stuff!  See you soon.

WMSFC - Halloween ....

....  Hello again!  I'm back with our new challenge at Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  Before I get to that though, I'd like to say thank you to all those who played along with our last challenge - it was so nice to see such fab cards - the thumbnail display was so, so pretty!!  Anyway, it's time to tell you our theme this time - and you already know it:

HALLOWEEN

You can go vintage, scary, cute, clean and simple, shabby chic - whatever takes your fancy, just make a Halloween themed project.  You must use at least one Waltzingmouse stamp, sentiment or digi.  I love Halloween and have made a couple of cards.  Here's the first:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - All Hallow's Eve, Text-It; Stampin' Up! - Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: SU - Smoky Slate, Concord Crush; Versamark; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate, Concord Crush; Ribbon; Copic Markers

I used the colours from this week's Inspirational - INK#67 challenge and the layout is based on the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#158.  I think the colours are perfect for a Halloween card.  I made the card base from grey card and stamped the text in grey for a tone-on-tone look.  I found the ribbon at my local craft shop, but it's actually cream, so I coloured it with my Copic markers.  I stamped the raven onto some white card and cut it out.  I decided to colour the raven with very pale purple markers as black birds often have a purple or blue cast.  I stamped a grunge border on the purple panel.  I finished with a sentiment stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in white.  The purple panel was adhered with dimensional tape.  On the inside I cut a white panel, stamped a spooky church ruin and simple sentiment.  Both the inside and purple panel have distessed edges.

My next card has a much more contemporary feel and is quite clean and simple too.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Great Big Owl; Stampin' Up! - Making Spirits Bright
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Archival - Jet Black
Dies: WMS - Big Owl Dies
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Bermuda Bay, Early Espresso; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I used the layout from the current CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#96.  I think I've mentioned that I love owls and when Claire released this set I just loved it.  However, this is the first time it's actually been inked up!  I stamped the owl and circles in Versafine, hear embossed with clear powder and cut them out with the matching dies.  I decided to go for a funky owl using lilac and turquoise.  I cut the branch from brown card and adhered the owl and branch directly to the card base.  I lined the circles along the edge of the card and then cut away the bits between each circle.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the sentiment along the circles.  I decided to add a fun sentiment to the owl's belly and it is attached with dimensional tape.  On the inside I covered the base with turquoise card and on the white panel stamped a fun greeting and added some more circles.

In the photo below you can see what I mean about cutting out the card between the circles.  For more Halloween inspiration - check our the projects from Kathy and Tara. 

 You have plenty of time to play along, deadline is Thursday 30th October 10.00pm BST (5.00pm EDT).  That's all for now - see you soon.