Haunted Halloween

Tim Holtz had such a great Halloween release this year -  I purchased several of his stamps and dies (ugh!)  But -  I'm using them right away - so that's a big plus right??!!  I've been making Halloween cards to sell at my church fair coming up on Oct 19th and Oct 20th.

I made 4 cards using the same products and design.  Ghoulish dies from Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Graveyard die an older Tim Holtz/Sizzix die, DOX inks, and Pierced Feature Frame die from PTI.  These are actually more like vignettes for display as they are just a card front and I added a die cut Small Easel on the back so they stand up!

I made my backgrounds by smooshing Ranger Distress Oxides in Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Black Soot onto my craft mat, spritzing with water and pouncing a panel of watercolor paper into one color at a time - drying between colors.  

I did the same thing on another panel of watercolor paper using DOX Antique Linen, Twisted Cintron and Black Soot to cut my monster out of.

I made another panel using DOX Antique Linen and Black Soot to use for my skeletons and bats.

I die cut the Pierced Feature Frames from PTI out of black card as well as the Graveyard from Tim Holtz/Sizzix.

I used Clipping Stickers/Halloween from Idea-ology for all the sentiments.  The ghouls, sentiments and bats are all up on foam dots.

I'm linking my cards to:

Frilly and Funkie: Haunted Halloween

Paper:  watercolor paper - Canson, True Black - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Oxides - Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Black Soot, Twisted Cintron.
Accessories:  Ghoulish Die, Graveyard Die, small easel die - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Pierced Feature Frames Die - PI, foam dots, Tombow Glue, Clipping Stickers/Halloween - Idea-ology.

Tear Drop Leather Earrings for the Church Fair

I've been making things to sell at my church fair which is in just a couple of weeks now! Two friends and I have a table where we sell our stamped cards -  but being the crafty one in the group - I like to make little crafty things as well!  People don't like to spend much at a church fair - so I have to think of that when I'm making things.

I just made these lovely leather tear drop earrings to sell at our table.  Several months ago, I saw and purchased earrings that look very much like these at an Etsy shop.    And then, a few weeks later,  while I was browsing through a sale over at Sizzix -  I found this Movers and Shapers Teardrop die that would allow me to make my own!  

(Sizzix is sold out at the moment but I just found them over at Scrapbook.com! They have the best price over at Scrapbooking warehouse - but they out now and re-ordering) The die set includes a smaller shaped edge piece for each size as well but I haven't made any layered sets yet.

You need to have a magnetic Movers and Shapers Shuttle to use with Movers and Shapers dies.  I have a metal tray with sides but I think this Shuttle has replaced it as I can't find the tray anywhere to show you.

The larger earrings (above) are about 2" long and the smaller earrings (below) are 1 5/8".  I purchased stainless steel fish hook ear wires at JoAnn, as well as jump rings.  I used a piercing tool to punch two holes at the top and then put a jump ring through the holes so it pinches the top in.  You put the ear wire on the loop while you're putting the jump ring through the holes.

I cut tags to sell them on, using Tag Sale Die #2 from PTI.  I wrapped strips of washi tape around the middles for a little touch of design and looped a piece of wrinkled seam tape through the tops.  Presentation is everything, right?!

I purchased leather scraps from Amazon.  I used black, burgundy, white and dark grey leathers for my sets.

I'm selling them for $10.00 so we'll see if the Church Fair market will tolerate that! 

Paper: watercolor paper - Canson
Accessories:  Tear Drop Stack Movers and Shapers Die - Sizzix, scrap leather - Amazon, jump rings and stainless steal fish hook ear wires - JoAnn, Tag Sale Die #2 - PTI, piercing tool, hole punch, wrinkled seam tape, washi tape - Alexandra Renke

CAS Mix Up Card Challenge - October - Faux Metal

It's the first of October and there is a new challenge posted over at CAS Mix Up!  Mac is our talented hostess this month - and her challenge is to use a Faux Metal technique!  There are several links to videos over a the blog showing several techniques to inspire you!

I was inspired by this video on the Black Ice Technique:  Black Ice Technique by Melissa Kerman- SCS (8:42).  I had never heard of this and it was fun to try it out!

I started with a piece of metallic silver paper from my stash - it is heavy like cardstock but I'm not sure where I got it?!  As per the video I watched -  I dragged the Jet Black Archival ink over the panel and dried it with my heat tool.  Then I stamped my images randomly over the panel.  I used Hero Hues Black ink on the images as when I tried Archival Jet Black ink- the images didn't show up well.

   I used two AALL & Create sets designed by my friend Tracy Evans - the dragonfly is from set #45 and the funky flower stamp is from set #44.  I dried the panel with my heat tool.  

Then I lightly pulled Versamark ink across the panel - side to side and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Hopefully, you can see the texture of the clear embossing below - looking like black ice!  The silver paper showing through is REALLY shiny IRL.

I did a little stenciling behind the panel with a Tim Holtz Mini Stencil and Color Box Silver Pigment Ink.  I added 3 Candy Dots from SU.  The sentiment strip is up on foam dots.

We are delighted to have Pat (Colourful Card Creations) as our talented Guest Designer for the month of October -  AND we have a new CAS Mix Up Design Team member - please stop by her blog and welcome Susan (Cat's Ink Corporate)!

I can't wait to see which Faux Metal technique you use on your CAS design card!  

You'll find lots of inspiration from the Design Team as well as our October Guest Designer - over at the CAS Mix Up Blog!  The challenge is open until 10/24.

Stamps:  Tracy Evans sets #44 and #45 - AALL & Create
Paper:  Metallic Silver paper; True Black and White - PTI.
Ink:  Archival Jet Black, Hero Hues Black, Versamark, Color Box Silver Pigment Ink.
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, heat tool, Neutrals Candy Dots - SU, foam dots.

The Spooky Side of the Pick Up!

So, you may have seen my sweet little Farm Fresh Pickup I posted on Monday.  Well, today, I spent all day making two spooky Pickups for Halloween! 

(It always takes longer to make the first one, as I kind of design it as I go along and think of things or find 'stuff' to use on it!)

They look sort of like pumped up racing trucks at first glance -  and then you notice the skulls!

It's the same Dashing in the Snow: Pickup die from PTI as my first trucks - but this time I used some fun DP's on the wheels fenders and windows.   Michaels had their Halloween stuff 40% off already and the bat paper came from A Moonlit Manor Paper Pad.  The spider web paper I used for the tires came from an old Authentique paper pad - Collection/Enchanted.

 The die cut cat and raven are Movers and Shapers dies by Tim Holtz/Sizzix.  The 'Wicked' and 'Boo'  are wooden Amuse stamps.  I added rhinestones to the tire hubs and in the eyes of the big skull lurking in the truck bed!

 Here's the skull out of the truck - pretty big and frightful, right!?

The 'Open if You Dare' stamp is yet another from Amuse.

How cool are these shadow skeletons gazing out the window.  This paper is from the same paper pad from Michaels that I used for the fenders.

And even more of them gazing out the front windshield!!  

On the roof, the two skeletons on the ends are 

Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Skulls.  The one in the center came in a package of really big skulls (like the one in the bed of the trucks) and several  little ones.  I got them at JoAnn last year.  I added orange rhinestones to their wicked eye sockets!  I glued them to the roof with Tombow Glue.

I added a different die cut cat to my 2nd truck (someone gave me this one so I don't know what die was used.)  The sign sentiment is from Midnight Feast by Waltzingmouse (retired). I glued it to a wooden coffee stirrer from Starbucks.  I sponged all the edges of the sentiment pieces with Soft Stone Ink from PTI.

The same three skulls lined up on the roof!

The spider web on this side was also sent to me so I don't know the die.

For my second truck I used a DP with bones on it for the fenders.

The Boo Stamp is another wooden stamp from Amuse.

And finally, a flying bat (a Movers and Shapers die from Tim Holtz/Sizzix) was added to the grill on a foam dot and given orange rhinestone eyes!

Cute in a spooky way, right??!  

These little pickups measure about 4 1/2" long x 2 1/8" tall at the cab and 1 3/4" wide. 

My next project with this fun Pickup Die will probably be for Christmas!  Stay Tuned!!

Stamps:  Wicked, Open if You Dare, Boo! - Amuse, Midnight Feast - Waltzingmouse (retired)
Paper:  True Black, Soft Stone - PTI, Kraft Metalics - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, DP - Collection:enchanted - Authentique, Moonlit Manor Paper Pad - Michaels.
Ink:  Hero Hues Black, Soft Stone - PTI, 
Accessories:  Dashing Through the Snow: Pickup Die - PTI, Mini Cat and Raven Dies - Movers and Shapers Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Bat die - Bat and Skull Movers and Shapers Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Skulls - JoAnn, Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions, Orange Rhinestones, Kaiser Craft, Tombow Glue, foam dots.

September Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!

Today I'm playing along with the PapertreyInk Blog Hop.  They have a lovely fall table for our inspiration.

I, of course, used the  Simply Gour-eous stamps and dies and Forest Floor Stamp Set and dies  from last month's release as well as older purchases - Shape Shifter Circle 1 and Give Thanks Stamp Set and dies.

I die cut the Kraft card base and Text Style Argyle Socks DP (retired) using Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical Die.  I layered the Circle die and most of the die cut images up on foam dots.  

This is sure getting me in the mood for the lovely fall season coming up soon!

I'm off to see how everyone else was inspired by this lovely fall table over at the Papertrey Ink Blog.  You have until midnight to join in!

I'm also linking my card to:
Happy Little Stampers

Just Us Girls

Time Out Challenges

Stamps:  Simply Gourd-eous, Forest Floor, Give Thanks Stamps - PTI
Paper: Kraft, Pine Feather, DP Text Style Argyle Socks - PTI
Ink:  Ripe Avocado, Olive Twist, Summer Sunrise, Canyon Clay, Cocoa Bean, Honey Nut, Orange Zwst, Bright Buttercup, Classic Kraft, Prairie Grass - PTI
Accessories: Simply Gourd-eous dies, Shape Shifter Circle 1 die, Forest Floor Dies, Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical Die - PTI, foam dots

Fresh from the Farm

Papertrey Ink had this Pick Up Truck Die in their September release and I knew I had to buy it as soon as I saw it!  How cute is this??!!   

It sold out in one day - (but you can click on the NOTIFY ME and they'll send you an e-mail when it's back in stock).  I'm making fall and Halloween cards and crafts to sell at my Church Fair in October and knew this would be a perfect item.  It measures about 4 1/2" long x 2 1/8" tall at the cab and 1 3/4" wide.  

I got the idea from PTI Designer, Betsy Veldman, who made a truck just like this so I can't take credit for the design!   I used a different fence (which is not part of the die set) and I added my little sign along with some brown basket shred (hay!)

I die cut the fence from Village Bungalow (Tim Holtz/Sizzix) and trimmed it to fit in the truck bed.  The Farm Fresh stamp is from Barnyard Sentiments (PTI) and the Fall Blessings is from Peace and Plenty (Waltzingmouse/retired)  I attached the sign to a wooden stir stick from Starbucks cut to fit.  The oversize pumpkin is from JoAnn - I bought a whole cylinder of them last year and never used them! It's the pumpkin that won the prize for being the biggest at the country fair!

I've made 4 so far -  two of them in Americana card and two in Ocean Tides card.  I sponged all the edges with the same color ink as the paper to give it an aged dimensional look.

With a change of stampings and truck colors, I can make some spooky Halloween Pick Ups and some Christmas Pick Ups! 

I'm linking my red truck to:

Just Us Girls

Country View Sept Challenge

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (I hope trucks count?!)

Stamps:  Barnyard Sentiments Stamp Set - PTI, Peace & Plenty - Waltzingmouse (retired)
Paper:  Americana, Ocean Tides, White, True Black - PTI, Brushed Silver - SU, watercolor paper - Canson.
Ink:  True Black, Smokey Shadow, Americana, Ocean Tides - PTI
Accessories:  Dashing Through the Snow: Pick Up Die set - PTI, Village Bungalow Die - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Tombow Glue, ScorTape, brown basket shred, wooden coffee stirrer, little pumpkins - JoAnn.

Twofer - Leaves

I made myself sit down in my craft room and work on two cards for Darnell's Twofer challenge, which this month is Leaves.  

I don't know why I have such trouble thinking of two different ways to use the same stamps - but it seems to shut my creative mind right down!?!  Usually, I'm very good at multi-tasking -  but apparently not so good at multi-designing?!!!

But, I think I got it done.......

 I know at first glance, my cards look similar -  same colors, same grid background stamp, same dew drops, same leaf stamp, but on closer inspection, I'll show you how they are different!

For my first card I stamped this lovely leaf (retired set Season of Change from Sweet N Sassy) by inking the stamp first in Orange Zest and then 'rock n rolling' the edges (remember that technique??!) in Honey Nut Ink.  You can see all the lovely detail in the stamp.  Then I stamped the Distressed Grid background over the panel in Soft Stone and die cut the panel with Pierced Feature Frames from PTI.

My Thanksgiving card!

For my Twofer below - I used the same stamp but "inked' the stamp by coloring it with Tombow Markers, brown around the outside edges and orange on the inside of the leaf.  Then I stamped the leaf onto watercolor paper and brushed over the middle of the stamping with a slightly wet paint brush to move around the color - which also makes all the detail of the stamp disappear 

(although there wasn't much detail showing anyway since this is a textured watercolor paper.) 

I repeated the process for the second leaf. 

Then I die cut the leaves using the coordinated die and layered them with foam dots over a panel of watercolor paper stamped with the same grid stamp as my first card. I layered the panel to a scalloped die cut and onto a card base of Rustic Cream cardstock .

My Thinking of You card.

So, I hope I got it right sis?  Two different designs for different occasions using the same stamps!

Thanksgiving Card
Stamps: Season of Change - Sweet N Sassy (retired), Distressed Grid - Cornish Heritage Farm (retired), Sentiment -  Inky Antics.
Paper:  white, Honey Nut - PTI
Ink:  Soft Stone, Orange Zest, Honey Nut - PTI
Accessories:  Pierced Feature Frame dies - PTI, orange dew drops, foam dots, Tombow Glue.

Thinking of You Card
Stamps:  Season of Change - Sweet N Sassy (retired), Distressed Grid - Cornish Heritage Farm (retired), Sentiment Staples: Thinking of You - PTI
Paper:  Rustic Cream, Honey Nut - PTI, Arches Watercolor paper
Ink:  Soft Stone, Honey Nut - PTI
Accessories:  Tombow Markers Brown and Orange, water, paint brush, Season of Change leaf dies - Sweet N Sassy (retired), Scallop Stackers Medium die - PTI, foam dots.