Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!


Happy Halloween!

There are so many reason why I enjoy Halloween.  One is because it brings back all those wonderful feelings from my "trick or treating days."  The anticipation of picking out a costume and dreaming weeks in advance about what I would be.  The excitement and good scary feelings you get from all the Halloween decorations that greet you at each house.  Also, someone giving you something you enjoy with no strings attached (how nice is that?)  Walking through the fallen leaves from house to house ...

There is a crisp chill of the evening air, carving the first pumpkin, scarecrows, hay rides and corn mazes.  Halloween is about possibility, and is held captive by its own unique sense of magic and wonder.  I always enjoy watching horror movies the week before Halloween.

Tonight I will look forward to the "treaters" as they come to the door looking for their bag of goodies.  So this Halloween give yourself over to all those great feelings of fun and enjoy every minute.

This is the card I created for my darling husband.  Have a safe and spooky Halloween!

On a piece of Shimmery White paper the jack-o-lantern was inked with VersaMark then Basic Black and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  I then sponged the image in Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive for the stem.  Yellow Stickles were added to the eyes and nose.  I cut out the jack-o-lantern. 

I cut out the inside of his mouth and cut another piece of Shimmery White paper to fit behind it.  I stamped the spooky branch, spider, cat and willow stems in StazOn Black with clear embossing powder.  Using a 1 1/4" circle punch I created a mask for the moon.  I sponged the background in VersaMagic Pretty Petunia, Lovely Lilac, Adirondack Purple Twilight, Elegant Eggplant and Distressed Black Soot.  Once I removed the mask I stamped the witch from SU's set Home Is Where the Haunt Is.  The bat brad is from Eyelet Outlet.

Punched the drippy goo from glossy white paper and sponged it with Green Galore, Gable Green, and Glorious Green.  I then added Angel Wings Shimmerz Paint and Eucalyptus Stickles.  I glued the drippy goo behind the pumpkin mouth.

A crow was stamped in StazOn Black and embossed with clear embossing powder and sponged with Distressed Black Soot.  The leaves were stamped in StazOn Timber Brown and colored with an Aqua Painter.

Since I knew I wanted to add the crow to the top of the pumpkin I couldn't use a black cardbase as it wouldn't show up.  I finally settled on Desert Storm (same as Crumb Cake).  The brick pattern was stamped in Distressed Tea Dye and sponged with Distressed Old Paper and Distressed Vintage Photo.  I wanted to soften the bricks a little so I sponged ColorBox Frost White over the front of the card.  The brick stamp is rather small so I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to line them up and stamped in rows. 

The inside scene was glued to the cardbase and I popped up the jack-o-lantern, crow and leaves for depth.  Now, I must confess this card took me a while to create.  I had so many stamps pulled out, but most of them were too large for the inside scene as I was trying to keep things in proportion.

A close up of the spooky scene.

I will be including a "treat" in his card, but no candy.  This is what he will be receiving.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Judikins Jack-o-lantern, Home Is Where the Haunt Is, Halloween Frights, Cast A Spell, Autumn Harvest, Stampscapes Spooky Branch, Memory Box Web & Willows, Memory Box Spider, Stampers Anonymous Bricked 
Paper:  Desert Storm, Shimmery White, Glossy White
Ink:  Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, StazOn Black, VersaMagic Pretty Petunia, Lovely Lilac, Adirondack Purple Twilight, Elegant Eggplant, Distressed Black Soot, Green Galore, Gable Green, Glorious Green; Brick Background - Distressed Tea Dye sponged with Distressed Old Paper, Distressed Vintage Photo & ColorBox Frost White
Accessories:  Martha Stewart Drippy Goo Edge Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Bat Brad from Eyelet Outlet, Yellow & Eucalyptus Stickles, Angel Wings Shimmerz Paint, Silver Spica Pen
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Friday, October 28, 2011

Goulish Tea Time

Goulish greetings to you all!  I'm glad you arrived for this delightful occasion and hope you have dressed in the appropirate attire.

Please take a sip if you dare!  Today I am sharing with you my Royal Albert Regal Series teacup and saucer.  This black teacup has a lovely gold cascade overlay that is quite striking.

A Halloween witch will watch over us during the witching hour.  Is there a full moon this evening?

Don't be afraid of the dark.  A spooky Yankee Candle skull tealight holder will light the way.  Our scent tonight is Witches' Brew.  The spicy sweet aroma of exotic patchouli casts a captivating Halloween spell.  

Would you like a scrumptious apple cinnamon muffin for a sweet treat?

Pretty in black.

Let's take a peek under the teacup.

Thank you for joining me for some Halloween tea.  I am linking with the following ladies this week.

Friends Sharing Tea @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog
Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Tuesday Tea for Two @ The Plumed Pen
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites

Resources:
Teacup & Saucer:  Royal Albert Regal Series in Black
Candle Holders:  Yankee Candle
Spider Web Doily:  Yankee Candle
Depression Glass:  Anchor Hocking Moonstone Pattern
White Glazed Pumpkin:  WoodWicks Candles
Witch:  Craft Show   

Thursday, October 27, 2011

All Hallow's Eve


This Halloween card was created for my dear friend Veronica.  I think she will be surprised when she receives it.  I started with a 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" metallic onyx cardbase, which was matted in Yoyo Yellow.  The designer paper is from Martha Stewart's Classic Halloween Mat Pad. 

Using my Big Shot I cut out the two circles, swirl and cat.  All Hallow's Eve was inked in VersaMark then StazOn Black and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun. 

The inside paper is Yoyo Yellow cut from a Spellbinders Labels Sixteen die and I have added a Fleur De Lis Motif in black with a bronze rhinestone.  This piece was adhered to a Really Rust mat.  The sentiment is from A Muse.

A peek at the inside.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Inkadinkado All Hallow's Eve, A Muse - Black Cats Prowl, PSX Petite Black Cat
Paper:  Metallic Onyx, Yoyo Yellow, Martha Stewart Classic Halloween Mat Pad, Really Rust, Basic Black
Ink:  StazOn Black
Accessories:  Kaiser Bronze Rhinestones, Nesties Large Classic Circles #3, Small Classic Circles #4, Fleur De Lis Motifs, Labels Sixteen, Halloween Fence Scenes Die, Sizzix Decorative Swirls #2, Lemon Spica Pen for cat's eyes
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging
Card Size:  4 3/4" x 4 3/4"

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Memory Box Haunted Mansion


Doesn't this card just get you in the mood for Halloween - it has an eeriness about it.  I started with a piece of glossy white paper and stamped the images in StazOn Black.  I then punched a 1 3/8" circle from a post-it note for a moon.  I also added a post-it note along the bottom for my ground.

Before sponging the background I masked the windows of the house.  The colors used were Distressed Shabby Shutters, Distressed Peeled Paint and Distressed Black Soot.  I removed the mask from the moon and the ground and sponged the grass in Distressed Forest Moss.  

The windows of the haunted mansion were colored with a Yoyo Yellow marker.  The tombstone was colored in Basic Gray.

I mounted the scene to a piece of Basic Black and then onto a Yoyo Yellow card.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Memory Box Haunted Mansion, Stampscapes Spooky Branch, SU Bitty Boos
Paper:  Yoyo Yellow, Basic Black, Glossy White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Distressed Shabby Shutters, Distressed Peeled Paint, Distressed Black Soot, Distressed Forest Moss, SU Basic Gray, Yoyo Yellow Marker 
Accessories:  1 3/8" Circle Punch, Post-It Notes
Techniques:  Sponging 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Halloween Spiders!

For today's card I used the Memory Box Halloween Collage stamp.  These collage stamps make creating cards quick and easy :-)

I stamped the image in StazOn Black onto a piece of DCWV shimmer orange.  Adhered it to a piece of Basic Black and colored in the spiders with a black spica pen.

The background paper is from the Nightfall pack by Memory Box.  A piece of Martha Stewart Halloween ribbon and a glitter cobweb finish it off.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Memory Box Halloween Collage
Paper:  Black Linen, Memory Box Nightfall Designer Paper, Basic Black, DCWV The Shimmer Matstack Orange
Ink:  StazOn Black
Accessories:  Martha Stewart Halloween Ribbon, Black Spica Pen, Recollections Border Spiderweb, Bow-Easy
Techniques:  Collage Stamping 

Monday, October 24, 2011

PSX Haunted Victorian


Did you really think I would let the Halloween season go without creating a few Stampscapes cards?  This one was a "piece of cake" to create.  I stamped the PSX Haunted Victorian House and Petite Black Cat in StazOn Black on glossy white paper.  I then punch a 1 1/4" circle from a post-it note for a moon.

Next, I sponged the background in Adirondack Cool Peri, Lovely Lilac, Vintage Violet and Elegant Eggplant.  I removed the mask from the moon and stamped the witch from SU's Home Is Where the Haunt Is.  I decided to add a little frost white shimmer paint around the witch.

I adhered the focal image to a piece of Basic Black and then mounted everything to a Lovely Lilac card.  Now is that easy or what?

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  PSX Haunted Victorian, PSX Petite Black Cat, SU Home Is Where the Haunt Is
Paper:  Lovely Lilac, Basic Black, Glossy White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Adirondack Cool Peri, Lovely Lilac, Vintage Violet, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories:  SU Frost White Shimmer Paint, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Post-It Note
Techniques:  Sponging

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Best Witches Broom


My Halloween card today uses an image from the Lockhart Stamp Company. On a piece of Very Vanilla paper the broom was inked with VersaMark then StazOn Black and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun. The handle was colored in Chocolate Chip and the broom in Distressed Scattered Straw. Next, I sponged around the image in Distressed Antique Linen, Wild Honey, Tea Dye, Spiced Marmalade, Brushed Corduroy and Black Soot.

I adhered the focal image to a piece of Basic Black then added a witch hat brad, orange rhinestones and ribbon. These pieces were then mounted to a piece of Memory Box Blackbird Designer Paper.

The cat image is from the Spellbinders Halloween Fence Scenes die. I added some green glitter paper for his eyes.
Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Lockhart Stamp Company Broom (5013)
Paper:  Black Linen, Memory Box Blackbird Designer Paper, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Ink:  StazOn Black, Chocolate Chip, Distressed Scattered Straw, Antique Linen, Wild Honey, Tea Dye, Spiced Marmalade, Brushed Corduroy, Black Soot
Accessories:  Martha Stewart Halloween Ribbon, Witch Hat Brad by Eyelet Outlet, Recollections Orange Halloween Rhinestones, Spellbinders Halloween Fence Scenes Die
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Autumn Colors

Hi everyone,

While enjoying some sunshine today I snapped a few more pictures of the gardens in bright autumn colors.  As things wind down I think this will be the last of the autumn colors.


Katsura tree with apricot-yellow foliage.  


Notice the heart shaped leaves on the branches?


Sedum in autumn.


Virginia Sweetspire with Morning Light Maiden Grass.


The Burning Bush is turning a scarlet red. 


A picture of the gazebo with our maple tree.


A Ginkgo 'Princeton Sentry' tree has a striking yellow color with fan shaped leaves.  This tree can live more than 1,000 years.   


This is a Miscanthus sinensis 'Graziella' grass.  Huge, feathery white plumes bloom above slender, upright foliage clumps.  This refined ornamental grass has rich, coppery-red and orange fall color and will not become invasive.  It is a good choice for northern gardeners.


Thank you for spending a few minutes with me today.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Spooky Dark & Dreary

This card is all about the embossed spiderweb background.  I'm sure most of you have seen or tried this technique before.  I used my Cuttlebug spiderweb embossing folder and rubbed one side of it with ColorBox Frost White ink, then placed a piece of black pearl paper inside and ran it through the Big Shot.  I love the white highlights and how it makes the web pop.

The web-laced candelabrum stamp was inked in VersaMark then StazOn Black and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  I colored the base of the candelabrum with a silver spica pen and the candlesticks with a Lovely Lilac Marker.  The bulbs were done with a lemon spica pen.  I sponged around the edges of the rectangle in Distressed Black Soot and adhered it to a piece of Basic Black.

The antique silver spooky metal plate was glued to a piece of Lovely Lilac paper cut from a Nesties Labels Fourteen #2 die and sponged in Black Soot.  While assembling this card I came across these black spider brads from Eyelet Outlet.

The embossed background was layered onto a piece of Lovely Lilac, then Brushed Silver and mounted to a Black Linen card.  I think this is a great masculine card for Halloween.  I will finish the inside when I know who the recipient will be.

I just love this candelabrum stamp.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  SU Dark & Dreary
Paper:  Black Linen, Black Pearl, Brushed Silver, Lovely Lilac, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink:  Candelabrum - StazOn Black with Clear EP (colored in with silver spica pen); Bulbs - lemon spica pen; Candlesticks - Lovely Lilac Marker; Sponging - Distressed Black Soot
Accessories:  7/8" Spiderweb Ribbon from Michael's, Making Memories Embossed Antique Silver Metal Plate, Spider Brads from Eyelet Outlet, Cuttlebug Spiderweb Embossing Folder, Nesties Small Classic Rectangles #3, Large Classic Rectangles #3, Labels Fourteen #2
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Web & Willows


Today I have a Halloween scene using mostly Memory Box stamps.  I stamped the Web and Willows and tombstone in StazOn Black onto a piece of Naturals Ivory paper.  I colored some of the leaves with a Summer Sun marker and others with a lemon spica pen.  Next, I squeezed a little platinum Stickles onto a piece of scrap paper and used a toothpick to apply the glitter to the web.  Am I crazy or what?  I like to torture myself (hee hee).  I wanted to just highlight the web - cool effect if you see the card in real life!

The background was sponged in Distressed Antique Linen and Distressed Tea Dye with the edges in Vintage Photo.

Using the new Memory Box Wrought Iron Fence Die I cut a piece of shimmer spice paper and sponged the fence with Distressed Walnut Stain.  My goal was to try and make the fence look rustic.  Since it seemed a little fragile I glued the fence rather than trying to use pop dots.

The sentiment was stamped in StazOn Black onto a piece of Naturals Ivory, which was cut from an Essex Label Die.  I love how these stamps coordinate with the dies.  I sponged the label in Mustard Seed and highlighted around the bat with an orange spica pen.  I only had a few orange rhinestones left so I used them to add some sparkle.

I adhered the scene to a piece of Early Espresso and then mounted everything to a Really Rust card.

A Halloween scene that isn't too spooky!

A closer peek at the spiderweb.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Memory Box Web and Willows, Happy Halloween Bat, SU Bitty Boos, Inkadinkado Spider
Paper:  Really Rust, Early Espresso, DCWV The Shimmer Matstack Spice, Naturals Ivory
Ink:  Images & Sentiment - StazOn Black; Sponged Fence with Distressed Walnut Stain; Background - Distressed Antique Linen and Distressed Tea Dye with the edges in Vintage Photo; Mustard Seed on Label
Accessories:  Platinum Stickles, Orange Rhinestones, Memory Box Wrought Iron Fence Die, Essex Label Die
Techniques:  Sponging

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Witch Hat Wordplay

Even though I have tons of patterned paper I still find myself creating my own backgrounds.  This card was designed using the faux mother of pearl technique (one of my favorites).

I started with a piece of Shimmery White paper then inked the Memory Box Flourish stamp with VersaMark then Lavender Lace and embossed it with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  I drew two lines with a black marker and stamped my spiders in StazOn Black and embossed them with clear embossing powder.  The cobweb was stamped in VersaMark and embossed with silver embossing powder.

Now I am ready to create my background.  I started by placing a small amount of Adirondack Metallics Pearl Acrylic Paint on a paint palette, then bunched up a piece of Saran Wrap and dipped it into the Pearl Acrylic Paint.  I tapped on the paper to transfer the paint leaving some areas uncovered.  I sponged VersaMagic Pretty Petunia with a little Distressed Dusty Concord around the edges.  You can find the tutorial here on SCS.

The witch hat was stamped in StazOn Black and embossed with iridescent ice embossing powder.  The buckle was colored with lavender and silver spica pens.  I cut out the hat and popped it up off the card for dimension.

I layered the faux mother of pearl to a piece of Basic Black and mounted everything onto a Grape Jelly card.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Memory Box Vintage Scroll, Inkadinkado Spider & Web, Inkadinkado Witch Hat
Paper:  Grape Jelly, Basic Black, Shimmery White
Ink:  Lavender Lace, StazOn Black, VersaMagic Pretty Petunia, Distressed Dusty Concord
Accessories:  Lavender and Silver Spica Pens, Adirondack Metallics Pearl Acrylic Paint
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging, Faux Mother of Pearl Technique

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Autumn Silhouette Branch

Oh, how I love autumn and I hope today's card reflects that.  I have kept things "clean and simple".

I stamped the Memory Box Silhouette Branch on Very Vanilla paper in StazOn Timber Brown.  The leaves were colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol.  Sponging around the image was done in Distressed Antique Linen.

I cut a piece of More Mustard paper with a Spellbinders Grommet Tags die.  Autumn was inked in VersaMark then Chocolate Chip and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  The grommet tag was layered onto a Labels Seventeen #2 die cut from Old Olive paper.  I thought the glimmer brads would be a nice touch.

Everything was assembled to a piece of Chocolate Chip then onto an Orange Fizz card.

The inside sentiment by Hero Arts was also stamped in Chocolate Chip and embossed with clear embossing powder.  The little acorns were stamped in StazOn Timber Brown onto Creamy Caramel paper, cut out and colored with a blender pen in Close to Cocoa.

Remember ... enjoy the moments that make you happy!

Autumn beauty ...

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Memory Box Silhouette Branch, SU Season by Season, SU Autumn Harvest, Hero Arts Enjoy the Moments
Paper:  Orange Fizz, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Creamy Caramel
Ink:  Branch - StazOn Timber Brown (colored with Prismacolor Pencils in Orange PC918, Limepeel PC917, Sunburst Yellow PC941); Sponging - Antique Linen, Old Olive, More Mustard; Sentiments - Chocolate Chip with Clear EP
Accessories:  SU Glitter Brads, Nesties Labels Seventeen #2, Grommet Tags, Gamsol
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging, Blender Pen

Saturday, October 8, 2011

2011 Hope Love Cure Winners!

Hi everyone,

Happy Saturday!  It's time to pick our Hope Love Cure Blog Candy winners.  Since only four people entered and I have three items to give away your chances of winning were pretty good.  Now the news you've been waiting for ...

The first # selected using random.org was 3 - Cheryl

The second # selected using random.org was 1 - Karin

The third # selected using random.org was 4 - Bella

Congratulations to all of you!  Please email me your address using the link on my right sidebar and I will get your cute mini totes in the mail to you next week.  Thank you!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Autumn Tea

Vibrant colors are illuminating the landscape and the Harvest Moon is upon us.  Autumn is the perfect time to relax and unwind with a cup of tea.  Please join me today by our burning bush (Euonymus alatus), which is starting to turn a beautiful shade of scarlet red.

The beauty of a branch.

Tea today is pumpkin spice served in a teacup and saucer produced by Ridgway of the Staffordshire Potteries under their Queen Anne Style.  This beautiful autumn pattern has rosehips, autumn leaves, tiny yellow flowers and grasses in orange-yellow, green and brown with gold gilding on the outer rim.

A peek at the bottom of the cup.

Pumpkin candles with a rustic painted finish and Indian corn grace the table.

An autumn path napkin with antique brass acorns and a merlot basket completes our autumn theme with scattered leaves, acorns and pinecones. 


I hope you'll take a moment to appreciate the simple, natural beauty of the season.  Thank you for stopping and having tea with me.  I am linking with the following ladies this week.

Friends Sharing Tea @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog
Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Party Tuesday @ Sweetology

Resources:
Teacup & Saucer:  Ridgway of Staffordshire Potteries
Pumpkin Candles:  Pottery Barn
Napkin:  Longaberger Autumn Path pattern
Acorn Napkin Ring:  April Cornell
Basket:  Longaberger Merlot Teaspoon Basket with Autumn Path Liner
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