Haunting Halloween

Goulish greetings my friends!  Halloween is here and I've been having a good time creating this scary vignette.  Please come in and have a seat near the creepy-crawly spiders!  There is no need to be afraid.

This spiderweb candelabra covered with glitter is the perfect accompaniment for Witches' Brew.  The spicy sweet aroma of patchouli lingers in the air.

Shall we try to work our magic this evening and cast a few spells or better yet create some potions?  Don't mind the ravens as they flutter ominously throughout the house.

This time of year always reminds me of Edgar Allan Poe.  Do you know how this famous American poet died? In an analysis done almost 147 years after his death, it is believed that Poe died from rabies.

The Raven, one of Poe's most famous works only grossed him a merely $9.00.  This is such a great book on a chilly autumn night, wrapped in a blanket with a hot cup of tea; there's nothing better.

Tonight I have chosen a Meyer Lemon tea with honey by Davidson.  We will be sipping it slowly by the light of the rising moon.  This Royal Albert Regal Series teacup is perfect for this eerie night.  Would you mind if I put a magical potion or two in your cup?

Our table wouldn't be complete without a pair of witch boots.

A raven's eye view ...

Can you feel the magic in the air?  Are you ready to watch some scary movies?  Tonight I will be enjoying the Legend of Sleepy Hollow starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci.

Wishing you all a spooktacular Halloween!

Today I am joining ...

Heart & Home @ Rosewood Cottage

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations

Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups

Friends Sharing Tea @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson

Teacup Thursday @ Miss Spenser's Blog 

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage

Show Off Friday @ What About

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Just Flying By!

I was hoping to post this card last night, but Blogger wasn't cooperating with me.  This spooky scene was created using only two stamps.  On a piece of glossy white paper I stamped the trees and Halloween witch in StazOn Black.  Next, I punched a 1 3/8" circle from a post-it note as a mask for the moon.  The background was sponged in Bordering Blue, Distress Bundled Sage, Distress Shabby Shutters, Distress Peeled Paint, Distress Weathered Wood, Distress Faded Jeans, SU Night of Navy and Distress Black Soot.

 

Before I removed the mask I applied Tsukineko Sheer Sparkle Shimmer Spritz to the scene.  I mounted the focal image to a piece of Kiwi Kiss paper then onto a black linen card.

The inside sentiment was stamped in Kiwi Kiss and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

I hope you are excited about Halloween as much as I am!  Please be sure to stop back tomorrow to have some spooky tea with me.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  SU Lovely As a Tree, PSX Sky Witch Writer (F-2098), Northwoods Whimsy Just Flying By
Paper:  Black Linen, Kiwi Kiss, Glossy White, Whisper White
Ink:  Images - StazOn Black; Background - Bordering Blue, Distress Bundled Sage, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Weathered Wood, Faded Jeans, Night of Navy, Black Soot; Sentiment - Kiwi Kiss with Clear EP
Accessories:  1 3/8" Circle Punch, Tsukineko Sheer Sparkle Shimmer Spritz, Post-It Note
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging, Masking
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")   

Magazine Winner!

I am so sorry everyone.  I was so busy yesterday I forgot to pick our Artful Blogging magazine winner last night.  The winning # using random.org was 41 - Rosemary @ Rosemary's Blog Spot.

Congratulations Rosemary, please email me your address using the link on my right sidebar and I will get the latest copy in the mail to you.

Thanks again everyone for your lovely comments.

Jack-O-Lantern Scene

I have an eerie Halloween scene for you this evening.  This card was put together using stamps from different manufacturers.  I started with a piece of Shimmery White paper and stamped the images in StazOn Black.  The Jack-o-lantern was colored with Only Orange and Yoyo Yellow.  A little sparkle was added to his grin with a lemon spica pen.

 

The background was sponged in Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue, Distress Milled Lavender and Distress Black Soot.

I accented the cobwebs and leaves with a silver spica pen. 

The scene was adhered to a piece of Perfect Plum and then mounted to a black linen card.  Here is a peek at the inside.

 

I want to thank everyone who has left me comments over the past couple of days.  I'm a little behind on my email and will be visiting you this week.  Yesterday was a full day with outside work.  I wasn't kidding when I said I had leaves to rake.

 

 

All these leaves are from our maple tree ...

 

 

and this is what the lawn looks like now  :-)

 

 

We are prepping for the big storm coming up the east coast to New York.  Our generator is working, we have batteries and tons of candles.  I'm thinking of you Cynthia down there in New Jersey - be safe.  

 

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampscapes Spooky Branch, SU Spooky Spells, Memory Box Web & Willows, Memory Box Crow, Northwoods Ghostly Happy Halloween  

Paper:  Black Linen, Perfect Plum, Shimmery White

Ink:  Images - StazOn Black; Sponging - Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue, Distress Milled Lavender and Distress Black Soot; Inside Sentiment - StazOn Black with Clear EP

Accessories:  Lemon & Silver Spica Pens

Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")    

Vintage Halloween Words

For someone who dislikes spiders so much I tend to use quite a few of them on Halloween cards.  This was a simple one to create.  The black patterned paper is Nightfall by Memory Box.  

To create the focal image, I stamped the Halloween Words first by loading the stamp with VersaMark then StazOn Black ink before stamping it onto a piece of Whisper White.  The image was embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun. 

Next, I sponged Brilliance Galaxy Gold, Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie and Dusty Durango.  The edges were torn with a tearing tool and sponged with Distress Black Soot.  To add some sparkle I sprayed a little Tsukineko Gold Shimmer Spritz over the sponged background.  I like how the fonts are different on these words and didn't want to cover them up.

The spiders were cut from Basic Black paper using the new Memory Box dangling spider die.  Tsukineko Sparkle Shimmer Spritz was added to them.    

Here is a peek at the inside.

Everything was mounted to a black onyx card.  The finished size is 4.75" x 4.75".  Since I have been slacking with posting my Halloween cards the next week will be filled with spookiness!  I'll be spending the weekend away from the computer as I need to cut back the gardens and rake leaves.  Have a great one!

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Memory Box Vintage Halloween Words, Northwoods Rubber Stamps Spooky Wishing You A Night
Paper:  Black Onyx, Memory Box Nightfall Designer Paper, Whisper White, Basic Black, Dusty Durango, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Image - StazOn Black with Clear EP; Sponging - Brilliance Galaxy Gold, Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Dusty Durango, Distress Black Soot; Sentiment - Dusty Durango; Cauldron - StazOn Black
Accessories:  Tsukineko Sparkle and Gold Shimmer Spritz, Tearing Tool, Memory Box Dangling Spider Die
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging
Card Size:  4.75" x 4.75"  

I'm in Artful Blogging!

Hello friends,

 

I have a little excitement to share with you today.  I am honored to be featured in the Winter 2013 issue of Artful Blogging magazine, which will be on the newsstands November 1st.  This is the best birthday present a gal could ask for :-)

 

When I was contacted by the editor in July asking me if I would like to be in an upcoming issue I was ecstatic!  I feel so blessed to be a part of this gorgeous magazine.  This publication is filled with online journals and virtual galleries.  It is a visual delight for the eyes.

 

After I submitted my photos and wrote the article I thought this is going to be nice.  Well, after seeing everything in print I am totally thrilled!  My small part of blogland has been revealed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To celebrate I am offering a copy of the latest issue to one lucky winner.  All you need to do is be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post by Saturday, October 27, 2012.  I will select a winner on Sunday, October 28, 2012 using random.org

I would like to thank Jennifer Jackson Taylor at Artful Blogging, my wonderful husband for his support and all my sweet blogging friends for your visits and comments.

~ Now let me take a deep breath and savor the moment ~

Fall Foliage Tour

Are you ready for a fall foliage tour? Please join me as we take a stroll through the backyard before the autumn colors have faded. Autumn is one of nature's best treasures.

This is the maple tree on the western corner of the property.

 

The brilliant fall foliage is such a beautiful contrast with the sky and the fading summer beauty.

 

 

Colored leaves are in abundance.

 

A Katsura tree with apricot-yellow foliage. 

 

I just adore the heart shaped leaves on the branches.

The burning bush has striking red foliage.

It bears reddish-orange berries in autumn.

A smaller maple tree with pretty colors.

 

This Fothergilla bush was planted specifically for its fall color.  It looks nice next to the patio.

Decorating the branches are lovely berries for the birds to enjoy.

Would you like to come leaf peeking with us?  A glorious sunny morning greets us as we take a short drive to southern Vermont and Massachusetts. 

 

 

 The peacefulness of the Roaring Branch.  The river runs alongside the road for approx. 7 miles.  It is widely considered to be Vermont's prettiest river or stream. 

 

 

 

 

The First Congregational Church is located on Monument Avenue in Bennington.  It is also known as the Old First Church and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget to look up at the canopy!

 

 

As we strolled in the church yard cemetery near the resting place of the poet Robert Frost, a sinister crow happened to stop above us.  One might find it a bit eerie. 

 

 

St. Francis de Sales was the first Catholic church in southern Vermont.  This church dates back to 1854.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The First Baptist Chuch is located on Main Street.

 

 

This beautiful steeple has a glorious bell in the tower.  Can you hear it ring?

 

 

I hope you are still with us as we take a short hike through the Green Mountain National Forest.  This footbridge will take us on our merry way ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

My husband Michael on the bridge.

 

 

 

 

Sunlight illuminates these moss covered rocks surrounded by ferns.

 

 

As we are hiking back I spot a patch of dried wildflowers.  Beauty is truly everywhere. 

 

 

Shall we drive a little farther and head deeper into the Berkshires?

 

 

This imposing stone chapel was built in 1903 and named the Thompson Memorial Chapel.    

 

 

The west transept window, dedicated to President James A. Garfield (class of 1856), was created by noted 19th century stained glass artist John LaFarge and is one of only 400 LaFarge windows in existence.

 

 

This First Congregational Church was originally in brick and constructed in the Romanesque Revival style.  In 1914, the old brick was encased with white clapboard to resemble the neoclassical style, modeled after the 18th century church in Old Lyme, CT.

 

 

What do we have here?  A juvenile squirrel practicing it's balance and forage skills.  I carry this joyous sight with me as we start to head home.

 

 

Before you know it dusk is almost upon us with the sun setting over the lovely mountains.  It casts an amazing glow upon the clouds, and I'm reminded once again how simple things such as this give us so much pleasure - the end to a perfect day! 

 

 

Thank you so much for visiting me!  Did you have a good time enjoying the autumn foliage?  The first photo in my post was edited with the Florabella Collection using the Cream Canvas texture on soft light with an opacity of 60%.   

 

Today I am joining ...

 

Pink Saturday for 'Autumn Foliage' @ How Sweet the Sound

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Sunday Showcase @ Under The Table & Dreaming

Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life

Favourite Photo Monday @ Blueberry Craft and Hobby

Macro Monday @ Lisa's Chaos

Masterpiece Monday @ Boggieboard Cottage

NF Inspiring Photography @ NatureFootstep meme

Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes

Outdoor Wednedsay @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Rural Thursday @ A Rural Journal

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner

Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time

Show Off Friday @ What About

Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Flower Art Friday @ Photos by LeAnne

Floral Friday Fotos @ Floral Friday

Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense