Boo Witch for Halloween

And now it is almost time for that magical day when kids (and adults who still think like kids) are transformed into all KINDS of costumed characters, celebrities, animals, creatures and clever concepts.

I hope your Halloween is a safe and happy one -- filled with lots of treats, decent trick n treat weather ....and one in which memories are made to last a lifetime.  

In my final Halloween card for the season, I thought I would incorporate some easy, fun techniques that give added texture and sparkle...plus the illusion of movement. 

Here's what you will need:

Impression Obsession Rubber Stamps 

http://iostamps.com

D7981 Little Witch

H7759 Spooky Trees

Clearsnap

Colorbox®️ Archival Dye ink pad: Wicked Black

Top Boss®️ Embossing Stamp pad

Colorbox®️ Embossing Powder (Gold)

Beacon Adhesives

Zip Dry®️ Paper Glue

Premium Tacky Glue

Heat Tool

Frame Die of your choice

Wood or chipboard letters painted black

Here's how to make it:

1. Cut out a frame from black cardstock and an oval from orange cardstock.

2. Stamp Little Witch on orange oval.  Before lifting stamp, carefully rotate it to the left and then to the right. Lift and remove stamp.

3. Stamp top portions of the Spooky Trees on the letters using the Embossing stamp pad.  Heat emboss with gold powder.  

4. Attach all layers as shown using Zip Dry Paper Glue.  Attach the letters with Premium Tacky Glue; dry.

If you enjoyed all these fun Halloween projects this month, please leave me a comment!  And if you have any special technique or project requests, just let me know!

Boo to you! Halloween is coming.....

As we slide further from sweet summertime, there is a definite chill in the air here in the Midwest. I can't help but think about how much this time of year always triggers memories of my children's Halloween fun, as well as that of my own childhood.  

Anticipation of that magical day (and sometimes entire weekend) is still contagious.  In fact, like many parents in our friendly neighborhood, I usually also get into the spirit of fun by wearing wigs or funny hats, along with orange and black clothing to greet all the trick-n-treaters that appear at my door.  On those Halloween days when the weather is drop dead gorgeous, I'll also spend hours outside greeting everyone...and just enjoying all that fun going on around me!  

But now is the time to get ready.  It's time to get that pumpkin, decorate the house....and create some cards for neighbors and friends.

For this project, I have used two of my new stamp images from Impression Obsession to create a card that will appeal to all ages--including all those "special" little pumpkins! 

Here is what you will need:

Impression Obsession Rubber Stamps: 

D7891 Little Witch

C7979 Scary Pumpkin 1

C7980 Scary Pumpkin 2

Clearsnap:

Colorbox®️ Premium Dye ink pads: Banana, Tangerine, Licorice

Colorbox®️Mix’d Media Inx™ ink pad: Jasmine

Art Dauber

Beacon Adhesives

Zip Dry®️ Paper Glue

Sizzix/Ellison:

Swirls Embossing folder

Here's what to do:

1. Apply both Banana and Tangerine ink to each of the pumpkins. Stamp along the bottom edge of a white cardstock scrap; dry.  

2. Stamp the witch in Licorice, overlapping slightly over the pumpkin(s). Cut angled corners.  3. Dab Licorice around all the edges of both the stamped layer and a purple notecard; dry.

4. Pressure emboss a black cardstock scrap. Lightly dab Jasmine pigment ink over the raised sections; dry. 

5. Attach all the layers to the card using Zip Dry®️ Paper Glue.

I just LOVE it when I can use up scraps from my stash!

Be Crabby Card

Who says Mixed Media has to be filled with lots of bits and pieces covering everything?  Just like most people with a fondness for IKEA's modern, clean lines,  I tend to be a bit of a Mixed Media crafting minimalist.  I love the simplicity and balance of threes...and the use of just a few items to create a powerful statement. I also LOVE finding creative uses for repurposing items most people just toss into the trash.

Here is a really cool card I made using a moveable crab die cut from Eye Connect Crafts! This card was recently published in Just Mixed Media 2017 (Scott Publications).  Note how I used a scrap of netting from a grocery store pack of oranges to add color and dimension to this fun scene!

The crab die cut comes already pre-cut and ready to decorate and assemble.  I used a simple 'direct-to-paper" (DTP) inky approach with Art Daubers and Clearsnap Colorbox® Classic Pigment ink to initially coat the pieces.  After drying with a heat tool, I applied Colorbox Archival Dye ink DTP using the ink pad as a stamp and positioning the pad so the corner created a triangular imprint on the body and the claws.TheArt Dauber was used again to add a bit of shading to the legs and around the body. After the ink was dry, the body was assembled by inserting mini colored brads through the pre-punched holes.  After dabbing Wicked Black around the card edges, a piece of netting was carefully arranged along the bottom and side and glued on to the card with 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue (Beacon Adhesives). The crab was positioned in place and glued over the netting and onto the card, as well.

And there you have it!  An adorable card that will make even the crabbiest person smile!

As always, please leave a comment!  I'd LOVE to know if you enjoyed this project!