No Bones About It

Of all the cards I enjoy making for various themes throughout the year, Halloween invariably turns out to be the most fun . . .

 . . . it must be because the usual artistic objectives of kindness, love, beauty, and maybe even a little sweetness are not remotely required for a successful Halloween card.  Instead, we get to dip into a little of the macabre, the bizarre, and even into a smidgeon  of scary.  Sounds like fun to me!

And a happy BOO! to you too! 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Marigold                

Stamps:        Just For Fun Spider Web Background, Unknown “No Bones

                           About It”, Rubber Stamp Tapestry “Time for Halloween”,

                           Judikins Dancing Skeletons, Raindrops on Roses

                           Watercolor Splashes

Inks:               Versamark, Hero Black, ColorBox Black, Frost White

Emb Powder:  Judikins Opaque White, Detail Black, Black Diamond,

                                Distress Black Soot

Dies:              Quickuts Bats                                    

                        

Just Wanted to Say

I raided the Scrap Stash big-time for this one . . .

 . . . and fell in love with one of Jennifer McGuire’s techniques all over again.  I think she calls it “Layered Embossed Resist” and it makes wonderful backgrounds.  On this card, I used it on the layer just beneath the banner.  Here’s how:

Stamp a text background using either a pigment ink (heat dry but do not emboss) or dye ink.  I used white ink, but a soft brown works well on white or cream cardstock.

Using VersaMark, over-stamp an overall floral pattern and clear emboss.

Sponge on Distress inks with a swirling motion, and then wipe with a paper towel to remove the excess ink from the embossed areas.

Done!   You get texture, glimmer, and a two-tone text background that looks complex but is very quick and easy to do..

Cardstock:               Marcos Jute, scraps from my Scrap Stash

Stamps:                    Simon Says Sketchy Banner Greetings “Just

                                    wanted to say”

Inks:                           Distress Wild Honey, Gathered Twigs, VersaMark,

                                     Gold marker

Emb Powder:          Ranger Clear

Dies:                          Simon Says Sketchy Banners, Cheery Lynn Lace

                                    Corner Deco B

Emb Folder:             Cuttlebug Mesh

Doo Dads:                Viva Paper Pen Walnut Brown

Soar

Another study in feathers, plus some dramatic black, white, and silver . . .

For all you texture lovers out there, this card definitely has it.  There isn’t a smooth surface to be found anywhere – even the embossing is crunchy.  I had happy fingertips while working on this and I know the recipient will too!

Cardstock:               Generic Black, textured White

Stamps:                    Starving Artistamps Square Dotted Background,

                                    “Soar, Persevere, Serenity”, Altered Stitches

                                    Trimmings: Stitch Border, Technique Junkies

                                    Simple Sentiments 1:  “Happy Anniversary”

Inks:                           ColorBox Frost White, Silver

Emb Powder:          B’Muse Detail Silver, Suze Weinberg UTEE Silver

Dies:                          Spellbinders Feathers in the Wind, Curved Matting

                                    Basics B

Stencil:                      Tim Holtz Speckles

Emb Paste:              Dreamweavers Silver

Congratulations, Graduate!

While a graduation card may seem a bit out of season, it was a creatively busy summer and I couldn’t fit it in earlier.  Besides, it never hurts to have cards of all kinds at the ready in your stash . . .

I’m happy to see that the blackboard technique is still alive and well, as I love the look and think it’s a lot of fun to do.  There are several ways to make this happen . . . I like to sponge along the edge with Papertrey’s Fresh Snow dye ink as it stays wet just long enough move it around a little with a crumpled Kleenex.  I’ve tried this using pigment ink but I get a softer, more diffused look with the dye.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Generic Black, Cardinal, Mustard          

Stamps:        PSX 2593 “Congratulations Graduate”, all other stamps

                          are from the Fiskars School Days Set   

Inks:               ColorBox Frost White, Black, Papertrey Ink Fresh Snow

Emb Powder:   Judikins Opaque White, Detail Black

Dies:              Papertrey Ink Angled Labels, Marianne Creatables Flora 3 

Doo Dads:    Red tassel

Silver, Black and White

Continuing with my yen for all things feathers and stencils . . .

Much as I love the silver-edged feathers, I think they’d have shown up more against the silver-stenciled background had I edged them in white.  Must try that next time . . . also, the three white dots are uneven in size and not perfectly placed.  But you thought I did that artistically-on-purpose, right?  Say yes . . .

Cardstock:               Generic textured Black, White

Stamps:                    Stamp Bug Happy Birthday Border, Starving

                                      Artistamps Altered Stitches: Running Stitch

Inks:                           ColorBox Frost White, Gelly Roll Clear Star pen

Emb Powder:          Suze Weinberg Silver UTEE, Stampendous

                                    Shabby White, Judikins Detail White

Dies:                          Impression Obsession Feather Set, Sweet ‘n

                                    Sassy Grass Border

Stencil:                      Tim Holtz Burlap

Emb Paste:              Dreamweaver Silver

Doo Dads:                Deckled scissors, Inkssentials White Enamel Accents

Such a Miracle

As the winner of a blue ribbon plus the Best in Show award, the card below is the Grand Finale to my Fair Series this year.  This brings to a close my barely disguised exercise in crowing.  Thanks to all of you who have shared in my annual satin ribbon romp via the NJ State Fair of 2014!

Hard to beat black and white paired with bright pops of happy color . . .

. . . this was my first attempt at coloring with a Dove Blender pen and markers.  The method I read said to color with the markers first and then blend with the Dove blender.  I didn’t get such good results with that:  some color moved but not enough. 

So I tried using the blender first and then going over it with the markers.  Yowza!  After using the markers, you can use the blender pen again to blend and lighten the color a little, or use a Fantastix coloring tool to blend and keep the same color intensity.  Either way works beautifully, depending on the effect you’re after . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Black, PaperCut Matte White

Stamps:        Goddess Designs Mother and Child, Little Yellow Bicycle,

                           Baby Girl set: “Such a miracle”, Artful Stamper Field

                           Flower, Stampin’ Up Bitty Backgrounds

Inks:               ColorBox Black, Frost White, Sakura Brush pens: Red,

                          Blue, Green, Orange, Purple, Dove Blender pen

Emb Powder:  Judikins Detail Black, Opaque White

Dies:              Lil’ Inkers Stitched Rectangles

Style Is Eternal

A Red Ribbon winner:

I’ve been looking for a stamp of a vest for years and could never find one.  I love vests – I have maybe ten of them and they suit me very well.  But no luck with finding a rubber one . . . until Fred B Mullett came to the rescue . . .

 . . . love the texture on this thing!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Marcos Jute, Beckett Moonlight

Stamps:        Fred Mullett Free Range Rubber Vest from Sheet #6,

                          Hampton Arts “Fashions fade, Style is eternal . . .”      

Inks:               Distress Peeled Paint, Archival Jet Black, ColorBox Black,

                          Distress Brushed Corduroy, Gelly Roll Clear Star pen 

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail Black     

Dies/Punches:  Family Treasures corner punch, Wplus9 Tie Die,

                             Spellbinders Small Deckled Rectangles                                

Impression Plate:  PaperTrey Ink Linen

Doo Dads:    Green pearl

Same Direction

A Blue Ribbon winner:

Whimsy is fun to do, especially since there are so many wonderful images out there that can lend themselves for a gentle look at a significant event. 

The background is actually navy blue, rather than the black my camera has decided to depict. 

I think that the St Exupery quote is the best definition of love ever to come down the pike, and what better time to share it than at the beginning of a marriage?

Cardstock:   Bazzill Admiral, Paper Cut Matte Coat White, Generic

                          Tan scrap      

Stamps:        Inkadinkado Exupery Quote Same Direction, Savvy Spring Bird      

Inks:               Distress Chipped Sapphire, Faded Jeans

Pens/Markers:  Distress Markers Antique Linen, Faded Jeans,

                              Gelly Roll Clear Star pen     

Emb Powder: Vippie Transcendence

Dies/Punches:  Quickutz Scroll Tree, Papertrey Ink Angled Labels,

                              Fiskars Cloud punches, Tiny Flower Center                  

Unique

This one was a Red Ribbon winner:

I love Kraft and I love gray, but I never thought to put the two together until now . . .

 . . . Glory be – it works, and I’m going to be doing this combo many more times down the road.

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Bazzill Ash, Generic Cream         

Stamps:        Fiskars Mesh brayer, Impression Obsession Swirl

                          Background, Stampers Anonymous Dotted Border,

                          Savvy Large Dotted Border, Appaloosa “Unique” text,

                          Serendipity Bird Scroll, with Angel Company

                          Dotted Background           

Inks:               Hero’s Soft Brown, ColorBox Cream White, Ancient Page

                          Stone Grey, Distress Brushed Corduroy, Gelly Roll

                          Clear Star, Archival Jet Black

Emb Powder:   B’Muse Eggshell, Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              Spellbinders Fancy Tags, Labels Eight              

Doo Dads:    Craf-T Brown chalk, pearls