Happy Halloween!

I found some downloadable vintage music on Pinterest and when I saw this title of 'Witches Dance' I knew it would be perfect for a Halloween card.  And one will go to a special friend who really is descended from a witch in Salem, MA and was one of the first hung for her practices (the witch, NOT my friend!).

Stampers Anonymous:  Mini Blueprints 7 CMS203

Bazzill cardstock: white, orange

Ranger: Adirondack Lettuce marker; Black Soot, Ground Espresso archival inks; clear superfine embossing powder

Uniball Signo white pen (Mitsubishi)

Hope you have a safe and happy Halloween with lots of treats and no tricks!

Gray skies

are just clouds passing over.  Blue skies ahead.  (attributed to Duke Ellington)

light and dark gray Bazzill cardstocks, unknown white cardstock

Stampers Anonymous: #38 Bricked stencil, CMS241 Ledger Script

Ranger:  Snow Cap pigment ink; distress inks (whatever was on the yellow, orange, red and brown foam pads)

Sizzix:  Umbrella Man

I love the random appearance of the brick wall as it fades across the card front.  It's a perfect setting for the Umbrella Man. 

This card is for a friend's high school chum who recently suffered a stroke.  I thought the message (above) was fitting and hope that the recipient soon sees sunnier days.

In sympathy and friendship

Another bad week for friends and family...3 members within my circle have lost loved ones in a space of 4 days.  Here's one of the cards I made for a childhood who lost her father.

Rubber Stamp Tapestry SLE 18008 Fall Leaves and Acorns

Ranger: archival inks (Ground Espresso, Vintage Photo, Sunflower, Fern Green, Monarch Orange, Tiger Lily); distress stains (Broken China, Tumbled Glass, Shaded Lilac)

Unknown cardstocks

My Sentiments Exactly S146-IIO stamp

RIP, Jiggs, you were a good man.  You've rejoined your wife and daughter in heaven.

Cherish

the sweet and precious memories that we hold in our minds.  Life's sweet moments from our past, in our memories always last.  (taken from an unmounted stamp but I don't know the origin).  I needed another sympathy card.  Within the last month the house at the end of the street lost a father and a step-father and now the next house towards ours has lost a mother.  All 3 were older and had considerable health issues but it doesn't soften the loss that you feel when losing a loved one.

Bazzill colored cardstock, unknown white cardstock

Worn Lipstick distress ink

Stampers Anonymous 'Stamptember Holiday' (2016 exclusive to Simon Says Stamp)

Sizzix thinlits dies 'Wildflowers' and 'Handwritten Love'

Fiskars corner rounder

I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it would make a lovely sympathy card.  You'll need to scroll down a ways to see the inspiration card.  The other ideas are simple but equally elegant in their own right.

I'm so very happy for you!

You've bought a new home!  After years of married life, divorced life and helping out the kids and grandkids you've found a place to call your own.  Which means you can't blame any messes, etc. on anybody else!  lol

Studio 490 (Stampers Anonymous) SCS139 Simply...Art, SCS145 Artful Thoughts, SCS146 Card Art Sentiments

Ranger archival inks (Black Soot, Deep Purple), distress markers

mixed media cardstock, unknown cardstock

Hope you make lots of wonderful memories in your new digs!

Haunted house

front view

 side 1

  side 2

Oh my gosh...what a lot of work...but LOVE the results!!!!!!!!!!!  This is my version of Tim Holtz's Haunted Mansion.  (If you want/need to see larger photos jlmk and I can email them to you.)

I watched Tim's latest video (on today's blog) after I had completed my house and was waiting for everything to set up.  My roof was shingled before I added the tower.  I didn't start out with 110# cardstock but with the black posterboard so I could create texture directly onto the pieces.

The tower was painted in the distress paint colors listed below once I had stamped 'All Cracked Up' in clear embossing ink and heat set with clear powder.  Looks like old stonework, doesn't it?

No mica could I find in my stash so I created 'glass' out of old Sizzix packaging and alcohol inks.  The lower part of the smoke stacks were covered in the stucco, wrapped in gauze then letting it all air dry before I added some Forest Moss, Hickory Smoke and Black Soot distress inks to bring out the texture.

Before assembling the chimneys I traced around the bricks using the white Sharpie then colored them in.  I wanted a base layer so I could add the pigment inks over them.  I was afraid on the black posterboard they wouldn't stand out.  Before the ink could dry I sprinkled clear embossing powder over them; heat set then assembled.

Both roofs were a light green paper that I covered with the distress paints - Forest Moss (let dry), Hickory Smoke (a bit less, let dry) and Milled Lavender (even less, let dry).  IRL this is a really sharp look and rather eery...like moss-covered stone work.  Over the lower roof I stamped the reflections (text in Hickory Smoke and numbers in Black Soot distress inks).  Adds interest without really being able to determine what is on the shingles.  The mansard roof was run through the Notebook texture fade then covered with the same paints.  Again, the colors IRL are just really neat looking...IMHO.

The windows and rings around the upper windows were painted with Hickory Smoke distress paint (just dabbed it on unevenly with my fingers) and stamped the Marble Cube using Black Soot distress ink over it.  Up close it really looks like marble...as least as real as it gets using paper and paint! 

The doors were covered with distress woodgrain cardstock (distress stains and distress crayons to color them).  The door handles are long fasteners and jump rings...so glad the scale was just perfect!

The ghosts I edged with Pumice Stone and Black Soot distress inks then covered with the crazing medium.  Once dry I smooshed Hickory Smoke distress ink all over them.  A flickering tea light was put under the house and voila!  I'm ready for some trick-or-treaters!

***********

Here are the items I used to create my spook-tacular haunted house...

Stampers Anonymous: Studio 490/All Cracked Up WVBG030: Tim Holtz/Reflections CMS111

Idea-ology: long fasteners, jump rings (door handle/knocker)

Ranger:  distress inks (Pumice Stone, Black Soot, Hickory Smoke); distress paint (Hickory Smoke, Forest Moss, Milled Lavender); distress crayons (Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Walnut Stain); distress stains (Antique Linen, Walnut Stain); distress embossing ink and clear embossing powder; Texture Paste (Transparent Matte); archival inks (Black Soot, Hickory Smoke); Micro Glaze; Adirondack pigment inks (Sunset Orange, Mushroom, Terra Cotta, Red Pepper); distress woodgrain card stock; distress collage medium (crazing); alcohol inks (Mushroom, Caramel, Blending Solution)

Sizzix: Village Dwelling 660992, Village Manor 661591, Notebook texture fade, Wood Planks texture fade, mini stencil 038 Bricked, ghost trio die cut (courtesy of The Funkie Junkie)

Miscellaneous:  Stampendous Marble Cube stamp TC01, Liquitex Ceramic Stucco, gauze, plastic packaging, black posterboard, white Sharpie pen, skull beads (courtesy of The Funkie Junkie), pumpkins (purchased from The Funkie Junkie)

***********

I sure hope that covers everything!  Both my workspaces are an absolute chaotic mess right now!  lol

Comfort and sympathy

Another bad week for friends and family...3 members within my circle have lost loved ones in a space of 4 days.  Here's one of the cards I made for a cousin who lost her husband.

Simon Says Stamp: Abstract Triangles

Ranger:  clear embossing ink and powder; distress markers and inks (Scattered Straw, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint); Perfect Pearls Mist (Biscotti); Black Soot archival ink

Sizzix:  Fall Foliage thinlits dies

Watercolor cardstock, unknown cardstocks

DRS Designs: stamp

RIP, Joe.  You were a good man.

Comfort and sympathy

Another bad week for friends and family...3 members within my circle have lost loved ones in a space of 4 days.  Here's one of the cards I made for a cousin who lost her husband.

Simon Says Stamp: Abstract Triangles

Ranger:  clear embossing ink and powder; distress markers and inks (Scattered Straw, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint); Perfect Pearls Mist (Biscotti); Black Soot archival ink

Sizzix:  Fall Foliage thinlits dies

Watercolor cardstock, unknown cardstocks

DRS Designs: stamp

RIP, Joe.  You were a good man.

Happy anniversary

Celebrating a fall anniversary...or 2...actually 4 this month among my circle of family and friends!

Yes, this is virtually the same card as the 10/12 birthday card post.  I was on a roll, fell in love with it and kept on creating!

Decorative cardstock (base); kraft paper colored with Walnut Stain distress stain for the layer; mixed media cardstock for the top

Stamp Camp "Love" and Hero Arts heart (found in the Sunny Lower Case Letters set) in Ground Espresso archival ink on Recollections cork tape.  The edges were smudged with the same ink.

Washi tape gave me a an area to merge 3 of my favorite fall colors using a blending tool (Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon and Fired Brick).

Sizzix Fall Foliage thinlits die (leaf) was cut from mixed media cardstock.  Before the die cut was popped out of the die I smeared Tree Branch archival ink onto the veins of the leaf.  I puddled Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Forest Moss distress stains on my nonstick craft sheet, spritzed with water and drug the leaf through the mix.  I let them air dry so the color would be more dramatic.  CMS266 Newsprint & Type was stamped over the dry leaf using Ground Espresso archival ink.

Hint for the color-blending:  if you lightly go over the entire strip with the lightest color (presuming you are using the a range of similar colors) then any 'lines' will be kept to a bare minimum.  They really do gradiate nicely if you go in with a gentle touch.

October tag remix

Have you tried the latest remix of techniques that Tim Holtz shared on his monthly blog post for the 12 tags of 2016?  While the first technique left me feeling kind of 'meh' I had much more fun playing with the second one.

Here's a list of the items I used to create my version of this month's tag.

Stampers Anonymous CMS 236 Crazy Talk, CMS 140 Mini Halloween

Idea-ology: long fasteners, Regions Beyond Paper Stash

Sizzix:  pumpkin mini mover & shaker, Candlelight Bigz 660029, Garden Greens thinlits 661206, Dot-trix texture fade, Rulers texture fade, Swirls texture fade

Ranger:  distress crayons (Black Soot, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Picket Fence), distress paint (Forest Moss, Carved Pumpkin, Fossilized Amber, Walnut Stain, Black Soot), distress collage medium (matte), distress embossing ink, Melt Art Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE), Glossy Accents, distress collage medium (crazing), Peeled Paint distress marker (witch's face); Vintaj patina paints

Miscellaneous:  green gem (pupil of large background eye), witch's hat charm, silver foil tape, card stock scraps, ribbon scraps

***

I didn't have any Halloween ephemera so I took a sheet from the paper stash, cut it up, arranged the small tiles then glued them down and continued with the process.  The UTEE was used to create the faux enamel label.  The charm was all silver but I v-e-r-y carefully painted it using Vintaj patina paints (black, a yellow, a green and an orange).  And it is sized perfectly to fit the woman's head.  I know the candle should also be yellows and oranges instead of the black but it just wasn't showing up very well.  And I didn't care for the drips when I did them in black.

Here's the tag in a slightly larger size.  Maybe you can see the details a bit easier.

Happy birthday

Celebrating a fall birthday with you!


Decorative cardstock (base); kraft paper colored with Brushed Corduroy distress stain for the layer; mixed media cardstock for the top

Stamp Camp "celebrate" in Ground Espresso archival ink on Recollections cork tape.  The edges were smudged with the same ink.

Washi tape gave me a an area to merge 3 of my favorite fall colors using a blending tool (Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon and Fired Brick).

Sizzix Fall Foliage thinlits die (leaf) was cut from mixed media cardstock.  Before the die cut was popped out of the die I smeared Tree Branch archival ink onto the veins of the leaf.  I puddled Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Forest Moss distress stains on my nonstick craft sheet, spritzed with water and drug the leaf through the mix.  I let them air dry so the color would be more dramatic.  CMS266 Newsprint & Type was stamped over the dry leaf using Ground Espresso archival ink.

“Leshanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim”

“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.”   To all my Jewish family and friends, "Happy New Year!"

Ranger: Adirondack acrylic paints (Cranberry, Raisin, Espresso, Butterscotch, Terra Cotta, Pesto, Metallic Pearl); Glossy Accents: Multi Medium-Matte; Texture Paste-Transparent Gloss; Faded Jeans distress ink

Sizzix: alphanumeric 3/4" thinlits dies

Studio 490: Vintage Quilt Stencil

Miscellaneous:  Carta Bella Apple Slice Die set; Floracraft-Diamond Dust; Martha Stewart border punch; Bazzill cardstock-blue; white cardstock

Note 1:  the apple and honey were white cardstock that was painted with the appropriate colored acrylic paints.

Note 2:  Diamond Dust was a bit large and chunky but I hope it looks like real sugar and gets the message to the recipient that they are wished a sweet new year.

Celebrating World Card Making Day!

I haven't always been able to participate but this year I did in a rather large way.  A very good friend retired yesterday from his position as a head librarian from an upstate NJ college.  Since we couldn't be with him to celebrate I created an 8-panel accordion fold card to acknowledge his new status of 'retiree'.  Got this finished just in time to get this in the mail before our local station closed at noon.

The font was computer-generated (AR Christy I think on the Printmaster 15 application). Here's a list of everything I used:  washi tape; fire hydrant stamp (Kathy Davis); watercolor pencils; Strathmore Mixed Media cardstock; distress inks; distress markers; archival inks; Stampers Anonymous mini stencils 003, 013; Stampers Anonymous stamp sets 064, 094, 212, 237, 250, 251, 271, 272; Sizzix dies 660953 Crazy Things, 661593 Crazy Dogs, 661209 Crazy Cats, 660949 Mini Bird Crazy & Things, 661594 Mini Crazy Cats & Dogs, 657469 Holiday Lamppost, 38-0289 Baseball Gear, 658252 Cobblestones; Martha Stewart ice cream punch (aka 'flower pot'); Studio 490 Cracked Brick Wall stamp WVBG031, Card Art Sentiments SCS146