Join the Monster Mash at Stinkin' Inkers!

The challenge this month at Stinkin' Inkers is "Monster Mash" - you can use ghosts, monsters, or witches; basically anything Halloween-y and/or scary.  I had decided to throw a costume party with the help of Tim Holtz' Crazy Cats, Dogs and Birds.  I hope you enjoy! 

What I Used to Make my Card:
Vanilla Watercolor Card, 5 x 7 (this was the only size card onto which everything would fit and I have NO idea where I got them)
Tim Holtz Crazy Cats Stamps, #CMS251
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Crazy Cats Dies, #661209
Tim Holtz Bird Crazy Stamps, #CMS212
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Bird Crazy Dies, #660954
Tim Holtz Crazy Things Stamps, #CMS237
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Crazy Things Dies, #660953
Tim Holtz Mini Cats & Dogs Stamps, #CMS272
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Cats & Dogs Dies, #661594
Tim Holtz Mini Bird Crazy & Things Stamps, #CMS250
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Bird Crazy & Things Dies, #660949
Happy Halloween Sticker from Stamp on It #DD7256
Hero Arts My Monthly Kit, April 2017 #HeroArts 
Red and Black Cardstock
Derwent Intense Pencils
Kuretake Zig Clean Color Markers
Watercolor Brush
Dove Blender Pen

Various Embellishments: Washi Tape, Sequins, Glitter, Bling on a Roll, Various Gems, Fabric Roses, and more.

I began by coloring and die cutting all the animals I wanted to use.  I have

Ms. Cat and
Little Tongue Out Dog

found that once my colored pencil dries it sometimes isn't as vibrant as I'd like, so I embellish the coloring further with the markers.  Sometimes it works out, sometimes not, but it is always fun!

There were a few "alterations" I had to do to make the costumes fit properly  First, Ms. Cat needed her front paws cut out again so they could be glued on the outside of her gown.  You couldn't see them otherwise.  And Diva Pink Bird also needed a new pair of wings to go over her sash.  

Diva Pink Bird and Slightly
Confused Dog

Now, there is a little story about this card.  Ms. Cat wanted to have a costume party for the neighborhood children so she invited Little Tongue Out Dog, Shy Orange Cat, Diva Pink Bird and Slightly Confused Small Dog. All of the invitees did a fabulous job with their costumes, as did Ms. Cat (she chose to wear a red dress made from the April 2017 collection of the House of Hero Arts and topped off the outfit with Silver/Silver Bling on a Roll earrings and choker, just be her glamorous self.)  Little Tongue Out Dog dressed himself up as a rose garden , using actual fabric roses as a headpiece  

The Crew

and an entire body rose.  Shy Orange Cat added bat wings to herself so if she felt nervous, she could just fly away.  Diva Pink Bird showed off her most recent pageant win, complete with glittery crown and sash.  If you look close, you can even see the sparkle in her eye.  Lastly, Slightly Confused Little Dog put on her star collar and witch hat that she customized by adding a matching star to the tip of the hat.  All of the kittens and puppies ate their fill of treats (no chocolate!) and had a grand time.  I hope you did, too! 

Another Look

I do hope you will join us this month at Stinkin' Inkers - I KNOW you are making Halloween cards, so you really have NO excuse not to join in the fun!  Thanks for visiting, and if you would, comment below on which costume you like the best.  If I get enough votes, I might give out a treat of my own, so please feel free to share this post! You don't need to follow my blog, but it is greatly appreciated (let me know in your comment so I can be sure to follow you back!)

** UPDATE: When I get 75 comments telling me which costume you like the best I will be doing a random drawing for a little prize. Open internationally! Please spread the word! (expires November 1, 2017)

I'd love to see your Monster Mash creations, so please join us at Stinkin' Inkers! Stay tuned for some more frightening fun Halloween creations! Hugs, Christi

I am entering my Monster Mash card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - A Walk on the Dark Side
Naughty or Nice Challenge - #44, Something Spooky
Frilly & Funky - Show Us Your Stamps 
Scrapy Land - #75, Anything Goes 
Double D Challenge - Fright Night Challenge
Creative Friday - #189, Die Cuts/Punches
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #7, Anything Goes w/ a Critter

Angie's Thank You Card

I am lucky enough to live about 30 minutes away from a fantastic pain clinic.  I've been a patient there for about 5 years and have seen staff, including doctors, come and go.  Throughout all the upheaval, I've been blessed with awesome people.  I've been treated with respect, dignity, and my medical treatment hasn't suffered a bit.  The office manager, Angie, told me at my last appointment that she was leaving, sort of.  She'd probably be popping in (she travels from Utah) occasionally and as soon as her husband finds employment, she'd be back at the clinic full time.  I really grew close to Angie and I decided I wanted to make her a Thank You card for all her help (I don't do this nearly enough - it's going to be one of my resolutions!)

Anyway, there was this technique I'd seen where the sentiment literally pops out at you.  I thought I had pinned it, but couldn't find it, so off to Jennifer McGuire's blog I went.  If you want to try something new, Ms. McGuire's is the place to go.  She has a TON of cool techniques on her blog. If fact, I got lost checking everything out! But I did find the technique I wanted to try; it's from 2013's Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember event, and as always there is a fantastic video - Jennifer named the card An Autumn Hello.  

Here is my version:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Water Color Paper
Distress Oxide Ink in Worn Lipstick, Broken China, Cracked Pistachio and Wilted Violet
Distress Spritzer
White Card Base
Matching Color Cardstock (I used Mint Green)
Thanks - Stamp & Cut from Hero Arts, #DC-152
Little Things for Lucy's Cards, Jewels, Ice Cube Mix, #LBJ03

I first made my Distress panel using the Oxide Inks on a piece of watercolor paper, smooshing the inks about and spritzing them with water (if you aren't sure how to play with Distress Oxides, feel free to take a look at my Pinterest Board - there are a lot of different techniques out there!)  Once the panel was to my liking, I set it aside to dry overnight.  Since I am die cutting the paper, I want it to be thoroughly dry or it will rip.  Trust me on that one. 

The next day, I chose where I wanted my "Thanks" die cut to be, and cut the word out of the panel.  Be sure to keep ALL the INSIDES of the LETTERS - you'll need them! I set my word aside and made a stack of paper with the mint green card.  I made two stacks of three sheets each and glued them together with a glue stick, just as Jennifer did in the video.  Well, when I put the die and paper through my Big Shot, all of the extra glue smooshed out of my stack and got everywhere.  I should have let them dry overnight as well! Eh, nothing a few about ten wipes couldn't clean up! So I cut "Thanks" out of both stacks and then glued them together.  I decided to give them a bit of time to adhere to each other, so I took the afternoon off. 

For some reason this looks much lighter than the card is.
The card above is true to color.

Later, I attached the water color panel onto my white card blank.  I adhered my original (oxide inked) "Thanks" to the mint green stack, and then carefully placed that back into the spot created from the initial die cut.  This is where you need the little "innie" pieces - you then have to glue the "innie" cut outs onto the card. I didn't take this into consideration, and the next time I make one of these cards I will use a larger die but it really wasn't that difficult at all.  I used a toothpick and a straight pin to work the pieces in where they belonged.  I am very pleased with this card - it looks very difficult to make, but was easy (my favorite kind!)

Before I go, I want to remind you all that Halloween is literally around the corner.  It's my very favorite holiday, but can be a horrible event for your fur babies (black cats can be at GREAT risk - if you have a black cat, please keep it indoors for this one night).  Please keep them safe inside, preferably a room away from where you will meet trick-or-treaters.  Some pets don't like the door bell (my Mew freaks out!) so we actually sit outside and distribute the candy so no extra doorbell stress.  Finally, absolutely NO CHOCOLATE for dogs - it's deadly! 

Thanks SO much for reading this all the way to the end! I hope you enjoyed my card and got inspired to try something new of your own ~ Fondly, Christi

I am going to enter Angie's Thank You Card in the following challenges:
Allsorts - #435, Sentiment in Focus
Just Us Girls - #413, Wild Card Week, Word Cut Dies
Less is More - #348, Watercolor
My Time to Craft - #355, Die Cuts Only
Creative Friday - #189, Die Cuts/Punches
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Use Your Dies
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge - Use Die Cuts and Punches

Trick or Treat

Hi, everyone! Halloween is on the way and I am creating like crazy!  It was only in the low 50's today, dreary and rainy, so it was a perfect day to hang out and create; after the football game, of course!  I paired one of those crazy birds with a brand new die. I hope this inspires you to get started on your Halloween crafts! And I do hope you are having better weather.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Square Card Base (5 1/2" x 5 1/2")
White, Black, Purple and Orange Card Stock
Tutti Designs Spiderweb Window, #TUTTI-376
Tim Holtz Bird Crazy Stamps, #CMS212
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Bird Crazy Dies, #660954
Tim Holtz Crazy Talk Stamps, #CMS236
Googly Eyes
Simon Says Stamp Ultra Fine Embossing Powder, White, #WhiteEP2
Embossing Ink
Distress Ink in Carved Pumpkin
Derwent Inktense Pencils

I began this card thinking my window would be orange, but changed my mind.  Instead, I die cut the window out of black card and inserted it into the negative space left from the orange cut.  I then used carved pumpkin to edge the design.  I then cut a piece of white card with the intention of layering it behind the window, but I set that aside. I needed to choose a character to peek out of the window first!

I have quite a stash of images I've already colored in and I chose this crazy bird out of that pile.  I did use Inktense Pencils to color him; I'm getting smarter, I wrote it on the back of the image what medium I used to color it.  After that, I added the googly eyes (mostly because this is what I look like when I see a spider!) and positioned the bird where I wanted him to be.  I glued him in place and trimmed the rest of the image.  Then I added the white card to the back of the window.  

Lastly, I chose a pretty purple card out of my card stock, stamped the phrase with embossing ink and heat embossed the sentiment with fine detail white embossing powder.  I assembled the entire card and there you go! I am thrilled that I got this die. Even though it is geared toward Halloween, I can see no reason why I can't cut the webs out of it and use it all year round! Thanks for reading and please visit some of the Dies R Us blogs (enabler alert - the store is having some awesome sales!) and don't forget to enter the challenge; there is a new one on the first and the fifteenth of every month! ~ Fondly, Christi

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store.  A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.  

Be sure to Follow Us on FACEBOOK too. 

click below for:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I would like to enter my Trick or Treat card in the following challenges:

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #12 - Day 2

Scrapy Land - #74, Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge - #434, Things with Wings

Mix it Up - #5, Anything Goes w/ Option of Inlaid Die Cut

Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes w/ Die Cuts

Use Your Stuff - #281, Old & New (stamps = old, window die = new)

Muse Challenge - #235, see photo inspiration:

It's Getting Close to Halloween!

Close enough for me to begin decorating and creating!  I got these really cool "salad grabbers" at the Dollar Tree - they are made from a skeleton arm and hand, and you get 2 of them! I just HAD to grab them and I have been painting them with glow in the dark paint; my goal is to stick them on the lawn so they appear to be coming up from the dirt, BWAHAHHAHHH!! 

As soon as I spied the Lawn Fawn Shadow Box Card die set I knew I had to have it.  Once I had the set, I watched the Lawn Fawn Video on how to assemble the card and saw fabulous ideas from their design team.  I can see holiday ornaments in my recipients futures!  Anyway, since the video tells you how to assemble the card I won't be going into that detail, however, please be aware that sticky tape DOES go bad.  Apparently, you cannot keep it for 20 years, find it, and try to use it to make something.  Also, mono-adhesive leaves a strip wider than where you want the adhesive to go, lastly, wet glue doesn't work AT ALL.  Yes, I made a HUGE mess, swore like a sailor and scared the fur babies (in my defense, they are SO cute when they puff up!) and finally got my adhesive nightmare under control.  Needless to say there is an order for more 1/8" wide tape on it's way to my door.  So, back to the card:

This is What I Used to Make my Card:

Black Card (for shadow box)

Light Brown Card (for hills)

Orange Card (for pumpkins)

Watercolor Card 

Lawn Fawn Shadow Box Card, LF1486

Lawn Fawn Costume Party Stamps, LF1458

Lawn Fawn Costume Party Dies, LF1459

Hero Arts Intense Black Ink

Paper Smooches Wise Dies Streamers, KFBD029 (here is a nice substitute)

Derwent Water Color Pencils

Stampin' Up! Blender Pens

Circle Punch

Yellow Card

Pop Dot

I made the Shadow Box and attached the hills as instructed on the video.  Then came the fun part.  As some of you may know, I get on these coloring kicks where I color & color & cut and then, days,

View From the Top

sometimes months later, I use the items I colored.  Well, I did the same with all the cute costumed folks in the Costume Party set.  I colored and cut like a madwoman.  I even have candy corn, chocolate bars and adorable individually wrapped candies ready to use.  I picked out a witch and a mummy to you in this card.  I gave the mummy a cute little pumpkin candy catcher and set a plain pumpkin near my witch.  Once I was happy with the placement, I stuck all the elements down.  I also used a nice bright yellow card, punched a moon out and pop dotted that to the upper right corner.  For the grand finale, I made a Happy Halloween banner as a sentiment. 

A2 Envie - ooops!

This scrumptious little shadow box will close to fit into a standard A2 envelope so it requires NO EXTRA POSTAGE! That is a huge selling point to me!  As you can see from my pictures below, mine did not fit in an A2 envie, due to the placement of the banner.  However, it fit like a charm in an A7 envelope, and assuming you haven't stuffed the envelope full of rocks, it should also be able to go out to the USA with one "forever" stamp. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you'll get inspired to make some screamingly cool Halloween goodies! Christi

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store.  A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.  

Be sure to Follow Us on FACEBOOK too. 

click below for:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

Another Look :)

I would like to enter my Halloween Shadow Card in the following challenges, found at Challenges for Days (shameless plug): 

Cuttlebug Mania - M,  Anything Goes w/ Dies and/or Embossing

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers - Sept. Anything Goes with Dies Challenge 

One Crazy Stamper - M, Seasons of Celebration

Crafty Catz - Halloween

Crafty Friends Challenge - #66, To Use Dies and/or Punches

Allsorts - #433, Feels Like Autumn 

Lawn Fawnatics - #13, Inspiration Board (see below)

Thank you & hope to see you at Dies R Us! 

Stinkin' Inkers September Challenge ~ Fav Color Combo!

Hey everyone! I thought I was late with this post, only to realize I was early! Gosh, time can really be confusing sometimes <grin>.  I hope this post finds you happy and healthy, especially those down in Texas.  My thoughts are with ALL of you! I decided to beat the heat here in Colorado (it's supposed to be 95 tomorrow!) and start making some holiday cards.  When I saw this month's challenge at Stinkin' Inkers, I immediately knew I'd be using blue and white as my favorite color combination and what better way to showcase those colors than a holiday card?

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Square Card, 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"
White Shimmer Cardstock
Blue Shimmer Cardstock
Elizabeth Craft Dies, Brrrrr, #1228
Tutti Designs, Fir Tree Arch Scene, #TUTTI-130
Navy Blue Card

I made the square card and covered the whole thing with the blue shimmer paper.  I think it's from Bravissimo. which hasn't been around for about 11 years now (I have a TON of this type of paper. Points to me for using some stash!)  It's a thinner paper so it didn't add any bulk to the card.  

I then cut the Fir Tree Arch out of this other shimmer paper I found.  I can't describe it, so I took a picture.  I've had this paper for longer than I care to admit, too.  It's so pretty! I also used this paper on the bottom of the card to showcase the blue Brrrrr I cut out of the same paper that I used to cover the card.  I cut out a portion of the white paper, covered the bottom and adhered the sentiment.


I die cut the sentiment out of the shimmery blue paper and then added some dimension using navy blue card, also die cut, and glued together.  I didn't want to waste the shimmer paper, plus, it's so thin I would of never been able to die cut enough.  

This was a really quick and easy card, perfect if you are going to be making a bunch of the same holiday card to send out.  I saved all the little snowflakes from the Fir Tree Arch die cuts so I will be using them on some other wintry cards. It was a pleasure to use my favorite color combination and I think the two dies compliment each other wonderfully!  I would LOVE to see some of your favorite color combo's in the Stinkin' Inker Challenge; you have a whole month to play, so why not join in? Thanks SO much for stopping by ~ Christi

I would like to enter my Brrrrrrr Card in the following challenges:
CraftyHazelnuts Christmas Challenge - #349, Anything Christmas Goes, Add Sparkle
The Merry Christmas Challenge - #39, Anything Goes & Christmas
CropStop - #31, August Challenge
The Holly & Ivy Challenge - #14, Anything Goes Christmas

Elegant Love

Hey all, it's Christi here today with a romantic, any occasion card.  Honestly, at my age most of my friends and family are already married, but I still get the desire to make some sweet romantic type cards. I've been obsessed with doilies and all things lacy lately and this is certainly reflected in my card.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base, 5 1/2" X 5 1/2", Handmade Gate Fold Style
Vanilla Card
Shimmery Textured Off White Card (this is SO old - I've had it for years!)
Gold Card, Heavy
Cheery Lynn Designs, Border Dies, Heart Chain Border, #B115
Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson, Jewelled Heart, #CED21005
White Pearls, 5 cm, by The Paper Studio, #549543

As I said, I have had this card idea rolling around in my head for a while now.  I splurged on a bunch of goodies from the Dies R Us store and the dies used here are part of that haul.  I made my own gate fold card (for the very first time!) out of sturdy white card and then cut the main heart die out of vanilla card.

There are 7 dies in the Jewelled Heart set, so I used another of the dies to cut out a textured, shimmery, off white heart and placed that in the center heart of the main die cut.  I then cut the love die out of subtle gold.  I glued the sentiment onto the textured heart and set the main die cut aside.



I cut two of the heart chain border out of the same gold card and attached them to the sides of the card.  Since the card was already folded, I came up with an idea on how to keep the "doors" closed and stable while I attached the chains.  Using 2 small bulldog clips (with waxed paper between the clip and the card - I've ruined SO many cards by not taking that type of precaution!) I clipped the doors closed.  That trick helped make attaching the heart chain super easy!  

One of the things that drew me to this die was all the detail and little extras; I added some of my own little extras by attaching some white pearls strategically around the design (the little stitches just make this design look that much more special)!

Finally I attached the main heart die cut to just one side of the card; so the card opens up with a gate fold.

Another Look

Thank you for taking the time to join me on this little journey! I hope that those who are in the hurricane zone are all safe & sound and that YOU have a great week! Christi

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store.  A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.  

Be sure to Follow Us on FACEBOOK too. 

click below for:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my Elegant Love card in the following challenges:

Southern Girls Challenges - #164, Retro Challenge

That's Crafty! - Cards Only

Scrappy Land - #72, Anything Goes

Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes, M

Happy Little Stampers Dies Challenge - Anything Goes, M

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

I Love You to The Moon and Back

I've been missing from social media lately - it's just been too nice out to stay cooped up inside! But, I had a blast making this card and trying something new!

I've seen so many "galaxy" cards on Pinterest lately, I thought that this would be a perfect time to try one.

What I Used to Make my Card:
Black Square Card Base, 5" x 5"
Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet, Black Soot and Blueprint Sketch
Die-Versions Whispers Stitched Nesting Squares, DV-573 (similar squares here)
Die-Versions Whispers Mrs. Moon, DV-627
Tim Holtz Mini Blend Tool
ColorArte, Twinkling H20's in Metallic Mica Pewter, Heavenly White and Icicles
My Sentiments Exactly Quick Coloring Frame, Y602
Piccolo Silver Siam Embossing Powder
Embossing Ink
Watercolor Paper
Silver Mirror Card
Navy Blue Card

The first thing I did was make the background.  In order to make the inks look "galaxy" like you start off with the lightest ink, pounce it a few times around your paper and follow with your next darkest ink and so on.  There are many, many videos out there to help you - I actually used 3 different videos, and used what I had on hand.  I didn't take pictures of the very beginning of the galaxy (sorry!), I was so preoccupied I completely forgot.  But, here is where my watercolor paper was looking at about step 3.

And here is the galaxy at step 4.  You can see some of the inks are pounced to

make them darker.  The more variation of color the better your galaxy is going to look.  As I said, I used the ink colors I had on hand (I still don't have every single Distress Ink) and improvised.  

Instead of watered down white acrylic paint, I decided to use my Twinkling H2O's.  These paints are amazing watercolor paints; they shimmer so much! I used a toothbrush dipped in the H2O paint, and splattered the galaxy with a few different colors.

And here is my galaxy.  I also threw some water on it at random times.  I love how it came out, except (isn't there always an exception?) on the right hand side, but, that's no big deal because my die cut will cover that up.  

Setting aside the galaxy to dry, I grabbed some navy blue card and embossed my sentiment on it.  I then used my stitched square dies to cut the sentiment out.  Then it came time to cut out my moon die.  The moon die was the whole inspiration behind this card and I wanted to make sure it wasn't lost in the galaxy.  I debated a bit, cutting the moon out of silver card as well as the mirror card, but ultimately decided the mirror card looked the best.  I trimmed the galaxy down a bit, adhered it to the black square card base, glued the embossed sentiment up in the left hand corner and lastly glued on my beautiful mirror card moon.  Here is the final product.  What do you think? Here's another look:

Thanks so much for reading my post and I hope I've inspired you to try something new! Hugs, Christi 

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store.  A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.  

Be sure to Follow Us on FACEBOOK too. 

click below for:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am pleased to enter my Love You to the Moon and Back card in the following challenges. Looking for challenges? Check out Challenges for Days!
Creative Fingers Challenges - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment
Paperminutes - 500 Jubilee Challenge, Anything Goes
Die Cut Diva's - M, Anything Goes, August
Tuesday Throwdown - #356, Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society - #123, Anything Goes, Option of punches and/or dies
Crafting with Dragonflies - #87, M, Embossing Wet and/or Dry