Halloween magic

I did not set out to make a Halloween card per se, but now I am glad I did. 

It all started with stencils and sprays.

 

To build up texture I used more stencils and 'Aged silver' embossing enamel (Stampendous).

 

I wanted a grungy look, so I stenciled black gesso onto the card, then poured the enamel over and heat embossed it.

 

To complete the card I found die cuts of a gigantic star and two cats that I had received from my crafting friends. Never knew what to use them for, but today was apparently the day - I was aided in my thinking process by a couple of challenges.

 

I cut out the bats from black card stock and arranged everything. I printed out the sentiment.

 

Entering this in the challenges that inspired me today:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Add some texture

TioT: Emboss it 

Archiscraps: Use a large star as a feature

Craft Rocket: #140 Use dies 

As You Like It: Favorite Halloween colors - and why?  - Mine is anything with purple, be it yellow, orange, black, even green.

Creative Artiste Mixed media: #130 Anything MM goes 

Maritime vibes

 Having grown up at the coast and summered by a great lake I miss those now that I live near a stream. Near Danube, to be exact, which sounds so grand and 'old Europe', but it's not the open vistas that I grew up with. I was very happy to find a few challenges that play in this direction.

I gathered my supplies:  a few stamp sets, Ecoline watercolor brush pens and a die set which has an edging that resembles rope.

 

 

This is the finished card. 

 

I am showing it in following challenges that I followed to create this card. 

Simply Clean and Simple: SCAS June: Nautical  

Archiscraps: Use Red White and Blue

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Masculine

PIP: #2623 AG 

 

Christmas in July

 Christmas in July - why not? It's exactly half-time, and those celebrating the holiday start preparing for it.

Even though I am not a Christmas person I felt myself encouraged by a few challenges to try my hand at a Christmas card.

First, the challenge in Archiscraps to use several design papers at once. I happened to watch a video on Youtube which showed a very nice mosaic piecing technique. I used four or five different scraps of designer papers that I had kept.

I have quite afew Lost Coast Stamps so why not use them for their  Christmas in July
challenge. Their stamps are quirky, so my card gleaned some quirkiness from the use of their shouting lady stamp. I am never quite sure whether she is angry, frightened or is giving a warning shout.

I left the sentiment open to interpretation. 

 

Entering in:

Lost Coast Stampers: Christmas in July

Archiscraps: Multiple patterned papers

Shopping our Stash: #449 Christmas in July