Happy Halloween!

Hi stampers!  Happy Halloween!  I can't believe it's here already!  I got almost NOTHING done.  I don't have any candy, I didn't make any treats, and I barely made any cards let alone sent any!  And usually I LOVE Halloween but I just wasn't as into it this year.  Oh well.  We did go to our annual party this past weekend though and it was fun!  I was Snow White and hubby was Bane from the newer Batman movie. I think I'll go as an eskimo next year....it's always so cold by the end of October, lol!  I'm probably not going to dress up at work today:(  I'm at a different clinic now on Wednesday's and I don't know if many (if any) people will dress up and I just don't feel comfortable there.  Oh well...

Anyway, I got on a roll yesterday afternoon and cranked out a few more last minute Halloween cards...so I have THREE to share today!  I figured there isn't any point of saving them to share after the fact, ha!  And all three are a bit out of my usual style or comfort zone...at least I think so anyway....what do you think?

The first is using the Colour Q challenge this week.  It actually got me in the mood to do these last minute cards...so thanks!  I did sub the white for very vanilla since it's used in the DSP and I was planning on using some (even though I didn't in the end).

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Googly ghouls, border banter
Paper:  Very vanilla, basic black, tangerine tango
Ink:  Basic black, tangerine tango, daffodil delight, so saffron
Accessories:  Googlies

Next up is a card I made based of an old sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I was on a roll with the googly stamp set and I have a lot of this DSP left that I wanted to use....not to mention the ribbon....

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Googly ghouls, border banter, teeny tiny wishes
Paper:  Very vanilla, basic black, basic gray, howlstooth & scaringbone DSP
Ink:  Basic black, tangerine tango
Accessories:  Wide oval punch, googlies, sizzlit die

I really like the way it turned out although it is different for me!

And finally, I was looking over some cards I made last year and I wanted to dig out an old set....out on a limb.  So, I rounded out the night with this card using a sketch from Retrosketches that I couldn't seem to do anything with last week.

Sorry if I overwhelmed you today:-)  I hope you're still with me!  And I hope you have a very Happy Halloween and get lots of candy!  I'm going to try to stay away from the stuff...we'll see!!!

Happy stamping!  And spooking!!!!!

Spooky creepy crawly spider

Hi stampers.  This post is brought to you by the big, hairy, spooky, creepy, crawly spider that apparently took up residence on my basement stairs on Sunday.  I say apparently because I never saw him but was informed by my wonderful hubs on my last (of about a million) trip down to get the last load of laundry that he FINALLY took care of it while showing me how BIG he was with his hand.  Say what?  He'd been there ALL day and I never saw him?  ICK!  I think that may have freaked me out more than the actual spider...that I didn't see him!  I hate spiders!!!!!  And I went up and down those stairs a million times!  YUCK!!!

Anyway, Mr. Big Hairy spider inspired this card:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Googly ghouls, border banter
Paper:  Very vanilla, basic black, tangerine tango, howlstooth & scaringbone DSP
Accessories:  Googlies

This guy isn't very spooky though.  He's pretty cute with his googly eyes.  I have to say I kind of look like him when I have my glasses on, hehe!  I used the border banter set because I finally broke down and got it (like I do with just about everything, ha).  As you can see, me and the stamp-a-majig had some minor disagreements:-)  The other card I made was better lined up but I ended up getting a smudge on it so I had to show the crooked one.  Whoops!

And you may notice that his little spider web thread is longer than it is on the actual stamp....well I just used a marker and a ruler to extend it.

Happy stamping!

Going batty

Hi stampers!  I FINALLY got my Halloween/fall decor up yesterday!  For some reason I'm just not as gung-ho for Halloween this year as I normally am.  Maybe it's because we missed the big H-ween party last year or maybe it's just because I've been busy.  It may also be due in part to the fact that the Seasonal Catalog comes out so early now that I kind of got my Halloween fix earlier and I'm onto Christmas now, ha! I did buy a couple of Hallmark ornaments last weekend, haha!  

In any case I have not made many Halloween cards this year.  I did manage to make one the other day though.  I just love this polka dot paper from the Howlstooth & scaringbone paper!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Googly ghouls
Paper:  Very vanilla, basic black, tangerine tango, howlstooth & scaring bone
Ink:  Basic black
Accessories:  Googlies

It's simple but cute.  The bats were pretty easy to cut out and I think they are funny looking.  Their little teeth make me laugh, lol!  And their big googlie eyes of course.  

And if I don't go batty from my work schedule this week, maybe I'll have a few more Halloween cards to share soon:-)

Happy stamping!

HSS 136

Hi stampers!  It's Tuesday again and you know what that means!  I fun new challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week is a technique challenge and I have to say I wasn't thrilled when I first saw it.....

Why?  Well because we don't have kids yet so I didn't have any crayons around the house and I kept forgetting to pick any up-)  BUUUUUT after a quick trip to Walgreens I came home and got to work and ohmygosh is this fun and looks so cool!  I may or may not have had to try it out with ALL my embossing folders once I got going, ha!  Seriously it's so fun!  And that's why I love these challenges!  They push me out of my comfort zone and make me try things I wouldn't normally do!  And now I have a box of crayons (minus the white one...which no one really uses anyway) for if the soon-to-be niece and nephew come over!

You can find a great tutorial HERE if you aren't familiar with it.  Now, while I made a bunch of backgrounds, I chose to do my card with the one I had the original idea for since I need to get a move on the Halloween cards!  As a side note the woodgrain embossing folder looks wicked awesome like this!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Googly ghouls, spooky bingo bits
Paper:  Whisper white, basic black, rich razzleberry
Ink:  Basic black, rich razzleberry, tangerine tango, versamark
Accessories: Circle and scalloped circle punches, basic black polka dot ribbon, spider web embossing folder, googly eyes, crayon, stampin' spritzer, brayer, black embossing powder

Eeek, isn't it cute?:-)  These are seriously some of the most cool backgrounds I've ever made!  One detail you may not be able to see is that I embossed the spider.  He's shiny and cool!

Now head on over and see what the rest of the DT came up with!  And don't forget to play along!

Happy stamping!

HSS 132

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday!  It's time for another fun challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week is another one of my ideas.....herringbone!  You can check out a great tutorial on Splitcoast for some instructions.

I have to say I hadn't done this before the challenge but I can't wait to do it again!  It was easy and fun and I love the way it looks!  I had a hard time narrowing down ideas for what DSP I wanted to use but finally settled on the Halloween DSP since I love it and it's the next holiday coming up.  Now, I didn't use the same patterns in all four sections like the tutorial did but I like how mine came out!!!!  What do you think?

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Googly ghouls, teeny tiny wishes
Paper:  Very vanilla, basic black, tangerine tango, more mustard, howlstooth & scaringbone DSP
Ink:  Staz-on black, basic gray, more mustard
Accessories:  Window frames framelits, paper piercing pack, googlies

I cut my strips at 3/8" and tried to use a variety of patterns.  I think this would be really fun for a Christmas card too!  I do want to note that for this project I used the "outies" when I pierced my paper meaning that I actually used the back of what I pierced.  I do that when I want a little more interest and texture and think it just gives this project that extra something.

Now, head on over to HSS and see what the other girls have created then play along with us!  I can't wait to see what you make!

Happy stamping!

I love my mummy!

Hi stampers!  I just got back from a fun weekend with my momma (and my hubs too, hehe)!  We went to Indy to do The Color Run!  If you haven't ever heard of this you have to got check it out and watch the videos on the site!  It was SO fun!  Basically it's a 5k where they throw colored dust (cornstarch) at you each kilometer so you're all splattered by the end! See....all clean and white before the race...

 And all colorful after...

We didn't get as splattered during the race as we thought we would but after the post-race throw we were a little brighter....just look...

My legs were really covered!  I thought my legs might be green for the rest of the day when I took a shower, ha!  And pay no attention to my mustache....in hindsight it was probably a bad idea since it didn't readily wash away, lol!  I have to say though that this look DID inspire a card today!

And not only was the run in and of itself fun but there were SO many crazy people (around 30,000 we think!) and they had a bunch of DJ's and played fun music and stuff!  We asked my mom to go with us and she walked while we ran!  It was her second 5K and I was proud of her!  I hope she had as much fun as we did!  Anyway, if there is a color run near you I highly suggest doing it!  Tons of fun even if we did have to get up at 5am!!!

But all the fun I had with my momma inspired me to make this card with the cute little mummy because I love my mummy..I mean mommy:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Googly ghouls, teeny tiny wishes
Paper:  Very vanilla, basic black, tangerine tango, howlstooth and scaringbone DSP
Ink:  Staz-on, crumb cake, river rock, tangerine tango
Accessories:  Blender pen, googlies, 1/2" striped satin ribbon, linen thread, brushed bronze designer buttons, circle and scalloped circle punches

Squeeee! Isn't that mummy just the cutest?  I used my blender pen and some crumb cake and river rock ink to dirty him up a bit.  It's kind of a busy card but I think it works!  And if you don't agree I'll send my mummy after you;-)  Off to wash everything from yesterday, lol!

Happy stamping!

Googly Ghouls

Hi stampers!  I've been quiet again....still plugging away at pre-convetion stuff!  I got all my swaps done and bagged and tagged this afternoon and I got most of my packing done too!  Now, I just have to get through the work day tomorrow, ha!

I took a quick swap-break the other day to play with the Dynamic Duo challenge....but then I didn't get around to blogging in time to enter!  Whoops  I really loved the colors and my poor old olive has been pretty lonely since lucky limeade came around! :-)  And I really wanted to use the ka-yoot stamp set Googly Ghouls!  They are super cute little Halloween critters that have big eyes and go with our new googlies!  These things just make me laugh!!!  My poor little witch has been sitting cross-eyed on my desk for days, lol!   Just look:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Googly ghouls
Paper:  Whisper white, basic black, old olive, rich razzleberry
Ink: Rich razzleberry, basic black
Accessories:  Window frames collection and apothecary accents framelits, bright brads, basic rhinestones, googlies, silver dazzling details

It's not my favorite card ever but I was running low on mojo the other day thanks to all the swaps!  I probably should have added the eyes to the little spider in the corner too!  I added the rhinestone for a little extra pop and then I did her buckle on her hat in the new silver dazzling details! 

Anyway, that's a few more sneak peeks from the upcoming Holiday catalog! I'm going to TRY to give updates from SLC!  I'm not sure if we have free wifi....I hope we do!  And I've set up a Twitter account to do "live streaming" via Twitter and Facebook so you can follow me there as well.  If you're tweeting make sure to use the hashtag #SUconv2012!

Can't wait to see some of you in SLC!  Two more sleeps!!!!!

Happy stamping!