Nevermore

While working on this card featuring Penny Black's Halloween Visit, "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe came to mind.

To set the mood, here is a short excerpt from the poem for you to enjoy...

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -

Only this, and nothing more.'

The entire poem (first published in 1845) is available to read "here".

Tip/Hint:  For alternative design ideas, use die cuts in different orientations.  In this sample, an inverted flower pot was used for the card base.

Thank you for visiting, 
Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black:  Halloween Visit 40-243
3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape
Copic Markers
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Pretty Petunia VersaMagic, Jumbo Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder
Spellbinders: Flower Pots (Used upside down)

A Disguise

Sneaking by today in disguise.

That little nose on the elastic string makes me laugh.  It reminds me of a Halloween long ago when I dressed up as a witch and my father insisted that my outfit wouldn't be complete until he glued a peanut shell to my nose!

This card pairs Penny Black's Witch Masquerade with their transparent set Haunted House.

If you are interested in additional details for this or any previously posted design, please feel free to contact me at my e-mail listed on the side bar or by using the mail feature (small envelope) located at the bottom of every post.

Witching you a boo-tiful day,
Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black: Witch Masquerade 40-244, Haunted House 30-184, Warm Wishes 40-074
Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001, Summer Sun 17-003
3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape
Copic Markers
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Morocco Memento Ink, Onyx Black VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder
Offray Ribbon

The Colors of Fall

Welcoming the arrival of fall with autumnal colors.

From masculine to autumnal to Halloween, there are endless card designs that you can create with this fabulously mysterious image. 

The glowing backdrop was created by masking off the edges of a rectangular piece of white cardstock and applying various Memento inks with sponge daubers.  Tip/Hint: Stamping the image after the removal of the masks allows the image to extend beyond the color block and adds visual interest.

Some simple matting and an antique button finish the design. 

Happy Fall,
Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black:  It's Halloween 40-245
3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Memento Inks, Onyx Black VersaFine, Sponge Daubers
Other: Antique Button

Penny Black Color Challenge

This week the Penny Black designers are contributing their inspiration for the Color Combo Challenge.

I inked up some of my new Colorful Christmas stamps and created this card to send love during the holidays.

They have 5 great color combinations for the challenge.  This is the one I selected to work with.

Fairy Wishes was stamped twice so individual components could be created for the body and wings.  These were then assembled with a bit of foam tape to create extra dimension.

After coloring with Copic markers, interference gold watercolor was added to the wings for a shimmery effect.

A reversed banner die cut tag was used for the sentiment and a dash of Madison Designer Paper was added for a festive splash. 

To read more about the challenge, the prizes and to see the designers' inspiration, click "here".

Enjoy,

Elizabeth 

Supplies:

Penny Black:  Fairy Wishes 4358J, Love At Xmas 30-187

Penny Black Creative Dies: Tagged 51-007

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001, Sticks & Stones 02-002

Penny Black Madison Designer Paper Pad 80-001

3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers
Fiskars: Border Punch

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder

USArtQuest: Interference Gold Watercolor 

So Fun....

It's so much fun using themed stamps for everyday designs.

These new Halloween Critters from Penny Black are a "hoot" for creating friendship cards.

I love this sentiment too as it works great with a "thank you" tucked inside.  

The background was designed with Thatched Straw and Tea Leaves VersaMagic inks with branches stamped from "It's Halloween".

Whooo couldn't resist using these cuties all during the year?!

Smiles,
Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black:  Halloween Critters 30-185, It's Halloween 40-245, Friendship 30-160
3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape
Copic Markers
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Thatched Straw VersaMagic, Tea Leaves VersaMagic, Clear Embossing Powder
Other: Twine

Ahoy!

Aye, mateys.... sailing by with a card designed with Penny Black's "Pirates" transparent set.

After the image was colored and trimmed it was mounted to a circular card base which had been distressed with Memento inks.

A treasure trove of images!

Tip/Hint:  To prevent circular cards from rolling, trim a small piece from the bottom of the back flap.

Have a grrreat day,
Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black Stamps: Pirates 30-186

3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Cantaloupe Memento, Tangelo Memento, Love Letter Memento, Clear Embossing Power, Sponge Daubers

Spellbinders: Circle Nestabilities

Penny Black & Less Is More - Part II

The Penny Black - Less Is More Challenge is underway and overflowing with inspiration.  You can see all the entries for this event and details how you can play along for a chance to win a great prize "HERE".

My second "Less Is More" card uses "Christmas Wishes" from Penny Black's new Colorful Christmas collection.

The image was stamped on white cardstock in Onyx Black VersaFine, heat embossed with clear powder and watercolored with Faber-Castell Art Grip Aquarelle Pencils.  After trimming around the top portions of the holly squares the piece was layered on a card dry embossed with vertical lines.

Tip/Hint:  To perfectly match an accent paper to a design, color plain white cardstock with the same coloring medium used for the card. For this design, a small strip of white cardstock was watercolored green. 

If you liked Penny Black's Edge-to-Edge sentiments you'll love their new set called "Yuletide Greetings" which contains a fabulous array of elongated holiday greetings.

Wishing you a day filled with colorful impressions...
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  Christmas Wishes 30-196, Yuletide Greetings 30-192

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder

Faber-Castell Art Grip Aquarelle Pencils

Penny Black & Less Is More Challenge

This week the Penny Black designers are playing along with the challenge blog Less Is More.

I created this holiday greeting for the event.

This tiny square card features a layered bird from Christmas Harmony and a sentiment from Yuletide Greetings.  The watercoloring was done with Faber-Castell's Art Grip Aquarelle Pencils and the soft blue highlighting sponged around the edges is Phthalo Blue Tint PanPastel.

To check out all the challenge details and to play along for the chance to win a great prize click "HERE". 

Stay tuned for more - Less Is More....

Happy stamping,
Elizabeth  

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  Christmas Harmony 30-194, Yuletide Greetings 30-192

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001

Colorfin: Phthalo Blue Tint PanPastel

Imagine Crafts/Tuskineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder

Faber-Castell Art Grip Aquarelle Pencils
Ranger: Crystal Stickles, X-Mas Red Stickles