A Labeler Halloween PP315

So, you know how some weeks are just crazy?  Extra hours at work, people pulling you in all different directions, deadlines looming?  Yeah, it was one of those for me.  Which is way I cheated a little for Claire's awesome theme challenge this week at The Paper Players:

I cheated because I used the exact same sketch and layout as my cards for Joanne's awesome sketch challenge last week!  Ugh, I just couldn't come up with anything new.  That said, I do really like how my Halloween version turned out.  Take a look:

Like Thanksgiving stamps & accessories, Halloween stamps and goodies stick around in my craft room too.  Here, I've used some old DSP with Edgar Allen Poe's verses as well as a retired bat stamp from the set called From the Crypt.  

The real star, though, is the gorgeous tree from the Sheltering Tree set.  Embossed in silver on black it looks positively spooky!  I washed over it with some clear Wink of Stella because a Halloween forest has to sparkle!  The Labeler Alphabet stamp was super fun to use on the sentiment.  I love the ransom note (i.e. creepy) look of the crooked letters.  This is my first time using the fun black/grey Baker's Twine from the holiday catalog--love it!  Because I felt guilty for not coming up with a new design, I decided to try out an idea that had been floating in my head since my mom showed me this awesome idea from Pinterest:

I made a candle to go with the card!  I bought plain white candles at Dollar Tree and set to decorating them.  I cut a 6.5" x 7.25" piece of vellum cardstock.  I heat embossed the same tree as well as a gate image from another retired set, Toxic Treats.  On the back of the vellum I stamped the retired Dictionary image with Basic Gray archival ink.   I used spray adhesive and rolled the vellum onto the candle.  Some Glitter Tape around the bottom and some more black/grey Baker's Twine was tied around the top.  Easy-peasy!

By this time, I got my crafty groove on so while I had everything out I made three more!  I dug deep into my retired collection for these stamps including a contraband (non SU) stamp of some dancing Day of the Dead ladies.  Here's a close-up so you can see the background stamping and the detail:

And here's the whole set:

So, I guess I created someting new afterall!  Thanks for the fun theme, Claire. I love Halloween and though I don't send many cards, I do love decorating for the holiday so these candles will be put to good use...and will make a good present for a friend or two!  

The Paper Players Design Team

Claire Broadwater

Jaydee

Joanne James

Laurie Schmidt

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Sandy Mathis

Linda Callahan

Hannelie Bester

Colleen Begley

Be sure to check out the rest of the inspiration from my friends on The Paper Players design team!  We would love see your Halloween projects before our challenge closes on Friday, October 7th at Noon (PST)...thanks for stopping by!

Paper Players {13}

Anything goes this week at the Paper Players--come on over and check it out!  Any paper project, any colors, any layout--whatever your crafty fingers feel like making!  For me, I am in full Halloween card making mode.  I love all the new papers and accessories for one of my favorite holidays.  Today's card features many items from the Holiday Mini catalog that are my favorites: Spider Web embossing folder, Nite Owl designer series paper, Raven black lace ribbon and look close at Glimmer Brads!  Shiny sparkly brads in all your favorite color families. 

I adapted the layout from this week's sketch challenge over Pals Paper Arts and used the Two Tags die as my focal piece.  The stamp set From the Crypt is a favorite that made a return appearance this year in the new catalog.  Here, I stamped it on my Tangerine Tango Two Tags die in Versamark and heat embossed with Black embossing powder--gives such a crisp image!  A cute bitty bat punched from vellum cardstock is the final touch on my creepy card.

And on the inside, I just repeated the same color scheme and DSP but stamped the bats from Wicked Cool on a scrap of Tangerine Tango and used the 1 3/4" Circle punch to make a batty moon!


We would love for you to play along with us this week at the Paper Players...remember anything goes!  Head on over to see what the rest of the team has come up with.  Hope to see you there!

supplies:

stamps: from the crypt, wicked cool, sanded background

ink: versamark, tangerine tango, basic gray, jet black stazon

paper: basic black, tangerine tango, basic gray, pear pizzazz & vellum CS; nite owl DSP

xtras: basic gray taffeta ribbon; raven lace ribbon; glimmer brad (neutrals); two tags die; scallop oval, large oval, 1 3/4" circle and bitty bag punches; basic jewel rhinestones; black stampin' emboss powder; spider web embossing folder

graveyard skull & PPA5 (#2!)

Are you a fan of Edgar Allan Poe? Do you love baroque gothic motifs this time of year? Then you probably love this stamp set like I do! From the Crypt has the most amazing artwork. Pumpkins and skulls, ravens and spiders and bats, oh my! I paired this gothic beauty with the cast-a-spell designer paper for an erie delight. I started with this layout from the amazing Mary Fish. Using a base of old olive cardstock (4 1/4 x 11") folded at the top, I layered a 4 x 5 1/4" piece of basic black cardstock and dressed it up with 1 1/8 x 5" strips of the DSP. I cut a 3" circle of pumpkin pie & vellum cardstock with my circle nestibilities. Then, using my stamp-a-ma-jig (love it!) I stamped the fantastic skull on the vellum with basic black ink. Layering the vellum over the pumpkin pie dilutes the orange a bit but still gives a much needed punch of color. And the vellum just makes the skull look even more erie... Can we just talk about the artwork on this stamp for a minute? Look close and you will see ghosts rising from the ground, ravens circling, crooked old tree branches--this set is not for the faint of heart. It's perfect for the halloween season! A strip of basic black gets a simple sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes inked up in whisper white craft ink. Finally, three "chrome" studs (jo-ann's) break up the 3 panels and give just the right amount of shine. Oh, and I almost forgot the spiders crawling up the inside...right onto your arm...eeek!


supplies: stamps: From the Crypt, Teeny Tiny Wishes
paper: old olive, basic black, pumpkin pie, vellum cardstock & cast-a-spell DSP
ink: basic black, whisper white craft
extras: circle nestabilities, "chrome" spot stickers (jo-anns)