Mummy, dearest...

 

The mummy die set for this card was new for me this year, and I used it on only the one card above. It's a simple set with only three pieces--so easy to assemble! I'll definitely be making more of these cards next year.

I started this card by creating my clouds in the background. I added a little orange ink to them to coordinate with the orange in the die-cut sentiment. I also just like adding a little color to clouds other than blue or gray. I think the orange made them look more ominous, don't you?

The mummy's pieces were cut out, and I added a little ink with a Q-tip before putting him together and adding him to the scene.

In the picture above, you can see how the ghost is popped up, as is the left hand of the mummy.

I used my computer to print this sentiment. I'm not sure where I found it. As I've said before, I tend to collect sentiments, writing them down on scraps of paper whenever I see them. I occasionally just make them up, too, as I enjoy writing simple poetry.

Today, in the afternoon, I will carve a big pumpkin, line it with foil (to protect the flesh), put a candle inside and set it out at about sunset. just before the kids begin coming to our door. As soon as they stop, which is usually around 9 p.m. or so, I bring the pumpkin in, cut it into chunks and bake it until it's soft. Tomorrow, I will puree all the pumpkin flesh and freeze it in 2-cup amounts. I use it year-round to make pumpkin bars, pies, bread, etc.

Happy Halloween to all of you! I hope you have lots of trick-or-treaters. It's always fun to see their costumes and their excitement at getting all that candy.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Magic potions and flying bats...

 

This is another of the Halloween cards I made--in fact, I think I made 6 or 7 of these. I love this die set that includes all the potion bottles, a couple of books and a skull and candle. I also die cut a few bats from another die set, and the word "spooky."

Everything, but the bats and sentiment, was cut from white cardstock and colored with alcohol markers. It's just so much quicker for me to do it that way, rather than cutting each little piece out of a different color cardstock.

I think I saw this sentiment, or something similar, on a card in the drugstore. I printed it four times on a sheet of cardstock to create four inside panels for my cards.

I saw this card idea in a YouTube video. I wrote down all the dimensions--and then promptly misplaced them!! So, rather than trying to find the video again, I just made it up as I went along, 

When the inside card is pulled up, it pulls up the bats on the moon and reveals the sentiment on the inside.

There's just enough room at the bottom of the sentiment for a signature.

To create this card I used an A2 top-folding card and put the fold at the bottom. Before adhering the sides together with 1/8" red-line tape, I used a Stampin' Up Word Window punch to make the slot and a circle punch to create the half-circle divot at the top center of the card.

The interior card was cut to 3 3/4" X 5 1/2" (or slightly less to make sure it is flush with the top of the card when pushed all the way in).

A round pop dot was used to adhere the moon to the inside card and to act as a stopper so that the card doesn't pull all the way out.

On the back, I adhered a spider web border, gluing just the left and right ends to the card. This band can hold a monetary gift and/or a special note for the recipient.

I really do love making Halloween cards; I just wish I hadn't been so rushed this year. I think I made 20+ for my own use and another 8-10 for the thrift store.

I am writing this post on Thursday night, because Friday will be dedicated to a final meeting with the contractor who remodeled our kitchen and also painting the dining room. Once we get the dining room painted we can finally move the table and chairs back into place. Then it will begin to feel like "home" again.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Happy Halloween...

 I have managed to get all of my Halloween cards made and in the mail. Phew! It was a race to get them made in time so they would arrive before the 31st. Here is one I had fun creating:

I had this spooky die-cut house in my stash, and I wanted to use it. I backed it with some silver cardstock because I don't like house images that have "empty" window areas where the background shows through. I also had a narrow strip of white cardstock with the above verse printed on it. I soon realized that it was just the right size to add the house at the bottom. I did exactly that, and I also added the little scalloped border, but there was still something missing.

The verse says the sky is "the color of soot," so I decided to add some decidedly gray clouds. That was just the touch it needed! 

Because my house was black and the windows and doorway were metallic silver, I was able to use my cloud stencil and not worry about getting any gray smudges on the house. 

I liked this card so much, that I made another one where I added the clouds before I adhered the house.

On the inside, I stamped a simple "Happy Halloween."

Since I planned to send this card to a family member, I decided I also needed to make a couple for the thrift store. I had a 6" X 6" distressed Halloween paper stack that I had gotten from the thrift store. There were a couple of pages with some cute Halloween images on them.

 The pumpkins and the little girl were already printed on the distressed background. I added some die-cut bats and a "Happy Halloween" sentiment. 

On the inside I added a computer-generated sentiment. I like this sentiment because it works well for an adult or a child.

I'll have a few more Hallween cards to share with you in the next couple of weeks. Now that I'm done with them, though, I can finally move on to Thanksgiving cards. Those should come together pretty quickly, as I don't make nearly as many of them.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

A Halloween hello...

 I have a new Halloween die set that features a cute cat wearing a witch's hat. It's one of those die sets that has only a few pieces to adhere together, so it's quick to make up.

I used another die set to cut a few bats to add to my little cat scene. The sentiment was stamped with Versafine black ink and then heat-embossed with clear embossing powder.

I cut the cat, bats and hat band from black cardstock and the hat from purple cardstock. The other, smaller pieces were cut from white cardstock and colored with alcohol markers. 

I also added some highlights (bats' eyes, hat band buckle, spider string and cat's whiskers and toes) with a silver gel pen.

My rickrack-style border came from a set of border stickers that I had in my stash.

I saw this sentiment on a card somewhere and wrote it down at the time. Luckily, I was able to find it recently and use it on some of my Halloween cards. I'm always writing down sentiment ideas on scraps of paper, but it's never a sure thing that I'll be able to find them when I need them!

We will be having fabulous--high 70s--weather this weekend. That means we'll have to use this opportunity to work in the yard and prepare it for the winter. Goodness knows we'll have snow soon enough. It will be great to get a little outdoor exercise for a change, though.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

A triple-scoop happy birthday...

 

I have tried and tried to remember where I got this stamp. I think I may have gotten it at the thrift store, but I just can't be sure. It's such a fun image, though, don't you think?

I used my alcohol markers to quickly color it before matting and adhering it to my card base.

The sentiment was die cut from both white and black cardstock and then stacked for dimension, with the black on top.

I've added a strip of black cardstock to the bottom with an enamel dot on the right side. I thought this black strip helped to balance out the black sentiment. 

The inside sentiment is from a clear stamp set that is geared toward kids. It's a fun set that has come in handy when I am making kids' cards to donate to the thrift store.

I am currently scrambling to get my Halloween cards made in time to get them in the mail. We've been so busy doing things around the house that I just haven't had time to work on them. Hopefully, I'll have some to share with you soon.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

A couple of flip cards...

 Every once in a while I dig out my flip card die set and make some cards for the thrift store. It's fun to use this die set because it cuts out a DSP layer and the different circles for the focal point. I think customers at the thrift store find these cards fun and different from the usual.

This card features my favorite stitched butterflies. I've used a gem in the center of each one for a little sparkle.

This photo shows how the card looks when opened. I make sure to leave a little space on this side of the circle for a signature.

Here's a close-up of the largest butterfly. They can be layered, too, if you choose to do so.

Since I had some of this "little sweet pea" paper left in my stash, I thought I would also make a baby card. I wish you could see the green of the cardstock behind each scalloped layer of DSP in the photo above. I should have taken it on a lighter background.

A while ago, I bought several different kinds of tiny heart embellishments, like the one you see here. I just love them for cards like this.

Again, here is the card when it is fully opened. 

Aren't these cards a nice change from the usual side-fold or top-fold A2 cards? They actually are A2 size when folded, so no special envelope is needed.

Kitchen Remodel Update:

Tonight I was able to cook on my own stove for the first time since August 7. They moved it back into the kitchen today and hooked it up (it's a gas stove). My refrigerator is still in the dining room, but that will hopefully be moved into the kitchen in a day or two. Then we'll need to concentrate on painting the living room and dining room so we can get back to normal living!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

I promised a pink monster, and here she is...

 

This time I gave my little monster a couple of balloons to hold onto. Isn't she cute?, I inked around the edges of the pink areas, added some Glossy Accents to the embossed areas on her face, and used real thread for the balloon strings.

The monster's head and the balloons are popped up on foam tape for a little dimension.

I've made up a couple different monster-themed sentiments for the insides of these cards and this is one of them. 

Customers really seem to like them at the thrift store, so I'm very glad I bought this die set. 

I can see making some Valentines with these dies, too, and adding some heart-shaped balloons, or maybe adding the arms in such a way that the monster is holding a little bouquet of flowers.

Our kitchen should be done by the end of this week. I actually went out today and bought a new plant to put in it. Kind of silly, because the last thing I actually need is a plant. But it's a pretty succulent and makes me happy to look at it. So there's that...

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl