Friday's Swingin' Card

Cardbase - Memory Box; Stamps - A Muse; Inks - Memento & Versafine; Copics; Spicas; Stardream & CTMH cardstocks; Brad - Making Memories.

Here's a card that's a smidgeon inter-active.......ready, set......GO!!!

First the kids start out from the Costume Shop.....trying to avoid all of those pesky bats....

And then they "walk" to the Sweets Shop........such a fun Halloween night!! Hope they get something good to eat!!

Favorite Things

Polka-dot CS, stamps (EXCEPT for web), orange ribbon - A Muse; Web stamp - Hero Arts; Inks - Memento & Colorbox; Marvy Tag Punch; DMC pearle cotton.

I tried to do one of those banner things that Julie Ebersole taught in one of the many classes I took in July at the Paper Garden....And while it seemed crystal clear THEN.....it got kind of fuzzy as the months lapsed. But hey, you get the idea, right??? I love this frog - he's so funny and so tiny!! I really like tiny stamps - why is that? I drive Heidi crazy with my love for tiny stamps (obviously "inchies" were made for me). The stamps she normally uses as an "accent" stamp for the envelope - I use as the centerpiece of a card. I also like travel-sized anythings and samples. I know they're waaaay more expensive than the "economy-sizes" but they just so cute!!!

I tell you if I could get that machine that Willy Wonka has (you know the one that shrinks down Mike, the T.V. kid), I would be in heaven......and Bob would be about 4 ounces.....

Flying Witch

Cardbase, Stamps, Cardstock, Ribbon, Brad - CTMH; Ink - Memento; Copics; Silver pen.

My personal Chef says I should have made the ribbon broom out of brown ribbon...well, he has a point. However, I have a BOATLOAD of the Olive-colored ribbon AND it looks good with the Autumn colors so I was improvising and working outside of the box......don't try to fence me in man, I'm a free spirit and if I want my witch to have an Olive-colored broom - nobody is gonna stop me......(whoa, obviously I've had much too much of that hot chocolate....)

Spoooooooky Tree

Cardbase - Memory Box; Stardream CS; B&T paper & arched kitty satin ribbon - from Paper Garden; Stamps - A Muse & ??? (cat in curly tree); Memento, Colorbox & Versafine Inks - Copics

Should have glittered (Stickled) the moon - obviously I wasn't thinking straight at 1:30am when I was finishing this card.....but really it's not my fault. Bob is slipping in the Q.A. department.....all he cares about is the ribbon!!

Frantic Frankie Post & a Pumpkin Cupcake Too!!

Cardbase - Memory Box; Pumpkin cupcake stamp - Taylored Expressions; sentiment, black polka dot CS & ribbon - A Muse; Memento Ink; Copics; Spicas; Bat Confetti (from Michaels or Wishing Well); B&T paper - ???

2 cards today because ...... well, see my explanation below...... I think these cupcake stamps are so stinkin' cute....I'm just bummed I haven't been able to use ALL of them.....as soon as I do - I'll post the card. You know the old saying - "So many stamps - so little time......"....sigh.....



Cardbase - Memory Box; Stamps - A Muse & ??; Ribbon - A Muse; Memento Ink; Copics; Spicas.

YIKES - I've just organized my photos and I've discovered - I've made too many Halloween cards (again)....so I'm only going to post the ones I really like. My personal Chef has just brought me a big cup of hot chocolate - so I have no excuse NOT to get my posting done.....so let's get on with it - shall we???



I think this card is funny - Frankenstein's Monster instills fear, right? But he's wearing the little black cat - lovely Halloween accessory!! Only a REAL man could carry off that look.

P.S. - I've had a couple of questions/comments as to my posting so late at night. While it's true that generally I am up THAT late (really loved working the grave yard shift...), I've been kind of cheating posting-wise. I've been using that handy-dandy "post option" thingy so that I can get my posts all lined up to automatically post. I'm kind of scattered during the week and since I know how bored I get when I check out some of my regularly-viewed blogs and there are no new posts for DAYS....I'm just trying to keep things interesting for the 3 of you that check in on a semi-regular basis!! Besides, if I don't stay up late, how the heck could I make all these flippin' cards???

Count Pengula

Cardbase & Vampire Penguin - Memory Box; sentiment - A Muse; Cardstock & Brad - CTMH; Marvy Tag Punch; B&T paper - ???; Inks - Memento & Versafine; Copics & Spicas; Ribbon - Michaels.

I've never been wild about vampires or werewolves.......but I do like THIS guy (and the "Twilight" series has both made me a fan AND semi-terrorized me as far as vamps go...). I can see him doing a two-step, his cloak all swishy around him - I think the lady penguins would be lining up for spin on the old dance floor......he's a styling guy that's for sure.

Witch Kitty

Cardbase - Memory Box; Witch Cat - Hero Arts; sentiment & ribbon - A Muse; Inks - Memento & Colorbox; Copics & Spicas; Brad - Making Memories; Corner Rounder; B&T paper - ???; Green speckled paper - from Paper Garden.

This wasn't how I saw the card in my head....but by the time it travelled along, this is how it ended up. I wish I was steadier in coloring. I would love to make black cats sometimes....but you have to leave that white edge for definition and I just muck it all up.......oh well, I like her stripes - makes her look thinner.....don't you think??

Deckle Delight

Cardbase - Memory Box; B&T paper - ???; Stardream; Stamp - Double D Rubber; Ink - Memento; Copies, Spicas; Brads - CTMH; Fiskars Long Deckle decorative scissors.

While I made this card just 2 weeks ago, the stamp I've had since 1997 - I'm not even certain if they're still in business? I have several of their stamps in this design style. I tell you, once I like something, I REALLY like it. I like this look although generally, I think I tend to stamp in the "cute" style. I've noticed that other styles are starting to grab my notice -could Creepella's tastes in stamps influence me??

And Halloween just lends itself to using my FAVORITE decorative scissors - the deckle edge. I have 3 different pairs of deckle scissors, each unique in it's own way....a girl can't have too many deckle scissors, let me tell you!!

Isn't it cool how the old stuff becomes "new" again?? Decorative scissors were probably one of the first accessory items I invested in when I started stamping.....and even though there are fancy-edged rotary cutters, I've noticed that decorative scissors are making a comeback. Thankfully I've held onto every pair - HEY......FINALLY......something I don't have to go and BUY!!! Pack-rat tendencies can pay off....just gotta wait long enough...

Hocus Pocus Flight

Cardstock, "Hocus Pocus" & bat stamps, ink - CTMH; Witch die-cut - Quikutz; Wheel stamp - Color Box (I think); Giant Marvy button punch (I have since tossed it as it became stuck and NEVER let loose of the cardstock...).

Have I mentioned that I like Halloween?? I REALLY like Halloween - I think we should have Halloween Fun every 3rd Saturday of every month. And I'm not talking about candy - I can get candy anytime....I'm talking decorations, the fun spooky feel, masks, black cats & witches and other things that go bump in the night. Part of the celebration should involve watching "Hocus Pocus"....I LOVE that movie!! I nearly wore out the VHS tape.....not too scary VERY funny and it just gets you in the Halloween mood....sigh....

Ok, this is the last "oldie but goodie"...I promise!!! Tomorrow.......NEW stuff!!

The EYES have it...

Swirly B&T paper, stamps (retired), ink, marker - CTMH; "Eyes" B&T paper -???; Google eyes

Ok, I don't know how to count.....I had 2 more "oldies but goodies" cards - this is one of them. I'm a sucker for goofy sayings, puns, pretty much anything silly.....so I loved how this sentiment fit so well with my bug-eyed mummy AND how the "eyes" B&T paper worked out as well. Just makes me exhale a big ol' giant sigh when the planets align and the card comes together......

Ghostly Shopping

Cardbase - Stampin' Up (I think); Candy stamp - Stampin' Up; background "Happy Halloween" stamp (retired) - Hero Arts; Die Cuts - Quikutz (maybe retired?).

Little did I know when I was making all of these stinkin' Halloween cards over the very many years....that one day I would be a contributor to a blog about cards and that having the card "ingrediments" (yessss, I know it's really ingredients.....but ingrediments is much more fun to say, especially if said with an obscure accent....) would be kind of important. Oh well, we're about done with the older cards, so I think I'll be able to remember what the heck I used for the rest of cards that we'll be posting this month. Except for the B&T paper......I really have quite a lot of that (remember - I have the 4 double paper-racks....and I could use another one....) and I just don't want to dig through all of it.........'cause I'm lazy and my foot is asleep and Bob doesn't like to run the risk of getting a paper cut.

3-Scary (?) Squares

Stamps, cardstock, inks - CTMH.....except for the corner spider web stamp - it was unmounted, purchased at a stamp convention YEARS ago!!

Another oldie but goodie......man, is it just me or is this looking extremely "designed-for-a-child-or-a-VERY-simple-adult"??? And what's up with all the different spider webs?? Is the spider undecided in how to build a web or perhaps suffers from ADD and gets side-tracked as to which design to complete? Ok, ok, I see there are TWO spiders, hence TWO webs, but what about that third web-type? It's just hanging out there like flippin' Pluto, man (ok, that was a cleaned-up version of a line from a movie...one of my favorite action movies.....any guesses???).

Today is Heidi's b-day. I would love to post her b-day card today, but since we're not doing her b-day celebration until next week AND since she's one of the 3 people that humor me by popping in to check the blog, it would be inappropriate to have her see her card here before she actually receives it. And also, I would need to make the card - which Bob and I are thinking about doing really quite soon.....I'm sure we won't be whipping up something at the last minute......that would be tacky!! Speaking of tacky - if I just slap some ribbon, gems, Stickles, a couple of paper flowers and about 17 layers of Stardream onto some cardstock.....I think I'll have the perfect card for her!!! Nothing subtle needed - it's all about the bling!!

Halloween Fan

Cardstock, B&T paper, markers - CTMH; Stamps - Panda (DJ Inkers); "Yahoo" (CTMH); Cupcake flag from Wishing Well or Michaels.

Ok - so the minute you read "DJ Inkers", did you just about fall over? I bet some of you don't even recognize that company, huh?? Talk about an old stamp...I think I've had that panda stamp for at least 12 years...still stamps great - but my taste has definitely changed. While I still like cute stuff.....I'm not wild about the SUGARY cute stuff any longer..... I guess my taste runs more to cute stuff with an EDGE!!

And for those who were wondering......Bob is still giving me the stink-eye....bet if he knew my cubicle number at work, he'd be sending me that Howler.......

Well-dressed Spidey

Stamps: Spider wheel & hat - Stampin' Up; "Trick or Treat!" - Stampendous (I think); spider die cut (retired) - Quikutz; Ink - Memories.

Bob says it will lessen his wrath if I do another post "pronto", so I am.......and this will mean we're back on schedule for our Halloween Card count-down.

I have a few of these roller/wheel stamps. I like them a lot because they let me create my own background in whatever color I want. They're fun and fast and I think they're a pretty good deal for the money. I really wish CTMH would come out with an acrylic line of them........since I have so many CTMH stamp sets. At least Stampin' Up still carries them and in each catalog there's always a few new designs that I add to my collection. If you've never tried a roller/wheel stamp you're missing out on something fantastically fun!!

On Probation

Cardstock, ink & markers - CTMH; Stamp - Stampin' Up; B&T paper - ???

Bob has put me on probation - he's completely disgusted with me...says if he could, he'd send me a Howler at work so that I would be thoroughly embarrassed. I'm quaking in my boots (ok, in my slippers).....you don't want the Bobbers angry!!

Remember how I said I'd be sharing some of my older cards?? Well this week - that's all I'm showing. All of these cards are at least.....oh gosh, I'd have to say between 3 and 6 years old!! I get so excited about making Halloween cards that I tend to go just a smidgeon overboard and then when the NEXT Halloween rolls around, I sort of forget about all the extra cards from the previous Halloween and before you know it - I have a boat-load of cards.......... But I have fun making all of these cards, and eventually I'll find the perfect fit for these extra cards.

And finally....here's another stinker of a string-cheese package riddle:

What is a ghost's favorite cereal???.........................Scream Of Wheat!!

Jack Framed

Carstocks, ink & markers - CTMH; Stamp - Hero Arts; Stickles; B&T - ???; Curling Ribbon

This is not my usual design......I like things pretty neat and symmetrical. This is none of those things - and it makes me a little bit twitchy. I try to go out of my "comfort zone" on occasion.....just to test the waters. But you'll never see me going TOO far out - I just can't - it's beyond me and the realm as nature intended.

I can so identify with Adrian Monk....

Boo To You!

Cardstock, stamp & Inks - CTMH; Die Cut - Quikutz; B&T - ???; Ribbon - Michaels

Something simple, sweet and not-so-scary....those die cuts really make things pretty fun and fast. I forget about them for long stretches of time....but when I get busy with them I go into over-drive and make bunches of them. When Creepella was young, she'd dig around in the die cut stash and pull out bits and pieces and make master pieces for her dad and me. I still have lots of those master pieces (some are faded and wrinkled - but they're still treasures to me). I think it's about time for me to go and dust off the ol' Squeeze handle and see what I can create.

Halloweenie Count-down!!

Cardstocks, markers, inks - CTMH; Stamps - CTMH & Memory Box; B&T paper -???; Deckle scissors; Stickles; Bat "confetti"

Ok - are you ready? I've got enough cards to do a Halloween Card Count Down (weekdays only). Since I do most of my posting during the weekdays, it works out pretty well. Some of these cards were done years ago (no joke - wait until you see some of the stamps I've used....). I LOVE Halloween and while we never had as many customers as cards ready to sell - that little fact never stopped me from making a batch o' new cards every year. I have more Halloween stamps than Christmas stamps (although with all the cool "winter" stamp designs that have hit the scene in the last few years, my Winter collection is quickly catching up with my precious Halloween treasures).

And finally - I'm going to leave you with a stinker of a riddle (these riddles are found on the packages of string cheese that Creepella requested): Why didn't the skeleton go the the Party???? (because he had no BODY to go with.....see, I told you it was a stinker!!)