Another Trick or Treat

Hello my dear friends! The inspiration for today's card hit me when I was putting out my Halloween decorations this past weekend. I have a grapevine wreath that is covered with tin bats. They are different patterns, and one is orange with black plaid. I had a bit of a lightbulb moment when looking at it.. I always seem to stamp my plaid pattern in colors and thought it was certainly time to try it in black!

I based my card on this week's Crazy 4 Challenges sketch challenge:


And my card:


I am in love... I apologize if you're tired of the plaid designs - at least I am showing you just how versatile it is, huh? The card is pretty straightforward.. my favorite stamps from Halloween Party and Off Beat Backgrounds. The bats are a Martha Stewart punch, punched from black cardstock and then covered with Onyx glitter. I also added glitter to witchy's spell, her cauldron, and the brad.

Before I head off, I want to take a moment to thank you all for your visits, your kind words, and your support. It means so much to me to hear from you all and know you're there! On that thought, I hope your evening is wonderful!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Halloween Party, Off Beat Backgrounds - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Dusty Durango - SU!
Ink: True Black - Papertrey Ink; Black Soot Distress Ink - Ranger
Other: Classic Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Bat punch, Onyx glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Black brad

Peace and Plenty

Happy Monday friends!

The card I would like to share with you today is a combination of a few weekend challenges and also gave me the opportunity to play some more with the new release from Waltzingmouse Stamps!

I used the sketch from Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge and the theme from Crazy 4 Challenges, which is to create a card with a thankful theme.


This set uses Peace and Plenty, which is hands down one of the most beautiful Autumn-themed sets I have seen. The images are large and have clean lines, which makes it easy to color with markers, watercolors, or to paper piece (check out Laurie's fabulous card here).

I decided to switch things up a bit and watercolor my image. I used various colors of Distress Inks and an aqua pen to color the image, which I had stamped with Timber Brown StazOn onto watercolor paper. Following Mercy's sketch, I added a circle element to the left side, stamped with the checkerboard image from Off Beat Backgrounds. The card base was stamped with the two leaf images also from Peace and Plenty. For a finishing touch, I inked everything up with some Distress Ink.

Thank you for stopping by today - you will certainly see more of this set in the future!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Peace and Plenty, Off Beat Backgrounds - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Riding Hood Red - SU!; watercolor paper
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Riding Hood Red - SU!; Timber Brown StazOn - Tsukineko; Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Shabby Shutters, Fired Brick, Dusty Concord, Dried Marigold, Brushed Corduroy, Scattered Straw Distress Inks - Ranger
Other: Classic Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Aqua pen

Post Card

Hello friends! I hope you are having a great day.

I made today's card for the most recent challenge on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog. The challenge was to use stitching anywhere on your card. I can do that!


I used lots of stitching! The stamps are Cheryl's Postcards and Postcard from Serendipity Stamps. I stamped the postcards in Sahara Sand onto white cardstock. I did a little layering to give them some dimension. I inked the edges, used a pink Copic marker to add some highlights, and added some glitter.

The card base is Sweet Blush. The patterned paper is from the Basic Grey Blush collection. I used a 1-1/4 inch square punch to punch out the squares, lined them up and stitched around all sides. Then I added an oval that I had cut out of Sahara Sand cardstock and stitched. The postcards are adhered with foam tape. Some vintage buttons finish it off.


Thanks for stopping by! I love to hear from you!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Cheryl's Postcards, Postcard - Serendipity Stamps
Cardstock: Sweet Blush, White - Papertrey Ink; Sahara Sand - SU!
Patterned Paper: Blush - Basic Grey
Ink: Sahara Sand - SU!; Sweet Blush, Chamomile and Chai Tea Dye Duo - Papertrey Ink
Other: Fine Crystal Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Classic Oval Nestabilities - Spellbinders; 1-1/4 inch square punch; R11 Copic marker; Vintage buttons; Sewing machine

For Witches & Wizards

You'd better get your shades out for today's card! I thought I'd be clever and combine a few challenges. I used the Polka Dot Paradise Color Challenge from Embellish Magazine, the sketch challenge from Crazy 4 Challenges, and The Gradient is Radiant Moxie Fab World Blog Challenge. Whew!

So, here's my card.. playing more with the new Off Beat Backgrounds from Waltzingmouse Stamps. (If you haven't visited the new store yet, you'd better hurry! You're missing fabulous new stamps!)


I used the funky chevron stamp to create some out-of-this-world patterned paper! Woo!
I also used the polka dot and faux stitches stamps from the set. The pumpkin and circle sentiment is from the Halloween Party set (which is now back in stock). The circles were cut with my Nestabilities and then I added some rhinestones.

These background stamps are *fun*! I know this card is a little over-the-top, but if I can't be silly every once in a while, what's the point, right? ;)

Hope you enjoy it, even if you did need your sunglasses. Talk soon!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Off Beat Backgrounds, Halloween Party - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Tangerine Tango - SU!; Vintage Cream, Summer Sunrise - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Cranberry Crisp, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Marigold Morning - SU!; Antique Linen, Vintage Photo Distress Ink - Ranger
Other: Classic Circle and Pinking Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Clear adhesive rhinestones - Michaels; Copic markers

Merry Halloween

Hello from the Lake!

This week, I am blogging from Chatauqua Lake in western New York. I am here to relax, recharge, retreat..

I have a stash of projects that I worked on so that I was able to continue to share stuff here on my blog while away from home. Today's project was a very quick one, pulled from my goody bag of stuff from Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps. Included was a sheet of full-color vintage Halloween images which are brand-spankin' new to PPRS. I will update the link with more info when they are posted to the store.

I used the sketch for this week's Crazy 4 Challenges sketch challenge for some quick inspiration.

Here's the sketch:

And here's my card:


I love this image! I matted it to a piece of Summer Sunrise cardstock that had been cut with my pinking blade. I inked the edges with Tea Dye Distress Ink and stitched around the image.

The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye and the trim was from my local fabric store. The card base is Enchanted Evening. Have I ever mentioned how much I love the color combination of Enchanted Evening, Black, and Summer Sunrise?? No, I didn't think so.. ;)

Stick around - there's more fun to come! I hope you have a great day!

#Anya

Recipe:
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Summer Sunrise - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Vintage Halloween Image - Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps; Toil and Trouble (The Spider's Web Collection) - My Mind's Eye
Other: Tea Dye Distress Ink - Ranger; Pom Pom Trim - JoAnn Fabrics; Enchanted Evening button - Papertrey Ink; pinking blade for rotary paper trimmer - Fiskars; sewing machine

Just a Little Witch

Well, its Monday again. I'm not very enthusiastic, but tomorrow is another Serendipity Stamps Design Team challenge, so that is something to look forward to!

As a little preview, I thought I would share a card I made for this Saturday's challenge on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog. It is another sketch challenge (my favorite!)


And here's my card:


This little cutie is the Witch Silhouette stamp from Serendipity. I stamped her onto Spring Moss cardstock with Jet Black Archival Ink. I added some Rock Candy Stickles to her hat, treat bucket, and shoes. It is difficult to tell in the photo, but it gives a great vintage glass glitter look to things. I should have glittered her robe too!

This sketch was a fun one, and a great way to use some patterned paper (supply info is below in the recipe). I love mixing and matching.

And before I go, I want to show you one last thing. I found this fantastically wonderful little cutie on my porch last night. My mom, inspired by the stuffed felt skeleton dolls on the cover of the most recent issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors, made me this:


IT IS FRIDA KAHLO! (Fun fact about Anya: I love Frida Kahlo, I love skeletons, and am completely fascinated with anything having to do with Dia de los Muertos). I just fell in love with it (and would have known it was Frida even if she hadn't told me). I think it is just fantastic.

I hope you have a great evening. Come back tomorrow to see what I made for the Serendipity Stamps September Design Team Challenge!

Take care!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Witch Silhouette - Serendipity Stamps
Cardstock: Spring Moss, SS White - Papertrey Ink; Pumpkin Pie - SU
Patterned Paper: (Houndstooth) Norm's News - October Afternoon; (Orange dots and Black with pumpkins) Frightful Collection - Little Yellow Bicycle
Ink: Jet Black Archival Ink, Old Paper Distress Ink - Ranger
Other: Sewing machine, Pinking blade for rotary cutter

Crazy 4 Challenges!

Hi everyone!

Have you seen the new Crazy 4 Challenges blog? New challenges are posted every Saturday - this past Saturday the 5th was the first challenge - a sketch!



Here's my card:



I used the Quilted Pumpkin stamp from Serendipity Stamps. The image was stamped onto PTI Vintage Cream and then colored with Copics. The patterned paper is from the retired Apple Cider paper collection from SU. The sentiment is from PTI's 2009 Autumn Tags set.

I encourage you to check out the Crazy 4 Challenges blog - sometimes a little challenge is just what you need to get the mojo going!

Have a great day! See you tomorrow!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Quilted Pumpkin - Serendipity Stamps; 2009 Autumn Tags - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink; Textured Really Rust, River Rock - SU
Patterned Paper: Apple Cider (retired) - SU
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento - Tsukineko; Really Rust - SU
Other: Copic markers; Paper piercer; Twill; Classic and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities