Halloween Cards

Every year I like to include some cards in my Halloween crafting because they allow me to experiment with a variety of products and techniques. Here are some of the cards that I made for 2010.



Click on the picture to enlarge the image.



Vampire Cat Directions:

Golden orange card stock
Orange card stock
Dark purple card stock
White card stock
Black card stock

Feline Count Stamp by Penny Black, Inc. (Margaret Sherry Collection)
Hampton Art Mini Flip Flops clear stamps
Sizzix Bats
Martha Stewart Bat paper punch, Martha Stewart trellis border paper punch
Dark purple ribbon
Green glitter glue
Glimmer Mist Sea Glass
Color Box black ink
Watercolors, colored pencils or markers in your choice of colors

Fold an 8 /12 inch by 11 inch piece of golden orange card stock in half.

Cut bats using the Sizzix Bat die and black card stock. Use green glitter glue for the bats eyes.
Lightly spray a piece of black card stock with Glimmer Mist Sea Glass. After the card stock is dry use the Martha Stewart punch to make three bats.

Stamp the cat on white card stock with black ink. After the ink dries color the image with watercolors, markers or colored pencils. I used watercolors for my cat. Cut the card stock to approximately 3 1/4 inches by 3 1/4 inches.

Cut the purple card stock to approximately 3 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. Glue the white card stock on top of the purple card stock (leaving a 1/4 inch border).

Cut the orange card stock to approximately 4 inches by 4 inches. Glue purple layered card stock on top of the orange.

Cut the black card stock to approximately 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches. Glue the orange layered card stock on top of the black.

Cut a piece of purple ribbon and glue across the top left corner of the layered card stock. Glue another piece of ribbon across the lower right corner of the card stock. Make a small bow and glue it to the ribbon in the left hand corner.

Center the framed cat image on the golden orange card stock and attach it to the card using foam dots.

Glue the Sizzix bats across the top of the card.

Stamp the word Fright Night in black in under the framed image. Use the Mini Flip Flops phrase (Fright Night).

Glue the Martha Stewart bats around the greeting.

Cut 1/4 inch off the long edge of the card. Punch a border out of black card stock using the Martha Stewart trellis border paper punch. Place the border slightly under the edge of the card and glue in place.


Haunted House Card Directions:

Halloween card stock: black or dark grey pattern, dot pattern
Sizzix Bats die
Martha Stewart Haunted House paper punch
Circle paper punch (large circle)
Orange plaid ribbon
Green glitter glue
Black, orange, light grey and gold card stock
Hampton Art Mini Flip Flops clear stamps
Color Box black ink

Fold a piece of 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch card stock in half.

Cut the dark grey patterned card stock approximately 5 1/4 inches long by 6 inches wide.

Punch a circle out of gold card stock using the large circle punch.

Punch the Haunted House out of black card stock using the Martha Stewart Haunted House paper punch. Glue the Haunted House on top of the gold circle.

Cut a piece of the Halloween dot card stock approximately 3 1/2 inches long by 3 3/4 inches wide. Glue the gold circle to the card stock.

Cut a piece of black card stock approximately 4 inches long by 4 1/4 inches wide. Glue the dot patterned card stock on top of the black.

Cut a piece of orange card stock approximately 4 1/4 inches long by 4 1/2 inches wide. Glue the black layered card stock on top of the orange.

Cut a piece of black card stock approximately 4 1/2 inches long by 4 3/4 inches wide. Glue the orange layered card stock on top of the black.

Glue the Haunted House framed card stock one inch from the top of the dark grey patterned card stock.

Using the Mini Flip Flop stamps and black ink stamp Have a Haunted Halloween above the framed image on the dark grey patterned card stock.

Using the Sizzix Bat die and black card stock cut out several bats. Glue the bats over the Haunted House and to the left and right sides of the greeting. Aplly a small amount of green glitter glue to the bats eyes.

Cut a 2 inch long by 5 1/4 inch wide piece of Halloween dot card stock and glue to the bottom edge of the card. Glue a piece of plaid ribbon over the area where the dark grey and dot card stock pieces meet. Make a bow and attach to the ribbon.

Panda Hugs

The weather is absolutely beautiful. I was inspired to make a trip to the nursery to buy some flowers. Apparently I was not the only one inspired by this beautiful weather because the nursery was crowded. After the harsh winter that we had everyone is ready for Spring.

This is the last in the series of get well cards. I made this card for my husband who is having hip replacement surgery next week. I didn't want to make a third speedy recovery card so I decided to use the hugs instead.




Here are the directions for Panda Hugs:

1. Cut a piece of light blue card stock approximately 5 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches. Emboss using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. I ran the folder through my Sizzix. Instead of running the folder all the way through the machine, I stopped after the card stock had embossed and turned the handle in the opposite direction and ran the embossing folder back through the machine. Doing this gives a deeper embossed texture. Using Color Box fluid chalk cats eye ink pads Misty Meadow collection gently tap the medium blue ink randomly over the blue card stock. I did this to give the illusion of clouds.

2. Cut a piece of green patterned paper approximately 51/2 by 3 inches. Use the Color Box chalk green and randomly tap over the green card stock to give it depth. Again apply light pressure when stamping. Glue green patterned paper to the bottom of the blue card stock.

4. Randomly cut a tree trunk out of brown card stock. Cut a 2 inch flower out of purple card stock using the Cricut Paisley cartridge and the button feature. Glue the tree trunk on top of the flower. Embellish with small paper flowers. Attach the tree to the blue card stock just above the green paper. Use dimensional glue dots to attach the tree.

5. Cut a 2 1/2 inch Panda out of black and white card stock using the Cricut Pagoda cartridge. Attach the Panda next to the tree using raised glue dots.

6. Punch eight hearts using a small heart shaped paper punch. Glue hemp to the back of three hearts and tie them together with a bow of hemp. Glue the heart strings over the Panda's hands.

7. Randomly hand cut a small basket shape out of white card stock. Cut several 1/8 inch wide strips out of brown card stock and weave them together. Glue the woven strips to the basket shape and trim. Using one of the brown strips of card stock make a handle and glue it to the basket. Glue the basket next to the Panda. Glue the hearts in the basket.

8. Using purple card stock and the Cricut Beyond Birthdays cartridge cut a 2 inch Hugs To You.
Apply a light coat of Smooch Grape Soda to the Hugs and let it dry. Press the purple Hugs over the top of a Versa Mark ink pad. Sprinkle Clear Sparkle embossing powder over the image and shake off the excess. Emboss using a heat gun. Glue Hugs to the blue card stock over the Panda's head.

9. Embellish the card with a paper flower and a pre-made butterfly. Glue a pink ribbon across the bottom of the card and attach a bow.

Creating With Cricut

I recently purchased a Cricut personal electronic cutter. I love the Cricut. I used it to create my Christmas cards. Here are some cards that I made using the Snow Friends cartridge.

Here's the directions for the Snow Friends cards.

Cut the snow men using the Snow Friends cartridge. I used pink chalk to give them rosy cheeks.

Cut a piece of pink and lavender card stock and emboss it using the Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder. Next sand the snowflakes to highlight them.

Cut a piece of black card stock slightly larger than the embossed layer and a piece of pink or lavender card stock slightly larger than the black layer. Glue the embossed layer on top of the black card stock and glue these two layers on top of the coordinating pink or lavender card stock.

Cut a piece of ribbon the length of the card plus 1/2 inch and glue it to the card. Center the embossed background over the ribbon and adhere to the card using foam dots.

Position the snow men on the embossed layer.

Using a Martha Stewart snowflake punch make six snowflakes and adhere to the card. Embellish the snowflakes with rhinestones.

Add a bow to the top of the card.

I cut trees using the Winter Wonderland cartridge and added them to the lavender card. I used Mudd Puddles snow to accent the trees.