One Sheet Wonder Woman

Hidy ho-ho-ho, crafty peeps!

I've been hunkered down in my studio creating...STUFF!

Jonathan and I are planning on sending out homemade Christmas cards...(if I can ever get them ready to assemble). I've been stamping and coloring like a crazy person.

I took a break from the Christmas card X-travaganza yesterday and today to make a present for an upcoming "Secret Santa" exchange at a Christmas party next week. I had NO IDEA what to give my assigned person.

The idea of going out shopping gave me hives.

So, I thought and thought and THOUGHT about what I could give my person without having to go buy it.

Then, it hit me...BAM!!

I could make some fairly general cards and give this person a whole set! But I had no idea how to start, until I discovered

ONE SHEET WONDER CARDS

Why hadn't I heard about these before? Did everyone know about this but me?

For those of you who haven't heard of these little babies...let me enlighten you.  "One Sheet Wonder Cards" is a set of cards...AN ENTIRE SET...that you make using only 1 sheet of patterned paper (designer paper), and 2 sheets of coordinating cardstock. I decided to use a double-sided paper so I could get more bang for my buck. The paper I chose came in a pack with a sheet of stickers...so I used them too. Why not? I admit that I sort of cheated...I added scraps of brown paper I had in my stash on a few of the cards too...so sue me.

And guess how many cards I got out of this minuscule amount of paper??

4? NO

6? NO

8?? NO

10??? NO NO NO!!!

I got 12... that's a DOZEN!!! (and I had enough left for two more, but I got tired after 12).

The secret is in how you cut your one and only piece of patterned paper. There are many different configurations to do this...I will put the template I used (with all the cutting measurements) at the end of this post!

The theory is...

• you take one 12x12 piece of patterned paper and cut it all up and then use those pieces, either alone or in combo with others,  along with 
• 2 (two) 12x 12 pieces of coordinating cardstock to supplement, and 
• premade A2 card bases,
• various stamps, embossing folders, dies, and punches...
• and you create a TON of cards.

For all these cards I used one sheet from the Marjolaine collection pack from Basic Grey along with the sticker sheet from the same package. I chose teal and olive green cardstock as the coordinating papers.

It TOTALLY works! Just look what I made!

Some of them are horizontal (landscape)...some vertical (portrait) in orientation. 

The card base is an A2 card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")--half of a standard 8.5 x 11 sheet of cardstock.

(Pictures of each card follow the big collection pic along with product info at the end).

1. Hello You card

2. vertical Birthday card

3. Congratulations card

4. Sympathy card

5. Just For You card

6. vertical Hello card

7. horizontal Birthday card

8. Friend card

9. Thinking About You card

10. Thinking Of You card

11. horizontal Hello card

12. Thank You card

Supplies used, (and card # used on):

Embossing folders:

• Swiss Dot by Provo Craft (1, 5,6, 11)
• Swirly Curves by Elizabeth Crafts (6, 7, 11)
• Floral Whimsical by Darice (8, 12)
• Bricks by Paper Studio (9)
• Circle Interlock by Darice (2, 10)
• Honeycomb by Sizzix (4)

Punches:

• Cherish edge by Martha Stewart (4)
• String Lace edge by Martha Stewart (4)
• Scallop circle by Fiskars (11) 
• Bird Builder by Stampin Up! (10)
• Word Window punch by Stampin Up! (6)

Stamps:

• Scripty Sayings by Lawn Fawn (1, 4, 9, 12)
• All Year Cheer by Fiskars (3, 5, 7)
• Happy Messages by Stampendous (2, 6, 8, 11)

Dies:

• Fancy Labels 4 by Sizzix (7)
• Ribbon Tag Trio II by Spellbinders (11)
• Scalloped Edge Frame by Spellbinders (10)
• Twig Wreath by Impression Obsession (10)

Miscellaneous:

• Seagull decorative scissors by Fiskars (3, 12)
• Ribbon
• Mini antique round and dragonfly copper brads
• Stampin' Up stamping ink (Blue Bayou, Old Olive)
• Distress Ink (Vintage Photo)
•  Clear lacquer
• foam tape

One Sheet Wonder template

(12 x 12 sheet of paper)

Thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy post! It was AmAzInG wasn't it?

I was totally surprised.

So, if you're stuck on what to give as a gift this year...you gotta try this. It's a fabulous gift for ANYONE!!

Happy crafting!

Geisha Hug

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps

As you can tell with this card, I'm really into Geishas right now. I have had a love affair with Asian art for a long time now. I even have an Asian art collection that houses Geisha dolls, Kokeshi dolls, silk tapestries, silk embroideries, pottery, hand-painted chopsticks, rice paper umbrellas, hand fans....a little bit of everything. If it's Asian, and pretty, I probably have at least one in my collection.

Today's project is actually a sympathy card I made for a dear friend who tragically lost her husband just after Thanksgiving. I cannot even imagine the pain and sorrow she must be feeling. My heart literally hurts when I think about the loss she is having to endure.

I wanted to send her a sympathy card...but not one that is bleak and gloomy--something beautiful. I wanted it be bright and colorful...yet reverent and calm.

Not an easy task.

How does one make a card that is calm, yet brightly colored. One that is serious, yet not bleak? One that is serene and beautiful and thoughtful and evokes emotions of caring?

Like this.

For this card, I used the lovely "Green Lady" stamp by A Day for Daisies. I just love her. She's so...timelessly beautiful. I colored her using my Spectrum Aquas on watercolor paper. I really do love my Spectrum Aquas. They are literally watercolor paints in marker form. I laid down a bit of color directly on the paper, then moved it around with a water brush to achieve the perfectly imperfect look of watercolor.

It doesn't just have the look of watercolor... it actually IS watercolor.

After it dried, I went over some of the areas with Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens. They, too, are watercolor pens...but they have micro glitter mixed into the pigment. They add a shimmer that can either be subtle or bold, depending on how much you add.

I did the background and accent pieces (coins, red band) the same way...scribbled on watercolor paper, then using a large flat paintbrush and water, moved the color around for a painterly effect. I stamped coins on yellow-washed paper and cut them out. I used a Chinese newsprint stamp on the blue background, and added a single, bold Chinese word stamp in the upper right corner. That symbol, by the way, is "Love".

Here is a closeup of my painting.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• A Day For Daisies - #135 Add Watercolor
• Crafty Friends Challenges - #19 One for the Girls 
• Crafty Gals Corner - #48 Anything Goes 
• Suzy Bee's Blooming - #108 Anything Goes + use a die cut

Ingredients:

• Spectrum Aqua pens (Crafter's Companion) - colors used: Teal, Spice, Scarlet, Peach, Gold, Slate, Black.
• Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens (Crafter's Companion) - colors used: Blue Topaz, Solar Red, Moonlight, Crystal Clear
• Lacey Ovals Nestabilities die (Spellbinders)
• Chinese Newspaper stamp (Hero Arts)
• "Love" Kanji stamp (Stampabilities)
• Chinese coin stamps (A Stamp in the Hand)
• Memento ink (Tsukineko) - Tuxedo Black
• foam spacers

Thank you, as always, for wandering over to Left Field!

Bombshell Sketch Time

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

I'm not actively on the design team for Bombshell Stamps anymore, although I still dabble in some digital stuff for them. But, in my heart, I will ALWAYS be a Bombshell Girl. Always. This month, they came up a little short on design team projects for their monthly sketch challenge, so I volunteered to make a card. Part of the reason they fell shy this month is that one of the beloved Bombshell Girls is laid up in the hospital. So, join me in sending up good thoughts and well wishes to Miss Katie!!

Here is the sketch for this month's challenge...brought to us by El Capitain Kathi. Please join us with your OWN version of this sketch for a chance to win some Bombshell stamps!! Yippee!! Just go on over to the Bombshell blog, leave a comment, and go create a card or layout, or whatever...using this sketch (and your Bombshell Stamps).

 

I decided to use one of my very favorite (okay...2 of my very favorite) stamp sets from Bombshell...Koi Tattoo and Lotus Garden. I pretty much followed the sketch. 

Pretty much. 

OKAY, people...for me, this is following the sketch!

I stamped the images onto black cardstock using Versamark ink, then I heat embossed them with detail gold embossing powder. I added a few Versamark/embossed stamped coins to complete the sketch...and one extra in the upper right corner to balance it all out.

Thanks for stopping by! Your comments are, as always, REALLY appreciated. Truly.

Ingredients:
Koi Tattoo stamp set (Bombshell Stamps)
Lotus Garden stamp set (Bombshell Stamps)
Chinese coin stamp (A Stamp in the Hand)
Circle nesting dies (Spellbinders)
Edge punch (Martha Stewart)
Ultra Detail gold embossing powder (Stampendous)
Versamark Ink (Tsukineko)
Japanese Washi paper
gold rafia
cardstock
 

We All Need a Little TLC

Well, this is turning out to be a busy, busy summer! Word of advice...don't EVER tell the "cosmos" you're bored. Karma will certainly change that up in a hurry.

I was recently asked by Paulette of  TlcCreations to be a guest designer! She was perusing my blog and, afterwards, asked me to design for her! I'm glad to know people really do come visit my blog! Thank you, Paulette, for this opportunity to use your WONDERFUL images! You can visit the TLC blog HERE. Or click on the big green TlcCreations above to go to the online store!

Paulette asked me to use some of her vintage images for my projects. I chose two very fun sets to work with. The first card I made used digital images from her When In Doubt Wear Red set. I love the image I picked for my card, though I must admit, at first glance it sorta looks like she's wearing an octopus. I assure you she's NOT...so all you P.E.T.A. advocates can rest easy that no octopi were harmed in the making of this card.

I sure did have fun with my Prismacolor pencils on her. I think I used 7 different shades of red...maybe more. I made the little paper roses using a tutorial I found on Pinterest. They are easy to make and they turned out cute! I don't think I'll ever buy flower embellishments again. Oh...and I actually used my Copics on this card too. HONEST. See those little dots on the background of the image? Yep, those are Copic dots. I finally found a use for my Copics...whatyaknow. (it's baby steps, people...remember, I'm Copicphobic).

Ingredients:
Vintage Fashion BQ4 image - TlcCreations
When in Doubt Wear Red word art - TlcCreations
Labels 10 Nestability dies - Spellbinders
Bubble border punch - Martha Stewart for EK Success
Prismacolor Colored Pencils
pearl spray - Prima
clear lacquer
cardstock
organza ribbon
patterned paper
paper doily

For my next project, I chose an image from the lovely Vintage Fantasy set. I am really into vintage fairies right now. I especially love the Art Nouveau feel of this image. On the original image the majority of the sky is black...so I PAINSTAKINGLY altered the image in Photoshop to remove the black from the clouds. I wanted all the clouds (or whatever they are) to be white. This took about an hour just to do that.

I printed the image on Kraft cardstock and lightly tinted it with my Prismacolor pencils to give it a worn/vintage look. It's not easy for me to be light-handed when it comes to coloring. I still overdid it on the clouds...but such is life in fairyland. I finished it off by adding touches of glitter to their wings and all over the image and the background.

Ingredients:
Vintage Fairies in Garden image - TlcCreations
Cuttlebug retro circles embossing folder - Provo Craft
corner punch - EK Success
scallop edge scissors - Fiskars
patterned paper - K&Co
glitter pen - Sakura
Prismacolor Colored Pencils
organza ribbon
Kraft cardstock and textured cardstock
Distress Ink - Ranger

Suggestion Box Genius

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

Yesterday, I posted a card I made for my dad's birthday. I felt it was missing "something". So, I put that thought in my blog post yesterday. One of my artsy friends (JanR) suggested I add a diecut airplane flying above. (I really do treasure the comments y'all leave me).

She's brilliant. BRILLIANT, I tell ya.

That is EXACTLY what it needed.

Being as I didn't have a diecut airplane...I made my own in Photoshop. I even added a little Mickey pilot! After I did my magic in Photoshop, I printed it out on kraft cardstock and colored it in with my Prismacolor pencils. Then, I added a banner in-tow (via a piece of black craft wire) and I magically suspended it over my card using a bit of strategically-placed acetate.

Oh...and the weird "glare" effect on the "Happy" letters is crystal lacquer. It's also on the ears of the little Mickey "wings" on the right. For some reason, the glossiness really reflected today.

You can't even see the acetate up close! (it's between the wing and upper edge of the card).

Thank you, JanR, for your AWESOME POSSUM suggestion.

Plugging Away

Well, I still feel craptastic. But, somehow, I managed to get another project done before I crawl back to bed. This card is for my dad's birthday (which, to come clean, was awhile ago...better late than never). A little background: He likes Mickey Mouse, and he was a pilot. So, I put them together to produce this wonderfully-complex card. I had to do something worthy of him turning 3/4 of a century old. Somehow, I feel like it's not quite finished...but I can't put my finger on what else it needs. Any suggestions?

I found the image of Mickey somewhere online. I crafted the pilot wings in Photoshop using of the head of another image. I printed out the images on Kraft cardstock and colored them with my Prismacolor pencils in sepia tones (sort of). The base of the whole shegang is the 3-D Accordion Album by Karen Burniston (Sizzix). I'm loving this die.

Here is a closeup of Mickey. Looking at it now, it kinda looks like he is sporting a 5-o'clock shadow. Hahahaha. That's appropriate for a weather-beaten pilot, dontcha think?

Ingredients:

3-D Accordion Album and Bracket Label dies - Karen Burniston for Sizzix

Stencil Numbers die - Sizzix

Riveted metal embossing folder - Sizzix

Cargo letter dies - Spellbinders

Scallop edge punch - Martha Stewart for EK Success

Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye and others

Gems - Studio 112

Old Photo Distressing Ink - Ranger

Prismacolor Pencils

Twill

star brads - Creative Impressions

clear lacquer

Stencil Me In

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

Man, oh MAN is it dusty in here or what? I sure hate when "real" life interferes with my crafty life, don't you? It's the last Wednesday of the month, so that means it's time for Bombshell Stamps monthly blog hop! This month's theme is "Stencil It In"...gotta use a stencil on your project! Don't have a stencil? No worries...you can use just about ANYTHING that has holes of some sort in it as a stencil! Lace, doilies, punchinella, die cuts, netting, OR...you could make your OWN! What a concept!!! Try punching out shapes from cardstock and use either them or the negative as a stencil! Possibilities ABOUND!

 So, if you hopped on over from Alison's fabalicious blog, then you made your way here safe and sound!


This whole idea about stencils got my old "creative gears" a turnin' and a burnin'...I was literally ping-ponging ideas of how I could use stencils. I dug through my collection of brass and plastic stencils and finally decided upon a lovely ornamental brass stencil. The technique I used today is a, um...sort of batik/resist inking thing.  Oh...I'll explain the process in a moment...but first, here's my card.

Okee dokee...so how did I do it? Like this:

• Choose a stencil with a large area of "negative" space...this way the patterned paper will show through
• Choose a patterned paper (ones with small designs work well)
• Lay stencil on patterned paper and apply VersaMark or embossing Ink with a sponge over the stencil onto the underlying paper. Make sure you don't move the stencil and be certain to get in all the little spaces.
• Carefully remove stencil and set aside.
• Sprinkle clear embossing powder over inked paper and heat emboss. Let cool.
• Using another sponge, dab black ink all over embossed paper to cover (even over the embossed bits).
• Take a damp cloth or tissue and gently wipe ink away from embossed areas.
• Using clean patterned paper, stamp image in same manner--emboss it, then ink over it.

That's it! So easy...and very striking results, dontcha think! Thank you for hopping by! Your next stop on this hop-a-rama is little Miss Kim's blog. Make sure you sprinkle love in the form of comments as you go!! We all love to hear from you! I can't wait to see what you come up with for your stencil projects!!!

Here is a complete list of the hop participants in case you want to revisit some (or if you get lost).

Bombshell Blog: http://bombshellstamps.blogspot.com/
Alison: http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/
----- YOU ARE HERE -----Torrey: http://left-field-studio.blogspot.com/
Kim: http://www.craftypinkanchor.blogspot.com
Jodi: http://www.elamdesign33.blogspot.com/
Alaine: http://missalaineousmosaics.blogspot.com/
Susie: http://whiteribboncards.blogspot.co.uk
Kapree: http://kc-consultant.blogspot.com/
GlitteryKatie: http://ferrishyn-frontier.blogspot.co.uk/
Kathi: http://kathstales.blogspot.com

Ingredients:
Rose's Portrait Stamp - Bombshell Stamps
VersaMark and Memento Ink - Tsukineko
Patterned paper - Chatter Box
brass stencil - Plaid
Nestability die - Spellbinders
clear detail embossing powder - Ranger
paper doily
cardstock
ribbon
deckle scissors

Sketch Time at Bombshell

Hidy Ho crafty peeps!

It's time for another sketch challenge at Bombshell Stamps! Here is what our DT captain, Kathi, devised for this month's sketch! So make sure you play along for your chance to win a set of stamps!

 

I, um...well...AS ALWAYS, I took "liberties" with the sketch. I MOSTLY followed it. But instead of stamped images on either side panel...I opted for embossing. I chose the lovely Rose's Portrait stamp for my project. I tried to create a monotone/sepia card--to give it that "vintage" quality. I colored up Miss Rose using only 3 colors of my Prismacolor colored pencils...the shades were all done by blending, blending, blending with odorless mineral spirits. I sure am glad that stuff is odorless (yeah, I realize that doesn't mean it is devoid of fumes...but it helps when I can smell them).

Ingredients:

Rose's Portrait stamp - Bombshell Stamps

loopy oval Nestability die - Spellbinders

clocks embossing folder - Sizzix

Damask border die - Sizzix

eyelet corner punch - All Night Media

Prismacolor Colored Pencils

ribbon

cardstock

Dedicated To The One I Love

Hidy Ho Crafty peeps! Today I feel like having the text all center aligned. 

I have no idea why...but let's roll with it.

It's challenge time again over at  

Kenny K's Krafty Krew! 

This week our theme is

For The One I Love

This week's first sponsor is Kenny K's Downloads

The prize from Kenny is the winner's choice of 5 digi's.

And our second sponsor this week is 

Marianne Design

and the prize is this gorgeous stamp set and die set too!

For more information on new releases from 
Marianne Design please follow them on
Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/mariannedesignbv

Twitter! https://twitter.com/#!/mariannedesign

For this project I hired Mr. Delivery Guy from Kenny K and put him to work delivering a great big box o' LoVe. I printed him out on kraft-colored cardstock, so he looks all tan. Yeah, that's real masking tape on there. Kinda lends an air of authenticity, doesn't it? I tore the top layer off some corrugated cardboard for the heart backdrop. Props (and maybe some Geritol) to those of you who understand the sentiment reference. 

Double props if you can actually sing it. Triple, if you have choreography.

Ingredients:

Delivery Guy image - Kenny K

Nestability die - Spellbinders (long scalloped rectangle)

Prismacolor colored pencils

Postage stamp stamp - Hero Arts
Stamp-edge scissors - Fiskars

cancellation stamp - I don't know... it's a mystery

kraft cardstock

Distress Ink - Ranger

cardstock

Bombshell Blog Hoppening

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

It's the last Wednesday of the month so that means it's time for Bombshell Stamps monthly blog hop! This month's theme does NOT reflect the unseasonably warm weather we're having here in Texas. The theme Alison chose this month is...

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

So, put on your snuggliest bundle-up things, and join us over at Bombshell Stamps Blog for this tribute to all things frosty and frigid. If you slid in from Kelli's blog, you're right on track!

I decided to dress up l'il Miss Bombshell Angel in her wint'ry finery. I used the digital set "Business Bombshell" along with the hat from the digital "Halloween Costume" set. I colored her up with my Prismacolor pencils--including her jaunty plaid trousers and polka-dotted cape, and fussy-cut her out. I embossed her backdrop with a snowflake embossing folder and dotted the card with frosty glittery goodness to add that touch of brrrrrrr...though, as always, it doesn't show up well in the photo.

Thanks for hopping by! Your next stop in the hop is Sparkly Mary's fabulous blog. Be sure and sprinkle love along the way in the form of comments!

Here is a complete list of hopsters in case...well, just in case.

Bombshell Blog: http://bombshellstamps.blogspot.com/
Alison: http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/
Kim: http://www.craftypinkanchor.blogspot.com
Jodi: http://www.elamdesign33.blogspot.com/
Kelli: http://www.cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com
Torrey: http://left-field-studio.blogspot.com/  ---YOU ARE HERE
Sparkly Mary: http://sparkly-train.blogspot.com/
Glittery Katie: http://ferrishyn-frontier.blogspot.com
Kathi: http://kathstales.blogspot.com

Ingredients:

Bombshell Angel - Bombshell Stamps

Business Bombshell - Bombshell Stamps

Halloween Costume - Bombshell Stamps

Nestabilities die - (long scalloped rectangle) Spellbinders

Prismacolor Pencils

Embossing folder - Cuttlebug

corner punch - EK Success

rhinestones

patterned paper

glitter glue

ribbon

cardstock

Gettin' Sketchy with Kenny K

Hidy Ho fellow crafty peeps!

I am here with another challenge over at  

Kenny K's Krafty Krew! 

This week's challenge-o-rama is based on the following sketch.

So, come on by the Krew and enter your take on it! You can flip it, rotate it, resize it, twist it...just about anything as long as we can still recognize it. There are FaBuLoUs prizes to be had, so please play along! This week's sponsors are:

The prize from Kenny is the winner's choice of 5 digi's.

AND

I don't know who...it's a mystery.

For this week's challenge I chose the cute and sassy Miss Jeannie for my card. The fun thing about this image is that it comes with her bottle too! I wanted a bright and cheery color palette...and there is nothing better to me than the combo of orange, lime green and purple. It's a secondary color kind of thing. To me, it just sings "happy". I colored up Miss Jeannie with my Prismacolor pencils and tricky-cut her out with my Nestability die. I'm getting better at cutting images that go outside the die border. Maybe I'll do a tutorial on that. For the sentiment, I cut the smokey greeting free-hand.

Ingredients:

Jeannie image - Kenny K

Nestability die - Spellbinders

Prismacolor colored Pencils

patterned paper

cardstock

rhinestones

Ahoy Mateys!

No, it's not "Talk Like a Pirate" day. Nor is it "Swab The Decks" day. It's "Torrey Created In Her Studio" day!! It's cold, grey and...snowing outside. Yeah, you heard me. It SNOWED in Dallas. I dunno why...but it feels a LOT colder down here than it did in Colorado. Brrrrrr. So, it was a perfecto day for fuzzy slippers, hot spiced cider and crafting.

The sketch this month over at Bombshell Stamps is a really versatile one! You need to go see all the different looks that were created by the design team! Just jog on over to the Bombshell Stamps Blog and take a gander at all the wonderful ideas! Here is the sketch created by our own El Capitain herself, Kathi. So come on over to the Bombshell Blog and create something using the sketch for your chance to win a FaBuLoUs prize!

Here is my take on it. I used my newest set of stamps "Ahoy Sailor". I love the vintage seafaring look of this set. It lends itself very well to just a hint of color and LOADS of distressing ink. It's not easy giving it a "hint" of color. I tend to be heavy-handed with the Prismacolor pencils...so this is somewhat of a challenge for me.

Ingredients:
Ahoy Sailor stamp set - Bombshell Stamps
Nestabilities dies - Spellbinders Paper Arts
star brads - Creative Impressions
Prismacolor Pencils
corrugated cardstock - Xpedex
patterned paper
cardstock
brown stamping ink

Bad Girl

Well, well, well...here it is about half way through January and this is the first project I've done this year. My mojo took a vacation. I sure hope it comes back soon--well-rested, tanned and ready to CREATE.

Over at Kenny K's Krafty Krew, we're hosting a GOTH challenge this week. So go out there and create something Gothy...Gothicy...Gothictastic.

You get the idea.

We have some generous sponsors (as usual) for one lucky winner! So go on over to the Krafty Krew and enter!


For this challenge I dug up one of the FaBuLoUs Gothik Angelz. I think they're all sassy and I love 'em all. I used li'l Miss Devastatia. She's just plain wicked, dontcha think??? I colored her up with my Prismacolor pencils (as always) and added some glittery accents. She looks goooooooooood in purple. I took a white paper doily and sponged black ink on it to turn it black.

Ingredients:
Devastatia - Kenny K
embossing folder - Sizzix (Riveted Metal)
patterned paper - HOTP
Nestability die - Spellbinders (labels 10)
Prismacolor colored pencils
cardstock
doilies
rhinestones
Memento black ink
glitter pen  - Tsukineko
organza ribbon - Michaels

Black and White Spooktacular

So. Are y'all ready for Halloween? Alas, this year I will not be handing out candy. I will keep the house dark so as not to falsely lure the multitudes of trick-or-treaters. Just couldn't afford to hand out candy this year. It's too dang expensive. In all hopes, our house won't get egged or T.P.'d in retaliation.
Over at Bombshell stamps, it's time for our monthly blog hop...and it just HAPPENS to coincide with Halloween! Cool! So our hop mistress, Alison, tasked us with creating a Halloween project in nothing but black and white.

If you sauntered over here into Left Field from the UBER wicked Alex's blog, then you made it safe and sound. Did her raven, Edgar, peck at you? He's quite the cantankerous bird sometimes! Now, sit back...dim the lights...and read on if you dare... as you enter....

THE TORREY ZONE
***************************************************
The room is empty, except for a silhouette of a woman's profile projected onto the bare wall. 

"Good ee-vening", she says in her best Alfred Hitchcock voice.

Lightning punctuates her greeting as the lights blink out in instant response and plunge the room into utter darkness.

Suddenly, an eery beam of light bathes the center of the room, like a spotlight caressing an empty stage, as a gathering of rattling beings (festooned in faded black tutus) emerge from the darkness and dance lithely, in unison, across the floor.

Ghostly organ music begins to waft its otherworldly whine. The melody...hauntingly familiar. 

Is that Swan Lake?

Really?

Who knew skeletons knew ballet?

Who knew they wore tutus?

Yes, this IS the Dance Macabre.

MuA Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Thank you for hopping by! Now it's time to skitter over to the delightfully spooky Kelli's blog  Be sure to leave treats (or tricks) along the way in the form of comments. And please play along with us and create a Black and White Halloweeny card!

Here is a complete blog list if you get lost or want to retrace your steps. It's much more effective than leaving bread crumbs.

Bombshell Blog

Alison

Susie

Alex

Torrey (me)

Kelli

Kim

Sparkly Mary

Alaine

Emily

Glittery Katie

Jodi

Christine

Stempelientje

Jenn

Rachael

Mari 

Kathi

Ingredients:
Muertos Doll digital stamp - Bombshell Stamps
Fantasy Bombshell digital stamp (tutu)- Bombshell Stamps
Nestability die - Spellbinders (Label Ten)
Prismacolor Colored Pencils
Spiderweb border, and Drippy border punches - EK Success for Martha Stewart
rhinestone swirl, lace, ribbon - Prima
Rhinestones - Michaels
patterned paper
glitter pen - Sakura
cardstock.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

• Designed to Color - Halloween 
• One Stop Craft Challenge - #202 Halloween 
• Craft Door Magazine - #42 Anything Goes
• My Time To Craft - #194 Halloween
• The Naughty Step - Halloween
• Splendiferous Creations - Witches and Goblins

SSP SSP SSP!!!

Okay, so what is SSP, you ask?

SSP is a VERY old scrapbooking term that stands for "Shameless Self Promotion".

Yep, I'm here today to dish out a great big serving of SSP...and it tastes goooooooooood.

I wanted to let y'all know, I am the featured artiste for  

Rubber Stamp Madness Magazine's 2012 holiday issue!! 

It hits the stands next week...so GO! RUN! GET YOUR COPY BEFORE THEY'RE ALL GONE!!!

No wait!! Get 2 copies!!! Or 3 (they make great Holiday gifts).

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So, the 411 on the article looks like this: 
(yes, I purposely made it so small you can't read it. HA! You'll have to go buy the magazine!)

• Title: Out in Left Field (written by Barbara Blanks from an interview with yours truly)
• pp  28-31
• Total cards featured: 5
• Featuring stamps and products by:   

Bombshell Stamps  

Bombshell Angel, Rose's Portrait, Bucking Bronco, Desert Background, Horsing Around, Wanted Poster, Banner Sayings

Spellbinders 

(Labels Ten, Long Scalloped Rectangles, Ribbon Tags Trio 2, Sprightly Sprockets, Flower Bouquet Miniabilities) 

House Mouse  

(Air Head stamp)

Sara  Burrier  

(Noon Fairy stamp)

Delicious Doodles  

(Driftwood Border stamp)

Provocraft
(Clockworks embossing folder)

Creative Impressions

(ribbon)

Aren't you just ITCHING to go read this article now ???