My blog is called "Creative Smiles" because my designs are the result of incorporating mistakes. With fumble fingers that drop whatever they are holding - repeatedly, it takes a lot of giggles, smiles and creative patience during my crafting process. xx

Monday, October 09, 2017

It's Halloween at The Crazy Challenge! {Sparkle N Sprinkle}

Hello, scrapping friends! Wishing you all some special joys and delightful surprises - you know, those wonderfully beautiful moments we each have during the day, and all too often take for granted. With Gratitude, I find them exceedingly endearing.


Today I am guest designing for a fun challenge blog calledTHE CRAZY CHALLENGE. (thank you for giving me this opportunity, Crazies!)


This fortnight's challenge is HALLOWEEN #259.
So get your creepiest stuff together and join in the fun!




All three cards are flat for mailing

and were inspired by  Sketch-Tanten, Card ManiaHouse of Cards:




Using the Sparkle N Sprinkle "Cackle On" rubber stamp set  and "Witching Hour" digital set, I opted to try inking my background, something I've never done before! (hanging head in embarrassment).
There are three card samples because I was making three duplicate cards. Then I couldn't contain myself and tried some different designs on each one. I like them all and don't know which looks best!

The first card has a plain orange "vest" which has been distressed with Memento Black Tuxedo ink:


The sentiment cracks me up - or should I say "cackles me up"?

The Ink Colors:


The second is the same card, but without a vest. I think it might be my favorite:
distressed with DI's Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky, Blue Print, Sea Wood and Memento Paris Dusk and Tuxedo Black. The stencil was done with Sea Wood DI.


Ms. Witchie-Poo was stamped in black VersaFine ink and for some reason the clear EP, did not take very well on the witch, so I colored her with a VersaMarker and reheat it. I should have put her back in my Tonic Stamp Positioner, and just restamped her VersaMark, but apparently my brain was not functioning at that moment. Of course the light catches all the blemishes (giggling). The sentiment embossed just fine.



The wonky frame is something I can't help myself with - I love them!


Don't forget to join in the Halloweenie fun at THE CRAZY CHALLENGE!

Even the simple interior would make a cute Halloweenie Card:


Don't forget to upload your Halloweenie creations to THE CRAZY CHALLENGE!

A little tidbit about the Tonic Stamp Platform:

Are you new to stamping, or sometimes a little clumsy, like me with my FUMBLE FINGERS, or just need a helping hand sometimes? This product may be just what you want. I am very much enjoying it. For more details and videos, please click here.



Products Used:
  • Images: Sparkle N Sprinkle "Cackle On" and "Witching Hour" rubber stamp sets.
  • Dies: Die-Versions "Fall Friends" border, SB Circles, Sue Wilson Double Pierced Circles, MS Spider Web border punch.
  • Papers: black glitter paper, black, white, slime green, pumpkin orange
  • Assorted Dye Base Inks, VersaMarker, VersaMark, clear embossing powder, stencil
Challenges I'd like to play in please:

  • House of Cards (Oct 1) CAS Halloween and/or colors 11/1 (check tab month after?)
  • Aud Sentiments #190 Usse a Die Cut Plus a Sentiment 10/17 sep post 10/18
  • The Crafter's Cafe #182 "Use Die Cuts and/or Punches 10/14 (Die-Versions "Fall Friends" border, SB Circles, Sue Wilson Double Pierced Circles, MS Spider Web border punch)
  • If you give a crafter a cookie #79 Inspiration Panel 10/18 (bottom of post)



On A Personal Note:

Please forgive my absence in commenting on Facebook and Blogs.
A rather difficult exacerbation and unexpected eye problem have flared up.
This, too, shall pass - just wanted to let you know I care, and will resume my visits as soon as possible.
My gift to us all today is:


Stamping Hugs,





46 comments:

Donna Phelan said...

Fantastic Halloween cards! I love the moon and background, it's quite eerie in a very good way! The cats and pumpkins border looks great, especially layered like that, it POPS! These really are amazing! LOVE! oh and....cackles...tee hee!

Chris said...

These are fabulous Donna! The atmospheric background you've created looks brilliant! Fabulous die cuts, stamps and stamping...love that sentiment, made me cackle...I mean chuckle:) The inside is great too...would make a wonderful card in itself!
Hope your health soon improves, take care of yourself
hugs
Chris
x

KarinsArtScrap said...

these are fantastic and great Donna.
Gr Karin

Shona Erlenborn said...

What a fun batch of cards you have created here Donna! They are all so much fun. I love the eerie "windy" look of the stencil. Which stencil did you use? All your little Halloween details are fabulous - especially the bat on the edge of the moon! Brilliant! Feel better dear friend!

Beebeebabs said...

Love your Halloween cards you did a great job as always!!!

Dr Sonia S V said...

Love your set of cards Donna...though we dont celebrate Halloween in India I looove looking at all the fun projects. I have a misti and only really got the hang of stamping after I got it!
Cheers
Dr Sonia

Lori Kobular said...

Love your SPOOKY Halloween cards Donna! They are so fun and I love the sentiment on the front and the inside of your cards! My favorite one is the one with the Die-Versions dies added, the angle makes it look awesome!

Julia Aston said...

what great layering and super spooky designs!

Becky said...

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love all the cards, but my favorite one is also the one without the vest. Great job, Ms. Donna.

Linda Simpson said...

Oh my Donna, I love this, the sentiment is brilliant and loving the design. Great background too.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Janice said...

A fabulous, spooky selection of Halloween card Donna, I love them!
I hope you are soon feeling better xx

Sue said...

Hi Donna, Fab cards.

Hope your eye problem soon eases. Sue

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Beautiful spooky cards Donna! I hope you are feeling better, hugs xxx

Babs said...

Hi Donna hope you are feeling a lot better now. Your cards are fabulously spooky great design and a fab sentiment love them all.
Hugs Babs x

Lisa said...

Hello, my friend!! First of all, I hope you are feeling much better soon and the eye problem goes away quickly. Thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers.

I love your Halloween cards!! That sentiment makes me laugh!! I love how you created the background!! The details are so fabulous!! The inside sentiment is one of my favs!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Silvis Kreativstube said...

Hallo liebe Donna,

wow, das sind tolle und spooky Halloweenkarten geworden.
Sie gefallen mir alle sehr gut. Vielen Dank für die immer so wertvollen Tipps. Ich bin von deinen Werke wieder total begeistert. Hugs & Kisses Silvi

Linda said...

Your cards are fantastic, Donna!

Pia S said...

They all look fab. One is rather simple, one more decorated and there's the one inbetween. As I have no strong preference of card type, less or more, I like them all. The inbetween card is closest to what I'd make, I think, but the most embellished one represents your usual style a bit more? But they're all fun and well designed.

crafty-stamper said...

Brilliant Halloween cards Donna and fabulous backgrounds-love the spooky image border
Carol x

pam said...

Fantastic Halloween makes Donna, love the colours and wonderful stamps.. I love all the layouts..
Hugs Pam x

Verna Angerhofer said...

All are such wonderful Halloween cards and I love the images and sentiments on all of them. Mine are all finished so I am getting back into making Christmas cards again.

Verna Angerhofer said...

Forgot to say that I hope you get to feeling better soon too. Take care my friend.

Ann Greenspan's Crafts said...

Halloween is my favorite card making time of year because we can use all these bright colors on our cards and get away with it. I love your cards, all of them. The border die is new to me; I need to look that up.

Chris said...

Yay Donna! Thanks for joining us at Crafty Calendar, lovely to have you play along this month!
xx

CdeBaca Crafts Gallery said...

Great Halloween cards!!

Sherrie K. said...

Awesome Halloween cards! Fun backgrounds and love the sentiments!
Thanks so much for joining us in the challenge at Scrapy Land!
Sherrie K
Scrapy Land DT Member

KraftyKoolKat said...

Fantastic creations sweetie. I do hope your eye gets better soon.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Diane said...

FABULOUS Halloween cards Donna!!! Love those moons and the shiny sparkle witch!! Great design and how you manage to get 3 done at once always amazes me, I NEED your mojo! Hope your eye problems get resolved soon, I had an issue with mine last night which scared the bejeebers out of me, I guess they call it a migraine of the eye or something, whatever they call it, I sure didn't like it...this getting old business is for the birds!!

Bunny said...

If you can't fly with the big girls..............that sentiment just cracks me up. I love these cards. They are great. I pray that your eye problem is resolved quickly. Take care. [Bunny]

Leslie Miller said...

What great fun today, Donna! I love Halloween cards, but since I didn't mail the ones I made last year I probably won't make many this year, boo hoo. This year those others are getting mailed, though. I think it's all the October birthdays. Anyway, love your inked and stenciled backgrounds! 'Fraid I don't do a whole lot of background inking, either, and have never used a stencil. It's either colored in or patterned paper for me. Love the look of your wavy stencil! Cute stamps and dies. Really love the eerie glow on the border. I see, I want, tsk tsk, but didn't buy any new Halloween stamps or dies this year. Oh, also, you are not alone with making things too difficult. I have a drawer full of scrap white paper that I use for "prototypes", and that's not the half of it. Designing cards like yours takes a lot of patience and skill!

Leslie Miller said...

ps: Sorry... meant to say I hope your eye problem passes quickly. Hugs!

cotnob said...

Fabulous cards Donna, super Halloween scenes - lots of brilliant die cut details and great sentiments.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Furrbster said...

These cards are fantastic! The background is just stunning and the sentiment so funny! I love the spider web border punch too!!

Thanks for getting your dies out with us at Aud Sentiments,

Hugz Tinz

Granmargaret said...

Great work.
Donna Thank you for your comments on my card. The Christmas cat on my card has now been put into the new Bugaboo shop as I told them you were asking about it.
https://bugaboostamps.com/products/christmas-cat

Sue said...

Donna, awesome spooky Halloween cards! Love the night sky and your witch trolling the night on her broom. Perfect Halloween bright fun colors and your designs are so nice. Love that border too. Inside sentiment is so funny and goes so well with the card. Hope all is well with you soon, thinking of you.

Hugs
Sue

TracyM #6773 said...

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS cards!
LOVE ALL three versions, the colours and designs are BOO-tiful, the sentiments are FUN too!
Thank You for joining us at the Crafty Gals Corner :)

Mia said...

Beautiful cards, Donna. I love all of them, but especially the last one. Beautiful image, die cuts and colours. Kisses, my friend.

MaryH said...

The witch looks beautifully textured and I like the spookiness of her crackled self! The element looks very 'touchable'. Love the backgrounds, and I'm amazed that your artistic self had not created like this until now. Fabulous first out, is my verdict. I love this design with the wonky mat placement, and I absolutely love that border element. Great card, with the glowing Halloween colors, and I absolutely love the sentiments. Sponging around the interior sentiment looks like the glowing Halloween moon, and yet another nifty border. Thanks for the info on the Tonic Stamp. I'm finding the small misty is working well for me, WHEN I think to use it. The larger one I didn't use as much as the card sized one. Appreciate the design tip about element placement too. Hope you are doing well, Hugs & TFS

Sandy said...

All 3 cards look fabulous. Thanks for sharing with us at Aud Sentiments and hope to see you again soon.
Hugs, Sandy DT

cass said...

Thank you for entering your wonderful creation at The Crafter's Cafe this fortnight for our "Use Dies and/or Punches" challenge.

Doris Klein said...

Wow.. what an awesome make! i love all of the amazing details! Very spooky!

Thanks for playing along with our Sketch Aunts Challenge and good luck!

Hugs and please come back soon!
Doris
*DT* Die Sketchtanten
*DT* Die Traumfabrik
Kleido’s BastelStüble
Blog-owner Do-Al(l) Kreatives (#10 – Halloween)

Daniela said...

Richtig tolle Karten. Vielen Dank für deine Teilnahme bei den Sketch-Tanten.
Liebe Grüße, Daniela

Lorna said...

Great Halloween cards.

PaperCutsForU said...

I love how all three look very different with the same stamp. Thanks for joining us at Give a Crafter a Cookie.

NanaConnie said...

I love them all, Donna! Fantastic moon on each one and I love the different ways you laid them out. The silhouette die cuts along the bottoms of the last two are so perfect for Halloween. :-D Wonderful color combos on each one.

Vannessa said...

These cards are fabulous and love the variations of each of them. Thank you for joining in the Delicious Doodles challenge this time. Hope to see you again.

Hugs, Vannessa
Delicious Doodles DT