Feeling Spooky

After watching Monica Monge-Taylor's 7 Days of Halloween video series here, where you can win by commenting, I felt inspired to break out my Halloween goodies. I found this little "book" box at the Dollar Tree and felt it could be fun to make it a little shadow box. So here's what I did.

The skull, word "poison" and the spider web were there. I added the vellum printed kids in masks (I just googled scary kids vintage), the word stickers from Tim Holtz and the poison bottle sticker to the front. On the side I added a ticket from the TaylorMade4U.

For the inside, I used some wood stickers (bats and jack-o-lantern) from the Dollar Tree and inked the bats with a marker. I added more TH word stickers and some pumpkin veneers. The paper dolls are from the 2018 Tim Holtz ancestors package.

Here's the little girl side.

And here's the cemetery inside. The tree and spider are from years ago when Creative Memories made Halloween punch-outs. The front gravestone is from a collage sheet from Alpha Stamps. The inside gravestones are stickers and the little skulls were a prize from Laura Carson some years ago. If you haven't seen Laura's projects, you have GOT to visit her blog. They are so far out of my league, but I love seeing her work. It's inspiring and beautiful...and it's not just Halloween stuff.

I used some more ancestor die cuts to make ghosts for each headstone. I propped them up with folded cardboard. On the top of the box, I added more word stickers. I like to use these to make little sentences and stories to match my projects. I used some last year on these Halloween tags.

I really don't like scary movies and I haven't read Stephen King in years, but somehow, I love Halloween and Halloween paper crafting. I'm a puzzle!

Happy Friday!

Chark

Halloween in May

I was working on some Halloween projects for possible publication (you know they work in advance, so I'm always off-schedule) even though I probably ought to be focused on graduation cards right now. But here's a peek at one thing I'm working on...171 days in advance. 

I got these chipboard houses from Alpha Stamps. They have some amazing designers who I could never imitate, but they do inspire me. I also took inspiration from Stephen King and his haunted hotel in Colorado. I have a love/hate relationship with Stephen King and his books. They are scary, so I hate them...but they're good, so I love them. I haven't read one in many years, but I will admit The Shining was the scariest thing I've ever read and I had to read it outside in the daylight. ha!

See my creepy twins? This is a historical (or "an historical") photo I printed on vellum paper so you could see through them to the wallpaper. They're just little ghosts who want to play with you. Why won't you play with them?

Many of these elements are from the collage sheets at Alpha Stamps too. But the bottles are a 3-D Halloween sticker.

Happy Friday,

Chark

I'm Helpful...Really I Am

I thought I'd share a lot of sales going on right now, just as a public service. I admit, I spent some money over the weekend and thought I'd drag you along with me help you save some money too.  

The Shoppe at Somerset is having a back issue sale, where you can find some of their wonderful publications for less. I looovvee their magazines and I'm always inspired by them. So check out their End of Summer Blowout Sale. You'll also find washi, stencils, Pan Pastels, stamps and more on sale now. The Shoppe at Somerset has some interesting stamps and goodies you don't find everywhere, like this one, as well as Tim Holtz and other favorites.

a2z Scrapbooking Supplies always has some fun stamps on sale. Right now you can get these Hero Arts stamps for just $8.00. And you can find paper flowers and embellies on sale too! And because I'm part of their Design Team, and you're my blog friends, you can use CHARK15 to get a 15% discount on your cart of $25 or more!

Craftsy.com is where I spent some of my money over the weekend. They have wonderful Art supplies and Papercrafts, Cake Decorating, Quilting and Sewing supplies. They have copics on sale right now too. This envelope board that I paid $20 for is just $11. This is my first time ordering but I found some deals. They also have classes (some on sale) you can purchase by people like Kimber McGray, Amy Tan and Shari Carroll. I'm considering the Lettering class.

I saved Alpha Stamps for last...mostly because they have such amazing products and talent over there. I highlighted one of their designers, Laura Carson, here last week. They are having a sale on lots of items, including their Alice in Wonderland miniatures like this and this.

And if you want a freebie from their designer, Laura Carson at Artfully Musing, you can pop over to her blog here and find the details. She's gearing up for a Halloween Event that looks to me like a Not-To-Be-Missed Event in September and October!

So, I'm finished enabling you helping you find sales and deals. Come to the dark side and buy some pretty goodies with me. 

Happy Monday,
Chark 

No affiliation with any of these shops, except a2z. The DT members get a chance for a random prize if lots of people use their codes. But I love the shop (and purchased there before joining the DT) and the customer service is fabulous! Ask anyone!
 

Sharing With My Friends

Hi, friends, wanted to share this fabulous book by Laura Carson. I saw it on the Alpha Stamps website, where she's on the design team and uses lots of their products to create. This post stopped me in my tracks.

You can go to her blog, Artfully Musing, to get detailed instructions on how to make it, but omgoodness, isn't this just so yummy?

The beautiful texture on this dragon book is made from eggshells! Laura is so clever and creative and talented. You must stop by her blog to see her creations! 

In the same post, you can view this Alchemist Workshop Book that is literally art. I watched the fab video and she cut and folded all these pages and then made some of her own mini items (like the lamp with the birthday candle) to add in to those items she bought. I'm telling you, I am in awe.

You can also see the collage sheets Laura used (and created for sale at Alpha Stamps) and she gives us two free art images she created...including the dragon eye and the old alchemist's text paper. She made that tiny hour glass with the skeletons on it too! Click the pic to see it better. sigh. So beautiful!

Last thing—Jenn Shurkus is having a giveaway to celebrate her blogiversary here, you should check it out if you like free stuff and creative women!

Happy Weekend,
Chark