halloween cards

 Hello!  I'm popping in with two Halloween cards that I made.  I ended up with two cards because as I started making one card, I didn't like how it was turning out so some of the items I created for that card were transformed into another card.  Other items that were going to also be on the original idea ended up on the second card!  The end results.  I had a great time and I think I'm getting a bit of my mojo back.   Here is the first card.

The gnome and the pumpkins were originally going to be part of the original idea I had for a card.  After I colored the images with Copic markers and then die cut them I tried to make them work with some Halloween patterned paper that I wanted to use.   I ultimately realized that my gnome and pumpkins were too whimsical for the patterned paper, so I had to rethink things.   I decided to go with the sketch from Sunday Stamps and use some patterned paper from P13's The Four Seasons:  Autumn 6x6 pad.    The banner was die cut from the patterned paper and then I layered that on my kraft base panel.   The sentiment from a very old Reverse Confetti Halloween stamp set was stamped in VersaFine CLAIR Nocturne.   I then layered on my gnome and all the pumpkins.  I finished off by adding the strip of embossed green cardstock and the purple/white bakers' twine.    The card isn't too spooky, so I think I will be sending it to my great nephew and great niece. 

Let's have a look at the second card.  It has a spookier vibe!

As I struggled to make things work with my initial idea and I determined that the gnome and pumpkins weren't the answer I die cut the pumpkins you see on the card from some leftover panels that I had watercolored for a project I made a few months ago.  I thought they might work with the idea I had, but nope!  So that first idea was finally put to rest and I moved on.   I remembered I had all these fun Spellbinders dies that create a front door for different seasons.   The Halloween dies would be perfect with the pumpkins and so my card was born.  I used very old Halloween patterned paper for the background, the door and the stoop.  The stoop was backed with some of that watercolored paper I mentioned to make the sentiment really stand out.  I even used that paper to for the small window next to the door and for the windows in the door.  I like how it turned out.   I adhered everything and thought I was done until I spied the purple 31 that I had die cut for the gnome card.  I tried to make the numbers work on that card but decided the card didn't need that additional.   However, when I added them to the door panels on the second card, I knew they had found their home!  Even though there isn't anything else purple on the card I think the addition of the numbers works.   I think this card will be heading to my great niece who lives in California. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day.