WIP Wednesday: Halloween Cards

I belong to a group of like-minded crafters and it was brought to our attention that other countries don't go nuts over Halloween like we do in the States. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, a few of us decided to create unique Halloween cards and send them to our overseas friends. These are some of the cards I came up with, using Tim Holtz products (Ranger Ink Distress Inks, Idea-ology, and Sizzix as well). Hopefully they will inspire you to make your own cards or just get you a bit more excited for the big holiday! I'm putting on the finishing touches and awaiting some fun trims to arrive. I'll post finished cards before I send them on their merry way.

 First thing I did was make my own cards. I had some envelopes on hand that would fit a 5.5 inch card so I folded black cardstock and cut it to size. Next I pulled some Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Dolls that I liked from the Halloween collection and set them aside. I matched dolls to Tim Holtz Halloween papers and cut out wide strips for a ready-made background.  I had a few cob web die cuts left so I chose one for the woman in black.

The woman in black became my Black Widow and I added smudges of Ranger Distress Ink in Black Soot around the edges of her and glued the web to the paper with Ranger's Glossy Accents then glued the paper doll over it. I looked through the Tim Holtz Clippings Halloween collection and found some appropriate passages. I added smudges of Black Soot around the edges of the scrapbook paper and the clippings and then added the clippings to the paper. A little Ranger Distress Marker in Candied Apple on her bow turned her into a Black Widow.

I wasn't 100% pleased with the words after really looking at the card so I looked through the clippings until I found something better.

A wicked thing.
WATCHING AND WAITING.
there seemed no possible escape.
FROM
her dreadful web

The next card has a wicked woman. I again smudged the edges of the scrapbook paper with the Black Soot ink and glued her in place. I added Distress Ink in Antique Linen to the Wicked ephemera and then edged and dabbed Black Soot over it. I wanted some dimension so I used foam dots on the back to make the ephemera raised up. I had one key left over and thought it might make a nice gift so I punched two small holes through the front of the card and attached some thin black twine to the key and tied it in place on the other side. I really love how this one turned out!

The next card features more paper dolls - I love this one of the kiddos with jack 'o lanterns! First I edged the scrapbook paper and paper dolls in Black Soot and glued the dolls to the paper. The paper seemed too clean so I smudged on some Antique Linen and then added Vintage Photo over that. You can see the clean ring around the paper dolls. Then I used Carved Pumpkin on the Brave ephemera and edged and dabbed with Black Soot. I used the foam dots to give this one dimension as well. I ended up coloring the jack 'o lanterns with Distress Marker in Ripe Persimmon.

The last card is still a work-in-progress and I'll stare at it a little tonight before settling on what to finish it with.

I really hope the recipients enjoy their cards! In other news...

For those that have been following me on social media and on the blog, our cat, Zoey, passed away Tuesday morning as I was getting ready for work. We were able to take her to our vet and they'll take care of cremation arrangements for her. I cried pretty much all day and took a personal day from work. I worked on these cards a little bit and made sure our other cat, Elfie, was snuggled and kissed. She left a big hole in our hearts but I'm glad we were able to give her a good life. She and Elfie were our fosters because their owner moved out-of-state and couldn't have pets. They became 'ours' a few years back.

If you're thinking about getting a pet, please consider adopting or fostering. I know specific breeds can get you right in the feels, but there might be a sweet soul in a shelter that may need you.