Hittin' the Boos Again...

Hello There! I hope you had a pleasant Saturday. Our weather was gorgeously sunny and cool today. Honey and I ordered Domino's and watched Game One between the Astros and Yankees. I never watch sports or much TV at all these days, so that was fun even though we lost. I was happy to get back to finishing up this card to share, though. I am wanting to get some of my Halloween cards off in the mail next week, so it would be nice if I'd get them made. ;-)))

As my absolute favorite color is purple, this card makes me feel good all over. Took me forever to settle on the two purple shades backgrounding my image because they had to blend perfectly with the SU card stock mat. But it was worth the extra time.

SUPPLIES:
Paper:  SU card stock, Neenah index stock, Doodlebug and Lawn Fawn patterned papers
Collage Sheet Images:  Gecko Galz Vintage Halloween
Stamps: Di's Digi Designs Pumpkin Boo,
Inks:  ProMarkers
Dies:  Spellbinders Classic Circles
Other/Stash:  Ribbon, Doodlebug Just My Type alpha stickers, black Sakura gel pen, Bic Wite-Out pen

  

I used the current Mojo Monday sketch to make this A2 sized card. I made my circle element quite a bit larger in order to accommodate Di's Digi stamp focal image. Such a cute ghost, right? Di's current challenge is to include a pumpkin, so I chose one of hers to color up with my ProMarkers. I always like to use a challenger's product if I have it and if it can fit MY project work load.

Well, file this under Never Say Never. After previously arguing that ghosts must be white, I made some be deli paper transparent on my last card, and now I've got a grey ghost! Haha - ok, I'm eating crow. I could have easily kept this lil guy white, but that patch over his heart made me think of adding grey shadows and then he just somehow ended up three shades of gray, Ice Grey 4, 2 and 1. And I dotted fall color onto the leaves and didn't blend. I actually think I may be getting more confidence with my ProMarker color blending, if just trying new stuff without even thinking is a symptom of that? 

I didn't even think about a sentiment until I had finished the front and realized it was missing one. A good opportunity to use up some of my very old scrapbooking alpha stickers, but when I'd placed them down, they just visually faded into the orange dots. So, again, without really even thinking, I reached for my white wax pencil and began lining the inside and outside of the letters. And it helps you see it now yet keeps it subtle and soft. My image doesn't need any competition, lol.

 I also wanted to share how I was able to color a darker purple border around my focal image. It's a little trick that can work with any of the Nestie or nested dies (graduated sizes of same shape). I used the next smallest die, positioned it as well-centered as I could and then held it down with my fingers as I drew around it with my darker ProMarker.

I then removed the die and colored it on out to the edge. I see I wasn't exactly perfectly centered, but it's good enough for handmade. I like the crisp line I get. I am getting shakier as I age and this helps me.

 A few close-ups of that adorable ghost and pumpkin. He reminds me very much of a mash up between Casper the Friendly Ghost and the Staypuff Marshmallow Man, lol. Mostly Casper, though. If he grew some ghost hair up top...

Here you can sort of see the glossiness of the jack o'lantern eyes. Or is it candy corn eyes? Could also color them that way, too! I outlined the pumpkin's eyes with black gel pen after dotting his eye-whites with my Bic Wite-Out pen.

 Ok, I am still hell bent on making this work: using up my already printed collage sheet images in lieu of or in addition to stamped sentiments. I feel this one is much better than the first attempt. Feeling this may just work for the smaller festive holidays. (Valentines and 4th of July as well?)

   

 Click on either of these to read the sentiments on them. I love the old vintage Halloween illustrations. These images from Gecko Galz are just too sweet. I simply cut them freehand from the collage sheet with my Fiskars finger knife and then lined the edges with an orange ProMarker before adhering to some (mfr. unknown) paper snippets in my Halloween stash.

For the back of the card, I used more of the Doodlebug dots I used on front. Plus some snippets of the orange Lawn Fawn dots on front. And my siggie stamp on a snippet of the purple SU card stock from the front.

One final view of my Boo-zy Pumpkin Ghost. Di's digi stamps are wonderfully illustrated. Her creatures all have such life in them and make me happy to color them and use them. They are just fun!

CHALLENGES:
1.  Mojo Monday Sketch #524 -- Sketch shown above
2.  Di's Digi October Challenge: Include a Pumpkin -- I've used a Di's Digi Stamp Pumpkin Boo
3.  613 Avenue Create Challenge #226: AG -- I did NOT play the option
4.  Outlawz Thursday Twist Oct. 10-23: AG + Opt. Dream or Nightmare -- judging by the other entries, I'm interpreting one version of the twist as Halloween so I've played it.
5.  PaperBabe Stamps Challenge #104: Movie Night Theme -- Casper movie
6.  Colour Crazy Challenge Week 39: AG with Colouring -- I've colored my image with ProMarkers
7.  Catch The Bug Theme Challenge: Happy Fall Y'all
8.  The House That Stamps Built Challenge DCC 0219: Circles -- lots of circles on this card.
9.  Aud Sentiments Challenge #237: Halloween/Fall + A Sentiment
10. Passion for ProMarkers Challenge Week 514: Autumn Colours
11. ABMTTC Challenge #101: AG
12. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge: Oct. AG with PP
13. Artsystampers Digitals Challenge #1: Autumn Colors

Thanks very much for your visit and I hope your Sunday is artsylicious! xox