eek...boo...eek...boo...

it's almost time for my favorite holiday, and as it approaches i immerse myself in spookiness, creepiness, and new techniques.

i needed to create a project for the authentique paper color challenge this month. the challenge colors were awesome - olive, black, white. perfect for halloween. i started by painting a 6x6 canvas square in avocado acrylic, and for the paper challenge i created a more paper-focused version.

using paper from authentique's "glowing" collection foundation paper, i created tiny paper bones - misting the paper heavily then squeezing and forming into boney shapes. then i used olive green from the "freebird" series to create smooshie flowers and stems.i tried paper quilling to create the word "eek", starting with thin strips of the foundation paper. then a little tearing, a little inking, a little stickling and we were in business.

of course after i created and submitted this, i wanted to do more. so i took a curley flourish stamp and stamped the edges of the canvas. i used black stickles to cover black chipboard die cut flourishes, and then decided i needed more. so next came a tiny black stickle spider - eek! a tiny raven finished it off.

i really like the way the second version turned out, and my note to myself is to not hold back on the authentique challenges - it's ok to load up the project a little more. after all, there's no such thing as too sparkly is there?

spooky treat bags

halloween is my very favorite time of year. it's spooky, and creaky, and it's not just for kids. adults can get into the spirit of things too. saturday is oct 1, and at our house it means the count down to halloween begins. 31 days of tricks, treats, creaks and groans. witches and bats, and ghosties and cats. and what better way to start the season than with a "glowing" treat bag!

using the Glowing collection of papers and trinkets, i created three treat bags that anyone would howl for. the Haunted House bag features a rickety fence and hand-knotted bag closure.

the Boney Head bag is gathered and tucked, decorated with tags and of course, a boney head. there are a couple of paper scrunch rib bones as well. i spritzed the paper, crumpled and then twirled it into spooky bones that sculpt and hold their new shape wonderfully.

paper curls, cobweb punches, and a cheery Jack make this bag my personal fav. i love that the paper takes to curling so well! fabulous corkscrews and spirals make for extra seasonal swag.

i'm really looking forward to more spirited projects this month and hope you are too!

Product List
Papers, trims and tags - Glowing Collection
Die cuts - Tim Holtz for Sizzix
Inks - Distress Inks in "Black Soot" and "Rip Persimmon"
Cobweb punch - Martha Stewart