Happy Halloween - Last Day of Die Cut Divas October 2025 Challenge!

Happy Halloween if you're celebrating!! We have end-of-month inspiration at Die Cut Divas for our October Anything Goes Challenge. Entries are due by 9p Pacific Time today. Details on my card. plus bonuses, are shared only here.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card &

Assorted cardstock; Neenah Solar White;

My Favorite Things Plaids

(Orange Sherbet and Black & White);

Dies - Brass & Bliss Trick or Treat Bucket &

Halloween Greetings;

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - white gel pen; foam tape

The Divas have Brass & Bliss (formerly Rubbernecker) as our sponsor this month. They've donated an extremely generous $50 prize for our random winner - to be awarded on November 3rd.

While I have more Halloween stuff than I can possibly use, I couldn't resist the B&B Trick or Treat Bucket die set. So cute with all the candy! I just die cut all the elements and assembled. Isn't that little ghost cake pop adorable?!

I'll share this card at Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #79 since my treat bucket is new.

For my bonuses, it's back to Christmas cards - this time with a fun B&B light string die set.

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio A2 card &

Assorted cardstock; TH kraft metallic;

BoBunny Tis the Season patterned;

Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Dies - Brass & Bliss String of Lights Edger;

Hero Arts Fir Trees Infinity Dies;

Spellbinders St Nick (etched star);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Press Plate with die - Spellbinders 

Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips

Simple die cutting and assembly. The pressed sentiment came from my bits box - I especially love this press plate because it has multiple sentiments on one plate & a single die to cut them all. 

Still with me? I had some leftover pieces of light string so I added them to a Spellbinders A2 card for a second bonus. A die cut Birch Press Design sentiment (Merry Christmas Confection Script) finished it off. 

Very quick and easy. I meant the sentiment & third tier to be a bit lower on the card, oh well... Two more Christmas cards for the stash which is over 60 now; still a ways to go!

That's it for today, friends! Hope you get lots of treats and no tricks today. Thanks for stopping by!

Many Halloween cards!

Hi all - Warning - photo heavy post ahead!

I mentioned in last Friday's post that I was doing an online event (Sweet Spells) with Scrapbook & Cards Today on Saturday. This event sold out but do check out future events - always a fabulous value in the kit with quality instructors! The kit included a 6x8" stamp set, 44 dies, 5 stencils plus some basic cardstock. The remaining cardstock was recommended by each instructor but I just used stuff from the stash.

I crafted along for the first class and part of the second, then I had to take a break but continued watching the lives. I worked on the rest of the cards this week & finally finished last night. 

The first class was taught by Cathy Zielske who leaned in to pink for her cards!

Supplies - Class kit; Paper Studio colored cardstock;

Versamark, Hero Arts & Memento inks; white ep

I especially love the witch legs sticking out of the cauldron! The candy corn 3-layer stencil set was fun to work with & the ghost & pumpkin make me smile!!

I decided to make a pumpkin card with traditional Halloween colors for my friend Denise who has a Halloween birthday:

Meghann Andrew taught the second class & we made this trio of cards:

The web coverplate is a fabulous die that cuts beautifully using a metal shim. I love the detailed mansion die set and the fun stencils to create a graveyard scene! Funny story about the moon on bottom right card. It was supposed to have stencil paste but mine was very gummy & started tearing the paper. I saved it by scraping off the paste carefully and adhering a circle over top.

Meghann also shared a bonus card; my version has different colors (her web & card were both black) but I love how it turned out! 

Class three was taught by Mindy Eggen, resulting in two cards and a "spellbook" that I used on an A7 card & added a ghost:

We used a web die cut as a stencil on the righthand card and the spellbook. When I was done with it, I used it on Meghann's bonus witch hat card after liberally spraying it with shimmer mist. Mindy's second card didn't have the witch hat but I thought it made a cute addition.

As usual, Jennifer McGuire did her "Mix It Up" video where she takes the class kit and uses it creatively. She made two Halloween cards and two non-Halloween cards - so fun! For example, she took the witch hat die cut and turned it into a Christmas tree. I haven't tried to make any cards with her ideas yet.

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you have a fave from this fun event. Happy crafting!!

Happy Halloween and Last Day for October Die Cut Diva Challenge!

Happy Halloween everyone! Today's the last day to enter our October Die Cut Diva Challenge. We've been celebrating World Card Making Day all month long with our cards using dies &/or embossing folders. Come join the fun by 9pm Pacific time today! 

The Divas are sponsored this month by the amazing My Favorite Things who generously donated a $25 prize. We will draw from eligible October entries and award it randomly on 11/3. Here's my inspiration card with the last day Diva team:

Supplies: Paper - My Favorite Things Christmas Cheer;

Neenah white; Recollections green; scraps

Dies - My Favorite Things Stacked Merry,

Let it Snowflake (retired), &

Stitched Oval Scallop Frame (retired);

AJVD Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - gem by unk

I formed an A2 card with 1/2 a sheet of cardstock. Use part of the remaining 1/2 to die cut a frame. When the frame with an inside scallop cuts, you get an edged oval so I used that part. Die cut the snowflakes from white cardstock and the MERRY from both red and black. Die cut a rectangle of striped paper and added to the card with a strip of red. Assembled the MERRY and added to the oval along with one snowflake. Glued the other two snowflakes under the oval and added to the card. A pink gem finished the card.

Bonus time - I'll share a Halloween birthday card for my dear friend from high school, Denise. I made a similar non-birthday Halloween card for my friend Heather. This one has no MFT products...

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;

Taylored Expressions Halloween (retired)

Die - Waffle Flower Postage Collage

Stencils - Waffle Flower Postage Collage Spooktacular

Inks - Hero Arts and Memento

Other - Waffle Flower Subsentiments Boo; white gel pen

Die cut the postage collage from Neenah, then stenciled with the 4-step Spooktacular set. Three of the stencils have recommended colors so I used those; I used a pale lilac for the background step. Added some details with a white gel pen & a printed sentiment. Adhered to an A2 card covered with Halloween patterned paper - done!

Since my Spooktacular stencils are newly used, I'll add my card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge #67.

Thanks for stopping and hope to see you in the Diva gallery!

Craft Roulette Fun

Hi everyone - hope you're having a great week!! Yes, I watched Craft Roulette 237 LIVE Friday night but couldn't get a card done during the show. I needed different supplies than I had available at the satellite studio. Made this card when I got home yesterday; it's nice to be a member and have extra time to upload a project!

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Passion Flower & glitter cardstock;

Poptone Black; Neenah white; scraps of orange

Stamps - Hero Arts Frightful & Owl-oween (both retired)

Stamps w/dies - Hero Arts Halloween Trimmings Stamp & Cut (retired)

Dies - Poppystamps Corner Shoppe Pop Up Easel Set

Other - Copic Markers; Honey Bee Spooktacular gems;

computer generated boo-tique label

Host Mary Gunn FUNN had Sharon Luska (My Crafty Greetings YouTube)as her guest. Sharon's focus is on hints to make crafting easier so check her out! She also does guest videos for Scrappy Tails. 

The wheel was a bit challenging, in my opinion:

Here's how I employed the parameters:

• Project - Pop Up Card: I used a pop up easel card die set to create my card base.
• Colors - Trick or Treat: I used typical Halloween colors - Black/Orange/Purple.
• Element - Boutique: The pop up set I used is a shoppe; I turned it into a boo-tique.
• Random - Jewelry: I added gems to the boo-tique's door.

Simple die cutting, stamping & fussy cutting. Colored the pumpkin and shaded the ghost with Copic markers. Fiddly to assemble but I did ok. Here's a popped up view:

You can see a previous card with the shoppe die set HERE. I showed a side view on the previous card so I didn't bother here...  I'm adding my card to the current Double D Challenge to include a pumpkin.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Halloween Birthday!

Hey friends - I don't make many Halloween cards but I have a friend with a Halloween birthday & family who loves Halloween so I usually create a few. My friend Denise and I went to high school together, plus marched in Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps in our youth. I used a fun TE haunted house die along with some old Hero Arts Halloween stamps.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Hero Arts Pitch Black;

Scraps of orange, white and green

Stamps - Paper Smooches All Year Cheer (nib)

Hero Arts Color Layering Moonlit Night, Owl-oween, & 

Frightful (all retired)

Dies - Taylored Expressions Haunted Mansion

Other - glitter gel pen

I started with a lilac A2 card and inked the upper edges and corners with Black Soot Distress ink. The house die takes up most of the card but I squeezed in a stamped witch flying across the moon. Stamped and fussy cut the ghosts, pumpkin, and spider. Popped the ghosts into their windows & backed them with some scraps of green watercolor paper. I stamped the kitty before adhering that panel behind its window. I used two Paper Smooches sentiments, adding the Birthday after the Happy Halloween, then fussy cutting. I glittered the pumpkin, kitty eyes and ghost eyes with a gel pen. 

I made three other Halloween cards using the same basic design with some variations & without the "birthday" - ha, ha. For example, I left the spider off the card for my brother and his wife. Donna hates spiders and calls for my brother to take care of any that she sees - LOL. Another card featured some added bats. I forgot to take photos of those cards - oh well...

I'll send this card to Darnell's October NBUS Challenge since the haunted house die is new. I was also inspired by Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) to join the current Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge - their gorgeous mood board has a haunted house.

Thanks for stopping & have a crafty day!

 

October 2022 Card Chain Reveal

Welcome! It's time to reveal cards that went around the world for the October Card Chain Challenge! You make & send one card to the person ahead of you in the chain, then receive one from the next link - very fun!! Thirty-two people participated & my card went to fabulous Arlene (A Bit of This and That), a longtime friend and sister Diva from Die Cut Divas. You can see the entire chain HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Unity Black; scraps of orange, yellow & kraft;

DCWV Everyday Stack; Doodlebug Pumpkin Party

Dies - Hero Arts Jack O' Lantern;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop

Stamps - Poppystamps Halloween Ingredients (retired but

a few were left HERE at Frantic Stamper, last time I checked)

Other - White embossing powder; Park Lane gems;

Stickles; Copics for shading; Black Soot Distress Ink

I ignored the colors (silver, blush & frost) this month because I knew I wanted to make a Halloween card for Arlene. I used the sketch, though, making my jack-o'-lantern the star of the card. Don't know if she recognized it but the sentiment came from a Poppystamps set Arlene sent me last year - love it! Thanks again, Arlene!!

Sketch Option

I don't often do much with a card's insides but I made a special effort to do some Halloween stuff this time. 

Additional Stamps - Lawn Fawn Trick or Treat;

web & spider from the Poppystamps set

The amazing Dawn from New Zealand (Dawn's World), another long-time friend & sister Diva, sent me this beauty. I just love everything about it, from the gorgeous flowers to the bubble background - thanks Dawn!! Sweet of her to think I'm fantastic :)

If you'd like to play along for November, you still have until November 6th to sign up. Go HERE to find the linky.

Thanks for stopping by & have a crafty day!!

Kitty with a Cauldron

Hey crafty friends - I made a quick card this afternoon for the current Tic Tac Toe Challenge #132. My friend Betty (created by bjk) hosts this week with a fun board she made - I just had to play along!! 

Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 card; Neenah white and black; 

Doodlebug & My Mind's Eye patterns

Stamps - Sunny Studio Bewitching

Penny Black It's Halloween & Haunted Halloween

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Art Deco Backdrop Die Set;

Sunny Studio Bewitching Dies

Other - Copic Markers, Stickles, foam tape, 

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

I used the top left to bottom right diagonal of Die Cut*Free*Fall/Halloween Theme. Betty likes Halloween so I brewed up a cauldron full of fun for her. I couldn't resist Sunny Studio's cute kitty. She'll be useable all year round since the witchy hat is separate. Found a fun MME ombre paper and cut it with a deco die. The die set has a large A2 frame and then interior layers for matting. I didn't want to use the entire frame but trimmed some pieces for the right side of my card. Not sure if I like it but, oh well...

I used some Penny Black Halloween stamps for the background; thanks again to my friend Jean (Right as Rain) for sending them to me! The sentiment is from the kitty set. And here's a snippet of my first photo - I kept looking at it and realized my cauldron was upside down!! My first thought was, did I color the flames wrong - LOL. Had to carefully peel off the errant cauldron, flip it & reattach, then take a new photo - such a pain.

So that's my card for today - thanks to Betty for the fun TTTC board and to the rest of Team X for their inspiration! I'm also adding my card to Darnell's September NBUS Challenge since my kitty set is getting its first play today. Thanks Darnell for helping me use my stash!!

Hope you have a crafty day - thanks for visiting!

 

Embossing on vinyl

Hey everyone - I said I'd be back with an embossed piece of vinyl for my third & final entry to the current Let's Squash It!! challenge. Here it is:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio solids;

Sunny Studio Flirty Flowers

Vinyl - Paper Studio Bright Abstract

Embossing Folder - Sunny Studio Cable Knit

Dies - Sunny Studio Blooming Frame

Elizabeth Craft Design Small Butterfly (retired)

When I was out shopping for interesting materials to emboss, I specifically looked for leather and used it on card two**  (card one was on vellum). I'd gone to Hobby Lobby and found some gorgeous colors. They also have a large selection of vinyl, both in rolls and 12x12" sheets. Picked up this crazy abstract print in one of the latter. Embossed it adding a scrap piece of card stock for stability.

The vinyl has an adhesive backing which, when I removed it, was beautifully embossed! I used it for a bonus card.

Add'l supplies: Die - Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies

Other - Pink and Main enamel dot

The material was tricky to adhere but the Tombow multi medium tacky glue worked perfectly, along with putting some weight on it. Same with the strip of vinyl, then the paper oval needed it to stick to the vinyl...

The loose piece of black card stock I tossed in with the vinyl also got embossed so I have a threefer!

Add'l supplies: Paper - Michael's Recollections Halloween

Stamps - Avery Elle Seasonal Simple Sentiments

Other - Park Lane gems

** Noticed that my card two for Let's Squash It!! was very similar to card one - sorry about that! Not to worry, the post for card two also contained a second card with another piece of embossed leather and a totally different design. And if that wasn't enough, I remodeled card two after posting it! I added some thin frames from Honey Bee for a more graphic look. What do you think of the update?

Thanks to Gail and Jo, plus guest Jane, for all the fun embossing uncommon materials this month!!

Thanks to you for stopping by - wishing you a crafty day!

Bugaboo Halloween Kitty

 Hi friends - I'm posting at Die Cut Divas today for the October theme of Halloween or Autumn. Our fabulous sponsor this month is Bugaboo Digi Stamps. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle & Co orange A2 card;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb;

French Press Poptone Black Licorice;

Doodlebug Pumpkin Party

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)

Digi stamp - Bugaboo Halloween Kitty

Other - Copic Markers; Wink of Stella; 

Distress Inks for edging - Wilted Violet & Black Soot

How could I resist this sweet Halloween kitty dressed as a witch for trick-or-treating?! I resized and printed the image, then colored with Copics. Do you see my little boo-boo? I colored the kitty's ear as part of the witchy hat, oh well... Added bits of Wink of Stella here and there. Matted in black and added to a diecut stitched rectangle with a diecut scalloped border (from different MFT Blueprint sets, both retired unfortunately). The sentiment strips were part of the Doodlebug patterned paper collection - very handy! 

You'd think I'd use more printed digis since I own a Silhouette but I tend to use that more for cutting. Bugaboo has so many fabulous images, though, that I can see myself coloring more of them!! In fact, I will be for the end of month post at the Divas - be sure to stop back!!

You have until 10/31 at 9pm Pacific to enter your Halloween or Autumn card into our gallery. Just remember to use a die cut; you don't have to use a Bugaboo image but we'd love to see one if you have any that fit the theme.

Thanks again to Bugaboo for sponsoring this month and thanks to you for visiting!!

Fall and Halloween at Stay Crafty with Hero

Hey friends - hope you're having a great weekend!! I took some time and made a Halloween card for the current Stay Crafty with Hero Challenge just announced by Hero Arts yesterday. This makes #15 since the pandemic began and I so appreciate Hero continuing this challenge!! Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Poppy (retired);

Poptone Black Licorice;

Stampin' Up green; Momenta watercolor;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb

Stamps - Hero Arts CL239 Owl-oween & 

CL628 Ghostly Greetings (both retired)

Simon Says Stamp Creepy Cute (retired)

Dies - Sunny Studio Slimline Nature Borders &

Slimline Scalloped Frame

Other - Hero Arts clear lacquer; Copic Markers;

Black Soot Distress Ink & Ranger clear ep;

Darice googly eye (not sure of the size)

Most of my Hero Arts Halloween sets are retired but I love them soooo much!! I brought out an oldie but goodie with cute owls dressed as a witch, a ghost and a pirate. I've used them before (see an ancient Flickr post with them here, if interested - oh, how our styles change!!) but I still can't get enough of them. After I stamped, clear embossed and colored my owls and their accessories, I decided it was a big enough crowd for a slimline card. Thought it would be fun having them marching up to a house for treats. I used the same Simon Halloween set for the haunted house as I did on my Twofer card here but I snipped off the top floor. While the house extends past the card, I made sure it wouldn't be too tall for a #10 envelope. The sentiment is from a different Hero Halloween set, perfect for my trick or treating owls.

My slimline is 3.5x8.5 which made it a bit too narrow for the scalloped layer from my newest Sunny Studio slimline set. Instead I used the stitched rectangle die from it, plus the grassy hill from the SS Slimline Nature Borders. I used my paper trimmer for the black mat layer. I lacquered the windows and the witch owl's eyes. Mr. Pirate got a googly eye.

Will also link up to the current Watercooler Wednesday Challenge where All Occasions are being celebrated. That's my third and final link-up there (max of 3 allowed). Also adding to Darnell's NBUS Challenge since my Sunny Studio slimline frame die is getting its first play. Finally, I'm linking to Virginia's Show and Share for my fourth and final entry there (max of 4 per month allowed).

Thanks to all for the fun challenges and thank to you for visiting! Happy crafting!!

Fall trees

Hey crafty friends - there's a new challenge up at the Twofer Challenge to use trees. I really wanted to do something other than a Christmas tree since I'd recently made a Christmas tree card (see it here, if you missed it). I was inspired by Darnell's (djkardkreations) card and by Marcia's (Marcia's Stampin' Pad) card using branchy trees with dots. I pulled out an older Hero Arts fall set called Color Layering Fall Trees that has both of those. Here's my Twofer:

I thought the bare tree would be fun as a spooky tree for Halloween and then as a fall tree with all the dotted layers for Thanksgiving. Here's a closer look at each with supplies:

Supplies: Paper - Poptone Black; 

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps - Hero Arts CL886 Color Layering Fall Trees,

DC197 Halloween Trimmings Stamp and Cut &

CL628 Ghostly Greetings (retired);

Simon Says Stamp Creepy Cute (retired)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Distress Inks;

Hero Arts Intense Black Ink & Crystal Clear Lacquer Pen

I used a fun Haunted House from a 2017 SSS set, stamping it onto a white stitched diecut rectangle just for placement, then stamping the middle tree on the left and the far right tree to go off paper. Next I stamped the ghost & boo. Then I colored in the sky and ground with various Distress and pigment inks. My scene looked pretty bare so I added three more trees & some shadows. I had intended to stamp and color the house separately & pop onto the card but I really liked how the trees overlapped onto the house. So, I colored the house I'd already stamped. I thought the multiple Halloween colors would add a nice pop. Stamped the sentiment & put lacquer on the windows - done! Next, the Thanksgiving tree:

Supplies: Paper - Paper Studio ivory & glitter;

Authentique Thankful; BoBunny Enchanted Harvest

Stamps - Hero Arts CL886 Color Layering Fall Trees &

Taylored Expressions All Tucked in Harvest

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired);

Hero Arts Nesting Oval Infinity Dies;

Avery Elle Simple Sentiment Dies

Other - Copic & Distress Markers;

Memento Rich Cocoa & various Hero Arts inks

I stamped the bare tree onto ivory cardstock and then all the leafy layers in autumn colored inks from various My Monthly Hero kits. Note to self - label the colors when the kit arrives!! Next I die cut the panel into an oval and colored in a little ground with Copics, then popped it onto a glittery oval in the next size up. Die cut a stitched rectangle, added a strip of a different pattern and adhered all to an ivory card. Next I die cut a set of ivory sentiment strips and used the one best fitting my sentiment. Stamped the sentiment and adhered with foam tape - done!!

I'm also adding my Halloween card to the current Watercolor Wednesday Challenge All Occasions and my Thanksgiving card to the current Sweet Stampin Challenge Anything but a Birthday Card. Thanks to all for the fun challenges! Thanks to you for visiting and for any kind comments!! Hope you have a crafty day!