Samhain Trilogy

Warning: long post! I am sharing three cards, so please bear with me.

I love Halloween, it's my favourite time of year -  I think it should be a season rather than just one day, lol. But Halloween is just one name for this festivity.  I have a friend who celebrates the Pagan festival of Samhain, which I really love.  Rather than being about all spooky things, it's about the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year. I couldn't resist sending her a few cards this year - one for herself and two for friends. 

My first card features 'Bat Friends' by Conie Fong.  These guys are so adorable, I couldn't resist. 
Products used:

• Orange & black cardstock
• Gems
• Recollections designer paper 'Boo'
• ProMarkers - Cool Grey 1, 3, & 5, Indigo, Midnight, China, Cobalt, Mint, Lemon, Canary, Soft Lime, Tea Green, Walnut, Cocoa, Raw Sienna, Blush, Holly, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Tulip, Burnt Orange, Spice, Pumpkin, Amber, Gold, Apricot, Warm Grey 1-5 & Black
• Sakura Gelly Roll - white

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

1. Conie Fong Art & Design (FB) - Make It Spook-tacular
2. The Sketchy Challenges - #128 Halloween
3. The Ribbon Girl - October Any Image
4. Simon Says Wednesday - Photo Inspiration
5. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - October AG

My next card features 'White Witch' by The East Wind.  I love this image because she's far from what we grow up thinking a witch should look like. 

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Recollections designer paper
• Recollections laser cut card, 'Ravenshead Manor' collection
• The Eyelet Outlet brads
• Recollections paper flowers
• Bronze card
• ProMarkers - Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blossom, Baby Pink, Almond, Umber, Walnut, Cocoa, Pine, Forest, Lush Green, Bright Green, Leaf Green, Meadow Green, Holly, Burnt Sienna, Cinnamon, Burnt Orang, Spice, Peach,  Soft Peach, Bright Orange & Amber
• Wink of Stella - Clear

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

1. The Crazy Challenge - #259 Halloween
2. The Crafty Addicts - AG/Autumn Colours
3. Passion for ProMarkers - WK417 AG
4. Not Just Cards - AG
5. Deep Ocean - #166 Halloween

My last card features 'Young Witch' by Aurora Wings.  This one is more like a 'traditional' witch with a pointy hat, but she's cute rather than warty with a crooked nose!!

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Core'dinations card
• ProMarkers - Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Satin, Burgundy, Crimson, Berry, Olive, Moss, Pear, Black, Warm Grey 1, 2, 4 & 5, Henna, Aubergine, Slate, Violet, Cocoa, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Spice, Amber, Gold, Saffron, Vanilla, Blush, Sunflower, Canary, Khaki, Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Sandstone, Pine & Baby Pink
• Sakura Gelly Roll - White

I am entering this card into the following challenges -

1. Stamps by Aurora Wings - Darkness Falls
2. Addicted to CAS - Pumpkins
3. Card Mania - #97 Colour Combo
4. Crafting by Designs - It's Halloween
5. Crafty Gals Corner - #145 Halloween Colours

Thorns & Roses

Happy Sunday to you all. The sun has been shining here for a week or so and it has even been as warm as summer on a couple of days!  I'm sure it won't last though as there is snow forecast for Friday. 

Over on Facebook there was a Trick Or Treat Around The Blogs challenge hosted by Markers! Papers! Digis! so I grabbed this fabulous dollar digi from The East Wind called 'Thorns & Roses'.  I coloured her up for the colouring competition in the group, but I've only just got around to making a card with her.  

Since joining the Facebook group and investing in a class over at Kit & Clowder I've been more into colouring backgrounds for my images. I often just fussy-cut them, but when I leave them in a square or rectangle I now don't always like all that white space! (I also didn't used to have the confidence to colour a background).

So, I bring you one of my favourite card styles - the twisted easel.  Since making my first one I now hardly ever make a straight easel.  I love the extra dimension that the twist gives and you get so much more space to work with than just making a square card. 

I have used the following products to create my card:

• Kraft card blank from Michaels
• Core'dinations Tim Holtz Kraft Core Nostalgic Collection & Glittersilk card
• Tonic Tim Holtz Paper Distresser
• Gems & butterfly brad from my stash
• ProMarkers - Umber, Khaki, Pastel Beige, Satin, French Navy, Aegean, Sky Blue, Warm Grey 1-5, Black, Burgundy, Cardinal, Ruby, Olive, Moss, Pear, Indigo, Midnight & Cobalt

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Fab 'n' Funky - #326 Get Krafty!
2. Glitter 'n' Sparkle - #214 AG
3. I ♥ ProMarkers - #321 Distress Those Edges
4. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #45 AG
5. The Crafty Addicts - #28 AG/Winter Blues
6. Brown Sugar - #224 AG
7. Crafty Catz - #346 AG
8. Crafty Gals Corner - #97 Use A Sentiment
9. Creative Fingers - #120 AG
10. Dark 'n' Daring - #7 AG
11. The East Wind (FB Group) - #33 Come Over to the Dark Side