Welcome to the Spookiest Month of the Year

 October is finally here, and my house is nothing but Halloween crafts, supplies, wall decor, shadow boxes, artwork, sentiments, decoration--you name it, I have it!! Today's card features an unidentified image called Betelgeuse. Although I've had this digital stamp for a few years, I believe it's the first time I've used it. I'm discovering a lot of unused craft supplies in my yearlong decluttering and organizing. 

I used leftover papers from a Halloween paper stack and leftover trim from a crafting friend, Holley Barnhart. The EEK! sentiment and the tombstone reading MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM are from the same paper stack. I found a pack of plastic spiders so one could hang from the big guy's hand.

I have a nice thick stack of Halloween cards I'll be giving to friends and neighbors this month along with a little handmade item or snack. I usually do this on either Halloween or Christmas. Last year I made Charcouterie boards with cheese and a Halloween spreader and napkin for my neighbors. I haven't decided what to make this year. Maybe I'll just do Thanksgiving and Christmas...

I also make special goodie bags for my neighbors' children. Last year the bags were filled with candy and trading cards. I better get on that because I haven't thought of what to do this year... I hope you are ready for my favorite holiday--Is it yours too?

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

Gathering Quite a Pile of Halloween Cards

 

Here's my newest Halloween card for the "Halloween & Other Occasions Challenge blog. If you're looking for a cool way to have a stack of cards ready for a holiday, choose a challenge blog and enter a card each month with the same theme, like Halloween for HOOC . There are several Christmas challenge blogs as well!!

My card today features a stamp from Queen Kat Designs. She no longer offers stamps, but has renewed her inventory to include crocheted animals and "Adults ONLY" coloring books. Look her up on Amazon.

Meanwhile, I used a few die-cuts I found while organizing my craft supplies. using one to frame the stamped image. I used an old punch on the corners of my cards The witch is a puffy embellishment I found on my basement floor while packing away Halloween for the year! 

The rest is cardstock and patterned paper. I hand-printed the greeting on the front, as well as the sentiment on the inside that reads:

 "Don't wait dinner on me. Traffic is a nightmare."

 

 

THE ITSY BITSY HALLOWEEN SPIDER

 

My Halloween project today features a couple of small wooden signs, wall decor if you like. I found a bag of five thin pieces of wooden boards about 6 inches long, 2.5 inches tall and about a 1/4 inch thick. I used Tim Holtz's Alcohol ink (Rusty Hinge) to stain 2 pieces of wood before adhering felt spider web borders horizontally onto them. From each I added a thin ribbon and attached a black plastic spider.

I used Viner Hand ITC Regular font in Photoshop to make the plaque with the poem. Since I had a bag of these wooden boards, and enough felt border for two, I doubled my project.  When I was finished, If you can't quite read  rhyme, here it is:

The Itsy Bitsy spider was hanging on a thread

When a bird swooped down, she thought she was dead.

The bird missed the spider and sadly flew away

and the Halloween spider lived to spook another day.

Hope you like my newest Halloween project. The Halloween & Other Occasions Challenge Blog accepts all types of projects, as long as its theme is Halloween, Birthday r the monthly occasion. See you there!

 

Can't Get Halloween Out if My Head (and off my craft table)

 

Hello, Halloween lovers! Today I made a square card featuring skeletons. The background paper featuring Mr. Skeleton is from the Dead or Alive Paper collection from Rucola Designs. The Copic-colored skeleton child is from Kenny K Stamps. I haven't bought cardstock in months due to a towering stack leaning precariously in my basement, so all papers are "leftovers".

I framed my card face with lacy die-cuts I made from a scrapbook crop (and I haven't been to one in years!).  It showcases the paper well, I think. After coloring my image, which is called "Skull Man", I fussy-cut him out to place under the outstretched hand of his parent. He's so very anxious to go trick-or-treating like all the little goblins and ghosts.

I had forgotten to print my greeting, so I used my circle punch and wrote on black cardstock with white ink the words Trick or Treat. The only other embellishment I used was the cloth Autumn leaf in the top left corner.

I hope you like my Halloween card today. I am building a nice new stack of cards to send out this year. Unless I find a craft fair before the holiday, and on make a little money (m-wa ha ha). All's fair in love and crafts, right? Don't forget to check out the challenge at Halloween Crafts All Year 'round

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 30

 

Today I'm upcycling one of my own pieces of art! Last year I tried Acrylic pour canvas painting. This is one of my pieces, a 6x6' stretched canvas for Halloween. Nice, but boring...

I reached into my bag of Halloween tricks and pulled out a plastic skeleton (I bought so many of these throughout the year that I haven't had to purchase any in forever). Using his lower legs and a larger one from another bag, I formed the latter "B"., brushing it with white paint before adhering it with hot glue. 

A couple black silk leaves and white felt flowers formed the letter "O" twice, and now my artwork has a title, "BOO". I added a few die-cut leaves and a small wooden gravestone to finish off my project. I hope I didn't overload the canvas, but I am NOT a fan of "white space". It's difficult for me to stop when it comes to embellishments. I hope you've enjoyed the 31 Days of Halloween here at 'Patacake's Pages. I have one more day to entertain you with my imagination and creativity this spooky season. See you tomorrow.

Challenges I am Entering:

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 25

 

Today I created another Halloween wall art, although right now it's sitting on my bedroom shelf. The walls are getting pretty full by now. Maybe I'll keep it as shelf decor...

Anyway,  had the perfect three pieces of wood in my garage to make my sign today. I painted each a different Halloween color and then used Posca markers to  fill in the words and symbols. I still need to seal them with gloss varnish. If I do so, I might be able to hang it off my front deck railing. I've started placing some of last year's Halloween makes in the yard and on the deck and ramp.

My house may be decorated to the nines, but my neighbors have me beat with their 12 foot high skeletons and air-filled, store-bought decorations.  

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 15

 

For the better part of 2024, I have been anxiously trying to get to my Cloud backup, where I put ALL of my photos and digital stamps from my old laptop. We're talking pictures of family vacations, weddings, when my husband was alive; images from years of designing for teams on blogger; every scrapbook page I created on my own and at several scrap meets. I was frantic, not getting any response from the host except the message "we no longer support this version of...".

Just a month ago, I found a way to get in, and there everything was!! My most precious memories, a history of my growth as an artist, and all the images I collected and bought and received. And the first thing I did was buy a 128 GB flash drive. I am still in the process of copying EVERYTHING onto that drive. I don't think I can ever trust the cloud again...

My project today is a Design Team make for Halloween & Other Occasions All Year 'round.  I used an image from my "once lost but now found" inventory of digital images from Bugaboo Stamps. It's part of a series, and this one is called "the chosen one". I colored him with Copics and fussy-cut him out to place him into the scene, which is a cool and creepy  paper from Rucola Designs via Mischief Circus (from her Dead or Alive Series).

The paper is leftover from a DCWV stack, as well the assorted stickers. The spider web is a tiny piece of lace I cut off a larger piece. The crow is a silhouette from Google free clipart, and I printed my greeting in Algerian font.

I don't make a lot of Halloween cards as I don't send them out, but I often bring a handmade treat or gift to a neighbor during the holidays - any holidays!! LOL

Challenges I am Entering:

Shopping our Stash - Halloween

Try It on Tuesday - Halloween

 

Make My Monday - Kid-Friendly card

Two Old Bats Halloween - Halloween

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 14

 

I finally broke down and made one of those quaint road crossing signs I'm seeing everywhere on Pinterest. It actually turned out cuter than I thought it would. I dug into my bin of wood pieces and puled out a bag of thin wood pieces about 6"x2.5". After painting them with acrylic paints, I used my Posca markers to letter some of the "mysterious destinations" and also sticker letters for others. I made six, but the ones pictured here are my favorites.

I also dabbed on some Tim Holtz alcohol inks to "age" the signs so they look a tiny but weather-beaten. Instead of spending an hour looking for the "perfect stick" to attach them, My eyes spied a very old 12" ruler that had seen much better days. I hot glued my destination signs onto it and it looks pretty cool up against one of the bushes, half in and half out of the sun.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Halloween here at the Martin homestead. Do you decorate for this Autumn holiday? Do you make cards and send them out to neighbors and friends? Or do you just wait until Thanksgiving and Christmas to let your creativity soar? In my neck of the woods, Halloween is getting to be as popularly decorated as Christmas. 

Challenges I am Entering:

Daisy Chain - Autumn and/or Halloween

Halloween & Other Occasions - Halloween

Welcome to 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 3

 

This summer I had bought several plastic serving trays and glasses with which to make tiered dessert trays for an event. Before I had made them all, I discovered that the pastries being plated were going to be too heavy for my platters to hold up. Instead of returning all the pieces, I reinforced the trays and created Halloween hospitality cookie trays.

This first tray uses two thick clear plastic trays held together with a sturdy plastic champagne glass in the middle. Before attaching the two, I spray-painted the bottom of the trays orange. The tops of the trays are paint-free and safe to place cookies or candy on them. For decoration, I simply added a ceramic pumpkin using hot glue and E6000. Isn't he a cutie?! I can see this being used during a school class party.  My days of hosting Halloween parties is over, but I have plenty of neighbors whose kids are in grade school...

Have you ever made Halloween-themed foods or drinks? For the kids, I've made hotdogs wrapped with Pillsbury biscuit slices to look like mummies, a cake that was decorated to look like a graveyard and pumpkin juice, which is just orange soda poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For adults, I've made a few cocktails and Jello shots. The RV park where I have my trailer hosts a Halloween weekend and the treats for both kids and adults is crazy out of this world! My nephew went out with his wife and came back completely snockered!

Welcome to 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 2

 

Last year I found a bundle of dream catchers for a steal at a thrift store. This year I put one of them to good use. I first sprayed it with black spray paint, including the outer rim. I pulled out three large black flowers and covered the middle of each with a plastic skull. Before adhering the flowers to the catcher, I slipped a Fall leaf behind each black bloom. After gluing on the sparkly orange bow, I decided it needed something extra. I rummaged around my button jar and pulled out several stars and ghosts and glued each onto the "web" part of the dream catcher. I added a tiny skull to the bow and now I have a Nightmare Catcher for Halloween this year! 

Do you dream in color or black & white? The first time I realized I dreamt in color was when I woke up remembering my dream of bright billowing purple smoke coming out of the fireplace (which I don't have, by the way). Ever since then, I've tried to pay more attention, but most mornings I forget my dreams very quickly.

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

Unicorn Challenges - Autumn or Halloween

Halloween & Other Occasions Craft all year 'round - themed card or craft

31 Days of All Hallows Eve - Day 22 - Cute Halloween Kitchen Scrubbie

 

Today I created a kitchen scrubbie with a Halloween theme. When I was younger, my Gram taught me to crochet. I dusted off this talent from the deep dark corners of my memory, using orange and black netting, or tulle that I had bought over a year ago. Using single and double crochet stitches, I formed a (round) pumpkin shape. I added more black to turn the pumpkin into a Jack-o-lantern.

These scrubbies are great to use on non-stick pans, as they won't damage the coating on the pans. I sold some at a craft fair this Spring, and those who received one as a gift are avid fans of their strength and usefulness. In fact, my nephew snagged a couple more to replace the ones he had.  I had made another one without the face (but my nephew took that one).

I think I'll make a few Christmas-colored ones for stocking stuffers this year...

CHALLENGES I AM ENTWERING

Everybody Art - Pumpkin

31 Days of All Hallow's Eve - Day 1 - Autumn canvas

Hello, my peeps! Starting today, I will feature crafts, decor, haunted tales, cartoons, etc. all with a Halloween vibe. Be prepared to be inspired and a little spooked by my offerings. Today, I created wall decor for my home, altering a wooden box/sign from the Dollar store that was an Easter decoration, now bringing in the Fall season. 

I used some of my leftover stash of papers and adhered it to the front, after peeling, scraping and sanding the original clean. Searching through my Halloween craft supplies, I found the sticker letters spelling FALL and added them after placing a line of pumpkins from my ribbon/trim stash.

I finished off my project with tiny leaf die-cuts and a button (the tree). This was a very simple project that took me more time looking for the supplies than to put it together. Don't you love that kind of project? LOL

I will be showcasing a new make every day in October, some cute like this one, others bringing out the creepy, spooky vibes. At the end of the month, I will randomly pick someone who has left a comment on any of my blog posts and send them a digital copy of my new coloring book. This book features a lot of my Zen doodles as well as others I have not published. Being digital, you can print and reprint on any kind of paper repeatedly!

Do you know why leaves change colors in the Fall? While chlorophyl keeps them green in Spring in Summer, the chemical decreases its production as cooler temps appear in the shorter days. According to Science Notes, leaves also contain flavonoids and carotene (orange and yellow) as well as lycopene and anthocyanin (red and purple). As chlorophyl decreases, these chemicals show their true colors. When the temps lower, leaves lose their bright colors, turn brown and brittle and then die. 

The Four Seasons - Anything Fall Mood Board

Challenge Up Your Life - Autumn Leaves

Creatalicious Challenges - Anything Goes w/option Autumn colors

Stella Says Sketch at Bugaboo Stamps

 I had sometime to relax this past weekend and colored up a Bugaboo Stamps image I picked up at the STORE recently. It's called simply "Morning Coffee." I was struck by how much the image looked how I felt before that first drop of caffeine hit my system. I think many of us can relate.

 I am again trying to make some headway into decreasing my stash, so all papers are snips and snaps of former projects. I colored  my morning glory with Copics that still had ink in them, and used a couple punches for the sentiment. All the jewels were leftover on the same clear piece of acetate that I could finally throw away in the trash.

I designed my card for Bugaboo Stamps "Stella Says Sketch" challenge #705.

Using a little artistic license, I turned my sketch onto its side. The challenge is up until Sunday, March 17 for your chance to win prizes. Here are some other Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Friends - Ladies/Girls

Craftyhazelnuts Patterned Paper - Anything Goes w/patterned paper

Creative with Stamps - Friends

Piling on the Layers at Scribbles Designs

The challenge at Scribbles Designs is at its midway point, so grab up your papers and supplies and pick up your Muse and "get 'er done." I chose to make a Z-fold  card and used a Scribbles Designs image called #85 Heart String.
I went to town on the paper layers for my card using leftover stash. When it came time to place the Copic colored image on my front panel, it was too wide! So I did what I usually do for most of my images - I fussy-cut it and framed it with the same orange cardstock as the rest of the papers. The middle panel is actually just orange cardstock with three strips of narrow Washi tape.
I used a punch on the two ends of my sentiment panel, which I really love to read. It says:

"Be yourself today. You look beautiful like that."

Remember, crafters only have until the 14th of the month to link their layered (at least three) cards to the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for their chance to win free digis of their choice from the Scribbles Store. I like FREE, don't you?

Have fun and happy crafting, peeps!

Challenges I am Entering:

Colour Crazy - Anything Hand-Colored Goes

Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

As You Like It - One or Many Layers (I just can't stop at one layer! Besides, I have too much leftover stash to NOT layer it up)

September on the Path of Positivity

Just as the seasons change, so do the challenge themes change at the Path of Positivity. This month's color theme is ORANGE. I think Autumn is my favorite season, as it is rich in warm, intense colors. Nature gives us bountiful opportunities to enjoy and record these colors in the last of summer's flowers, the gradually-turning tree leaves and the Autumn crop harvests (think pumpkins, gourds and other hardy vegetables. I believe I take more photos in the Fall than any other season.

Autumn is also a transitional season, as the Earth get ready to take a well-earned rest (actually, she should think about getting some help. Have you noticed or read about the unusual weather patterns and natural events that are taking place this year?!). Anyway, everyone should take some respite while they can, to re-energize and reboot their imagination and power.

This perspective of the season's process of slowing down inspired me to create the digital card above. I used an image from  Lunagirl's Day Dreaming Collage Sheet to showcase my thoughts on Fall. Using papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. I threw on some elements from Pixel Scrappers to embellish my card, and created my sentiment using a font called "Simple Game". Details are below.

Image: Luna Girl Daydreams Collage Sheet, Image 6

DDD papers: September Kit Spatter paper 3; Bokeh Solid Colors 1 Paper Kit Tangelo Paper; Vintage Damask 1 Rich Colors Wine paper

Pixel Scrapper.com: A Janner Halloween Flower Element 9 & Leaf Element 5; Sahin Designs Autumn Day Lace; Sheila Reid's Outdoor Adventures Rustic Wood Frame; Jessica Dunn Pumpkin Spice in the Garden Golden Leaf; PSBT October 2016 by DigiScrapCafe.com

Font: Simple Game

The Path of Positivity challenge blog feels a great need for a challenge blog designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time! Whether you create a card, canvas or illustrated poem, please think about sharing your work at the Path. 

Challenges are monthly, with an Optional theme to follow. The last few months the challenges have been reflections on the positivity of color. If you choose to create with the optional theme in mind, you will be in the running for the prize for the Most Inspirational Creation.

If there are 14 entries or more in any challenge, the DT chooses a Top 7. Those seven entries are then voted on by visitors for the Voter's Choice.

If there are less than 14 entries in a challenge, the DT will choose a Top 3. Visitors to the main  blog will then get to vote for their favorite from those three.

If there are five entries or less, the DT chooses just ONE Top Pick, but every entry will be offered up for voting by the visitors.

There are two lovely sponsors for the September challenge: Luna Girl and Imagine That! Digis by Kris.

So now that all that info is bursting in your head, try taking a walk outside to relax, be mindful and let your imagination fly. Then link up at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog for your chance to win prizes from our sponsors. I'll be looking for you...

Favoring the Feminine Is The Theme at Scribbles Designs

Tropical greetings to you all, crafters! I am building up my stash of Thank You cards and found the perfect image at the Scribbles Store. She's called Carrie Summer Diva and can be found HERE.

This month, the challenge theme over at Scribbles Designs is "Femme Fatale" so if you want a chance to win your choice of free digis at the Scribbles Store, create and link up a card featuring or geared toward women. I went with Carrie Summer Diva because I've been wishing I could hop on a plane and go south (way south). I need to feel sand between my toes and hear waves lapping at the shore. And now that I've finished my card, the call of the tropics is louder and much more clear. (sigh)

In the meantime, enjoy the Spring weather for those of you in the Northern hemisphere. For those of you down under, enjoy the Autumn in all its glory!

Challenges I am Entering:
 Crafts Galore Encore - Always Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenges - Anything Goes w/patterned paper
DigiStamps4Joy - Bright Colors
Love to Craft - Anything Goes
Naughty or Nice-  Choose a past challenge (Nice #15 Friend)

Show Off Your Embossing at Ike's World Challenge Blog

MEOW'S IT GOING, CRAFTERS? Today I created a card with that phrase as my sentiment. It's the purr-fect fit for my digi image from Ike's Art. It's called Kat Woman, and I think it's become one of my favorites from Ike.
So, today marks the midway point of the Embossing challenge at Ike's World Challenge blog. As you can see, I framed my Copic-colored image with an embossed paper before adhering it to my card base. I was in a frivolous mood, so I sifted through my leftovers drawer and piled on whatever I could find - a ticket to frame out my sentiment, some black jewels, half a flower, pearls, even a feather!

Challenges I am Entering:
Show Us Your Pussies - Furry-thing Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
the Outlawz Color Challenge - 

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Use Your Noodle to Doodle Challenge is On

Okay, crafters, this is your midway reminder that the Scribbles "Use your Noodle to Doodle" challenge has reached its midway point. I created my DT make using a digi image called Sunflowers 1, which you can buy at the Scribbles Store if you like it.
I tried to "watercolor" with my Copics today. I like the way the leaves turned out, but the flower's petals are so-so. LOL My background is leftover patterned paper from my stash. I think it fits perfectly with my card design, don't you? The sentiment is an old rubber stamp I've had for ages - well-inked and well-loved. I doodled the border of my sentiment with gold gel pen, too.
I love sunflowers, but they always remind me of an old black and white sci-fi movie called "Day of the Triffids," where meteors cause alien, human-eating plants to roam Earth while rendering everyone who watched the meteor shower blind!! Honestly, this is a real movie, I swear.

Anyway, why don't you use your noodle to doodle and then link it up for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles store? Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Everything is Prrr-fect at Scribbles Designs Challenge blog

I created a Bendi card for this month's GDT project for Scribbles Designs Challenge blog. It is my new go-to card. I really love the presentation, and as long as I include instructions on how to reattach the sides, the card can lie flat in an A2 envelope for mailing. I used a template from The Cutting Cafe to make it.
I played with an image called Nimble Puss by Scribbles Designs. The sentiment is also from Scribbles. Reaching into my crafting bag of tricks (known as my stash), I pulled coordinating pieces of patterned papers, as well as the butterflies, sequins and jeweled flowers with which I embellished.
Check out all the inspiration at Scribbles Designs challenge blog this month. Don't forget to link up your card or project for your chance to win prizes from the Store! Tell them Pat sent you.

Challenges I am Entering:

The ABC challenge blog - A is for Animals

Animal Friends challenges - Katzen/Cats

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Papers challenges - Anything Goes

Just Keep on Creating challenges - Anything Goes

Show Us Your Pussies/Cats Only challenges - Kitty Love
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Cute & Cuddly
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie - Inspiration photo

Creative Knockouts - Furry Friends
___________________________________________________

You Can't Skip Them

Skipping your birthday is like pulling a rabbit out of a hat--so you might as well celebrate, like I'm doing, with a celebration that includes blog candy, prizes and games. But first, today's card.
I created this 6x6 birthday card for a very good friend to cheer her up today. Her name is Mel and although I've never met her in person, I consider her one of my besties. I used some background paper from the Dollhouse for the first time, and it definitely won't be the last. It's from the Marta Vaneck's Cabinet of Curiosities collection called Scene papers 02.
This darkly delicious paper deserves a darkly devious image, so I turned to Ike's Art for this digi image called Magician's Hat. Don't you love how those gloved hands just float in the air?
After typing in my sentiment, I printed my photo-shopped scene and popped it onto several layers of Prima patterned paper. I distressed and sanded the edges of my white core cardstock, then added the flowers and pearl flourishes.
I always have such fun going to Ike's Art and making up a wish list of images I need, I mean, want, to play with. For today's prize, leave a comment telling me which one is at the top of your wish list!!
And for those who are just joining the fun, go back to the first post and be sure to comment as asked for freebies and your chance in the prize draw!!
Now this is the way to CELEBRATE!!
Challenges I m entering:
Crafty Calendar challenges - Add a Sentiment
Inkspirational - Neon Colors (pink, orange & purple)
ABC Challenges - G is for Go Digital (background paper & image)
Jo's Scrap Shack - Anything Goes
Simply Papercrafts - Anything Goes #1
Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes
Naughty or Nice - In Bloom
Our Creative Corner - Color Your World (Spring brings crocuses and snowbells)
Sister Act challenges - 100th challenge Anything Goes
Create and Inspire challenges - Anything Goes Dark

The winner of today's prize, chosen by random.org, is  #3 - Susan S!!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:3Powered by RANDOM.OR
Susan, send me your email and you will receive the Ike's Art image you commented as  being at the top of your wish list!! Congrats!!
Crafters, while there were more than 7 comments, there were only 7 who answered today's question. Of them, Susan S was #3.
Keep checking the other posts all the way up to April 15 for more chances to win.