All Hallows Eve 2009 (well, All Hallows afternoon, anyway)...

Today, I'm showing a few snapshots from around the house... before it gets dark & all the candles are lit!  I'll take more photos tonight... when all is aglow :) 

I hope your Halloween is Frightful!

Boo Sprite Girl... in the pink

Well, kids... the big day is almost here!  I didn't get much of anything done today, so I have a ton of work ahead of me tomorrow... spiderwebs, creepy black vines, the big mummy... yikes.  I won't bother dusting anything... that will just add to the ambiance, right?  ;)

Ok, tonight's card is a whole lotta Ca-yoot-ness (right, Patti J.?)  ;)  I know this little sprite isn't too spooky, but she's a little grungey.. does that count?  I think I would look like this if I put a bow in my hair, too ;)  Although, I don't wear dresses... or pink... and I have a mouth & nose...

Stamps (TAC):  Spunky Sprite Girls, retired sentiment
Paper:  Brighten My Day, White UltraSmooth cardstock, DCWV card base
Ink:  Noir Palette
Colorant:  Prismacolors w/mineral oil blending
Other:  misc. ribbons, Bazzill & misc. florals,  jewel

I think I'll be off for the night... to let the images of ghosties & goblins dance about in my skull  ;)

BTW:  let's get some more players in this week's Macabre Monday challenge, people!  Don't you want to win some Halloweenie goodies?!!!

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Lookie lookie...

More Happy Mail from another TAC Angel demonstrator!  I'm telling you, the gals (& few guys) that are demos for TAC are some of the NICEST people ever.  This group of Halloweenie yummies is from

Suzanne Edwards... Thanks Suzanne! 

From Recollections:  pom pom spidey stickers, brads, paper ribbon, fabric trims/ribbons, and some REALLY cool metal charms.  And the cutest handmade vampire card... she said this package of goodies is because I am so kind to everyone...

{psssst, Suzanne... you are TOTALLY blowing my cover here, girl... you are supposed to keep that on the D.L. ;)}

Thanks again, Suzanne!  And if you would like to pop by her blog and show her some luvin', that would be great ;)

HDH010 Gruesome Twosome...

Gruesome Twosome for last week:  Glenna for the sparkly spider butt (it just makes me smile), and Linda aka Oz for her mad drawing skills on that witchie treat bag!  Grab your GT badge in the sidebar ladies... I know... Linda already has one ;) !

Macabre Monday #011 - Lurid Love... my version :)

It's Tuesday and I should be working!  But instead, I thought I'd share my take on this week's challenge :)

I know... it's cute... but in a kinda creepy way, right?  I can't remember which TAC Angel demo suggested it, but she thought I could creep-out these cupids, and... Ta Da!

Stamps:  Love & Friendship (TAC)
Paper:  DCWV card base, White UltraSmooth cardstock
Ink:  Palette Noir
Other:  Prismacolors w/ mineral oil, Black & Crystal Stickles, Scor-Pal & Scor-Bug, misc. sheer ribbon, black gems from JoAnn's, pop dots

I love their little black glittery wings... I did go a little Stickles-happy on this one, but it IS a wedding image after all... ya' gots to have the glitta, baby.  :)

I'm hoping to see some more participation this week!  I really want to have a bunch of names in the bonus drawing!  If we get a good number I might draw more than one name... you never know... that's just how I roll.

What do you think?
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Oopsie... do you want some candy?

Did I forget to mention that everyone that participates in this week's challenge will be in an extra prize drawing?  Yeah... since it IS Halloween Week after all :)  I'm not saying what all will be included, but it will be some Halloweenie goodness.

Macabre Monday #011 - Lurid Love

Welcome to Haunted Design House's Macabre Monday challenge!

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Create a Halloweenie SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy Halloween is fine, but creepy is better :) However, no extra 'points' are given either way.
2. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and linky back here.
3. If you upload to any online galleries (TACPCC, PW, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH011.
4. I'll have monthly contest giveaways... tune in for additional details.
5. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected. He/she will be asked to be a guest blogger for the following month, if they so wish, and receive a little giftie from me... this could be stamp sets, handmade items, papers, halloweenie embellishments... you just never know.

Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:

Lurid Love

Create a dark/Halloween page, project or card featuring love and marriage... 

in all it's gruesome & gothic glory.

What is lurid?  From dictionary.com:
1. gruesome; horrible; revolting: the lurid details of an accident.
2. glaringly vivid or sensational; shocking: the lurid tales of pulp magazines.
3. terrible in intensity, fierce passion, or unrestraint: lurid crimes.
4. lighted or shining with an unnatural, fiery glow; wildly or garishly red: a lurid sunset.
5. wan, pallid, or ghastly in hue; livid.

Bride of Frankenstein, goth wedding announcement, a treat for your twisted sweet... I'm picturing some really fun stuff with this one, baby ;)  I'll post my card project in the next couple of days... I'm busy with last minute Halloween preparations!  I'll also announce the Gruesome Twosome for last week at that time.

Ok people... show me the LOVE!

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Gruesome Twosome for HDH009...

Gruesome Twosome for last week:  Beth Van Brunt for her beautifully eerie skull card, and Creative Momma for her AWESOME dimensional skull sign!  Grab your GT badge in the sidebar ladies!

Macabre Monday #010 - Bubble Bubble Toil & Trouble...

Ok, so I still haven't picked the Gruesome Twosome this week... I'm hoping to do that tonight, so be watching for that post :)

Here is my take on the ingredients challenge:  green, black, purple &/or tan in color,  and something round & shiny

See... told ya' it was going to be a super-simple one!  I found the metal container in the $1 spot at Target like TWO FREAKIN' YEARS AGO!  Yep... I've had it in my pit of studio this whole time.  It was already painted black with the shiny metal lid, so all I did was add a little patterned paper, fuzzy skull rub-ons, and a little stamped cardstock, and BOOM... done.

Stamps (all TAC):  So Splattered (retired), Label Lingo (Hostess Level D set)
Paper:  Bo-Bunny dp, kraft & black cardstocks (TAC)
Ink:  StazOn & Palette
Other:  flocked rub-on kit from Making Memories, Target container

I stamped splatters on the lid with StazOn & then heat-set it (just in case)... we'll see how it holds up.  I'm thinking I like this cannister for a "you've been boo'd" kinda thing... or just as a giftie container in general.

What do you think?

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Macabre Monday #010 - Bubble Bubble Toil & Trouble: Use These Ingredients

Welcome to Haunted Design House's Macabre Monday challenge!

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Create a Halloweenie SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy Halloween is fine, but creepy is better :) However, no extra 'points' are given either way.
2. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and linky back here.
3. If you upload to any online galleries (TACPCC, PW, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH010.
4. I'll have monthly contest giveaways... tune in for additional details.
5. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected. He/she will be asked to be a guest blogger for the following month, if they so wish, and receive a little giftie from me... this could be stamp sets, handmade items, papers, halloweenie embellishments... you just never know.

Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:

Bubble Bubble Toil & Trouble:  Use These Ingredients

 For this week's challenge, you are to create a Halloween page, project or card using the following ingredients: green, black, purple &/or tan in color,  and something round & shiny.  I'll post my super simple project in the next couple of days... I'm worn out from the craft fair!  I'll also announce the Gruesome Twosome for last week at that time... sorry!

Happy Mail :)

Go check out my other blog here:  http://fosterdesignhouse.blogspot.com/2009/10/happy-mail.html

I've received some Halloween yumminess from a group of the nicest ladies...
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Macabre Monday #009 - Eerie Inspiration: Haunted Home Decor

Welcome to Haunted Design House's Macabre Monday challenge!

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Create a Halloweenie SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy Halloween is fine, but creepy is better :) However, no extra 'points' are given either way.
2. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and linky back here.
3. If you upload to any online galleries (TACPCC, PW, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH009.
4. I'll have monthly contest giveaways... tune in for additional details.
5. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected. He/she will be asked to be a guest blogger for the following month, if they so wish, and receive a little giftie from me... this could be stamp sets, handmade items, papers, halloweenie embellishments... you just never know.

Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:

Eerie Inspiration:  Haunted Home Decor

 For this week's challenge, you are to create a Halloween page, project or card using the photo below for inspiration.  This is one of my favorite Halloween decorative groupings at the house so far... I put up a backdrop to hide the refrigerator ;)

At least one of the elements shown in the photo must be present in your project... skull, owl, birdcage, bones, barbed wire, or raven!

For my card, I decided to make an almost direct copy of the scene, minus the raven jar & the barbed wire.  I colored with Prismacolors & mineral oil, and cut everything out.  I sliced the owl wing so it would rest over the top of the bone end, and created more dimension by popping up the birdcage.

Stamps (all TAC):  Birdcage, Fleur Birdies, Boo Bash & Punk Princess (both retired)

Paper:  White UltraSmooth, Black, & DCWV lime cardstocks

Ink:  Palette Noir

Other:  misc. sheer ribbon, Prismacolors w/ mineral oil, Scor-Pal & Scor-Bug

Gruesome Twosome for last week:  Jana for the awesome little hidden spider treat box, and Linda aka Oz for her raven's egg box.  Grab your GT badge in the sidebar ladies!

So, do you accept this week's challenge?
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Randomness...

I delight in finding creepy-cool schtuff at Hobby Lobby... I think it is because they are more cutesy-Halloween than creepy.  This little beauty was in their random metal & glass, chotchky, dust-collecting decor items area... me likey :)

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Ghoulish gourds all in a row...

I thought I'd share another little treat project today.  How cute is this little row of pumpkins?!  It's very basic and super easy to make, and I'll be selling a few of these at an upcoming craft fair.  Sorry about the photos... it was cloudy when I snapped them.

I created a little accordian-folded divider so that the little guys wouldn't move around in the box.  May I just say:  the Scor-Pal makes crafty life so easy sometimes!  I created a template, however it is not to scale... but it is so seriously easy you can just line it up on the SP and go to town:

This box feels nice and sturdy because I have an extra side piece that folds over... this also creates a nice finished top edge.  I did trim a smidgen off of the outer piece that folds over and in so it would fit correctly.  The acetate lid is created with the same box bottom template, except omit the two outer 1" x 5-1/4" sections.  I just used a mini glue dot to secure each flap so that there would be minimal adhesive that would show.  You could also use an eyelet if you wanted a more polished appearance.

I wrapped the little pumpkins in food safe plastic before putting them into the box... this will keep them fresher and cardstock won't stick to them!  Supplies:  TAC's promotional stamp set More Bone Appetit, Penelope & kraft cardstocks, copper eyelet, acetate, and some paper ribbon raffia.

What do you think?!
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Macabre Monday #008 - Terrifying Treats

Welcome to the Haunted Design House's Macabre Monday challenge!

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Create a Halloweenie SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy Halloween is fine, but creepy is better :) However, no extra 'points' are given either way.
2. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and linky back here.
3. If you upload to any online galleries (TACPCC, PW, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH008.
4. Starting in September, I'll have monthly contest giveaways... more details to follow.
5. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected. He/she will be asked to be a guest blogger for the following month, if they so wish, and receive a little giftie from me (I have NO idea what this will be!!).

Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:

Terrifying Treats

 For this week's challenge, you are to create a Halloween treat container or bag topper.  Coffin boxes, candy bar wrappers, tins... anything that can house a sweet (or sour!) treat for the kiddies!

  I've seen these cute little witch's broom bags around the web, done up with kraft bags, but I had a stack of black ones... so why not?  I put some of those peanut butter kisses in a food safe plastic bag and tied it with a twist tie.

After slicing the bag to almost the bottom (I should have gone further... note to self for the next one!) I place the plastic bag of  candy inside.  I used a spooky pencil from Wal-mart for the handle & some funky paper ribbon-raffia to secure everything.

Used my wunnerful MS spider web punches, Bazzill cardstock, Noir Palette ink, & Bone Appetit promotional stamp set from The Angel Company (TAC) to create a large tag.  A little black Scrapper's Floss adds the finishing touch!

Definitely not as cute as some I've seen, but I've been out of town for a few days and needed a quickie project!!  This SO qualifies, and will be easy to mass produce for the kiddies! 

Gruesome Twosome for last week:  Lynx & Chris V. for their Menacing Moveables!  Chris's fun wiper card & Lynx's dancing skeleton card are too good ;)  Grab your GT badge in the sidebar ladies!

I put the names of all of our fantastic Gruesome Twosomes to date in a jar.  The name that was drawn for the very first Master of Macabre was...
....
....
....

LYNX

Congratulations my friend!  Be sure to grab your MM badge in the sidebar, Lynx!  And please shoot me an email with your mailing address so I can send you this More Bone Appetit stamp set:

Yep, I love these so much that I bought an extra set.  Next month I'll be giving away this one:

I know, next month's prize will be too late to use for this year, but this IS an ALL HALLOWEEN ALL THE TIME blog ;)

Ok, let see some yummies... do you accept this week's challenge?
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Halloweenie Project Playlist on TAC's website...

Ok, so I haven't been posting much lately, right?  Well, part of the reason is because I was busy creating these lovelies:  http://www.theangelcompany.net/PromoProjectPlaylist.html !  Click on the Fall Into Fabulous title to see the stamp specials, and click on the individual photos (including the Boo-berry one) for a closer look at the projects :)

I had an absolute blast, and these stamp sets make me want to host a Halloweenie bash even more than before!  I LOVE how the two mummy things turned out... so much fun!  I think I'll be doing several of these projects to sell at my upcoming craft fair booth... most definitely.

Thanks for looking!  And if you have any questions on recipes, etc., just email me and ask!

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Tissue-Paper-Mache Gourds

This isn't extremely Halloweenie, but a fun project nonetheless ;)  I followed (sorta) Martha Stewart's instructions to make this tissue paper mache pumpkin.  Basically, you use a balloon as a form, layer tissue paper with diluted Mod Podge, and let dry overnight. 

Pop the balloon and remove.  Martha used her's as votive holders, if I remember correctly... I'm going off memory, so I'm sure I left some info out ;)  Let's just say, it would be WAY freakin' easier to do this project with two people... it took forever on my own, and it was probably messier, too.

I punched a flower and cut it apart to use as leaves and rolled up some kraft packing paper and glued it for a stem.  A little Scrapper's Floss for the stem tendrils... perfect touch!

I modified it a little and TRIED to create one of the striped green gourds.  I'm not sure how it's workin'.  To do this one, I under-inflated one of those long skinny balloons... it was trickier to remove it after it all dried, but I got it!

After I let them dry another day without the balloons, I cut larger holes so I could insert wrapped candy inside (Halloween peanut butter kisses).  After I filled the gourd, I glued a punched flower to the bottom to help it stand up a little.  For the pumpkin, I gathered the hole and glued it shut along with the leaves & stem.

These took a while, but maybe if you got an assembly line workin' it would be worth doing several!

Stamps:  More Bone Appetit (TAC special... ask me for more details!)
Paper:  tissue paper, kraft & Bazzill cardstock
Ink:  Burnt Umber Palette
Other:  Copper Hardware (TAC), Scrapper's Floss

What do you think?

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Macabre Monday #007 - Menacing Moveables

Welcome to the Haunted Design House's Macabre Monday challenge!

HDH Macabre Monday Rules:
1. Create a Halloweenie SOMETHING (card, scrap page, altered item, whatever) that follows the specific Macabre Monday challenge given. Cutesy Halloween is fine, but creepy is better :) However, no extra 'points' are given either way.
2. You have until the following Sunday night @ 5pm central time to post your creation and linky back here.
3. If you upload to any online galleries (TACPCC, PW, PCP, SCS, etc.), please tag the title using HDH007.
4. Starting in September, I'll have monthly contest giveaways... more details to follow.
5. I'll be selecting a weekly Gruesome Twosome (my top two favorite creations) from all the players. At the end of every month these will be compiled and a Master of Macabre will be selected. He/she will be asked to be a guest blogger for the following month, if they so wish, and receive a little giftie from me (I have NO idea what this will be!!).

Ok, my little pretties... your challenge this week:

Menacing Moveables

For this week's challenge, you are to create something that moves.  Spinner cards, sliders, pop-ups... anything with a little action ;)  To illustrate, I'd like to show you something that I had made for a TAC Paper Wings design team project... sorry for the repeat for some of you!

The moon moves on the front a little bit with the help from a swing arm, and all of the creatures of the night on the inside are suspended from an acetate swirl created from a Sizzix die.  I used Crystal Lacquer on the bats, ghost, and owl eyes, and Stickles here & there (everywhere!).

I used Copics to color... it took forever since I am not marker savvy at all.  I cut the tree branches and highlighted them with a white gel pen & Moonlight White Brilliance ink.  There are a ton of different TAC stamp sets that I used on this, so if you would like the names, just leave me a comment or shoot me an email.

Gruesome Twosome for last week:  Lisa & Christina W. for their BOLD use of Perplexing Pigments!  Grab your GT badge in the sidebar ladies!

Ok, let see some action... do you accept this week's challenge?
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HDH006 Perplexing Pigment Play - finally...

Yeay!  Here it is... took me long enough... I mean, it's almost time for the next challenge!  Is she not the cutest?  The hair, that sweet face... paired with the teensie spider... this image totally makes me smile.  :)

Stamps:  Spider Girl (Stampotique), Boo Bash (retired TAC), Spunky Sprite Boys (TAC)

Paper (all TAC):  Penelope SWIC, White UltraSmooth, Black, & Penelope cardstocks

Ink:  Noir Palette, Moonlight White Brilliance

Other:  white embossing powder & Mini-attacher (Ranger), misc. black trim

I decided to let the 'yo' sentiment hang loose, so to speak... I received the black trim in a goodie bag from a crop a couple of months ago... me likey.

What do you think?

My bad...

...no, I haven't done my challenge card yet.  I KNOW!  I am such a slacker... but, to make it up to you I will show you this little ditty.

Cute, no?  This was a submission to TAC for publication consideration, but they used my other one instead... yeay!  I'll show that one to you sometime as well.

Stamps:  Spookilicious

Paper:  Penelope, white UltraSmooth & black cardstocks

Ink:  Palette Noir

Other:  paper piercer, mineral oil w/ Prismacolors, Black Scrapper's Floss

Who says you have to use the whole image of a stamp, right?  Kinda looks like a window... or maybe it's like the opening credits of the Brady Bunch:

Here's the story of a wicked witchy,
Who was boiling up one very goofy skelly.
He was green and white, like no other,
The bow tie looks 'nelly'.

Here's the story, of a scared black kitty,
Who was busy with two jack-o's of his own.
They were orange, and kinda silly,
Yet they were all alone...

I know... it's horrible... but creative writing was NOT my forte!