Chunky Halloween ATCs for SSSS Challenge

I am generally not a big ATC fan, but when I saw all the fantastic inspiration pieces done by the Simon Says Stamp and Show DT, I had to give it a go!

I decided to make a set chunky ATCs for Halloween decorating. I love the sturdiness of them and I will actually use them instead of sticking them in a drawer. I'm proud to say I even cut the wood blocks myself - and still have all my fingers!

I just bought a pad of the new Core'dinations Kraft-Core cardstock and couldn't wait to use it. I am seriously in love with this stuff!! I love the craft core...there is just something so subtle about it - really great for a vintage look. On this block, the sides are covered with black and the front with orange that's been embossed with the Tim Holtz Regal Flourishes Texture Fade. I adhered all the paper using Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Matte Medium (works great!), and then sanded the edges with my Idea-ology Sanding Grip. This block's rosette is embellished with an Idea-ology Memo Pin that holds a stamped bat from Tim Holtz's new Mini Halloween 2 rubber stamp collection. It's hard to see, but I covered it with Glossy Accents to give it a little dimension.

The rosettes for each block were made using Idea-ology Kraft Resist paper and the Mini Rosette Die from Sizzix (I used the larger of the two rosettes). I sponged the edges with Black Soot Distress ink and then ran a line of Black Soot Distress Stickles around each one. 'Boo' is spelled out using letters from Alphabet Soup Grungeboard letters. Each one was sponged with Black Soot Distress ink and covered with a layer of Black Soot Distress Stickles. I stamped the spider (also from the Halloween Mini 2 set) on the center block's medallion.

The inspiration for these actually came from a Halloween subway sign I'd seen on Pinterest. I was like, man...I wish I had a stamp that looks like that. Then, I was like - duh! I DO! I stamped the background stamp from Tim Holtz's Halloween Sillouettes collection on white cardstock using Distress Embossing Ink and embossed using Ranger's Clear embossing powder. I considered brayering over it with black ink, or painting it with a black Dabber, but I decided to try my new Black Soot Distress Stain instead. SO cool!! It gave it just the look I was going for. After wiping the excess off of the embossed area, I ironed the whole thing, removing the embossing (faux batik technique).

Oh, and the little skeleton on the left is also from Tim's Mini Halloween 2 collection - I thought he looked so cute! Also, the ribbon on the center block was dyed using Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain. Is it just me, or have the stains been an absolute godsend? I love them so much!

All of the products I used can be purchased at Inspiration Emporium. If you use my code - stamptramp - you'll receive 10% off your order! Also, be sure and enter the monthly challenge over at the Inspiration Journal blog - the winner will receive $50 Inspiration bucks!