Inspiration Journal Monthly Challenge

This month, the Inspiration Journal challenge is ABC 123 School Time Fun. It took me awhile to come up with something...I don't know if it's because my kids are grown now or what, but I just could not think of a thing. Those 'no mojo' moments are when I reach for one of the Technique Junkie CDs. I always find something to spark my creativity! This is the Fancy Gatefold card. Want to see why?

Whoa! How do you like my little School 4 Witches? If I'm good at anything, it's turning any theme Halloweeny. It's a gift I tell ya. ;-) The house is resting on Karen Burniston's Pop 'n Cuts Circle die. I love that it all folds down flat and then turns into this 3D coolness.

Here is a better view of the dimension - so fun! I cut the PNC platform from acetate so it wouldn't hide any of this gorgeous new idea-ology Seasonal Kraft Resist. The house was first painted with Frayed Burlap Distress Crackle paint. It didn't show up enough, so I covered it with Sunset Orange Dabber paint and a light layer of the new Rock Candy Dry Glitter. Pretty! And spooky! To cover the windows, I used Tim's new Mirrored that was given a light dabbing of Slate alcohol ink and stamped with images from his Mini Halloween 2 set.

I just got the new Sizzix Halloween Shadows die and couldn't wait to use it! It was just the touch I needed for this card. I cut it from very light chipboard (yes, the strip die will cut very thin chipboard) and painted it with a Pitch Black Dabber. In the back corner, I added a tree cut from kraft cardstock that I painted with an Espresso Dabber - I really wish it showed up more! I had to keep it back a bit so it didn't interfere with the house. Lots of mechanics going on here!

The whole idea for this started with wanting to make a little chalkboard with Claudine Hellmuth's black gesso. I'd heard of the idea, but had never tried it. I love how it turned out, but my handwriting is hopeless, so I used the Sizzix Typeset die to create the words for my sign. The metal part was create by covering chipboard with the new Ranger Brushed Pewter Distress Stain. Under the sign, I added the tree, owl, and cat from the Halloween strip die. That cat totally looks like it's spraying that tree, lol!! Bad kitty!

The supplies I used are available from Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Be sure and use my coupon code - stamptramp - to score 10% off your order!

If you'd like to purchase the 3D & Fun Folds CD, you can do so through the link near the top of my sidebar. For more information and a list of techniques, click here.

Sizzix Halloween Shadows Die Sizzix Hanging Sign Die Sizzix Rickety House Die Sizzix Typeset Sizzix Branch Tree Die Claudine Hellmuth Studio Black Gesso Ranger Dabber - Pitch Black Adirondack Paint Dabber - Espresso Sunset Orange Dabber Frayed Burlap Distress Crackle Paint Brushed Pewter Distress Stain Jet Black Archival Ink Slate Alcohol Ink Ranger Fall Limited Edition Distress Ink Black Soot Distress Ink Rock Candy Dry Glitter Stampers Anonymous Mini Halloween 2 idea-ology Mirrored Idea-ology Seasonal Kraft Resist idea-ology Jump Rings Sizzix Little Sizzles Kraft Core Vagabond Inkssentials Blending Tool Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool Scotch Tape Glider Idea-ology Sanding Grip

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We would LOVE for you to play along with this month's Inspiration Journal challenge. As of this minute there are only three submissions!! Everyone who enters has a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Inspiration Emporium's online store. Think of all the goodies you could get with that sweet moolah!

Gothic 31 - New Stamps From Artistic Outpost!

It's been awhile since I joined in with the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge over at Studio L3, but having just received the most gorgeous rubber stamps from Artistic Outpost, and my favorite die of all time from Sizzix, I had all the inspiration I needed to sit down and make a quick tag.

This week we're working with Tim Holtz's Blended Stains technique. I decided to experiment a little with the new Metallic Distress Stains by mixing Tarnished Brass, Spiced Marmalade, and Black Soot. I love how it turned out! It's really hard to see in the photo, but it adds the coolest luster to the whole tag. Can't wait to play with it some more!

The skeleton woman (isn't she amazing?!) was stamped with embossing ink on black cardstock and embossed with Seafoam White ep. I think it gives it such a cool cameo effect! I cut the Bell Jar from leftover packaging and the base from chipboard. The base was painted with a Pitch Black Dabber and then embossed. I sanded the embossed portion and inked it with Gathered Twigs Distress ink.

The top is tied with idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon that was dyed with Black Soot Distress Stain. I added Baubles that were tinted orange with a mixture of Terra Cotta and Butterscotch Alcohol Inks and an Idea-ology Wire Pin.

All of the supplies (other than the stamps) can be purchased from Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Be sure and use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% on your order! The rubber stamps are from Artistic Outpost's Gothic 31 collection and can be purchased on their web site.

Sizzix Bell Jar Die Sizzix Springtime Texture Fade Sizzix Tattered Banners Die Inkssentials Manila Tag Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain Black Soot Distress Stain Tarnished Brass Distress Stain Ranger Seafoam White Embossing Powder Distress Embossing Ink Black Soot Distress Ink Ranger Fall Limited Edition Distress Ink Jet Black Archival Ink Ranger Dabber - Pitch Black Butterscotch Alcohol Ink Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon Idea-ology Baubles Idea-ology Wire Pins idea-ology Jump Rings idea-ology Paper String - Solids Compendium of Curiosities II Vagabond Scotch Tape Glider Idea-ology Sanding Grip Kraft Core Paper

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Thanks to Simon Says Stamp for sponsoring this week's challenge. Be sure and check out all the fantastic submissions here!