Warty, Wild&Wacky Wednesday

Here's my last Halloween card!  The background was made using Distress Stains (Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon and Rusty Hinge) and then Distress ink (Wild Honey) was blended around the edge.  I stamped a script stamp on the top right with Distress ink (Rusty Hinge) and then stained crinkle ribbon with the Distress Stains I used above.  Hope everyone has a GREAT Halloween and don't let the spooks get you!

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Torturous Tuesday

Some spooks stole all of Herma's Halloween cards so I decided to show some of my rejects from last week.  The only thing I need is a scary adjective that starts with "W" -- I used "wicked" last week for Wednesday.  Any ideas for tomorrow?

For this one I used some Distress stains (Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon) and then stamped Mike's Spooky Cat in Black Soot Distress ink.  The leaves are a Tim Holtz die cut with matching embossing folder.  I think this one got rejected because it was a little bit boring.  Anyhow here it is:

Michael Strong Jewel Challenge

This month's challenge was to use jewels on your card.  I needed to make another card for a blind person so I decided to put some jewels on her card.  They are another texture after all. I also wanted to make the card in shades of black and white thinking this would be easier to see contrasts -- she's not totally blind. 

To begin with I put some Goosebumps into a mini mister and added a drop of black re-inker.  Then I sprayed this on top of some white cardstock and let dry.  This creates quite a bit of texture from the spray and splatter.  Then I added an oval canvas sticker that I stamped Mike's small medallion on and sponged.  I also marbled a bit of Stampin Up! clay with black and stamped on that.  I added some black yarn, black thread, white and black brads (different types) and then some clear rhinestones and a glitter embellishment.  Quite a few different textures here to feel and I hope she likes it!

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Frenzied Friday

The technique that I sort of used (but made a few changes to) is called "Ghost in Distress".

First I stamped a script stamp in versamark (on vanilla cardstock) and embossed using clear embossing powder.  Then I splotched Distress Stains (Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, bit of Black Soot) onto a craft sheet and dragged my card stock through.  I then stamped Mikes Spooky Cat in Black Soot when the cardstock was still a bit wet.  This caused the ink to run a little.  I let that dry and then sponged around the edges with Distress inks (Wild Honey, Black Soot).

Hope you enjoyed the spine tingling week!

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Trembling Technique Thursday

This type of card is called a "Center Step" card.  For the main image I used a technique called "Ghosting".  I stamped a bat in versamark ink all over my paper and let dry.  Then I sponged on top of the images with Distress inks (Pumice Stone and Black Soot).  The versamark resisted the ink and you can see it coming through.  Then I stamped the bat a few more times with Pumice Stone and Mikes Spooky Tree in Black Soot.  I put glitter on the bats and used an old Stampin Up! pumpkin for a bit of colour.

Here's a close up of the ghostly bats:

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Wicked Wednesday

Today I'm back with more "Ghostly Splatters".  I sprayed some Goosebumps on a sheet of paper and let dry.  Then sprayed some Dylusions (Squeezed Orange and Postbox Red) over top.  The Goosebumps acts as a resist and creates those white splotches you see.  Then I stamped Mike's Spooky Tree in blak craft ink.  The bats are cut from a movers and shapers die from Tim Holtz.

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Terrifying Tuesday

This totally terrifying card uses a technique called "Ghosts in the Shadows".

I stamped Mike's Spooky Cat in white craft ink and then let dry.  Then I sponged strips of dark and light grey ink overtop.  Lastly I stamped the cat again in black and grey ink and white craft ink.

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Manic Monday

This manic card uses a technique called "Ghostly Splatters" for it's effect.  So I sprayed and splattered Goosebumps on some paper and let dry.  Then I sprayed some Dylusions sprays (Squeezed Orange and Pure Sunshine) overtop.  The Goosebumps acted as a resist and that's why you see the white splotches.  I stamped Mikes Spooky Tree in black and then cut it out with my Spellbinders to make the focal image.  For the side image I used some scrap paper from the original technique and coloured the spiderweb from the tree with black marker and stamped it.  Then I coloured the bat from the witch stamp in the same set (again in black) and stamped it.  The fence is an old Sizzix die and the "eek" is from an old Stampin Up! set (Bitty Boos Too).

I really wanted to terrify everyone so I went to the graveyard to take a picture of the card (hoping to get a ghost in the picture or something) and luckily there was a corpse there for extra atmosphere!  So I propped the card up on a bloody hand and VOILA -- my card!

You can run away screaming now...

Halloween Countdown - Look if you DARE!!!

I'm card captain starting on Monday and all the cards will be spooky in honor of Halloween which is coming up shortly!  I just wanted to warn everyone so the faint of heart will avoid my blog for the next week.  Here is a preview of the horrors to come:

I used Distress Stains (Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed and Wild Honey) for the background and made Mikes Witch the focal point. 

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Friday

Here is my card for today:

This uses some Radiant Rains (Majestic Blue, Teal Zircon and Snap Dragon) for the background, some Distress Paint and Distress ink with stencils and Mike's smaller Star which was embossed in white on white cardstock and then lightly sponged with some more Distress ink (Milled Lavender).  The sentiment was also embossed in white.  The white dots are enamel accents.

Brayered Stains

Here's my example of brayered stains using Mike's Gecko

This uses Distress Stains (Ripe Persimmon, Barn Door, Squeezed Lemonade) and Distress inks (Gathered Twigs, Frayed Burlap).  I stamped with the "Frayed Burlap" first but it wasn't dark enough so I stamped over top with "Gathered Twigs".  This caused it to look really blurry but I kinda like it that way!

Smudge Stamping

Here is an example of smudge stamping.  I used Mike's Gecko and Tim Holtz inks -- "Gathered Twigs", "Tea Dye" and "Antique Linen".

Here's the other card:

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Technique Thursday

My technique for today is something called "Bokeh Background".  I saw a tutorial for it in SplitCoastStampers a few weeks ago and wanted to try it.  I didn't quite understand why they stamped the dots all over but if you look up Bokeh in the dictionary it basically tells you that it's the out of focus area in a photograph so the dots are really the whole point of the technique.  I didn't do exactly what they said to do but I really like the results and it's a VERY quick card to make.

First I stamped some small circles in Tim Holtz's "Broken China" and "Tumbled Glass".  I'd stamp a few times before re-inking the stamp so the dots would get lighter and lighter.  Then I stamped the main image (Cloisonne Shell) in "Broken China" and the script stamp in "Tumbled Glass".  The sentiment is also stamped in "Broken China".  I added a few tiny white brads and I was done in just a minute!

For this one I used Tim Holtz's "Spun Sugar" and "Worn Lipstick".  For the script stamp I covered the stamp with "Spun Sugar" and then randomly dabbed on a bit of "Worn Lipstick".  The Cloisonne Heart was stamped in "Worn Lipstick".

This one used Tim Holtz's "Gathered Twigs", "Scattered Straw" and "Antique Linen".  Love my Cloisonne Gecko!

Radiant Rains Background

This card uses some Radiant Rains (Majestic Blue, Teal Zircon and Snap Dragon) and Black Soot Distress paint for the background.  Mike's small Octagon stamp, some black enameling and yarn complete the card.

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Wednesday

Here is the card for Wednesday:

This used a combination of Tim Holtz Distress Paint (white) and Pickled Raspberry Distress Stain to create the pink background.  Then I used stencils with Distress Paint (black) and Distress ink (Pickled Raspberry).  To make the octagon I put Pickled Raspberry on some white paper and stamped Mike's smallest octagon with black craft ink.  Then I put on some black embossing powder.  Ooops!  I forgot that the distress inks are embossable!  I flicked off most of the powder and embossed anyhow.  I actually like the look of it with the rest of the card -- a little grungy.  The black dots are enamel.

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Tuesday

Here is the card for Tuesday.

For the tags I used some stencils and Dylusions sprays (Bubblegum Pink and Crushed Grape).  I sponged around the edges with black ink and added some black enamel accents.  A bit of ribbon and string with a tiny tag and I was done!

Michael Strong Card of the Day - Monday

Here is my card for Monday.  It uses the monthly sketch.

I used Dylusions sprays (Cut Grass and Fresh Lime) and a stencil to make the green paper then stamped Mike's smaller Paisley stamp in black.  The dots are make with black enamel accents.