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!