Welcome back, "ghoulfriends!" If you're just joining us, you've popped into the middle of a week-long blog series on Halloween, with crafting BFF's Penni Litwiller and Lyssa Zwolanek. Neither of us likes the super-spooky stuff, but we do enjoy the fun part (ok, ok, we're really both all about the candy, to tell you the truth). But, we both love a challenge. So today we're featuring the Detailed Gate Thinlets and coordinating Graveyard Gate stamp set today. Love the Victorian vibe this exclusive Sizzix die gives off!
Penni is batting first, with a z-fold card that allows the gate to "open" and reveal a haunted graveyard behind. You can get a great ghostly effect by stamping your tombstone and then stamping off-set, once or twice again, without re-inking.
Some of you may be worried about the detail on this die. It is definitely recommended to use the Precision Base Plate with this one, although I also got it to work with a sheet of waxed paper between the die and the cardstock. Whether you have to shim your Big Shot, use a fresh acrylic cutting pad, or a dryer sheet or whatever, it's worth it.
And if you're worried about versatility beyond just Halloween–I have seen some absolutely stunning wedding cards where they used the gate as lattice for climbing flowers. I'm personally wanting to try a Cinderella's Castle card for my daughter's birthday next month. Wouldn't it be gorgeous in Glimmer Paper? WOW!
Next up is Penni's Mad Scientist Kit… another fun way to gift the new Treat Tubes! If you want to make it, use a piece of Basic Black cardstock cut to 5.5 x 8.5 (regular card base size). Score at 3 and 7/8 and 4 and 5/8ths to create the book fold. The tubes are held in place by a strip of cardstock with the 1-inch circle punch spaced evenly over three holes.
On Friday we'll have a more detailed tutorial for a slightly different top-opening flip-up box that also holds three tubes. Stay 'tooned!
Edited to add: I forgot to share this next photo with this post! I've never seen a Stephen King movie and don't intend to, but you do have to admire Penni's creativity (and social media timing) in coming up with this card! It has me shuddering, and I don't even know the story behind "It"!
My contribution to the Graveyard Gate series is a spooky scrapbook page. I have to say, I really got into this one! My family kept coming in to the stamp room to see it in various stages (that never happens!)
I started with plain Smoky Slate background pages and heavily distressed them with direct-to-paper, sponging, and masking with torn paper. The moon was made with the 2.5 inch circle punch and Crushed Curry ink, sponged over with Craft Whisper White.
I embossed the Brick Wall folder and added lots of age and weathering with green and brown "moss" and black sponging. The Detailed Gate die-cuts were weathered with a little swipe of Craft Whisper White ink. Some of the tombstones were stamped in Smoky Slate and others in Craft White to resemble limestone. Lastly, I dragged a sponge in Craft white horizontally across the page to suggest fog.
Wish the sheen showed up a little better in the photos–the moon and the lantern light gleam with Clear Wink of Stella, and the gates sparkle with Black Rhinestones for iron studs. There's even a little Lemon-Lime Twist marker in there for an eerie green glow. I told you I had fun with this one! I love a challenge.
Hey, wanna win this layout? Leave a comment and I'll draw a winning name to post in next week's e-newsletter. No purchase necessary to win! If you do want to make a purchase, Click any link below to Shop with Lyssa. Thanks for supporting fun blog series like these here at Song of My Heart Stampers!
Join us back here tomorrow for the final wrap-up and another free tutorial! Be warned… Friday's post may serve as an irresistible enabling energy that FORCES you to run to the corner store for some ghostly Peeps! Resistance is futile!
Another day … another fun group of projects!! I love the little mad scientist kit with the test tubes, what a cute idea with the different colored “potions” in each tube.
Wow! The scrapbook page is amazing! Love the other projects, too. Eagerly await to see what you have tomorrow. Thanks for doing the series.
That scrapbook page is fabulous! You did a fantastic job!
WOW, that is an amazing layout!
Wow, you gals are amazing! I want to win the scrapbook page! That’s the coolest Halloween page I have ever seen! The Mad Scientist Kit is so colorful, love it. The gate card is so cute with the Z fold. It makes for an adventure opening it.
This is my favorite day! A well done job ladies!
I love your Halloween ideas, and the scrapbook pages are just amazing. Love, love, your cute ideas of any season. Thanks for all of your cute ideas.
Absolutely stunning pages!! And super lovely card and trick or treat kit. What fun projects you have both come up with!
❤the scrapbook pages! Just when I think there’s a bundle I don’t need, I can always count on you to show me why I need it!