Daring Hallowe'en

Weather report: Cold and Frosty start to the day today

I thought I'd mention that straight away as the weather seems to be dominating things atm - maybe it's just me being hyper-sensitive to the on-set of winter. I really hate that I won't feel warm in the Great Outdoors again for months and months. Maybe I'm feeling hard-done-by because we had such a grotty summer and the days when it was actually warm and bright were few and far between! There's a little bit of me that's still waiting for the Summer so it can't be Winter, can it?

At least the sun is out again today, even if it is freezing! The last of Wednesday eveniing's snow finally disappeared about lunchtime yesterday.

Sorry for the miserable, self-indulgent Waffle there, I'll get on to some crafty stuff now. Friday is, of course Daring Cardmakers Day and we have Rachel setting the challenge:

We couldn't really choose any other theme could we!!!!!

So what we would like to challenge you with today is producing something with a Halloween theme -or anything scary, really - kids love anything with ghosties, skulls and skeletons on, don't they?
So you can make a card or something else this time, maybe a bag, box, lantern or anything at all, as long as it's got a scary theme.

We put all the names of those who made a card for Kathy's Sketch Challenge into a random number picker and the winner is....
Sarah C

Congratulations Sarah, the wonderful 3 Bugs in a Rug Caboodle kit will be on it's way to you from our fab sponsor Creative Treasures very soon.
(Sarah, if you read this can you email me please with your info)

We'd love to see your spooky creations, so leave a message on the DCM blog when you're done so that we can come and see how scared you've made us!

I made this
It's not actually a card, but I thought it would be something you could put in your window as a "Hallowe'en Revellers Welcome Here" sign - though for me I'd probably need to put a great big cross over it to say the opposite, because, yes, I'm a miserable, grouchy wotsit who doesn't find opening the door every five minutes and doling out sweets etc a fun activity. Our curtains will be closed and the doorbell will be ignored tonight.

bah humbug!
I've adapted some free clipart to cut the witches and bats with the Craft Robo - actually I was surprised at how well they cut, I thought they might be a bit too fiddly, especially in these sizes, but they've cut really well. I decided against trying them on thin card though, and just cut them from paper. When the big witch cut so easily I thought I'd risk a diddy one too - when that worked I got brave and went on a bat hunt!

For UK Craft Robo users - just in case you don't already know - there's a Graphtec Crafty Club which as well as having free templates, downloads, tips and techniques to help you get the most out of Mr Robo, you also get a little discount on consumables. I've not seen blades etc, any cheaper in other shops and orders arrive quickly too.

Yesterday I showed a couple of non-card makes from Ribbon Oasis Christmassy goodies so today its back to cards. I absolutely adore this gorgeous sheer green ribbon with sparkly spots and golden highlights. It makes a fab background on its own for the Cuttlebug Tree die-cuts in the top left card, and I love the rich opulent look you get just tieing it round the side of a card and making a simple knot. Then I thought I'd see what happened when I used a strip of coloured paper underneath the ribbon, and I loved the depth of colour and texture I found when I Xyron-ed it over the red paper to make the card at the top left of the photo.
This next one uses some really wide ribbon to make a panel for the centre of the card

The ribbon is so gorgeous that it really doesn't need much else, I just handcut a couple of scalloped borders and added a tag, and a tiny scrap more Ribbon Oasis shiny ribbon

Finally for today, yet another Christmas card (what a surprise!)
This one is using a fab and really adaptable card sketch from Sue over on Just Bex forum.

My card is made using Imaginisce "Snowy Jo" glittery papers and my own Craft Robo template.
The rub-ons are also from the Snowy Jo collection - I'd forgotten I'd bought them!