I have to start by saying that I hope all my blogging buddies on the East coast are well and suffered no damage from that God awful Irene. I've been watching the coverage of the devastating flooding and am just heartbroken for their losses. I think we all need to say some extra prayers for those folks. I know this sounds crazy, but the first thing I think about when I see devastation like that is "Can you imagine trying to recoup all your crafting supplies?" I don't want to even think about it. . .
On with my cards. As most of you know I am a freak for Halloween and love everything about the holiday and the Autumn season. I walked the boys this morning and someone was burning leaves and the smell of that smoke was so exciting.
Aren't these cute images? I found these at Michael's in the dollar bin. They are by Craft Smart stamps (never heard of them). They are wood mounted red rubber and stamp beautifully. They had a few more different images, but I stopped at these four. When I saw them, I had this card in my imagination. Super quick and easy to color. You can see I decorated the inside too. The sentiment inside says "Happy Halloween From Our Weird Little Family To Yours". It is computer generated.
The next card is kind of special because it is from a Mystery Benefactor. I went to my mailbox the other day and there was a package addressed to me but there was no return address on it. Ironically, the postmark was really smudged and scrunched so I could not even make out where it was from. I opened it up and there was this wonderful stamp and a note that simply read "I know how much you love Halloween, so when I saw this stamp at Archiver's, I had to get it for you." The note wasn't even signed! Here is the card I made with it. . .
Is this stamp not adorable? I remember last year seeing a challenge blog where the challenge was to make a Halloween card using non-traditional colors. I thought that was a fun idea, but never got around to doing a card for it. This image was perfect for it and I'll be ready if I see one pop up this year. If you click on it you can see that the ghosts are covered in glitter and the window has an acetate sheet behind the window frame for a little reality. I stamped the image twice and cut the window out separately and popped it up on dimensional tape. The sentiment is from another set. The stamp is by Northwood. So whoever you are out there that gifted this to me, I so appreciate it. It was so nice of you, I just wish I knew who you are! LOL
My last card for the night is quite different for me. I've seen a Michelle Zindorf card sort of like this, and a couple of others and I really liked them. So I made my own version. Take a look:
This took a lot of sponging and masking, but I like the result. I found this stamp at Joanne Fabrics and it is by Inkadinkado. When I saw it, I knew it was going to be perfect for this card I wanted to do. The lamp is a circle cut in half and I freehanded the post extending from it. I highlighted it with a silver glitter pen because it kind of fades in with the night sky. I'm sure you also noticed that this is one of those long cards. I don't use this size much, but I like the size. The inside sentiment says "Thanks for lighting my way." and was computer generated. I love how the cat is looking up.
Well, that's it for another post. Hope you've enjoyed what I posted tonight and that it gives you some ideas. I've just about caught up on most of your blogs, but I still have a few to go. So if I've not gotten to yours yet, you'll see me soon.
PIC OF THE WEEK
OK, that's it for now. Thanks for coming by to see me. You know how much I love having you here. You are so appreciated!
Love you guys and hope all is well in your worlds!
Best,
Curt O'Brien
"God, please help me be the person that my dogs think I am."
46 comments:
Good morning on this beautiful Spring day in Souith Africa. It is 5 in the morning, still dark outside, but the birds are singing away (its like they know its Spring day!)I have just said good bye to my DH and came to check if you had posted yet. Its my lucky day!
Hope all is well (or at least a lot better) with Jay. Your family has been in my prayers all the time. You must remember to look after yourself, we so often forget that we need looking after too.
Your cards are great, but the show stopper this week, is that beautiful photograph. Love it!
Oh wow Curt, look at that Ghost card...that's fantastic. Your Michelle Zindorf look alike is wonderful. Hope you are having a better week than the past few weeks have been.
It looks like the SA's are up and about early on this lovely day. Yours cards are great, we don't really do much Halloween here in SA, but I enjoy making and sending to my friends across the waters who do Halloween. Your card with the cat is really my fav. this week. Take care and hope things are going better with Jay. Have a great week.
Curt, your cards are just adorable!!! I'm not very good with Halloween cards -- actually, I'm not the best cardmaker anyway, but I can never think of cute cards for Halloween!
Your pics of the week are always so amazing!!!
I'm so glad to see you post! Glad Irene didn't interrrupt anything for you!
Hugs, my friend!
you have been busy again this week, I adore your last card, the shape really suits the cat looking up, and the other 2 are really fun, hope Jay is feeling better, have a good week
Tilly
wow I LOVE the cat card...I think I may have to try that! tfs :)
Oh, Curt! I love those Halloween cards. The little monsters are so cute (I hope they aren't offended to be called cute). Your ghostly window card is spoooooky (I love that you got a surprise package), and your cat card is so clever. I always look forward to your pic of the week - what an amazing eye you have! You help me to see the world in a different way. Keeping you and Jay in my prayers. Hugs, Sue.
Hi Curt! FIrst of all, thank you SO MUCH for stopping by my blog and making all those wonderful comments. I am so thrilled to have found you out here in the blogosphere.
Hope Jay is feeling better. I am hoping the "no news" is indeed really good news!
Here in Boston, we made it through pretty much unscathed, just some branches, but I am really feeling bad for Vermonters at the moment. Just terrible!
Love your cards!!! Thos elittle monsters are adorable!! And Kitteh is so elegant there in her "spotlight"! I love acetate used on cards! I have to pull mine out and try some of that!!
Have a great week, Curt. My eyes are peeled! (Thanks so much! I am so excited!!)
Morning..haven't been around for a bit, health issues. Happy to say that my family (two daughters and their families) are doing fantastic after Irene. We live at the very tip of New Jersey, we she was to make landfall then suddenly moved and spared us. We were under mandatory evacuation two prior (we are a huge resort area) with two counties on the road which means about 700,000 cars on our highway trying to find shelter three counties away. We decided to stay put, we all live within ten minutes of each other and stay for the last one. Stupid idea or not...but just where all those cars thought they were going I have no idea. Not far for sure.
Irene moved on has done horrid damage up the coast but spared us. High winds, surf, some flooding and power surges but that's about it..oh and the internet went out for 15 minutes..the horrors of that..lol! But are choice turned out to right this time.
I love your cards...the cat under the light is just brilliant. It must have taken hours.
Hope all is well in your house especially health wise. Promise I'll be back more often now.
Sande
SOOOO happy to see you back creating and posting. hope that Jay is recovering comfortably at home with you.
Your Halloween card ... hmmmm ... you know that it's not my 'time of the year' but your card is just stinkin' cute! Those images really are adorable (it pains me to say that!).
And the anonymous sender sure knew that stamp had your name written all over it.
And now for your final card ... have you been taking some new vitamins or naturopathic supplements???? It's absolutely brilliantly creative! Your shadowing and coloring are superb. This card is definitely "frame-worthy".
What fun cards Curt! You always find great stamps in the bargain bin at Michaels. I love your new image. What great ghosts. Have a super week.
Heide
I love Halloween, only because I know that it will bring out some brilliant cards from my friend Curt! Lovin' the little $1.00 stamps - how stinkin' cute are they? That Northwoods ghost in the top panel is really ticked off about something! Great stamp - perfect color combination!!! And gosh, don't you just LOVE happy mail? Your last card must have taken forever - you really got all of the brayering just right! Perfect sentiment too - what can I say? You just rock! Keep those Halloween cards coming - I'm not very good at making them, but love seeing yours :) Hugs to the boys, and hope that Jay is improving day by day! Take time for you too, my friend...
And Good Morning to you Mr Jay... I must say, the Halloween card is my favorite...I love Halloween and Autumn as well then of course the Christmas season too... this stamp is just so awesome and the coloring o this is perfect ! you are so amazingly talented !
all three cards are so unique, a quality I just do not seem to reach in my work... so instead I come look at yours : )
Thank you for sharing, and I hope your days are filled with rest, smiles and love ...
Soni B
Hello!
Great cards!
I'll have to look for those 'little monsters' in the bargain bin at Michaels!
They're all great!
The time & energy doing the cat card would've had me drinking the 'whole bottle'!
Pic of the week is great!
Hugs to you, Jay & the boys!
My goodness! I would love to be in your crafty brain for one day! Marvelous cards! I just love all the detail you always put into your work! The cat one really caught my eye!
Hope you have a great rest of the week!
Hi Curt.I always adore your wonderful creations,and these are really fab.I LOVE the cat card absolutely FANTASTIC.The pic of the week is brilliant and reminds me of Pinflair decorations lol.Hugs to you all and Big Cuddles for those gorgeous boys.x
Hi Curt, we are fine here in my neck of the woods, went to stay with my son until the power came back on, thanks for your concern.
I luv all your cards & my fav is the cat looking up at the light & I luv that you made it a long card....awesome! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Hugs Rita
You did a wonderful job with your sponged card, great results! Of course the other two are just too cute, really like them!
I LOVE your Halloween cards, Curt! The little images on the first card are just adorable. And your third card is so creative. Of course, the ghosts through the window just take the cake! Have a great week!
An awesome group of cards Curt! How fun to get a neat surprise package like that! You made a bunch of fun Halloween cards this week! I need to get mine out and give some of your techniques a whirl. Love the kitty card and the ghostie card is so cool. I wish I had a crafty store by me...I would definitely be addicted too!
Hey Curt
Just had to wrestle my "new to me" grandsons computer away from him to look at your blog and comment. Great cards, of course, I love the cat one. So Hello from Denver. Enjoying myself.
Hugs
Myrna
Curt,
I chuckled when you said that one of the first things you think about when you see devastation is how would you recoup your craft supplies. I have to admit I have thought the same thing but mine went a step further... OMG if we ever had to put in an insurance claim my husband would really know how much I have invested in this hobby. Scary! All safe here in SW Ontario (I seriously think I live in one of the safest places on earth). Thoughts go out to others that were not so lucky!
E
Oh my goodness I LOVE you cat card. Please do a tutorial on how you did it. I love Michelle's card but this is even better. Well I am a cat lover. Don't tell the boys. I think they are pretty special too.
Love the picture very interesting. Nature makes the best patterns.
Have a wonderful week!
You have lots of good friends and you deserve each and every one of them. Your Halloween cards are adorable and I L O V E your cat in the spotlight card. I hope things will start looking up for you and Jay soon. Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Hi there Curt .Another joyful , interesting and inspiring visit to your blog .loved the ghosts at the window and the cat under light .AWESOME ! And of course the photo at end of post is simply beautiful .
Shirley-Anne
wow love your dollar find and what an awesome card with those ghosts, love this stamp. Fabulous job on the sponging, that card is awesome.
Irene hit here Sunday and I just got my power on Wes night.
WO - another great week for your creativity!!! Love all 3 of your cards this week but the last one just speaks to me - I have 3 kitties and that reminds me of one of mine. I love Halloween but have trouble coming up with really great ideas. but that you did this week. Will continue to keep you and Jay in my thoughts and prayers and hoping you have a great week.
Dollar stamps, eh? You did a wonderful and cute job with this card. I love Halloween too.
Your Zindorf style is very interesting. I loved to hear you did some hand drawing.
You are a very kind man. Thank you for your inspirational comment on my blog.
Beth xoxo
The only stamp I got in common with yours was the Frankenstein, Curt. I got a witch, a sad Dracula, a skeleton with a large bubble alien head and drippy blood! We only have one Mike's. I gotta go back now. I want the mummy guy. But I am so glad I got the witch. My signature. The only thing cool about Fall other than pretty colors is Halloween, then I hibernate til May. Hate the cold, don't like Christmas and Valentine's is sucky, too. Later, cutie. I am over building my dream city on Facebook.
Hi Curt, where I live, Spring is just beginning and it's so nice to feel the sun on my face and smell the beautiful blossoms. But I have to say, that Fall (Autumn as we call it here) is one of my fav times of the year - there is something so special about it after a long, hot summer.
I love your Halloween cards - both are gorgeous! And wow - what a special gift of that stamp - which I LOVE!! It's so cool!
And wow - that cat card - what an awesome job you did with your sponging and masking! It looks fantastic!!
The flower pic is great - they remind me of daisy centres. Isn't it so amazing how when you look at something in nature really closely, how perfect it is down to the tiniest detail?
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your lovely comments - I really appreciated them :-)
{{hugs}} and blessings to you and Jay
Jocelyn
Hey Curt! Hope all is well in your part of the world too! We just got our power back here in my street in Connecticut yesterday...almost 6 days without power! yikes!!! It really gets dark at night (that was the worst part...along with trying to keep up with the world as best as possible through wifi spots!) So glad to see you are in the Halloween spirit! Cant believe it is September. I have a few craft shows to start getting ready for!! Enjoy the labor day weekend!
I also love Halloween and these cards are just adorable. Love the little images you found at Mike's
I'll have to take a look. Stay happy and healthy. Pat
Hi ya Curt
i hope you are all ok, so sorry i am so very very late here, hardly had time to sneeze this week!!
Fabulous cards as always, halloween always makes me think of you now, lol, what a fab stamp & a lovely gift,i luv the last card stunning effect. Lovely piccie of the week. Will see you when i get home, of on safari next fri two weeks!! yipppeeeee, hugs, sue,x
OOH Curt!! I really love the Halloween creations you've got here!! GORGEOUS designs...my fave has to be the ghosts!!! Love how they're flying past the window!! LOL!! Thanks for your kind thoughts about HM!! It's so much appreciated!! BIG HUGS Enjoy the weekend friend!
The little $1 images are adorable and I love the sentiment you created inside! Your ghost card is definitely my favorite today. Yes, I clicked on the picture to see all the sparkle. Awesome 'Zindorf-inspired' card.
Thank you for your concern about us 'East Coasters.' Hope Jay is feeling better.
Hi Curt, just found your blog and had to tell you how much I LOVE all three of your Halloween cards. I plan to take a little trip back in your blog to see more of your creations. Small world, I don't get to go out much as I'm taking care of my 86 year old Mom, but I went to Michael's this morning and saw those exact stamps in their $1 bin--great finds!!
Okay, your silhouetted cat card is sheer gen-i-us! It glows and that image is purrrfect. Absolutely adore it. Anyway, sorry to blather on, but I'm your newest fan. Thanks for sharing. xoxo
Can't beat that dollar bin at Michael's! Those images and your card are absolutely adorable. And how fun to get such a wonderful surprise in the mail. Your last card is awesome. LOVE it!! Hope you are enjoying the weekend. Hugs.
Hi Curt I just adore the cards especially your last one with the cat image. Wow must have a go at that. Take care love to the family Hugs from Jersey U.K.
YEAH!! Fun mail :D If only utility companies would send stamps...it would make mail more fun for me and I'd probably pay them quicker..LOL.
Wonderful cards and creativity. 10 minutes in your brain would be a hoot!
Lisa xx
Gorgeous cards ,,, I LOVE the cat in the spotlight !! Oh wow !! I think I am going to have a go at that ,, I DO have a cat stamp !!! :-)
luv
Lols x x x
OMGosh! You may have thought Irene visited me. No! We need rain and are almost drought here. Can you believe it! I wish we had been given some of the rain where she gave too much to others! Your cards are adorable and the flower pod is really 'weird'! TFS :-)
Now the first one is really scary! Gargoyles are so evil looking. The next two and for sure the last are just gorgeous! I am in love with your band and buckle!!
Super Halloween cards! Those ghosts remind me of the cartoon drawn ones in Casper the Friendly Ghost. And the cat card is GREAT! Excellent work in making this.
Wow...love these cards...the first one is great and I passed those stamps up...now wish I had'nt!! The ghostly card is a favorite...really cool stamps!! Love the cat one, too...now I know I "need" this stamp...and heck I was jsut at Joann's yesterday, too...but forgot to look for it! Great projects once again!!
Three post in and I realize that I am a bad blog friend...I haven't stopped by in a while. *hanging head in shame* But I can tell you that I am completely inspired for Halloween after my (lengthy) visit tonight. Those little creepers in the first card are "too cute to spook". Oh my goodness, that sentiment is stinkin' adorable, too. Your kitty card is STUNNING! Wow!! It is always such fun to visit your work, Curt! Hugs! :)
OMG, love the ghosts in the window and the cat under the spot light! You are truly talented & gifted my friend!
Hugs,
Gina
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