TOB - Apr2022 Mid Month Challenge

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to this month's challenge reminder post.  Have you started working on a card/project?  If yes, GREAT!  If no, WHAT are you waiting for?  We want to see your Halloween creations.   Remember  the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

Ok, just between us, I have to be honest and admit that I'm not happy with how this card turned out.  But still went with it, because not every make has to be a work of art.  This hobby is suppose to be fun and relaxing and a lot of us get stressed out about making everything we do prefect.  I'm here to tell you it's ok to just have fun with you crafts and still submit your projects to challenges like this one.  

For my card I used the winter fence line stamp from IO and the pumpkin patch die from IO.  I also used the largest of the stacked dome stitched dies by MFT and one of the stitched grassy hill edger dies by Frantic Stamper.  I aligned the tiny pumpkins along the fence post (took inspiration from one of the pictures below). 

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card/project soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - Apr2022 Challenge

Hello crafty friends,  welcome to a new month at the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, which runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

I took my inspiration from the umbrella pictured in this month's mood board.  I used two sheets of 5x7 recollections Halloween pattern paper and die cut them with an A2 stitched rectangle die, them using a paper trimmer and keeping the two sheets together, I cut the panels into "rays" sections.  This technique leaves you with enough pattern paper for two A2 card fronts.  I alternates the two patterns to get the look/design the umbrella had.  I added a stamped and die cut sentiment from Simon Says called Hand Lettered Halloween.  On the Right card I inked the die cut sentiment orange before stamping and the left card I left it white, but die cut a second one and used it as a shadow. 

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - Mar2022 Mid Month Challenge

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to this month's challenge reminder post.  Have you started working on a card/project?  If yes, GREAT!  If no, WHAT are you waiting for?  We want to see your Halloween creations. Remember  the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

I took the image of the house with the creepy window shadows as my inspiration for my card.  I used a large bare tree in the background twice and using a circle mask for a moon inked the whole background with black distressed ink.  The house I inked with purple distressed ink and darken the windows with purple markers.  For the glowing inside, I used a piece of card stock smaller than the house, which I inked with lime green distressed ink.  I added mini Halloween stamps from Lawn Fawn and other brands into the windows and door. 

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card/project soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - Mar2022 Challenge

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to a new month at the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, which runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

I took my inspiration for the creepy jars for this month's first card.  I used an old wood stamp I had in my collection from Northwood Rubber Stamps.  The stamp doesn't have a name, but I think the copy right reads Jean Anderson 2016, but the font is very tiny and my eyes are not as good as they use to be.

I "grounded" the jars by created a table for them to sit on. I wanted my background dark, but with some interest, so I used a stencil (bats) to create the appearance or tone-on-tone wallpaper.  I used pattern paper for the "Boo!", which is a die from Papertrey Ink. 

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - Feb2022 Mid Month Challenge

Hello crafty friends and welcome to this month's challenge reminder post.  Have you started working on a card/project?  If yes, GREAT!  If no, WHAT are you waiting for?  We want to see your Halloween creations.   Remember  the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

Fast and simple card using a few pink pattern papers and one very old Sizzix Pumpkin steel rule die.  Since the pp has gold on it (dots on the flower pp, hearts on the pink pp), I matted my pink polka dot pp with a stitched gold card stock panel.   

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care. 

  

TOB - Feb2022 Challenge

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to a new month at the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, which runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

When I saw the mood board for this month I got so excited, because I had the perfect stamp for card.  The Vampire SWAK stamp by Deep Red is a close match to the fangs on the mood board.  I created a slimline card (4"x8")  by randomly stamping the lips on my card panel with Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide ink.  I used Wilted Violet Distress Oxide ink mixed with a little water to watercolor around the lips.  I was going to fill in the lips with more Picked Raspberry, but ended up liking them as is, so all I added was Red Berry Crystal Nuvo Drops to the lips "blood" drops.   I think I'll give my hubby this card for Valentines day, I just have to think of a good sentiment for the inside.  

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - Jan2022 Mid Month Challenge

UPDATE,,,

So I reprinted the digital image and tried coloring it again.  I'm much happier with my second attempt at getting a purple inner glow, but still no way near to what I was looking for.  Just have to keep practicing. 

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to a new month at the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, which runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

I used a coloring page image to create a slim card for my mid month reminder post.  I tried my hand at creating a glowing purple pumpkin, but I'm honestly not happy with the results.  I will have to keep practicing.  If you know of any inner glow tutorials, let me know. 

 

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - Jan2022 Challenge

Happy 2022 and welcome to a new year here at the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, which runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween! 

My project is an A2 shaker card.  I used a scene die, which I die cut from black card stock.   The background, I ink blended using two shades of purple Distress Oxides.

I love the purples (it's my favorite color) in this month's mood board. I was inspired by the bottom left photo of a night time scene. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - Dec Mid Month Challenge Reminder

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to this month's challenge reminder post.  Have you started working on a card?  If yes, GREAT!  If no, WHAT are you waiting for?  We want to see your Halloween creations.   Remember  the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

I went with a square 5x5 card using a wood mounted stamp I got on ebay by Outlines Rubber Stamps K703.  I feel in love with the stamp and couldn't wait to color it up once it arrived.  The stamped image can stand on its own, but I added a large, but thin Trick or Treat die cut by Pretty Pink Posh on top for an extra something.   

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - December Challenge

Happy HOLIDAYS crafty friends,

Welcome to a new month at the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, which runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

You may not be thinking Halloween during December, but part of me still is.  My card this below is a simple shaker card one using a big bold sentiment stamp.  

If you are asking yourself, how can a shaker card be simple, well, these flat shaker cards that have been trending are super easy and fast to make.  

Find some plastic.  I used one of my stamp storage pockets for the first card, but in the video I used a zip bag.  Trim the plastic to 1/2" bigger than the size of the element you want to stick inside your shaker element.  My stamped cardstock was 5" square.  Add double sided adhesive to the back of your shaker element along the edges.  Adhere the sides and the bottom of the shaker pocket.  Add the shaker bits and close the top opening. Add more adhesive (I used double sided tape again) and adhere to card base.  

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - Nov Mid Month Challenge Reminder

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to this month's challenge reminder post.  Have you started working on a card?  If yes, GREAT!  If no, WHAT are you waiting for?  We want to see your Halloween creations.   Remember  the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

I used the broom motif from the mood board for my mid month card.  Placing my fussy cut brooms into a die cut cauldron by IO.  I think the word art is an old cling stamp by Purple Onion Designs.           

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - November Challenge

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to a new month at the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, which runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

October and Halloween is past, but Halloween is still strong in my mind and heart. I shot this picture while my Halloween decorations where up.  I used the witches holding hands in front of a stack of pumpkins from the mood board as my inspiration for my card, but instead of holding hands my creepy witches are holding pumpkins.  

My witch is the #6269 Waving Witch from Stampotique Originals.  She's the perfect size for an A2 card at 2x4 inches.  If you want a smaller set of witches I would recommend the #6288 Witchie Cube, which doesn't come in a cube if you get the cling option which I did.   This set of witches are 2x2 inches. 

This card was super fast and easy to create. I stamped the witches, colored them with a medium gray marker and a fresh tone marker.  Found a small pumpkin stamp, stamped, colored and fuzzy cut and glued it onto the witches hands.  Using black distressed ink, I inked all around the card and them splatter ink onto the card.  

Note... I used a stamp positional when stamping the witches, because 1.  I need a new black ink pad.  2. I wanted a bold black image since I knew I would be coloring the witched in grey.  I stamped each of them three times.

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - Oct Mid Month Challenge Reminder

 Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to this month's challenge reminder post.  Have you started working on a card?  If yes, GREAT!  If no, WHAT are you waiting for?  We want to see your Halloween creations.   Remember  the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

I used the lower right hand photo on this month's mood board as inspiration for my card.   

I started by stamping the tree and making a vase for it by using a small vase stencil by Altenew (Mod Vases).  Next I drew the wood tray and colored it with alcohol markers.  I used the small pumpkin from Newton's Perfect Pumpkin to make my three pumpkins and the small bat to stamp bats on all the branches.  I also stamped the spiderweb, because one of the branches was the perfect shape for it.   I kept the rest of the background clean. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner(s) will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - October Challenge

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to a new month at the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, which runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

Using the mood board's checked table clothed and pumpkins on candle holders, I created this table scene that shows three decorated pumpkins.  

I created my pumpkins first.  I started with the bigger tall one, which I base colored orange and them stenciled a spider web onto it using black Distress Oxide ink using a Tim Holtz stencil (not shown in picture).  The witch pumpkin was next.  I colored it with two green alcohol markers and stenciled the bats and the witch.  The final pumpkin I base colored gray and freehanded black stripes with alcohol markers. 

For the card's background I fist masked off the area that would become my table and using the Harlequin stencil I inked the rest of the card front with a yellow/green.  I made the tablecloth with a thin stipe stencil (not shown in picture). I positioned the stencil and inked with black, moved the stencil perpendicular to the first set of inked lines and inked again to create the checked pattern.  I finished the card by giving some of the pumpkins foam for dimension before placing them on the card front.

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - Sept Mid Month Challenge Reminder

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to this month's challenge reminder post.  Have you started working on a card?  If yes, GREAT!  If no, WHAT are you waiting for?  We want to see your Halloween creations.   Remember  the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

I'm all about skeletons this month, so when I found this cute clip art I knew it would make a super fun card.  I printed the skeleton to be 6.5"x3.5", so that it would fit onto a slim 8"x4" card.  I pop it up foam adhesive and added white gel pen movement lines at the head and hip area.   Added a sentiment and called the card done.  I can't help but smile when I look at this goofy skeleton.

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - September Challenge

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to a new month at the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, which runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

For my card this month I was inspired by the skull candle sticks on the mood board below.  I used the skull and rose stamps from the Stampendous Sugar Skull (CLD03) set and the base from a free line drawing candle stick to create  my three skull candles in varying heights.  The green spiderweb background is a sheet of washi tape paper from the DCSV Halloween Washi Tape 6x6 pad.

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.

TOB - August Mid Month Challenge Reminder

  Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to this month's challenge reminder post.  Have you started working on a card?  If yes, GREAT!  If no, WHAT are you waiting for?  We want to see your Halloween creations.   Remember  the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge, runs from the 2nd to the 28th of the month and the theme is always Halloween... ANYTHING related to Halloween!

I'm using the Halloween cupcake photo as my inspiration for this month's reminder post project.  I created two cards using the same products.  The Baker's Dozen stamp and die set from Papertrey Ink and the Halloween Web die from IO. 

On card one above, I used the larger of my MFT Wonky Stitched Frames to die cut a window into my mini card, which is basically a slim card panel folded in half (4"x8").  I inked the card front and the middle of the inside. Spayed it with Pearl Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels and glued the black die cut web over the window opening.   I added the little cupcake on foam square and added a few black die cut bats.  

On card two above, I used the web to create my window, but in order to keep the web in place, I backed the front panel with acetate, so that I could glue the web onto something.  I was going for a Halloween mandala look and feel with the web as the center element and the cupcakes and bats as the outer elements with this card, but being an A2 size card I didn't have the right dimensions... should have gone w/a square base.     

Here's this month's mood board for additional inspiration... Hope to see your card soon. 

Challenge ends on the 28th, winner will be announced on the 1st on the month before the start on the new challenge.  For a full list of all the rules please visit Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge home page.  unit next time... take care.