Sneak Peek #2: Spooky Silhouettes and Autumn Leaves

Day Two and two previews today, both using sets designed by Gina K herself! This first uses "Spooky Silhouettes", and the images are just that! They lend themselves to some really fun techniques and make fast fast cards, co coloring! I chose the witch brewing up some trouble, backlit by a white Nestabilitie circle sponged in More Mustard and Pumpkin Pie (to match my Basic Grey Ambrosia DP inside). The black and white DP "Ebony and Alabaster" you see on the front is a new paper we are releasing this Friday, the swirls and dots I thought were perfect with her magic potion!
So I was looking at my new Rounded Corner Punch, and maybe I just had silhouettes on the brain after staring at this set for awhile, but is it just me or does the space in between the two corners look a little like a bat?? I punched out three along the edge (which also makes kind of a cool looking wrought iron "haunted mansion" silhouette on it's own), and added some googley eyes with Mono Multi. I think these give it a not-so-scary, whimsical feel, but omit the eyes if you want to just go for "creepy elegance" LOL!

Speaking of creepy, is this not the spookiest old tree ever? The set also contains lots of little bats that you can stamp around in any formation you please, LOTS of fun! (and don't those punches look cool from inside, too?)
And now for something completely different...

One of my favorite things about Autumn (or any time of year really) is watching the leaves turn. Even though I'm not in a part of the country that gets a true explosion of colors that other areas do, but the rusts and golds are still glorious to behold. "Autumn Leaves", the new "Free With Three" set is going to become a sentimental favorite in my collection, I can tell. I most often like to use beautiful leaves on sympathy cards, they are some of the most appropriate images to convey that "circle of life"...

I stamped my leaves and greeting in Burnt Umber Palette Ink on my mat, cardbase and envelope and colored with Koh-i-Noor pencils, adding a shadow with my Warm Grey 20% Prismacolor marker. I scored a simple border using my Scor-Pal on DCWV Earth Elements Textured CS and sanded it a bit to make it pop. I pulled some natural hemp through after my mounting my Nestabilitie cut focal point on dimensionals, it is my favorite "ribbon" for fall cards, perfect color and twiggy texture...

I'm sorry to say this first sample was made with a purpose beyond previewing the set: I sent it to my mother and Grandpa Ralph a few days ago, hospice had notified her the end was near so she went to be with her father. (I learned Monday he passed away Sunday night in his sleep, probably as I was drafting this post) :( At 92, he had a long, fruitful life, and told us he was ready to go. Ralph Mason was a dentist and an extremely prolific, talented painter all his life who passed along a love of art and a share of his gift to me. They are both proud of the work I am doing and I am so grateful in his last few months he was able to see me realize this dream of mine to become a working artist this past year. It is a legacy I hope I can pass on to my own children.The sentiment and verse above from "Flowers for Daisy" are all I included inside, I couldn't think of a better way to communicate my love and support than these do ... If you can, please include Ralph and my mother Marty and my Aunt Jeannie in your prayers. Thank you so much.

Please don't forget to leave a comment here today for the blog candy (my new set), and check back tomorrow for a sneak peek at Carolyn's newest set, haven't you missed her stamps? You can also see peeks from these sets Gina K, Kurtis, Carolyn, Emily, Jessica and Joanne. Have a wonderful day :)