Inky Bee Stampers

My card for today is something fun! My team has a challenge each month and the October challenge is to create a SPOOKY card. I set about creating my own “Spooky” Halloween card using stamp sets I already have on hand! How did I do?

By the way…you will want to read through this entire post for the full spooky experience!

Once I decided on all of the stamped images I would include on my card…the rest was easy. I started with two white cardstock panels measuring 5″ x 3-3/4″. On one of these panels, I positioned the largest die from the Stylish Shapes Dies set onto the bottom of the panel so that the circle die was only covering the bottom two-thirds of the card. I then cut out the panel and this became my mask to do some ink blending to create the moon and sky. Oh, and I saved the circle cut out, too! You will need this to cover the moon when you ink blend the sky. I could have cut a second circle using masking paper, but I already had the cardstock circle cut out so I just went with that. The mask was adhered to the second piece of cardstock and I secured the pieces together using a few strips of Post It Tape.

I used a Blending Brush to blend Lemon Lolly ink over the circle cut out of my mask to create the moon. Then I removed the cardstock mask and positioned the die cut circle over the moon. I carefully held the circle over the moon while I used a blending brush to blend Pumpkin Pie ink around the moon. I blended the Pumpkin Pie ink out to the sides of the card and approximately two-thirds of the way up the panel. Next, I used a separate Blending Brush to blend Gorgeous Grape ink above the Pumpkin Pie blended area. Lastly, I blended Starry Sky ink just above the area of Gorgeous Grape and across the top of the panel. So far, so good! The sky on this panel is looking pretty spooky!

The Seasonal Branches Stamp Set has two branch stamps. I used the larger of the branches from this set to stamp trees on either side of the moon. I stamped the trees two times in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on each side and varied the height of the trees. I also partially stamped the branches coming in on the upper right of the panel. Okay…getting spookier!

I used the Alphabet A La Mode Dies to cut out the letters to spell “BOO” from Basic Black cardstock. The letters were glued directly over the moon. From the Cottage Wreaths Stamp Set I stamped the spider to the left of the word “Boo”. Spiders have webs, so I used a Basic Black Stampin’ Write marker to draw a web from the top of the panel to the spider. Spiders are icky and SPOOKY!

To add some final touches to the card front, I used Whisper White Craft Ink, or white pigment ink, to dot some stars in the sky. I used the tip of a toothpick for this. I used a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker to draw in a few birds flying in the sky. I’m calling these Ravens. Ravens are also very SPOOKY (thank you, Edgar Allan Poe)! The panel was then adhered to a Gorgeous Grape mat and adhered to the front of a Basic Black card base using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

On the inside panel I stamped the sentiment “happy Halloween” from the Pick of the Patch Stamp Set in Pumpkin Pie ink. The Jack-O-Lantern face was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink as was the pumpkin stem. Two trees were stamped on either side of the panel in black Memento ink. Without reinking my blending brushes, I lightly blended Pumpkin Pie ink on the lower portion of the panel and Starry Sky ink on the upper portion of the panel. The panel was then adhered to a Gorgeous Grape mat and adhered to the inside of the card. Still spooky!

I stamped a tree branch in black Memento ink onto the envelope front and stamped a pumpkin next to the tree. I also stamped a tiny little pumpkin on the envelope flap. Several black Adhesive-Backed Sparkle Gems were added to the sky on the card front along with a Black & White Gingham bow to finish up the card.

Okay, so I MAY have had a lot of fun creating this SPOOKY Halloween card! Yes, yes I did! The Raven, by Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite Halloween poems. There were a lot of little kids around when my sons were young, and we used to have kid-friendly Halloween parties for them, and we would always read this poem. They loved it! But when reading the poem you have to use your scariest voice…it’s a must! If you’d like to read The Raven for yourself, click here.

If you would like to recreate today’s card, click on the image below to download, save or print the pdf tutorial. Enjoy!

Celebrate 35 Years with Stampin’ Up with 35% More or 35% Off – Joining Special

We want to celebrate our 35^th anniversary in style! From 3–31 October, anyone who joins our fun crafting community as a new demonstrator can choose either 35% OFF the cost of their Starter Kit or get 35% MORE product with their Starter Kit! This is a great joining promotion!

Here are the details…

Promotion Period:  October 3-31, 2023

Ordering Deadlines

• Phone: 31 October 2023; 6:59 PM (MT)
• Online: 31 October 2023; 11:59 PM (MT)

New demonstrators can choose one of the following options for their Starter Kit:

Option 1: Get 35% OFF the normal cost of a Stampin’ Up! Starter Kit. Those who select this option will receive $125 USD | $165 CAD worth of product for only $64.35 USD | $87.75 CAD!

Option 2: Get 35% MORE product with their Starter Kit. Those who select this option will receive $168.75 USD | $222.75 CAD worth of product by spending $99 USD | $135 CAD!

No matter which option new demonstrators choose for their Starter Kit, both provide them with free business supplies and free shipping on their Starter Kit—not to mention all the fun that comes with being part of Stampin’ Up!

FREE OnStage@Home Registration

It gets better! Those who sign up for a Starter Kit during this offer will also be automatically registered for FREE* to our virtual OnStage event on 11 November—a $77 USD | $102 CAD value!

• Those who sign up for this offer have the opportunity to watch the event independently, gathered together with other demonstrators, or with their Team Leader.
• Demonstrators who join during this promotion will be automatically added to the OnStage attendees; they do not need to register separately.
• Demonstrators who join during this promotion will also receive an email with all the information about this event.

*Please note that free registration will not include the gift box.

Additional Details

• Orders that include one of these Starter Kit options must be closed by the ordering deadline on 31 October.
• New team members may not use their team leader’s shipping address to ship their kit.
• New team members may only pay for their kit using a credit card on which they are listed as an authorized user.
• New demonstrators who submit their Independent Demonstrator Agreement (IDA) before 3 October or after 31 October (anytime outside of this Starter Kit promotion period) will not be eligible for this Starter Kit offer.

Don’t forget that there are a lot of advantages to becoming a demonstrator when you join my team:

• A 20%+ discount on Stampin’ Up! products
• Early access to new catalogs and product pre-orders
• Exclusive access to our team’s Facebook group
• Joining a fun and supportive community

I hope you take advantage of this great joining special and you consider joining my team. The Stampin’ Up community is the absolute best and our team, in particular! There is no obligation to maintain your demonstrator status if you decide that it is not for you. Plus you will have my full support whether you are joining just for the discount or if you’d like to start a business as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions at inkybeestampers@gmail.com!

New! Rustic Christmas Countdown Kit Added to the Kits Collection!

The Rustic Christmas Countdown Kit has all you need to make a rustic, 25 day paper advent calendar. What a great way to bring a classic, cozy Christmas feeling to your home this season!

Here is what is included in the Kit:

• Enough supplies to create 25 individual envelopes
• Printed die cuts, printed labels, adhesive, embellishments, clothespins, and twine
• Folded envelope size: 4″ x 3″ (10.2 x 7.6 cm)
• Coordinating colors: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive

Want to see for yourself how adorable this kit is? Check out the video below!

If you would like to purchase this kit for yourself, click on the link below!

Join me for a Virtual Craft & Chat – October 11!

Would you like to have some dedicated time to work on your latest card or scrapbooking project? Would you like to gather remotely with fellow crafters to work on projects, chit chat, ask crafting questions, share a technique with the group, and generally have fun? If your answer is “yes” to any of these questions, then these Craft & Chat sessions are for you!

Join me for my next Craft & Chat on October 11! Email me at inkybeestampers@gmail.com if you would like to join in! I’d love to see your smiling face!

My Craft & Chat sessions are held the second Wednesday of every month beginning at 7 pm Eastern and will last about an hour. Email me at inkybeestampers@gmail.com if you’re interested in participating – please indicate the month you will be attending. You must respond no later than the Monday prior to that month’s Craft & Chat session.

October Host Code

Use my current Host Code and receive a free gift from me valued at $8 when you place an order of $35 or more (before shipping and tax). If you place an order greater than $150, do not use the Host Code as you will be eligible for Stampin’ Rewards (but you will still receive the free gift from me!). Use my October Host Code –EF22FGYK.

Products used to create today’s card are included below along with a link for each item that will take you to my online store.