Joanne's Boo

Joanne started out as a blog design customer and turned into one of my good friends.  She's funny and off the wall and just the type of person you love talking (or emailing) with.  I knew she was turning into a good friend when I realized I was doodling while talking to her.  Do you do this?  Do you doodle when you are on the phone?  Well I do ... but only when I'm on the phone with people I enjoy talking to.  See, it's sort of like I just let go with people I like.  That's when the doodles come.. at least the one's that are weird and wild and cool. 

So.. here's today's doodle..  Why a sea monster eating a spider?  I don't know. These things just happen...

The content of the doodle is in no way a reflection on the person with whom I was speaking.

What?  Oh the title... well I did start this post with something in mind and got sidetracked.  Ok, well Joanne, my friend that I mentioned before... she sent me a card.  It's a very cool card and I wanted to share it with you.  (BTW I have several other cards that came in the mail TODAY!!! for my birthday and I'll be sharing these too.  Such talented people out there!)

So before you stone me... here's Joanne's card.

Isn't it so cool... and the tiny tag says "Friend".  Awwww oh and did you see all the needle piercing?  Whew.  Then, I opened it up and BOOM!

Nope, this is NOT another card.  It's the INSIDE of the card.  Whoa!  Yeah!  Sweet!  The black CS is a pocket that could hold a gift card or something.. but look at this detail.  Textured card stock, two nestabilities, ribbons, eyelets, ticket corner punches, another wild die cut border, embossing and needle piercing.  And that is on the INSIDE of the card.  Whew.

Did you notice the watermark on the images?  Yeah.. it's hers.  I just finished making it so I could post her card.  How cool is that??

Ok, now I have to rethink my cards.  They are ok on the outside but for the most part I woefully neglect the inside.

Spooky Tags!

Do you have a lot of Halloween stamps? Well I don't. *pout* So I pulled out a skull that I'd carved for a skull LTC swap and decided to not use. He's supposed to be laughing (as in "Dead Men Tell no Tales" Bwahahahahah) He's pretty spooky right?

The tiny little black edge you see is from a 1.75" circle punch that I adhered to the back. Why? Well... just cause I could and I like the look of the little black edge.

I stamped him on green to coordinate with the card I was working on. The green lent itself very well to creating shadows when I was painting.

I used a water brush and the china white from my watercolor pencils for the skull and an olive green and black for the shadows behind him. I pick up the color directly from the pencils onto the brush and mix on an acrylic stamping block (when needed). Keep in mind that the card stock is going to darken with the water and your finished color will be lighter when everything dries. If it's too light, go back and add more color.The tag on the card is cut out of DSP so it needed the black to make it stronger. I cut that one with the circle scissor plus so I could get a bigger border on it. The tag is tied onto the ribbon and loose otherwise. I think it's cool when stuff on the card moves, or flaps or something. You too?

I liked the way it turned out so much that I did six more!! (tags not cards) The one at the top is part of those six. They are on Stampin Up Kiwi Kiss (retired) card stock cause it's the stiffest stuff I have. Seriously nice thick paper... anyway you need that with the tag clearlits die by Sizzix. It was gifted to me and I really like it. It's clear in the center so you can see what you are going to cut out. So cool.

Oh! Did I tell you I got a cuttlebug from a friend for my birthday? *squeal* It's like the most amazing gift EVER! Another wonderful friend came and took me out to lunch - risking life and limb to do so since it was my first day I was allowed to go out without a mask. Yeah.. swine flu hit our house and it was NOT fun. Wash your hands boys and girls!

Now to figure out what to do with the six spooky tags that I made... Joey says I can give 'em to the teachers. I was thinking of making some banners with punch pal bats... these might work really well with that theme. What would you do with 'em?

Thanks for looking!