Dream Valley - Halloween

Time is flying by right now. Before you know it the Christmas season will be here, but before that of course, it's Halloween. Not a big tradition in New Zealand, but I learnt to love it when we were visiting my sister and her family in Los Angeles. They sure know how to do Halloween there! So I've really enjoyed making a couple of Halloween cards lately and today, it's a DT card for Dream Valley. Our new challenge, (no prizes for guessing) is Halloween. It's a fun challenge and we so look forward to seeing all your gorgeous Halloween makes this fortnight. So embrace the fun, pull out your 'sleuky' stamps (Georgie's baby word for spooky, it's kinda stuck in our household) and send them our way. I'm so looking forward to seeing all the wonderful entries you all come up with for our challenge. 

I have a major soft spot for Sylvia Zet's adorable images. I find them utterly enchanting and she has a sweet lil' witch called Hazel which I have loved for ages. So it was pure pleasure getting to colour this up for our Halloween challenge. You can find her at Whimsy Stamps in rubber and in Sylvia's Wee Stamps Digi Store.

I have loved looking at Teresa Allday's gorgeous Criss Cross cards, for a while now. So when I was working out what I wanted to do with this challenge, I toyed with the idea of a treat box, or goodie bag and happened to pop into Teresa's blog again for a looksy and found her tutorial on these fabulous Criss Cross cards. So I was inspired to give it a go. I realised after I'd finished adding the papers to the insert, that it would have been clever to add a 'handle like' die cut embellishment to the top, but I thought of it too late, so that's something to try for next time. 

This is the card without the insert in


This shows the insert slightly raised up out of the pocket

I embellished both sides of the insert, as I didn't want to have the 'poem' side facing forward and it didn't work to have the purple paper on that side. I wanted to add the purple to balance her hat, as I didn't tie the purple in with anything else until I added the scalloped mat behind the image. It was too plain to have just the paper, so I added the word 'BOO' with a set of Sizzix alphabet dies and dotted some ghosts around for good measure. I love the two in the top right corner as they remind me of the Hattifatteners in my kiddies favourite books and TV Show - the Moomins.

Here's a little montage of the insert and pocket showing both sides.

I hunted for ages for a good Halloween poem to use on this card and got so frustrated I just wrote one myself in the end. Nothing fabulous, but it rhymes! I think I was a little heavy handed with the embellishments on this page. Halloween comes but once a year, so I was determined to get as many of my Halloween dies on there as possible! I do love that castle on the hill though. It does have a 'spooky feel' to it, especially with the bats flying around. Those are both CC Designs dies. The cat corner die is Joanna Sheen and the others are Quickutz including the cauldron on the front and ghosts on the flipside of the insert.

I did go a little crazy with the die cuts on this make, but hidden amongst those, is a lovely wrought iron fence from Impression Obsession. I put this over an orange organza ribbon which you can see peeking out behind the image. I've also added a black organza flower over a black feather and a smaller corner die which comes with the cat die set from Joanna Sheen. You have to look hard to spot that with all the black on black. But it looks good in reality. 

Do go over to the Dream Valley Challenge and check out what my amazing team mates have been up to, there's some really fab designs. Our DT call is still on, so if you fancy joining our fun team, come on over and apply. The DT Call post is at the top of the blog. I'm yawning away here, as it's after midnight and I need to get to bed. So I wish you all a fantastic day and I'll be back again soon with another card. Hugs, Wends x

Challenge Entries: 

A Little Bit Crafty: Boo!

Papertake Weekly: Super Fly
Sweet Stampin' Challenge: Halloween

Bunny Zoe's Crafts: October ~ Animals

Crafting Musketeers: #18 ~ Autumn Colours
QKR Stampede Challenge: #109 ~ The Witch Is In

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Colour Challenge

Totally Gorjuss: Show A Feather (Under the Black Flower)

Stamping Sensations: October Challenge ~ Warm Autumn Colours
Loves Rubberstamps Challenges: #122 ~ Pretty Woman (Prettiest Witch)

Update: I was showcased as 'Joni's Favourite' on the Loves Rubberstamps Challenge. Thanks Joni! You made my day. :)