I’ve been wanting to color up this cute little C.C. Designs “Monster Eli” since before last Halloween so I finally decided to “just do it!” Also, I wanted to try the emboss resist technique that I recently saw demonstrated as part of the MFT Camp Create series, and I had a cute Halloween sentiment stamp set from Studio G that I was reminded of by the demo video.
I first heat embossed three of the little speech bubble sentiments and heat embossed them with white embossing powder. Then I picked Tim Holtz Distress Inks in what I think of as Halloween colors: Black Soot, Wilted Violet, and Spiced Marmalade and used blending tools to create a soft colorful background. The embossed speech bubbles seemed to magically appear as I blended on the colors. To create a finished edge on both sides of the background panel, I used a black and orange polka dot paper scrap from the Graphic 45 “Le Cirque” collection and added two rows of those circles to both sides (it was a happy surprise to find that this scrap matched the Spiced Marmalade in the background and the polka dots on Monster Eli perfectly–YAY). I adhered the whole panel to the right of the black card stock base, using some thin Dollar Tree fun foam to raise it just a touch off of the card base for some added dimension.
Then I stamped out Monster Eli with MFT Black Licorice Hybrid Ink (I wasn’t sure if I wanted to watercolor or Copic color the image so this hybrid ink was the way to go). Ultimately I decided to use the following Copic colors to color up the little monster:
Hair: C5, 7, 8 and B00
Skin: E000, 00, 21 and 11 with R20 for blush
Eyes and teeth: B00 with white gelly roll pen highlights
Polka dots and stripes on monster costume: Y13, 36 and 38
Purple part of monster costume: V12, 15 and 17
To make it look like the little guy was popping off the card, I glued the lower part of him down and raised the middle part of him with 3M double sided foam adhesive and raised the top part of him with extra thick double sided foam adhesive. I think it also helped that rather than including the whole image straight up and down, I popped him in from the side as if he was jumping into the frame of the card. Little Monster Eli is a wild man! He cannot be contained! LOL
Lastly, to add some more Halloween fun and dimensional accents, I die cut a bunch of bats using the Diemond Dies Flying Bats Die Set from black card stock. I layered some to provide strength where the bats hung off the edge of the card and then added a top layer bat with the wings curled up so that it would look like the bats were flying off the card (they too will not be contained!). To add some magical sparkle and shine I coated the bats with Clear Wink of Stella.
For the inside of the card, I used another scrap from my scrap box. I had just enough of a shimmery silver paper to die cut a square cross stitched panel from it using the Diemond Dies Cross Stitched Squares Die Set. I adhered it at an angle and trimmed off the excess to re-use at below the offset square. I liked the off-kilter look, especially when I added a few more of the die cut bats to give the inside of the card a totally finished Halloween-y look! 🙂
Remember, my readers can get 10% off and free worldwide shipping on all orders of $35 or more at Diemond Dies!
The following is a card share video that includes the emboss resist technique process:
This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More Anything Goes Challenge
MarkerPOP Embossing Challenge – WINNER
Simon Says Stamp Monday Try to Contain Yourself Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Let’s Go Wild Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Craft Your Passion Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
MFT Sketch Challenge # 293
MFT Camp Create Remarkable Resist Challenge
Beautiful! Love your wonderful blends and great composition! Very cohesive and you executed the technique perfectly! Thanks for playing along with us at 613 Avenue Create!
Hugz,
Chana, Owner
Thank you so much! I really didn’t have any idea of what I was going to make until I got started and then each piece just kind of came together. Don’t you love it when that happens? 🙂
Gorgeous background blending those sumptuous colours. Love that little image, I can see why you wanted to colour him!
Glad you dropped it onto the front porch at 614 Avenue Create.
Hugs Sheryl DT member xx
Thanks so much Sheryl! Yep, isn’t he a cutie patootie?! I really had fun finally coloring him up and trying out that background technique. 🙂
Kristina, you are a natural born talented artist! I’m so glad we met in the ning site and got to know one another! xoxo Jen This Halloween card is simply stunning!
Oh my goodness, you are too sweet. I am so grateful that I met you at the ning site too. You were the one who introduced me to the whole world of YT crafting and I will forever be so thankful! That one thing has changed my life so much for the better these last 3 years. xoxo, Kristina
Beautiful-love the gorgeous festive colors! Thanks for playing with us at Craft Your Passion!
Carolyn DT
Thanks so very much Carolyn! I knew I was a bit early for this card, but I had so much fun with it. 😀
such an adorable image – love the blended background – thanks for joining us at Addicted to Stamps and More
Thank so very much Tanja! TFStopping by! Hugs, Kristina
I like this fabulous card. Thanks for playing along at TTCRD xx Jan DT
Thanks so very much Jan! I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and leave crafty love!
I agree, it’s never too early for Halloween. Love the card, great mix of creepy and cute. Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Hugs, Sandra
Thanks bunches Sandra! Love creepy cute! 😀 tfstopping by and leaving crafty love!
Uber kewt! Love this entry, thank you for sharing with Creatalicious, Jackie CT member.
Awww thanks so much Jackie! I really appreciate your sweet comment. Big hugs, Kristina
How cute is THIS?! I absolutely LOVE it!!! Thank you so much for joining us for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge!
Awww thanks so much! I had a lot of fun making this card. 🙂
Gorgeous card design and LOVE your background,the blending is perfect,and most of all I adore that image :)…thank you for joining us at ATSM…hugs Željka
Oh thank you so much Zeljka! That is so kind of you. I struggle with smooth background blending so your words are particularly encouraging! 😀 Hugs, Kristina
A fabulous card! It is never to early for Halloween projects… 😉
Thank you soo much for taking part in our ” anything goes with optional at the sea / beach” challenge over at Creatalicious & good luck in the draw.
Hope to see you again in our new challenge as well…
Hugs,
Melanie
(DT-Coordinator Creatalicious Challenges)
(DT Crafty Friends)
(DT The Sketchy Challenges)
Awww thanks Melanie! That’s how I feel about Halloween projects too! 😀
This is super cute.. I love how you created the background. Thanks for joining us at MarkerPop!
Awww thanks so much Holly! I really appreciate your sweet comment and THANK YOU SO MUCH for picking my card as one of your top 3! I’m so honored! Big hugs, Kristina