We went to McKinney Falls State Park, which has some really cool trails and rock formations. The giant bald cyprus trees come up out of the two creeks that join up to form the falls inside the park, which flow over hulking ledges of limestone. I'm happiest when I'm out on a path somewhere, and this was no exception, despite the 102 degree temperature.
Didn't see too many critters - just lots of grasshoppers and some coyote poop. Coyotes LOVE to poop smack in the middle of trails. Seriously - it's a thing. Maybe I'll get the Nobel Prize for figuring out why.
Anyway, we are in the second longest heat streak in Austin history, with the coolest day in the streak at 102. This is my absolute favorite weather. Hot as hell and not a cloud in the sky. My fave summer ever was 2011, when we had the longest streak like this on record - 27 days! They think the one we're in will break after 23 days.
To me when the August streaks end, it means the lead-up to Halloween. It's when I can get out my spooky stamps and door decorations and indulge myself with my favorite holiday's images.
I was listening to a podcast the other day (the Scary Stories podcast) and the woman was talking about how we are programmed to actually enjoy being scared. It's all about the chemistry, of course, but it's why we love rollercoasters, and haunted houses and, scary stories.
We used to sing these spooky songs in elementary school in the lead up to Halloween, and I loved them - I still sing them in my head in the fall, and get that same creepy feeling. This one was my favorite - and we all used to jump at the BOO.
In Texas, 99% of the time, you're sweating like a pregnant mouse in a wool sock in your Halloween costume, but once a decade or so, we actually will get a cooler snap, and those Halloweens were the best. It's no fun bringing home a pumpkin full of melted chocolate.
I'm hoping the kids in my neighborhood are bringing their A game to trick or treating this year, because it's pretty much my favorite.
So today is all about Halloween! The new Hero Arts Oh What Fun catalog is out, and all the cards you'll see from me are in the catalog (pages 46-47) as well as some Christmas cards I'll blog later. You can flip through the online version or buy a copy here.
I fell in love with the Halloween backgrounds this time, so that's what I focused on - especially this awesome collage of all things spooky.
I stamped the image once in Unicorn ink on black cardstock, and then stamped it again in Intense Black on white cardstock. Then I cut out select images, and colored the white edges black and glued them in place on top of image. I love the little ghost dog on the grave. And the hand. Then I took my Circle Infinity dies and cut out the sentiment. I used these black enamel dots to break up that white space. They have a whole new line of these that match their ink and cardstock! It just makes me happy :) Plus the way the white ink looks on the black cardstock adds to the ghostly feel. I had so much fun doing this one.
Do you see what this is on the next card???
"While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping"
IT'S A WHOLE NEVERMORE BACKGROUND! I nearly peed my pants when I saw that. No one is a bigger Poe fan that I. I even went and saw his dorm room one summer.
Unfortunately, the bird that I used is retired, but if you look in the catalog, you'll see the beautiful substitution they made on my card with the Halloween Mirror set. I'm such a dingbat. Anyway, I used the paint splatter stamp from this set for the bloody background. MUAHAHAHAHAH!
I took a Gel Press background and added a thin strip of this green glitter paper across the bottom and added the sentiment from this set below it. I positioned the circle in the middle and then stamped the kitty and the cauldron from this same set on top. For the bubbles coming out of the cauldron, I added glue to them and added the glitter from this set. So fun.
I hope you've enjoyed these. See below for details on the giveaway today!
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There's a blog hop to kick off this awesome catalog today AND a $50 gift card to give away. So just leave me a comment telling me your favorite Halloween or Autumn tradition from elementary school and you will be entered to win! Be sure and see the inspiration from the incredible team below. They amaze me month after month. Good people attract good people, and Hero is a good magnet for a reason!
