Maura's Musings

Monday, October 26

Movie Inspiration: Hocus Pocus!

Hello Monday my friends! This week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge we are all about MOVIE INSPIRATION.

Sadly, this week we say good-bye to the amazingly talented Alison Bomber . I am always so inspired by her creativity! It has been wonderful having you with us again Alison!

At this time of the year, one of my favorite movies to watch for Halloween is "Hocus Pocus." I just love the story, costumes and facial expressions of the three sister witches. Every year, it is a tradition for me to watch it. So, I created "a little hocus pocus" card (or two).

No step by step this week, just some photos. I used my STAMPtember 2019 set by Tim Holtz for the critter. This one is colored with Tombow markers, and distressed with Ground Espresso. Isn't that big eyeball a great embellishment? How much fun can you have with those?

Love that worm wallpaper, and the spiders encroaching on the apothecary. What are those bottles filled with? Magic potions? Spells? Poisons?

This card, I used colored pencils for the coloring. On both, I spritzed on some sprays to add a bit more color to the background.

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you will join our Movie Inspiration challenge this week! Our generous friends at Simon Says Stamp are offering a $25 shopping voucher.

A great place to shop!

Simon is on Instagram - use #sssmchallenge

Be sure to head on over and see what movies have inspired the design team!

Friday, October 23

Creative Jumpstart Bundle #5 from Nathalie Kalbach!

Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 5 is a collection of CJS video lessons from the archives. You will receive links to 12 downloadable video lessons from Creative JumpStart 2019. This collection includes project and technique based lessons from 12 different talented mixed media artists. Download the lessons to your library and enjoy learning at your own pace from a diverse group of Creative JumpStart classics.

This collection is just $9.99 and available immediately. Get ready to JumpStart YOUR Creativity! Learn more and read a description of the lessons HERE.

LOOK at this great line up of artists!!

LOOK at these fantastic projects!!

Monday, October 19

Gnome in a Dome

Hello Monday my friends! Welcome to this week's challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - NOT A CARD. I made a fun decor piece, and I don't have a step by step for this project, but photos to show the elements.

I've captured a Woodland Gnome in the dome! He was trying to hide behind these toadstools and leaves on the forest floor, but a tiny chirping bird (Tim Holtz Stamptember 2020 set) caught my attention. Fall is such a wonderful time to be outdoors and observe the changing season, colorful leaves, animals on the move, and catching those earthy odors.

I added a few leaves to the gnome and cut off part of his hat so he would fit into the dome.

I added more die cut leaves and twigs onto cheesecloth I had dyed with coffee. I put the pearls in to represent other mushrooms.

I painted the top of the toadstools red.

Isn't this a cute bird from Tim's Stamptember set?

The gnome is well camouflaged, I am lucky I spotted him!

It was fun to challenge myself to create something I don't often make. There are so many ideas that aren't a card that you can make, so I hope you do and join us this week! Simon Says Stamp is generously offering a $25 shopping voucher again this week.