Light-up Dracula Halloween Cards

For the last few years, I have been making extra spooky Halloween cards to send out to friends and family.  When the Monstrous stamp set from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous debuted a few months ago, I found this year’s inspiration!  The vampire in the set is so dapper and is even wearing that classic horror movie cape! So I definitely wanted my card to have some stylish gothic-looking elements to it, and maybe an electrifying surprise too!

Once I had stamped and colored my Draculas, I built up the card design  with a stormy night background, and some die cuts that reminded me of abandoned rooms in a crumbling castle. Then I added a sentiment from the same stamp set.

Then, it was time for the special effects!

Want to see this card in action? Check out my Instagram post for a quick video!

I mean, how scary is a vampire with glowing red eyes?! To make this happen, I used the starter kit from Chibitronics, as well as some extra LED light stickers.  I really like the little activity booklet that comes the starter kit, because it guides you through creating different types of circuits–you get to practice before you start building your card. I wanted the card recipients to press on the “Wicked” from the sentiment on the front to light up Dracula’s eyes.

I cut openings into the various layers of the card for the lights to shine through, and marked the eye locations on the card base.  Then I assembled the front of the card, including slipping some red-colored acetate behind the vampire’s eye holes.

Because I was planning to mail these cards, I needed to figure out a way to get the lights to shine by pressing on the card, but not be too thick or fragile. I decided to place the battery in the center of the card, and build my circuit with a switch that got pressed at the bottom of the card.  I also made a basic foam backing from 3mm fun foam. I figured that eliminating the usual many pieces of foam tape might help the card not get bent or creased in the mail.I decorated the inside of the card too.  Figured I sent so much time on the card front, might as well give the interior special treatment as well.  I used a stencil and sponged some Deco mousse and then heat-embossed a sentiment from the Monstrous stamp set.

Whenever I mail out a thick card, I like to use a slightly bigger envelope. I just had to go a bit extra on the envelopes, so I stamped a ruined church on the address side, and used my eclipse stamps for a spooky full moon effect.  The four cards I sent out all arrived in great condition, and my recipients happily sent me videos and photos of Dracula’s eyes lighting up.  I’ll call that a Halloween win!

 

The CASE of the Halloween Raven Card

Last year, Waltzingmouse Stamps released a very cool Halloween stamp set called All Hallows Eve. It had a spooky ruined church, plenty of gothic text and script, and a simply superb raven. I had especially admired this card by Tosha Leyendekker and so this year, I decided to make my own version.

I had similar, but not the same supplies, and I knew I wanted to make a smaller and simpler card. I didn’t have any ideas for a background when *suddenly* I was reminded of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland and the “infernal art” that covers the walls. I selected a Hero Arts background stamp and used Delicata silver ink on dark grey card stock to create my “wallpaper.” I rubbed some Black Soot Distress ink around the edges and corners to add some depth.

I looked through my dies for a frame, and found that Spellbinders Floral Ovals—die cut in black— looked a bit like wrought iron. Sponging black and silver inks and smearing on some Black Soot stickles further distressed the frame. For the center, I blended many shades or yellow, red and orange (or green, yellow and black), and then lightly misted with some shimmer spray. Finally! I got to stamp that raven with Versafine ink. Was there ever a bird more suited to Black Onyx?

On the inside of the card, I used Perfect Pearls to make the sentiments stand out. I find that it renders detailed stamps more finely than trying to use heat embossing.

For a finishing touch, I selected a dark grey envelope and used more Waltzingmouse stamps (Hocus Pocus) to create a sinister gate border.

Spooky Halloween Matchbook Candy Holders

I’ve made an exciting discovery:  the Sizzix Matchbook Notebook die makes a box that’s the perfect fit for a Ghirardelli square! I immediately gathered halloween papers and trims and set to creating.

I really got a lot of use out of my Tim Holtz rub-ons.  I like adding some spooky words and phrases to make sure the recipient knows that this is a scary treat.

To close the boxes, I attached eyelets and then tied a bow with some Lawn Fawn twine.

Glitter!

I’ve been waiting for a reason to use this 3D eyeball!

I actually hate siders, but put fear aside to decorate one box.  Maybe the “Poison” box will provide the bug spray??

Here’s a wicked witch, stamped and heat-embossed on plain card stock. Stamps are by Waltzingmouse.

My favorite “inside” decoration. The background is Distress ink.

 Ghirardelli makes a Pumpkin Spice Caramel square (delicious, btw) that would be seasonally appropriate, but any flavor square would make a nice “grown-up” treat for a friend.