The Cat | Sue Plumb

Happy Halloween everyone!
Sue Plumb here with my latest design team project for you. In keeping with the Hallowen spirit, today I have a creepy mixed media scrapbook layout to share using some of the recently released Halloween stamps and a snap of our family cat. Unfortunately our furry boy has a bit of a reputation for giving my daughter a scratch or a nip, so I made this page especially for her. (She instantly proclaimed it to be her favourite page I have ever made and it is already framed and up in her room! haha)

I went with a different size for this layout - opting for an 8.5x11" size page, instead of the usual 12x12" I usually create. I started with a piece of white cardstock, and added some Dina Wakley acrylic paints to the background. First 'Elephant', followed by 'Umber', 'Black' and then 'Cheddar'. I alternated between using a brush and brayer to apply the layers; finishing off with 'Buff' applied to the area where my photo was going to go.

Once the paint was dry it was time to add some stamping! I began with the Cross Marks Background, stamping it randomly around my page using Staz On ink. I also added some larger marks using the Carved Xs stamp.

Once I had the marks down on the background, I added some feature images - the new Raven Looking Up in the bottom right corner; and the Ext Witch Hazel label a few times around the page. I also added the Beware Of: list, using the Set of Vampire Teeth to frame it at the top and bottom.

I couldn't create a page like this without any "blood", right?! I used Colour Blast 'Sunburnt' Colour Artist Ink and applied it by dripping it onto the page using the dropper, and also by splattering it using a small brush.

I then added my photo (I had pre-cut around the silhouette and attached some cardboard to the back); adding a small paper doily and some frayed gauze underneath it before securing it to the page. I altered my photo to give it some extra "creepiness" by rubbing a little red paint around his eyes and using a fine tip white Sharpie to white out his eyes.

I used a handmade DIY chevron embellishment from Charms Creations and altered it by stamping directly onto the fabric using the Row of Distressed Lines stamp. I then attached it to my page using Helmar 450 adhesive.

I stamped the May Contain Human Flesh quote onto some white cardstock, then fussy cut around it and stuck some cardboard underneath to pop it up from the background.

To complete my "list" and also to provide a title for my page, I added the words the cat using some old Sassafras Lass alpha stickers.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I hope I have inspired you to get inky and create something creepy too!

Stamps used:
- Cross Marks Background
- Carved Xs
- Raven Looking Up
- Ext Witch Hazel
- Beware Of:
- Set of Vampire Teeth
- Row of Distressed Lines
- May Contain Human Flesh

Other materials:
- cardstock
- Dina Wakley acrylic paints (Elephant, Umber, Black, Cheddar, Buff)
- Tsukineko Staz On ink
- Colour Blast Colour Artist Ink (Sunburnt)
- fine tip white Sharpie
- paper doily, gauze
- Miracle Tape
- Charms Creations chevron
- Helmar 450 adhesive