Gerda Steiner Halloween Card

Let me start this post by saying I apologize if the use of a witch image on this card offends anyone. I have always avoided using images of witches, fortune tellers, or other occult signs and symbols. As a Christian, I know that such things are nothing to play around with, and for Halloween cards, I usually stick to images of cute kids or animals dressed in silly costumes. This month's digi stamp in the Gerda Steiner monthly progressive challenge, however, is an adorable mouse riding a broomstick. I think this little mouse fits more in the "too cute to spook" category than the occult, but I completely understand if you disagree. I have often wished we could remove all the gruesome aspects of Halloween and let our kids just enjoy dressing up as someone/something else and eating loads of candy.
I love the colors of purple, green, orange and black for Halloween cards and decorations. This card turned out a lot busier than I would have normally planned, but I was following a sketch that called for a mat of the main card, 2 different papers underneath the image, and a mat of the oval with the image. I had a few papers that were all in the same color scheme, so I went to work cutting them all out. In hindsight, I probably should have gone with solid colors rather than all the patterned papers, but I consider every card a learning process.
The card itself is a DCWV blank black card. I used my Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles to cut out my next layer, adhering it with foam squares after weaving green and orange floss through the left and bottom sides and tying them in a bow to match the sketch. Next, I cut two rectangles with Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles. I cut each rectangle in half lengthwise so I could follow the sketch by having 2 different pattern papers under my oval. I adhered both halves with glue tape. Next came the mat layer for my oval, which I cut out with Spellbinders Opulent Ovals and adhered with foam squares.
For the digi stamp, I decided not to color it digitally. I chose some Halloween digital paper and placed the stamp on the paper using my Silhouette Design Studio software. Then I added an oval cut line around it and did a print and cut with my Silhouette Portrait. I colored the image with markers and mounted the oval to the card with more foam squares.
To finish it off, I added a few sequins in the top right corner to match the last detail of the sketch.

Side view of the layers of the card:

Close up of the Gerda Steiner image. I used a light green marker for the hat band and the spider, but it doesn't show up very well in the photos.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

WordArt Wednesday
http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Crafty Friends Challenge 2W,(W1) - something beginning with B (broomstick)
Send a Smile for Kids 2W, 2E (W2) cute fall or Halloween for kids 
The Pencil Case 2W, E2  (w2) B= bright 
613 Avenue Create - W - #141 Anything Goes with optional "Love Me Do"
Great Impressions - M, 3E, SIO - Trick or Tree-t
Crafting from the Heart - W, E3 - Always Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - W, E3 - Always Anything Goes
Craft It Up & Link It Up Linky Party by Craftin Desert Divas - 2W - (Week 1) Favorite Color Combo
Incy Wincy Designs - W, 5E - No Rubber Stamps
Love to Scrap - 2W, 3E, F, digi or real stamping - (Week 2) At least 2 patterned papers
Not Just Cards - M, F - Always Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge Blog - 2W, 3E - (Week 1) Anything goes + Option: Hat
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - W, 5E - Favorite Technique (die cutting)
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - W, E4, Must Be Square or Rectangular #102 Anything Goes with a twist: Bright and Colorful

Paper Minutes W - #400 Anything Goes

Artistic Inspirations - 2W, E3 - (Week 1) Anything Goes with Twist of Magic 

Papertake Weekly W -  Animal Magic

Through The Craft Room Door W, 2E - Always Anything Goes                                          Sweet Sketch - W,SIO - Sketch*
CropStop Linky Party M, 2nd Wednesday of M, E5, SIR(see blog for details)  #8 Anything Goes (Week 1 of 4) 


Simply Papercraft - 2W, E3 - No. 13 (W1 of 2) - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination - W, F- #50 Always Anything Goes 
TIME OUT Challenges - 2W (W2 of 2) #39 Make Your Mark (any marker, chalk, pencils etc)
Little Red Wagon - W - #306 Digi Do




Morgan's Art World - 2W, E3, SIO (must use digital stamp) - No.7 - (W1 of 2) - For The Kids
One Sweet Challenge (M,P1,SIR) Halloween
Card and Scrap (2W, P1/15) #103 Use Dies
Silhouette Challenges (M,P1,E3,SIR) # 29 Anything Goes

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