Today I am going to show you two quick and easy Halloween projects using the adorable Monster Mash stamps from Lawn Fawn.
First I will show you how to make a great last-minute card that uses a very simple, but elegant looking inking technique for the background. And then a super fast and easy item to decorate your craft room – or anywhere else that needs a few monsters to perk it up.
Please note that I am not affiliated with Lawn Fawn in any way, I just adore their products, and I bought the stamps myself. There are affiliate links to the stamps on Amazon at the bottom of the post.
I stamped a bunch of the cute little monsters and a couple of the party hats using Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Neenah “Crystal Crest” white card. This is my go-to combination for any thing I will colour with alcohol markers. Like all Lawn Fawn stamps, the little monster stamp very cleanly.
The coloured marks you can see in the picture below are where I began testing colour blends, I often do this on the tiny spaces between pictures.
I had fun colouring the little monsters with Copic, Spectrum Noir and Promarker alcohol markers. I mix and match my pens depending on what colours I want, they all seem to blend with each other just fine. The “purple bat” monster and the “pink eyeball” monster both have a mottled skin. I made this by dotting a blender pen on after the ink had dried. I rather like this effect.
The first project is a Halloween card, though it would work just as well as a birthday card, or even for a party invite.
I used a standard A6 side folding card made from 300gsm Sheena Stamping Card. I laid it on my craft mat and stuck masking tape around all four sides. Because this is cheap masking tape, not proper papercrafting removable tape, I stuck it on my trouser leg a few times before using it, to remove some of the stickyness. Otherwise it might rip the surface of the card when I remove it.
I do use washi and removable tapes for this sort of job too, but as I had a lot of masking tape on hand, I used it for this project.
I added a second strip of tape to the bottom of the card (on the right of the picture here: the card is layiing on its side).
I cut a wavy line down a scrap piece of packaging card and laid one half on my masked card front, over the bottom. I used an Ink Duster from Inkylickious and brushed Salty Ocean Distress Ink on to the card front.
I load the brush with some ink, then place the bristles on to the scrap card, then flick it off on to the card front. It takes a little while to build up some colour, but I always work from bottom to top. This way the colour is lighter at the top, and I wanted this gradient effect.
Here is what it looks like when I have finished and removed the scrap card. Please note the card is upside-down in this picture.
Now I took the other half of my scrap card and placed it over the inked area so only the uninked end is exposed. I brushed Peeled Paint Distress Ink on this side, using the same technique as before. I used the same end of my inkduster as the previous blue paint was just mixed in with the green.
And here is how it looks when I remove the scrap card. Not really very exciting yet, but…
When I carefully peel away the masking tape (and turn it the right way up!) it leaves a rather neat rectangle of colour. I just stamped the “Eye think you’re neat” sentiment underneath using Tuxedo Black ink. Now you see why I wanted more of the bottom masked than the top.
Finally I added two of the “eye monsters” using sticky foam pads. Then I glued on their party hats with tacky glue. Just as soon as I find my Glossy Accents, I will add some to the eyeballs to make them shiny!
A Monster Banner
Now to use the rest of my little monsters. I wanted to make something to decorate my (very tiny) craft studio.
First I cut out 4 orange and 4 purple triangular banners from lightweight cardboard using the Sizzix “Banners, Oval and Triangular Scallop” Sizzlits die no 657402. I paired up the orange middles with the purple outside bits, and vice versa. Then I stuck the edges to the inner bits, on the back, using tiny dots of PVA craft glue.
And then I stuck my remaining monsters on the top with sticky foam pads. The other two “eye monsters” get to share a pennant.
Finally I stuck some green and white baker’s twine to the reverse and hung up my monster banner in my craft studio. Happy little monsters to inspire me whilst I work.
:Links to Lawn Fawn Monster Mash stamps on Amazon
Here are links to the Lawn Fawn Monster Mash stamps on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. If you buy after using these links, I may get a small commission from Amazon for sending customers their way – this is at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you.
Lawn Fawn Monster Mash stamps and dies on Amazon.com
Lawn Fawn Monster Mash stamps on Amazon.co.uk
Lawn Fawn Monster Mash stamps and dies on Amazon.co/uk