Black Cat Be Afraid Halloween Card and Computer Assistants

Here's another black cat Halloween card for your viewing pleasure.  Since this is my fourth Halloween card featuring a cat, you can probably tell that I have a soft spot for cats (especially since I live with two).  This time I used a sketch from a previous card (my witchie Halloween card) and the same techniques in creating it.  I found a great sentiment and played off it when selecting my cat image.  However, before getting into the making of my Black Cat Be Afraid Halloween card, I wanted to share a picture of my two computer buddies.

When I'm in the computer room working, one or both of my cats show up to keep me company.  I love them both dearly, but it's difficult working on the computer with them trying to settle themselves in my lap.  They have a tendency of wanting to assist on the keyboard and this often leads to a wide array of words I have never seen before spewing across my screen (thank goodness for spell check).  To settle them down, I created what I thought would be a short-term solution by putting some cushy pillows and a blanket on some document containers and my drafting table.  This perch overlooks the backyard gardens and bird feeding areas (lots of activity for them to watch).

Here's a picture of my assistants on their "temporary" perch.

 
"Temporary" has not been so temporary and it is a rare time (night or day) that I don't have at least one of them in the room with me looking out the window or snoozing.  The things we do for those we love!   Spoiled rotten cats!!!

Now down to business with the card.


The Making of a Black Cat Be Afraid Halloween Card


Card Statistics

• Final Card Size: 5.5" wide x 4.25" tall
• Image Size: 3.5" wide x 2.75" tall oval
• Tools: paper cutter, oval cutter, scissors, ruler, sponge pieces, stamps, Martha Stewart scoring board, Martha Stewart mice and tombstones border punch, Martha Stewart cat punch
• Materials: cardstock, Halloween themed scrapbook paper, ribbon, adhesive, spray sealer
• You can purchase this card in my Etsy shop: Black Cat Be Afraid Halloween Card

Card Front

    
 My first step was to find a Halloween paper that I liked and I selected a purple paper displaying Halloween related words in black.  From this paper I determined my color scheme of purple and black with bright yellow to add a little punch to the design.

Black cardstock was cut and scored for the base card.  The Halloween paper was matted with bright yellow cardstock and adhered to the front of the base card.  A piece of bright yellow grosgrain ribbon was attached to a layered strip of bright yellow and black cardstocks.  This layered strip was positioned down the center of the card for interest.

I cut an oval from white cardstock and sponged it with purple ink.  The black cat was stamped on the sponged background.  This image was positioned over the ribbon and adhered in place.

My next step was the front sentiment.  I printed "Be Afraid..." on white cardstock sponged with purple ink.  This sentiment was matted with bright yellow cardstock and adhered in place.  To add a little spunk to the front I attached a silhouette of a mouse punched from black cardstock to the sentiment.

A bright yellow grosgrain bow positioned below the image supplies some pizzazz to the card.


Angle View of Card Front to Show Dimension

As you can see, the only true dimension to the card is the bright little bow.

I also enjoy decorating the inside of my cards.


Card Inside

The sentiment I found to build my card around was started as the front sentiment and continued on the inside of the card.  White cardstock was printed with "Be Very Afraid!" and matted on bright yellow cardstock.  A strip of the Halloween paper used on the card front is attached across the bottom and embellished with a cat silhouette punched from black cardstock.  The entire panel is adhered to the inside of the card base.

My logo in coordinating colors is placed on the back of the card.

This completes the card, however, I also custom made an envelope from scratch out of heavy cover stock to compliment it.  I sponged color on the lower left hand corner to match the color scheme of the card and stamped a black cat on top of it.  The envelope was lightly sprayed with sealer to make the image more durable for its journey through the mail system.


Final Card and Envelope Combo

 No comment from my husband on this card.  Just a smile and I'm not sure what that means!?!

This card and envelope ensemble can be purchased from my Etsy Shop: Black Cat Be Afraid Halloween Card

Tidbit of wisdom from the experience: Computer buddies are better than no buddies!


Card Recipe Specifics

• Cardstock: Wausau, The Paper Company
• Halloween Paper: DCWV
• Ribbon: AC Moore
• Stamps: Large cat - Recollections; Small cat - Debbie Mumm
• Cover Stock: Staples
• Inks: Colorbox, Stazon Black
• Punches: Cat - Martha Stewart; Mice and tombstone - Martha Stewart

Thank you for visiting and I hope you come back soon!

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