Happy Halloween!

Fall is my least favorite season -- it means winter is just around the corner! But the colors are never more magnificent than they are this time of year.

Recently, Lynn Mercurio shared the technique for these windshield wiper cards on Splitcoast Stampers' Monday Techniques challenge. You can find her post and tutorial information here. The first one you make takes a little bit of time, but once you figure out how these deceptively simple cards go together, it's a breeze, so don't let a card with moving parts intimidate you!

This first card was my first attempt at a windshield wiper card. I finished both the front and the back. The image on the front is a free download from Dover Publications. The sentiment is on the back and is a Unity Stamp, "Tis Near Halloween". The patterned paper is from Memory Box's "Twilight Collection". Both are from I {heart} Paper.

I also used Gina K's Chocolate Kiss card stock, which makes a very sturday card base, Versafine's Vintage Sepia ink, copper Stickles, the Martha Stewart Leaf Edge Punch, and a small scrap of a two-sided red and orange ribbon from Michael's. I actually used the punched out leaves from the decorative border punch to embellish.

When I made the second card, I used paper from an 8.5 inch K&Co. paper pack for a base and the size of the paper limited the width of the card.

This card is also reversible and features a watercolored pumpkin on the card front and tag. The bright orange ribbon is inch wide silk from I {heart} Paper. I am a silk ribbon junkie - it's so easy to work with and it makes a stunning bow.

For this card, I also made a coordinating envelope lined with the same patterned paper and with the smaller pumpkin stamped and painted on the lower left front corner.

I used a large spider web stamp from Tim Holtz to stamp across the side panels on both the front and back sides.

To get the rounded corners, I punched each corner with the card completed and closed. I used the Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper to do this -- first time I used this gadget and I love it. I'm embarrassed to admit that my husband Steve decided I needed this and bought it for me -- about three months ago. I'm so intimidated by gadgets, it has sat in the package in my closet since I got it! This was the first time I used it and I am now thrilled to have it!

Here's the complete recipe for this card:

Stamps: Large pumpkin, Inkadinkadoo #9515; Small Pumpkin, Hero Arts #LP017 Halloween; Spider Web, Tim Holtz' Trick or Treat Collection (Stamper's Anonymous by Stampendous)

Paper: Que Sera Sera Collection (K&Co.)

Ink: Burnt Umber (Palette); Classic White (SU); Aged Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)

Accessories: Orange silk ribbon (IHP); Brads (Making Memories); Nestabilities dies; Mica Watercolor Paints; Tombow markers; Watercolor pencils.