Halloween is right around the corner, and I couldn’t help but make a card that’s more cute than creepy with Pretty Pink Posh’s Monster Hugs stamp set. I paired it with the Waffle Flower 5×7 Postage Collage die to create a one-layer design that has a collection of mini monster scenes. With a blend of Distress Oxide inks for a nighttime scene, plus some bright and colorful monsters, the result is a cheerful card that’s perfect for the spooky season!
Supplies Used
- Pretty Pink Posh Monster Hugs stamp set
- Waffle Flower Postage Collage stamp set
- Waffle Flower Postage Collage A7 die
- Waffle Flower Postage Collage A7 Blocks Stencil
- Lawn Fawn Hillside Stencils
- Distress Oxide Inks: Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire, and Tumbled Glass
- Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
- Versamark Ink
- Brutus Monroe Ultra Fine Embossing Powder – Alabaster
- Hammermill Cardstock, Premium Color Copy, 100 lb white cardstock
- Concord & 9th Midnight cardstock
- Copic Markers
- Stamping platform or acrylic blocks
- Blending brushes
- Waffle Flower Grip Mat
- White Acrylic Paint
- Full Stick It Notes or Masking Paper
- Tape Runner
Step-by-Step Process
1. Die Cutting the Base
I started by running a piece of white cardstock through my die-cutting machine with the Postage Collage A7 die. This gave me the perfect framed layout to create little mini-scenes for each monster.
2. Stamping the Monsters
Next, I stamped the images from Pretty Pink Posh’s Monster Hugs stamp set directly onto the card panel. I placed a few monsters inside different sections of the collage to give each one its own “postage stamp” space.
3. Masking & Backgrounds
To protect the monsters while working on the background, I did some simple masking. I placed the stamped panel onto a grip mat to hold it steady. Next, I lined up the Postage Collage A7 Blocks Stencil over the panel. For the ground, I positioned the Lawn Fawn Hillside Stencil across the bottom of each section to create little hills. Using Distress Oxide inks, I blended Black Soot at the top, Chipped Sapphire in the middle, and Tumbled Glass at the bottom to build a nighttime scene. I repeated this process in each section of the collage. The hillside stencil can also be flipped to mask the sky while you blend the grass.
Tip: Use full sticky notes or masking paper to cover the other sections and prevent stray ink.
4. Coloring the Monsters
Once the background was done, I colored the monsters with Copic markers. I went with fun, bright colors so they would stand out against the dark sky and bring some playful Halloween vibes to the card. Here are the colors I used:
- Orange: Y17, Y15, Y13
- Purple: V17, V15,V12
- Blue: B05, B02, B00
- Ghost: W3, W1, W0, W00, R20, R00
5. Heat Embossing the Postage Details
I stamped the postage details using Waffle Flower’s Postage Collage stamp set. Because I had created a dark nighttime sky background, I wanted the details to pop in white. I set the panel in my Misti, positioned the stamps, closed the lid to pick them up, and then opened it again. After dusting the panel with anti-static powder, I inked the stamps with Versamark. For the cancel marks, I gently wiped away some of the ink to give them a worn, authentic look before stamping everything onto the panel. I repeated the stamping once more to ensure good coverage, then sprinkled on white embossing powder and tapped off the excess. Finally, I used my heat tool to melt the powder, revealing crisp white embossed details against the dark background.
6. Adding Details
For a finishing touch, I used a white acrylic paint mixed with a little bit of water to add little stars in the night sky and highlights on the monsters. Those tiny details help bring the whole scene to life.
7. Assembling the Card
I used tape runner to add the panel to a dark blue piece of card stock cut. Finally, I adhered the panel to a 5×7 card base. Since it’s a one-layer design, it stays nice and flat which is perfect for mailing!
Final Thoughts
I had so much fun creating this one-layer Halloween card with the Pretty Pink Posh Monster Hugs stamp set and Waffle Flower’s Postage Collage Die. The little postage frames make the monsters feel like they’re each starring in their own mini Halloween scene, and I love how the ink-blended night sky ties it all together. If you give this design a try, I’d love to see your version—feel free to share in the comments or tag me on Instagram!
