Happy Samhain

I think that one of the best things about art is that you can explore any culture, religion, theme or medium in the world!! Today's ATC celebrates Samhain ( /ˈsɑːwɪn/, /ˈsaʊ.ɪn/, or /ˈsaʊn/)^[1]. Samhain is a Gaelic harvest festival held on October 31–November 1. So this project is a bit early - but better now than last minute (like always!)

This SEI paper is pre-embossed with little black bats everywhere (how kewl are they?!).  Stamping over these embossed bats which resist the ink on the stamp makes it look like the stamped image is behind the bats.  To avoid unwanted smudges, flip over the paper and rub onto a scrap to lift any of the ink that has bubbled on top of the bats.  The crystal drops and the moon have been colored in with Tim Holt's Picket Fence Distress Marker to give them an opaque white appearance.  The moon has then been gently colored over with Copic Marker Y06 to make it "glow".  The stars are colored with Copic Y06 (without Picket Fence), glitter pen and finally clear glazed to make them shimmer and reflect.

Stamps by Third Coast Rubber Stamps:
DT-353-J Moon and Stars Cat (Halloween 2009, p.16)
AT-153-L Greetings Mini Set (Zoomin' Turtles, p.16)

Wikipedia notes:

Samhain
Also called	Samhainn (Scottish Gaelic) Sauin (Manx Gaelic)
Observed by	Historically: Gaels Today: Irish people, Scottish people, Manx people, Celtic neopagans
Type	Cultural, Pagan (Celtic polytheism, Celtic Neopaganism, Wicca)
Significance	End of the harvest season, beginning of winter
Begins	Northern Hemisphere: Sunset on October 31 Southern Hemisphere: Sunset on April 30
Ends	Northern Hemisphere: Sunset on November 1 Southern Hemisphere: Sunset on May 1
Celebrations	Bonfires Guising Divination Apple bobbing Feasting
Related to	Halloween, Hop-tu-Naa, Calan Gaeaf, Kalan Gwav, All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day