Quick Halloween Treat

Okay, how about a quick Halloween treat today? I made these this past weekend to give to my kids. They were so easy and quick to make that they would be perfect as a treat for a child's class, too. I cut some white and black scalloped circles to fit the top of the small 2.5 ounce tins using nestability dies. (It could easily be done with punches, too.) I stamped the white circles using stamps from Spooky Sweets and Spooky Sweets II. Then, I added the white circles to the black circles and adhered them to the top of my tins. I added a little ribbon around the bottom (from my stash - I have no idea who made it). I filled the tins with candy corn and they were done. These seriously only took a few minutes to make.

Sorry I posted these Halloween ideas so late. Seriously, I don't know where the month went! Hopefully, some of you will be able to try one of these ideas or they could inspire you to create something of your own. Have a great day!

Recipe

Stamps: Spooky Sweets, Spooky Sweets II (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: white (Papertrey Ink), black (SU!)

Other: 2.5 oz tins, ribbon

Tools: circle nestability dies

Super Easy Halloween Lanterns

I have a super easy and fun project to share today. Last month, I bought some small paint cans with the intentions of making some Halloween lanterns for my kids. Sunday, I decided I better get to it if I was going to get them done in time! I cut some vellum just a hair over 3 3/4 inches tall by 11 inches for each lantern. I removed the handles and then rolled the vellum pieces and put them inside the lanterns. I marked where the handles were on the vellum, removed the vellum, and then punched the holes for the handles.

I used Palette Noir ink to stamp images along the entire strip of each piece of vellum. I used images from both the Spooky Sweets and the Spooky Sweets II stamp sets. I dried the ink by heating the images with my heat gun.

I rolled each vellum sheet slightly and put them back in the paint cans. Then, I lined the holes up and put the handles back on. No adhesive necessary because the vellum isn't going anywhere anyway.

Then, I decorated the top of the lanterns. I cut some white and black circles using nestability dies. I stamped the pumpkins and sentiments and added the circles to the top of the lanterns. I did not do any other embellishing on the outside of the lanterns because my kids are way too rough on things and ribbon wouldn't last. I plan on letting them carry these lanterns on Halloween so they have to be functional.

To light them up, I just put a glow stick inside and put the lid back on. I love how they turned out and they were so easy and quick to make. My kids packed them all over the house Sunday night and can't wait to take them with them when we go trick or treating Friday.

Another view of the lanterns. If you decide to make up a Halloween lantern, I would love to see it! Be sure to leave me a link.

Recipe

Stamps: Spooky Sweets, Spooky Sweets II (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: black (SU), white (Papertrey Ink)

Paper: vellum (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: noir (Palette), pumpkin pie (SU), ripe avocado (Papertrey Ink)

Other: small paint cans

Tools: heat gun, hole punch, nestability circle dies

The Doctor is In

This week's High Hopes challenge is a sketch challenge (sketch created by the ultra-talented Katharina.) I love sketches because they make some of the assembly of the card so easy. I moved a couple things a tiny bit, but overall, it is pretty close to the sketch. I first stamped my medicine man on white cardstock and cut out the oval shape. I decided upon some colors and colored my image with copic markers. Then, I cut all my cardstock and patterned paper pieces. I used two different embossing folders to emboss the always artichoke and really rust cardstocks. After embossing, I inked the raised embossing by tapping an ink pad all over the pieces. I like how that helps bring out the embossing. I sewed my layers and started assembling my card. I added some ribbons and rain dots to finish off the front of my card.

I always have to have a close up so you can see the inking on the embossed cardstock and a close up of the Medicine Man.

I finished off the inside of my card by adding a really rust layer. Then, I stamped the sentiment. Love that sentiment. I stamped the brewing pot on white cardstock, colored it, and cut it out. I added it to the corner of my card with dimensional foam adhesive.

Be sure to check out all the design team creations for the challenge and join us! Leave me your link if you join in the challenge.

Recipe

Stamps: Medicine Man, Doctor is In, Potion, Bubbling Brew (High Hopes Rubber Stamps)

Cardstock: white (Papertrey Ink), really rust, black, always artichoke, soft sky (SU!)

Patterned Paper: Boxer (Basic Grey)

Ink: black (Momento), noir, cognac (Palette), ripe avocado (Papertrey Ink)

Accents: rain dots, soft sky ribbon (SU!)

Tools: copic markers, sewing machine, embossing folders (provo craft), oval nestability dies (Spellbinders)

Snowy Days

I got a chance this week to play in the Papertrey challenge for the week. This week's challenge was a sketch created by Kim. First, I decided upon the colors and then I started cutting layers. I like aqua mist and spring moss for winter cards. All the white layers are white shimmer cardstock. I love the shimmer it adds to the card without doing anything extra.

Here you can kind of see the shimmer on the snowman. I stamped him first on white shimmer cardstock. Then, I stamped the scarf and hat on spring moss cardstock. I cut them out and added them to my snowman. Then, I cut out my snowman. I added some liquid applique and fun flock to my snowman's hat. Then, I stamped the snowman's arms on my aqua mist patterned paper and added my snowman using foam dimensional adhesive.

Have a great weekend! I need to get back to cleaning and getting ready for the party tomorrow. Why, oh why, do I put everything off until the day before the party?! lol

Recipe

Stamps: Made of Snow (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: white shimmer, aqua mist, spring moss (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper: Everyday Blessings (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: noir (Palette), dark chocolate (Papertrey Ink)

Tools: sewing machine, rectangle nestability die, liquid applique, fun flock

ready to party?!

This weekend, we are having my son's 5th birthday party. I can't believe he is 5 already!! My baby boy is 5! This week's High Hopes challenge fit in perfectly with the coming party. This week's challenge is to create anything but a card. I decided to alter a gift bag. (Click on the photo for a larger version where you can see more details.)

I started out stamping Party Cat on white cardstock and coloring it with copic markers. I used a pair of my old decorative scissors to cut the layers for my image. Then, I sewed the layers together and added the image to my bag. I stamped some presents (Hanna Stamps Perfect Package set) on white cardstock, cut them out, and added them with foam adhesive to my bag.

I also stamped the balloons again on white cardstock and colored them with copic markers. Then, I added some dimensional glaze to the balloons and let it dry. After it was dry, I cut the balloons out and added them with foam adhesive over the image for more dimension.

I wanted to add a tag to my bag, too. I used the Perfect Package stamp set again. Then, I stamped the sentiment (Papertrey Ink's It's a Celebration set). I cut the layers and added an eyelet. I tied it to the handle of my bag with white polka dot ribbon.

Then, I cut a bunch of strips of ribbon different lengths and created the pom pom like ribbon bundle. I used a rubber band to hold the ribbons. I also added an extra ribbon through the back of the rubber band and used it to tie the ribbon bundle to the bag.

Have a great day!!

Recipe

Stamps: Party Cat (High Hopes Rubber Stamps), Perfect Package (Hanna Stamps), It's a Celebration (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: white (Papertrey Ink), real red, always artichoke, tempting turquiose (SU)

Ink: black (Momento), noir (Palette)

Accents: ribbons, large eyelet

Tools: copic markers, decorative scissors, sewing machine, scissors, crop-a-dile, dimensional glaze

Chocolate Moose anyone?

It has been forever since I got a chance to play in one of the SCS challenges. I finally got a chance today to do the sketch challenge. I love the new Sleepytime Riley and had to use him for my card. I stamped my image and colored him with copic markers. I also added some fun flock to his slippers to make them nice and fuzzy. The stars are cut from patterned paper using a star nestability die. The image and the stars are popped up on foam adhesive.

Well, I'm running behind today so this is going to be short and sweet. Have a great night!

Recipe

Stamps: Sleepytime Riley, Things Riley Would Say (Hanna Stamps)

Cardstock: kraft, white (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper: stars - Bitty Baby Blessings (Papertrey Ink), blue (SU!)

Tools: copic markers, fun flock, glue pen (Sakura), star nestability die (Spellbinders), sewing machine

Warm Winter Wishes Just for You

I just love the 2008 Holiday Tag Collection stamp set. I wanted to use it to make a quick and easy gift and had to make a card to go along with it. For my card, I stamped the background paper first (more on that below). Then, I matted it with dark chocolate cardstock and put it on my pure poppy card.

I wrapped some dark chocolate satin ribbon around my card. Then, I stamped the sentiment. I first masked the coffee cup and stamped the sentiment ring. Then, I inked the "Just for you" in pure poppy and stamped it in the center. I sponged dark chocolate ink all over the circle and added a scalloped pure poppy layer.

My quick gift is a single serving of cocoa. I just dumped a packet of cocoa into one of the small glassine bags along with some marshmallows. Then, I folded the top over and stapled it shut. I created a tag for the top by stamping the tag, sponging some dark chocolate ink on it, and adding a pure poppy scalloped tag.

Stamped Patterned Paper Tutorial

It's been a while since I did a tutorial so I thought I would do a quick one with how I stamped my patterned paper for my card. It's really very easy I love how it reminds my of cocoa.

First, stamp the dotted circle from Borders and Corners Circles stamp set in dark chocolate ink onto vintage cream cardstock.

I wanted to use the coffee mug (without the sentiment) so I created a mask. Create a mask by stamping the tag image onto a post it note. Punch out the coffee mug so that you are left with just the sentiment on the post it note. Be sure to stamp the image up at the top of the post it note so you can use the sticky to keep it in place when using it as a mask. You can kind of see through the post it note so it is easy to center it over the dotted circles.

Now, you can stamp the coffee mug in the centers of the dotted circles and the words will stamp onto the post it note instead of the patterned paper. This way, you don't have to worry about being careful and only inking up part of the stamp. Just ink it all up and stamp in the center of the mask.

And this is what you will end up with. Stamp in the center of the rest of circles using the mask.

Now, the post-it note is not made of thick material and I started getting some marks on my paper where the ink bled through a little. If you want to prevent this, either use a few post-it notes layered together or use a thicker paper for your mask. I decided to embrace it and actually like how my paper turned out because of it. I sponged dark chocolate ink lightly all over my patterned paper. When I sponged, I inked the sponge up really well and then stamped it off on scrap paper before stamping it onto my patterned paper. Each time I needed more ink, I always stamped off on the scrap paper first. This helped get rid of a little ink so that it wouldn't be quite so dark. Then, after I cut my piece of patterned paper for my card, I sponged more dark chocolate ink on the edges. I think all the sponging really brings out the "cocoa feeling." Not sure if that is a real feeling or even makes sense, but I'm sticking to it.

Hope you all are having a great week!

Recipe

Stamps: 2008 Holiday Tag Collection, Borders and Corners Circles (Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)

Patterned Paper: (hand stamped)

Ink: Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate