Halloween Treat Boxes

Hello again! So what do you think about my treat boxes? I made up a bunch to give to co-workers on Halloween. They hold 6 Hershey's nuggets and were really easy to make! There are alot of these types of templates floating around the internet, but the thing that I especially like about this template is that you are able to make two boxes with attached lid from one 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of cardstock or designer paper. It's an economical pattern, and the glue tabs on the inside of the box are concealed, so it looks really nice when you open it. As you can see, I prefer to have my lid fit into the box so that it's tight and the candy won't fall out. Click here and scroll down for the downloadable PDF template. I suggest printing your template on cardstock so that it can withstand repeated uses.... just trace lightly around it with a pencil and off you go. The template has easy instructions written on it so you will always have it ready for use... I tried doing the PDF here on the blog, but it wasn't turning out like I hoped, so more research on my end is needed. I'm sure it's a simple process, but I am too impatient to dig deep for the answers right now... so while you're looking through my post today, I'll be researching PDF attachments to blogs! Hee hee... Anyhow, here's a close-up shot for you~

Tip to share to speed up the process - I cut my Green Galore cardstock in 1/2 to make (2) pieces at 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches, then traced the template on top and cut out. If you make sure you printed it at 100% size and page scaling is set to "none", you'll see the template fits exactly on this 1/2 sheet of cardstock and saves a little cutting time.

For the box details, I cut Haiku DSP and matted it with Pumpkin Pie cardstock. Then I punched two scallop circles from Lovely Lilac and Pumpkin Pie cardstock and layered them so a bit of the Pumpkin Pie would show. The sentiment circle was punched and mounted on the scallop circles. I made a little tag from ribbon and glued that under the Haiku DSP to make it easy for the recipient to open the box. I hope you are able to give it a try and decorate them to your hearts content! Enjoy, and I'll see you next time!!!

Stamps: Batty for You
Paper: Green Galore, Pumpkin Pie, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White, Haiku DSP
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: certainly celery ribbon, SU punches - scallop circle, 1 3/8 in circle, 1 1/4 in circle

Pink Ribbons are Symbolic!

Happy Sunday, Everyone! I hope that you had a really nice weekend... it was my "long" week at work, so I was going to bed this morning about the time that you were well into your Sunday morning routines... but now, my "weekend" has officially begun....

Well, I made this card Tuesday morning for SCS's color challenge, and it is pretty straightforward. The card is pretty self explanatory - no complicated techniques, although I did add some stitching from a sewing machine for the bug on the 2nd panel. I like to sew on my cards - I think it adds a nice touch and is especially perfect for bug "trails"!!

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I added a pink ribbon to symbolize the fight against breast cancer. Be sure to do your monthly self-checks and get your mammogram, ladies, if it's time.... don't forget!

Take care, and have an awesome week.... see you soon...

Stamps: Garden Whimsy
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: brads, ribbon, sewing machine/thread, popdots, gluedots

For You Medallion

For those of you who already own edge punches, this is another cool way to put them to good use! My card above utilizes Stampin' Up!s scallop edge punch using Alesha Wall's technique. This card was very quick to put together... in fact, I made 10 of these cards for a swap in about 1 1/2 hours (including time for interruptions from the kids!) ~ that's a record for me, a relatively slow stamper, so this layout is a keeper in my book and perfect for those last minute cards that you need ASAP... :)

The two colors used for this card are Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red. The PP square was cut at 2 3/4 inches square and punched, then matted on 3 inch square of RHR. The scalloped flower circle was stamped on PP, then punched from 1 3/8 inch circle punch, and matted on 1 1/2 inch circle punch in RHR. I used the large flourish from Baroque Motifs to create my background, and the sentiment comes from Fresh Cuts. Lastly, the card edges were lightly sponged to soften the look a bit.

I hope you enjoy my simple medallion card and get a chance to try out this super cool technique for yourself! See you soon!

Stamps - Baroque Motifs, Fresh Cuts
Papers - Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red
Ink - Riding Hood Red
Accessories - brad, sponge, scallop edge punch

In for Repairs

Hi Everyone!

I created this Get Well card for Splitcoaststampers Limited Supply Challenge. I pulled out SU's Boatloads of Love stamp set so that I could use eyelets for the little row of windows. I masked off the row of waves on the boat stamp using a post-it note when I inked it up, removed the post-it note and stamped on vanilla CS. I drew in the hole in the boat and bottom by hand with my black marker. After coloring in with various markers and setting the eyelets, the boat was trimmed out. I created my horizon by masking it with a post-it note, then made a cloud template from another post-it note. I sponged the clouds and ocean/sand to create my background. 4 eyelets were set in the corners. The boat/repair dock are popped up, as well as the sign I created. The little clouds were added on last. When I went to look for the challenge number, I noticed that we were supposed to use a single sheet of designer paper - it figures that I didn't... Maybe you can pretend I used cloud patterned paper... hee hee! Oh well... the challenge was still fun to do. We were to also use eyelets, one ribbon and incorporate the color blue into the card. I think I did succeed with that part of the challenge, at least! :)

Come back soon and thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Boatloads of Love, little alphabet stamps
Paper: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Yo Yo Yellow, Vanilla
Ink: black, Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Creamy Caramel, various SU markers for drawing and coloring
Accessories: post-it notes, red eyelets, cropadile, ribbon, sponges

Happiness Blooms

Here's a new card fold introduced to me by today's SCS's Technique Challenge. It's called a Stair Step Fold and it's brilliant for all kinds of 3-D cards!! This picture does NOT do this dimensional card any justice. This is such an EASY technique to do - here's a quick rundown:

1) Trim down your cardbase to 5 x 10 1/2 inches. If you want a design on it, go ahead and stamp now.

2) Measuring and scoring from one 5 inch side only, score at 1 1/4, 2 1/2, 4 1/4, 6, and 8 1/4 inches.

3) Make sure the smallest fold (1 1/4 inch) is going "down", like an upside down V... see the ribbon block above.

4) Then fold your paper up, down, up, down, etc to create folds and valleys - like an accordion.

5) Decorate to your heart's desire!!!

I hope you get a chance to try this card fold today. I know I will be using this technique again and again! Have a super Monday!!!!!

Stamps: And Everything Nice, Hollyhock jumbo wheel, Sprinkles
Paper: Pink Pirouette, white
Ink: black, pink pirouette, various SU markers
Accessories: SU scallop square punch, non-SU ribbon & charm, popdots, sponge dauber for the sentiment block

A Wish for You

Hello! It's time again for me to show some attention to a lonely stamp set or two, so this card was created for another Friday Flashback! The flower and bunny stamps come from a retired set called Tags n More. The sentiment comes from a 1998 set called... A Wish for You... go figure! :)

I found I needed a few birthday cards this week, and this one was made for my daughter's friend. The flowers and adorable bunny are watercolored with a tiny bit of sponging on the circle and bottom Vanilla layers. After using my coluzzle for the Vanilla circle, I hand-cut the magenta and green around it to create my layers. I enjoyed putting this card together and the colors really POP in real life.

I hope that you have a great Friday and a most enjoyable weekend! Don't forget to pull out a dusty stamp set that is craving some attention this week - maybe you can try using this layout as a starting point. I'd love to see the wonderful creations you'll come up with (hint, hint...), so drop a link in the comment section! Oh, and thanks for checking in today!

Stamp Sets: Tags n More, A Wish for You (both retired)
Paper: Marvelous Magenta (retired--- I love this color *sigh*), Garden Green, Vanilla
Inks: Basic Black, Garden Green, SU markers: Garden Green, Marvelous Magenta, Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: aquapainter, coluzzle, sponge dauber, popdots, ribbon

Birthday Celebrations

Here's a relatively quick card made today for SCS's sketch challenge. I really love doing sketch challenges because the designing is already done for you! Just pull out a stamp set and hop to it! :)

My background on the bottom and top layers were created using my stylus and a ruler. I brought out the pattern by swiping my Bravo Burgundy inkspot across and rubbing some of the ink on the raised areas with a finger. I edged the middle panel alittle darker with the inkspot after stamping with the fern stamp from Organic Grace. I cut out the flowers and mounted some of them with popdots. I double stamped the dragonfly, spread the wings a bit for dimension and added Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the top set of wings.

Stamps: Organic Grace, sentiment from Upsy Daisy
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Kiwi Kiss, Vanilla
Ink: Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: popdots, stylus, ruler, Bravo Burgundy ribbon, corner rounder punch, hodgepodge hardware, glitter, mono-multi glue

Gotta run now... I'm at work and my break is just about over, but I'll be checking in again soon - thanks for visiting with me today! See you next time!!

Chocolate Daisies

Good day, everyone... thanks for stopping by! I made this card for SCS's color challenge posted for today. Interesting color combo choices, and it's perfect for this autumn season. You may recognize the alcohol etching technique on the daisies. I used a toothpick this time and it's very easy to control. I think I like it better to create the sketchy lines. I'm sorry I can't chat a bit more right now, but I have to leave for an appointment. I wanted to get this posted before I left... thank you for checking in, and I'll see you again soon!

Edited to add the card recipe (sorry about that!)-

Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Brown Staz-On, black, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: sponge daubers, post-it note, transparency, brads, piercer, ethyl alcohol, toothpick

Trimmed with Love

Happy Friday to you once again! The week seemed to go by rather quickly for me - did it for you? I'm sure most of you are so happy it's Friday... I still have another 12 hour shift to pull tonight, then my weekend will officially begin... YAY! hee hee......

Well, you probably know by now that I adore using all my Stampin' Up! goodies - whether it's retired or not, so it's time for a Friday Flashback! Even though it's still hitting around 100 degrees in Phoenix, the mornings are beginning to cool down which always helps me to start getting into the holiday spirit. I felt inspired to do a Christmas card, and this is the result-




Aren't those hedgehogs just too cute?! They are so much fun to color in, and I love, love, love to watercolor!!! I know Copic markers are all the rage right now, but I don't think you really need to invest in them if you already have a collection of good waterbased markers like Stampin' Up's. I love the variety of colors we offer, and watercoloring/shading is not hard to do with a touch of patience and a little bit of practice. I actually like to lay down my first layer of watercoloring, which gives the softer and lighter areas on your image, then going back over the darker "shadowed" areas with the actual marker pen tip directly to the paper. You can just "pull" the darker colored areas into the lighter areas with an aquapainter and achieve your range in depth this way. I keep my aquapainter on the drier side - just a little moisture is all that's necessary. Also, be sure to use a good quality paper that can resist the moisture a bit - like watercolor paper, although I get good results with Whisper White.


Supplies Used:
Stamps - Holiday Hedgehogs, Trimmed with Love (both retired)
Cardstock - Ballet Blue, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Inks -Basic Black, Versamark, SU markers: Creamy Caramel, Going Grey, Close to Cocoa, Real Red and Ballet Blue
Accessories - Aquapainter, mat pack, paper piercer, twine, edge distressor from cutter kit, dimensional popdots



This brings us to a Tip-To-Share moment!
I found an easy way to create a reverse distressed edge for a frame (as found around my sentiment block above), is to poke along the edge with a paper piercer. Don't worry about perfection here because the distressed edge needs variation! Finish by tearing along the perforations and roughening up the edge with a fingernail. The pic below shows what I mean. I actually had to go back and make my frame just a little skinnier width-wise because I didn't get enough blue cardstock peeking through to my liking on the sentiment block. By piercing along the edges first, it made it so much easier to tear, and I didn't run the risk of ripping my skinny frame in two.



So I hope this little holiday card has inspired you today. I hope you get a chance to dig around your stash and give watercoloring a try. Have a great Friday and enjoy your weekend! Come back soon!!

All Occasions Candy Jar - Part 1

Welcome! You may have been seeing these awesome candy jars circulating around sites like Splitcoaststampers or Stampin Up, and I loved this idea the moment I saw the Halloween one at Convention this year. Well, being limited on storage space (as I'm sure most of us are), I didn't want to adhere this Spooky Spider Decor Elements directly to the jar for use only during the Halloween season. DH overheard me talking out loud about my thoughts on this, and with his suggestion, I placed it on a sheet of transparency instead to make a slide. He's brilliant - LOL!

So, for Halloween, I was able to use my Spooky Spider -and will again, and again, and again... :)


And now, I can change out the decorative slides to fit any occasion. Here's one for Christmas -


July 4th anyone?


Of course, we need one for everyday use!
*

These were SO EASY to do! To figure out how big of a slide I needed, I inserted a ruler into the glass jar and measured from the bottom to the top where the glass begins to curve inward to make the lip for the lid (looking at the image above, between the asterick to just below the bottom of my watermark where it says copyright Stampin Up!). This 1 gallon candy jar was purchased at Walmart, and after measuring it, I cut my transparency lengthwise at 6 1/4 inches. This made my slide 6 1/4 x 11 inches. You definitely don't see the top and bottom edges of the slide, and it's practically unnoticeable on the sides, especially with candy in there. And the best part is that the candy keeps the slide pressed up against the sides of the jar, so no adhesive is necessary - Perfect! Just a couple other tips, keep in mind that you adhere everything on one side of the transparency, and it's this side that is pressed against the glass - so fingers won't be snagging the edges of your creations and ripping it off the slide. And, in case you were wondering, I simply used an adhesive tape runner to adhere everything to the slide - easy and clean. These were extremely quick to put together as well - I hope you try out this idea! Till next time....

All Occasions Candy Jar - Part 2

I thought you might be interested in seeing the individual slides that were inserted into the candy jar shown in the above post. As you can see, the possibilities are endless and I'll be making more slides to fit every holiday and special occasion. You know, how about making a small candy jar for family and friends that has interchangeable slides for them to use? I think that's a great gift idea! I hope this is something that helps inspire you to try it out - I'd love to see what you come up with, so comment here with a URL!!!

For Halloween (medium sized Spooky Spider Decor Elements) -
(front)

I put the "SPOOKY" sentiment on another slide for the back side of the Candy Jar. Oh, by the way, both images come together when purchased!
(back)

I used the Independence Day stamp set to create this for July 4th-


Of course, the beautiful Snow Swirled set is perfect for Christmas -


How about Inspired By Nature for everyday use? This was created using the Alcohol Etching technique described in my September 30th post - try it out and see how easy this one is to do!


Again, thank you so much for stopping by today! Have a great week, and I'll see you again soon!!! :)