Happy Halloween

This is my second post for today. These are the treat boxes that I gave to my co-workers this year for Halloween. I made 24 of these coffins from the pattern that Jan Tinklenberg created. You can find the pattern on her blog here. She has a list of templates and this one is called "coffin treat box". I really liked the fact that you only use one sheet of card stock to create these boxes. These were all printed out onto Basic Gray card stock and then stamped in Going Gray ink using the Antique Cracking background stamp. The top was stamped with Versa Mark ink and embossed with black embossing powder with the images from the stamp set From the Crypt. Once I had the box together I sponged all the edges with black ink but I thought the boxes looked a little bare so I punched 3/4" wide strips from Black and Bravo Burgundy card stock using the Martha Stewart punch called Drippy Goo and taped them around the top edges (the Bravo Burgundy was sponged with black ink before applying to the coffins). I covered the boxes with some spider web material and then added the plastic spiders with glue and it sort of makes a little handle to open the coffin with. Everyone loved them.

I found the perfect candy to fill the boxes with at "Dollar Tree". The Dollar Tree had Gummy Skeletons, Bags of Bones and Eyeballs. I also put an extra plastic spider in there and a Hershey's chocolate bar.

Supplies Used: Paper: Basic Gray, Sahara Sand, Bravo Burgundy; Ink: Basic Black, Versa Mark; Stamps: From the Crypt, Haunted House; Other: Black Embossing Powder, Drippy Goo Punch from Martha Stewart, Plastic Spiders and Webbing Material

Autumn Birthday

My original layout for this card just wasn't working so I had to go in a completely different direction. The layout ended up being very simple but I think the image actually stands out more that way. The flower is from the Riot of Petals stamp. I stamped the image on Crushed Curry card stock and punched out one of the flowers with the Marvy Mega Scallop punch. The petals of the flower were colored using various markers. The flower center was highlighted using a Sakura glitter pen and then the entire image was spritzed with gold Pearl Ex powder that had been mixed with hairspray. Once I had the image colored I decided that the image looked much better against Dusty Durango card stock instead of Crushed Curry.

Supplies Used: Paper: Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla, Dusty Durango DSP; Ink: Basic Brown, Various SU Markers; Stamps: Riot of Petals, Sincere Salutations; Other: Marvy Mega and Giga Scallop Punches, Circle Cutter, Designer Label Punch, Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon, Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, White Signo Gel Pen, Dew Drops, Dimensionals, Gold Pearl Ex Powder mixed with hairspray

Bright Birthday

It has been awhile since my last post but I've been busy putting together Halloween treats for my co-workers. I'll post them soon but in the meantime, here is a card a made for a friend's birthday. This card is very bright and colorful and I love the colors together. I don't think I would normally choose to put pink and orange together, but somehow this works. I chose the card stock colors from the striped background paper. The card base is rose red and the accent color I used is pumpkin pie. I tried using the rose red ink for one of the flowers but I didn't think it was bright enough so I tried mambo melon and it gave me the brightness the card needed to match the stripes in the background paper.

Supplies Used: Paper: Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Background Paper; Ink: Mambo Melon, Pumpkin Pie; Stamps: Kind & Caring Thoughts, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Other: Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Mat Pack, Dew Drops, Dimensionals

Flower Tiles

This card is for the "Inspiration Challenge" that was posted on Splitcoast for Saturday. This was my inspiration for the card. I chose to use flowers that aren't so childlike but it isn't supposed to be an exact copy hence, the word "inspiration". The card base is 5 1/4" square using whisper white card stock and the flowers were stamped on 1 3/4" squares of whisper white card stock. The stamp set I used has long since been retired set called "Long Stemmed". If I'm not mistaken this stamp set was only available during "sale-a-brations". This will be given to a co-worker for her birthday. I hope she likes it.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Basic Black, Old Olive DSP; Ink: Palette Noir Black and Various SU Markers; Stamps: Long Stemmed (retired); Other: Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals

Maple Leaf

I made this card for the "ways to use it challenge" on Splitcoast. The challenge was to make a card using leaves. I decided to use the maple leaf from the a retired SU stamp set called Autumn Leaf Prints. I created my own background paper by stamping the leaves randomly onto very vanilla card stock using really rust and more mustard ink. I wanted the background to have a slight shimmer to it so I spritzed it with a mixture of gold Pearl Ex powder and liquid hairspray. To create the focal point leaf, I first inked up the image with more mustard ink and then added really rust using a marker and spritzed with water to blend the colors and stamped the image onto very vanilla card stock. After cutting the image out I used versa mark and SU's glassy glaze embossing enamel several times until I achieved the effect I was going for. The leaf is mounted on a 2" piece of very vanilla card stock using dimensionals. The micro beads were attached using a very thin line of crystal effects.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Really Rust; Ink: More Mustard, Really Rust, Versa Mark; Stamps: Autumn Leaf Prints; Other: Glassy Glaze Embossing Enamel, Micro Beads, Crystal Effects, Gold Organdy Ribbon, Gold Pearl EX Powder mixed with hairspray, Dimensionals

Naughty or Nice and Mistletoe Note Cards

The limited supplies challenge was to start with a pre-printed note card. I picked these note cards up from the $1 bin at Michaels last year knowing that someday I would use them. This was the perfect challenge for these note cards. Not only was the challenge to use pre-printed note cards any embellishments had to be CAS (clean and simple). I think I met both requirements and really like how these turned out.

Supplies Used: Paper: Glossy White, Basic Black, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Garden Green; Ink: Palette Noir Black, Garden Green, Real Red; Stamps: Computer Quips, Haute Couture, Christmas Punch; Other: Wide Oval Punch, Marvy Mega Oval Scallop Punch, 1/2" Round Punch, 1/4" Round Punch, Rhinestones, Stickles, Red Satin Ribbon, Ivory Organdy Ribbon, Note Cards purchased at Michaels

From the Crypt

I really like the images in the stamp set "From the Crypt". I'm not much of a Halloween person but for some reason I was drawn to this stamp set. I still have a few cards to make for family members that live out of state and I was inspired by the post on Beate's blog for this card. I had to emboss the image 3 times before I had one that I was satisfied with. I think the black pigment ink pad I was using needs to be replaced. The skull is stamped on a 2 1/2" x 2 3/4" piece of Certainly Celery DSP using Versa Mark ink and then embossed with black embossing powder. The Halloween Night DSP (retired) contained paper with a spider web on it but I wanted it to stand out more so I enhanced the web with a white Signo gel pen. I really like how this card turned out.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Basic Black, Certainly Celery DSP, Halloween Night DSP; Ink: Versa Mark, Basic Black; Stamps: From the Crypt, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Other: Black Embossing Powder, Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Cuttlebug Textile Embossing Folder, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Mat Pack, White Signo Gel Pen, Mat Pack, Dimensionals, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Rhinestone Brads

Witch Hats

This is my submission for the card sketch challenge on splitcoast yesterday. I don't usually make many Halloween cards but I still need a few more to send to some family members. This will probably go to my in-laws. I've been trying to use up some of the older background papers from Stampin' Up that for some reason I seem to hoard. I realize that it doesn't do any good just sitting in my cabinet so I'm working diligently to use more background paper in my cards.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Basic Black, Halloween Night DSP; Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive; Stamps: Eat, Drink & Be Scary; Other: Wide Oval Punch, Star Punch, Martha Stewart Drippy Goo Punch, Dew Drops, Dimensionals, Ribbon from Michaels

Postage Stamp Santa

As you can see from the last few posts I'm trying to get a jump start on my Christmas cards this year. I'm not really into mass production cards since I like to make cards unique to the person I'm giving it to. This card has a very simple country feel to it and will probably go to one of my sisters. She loves the outdoors and lives in a log cabin quite out of the way so this card is right up her alley. I love the chocolate felt ribbon with the kraft card stock, it really gives it a handmade feel.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Ruby Red, Kraft, Soft Suede; Ink: Soft Suede, Ruby Red, Versa Mark; Stamps: Christmas Punch, Winter Post; Other: Scallop Edge Punch, Postage Stamp Edge Scissors, Mat Pack, Alpine Ribbon Originals

Santa Collage

I finally found a Santa stamp that looks like a vintage Santa should look. I found this stamp at Michael's and knew I had to have it. The snowflake background was done using the snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder and the sparkle is from the white shimmer paint mixed with alcohol and then spritzed onto the card stock. I wanted his glasses to really stand out and added crystal effects to the lenses. This is a stamp that will probably get used for several Christmas cards this year.

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Sage Shadow, Blush Blossom, Brocade Blue, Ruby Red; Stamps: Santa Collage (Rubber Stampede), French Script; Other: Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Antique Brass Brads, Atyou Spica Gold Glitter Pen, White Shimmer Paint, Crystal Effects, Snowflake Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

3D Ornament

I saw this ornament and I knew I wanted to try to make one too. It wasn't very difficult at all. The most difficult part was getting the beads threaded on the silver cord. I changed the color and sprayed each of the punched ornaments with the frost white/alcohol mixture (see this post for all the details).

To create this ornament I used 6 punched ornaments, scored each one in half and then glued 3 ornaments together twice. You will have 2 halves each with 3 of the punched ornaments. Be sure to line up your edges evenly. Once you have your 2 halves, string your beads on the silver cord and knot the end. To attach to silver cord in the middle I used a small piece of sticky strip tape on one of the halves to keep the cord in place and then added glue to the other half and glued them together.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White; Ink: Real Red; Stamps: Delightful Decorations; Other: SU Ornament Punch, Frost White Shimmer Paint w/Alcohol, Silver Cord, Narrow Red Ribbon, Beads, Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive

Trio of Snowmen

This card definitely uses non-traditional Christmas colors. I used a mix of stamps and paper from various companies. I almost always use Stampin' Up card stock but I have decorative background papers from SU, KI Memories, DCWV, etc. Its fun to try and match other companies decorative background papers with SU's card stock colors and I can usually find something that matches. The snowman stamp is from the Christmas Punch stamp set which is a Level 2 hostess set from the current 2009-2010 catalog. The stamp is designed to be used with a tag punch but I just wanted the snowman so I cut around the snowman and mounted it on a square.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Ruby Red, KI Memories Background; Ink: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie; Stamps: Christmas Punch, Darcies Happy Freezin' Season; Other: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, and Bashful Blue Grosgrain Ribbon, Mat Pack, Dimensionals

Vintage Look Ornaments

The ornaments in this set have a vintage feel to me. The background paper is some that I've had for several years from Stampin' Up. This paper isn't double sided like all of the current background paper (now you know how long I've had this). Since I was using older background paper I thought I'd also use the navy organdy ribbon that has been discontinued from SU for several years now. I guess the entire card ended up being vintage.

Its difficult to tell from the photo but the ornament in navy has been spritzed with frost white shimmer paint mixed with alcohol (about 1/2 tsp of shimmer paint mixed with about 2 oz. alcohol). I bought some small bottles from the dollar store but if you have any empty Stampin' Mist containers they would work great. Just be sure before you spray that you shake the bottle really well and spray about 12" from the surface. You can speed the dry time by using your heat gun.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Baroque Burgundy, Festive Finery DSP; Ink: Night of Navy, Baroque Burgundy, Forest Foliage, Basic Gray; Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Christmas Greetings; Other: Navy Organdy Ribbon, Dimensionals, Frost White Shimmer Paint

PTI Challenge - Australia

This is my submission for Australia. Nicole added to this challenge by asking for either a dotted outline image or to use masking in some way. I chose to incorporate dotted outlines in my card. The images remind me of a bandana print. After stamping the images in basic brown I sponged the card with chocolate chip, close to cocoa and basic black. It gives the card an aged look and my husband thought it looked a little like old leather. This card has a definite masculine feel to it. I always have a difficult time trying to come up with cards for men so this will be added to my stash of "guy" cards.

Supplies Used: Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Basic Black; Ink: Basic Brown, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Basic Black; Stamps: True Friend, Oval All; Other: White Gel Pen, Mat Pack, Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Dimensionals

PTI Challenge - India

I had a difficult time trying to make a card that could represent India because I had several ideas but I really wanted to keep the card simple. This is the first time I've inked this stamp and even though its a simple card it seems to have a wow factor to it. I'm thinking about making this a Christmas card and since there aren't lots of layers it won't require extra postage.


Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Regal Rose; Ink: Kaleidacolor Cotton Candy; Stamps: Medallion; Other: Rhinestones

PTI Challenge - Mexico

This is my interpretation of hand painted tiles that can be found in Mexico. I've had this stamp for a couple of years now and I think it works great for this challenge. I stamped the image with versa mark ink and embossed with black detail embossing powder. If you click on the image you can see the embossing detail better. I wanted to use primary colors since they are very vibrant and bright which is how I would imagine tiles found in Mexico would look.

Supplies Used: Paper: Whisper White, Yoyo Yellow, Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Basic Black; Ink: Versa Mark, Yoyo Yellow, Real Red, Bermuda Bay; Stamps: Outlines from Rubber Stampede; Other: Detail Black Embossing Powder

PTI Challenge - Japan

Nicole Heady posted some challenges on her blog for World Card Making day. This is my submission for Japan. I found the directions for making a Japanese doll here and it was my inspiration for the card. I drew the face freehand and the eyes aren't exactly perfect but it sort of looks like she is "winking".

Supplies Used: Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Basic Black, Blush Blossom, Ginger Blossom DSP; Ink: Basic Brown, Groovy Guava, Ruby Red, Mellow Moss, Black; Stamps: Embrace Life; Other: 1" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Brown Organdy Ribbon, Dew Drops, Blender Pen, Swiss Dot Cuttlebug Embossing Folder