Halloween Lollipop Embellishments

KS Crafts just released their July 2025 release of new Halloween dies. I placed my order and that arrived yesterday:

I ordered the Spiderweb Garland set, the Candy Bar Wrapper set as well as:

the Mixed Witch Hats set, and the favorite, the Halloween Lollipop die set. Here is a photo of some of the Halloween Lollipop embellishments I made today:

So far I have only made the Ghosties, the Bats, and the Jack O Lanterns. Here is a photo of the dies on the magnet sheet for storage:

The die set also has a die for making an eyeball (shown on far right) but I have not made that yet. I may just use it as a base and have it hold a little witch hat. For the Ghosties I used plain white card stock and sponged the edges of that with light gray ink, then a glittered white card stock, and then a mirrored white card stock:

Bows were punched out using a mini bow punch from HobbyLobby. For the Bats I used glittered black card stock and a mirrored black card stock and again used a larger bow punch from HobbyLobby and hot glued a flower from the stash to the front of the bow:

The Jack O Lanterns has a plain card stock - sponged the edges of that, along with a glittered orange card stock, as well as a mirrored card stock:

All lollipop base dies were cut out of black 110# card stock from Mikes. These will all make good embellishments for Halloween projects ahead --- moved things around in the craft room and thought I would share a favorite comic strip I laminated and it hangs off a shelf by the craft table:

Circle Halloween Card

 Used the 4" Circle Card die set from My Creative Time to make this circle Halloween card:

The Halloween die set I used for the front of the card is the "Spooky Web Tree" die set from Cottage Cutz. This is a small die set and the image is only 2 7/8" high:

For the circle card stock base I cut the circle card stock base die in this set out of black card stock from PaperTreyInk. For the front of the card I wanted a white card front but I also wanted to use a gray circle frame around the image. I pulled out the Hero Arts Infinity Circle Die set from the stash and I used two different circles to cut out a dark gray card stock frame. I measured that and I used a 3" circle punch and punched out a white circle to be a mask for my white circle card front. Ink blended gray ink around the mask and that gave me the ink edge all around my circle card front. Removed that circle mask and set this aside. 

I die cut out the die for my card front. I used a solid black card stock for the tree piece but for the two spiders and the bats I used black mirrored card stock. Spider webs were cut out using the brushed silver mirrored card stock:

Used scrap brown card stock for the vase this tree piece is in and I sponged the edges of that. Used scrap orange card stock for the little bow piece and added an orange gem to the center of that from the stash. Used liquid glue to assemble the Spooky Web Tree and all the pieces. Also used liquid glue to add the gray circle frame over the circle card front and then put this onto the round black card base. Put my die cut image on the card front.

Here is a photo of the circle die set from MCT:

Happy that this circle card stands up by it self and does not roll to one side or the other. Her die set offers both the plain and the stitched edge circles for your card front. She also sells add-on die sets for this circle card base in her shop. Since the card base is black I die cut a white circle to stamp my holiday sentiment on for the inside of the card. Easy card to put together using more stash stuffs from the craft room!

Butterfly Shadow Box Project

Had seen a project done by Anna on her YouTube channel "Serenity Creations" using the new "Butterfly Mini Album #2" die set released recently on ScrapdivaDesigns.com.  I knew once I watched her video I wanted to make the larger butterfly as she did for a decor item in my craft room so I placed my order and my die set arrived earlier this week. This project was very hard to photograph as I used a white shadow bow and it has a glass piece on the front:

For my printed card stock I used more of the papers from the Shabby Rose paper pad I had in the stash by Stamperia:

To begin with the shadow box I had on hand is from an older Amazon order and the box is 8x8. For the background to my butterfly I wanted to use the Petite Bow embossing folder from Spellbinders. This is a large embossing folder - 5 1/2 x 8 1/2. I cut two pieces of pink card stock to fit the embossing folder and embossed those. Laid them next to each other, matching the pattern in the center, and used tape to hold them together on the back. Using the cardboard insert the shadow box comes with I traced that onto the embossed piece with a pencil and trimmed that down to the 8x8 size I needed using the trimmer.  Wanted a little sparkle and interest over the embossed bows piece so I used sparkle pink tulle from the stash. To hold the tulle onto the embossed background I used 1/8 tear and tape on the edges of the emboss bows piece. Trimmed any tulle that was over hanging using scissors. Set this aside. 

As Anna suggested in her project I used 110# card stock to back all my pieces. There are three layers to the butterfly - the base piece, the middle piece which has stitching embossed on it when  you die cut it, and the top piece of the butterfly has the cut out designs. I cut a solid card stock for the base, the stitched layer I used a printed card stock, and the top piece is a floral piece of card stock - all glued to pink 110# card stock die cut pieces to make the layers more sturdy. With the butterfly all cut out I decided I wanted the body/antennae to be out of brushed silver card stock so I die cut that out and using scissors I cut out the body/antennae piece. 

As she did I also used two layers of foam behind each of my layers -- I used the heavy duty foam squares that I had picked up at the Dollar Tree in their automotive section. Her butterfly is on the outside of her frame but I wanted mine to be inside a shadow box so using the double layer of foam squares helps to show off the dimension on my butterfly. For the body/antennae piece I just used liquid glue to put that on the top butterfly piece. Stacked all my layers and had to decide what to use for the center of the butterfly to dress her up. 

Recently I made a bunch of flowers using the Desert Rose flower die set I had picked up from ScrapDivaDesigns.com so I went through that box and picked out flowers for the shadow box. Like Anna did I also used a small piece of white cheesecloth behind my center flower on the butterfly. But I wanted a little more on there so I went through a stash box and found the small pearl sprays I had bought long ago from HobbyLobby in their wedding section and it was on sale. They are sold in small picks so I used scissors to cut mine to the length I wanted. To keep them in place on the body/antennae I used a piece of tear and tape. With those in place I put some hot glue in the center, laid down the small piece of cheesecloth, and then put the pink flower I made in the center:

The greenery for both corners of my shadow box I used a die set from the stash and scrap green card stock for those. I picked out two more flowers for each corner and I laid the greenery down and then hot glued the flowers in the centers. With that done I wanted to add random pearls here and there to the background so I dug pearls gems out of the stash and put them on the background to add interest and to stay with the shabby chic look of the butterfly...... This photo shows the sparkle tulle over the embossed background piece:

and this photo shows the layers of the butterfly using the two layers of foam squares for the dimension:

This photo is to show the pearls and sparkle tulle on the background:

and the greenery/flowers in the corners:

Fun project to put together and this shadow box will protect the butterfly from dust on the shelf in my craft room! Thanks to Anna for sharing her shabby chic butterfly on her channel! 

Pumpkin Patch Halloween Card

 Went through the stash for everything for this Halloween card:

Card stock base is black card stock from PaperTreyInk and it is cut and scored at the top. Cut a white card stock for the white mat on the card front. Used this torn edge die set from Sizzix/T Holtz for the spider web card stock framed piece:

For the grassy edge to the front of the card I used an old M Stewart grass border punch and scrap green card stock. Put the grassy edge piece over the spider web card stock using liquid glue. Then I put the largest torn edge frame from the die set over that so when I cut out the spider web card stock the grassy edge would match the edge of that piece. Here is a photo of the die set that was gifted to me by my PIC (stamping Partner In Crime) that I used for the two pumpkins on the card front:

With the layout I used on my card I did not have the height for the black cat and birds so I only used the pumpkins. Die cut those out of scrap card stock and used liquid glue to put them onto scrap black card stock. Once they were dried I fussy cut the pumpkins out. This way the black card stock fills in their eyes, nose, and mouth pieces.  For the "Happy Halloween" greeting I used a stamp from Elizabeth Craft Designs, their Autumn Words stamp set:

Stamped it onto scrap white card stock using black ink. Cut it out with a banner die from the stash. Wanted some swirly vines and leaves for the pumpkins so I decided to use a die in the stash for that - which is the same die I just received from Divinity Designs as a free gift with my recent order. (I asked my PIC if she had this die and she did not so I will give it to her). Here is a photo of that die:

I cut out the stems to the pumpkins and the swirly leaves die from scrap light green card stock. I used a dauber to add darker ink over these and then added the stem and swirly leaves pieces to the pumpkins. I put the pumpkins onto the card front. I then added the greeting banner to the upper left corner. Put small orange gems from the stash on the greeting banner for some sparkle and shine. Easy card to put together for Halloween using all items on hand in the stash! Happy to be able to put more items to use!

Shopping......

Pretty sure July is a pricey month for my craft room between sales, new releases, and all the Christmas in July videos show casing items...... but there is no local store for me to shop at so sales and new releases it is..... this first arrival this week is from ScrapDivaDesigns from her new July release. I bought her "Butterfly Mini Album" die set which has a smaller and much larger butterfly die set:

On the right of that in the photo is her large Gift Pouch treat holder. I have seen lots of projects made with both of these die sets and I am looking forward to making some items up for future projects in my craft room as well... LOVE her dies and the designs she offers... My most favorite butterfly die set is the last butterfly die set I bought from her and made the layered butterflies using the acetate sheets from Mikes:

Love the size and the shape of that butterfly as well as the details the die embossed on the butterfly wings. This new butterfly die set has cut out areas on the wings with itty bitty hearts on the edges of the wings..... Anna from Serenity Creations on YouTube made a beautiful project using the larger butterfly in this new set and the details are really nice..... Love it!

Next I ordered the "Sweet Treats Goodie Bag" die set from Divinity Designs for treat holders for the holidays ahead..... Here is a photo of that die set:

Looking forward to making up treat holders with that die set - also in with my order was a free gift from them:

Very nice to get a greenery die in a scroll shape - can use it as one piece or even cut it apart for placement on projects. A nice surprise and a usable die -- how many "thank you" dies over the years have we all received as free gifts??? Happy to get this surprise gift..... key to this whole expensive July thing is to skip videos.... But after all it is Christmas in July..... or maybe skip new releases..... but that won't work either..... oh well..... fun projects ahead!!!

Shhhh.... Who's There? Halloween Card

Catherine Pooler Designs had a sale last week and I picked up three items -- first is her hot foil set "Sweet Nothings" which will be good for Valentine's day: 

This next item is her "Christmas Glory Cover Plate" die:

and of course I had to buy a Halloween cover plate for a favorite holiday..... It is her "Who's There? Cover Plate" die..... and here is the card I made:

My card stock base is black card stock from PaperTreyInk and I cut and scored that at the top. I used a spiderweb Better Press plate to hot foil holographic foil onto a black card stock. For the "Happy Halloween" greeting I used an older Spellbinders Halloween hot foil plate set and I used plain silver hot foil for that. Used banner dies from Pink & Main to cut that out.

With the hot foiling done I used the Who's There cover plate die and cut that out on the spiderweb foiled piece. Went through the stash and found one sheet of lime green card stock I trimmed down  to put behind my die cut eyes piece for the card front. Used liquid glue and put the spiderweb card front piece onto the lime green card stock. Used liquid glue and put these onto the black card stock base. 

With using the holographic foil for the spiderweb piece I decided for the greeting I would use plain silver foil. With the greeting piece die cut into the banner shape I used foam tape behind the greeting banner to put this on the card front for dimension - did not want the white edges of my white foam tape to show so I used a black Sharpie and ran that across the sides of the foam tape so it looks black. Put this greeting banner on the card front using the Pear Blossoms Card Maker's T Square ruler to line it up to not only make it straight but evenly placed in the center of the card. 

Here is a photo that shows the spiderwebs are holographic -

Very easy card to put together and spooky for BOO Day so a fun card.... Happy to be able to use some of the hot foil plates and foils from the stash as well as making a spooky card using sale items!  BOO!

Badge Holder Shaker Embellishments

Gina @ scrappinology on YouTube recently posted her Halloween embellishments video to show what she was working on for Halloween projects. She was using items/papers/dies from her stash to make all the embellishments and one of the items she showed was her badge holder shakers. I really liked that idea so I went through my stash and here are the badge holder shaker embellishments I made:

To start with I pulled out Halloween card stocks from the stash. This project is good to use the smaller scraps on hand. These badge holders hold an ATC card and so I cut my printed card stock to the 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 size to fit the badge holders. For the "boo" badge shaker with the ghost I used a white piece of card stock and I used a piece of painters tape and laid that across an orange ink pad to pick up the ink and laid it over the white card stock and pressed down with my fingers to transfer the ink from the tape to the white card stock. I wanted to use the ghost and boo die cuts from my scrap die cuts from last year projects but did not have a printed card stock I liked with those so I made my own using the tape and ink pad.

I made four of the badge holder shakers for Halloween and for the die cut items on my shakers I used all scrap die cuts I have on hand from last year's projects - left overs. The shaker on the right uses the "BOO" die from This Calls For Confetti. The ghost is an older die from Cuttlebug that I have had for years. I used garment pins to hang my dangle on the left side of the holder. For the crinkled seam binding bow I put the seam binding through the holes at the top of the badge holder and tied a bow. The holder on the left is left over scrap star printed card stock. I used a Halloween ticket stamp from the stash and fussy cut around that to give it the ticket shape. The small jack o lantern pumpkin is made using an old pumpkin face punch from Marvy and I used the solid pumpkin punch by M Stewart for the pumpkin. Sponged the edges of the pumpkin and used a marker for the stem. Again tied the crinkled seam binding on the top and made a bow. 

Here are two others I made:

The holder on the right uses spider web card stock and a stamped label I had in the bag of extra holiday items. Used a chain to tie on the dangle and for my bow I made the bow and then used Aleene's  Tacky Glue to put the bow on the top of the badge holder. For the holder on the left I used scrap card stock for that and a Diamond Press die set I bought used for the "Oct 31st" and I cut that out of holographic card stock. Used a strip of spider paper that is a strip from the shelf strips from Walgreens that the gal gave me for free many years ago. I also used a washi tape at the bottom - which is behind all the shaker bits.

For the backs of these shakers I also used scrap card stocks:

I had the badge holders in the stash for ATC cards -- you can buy them on Amazon and they sell both the vertical - taller and top close or the horizontal - wider and top close for your shakers. To make one:

Cut your front and back card stocks 2 1/2 x 3 1/2

Using liquid glue put these pieces together - wrong sides together

Use a corner rounder punch for the corners

Use liquid glue to decorate the front piece with items - die cuts, washi tape, etc. Let dry

This is a plastic holder so to add my shaker bits I first used an anti static tool to rub on the bottom and sides of the small dish I mix my shaker mixes in. I opened the badge holder and put the decorated card stock piece inside. Then I poured in the shaker mix to the front side of the badge holder. Pressed the zip top closed. 

Pulled out beads from the stash and made small dangles for the holders. Put the dangles on the holders using garment pins and a chain for one of them.  Added bows and seam binding to the top to decorate that. Here is a photo of the Aleene's glue I used for the ribbon bows that I picked up at Hobby Lobby:

These badge holders went together quickly as I used scraps from the stash and I also used already assembled die cuts or paper punched items from left overs from last year. Certainly a great project for scraps and extra parts and such. I also made another shaker for Fall using left over mushrooms from my Fall project from last  year:

and the back:

I used a leaf design wider washi tape across the bottom of the front to tie in the blue on the back printed card stock. These badge shakers will be good to hang on a gift bag or use for an embellishment swap, etc.  As I was watching her video Gina was saying what dies/products she was using from her stash and altho I do not have all she used I certainly have other things I can use from my stash. A HUGE thank you to Gina for sharing this idea, as well as other Halloween embellishments on that video, to help use more of the stash we all have.... plus another good use of the badge holders besides for ATCs.  Fun project for sure!

Summer Cards . . .

This is a card I made for summer this year:

For the card base I used kraft card stock. Used the LDRS "Quilted Plaid" cover plate die for the white card front. Used a rectangle frame die from the stash and cut out the green gingham frame for the card front. For the half watermelon I used scrap card stocks and cut out a watermelon from an older Taylored Expressions watermelon die set. I die cut the "happy summer" summer border die from Lawn Fawn using silver poster board from the Dollar Tree for the "happy summer". I trimmed that to size for the card front. I added red and green gems from the stash. To add a little sparkle and shine to the card front I used clear Wink of Stella over the black seeds on the watermelon:

Fun to dig through the stash and use products on hand..... or so I thought..... off to the 4th of July cards....

Plan in place for the 4th of July cards and I wanted to use the WaffleFlower Postage Collage die and stencil set they have for the 4th of July. Simple plan.... or so I thought.... 

First night after work I die cut all the postage collage card fronts using the postage collage die. Using red and navy blue inks from Catherine Pooler I stenciled the card front. Set those aside. I then cut out the mat pieces for the front of the cards as well as the card bases. 

Second night the plan was to stencil all the stars and the background stars from the stencil..... First problem???  The red and navy inks bled when I would add anything over them - white ink, stencil paste, etc.... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Third night - let's begin again -- had to cut all new stencil collage die pieces for the card fronts and I used a red ink from another company and a blue ink from another company..... tried to keep my stencil paste to a minimum on these cards not knowing what would happen..... so on these cards I used a yellow ink for the little stars as accents rather than try a stencil paste or anything else. So happy I had in my stash a jar of the TCW Stencil Butter paste and here is a photo of one of the final cards that I made:

The TCW stencil butter paste was used for the stars on the flag, the hat, as well as the banner. This paste was easy to use and it did not alter the colour or texture over the second inks I used for my cards that other pastes I had in my stash did.... this process has been over 2 weeks so I am glad I was finally able to get card fronts I could use for the July 4th cards. Really like the postage collage stencil sets that are available - you can use it as a one piece card front or cut them apart to arrange on other card fronts or tags, etc.. Just happy I was able to find products that work well together so I could get these cards in the mail BEFORE the holiday.....

Crepe Paper BOO Day Embellishments

Crepe paper flowers were made following a pattern from Septeria I had seen on YouTube long ago. I made orange, black, pink, and purple flowers. (The camera shows the purple as dark blue but they are purple):

For my flowers I used 7 layers of crepe paper and used a 1 3/4" circle pattern I have in my stash to trace onto the crepe paper for my circle. Used scissors to cut the circle stack out:

As shown in the video I used a small stapler and stapled the center of the circle stack to keep them together. Then I scrunched up each layer and here is what the flower looked like before I opened it up:

Once all the flowers were opened I put them in a scrap cardboard box and sprayed them with a can of spray starch to help the flowers keep their shape since crepe paper is thinner:

The spray starch gives them some shape but they are not overly stiff. Once thoroughly dry I put the flowers in a box with the Witch Brooms I had made before for storage for upcoming BOO Day projects:

Also made two orange fringe flowers - shown in photo with pink flowers:

Also made some crepe paper fringe for gift bags or tags for future projects using 6 layers of the crepe paper - black, orange, and pink layered with hot glue and I used the fringe scissors by M Stewart for those:

The fringe strips do not have the spray starch on them as they hold the scrunched shapes well. Easy embellishments to make for Halloween projects ahead!