Twig Cover Halloween Card

Picked up the Brass & Bliss Twig Cover Die set at a stamp show I had attended and I wanted to use it for a Halloween card this year. Used three oxide inks to make the spooky sky background. Here is the card:

To begin with I cut a piece of Strathmore Bristol smooth white card stock larger than the Twig Cover die to ink blend my sky on. First I punched out a 1 3/8" circle of scrap white card stock and I used washi tape to keep this circle mask in place for my background moon. Starting at the bottom I ink blended Shaded Lilac oxide ink. Second ink above that I ink blended was Wilted Violet oxide ink and I blended that down into the Lilac ink. The third ink for the top I used was Blueprint Sketch oxide ink, again blending that down into the Violet ink. With the inks covering my white card stock piece I used Black Soot oxide ink and started at the top and added the black ink across the top and then down on each side. Set this aside to dry. 

Die cut the two glittered white ghosts using an old Cuttlebug ghost die. I cut them out of the glittered white card stock and then out of black card stock to put behind my ghosts which gives my ghosts their black eyes and mouth. Used liquid glue to put the two ghost layers together. 

Set these aside to dry. Went back to my ink blended panel and I used a mister to spritz water onto the background piece and let that sit for a minute. Then used a clean paper towel to blot up any extra water on the background. Used the heat tool to dry this panel. Then used a fan brush to splatter white ink onto the background. Let this dry.  Took the circle mask off the moon on the background and lightly went over the white circle spot with a light hand and any Black Soot ink left on the blending brush just to soften the white moon. 

Die cut the Twig Cover die out of black card stock. This die cuts well with one pass in the machine and all the small die cut pieces easily came out of the die. I used the Spellbinders Essential Rectangle die set to cut my ink blended sky panel to the size I would need to go behind the twig die cut piece. I used liquid glue to put the twig cover plate piece onto the inked panel for the card front. Set this aside to dry. Once that was set I cut and scored a piece of black card stock at the top for the card base. Used liquid glue to put the card front onto the card base. 

Used tear n tape to put the ghosts onto the card front. For the "Happy Halloween" I used the Frantic Stamper Retro Label Halloween Sentiments die set and I stamped the stamps with black ink onto scrap white card stock. Used scissors to cut those out. Put them on the card front using tear n tape. Wanted two small pumpkins for the card front so I used two different oval punches and punched out three ovals from scrap pumpkin coloured card stock. Sponged the edges of those and put the three ovals together using liquid glue. Used scrap green card stock and cut the stems using scissors and glued the stems onto the pumpkins:

The Twig Cover die cut the thicker black card stock I used for my card front with one pass through the die cutting machine. This die has a lot of detail and small sections so I was not sure how well it would die cut the thicker card stock. Happy it was so easy as many detailed dies are hard to die cut and then time consuming to try to remove all the small pieces from the die cut piece. Fun die set to use and happy with the dimensional look the twigs give the background for a spooky Halloween card. 

Spider Web Ghost Card

 

For this card I used black card stock for the card base. I used the Spellbinders Essential Arch die set to cut out the card base.  The front of the card I used the Spellbinders Color Block Essential Arch die set and cut out a black arch. I put this on a white arch die cut to give the edges the color block look. 

The spider web background behind the ghost was made using the Spellbinders large 3D embossing folder "Spider Web":

This is a new 3D folder from Spellbinders and it is large and it has two designs to emboss a larger piece of card stock with. If you use the larger card stock and emboss with this folder then you will have two fronts already embossed for cards:

I cut my black card stock to the size I wanted for a card front and embossed this piece only using the bottom half of this embossing folder. Once it was embossed I lightly ran a white ink pad over the embossed design on the card stock and set this aside to dry. For the ghost with flowers on my card I used the Hero Arts die set "Free Spirit":

I die cut the ghost and flowers out of white and used various ink to ink them. Went back to my spider web embossed piece and I used a smaller arch die from the arch die set to cut out my spider web. With this being embossed with a 3D embossing folder the embossed design on the card stock is deep and even with die cutting out the arch die the embossed piece still has a raised design:

The design still gives the card front dimension. The ghost is on the card front using pop dots. Added all the flowers using tear n tape. Added one of the Halloween sentiment stamps I just stamped using the Frantic Stamper Retro Label Halloween Sentiment set and I had stamped that onto white card stock using black ink and cut it out using scissors. Added small orange gems from the stash for some sparkle on the card front. For the ghost eyes and flower centers I also used clear Wink of Stella for a little sparkle..... Happy the die cutting machine did not smash my 3D embossed spider web when I cut out the arch shape as I was not sure if any of the design would still be dimensional...

New Gable Box Die Set

This new gable box is a new release from CatherinePooler.com. The title of this box die on her site is "Happy Feels Box Die".  It is a one piece die set and it cuts out the front and side of the box using a 6x6 piece of card stock. Here is a photo of the die set on a Halloween 6x6 piece of card stock:

You cut out two pieces for your gable box - one for the front and side of the box and one for the back and side of the box. All card stocks I used are from the stash. For my boxes I either used double sided card stock or a thicker printed card stock to make the box sturdy. This first photo shows this gable box die cut out and assembled using liquid glue:

When you cut out this die from your 6x6 card stock piece it leaves very little waste so less card stock scraps to store:

This next box I wanted the top of the box to have different card stock so here is the photo:

and a photo to show the side of this box:

Once the box pieces were die cut I folded it on all scored lines and assembled the box using liquid glue. I used just the top scallop part of this die to cut out a printed card stock for the top of my box:

I cut a piece of printed card stock a little longer and wider than I needed and then taped the die to this printed card stock. Once it was cut out I used the trimmer to trim off the folded scored line the die embosses into the card stock and that left the small strips in the photo above. Used liquid glue and put these pieces on my die cut box piece. With the printed card stocks I used for the boxes being so busy with a Halloween theme I wanted this small scallop piece to be cut out of a not so busy printed card stock. 

In this photo:

For this box I used a pumpkin printed card stock. Cut the top scalloped piece out of dotted card stock in a colour that would compliment the printed box paper. I also used black card stock from Mikes (lighter than their #110 weight card stock) and I cut out a black scallop piece using the scalloped part of the die and I trimmed that to fit along the bottom of the box to add black to the box. I put this black scalloped piece on the front and the back of the box using liquid glue. 

This box is sturdy and easy to assemble - esp if you just use it as it and do not add the two scalloped pieces as I did. I like to use double sided card stocks for boxes/treat holders when I can so when you open the box the inside is a different holiday print and that helps to dress up the box and look more finished. Happy Catherine Pooler is here in Raleigh as I ordered my order and two days later I was making boxes.... Will add more to the box front to dress it up for Halloween as I get closer to that holiday....

Last order from FranticStamper

My last order from Frantic Stamper arrived this week after they closed their doors the end of July. I ordered their tag die set but I really am happy that I ordered her Retro Label Maker Halloween Sentiment stamp set:

First I stamped this on white card stock, then orange, lime green, and a lavendar card stock. All were stamped using black ink on scrap card stocks:

First group of labels on white card stock I cut those out using the banner/label die set from the stash by Divinity Designs. I also cut these out using a pair of scissors and then the trimmer:

In the pumpkin dish on the left are the labels I stamped and used the banner/label die set to cut out and that left a white border around the strips. The pumpkin on the right has the labels I cut out with scissors and the trimmer and I did not leave a white border around them. Here are the orange, lime green, and lavendar labels I stamped and cut out using scissors/trimmer and I have a small border around those:

Really like how this stamp set stamps and I like both of the stamped strips with and without a colour border around them. These stamped strips will come in handy for holiday projects ahead.  Also -- the pumpkin and the ghost trinket dishes were quite the search for me to find... FOUR Target stores were involved and I found none but my DSD found both the pumpkin and ghost dishes at Target Dollar Spots at Target stores in her area so happy I have them now as I had seen crafters show them on YouTube videos...

Just the right size for small die cuts for Halloween projects in the making and ahead... happy to have these trinket dishes finally!

Order for 6 Altered Dollar Tree Clipboards

Just finished the 6 Altered Dollar Tree Clipboards that someone asked me for. I had to buy the six Dollar Tree clipboards but all card stocks, beads/chains, craft paint, and ModPodge I had in my craft room stash. Here are the photos of 5 of the clipboards (do not have a photo for the 6th):

All the recipients are girls so floral card stocks were used. Easy project to put together as all you do is peel off the JOT label on the clipboard and then paint the edges with craft paint about one inch wide and also the edges so the clipboard has some colour. Cut your card stock piece for the back and used ModPodge to adhere that. While that was drying I used small beads and seed beads for the dangles and added a flower charm to the bottom of the dangle. Cut the floral piece of card stock for the front and put that on the clipboard again using ModPodge. Set this aside to dry for 24 hours. The fronts of the clipboards are all covered with floral card stock and the backs of the clipboards have a solid piece of card stock or a plaid card stock or even a dotted card stock. The back card stock is in the same colour family as the florals on the front card stock and it also matches the paint I used on the clip boards. Happy to finish another project using more of the craft room stash....

4 Craft Rooms Sales

My PIC (stamping Partner In Crime) and I have had two yard sales this summer for our craft room destash stuffs only. She and I both weeded out our craft rooms, my DSD no longer does paper crafts, and then Mom to my PIC passed away and left her whole paper crafting craft room to her. We both priced and organized our products so when we held our sales like things were together to make it easier for shoppers to find items they may be looking for and also for finding things they did not know they need.... 

The photos I show will be from the first sale --- very hot Saturday in July --- hubby helped me set up all the canopies in the driveway and we hung tarps in case it should suddenly rain. He also ran an extension cord for his big garage fan and that helped a lot..

This table had all the machines - the Big Shots, Cricuts, Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil machine, etc.. For other items we used card board boxes to hold items and I used lime green poster board from the Dollar Tree for all my labels/tags:

We had our own colors for pricing so both paying and sorting was easy to do. Our first sale went well, even with the terrible heat, and the sale yesterday did just as well. Many of the bins we started with are now empty and packing up after yesterdays sale went quickly. Not as hot either so that was good. We will do another sale in September and I am sure more crafters will shop then for holiday supplies with schools back open and holidays ahead.... Fun to meet so many other paper crafters and happy our gently and some new products found new craft rooms to be used in.....

Turkey Time Card

Jaded Blossom just released their new August release and it is for Thanksgiving. If you ordered any items from their new release when it first came out you received a free gift. Always nice when you receive free craft items with an order..... I ordered their die set "Gnome Friends Turkey Die Set":

This release also has a fun stamp set with matching dies for cutting those sentiments out:

I like the "talk turkey to me" sentiment as well as the "feast mode activated" and the "whatever floats your gravy boat".... Fun stamp set to use for holiday cards. Here is a photo of the card I made:

For the card base I cut and scored at the top a piece of cream card stock. I also used this card stock to stamp my sentiment on. For the card front I used the card front die set I had picked up at the stamp show in Fredericksburg, VA from Tall Mouse Designs for $10.00.  For the printed card stocks I used various 6x6 paper pad collections and cut out the layering pieces. For the base frame piece I cut that out of kraft card stock. Used liquid glue to put the layering pieces on the kraft frame piece. Then I put this onto the cream card stock base again using liquid glue. 

For the turkey - the packing only shows all the pieces included in the die set so I went to the home page for Jaded Blossom and went to their blog and found a photo for the two turkeys this die set will cut out:

"Lee-Ann" has a video on YouTube showing how to assemble these turkeys. I printed out this photo and I will keep it with the die set so I will be able to make either turkey with a photo to go by. For my turkey I used various scraps of printed card stocks for the feathers/hat/scarf for my turkey. Die cut it all out and assembled her using liquid glue. For my card I used new washi tape I just ordered from PlannerEnvy.com and I put a piece of that washi tape across the bottom of my card behind the turkey:

As with all washi I added liquid glue to the backside of it to be sure it will not pop off the card. For the sentiment I stamped that with the Misti using a light rust ink onto a scrap of the cream card stock. Die cut that out using the matching die. Put that onto the card front in the upper left corner. The turkey is on the card front using pop dots. Added a gem to her scarf and on the card front using gems from the stash.

Here is a photo of the free stencil they included in my order:

This pieced card front die set from Tall Mouse Designs I have used on another card:

Same die set but the above card I used the layout of the card front upside down so both cards look totally different. Fun card front to use showing off printed card stocks.... Fun turkey die set for the holiday ahead and another good use for printed scrap card stocks. 

Rustic Wooden Pumpkins

Had seen the video on YouTube from "My Whimsical Day" for her Rustic Pumpkins and I decided to make some for Fall decor. She used smaller blocks from Dollar Tree but the only wooden blocks I had were their towering wooden blocks and those are very small. Ordered larger blocks off Amazon for my decor pumpkins. Had various paints in the stash so I picked out autumn colours and painted the blocks. Once dried I sanded the edges and then used wood glue and hot glue to put them together. Added a round wooden piece at the top like a stem that I painted brown and added moss from the stash to those:

She had a small sunflower stencil and stenciled that onto her pumpkins using black paint. I looked through my stencils and picked out a couple of sunflowers and stenciled those also using black paint. Used twine and old buttons from the stash and made a twine bow and put that and the button on the tops of the pumpkins using hot glue. Here is the front of the pumpkins:

Found two fall stamps from a stamp set and stamped those onto scrap kraft card stock and die cut those using the ticket die set from Franticstamper in black ink:

Fun project to put together using mostly stash items.... Happy she shared her idea and how-to's on her video for her rustic pumpkins. Tied painted wooden beads on twine around the stem of the pumpkins using the same twine I used for the bows. The painted wooden beads were on a decor item from the Dollar Tree and I cut them off of that and used them on my pumpkins. These will work out well for Fall decor and esp since they are free standing.....

Washi Frame Halloween Card

All items are from the stash..... digging through the Halloween die stash I came across this small cover plate die but I do not know the manufacturer:

 The die cut sample I had put in the packaging looks like this cut out of card stock:

I went through my washi tape stash and found a holographic spider web washi tape roll. Decided I would die cut a card stock frame and cover that with the washi tape. Here is a photo of the washi tape roll and the frame I made:

As with all holographic projects it was hard to get a good photo with the camera but here is the card:

For this photo I had turned the card so you could see the holographic die cut card front and I put that on a piece of silver mirror card stock:

Card stock base is black cut and scored at the top. Cut a piece of turquoise card stock for the card front and used liquid glue to put that onto the black card stock base. For the frame I used the Spellbinders Precision Layering A2 frame set and cut out a frame to fit over the cover plate die cut piece using two of the rectangle dies in the set. Then I used liquid glue to add the washi tape to all four sides of the frame leaving a small amount of the turquoise frame showing in the front. Then used scissiors to trim away the extra washi tape from the frame:

With the washi tape trimmed from the edges of the frame I added liquid glue to the back of the frame and put that onto the holographic cover plate die cut piece. Put foam tape behind this framed piece to add dimension to the card front. Used white mirror card stock and cut out my ghost using an old Cuttlebug Ghost die. For the pumpkin in the left corner I used a pumpkin face punch from Marvy and a solid pumpkin punch from M Stewart. Sponged the edges of that for some dimension. Added the ghost and the pumpkin to the corners of the washi frame piece using tear n tape. Added clear gems from the stash to the holographic cover plate die piece. Here is another photo of the card which shows the different colours this card stock has:

Fun card to put together and always happy to make a card using items from the stash and more of the washi tape stash is in use!