Trick or Treat Halloween Card

Used all items from my stash for this holiday card and the background is a new to me background stamp I bought last month at a used stamp sale for $5.00. Here is the card:

The card base is black and it is scored at the top. For the background I used this background stamp:

This background is called "Drybrush" and it reminded me of a splotchy/spooky sky so I wanted to use it for a Halloween card. I cut my white card front larger than what I would need for the card front and I stamped this stamp on it using light gray ink. To cut it to size I used the Spellbinders Essential Rectangles die set and cut that out. Lightly sponged the edges of it using a dauber and black ink. 

For the tree arch piece I used the Simon Says Stamp "Twisted Tree Arch" I had bought when it first came out and I cut that out of black card stock. I put this on the stamped white card front using liquid glue. Again using the liquid glue I put the card front onto the black card stock base and set that aside to dry. Here is a photo of the tree die set:

For the ghost on the card front I used an old Cuttlebug ghost die and cut that out of white card stock that is covered with a holographic sticker sheet and the ghost is now holographic:

The two jack o' lantern pumpkins were punched out using two paper punches:

Put the ghost and the two pumpkins on the card front using tear n tape. The greeting "Trick or Treat" was die cut out of orange glittered card stock. I put the greeting on the card front using liquid glue. I used an unknown bats die set from the stash and I cut out the bats using black mirrored card stock. Here is a photo of the bats die set:

As well as the sentiment die set from Brass & Bliss for the "Trick or Treat" die set:

 I put the bats on the card front using liquid glue and added a few orange gems from the stash to the card front for some sparkle and shine. 

Fall Add On Thanksgiving Card

***  This card was picked for a Favs of the Week by Brenda/Benzi on Splitcoast Stampers. Thanks Brenda!

Had bought the Pretty Pink Posh Candy Bucket die set when it first came out. This new release of theirs has a Fall Ad On die set and I bought that to use with the Bucket die set for this Thanksgiving card:

Card stock base is Canyon from PaperTreyInk and I cut and folded that at the top. For the cream background I used the Brass & Bliss coverplate die "Wood Plank Panel Die" that I bought at a stamp show I went to two years ago. I die cut that out of the cream card stock and then gently ran a light brown ink pad over it to add some colour but light enough to bring out the embossed design this coverplate makes when you run it through the machine. I used a darker brown ink and sponged the edges of that for dimension. Used liquid glue and put this piece onto the card base. Set this aside to dry. Here is a better photo to show the inked coverplate background:

Used the Pretty Pink Posh Candy Bucket die set and cut out the bucket/handle/bucket front piece from kraft card stock. Used the new Fall Ad On die set for the scarecrow face and leave pieces. I used scraps for his straw hair, mouth, eyes, cheeks, and nose pieces. Sponged the edges of the triangle nose with orange ink. Put the face on the bucket front piece. Die cut the hat out of plaid card stock from the stash and free hand cut a piece for the band across the hat. Put the hat on the front face piece using liquid glue and added the straw hair. Sponged the edges of the bucket, handle, and bucket front pieces using light brown ink. Put the bucket and handle together. Added the scarecrow face using pop dots for dimension:

I really like the sunflowers from the PaperTreyInk Build A Scarecrow die set so I cut out a few sunflowers to add to his hat and in the bucket. For the leaves I used two leaf dies and cut out four card stock colours and sponged the edges of those. Put them behind the bucket piece using liquid glue and added a couple of the sunflowers to that. Put the bucket on the card front using liquid glue and tear n tape. 

For the sentiment I used the "Give Thanks" stamp from the Taylored Expressions Harvest Hello stamp set. Stamped this onto kraft card stock using brown ink and cut that out using the matching die set:

Again for this card I used the bow die set from Scrapbook.com and cut out a bow using a darker rust card stock and put that onto the bucket handle using liquid glue:

Added a gold gem from the stash to add a little sparkle to the bow. For the inside of this card I looked through the wooden stamps in my stash and found this stamp from Peddlers Pack Stampworks from 1999:

Here is a photo of the stamp:

Stamped it on cream card stock and used a piece of autumn washi tape from PlannerEnvy across the bottom of the stamped piece:

Fun addition to the Pretty Pink Posh bucket die sets. Wanted to use this die set with this stamp since the stamp starts with scarecrows.....  The added washi tape completes the inside of the card as well. 

Harvest Hello Thanksgiving Card

Bought the Harvest Hello stamp and die set from the new Taylored Expressions release. Happy I was able to use some rewards I had on my account to bring the cost down. Here is the card:

First I stamped the stamp on different card stock solid scraps and I used the matching die to cut these out. The die has a square that is on the stamp so when you line up the die for die cutting you know all your pumpkins will cut out the same:

I used a medium brown ink to stamp my pumpkins. Once they were all cut out I used this same ink pad to add the small brown splatters to my pumpkins. I used a thin fan brush to splatter the pumpkins. Die cut all the green stems/swirls and matching leaves in the die set. Here is a photo of the stamp set and the die set:

The stamp set not only has the pumpkins but many different sentiment stamps are included. The pumpkin die set also has dies for the sentiments, leaves, and swirls:

For the card base I used PaperTreyInk kraft card stock cut and scored at the top. Wanted to use a kraft frame for the card front but I wanted to use a rust coloured frame behind the kraft frame to add more colour around the pumpkin piece. I die cut the two frames using the Spellbinders Essential Rectangle die sets. For the card front I used a piece of kraft card stock and cut it larger than I would need for my stamped piece. I used a new to me background stamp I bought last year at a used stamp sale for $3.00:

It is the Canvas background stamp from Impression Obsession and I have many of their background stamps and they all stamp well so I knew this would be a good addition to the stash. For my card front I inked the stamp flat on the craft table and I laid the piece of kraft card stock onto the inked stamp. Using my hand I lightly pressed the card stock into the stamp - light in some areas and heavier in others to give the background a splotchy look as I did not want the background to be too bold behind the pumpkins. I used the Essential Rectangle Frames die set and cut out the stamped kraft card front to fit behind the two frames. Put the card front with frames pieces together using liquid glue and then put this on the card base. 

I cut out all the pumpkins and put the stems/swirls on them and added leaves to each one. For the kraft bows I used a bow die set from Scrapbook.com and added a gem from the stash to the center of those. 

With all the pumpkins on the card front I tucked in extra die cut leaves around the bottoms of the pumpkins to add more green around them. All the pumpkins and leaves were sponged around the edges to add dimension. The "Happy Thanksgiving" sentiment is from the Harvest Hello stamp set and I stamped that using brown ink onto scrap cream card stock and I die cut that out using the matching die set. Fun stamp/die set to put together with many different size and shapes of pumpkins in the set. 

Autumn Card

Made Autumn cards and I used all items from the stash to put them together. For the card front I was able to use lots of solid and printed card stocks and I used the Jaded Blossom "Rectangle Strip Card Mat Die" set:

Here is one of the cards I made:

I used a light rust card stock for the card base cut and scored at the top. For the "frame" in the die set that holds all the strips I used kraft card stock. Die cut various autumn printed card stock and fall coloured solid card stocks for the cards. I staggered the printed and solid card stocks so all the cards I made look different. The above card I started with an autumn print at the top. This next card I used a solid card stock for the top:

The word "autumn" is a die from a Karen Burniston die set. I cut that out of gold foil card stock. For the pumpkins I used two older die sets from the stash by Poppy Stamps - the Harvest Pumpkin die set which is the solid pumpkin, and the Swirl Pumpkin die set which lays on top of the solid pumpkin. I sponged the pumpkin pieces to add shading. Used liquid glue to put those together. Used a circle punch and punched out a piece of vellum to put behind the pumpkin/greeting piece:

For the inside of these cards I used scraps of the printed card stock strips and I glued a strip at the bottom of the stamp inside piece to bring the prints into the card:

also

The inside sentiment is an older wooden stamp from the stash and I used rust ink to stamp that. Added gold gems from the stash to the card front for some sparkle. Easy card to assemble and with staggering the strips all the card fronts are different. Another good card front die to use for card stock scraps in the stash..... Happy to be able to get more use out of items in the craft room so I did not have to buy anything to make these cards....

Thanksgiving Harvest Reverse Gatefold Card

***  This card made the Favs of the Week List this week on "splitcoaststampers.com".  Thanks to Amy for picking it as a Fav and for the inspiration from Kendra Sand to try the reversed gatefold card layout.

Had seen a reverse gatefold card made by Kendra Sand for a Halloween card she made using items from Brass& Bliss. Here is her blog: luv2scrapnmakecards.blogspot.com.  On her blog she has all the measurements and a list of the supplies she used. I wanted to make a card for Thanksgiving using an old wooden stamp from my stash and I used her pattern and here is my card:

For my card base I used Canyon card stock from PaperTreyInk. For all the prints on my card I used 6x6 scrap papers and scraps of solid card stocks for flowers, scarecrow, leaves, etc.  The base of the card is:

8 1/2 x 5 1/2      With the 8 1/2 long side at the top of the scoreboard I scored it at:

2, 3 1/8, 5 3/8, and 6 1/2. For the larger front side and back flaps I cut my printed card stocks to:

1 3/4 x 5 1/4. The center piece behind the scarecrow on the front of the card and the center solid on the back of the card that I stamped my greeting on is:  2 x 5 1/4. For my side folds I cut my printed card stocks to 1 x 5 1/4 so all of my card stock base has printed card stocks on it. Here is a photo of the back of the card standing:

The scarecrow on the front of the card I recently bought from a new release from PaperTreyInk "Build a Scarecrow". Once he was all die cut I sponged the edges of the pieces to give them a rustic look. Put him together using liquid glue and tear n tape. All printed panel pieces were put on the card base using liquid glue. Put the scarecrow on the center panel. Set this all aside to dry. 

For the pumpkins on the sides of the front next to the scarecrow - I had seen these made on a video on YouTube "Quilted Paper Pumpkin Tags" and this was made by "True Joy Home & Studio" and she shows how she made these pumpkins using oval punches from her stash. Another great way to use up printed card stocks so I made two pumpkins for my card front. I sponged all the edges of the ovals as I made the pumpkins. For the green stem I free hand cut a stem piece from green card stock. 

I wanted to use more of the sunflowers in the Build a Scarecrow die set so I cut out those from yellow card stock and sponged those. Also used the crow from that die set and cut out the crow. Used a white gel pen for his eye and put the crow on the top of one of the pumpkins. Here is a photo of other pumpkins I made using different size and shaped ovals and circles:

This reverse gatefold card also folds flat for mailing and easily fits in an envelope:

Thanks to Kendra for sharing her idea and pattern and to True Joy for sharing her video on YouTube as well. 

Used stamp sale -

Saturday my PIC (stamping Partner In Crime) and I went to a used stamp/paper crafting sale and I picked up a few things:

Three packs of solid card stock - Perfect Plum - it is opened but missing 2 sheets. The Only Orange and Certainly celery packs are still sealed. Those were like $5 and $6 each. I also picked up another of the Ranger/Tim Holtz Rosette die for $1.00 - I already have it but now I can easily cut out multiple strips for my Rosettes since this is a favorite Rosette die I have in my stash. Also the background stamp:

"Drybrush". It was $5 but it is new and when I saw it I thought it would make a good spooky sky background for Halloween so I will have to try that out. 

My PIC and I are having our third stamping sale this Saturday so we have been busy with that. Then we will pack up whatever is left and we will be selling at the Customer Yard Sale at the Enchanted Cottage store in Lewisville, NC on Saturday October 3rd. We shop that sale every fall and last year was the first time we sold there. We have 4 craft rooms of combined products - I weeded out, my PIC weeded out, her mother was a paper crafter and when she passed away her room of supplies went to my PIC and also my step daughter no longer paper crafts as she has a busy job so her items have been added. Lots to see at our sale for sure between supplies, card stocks, machines, etc.. Looking forward to our sale on Saturday as for once it will not be 95 degrees with a heat index of over 100 so yay for that! Plus the sale at Enchanted Cottage is to follow and over 30 paper crafting sellers have signed up to sell so I am sure we will enjoy another shopping spree!! That is the sale that last fall my PIC bought a NEW in sealed box Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil machine for $35.00 so great deals to be found there for sure....

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!