The Skeleton Dance

I didn't get to stamp on National Card Making Day as my daughter and I were busy with a Girl Scout fundraiser but I did sit down yesterday and make a few things that I will be sharing this week!  This card was made using this past Paper Pumpkin kit!  I'm not much of a Halloween celebrator (is that a word...LOL) but I do love the colors and the fun decor!  I thought these little skeletons were adorable and this card idea was included in the instruction pamphlet so I just had to make one!  The sentiment was also part of this stamp set and I cut it out using the Ornate Frames Dies....I just cut one of the images down a little so I didn't cover up my skeletons too much!

If you aren't a Paper Pumpkin subscriber and would like to try it out...now is a great time!  Stampin Up always has wonderful holiday kits and if you sign up before October 10th you will get the October kit as your first one!  October and November kits are going to coordinate and they are called Winter Wonders.

If you are interested you can sign up online here and/or message me with any questions you might have.  These kits make great gifts also.  There is no obligation and you can start and stop as you wish.     I love getting my monthly surprise of crafty goodies!!!  The kits are $22 per month and shipping is included...the kits come with everything you need to make the projects for that month plus you always have left over pieces and the amazing stamp set that comes with it to use over and over again!  I've heard that October's kits will be cards and November's will be gift tags!  You just never know what it will be....past kits have included cards, home decor, gift bags, gift boxes, etc.  It's always something fun!  Happy Crafting!!

Pumpkin Apple Builder Punch!

Just playing around with this cute apple builder punch!  I wanted to make a quick 3D item and this punch is perfect for that!  Now, technically, it is the apple builder punch but on this beautiful fall day I just felt more like making a pumpkin. I just punched out 3 each of pumpkin pie and vanilla cardstock.   Before I punched I took the polka dot mask and sponged pumpkin pie ink on it....LOVE that look!!  I then just scored each piece down the middle and glued 1/2 of a pumpkin pie to 1/2 of a vanilla polka dot and so on until I add all but the last two halves together and then I added my stem just before I glued the last two pieces together.  Super cute and would be a fun project to do with kids, too!

Kelly's Sketch Challenge

So Kelly over at A Stamp Above posted a layout or sketch challenge last night and I thought her card was so cute....I just had to play along!  I used Spooktacular Bash for my stamped images and the Ornate Dies to cut out the "spooky".   You can purchase these two together as a bundle to save 10% if you use this code.  These dies are so pretty and can be used for way more than Halloween projects!  That cute designer series paper is from the Monster Bash pack.  I did a quick little video so  you can see how this is sort of a 2 in 1 card:

This layout would be great for any sort of card!  I can't wait to make some Christmas ones!!!

Paper Pumpkin

I love the ease of Paper Pumpkin!  I was able to put September's kit together in a matter of minutes and look how cute they are!!!  Here are a couple of closeups as there are two different designs:

You can't really tell from the pics but underneath the "hand" that is holding the tag are the sweetest little black clothes pins!  If you haven't tried Paper Pumpkin yet, the holidays are a wonderful time to check it out!  If you sign up before October 10th then you will start with the Winter Wonders kit below which will coordinate with November's kit!  If you have any questions or would like to place an order, please feel free to contact me!

Harvest Hellos

I finally found some time to clean up my craft area enough to make a project!  I knew when I saw this Birch background stamp that I would love it and I do!!  I see myself using it all the time!  That cute polka dot piece was made using the Basic Pattern Decorative Masks and I just used the sponge dauber to add the color!  So easy!  What a great way to make your own patterned papers in whatever colors you want.  Those cute pumpkins were made using the new Harvest Hellos stamp set and the Apple Builder punch.  If you want to order them both then use this link to get a special bundle code and save 10%.  This cute set not only makes these cute pumpkins but also apples....hence the name of the punch!  The sentiment is from one of my favorite stamp sets Country Home and I cut it out using the Ornate Frame Dies.  The little curly "q's" are just really thin strips of cardstock that I curled around my paper piercer.  Hope you are having a wonderful fall!!!

Spooktacular Bash Home Decor

Finally got around to making a project inspired by this project on the SU idea board the other day.

I decided to go with a Halloween theme for this one!  I used the Monster Bash Designer Series Paper from the new holiday catalog.  The sentiment and the frames are from the Spooktacular Bash Bundle.  I love those frames in that die set!!!  They are awesome!  The gray and black "greenery" came from dies out of the Botanical Tags die set and the Smooth Sailing die set.  I threw in a little of the polka dot tulle ribbon and done and done!  Hope you enjoy this super easy and quick project!!

Free As A Bird Challenge

My sweet friend, Smita, and I decided to do a little challenge and we decided to challenge each other to use the wonderful stamp set Free As A Bird.  She blew it out of the water by making this gorgeous shaker card!  She is so talented!  Look at the coloring on those birds!!!

I opted to go for a "fall-ish" look.  Isn't it great that even though we chose the same focal image that our cards have such a different look and feel!  I colored my birds with the Stamping Blends and then used a little watercolor for the blue background which isn't really showing well in this photo.  I cut out my image and the mat using the Stitched Nested Label Dies which you can purchase as a bundle with the Free As A Bird stamp set and save 10% by using this item number.  I also used the All Wired Up background stamp  and I LOVE it!  I'll definitely be using it more and more!  My card is a sort of fun fold as you can see more clearly in this photo:

Peeking out from the inside of the card you will see a cute little yellow strip of designer series paper and it is from the Bird Ballad set which is part of the Buy 3 get 1 FREE designer series paper sale!  

Hope you have a wonderful Monday and a great start to your week!  Smita and I would LOVE for you to join us in our challenge!  Please post a photo of your project in the comments!  Happy Crafting!

Spooky House

I had fun today playing with the Home Sweet Home Thinlit Dies.  Believe it or not, these are on the clearance rack!  It comes with all the dies you need to make a house with windows, doors, window frames, door frames, shingles, etc.  plus lots of little goodies to decorate it for whatever holiday you might be planning.  The cute little ghost and bats even came with this set.  The Spooky that is heat embossed is from the new Spooktacular Bash Bundle  and I cut it out with one of the dies from that bundle...remember if you are purchasing a stamp set with coordinating dies always look to see if there is a bundle code for them as you will save 10%! You can find all the bundle options here.   I LOVE the dies that come with this set as you can use them year round!  Lots of super cute frames and shapes for sentiments!  Here is a view from the side so you can see the window and the shingles.

You can't really tell as it is black on black but there is a "frame" around the window and it comes with a choice of front doors and frames for those as well.  Lots of different options to make this little house your own creation!  The door is "hinged" so it even opens!!!

As always if you have any questions or would like to place an order, please let me know!  Thanks so much!  Have a great weekend and Happy Crafting!!

Smita's Magnolia

Look at this gorgeous card my friend, Smita, made with the Magnolia 3D Embossing Folder.  She watercolored it on watercolor paper and it turned out so GORGEOUS!!  Love how soft and elegant it looks!!

Don't forget if you are interested in Paper Pumpkin you need to sign up before September 10th if you want to get started with the Halloween kit!  I can't wait to see what's in it!!!

New Holiday Catalog Live & DSP Special!!!!

So excited to let you know the new holiday catalog is live now and it is GORGEOUS!!!  It's packed full of products for Halloween, Fall and Christmas even New Year's!  So many goodies!!  PLUS Stampin Up is having a special this month on select Designer Series Paper Kits....buy 3 get 1 FREE!!!  There are so many wonderful papers!  You can see all the choices in this special on my site here.  Here is just one project that Stampin Up shared with us and I can't wait to make one!

Isn't that gorgeous!!!  Love all of the products in this nautical suite!!!  If you would like to make this, I'd love to have you join me in creating this fun project!  If you aren't in my area, just message me and I'll help you figure out what you need to make this at your home and maybe you can have friends over and make it together where you live, too!  I LOVE making crafts with my friends!  Such a fun time and so awesome to see how everyone puts their own creative spin on things!  If you need me, I'll be walking around outside trying to find the perfect little branch for this home decor...LOL!!

Talented Friend

Just wanted to share this gorgeous card my friend, Denise, made!!!   She cased the catalog with the stamp and die set for Beautiful Bouquet.  She is so talented!  The recipient is definitely going to know that my friend cares deeply for them as they will see the effort put in to the making of this card!  Just love it!!  Notice the sweet touch on the envelope, too!!!

New Clearance Rack Items!!!

Who doesn't love a good sale!!!  Check out Stampin Up's updated Clearance Rack...there are some really cute holiday items...even stamp sets!  The above stamp set even has coordinating dies on the clearance rack!  You can find more here at my site!  Don't forget you can even purchase Paper Pumpkin subscriptions on my site also!  If you sign up prior to September 10th you will receive this month's Halloween treat kit!  I'm very confident they will have some awesome holiday kits coming!!!

Good Morning Magnolia

Just got this Magnolia Embossing Folder and I love how it makes such a beautiful focal point on a card front!  This card is a CASE from the catalog and was so easy to make.  I just embossed the card base and added a couple of the small flowers from the Good Morning Magnolia stamp set and die cut them with the coordinating dies.  I added a little bit of metallic thread and a piece of Whisper White Flax Ribbon with a sentiment from this same stamp set stamped on whisper white cardstock.  The cute little flourish is stamped on crumb cake cardstock and cut with a die from the Magnolia Memory dies also.  Such a simple elegant card and it only took mere minutes to make!

I can't wait to see September's Paper Pumpkin.  I have heard through the grapevine that it will have 20 food safe boxes as the project!  Plus remember you will have a super cute stamp set to use on other projects also!  If you want to receive this kit be sure to sign up before September 10th.  I would love it if you would use my link and pick me as your demonstrator. There is no obligation as you can cancel your subscription whenever you want or just put it on hold if you are going to be traveling.  Speaking of traveling, they are great to take with you on a trip as everything you need is in the box!  If this is your first kit you will receive an acrylic block to use with this kit and future kits!  You can find my Paper Pumpkin link here.  If you are ordering additional items also you can purchase a prepaid paper pumpkin card on my website also and start your subscription that way.

As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions and/or would like to place an order or host a get together to stamp with some friends!  Happy Crafting!

Free As A Bird

This wonderful Free As A Bird stamp set was one of the first on my wish list when the new catalog debuted!  This really cool Birch background stamp was next..lol!  I’m looking forward to using that more and more...I’m thinking it might make a great “water” background!  This sweet bird image is a great focal point and makes. a super easy card and looks great colored in with Stampin blends!  You can also purchase this sweet stamp set in a bundle with the Stitched Nested Labels Dies and save!  Not only that but purchasing it as a bundle before July 31st gets you a $5 certificate to spend in August!

As always if you have any questions, please contact me!  Happy Crafting!