Halloween Inspiration & Some Exciting News!

I was visiting my friend Carrie this past week and I just couldn't stop thinking about how cute her house was decorated for Halloween.  There was a particular decor project that I just loved and it is so simple to make! 

Check it out below!  Isn't this the cutest! 

 

To make this, she bought some twigs, burlap, and a string of orange lights at a local arts and crafts store.  She cut out moons and stars on her Cricut and attached them onto the twigs.  Then, she wrapped the lights within the twigs, placed some burlap around the base of the arrangement and placed them into a super cute jar that she had.  I don't know about you, but I am making one of these!!!!  You could put a Christmas spin on this too - maybe stars and snowflakes?

 

Thanks to my wonderful friend Carrie for letting me share her project!  She doesn't have a blog, so if you want to leave her some love, please leave a comment on this post. 

 

I have some exciting news to share today too!  I will be guest designing on the Lori Whitlock blog in December!!!!!  I am beyond excited - I LOVE playing with Lori's SVGs!  I recently shared a Halloween shadow box that I made using Lori's SVGs.  The shadow box itself is an SVG (and yes, made of paper!).  Check it out here!  Also, if you are not familiar with Lori Whitlock products, check out her site here.  She designs SVGs, paper for Echo Park, and digital scrapbooking kits at JessicaSprague.com.

 

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day with my husband getting Lasik eye surgery and Halloween and all.  I hope you all have a fabulous, spooky, and fun Halloween! 

 

Mel

Haunting Monsters Shadow Box!

Halloween is only a couple days away!!!!  Today I was given the okay to share a spooky shadow box I made for the first issue of Cutting Edge Magazine!  The second issue of the magazine will be coming out in a couple days! 

My husband and I met while we worked together at a family amusement park.  Towards the end of the season, we would get to dress up as Monsters, walk around the park, and entertain the guests.  Most kids loved us, but some of the younger ones would get scared by us - even if we were friendly and wanted to give them a hug!  :)  To display these memories, I decided to use Lori Whitlock's SVGs and make a shadow box my husband and I can enjoy during the Halloween season. 

Here are some close-ups so you can see all of the details better!

 

I love the peeking ghost I added to the picture!  It reminds me of the end of the Haunted House ride at Disney World where the ghost is riding with you.

The paper I used is from a digital kit, Trick or Treat Paper Pack by Sara Schmutz, available at Design House Digital.  DHD has super cute papers and you can get what you want right away - just purchase online, download and print!

SVGs by Lori Whitlock:
11.3x11.3 Shadow Box
Tombstone - Halloween Set 1
Tombstone Background, Corner Web and Ghost - Halloween Embellishments 2
Jack-o-lantern and Bats - Halloween Words
Hanging Spider - Halloween Icons
Halloween Label

Other materials:
Frightmare Font by Lettering Delights
Victorian Border Die by Papertrey Ink
Banner Dies by Papertrey Ink
Letter Dies by Papertrey Ink
Circle Punches by Stampin' Up!
Ribbon by Prairie Bird Boutique
Twine by The Twinery
Googly eyes by TPC Studios
Cardstock by Recollections

In case you missed my earlier post today, I am featured on the ScrapFIT blog today.  Check it out HERE and learn more about me!  I will be back before Halloween with another project or two to share!

Mel

Today's FITgirl Spotlight - It's Me!!!!

I am so excited to share that I am featured on the ScrapFIT blog today!  Check it out and learn more about me and my love of papercrafting! 

I received this honor by winning the Step Class #9 Challenge: Paper Piecing!  Here is a pic of my winning card in case you haven't seen it yet!  You can get the details on how I made this card here!

If you haven't been to the ScrapFIT blog yet, stop by and check it out!  They have frequent challenges with awesome inspiration from their DT.  Enter a challenge and you too could be featured on the ScrapFIT blog and win some goodies! 

Mel

October Afternoon Warehouse Sale - What an Experience!

Last night, my friend Carrie and I decided to brave the cold weather and wait outside in line for the opening of the October Afternoon Warehouse Sale.  Some would call us crazy, but we had such a great time meeting fellow crafters and getting great bargains!

The sale started at 6 pm and as expected, there was a line outside before it started.  Carrie and I got there at 6:10 pm and the warehouse was already full.  The warehouse could hold 40 people at a time so we had to wait for women to come out before we could go in.

There were about 30 women ahead of us in line and it was cold!  It was 38 degrees!!!!  We came prepared with our coats, hats, and mittens and oh what fun we had waiting in line.  I mean this somewhat sarcastically, but also seriously.  The women we met in line were an absolute joy!  Every time someone came out of the warehouse all of the women in line would cheer, knowing they were one person closer to getting inside.  Yes, I cheered right along with them.  Another highlight was the woman in front of me that was blowing soap bubbles while waiting in line.  Too funny!  We finally got inside at 7 pm.

The wait was worth it!  Once inside, the warehouse was lined with boxes and boxes of October Afternoon goodies!  We spent two hours inside though it seemed like 30 minutes - time flies when you are having fun!  Here is what I came out with!

Lots of yummies!  I bought tons of paper - lots of 8x8 paper pads and 12x12 paper packs of 25 or more sheets.  My favorite collections are Witch Hazel, Farmhouse and 5 & Dime, so I grabbed as many goodies of these that I could find!  I think I ended up with enough goodies to play with for many years to come!  :)

Packs of buttons were $1, brads were $4, flash cards and other misc. items were 10 cents each.  8x8 paper pads were $5, ribbon packs were $2, and 25 packs of paper ranged from $7-$12.  For every 4 items purchased within a category, the 5th item was free!  Not to shabby!  The sale goes thru Sunday - see details HERE.

We had such a great time!  Can't wait for next year's sale!!!! 

UPDATE 10/28/12:  I went back for more shopping on the last day of the sale.  The products were marked down further (20-50% lower!), and I got 20% off my entire purchase!  Check out the additional goodies I got below!!!! 

Can't wait to play with all of these goodies!  I love you October Afternoon!!!!

Mel

WCMD Unity Challenges - Colors & Sketch!

Hi there!  I finished two more cards for the Unity Stamps challenges for World Card Making Day and I am happy to say I have completed all 9 of the challenges now!!!!  Keeping my fingers crossed that I win some goodies!

I made a card for the colors challenge where we needed to use only cream, brown, olive and pumpkin for our card.  I thought this would be hard for me, since I like picking my own color combos, but I love how the card turned out.  I think I am going to make another one!  :) 



For the sentiment, I used the "Love Every Inch" Itty Bitty stamp set by Unity Stamps and Simple Stories.  I used paper by My Mind's Eye and Bazzill.  The hexagon punch is by Creative Memories.

I made a card for the sketch challenge too!  This is the first time I have ever made a card using a sketch.  I love coming up with my own designs; however, this saved me some time and I like how it turned out!  I have a feeling I will use more sketches in the future!  :)

Here is a picture of the sketch for the challenge:

I decided to make my card look like a little package as this is what I saw the first time I looked at this sketch.





I used some foam square stickers on back of the half circle to make it look like the package opens there (only applied the stickers to the bottom portion, the top is attached right to the card).

I used the "On This Journey Together" Itty Bitty stamp set by Unity Stamps and Authentique for the sentiment and the world map stamped images, and I used the "Stars of Worn" background stamp as well.  I cut out lots of stars using my Sizzix BigKick and a Sizzix star die using different materials to add more texture to the card.



I used twine from The Twinery, buttons and a border die from PaperTrey Ink, lace trim from Stampin' Up, and gems from Creative Charms to finish the card.

Also, I am so excited to share that my cute owl card, made the top 3 at Little Scrap Pieces and The Kraft Journal!!!!  I am so honored they picked my card - all of the cards entered into these challenges are amazing, so much talent out there!

Thanks for visiting, come by again soon!  I will be sharing a fun Halloween project one of my besties made!  It is adorable!!!!

Mel

A Winter Card

It seems a bit early for winter projects, but I could not resist making a card with this adorable snowman stamp that I received with my last order from Unity Stamps! 

I wanted the focus to be on the cute snowman and I used some crayons to color in his carrot nose and stocking hat and scarf.  I am not a stamp coloring pro by any means, so I tried to keep the coloring to a minimum.  After coloring him, I added glitter to give him that snowy feel. 



 

To give the card more texture and dimension, I created a multi-layered snowflake using two snowflake SVGs by Bird's Cards.  These SVGs are free on the Bird's Cards site, so pick them up if you haven't already.  Once I cut the snowflakes out, I dowsed them with glimmer mist and glitter and added the button with the twine in the center.

Materials Used:
'One of a Kind Winter' Itty Bitty Stamp set by Unity Stamps
Snowflake SVGs by Bird's Cards
Twine by Stampin' Up
Button by Autumn Leaves
Hexagon Stickers are from the My Mind's Eye All is Bright Collection
Patterned papers by MME and Stampin' Up
Gems by Creative Charms
Glitter by Martha Stewart Crafts
Scalloped Border Punch by Stampin' Up

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
WCMD Unity Stamps Challenge #7 - Coloring
Scrap Fit Warm-Up #32 - Buttons and/or Bows

Thanks for visiting!
Mel

Cute Owl Card

Hi there!  I am back sharing another card!!!!  I am on fire and have been pumping out the cards!  I made this adorable spooky card featuring owls.  I love owls and the owl with the witch's hat is a brand new SVG from The Digi Bistro.  This owl is part of the Spooky Halloween Collection - You have to get this SVG collection, I am in love with it!!!! 

For fun, I added some details to the owl SVG. I used glimmer mist in Haunted Shadow, black inking of the edges, glittery brads for the eyes, and some twine. 

The little owls stamped onto circle punches are from the 'Precious Little One' stamp set by Unity Stamps and Simple Stories.  The papers for the card are from my scrap pile (good way to get use out of them!).  Papers are by Stampin Up (witch hat) and My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Halloween (background papers). The flair is by Paper Play Studio and the Happy Halloween stamp is by My Thoughts Exactly.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
WCMD Unity Challenge #1 Shaped Card (5 WCMD challenges down, 3 more to go!)
ScrapFit Challenge -  Step Class #9 Paper Piecing
Paper Playtime - Trick or Treat + Die Cut/Punches
Sunday Funday #2 - Link up Party
Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday - Any Halloween Project
The Kraft Journal - Reuse/Recycle

Melanie

WCMD Unity Challenge # 6 - Stamp a Border

Hello!  Back again with another card for the challenges going on at the Unity Stamps blog for World Card Making Day!  I made this adorable card for the 'Stamp a Border' challenge.  I love, love, love how adorable the little owl from the 'Precious Little One' stamp set by Unity Stamps and Simple Stories is, that I just had to use him for this challenge.  I also used the 'Cute as a Button' sentiment from this set and cut it out using a Spellbinder's die and My Sizzix Big Kick.

I stamped the owl on different patterned papers from My Mind's Eye, then cut them out using a 3/4" circle punch.  I then placed the punches in a fun way to make a cute border.  I included a banner and scalloped border to round out the border. 

I love how simple this card was to make and how cute it turned out.  I will be back again soon with another card for another Unity challenge!  :)

Oh, by the way, did you notice that I have added my logo to my photos!  Thank you Photoshop!  :)

Mel

Fall Projects & WCMD Unity Challenge #5

Another Unity challenge down for World Card Making Day!  I made the below fall theme card using the little bird from the 'Precious Little One' stamp set by Unity Stamps and Simple Stories.  So far, all of my cards for the WCMD challenges have used the same stamp set.  I am now challenging myself to see if I can make all of my cards using this set - I have 5 more challenges to go!  A challenge within a challenge!  :)

I am also entering this card into the Workout #77 Flag challenge at the Scrap Fit blog for a change to win the latest kit by Paper Issues.



 

I used some chipboard letters by Stampin Up for 'FALL'  I painted them using Ranger paint dabbers, then added some glimmer mist (to add shine), and distress ink to make them look worn.

 

I made flags using a banner die by Papertrey Ink and adhering it to wood sticks.  The papers are are a mixture from My Mind's Eye and My Memory Keepers collections.

I have some other Fall projects to share too!  These used to be on my blog.  With all of the changes I have made to my blog recently, I think I accidentally deleted them.  Enjoy for the first or second time!  :)

 

Mel

World Card Making Day Celebration - Challenge #3 Embossing

More fun being had here!  I made another card for one of the Unity Stamp challenges going on for World Card Making Day.  I chose to make a card using stamp embossing, which is challenge #3 at Unity.

I am obsessed with banners (so is everyone else it seems) so I chose to layer a bunch a banners for this card.  I wanted to make another baby themed card, but not as girlie this time.  I think banners do the trick. 

The 'Cute as a Button' sentiment is from the 'Precious Little One' stamp set by Unity Stamps and Simple Stories. I used a craft ink with embossing powder and a heat gun to give it the glossy/raised look (i.e. stamp embossing - in case you didn't know that already, yeah you probably already do!). 

Other Materials:
The papers are by My Mind's Eye and Recollections, the buttons are from Papertrey Ink and Autumn Leaves, border punch by Stampin Up! and the twine is from The Twinery. 

Some little baby boy is going to get this card, and I am sure his mommy will love it!  ")

Mel

World Card Making Day at Unity - Challenge #2 Texture

It's Melanie here and I am having so much fun making cards today - it's World Card Making Day!  I am loving all of the fun challenges at Unity Stamps so I decided to make a card for their 2nd challenge of the day which is to create a card using 2 or more textures.

I used felt, twine and stitching to add texture to this card.  The baby clothes are dies from Papertrey Ink.  I started with white felt and used glimmer mist to add color to the clothes.  Glimmer mist works awesome on felt - I didn't realize this until now!  :)

Now for all the details on the baby clothes!  It is hard to tell from the pictures, but I stamped polka dots onto the cute little baby dress using a mini background stamp from the Ippity Stamps 'A Moment in Time' collection.  I added a button and a heart to two of the onesies and a stitched pocket to the blue onesie.  I felt like a baby clothes designer making these!  LOL!  Here are close-ups:

 

 

The patterned paper is by My Mind's Eye and the 'Heaven Sent' stamped sentiment is from the 'Precious Little One' stamp set by Unity Stamps and Simple Stories.

I am hoping to enter more of the challenges for World Card Making Day over the next couple weeks!  I hope you are getting time to craft today too!

Mel

Fa-BOO-lous Challenge - Entry #2

More fun playing with ghosts for the challenge going on as part of the FA-BOO-LOUS Halloween week at Happy Life Crafty Wife!  This time, I decided to have a ghost that is peeking from the inside of the card.  Isn't he so cute!  If you want to see my 1st entry into the challenge, check out the cuteness HERE.

 

For my second card, I wanted to cut out a portion of the front of the card so it looks like a window.  I used my circle Sizzix dies to cut the circle out of the front of the card and for the border around the circle.

 

To make it look like a window, I put a spooky tree in the background and of course, I had to include a ghost as well!  Both the tree and the ghost are SVGs from the Halloween Town SVG Collection at The Digi Bistro.  I used to design for this company and just love, love, love the cute SVGs that Cher creates.

 

To create the front of the card, I created a collage using papers from the awesome My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Halloween collection.  The 'Happy Halloween' die cut is from this collection as well!  To dress it up a bit more, I added some twine by The Twinery.  I just love all of the neutrals colors with the pop of orange.  So pretty and spooky!

The eyes on the ghost were stamped using the Fright Nights Friends stamp set at My Thoughts Exactly, then I added some gems to make them pop.  Isn't this ghost so cute!  Okay, I apologize for bringing him up again, but isn't he cute???  :)

I have been enjoying all of the Halloween inspiration at Happy Life Crafty Wife this week.  Make sure to check it out too!  Who doesn't love Halloween?  I do!

Mel

Fa-BOO-lous Challenge!

I just started feeling better (it was a rough day) and thought I would play with ghosts for the challenge going on as part of the FA-BOO-LOUS Halloween week at Happy Life Crafty Wife!  You should definitely check out all of the inspiration and giveaways there and enter the challenge too!

I recently purchased the Halloween stamp bundle at My Thoughts Exactly and have been anxious to use the Fright Night Friends set.  The ghost and the googly eyes in this set are just the cutest ever!  Since I think he/she is so cute, I stamped him/her 6 times (I would have done more if there was more room on my card - hehe)!  The ghost that is popped up was cut out using the free SVG available at MTE for this stamp set - so nice that I didn't have to cut around the ghost by hand!

I embellished this card with papers from Stampin' Up!, twine from The Twinery, black pearl stickers by Creative Charms, and brads by Making Memories.

Also, I want to say thank you to Andrea at the Unity Stamps blog!  She featured a card I made in her DT blog post today!  Go check it out!  I am so honored she picked a project of mine to share!

Make sure to check out the fun at Happy Life Crafty Wife and thanks for visiting!

Mel