A Touch From the Heart

Happy Halloween!!

 

Today is a GREAT day!!!  I love Halloween!!!  But, you all knew that already!!!  The decorations are all up.....the fog machine is ready to go......the strobe lights just need to be turned on.....the candy is purchased (and I didn't nibble on any of it either).....costumes are ready!!!  We just need it to get dark. 

Of course it's also Friday.....which means another Blogger's Challenge.  This week the challenge is Halloween.  Well, that was an easy one for me.  For this week's project, I decided to make a candy slider.

Wanna see what's inside?  All you have to do is pull on the ribbon to reveal the surprise.

 

It's a Hersey bar!!!  My niece's favorite candy bar in the whole wide world.

How do you make one of these?  They are super-duper easy to make!!

I cut my Basic Black cardstock to 6 1/4" x 5 1/4".  On the 5 1/2" side, score on the following measurements:  1/4", 2 1/2", 2 3/4", 5".

Apply Sticky Strip to the full length of one of the 1/4" ends.  Fold on the score lines, remove the red liner from the Sticky Strip and form the box.

Cut a 2" x 6" piece of bat patterned paper from the Ghostly Greetings designer series paper pack. 

Cut a 1" strip of Kiwi Kiss cardstock.  Sponge the edges with Kiwi Kiss ink and stamp sentiment from House of Haunts stamp set.

Now it's time to make the focal image.  Stamp the bat image from Batty for You on some Whisper White cardstock (using Basic Black ink).  Punch with the 1 1/4" circle punch.  Mat on a 1 3/8" Kiwi Kiss circle.  Mat all of this (using a dimensional) onto a Lovely Lilac Scallop Circle.  Attach to the box.

Now it's time to make the slide mechanism.  Using a hole punch, squeeze the ends of the box together and punch a hole through all the layers at the same time. 

Wrap a length of Basic Black grosgrain ribbon around the candy bar (with the loose ends on the right side of the candy bar)  and push the candy bar into the box.  Bring the ribbon on the front of the candy bar through the front hole making sure to come from the inside of the box to the outside.  Repeat this for the hole in the back of the box.  Make sure that you always go from the inside out for this magic to work!!!

Tie the ribbon into a classic knot.  When you pull the knot the candy bar will come out (but never leave) the box.

I love making these treat sliders.....try them with microwave bags of popcorn, cocoa packets, etc.....  You just need to alter your measurements!!!!

Well, I'm off to enjoy the day!!!  The kids have no school.....teachers workshop day.  Dimples gets her stitches out.....yeah!!!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!!

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With Sympathy

 

Over the weekend a co-worker and friend of Dennis lost his 12 year old son, Nick.  They have been through so much and things were looking so much better.  I suppose God chose that he wanted his angel Nick home with him. 

This is the card I made for Nick's family.  His mother is an amazing source of strength.  I don't think I could be as strong as she has been through this ordeal.  Janine, you are an amazing woman.

I like to use this lighthouse image from "A Light Upon My Path" as I think it is perfect symbolism for someone who has gone to heaven.  The beam of light helps them find their way.

I stamped the lighthouse on Whisper White cardstock using Versamark ink.  I used my sponge daubers and pastel to apply the color.  I start with the lightest color (in this case Bordering Blue) then moved onto Brocade Blue and finished with Night of Navy.  After coloring, I distressed the edges of the cardstock and sponged with Night of Navy ink.  The focal image is matted on Night of Navy cardstock.

The base card is Bordering Blue.  The next layer is Night of Navy that has had a Whisper White craft pad dragged along it.  I love this effect....it looks weathered....like the outside of houses in Cape Cod that have been affected by nature and the sea.  I placed a silver brad in each corner.

I took a strip of Bordering Blue and sponged it with Bordering Blue ink and pierced both sides.  The sentiment comes from an old hostess set (so you can't go looking for that one in the catalog).  I stamped it in Night of Navy in on Bordering Blue cardstock, punched it with the large oval punch and sponged the edges.

I hope this card provides them some comfort.  Lucas, Janine and Stephen:  our thoughts and prayers are with you always!!

Time is Running Out!!!

  Have you taken advantage of the Birthday Promotion yet?  If not, time is running out.  The last day of this spectacular sale is October 31st.

Here are the "deets".  There are 8 birthday-themed stamp sets on sale for 20% off when you make a $20 regular catalog purchase.  You can order one of the sets or all of them as long as you spend $20 on regular catalog merchandise.

Here's a helpful hint if you are using Online Ordering.  You MUST put your $20 of regular catalog merchandise first before entering the on sale items.  This way you are given the sale price!!!

Since the big 'ol double ankle sprain, I haven't spent a lot of time in the Stampin' Studio.  So, I'm going to show you some project I've made in the past with some of these stamp sets.

  This card uses "Crazy for Cupcakes"

  This card uses "Crab & Company"

This gift tag uses "Big Bold Birthday" & "Hugs & Wishes".

I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  You can either email me your order or you place your order online.  Simply click HERE to go to my website and click on "Shop Now".  Ordering your stamping goodies has never been easier!!!

I'm On Stamper's Showcase Today!!

  My bloggin' buddies Lisa and Regina let know that one of my cards was on Stamper's Showcase today.

What is Stamper's Showcase?  Well, it's a feature on the Stampin' Up! website that gets updated daily.  Only demos can see it, but there are 5 to 6 cards there each day to provide us with inspiration.  You can learn a lot from other people's cards.....great color combinations....layouts....a different way to use an embellishment.  There are awesome perks to being a demo.  If you would like more information on the Stampin' Up! opportunity, I would love to talk to you.

Now, onto this card.  This was my swap for the GO-DIVAS swap hosted by my rockin' friend Robin Merriman.  Oh, how I wish I lived closer to Robin.  I would love to stamp in person with her, but we talk by phone and email all the time.

I love this Level 2 Hostess set.  It's called "Deer Friends", and it is filled with different holiday images.  They work perfectly with the circle punches we offer.

Here's a quickie recipe:

base card = 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" Close to Cocoa

Pink Pirouette stamped with Paisley BG stamp using Pink Piroutte ink.  Ticket corner punch on upper corners....add silver brads.  Stamp "Sweet Little One" from Hugs & Wishes in Close to Cocoa ink in lower right corner.

Certainly Celery = use Scallop Edge punch on bottom edge.  Add line work to top edge...dot each scallop with white gel pen.  Add Certainly Celery wide grosgrain ribbon with Whisper White narrow grosgrain on top.

focal image = stamped in Basic Brown....color in with markers.....add Dazzling Diamonds to halo.  Punch with 1 1/4" punch.  Punch Certainly Celery with 1 3/8" punch.  Punch Close to Cocoa with Scallop Circle punch.  Add to ribbon using a dimensional.

Well, that's about all for my little angel card!!!  I hope you like her!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!

  Thank you to everyone who wished us prayers during this terrible weekend.  It truly means a lot to us that we have such caring people in our lives (many of whom I've never met in person). 

The ankles are getting a little bit better every day.  The family jokes with me telling me I walk like Shrek.....or call me Hop-Along....you get the picture. 

Stairs are not so great so I had to pull this picture out from my files rather than recreate something new for you.  This is a card we made at my Holiday Stamp-a-Stack.  I try to keep my Stamp-a-Stack cards on the easier side since they have to make 12 cards in 3 hours.  This was my mom's favorite card of the day.

The base card is Close to Cocoa.  The next layer is Always Artichoke that has been stamped with the Floral background using Always Artichoke ink.  I did use the Corner Rounder punch on all four corners (it emulates the curve on the Top Note die).

I used my Top Note die and Kraft cardstock for the next layer.  All of the stamps from this layer come from "A Christmas Cardinal" (found in the Holiday Mini catalog).  The cardinal is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink.  The foliage is stamped in both the upper right and lower left corners with Versamark.  The edges of the die cut are sponged with Close to Cocoa ink.

The sentiment was stamped on a scrap of Riding Hood Red cardstock and punched with the Large Oval punch.  I also sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa ink.

The final touch is a bow made with Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon.

Like I told you....it's a fast card.....an ideal card for making many of!!!

I hope I can get down to the Stampin' Studio over the next few days.....I miss stamping!!!!

Until tomorrow....Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Sad News

I am sad to report that our friend Nick passed away this evening.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers.  It is so sad to hear of a young one losing their life. 

Hugs your loved ones!!!

Did You Ever Just Have One of Those Weeks?

It's been a crazy week here.  The week started with Dimples getting spayed.  She wouldn't leave her stitches alone so she was placed in this silly looking contraption.

 

Yesterday, I was walking down the basement stairs to get Amanda's leotard and tights for dance rehearsal and thinking I was at the bottom of the stairs (I was looking at the laundry pile on the right rather than straight ahead), I take the big 'ol step.  Yup....you guessed it.....not on the bottom step.  I fall down the rest of the stairs.....ambulance is called....go to hospital....nothing broken....but two sprained ankles.  Ugh....feel so stupid!!!

On the way to get Chinese for dinner, Dennis almost gets into a serious car accident.  Thank God he swerved out of the way of the idiot who blew through the red light.

The worst of the news is yet to come.  A friend of Dennis' found out that their 12 year old son is brain dead this morning. Nick is fighting leukemia and winning the battle.  He was declared "in remission" but had a brain hemorrage overnight.  He is in a coma with no brain activity whatsoever.  If you can, please say a prayer for Nick and his family.  They have gone through so much yet never thought this would happen.

Hug your loved ones......you never know what the day will bring!!!  Hugs!!!

Happy Birthday Honey!!

 

If you read yesterday's blog post, then you already know that yesterday was my honey's birthday.  This is the birthday card I made for him.

The 4 1/4" square base card is Basic Black.  I added a 4" x 4" layer of More Mustard patterned paper from the Autumn Vine designer series paper pack (in the Holiday Mini catalog).  I cut a partial circle from Bravo Burgandy cardstock, pierced the edges and adhered to the bottom right corner of the card. 

The focal image is from a beautiful stamp set called "A Light Upon My Path".  Dennis loves lighthouses so I thought it would be perfect for his card.  I stamped the focal image on Very Vanilla cardstock using Versamark ink.  I then used the Poppin' Pastels technique with my Chalk Pastels to create a varigated image.  I used the More Mustard, Ruby Red and Bravo Burgandy pastels.

The edges were roughed up and matted on Basic Black cardstock. 

The sentiment is from my favorite Level 1 hostess set...Best Yet.  I stamped the sentiment with Bravo Burgandy ink and punched it out with my 1 3/8" circle punch.  Of course, I HAD to sponge it!!!

The final touch was some of the brand new rope (in the Holiday Mini) and some black brads from the Vintage brads pack.

I was very pleased with the way it turned out!!!

If you've fallen in love with this project, you can order all the stamping goodies via my online website.  Simply click on "Shop Now" once you get to my website.

Blogger's Challenge #70

 

It's Friday and that means it's time for another Blogger's Challenge.  This week we were asked to make a gift project.  I debated back and forth and finally decided to make a Votive Boat.

Here is a top view to get a better idea of this project:

 

A glass votive holder sits in the middle of the votive boat....I put a tealight candle in there instead of a votive...it's safer.

Here's how to make it:

Cut 2 pieces of Pink Passion cardstock to 3" x 11" (wheel with Whimsy jumbo wheel and Pink Passion ink)

Cut 2 pieces of Only Orange cardstock to 1 1/4" x 11"  (stamp randomly with small butterfly from Flight of the Butterfly)

Cut 2 pieces of Vellum Cardstock to 2 1/4" x 10" (round the top two corners with the Corner Rounder punch)

Using your Crop-o-dile and silver eyelets attach the two panels together.

Stamp the butterfly from Garden Whimsy (I used the Rock n Roll technique here..ink the stamp with Only Orange and roll in Pink Passion) onto Shimmery White cardstock.  Mat onto Basic Black and paper pierce the edges.

The sentiment is from Best Yet (a Level 1 hostess set).  It is stamped in Pink Passion and punched with the Scallop Circle punch.  I sponged the edges with Only Orange and pierced the scallops.  It is then mounted on a 1 3/4" Basic Black circle.

Votive Boats can be made for any occasion using cardstock or patterned paper.  If you decide to make one, please email me a picture....I would love to see it.

Don't forget to check out all the other wonderful creations made by the Blogger's Challenge group.  Click on the Bloggers Challenge icon on the right sidebar of my blog to see the list of links.

Today is DH's birthday.....we are spending the day together!!!!  Happy Birthday sweetie!!