A Touch From the Heart

Freaky Friday

It's the last Friday of our summer vacation.  The kids start college on Monday, and I go back to work on Thursday.  During this past week, I've been shopping with Amanda for new clothes.  The clothes that I wore back in May are now a size too large.  Don't get me wrong....it's a good problem to have!!!  My weight loss journey is so close to ending.  I have 2.8 pounds left until goal.  It seems surreal that my body is now 75 lbs lighter.  To celebrate my weight loss, I made a big change when I got my haircut today.  I've been itchin' to try something new.  Amanda's exact words when she saw it was "Mother, what did you do?  It's short".  Now, my hair was already kinda short.  I just went shorter.  Dennis loves it, and I'm pretty sure Christopher (my son) is going to freak!  Oh well!  I like it!!!

Anyhoo, how about a vintage Halloween project?  Oh, I had lots of fun getting inky making this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge project.

It's a square card......my favorite!!!

The Elegant Eggplant card starts with a 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" piece of cardstock folded in half.   The edges are sponged with some Frosty White Shimmer Paint.  

 

I start building my texture by running a 4" x 4" piece of Elegant Eggplant cardstock through the Big Shot using the new Lacy Brocade embossing folder.  I love how it resembles wrought iron scrollwork on a fancy gate.  Could that gate be located at a haunted mansion?  Hmmmmmmm!    The thought of the iron inspired me to grab my Frosty White Shimmer Paint.  I sponged some on very sporadically all over this layer. 

The next layer is some striped Elegant Eggplant dsp from the Regals Patterns dsp stack.  This layer has been sponged with the Frosty White Shimmer Paint as well!  

Now, it's time to build the focal layer.  I had a Crumb Cake doily sitting on my desk.  It was cut using the Paper Doily Sizzlit.  I trimmed it to the size I needed to fit my card.  I then dragged some Basic Gray ink all over it.  I wish the photo could catch how dramatic this looks.  It looks SO cool in person!!!!!  

I then grabbed my Toxic Treat stamp set.  I stamped the image onto Whisper White cardstock using Jet Black StazOn.  I then grabbed my sponge daubers and ink pads to start building the background.  The ink pad colors I used are More Mustard, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie.  I then sponged over it with Basic Gray ink to tone down the brightness.  

Following the sketch, I added a length of Elegant Eggplant Scallop Dots Ribbon and tied it into a classic knot.  

All that's left is my scallop circle element.  I used the brand new 1 1/4" Scallop Circle punch.  I love it's fun size.  It coordinates perfectly with the 1 " circle punch.  I chose to use the "boo" and a flourish from my Tiny Tags stamp set.  

I just love how I can combine two of my loves into one card:  vintage and Halloween.  

Well, I am off to start this weekend!!!!!  We are mattress shopping.  Our backs are going to thank us!!!!!!

I wish you a fabulous weekend!!!

 

Be Careful When Opening this Jar

Okay, folks!!!!  It's my first Halloween card of the year, and I love, love, love it!!!!!

When I first spied the Perfectly Preserved stamp set, I knew I wanted to put all kinds of fun things in the jar........a spider included.  LOL!!!!!

My Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge card all begins with a Basic Black base card.  

Layer #2 utilizes the Inlaid Embossing technique.  It starts with a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock.  I then added a 2" x 4" strip of some Daffodil Delight dsp from the Polkadot Parade dsp pack.  Run all of layer #2 through the Big Shot using the Spider Web embossing folder.  

One of the exciting new products in the Holiday catalog is the 7/8" Natural Cotton Ribbon.  You can stamp anything you want on it.  For my card, I grabbed a sponge and my Rich Razzleberry ink pad to change the color of the ribbon.  I then stamped "spooky" (from Spooky Bingo Bits stamp set) using my Jet Black StazOn ink.  

My focal image begins with some Basic Gray cardstock being cut with my Window Frames framelits.  I used the new Festive Piercing Pack to perfectly poke holes inside this die cut.  

Now, comes the jar.  I stamped the jar image using Jet Black StazOn ink onto some Whisper White cardstock.  The image is cut using the coordinating Cannery Framelits.  Using my aquapainter and some Pool Party ink, I colored just inside the lines on the jar to make it look like glass.  The spider and the web (both from Spooky Bingo Bits) are stamped with Rich Razzlberry and Jet Black StazOn ink, respectively.  The jar is then sponged with some Daffodil Delight ink.

All that's left is my sentiment.  I grabbed a scrap of Daffodil Delight and stamped the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Using my 1" square punch, I can create a cute little banner edge.  Some dot work with a Basic Black marker adds just the right finishing touch!!!!  

Isn't it cute?  Don't get me wrong......I don't EVER want to find a spider and it's little web in a jar (ewwwwwwwww), but maybe it would'nt be that bad if he were as cute as this little devil!!!!

EEK!!!!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!  Are you ready for the spooktacular day?

We've been celebrating Halloween all weekend.  On Saturday night, we attended our first ever murder mystery dinner.  The theme was "Costume Ball at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel".  Dennis was Dr. Eric Throsite, and he was instructed to dress as a vampire.  My character was Skyllar Starry, an astrologist, who was instructed to dress as the Grim Reaper.  Oh boy!!!!

The party was in honor of Lynne, a friend who was celebrating her 50th birthday!!  Lynne's birthday is today....Halloween.....so I just HAD to make her a themed card.  I thought an "eek....you're 50" card worked beautifully.  

The "eek" panels come from the It's a Wrap Holidays stamp set.  That's right.....this stamp set can be used way beyond Hershey Nugget wrappers.  Love it!!!!

The numbers are die cut from my Timeless Type Sizzlit alphabet set.  I only bought this two months ago, but I've been using it a lot!!!!  What in the heck was I waiting for?

Well, do you want to see the vampire and Grim Reaper in all our glory?  Dennis did his own makeup, and my daughter did mine.  She's an aspiring make-up artist.  Although she prefers to make someone look pretty, she did have some fun making me look dead and all reaper-ish.  

 

 

I Found It!!!!

On Friday, I posted a Halloween card that I intended on framing.  

Well, Dennis, Amanda and I went shopping in downtown Chaska.  There's some cute little stores in town.  We went antiquing (found some bottles that I am going to make into Halloween potion bottles for my Halloween decor).  In a store that has a combination of new items and antiques, I found the perfect frame for my card.

Here it is with my martini glass filled with faceted gems.

I just love the gothic feel to this frame.  It's spooky and elegant all at the same time!

Thanks for letting me share my find with you......

 

Framing this One

Does my blog have cobwebs all over it?  I am SO sorry for not posting for a week.   It's just been crazy busy in my life lately.  I held three stamping events this week, took my first live Zumba class (so much fun), worked and hung out with the family.  Whew!  I'm tired!!!!

Anyway, I am thrilled to be back to share with you my latest creation for the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge.

Here's this week's sketch........

And here's what I made with it!
Can I just say how thrilled I am with this card?  It's SOOOOOOOO gorgeous in person.  In fact, I am going to frame this one in a gothic, victorian-like frame and use it for a Halloween decor item every year!

Let's chit chat about it, shall we?

My base card is Basic Black.....the perfect backdrop for any Halloween card.

Layer #2 is Basic Gray cardstock,  I used the Direct-to-Paper technique using my Whisper White Craft Pad to create the cob-webby coloration.  So spooktacular, dontcha think?

Now, it's time to layer on some designer series paper.  The bottom layer is a black flocked beauty from the Mocha Morning Specialty dsp collection.  Can we say decadent?  Oh yes.....this paper reminds me of a wallpaper you'd find in the parlor of an 1800's era haunted house.  If you've ever been to the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World, you know exactly what I'm talking about!

The dsp with the skulls comes from the Pick Your Poison dsp pack.  I love, love, love this dsp.  It's elegant and Halloween gothic all at the same time......but without being creepy or gross.  I added a length of Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon as per the sketch.

Across the top edge of the dsp, I added a scallop of the Silver Glimmer Paper.  Oh yes....this yummy stuff is not just for Christmas folks!  Wowie!  It looks awesome with Halloween too!  How did I get that fabulous scallop?  Well, I used my Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die. 

My Big Shot did some other work on this card too.  See that wonderful frame that sorta looks like the Top Note but smaller?  Well, that shape is from the Peek-a-boo Frames Bigz die.  I just chose to use it for the shape rather than for the peek-a-boo window.  How do I do this?  Well, just cover up the window with some dsp.  I used another pattern from the Pick Your Poison pack.  See.....I told ya it was pretty!  A little baby rhinestone hides in each of the corners (kinda like a spider would......but so much prettier).  Ewwww....spiders!

Now, there's so much going on with the patterned paper, that I kept this card simple with just a sentiment.  "Spooky" comes from the Wicked Cool stamp set.  I stamped it with Basic Gray ink onto Pumpkin Pie cardstock.  It's then punched with the large oval punch.

The spooky sits upon a 1 3/4" circle that's been cut from Basic Black cardstock.  I stamped the spider web using Whisper White Craft ink .

Ahhhhh......love, love, love this card!!!  It's one of my all-time favorite Halloween cards I've ever created.   If you're a frequent reader of my blog, y'all know how much of a Halloween freak I am (not the gory stuff......just the fun stuff)! 

You know......I think it's time to pull out some of my favorite Halloween-time movies.  My faves are Hocus Pocus (amuck, amuck, amuck.....ha ha),  Young Frankenstein and Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters.  Fun, fun, fun!!!!

Card Recipe

stamps:  Wicked Cool
paper:  Basic Black, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Silver Glimmer Paper, Mocha Morning Specialty dsp, Pick Your Poison dsp
ink:  Basic Gray, Whisper White Craft ink
accessories:  Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Peek-a-boo Frames Bigz L die, Basic Rhinestones, Large Oval punch, Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

Boo Memory

I just love the new Peekaboo Frames Bigz die!!!  As cute as the advent calendar is, I need to have just more than one use for something in order for me to buy it.  So, I came up with a few ways to incorporate this cool die in my stamping....all year long!!!!

The other day you saw how this die can be used to make awesome journaling areas and interactive titles for a scrapbooking page.  Click HERE to see my post.

Today, I am going to show you how to make a fun game for a little one using Fun Foam.  I LOVE that my Big Shot can cut through materials other than paper.  Sure, I could have made this game using cardstock, but it would've torn really quickly with lots of use.  By using the Fun Foam, this game can be used for a long, long time!

I picked up a bunch of bright Halloween colored Fun Foam at the craft store.  These are the longer ones.  I cut the purple one in half lengthwise so I now have two gameboard bases.  After the gameboard is completely put together, I glued it onto a piece of cardboard from the Glimmer Paper.

I then cut nine windows using the Peekaboo Frames die using varying colors of Fun Foam.  

My Timeless Type Sizzlit cut the numbers beautifully from black Fun Foam.  Besides, a memory game, you can also ask your little one to "show me where the 9 is".  Education is fabulous especially when it's fun!!!!

Under each peekaboo area is a Halloween image from the Spooky Bingo Bits stamp set.  

I made a matching card and stored them on the back of the gameboard.  My cute little pocket is made with a 6x6 page protector and a cardstock flap.  That flap stays secured with a little adhesive-backed velcro dot!

My title uses the Simple Alphabet Bigz dies and black Fun Foam.  The eyeballs are pieces of cardstock cut with the 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches.

Isn't it adorable?  I plan on making a Christmas themed one too!!!   Just switch up the stamp set (Jolly Bingo Bits is perfect) and Fun Foam colors!!!!   

Have I inspired you to purchase the Peekaboo Frames die yet?  tee hee

If I have, you can easily place an online order from my store on my demonstrator website.  Thanks so much for choosing me as your demonstrator!

Project Recipe

stamps:  Spooky Bingo Bits
paper:  Whisper White, Basic Gray, Basic Black
ink:  Black StazOn, Concord Crush, Pumpkin Pie
accessories:  Peekaboo Frames Bigz die, Timeless Type Sizzlit, Simple Alphabet Bigz dies, circle punches (1/2", 3/4"), Tacky Glue, Fun Foam 

What to do with the Windows?

I had such a crazy thought in my mind when I saw this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch.  To me, it looks like the portholes on the side of a ship.  I wasn't about to make a ship card.  But, with that thought stuck in the noggin', I had to pull up a chair and stare at my stamp cabinet for inspiration......for quite a while. 

My friend Jenn cracks up at me when I stare into space or at a piece of cardstock waiting for the stamping mojo to flow.  Hey, when something works, you stick with it!!!

Inspiration hit when I came across my Spooky Bingo Bits stamp set.  The images will fit perfectly in the windows!  Yes!!!  The creative juices started to flow!!!!

My base card is Daffodil Delight.  I think it's a perfect shade of yellow for a Halloween card.  It's fun to grunge up with Basic Gray ink!!!  It makes it look spooky.

Layer #2 is Basic Gray.  This isn't a color I use often, but it just works perfectly on a Halloween card.  I used the Direct-to-Paper technique on this layer using my Whisper White Craft Pad.  Once this dries, I sponged the edges with Basic Gray ink.  I added a double layer of ribbon.  The bottom layer is the Basic Black Scallop Ribbon and then some Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta ribbon.  

Layer #3 is a strip of patterned paper from the Pick Your Poison dsp pack.  Love, love, love the patterns.  I rounded all four corners with the Corner Rounder punch and sponged the edges lightly with Basic Gray ink.

For the portholes windows, I punched circles using my 1" circle punch (two are Basic Gray and one is Whisper White).  Those circles are then matted on 1 1/4" circles.

My sentiment (from Teeny Tiny Wishes) is inked with Black StazOn ink and punched with the Modern Label punch.  See those black rhinestones on each end of the sentiment.  They're super-dee-duper easy to make.  Just color a small Basic Rhinestone using a black Sharpie.  

All that's left is good 'ol spritzing with my Color Spritzer Tool and my Basic Gray marker.  

All in all, I am really happy with my window card......even though it took a bit of pondering to get it all started!

I'll leave you with the card recipe in case you want to make one too!

Card Recipe

stamps:  Spooky Bingo Bits, Teeny Tiny Wishes
paper:  Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Pick Your Poison dsp
ink: Basic Gray, Black StazOn, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White Craft
accessories:  circle punches (1", 1 1/4"), Corner Rounder Punch, Basic Black Dotted Scallop Ribbon, Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta, Basic Rhinestones, Color Spritzer Tool, Basic Black marker, sponges 

Spooky, Spooky House

Why do kids ask to go on "sleepovers" when there really isn't any sleeping involved?  Could it be they couldn't sleep because too many ghost stories were told while sitting in a room only lit by flashlights?

Remember the one that started like this......."On the spooky, spooky hill there was a spooky, spooky house.  And in that spooky, spooky house lived a spooky, spooky old man.  And that spooky, spooky old man had a spooky, spooky dog............."

Well, today's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge card is my Spooky, Spooky House card. 

Let me tell you, my hands were quite inky after making this spooktacular card!  Oh, I had so much fun with all the sponging to create the spooky effects.  

Here's this week's sketch:

Let's talk about this spooky, spooky card......step by step!

My base card is Concord Crush.  Love the depth and richness of this purple.  

Layer #2 is Lucky Limeade.  It measures 4" x 5 1/4".

Layer #3 is Basic Gray cardstock measuring 3 7/8" x 5 1/8".  I ran it through the Big Shot using the Spider Wed embossing folder.  I used my fingernail to rough up the edges of this layer a bit.  

Layer #4 is Daffodil Delight cardstock measuring 2" x 3 7/8".  I used the Direct to Paper technique using my Daffodil Delight ink pad to grunge up this layer.  I sponged the edges with some Basic Gray ink.  I stamped the sentiment (from Teeny Tiny Wishes) using Black StazOn ink.   I glued this layer onto Layer #3.

Now, I grabbed my Silver Smooch Spritz and really dirtied up Layer #3.  Once this was dry I added a double layer of ribbon.  First is the Basic Gray Satin ribbon followed by Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta.  

For my focal image, I cut a Top Note using Whisper White cardstock and my Big Shot.  I trimmed some off my left edge.

I stamped my spooky house (from the House of Haunts stamp set) using Black StazOn ink (it's my favorite black).  Now, it's time to get inky again.  In my mind, I envisioned the focal image divided horizontally into thirds.  The top third is sponged with Concord Crush ink, the middle is sponged with Pumpkin Pie ink and the bottom is sponged with Lucky Limeade.

The edges of the Top Note are sponged with Basic Gray ink.

Now, it still isn't spooky enough....so I grabbed my Color Spritzer Tool and my Basic Gray marker and spritzed away.  

Ahhhh.......now I am very satisfied with my spooky, spooky house that sits on a spooky, spooky hill on a spooky, spooky night.............ha ha!

What would you make with this sketch?  A Halloween card like I did?  A birthday card?  Well, I encourage you to play with this sketch and make a card!!!  Take a picture of it and upload it to your blog or an online stamping community.  Then all you need to do is link your card to the Stamping 411 blog using the Linky Tool.  The operators vote on our Top 5 cards of the week.  You never know....you might be one of the Top 5.

Card Recipe

stamps:  House of Haunts, Teeny Tiny Wishes
paper:  Concord Crush, Basic Gray, Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
ink:  Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Black StazOn
accessories:  Big Shot, Spider Web embossing folder, Silver Smooch Spritz, Top Note Bigz die, Color Spritzer Tool, Basic Gray marker, Basic Gray Satin Ribbon, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, sponges

 

Have a Wicked Halloween

Wishing each of you a wicked Halloween filled with lots of treats and not so many tricks!

 
This card was inspired by someone I saw on my blog hopping.  If it is your card, just let me know, and I will give you credit. 

Today, we are getting ready for the big night!  We need to put up the spider webs, put out the fog machine and strobe lights, carve the pumpkins, etc.  We are definitely the house that goes all out for trick-or-treating fun....nothing scary.....just in all good fun!

Hope your day is spooktacular!!!!!!

 

A Sweet Treat

Hey everyone!  A quick shoutout to my wonderful husband Dennis.  Today, he is celebrating his birthday.  Love you sweetheart!!!!  Hope your day is as fabulous as you are!

 

Halloween is a week from today!  While the weather was gorgeous this past week, we went pumpkin picking.  Now, the Minnesota Gray has set in....and it's rainy and cold.  They are even predicting snow on Thursday.  Yuck!

The candy is bought (and hidden)!  If I left it out, the Milky Ways would be gone (Amanda), the Kit Kits would be demolished (Chris) and Almond Joys would be non-existent (Dennis).  Of course, some of the Snickers would be missing too (me)!  So, the safest thing to do is to hide the bags until Halloween day!  LOL!!! 

A few weeks ago, Connie Babbert (one of my fellow Stamping 411 operators) posted a 3D tutorial on the Stamping 411 blog.  It's for an adorable candy holder.  I LOVE dark chocolate!!!  Hey, they said it's good for your heart!!!  So of course, a little piece of dark chocolate is nestled in my candy holder!

 

Here is a link to Connie's tutorial on how to make the candy wrapper.

All of the items used in today's project are made by Stampin' Up! (minus the candy).  Click HERE to purchase your supplies through my demonstrator website.  Thanks for choosing me as your demonstrator.

Project Recipe

stamps:  House of Haunts, Tiny Tags
paper:  Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Wicked Fun Specialty dsp
ink:  Basic Black
accessories:  Large Oval Punch, Round Tab Punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, Decorative Label punch, Raven Lace Trim, silver eyelets, Crop-o-dile, sponges