Can't Get Halloween Out if My Head (and off my craft table)

 

Hello, Halloween lovers! Today I made a square card featuring skeletons. The background paper featuring Mr. Skeleton is from the Dead or Alive Paper collection from Rucola Designs. The Copic-colored skeleton child is from Kenny K Stamps. I haven't bought cardstock in months due to a towering stack leaning precariously in my basement, so all papers are "leftovers".

I framed my card face with lacy die-cuts I made from a scrapbook crop (and I haven't been to one in years!).  It showcases the paper well, I think. After coloring my image, which is called "Skull Man", I fussy-cut him out to place under the outstretched hand of his parent. He's so very anxious to go trick-or-treating like all the little goblins and ghosts.

I had forgotten to print my greeting, so I used my circle punch and wrote on black cardstock with white ink the words Trick or Treat. The only other embellishment I used was the cloth Autumn leaf in the top left corner.

I hope you like my Halloween card today. I am building a nice new stack of cards to send out this year. Unless I find a craft fair before the holiday, and on make a little money (m-wa ha ha). All's fair in love and crafts, right? Don't forget to check out the challenge at Halloween Crafts All Year 'round

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

Welcome to the 31 Days of Halloween - DAY 15

 

For the better part of 2024, I have been anxiously trying to get to my Cloud backup, where I put ALL of my photos and digital stamps from my old laptop. We're talking pictures of family vacations, weddings, when my husband was alive; images from years of designing for teams on blogger; every scrapbook page I created on my own and at several scrap meets. I was frantic, not getting any response from the host except the message "we no longer support this version of...".

Just a month ago, I found a way to get in, and there everything was!! My most precious memories, a history of my growth as an artist, and all the images I collected and bought and received. And the first thing I did was buy a 128 GB flash drive. I am still in the process of copying EVERYTHING onto that drive. I don't think I can ever trust the cloud again...

My project today is a Design Team make for Halloween & Other Occasions All Year 'round.  I used an image from my "once lost but now found" inventory of digital images from Bugaboo Stamps. It's part of a series, and this one is called "the chosen one". I colored him with Copics and fussy-cut him out to place him into the scene, which is a cool and creepy  paper from Rucola Designs via Mischief Circus (from her Dead or Alive Series).

The paper is leftover from a DCWV stack, as well the assorted stickers. The spider web is a tiny piece of lace I cut off a larger piece. The crow is a silhouette from Google free clipart, and I printed my greeting in Algerian font.

I don't make a lot of Halloween cards as I don't send them out, but I often bring a handmade treat or gift to a neighbor during the holidays - any holidays!! LOL

Challenges I am Entering:

Shopping our Stash - Halloween

Try It on Tuesday - Halloween

 

Make My Monday - Kid-Friendly card

Two Old Bats Halloween - Halloween

24 Days of Christmas - Day 12 - Christmas Card Catcher

Can you believe how fast the days are passing? I was able to craft another project today. Both inspiration and creativity smiled on me as I dug up a thrift store find from last year. It was a framed bulletin board with pockets. I thought it would make a nice holiday card catcher at the time, and I was right! LOL

I sanded the wooden frame before I pulled out my holiday designer papers. All my papers are either from past projects or torn out of the stacks I bought at thrift stores or on clearance. I was lucky that all the papers I used were from the same set (DCWV I think). I cut them to fit above each burlap pocket using spray adhesive.

I chose some lines of adhesive-backed gems to run across each top of the pockets. I like a simple craft, but my card catcher needed a little extra, so I added a few snowflakes around the frame. A Christmas bow and Santa button finishes off today's make. I added a few of my own handmade cards and I must say it looks great...
 

24 Days of Chrustmas - Day 9 - Mini Lace Tree

 

I was digging in my holiday craft supplies and a styrofoam tree form rolled out. Just the one - I have no idea when I got it! But it sang to me, so I pulled out my glue gun, some pine cones and my box of lace.

I decided to go with a cream color theme and separated them from the whites and colored laces. Using sewing pins, I attached my rows of lace onto my tree. I liked the elegant look of the creamy lace, and considered what to used to decorate the tree. I had colored ornaments, strings of pearls and beads. I decided on a string of very tiny peals and adhered it onto my tree as I would a garland. It barely showed against the lace, but when I put it under a light, it sparkled!

Colored ornaments or metallic? ef metallic! I cut a string of cheap Mardis Gras beads that were silver, and one by one glued them onto my tiny tree. I found a cardboard tube that had held some lace. I was just the right size to use for a tree stand. Covering it with some pretty burlap ribbon, I finished my make for today. Oops, forgot that i put a glittered pinecone on top of the tree instead of a star. I used leftover beads from the necklace and glued them onto several levels of the pinecone...

On the Christmas gift list front, I just finished my daughter and my cousin, and am hunting down some special items for my granddaughter and a few good friends. I have 2 weeks left--I better hurry up!!

24 Days of Christmas - Day 8 - Holiday Greetings for My Neighbors

 Here's another one of my holiday gifts for neighbors. It's called a mussie tussie, and was popular several years ago. I think it's a perfect gift for those neighbors who mean a lot to me. They know I'm a crafter and expect something homemade.

I started with a toilet paper roll (any cardboard tube will do) and wrapped it with designer paper. Then I added some frills around it - lace, button, bow, etc. From there I chose trinkets to put inside. I have a wooden nutcracker ornament, candy cane, snowflake buttons and a string of crafting pearls.

I already dropped off my first mussie tussie and now I'm ready to deliver this one. Since I have quite a few yet to craft, I think I'll show off the rest (once they're made) in one post. I have a lot more crafting ideas bubbling in my brain. time waits for no crafter!

24 Days of Christmas - Day 4 - Holiday Mussie Tussie

 

Does anyone remember when Mussie Tussies were popular? I even facilitated a craft workshop for Valentine's Day back in the day. Well, I'm bringing them back this Christmas. Inspiration hit me one night as I was sitting and contemplating my polished nails in the bathroom. I saw an empty toilet paper roll sitting NOT in the trash basket and, well, here is my finished project.

First I covered my cardboard troll with designer paper (I believe it's from DCWV), one end extending from the stapled-closed bottom; I cut 1/2" slits in the paper before folding them over the top opening, and adhering it all with spray adhesive.

I added a piece of coordinating paper to the bottom, the houses and snow-covered ground adhered to the bottom to make my little scene. To give the bottom a little dimension and shine, I added a line of pearls. Up top, I ringer slightly larger pearls and added the silver bow.

I had to stuff the bottom of my Tussie with tissue paper so that my tiny gifts could be seen when hung up. If you zoom in, you can see the Christmas tree, candy canes, snowflakes, star and kitty. I used a piece of leftover lace with which to hang my ornament/wall decor/holiday gift. 

Last Christmas I decorated cardboard book boxes, filled them with handmade trinkets and gave them to my neighbors. This year they'll get my Mussie Tussies with a tag, in place of a card.

Sorry I missed yesterday's make. I had just returned from a 2-week cruise. I had crafted the forst 2 projects before I left, but didn't have time before nor after to get yesterday's made and posted...

31 Days of All Hallows Eve - Day 27 - Pumpkin Succulent

 

Halloween is in the air! 'tis almost the witching hour, so let your crafty magi flow over blogland! My mission  today was to use up more Halloween craft supplies, especially those styrofoam pumpkins from the Dollar Store. Mine was white, so I didn't have to paint it.

I rescued a fake succulent I had bought from the thrift store for 50 cents and pulled it out of its cheap plastic pot. I dug a hole in the top of my pumpkin base and hot glued it in place. Next I layered fabric leaves around the plant, adding flowers, orange and black deco balls and jewels to fill in the gaps so you can't see where the plant ends and the pumpkin begins. 

I finished off my Halloween decor with a leftover piece of lace, adding adhesive jewels to it for some shiny. It is almost 4 inches wide and 5 inches high with the succulent standing tall. I love how it turned out, and I spent more time sorting thru my faux leaves and flowers than I did on putting the project together!

Are you ready for the BIG DAY? Got your costume and/or makeup at hand? Got enough candy to pass out? Is your home decorated? Just four more days!! Meanwhile, find out your Halloween name from below...

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

C.R.A.F.T. - Halloween/Thanksgiving

Creative Knockouts - Anything Goes

Moving Along with the Times - October/Anything Goes

31 Days of All Hallow's Eve - Day 8 - Pumpkin Sign Decoration

 

Remember the signs I picked up from the Dollar Store for summer? Here's the other one that I altered for Halloween. I again painted the back side of the sign so I get double use from my purchase. After it dried, I adhered designer paper, bordering it top and bottom with lace I colored orange.

I then used my white Posca marker to give it a witty greeting. Like it? I hope it made you smile...

31 Days of All Hallow's Eve - Day 4- Spooky Signage

 

Among my leftover Halloween craft supplies, I found 2 signs I had bought (and hug in windows) for the summer season. Well, summer is over! And instead of painting over them, I decided to paint and decorate the other side for Halloween. Below you'll see what my signs show for summer:

So I started by painting each backside black for the base coat. After drying, I adhered some leftover designer paper to each. On the sign I'm featuring today, I added a border of orange paint. I also attached some leftover lace to the bottom of the paper. I used a stencil to paint on the greeting BOO and finished it off with a Dollar Store ribbon.

This was a very fast, very easy craft, which I certainly appreciated. I also appreciate the fact that it is flat, and will store easily in my Halloween decorations bins.

Do you believe in ghosts? My sister bought a house near me that is said to be haunted. She hasn't seen a ghost in the years in which she's lived there, but every time she comes home and it's dark, she calls me and keeps the conversation up while she checks out a noise that came from her basement. No sense in pushing her luck, right?

Path of Positivity New Challenge Card

 

I am all about spreading positivity in the world. Right now, a very close friend needs support with things going on in her life. I'm sending her love with this card, which is designed using the Path of Positivity challenge blog's Mood Board.

I had the perfect papers and "accessories" for this card, but it looked very dull. So for a little color, I added lilac cardstock and was happy. The sentiment is from Scribbles Designs. After framing it, I added the bow. Still so plain! So I rummaged thru my lace leftovers and adhesive bling and found things to complement the card design. I like it and I hope my friend will feel the love.

Don 't forget to enter the Path of Positivity challenge this month. It's always Anything Goes, but it's nice when crafters get inspiration from their offerings. Hope to see you there!

Challenges I am Entering:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch - 

Make My Monday - Spring Colors

Flip-a-Coin Challenge at 12 Months of Christmas

For those of you who have been self-isolating, I hope you've been using your time wisely, and by wisely I mean building your stash of holiday cards!! My card today is a DT make for The 12 Months of Christmas, a challenge blog that promotes creating holiday cards yearlong. 
The challenge is Anything Holiday card Goes with a fun twist, where you'll need a coin to flip for the creation of your card. All Dressed Up is the guest sponsor, and I have used a digi called "Tra-La-La-La". I used Decosse's Dynamite Doodles paper from a kit called Snow Bokeh Trees (I love all her Bokeh papers).

Of course, I flipped my penny to "discover" my challenge requirements, and then I used my coin to cut out the greeting, which is a part of the image. Here is the flip-a-Coin box where you flip for your own requirements:

FLIP	HEADS	TAILS
1	Make a card with 3 layers or less	Make a card with 4 or more layers
2	Make a rectangular or square card	Use a fancy fold technique
3	Add dots to your card	Add stripes to your card
4	Add lace or ribbon to your card	Add gems or pearls to your card
5	Add a frame to your card	Use faux or real stitching on your card

As you can see, I flipped Heads for #1 and made a card with 3 or less layers; #2 was Tails for using a fancy fold technique; #3 Heads had me add dots to my card (if you click on my card, you'll see that all my singing animals are wearing dotted winter accessories; #4 brought out my lace; and #5 Tails caused the card to offer faux stitches.

Prize Info For This Challenge

• Main Prize being offered: TWO images of winner's choice from All Dressed Up Stamps store to one random winner.

• Additional Sponsor: Décosse's Dynamite Doodles
• Prize being offered: One free digital paper to everyone who links up a minimum of two cards to the challenge. Cards can be anything goes for this prize. The mini set of six digital papers called Eclectic Mix 1, will also be offered up as a prize to one individual who has followed the twist.

So, how have you been putting you're isolation time to use?  My house has been cleaned, de-cluttered, organized, and redecorated in a couple rooms. My front deck is now decorated, and my tomato garden is flourishing. AND I have a healthy stack of holiday cards from which to choose this December. Of course, I don't have children to home school and entertain, nor a job to do from home. I'd love to know what you've been doing with yourself,  and I would LOVE to see your holiday cards linked to The 12 Months of Christmas Blog. See you there!

Challenges I am Entering:

Shopping Our Stash - Christmas in July

The Holly & the Ivy Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

2 Crafty critter Crazies - Anything w/a Critter Goes

Digi Doodle Studios - Christmas in July

Sheepski Designs - Anything Goes

Sweet Stampers - Christmas in July

Thankful for Good Friends on the Path of Positivity

When my son got married, her parents and my husband and I started a friendship that, just like marriage, became stronger as time went by. We even took a cruise together before hubby became too sick to travel. He's gone now, but I'm so thankful that we have and continue to get along so well together.
I'm also thankful for being able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this month. I created this card for them using a digi image from Scribbles Designs, one of the guest sponsors for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. The image is called Champagne Glasses, and it's a FREEBIE! I used Copics to color the image and pulled out all the gold papers and embellishments I could find from my stash to create the rest of the card..

 I decorated both faces on the inside of the card as well as the front. I found the perfect quote (top) and an awesome poem to congratulate them. The font I used is called Violetta.

I am sure they will like the card, as Toni (the other MIL) is a frequent customer when it comes to cards. In fact, she was over the moon last Christmas when she opened her gift from me - a dozen handmade cards. 

You have until the end of the month to create and link your project to the Path of Positivity challenge blog for your chance to win the following prizes:

Challenges I am Entering:

Kill Them with Kindness at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Today I have two projects to inspire you to always stretch your comfort zone. I've used the lovely digi, Spanish Dancer, from Ike's Art. It's one of my favorite images; maybe because my cousin dances and teaches Flamenco. I admire her for that.
Anyway, I was trolling YouTube videos and came across an artist who used all manner of items, food and supplies in his project, so I thought I'd have a go at it. First, I colored the top half of my image with Copics. Then I emptied my supply of flowers and chose these white ones with the colored jewel centers.
I then played with each flower like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, slowly putting them together to form my dancer's flowing skirt. I love how it came out. So I tried another medium.

This time I used red lace. This was more difficult as I had to fold it over and back for the different layers of the image's dress. It was also harder to get the lace to sit right at my dancer's waist. I love the dimension of this one more, but I'll need to iron the lace next time so it lies on the canvas more accurately.

So which one do you like better? I'm definitely revisiting this type of mixed media canvas. The challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog this month runs to the end of November, so you should have plenty of time to experiment and try new techniques or materials. Just remember, treat yourself with kindness as you stretch out of your comfort zone. Whether you succeed with your attempts, or it ends up in the trash, you are trying to grow in your art and that makes you a winner!

Don't forget you could also be a winner of free digis from Ike's Art Store, so make sure you link your project to the main blog!

Two Weddings and a Shower

Today I made a wedding card for my sister's son-in-law and his bride-to-be. The digital image is from A Day for Daisies called "I Do". After coloring the happy couple with Copics, I cut it in an oval and attached lacy trim for a border. After adhering this to my card front, there was very little room for embellishments other than a few jewels in the corners.

The family lives in Germany so I used my two semesters of German language classes (and a little help from Pinterest) for the greeting on the front of my card... 

...a "loose" translation of a quote from Maya Angelou for the upper inside

(A successful marriage requires one to fall in love many times,

always with the same person)...

...and a congratulatory wedding sentiment on the bottom inside. I think the couple will understand what I've written. Well, if not, at least they will know who it's from!

I'll post the shower and wedding card I made for one of my "all grown up" Girl Scouts at a later date. This card was needed for my trip to Germany,and the others for my return.

Challenges I am Entering:
 Classic Design Team Open Challenges - Anything DT Goes
Leann's World 101 - Anything Goes
Love to Craft - Anything Goes
Your Scrapbook Place -Anything Goes
World Wide Open Design Team - Anything DT Goes

Fairy Magic at the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge Blog

Christmas is a magical time, so what says magic more than fairies? The optional twist for this month's challenge at the 12 Months of Christmas is Fairy Magic. The DT got to play with images from A Day for Daisies. There are the most gorgeous images at the store,including this one called "Talking to the Moon Fairy."
I tried something new today. I placed my image onto my digital paper and printed it so that it was one single layer.I still got to color the image with Copics. I popped up my "scene" with dimensional tape, using some leftover lace for a border. Then I plundered my stash of jewels and pearls to hang off  my moon. Funny thing about my patterned paper: I used Decosse's Dynamite Doodle's Blue pp from "A Touch of Frost paper kit, but my printer chose that exact moment to run out of ink. It's supposed to be ALL blue, but you know what, I kind of like that "fade into purple" look, don't you? LOL
As for the challenge at the 12 Months of Christmas blog, remember that you don't need to follow the twist to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month nor for a chance to win an $8 gift certificate to the A Day for Daisies store. 

You simply need to follow the twist if you'd like a chance to win this month's featured digital paper pack, Frolicking Fairies: Winter Edition from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.

   All you have to win these awesome prizes is to remember to link up your card to the main blog!! So have fun and good luck!

Challenges I am Entering:

Winter Wonderland - Cute Christmas

Fab & Funky - Fantasy

ABC Christmas - H for Hang it up or I for Intricate 

(I chose the Moon hanging in the night sky)

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Anything Goes at Your Scrapbook Place Challenge Blog

Rick St. Dennis is one of my favorite artists, and I was so happy when I discovered that he was sponsoring August's challenge at Your Scrapbook Place. I chose to play with "Morning Goddess True Sexy." I have her in a few different poses as she is one of my favorite characters in Rick's Store. I love that Rick knows that sexy doesn't disappear with age, nor is it weighted down by shape.

As I promised at the beginning of the year, I am still attacking my craft stash. It doesn't look like I made a dent in it, but after using four layers of paper, I know that it is being reduced. I am also getting my supplies more organized, so that I can spend more time on designing and creating and less time looking for the supplies I need!

Your Scrapbook Place offers monthly challenges where the theme is always Anything Goes. So craft with love and link up your project for your chance to win a prize from our very special sponsor, Rick St. Dennis. Have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper  - Anything w/Patterned Paper Goes

Create and Inspire - Anything Goes

Sheepski Designs - Favorite Things (Fave things I love to  create w/include lace, pearls & gold; fave things in the world are friends & family)

World Wide Open Challenge Blog - Anything DT Goes

Create & Makes - Anything Goes

Let's Eat Cake at Ike's World Challenge Blog

It's time to get your sweet tooth on at Ike's World Challenge Blog. The optional theme is "Let's Eat Cake" and I found a fairy tale cake to inspire my card. The cake is real, made by CandyCakeWedding.com and found on Pinterest. It makes the perfect background for the Ike's Art image, Tinky,  to fly by with magical birthday wishes for a little girl I know. 

My card is 100% digital, using the following:

Image: Ike’s Art: Tinky digi image, photo credit CandyCakeWedding.com

Paper: Pixel Scrapper Brooke Gazarek’s Enchanted Papers Purple

Digital Elements: Pixel Scrapper Elif Sahin’s Design piece #5 Heart, It’s the Magic Fairy Tales Edition Crown& Magic Wand;  Melo Vrijhof’s Jane Elements Lace Border & Family Day Elements Pink Flower; Mandy’s Lovable Designs’Shabby Wedding Scatter.

Font: Chancera

Whether you create with the Cake theme or choose to create without it, don't forget to link your art up at Ike's world Challenge Blog for your chance to win some awesome digis from her store!!

P.S. 

IKE'S ART DESIGN TEAM CALL - NOVEMBER 2017

Click on the link and strut your stuff if you fancy a place on Ike's Design Team.

Hurry, tho', you only have until the end of the month!!

Use Your Noodle to Doodle at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Last year when my husband was diagnosed with ALS, we joined an ALS support group. We became very close to one of the couples, and the wife and I started emailing, texting and phoning each other with our worries, fears, discoveries and experiences. We could vent to each other about our feelings at being our husbands caretakers, knowing that each would understand that we while we may complain, whine and begrudge the time and effort, we are at ease in knowing that we won't be judged by the other. She knows how much I love my husband and would go to the ends of the earth for his comfort, just as much as I know she would do the same.
This month Bill and I go to her husband's funeral. I created this sympathy card with the love and understanding I feel for my friend who bravely fought by her husband's side, battling this incurable disease.
I have been lucky to have witnessed several shooting stars in my life. I thought this digi image from the Scribbles Store was the perfect image to show my friend that her crushing grief will pass, just as a shooting star passes across the sky. I printed and then embossed the image, called Shooting Star, then doodled a border around the edge. This fulfills the challenge theme this month to "Doodle with your Noodle" at Scribbles Designs challenge blog.
I also printed out a Gold Glitterati textured paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles before adding some lace, pearls and flower.
Are you fingers constantly doodling? This is the perfect challenge for you! You have a month to use your noodle and doodle up a project - don't forget to link it up at Scribbles Designs challenge blog for your chance to win free digis from the store!! Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entered:

Scrappers Delight - Anything Goes

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

The Ghost of Christmas Past Visits the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge Blog

The best part of Christmas is the memories of Christmases past. Charles Dickens hit it spot-on when he wrote A Christmas Carol, pulling Ebenezer Scrooge and his readers into the heart of Christmas with his spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Around my dinner table at Christmas, we a single place setting  for all those who can no longer celebrate with us. Memories of their laughter and love keep them alive every year.
This spirit of Christmas Past inspires April’s Optional theme of The Ghost of Christmas Past (a Vintage Theme) at the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge Blog. The guest sponsor is Luna Girl, a perfect match for this theme as you will see from the offerings of our DT.

I used an image from Luna Girl's Pink Christmas 2 Collage Sheet, along with the following papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles': Vintage Damask 1: Rich Colors Paper Kit in Green, Pink Glitterati Textured Paper and Brown Paper from A Grungy Christmas Paper Kit
The rest of the embellishments are from Carolyn's Scrap Creations and various crafters at Pixel Scrapper. 
The challenges are always ANYTHING GOES but there's always an optional theme. You don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month and have your name thrown into the year-end draw for some extra digital goodies. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $15.00 gift certificate from Lunagirl. Please add the letters FT after your name when you link your cards so that we know you're interested in that $15 Luna Girl prize and let the spirits inspire you to create a vintage Christmas card this month!

Pun Intended at Ike's World Challenge Blog

I love a good pun, the kind of one-liner or punchline that makes me groan out loud. I got so exited when I saw that the challenge theme this fortnight at Ike's World Challenge Blog was "Pun intended." So excited that I created not one, not two, but THREE punny cards for this challenge.
My first card showcases a digi image called Labrador Stick from Ike's Art Store. The sentiment reads: "A dog gave birth to puppies near the road"
 Get ready to groan---

Did I get you?! I hope so! Now it's your turn to hit us with a pun. You can find some great ones online, or make up your own. My favorite is this one:

The past, the present and the future walk into a bar...

It was tense.

Of course, that's the English Major in me. LOL
See you over at Ike's!!