Halloween Theme - PPA5

Today I was feeling creative so I decided to participate in the PPA 5 - Halloween theme challenge at Pals Paper Arts. I was inspired by my upline, Janet Dietzman. She made a joy fold card for the swap at her last downline meeting. You can find a tutorial for the Joy Fold Card here. As you can see, I couldn't resist using the round tab punch bat again! Hope you enjoy! Thanks for looking...
Here is a close up of the card, opened.

Another Entry for LNS Challenge #34

I had to submit one more entry for LNS Challenge #34. I hadn't seen anyone submit an entry for a purse like this. This cute little purse is made using the round tab punch. The handle is made using the large oval punch and the scallop oval punch. I also used a portion of the oval punch to make the flap on the purse. I finished off the card by stamping the sentiment and punching it out with the modern label punch.

Hope you enjoy!

SU Punches used:

Round tab 108340

Lg Oval 107305

Scallop Oval 114889

Modern Label 116630

SU Supplies used: Whisper White CS, Melon Mambo Textured CS, Melon Mambo Patterns DSP and Melon Mambo classic ink.

How to make a Round Tab Punch Bat

Ok Stampers, here is a picture of how you can make a bat using the round tab punch. A picture is worth a thousand words... and it would've taken me one thousand and ONE words to explain... so here ya go! Enjoy creating with this versatile punch! Come back and share what you create... If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

LNS Challenge #34

This is a quick and easy Halloween card that I made for the LNS Challenge #34. The challenge was to use punches to create a card. I used 3 for this card: Round Tab Punch 108340, Curly Label Punch 112208 and 1 3/8" Circle Punch 104401. I used Cast-A-Spell DSP 115677, Basic Black CS 102851 and Only Orange CS 102837. The greeting I used is a sneak peek from the holiday mini catalog: Grateful Greetings 116511. I would love to take credit for creating the bat on my own, but I actually got the idea from a swap that was from Convention. I went to a fellow demo's open house, she had display boards full of swaps! I snapped a few pics and decided to CASE the bat. So whoever initially made it, thanks so much for the awesome idea! There are so many people out there who totally think "out of the box" and find new and creative ways to use punches!!
Here is a close up of the bat! I sponged the edges with white craft ink so that it stood out a little more since the "moon" behind it was a little smaller than it was! Then I added the "googly eyes". Hope you enjoy!

PPA4 - Anything BUT A Card

I created this Halloween Banner for the Pals Paper Arts Anything BUT A Card - PPA4 challenge. I almost didn't participate because I couldn't get a good picture of my project. I guess it was too big! (Click on the image to see it even more close up.) So, I laid it down and arranged all the letters close together. Although you can't see how nice it looks hung, you can still see the details. I used the SU Scallop Square die 115950 to cut out the background material. I then adhered it to orange canvas with fusible webbing. I strung it all together with black gingham ribbon 104832. The letters were cut out with my Cricut, using the Alphalicious cartridge. I embellished it with white rick rack, a few orange buttons, bling, ribbon and tulle. I am having a lot of fun making these banners! You will be seeing many more with all the upcoming holidays! Also, if you are in the area and are interested, I will be having a Banner Making Workshop soon! Contact me for details.

Here is an even closer look at one of the blocks:

Inspiration

This past Tuesday, Aug. 18th, I met with a group of ladies that I stamp with once a month. Every month the ladies take turns and someone new "teaches". This time it was my upline, Janet Dietzman's, turn! We made 3 cards that were all variations of cards that were posted on Patty Bennett's blog. Patty is such an inspiration to all SU Demo's!! I know I aspire to be as creative and successful as she is!!

Card #1 was made using SU's die-cut Pendant Notes 116449. They are perfect for quick and easy cards that can be dressed up to look elegant or left simple. We also used Bridesmaid 116479 Specialty Paper. This paper added elegance with it's foiled texture. Perfect for weddings! You can check out Patty's version here on her July 25, 09 post.

Card #2 was made using the watercoloring technique with the Rose from the Fifth Avenue Floral 113734 stamp set. You can find the watercolor roses technique and video tutorial here on the April 26, 09 post. This was also my first attempt at watercolor roses! After I was done, I realized I hadn't done the technique right. I'll have to try it again to get the full effect of the beautiful colors!


Card #3 was made using 2 of SU's background stamps: Medallion 115223 and French Filigree 113742. I was so excited to get to use the Medallion Stamp. It will definitely be one of the next stamps I purchase! The size of the stamp allows you to use it as a whole or to cut out a portion of it to use as a layer. On this card, we used a round scallop circle and one of the circles from the Circle Circus 115778 stamp set to layer. You can find Patty's card here.

Matchbox Die Wedding Favors

One of my co-workers has a daughter getting married next month. I overheard her and another co-worker planning the wedding and discussing wedding favors. I came over and offered to bring in some samples. She took them to her daughter, along with a catalog to choose colors. She especially loved the matchbox... she decided on using 2 stacked for each place setting, we made approximately 330 of them (she needed enough for 165 place settings!!). She chose a variety of SU colors including Melon Mambo, Soft Suede, Old Olive and Very Vanilla. These are 2 of the different ways we created them. The different colors of CS and ribbons all look beautiful together! The bride and groom to be were very pleased with the finished boxes. Even he helped with the assembly!

"Faux" Bow

Since I posted the card I made for the PPA2 sketch challenge, I have been asked how I created the bow above. The bow is a "faux" bow.... Hopefully I can explain it without confusing you all, sometimes I tend to complicate simple things!

You will need 3 pieces of ribbon, 1 piece long enough to go across the CS you are covering, 1 smaller piece to create the looped "bow"and 1 smaller piece for the gathered part you place over the "loop".

1. The 1st piece of ribbon will need to have adhesive behind it, you can either do that now or wait to you complete the other steps. Make sure to add adhesive to the ends so that you can tuck them behind the cardstock. DO NOT adhere to CS yet.
2. With the 2nd piece of ribbon, you need to join the ends together to make the loops. I put my adhesive behind the middle of the ribbon then just tucked the ends behind. This piece can be adhered to the longer strip now.
3. Next, take the 3rd piece of ribbon and with a thin thread/twine, tie the middle section to create the gathered look. Center the gathered piece over the middle of the looped piece of ribbon. Now tuck the ends behind, adhering it to the looped part. Cut any excess ribbon off.
4. Finally, you can adhere the strip of ribbon to your CS.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me...

Pals Paper Arts Simple Sketch Challenge

This is the PPA2 Simple Sketch Challenge. This is my first time participating. I am going to love playing along at PPA! I'll have to participate weekly since it was so much fun! Play along at: Pals Paper Arts. The Pals Paper Artist Picks will be announced on Wednesday, August 12th.
SU Supplies used: Soft Suede CS, Rose Red Patterns DSP, Thoroughly Modern DSP, Whisper White CS, Soft Suede Classic Ink, Melon Mambo Classic Ink, Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Circle Punch, Curly Label Punch, Top Note Die, Wings of Friendship Level II Hostess Set, Clear Rhinestone brads, Stampin Dimensionals and Paper Piercing Tool.

Other supplies used: Bazzill Basics Paper Flowers, Rhinestones

Halloween Preview

Have you ever heard the saying, "One person's trash is another person's treasure... "? Well, it is very true! Last weekend I went to a "Garage Sale" at one of my favorite local scrapbook stores, Collective Journey. My niece, Jeanine, accompanied me in the adventure! Between the two of us, we found some great deals! The price range of all the new found treasures were between .50 and $10.00. Nothing was over that price. Most items were $2 & $3! Awesome finds... buttons, prima flowers, retired SU stamps, Tim Holtz grungeboard, chipboard, containers (which were perfect for the buttons!), vintage style stamps, and QuicKutz dies! Anyhow, all these great finds inspired me to create a halloween banner, I used some of the buttons which were orange, black and purple.
The paper I used for the letters is actually Stampin' Up! DSP 115677 Cast-A-Spell. I used my Cricut to cut the letters (Alphalicious Cart). I used canvas as the base for the pennant. I will be doing a class on banner making so if anyone is interested, let me know!

August Stampin' Up! Promotions

From August 1–31, get a FREE package of Designer buttons—a $7.95 value—when you spend $35 on stamp sets in the Growing Up section of the catalog or my Online Store.


They Grow Up So Fast

Track your children's growth with the limited-time Décor Elements™ Growth Chart, now on sale for just $24.95. But hurry—it's only available through September 30!

Click here August Promotion if you'd like to see the promotion flyer!

Graduation Centerpiece & Invite

Ok, since we're talking centerpieces, I thought I would also post a small one that I made for my son's Graduation Party. I found the metal pot at Dollar Tree. I used Geaorge and Basic Shapes Cricut Cartridge. I'm also sharing the invite that I put together. I find that it is more of a challenge to put together something for a male. No flowers and pretty ribbon! I cheated a bit and actually used some really pretty double sided ribbon! One side
white and the other side black! I chose to keep black, gray and silver as the main colors on the invite even though his school colors were black and baby blue!

Centepieces

Here are the Monkey centerpieces that went along with the Monkey Invites. I used 2 different Cricut Cartridges for these centerpieces, New Arrival and Mini Monograms. I like to make centerpieces that match invitations. For the invites I used the Monkey QuicKutz die... these other monkeys were WAY easier to put together! Less steps involved. Less time consuming. As much as I love using my Big Shot, I also love using my Cricut!!! Oh and in case the pictures don't show clearly, these were made out of just plain terra cotta pots that I painted... Then I wrapped ribbon around it. All the lollipops and the scallop square were kept in place by the foam in the middle of the pot. Very easy to make!