Halloween Mini and Coffin!

Boo!

With my grandson getting older, it has become more fun to plan for Halloween! He loves the gruesome as long as it's at arms' distance!

He has been sharing Halloween jokes with me, so I thought I would share some with him. Let's face it, there will be enough candy around without adding to it!

I thought he would enjoy a keepsake that he could bring out on occasion and remeber how silly we were (are) !

I purchased a little wooden coffin at Michael's knowing that I would want to alter it or fill it with candy corn... something.

I finally decided on the Joke Mini Album tucked inside for safe keeping.

I painted and decorated the outside JUST GORY ENOUGH for a 6 year old,

then lined the box with paper and tulle to give it that EERIE feeling.

Then I added some CREEPY spiders...

For the little book, I cut pieces of black chipboard the shape of the coffin,

placed an adorable little skeleton on the front, and hinged it together with a long brad.

Inside, Hayden will find some of his favorite vampire, witch, and ghost jokes, along with a few new ones I found online.

I have to admit, I had so much fun making this project for him!

I know how excited he gets when he thinks he's telling a new joke and we all pretend to NEVER have heard it before. And the cornier, the better!

This has been a fairly long post for me, so I thank you all for reading this far.

My internet was down for several hours tonight, and it's getting late so I'm off to bed.

Stay safe "Trick-or-Treating" or whatever your plans are for tomorrow night.

I know I'll be out with the little goblins, knocking on doors and telling silly jokes....

This little project will be entered in the challenges at:
If the Shoe Fits, Scrap It... (Halloween)
Paper Play Challenges (Halloween)
Scrap It With A Song (The Grateful Dead)  Get it?!  LOL!
The Paper Variety (Cute or Spooky Project)

DYSU Challenge #43 - Boo!

Look at what's up at Do You Stack Up?! This week we are getting in gear to celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year! That's right... we want to see your Halloween creations!

This week's Sponsors:

Stitchy Bear Designs $10 Gift Voucher

Sassy Cheryl Designs $5 Gift Certificate

Prairie Fairy Designs
$15 Gift Certificate




The image I used on my card is from our sponsor, Prairie Fairy!  Always fun, always adorable!

I had so much fun dressing up this little guy, 

from his plaid jammies down to his fuzzy slippers!

I wanted to make a card that my 6 year old grandson could relate to.  Every costume we looked at or discussed was "too scary". He wanted to be something less "spooky".  Because of a recent vacation trip the family took to California and to Alcatraz Island, I think he decided on being a prison guard and my DD and my son-in-law being his prisoners...no, that's not creepy...lol!

But this is definately how some of the kids look that show up at my door!

Costume over their pajamas!

So, grab your stamps and inks, and join the fun at
DO YOU STACK UP!

And since this card fits in perfectly, and it's a fun holiday, I'm entering it in some challenges at:
If the Shoe Fits Scrap It...  (Halloween)
Kaboodle Doodles (Halloween)
PaperPlay Challenges (Halloween/Witches)
Pollycraft Monday (Spooky Goings On)
The Paper Variety (Cute or Spooky project)
Fab n Funky Challenge (Hubble Bubble Toil And Trouble)
Penny's Paper Crafty (Halloween)
Digi Designs (Halloween)
Daisy Doodle Creations (Halloween)
Aud Sentiments (Funny card)
Scrap-Creations (Digi image)

Holiday Hugs!

Waltzing Mouse Stamps has a wonderful CAS sketch this week, and I had to take a break from laundry and house cleaning to make this Christmas card for the challenge.  We can never start too soon, and I love that the cards I send out each year are each totally different. Challenges are great for that!

It's not obvious in the photo, but the frame around the sentiment is heat embossed in gold to match the gold Stickle centers of the poinsettias.

Supplies:
Bazzill cardstock
Stamps; Waltzing Mouse Stamps, "Bountiful Basket Additions" and "Vintage Labels 4"
Die;  Spellbinders, Nestibilities, Labels Four
Background; Red Bazzill cardstock, Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge
Wilton Doily
Copics Markers
Stickles

Happy Birthday Wishes!

My Favorite Things

has a great sketch challenge this week!

I just had to grab some Pure Innocence stamps and play along!

I love these cute papers from DCWV and the coordinating epoxy stickers made it so easy!  My joint pain has been worse this week, and these little images make paper piecing a no-brainer!

Then, I figured if one MFT image is good, two is even better!

So I dressed up the inside of my card with another Pure Innocence image!

Enjoy!  I have to make this a short post today.

The Jimmy Buffet concert is tonight, and I have things to do before I can go play!

Supplies:

Stamps;  MFT, "Hello Cupcake" , and "My Little Firecracker"

Papers and Epoxy Stickers; DCWV, "Doodlin' Around"

Copics Markers



DYSU Challenge #42 - TREES!

Welcome once again to a new challenge at Do You Stack Up?!  This week we want to see Trees on your projects!

This week's Sponsors:

Bugaboo Stamps Winner’s Choice of 7 Digis

The Stamping Boutique Winner's Choice of 5 Digis

Hope Jacare
Winner’s Choice of 3 Images

Yes, this week the challenge is to have a tree on your project, or to have your project BE a tree shape...etc. (you get the picture)!

My image is from one of our terrific sponsor's,  

Bugaboo Stamps, "Poppy Christmas Tree".  Isn't he adorable? 

And I paired him with a "borrowed" sentiment that I had spotted on a friend's card from Unity stamps.  It just seemed to fit the little image so perfectly!

With the holiday season just beginning, I knew I would be making plenty more Christmas cards, so I chose to go with unconventional colors this time around....

Not that I have anything against the typical red and green, but by January, I'm ready to pack away the red cardstock until February!

Wanting to keep "Poppy" as the highlight, I didn't add too many extras.  He desperately needed his tinsel, of course. And the bling is because he's just that kind of guy....

well, maybe not. Doesn't look too thrilled to be there!  LOL! 

I will probably send this to a friend who, every year, says she's NOT putting up a tree because of all of the work involved, yet does it anyway!

The background is the "Mistletoe Kisses" embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

I use that so much during the holidays that it stays out on my table for months!

The pretty, sparkly, striped paper is some old leftover kit scrap from

Close To My Heart.

So, get on over to Do You Stack Up's blog, see what the other gals have made ,
(I promise you won't be disappointed) and enter your own card to win some great prizes!

Dinosaur Camp-out!

I have a little buddy who is going to love this!

Dino's and metal accents! How cool is this? 

The metal "dog tag" reads,

"Passport to Adventure",

and I am putting together a little camping survival kit to go with it.

A friend has asked me to make one up for her grandson,too!

A trip to the Dollar Store turned up a water bottle, a compass, a bug keeper, a butterfly net, and all sorts of rubber creatures! And the camo bag to carry them in!

DP and chipboard pieces used are Basic Grey.

Hinge is from my tool box!

This card is entered in the Simon Says Stamp and Show - Some Stripes! 



Papertrey Frames Challenge!

I made this card especially for the Make It Monday Challenge over at {Capture the Moment}.  Dawn McVey has posted a terrific video to demonstrate how to use layers and frames on your projects!  I inked up my button card from Papertrey's Button Boutique collection and put together this little "All Occasion" card to keep on hand. The sentiment is heat embossed so it pops IRL and I popped up the button card to give it some dimension.  I photographed it several times and tried to get the lighting right. The colors are dark pink and blue with the light pink buttons, even though it shows up rather "orangey".  It truly DOES co-ordinate well!

  I added just a few die cut paper buttons to the inside to tie it all together.

Supplies:
Paper: DCWV, "All About Girls"
Stamps: Papertrey Ink, "Button Boutique"; Sentiment, Hampton Arts,
               (the Michael's dollar bin)
Dies:  Papertrey Ink, "Button Card" and "Buttons";  Nestibilities, Labels Eleven;          Spellbinders,  Frameablities, "Scalloped Edge Frame
Brad: Melody Ross
Twine, Buttons, and Ribbon are from my scrap stash.

This card also qualifies for and will be entered into the challenges at:
Polka Doodles (Ribbons and Bows)
Stamptacular Sundays (You Choose!)

Do You Stack Up? Challenge #41

This week's challenge at Do You Stack Up , and my FIRST with the Design Team,  is to

"Use Your Scraps"! 

Anyone who has seen my craft room knows that I have plenty of those!  I keep everything!  If it's larger than 6 x 6, it definately goes into my scrap DP file. 

My card was made up of 30 one inch squares I cut from some pieces of

October Afternoon, "Seaside" papers and then machine stitched each row.   I also used a Wild Card from October Afternoon for my image.  I love their papers with the vibrant colors and adorable vintage patterns!

"Thank You, Alison"!

I made this card as a "Thank you" to Alison and the rest of the Design Team at DYSU!  They have all been so kind and welcoming!

I am so addicted to the resin flowers and cameos that are popular now. And I couldn't help but grab a piece of yellow and white twine to accent the sewing and sentiment.

I want to also thank everyone who has come to my blog to see my project!  I know it's always said, but if you would leave a comment, it REALLY would make my day!

And, if you would, please add your name to  my "follower" list...

I have a goal of 100 followers by December 31st!

This week's Sponsors:

A Day For Daisies $16 gift certificate

Just Some Lines $15 Gift Certificate

Pink Cat Studios Winner’s Choice of 5 Digis

Let your dreams take flight...

This is the first bookmark I've ever made....  for a friend who I lost touch with for many years.  She is completing her degree and is engaged to be married!  Yeah! Figured she needs this with all of the studying she's been doing!

Stamp used was an older rubber "Kraftin Kimmie" image, Tree Fairy.

I stitched her bodice and hung a tiny 7 Gypsies key around her neck.

The wings are Tim Holtz Grungeboard that I heat embossed in gold. 

The little crown is a brad from Creative Imaginations and the swirls, Zva, of course! 

Entered in the challenges at:

Simon Says Stamp and Show (Wings)

KraftinKimmie Stamps (Sparkle/Shine)

Skipping Stones Design Sketch Challenge!

It appears it's the week for tags...at least posting two in one weekend is a record for me! I am much more comfortable when the tag is ATTACHED to the front of a card or 3D project.  Which means this sketch at Skipping Stones was perfect!

And simple enough! As a matter of fact, I purposely chose to leave off a sentiment so that I may use it for one of the many occasions I have coming up.  I have several friends with Fall birthdays, two wedding Anniversaries, and several folks I just plain miss on a regular basis!

This wreath from Skipping Stones is so versatile!

You can color it up with Fall or Christmas colors, and I noticed today, that it has tiny groups of what could be flowers for a Spring or Summer wreath!  

Yes, I'll be inking this one up a lot!

I don't know if you can tell, but the leaves from the same set were embossed in gold onto the punched trim to add just a bit of sparkle.

Also, on a sad note, one of my favorite and very generous Challenge Blogs is going "off the air" and this is their last challenge!
So, this card is being submitted at Easy Craft Projects Challenges.  I will miss checking out all of their cool DT projects and the other entries!

Flashback Friday 16.0!

I absolutely love the fact there is a blog out there who asks us to search our old projects to show some of our very first attempts!  Flashback Friday Challenge does just that!  Take ownership of your card, tag, or 3D project!  Sometimes it's a bit difficult to admit that I actually thought a card was finished or presentable when I look at it now. But that's what makes it terrific...to see how we've grown, improved, or just changed styles over the years.

       This challenge is to show your first TAG!
I think this has to be the first tag-like project I made. Even now, I don't make many tags. It's very difficult for me to work on such a small canvas. The holiday season gave me the reason I needed to complete the task! I even made several sets so my mother (my grandson's great-grandma) could have some ornaments that year.

Nothing fancy, for sure.  I still have mine and they go up on the tree every year!  The grandson thinks they are quite hilarious!  Wonder what he'll say when I drag them out when he's 18 and he has a girlfriend over for the holidays?  LOL!

Anyway, that's where I was about 2 years ago...hadn't done a lot of scrapping.

Check out Flashback Fridays!  It'll be fun, and they have some great prizes to boot!

Waltzing Mouse to the "Rescue"!

When I saw the sketch at Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge, an idea came to me that I've been considering for a while. Not a big, fancy idea, but rather a little detail that I thought would make life a little prettier for those I care about.

We have occasional friends and family members come to town and stay with us. I like to make their stay here as much like home as possible.  Jokes have even been made by certain family members because I'm the one who likes to have place cards and printed menus at Thanksgiving, or change the wreath on the front door with every changing season or holiday. I send out cards for little or no reason....Yep, my family just doesn't get it. 
     But you, my scrappy blogger friends, do!

So, when I saw this very simple sketch, I knew it would be perfect for my soap and lotion bottles that I have been hoarding and waiting to decorate for my visitors and friends!  I may need to mention that I'm also a big couponer!  CHEAP/FREE stuff!

With a few silk flowers and some ribbon, I simply stamped the gorgeous label from Rescue Remedies and die cut it with my Nesties Labels Four. I disassembled the flowers, removed the plastic "innerds" and re-glued them back together so they lay flatter and softer on the bottles.  A tiny cream pearl accents the center.

This is so simple yet it lends a pretty, homey feel to my guest bath that I hope my company enjoys. I made 6 so far, and plan to make more. I also want to make "hand lotion" versions to give to my friends that I lunch with or run into this winter when the weather here in Phoenix is cold and dry.  Who wouldn't like a little surprise treat like this?

If we all made small gestures towards those we care about more often, this lousy economy and our personal problems would all seem a little less stressful.

And because Claire over at Waltzing Mouse Stamps is releasing some terrific new stamp sets this next month, I knew I had to throw my hat in the ring. 

I've let health and my other commitments keep me away from my favorite scrap blogs for way too long!

Enjoy your weekend!

Hug more and complain less!

Jan

Are you ready for Fall?

And are you curious at to what the new challenge is over at Do You Stack Up?!
In many areas, the weather is starting to turn a little chilly and the leaves are changing. The scent of autumn is in the air and with this wonderful season upon us we begin to think of the colors of the season. This week, while you don't necessarily need to make an autumn themed project, they would like to see you use the color Brown.

This week's Sponsors:

Copic Marker Scrapbooking 6 Copic Ciao Markers (North/South America), Martha Stewart punch (rest of the world)

Crafty Emma £10 Gift Voucher (exc p&p)

Delicious Doodles Winner’s Choice of 4 Digis

Great prizes, so get out your papers, stamps, and/or markers, and start creating!
  Challenge is open until Wednesday at 2:00 CMT.