Happy Halloween

BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!

I have had my eye on this Martha Stewart stamp set for some time now and today it was 50% off, so I had to add it to my collection. This saying is just one of a few sayings that come in this set. I knew I had a vampire stamp from Halloween Dingbats that I could use with it.
In addition to Halloween Dingbats, I used Halloween Night for the haunted house. I stamped the moon in vanilla cream and outlined it with sparkle glitter. Oh, I can't forget my bat punch from the Martha Stewart Halloween collection I used at the bottom. I put prisma glitter on the punched bat to make him shine. Other embellishments used: edge anchors, dimensional elements, smokey plum bigger brads, concave punch, stipple brush and black rope ribbon.

This is my last post until next week. I am going out of town on Thursday to a CTMH regional meeting and have to pack some of my stamping supplies, so I won't have access to them. I can't wait to see our new catty that comes out in January. This weekend is going to be a blast! I get to learn and mingle with other consultants. Friday, I attend some classes and Friday night we all crop together. Saturday, we will play all day creating artwork. I should have something to show you, when I return. Hopefully, I will have time on Sunday to download. Have a great week!

Happy Halloween! I hope you have a "howling" good time!

Technique Tuesday - Chalk Shading

Finally, I am using the 6 x 6 layout "yours truly" created for the technique swap. I used In the Wild stamp set. I can't remember how many of these I had to make. Here are my directions:

Chalk Shading

• Stamp your image.
• Chalk may be used wet or dry. Blue, gray or black are good color choices for shadows. Layer colors.
• Start with the lighter color of chalk and apply a deeper color of the same tone on top of the lighter shades.

I used this technique on this Christmas card. The main image is from Winter Snapshots and I colored Rudolph in with chalks. It is very easy to do and you can add shading with darker colors. I used a lot of fun goodies on this card. The sparkles (click to enlarge) in back of Rudolph are sparkle glitter. Rudolph's hat has fun flock to make it fuzzy. His scarf and the top of the chimney have liquid applique. To make Rudolph's nose shiny, I used liquid glass. I had so much fun making this card.

I pulled out my Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder and swiped the snowflakes with white daisy ink. Oh, and the bling is a new product from CTMH. Everywhere you look nowadays is bling, so I am glad they added some to their line. The inside sentiment is "have yourself a merry little Christmas".

Now it is your turn!

Happy Stamping!

I've Been Tagged - Twice

Well, I have tagged by two different people and I have to tell you two different things. I thought I should take some time on Friday afternoon to answer these tags. My boys are playing computer games, since they didn't have school today. I have a moment of peace and can sit and think. Here they are:

I was tagged by Stacey around a week ago. Her blog is The Queen's Creations. You should check it out...she is very creative! What we do is list out 10, 20 and 30 years ago and what we were doing at that time. Then you "tag" some other bloggers and go back and comment on Relevant Blog and let her know she has been tagged. Hmmm! Here it goes:

Ten years ago...1997

I was 30 years old and working in Lincoln, NE as a Human Resource Manager at MATRIXX Marketing. I was dating my husband, Seth at the time. He lived in Omaha, NE, so we spend a lot of time driving the hour to see each other. I spent most of my free time biking, working out and either talking on the phone to my beau or hanging out with him. Since I lived in an apartment, I didn't spend a lot of time there. It felt like living in a box. The next year, the branch I was working in closed and I was transferred to Omaha, NE. Yippee! Seth and I would live in the same town.

Twenty years ago...1987

I was 20 years old and had two years of college under my belt. The first two years of college I stayed at home and attended a community college. I worked my way through school paying it all myself, so I wanted to take the general classes a little cheaper than at a four year university. I worked at Hy-Vee Foods as a cashier and customer service rep. Eventually, I moved to Macomb, Illinois and attended Western Illinois University and continued to work for Hy-Vee. I didn't stay there long and moved to Omaha, NE to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Thirty years ago...1977

I was 10 years old and in fifth grade. I attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in Fort Madison, IA. It is a small town in the southeast corner of Iowa. It is right along the Mississippi. Fort Madison is known for the widest swing span bridge in the world and the state penitentiary is in my home town. I spent most of my time playing with my sister, my friends and my dog. I was a typical kid, but I was definitely a tom boy. I would rather play any sport than barbies. I loved swimming!

Well, I have had a very blessed life so far and have loved every age I have been. I turned 40 this year and I am loving every minute of it.

I was also tagged by Diane at My Little Stampin' Spot!.

Here are the details:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog. You can see Diane's inspiring blog here: www.djluvs2stamp.blogspot.com

2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself (on your blog, we all want to know them).

3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven Random Things About Me:

1. I love to dip cinnamon pop tarts in sugar free cool whip!
2. I took a perfectionist test and scored 33%. That didn't surprise me.
3. This time of the year is my favorite, because of the weather (fall) and I scary movies are on 24/7 through Halloween.
4. The only reality show I like to watch is Ultimate Fighter.
5. I love to eat out...Mexican, Chinese, Greek...it doesn't matter.
   
6. My favorite flowers are Lilacs and Calla Lillie's.
7. My downfall...I am not a patient person. I have gotten better, but still need to work at it.

I have tagged these talented ladies:

Beth at Sunflowers and Dragonflies
Jami at More is More
Kristina at Kwernerdesignblog
Melissa at Sweetie's Stamping
Lauraly at Just Give Me Stamps
Natasha at Palmtrees and Pogosticks
Michelle at Stampers Dream

Okay, ladies it is your choice which one you would like to complete. Have fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mummy Candy

Rachel Funk sent an email with an adorable mummy wrapped candy bar to the stamp group we belong to this week. Isn't she creative?! Thanks, Rachel! It is so cute that I decided to make them for my boys' teachers for Halloween. This is the one I made. Rachel sent me the instructions, so I knew what she used. The cool part is this guy is wrapped around a full size Hershey bar. The outside slips right off, so a person can keep the mummy packaging.

First, you wrap a piece of paper completely around the candy bar and adhere it together, so it will slip off. I used a 6 x 6 piece of white cardstock. Then tear the strips to adhere around the candy. Here is the recipe:

White and black cardstock, desert sand ink, twill, 1" inch punch, 3/4" punch, Spooky Delights CTMH stamp set. The little black circle for the eye is from a sizzix die. It is the question mark dot. I didn't have a 1/2" punch to use.

This little mummy is easy to make and a great Halloween gift. You should try making some!

Happy Stamping!

Sketch Challenge 147 - Trick or Treat

I am on a Halloween kick lately due to the fact my boys keep talking about trick or treating and what costumes they are wearing. I have been wanting to use my Halloween Dingbats stamp set. These Trick or Treaters are so cute! I saw someone use liquid applique on the mummy, so I wanted to try it. I think it makes him look great! I don't think I will stamp him without using liquid applique on him. The spider dangling from above is from the Happy Haunting stamp set and the paper is from various companies I had in my non-CTMH stash. For this sketch I turned my card landscape, so these little cuties would fit.




Here is the sketch in portrait style.

Thanks for stopping by!

Keep It Simple

I saw on someone's blog within the last week a card where she kept it one dimensional. I belong to so many blogs I don't remember which one...sorry! Sometimes I think I get caught up into making cards with layers and using different techniques and embellishments that I forgot how simple a card can be and still look good. On this card, I stamped the images in black and colored them in with my CTMH markers, and then finished it with ribbon. The main images are from Boo Blocks and the sentiment is from Halloween Night. Both of these are from the CTMH collection. I like how it turned out and it didn't take a lot of time or materials.

Happy Stamping!

Technique Tuesday - Split Negative

Okay, this one was harder than I thought, because I couldn't get Halloween images out of my head. I didn't want to show you the same image in a card, so I chose a winter image. I have seen some blogs where the artist has used a black and white theme. I have been wanting to do this myself, so I put the two of these together. Just using black and white is a lot harder than I thought is would be.


This 6 x 6 layout was created by Heidi Bryce, CTMH Independent Consultant. She did an excellent job on this one. Here are her directions:

Split Negative

Supplies

• Cardstock - white and black (or any light and dark color that contrasts)
• Embossing Powder - white and black (or colors that match your color choices)
• Versamark or embossing ink
• Heat gun

Instructions

1. Cut your cardstock into two equal pieces
2. Placing the two pieces side by side (do not attach), stamp the image using Versamark or embossing ink dead center of the two pieces.
3. Emboss the white cardstock with black embossing powder and emboss the black cardstock with white embossing powder (or whatever contrasting colors you are using).
4. Adhere pieces to background in the same pattern as they were stamped.
5. If you want your design to stand out more mat each color.

Here is my black and white card using this technique:





















I used Warm Wishes and Holiday Accents stamp sets that are both CTMH. I stamped "Warm Winter Wishes inside the card to finish.

Now, it is your turn!

Completed Halloween C-N-T

I finished the Halloween two-page layout I made for the CTMH create-n-take at the scrapbooking fair in Des Moines. I added mats behind most of my photos, a title and a dimensional element. This one is for Tate's album. I made the title with the new CTMH Homestead "E" sized alphabet. I really like this alphabet, but I seem to like all the "E" sized ones. They are great for scrapbooking layouts.

The spider is from Halloween Dingbats.


Check out our pumpkin! That picture turned out so good. We turned off all the lights and I put my camera on the table to steady it. The shutter stayed open for a long time. I daubed the dimensional element with sunflower ink and used smokey plum bigger brads.


Have a great weekend and take time to stamp!

Sketch Challenge 146 - Different Mediums

The night before the sketch challenge came out I was playing with some different mediums in the same colors on the same stamped image. It was neat to see the different effects. Of course, my boys like the glitter one. I am getting better working with the Art Glitter I purchased in Chariton, IA. I am not as good as the example I bought yet, but I think it will take a little practice. Here are my cards for the sketch challenge 146:


On this one, I used Art Glitter.


On this one, I used watercolor pencils and an aquapainter.


On this one, I used prismas and gamsol.


On this one, I used CTMH markers.

Here is the recipe for the cards:

Paper - autumn terracotta, cocoa, new england ivy, white daisy, harvest stripe

Ink - black, goldrush, cocoa, autumn terracotta,

Stamp sets - Jingle Borders, Thoughtful Scripts, Barbara's Butterfly (non-CTMH)

Embellishments - Paper Studio brass brads, brass photo hanger, colored cord from Michaels, concave punch, EK Success corner rounder for the scallops

Thanks for stopping by!

Joy to the World

When I started these Christmas cards I wanted to use the following:

• New CTMH paper and new stamp sets from the 2007 Autumn/Winter Idea Book
  
• Each pattern paper from the packet - I used the Everlasting. I used five of the six patterns.
  
• Stamp sets - I used Holiday Joy and Jingle Borders.
• Nothing that would add bulk - I wanted the card to lay flat, so I could mail them without an extra charge from the post office. I used twill ribbon from CTMH.
  

I used my new glitter on the tree. It looks much better in person. The glitter shows up a lot better than in the photos.

Here are the five cards I created:


Card 1
Card 2
Card 3
Card 4
Card 5
I would love to know which one you like the best. Please vote for one in the comments section. I am thinking about making one of these for my Christmas card this year. THANKS!

Happy Stamping!

Technique Tuesday - Stippling

This 6 x 6 layout was created by Heather Wartenburg, Close To My Heart Independent Consultant. I really like how she showed a few different ways to use this technique. Here are her directions:

Stippling

1. To draw, engrave, or paint in dots or short strokes.
2. To apply ink to paper using a stippling brush.

Load stippling brush with ink and gently pounce it vertically on the paper to give a soft muted effect. Continue to load the brush and pounce, concentrating more in some areas than others.

Here is the card I made using this technique. I used bubblegum ink for stippling the edges of the main image and the dimensional element with the sentiment "for you". In addition, I used the stamp set Rustic Flowers and black, bubblegum, sunflower and white daisy cardstock. The background paper is a retired black pattern paper from CTMH. All products are CTMH, except for the ribbon and the silk flower I used on the main stamped image. My sister gave me a bunch of these flowers and I wanted to show her I finally used one. Thanks, Connie!





















Here is a close up of the main image and the dimensional element with the stippling technique.

Now, it is your turn!

Scrapbooking Fair

We had so much fun at the scrapbooking fair in Des Moines on Saturday. It was not a huge event, but we still liked it. I didn't buy as much as I thought I might. There were a lot of scrapbooking kits to purchase. Since I like making my own, I wasn't tempted at those booths. Here are my buys for the day:

I was hoping to find this in 12 x 12 form, but they only had the 4 x 6 option. I can't wait to use this on parentheses and arrows.

I liked this bottle of glitter, because it has a small tip like the liquid glass bottle I own and it lets the colors show through.

These pastels are like chalks, but they are easier to work with. I won't need a fixadent with them and I don't have to wash out the brush going from color to color.


We completed the following create-n-takes:


I think this was from The Angel Company booth. They sell paper, stamps sets and embellishments. I think they are a direct sales company like CTMH and SU.
This is from the SU booth. This demonstrator was very talented and we got to make a chipboard frame. I like the little metal paper holder that is on the left side. The paper is from their Halloween collection. It is double-sided with stripes on the other side.

We made this card at the Archivers booth. I really like the colors.


We created a double page layout at the Close To My Heart booth. This was great, because now I know I like the stamp sets, Little Spooks and Hallow-scream, we used. We watercolored the witch and frankenstein with an aquapainter and ink pads. The only way I changed the layout was putting buttons on after I got home, instead of the leaves they provided. I like the buttons better.
Now, I have a layout for Halloween pictures this year already!


Boy, I just love to go to scrapbook fairs. My sister and I are talking about a Creating Keepsakes one next year.

Happy Stamping!

Holly Days

First, thank you for all of your nice comments and hoping I feel better soon! I do feel better already and your thoughts and comments have helped. It is nice to know I have so many nice people in my life.

I finished another layout I created at my sister's in August. I just took the time to print pictures and add a few embellishments. This is another layout from Cherish. Now that I have the new Imagine book, I need to create more layouts. I still have ones waiting for photos.


I used Holly Days paper packet and My Stickease from CTMH. In addition, I used the new the new designer ribbon collection from CTMH. You can't see it from the small photo. The blue ribbon that runs across each page reads, "Counting Our Blessings". It is so true when it comes to our boys. We are so blessed! They sure make like interesting!

I pulled out my liquid glass and silver stickles to dress up the My Stickease embellishments. Both of these products give embellishments just the right amount of bling.

I am so excited about Saturday, because I am meeting my sister and mom in Des Moines. We are attending a small scrapbooking fair. It isn't a huge event, but I am ready to browse and make some create-n-takes. We are going to hit the scrapbook stores in Des Moines too. It is always fun to hang out with my mom and sister and shopping for scrapbooking supplies is the icing on the cake.

I am ready for Technique Tuesday already and I hope you like what I have created.

Have a great weekend!

Sketch Challenge 145

Sorry I had to take another day off yesterday. I went to the doctor, because I wasn't feeling well and he told me to go home and rest on the couch. No, I am not pregnant. I don't want to bore you with the details...only my family and close friends had to hear that.

I was suppose to lay low today too, but I had to participate in the sketch challenge. I look forward to it every week. I wanted to use a stamp set that I haven't touch in a while and Winter Snapshots jumped out of my collection, especially since it had a frame with it. I used Holly Days paper packet from CTMH too. All products used on this card are CTMH, except the black grosgrain ribbon. I colored in Santa with markers and used some special products to make him standout. On his beard I used liquid applique and on his hat I used fun flock. Both of these products are easy to use and make images look spectacular. I really liked how this image turned out.

To use liquid applique, just squeeze it on the desired area and heat with an embossing gun. For fun flock, put glue on the area and push the fun flock into the glue so it sticks. Here is an enlarged image of Santa, so you can see him better. I think if you click on him, you can really see the detail.


Here is the sketch challenge for this week:



Happy Stamping!

Technique Tuesday - Sanding Stamped Images

Hello! As you know, I took the weekend off. My mom kept telling me she didn't receive my blog and wondered why. I told her I was taking the weekend off to be with my family. She was just worried she was missing it. Thanks, Mom!

Friday night, I had a DATE with my hubby! Our boys stayed all night at Grandma and Grandpa's house, so we didn't have to worry about how late we stayed out. We went out to eat, went to a movie and went to listen to a band. All the things we like to do in one night. AND I got to sleep in, which I love to do. This weekend I found out that I like to take that time for my family, so I have decided not to stamp over the weekends. You will not hear from me Saturdays and Sundays for sure and maybe Mondays. I will definitely be back for Technique Tuesdays every week.

This week I decided to use one from the summer CTMH idea book - Sanding Stamped Images. This one is so great, because you can do this with every stamp set you own. I used From Me to You for the main image and Sensational Seals on the tag. Here are directions straight from page 31 from the summer catalog:

Sanding Stamped Images

1. Stamp an image on cardstock of your choice.
2. Lay the stamped image on the foam pad included in the My Acrylix packaging. Cover with wax paper to prevent tearing, then trace over the entire image using an embossing stylus. (I did not use wax paper, but I have heard to rub wax paper over your image to emboss easier.)
3. Turn the stamped image over and sand the raised image with sandpaper.

Here is my card using this technique. I wish I wouldn't have started with amethyst cardstock, but I did the best with the color I chose. For the background I used my Fancy Pants, From the Garden stamp set. Here is the recipe:

Stamp sets - From Me to You, Sensational Seals, From the Garden

Paper - white daisy, amethyst, bubblegum

Ink - bubblegum, sweet leaf, baby pink, hydrangea

Embellishments - light purple gingham ribbon, white daisy photo hanger, bright pink baby pin and large spiral, clear sparkles (bling), dimensional element

Now, it is your turn!


Happy Stamping!

Just Pretty

I just couldn't put a sentiment on this one. It is simple, but I like it! When I went scrapping with Terese at Archivers, we saw a card where they used a glue pen and prisma glitter. I have been wanting to try that, so I finally inked up my Fancy Pants set, From the Garden and my CTMH set, Playful Petals. I really wish you could see this card in person, because the glitter shows up great. You should click the picture to enlarge it to really see the glitter.

The colors I used are blush, taffy and sweat leaf. I finished it off with a Paper Studio pearl brad I bought at Hobby Lobby. I might have to get more of these.

This card could be used for many occasions. That is why I just couldn't put a sentiment on the front.

Take time to stamp!

You Can Stop Laughing Now

Okay, Okay! The first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning was that I left the stockings hanging in space on my last card. I was talking to my sister and told her and she laughed. Then she said and stockings don't hang straight either. She got a big chuckle out of that one, so I had to rework the card and fix it. You would think I would know that stockings don't hang straight. I do; however, we don't hang our stockings. We put them in front of the tree, so I didn't think about it when I was making the card. Whew! It looks better now. In addition, I put brads in to be the stocking hangers this time.


Thanks for looking at this one again and not writing comments about my mistake. My sister wanted to, but decided against it.

Happy Stamping!

Sketch Challenge 144

I started with this card base and background yesterday for my baby Jesus card and changed the background paper. Since this was sitting on my scrap desk and ready to go, I started this challenge with the colors from Everlasting paper pack again. I think Christmas cards are on my brain, since I haven't chosen a design yet. It could be this one, since it came together so easily. I like to make one holiday card and one religious one, so I have a couple to choose from.

I used the twill snowflake ribbon to repeat the embossed snowflakes on the ponderosa pine cardstock. You can see the embossing, if you click and enlarge the card. The stamp set I used is a new one from the fall CTMH catalog, Holiday Joy. I hesitated on getting this one and I am so glad I decided to get it. It just arrived today in the order from my open house, so I had the itch to use it right away.

Here is the sketch from Wednesday's challenge:


Take time to create and inspire!

Unto To Us A Child Is Born

This card is for my sister, because she has this same stamp. We both purchased them at Hobby Lobby. It was just too cute not to purchase and it helped that it was marked 40% off. I colored the image with prismacolors and used my mineral spirits. I used the new Everlasting paper pack from CTMH, cranberry ribbon and a piece of gold twine. The Merry Christmas sentiment is in a metal frame I bought at HL too. It is a Paper Studio product. The Merry Christmas is from the Holiday Jubilee stamp set from CTMH. Colors used for this card are: ponderosa pine, cranberry, desert sand and white daisy.

Happy Stamping!

Treat Bags

When I went back home to visit my parents, I went to my oldest brother's house and visited with them. My SIL, Maggie, was making treat bags for her son's class. He is in second grade. She gave me two of them for my two boys. That was so nice! I like both of them, but she liked the pumpkin one made on the canvas bag. The burlap bag wasn't as easy to work with. Aren't these the cutest little treat bags?! I told her I would just buy the candy and give it to them in the big bags to hand out. LOL!

Have a great day!

Technique Tuesday - Crinkling and Sanding

I'm back! I had a nice little vacation at my parents. The weather was gorgeous. They live in the country surrounded by trees, so it is very pretty and serene. It is always nice to go home! Then it is always nice to get back to our routine and my blogging.

I didn't take the time to make a new card today with unpacking and laundry, so I pulled a card from my archives that you have seen already where I used this technique. This is a great technique, and takes a couple more steps than sanding. It gives projects texture and is easy to do. This 6 x 6 layout was created by Kim Everingham, CTMH Independent Consultant. Of course, I really like it because she created her own background with leaves and a sentiment. Here are her directions:

Crinkling and Sanding

1. Take a piece of cardstock and crinkle into a ball.
2. Flatten out and crinkle again.
3. Flatten once more and take a fine grit sandpaper and sand the wrinkles until the white core shows through.
4. This technique only works with white core cardstock.

The great thing about CTMH cardstock and textured cardstock is that is is ALL white core.

Here is the card I made for Father's Day this year where I used this technique on the vineyard berry piece of cardstock.

Thanks for stopping by and being patient while I took a little break.

Happy Stamping!