MY BARGAIN FIND

I know....we're supposed to be moving on to the next holiday, but I couldn't resist showing you all what a great deal I just found at Michael's! All of the Halloween items were on clearance and I just happened to spot these Martha Stewart punches in the 90% off clearance bin!

I purchased the 2 corner punches on the left, and the 2 craft punches on the right for a whopping total of $5.18 which even included the tax. Woohoo..... that is less than half the price of ONE punch.

Just had to share my good find with all my blogging friends!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Well, it's Halloween! The weather was so nice and mild today that the little trick-or-treaters were able to be out tonight without having to wear heavy winter coats underneath their costumes! This is the card I sent out this year for Halloween. I was happy with the card and with the fact that the paper matched the M&M's perfectly! The little clear, plastic treat cup is from SU and made to go along with their Sweet Centers set.

Stamps - Halloween Backgrounds and Sweet Centers by Stampin' UP!

Ink - Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie

Paper - Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Whisper White, DP from the SU collection called Halloween Night.

The large bat is from a Martha Stewart punch. The small spider was given to me by a friend, but I think it was from a Cuttlebug die cut. I used a white gel pen to make eyes on the bat, and a black marker making the line for the spider. The bat was raised up on the card using dimensionals.

I hope you all had a great Halloween!

HALLOWEEN TREATS

I was busy this week working on making Halloween treats for the Halloween party that my granddaughter Lucy is having at preschool. I loved these smiling lollipops and thought they'd make a perfect treat for all the 3 and 4 year old children in the class. I used a new set from Stampin' UP's mini holiday catalog called "Sweet Centers". I stamped the image in Old Olive on Whisper White cardstock then cut black cardstock measuring 3 1/8" wide by 6 1/8" long, scoring it at 3" and again at 3 1/8". After scoring, it makes the top look like a matchbook and that extra 1/8" is enough to keep the paper flat against the back of the lollipop. I used a 1 3/4" punch to punch out the circle front for the lollipop which have a great rounded front like a pumpkin and not your usual flat lollipop you find in the stores. Using small pieces of red sticky tape kept the bottom and sides of the paper stuck together for a nice, neat, flat look. I also decided to let everyone know who the treat was from, so I punched a 1 3/4" circle from Very Vanilla and stamped the words and image using the 15 point font set and "Witch Way to the Treats" limited edition set from JustRite, then used a color duster with Old Olive to give it a little bit of extra color. The circle was then attached to the back of each lollipop. I hope the kids enjoy Lucy's Halloween treats as much as I did making them for her.

SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN

I joined a sketch challenge swap and what a frustrating challenge it ended up being for me! I was definitely outside of my comfort zone using angles and not the usual rectangles and squares.... seeing as Halloween is just around the corner, I thought making it as a Halloween card as well would be a good idea. Even though I came close to tossing the card out and starting over, I stuck with it and think I pulled if off. :)

Stamps - I used a wonderful (limited edition) set by JustRite called Witch Way to the Treats, and both Halloween Backgrounds and Antique Crackling Background by Stampin' UP

Paper - Basic Black, Old Olive, Very Vanilla. The DP used was last years SU Halloween Night and the Cast-A-Spell DP from this year. All cardstock and DP is from Stampin' UP.

Ink - Old Olive, Basic Black

I used a color duster with Old Olive ink to add a little of the olive color to the circle of Very Vanilla, then cut out the circle and scalloped circle using Nesties. The little bat was cut from a Cuttlebug die cut and given to me by a stamping friend. Dimensionals were used to raise it up off the card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

HALLOWEEN SMILES

I enjoy making Halloween cards more then any other kind of card. Perhaps it's because the holiday falls in Autumn which is my favorite season, or maybe because I normally use the color orange somewhere on my cards and that's my favorite color....or just maybe because it's such a fun holiday and I always look forward to having the little ghosts and goblins knocking at my door for trick or treat!

Stamps - Halloween Smiles by Stampin' UP

Paper - Very Vanilla,Black,Pumpkin Pie, and retired DP from SU called Cast-A-Spell

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Jim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink, and various Copic markers

I also used SU grosgrain Pumpkin Pie ribbon, orange brads and SU's ticket punch. A friend had sent me a packet of black bats she cut out using a die cut from her Cuttlebug. Dimensionals were used to raise it up off of the card and ribbon. Sponge daubers were used with the distress ink on the vanilla paper.

ASIAN ART

I just LOVE the look of Asian cards. Maybe it's the simplicity of using very few colors when people make Asian cards that I like so much. All images used are from retired Stampin' UP sets that I can't imagine ever parting with. :)

Stamps - Asian Art, Asian Poetry background

Paper - Real Red, Whisper White, Black

Ink - Basic Black

Also used was a Martha Stewart punch for the right edge of the card. I saw this punch and simply had to have it! Nesties were used for the circles, a gold colored Asian coin used in the center circle, and fine detail black embossing powder was used to give the images some texture.

LUCY

It's been a long time coming! There were many days with thoughts it would never happen. But on Thursday, September 3rd, Lucy was officially adopted into our family. She has been with us since she was 3 months old and she is now 3 1/2 years old and looking forward to starting preschool next week. My heart always knew she was my granddaughter, but now the courts do too! :)

This is the card I made for the happy occasion. The stamp is called "Adoption Calligraphy" made by Paper Inspirations. It was a gift from my friend, Nancy.

Ink: Basic Black

Paper: SU Pretty in pink, Certainly celery, Regal rose, Whisper white.

DP: Making Memories - Simply Fabulous Collection - Brooke

The fabulous flower brad is by K&Company, and the green organdy ribbon is retired from Stampin' UP!

A big thank you to all of my friends for their encouragement and well wishes along this long 3 year journey... WE MADE IT!

Thank you

Even though the colors on the card look so washed out, (I wasn't even using the flash) I decided to post it anyway....

Stamps - SU Fast and Fun Notes, Warmest Regards

Ink - Basic Black, various markers

Paper - Whisper White, Mellow Moss

DP - Making Memories Kids Collection & Simply Fabulous collection

Both square classic and square scallop Nesties were used, SU Key tag punch, Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, and Amuse Twinkle mini dots were used for the centers of the flowers and on both sides of the greeting. The poor quality photo doesn't show the nice sparkle on the flowers that was done using a clear Spica marker pen.

CAFFEINE....

I was thrilled to be able to steal some time for card making last night, something I haven't been able to do in awhile! I bought some stamps from JustRite and couldn't wait to use them. I just love how you can use a different ring of wording around the center image with their stamps. I think that is so cool....

Stamps: JustRite's "A Little Caffeine Set"

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Copics E50, E51

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU Chocolate Chip

DP: SU Outlaw

Also used were classic and scallop Nesties, SU photo corner punch, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon.

Happy 4th of July

LET FREEDOM RING...