I love Halloween and almost everything that goes along with Halloween. It is my absolute favorite time of year.  Caramel apples,  beautifully colored leaves, crisp air, autumn decorations, hot cider, evening outdoor fires, sweatshirts,  and spooky  festivities.What could be more fun than a Halloween Party? Its the perfect time for everyone to pretend they are someone/ something else. My friends and family call me a Halloween "FREAK". The funny thing is that my brother, best friend, and next door neighbor are all 'Halloween Lovers' too. I am a sucker for anything orange and black with bats, cats, witches, and ghosts.

These projects are for my upcoming club meeting I have in less than 2 weeks. I chose to use WICKED FUN #117400 ds paper and the coordinating WICKED COOL # 120600 stamp set.  Both are new to the SU! line and can be found on pages 22 &23  of the main idea book and catalog. Those of you that don't have a current catalog can view any of the current catalogs here: http://www.stampinup.com/us/enu/default.asp.

My Halloween "Spooky" creations were totally insired by two Stampin Up! demonstrators that I follow on a daily basis through their business blogs ( Mary at http://www.stampinpretty.com/ and Angie at http://www.chicnscratch.typepad.com/chic_n_scratch/page/2/ ). Both women are so creative and do such wonderful things with SU! products.

The Spooky Mini Bag is so easy and adorable. It will hold Reese's Cups, Hershey Nuggets, Peppermint Patties, Fruit Snack Packs, or anything that is around that size. It is hand cut and folded (no die cut machine needed) The flap is held closed with velcro- how perfect! You will get 3 from one sheet of 12 x 12 inch paper.  The finished mini bag measures 3x3 inches. The bats are from SU!s new large bat punch #119279.

Directions for this project can be found here: http://www.chicnscratchlive.com/ 

(just scroll down through all the videos until you get to the spooky bag)

Those ladies that are attending my club will get written and pictorial directions.

Directions for an easel card can be found  here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/easelcard/

This was the first easel I have made- super easy! Will be making them again. I think they will be perfect for Christmas photo cards. I used the color spritzer tool to splatter ink around the image. I distressed the edges of the image and cardstock with basic balck ink and a sponge dauber. Viola!

Materials used: 

Wicked Fun DS Paper: #117400  $11.95  pg 172

Wicked Cool Stamps #120600  $14.95  pg 23

Bitty Bat Punch #119279  $15.95  pg 201

Extra Large Scallop Oval Punch #119856  pg 201

1 1/4 inch circle Punch #119861  $16.95  pg 203

Large oval Punch #119855  $16.95 pg 203

Color Spritzer Tool #107066  $12.95  pg 195

Old Olive Grosgrain 1/4 inch Ribbon #111368  $4.95   pg 191

(Rich Razzleberry/ Old Olive Markers)

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. I would love to hear from you. thanks for stopping by. Be sure to stop by and see some more Halloween creations. I will be making many more creations up until that Haunting Day.

Well, my summer has officially ended.  I return to work tomorrow.  :(   This summer just "flew by". The majority of the summer was consumed with softball, baking, cooking, canning, and freezing. I worked a secondary job a couple days a week from June through beginning of August (just to keep me busy- with extra income).

Now I am  planning a big camping trip in a few weeks.I did some grocery shopping and started planning our campfire meals. If anyone knows any good fire/coal cooking recipes please email or let me know. I'm always looking for some new ones. My girls love to use pie irons. We take a ton of bread to make pies, pizzas, etc...

 I have done very little stamping this summer (I have done enough purchasing but not put anything to use). I have made a few gifts, tags, projects, but not as much as I expected I would once summer began.  

I have joined FACEBOOK and got in contact with many people whom I have not spoke to in years.  I swore I would not take the plunge but, I did. I am enjoying it- although, I am not playing any games.

I am hosting a make-n-take workshop this weekend and have most everything prepped. Hope things go well- this will be my first workshop since the new catalog has been released. I have some other workshops in the works but wan tto run some ideas by my attendees.

Ok, it is getting late and I need to get some sleep. Enough rambling. I just wanted to touch base and let the few followers I have know that I'm still here. Just not had much stamping MOJO.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

FOX & FRIENDS BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR 6

I have started selling items on ETSY. This is one of the kits I have for sale here:   (http://www.etsy.com/listing/53163104/unique-adorable-birthday-party-ensemble) This set includes paper party hats, party blowers, goody bags, invitations/ thank- yous, cupcake picks,  ribbon, store bought serving products, tablecloth,  and curly ribbon streamers.

This is an adorably unique ensemble that will work great for any young child's birthday, and/ or a baby shower. I used the Stampin' Up! set FOX & FRIENDS. I used So Saffron, Bashful Blue, and Rose Red for the colors. I found plates, napkins, flateware, and cups to coordinate at a local store.

*hint: because these stamps are a solid image stamp, it is best to use permanent ink such as chalk ink. stazon/ or pigment ink. I used chalk inks to get a crisp/ clean image.

Here is a close- up of the party hats. I found a pattern via internet and traced, cut, and assembled. I added paper strips with a hot glue gun and curled the strips with a bone folder. I think they are adorable. In this picture you can also see the mini cards that can be used for invitations/ thank- yous.

In this photo you can see more of the mini cards plus the goody bags (under the party blowers), and the party blowers. Aren't they cute?

Here is a close-up of the cupcake picks and the birthday boy/ girl's ribbon. This kit is sold with a box of confetti cupcake mix (makes 12 cupcakes). The picks will work perfectly to further decorate each yummy treat.