Double, Double Toil and Trouble

Hello everyone, and happy, happy Friday to you all! Today I have another Halloween card to share with you. With only about a week to go until the holiday gets here, I’ve got to pack in a few more days of spooky goodness while I can. Today’s card was made for the new Epiphany Crafts blog.

I have so much fun with the Epiphany Crafts Shape Studio Tools. With them, you can create custom buttons and bubble caps to perfectly match any theme or project under the sun. Here I used the Round Button 14 tool and the Heart Button 20 tool to dress up my witchy design.

Papers are Authentique Glowing, our product partner on the Glue Arts blog this week. If you hurry over and leave a comment by Monday, you will be entered in a drawing to win this collection for yourself.  The witch is a fabulous digital image from the Graphics Fairy that I printed on cream cardstock and fussy cut out.

For a full supply list and step-by-steps, be sure to visit the Epiphany Crafts blog. Leave a comment while you’re there, and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win the NEW Scallop Tool and Scallop Bubble Caps.

Good luck, everyone! And thanks so much for stopping by today.

Sharing today with the Graphics Fairy Brag Monday.

Read Full Post »

Paige’s Halloween House

So the Annual Halloween Haunted House Tour continues. Today, I’m on my way over to my friend, Joanne’s,  to check out her holiday display. I’m really looking forward to seeing her decor and the full-size Christmas tree they got this year and spray painted black. I know that guy is going to give me a run for my money on winning the spookiest house award this year.

As you may remember, I have a little friendly competition going on with a couple of my girlfriends. They enjoy Halloween as much as I do, and all three of us like to decorate our homes for the holiday. Last year, we decided to take turns hosting each other for lunch and a tour, and of course a little competition. Last week, we started at my friend, Paige’s house.

Here’s a few peeks at her Halloween House.

Paige is very good at incorporating natural elements and hand-crafted goods in with her displays. Love the simple vase of acorns and the raffia vines. And check out the adorable trees Paige made from black pipe cleaners. I’ve told my own pipe-cleaning crafter, Miss Nik, to get a move on and whip me up some of these.

Paige added some home-made paper bats to her mantel.

And some hand-made ghosts made from clear contact paper to the doors leading into her dining room.

More paper bats on the dining room bay.

The dining room table all set for lunch.

Notice the three little orange pumpkins by the plate? Paige painted acorns with little jack-o’lantern faces and gave those to us as party favors. SO adorable!

This row of hanging houses in Paige’s breakfast nook are another home-made project. Each house is made of paper and has a little electric candle glowing inside.

Another hand-made tree and more contact paper ghosts in the sunroom.

Pretty spooky stuff, right? I have to say, I’m really impressed with Paige’s flair for the creative. Love all her clever crafty projects. Might be giving me a run for my money……….

But if it comes down to a vote, you all KNOW where your loyalties lie, right?

Right??!

Read Full Post »

Glue Arts & Authentique

Hi everyone! Happy Wednesday to you! Today I have a Halloween home decor project to share that I made for the Glue Arts blog.

Our fabulous project partner on the Glue Arts blog this week is Authentique. Love, love their adorable Glowing collection. I used the patterned papers, cardstock die cuts, and cardstock stickers to make a fun banner to spook up my home this month. Cause you know my home needs A LOT of spooking.

Polka dots and gingham, scallops and banner flags, rosettes and doilies and lace. A few of my favorite things.

I rolled little strips of patterned paper to make the sticks for the banner flags. Cut apart a paper doily and used the center as the base for the rosettes and the edge for the ruffled trim at the bottom of the banner.

The how-to’s and supply list are available on the Glue Arts blog. Leave a comment while you are there, and you will be entered in a drawing to win some Authentique Glowing and Glue Arts adhesives for yourself!

Not only will you receive the Authentique Glowing collection...that includes one of each paper and stickers to match…..

we’re also throwing in a NEW PRO+ multi-directional cartridge, our PRO handle and our 3D Combo Pac!

Now how cool is that? Good luck, everyone! And thanks SO much for stopping by today!

Read Full Post »

A Dark & Scary Night

Hi everyone! Happy Tuesday! Today I have an altered project to share on the Donna Salazar blog. This month, Donna asked us to create projects with a little Halloween flair. How right up my alley! I made a fun mixed-media plaque for a bit of seasonal cheer.

Don’t you love the old glass look to this plaque? It’s actually not glass at all, but a sheet of acrylic. To get this look yourself, here’s what you’ll need to do.

1. To create the base of my altered plaque, I started with a 4×4 Clear Acrylic Cover from Zutter. Using a Clearsnap Stylus Tip, I applied Donna’s Mixed Media Inx in Black to the entire surface of the acrylic. Cover the acrylic with clear embossing powder, and heat set. Don’t worry if your acrylic starts to melt, just keep on embossing the entire sheet, and you’ll notice that the acrylic flattens right back out, much like shrink plastic.

2. Decorate your spooky background scene. I added a moon and clouds, along with a cardstock sticker sentiment. My moon was created by punching a 1 3/4″ circle from Antiquities 6×6 Square Artistic Paper. I sponge brushed the moon with Candle Glow Smooch Spritz and inked the edges with Jasmine Mixed Media Inx. The clouds were punched from a glassine bag and heat embossed with Clearsnap’s Top Boss White Embossing Powder.

3. This month, we were lucky enough to partner up with Artistic Wire, and I used their copper brown wire to free-form a tree branch shape. I started with a basic Y shape, and then added a small V to the tip top. Simply create your basic shape, and then go back over the shape, wrapping the wire along the outline as you go.

4. Adhere your wire branch to the left side of the plaque using metal glue or tacky glue.

5. Create a paper pieced owl using a die cut or template and patterned paper. I made the owl body from Donna’s Crafty Chronicle, and the wing, beak, and ears from Antiquities Artistic Paper. Use buttons as eyes. A bit of Candle Glow Smooch Spritz on the beak finishes things off.

Then simply adhere your pieced owl to the tree branch, and enjoy! Thanks so much for stopping by today. Wishing you all a fabulous day!

__________________________________________

Supplies:

• DSD Antiquities 6×6 Square Artistic Paper for GCD Studios
• DSD Crafty Chronicle for GCD Studios
• DSD Mixed Media Inx for Clearsnap
• DSD Smooch Spritz for Clearsnap
• Top Boss White Embossing Powder by Clearsnap
• Stylus Tips by Clearsnap
• Artistic Wire
• 4×4 Clear Acrylic Cover by Zutter
• Authentique Cardstock Stickers
• Kraft Outlet Glassine Bag
• vintage buttons

Read Full Post »

The Kraft Journal- Spooky Stuff

* This is my second post for today. Please scroll down to see my Prickely Pear Rubber Stamp project for this week.

It’s time for a new challenge at The Kraft Journal. This week’s theme is Spooky Stuff. One of my most favorite themes ever!

For my project, I created a grinning Jack O’Lantern card. I know, I know……..this is pretty frightening stuff, but that IS the challenge after all.

The base of the card is made from Buff Ivory Coverweight Cardstock and is layered with lots of spooky patterned papers and Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock.

I tucked a Halloween Mini Bingo Card and a Scalloped Grungy Prim Tag into a Small Glassine Bag, and embellished the card with a felt pumpkin, buttons and bells, trim, and Hobgoblin Tissue Tape.

For a fun trick with the Jack O’Lantern, I added a X-Small Grungy Prim Tag behind the pumpkin, and used the string from the tag to add a simple bow beneath.

Hope you’ll come and play along with our Spooky Stuff challenge this week. All of our followers who participant in our challenges for the month of October have a chance to be featured on our “Feature Me Fridays” posts as well as be entered to win a $15.00 Kraft Outlet Store Voucher!  The more challenges you enter this month, the more chances you have to win!

Kraft Outlet Product Tutorials Wanted.

 During the month of December we want to feature you on our Watch Us Wednesday tutorial segments here at The Kraft Journal!

If you would like your tutorial (both step out photos and video tutorials welcome) to be considered for one of our Watch Us Wednesday posts then simply create a project tutorial that features at least one product you’ve purchased from Kraft Outlet. Then send an email to Design Team Leader Beth Moore (bethcat at sbcglobal dot net), with a product photograph and link to the tutorial you posted on your blog or video you posted on You Tube and you may be selected as one of our Featured Artists on Watch Us Wednesday in December! We can’t wait to see what you create!

and

Don’t forget to enter to win our Have a Hoot Give Away, you can win a $20.00 Store Voucher on Halloween!  Click here for details!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Read Full Post »

Too Cute to Spook

Good Monday morning everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We had another glorious fall weekend in our neck of the woods, and we took advantage of every moment to get out there and enjoy it.  I just love this time of year.

Today I have a fun Halloween card to share that I made using the most adorable stamp from Prickely Pear Rubber Stamps.

This is little Buster. Isn’t he sweet? So fun for a Halloween card, but truly, he’s too cute to be very creepy.

Colored Buster with watercolor pencils and Gamsol and punched him out using my 1 3/4″ circle punch.  He’s nested on a Scalloped Circle Die cut from kraft cardstock. I used foam dots for a bit of dimension. Inked the edges of the scalloped circle and layered all on a second die cut that just so happened to be the perfect fit.

The paper I used is a combination of Pink Paislee Soiree and Crate Paper Restoration. I added a wide grosgrain ribbon, vintage buttons tied with baker’s twine, and a paper doily. The fun sparkler stick from Pink Paislee reminded me of a witch’s broom. And since Buster is obviously hanging out with witches, on it went.

It is a little frightening………

but overall, just too cute to spook.

Today the Prickely Pear design team is showcasing lots of fabulous projects on the blog. I do hope you’ll pop over and take a look.  Thanks so much for stopping by. Wishing you a wonderful day!

Read Full Post »

PPRS October Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone! Happy Saturday! Today I have a card to share that features some of my new favorite stamps and coordinating dies from Prickely Pear Rubber Stamps.

This card uses the Oak and Maple Leaf Clear Stamp Set and Die along with the Pumpkin Clear Stamp Set 2 and Die. Such pretty leaves, aren’t they? Just love the combination of shapes and sizes. It’s so fun to mix the patterns and simple outline images with the detailed solid ones.

Started by die cutting two oak leaves and one maple leaf from patterned paper. The paper is Webster’s Pages Let’s Celebrate, All About Me & Western Romance Petite Papers. Such a pretty color palette for fall, isn’t it? After die cutting, I stamped the outline images from the Oak and Maple Leaf Clear Stamp Set onto the oak leaves and the solid falling leaf image onto the maple leaf using dark chocolate ink. I then die cut the small leaf from the Pumpkin Clear Stamp Set 2 from MME Sunshine text paper for a bit of contrast. Stamped the matching leaf image using the dark brown ink.

Stamped a Holly Swag red rubber image onto patterned paper using Stampin’Up’s Cameo Coral ink, and fussy cut it out. Then arranged all the leaves together in a cluster, popping some on foam adhesive for dimension. Tied the cluster up with a simple hang tag string bow, topped with the Holly Swag and a vintage button.

The font on the sentiment is SO beautiful.  I know this is one I will be using over and over again.

The layout for my card was inspired by the October Sketch Challenge at Prickely Pear Rubber Stamps.

The challenge starts today and runs through the end of the month. One lucky winner will receive the clear stamp set and matching die of their choice. You can see all the details here.

And don’t forget  to enter my Glue Arts Giveaway here. I’ll pick one random winner on Monday.

Thanks so much for stopping by! My daughter and I plan on heading to our local farmer’s market today to see all the glorious fall mums, pumpkins, and gourds they have, and sample the delicious fresh-pressed apple cider. It’s a fall outing we look forward to every year. Hope you all have wonderful plans for the weekend, too.

Read Full Post »

Glue Arts Giveaway ***And A Winner

****10/17 Edited to Add: We have a winner!

Random Number Generator has selected

Tammy Booker Selzer who said:

“It would be an honor to try this type of adhesive. I’ve always wanted to use the larger adhesives and have been afraid. I AM SO WILLING TO SWITCH!!!”

Congratulations, Tammy! Please email me at audreypettit@earthlink.net with your snail mail address.

__________________________________________________________

Hi everyone! Happy Friday! This past week has just flown by, hasn’t it? SO glad the weekend is almost here once again.

Today I’m excited to be offering a fabulous giveaway from Glue Arts here on my blog. One lucky commenter will receive the all new Glue Glider Pro+ Perma Tac Cartridge AND the new Pro+ Handle.

I absolutely love these new cartridges, and I KNOW you will, too.  Same design only better! Now you can pull OR push the Pro, with just a flip of the cartridge.

They are SO smooth and have amazing adhesive strength. By far my favorite adhesive ever.

Best thing is, the new cartridges fit into the original Glue Glider Pro handle. No need to purchase a new one.

Better yet, how would you like to win some for yourself? Simply leave me a comment here, and I’ll choose one random winner on Monday.

Good luck everyone! Thanks for stopping by and I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Read Full Post »

Halloween Tour

I’ve been looking forward to today all week. I’m on my way to my friend, Paige’s house for our annual Haunted Halloween House Tour and Brunch. A whole morning dedicated to good food, good friends, and Halloween spooks. I’m expecting to see some fabulous home decor. Last year, the girls voted me unanimous winner of the ultimate Haunted House, and I know those ladies have been stepping up their game to try to dethrone my title. I’ve caught a glimpse through Paige’s door once this month already and saw some cool window-cling ghosts. And I know my friend Joanne purchased a full-sized Christmas tree and painted it black. I believe I may be in for some stiff competition.

Before I head off, I thought I would share some photos from my Halloween house tour. Since Paige and Joanne don’t read my blog, I’m not worried about giving them any ideas.

Through my front doors, you’ll find my little entryway table. This is one of my favorite spots for seasonal and holiday decor. It’s just a small table, but I always manage to pack it pretty full. It’s a happy greeting for all who enter.

I’ve got it looking pretty cute……….eh he, I mean spooky, don’t I? Don’t be frightened.

Lots of my favorite Lori Mitchell figurines and my creepy Halloween tree. A pumpkin-headed guy. One of Nik’s precious hand-made pumpkins. My antique scale and rusty old bucket that never go very far away. A few of my favorite things.

I’m off now to eyeball the competition.  Thanks so much for stopping by. I wish you all a spooktacular day!

Read Full Post »

A Bevy of Bats

Actually, according to the USGS website’s list of animal congregations, a group of  bats is referred to as a colony, not a bevy. If it was up to me, I would change that in a heartbeat. Bevy of bats just sounds much better. But any way you look at it, a congregation of bats is what I have to share with you today.

You all may remember Mr. Pinstripe I shared with you on the blog recently.

I had posted just the one bat while his buddies, Mr. Polka Dot and Mr. Houndstooth, were still in a state of dis-repair on my work table. But I’m happy to say that all three friends are now finished and are spooking up my Halloween house together.

These little cuties were made from recycled grocery bags and patterned paper from Die Cuts With a View’s Lady Couture collection. I added pearl brads for eyes, and stitched their mouths with embroidery floss. Simple string bows and vintage buttons dress them up a bit.

Die Cuts With a View is our product partner this week on the Glue Arts blog. You can find these guys there, along with tons of other amazing projects from the rest of the team. Leave a comment on the blog by Monday, and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win the Midnight Spell Paper Stack, along with a GlueArts Glue Glider PRO and even better…we’re going to include our new PRO+ Perma Tac Cartridge and our Extreme Adhesive Squares!

And stop back on Friday for news on another Glue Arts Giveaway that I’m hosting here. You won’t want to miss it!

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Hope you have a fabulous day!

Read Full Post »