Happy Halloween!

I hope you are having a fun and safe Halloween!  I LOVE horror films so this time of the year is my favorite on cable!!  Masters of Horror was playing on the Reels channel so we set the DVR to record most of them!  They are a lot like the old Tales from the y Crypt or Tales from the Darkside shows.  They are an hour long and kind of creepy but not real scary.  I don't think I saw any real scary ones this year.  There was nothing new out there this year.  We did have plans to go see the re-remake of "The Thing" but our plans fell through and we didn't make it.  But I think I'd rather see it on DVD than on the big screen.  I like scary movies but in the comfort of my home!  LOL

I do not have a card or project for you tonight.  I spent my day working on some craft things for the craft fair.  I will take a photo of the cute snowmen heads I make and show you!! 

Oh and did you notice?  There's only 5 more days until my Blogoversary!   I began this blog in 2006!  WOW, that seems so long ago.  I have been pretty faithful about posting every day too!  I have loved every minute of it and I will be celebrating this milestone in 5 days so be sure to stop back on that day and see what the blog candy will be!!

Thank you so much for visiting today,
Wanda

Pick Your Poison Weekend Project 2

These bottles were SO much fun to make.  I got them at Joann's for $1.00 each.  Aren't they cute?  I wasn't sure if I wanted a round one or a square shaped one so I ended up with both!  That's what happens when you can't make up your mind!

I once again opened up the design studio and played with the Pick Your Poison embellishments and found two images I wanted to play with.  I do love the "poison" one a lot!!!  

I had washed out my bottles a week ago and finally got around to playing with them! I filled them with Nerds!  I tasted one for the first time in my life.  WOW, are those little buggers ever sour!! 

I printed out the images on label paper.  The one I was able to punch out and the other I used my paper cutter.  I removed the protective backing and just stuck them on the bottles.  SO simple!!  Aren't they cute?  I have two special kids in mind for these and I can't wait until they get them!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Beautiful Season

I saw a card using this layout and just had to give it a try.  It's simple enough to do and it is a very quick card to put together.

The words are from the A Beautiful Season set, it's the only stamping on the card.  I used the new snowflake embossing folder and the lace border punch.  

And the fun thing about this is it only took 3 colors to make a pretty Christmas card, Whisper White, Bashful Blue and Marina Mist.  

I added a snowflake brad in the right corner.  I had a few of them on hand and this card had a corner open that just screamed for it!  Cute and sweet, that is what I REALLY love in a card!!! Oh and quick too!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Pick Your Poison Weekend Project

I purchased the Pick Your Poison download and I had a lot of fun with it this week.  I printed out this "poison" label.  

I took a piece of Concord Crush card stock, marked it, scored it and wrapped it around a package of cookies.  What a fun way to decorate up a simple pack of cookies!!  

I took the skull image from the Spooky Bingo Bits set and stamped it all over a piece of card stock. I cut the card stock to fit the front of the package.  

Adding the cute "Poison" tag to the top of the cookie wrapper will assure you that no one will be taking your cookies today!!! LOL  

I had a lot of fun making these wrappers.  I was kind of sad that I didn't pick up two boxes of the cookies but 10 packages of cookies is good!  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Halloween Smores Treat Box

 Here is the Halloween project I've been working on.  I just took some card stock and made a box for the Peeps, Graham Crackers and Hershey Miniatures.  

I don't have the instructions for this but stick with me here, I'll tell you how to do it.  I just started out with some copier paper and wrapped it around the Peeps like a box. I folded it up at the bottom and I folded the sides to fit around the Peeps. Then I took another piece of copier paper and made a smaller pouch for the graham crackers. 

After I got it all done I figured out that it would have been SO much easier to just fold the card stock like a book, making sure the spine is big enough for the thickness of the Peeps and the graham crackers.  Then make two pouches for these to fit in and tape or (I prefer) glue them in place.  Slip the Peeps and graham crackers in place.  Add a few glue dots to the Hershey miniatures and set them in place.  That would have been SO much easier than all the folding and figuring and refiguring I did!!  Why does it happen that I seem to find an easier way after I've taken the long way??? LOL

Anyway, these are simple to make if you make the outside to fit the width, length and thickness you need, then make the pouches for the items.  You could make a pouch for the candies as well. I didn't have room on here to do that unless I folded the wrapper of the graham crackers down.  I chose to leave it up and use Glue Dots to keep the chocolates where I wanted them.  

This was a fun project and I am planning on giving this to my niece this weekend!!  She loves Peeps but she probably won't eat them until around Christmas time.  She likes them a bit stiffer than the are right now.  YUCK!!  But to each his own, right?  

I have never tried roasting Peep Ghosts and I wonder if they would catch on fire???  Mine probably would (on purpose!!! LOL). 

This would be fun to make at Christmas time too but in some areas (like here) it would be a bit too chilly outside to roast marshmallows over an open flame!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Spooky Bingo Bits Sketch Challenge

 I like this weeks Sketch Challenge over at Split Coast Stampers because it was one I could do quickly but yet add a lot of color and layers.  

I wasn't sure I wanted to do another Halloween card.  I mean, how many of them do you really need?  But this layout just screamed Halloween today!  I want to try this sketch again using the Jolly Bingo Bits set and the Every Little Bit set.  You can make cards for weeks using those sets!!!

I do like the colors on this card though I was a bit disappointed that I didn't have any Concord Crush ribbon and I didn't have time to dye any to match.  But the Elegant Eggplant ribbon matched close enough.  

The decorative paper is some I had on hand and I wanted to use it up.  You can find some Stampin' Up! decorative papers to use in it's place or make your own background paper.

What I especially liked about this card was that there was no coloring on it.  After I am done cutting my card stock and stamping the images I'm so use to sitting down and coloring.  This time when I was done I just cleaned the stamps and was ready to move on!  I think that is what made this card a lot of fun today too. I was able to finish it up quickly. 

If you have time give this layout a try. It is perfect for those little images you have in some sets.  You know the ones!  They sit in the container waiting to be played with!  Now there is no excuse!!! LOL

I am working on a fun project and I am hoping to get it done for tomorrow's post and if I don't get it done tomorrow then it will be the next day for sure.  Be sure to stop back and see what that's all about!!!  You won't be disappointed!

Thank you SO much for visiting today!
Wanda

Serene Snowflakes Shaker Card

I got the idea for this card from Debbie C. on Late Night Stampers.  Her card is a bit different but not by much.  I moved the ribbon to the center of the decorative paper and the wording is moved down as well.  On her card she had the ribbon tied around the hole of the circle and across where I have my words.  Then above the ribbon she stamped the words.  I didn't have the matching ribbon so I moved mine and used what I had.  And when I moved the ribbon I had to move the words.  Simple as that.

The stamp used are are the Four the Holiday's for the words and Serene Snowflakes for the embossed snowflake behind the mica flakes.  

The flakes are inside the new Shaker Frames.  These things sure do save me a lot of time in making a shaker card.  The cost isn't too bad ($4.95) but when you have the materials for doing it the other way you will need to weigh out the expense.  As much as I like them I will probably not be purchasing them again.  I have plenty of foam tape to use up and will probably use it instead of the frames.  I'll save the frames for when I need to make a quick shaker card.  

This was a fun card to make and I can seem myself making more of these.  I have always loved shaker cards!

Thank you for stopping by today,
Wanda

Such a Cute Witch

These little witch earrings are the cutest thing.  These were a bit out of my element to make but I persevered!  When it comes to wire and bead stringing I usually run the other directions.  This requires tools! Of course I have the tools (they still look like brand new - maybe they still are!!! LOL).  I don't use them much because I don't do wire wrapping.  I rarely use crimps.  I am a beadweaver!  I use a needle to bead with and for those who know me, I use LOTS of size #15 seed beads in my beadwork!!

These witches were actually fun to make and I stuck with it.  I didn't even have to call the bead shop for help!! I did them all myself!!  Shocker, I know!! LOL

If you want to make a pair of these just contact (email)  Bead Basics and Jill will give you the info you need to get your hands on these adorable little witches!!!  I can't wait until Halloween to wear them!!!

I have a fun Halloween project for you for tomorrow, so be sure to stop back and check it out!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Jolly Bingo Bits Tree Ornament Weekend Project

I had a LOT of fun making this ornament.  I used the Jolly Bingo Bits tree and snowman images.  I did make this in layers which was fun but made it more difficult to slip back between the glass.  Though I suppose I could have removed the back glass and added chip board and card stock until it was thick enough to hold the image in place. 

My lighting was a bit bad because the metal on this is silver, not gold tone!  But it is pretty in the gold too!  LOL  

I got these fun ornaments at Oriental Trading.  The order number is 65/90069.  I'm not sure what exactly what they are called but the order number is correct and you will see once you enter that number in.

I like these ornaments because the top part flips open so you can remove the glass (which you need to because it's foggy looking) and you just slip the glass back in with your work sandwiched between them.  I am going to make a bunch of these for gifts.  I had bought them for a project that has now gone by the wayside but I will find more cute things to put in them to try to sell at the craft fair.  And I also have a great-nephew who was born in May so this will be his first Christmas so I think I might make him an ornament too!

These are a lot of fun and do make great gifts!  Have fun with these!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Halloween Fun Weekend Project

Last night at the monthly beading group (fun night) we were all given one of these adorable mummies.  It's a very large tube measuring 7-3/4" long by 1-1/4" wide.  It's wrapped in bandage gauze and tied in a knot in the back. It was adorned with wiggly eyes and an adorable plastic spider.  And to top it off it's filled with peanut M & M's!  

The gals who made these said the got the tubes at Crafts Direct which is in Waite Park near St. Cloud.  I have not been to Crafts Direct in years.  I don't know if they have an online store either.  I have TONS of craft supplies and going to another craft store is not high on my priority list right now!!!  Besides I have so much "stuff" I don't have any room for anything else.  Just ask the gals who come stamping here.  My workroom is full!!

These look like they would be very easy to make and you can make them with any type of tube, even a paper towel tube.  You could close off the ends if you wanted to fill them with goodies or you could just decorate them and use them as centerpieces for your Halloween get togethers!

If you wanted to add a touch of stamping to it you can make the eyes using punches and you could even make a spider with punches as well!  Take some gray or light brown chalk and dirty it up a bit to give it that fresh dug up look!  LOL

Isn't it just adorable?

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fun Fold Friday Christmas Tree

For today's "Fun Fold Friday" I thought I would share with you a wonderful way to make a Christmas tree out of a half circle.  These are SO easy to make that I was even surprised and impressed at the same time!

I was not real happy with the ribbon, I wished I had some that would have matched the decorative paper a bit more.  But I do like how the tree came out.

At the top of my tree I had added a star brad.  You can use any brad but I did find out that you do need to have something up there to help hold all the folds down.  Before I had put the star on and discovered it held the folds I was going to just add a touch of tape at the tip of each fold on the inside.  But after the star went on everything seemed to lay nicely.  And I'm sure it will lay even flatter once the post office gets it's hands on it!!! LOL

This card was a lot of fun and you can get the instructions for this plus a PDF file to download, save and/or just print out to make the circle. I printed out one circle (it has the fold lines on it) and I went from there.  I did not cut out the whole circle either.  I was only planning on making one tree from the decorative paper that I had and I didn't want to cut up a huge piece for just one tree.  Anyway the information you want is found here at Connie's Inkspired Treasures blog.  

Have fun with these. You can decorate them up as you please!!

Thank you for stopping by today,
Wanda

It's a Wrap Birthday Candies!

I had saved my Build a Brad containers and was SO glad I did.  6 Hershey Nuggets fit in them perfectly!!!  Was that planned by Stampin' Up!?  LOL 

I stamped the images on address labels and then attached them to a piece of copier paper to make a belly band.  This is done because of the rules that Hershey has in regards to their wrappers.  You have to respect their rules and laws!!  Though  I think the mostly apply to the candies if you are planning on selling them. Though I do prefer the belly band over attaching the mailing label directly to their wrapper.  It gives the one receiving it the option of taking a bite and wrapping the rest of it up for later.  With the belly band on the wrapper stays intact.  Attached to the wrapper it rips it.  I think the belly bands look much nicer too and it's easier to get them on the candies straighter too!

The container is going to be decorated with some ribbon and a nice tag and it will be ready for gift giving!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Beautiful Season Wednesday Sketch Challenge

 I finally got to play with the "Beautiful Season" set.  I have been sitting on this set for a while now and today's sketch had a large enough panel to use this set.  What I really liked about this sketch is the large panel plus the layers.  You know how much I LOVE to play with layers.  This was a very fun card to do once I got going on it.  I normally cut the Basic Black card stock and then I find the colors I want to use and lastly I stamp the image and color it.  This time I knew what image I wanted to use and I stamped it and colored it.  Then I struggled with finding what colors to use.  Once I found the decorative paper (from the Frostwood Lodge pack) the other two colors were easy to figure out.

I sponged the edges of panel #4 using the Garden Green ink pad.  After sponging it I thought that panel needed something more and that is when I sponged in some Daffodil Delight around the image. And some times I got the Daffodil Delight on the image and that was ok too.

It didn't show up very well here but I did use Dazzling Diamonds on the berries.  I thought they could use a bit of a sparkle and I think it added a lot to the card.  

It was a very fun sketch and I will use it again sometime in the future when I have larger images I need to stamp!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Gift Givers Shaker Card

This is a very fun set!  It's full of these little gift giving tags.  Just behind this little girls feet were the words "hello".  I covered them up with my gel pen and then added some Dazzling Diamonds to make sure it was completely covered.  

I wanted to make a card look like an envelope for a long time and today was the day!  Finally!!!  It was fun but a lot of figuring to get that point of the card(which doesn't show) even.  I used the "Frostwood Lodge" decorative paper to make the flap.  I wanted to have some fun color on the card and this paper did the trick!

I think this little girl is SO sweet and adorable.  I used the new Shaker Frames to make this card.  They were easy enough to work with but once I use them up I will revert back to the homemade ones using double stick foam tape because I have a lot of it on hand.  

The words are from the Hand-Penned Holidays set.  It's such an elegant looking "Merry Christmas."  As I was stamping it on my card I was wondering if it were too fancy for the little girl. But after I set her on the card I liked what I saw.  And after I got it all put together I thought it looked just fine. 

This was a fun card to make but I don't think I'll make too many of them just because of the "flap" part of the card. Even though I didn't need to be as careful as I was at the tip.  What tip?  It's hidden under the little girl!!!  I could have botched that tip and no one would have known!!!  Oh well!  I know that under that shaker window is a perfectly pointed tip to my envelope flap!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Greeting Card Kids Christmas Card

The Greeting Card Kids set is one I have gotten quite a bit of use out of and believe it or not, it is one of the few sets that I have used every image!!!  I LOVE it when I do that!  

This card is not an original.  Not from me anyway.  I found it on the net while I was blog surfing for some inspiration.  I ran across this and it didn't inspire me, it sucked me in and I had to try to duplicate it!  The original card was done by Rita at Rita's Creations. There are a few little differences.  She used Blushing Bride card stock.  I had cut out my card stock and then realized I didn't have the Blushing Bride decorative paper so I just switched to Pirouette Pink and I think it worked out just fine.  She also used Early Espresso card stock and I used Basic Black.  I used the black because I didn't read the materials list first but I like the black and pink together anyway!  I also didn't have the large polka dot embossed background so I used the new snowflake folder.  My ribbon is different too, I used 1/4" grosgrain and the brad is different. Other than those subtle little changes it's pretty much her card.  When you go to her web site you will find a materials list to make this card.  

It's such a sweet girly card and I think I may give it to my niece at Christmas! Isn't it just an adorable card?

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Stamping on a Candle Weekend Project

I just LOVE stamping on a candle!  You don't actually stamp on the candle.  You stamp on tissue paper and then heat set it to the candle.  

I got this fun battery operated candle at the Dollar Tree!!!  They have them in several colors too! What a nice inexpensive gift to give too!!  I bought a few of them and want to make some winter or Christmas ones too! Please read through all of the instructions before you begin this.

I used the "Gently Falling" set for my leaves.  I used an old spectrum pad though you can make your own by using a folded paper towel and some inkers.  Because this is a two step stamping set I used the solid leaf first.   Then I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the leaf outline.  I stamped that using Black StazOn.

Next you cut the images out to about 1/8" outside the edge.  I did cut some of mine right up to the edge because the ink went over the edge and I didn't like it.  

I also sponged in a bit of Old Olive ink on the leaves. There were some open white areas on the leaves and I wanted them filled in.  

Once I got everything cut out I set them in place on the candle.  To make them stay I just held my thumb there for a few seconds.  The heat of my thumb helped press the image into the wax.   After I got all the images set in place I took a piece of waxed paper and wrapped it around the candle and I held the candle by holding the ends of the waxed paper together in the back.  

I heat set the images. You can watch them turn "wet" as you are moving the heat tool around.  Don't hold it in one spot very long.  A build up of wax on top of the waxed paper doesn't mean your candle is ruined.  The wax on the candle can seep through the waxed paper.  What you need to do is make sure you let the wax cool off completely before removing the waxed paper.  If you remove it while those puddles or drips are still soft, wet or shinny looking your candle will not have the same smoothness all around. Just set it down and walk away for a minute.  It's tough to do but being too anxious to see the end result is not always good.

I have a very helpful tip for you here. This candle is really plastic with a wax coating.  A thin wax coating.  What you need to do is be quick with the heating.  The wax used here melts quickly so keep that heat tool moving.  I would not recommend using a lot of images on your candle.  The wax is just too thin for that.   You may be able to heat one and let it set up and then move to the next one.  I didn't like how mine set so I wrapped a new sheet of waxed paper over it and reheated it.  NOT a good idea.  I saw the white plastic holder below.  I am not sure how to fix it.  I suppose I could heat up some wax and brush it on top but it may make the leaves look cloudy.  I'm going to keep this one for myself because I do like the leaves on it.  But for my winter/Christmas ones I'm going to do just one image and heat once and quickly!!!  I thought I would share that tip with you.  I know it's only a dollar for the candle but you don't want to mess it up if you can avoid it!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Ripped Wallpaper Technique Page

This is a very fun technique.  Though I was a bit disappointed in the papers.  Not that I didn't like them, I did and that was the problem.  I thought when you have one wallpaper on top of the other one, the one underneath is suppose to be ugly!!!  LOL  Anyway, this is a very fun and unique technique to play with. It is very easy to do too!

You just take two pieces of decorative paper and rip and curl the edges to expose the paper underneath.  A little sponging of the edges for a nice aged effect helps too! 

I did  not design this card. I copied it as close as I could from Lisa at "The Shabby Stamper" blog.  I saw this card and just had to make it and give the technique a try too!

I didn't have the same ribbons as Lisa used but what I had worked out just fine!  I do like this technique and I think it would be fun to use with some vintage pictures I have!  

This is technique #6 in set #5 of the technique pages I make for sale.  You can find them in my store.  They are also on CD so you can just print, cut two edges and use for your technique clubs or classes.  They print out at 5-3/4" x 5-3/4" so you can tape them to a 6" x 6" piece of coordinating card stock and place in a 6" x 6" album for reference and product promotion. 

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Download Issue Resolved

There was some issue with downloading the pages for the project listed yesterday.  It had to do with the free shipping.  Free shipping on a download had confused the program!!  It has been resolved and you should be able to download the pages now.

Sorry for the problem with this,
Wanda

Christmas Shopping Lists Notebook/Folder

 Today for the "Fun Fold Friday" item I have a very fun and useful Christmas shopping list keeper/holder/folder, whatever you'd like to call it.  I designed it to put in my purse and be an aid in my Christmas shopping.  Step one would be to know who you are buying for and then to know what they want.  After that it's the shopping and crossing things off the list!!! I LOVE all of that part, it's the wrapping of these "things" on the list that slow me up at Christmas time!!!

Anyway, I bet you would like to know how to make one or several of these?  Well, I'm going to tell you!!!

First you take a piece of card stock. Here I used Riding Hood Red.  I cut it3-7/8" x 9-1/4".  I scored on the long side at 3/4" and 5-1/4".  Fold the scored lines inward and set aside.  

Next I cut a piece of Always Artichoke card stock 3-3/8" x 3-5/8" and on top of that I layered a piece of decorative paper that measured 3-1/4" x 3-1/2".

If you want to decorate the bottom flap the card stock was cut at 3/4" x 3-1/3" and the decorative paper was cut at 5/8" x 3-1/2".  

Download the pages for the inside and print them out.  You can decorate them as much or as little as you want.  Cut them at 3-15/32" x 4-1/4".  The long side needs to be cut into 3rds that is why the 15/32 inch part is there. 

To assemble the pages you just jog them together so the edges are even or as even as can be, insert them into the bottom of the holder in the fold of the short flap and staple them about 1/4" above the edge of the fold.  Your shopping list folder is now ready to use!  

You can also access the download by clicking on my web store link which is on the top right side of my blog "Shopping is just a click away".  If  you don't see the download in the store you may have to go to the top of the page (in the store) and click on the number of items per page to view.  The download is free!!!

Have fun with this!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Hand-Penned Holidays

I was playing with the "Hand-Penned Holidays" set and I was in awe of the "Merry Christmas" one.  The font is just SO pretty and elegant!

I had stamped it on the card stock using Cherry Cobbler.  I layered a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock behind that and set those layers on top of a half sheet of Whisper White that was folded in half on the long side.  

I had stamped and punched out the trees and I hand cut the tree stands.  I could have stamped them but I don't like to do that because even with the Stamp-a-ma-jig I get them crooked.  And sometimes the ink isn't quite right either.  SO I stamped a bunch of them and cut out the best ones.  

I set the trees in place on the card and after I was all done I wished I had moved the words up just a bit.  But I wasn't quite sure where I was going with the whole card in the first place.  I don't remember the name of this set. It belongs to my sister and when she put the set together she didn't put the labels on the wood blocks nor did she add the name of the set to the side of the container.  And I tried to find the set (but I didn't spend a lot of time hunting) and had no luck.  SO if you know the name of the set just leave it in a comment on this post.

This card didn't take very long to make.  The trees were punched out which saves a LOT of time!  I may give stamping the trunk directly to the card a try sometime but I'm still not confident enough to do it.  I hate it when I ruin a card front!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Snow Much Fun Wednesday Sketch Challenge

I really LOVE this layout but i am not so thrilled at what I did with it.  My intentions were to flip the sketch but as I was putting it together it didn't get flipped and the card now opens on the left side!!! UGH!!! So out comes the dental floss and it will be fixed but it's the whole concept that I just wasn't paying attention.  

Anyway, I really do love this layout but my card needs a bit more of a punch with it.  I don't like the snowman where it is.  Perhaps I should have stuck with something that was the shape of the #4 panel.  Something that would have fit within that space instead of cutting out something that reached outside the area.  

I am thinking of giving this layout another try using a whole different theme.  But not today!!!  I have a bazillion (which really is a word) things to do today!  

Head on over to SplitCoastStampers and have a look at the cards that have been made using this sketch.  I love what I see and want to copy some of them and it makes me want to redo the sketch!!

This was the first time I had used this set.  I bought it way back with the catalog pre-order!  I think it was one of the first sets on my list.  I LOVE snowmen and I usually have one on my Christmas card every year.  

If you have time, play with this layout!!!  Have some fun with it!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

All That Glitters

Today I'm going to take a break from the usual stamped item posts and show you my latest beaded creation.  I just finished making this one and have not written up any instructions for it yet.  I will be posting the bracelet in my beading blog "The Shape of Beads to Come" and I will have a link to where you can buy the pattern. 

The photo doesn't do it justice, it's very "gold" and sparkly!  And the center tilted inward making the row of gold balls look like they are not in line.  I should have tried to take a photo using the manican hand thing that is designed for that.  DUH!!  Ok, when I get the pattern done I will take a new photo to show you!

I am going to be making one of these using silver colors so I can wear it to the wedding.  I wasn't sure what I was going to wear on my wrist or if I was going to wear a bracelet at all but after I got this done in gold I knew I wanted to make myself one for the wedding in silver.  

I have other ideas in my head and some written down on paper so I can create them when I get some time!!!  I have LOTS of Halloween and Christmas projects I'm working on and will be on here soon.  Just too many things going on this time of the year!!  And if our weather would change so it's more like fall it would feel like "this time of the year"  It's suppose to be near 80 tomorrow.  YUCK!!!  It's just too warm for this time of year here.  But the cooler weather is coming after tomorrow and I am going to SO enjoy that.  I just couldn't get myself outside to rake leaves when it was 80+ degrees.  I don't think you should have to be hot and work up a sweat in that heat raking.  Raking is done in the cool weather and when you get hot from raking, taking your jacket off helps cool you off.  Now that's the ideal raking weather!!!  

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the bracelet!  I'll post when the pattern is available!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Spooky Bingo Bits Halloween Candy Topper Weekend Project

I just LOVE making toppers for bags.  Whether they are for candy or for "stuff", they are just fun to make.  It's a great way to display what is inside the bag and yet highlight it with the topper!  The topper also doubles as the "theme" or reason for the bag, be it a birthday gift or for a holiday.

I wanted to make my own background paper so I used the adorable pumpkin from the "Spooky Bingo Bits" set.  I am having a lot of fun with that set and have yet to play bingo!! LOL  

I had gotten these cute pumpkin candies at the Dollar Tree.  I did try one and they are a bit too sour for me!!! I wasn't expecting sour at all when I got them and they didn't say sour on the package!!!  It's a good orange sour but just too sour for me!

The size of the topper is based on the size of your baggie.  I cut my card stock about 1/4" to 1/2" wider than the bag the items are to be displayed in.  As for how long, well that all depends on what you are going to be doing to the front of it.  Here I was just adding the "Happy Halloween" words that I printed out on my computer.  I wanted something simple and sweet since I was making several of them and didn't want to spend a lot of time on it!

These are very fun to make and they don't take a lot of time to do either.

Thank you so much for visiting today,
Wanda

Spooky Bingo Bits Halloween Card

This adorable "Spooky Bingo Bits" card is such a fun set to play with!  Here I used two of the images at one time on a card, which I thought was fun to do! 

I wasn't sure how I was going to do the layout of this card but after seeing this layout on a card while blog surfing I thought I would give it a try.  So I punched out the circle and then the focal piece was cut just long enough to go over the edges of the circle piece about a half inch on each side. 

I stamped the moon with the stars using Daffodil Delight and then the cat was stamped on using black StazOn.  I added a few rhinestones onto the stars by the moon to give it a little more sparkle!

The words are from the "Grateful Greetings" set.  I stamped those using black StazOn as well.

The background is the striped embossing folder.  I made sure I lined the card stock up perfectly because I knew if it were off a bit it would show up on the card because the piece was so big.  I also took advantage of these stripes and was able to add the black rhinestones equally on the card front.  Did you know that you can color your clear silver-backed rhinestones with permanent Sharpe markers?  Mine are not colored in, mine came that way.  I had gotten some monogram rhinestone packs on clearance at Michaels and I just cut the ones off I needed. 

I added the focal piece on top of the orange circle using Dimensionals.  I can't believe how many of those little things I go through of!!  But they sure do add a lot of "dimension" to a card!!! LOL

This was a very fun and such an easy card to make.  I may give this layout another try again in the near future.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Always Thankful Card

I got this “Always Thankful” set because I just LOVED the wheel barrow image.  Have I used that image yet?  NO!! LOL  Actually I like all of the images in the set but it was the wheel barrow that really sold me on it.  Maybe I’ll play with that one later in the week.

Today I made this card using this image.  I didn’t design this card, sorry to say.  It really is SO me though!  This card was made by Debra at ArtfeltImpressions.  I just couldn’t help myself when I saw it. 

I am not sure if she used the confetti card stock or if she used the spritzer tool and splattered some color on.  It doesn’t matter, both look great. 

My card was done using VersaMark and chalks.  I’m not sure how Debra made hers but once again, it doesn’t matter, both look great! 

I did change one thing on the card though.  She had 2 larger size brads and I used 3 of the new tiny brads.  Man are those things ever tiny!!!  The prongs are very long and thin too.  Make sure the hole you make in the card stock is big enough or the prongs will bend. Though if they do bend they still work!

I do like how it turned out and I wouldn’t think twice about doing another CASE on one of Debra’s cards!!!  She has some great samples on her web site!

Be sure to stop back, I have some fun and some quick and fun projects coming up!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Spice Cake Meets Perfectly Penned

I got my Thursdays and Fridays mixed up.  I had this card ready for Thursday post and the Fun Fold Friday card ready to go and got the two mixed up when I posted them on my blog!!!  The mind is slowly going!!! But it's all irrelevant!!

Anyway, I have been wanting to use the Perfectly Penned set for a while now and I was finally able to play with it. 

I am SO loving this Spice Cake card stock!  There's SO many fun sheets in it and I get to play with the Pool Party color and the browns, either Chocolate Chip or Early Espresso!  These colors go so well with the Pool Party color.

The image to the left of the words is just one of the designs cut out of the decorative paper.  I it out 3 times and layered the pieces together.  I just felt the front needed some depth.  I need to take my photos at an angle so these things will show up better. 

This was a very fun card to make and it went to a very special friend.

Thank you SO much for visiting my blog today,
Wanda

Fun Fold Friday Double Z Fold

 This fold was on the opening page at Split Coast Stampers today on their Wednesday Tutorial!  What luck for me!!  The link above has  step by step instructions on how to do this and there is also a video.  Personally I like the step by step instructions. Most of them you don't even have to read, you just follow the pictures and you can make the item.  Plus I don't have to deal with the sound.  Some videos have music (these don't) and I find it a bit annoying, distracting and pointless.  They also make the post/video longer to load.  Anyway, I did watch the video after I finished my card and it was just as helpful as the step by step photos (and words). 

I was pleasingly surprised at how quickly this card went together too.  It doesn't take long to make these and I could see doing these for a future Christmas card.  

I also like how the inside of the card is decorated too.  That is something I rarely do but I am thinking about doing it more.  It makes the inside of the card so much more attractive too!

I did tape my ribbon on the back side of the card. I didn't want it slipping and falling off when someone opens the card.  So it's still on the card but yet the card can be opened and tied back up again without any problems.

Isn't this a cool fold?  Now go try it for yourself!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Young Vermillion Wednesday Sketch Challenge

 So, are you keeping up with the Wednesday Sketch Challenges?  I probably miss one or two a year.  I'm pretty good about doing them!  I find them very fun and somewhat challenging.  Doing these sketches had helped me conquer my dislike of square cards.  Ok, I would still prefer to make a "normal" size card but a square card no longer makes me skip the sketch!

This was a fairly simple challenge so I added to it by using a stamp that I have found very few samples of!  I was hoping to find some inspiration.  But I really didn't.  SO I decided to go with some fun colors and hope I could pull it all together that way and this is what I came up with.

The fun papers are from the Spice Cake pack.  I LOVE that pack of papers.  I even bought the download a while back too!

The base of the card color is from the new in-colors called Pool Party.  It's one of my favorite colors in the pack.  That and Wisteria Wonder!!!  

The bird was stamped using Early Espresso as were the words.  The words were from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  And that was all the stamping that was done on this card. 

I used the Ribbon punch to do the #2 panel on the card and that was it. It's pretty basic and simple, plus I did manage to use the Vermillion stamp!  I had even Googled Vermillion to see if I could find anything.  I was amazed at what I didn't find!! LOL

If you have time I highly recommend you play with today's Sketch Challenge.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Spooky Bingo Bits Halloween Card

Spooky Bingo Bits is such a fun set to play with.  Like I had said before, I didn't buy the bingo "board" image.  I just like these little images and there are 24 of them in the set to play with.  I am not going to challenge myself to use every image in this set.  Not this month anyway!!!  Maybe next October I will use the images I didn't use this year!! Maybe!!!  Some of them are just too cute and you just have to use them over and over!!!

I love the looks of this cute little spider.  I gave him some wiggly eyes too (3mm size).  You need to click on the photo for a closer view of those eyes!!!

The words are from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set and the images on the bottom are from the new Halloween Hangups jumbo wheel.  This is the second time I've used this wheel and I have liked the outcome on both of them.  

This is a simple and quick card to make. The white Craft Ink takes a few minutes to dry and knowing that, it was the first thing I stamped so I could set it aside to dry.  You can always heat set the color too.  I did have to pat my ink pad on the images.  I rolled it over the ink and saw that the images weren't covering very well.  I took my ink pad and patted the color onto each image and then I rolled it over the ink pad again to remove any excess ink that patting can sometimes leave behind.  I got nice solid images the first time out too!! Ya gotta love that!

This is a fun non-spooky card to make for kids too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Little Bit of Celebrating!

Today I noticed that I now have reached 300 registered "Followers" on my blog.  See all their great photos and icons here on the right sidebar?  Today that number reached 300 and for that person, lucky #300 I have a special gift for you!!!  Carrie Anne would you please email me with your snail mail address? I will be sending you some fun Halloween stamps to play with!  And for those of you who have won Blog Candy from me in the past, you know the items in the mail are usually more than what you see here. I tend to add to the envelope before I send it out!!

SO Carrie Anne, please email me so I can get this off to you!  (Attention Spammers:  my email is filtered so don't bother sending anything to me, I won't see it any of it!)

I will be having more blog candy in about a month.  It will be my Blogaversary!  I started this blog in November of 2006!  My that seems SO long ago! And as a thank you for these 5 fun years I will be posting some FUN Blog Candy next month, so stay tuned!!

Thank you all for following my blog and thank you Carrie Anne for being #300!
Wanda

Gently Falling Meets Hand-Penned Holidays

I am still grinning at how beautiful the font is on the Hand-Penned Holidays images.  I jut love this every so fancy look.  It can really make a card look more elegant.  Isn't it amazing how something as simple as a few extra curves in a word can make or break it?  Ok, enough gushing about the words.

The leaf is from Gently Falling and I stamped it using VersaMark and I embossed it in gold.  I sponged in some inks with a dauber sponge.  The colors I used were More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green and Cajun Craze.  I cut the leaf out after coloring.

Just Believe Fall Card

When I purchased the Just Believe set I used it a lot.  You probably remember that!!!  Then some other set came along to take it's place (for a while).  As I was looking through my stamps to see what I wanted to make with a touch of fall I saw this set and pulled it off the shelf.  

I was going to color the rubber with markers but I decided to just make my own spectrum of color pad.  I used dinner napkins.  They seemed to be smoother than paper towels.  Now I have seen this done using dryer lint but the very thought of that made me think of fuzz on my stamp.  Though I think you could make it work if you put something over the top of it, like a piece of muslin, something that would be smooth.  Even a dinner napkin.  Something other than exposed dryer lint.  My dryer lint would contain cat hair and I'm sure it would show up on my inked rubber.  Ok, now that we've gotten past the "ink pad" part you just add your inkers and stamp like you normally would a regular ink pad.  I used More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze and Old Olive.  I stamped the words using Cajun Craze but took a blender pen and removed the color from the happy birthday part.  I colored that in using an Old Olive marker.  I huffed on it and then stamped it. 

This was a very easy and interesting card to make.  I'm not sure I would make a bunch of them though.  I am not a big fan of variegated colors like that.  I like the mix of colors on the word stamp but not so much the way the ink is on the larger image.  And this can be used for either a male or female!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda