Happy Halloween

I hope all of you are having a fun and safe Halloween.  We pull shifts here.  We get a LOT of kids each year.  Some years not as many but still the numbers are high.  The doorbell is constantly ringing tonight.  Could be because of the beautiful weather for it.  A whopping 48 degrees F but there's no wind, or rain, or snow so it's perfect for Trick or Treating!

We give out the fun size candy bars along with a Wendy's free frosty gift certificate.  I buy a bunch of them every year.  The employees at Wendy's have to ask me to repeat the number I want because they can't believe what they heard!  We love giving them out and we love hearing the kiddies yell "Wendys!"  LOL  It's fun!  And it's for a good cause.  We had some left last year so we got to have a few free frosties ourselves.  But at the rate it's going this year I don't think there will be any left. I hope they all go!  

I don't have a post for you tonight.  I will post tomorrow.  I am getting my "stuff" finished up for the craft fair and tending to the darling little Trick or Treaters.  So far it's been all treats!  Let's hope there's no tricks.  This was the first year we did not carve pumpkins.  It feel so odd that we didn't but time just got away from both of us.  So we don't have to go outside tonight and bring in the pumpkins. If you don't bring them in (in the years past) they would be smashed on the road.  But that was years past and before out security lights!  But we still bring them in.  Without the temptation there they move on!

So I will have a fun post for you tomorrow.  

Happy Halloween,
Wanda

Googly Ghouls Halloween Gift Box Tag

The time is sure getting away from me.  I'm preparing for this weekends craft fair among the millions of other things I have going on!! UGH!!! I'll be so glad to see Sunday evening!!!  Feet up, P.J.'s on and some hot tea!  I can't wait!

Today I needed to get groceries.  Just before I was going leave I remembered I forgot to make a gift for the cart guy Greg.  He is such a sweet guy.  He is mentally challenged but extremely smart and so very kind.  He always helps me put my groceries in my car for me.  He will see me leave the store and come running.  So on the candy holidays I make sure I have something fun for him.

I found this cute take out box on sale at Michael's.  I knew who I was going to get this for.  I filled it with Halloween fun size candy bars of various flavors.  And of course I needed a little card for it.  So off to my workroom to whip one up.  I used the mummy from the Googly Ghouls set.  I added a googly eye and layered it on a piece of card stock cut 6" x 3" and folded in half.  So simple and it was very quick. And off I went to the store!  I found Greg in the parking lot and gave him his little treat and thanked him for all the help he has been to me.  I wished him a Happy Halloween and I went in to do my grocery shopping!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Pot Full of Snowmen

Well, aren't these little guys just the cutest?  I found them on Pinterest.  They even came along with the instructions on how to make them too!  Such a deal!  So with the upcoming craft fair (this weekend) I thought I would make 4 of them.  I chose 4 because that was how many terracotta planters I had on hand.  

I got a little creative with the eyes and buttons.  I made them using polymer clay.  I would have made the noses out of clay too but after checking the situation over I decided that they would be too difficult to insert in the face due to the tightness of the knit. So I went with the painted toothpicks.  I did have problems with pushing them in. They needed a bit of a push and my fingernails would dig into the wood and gouge the paint.  I had to pay special attention to where my fingernails were while pushing the noses in.  After ruining the first two I caught on!!

I was at Michael's this past weekend and picked up some colored gloves they had on sale for $1.00 each plus I got an additional 25% off my purchase so the profit margin goes up!!  I was hoping to find some white ones but I did need colored ones for the hats.  Yup, those knitted hats are the fingers of the gloves cut off and rolled up (I hot glue while I roll) and they are glued in place.  The snowman in the back with a top hat, well, that I made from felt.  I used my 1-1/2" and 1" Sizzix circle die to cut them out.  I wanted perfect small circles and that is what I got!!  

I am still up in the air about the bottom part of the pot.  I think I'm going to stencil a few small snowflakes on there.  It definitely need something there.  I need to run a couple of errands but when I get back I will be fixing that issue and adding these to the room with the rest of the stuff I need to price!  I HATE that part!!  And I can finish up the other 3 (which I have not even started).  I've been giving some thought to the number of snowmen.  This one is cute for a family of 5.  I think I may make a couple with 4 snowmen in it.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Googly Ghouls Halloween

I found the cutest Halloween card on Pinterest (of course, where else have I been lately?  LOL). I pinned it on my stamping board in hopes that I would get to it before Halloween and I did!!!  You can find the original card here and the owner of it too.

The original card has ribbons on the left side.  I opted for the decorative paper.  I was going to do ribbons but I thought that paper might work well too and for those of you who don't have any fun Halloween ribbons, well, now you have another option!  I am going to pop this in the mail on Monday and I will be putting a piece of card stock on top of the eyes in hopes that they will make it to their destination intact.  

I did have fun making this card.  I LOVE Halloween "things" so I find great enjoyment in making things with that theme!

This is a very quick and easy card to make too.  Even something the kids could make with very little supervision! (Age appropriate on the eye pieces).

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Blogoversary Blog Candy

9 more days until my Blogoversary!  I started this blog back in 2006 and I'm ready to begin my 7th year!  And to celebrate the 6 years I will be posting some Blog Candy tomorrow!  Today I'm knee deep in polymer clay and I'll share with you what I've been working on too!  But for today I'm just posting a reminder for you to stop back tomorrow to see what I have for the Blogoversary celebration!

Have a wonderful day and thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Destined to be a Card Maker

Many, many years ago (and I'm not going to tell you how many!) I had made this card for my mom.  I'm guessing I was in first or second grade.  My sister was going through stuff my mom had saved over the years and this card was in it.  So she thought I would get a kick out of seeing it.

The paper feels like a thicker copier paper. At first I thought it was construction paper but it's too thin for that. UNLESS they made it thinner back then!!  Well, now that I think about it, it must be thin construction paper because the rest of the card is made with the same thickness paper. Hmmm, interesting!

Ok, so on the front of this lovely card we have an obvious tulip!  I'm assuming the card was done in the spring.  The glue has held up nicely so I'm assuming I had used glue and not paste!  

Here's the funny part.  See the inside of the card.  Well, where the words are, that is not on the backside of the flower.  It is on the other side.  The card opens backwards.  LOL  But what is really funny about that is I still (now and then) make cards that open wrong!!!  Old habits die hard!!! LOL  And thinking about the theme of the card and the wording on the inside it must have been for Mother's Day.  Funny!

I put this card in a plastic card sleeve to save for when my child has to go through my stuff and finds it.  Though I will be adding a note to it so he doesn't think he made it!! LOL

I just thought I would share this precious find with you all!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Mini Notebooks

Today I was working on some mini notebooks for the fall craft fair.  Which is 8 days away!  YIKES!!  I'm not ready.  I'm NEVER ready!  When I get home from work I'm going to finish up the pile of notebooks I have to do and Saturday I'm going to be working on clay.  I'll be sure to show you what I'm making!

These little notebooks are perfect stocking stuffers.  They measure 2-1/2" x 2-1/2".  The fit in the purse or car nicely.  They don't take up a lot of space either!!  These are usually a big hit at craft fairs.  The only bad thing is, you have to make a ton of them to see the bucks!!! LOL  But I almost always sell out of these so I'm hoping this year is the same!  Wish me luck on them.  If there happens to be any left I'll put them in my web store at a great price!!  

I get a questions about these notebooks so I thought I would answer them here for you.  The notebooks are constructed of card stock on the outside and copier paper on the inside.  I have a RubiCoil machine that punches the holes and I add the coils by hand (that machine costs WAY too much).  I stamp images or use stickers or whatever I find that looks good on the front and go with it!  And I never discuss what I charge for them or anything else I make for craft fairs.  What one item priced at one craft fair doesn't always sell for that at another craft fair.  You need to know what the market value in your area is and price your items accordingly.  

So I'm off to punch more copier paper.  I have stacks of it in my workroom.  Every time I have scraps I cut them in 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" and set them aside.  I wish I would have punched all the piles I made, it would have made tonight's batch go a lot quicker!!!  Live and learn.  I just wish I would remember the "learn" part!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Faux Metal Masculine Card

Today I have a wonderful card for you that was made by Tanya.  At Terri's very fun Technique Class one of the techniques that night was the Faux Metal. There are several Faux Metal techniques but this one is done using aluminum foil and running it through an embossing folder.  

I don't know the name of this stamp set, I don't have it in my stash so I can't tell you what it is. It's one that I would probably put on my wishlist because it's a masculine set and there just aren't enough of those out there!

There is one more thing you can do with this technique to give the metal a pewter look.  You can take black StazOn and rub the pad over the aluminum (after it's textured) and then wipe it off gently so you don't ruin the texture.  This will tone the metal down a bit and the black will give the foil a pewter look.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fun & Easy Bookmarks

 Today I'm going to show you how to make a very fun and easy bookmark.  I will give you the measurements for the one you are seeing here but you can cut your card stock or decorative papers any size you wish because it's all in the folding!

I started out with a 4" x 4" piece of card stock.  I folded it in half from top to bottom.  I opened it up and then folded it in half from side to side so when I was done I had four equal folded squares on my card stock.  You can also just score it in half at the top and at the side.  I just folded because it was easier and quicker for me.  

Now looking at the folded square areas, we will visually number them.  Starting at the top left that one is #1, next to it is #2.  Under #1 is #3 and next to it is #4. So you have 1 & 2 at the top and 3 & 4 at the bottom.   Cut away square #2.  Next you will need to cut square #1 from corner to corner.  Start with the outside corner of #1 & #3 and cut across the square to where the top of square #2 was.  And for the bottom you will be cutting from the bottom corner of square #3 to the side where square #4 and square #2 met.  See the photo I've added.  

Next you will be folding the #1 cut square down and the #4 cut square inward.  Make sure the folds are sharp.  Glue the #4 part to the top of the #1 part.  The #4 part is the one you want on top.  And that's it. You are now ready to decorate it as you wish!  Even the kids can have fun decorating these!

Wouldn't these be a fun make & take project?

Thank you for visiting today,

Wanda

Halloween Candy Holder Treats Box

These boxes are fun to make but a bit tricky to twist the ends closed.  I find it much easier to twist card stock than decorative paper. I'm so afraid I'm going to rip the decorative paper because it's thinner.  But as you can see I didn't and the box turned out pretty darn cute!

I used the Howlstooth decorative paper.  I love it that I've got the two different papers showing.  The backside of the paper is the orange and black stripes. Then I added some scalloped dotted black ribbon.  Can you get anymore mismatched designs together?  Adding stripes with plaids and then some polka dots!!!  But that's what makes Halloween fun, anything goes together!  

The "Booo" is from the Googly Ghouls set.  I just stamped it using black StazOn and I cut around the letters with my scissors.  Nothing I'd like to do more than a couple of times.  I'm not a big fan of cutting stuff out by hand.  Isn't that what punches and dies are for??? LOL

Before you twist up the second end you will want to add your candies.  You can add them later but the twisting isn't fun!.

I have a special friend I'm going to be giving this to.  I know she's going to LOVE it!  It's a great way to make inexpensive gifts and a fun way to decorate them!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Quick and Easy to make Halloween Card

If you need a quick card this layout is the way to go.  Or if you need to make a bunch of one design than this is the way to go to.  It's very easy too.

Here I took a half sheet of white card stock and folded it in half.  Then I took a scrap of some K & Company Halloween decorative paper and trimmed it up to fit in the space shown on the card.  The measurement for the decorative paper is 5-1/4" x 2-1/4"  That would make the layer behind it 5-3/8" x 2-3/8".  

And for the image layer I usually measure the stamp block it's on and cut it that size.  This block measured 2" x 2" so that would make the layer behind it 2-1/8" x 2-1/8".  

I stamped the image using Gumball Green ink and I added the wiggly eyes.  This is a Craftsmart stamp.  I believe it is a Michael's brand.  I did get the stamp at Michael's and it was only $1.  Maybe less, I think I got it with the 20% off your entire purchase coupon so that would make the stamp only $.80.  Such a deal!  I just thought he was a cute 3 eyed monster and I knew he would be easy to stamp and not require a lot of time.  I was right!!

So if you are in need of a quick layout this is the way to go.  Add a layer to the left side and put your focal piece towards the middle.  If adding wording like I did you will want your image up a bit and if you are not adding words you can center the image more on the card.  And that's it!  Easy Peasy!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Stylin' Snowfolk Candy Bar Wrapper

Ever time a new snowman set comes out I have to try to figure out how to use it on a candy bar wrapper. Cold Play was one of my favorites for doing this and now the Stylin' Snowfolk works too.  It's a lot like the Cold Play set except you get the snowman body.  And this one has a lot more parts for the snowman. You can even make a snowlady!  

I like this set for the smaller candy bars.  I used the .45 oz bars for this one.  And since it's so close to Halloween, I was able to get them on sale!!  Ya gotta LOVE that!  

I bet you'd like the measurements to the card stock, huh?  Well, I'm more than happy to share them with you so you can make these for your friends, for parties or you can even have the kiddies help you with them for their school friends!

You will need a snowman stamp set and a small chocolate bar, of course.  Then you will need a piece of white card stock cut 3-1/8" wide x 2-7/8" long.

Next you will need to score the card stock.  On the 3-1/8" side you will need to score it at it at 5/8", 1", 2-1/8" and 2-1/2".  

Now before you fold the scores, stamp your images.  Then fold the score lines.  Wrap the card stock around the candy.  I glued mine in place.  I also wrapped the card stock around the candy bar tightly which distorted the shape of the rectangle the sleeve creates. But it did help keep the candy bar in there better.  If you don't wrap it tighter it could slip out easy.  The distortion is not that much and you will probably be the only one to notice it.  Now I also wanted to tell you why I used glue instead of tape.  I felt the glue would hold better.  Once you glue it, remove the candy bar and use your bone folder inside to help the glue adhere better and quicker.  Put the candy bar back in and move on to the next one.  I know you'll make more than one!!!

These are fun to make and very simple too!  

Have fun with the instructions!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

The Open Sea Masculine Cards

The Open Sea set is one that I do like to play with and it's great for making those elusive masculine cards.  It seems that there are not very many masculine stamp sets or many masculine cards.

First I want to tell you that I did set the pieces straight on this card.  This time it was the photography that is off!  I know, it's usually one or the other with me!!!  But you get the general idea so it makes it all ok!

I found this card a while back at Stamping with Lynn but I don't know the date it was posted so if you want to compare the two you'll have to scroll through her posts to find it.  It is worth the stroll, she has some fun cards on her site.  I will tell you that my card is a little different, only with the larger Night of Navy circle.  I used too big of a circle.  Lynn's card looks like the circle was another 1/2" smaller in diameter.  But it's ok, it still creates the nautical look and it is pretty close to her card.  I didn't have the right size circle so I just made do with what I had.  It's been a theme with me lately.

Well, I'm off to open up the Stampin' Up! order that came yesterday.  My sister ordered a lot of fun stuff where as I ordered ribbons and other essential things.  Plus a snowflake die!  But she ordered things to play with and she is not here to claim her stuff so I'm going to play with them and tell her they came that way!!!  LOL  When I play with her stuff (especially without permission) I usually give her the things I make with it.  So I'm off to dig in the box and have some fun!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Googly Ghouls

This is one of my most favorite card layouts.  I love it because it allows me to use the smallest images as the main focal part of my card.  

This cute little spider from the Googly Ghouls set is perfect for this layout.  

The measurements for this card are as follows.  The base is cut at 4-1/4" on the short side of a sheet of card stock.  Then fold in half at 5-1/2".  The More Mustard piece here is cut at 3-1/2" x 4-5/8".  The Tangerine Tango layer is cut at 3" x 4-1/8" and the decorative paper layer is cut at 2-7/8" x 4". 

The holes are punched by adding a little bit of double sided tape where you think the center of the hole will be and taping the two pieces of paper together just at that one spot.  Take the 1-1/4" punch and drip the layers down as far as you can go in the punch. Center it and punch the circle.  Now take the decorative paper and put a piece of scrap paper behind it.  Take your 1-3/8" punch and punch a ring off the decorative paper.  Now you can tape the pieces together, making sure to line up the holes so the layer shows.  Tie your ribbon around the two layers.  

Stamp your image on a scrap piece of card stock.  Set it in place behind the hole layer using Dimensionals.  Add that to the larger layer of colored card stock (just before the base of the card) using Dimensionals again.  Don't add any Dimensionals to the scrap card stock that your image is on, it is already high enough.  Just add some double sided tape there and you should be fine.

As simple as that!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fabulous Florets

Today I thought I would continue with the fall theme in my cards.  I used the Fabulous Florets set and used some fall colors.  This is among one of my favorite sets.  

The stem is done in Old Olive.  The flower is done in More Mustard and then the edges were rolled on the Pumpkin Pie stamp pad.  Then the flower was cut out and set in place over the stem using Dimensionals.  The words were stamped using Pumpkin Pie.  The words came from the Blooming with Kindness set.  

The card stock colors are Whisper White and Old Olive.  This card has several layers to it but they go on quickly so it's not so bad.  I am one who LOVES lots of layers on my cards.  The top two layers were set on using Dimensionals.  

This is a very easy and quick card to make and put together in spite of all the layers!  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Summer Silhouettes Get Well Card

I'm trying a couple of things here with this card.  I wanted to go masculine and I wanted to take a summer image/set and make it more of a fall image.  I think I accomplished both!  I probably could have toned down the background with stripes or something less flowery but I wasn't thinking about the background at the time.  I was concerned with color and stamped image.  

I set the focal piece in place using Dimensionals.  I felt it needed to be lifted up off the paper a bit for a better look.  I set it in place before I put the Dimensionals on and i felt it needed to be up off the paper.  Giving it some dimension made a huge difference.  

I used Whisper White, Soft Suede and More Mustard to make this card.  It was fun and very simple to make too.  The dots are just various circle punches using Soft Suede card stock scraps.  Those open areas just needed something and that is what I thought worked best and yet still allowed the card to be mailed only using one postage stamp.  So there you have it, a masculine fall card from a summer set!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Halloween Candles

 I saw this candle bowl making "thing" on Pinterest and I had to give it a try.  Yes, I HAD to give it a try.  My niece is getting married and was trying to find some ideas for centerpieces for the tables.  I had some wax and I had some time so I thought I would give it a try for her.  I got the wax melted and I took out the water balloons I had bought last month on clearance.  I tried to get the balloon around the aerator but the balloons kept breaking.  SO I thought I would put the special nozzle on that came with the balloons.  I removed our aerator and tried to get the nozzle on but it wasn't designed for kitchen faucets, it's for an outside faucet.  I cleaned our aerator and put it back on. I figured worse case senerio here is that I would have a clean aerator!!  

Plan B went into place.  Put as much hot water in the balloon and blow it up.   I got the balloon tied up and I dipped it about half way into the wax.  I watched the wax set on the balloon!!  We were in business.  I dipped it again up to the same spot.  I was on my way to making these centerpieces!!  I dipped it a couple more times and the last dipping the balloon popped and there was wax everywhere.  All over me, my hair, my face, the walls, the refrigerator, the window, the sink, the counters, the cupboards, the blinds, EVERYWHERE!!!!  

Plan C.  Once all the wax I could see was cleaned up (which wasn't hard to do, it didn't stick hard on anything, it was just there and you picked it off.  It didn't even leave a mark. But it was still something I didn't plan for in my time frame) I thought I would try the faucet out in the bathroom.  The balloon fit and I came out of the bathroom with a nice size balloon filled with hot water.  I dipped the balloon and all was well.  After about 10 dippings the balloon was still in tact and I was not wearing any new wax I figured I was well on my way to making a wax centerpiece.  And I was.  I kept dipping the balloon.  The hard part was to know how many dippings the thing needed. The more you dip it the sturdier the bowl will be.

I even got creative and punched out some small black cats out of card stock and after a dipping I added them to the outside and dipped over them.  I thought it would be cool to see those shapes come out when the candle was lit.  Well, all you see are black blobs.  I think if I were to add things like that again I would do it before the last 4 dippings and you would still be able to see the images.  I got the piece done. I stuck it in the fridge to set up while I cleaned up my kitchen.  When it was cool enough I popped the balloon and got it out of the bowl.  I trimmed the top lip evenly and shaved a bit off the bottom to even it out.  The most problems I had was with the bottom, trying to get it even.  And I couldn't wait to see the punched cats with the candle on.  I took it in the bathroom and shut off the light.  I turned the candle on and all I was was these black blobs.  How disappointing!! But at least I can say I tried this.  I called my niece and let her know that there was no way I could make a bunch of these for her. Which is too bad but the dipping took so long to do.  Not worth the time. Or the mess!!!  And a few days later I found more wax on the other side of the blinds.  I have a feeling I'm going to be finding wax for days to come!!!   LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Serene Silhouettes Halloween Card

I thought I would see if I could make my Serene Silhouettes stamp set even more versatile by making a Halloween card with one of the images.  It worked!!!  I originally wanted to use a darker background and bleach the moon in but I couldn't find a dark background that went with the decorative paper. So I ran with the Very Vanilla.  

For the moon I punched out a 1-1/4" circle and I set the circle aside and used the scrap piece as my template.  I sponged in Daffodil Delight.  I did stamp the birds on first and I did use black Staz On for that.  I don't like the mess the regular black ink makes when you sponge over it like that.  It has a tendency to smear.  

This layout is from a card that Terri had designed for her Stamp-A-Stack last week. I'll be showing you what I made with this layout later in the week or next week.  It depends on how much of my own stuff I get done this week. It's a very busy week. I had spent the weekend napping!  I came down with some silly cold thing that stuffed up my head, plugged my ears, makes me cough, gave me a headache and I was extremely tired.  So I did very little last weekend and now I'm trying to catch up!  I still have some plugged ear issues, occasional stuffiness and a cough.  I could do without the cough!  

So back to my card.  I thought it was kind of creepy in an Alfred Hitchcock "The Birds" sort of way!!!

"Ristle-tee Rostle-tee, Now, now, now!"  Only those of you who have seen the movie know those words!!! LOL  That movie scared the heck out of me when I was a kid!!  And now I watch it every October!  

This was a fun card and a super fun layout.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Stylin' Snowfolk Ornament

Isn't he cute?  I thought it would be fun to make a snowman today.  Even though we had temp in the upper 50's today a snowman still sounded fun to make!  Personally I find it fun to make a snowman any day!  I used the Stylin' Snowfolk set to help make him.  I took a piece of Whisper White card stock measuring 2-1/2" wide  x 3-1/2" long. I stamped the images I wanted on it and then I used my bone folder and curled the paper.  Much like you would curl curling ribbon.  I glued the piece into a tube.  Then I punched out a 1-3/8" circle piece of Basic Black card stock.  I took my piercing tool and punched a hole in the middle and tied a 9" piece of white Baker's Twine to it, making sure the knot was at the bottom.  I glued this piece to the top edge of the snowman.  Then I cut a piece of black card stock measuring 2-5/8" x 1".  I curled the piece up and glued it together.  Once the glue was set I  then glued it on top of the black circle.  Make sure the twine is inside the small tube of the hat.  Allow it to dry.  That's it.  You have a fun cute tubular snowman!  He's fun to make and this could even be something the kids would like to help make for gifts for grandparents, daycare providers, teachers, etc.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Serene Silhouettes

This is one of those "simple but beautiful" cards.  It's a very clean and simple card.  The Serene Silhouettes set is one of my favorites to play with.  I want to play with this set next week sometime.  I have this idea in my head and hopefully it will turn out  on paper like what I'm seeing in my head.  And you all know that if it doesn't I still share it with you.  Lucky you, you get to see the good, the bad and the ugly!!! LOL

This is one of the cards I made at Terri's Stamp A Stack Thursday evening.  My sister and I attend the Stamp A Stacks. She just loves to go and this time I talked her into actually finishing her cards instead of finishing one and taking the rest home to do.  She did that last time and the cards are still not put together!  I learned that the hard way myself a long time ago.  So this time I helped her get the rest of hers together before we moved on to the next card.

The colors used here are Whisper White and Raspberry Ripple.  It's such a pretty color.  We made three cards.  Two of mine were done using the flower looking image and this one.  It's versatile so I can use it for numerous occasions!  I love stamp sets like that.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Pumpkin Patch Bracelet

I was playing with clay the other night and I thought I would make some pumpkins.  I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them until I was at Bead Basics the other day and bought some leaves, bead caps and Rhondells.  For you non-beaders, the Rhondells are those pretty gold colored beads just after the pumpkins.  The bead caps are on top of the pumpkin and hanging over the pumpkin.  They kind of look like gold leaves.  And of course,  the leaves are those green leaf looking things between the pumpkins!  LOL

I am not a bead stringer.  I am a bead weaver.  I like using the needle and FireLine to make my bracelets.  Stringing beads is an art in itself and I rarely do it.  But after I made those pumpkins I knew where I was going with them and this is what I came up with.  These will be available for sale as a kit at the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar on October 20th-21st, 2012 at the Hopkins Eisenhower Community Center.  So tomorrow I will be making and baking pumpkins in between a few loads of laundry!!! I LOVE playing with polymer clay so any excuse I can get to play with it the better!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Scentsational Season Christmas Tree

Isn't this card absolutely stunning?  I thought so, that is why I had to make one.  I found this card on LeAnne's Wee Inklings blog.  

It caught my eye and I knew I had to make one.  It is a very easy card to make.  I didn't have a few of the supplies but I made do with what I had.  I've been finding that out more and more.  Make do with what you have.  I've been able to actually use the stuff I have on hand that way too!  Today the stuff on had was not anything retired, which is very unusual when I have to make do!

The base of the card is Very Vanilla.  On top of that I stamped the words from the Delightful Dozen set.  The original card had different wording, this is one of the "make do" spots.

I used Cherry Cobbler and I believe the original one is done using Melon Mambo for the card stock layer, words and ribbon.  I had the card stock and ink pad but I did not have the ribbon.  That is where my second "make do" came into play!  I used the white stitched ribbon.  I had also cut my Cherry Cobbler layer shorter because of my wording.  And I did not use the dotted embossing folder on the Cherry Cobbler either.  I figured it was too small of an area and the ribbon would take up most of it so you wouldn't see much of the dots anyway and I was right.  

The tree was stamped using Wild Wasabi and then the die was lined up and taped in place and the tree was then cut out.  I cut out 4 trees.  3 of them I folded in half.  Now keep in mind they don't line up once folded, they are not symmetrical.  I was able to hide most of that with the Dazzling Diamonds.  

The cute star on the top is in the Framelits Holiday Collection set along with the tree (and there's a gingerbread boy, a candy cane and a hot cocoa mug too! - so CUTE!!!).  The star is set in place on a dimensional and a rhinestone brad was set in place in the center.  

This was a fun card to copy.  It was quick and easy too!  You can't ask for much more than that!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Here Comes the Bride

For something a little different!  Today I am going to share with you the necklace and earrings I designed for my niece for her wedding.  I was following a different pattern I had found somewhere on the net but was having a lot of problems with it.  The pattern had you pull all the thread you needed and then you worked from the middle to the ends.  Not a big deal but the part I don't like about beading like that is you have the other end with that extra thread hanging or wound up but either way it's in the way.  So after struggling with the pattern and getting a few inches done I could see that the design wasn't as pretty as I thought it was.  SO I decided to design my own necklace and this is what I came up with. 

For those of you who like to bead I will have a pattern up in the web store in week or so. I have to make 3 more sets for the wedding party plus something simple for the flower girl.  I will share them with you as I finish them.

My niece did see this but not in it's completed state.  She loved it and it looked SO pretty on her!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Bootiful Occasions Halloween Card

Mirror, mirror on the wall.  I thought it would be fun to make a Halloween card today.    It was inspired by a card I saw by wright_elaine.  I liked how she did the label with the oval on top.  Her oval was gray but I thought how fun it would be to make it look like a mirror.  I was going to use aluminum foil until I remembered all of these foil cardboard "things" I have.  They came from foil tins.  We took the cardboard off the top before we used the tin on the grill.  I didn't want to toss them out so I kept bringing them down to my workroom.  I didn't realize how much we grilled this summer until I saw the stack of these things I had!  So if I run out I will use a few layer of aluminum foil for the mirror.  It's nice to know I have other options.

My background is a Sizzix embossing folder I had long before Stampin' Up! came out with theirs and I just couldn't justify buying another one.  

The words were done on the computer and the cute witches shoe is from the Bootiful Ocasions stamp set.  I just thought that boot was too stinkin' cute!  This was a very fun card to make too.  There wasn't a whole lot to it.  I did cut out the shoe by hand but it didn't take long at all. My biggest obstacle was the placement of the pieces.  I was going to put the words in the bottom left corner and the shoe centered on the right, leaving the mirror where it is now but it just didn't look right.  Then I thought I would tilt the words and as I did that, setting the shoe on top came to mind and you see the end result!  It worked out!  Don't you love it when that happens?

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Blooming With Kindness Get Well

I found a card on Split Coast Stampers using this layout and most of this design!  I say most of it because I didn't use the same flowers, word background or words.  I liked the layout.  The card has such a pretty look to it.  I am not a big fan of the color So Saffron but I challenged myself to use it and I thought it turned out nice.  It looks a lot like the original done by Fionna51.  

I still have not sent a get well card to my friend and as I was making this card I thought I should make it a get well card and get it off in the mail to her on Monday.  It's been almost a month since her surgery, she's probably 100% recuperated by now! I doubt it but it would be nice if she was.  But regardless, I need to get a card out in the mail to her.  

So I finish this card and realize how much I like it and want to have one in my sample drawer so I quick whipped up another one.  It is a very quick card to make once you have the measurements.  I suppose you want them too?  Ok, since you asked, here they are:

The base of the card is a half sheet of So Saffron, folded in half.  The next layer is a piece of Whisper White card stock cut 4" x 5-1/4". The dry embossed layer is cut 3-3/4" x 5".  The small white layer is cut 3-3/4" x 2-1/2" and the stamped layer is cut 3-1/3" x 2-1/4".  The background wording is from the En Francais set and was stamped off once using So Saffron ink.  Then the flower from the Blooming with Kindness set was stamped using So Saffron.  The words came from the Delightful Dozen set and were stamped using black Staz On ink.  Ok, there you have it, now go make one!!

The two smaller layers were set in place using Dimensionals. It gave the card a nice depth.  So now I have one to mail out on Monday morning (no excuse) and one for my sample drawer.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Jolly Bingo Bits Peppermint Candies

I was going to post a quick to make card today but as I was putting away my Jolly Bingo Bits set I thought I'd make these candies.  Aren't these adorable?  I can't take credit for them.  I saw them on the net somewhere on someone's blog.  If it is your creation or you know who made them please let me know so I can give them credit for this cute "card candy!"

These were actually easy and fun to make.  For these three I just stamped 6 of the candy pieces image from the Jolly Bingo Bits set.  Then I punched them out with the 1/2" round punch.  Then I punched out 12 more for each candy out of white card stock.  

I glued the 12 blank ones together and then glued a stamped one on each end.  The plastic is from what is wrapped around the packages of card stock.  And I tied the plastic on with white Baker's Twine.  That was it. There wasn't a lot to making these.  They'd be a lot of fun on a wreath or on a pick in a holiday floral arrangement.  

What took the longest to do was gluing the circles together and they actually didn't take all that long.  I'm not sure if I'd like to make 100 of them though!!!  But then again, the cuteness of them would keep me motivated!  And no, I will not make 100 of them for you!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Scentsational Season Note Holder

 A while back I had gotten some fun note holders at the Dollar Spot at Target.  The covers had images on them I didn't care for. One had Monster's Inc. characters and the other had the vehicles from the movie Cars.  SO I just open up the holder and rip out the inside holder. I usually use the paper for scratch paper because it never matches the papers I use on the front.  They are kind of a pale peach paper.  I do end up using it up so it doesn't go to waste.  

Here I covered the outside using the Be of Good Cheer decorative paper.  I liked the strips in this pack.  I cut it to fit around the outside.  Then I added a piece of 30# copier paper to the inside to cover the edges of the decorative paper.  I also wrapped a piece of that copier paper around the inside piece that holds the note paper.  

I took the tiny little gingerbread stamp from the Jolly Bingo Set and stamped him in the bottom corner of each piece of paper.  I don't usually stamp the papers inside the holder but this time I did.  After finishing I reminded myself not to do that again!!!  It took a bit of time but it wasn't grueling.  

I made the belly band by taking a piece of Very Vanilla cut 11" x 1-1/4" and wrapped it around the box and glued it at the ends.  Then I took a piece of Cherry Cobbler and did the same thing but I also glued it to the Very Vanilla.  

I stamped 3 of the Scentational Season gingerbread boys and cut them out with the gingerbread boy die.  Talk about easy!  I don't think the front would have had 3 gingerbread boys on it if I would have had to cut them out by hand.  I glued two of them to the front of the note holder and one to the Belly Band.  I thought the sides of the belly band looked a bit sparse so I stamped a couple of peppermint candies from the Jolly Bingo Set and those I had to cut out by hand.  I glued them in place and liked what I saw but the front looked like it still needed something. I had to be careful of what I added because I needed the belly band to be able to slide over it.  So I thought I would give the gingerbread boys some color by adding a bow tie and that was just what it needed.  I'll be packaging it up for the fall craft fair.  Ok, it is fall now. My how time has flown by.  The craft fair is next month at Epiphany church on Hanson Blvd. in Coon Rapids.  It is on November 3rd.  I'm SO far behind.  So tomorrow I'm probably going to post a quick to make card and work on my polymer clay.  I have some Santa's and snowmen I need to make and bake!

Thank you ever so much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Hello Doily Birthday

Want to make a quick and easy card in a flash?  Well, this is the design that will let you do that!  

The Hello Doily image by itself makes a perfect card.  It's such a fun stamp to play with.  You can emboss it and get a completely different look too but then it won't be as quick of a card now will it?  

This is card I made at Terri's Stamp-a-Stack.  My sister and I had a great time there.  We made such fun cards.  This was one of my favorites.  Though I say that about every one of the cards I make.  Ok, I confess, they are ALL my favorites.  But since I'm looking at this one right now it becomes today's favorite!!

The colors used here are just Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla.  How simple, huh?  We stamped the image on the Very Vanilla card stock, tied the ribbon around it and then set it place on the folded half sheet of Crumb Cake card stock.  Then the words were stamped and punched out with the oval and layered on the oval scallop.  A pearl was added to the center of the doily and the card was done.  Does an elegant looking card get much simpler than that?

I am keeping one of these in my stash for future reference.  When I need to make a quick card I know where to turn.  And what is great about this is you can use this design for other occasions as well!  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Four Seasons Christmas

I found this card by TinyAcorns on Split Coast Stampers.  I did change the wording a little but not because I didn't have the stamp.  It was because I didn't leave enough space.  I had stamped the snowflakes in Versa Mark first and heat set them in clear embossing powder.  I didn't leave enough space for the words.  Well, actually I should have stamped the words first.  But I didn't and this is what I got. I used the Teeny Tiny Wishes set for the words. It worked and it does look nice so either way is ok.  Actually, whatever you want to do is ok!

This was a very fun, easy and super quick card to make.  Though with all of the clear embossing I don't think it would be high on my list for the "family" Christmas cards.  Heat embossing is not one of my favorite techniques and I don't mind using it if I'm making a card or two but not over 100 cards!!

The original card was made using Wisteria Wonder, the wording is different and the center snowflake in the large ring of snowflakes is different.  But when you set them side by side you can see that they are very similar!  

I do like the looks of this card and I think it may be fun to stamp the snowflakes using some of the Frost White ink instead of the Versa Mark and embossing powder.  I think it would give the card a pretty shimmery effect.  I think I'll have to give that a try in a few days when I have some time to experiment with stuff!

I do thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Faux Patina Technique

Well, if this isn't a very pretty and fun technique to do!!! I had a lot of fun with it and I LOVE the end results.  There really is no way to ruin this technique.  Well, there is one.  If you put too much metallic embossing powder on it.  I had too much on it but just brushed it off before I heat set it.  That is one of the nice things about being able to make this look the way you want it to.  I prefer to have too much metallic embossing powder on it so I know where I want more of the background colors to show.  I just took a paint brush and brushed away any powder I didn't want heat set.  

To do this technique you just take a piece of white card stock and a pretty embossing folder.  I inked up the lid part of the folder (the  "smoother" side) with Crumb Cake ink.  I put the paper in and ran it through the Big Shot.  Then I sponged on some Marina Mist, some Always Artichoke and then some Early Espresso.  Once done I used the VersaMark pad over the raised areas and sprinkled gold embossing powder on.  I brushed off powder where I thought it looked to thick or heavy and then I heat set it.  That was it.  That is all you do!  I cut my piece in half to fit this card and I now have a big enough scrap piece to make another card!  

Isn't it a pretty technique? I have added this to set #5 of my technique pages I offer for sale in my web store. You can print them out and hold classes for a fee.  You can print as many as you like. Each set also comes with a sample finished page so you can use it for reference.  Or you can just decorate the pages as you wish.  All you have to do is print them out, cut on two sides and they are ready for decorating at your class. How simple is that?  All the hard work is done for you!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Flowering Flourishes Bridal Shower Invitation

My niece (Allie) is getting married in December and I made these invitations for her bridal shower.  So Allie, if you are seeing this, escape now or you'll ruin the surprise! 

This card is not a standard size card.  I had to work around the recipe cards in the left top pocket.  

The photo shows both the front and the inside of the invitation.  On the front I had made the dress using 4" paper doilies.  I saw how to do this technique here.   It is VERY easy to do and a lot of fun (if you don't have to make a ton of them!!!).

Since the bride was using silver on her invitations I decided to incorporate it in the invitation with the background panel, the border, the tabs and the scalloped layers.

On the inside of the card I thought  it would be fun for those invited to share a couple of their favorite family recipes so two recipe cards are included.  There is a tab to pull out that states that.  Below that pocket is another tab you pull out with the directions to the shower.  And on the right side is the actual invitation itself.  The scalloped layer below that tells where they are registered.  

As of today I have not mailed them yet because I need to go to the post office.  These cards are not light and I'm guessing that it will cost over $1.00 each to mail.  But fortunately I was able to hand deliver a few of them.  The bride won't be getting hers until the day of the shower because of the recipe cards being a surprise.  

What you see in the photo is what the bride will be getting for her scrapbook.  I told her I had an extra front so she can display it all without ever having to remove it from the scrapbook to show someone or to reminisce.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Four Seasons Thanksgiving

I got this set a while back and put it on the shelf.  As usual I forgot about it.  While looking for a card the other day I ran across this set and thought I should play with it. It's a hostess set so that means it's shelf life is limited in the "Current Stamp Sets" column.  

I don't make many Thanksgiving cards and I probably bought this set for the Christmas/Winter image.  The little bird with the stocking hat on is SO cute and of course the snowflakes (which we all know I LOVE!).

Anyway, I thought I would play with the set and make a fall card.  It ended up being a Thanksgiving card.  

I made my own multicolored pad by adding a few drops of inkers to a baby wipe.  Just place a baby wipe on a safe surface.  Add the colors of inks you like.  Here I used Old Olive, Cajun Craze, More Mustard and Pumpkin Pie.  I added them to the baby wipe in long lines.  Then I just used it as a stamp pad and stamped my image.  

The leaf background was done using the coordinating leaf image and the ink pads in the colors listed above.  

It was a very quick and easy card to make too!  I like the baby wipe technique, it's such a fun way to make those multicolored ink pads, isn't it?

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda