Spooky Brew Coin ATC

Happy 58th birthday to me! 

I've been crafting this morning. Waiting for the family to 

come over this afternoon to help me celebrate my birthday. 

Hubby made me coffee this morning, and brought me

red roses. I'll take a photo of them and post tomorrow. 

These spooky teacups were made with Tim Hotlz frightening faces

thinlits. Cut the teacup first, then embossed with a web folder, then

I cut the cat face. Mounted on 2 1/2 circle of cream cardstock which

was also embossed with the web folder. 

So plan of the day is pizza party, cake, hiking, then the Browns game.

Hope they win! That would be a great present! 

Birthday trails with cake

Karen

Halloween Extravaganza Swap

I joined a Halloween Extravaganza swap with the Swappers Corner FB

group. It was a very large swap. Received this great box from Evelyn yesterday. 

First photo is a stuffed coffee sleeve. It was packed with great goodies! 

Embellishment box. The boxes can be purchased at the Dollar Tree in the harware

dept. They they are decorated and filled. 

Here is an inside view. I like that she decorated the inside lid as well. 

Halloween themed flipbook. 

This shows the book opened. 

Embellishments. 

Pocket letter.

Misc goodies. 

and a spooky banner. 

What a great job Evelyn! Thanks so much for swapping with me. 

Speaking of Halloween. Today me and hubby put up the decorations. 

I have a chicken going in the crockpot for dinner. Skip is at the rec center. 

Later need to stop by the grocery store, and pick up a few things for 

the birthday gathering tomorrow. I decided to make my own cake. So much

better than store bought if I do say so myself...and I do! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Halloween Skinny

This is a Halloween skinny I made for a swap. 

Used lots of Tim Holtz ephemera to decorate it. The only

 

stamping I did was to add the spider web on the October panel. 

 

Skinny's are just a bit bigger than artist trading cards. I like making them

 

as the art surface at 5 x 7 is larger. 

 

Going to lunch with my friend Betty today. Then stopping by Michael's.

 

After that back to Betty's to do some stamping.

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Emery Board, and Thread Spools Envelope Punch Board

Haven't played with the envelope punch board for a bit, so

I pulled it out the other day, and dusted it off. It had

the most refined dust on it! LOL

Anyway.....I used the board to make these

emery board holders. 

Was only going to make one but the pack of emery boards came in 

a set of two. One side, is stripes, and the other side plaid. 

I'm thinking I like the stripes better.

While I had the board out I also made a set of eight 3 x 3 note cards. 

These were punched into the shapes of thread spools. Added

a bit of bakers twine around the front panel to mimic the thread. 

Of course had to make matching envelopes. 

Stamping trails

Karen

More Halloween ATC

Playing around with some distress oxide inks. 

This ink covers so well using a round blender tool. 

To make the splatters I just flicked some water on the ink with

my fingers. 

Added highlights with a white gel pen. 

and here is a trio of images by Dylusions. These

were stamped on white cardstock, and colored with prisma pencils. 

Next step was to use a stencil over the side of the images with VersaMark ink. 

Added clear embossing powder, and embossed. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Don't Cry over Spilled Pencils

Oops! This is what happens when you are trying to clean up your

desk so you can start a new project. I was putting my pencils

back where they belong, and the cup that holds them slipped 

out of my hand. Thankfully they didn't hit the floor, so I don't 

think I broke any of the tips. 

Isn't this kitty so cute!!!!! Made the artist trading card size, so 

it is up for trade. Love the colors, hat, and little pumpkin. 

Happy first day of Fall!!!!! While I'm happy to see it arrive hubby is

not. He loves summer. Not that I don't, but I like the crisp mornings, and 

good sleeping weather better. September goes by so fast. It was 90 degrees here

yesterday, and this morning it was 50. Only going to get to 63 today, but I love it!!!!!

Stamping trails

Karen

Halloween Embellishment Box Covered with Washi Tape

This is plastic box by Jot. Can be purchased at The Dollar Tree. 

One the swaps I'm doing this month is to decorate the box and

fill with Halloween embellishments. 

I thought a good way to cover the outside box lid was to use washi tape. 

Covers the lid well. Then I made some paper rosettes to decorate the corner. 

Here is a side view. After I was finished covering the top I use

glittery orange washi tape to go around the edges. 

Inside peek. 

and a closer look at the top. 

I'm very happy with how this one turned out. 

Going to stamp with Betty this afternoon. We have to play with

the new toys we bought at the stamp show last weekend. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Pumpkin Skinny Card

Its PUMPKIN TIME! Everywhere you

look everything is coming up pumpkins! 

Just love this time of the year. Fall will be here this weekend! 

Of course we are still having 80 degree days, which I'm not complaining about. 

Me and hubby went to Bob Evans yesterday for an early dinner, and I had

my first piece of pumpkin bread of the season. Been to hot 

here to turn on the oven, so I haven't been baking. Nice to be able to

go out and still have a great slice of pumpkin bread! 

The project today is a called a skinny. The base is 3 x5. Little bit bigger than

 

a artist trading card that I normally swap. The skinny gives you much more

 

area to work with. 

 

Have to go to the board of elections today. Need a refresher course to

 

be able to work the polling location in November. 

 

Sending out prayers, and hugs to my friend Kym. Her sister-in-law Laurel passed away

 

yesterday morning. So sorry Kym for your loss.

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Wicked Witch Mini Pocket Letter

Here is a mini witch pocket letter I just completed. 

Had to use the new stamp set I bought over the weekend. 

Just love that witch in the middle pocket! It is so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John stopped over yesterday on his way home from work. He

called me to see if he could stop by for dinner. I think he is missing his mom's cooking! 

Always good to see him, as I really miss him since he moved out in June. 

Woke up in the wee hours of the morning to a thunder storm. Hubby said he

didn't even hear it. Don't know how it slept though the light show coming through

the bedroom windows, not to mention the noise! Guess if you are sleepy

you can sleep though anything. Glad I got to watch the show. 

Of course I may need a nap this afternoon!

Not much going on for me today. I really need to clean the house.

I've been letting it go lately in favor of crafting! 

Stamping trails

Karen

It's a Happy Haunting ATC, and Pencil Charm

I did some playing with my new stamps late yesterday. 

This is one of the sets I got at the Adventures in Stamping show. 

Used Distress Oxide inks for the background, and then

splattered some water on it to distress it more. 

I then colored the monster in with Prisma pencils. Used a white gel

pen to paint on some highlights in her hair and eyes. 

I also was inspired to drag out and dust off the shrink plastic to make this 

pencil charm. Have to use StayOn ink on the plastic, but you can add the color

with the Prisma pencils. 

and here the cute little monster is adorning my cup that holds all

those wonderful prisma colors! 

To attach the charms to the pencil I used a small silver eye screw, and jump ring. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Julie Nutting Fall Tag

Received this beautiful Fall Julie Nutting doll tag from 

Bobbie. So cute! 

Love all the fall embellishments she added. 

Speaking of fall. Yesterday me and hubby got out and

cleaned up the front flower bed. I wanted to put out

the fall leaf garland on my white picket fence. Had to cut

back all the glads as they were pretty much covering all of the fence. 

Took a hike around Brunswick lake, and got a birthday box together for

a friend who has a birthday coming up. Wonder who??????

Stamping trails

Karen

Tales from Adventures in Stamping Show

This little frosty card is one of the make and takes me

and Betty got to make at the Adventures in Stamping show yesterday. 

inside view. I like the layout of this card, and how it opens. 

So what did I buy? Not as much as you might think, but 

I did pick up a few items. Tim Hotlz stuff....of course! 

This one is called Funky Foliage. Love those mushrooms! 

Frightening Faces. With these dies you cut the  cardstock then layer them to

showcase the eyes, and mouths. Should make some cool Halloween stuff. 

 

Another Halloween set Laboratory, but I see other

uses for this one. How about Valentines Day. One of the bottles could

have a tag reading Love Potion #9.

Had to get more paper dolls. This one is for Christmas. 

Got another Halloween paper doll set. 

and the only thing I bought that was not Tim Holtz was from 

Inky Antics. I just couldn't pass this one up. Will make some

cute cards, and artist trading cards. 

Me and hubby went to the drive in last night. Watched The Predator, and Peppermint. 

I actually like The Predator more than the first one. Lots of action, and a good plot. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

 

 

Trick or Treat Smell my Feet

Had fun crafting with my friend Betty yesterday. 

I got a little silly and designed this card. 

Front layer is from a card pack I picked up at Marc's a few days ago. 

Only .99 cents for 36 sheets of 6x6 paper. Gotta love that! 

I sponged the edges with black distress ink. 

The spider web doily was sold by Stampinup! 

Next I added a smaller orange doily, and stamped it with trick or treat.

Okay you may be thinking that this card really isn't silly, but just

take a look inside.......

and here is the silly! These sets of legs, and shoes

were in a stamp set made by Dylusions. Thought they would be

perfect for the card. Smell my feet was done on my Dymo label maker. 

Since the second pair of legs were a little shorter than the rest I gave them a little

platform to stand on. 

So what do you think? Cute right? 

Excited! Going to Adventures in Rubber Stamping today with Betty. 

Went to bed at 9:30 last night, and was up at 4. Going to be a long 

fun filled day. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Pocket Letter for Halloween

This is a pocket letter I made for a Halloween themed swap. 

I used a paper pack that I got at Michael's for the pockets. 

The large pumpkin in the lower corner is by Jolee's. 

When I ordered it from Cozy's Scrapbooking I had 

no idea it was so large, but it worked out great on this project. 

and this is how I packaged it for my swap partner. 

Love pocket letters because you have 9 pockets to decorate, 

and then you can fold the letter up into thirds. 

Heading over to Betty's this afternoon to stamp. Tomorrow

we are both going to Adventures in Rubber Stamping. That should be fun! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Sunflower Anniversary Card

Happy 3rd wedding anniversary to my daughter Sarah, and her husband Jason. 

Can't believe three years have gone by already!

Every anniversary I make them a card with their wedding theme. 

The sunflower was made using punched out petals then pieced

together. 

Blue layer was ran through a fall themed embossing folder. 

Had to add a little strip of burlap to card. 

and here is a view of the inside. 

Hope you two have a wonderful day! Love you both. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mini Jack-o-Lantern Themed Pocket Letter

Happy Monday! 

The rain finally stopped that was the result of tropical storm Gordon. 

Hopefully it will be dry for a few days. 

Got a taste of Fall temps last night. Got into the 50's. 

so I had to pull out a comforter for the bed. 

This is a mini pumpkin themed pocket letter. 

Mini letters are 3 pockets instead of the traditional 9 pockets. 

Jack of all Trades from SU was used for the first two pockets. 

The last one I used Jar of Haunts also from SU. 

Love that little jack-o-lantern in the mason jar. 

Had a great afternoon with the family at Sarah's home yesterday. 

It was Jason's birthday. He was such a trooper, and still grilled

the food outside. He had the grill in the garage. It poured rain all day! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Witchy Shaker

Back again with another Halloween card. 

I had a shaker card made but it didn't turn out how I wanted. 

Since it was a blank slate with just the black background I

tried to save it. 

I added the web background with a stencil and white pigment ink. 

The witch is a doll from Tim Holtz. I added the witch hat. 

Rest of the decorations are also by Tim Holtz. 

Inside view of the card. 

It has been a rainy weekend as we are now getting the rain from tropical storm

Gordon. Good day to stay in and stamp. Yesterday we went 

out for lunch then hit the mall and did some mall walking. 

Hubby was sweet and got me a purse that I wanted from Macy's. I'll

post pics of that later. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Best/Bad Witches

This was made for a skinny swap. What is a skinny? 

It is basically an artist trading card, but instead of being

2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. It is 3 x 5 inches. 

While I was out hitting the craft stores earlier in the week with

my buddy Betty, I came across this cool paper pack at Michael's. 

See how the top reads Bad Witches? 

When the card is tipped it now reads Best witches. Cool! 

The witches are from Tim Hotlz paper dolls. 

I thought the background needed a pop of color so 

I added some leftover blue stars from a SU paper pumpkin kit. 

Hope my partner likes it. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Halloween Haunts mini Banner

Here is a Halloween banner I made

for an upcoming swap. 

Hung it on my library index cabinet so I could take a picture of it. 

Closer view of left side. Used a retired Stampin'Up set to make the jars. 

and a closer look at the right side. 

The black pennants were hand cut then run through a spider web

embossing folder. The orange pom poms I found in the clearance section at Michael's. 

Thought they would look good at the points of the pennants. 

I cute three strands of jut and braided them to make the hanger. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Floating Ghosts, and Haunted House Card

Well I finished all the Halloween swaps I signed up for. 

I'll be posting pics of the things I made over the next few days. 

For this swap we only had to make one card for our partner

using a ghost theme. 

Well what could be better than a haunted house with ghosts?

Here is a side view. The house panel is popped up over the ghost 

patterned paper layer. The ghost appear to be floating as

they are attached with thin strips of acetate. 

The top ghost just hovers a bit over the top of the card base, but it will

still fit in a standard A2 size envelope. 

Stamping trails

Karen