And the Rest of the Halloween Countdown Envelopes

So here on Halloween I wanted to share the rest of the envelopes

I made for a 31 days of Halloween countdown swap. 

I showed the first 10 a few months back. You can 

see the first 10 here

 

Above we have 11-14

15-18

19-21

22. This one had a skeleton attached to the lower corner. 

23-25 On the 25th envelope along with some of the others I 

made a little pocket on the outside to put more goodies in. 

26-28

29 and 30. Made another pocket in the front of number 29. 

and here we have the last one coming in at 31. For this

envelope I added more decorations on the outside, again I added a pocket to hold more.

My swap partner loved all the envelopes I made for her. 

I have to post this photo. Hubby bought me a orange LED lighted broom

to put by the front door with my other brooms, and witch garb. 

Look how bright these lights are in the dark! 

After today I'll be packing up all my Halloween decor, and

crafting supplies. Time to start looking ahead to Thanksgiving, and Christmas! 

Everyone be safe out there tonight. Watch for the goblins.....Oh I meant children. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Paper Doll Christmas ATC

Made some Christmas themed artist trading cards for an upcoming swap. 

Used Tim Holtz paper dolls over the stamped images of the trees. 

I think they have a very vintage feel to them. 

Closer look at one of the cards. I didn't have enough

of the same winter themed paper dolls for all the cards, so

each one is a bit different. 

Also made a little pocket to hold each card. 

Used three different washi tapes to go around the pocket. 

Making spaghetti today for Emily. She's on vacation, and is

stopping by to give me another art lesson. Don't think it will 

help, as no way can I color as nice as she does, but I'm still

trying to work on my shading techniques, and allowing for

where the light hits the subject. 

It will be a fun afternoon. Love spending time with her. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Swaps Find a Home on my Stamping Studio Walls

So I did a little rearranging in the stamping studio yesterday afternoon.

The peg board that you see in this photo is on all the walls as

there are no windows in this space. 

Part of the wall shown use to hold ribbon. They were on 

four hanging racks. Rats I should have taken a before and after photo...

 

but I regress.

 

Pulled down the ribbon racks, and strung two lengths of 

 

ribbon to hold my many swaps that I have received. I like it

 

this way much better. I can enjoy the works of art instead of

 

putting them in a box. Plus since they are clipped to the ribbon I 

 

can change them out as I get new ones. 

 

Now what happened to all those ribbon rolls? Well there was a lot of it, but

 

the thing is I don't find myself using ribbon very often. I kept about half

 

of it, and found a drawer closer to my work space so hopefully I'll 

 

actually use it. The other half is in a priority mailer that I will be

 

sending to my friend Kym. I'm sure my crafty friend will be able to use it. 

So one day soon I'm going to have to take photos of my Barbie doll

border that goes around the entire room. Hey I don't have windows, so

I need pretty things to look at. 

Stamping trails (with less ribbon)

Karen

 

 

More Artist Trading Cards to Share

OMG I haven't updated my blog since Wednesday last week. 

Didn't think it had been that long ago. I've

been a bit down. Just not feeling myself. 

I did some some stamping, but not much. 

These are my latest artist trading cards. 

Just playing with different backgrounds, and my new

stamps. What I really need to do is start working

on some Thanksgiving ones, and dare I say....Christmas?!!!!!

The season is right around the corner. Going to be here before we know it! 

Let's see....last week I went to Emily's, and we did some shopping at the new

A.C. Moore store in Great Northern. Then I treated her to lunch. 

Did some stamping with Betty last week also. 

My friend Liz came over on Friday, and I helped her with a collage. One of 

her friend's son made Eagle Scout, and she wanted to do a frame featuring the award 

ceremony, invitation, and program. It came out rather well, but I forgot to

take a photo of it. We also went to Baskets Galore open house right here at 

the Brunswick Town Center. That was fun! Got a little tipsy on some red wine. 

They also had food, and lots of Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving items. 

Since they gave us a 5 dollar off coupon I bought a jack-o-lantern tea light. I'll

have to take a photo of that because it is cute! I also bought

a stacking snowman box. 

Going to be getting together with Liz again soon, as we need to make

thank you cards for the Optimist club. 

Okay I'm rambling. Have a great rest of the weekend. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Shrink Art Birthday Card

Another birthday card that I forgot to post. This one

was made by Carolyn. I just love that shrink art dress form!

The flowery lace oval going around the greeting is so pretty. 

She also made me a little notebook. 

Thanks Carolyn! 

Busy day! Met with Emily earlier. Did some shopping, and got

lunch. I always enjoy spending time with her. She is so sweet! 

 

Later today I will be going out with Eliz for an open house at Baskets Galore right

 

here in Brunswick. So no crafting time for me today. I have some free time 

 

tomorrow for that. I have new stamping toys that are calling my name! 

Stamping trails

Karen

More Goodies from Kathleen

More goodies from my friend Kathleen. 

I love this three compartment box. So

elegant! The details are great! She used a metal embellishment to

decorate the latch. Now why don't I think of those things?

Inside view. Filled with lovely embellishments that I can use on my projects.

And speaking of embellishments....she made this wonderful case

to hold more of them that she made just for me. 

Inside view. Love those filigree pockets to hold them. 

Rosettes. 

Three filigree embellishments. 

Bows.

and three tags. I should have taken them out of the package to

snap a pic as the tags are all different. 

Just beautiful as always Kathleen! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Happy Mail Wreath

I received this happy mail wreath from my friend Kathleen on

Saturday. It is so much fun!!!!!! Made using a 4" embroidery hoop, 

patterned paper, and clothes pins. 

The pins are covered with patterned paper and glued to the

the back of the wreath with the clip side out. After the decorating is

finished you can add goodies for your friend. Love it!!!!!

Kathleen also made this beautiful fall card. Love the bow. 

Side view so you can see the dimension.

I'll be back tomorrow with other fun things Kathleen made me. She sent

me a pretty packed box!!!

 

On a side note we got our first frost last night. Good thing hubby wrapped up the garden 

 

for the season. 

Stamping trails

Karen

High Heels

Playing with a stamp set I bought last week. Called Runway by

Tim Holtz. Love all the models in this set. 

Greeting is from a stamp set by Dylusions called Say it how it is. 

I had some burlap that I added for a texture layer. 

Little shoe charm was added just for fun, and speaking of fun...

Had fun yesterday at the craft show in Midpark with Betty. 

It was a long shopping day for me. We also went to A.C. Moore, and Tuesday Morning. 

I was overly tired as I didn't get much sleep the night before. 

Made up for that last night as I slept 9 hours. Feeling a bit better

today. Got lots of happy mail from friends, and swappers yesterday.

I'll be posting those throughout the week. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Paris Keychain, Halloween ATC

My friend Kathleen sent me this fun, and cute key chain that

she purchased while in Paris. Love it! She said the macaroons there taste so

 

good. I don't think I've ever ate a macaroon.  I'll have to try them sometime. 

Some off beat spooky Halloween ATC that I made back in August. Still

trying to go through and post some things I made, and didn't get to post. 

Tomorrow is the Midpark craft fair. Going to that show with Betty. We

went last year, and it was awesome. 

Stamping trail

Karen  

Gorjuss Girl Witch, and Paris Runway Lady

My friend Kym sent me this gorjuss girl. Since

I don't have any of the dies to cut them, and I 

so wanted to make one into a little witch she was

sweet to send me one. I should have taken a before and

after pic, but didn't think of it till just now. The doll's body was

brown, and wanted her green so I colored over the brown

cardstock with Prisma pencils. Added the hat and broom

 using stamps, and thinlits by Tim Hotlz. Also added some

fun white highlights to her black hair.

I think she turned out great! 

 

 

Now this Paris beauty was also made using Tim Holtz products. 

 

The lady is from a stamp set called Runway. 

 

The background was embossed with Paris Adventure folder. Tower

 

was inked with black and stamped on cream cardstock. 

 

Did a little shading with a gray pencil to ground the tower, girl, and dog. 

 

Oh and I used distress crayons to color the girl. The colors with the 

 

crayons are just so vibrant. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Woolly Bear Time Again!

Me and hubby have been seeing lots of woolly bears

while taking our walks around Brunswick Lake. Most

of them have more rust color in their centers than black. According

to legend if the rust color is greater than the black color on them the

winter will be more mild. 

So here is hoping the legend is true! 

Hubby has been putting up with me picking all

of the "bears" off the pavement around the lake and taking them

back into the woods. I've seen to many of them getting crushed on the

pavement. So I have no problem killing spiders, but I don't want to

see these cute little bears get killed. 

We are starting to see the leaves start to turn. Not many yet. 

Most of the trees here are still green. 

Speaking of green......

Panini's has "Frankie" out facing Center Road. 

Snapped this pic on the way home. Is he big and green or what? 

Optimist club meeting tonight. The Optimists are giving awards

out to Police Officers, and Fire Fighters who have gone above and beyond this past year. 

We can't do enough to honor the people who protect us everyday. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Nothing bundt Cakes, and Birthday Card

There is a bakery that opened up a little

over a year ago in Strongsville. 

Get this the name of the store is

Nothing bundt cakes.

Play on words for the name.

Have been meaning to go check out the store, but never got

around to it. Well the store came to me. My friend Liz

brought me a pumpkin bundt cake for my birthday.

and let me tell you....it was so dang good!!!!!!! Little tiny

bundt cake inside the holder. Well not so little really. Large enough to

share with someone.

And speaking of birthdays I made this card for

a friend to give to her brother on his 60th.

and another play on words. Reelin' in the years by Steely Dan.

Her brother likes to fish so I thought the fishing pole and the words went so well

together.

Stamping trails

Karen 

 

My Cat My Familiar, and Birthday Cards

Just inside my front door I have a coat rack on the wall. 

For the past two seasons I've put up

one of Sarah's cloaks, a witch hat from an old

costume of mine, shoes, and two brooms. 

Added the sign Wicked. 

Cherokee likes to lay on the rug, and most days

also lays on the brooms. She must be lending herself to

being my familiar.

 

 

Still catching up on posting photos. I wanted to post some of the cards I 

 

received from for my birthday. This on was made by Betty. 

 

 

By Kathleen. 

 

 

Here is how the card opens up. How fun! 

 

 

From Lisa.

I got a good giggle from the one Sarah got me. 

Wonder just how old she thinks I am? Since I was

a little baby in the early 60's, and was not a flower child. But it is still cute. 

I know I posted a pic of the card Emily made for me, but

it is worthy of posting again. She is such a talent!!!!! 

Stamping trails

Karen