Trick or Treat!

I'm not decorating for Halloween this year. My bathrooms are being remodeled and I will have a claustrophobic meltdown if I get out the Halloween decor. I did mix up a fun fall scent in my essential oil diffuser this morning though!

We haven't had "trick or treaters" in a long time, so I don't buy candy anymore. I would be the one to eat it anyway! I am going to make a few of these though...My nieces and nephews will love getting these in the mail!

I used some digital backgrounds from the Taylormadecards4u Halloween Passport kit and some of these fun vintage images from the Retro Halloween Images 2 to make my card.

I designed the card panel in Photoshop Elements and cut the pieces using my Silhouette Cameo 3. I like that I can mass produce cards this way. All I have to do is change out the backgrounds and the pop-up images.

Mounting the cut-out background on black card stock really makes the sentiment stand out. I dusted over the cut-out areas with Black Soot Distress Oxide ink and added some Xmas Red Stickles for a little Halloween gore effect. I found the skull and crossbones foam sticker in my stash.

I gave the cats some red gem eyes and added some Diamond Stickles for added sparkle.

These cards are so much fun to play with!

Click HERE to check out what the rest of the Taylormadecards4u Inspiration Team has created and be sure to visit the TMC4u shop for 40% off Halloween images!

Trick or Treat!

Read More »

Bump in the Night

My brother gave my boys the book M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman many years ago. I scared the poop out of them by reading the short story " The Price" one night before bed. This animatic version is narrated by the author himself!

https://vimeo.com/56573423

Talk about some light sleepers after that! Any little noise and we were all wide awake!

The new challenge at Cupcake Inspirations is Bump in the Night. 



I created this tag with the Black Cat in mind!

[caption id="attachment_12734" align="aligncenter" width="507"] JFF Rubber Stamps Tiny Black Kat, Bats and Couple Under a Light Post . Club Scrap card stock and ribbon.[/caption]

I trimmed the Couple Under a Light Post stamp *GASP* to isolate the light post and created a scene using the three stamp images. The Tim Holtz stamping platform came in handy when stamping these silhouette stamps multiple times for full coverage!



I punched a mask for the moon with a 2 in circle punch on a piece of Post it tape, covered my stamped images and dusted the tag with Orange Marmalade Distress Oxide ink. Then I added some Diamond Stickles to the lamp post, inked the edges with Black Soot Distress ink and added an eyelet and some ribbon. Now I have a spooky little book mark for my book!

Click HERE for more inspiration from the Design Sweeties and share your hair-raising creations with us! I'll look for you in the gallery!



CHALLENGES ENTERED:

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog - October Anything Goes Challenge #56

The Ribbon Girl Blog - October Anything Goes

Make My Monday Challenge #81 Animals

Your Next Stamp Fall Fun Challenge #98

ATC Around the World  #46- Halloween! 

Read More »

"Boo" Scootin' in Texas!

A few weeks ago I visited my Texas family to help out with Ellie's homecoming preparations and watch Kyle's flag football game. My sister had surgery on her foot, so I chauffeured while she did the "boo" scoot on her knee scooter.  Look how cute her "BOO!" leg is!



We had a front row seat to Kyle's game, thank goodness. It was hot and Steph was a little dangerous on that scooter! We got there just in time to see his touchdown! As Pap says, " The Kid can play!"

 

[caption id="attachment_3864" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Club Scrap November 2016 ALSB Layout Formula [/caption]

I held a post game interview with my favorite player. No question stumped him. He popped off answers like he had rehearsed it. That boy has confidence, ability AND celebrity presence!

 

[caption id="attachment_3865" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Enter a caption[/caption]

Ellie was next on the list. My camera loved her! I started out just taking a few shots of her getting ready and it turned into a photoshoot. I didn't phase her at all, I felt invisible even when I did close ups. She exudes confidence and she applies makeup like an artist. I want to be just like her when I grow up!


Steph, Kevin and I followed her for a group photo shoot in their neighborhood, then she was whisked away in a party bus to the country club for dinner, the dance, after party, and then breakfast!


Man, a lot has changed since I was in high school. Getting asked to homecoming was usually a quick conversation in the hall at school with all of your friends giggling behind you. How fun is this?!

[caption id="attachment_3868" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Club Scrap  A Study in Red digital kit.[/caption]

Homecoming Mums are a BIG tradition in Texas. I'm fascinated! The tradition is for the guy to give his date a mum. She will give him a smaller version called a garter. If you're crafty you can make your own, but there are actually people who are professional mum makers who make these elaborate creations of self expression... and it is BIG BUSINESS! Some of them even light up!



I can't leave out the most important men in her life...that pic of Kyle cracks me up!


We finished up the weekend with homemade chili for Frito pies (made by me!) and Ellie whipped up a caramel apple bundt cake for dessert. That girl has skills! DEELISH!


I can't wait to see my crew for Thanksgiving, I miss my peeps!

Do more of what makes you happy!



Challenges entered:

Club Scrap Monthly Layout Challenge 11-2016

Club Scrap ALSB Challenge 11-2016

Read More »

Yes, I Can Drive a Stick!

In the mid 1970's, before the "Disney Channel", there was The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday night! We would have Swanson's TV dinners on TV trays while we watched (salisbury steak and mashed potatoes with the little brownie was a favorite!). We weren't allowed to eat in front of the TV any other time, so this was a big treat. For dessert...Mom cooked chocolate Jello pudding on the stove and put it in little red Tupperware cups with the plastic lids to chill in the fridge. The "skin" on top was my favorite part! Halloween was the beginning of Disney movie holiday season, so there was lots of excitement when the commercials would play during Saturday morning cartoons! I can still recite every word from this mini movie feature...I think we had the album of Disney Halloween sounds too. Dad would play it on the stereo on Halloween while he was handing out candy!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skdVouumMk4]

My kids weren't as interested in cartoons when they were growing up. By then Pixar had taken off and cartoons were "boring".  My kids grew up with the Disney Channel and daily replays of Halloween Town and Hocus Pocus. Sigh, cartoons were the good 'ol days.

My last Halloween card for 2016, and it's a shaker card! This witch is not as kid friendly as Witch Hazel, but I like her sense of humor!

[caption id="attachment_3637" align="alignnone" width="750"] JFFRS Flying Witch and Tiny Black Kat stamps. Sentiment created in PSE and printed on a full moon image I took with my DSLR camera. Cricut Happy Hauntings frame. Club Scrap cardstock.[/caption]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lLI--_j_Mw]

I even made a pair of Shrinky Dinks plastic earrings to match my card!

[caption id="attachment_3696" align="alignnone" width="5184"] JFFRS Flying Witch and Bats stamps on frosted Shrinky Dink plastic.[/caption]

Hope you have a FA-BOO-LOUS Halloween! Dang, I wish I had some homemade chili and cornbread about now...



Challenges entered:

Craft Your Passion Challenge #336 Always Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers #176 Explosion of Color

Sweet Stampin' Challenge Inspired by a Book or a Film or a Song

Cut It Up Challenge Blog #108 Halloween in Non-Traditional Colors

Read More »

What's Up My Witches?!

We don't usually get many trick or treaters on Halloween, but I decorated anyway. I like to see it when I come home! I really need to paint my front door, but it goes with the spooky decor.

[caption id="attachment_3300" align="alignnone" width="1893"] It took me two Halloweens to finish my witch hat, but I ♥ it! Wire mesh template I designed and covered with cheesecloth and plaster of Paris, then painted and decorated.[/caption]



I even let it overflow to the dining room...



[caption id="attachment_3547" align="alignnone" width="3264"] Check out this link for the spooky crystal balls "how to"![/caption]



Then I went to visit the Chapman Blondies and helped spread a little Halloween spirit there too!



So worth it to see this kid excited when we turned the lights on!



Since I was in Halloween mode, I saw these on Pinterest and thought I would make a t-shirt for Halloween...



I should have just ordered one and been done, but NOOOOOOO!!! I wanted to make one (rolling my eyes).  I didn't make a t-shirt, but I did make a card! I had to keep that witch theme going!

[caption id="attachment_3521" align="alignnone" width="3299"] JFFRS Bubble,  Bubble, Toil and Trouble stamp  stamped and embosses with black ink, then painted with Perfect Pearls mixed with water. Sentiment created in Photoshop Elements and printed on Club Scrap cardstock. The sentiment was highlighted with a Perfect Pearls pen and dusted with Perfect Pearls to match the stamped image.[/caption]



Jeez, it looks like Halloween threw up over here! I sure hope we get some trick or treaters on Halloween, or I will be the one to eat all the candy!



Challenges entered:

Tuesday Throwdown #317 Add a Border

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #29



The City Crafter Challenge #335 Hallo-ween

Fab Funky Challenges Blog #324 Celebrate Halloween

That's Crafty Challenges Friday the 13th Part 2

Read More »