October issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler!!

Spook up some paper delights with the October issue of the Paper 

Crafters Sampler.  You'll find Boo-tiful banners, cooking cauldrons

and clever candy containers in the Halloween Hoopla.

The exclusive Paper Crafters Sampler template for the month is the

 Ghouls Hangout.

Sneak peeks from the design team 

can be found on the main PCS website.

Trick or Treat!

Have I mentioned lately that I love Crafty Secrets stamps?  I love the retro feel of their images!  Yes, I'm a Stampin' Up! gal, but sometimes you have to play outside the sandbox a little.

All products are SU!, unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Halloween Fun (Crafty Secrets)

Paper:  Vanilla, Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Nightfall dsp (Memory Box)

Ink:  Black, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Calypso Coral, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard

Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels framelits, Pumpkin Pie 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Gray striped satin ribbon, Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Black 5/8 satin ribbon, Rhinestone jewels, Aquapainter, Fine Galaxy Brilliants glitter, Dimensionals, white gel pen, Tangerine Tango embossing powder

French Foliage

I'm sure that there is a name for this technique, but I don't know what it is!  I started by sponging Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Delight onto Vanilla card stock, taking care to get a good saturation of color.  Then I stamped En Francais and the spatter stamp from Itty Bitty Backgrounds in Soft Suede, then sponged the edges with Early Espresso.  I stamped the leaf images from French Foliage in Soft Suede, then painted the same images with gold Smooch paint then, using a Stamp-a-ma-Jig, stamped over the Soft Suede images.  After everything was dry, I sprayed the entire piece with gold Smooch Spritz.


All products used are SU!, unless otherwise noted.


Stamps:  French Foliage, Hand-Penned Holidays, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, En Francais

Paper:  Vanilla, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Gold brads, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, Cherry Cobbler waffle satin ribbon, Early Espresso waffle sating ribbon, Ticket-Corner punch, Dimensionals, gold Smooch spray, gold Smooch paint

Creative Crew label challenge!

Here is another step-it-up challenge from the Creative Crew!  This particular challenge involves stepping-up labels, tags or ATC's.  The catalog focus will be the Occasions Stamps (pp.32-57 in annual catalog). Choose any stamp set to create a simple tag or Artist Trading Card (ATC) then make a stepped up version of your tag/ATC.

I went for the basic Happy Birthday tag and glammed it up -- a bunch! -- by adding a layer of Champagne Glimmer Paper behind the tag and behind the sentiment button.  I also added another Dahlia and more ribbon at the top.  

All products are SU!, unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Blue Ribbon

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Vanilla, World Spectacular dsp, Champagne Glimmer Paper

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Island Indigo

Accessories:  Big Shot, Apothecary Accents framelits, Dahlias, 1 1/4" circle punch,  1 3/8" circle punch, Ribbon Slides, Cherry Cobbler polka-dot scallop ribbon, Island Indigo ruffled ribbon, Daffodil Delight 1/4" taffeta ribbon, Pumpkin Pie 1/4" taffeta ribbon, Early Espresso 1/4" taffeta ribbon, Only Orange 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

Perfectly Preserved, stepped up!

Here is another Color focus for this months' Creative Crew challenge -- to use the Orchard Harvest dsp or a combination of Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, More Mustard, Lucky Limeade or Raspberry Ripple.  Then to make one card, then step it up and make a better card!

The basic card on the left, shows the basic design.  The mason jar with three flowers in it, with a pear leaning up beside the jar.  The edges of the Raspberry Ripple dsp is sponged with Raspberry Ripple, then layered with RR.

The stepped up version on the right, shows that the central flower and pear are popped-up on Dimensionals.  There are Not Quite Navy brads added to the corners of the Raspberry Ripple layer and a double-bow of Island Indigo ruffled ribbon adds a touch of softness.  What you can't see is that the centers of each floret is dotted with Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  Very pretty, IRL!

All products are SU!, unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Perfectly Perserved

Paper:  Island Indigo, Raspberry Ripple, Vanilla, Orchard Harvest dsp

Ink:  Black, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Primrose Petal, Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard

Accessories:  Big Shot, Cannery Set framelits, Ticket-Corner punch, Island Indigo ruffled ribbon, brads, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, Dazzling Diamonds

Shameless brag....

This was taken last week at the Kentucky Horse Park!

Creative Crew Challenge!

Here is another step-it-up challenge from the Creative Crew.  The Catalog Focus involves stepping-up labels, tags or ATC's using any of the sets from the Occasions part of the catty.  I didn't use any of the Occasions sets for this tag, but used one from the Holiday Mini.

I think that the first tag is really pretty as it is, but for the second, stepped-up tag, I added some peeled wallpaper to the outer portion of the tag, as well as some brads.  Then I distressed the central layer with the spatter stamp from my old fav, Itty Bitty Backgrounds in Crumb Cake and Close to Cocoa.  So is the second tag stepped-up or stepped-down??

All products are SU!, unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Affection Collection, Gently Falling, Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Paper:  Vanilla, Early Espresso, First Edition dsp, Printed Patterns dsp/In Colors

Ink:  Early Espresso, Close to Cocoa, Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, Riding Hood Red, Gumball Green

Accessories:  Big Shot, Floral Frames, Riding Hood Red 3/8" taffeta ribbon, sponges, linen thread, Designer Brushed Bronze buttons, brads

Creative Crew October Challenges!

This months Creative Crew challenges are all about stepping it up.  Make one card good; make the second card better!  

These two cards reflect the color focus (CCREW1012CF).  This focus is all about the colors found in the Orchard Harvest dsp -- Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, More Mustard, Lucky Limeade and Raspberry Ripple.

The basic card is made using Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade and Vanilla.  I used my Big Shot and the Fancy Fan embossing folder on the Vanilla layer and lightly sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa.  I used the Ticket-Corner punch on the corners and layered it with Raspberry Ripple.  

The Lucky Limeade layer is stamped with the medium-sized medallion from Daydream Medallions in Lucky Limeade.  Again the corners are shaped with the Ticket-Corner punch and layered with Raspberry Ripple.

The central image is from Everything Eleanor and is watercolored using Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose and Raspberry Ripple.  Highlights are added with a white gel pen and the image is punched out using the 1 3/4" circle punch and is, again, layered with Raspberry Ripple.  

To step up this basic card, add Raspberry Ripple stitched satin ribbon across the center of the card, under the Lucky Limeade layer, as well as a cute double bow.  Add brads to each of the four corners of the Vanilla layer and adhere medium-sized Pearl Jewels to the medallion.

All products are SU!, unless otherwise noted.

Stamps:  Daydream Medallions, Everything Eleanor

Paper:  Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade, Vanilla

Ink:  Black, Lucky Limeade, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Raspberry Ripple, Close to Cocoa

Accessories:  Big Shot, Fancy Fan embossing folder, Ticket-Corner punch, 1 3/4" Circle punch, Raspberry Ripple stitched satin ribbon, Basic Pearl Jewels, brads, sponges, Aquapainter, Dimensionals