'Tis the Season

Man, it doesn't seem like it has been two weeks since my last post...sheesh! The days have just flown by. With gearing up for Halloween and getting over some nasty cold bugs, I haven't had too much time to post my creations...but I have managed to create.

I decided to take my embossed mini Halloween Treat Bag idea and turn it into a card. I think it turn out very cute...and it was SUPER easy! Those are the best kind. I love embossing folders because they add such dimension and interest without very much fuss. Can't beat that!

Click here to view my Halloween card tutorial (sorry about the audio on this one): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARxBrnmp3Kc

I have been having some fun digging out some stamps that I have had for a while and haven't used, such as the clear "Tweet" set I used to make my husband's anniversary card. But, I have also purchased some new stamp sets that I absolutely adore, such as Stampin' Up!'s Bird on a Branch. I don't know what it is, but I just love this bird! I used this set to make a thank you card for my friend who had done a painting for my daughter (see one of my earlier posts...it is just fantastic :)

In addition to loving stamps, I seem to have found myself in love with Kraft card stock...again. I am naturally drawn to earth tones and Kraft just seems to go with everything, including even more vibrant colors.

I decided to start on some Christmas projects as well. I recently purchased the Stampin' Up! Dasher stamp. This is such a classy stamp...and just like a good outfit, you can either dress it up or dress it down. I made this simple card using the Dasher set and some SU! Christmas designer paper. I saw someone else do a card almost exactly like this (but for the life of me I can't find the original tutorial), and I absolutely loved it! I think I may use it for my December Make & Take that I host for my work's Stampin' & Scrappin' Club. My husband even liked it :)

Well, off for more creating! Here's hoping the spirit of the season captures your imagination and allows you to create to your heart's content!

There's a Hole in My Bucket

Ok, so there's not really. I just REALLY dislike doing laundry. I have been looking for an excuse to spice up my laundry area for a while, and I figured a big silver bucket would do the trick.

We will see!

I used the medium "Laundry" vinyl wall art that I purchased from Stampin' Up!'s Decor Elements catalog (http://angelscraftcloset.stampinup.net). I cut it down to fit the the front of the silver bucket I found at my local craft store, and applied using the small applicator tool. Very quick and easy and it added a nice touch to a room I usually don't like simply because of its purpose :)

View my video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Q6RumZXoA

Fall is thoroughly upon us! Only two weeks until Halloween. I am already working on Christmas projects galore...it should be a great holiday season!

Trick or Treat!

It is almost Halloween! And, because of this, I thought it might be fun to make little treat gift bags for my monthly Make & Take class that I host at work. Not only to thank everyone for coming, but to give them another project idea.

I made this simple mini Halloween spider web-embbossed gift bag using the Cricut Tags, Bags, Boxes & More cartridge, and then running it through my Cuttlebug with the Fiskars Webbing texture plate. The effect is very cute! I had found some spider web ribbon at my local discount store for under $1 and thought it would be a great embellishment.

Click here to view my video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/user/angels747#p/a/u/0/OCNJxDRAVxQ

I used half of an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of Whisper White Stampin' Up cardstock because it is thick and sturdy. I cut out my gift bag template (pg. 115 of the cartridge booklet) at 4" and was able to get two boxes out of each piece of cardstock. After scoring where indicated and running through my Cuttlebug with the embossing plate, I used quick dry liquid adhesive to secure the box together. You could also use 1/8" sticky strip tape.

Since I have to make 30 of these little bags, I opted not to add an additional message, but you could easily add a sentiment to the front.

The best part about this mini gift bag is that with a change in the ribbon, paper color, or texture plate, you could customize it for any occasion! It would be great as a baby shower favor.

Thank Heaven For Artistic Friends

I was so excited when my friend, Cyndee, agreed to paint a picture for my daughter, Chloe. I asked her for an angel that shared Chloe's hair & eye color, and here is what she created! I just LOVE it! After a break, I just may have to commission another of her original works. :)

On Wednesday, my coworker is celebrating 25 years with our company. I offered to make a card for her celebratory luncheon this week. I broke out my Cricut for the numerals on the front of the card. I decided to use a Tri-Shutter Card...my first attempt. (I was inspired by a SplitCoastStampers tutorial I viewed on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su-3T3sd4r0).

The Tri-Shutter is a unique design that allows you to show off your great patterned papers. Although I didn't mat my patterned paper this time, I think I will do so next time around because I like the effect the layering provides. I chose to keep the embellishments to a minimum as I knew the card would be passed around quite a bit, and because I needed to leave plenty of surface area for others to write their congratulatory remarks.

I love experimenting with creative card designs...it keeps card making and scrapbooking new and exciting!

The Force Is Strong With This One

October is turning out to be a pretty card-heavy month! Which is great! Both my dad's and father-in-law's birthdays are in October, as well as my Grandma's. Also, a co-worker is celebrating her 25th year with our company! So, I have already created a couple, but I have a couple more to do...so I better get cracking!

The temperature has been hovering just below 60 degrees...and the clouds have been pretty constant this past week. But, we have needed the rain they brought with them something fierce. In any case, it has been excellent crafting weather :)

Here are the cards I made for my dads' birthdays, along with the videos. My dad is a member of the Moose, so when I found the Moose stamp at St. Paul's Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo last spring, I knew I would find a use for it. And, my father-in-law (and husband and son) are avid Star Wars junkies, so I absolutely had to have the Star Wars line of products that Creative Imaginations put out. So much fun to creat with.

Click here for the Star Wars Card and Gift Card Holder:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFD6Nq85j4A

Click here for the making of the Moose:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh_-_7rXacs

More to come this week on my creations for the other events!