MOJO Monday Sketch Challenge #214

Come and play along with the gals over at MOJO Monday. Here is their latest sketch challenge. I am working on my card so I can play along and I hope you do too!

Playing along with the weekly challenges helps to keep me on my toes with my cardmaking. It seems like there is no time left in the day by the time the kids are in bed, but using a sketch allows me to create a card quickly, but also allows me to enjoy my hobby during the week. My tip for you is to look at the challenge and spend the rest of the day thinking about what you might like to do. I try to think about what the purpose of my card is, possible color schemes, and then what stamp set or punch art I might like to use. When I actually sit down to make the card, it is pretty well planned out in my head and I can pull it together in a matter of minutes. Trust me, the design part is the hardest part... with the sketch you are halfway there.

Because Nice Matters

The Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge was a bit hard for me because I had never used Ricer Rock before nor do I use a neutral palette when making cards very often if ever. I am not sure why because I do love the look of it. It is just so clean and elegant.

I guess that is what inspired me to use the SU! Elegant Lines Embossing Folder. I used Early Expresso Cardstock for my card base. After embossing the River Rock Cardstock I adhered it to the front. The Perfect Pennants Die was a must have for me as soon as I saw it, and I used the scalloped circle one to cut out my Soft Suede Cardstock. Really, the Perfect Pennants is a great buy because you get 5 shapes on a single die. I spritzed the scalloped circle with some shimmer paint and then adhered it to the front. I used one of the leafs from the set Falling Leaves and stamped it onto Whisper White cardstock. I used a 1 3/4 circle punch to punch it out and then popped it up with dimensionals on the scalloped circle after I inked the edges by dragging the cardstock across the inkpad.. I didn't want my card to be Thanksgiving-y so I pulled out a way old stamp set called Sweet Little Sentiments because I felt like it just has the message I wanted to send with this card... 'because nice matters.'

PPA Color Challenge

Come and play along with the gals over at Pals Paper Arts with their NEW color challenge. The colors are: Early Expresso, Soft Suede, and River Rock.

I will admit that I have NEVER used River Rock before. Seriously, never!! The package is brand new and sitting on the shelf brand new. It is a good thing I left if in the plastic wrap because I am pretty sure the paper would have been dusty. SO, now I will take the plungs and open the pack. Come back tomorrow to see what I came up with.

Jack of All Trades Halloween Card

Here is the card that I made for the girls' teachers:

I used Old Olive for the base and added a piece of the Frightful Sight DSP. I stamped the pumpkin from the Jack of All Trades stamp set in Cajun Craze and then cut it out with my paper snips. I then stamped the hat from the same stamp set and snipped it out. I popped it up with dimensionals and set it on top of the pumpkin. I stamped my sentiment on Whisper White card stock using the 'happy halloween' from Teeny Tiny Wishes. It is such a must have set because it is so versatile! I punched it out with a retired SU! oval and layered it on top of a Cajun Craze oval punched out with the Large Oval punch. I adhered it to the front and I was done.

On the envelope I stamped the hat again in Old Olive to give it that extra something. I think it turned out pretty cute:)

On a funnier note, when I first started this card I was looking at the DSP sideways and did not realize there were bats on it. I thought it was just a random geometric pattern. I was going to have the card opening the other way so I am very glad that I noticed it BEFORE I glued everything down.

Halloween Treats Part 3- Witches Boot

Today I am going to share with you the Witches Boot treat holder. I made this using the SU! Stocking Die and added a 3.5 inch circle to the end to get the boot effect using Basic Black card stock. I got the idea from Fran Sabad's blog but changed it up a bit. And yes, it is okay for you to get your inspiration from someone and then make it your own as long as you give credit where it is due. I have seen so many versions of the witches boot since I made mine and it is really fun to see how people have changed this or that to make their boot unique.

I snipped out a partial circle using the 1 3/4 inch circle punch and adhered it all together. I just used a pair of paper snips to define the heel freehandedly. I then placed it in my SU! Spider Web embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot for the fabulous texture. I used the Box #2 from SU! to make my center, but cut off one end so it would be longer and sealed the top, which then became the side. Does that make sense? I adhered a boot to each side of the box using sticky strip. Instead of using cardstock for the laces, I decided to use ribbon. I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch out two holes on each side and laced the Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon to lace the boot up. I liked how the laces turned out, don't you?

 I used the Lace Border punch from SU! to punch out Concord Crush cardstock and added it to the top of the boot. I then filled it with some candy for the girls teachers. I could easily fit several pieces of candy in there. I used a Kit Kat, M & M's, and a Twix bar, but I think I could have even put a few more in.

Here is the set of boots:

Halloween Treats Part 2- Fancy Reese's Cup in Disguise

As another special treat for Halloween, I disguised a Reese's Cup in a fancy costume. I took Frightful Sight DSP and cut it into 6 X 4 pieces. I got the idea for these from my CHIC 'n Scratch and her Week #4 of Halloween. I had saved a copy of it but has a hard time finding the actual link on the website so this link will only take you to her website and you could search from there if you wanted the actual tutorial. If you do look at the tutorial you will notive her measurement for the DSP was 6 X 4 1/4... I changed it to 4 so that I could get 6 from one sheet of DSP instead of only 4 and it worked out just fine.

I added adhesive to oneof the short edges and then along the middle section of each of the long edges. I placed my Reese's cup in the middle and folded the short edges so they would meet and pressed down. I then sealed each of the ends. I used the crimper to add the texture at the ends... cute touch I think! I used the Extra-Large Tag from SU! to punch out my Whisper White tag. I then stamped BOO! in Cajun Craze and the ghost in Basic Black, both of which are from the SU! Spooky Bingo Bits set. I added SUI Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon and added that using a luggage tie. I snipped the ends of the ribbon to make sure they looked neat and I was all done!

I made these for the workers at the after school program my girls attend, their busdriver, and their teachers. They really were quick and easy but oh so cute.

Halloween Treats Part 1- Clear Cellophane Treat Bag Topper

To share with you today I have a Halloween treat bag filled with orange and black Sixlets. These are a great treats to send to school with the little ones because they are processed in a peanut free facility.

I used Stampin' Up!'s clear cellophane treat bags that are in the Holiday Mini Catalog on page 11. They are perfect for filling with a variety of different candies from M & M's, Sixlets, candy corn, Reese's Pieces, and just about any other small candy. Don't want to use candy? How about pencils?

I filled the bag with alternating colors. The bag has a sticky strip at the end so it is easy to close after you fill it. Just peel of the protector and close. I then used the Round Tab punch from SU! to punch out Cajun Craze cardstock. I folded it in half and stapled it to the top of the bag. So the recipient didn't have to tear the tag, I made sure the sticky strip end was at the bottom and attached the tab at the opposite end. I then used the Happy Halloween stamp for the SU! set Gift Givers in Basic Black and stamped it onto Whisper White cardsotock. I colored then in using SU! inks in Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, and Daffodil Delight for the pumpkins, stems, and beaks. I then used a SU! Decorative Label punch to punch out the image and in a few quick seconds my project was complete because I just had to glue them over the tab with adhesive.

I made about 40 of these. I handed them out to my classmates in my Classroom Management class, the busdriver, both of the girls' teachers, the after school program workers, and the secretaries, principal, guidance counselor, and IS teacher at the school, who Lizzie takes her tests with. I hope it brightened their day, even if it was just a little.