Paper Pumpkin Halloween & Alternative Projects

Since it was first introduced I've subscribed to "Paper Pumpkin" –  it is a complete and fully designed crafting kit that is delivered to your mailbox every month.  It always comes with at least one 1" Stampin' Spot ink cube and an exclusive photopolymer stamp set.  It is often a set of cards but this month it is a really cute 3D item.  Little tubes to fill and decorate for Halloween or Fall.

The kit has 16 tubes!  I made a few and filled them with candy corn.  So cute!  My grandsons will love them.  Here is a look at some of the supplies that come with the kit – enough to complete all the tubes and left over pieces too.

While I love them, I didn't want to make all 16 tubes for Halloween so I went to work on making some alternate projects. 

My first thought was to fill with some of my favorite embellishments. Now they are in a cute little jar I usually keep my green glue in and close at hand! I made a card, using a few additional supplies – Old Olive & Basic Black Card Stock and Basic Black ink.  Notice I used the "scrap" part of the banner stickers for a vertical line on the card.

The last project is what I'm going to use for place cards on my Thanksgiving table.  I put a bit of confetti in the vial for now, but I'm going to figure out something else (when I'm a little more mobile).  I cut a strip of Whisper White paper to layer onto the sticker banner and tied that on with some gold thick baker's twine from the Baker's Twine Trio Pack.

So are you ready to try Paper Pumpkin or do you know someone who would love it? From now through October 10 when you buy the next kit at $19.95 (that includes shipping) you get November free! Just enter BOGO at checkout and select me as your demonstrator.   Check out the Stampin’ Up! Paper Pumpkin YouTube channel to see past kits. This is perfect to give as a gift to a new stamper, but fun for the experienced stamper as well.  If you love it, you can order a discounted 3, 6 or 12 month subscription from me or continue it month-to-month. But you can cancel after you receive your November kit with no further commitment.  Another advantage to being a subscriber you get to order kit refills when Stampin’ Up! makes them available.

Thanks for looking!

Debbie

When placing an order through my online store be sure to use the October Host Code 7ZKGME4F

  

Simple Joy Watercolor Christmas Card

Today I'm playing with a very basic watercolor technique for this simple but elegant Christmas card.  You could make a lot of these in no time at all and they are flat so are easy to mail as well!

Emboss Watercolor Paper with the Softly Falling Embossing Folder.  I used my Aqua Painter and started a very light wash of ink – Night of Navy at the top, Marina Mist in the middle, Soft Sky at the bottom – and blended them as I went

I added some Floral Boutique Washi Tape across the bottom 1/3 of the card 'cause I thought the Joy needed a "shelf" to sit on.

I cut to Joys from the Wonderful Wreath Framelits Dies, one from Night of Navy, one from Silver Glimmer Paper.  I used the Fine Tip Glue Pen to glue the two joys together, offsetting them slightly which I think makes the word stand out more. The Fine Tip Glue Pen is perfect for detailed areas where precision is a must– I love it!

I used Tombow Multipurpose Glue to mount the Joy just above the washi tape and then used my Clear Wink of Stella pen to randomly add just a bit of shimmer to the raised dots. Can you tell I love the Wink of Stella?  I think I use it on nearly every project. Finally, I mounted the watercolor paper onto a Night of Navy card base.

Stampin' Tips:

When using a very dark base card I add a white panel to the inside when I'm ready to send the card.

Use Fast Fuse to adhere Watercolor Paper to another layer.

Thanks for looking!  When you use the Softly Falling do you like the heavy dots at the top (like I used it here), or on the bottom?

Debbie

When you shop online with me remember to use October Host Code, 7ZKGME4F. Check out the great deals in the Clearance Rack!

Did you know that October 1 is World Card Making Day? Stampin' Up! is celebrating by offering a discount on products you can use all year.  The Fast Fuse is such a great deal!

Do you remember the last time you received a card in the mail?  I do, and it meant so much! In a sea of junk mail and bills, a card is a simple thing that really stands out to the person who receives it. Sending a card is a small gesture that shows just how much you care about that special someone in your life. Celebrate by making and sending a handmade card to someone who could use a little recognition, love, or just a hello from someone who cares.

Here is a cute video about World Card Making Day




Happy World Card Making Day!

Debbie

Shop for Stampin' Up! supplies from the comfort of your own home right here in my online store.  Use October Host Code, 7ZKGME4F. 

Simply Peace and a Merry Christmas Card

Today I'm sharing with you two of my favorite Christmas cards.  Elegant in their simplicity, these are cards you can make a lot of in a short amount of time and they are flat and easy to mail.  I'm making a lot of these to send this year.

Starting with "peace" the base is Shimmery White – my favorite card stock! Really, it is my favorite.  It stamps beautifully, you can watercolor on it and it has a glorious shimmer to it.  I used some washi tape to mask a rectangle then used my sponge dauber and Night of Navy ink to shade inside of that rectangle.  I might add that the washi tape comes right off, which doesn't always happen on Whisper White.

I stamped the stars from the stamp set Holly Jolly Greetings with Versamark, then used Heat & Stick Powder and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter on the stars.

I die cut the peace, which is part of the Christmas Greetings Thinlits, 3 times – once each from Silver Glimmer, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer and Shimmery White.  While all looked great, my favorite was Dazzling Diamonds so I used my Fine Tip Glue Pen to adhere it.

That's it!  You're done.  Here is a variation on the Peace card.  This one is "daubered" with Real Red ink.  The greeting was cut from Red Glimmer Paper. For this one I layered a Shimmery White panel onto a Whisper White Card Base for a little different look (and makes that Shimmery White paper last longer!)

I used Basic Rhinestones instead of glitter and I added another word – Christmas, from Holly Jolly Greetings. Which do you like better?

Look at these other projects by Stampin' Up! using the Christmas Greetings Thinlits.

Tip:  when using a sponge dauber to add color I always start off the paper

Thanks so much for looking!  Let me know what you think!

Debbie

Be sure to use my October Host Code, 7ZKGME4F, when you shop online and be sure to check out the great deals in the Clearance Rack. 

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Sweater Weather Fall Birthday Card

It's officially Fall and the leaves are starting to turn beautiful shades of yellow and red here, I'm anxious to get my sweaters out, but it's still 80 degrees so for now I'll settle for the Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Wow!  That's a mouthful!  This "dynamic" embossing folder embosses a deeper more detailed impression.  It is so beautiful – I think of it as the cashmere of embossing folders.   

I embossed a panel of Very Vanilla Card Stock with the folder and layered that onto a layer of that yummy Copper Foil Sheets.  I so hope this paper is carried over!  I used the Vintage Leaves stamp set and stamped with Versamark 2 oak leaves and 1 maple leaf.  Those leaves were embossed using Copper Embossing Powder and I cut them out with the Leaflets Framelits.  I thought about adding a little color to the leaves, but decided to leave it alone.  

Instead I added some loops of Linen Thread and Copper Metallic Thread and tied the leaves together with a Linen Thread bow.  This "bouquet" was attached with Mini Glue Dots which are the perfect adhesive for dimensional elements like these leaves.

I added a birthday greeting from Build a Birthday, again embossing with Copper Embossing Powder.  I think you could use this for a get well or sympathy or most anything for that matter!  Just wish I could have captured the copper on the leaves a little better but my mobility is still very limited and the light I had just didn't show it.  I snapped this picture with my iPhone on my kitchen counter, which shows the beautiful copper leaves a little better.

Tips:  To make my precious Copper Foil Paper go a bit further, I cut the center out of my panel to save for another project.

You need to get ready for sweater weather and add this embossing folder to your collection!  You will love it. Check out this YouTube video on the embossing folder.

Thanks for looking

Debbie

When shopping online with me use the September Host Code,TYAEUADU, and be sure to check out the Clearance Rack for some great deals!

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Watercolor Flowers Birthday Card

Tying my hand at watercolor flowers – I have some work to do to perfect it, but for my first try I'm pleased!

It's just as simple as painting circles with ink and your Aqua Painter on Watercolor Paper.  I spritzed the whole piece of watercolor paper with water -- next time I won't do this and maybe I won't get the bleeding from one flower into another.  I want to do a video on this.

My inks were layers as follows – I started with Blushing Bride, while still wet I added Watermelon Wonder.  I used my heat tool at this point to dry the ink then added a drop of diluted Garden Green to the center.  Used my Heat Tool to dry the green then added Crushed Curry around the green.  The green bled into the yellow a bit so is a little washed out.  At this point I sprayed my fingers with water and flicked water onto the watercolor paper then once again dried it with my Heat Tool.  I love those little splotches.

Finally I used the Clear Wink of Stella to add shimmer to the Crushed Curry.  When all the ink was dry I used one of my favorite tools, the Embossing Buddy,  to wipe all over the center then embossed the Stylized Birthday greeting in black. 

To finish the card I layered the watercolor onto Basic Black then on to a half sheet of Watermelon Wonder.

Stampin' Tips:

I always us Fast Fuse when adhering Watercolor Paper.

Stampin' Up! currently does not sell black embossing powder.  What?  I know!  Here is a solution that works pretty well – ink your stamp very well with Versamark ink then stamp it onto the ink pad of your choice.  Occasionally doing this doesn't seem to affect the ink.

To watercolor I put a drop of refill ink in the lid of an open ink pad, adding water to dilute as needed, adding more ink as needed.  Alternately you can squeeze the ink pad to get ink onto the lid.  I wipe off the lid only if there is a lot of water left.

I hope I've inspired you to get out your inks and Aqua Painter and try this.

Debbie

Be sure to use the September Host Code TYAEUADU when placing online orders. Don't miss the great Clearance Rack deals.

Halloween Decor BOO on Linen Canvas Frame

Halloween decorating is so much fun.  I found these cute 4" stretched linen canvases awhile ago at my Michaels store.  By the time I found them they were on clearance and they only had 3.  Wish I had more! (FYI they were by Make Market and described as Decor Linen Canvas 4 in x 4 in) They work well for my favorite Halloween word "BOO".

This project comes together so fast!  I cut 3 1/4" squares from a sheet of Moroccan Designer Series Paper.   I sponged the edges with my sponge dauber and Soft Suede ink.  Then as an afterthought I used my Gold Wink of Stella pen to on the edges as well.

This paper has a great selection of small geometric prints that are so versatile.

I cut the letters from Basic Black Card Stock using my Large Letters Framelits and painted them with the Gold Wink of Stella as well.  I love the gold shimmer on black -- classic Halloween look IMHO.  In the corner of the "B" block I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black a single spider from the set Jar of Haunts.

On the second "O" I added 3 bats die cut from the Home Sweet Home Thinlits and attached them with scrunched up Mini Glue Dots.

Tried to show the gold shimmer in the photo above.

The panels were attached to the linen with glue dots.  What I love about this is when Halloween is over I will be able to easily remove the panels (and save them for next year) and use the frame for another project.  Is there a 3 letter word for Fall? Spring?  I could use JOY for Christmas, Brr for Winter, Hot for Summer.  Stay tuned.

Thanks for looking!

Debbie

Don't miss the great discounted product in the Clearance Rack!  Use September Host Code TYAEUADU  when you  place your online order