IT'S ALL ABOUT THE VIEW

While looking at pictures on Facebook last night of how Stampin' Up! employees decorate and celebrate Halloween, I noticed that one of the employees had a faux window scene on her cubicle wall.  Her costume was really cute, but it was the faux window that really caught my eye.  Of course, I had to make one--who could resist such a clever project????  This is not my final window--I hope to make another one with a more realistic scene but, at 4:00 a.m., I begin to lose creative steam.  If you were thinking that this was an actual view from my home, then I suppose I've lead you to believe that I'm from another planet.  Nanu! Nanu! 

TIME TO HANG UP JOSEPH'S COAT . . . AGAIN!

Go ahead.  Think what you were thinking.  Say it out loud, if you must.  It's true.  This card is a train wreck.  Actually, it's more like a distinguished passenger who, after the train wreck, is found cloaked in ne'er-do-well-Joseph's coat.  The ONE stamping technique that I have ne're done well with is Joseph's Coat.  I've been stamping for at least seven years, and I decided about five years ago to put this technique in a sealed vault.  I even told my customers at the time that I would NEVER demo Joseph's Coat, and I never have.  BUT . . . it really bugs me that I can't produce even one successful attempt at this technique.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this failure and then try to salvage it include:  "Artistic Etchings" and "Elements of Style" stamp sets, Rich Razzleberry, Marina Mist (beneath the black surface), VersaMark, Basic Black, and Early Espresso ink, rhinestone jewels, Crumb Cake, Glossy, and Naturals Ivory card stock, and Champagne Mist shimmer paint.  Can you believe that shimmer paint couldn't even save this Joseph's Coat?  It looks like my mother will be getting this card since it's one that only a mother could love.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I must deliver this technique to a much lower level in the vault, unless I pass an incinerator on the way. 

FLORAL SILHOUETTE FOR "FEMININE FRIDAYS"

Last week, with her "Feminine Fridays" post, Julie issued a mission for me to use a favorite retired stamp set this week and a color combo of Rose Red and Old Olive and/or designer paper.  When I started working on this card, I was thrilled to be fulfilling the mission . . . and then I realized that I wasn't because the designer paper that I chose is Kiwi Kiss, rather than Old Olive.  I decided to go with it anyway and stamp the focal point and sentiment on Old Olive card stock.  This is, of course, a square card with little Origami folds creating a floral border for the image from Stampin' Up!'s retired "Thankful Thoughts" stamp set.  I love silhouette images!!!  My card also features Stampin' Up!'s "Square Lattice" embossing folder, Scallop Edge punch, 2-1/2" Circle and 1-3/4" Circle punches, white Satin ribbon, and Antique Brad.  Thanks, Julie, for a fun mission that gave me an excuse to stamp the dust off a favorite stamp set!  ETA:  Instructions for the Origami flowers has been added to this post.  If you click on the picture, a larger picture will open.   You might still need to zoom in (sorry about that).

SHIMMERY VINTAGE SHADOWBOX CARD

So, I got a little side-tracked last night while cleaning off my desk.  It all started when I uncovered the "Deck the Halls" designer paper that I had folded a couple of weeks ago after seeing Julie's "Feminine Fridays" project which featured an Origami shadowbox.  I had made a project a couple of years ago which featured this same fold with one additional step, and it was known as the blintz fold.  I think shadowbox is a fitting name for it and, whatever you decide to call it, it's such a fun way to showcase a small stamped image.  I didn't uncover any stamped images that had been pushed aside, but I knew I wanted a vintage-y card and chose the typewriter image in Stampin' Up!'s "Puns from the Past" stamp set.  I love the images in this set, and they are perfect fits for the Origami shadowbox!  BTW, the only thing that I did differently to the traditional shadowbox fold was curl the four pointed flaps that surround the opening.  The typewriter image was stamped and embossed on a piece of "Newsprint" designer paper, layered onto Always Artichoke card stock, edges sponged with Early Espresso ink, and I used my craft knife to cut a slit for the sentiment.  The next layer on my card is a piece of "Newsprint" designer paper that I sponged with Early Espresso ink, crumpled, inked again, and distressed.  This layer has an Early Espresso mat, which was also sponged and distressed.  The detail that is really hard to see in the picture is the shimmer on the designer paper which was created by spraying it with Silver Foil and Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.  The finishing touch is a mini vintage tag which hangs freely and is secured to the top of the card with a Modern Label punched shape and glitter brad.  And when I finished this card at 3:20 a.m., I was pleased and ready to go catch a dream or two. 

HALLOWEEN TREATS

One of the neatest Halloween projects that I saw this year was boxed holders for hand sanitizer, which I ordered from Bath & Body Works.  I can't say that I particularly like the scent that I chose, but what a cute gift!  Friends who attended my October Inkerbelles' class got to make the box on the left, complete with a bottle of licorice-scented anti-bacterial hand gel.  The only difference between the two boxes, other than color, is the way the front flap is held closed.  The stamped layer is what holds the flap closed on the box on the left--the very bottom portion of the stamped layers is all that's adhered to the box.  The flap on the green box is held closed by a black brad that "catches" the bottom of the flap. 

WOOHOO!!!! IT'S SOMETHING TO "CHIRP" ABOUT!

I'm so excited!!!  The card shown in this post made the "Cricut Chirp" newsletter!!!  I've only had maybe four projects highlighted in Cricut's newsletter, but I get super excited each time!  After I posted this card to the Cricut site, I went back and added ribbon to it.  The ribbon, as is usually the case, makes a lot of difference.

HALLOWEEN TEST TUBE TREAT

At my Inkerbelles' class this month, my guests got to make this super quick and easy Halloween test tube treat.  This is one of those projects that you can actually look forward to making in assembly-line fashion!  The stamped sentiment from Stampin' Up!'s "Grateful Greetings" set was shaped and layered using Stampin' Up!'s two tag punches, and natural hemp twine was used to tie the tag around the test tube.  I used some retired Halloween designer paper to cover a portion of the tube to make it more festive, and the tube was filled with candy.  Well, not all tubes got filled with candy because I kept getting into that bag before class.

SPOOKY SPIDERWEB

This Halloween card features some of my favorite new Stampin' Up! products . . . "Dark and Dreary" stamp set, Spider Web embossing folder, and rhinestone jewel.  The black card stock was first embossed with the spider web design, swiped with white Craft ink, and then I used the distressing tool along the edges.  The embossing served to break down the fibers in the card stock, making it susceptible to tearing as I distressed the edges.  How perfect . . . I love the tears in the card stock!  The candelabra layer and embossed spider web layer were spritzed with Champagne Mist shimmer mist, so this card looks more shimmery in the light of day.

DINNER PARTY DECORATION

As far as projects go, this was an easy one and one that would make a nice table decoration for an evening meal.  I cut the triangle-shaped vellum box with the Cricut and then created a base for the triangle from card stock.  As you can see, the triangle box opens on the side to make it easy to get the battery-operated candle in/out.  I used Craft ink and Stampin' Up!'s "Vintage Vogue" stamp set to decorate the vellum, and Sticky Strip holds the ribbon and bow in place.

IT'S TIME FOR "FEMININE FRIDAYS"

Is it just me, or do Fridays seem to be coming around fast?  It's already time for "Feminine Fridays," and Julie has a project to share this week that features one of her favorite color combos . . . Old Olive and Rose Red.  Be sure to visit her blog for the details, and don't forget to scroll down to spy on Frankii taking a nap.