Happy Halloween!!

Hi Everyone!  Happy Halloween!!

I'm sharing some Halloween cards I made for my grandchildren.  I put together a box every Halloween with lots of treats inside since the kids live far away from their Nana.  I may not get to be there with them, but I can still participate in the holiday by sending lots of goodies.  :o)  The kids love watching for the mailman to deliver their surprise box!

These were simple cards to create.  I used my square punch to create the cutouts in the cards, as well as the black frames, and dimensional sticker sets for the spooky characters peering out.  Here are some close-ups of each card.

The card front--a kitty-cat popping out of a pumpkin...

and the inside, complete with a creepy spider!

Each one is the same cardbase, with a different sticker set.  This is the bride of Frankenstein...

and each one features a magic potion inside.

Here is Frankenstein...

and his magic potions! 

And a cute little witch!

and the inside.  Each one is slightly different, yet the same overall layout.  The sentiments on the cards are both cut with my Cricut Expression and the Happy Hauntings cartridge. 

And here is the back of the card...

I created this logo using clip art from Microsoft Word to use only on the things I create for my grandchildren.  Just a little reminder of how Nana loves them.

And that's it for my Halloween cards.  Simple and quick--perfect for creating multiples!  I hope you enjoyed them!

Thanks for spending your Halloween with me and I hope to see you again soon.

 Hope your Halloween is spooky and fun!

Merilee

 

Ninjago Halloween Costume

Hi Everyone!  Hope you are all ready for Halloween tomorrow!

I finished my grandson's ninjago Halloween costume several days ago, but I had to put it in the mail (he lives in St. Louis, Missouri) and then wait for him to get it before I could share a photo of him wearing it. 

First of all, for you sewing enthusiasts, here are a few photos of the costume:

This costume was made using a pajama pattern.  It is made of no-pill fleece, which will be nice and warm, since the weather in St. Louis is cold.

The jacket has Velcro closures and the belt is an elastic/Velcro belt made to wrap around sleeping bags.  I found by accident and it was the perfect width for Sammy's waist.  I just love happy accidents!  He will be able to wear this as a jacket after Halloween.

The pants are basic sweatpants with an elastic casing at the top.  He has lots of shirts that will go well with this color of green (Sammy's favorite color!), so he'll get lots of use out of these pants after Halloween.

I basically had to wing the hood.  I couldn't find anything like what I needed, so I used a regular hood pattern as a template and created my own ninjago version, lol!

Another view...

And, finally, here is Sammy all dressed up!  You can't see how cute he is underneath that ninjago hood, lol!  He was so happy to have it, he told his mother, "Wow!  Nana really is crafty!"   :o)  He's 6 years old, lol!

Thanks for visiting today and I will see you again soon with Halloween cards!

Merilee

A little note about perfection...

Many of you may not know it, but in addition to my love for paper, I also have a love of fabric.  I have been sewing since my daughter was a toddler.  She is now 33 years old, and although my sewing has taken a bit of a hiatus over the past few years, my passion for it still exists. 

My husband teases with me about my "collection" of fabric.  I'd say my fabric collection is just as big as my paper collection (oh my...), and although the two are very different mediums, they are both wonderful mediums with which to work--each in its own way. 

I have sewn many different things over the years--everything from children's clothing to draperies to formal wear and, yes, even wedding gowns!  My daughter called last week and asked if I would mind sewing my grandson's Halloween costume.  He wants to be the green "Ninjago".  I have never sewn Ninjago wear, but I'm always up for a challenge!  I hurried to the fabric store to find the perfect fabric, notions, and everything I needed for the project.  But when I got home, I found myself frozen at the thought of sewing again--afraid it wouldn't be good enough--that my sewing skills had become rusty since I'd taken up my new passion for creating with paper.

Well, after reading a great post over at The Coletterie, I realized that for me, creating has always been about the journey, as much as the end result.  I've wasted precious time staring at the cut pieces of what is to be my grandson's Halloween costume, worrying about doing it perfectly when the fact is, he will be thrilled with the end result just because Nana took the time to create something special just for him.  And that's all that matters anyway, isn't it? 

So today I begin my journey through "Ninjagoland" and I'm looking forward to it.  I will keep Sammy's darling little face in mind the entire time I'm at my sewing machine, knowing that what I'm creating today will be much more than just a Halloween costume--it will be a gift that makes my grandson feel special and important, and that's what makes me love the creative process--making someone else feel loved through giving.

I'll be back in a day or two to share the finished project.  In the meantime, whatever it is that makes your heart sing, don't let the fear of being perfect stifle your creativity.  After all, God's beautiful world is perfect and everything is created in it's own unique way--that's what makes it special and beautiful and...yes, perfect!

Thanks for visiting today!

Merilee

Sunflower Birthday Card

Hi everyone!  Hope all is well and everyone is enjoying a gorgeous autumn day!  I live in Atlanta, Georgia, and the weather has been so pretty--mid to upper 70's during the day and low 50's at night.  The breeze is blowing and we're far enough north in the state to enjoy the beautiful fall colors.  I have lived many places, but I have come to love Georgia very much.  We enjoy all four seasons here, but the temperatures remain fairly mild in winter, so we never freeze.

Today's project is a sunflower birthday card.  I used a few techniques on this card, including flocking.

This began with a landscape card base in kraft cardstock which I split into two sections, covering the top and bottom with coordinating patterned papers, and using a strip of faux leather paper with a ribbon over top in the center to cover the transition between the two.  For the bottom section, the paper was not the shade of green I needed, so I blended it with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Peeled Paint.  Then I ran it through my crimper to give it the look of corrugated cardboard.  After matting the layers together on brown and gold mats, I paper pierced the outside edge and adhered it to my card base.  Hopefully, you can see the detail a little better in this photo.

The focal sunflower image is a wood mounted rubber stamp by Inkadinkado #92249.  I stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black and inked the background with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Brushed Corduroy.  The image was colored with Letraset alcohol markers and, for an added touch, I flocked the flower centers in brown flocking. 

After the coloring and flocking process, I matted the image on golden and brown cardstock.  Then I cut some mats out of two shades of olive green using my Cricut Expression and the Lacy Labels Cartridge (ThnkgYou).  I love this cartridge and I have used it in many different applications.  In this case, the cut lends itself perfectly to the pattern in the background paper.  The final touch was to pierce the edges using templates from Stampin' Up.

I centered and adhered my focal image and then looked through my stash for some metallic elements to embellish it further.  I found an alphabet paper clip, as well as a small metal label holder, both by Tim Holtz.  However, neither were in a metallic shade that would go nicely with my project, so I got out some Rub-N-Buff and changed the finish to antique gold.  Instead of using the alphabet stickers that came with the paper clips, I got out my dimensional stickers and trimmed down a round sticker to fit just inside.  I used Glossy Accents to adhere it securely and added it to my focal image with a bow to finish it off.

For the label holder, I stamped a sentiment on golden cardstock and trimmed it to fit.  Then I trimmed a piece of acetate to fit just inside and sandwiched them together and adhered them both with Glossy Accents.  I then mounted the label holder to the bottom center of the focal image with brown brads and added a metal butterfly from my stash.

Once I was satisfied, I mounted the entire thing onto the card front using foam adhesive circles.

For the inside of the card, I wanted it to match, but not exactly, so I chose one pattern from the card front to cover it completely, but using the same faux leather in the center.  Earlier I had cut the same image from Lacy Labels but it was too small.  However, I believe in "happy accidents" and thought it was the perfect size for the sentiment on the inside.  :o)  I cut small mats from golden and brown cardstock and mounted them together, paper piercing around the edges.  Then I used my Fiskars Stamp Press (which is brand new and I LOVE it!!) to combine two images from different stamp sets for the sentiment.  I offset the sunflower to include only some of the words and combined it with my birthday sentiment.  I really like the way it turned out!  :o)  Then mounted it to the Cricut cut, but only adhering three sides and leaving the left edge loose so I could slip in two tickets stamped and die cut from one of my Whimsy Ticket sets.  I did not adhere them--they are meant to be removable. I finished it up with a matching ribbon bow.

Finally, I finished the back of the card with my logo, using another cut from the same Lacy Labels Cartridge (ThnkgYou).  It is one of my favorite cuts to use with my logo stamp.

Thanks for joining me today and I hope to see you again soon with another card!

 

Merilee



 

Recipe
Stamps:  Friendship Ticket Sentiments by Whimsy Stamps; Summer Assortment Mini and #92249 by Inkadinkado; Big Greetings by My Favorite Things
Cardstock and Patterned Papers:  Mosaic Memories by Recollections; Solid Colors and Specialty Papers by Recollections; Acetate-recycled blister packaging
Ink:  Memento-Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy; Versa Magic Chalk Ink-Jumbo Java
Ribbon:  Really Reasonable Ribbon-Silver and Gold Assortment
Markers:  Letraset Alcohol Markers
Cricut Cartridges:  Lacy Labels-Bliss; ThnkgYou
Other:  Glossy Accents; Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist-Lemon Zest; Michael's Dollar Bin Flocking-Dark Brown; Rub-N-Buff-Antique Gold; Tim Holtz Metal Embellishments
Tools:  Cricut Expression Machine; Martha Stewart Scoreboard; Fiskars Paper Trimmer; Fiskars Crimper; Stampin' Up Paper Piercing Pack Essentials and Piercing Mat; CGull Tools; Tim Holtz Blending Tool
Adhesives:  ATG gun; Hot Glue Gun; Zots; Foam Adhesive Circles, Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive; Flower Soft Glue

 

Paper Wreath

Hi Everyone!  I hope this finds you all happy and enjoying this beautiful Tuesday in October!

Today I have a paper wreath to share with you.  I have seen these wreaths all over the internet and thought they were so very pretty!  When friends of mine moved into their new house, I thought it would make the perfect housewarming gift.

This was so fun and easy to make!  From start to finish, I worked on it about four hours.  I'm sure I would have been done sooner, but there was a learning curve, since I taught myself how to construct it during the process.

To begin with, I used a large dinner plate as my template to draw and cut two circles from a flattened, cardboard box.  I set one of them aside for later and then took my double-sided paper, inked the edges for a bit of definition, and began rolling my cones.  I used my hot glue gun for this project, gluing each cone at the point to hold the cone closed and then gluing them down to the cardboard circle.  The project actually went very quickly once I got the hang of making the cones.

I did a few layers of cones, rolling some of them differently than others, turning some to the back and others forward as I did each layer.  If you look closely you can see that they are different.

Hopefully you can see the difference in the cones in this photo.

For the center of the wreath, I used a saucer as my template and cut another circle from my flattened, cardboard box.  Then I cut a scalloped circle from cream cardstock with my Cricut Expression and my Ribbons and Rosettes Cartridge (Pg. 55).  After inking the edges and gluing it in place, I added the black floral rosette from the same cartridge (Pg. 29).  You can't see it from the photo, but after scoring and folding the rosette, I sprayed it with gold Glimmer Mist for just a hint of shimmer when the light hits it just right. 

Then came the circle in the center cut from the same cartridge (Pg. 21).  After lightly inking around the edges, I applied the pretty flourish to the top.  I just love this flourish.  I found it on Pg. 34 of the Elegant Cakes Cartridge and cut it twice, once from cream cardstock and once from black velvet cardstock (I know, right? The velvet really added a decadent touch!).  I didn't use the shadow feature but, rather, offset them ever so slightly.  The pretty monogram is from the same cartridge.  I did use the shadow feature for that element.

For the back of the wreath, I used my remaining large cardboard circle and covered it with cream cardstock.  I then inked the edges and added regular picture hanging hardware with brads.  Then I secured the back to the front with hot glue (and lots of it, lol!).  Here is a closeup...

Wrapping twine from one eyelet to another several times ensures that the wreath can be securely hung from a nail.  Then I added black ribbon tied in a pretty bow at the center top for another option in hanging.  To finish it off, I added my logo stamp on the back.  (The frame surrounding it is from the Lacy Labels Cartridge, Bliss.)

I hope you enjoyed my project for today.

Come back and visit again soon!

Merilee

Recipe:
Specialty Paper and Cardstock:  Recollections
Ribbon:  Offray
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Cricut Cartridges:  Ribbons and Rosettes, Elegant Cakes, Lacy Labels
Tools:  Cricut Expression, Glue Gun, Scotch ATG gun, Fiskars Paper Cutter, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Tool

Masculine Card using Center Step Card Base - Card 2 of 2

Hi Everyone!  Hope this finds you all doing well and having a great day!

 

As promised, today I am showcasing the second of two masculine birthday cards using a center step card base.  If you haven't seen the first one, refer to my previous post. 

 



 

Today's card features a darling little boy flying his toy airplanes from Lili of the Valley.  Isn't he cute!?!

The image was stamped on cream flecked cardstock and colored with my Letraset markers. 

For this card, I decided to stamp the focal image and cut it out in a diamond shape.  I popped it up with dimensional tape on its mat and then mounted it atop another square mat in coordinating patterned paper.  I added epoxy stickers to either side just for fun and wrapped the matted image with ribbon and a metal ribbon slide that says "happy", since this little fella is thrilled to fly his toy planes, lol!

For the inside of the card, I used additional coordinating patterns from the same paper pack to stamp my sentiment.  I then added some little flags along the side to spice things up a bit, as well as some faux stitching.  Here's a closer look...

To finish off the card, I stamped my logo, matted it and adhered it to the back of the card.  Of course, I added a bit of faux stitching with my white gel pen.

And that is my card for today!  I hope you like it. 

 

Thank you for joining me today and I hope to see you again soon to share another card!

 

Merilee

Recipe:

Paper: Recollections-Mosaic Memories; All other Papers-Recollections

Markers and Ink:  Letraset Markers, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Powder Puff Chalk Ink, Martha Stewart Pigment Ink

Ribbon and Embellishments: Studio Decor-Shadowbox Embellishment Kit, Recollections-Epoxy Stickers, Brads from my stash

Stamps: Lili of the Valley, Inkadinkado-Summer Assortment Mini, Stampology, The Paper Studio-Stitches

Tools: Martha Stewart Score Board, Fiskars Paper Trimmer, Blending Tool, ATG gun, Scotch Foam Tape, Mini Glue Dots

Masculine Card using Center Step Card Base - Card 1 of 2

Hi Everyone!  Thanks for hanging in there while I sorted out my camera issues.  I'm finally back in action again.  Yay!

Today I want to share a masculine birthday card I made using a center step card base.  I wanted to do something a little bit different and this base is quick and easy.  I found a great tutorial for this base on splitcoaststampers.com here.

I actually have two upcoming birthdays for boys in my family, so I made two of these center step card bases at the same time and changed out the papers and themes to personalize them for each recipient.

I'll share the second one with you tomorrow...sorry!  :o}  But for today's card, I used an image of a darling little boy fishing.  Isn't he so adorable!?!  I just couldn't resist using him!

This image was stamped on kraft cardstock and inked around the edges.  I didn't do any fancy coloring or shading in this case--it just didn't call for it.  I think he's cute enough on his own, don't you?  However, I did add the "water" below my little fishing man using a border stamp from the Stitches collection by The Paper Studio.

I just love the dimension of this card base.  I didn't need to add much detail for interest, but to reinforce the fishing theme, I added some stickers from the Gone Fishin' collection by Paperhouse Sticky Pix.

For the inside of the card I created a wallet made from faux leather paper.  To hold the wallet in place, I wrapped a ribbon around it and adhered it to the card base on the underside of the wallet.  Then I added the matted birthday sentiment over top.  Here's what the wallet looks like open...

On the back of the card I stamped my logo and framed it out with coordinating papers.

And that's it!  I hope you liked today's card.  Thanks for joining me today and I'll be back with another card soon.

Have a great day!
Merilee

Recipe:

Paper and Cardstock: Recollections-Mosaic Memories; All other Papers and Cardstock-Recollections

Markers and Ink:  Sharpie Markers, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Powder Puff Chalk Ink, Martha Stewart Pigment Ink

Ribbon, Stickers and Embellishments: Studio Decor-Shadowbox Embellishment Kit, Paperhouse Sticky Pix-Gone Fishin', Michaels-Adhesive Studs

Stamps: Prima No. 545123, Inkadinkado-Summer Assortment Mini, Stampology, The Paper Studio-Stitches

Tools: Martha Stewart Score Board, Fiskars Paper Trimmer, Blending Tool, ATG gun, Scotch Foam Tape, Mini Glue Dots