NEW STAMPIN' UP! CLEARANCE RACK...

Brand new to my online Stampin' Up! store is a new section called the Clearance Rack. This section is where you will find FABULOUS DEALS on retired items that are being offered at substantially reduced (and sometimes downright OUTRAGEOUS) prices!  Clearance Rack items are only available while supplies last, so don't delay if you see something you are interested in.  To shop, click HERE, then click on SHOP NOW on the lower right corner and then Clearance Rack in the left column.

Here is a sample of what you may find...

Marie

WITCH'S SHOES CARD...
Countdown to Halloween Project #11...

This is the final project from my Halloween Treats Stamp Camp.  The first example is one I made at my Pampered Stampers Weekend.  I changed it a bit for my Stamp Camp with a slightly different medallion and silver buckles on the Witch's Shoes.  I like the new medallion, but I am thinking I should have kept the Summer Sun buckles.  What do you think?

Supplies:

• Stamps – House of Haunts, Sanded
• Card stock – Lovely Lilac, Green Galore, Real Red, Basic Black, Summer Sun, Brushed Silver
  
• Ink – Basic Black Craft, Lovely Lilac Classic
• Punches – Wide Oval, 1¾” Circle, 1⅜” Circle, ¾” Circle, Horizontal Slot
  
• Accessories – Black Embossing Powder, Stampin' Dimensionals
• Tools – Big Shot, Top Note Die

Directions:

1. Cut standard card from Lovely Lilac and stamp the Sanded background stamp in Lovely Lilac on the front.
   
2. Cut two Top Note die cuts - one in Basic Black and one in Green Galore.
3. Cut the very top off the Green Galore - cutting in portrait position - just enough to take off the curves and make the top straight.  Center and adhere to card front.
4. Cut the Black Top Note cut in half longway.  Set aside on half for another card or project.
   
5. Score the half in half from top to bottom to make it appear as 2 shoes with backs together.
6. On either side of the score line, punch approximately half of  ¾” Circle out of the top.
7. Just next to each of the ¾” punches (but NOT joining them), punch approximately half of a 1⅜” Circle out of the top leaving a "point" on each outer end for the shoe tips.
8. For the legs, cut Lovely Lilac at 5/8" wide to fit.  Use Real Red to cut stripes 5/8" wide and whatever height you would like the stripes and glue them onto the the legs.
9. For the buckles, punch the Horizontal Slot into the middle (top to bottom) of a 1/2" wide strip of Brushed Silver (or Summer Sun), then cut on either side of the Horizontal Slot hole making sure the punch is centered in the rectangle piece.  Repeat for the other buckle.
10. For the medallion, stamp Happy Halloween from the House of Haunts set onto Lovely Lilac with Basic Black Craft Ink.  Heat emboss with black embossing powder.  Punch out with the Wide Oval Punch.
11. Punch a 1¾” Circle from Summer Sun.  Adhere the Happy Halloween to the Circle.  Pop out the Summer Sun circle from the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.
    
12. Assemble the pieces as pictured.
    

Marie

SWEET CENTERS HALLOWEEN POPS...
Countdown to Halloween Project #10

Okay, here is the last 3D treat project from my Halloween Treats Stamp Camp.  Tomorrow will be the final item which was a card.  I just LOVE these Sweet Center Stamps!  They are so much fun and very easy to make.

SWEET CENTER POPS SUPPLIES:

• Cardstock – Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive
• Stamps – Sweet Centers
  
• Ink – Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie
  
• Punches – 1¾” Circle, 1½” Circle
• Adhesives – Sticky Strip , glue dots
• Accessories – Sweet Treat Cups, Long Lollipop Sticks, Rainbow Nerds (I used a theater-size box)
  

When punching the Sweet Centers image, first punch out the EEK portion with the 1½” Circle Punch, so that you can use it on the lollipop stick or for another project.  Then punch again with the 1¾” Circle Punch, being careful to center it over the colored part so that you do not cut out the words.

Marie

COFFIN CONFECTIONS, Countdown to Halloween Project #9...

This is another one of the projects from my Halloween Treats Stamp Camp.  For my Coffin Confections, I used a template I saw by Hannah Kost.  I have altered the project for my own version.  A FREE tutorial for the caskets follow the recipe.

Supplies (mummy):

• Card stock – Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White
• Stamps – Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Eat Drink & Be Scary
  
• Ink – Basic Black, Basic Gray
• Punches – 1⅜” Circle, 1½” Circle, ¼” Circle, Word Window
• Sizzix Go Go Boots Sizzlets
• Wiggle eyes
• Sponges
• Scoring Tool
• Sticky Strip™
• Velcro
• Paper Snips, Ruler

Instructions:

1.  Cut cardstock to 8 ½” x 2 ¾”.  Score at 4”, 4 ¼”, and 4 ½”.  Fold in half.

2.  Trim corners by making three sets of marks as follows:

• ¾” in from left and right on top (open) edge
  
• 1” down from the top on both the left and right sides
• ½” in from left and right on the bottom (folded) edge

Cut diagonally from the top marks to the side marks on each side.  Cut diagonally from the side marks to the bottom marks.  This will give you your coffin shape.  If making multiples of these, you may want to make a template out of cardboard.

3.  Cut cardstock piece at 1 ¾” x 2 ¾” for the piece to hold the candy inside.  Score at ½”, 1 ¾”, 2”, 2 ¼”.

4.  To make cut-out for the candy, fold on the 2" score (the middle of the set of three).  Trim ¼” in from each side down to the score mark, making a 1 ¼” x ½” hole for candy.

5. Stamp pieces with images or backgrounds. I used a combination of two different Itty Bitty Background stamps on both sides of the coffin case and the front side of the insert piece.  The sentiment I used is from the Eat, Drink & Be Scary Stamp Set.  Sponge all edges, if desired.

6. Place adhesive on both ½” tabs on the front side of the insert piece.  Adhere bottom tab on the center (bottom of casket) of base piece.

7.  Adhere back tab about ¾” up from bottom. Remember to line up the top when doing this.

8. Place one half of a self-stick Velcro dot at the top inside of the case. Picture shows a whole dot, but on subsequent coffins, I used only a half dot.

9. Embellish the front as desired.

Marie

SPOOKY SPIDER GLASS BLOCK...
Countdown to Halloween Project #8

I've been waiting to use this Spooky Spider Decor Element for quite a while now and I finally got a chance to put it together.  I made a Jingle Bells Christmas Lighted Block last year and have wanted to do the spider one ever since.  It came out really cool and is not the "usual" type of Halloween decoration which is what I was going for. 

The Deco Block looks best with the miniature lights that have white cords.  Check the bridal department of your local craft store for those.  You could also use one of the battery operated tealight candles in the block.  Enjoy!

Supplies:

• Spooky Spider Decor Element, Small
• Basic Black 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
  
• Small Deco Glass Block
• Miniature lights (I used a 20 light set)
  

 Marie 

FANCY FAVOR BAGS & SCALLOP SPIDER TREATS...
Countdown to Halloween Projects #6 & #7

Two more projects from my Halloween Treats Stamp Camp!  These are very easy and quick to make projects. And so cute!  The Fancy Favor Bags can be used in so many fun ways and themes!

Fancy Favor Treat Bags:

Supplies:

• Cardstock – Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Cast-a-Spell DSP, Window Sheets
  
• Stamps – Grateful Greetings, Batty for You
  
• Ink – Basic Black Classic
  
• Punches – Wide Oval, Small Tag, Large Tag,  1¾” Circle, 1⅜” Circle, 1¼” Circle, Horizontal Slot
• Ribbon – Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive Striped Grosgrain
  
• Big Shot Fancy Favor Die
  
• Adhesives – Sticky Strip™, Snail

Directions (top bag):

1. Cut one Fancy Favor from Cast-a-Spell DSP.  Note:  For the top bag, I cut the Fancy Favor Bag in Basic Black and then the front and back panels only in Cast-a-Spell and adhered them to the black Favor Bag.
   
2. Punch Wide Oval centered as far down as you can go on the front panel.
   
3. Cut Window Sheet to cover the punch and adhere to the inside of the box.
4. Assemble the bag with Sticky Strip.
5. Punch Horizontal Slot Punch through both thicknesses in center of the top of the bag - do not do this if using cardstock as it is only recommended to punch through one thickness of cardstock, so each side will have to be punched separately.
   
6. Punch a Large Tag from Basic Black.
7. Stamp the Trick or Treat image in Basic Black on Whisper White cardstock and punch with the Small Tag Punch. Adhere to the Large Tag.
   
8. Tie tag onto bag by folding ribbon in half and threading the fold through the tag and then through the front and back of the bag.  Pull the 2 ribbon ends through the loop and tighten.
   

Scallop Spider Treats:

Supplies:

• Cardstock – Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Green Galore, Cast-a-Spell DSP
• Punches – ½” Circle, ¼” Circle, Scallop Circle, Photo Corner
• Adhesives – Sticky Strip™, Snail, Mini & Pop-Up Glue Dots
• White Signo Gel Pen
• York Miniature Peppermint Patties

Directions:

1. Punch the following:

• Two Scallop Circles in Basic Black
• Two sets of Photo Corners in Basic Black
• Two sets of Photo Corners in Only Orange, Green Galore or your choice
• Two ¼” Circles in Basic Black
• One ¼” Circles in Real Red
• ½” Circles in Whisper White

2. Adhere all punches to Scallop Circle as shown layering small photo corners on large ones.

3. Use Sticky Strip™ or Pop-Up dots to adhere the Scallop Circles to the Peppermint Patties being careful to align the two.

4. Add highlights to eyes with white Signo gel pen.

Marie

TASTY TEST TUBE TREATS...
Countdown to Halloween Project #5

This is another one of the projects from my Halloween Treats Stamp Camp.  My daughter, Jenni, chose the embellishment design for the main box.  These do tend to be a little top heavy and may tip easily, so be sure to take that into consideration.  Weighing the inside of the box, with something small like some gravel may work better??? 

TEST TUBE TREATS SUPPLIES:

• Stamps – House of Haunts, Batty for You, Eat, Drink & Be Scary
• Card stock – Basic Black, Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Going Gray, Cast-a-Spell DSP
• Ink – Basic Black Classic, Basic Black Craft
• Ribbon – Basic Black ⅝” Grosgrain
• Accessories - Black Embossing Powder, Test Tubes
• Punches – 1” Circle, 1¼” Circle, 1⅜” Circle, Scallop Circle, 1¼” Square
• Tools - Big Shot, Box #2 Die
• Adhesives – Sticky Strip™, Snail, Mini & Pop-Up Glue Dots

Directions:

1. Cut one Box #2 from Basic Black cardstock.
2. Cut your DSP to the following dimensions: (2) 3½” x 1¾”, (2) 1⅛” x 1¾”
3. Stamp “Happy Halloween” from the House of Haunts set onto one of the 3½” x 1¾” panels in Basic Black Craft Ink. Apply Black Embossing Powder and emboss.
4. Using Basic Black marker, color the spider only on the stamp from Eat, Drink & Be Scary and stamp onto the panel. Draw a line from the top of the panel to the spider.  If desired, stamp another spider on Whisper White, cut out the body and attach to spider on box with part of a stampin' dimensional.
   
5. Distress all DSP panels by sponging Basic Black or Basic Gray on edges.
6. Apply all DSP panels to the box panels.
7. At approximately 1” on center from each end of the box top, mark a centered cross.  Punch a 1” Circle (depending on your test tube size) with your cross in the middle.
8. With Going Gray, punch a 1” Circle punch, then centering the 1” hole in the middle, punch a 1¼” Circle punch to make circle rims. Repeat again.
9. Using mini glue dots, roll them and apply to the back of the circle rims – 4 per circle. Affix these circle rims around the 1” holes on the box top.  You do not have to make rims - these are for aesthetics only.
   
10. Punch a 1" Circle in Basic Black and punch again with a 1¼” Square punch centering the circle hole in the middle.  Adhere to the underside of the box top aligning with the previously punched 1" holes.  This step is needed to reinforce the holes and hold the test tubes up better.
    
11. Fold all score lines and assemble the box with Sticky Strip.
12. Fill your test tubes and very slowly insert in the box.
13. Wrap the test tubes with the Basic Black Ribbon
14. Using Basic Black and Real Red markers, color the Bat only from Batty for You on Whisper White cardstock. Punch out with a 1” Circle.
15. Using Basic Black Classic, stamp the whole Bat onto Going Gray cardstock and punch out with a 1¼” Circle Punch.
16. Punch a 1⅜” Circle from Basic Black cardstock.
17. Punch a Scallop Circle from Perfect Plum cardstock.
18. Assemble your medallion. Use a stamping dimensional for the Bat only image. Attach the medallion to the ribbon with a Pop-up glue dot.

Marie

WITCH'S HAT TRIANGLE TREAT BOX, 
Countdown to Halloween Project #4...

Okay, okay... here is the Triangle box I thought (MHO, of course) was even cuter than the Candy Corn box causing it to get the boot from my Halloween Treats Stamp Camp.  It is based on a display at convention although I changed it up a little.  Rather than adhering the main stamped piece to the card, I have used the buckle as an easel.  That way I can easily switch it out as I have to confess I haven't completely made my mind up as to whether this was the images I wanted.  :)   If I had adhered it I would have done it higher and at an angle.  Enjoy!

WITCH'S HAT TRIANGLE TREAT BOX SUPPLIES:

• Stamps:  Halloween Hoot, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
• Paper:  Basic Black, Old Olive, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Brushed Silver
• Ink:  Basic Black, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Bashful Blue, Silver Metallic
• Accessories:  Silver Embossing Powder, Old Olive 5/8" Ribbon, Silver Elastic Cord, 
• Punches: Small Tag, Large Tag, 3/4" Square, 1 1/4" Square 

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut your black cardstock to 5” x 11”. Stamp and emboss your cardstock as desired.
2. Turn your cardstock over. On the back, mark the middle of both short sides of the cardstock with a pencil @ 2½”.
3. Score your cardstock at 5½” on the long side.
4. Line up the mark you made on one of the short sides with the middle of long side. Score to create a diagonal fold.
5. Line up the mark with the other side of the middle fold and score. You will now have a triangle of scored lines.
6. Repeat step four and five on the other half of the cardstock. Prefold all your score lines.
7. Cut 7” x 1¾” from Basic Black cardstock. Then cut on an angle to match the hat (this is the brim of the hat). Affix to the underneath of the bottom of the Triangle Box with Sticky Strip.
8. Adhere Old Olive to cover the bottom of the box and top of the brim. Fold ribbon around back of the front of the box (inside).
9. Optional (I don't usually do this):  Add Sticky Strip to the edge of one of the long sides and assemble the box by bringing the two ends together and securing with the adhesive just applied.
10. Use a Crop-a-Dile™ on the 3/16” side to punch through the taped sides. Bring both of the opposite sides together and punch a hole through them as well.
11. Fill your box with treats.
12. Thread your ribbon through the punched holes and tie. It will keep your box closed.
13. Punch out buckle by punching ¾” Square from Brushed Silver. Use the 1¼” Square punch to center that punch within and punch again. Adhere to the ribbon with a mini glue dot on two sides. Decorate and/or embellish your box as desired.

Marie

CANDY CORN TRIANGLE BOX, 
Countdown to Halloween Project #3...

Another cutting room floor special!  ;)  I did this Triangle Box last year, when they were "all the rage", but never got to use it for a class.  So I thought I might use it this year for my Halloween Stamp Camp.  However, I ended up doing a cuter triangle box (coming soon), so this was yet another project that didn't make the cut.

Candy Corn Triangle Treat Box Supplies:

• Card stock – Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Whisper White,Summer Sun
• Ribbon – Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
• Punches – 3/4" Circle, 1/4" Circle, Curly Label
• Tools – Crop-a-Dile

Marie

HALLOWEEN TALL TREAT BOXES...
Countdown to Halloween Project #2...

This is another one of the projects that didn't make it into the Halloween Stamp Camp - these were made by my daughter, Jennifer.  I will probably rework it for a Christmas class or stamp camp, so I won't give the directions now.  Look for it in the future...   ;)

Halloween Tall Slim Treat Boxes Supplies:

• Stamps – Batty for You
• Card stock – Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Cast-a-Spell DSP, Rockability Specialty DSP, Window Sheets
• Ink – Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant
• Punches – Large Oval, Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle

Marie

HALLOWEEN HOOT DOUBLE FLAP CARD...
Countdown to Halloween Project #1 - 30 more projects to go!

Sorry I haven't been posting this week!  I have been hard at work all week on Halloween projects for today's Halloween Stamp Camp and for my Technique class (more on that later this weekend).  I didn't want to post any of them until I decided which ones I would be using or not.  But now I have plenty to share over the next week!  Hope you enjoy them.

I have decided to attempt to post 31 Halloween projects for you before Halloween arrives, so be on the lookout for my Countdown to Halloween projects. They won't be done in 31 consecutive days, but will hopefully total 31 before the holiday arrives.

The first one is a card that ultimately did not make the cut into the Stamp Camp.  Not that it wasn't worthy because I love it, but because it was more work than I felt we could fit into our already crowded schedule of events.  Dawn Griffith had posted this neat double flap template she had done with the Cold & Cuddly stamp set.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to use it to make a card for my Halloween Stamp Camp with the Halloween Hoot stamp set and I went to work.  Dawn later made her own version of her Double Flap Card with the same set, but that was after I had already come up with mine.  Here is my version:

Halloween Hoot Double Flap Card:

• Stamps: Halloween Hoot
• Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Perfect Plum, Old Olive, Cast-a-Spell DSP
• Ink: Classic Basic Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Perfect Plum
  
• Accessories: Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon,  Punches: Ticket Corner

Main Cut Instructions for the Card:

Perfect Plum -- Cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Cast-a-Spell DSP -- Cut at 4" x 5 1/4"

Basic Black (left flap) -- Cut at 3 1/4" x 4", scored @ 1/2" landscape position

Pumpkin Pie (right flap) -- Cut at 3 1/2" x 3", scored @ 1/2" landscape position

Adhere each flap's scored and folded ends between the Perfect Plum and DSP layers.  Stamp and embellish as desired.

Marie

PAPER OPENER, PLEASE, SOMEONE???...

Whew!  I just finished unpacking and putting away my latest order.  I was so excited it was finally here as I ordered on Sept. 1 and UPS "readjusted" my delivery date, not once or twice, but THREE times!  I wanted to slap someone silly over there - don't they know we stampers NEED our fix... ur, I mean supplies... now???  :D

When will someone invent a paper opener for me?  After opening 15 packs of a paper (a few of them double wrapped for some reason) and filing them, I need one!  It's just the most tedious thing to open them without damaging the paper and unwrap.  The sad thing is that I still have another 10 packs already on my order for Oct. 1.  I have been hitting the paper hard lately and have been so low on sooooo many colors!

Now to get in a little play time with my new stamp sets before heading off to my Bunco game tonight!  ;) 

Marie

TECHNIQUE THURSDAY, Sponging Landscapes & Faux Clouds...

Tonight I had my Technique Thursday Class.  We did two techniques this week, Sponged Landscapes and Faux Clouds.  Next week we will do Faux Woodgrain.  My ladies are eager to fill their Technique Books and learn the basics and more!  :)

We did the two technique pages and then combined them for one card.  We had two card options.  One with the Sweet Center Cups and the other with a punch balloon top, so that they could put the card in their albums.  This is the technique pages and the card for the album:

This is how we put them in the album (sorry - the pages sag when upright for photographing):

Here are pictures of the individual cards:

Up and Away Balloon and Sweet Center Cards:

• Stamps – Sweet Centers, Sock Monkey (sentiment)
• Card stock – Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
• Ink – Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo, Markers (Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry,  Basic Black)
• Ribbon – Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka- Dot Grosgrain
• Accessories – Sweet Treat Cups, Stampin' Dimensionals
• Punches – Modern Label, Word Window, 1 3/4" Circle, Large Oval

For the Balloon Punch, I have seen this a couple of other places (no idea who the original poster was) and I'm not sure how they did theirs, but this is how I did mine:

1. Punch five 1 3/4" circles.  I used one of each of the colors used in my balloon basket.  
2. Layer them going from the outsides to the middle with the middle circle being on top.  I did mine by putting color 2 (from left to right) on color 1, then color 4 on color 5.  Then I put color 3 on top of  color 2 and added the color 4/5 combo under the right side of color 3.   Does that make sense????  Or have I confused you even further?
3. Add a large oval punch to the middle of that top circle. 
4. Put Stampin' Dimensionals onto the back of your balloon and add to the card lining it up over your balloon basket stamp.  I extended the middle lines of the basket up with a marker to get a "taller" look.
   

Haven't attended a Technique Class yet?  What are you waiting for?  Come and join us for a fun time and great techniques!  Here is a glimpse of what you have been missing:

 

 

Coming up next Thursday is our Faux Woodgrain Technique.  Don't miss out!  Beginners are welcome and when you bring an adult friend to attend class with you, you get a FREE gift!  Email me or check out the details on my Stampin' Up! Demo Events page.

Marie

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT...

It's been a busy week. I've still been recovering and catching up from my weekend away and I've been working on labeling and organizing projects in my new studio. Then yesterday we had a nice cookout with family and friends with a game night following. Today was a rainy day, so I took advantage of a little chillin' and movie watching before going back to the studio for more labeling.

I did find time though this week to make this cute, simple card. I wanted to use the Pink Flamingo DSP that I used in my Butterfly Box again as I just love it. And I wanted to use my daughter's favorite colors - red and black. I popped the enjoy piece out on Stampin' Dimensionals to give it some depth. I hope you "enjoy" it! ;)

Enjoy the Moment Red & Black Card Supplies:

• Stamps – Enjoy Every Moment (#113622, $31.95)
• Card stock – Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Pink Flamingo DSP
• Ink  – Basic Black Craft Ink
• Ribbon  – Basic Black 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
• Accessories  – Black Embossing Powder, Filigree Brad, Rhinestone Fire Circle Brad

Marie