A Last Halloween Card

I recently received another HSN shipment of Anna Griffin mix and match embossing plates and I have NO idea how I'll ever use all of them!  However, this shipment did include a "Trick or Treat' sentiment and I was inspired to create a card that is not 'cute.'

I used paper from an old Carta Bella collection and some coordinating stickers and die cuts.  Kinda, sorta different.   Love that black, shiny paper!

Hmmmm!  Think I'd better check out some 'sophisticated' cards on Pinterest.  Thanks for visiting with me.   : ) Christine

Happy Thanksgiving Spinner Card

My DH sighs when another Product Release video from Jennifer McQuire pops in my mailbox and I start "Ooohing and Ahhhhing."  But, my reaction was different this week when I saw the Mama Elephant stamps and dies and the spinner card Jennifer had created.  "I can do THAT with my Explore!" I cried and DH sighed but with relief this time.   Here it is:-

I was so pleased that the Bitten by the Bug 2 challenge blog decided to continue for a while and I was determined to participate in the Turkey and Canadian Thanksgiving challenge.  Coming up with something a little bit different from the inspirational projects offered by the DT was difficult until I saw the spinner card and envisioned a turkey revolving in the card!


I cut the card base from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More 2 but in resizing the card I stretched the circular window.  I used the Hide Contour button to delete it and sliced another circle using the shapes button.  I used the circle that sliced from the card to create two circular frames for inside and outside the card.  These frames hide the knots that attach the thread that spins the turkey.

I cut the turkey from Autumn Celebrations.  One of the images is mirrored in the Edit panel and then adhered together over the thread.   (Who needs two stamps and dies? Haha!)  The pumpkins come from Create a Critter 2 and are contoured and shaded with my markers to add dimension.

The sentiment also comes from Create a Critter and the cooked turkey inside the card comes from Simply Charmed.   I embossed the front of the card with a Darice folder called Fall Leaves because it features lovely maple leaves.

If you'd like to try this card, my file reference number is:-

https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/32314153

Thanks for visiting with me today and I hope all my Canadian friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  : ) Christine

Crazy Bird Halloween House

Why is this pretty princess so apprehensive?   Well...

It started out as a project using the 'fill' patterns in Design Space.  Ever since I sadly disposed of my Imagine, I have waited, not very patiently, for this feature to be added to Design Space and finally, here it is!  The patterns are available after you flatten your image in the Layer Attribute panel and then the edit button brings up a slider bar that allows you to scale the pattern:-

 Be aware, however, that the size restrictions on the image you can print and cut also limit a pattern filled cut.  (Go here for more details.)

So, having decided to make a birdhouse (a free pattern from Bird's Cards new svg shop here.) using one of my favorite bark patterns from the Snapshot Nature Imagine cart, it occurred to me that I could use up some of the (many) crazy birds that I watercolored by adding them to the birdhouse.  Naturally, I could not stop there, and the whole Crazy Birds Halloween Birdhouse was born!  Here it is:-

And, of course, the reason that the pretty princess is so apprehensive about Trick or Treating at the birdhouse is that those crazy birds went way over the top with their decorating!  Can you tell I had fun, fun, fun, fun, fun with this project?

I used images from A Child's Year, Monster Bash, Classroom - October and November, and Creepy Critters carts.  One last view with the tealight glowing:-

I am linking my birdhouse with the 'Anything Goes Challenge #111' at Decorate To Celebrate challenge blog.  Check it out!  : )

Thanks so much for visiting with me today.  : )  Christine

Hello Kitty Halloween Shaker Card

My sister came down last week and we had a lovely 'catching up' visit!  Cocoa was very happy that Katie had a new doggy cousin to pester and chase instead of being the sole recipient of her attention.

Jan brought down a box containing cards that I'd made for her over the last ten years or so.  Hmmm!  Thankfully,  I've learned a lot about paper choices, color selection and design over the years.

I found time to work in my craft room today and quickly transformed it from its unnatural tidy state to its usual comfortable muddle and mess.   I have been playing with the new flood fill feature in Design Space and really like being able to adjust the size of the pattern to 'fit' the design.

Since I was using Halloween confetti inside the shaker, I needed to allow plenty of space inside the  mechanism.  I cut a circle of black craft foam and sandwiched it between the patterned paper, the acetate, and the black construction paper circular frame.  My trusty Explore cut all the elements perfectly and good old Glossy Accents glued it all together.

Here's the inside: -

You'll see that for once, I added the HK nose but I'll confess to cutting it in white and using a Distress marker to color it pink.  LOL!

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Hope you like this year's HK card!    : )  Christine

Leo's Lanterns

We're back to reality after a wonderful camping trip in Crater Lake National Park.  Visiting this park has been on our 'to do' list FOREVER and finally, this year, we made it!  The lake is wonderfully blue and the geology absolutely fascinating. 

Every time we stopped at a pull-out, the view took our breath away.  And every time we got out to take pictures, Katie popped into the front seat and sat looking extremely bored, with her front legs draped over the steering wheel!  She reminded us of a tour guide we had while we were doing one of those "If it's Tuesday, we must be in Lucerne" bus tours around Europe. 

Although I packed my Explore, the wifi at the campground was intermittent and the update confused the heck out of the internet connection!  Fortunately, all was well when I got home and I have enjoyed playing with the flood fill feature.   More on that later!

Also while we were away, Leo, part owner and co-developer of SVG Cuts, opened up a new site of his own called Dreaming Tree and offered a bundle of three amazing Halloween lanterns which, of course, I had to have!

The designs on the lanterns are amazing and cut with great accuracy.  Leo has included a Supply List with the files which is very useful and he does have a video tutorial on the web site.  I love the look of the printed vellum. Note to self - let it dry for a LONG time before cutting the pieces apart!

That said, I had a hard time gluing the pieces together because IMHO, the panel openings are too wide, and the supporting structure too thin.  I had glue everywhere until I switched to my good old Zig pen!   Nor do I like the closure at the top - it's hard to insert the last tab.  Leo recommends  a very cool set of LED lights that are remote controlled but these are over my budget, I'm afraid.  I guess I'll reconcile myself to the fact that these are to be one time only decorations!   Oh no!  That means more crafting!!!!

I'm off to work on the other lanterns in the bundle.   : )   Thanks for visiting with me today.   : )   Christine

Zombies!

DH is in Seattle for a couple of days and I have Katie sitting duties.  All that entails (sorry!) is keeping her entertained so that she's NOT tearing round the house chasing Cocoa down and wrestling with him, because she's not really supposed to do that for at least two more weeks.  (I really should have taken the vet up on his offer of extra Katie sedatives...)

Anyway, I was able to creep up to the Craft Room while she slept and play with the Triple  Easel card again.  Isn't this fun?

This card is for Master J's mom who taught him a totally inappropriate Girl Scout song about tombstones, that he absolutely loves!  The tombstones feature absolutely dreadful puns - the kind my Dad relished telling his grandchildren for their predictable reactions - 'Dawn Under,' 'Lon Gawn' and my favorite 'Al B. Bach.'

I cut the tombstones from the Life's a Party cart, the zombies and hand are from the Zombie digital set, and the spider webs from A Frightful Affair.  I used the Art Deco font to write on the top layer of the tombstones.

I am linking my card with the Fun with Puns challenge at Die Cuttin' Divas.  Go take a look at all the DT creations but be prepared to groan!

Thanks for visiting today!   : ) Christine

Edited to add https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/31366966   : )

Halloween Triple Easel Card

The plan was that we would add a satellite TV outlet in the family room so that DH could watch football while I sat in the lounge and watched DWTS.  Unfortunately, the couch in the family room is covered, and I mean COVERED in books that need to be sorted and delivered to Goodwill. So we both watched football.  Fortunately, I was able to play on Design Space at the same time and create a triple easel Halloween card for my eldest DGD.   Here it is!

I followed the tutorial from SplitCoastStampers here, and added three pumpkins sized at 3 inches, 4 inches and 5 inches.  I ungrouped the shadow layer of a pumpkin, and duplicated it.  I used a square to slice away the stalk of the pumpkin and then duplicated the resulting shape.  I flipped the duplicate pumpkin vertically and welded the two stalkless pumpkins together. 

I changed the color of the stalk to green and added a leaf.  I repeated this process with the other two pumpkins.  Then I decided that I needed a carved face on the pumpkins, so sliced in spooky faces from the Pumpkin Carvings cart.   Then I decided that I needed some children in Halloween costumes peeking out besides the pumpkins, so added three characters from the Trick or Treat cart.  Enough!!!!  One last step was to add "Boo" as the stop for the front card.

 Here's the DS file number if you would like to replicate the card.  : )

https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/31290037

The challenge over at BBTB2 this week is to create a project with imaginary characters.   I LOVE what the DT came up with!

The challenge at FCCB is to create a project for a kid.  What a fun idea!   Pop over and take a look at the creative designs.

Thanks for visiting with me today!   : )  Christine