321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Halloween Mini Pizza Box Treat

This dressed up version using Stampin' Up!'s cute Mini Pizza Boxes as the base has a surprise inside -- candy plus a shadowbox feature that lets the recipient then use it as a desk decoration. I changed up a few details (which I'll explain below) -- but I got this great idea from fellow demonstrator Susan Campfield and you can see her inspiration boxes here.

Once you take off the belly band with the Halloween label attached, and take out the candy -- you can see the tree image with a stamped owl through the die cut window. I made my box with the decorations attached so that it stands up balanced on that little tab that sticks out the front edge - it gives it a nice slant almost like a bike kickstand.

Here is the view of the inside -- which is a coated, almost plasticized white surface that is food safe. The tree is one of the paper designs in the Spooky Night Designer Paper. There are 16 on one sheet and you get two sheets of that print. Cut them apart and the owl in the coordinating Spooky Cat stamp set can be stamped right on the branch. I then layered that over a 3-1/8" square of Basic Gray card stock to finish it off.

Here's a view from the top: I loved Susan's idea to stamp and punch a greeting that can be seen as the box is standing up as a decoration.

A few helpful details and then clickable photos of the supplies are below (the punch and framelits can be bought as part of a discounted bundle with coordinating stamps so you will see them both ways):

• To die cut the window, I used the Layering Circle Framelits and you want to have the framelit against the plastic side (so the inside). I rolled it through the Big Shot just until it cleared the framelit then reversed it and rolled back through so it would not bend the rest of the box. The framelit cannot quite cut through if you start with it against the smoother outside.
• The cat is punched out of the printed Spooky Night Designer Paper and the pumpkins are all die cut from one of the paper sheets with the Patterned Pumpkins Thinlets Dies. No fussy cutting needed - gotta love that!
• I decided the white box needed some color so I sponged on Canjun Craze ink while the box was flat. I was able to test how the color would look by using the circle I cut out of the box as my test subject.
• The layering circle framelits let you cut the Cajun Craze card stock frame to finish off the die cut window. Just layer a smooth circle inside of a scalloped one as you die cut.
• A 3 inch square of window plastic is adhered inside the die cut window. Just a little SNAIL adhesive of a glue dot in each corner sticks just fine to the coated inside.
• The belly band strip is 9-3/4" by 3/4" wrapped around and the ends adhered with the label then covering the seam.

Happy fall crafting. And you have not subscribed to my newsletter, sign up through the subscription box here on my blog as I am about ready to start sending out my free 12 Weeks of Christmas series.

Spooky Cat Photoplymer Bundle
$31.50

Cat Punch
$18.00

Spooky Night Designer Series Paper
$11.00

Pick A Pumpkin Clear-Mount Bundle
$38.50

Patterned Pumpkins Thinlits Dies
$27.00

Mini Pizza Boxes
$6.00

Stamping Sponges
$3.50

Cajun Craze 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

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World Card Making Day Specials & Halloween Treat

Happy World Card Making Day! I love a day that celebrates crafting -- and that encourages you to brighten someone's day with a handmade card. Aren't you tired of junk mail? Make a card and mail it or hand-deliver it to a relative or friend.

We've got great specials today, October 1 through October 5. Here are the U.S. prices and you can shop for them right now in my online store.

In addition to cards I love giving candy treats. Here's a recent Halloween project using our 2" by 8" clear bags.

And you have to get in some back interest!

The topper is a 2" by 6" piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock, punched with our Triple Banner Punch on both ends, folded in half, and stapled in place. The Halloween twine (in two colors!) is tied around it to hide the staple and the fun Cookie Cutter Halloween Mummy is stamped and punched out for an easy focal point. The 1" by 3" Designer Paper strips wrapped around the little nugget chocolates come from our Designer Series Paper Stacks (Pumpkin from the Brights pack & Black from the Neutrals pack). That little Basic Gray card stock tray makes it easy to slide in the chocolates. It's 1-7/8" wide by 4" long -- scored 1/4" from each of the long edges and folded up to make the little sides.

Be sure you're signed up for my emailed newsletter through the box on this blog (left column) as my 12 Weeks of Christmas Project Newsletter started today! I will catch up new subscribers with any issues they miss so sign up for the free emailed newsetters.

Happy World Card Making Day! Go make and mail a card.

Cookie Cutter Halloween Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$17.00

Cookie Cutter Builder Punch
$18.00

Brights Designer Series Paper Stack
$22.00

Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack
$22.00

2" X 8" (5.1 X 20.3 Cm) Celllophane Bags
$3.00

Banner Triple Punch
$23.00

Halloween Night 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Cardstock Pack
$11.00

Halloween Night Baker's Twine
$6.00

Halloween Night Enamel Dots
$4.00

Suite Seasons Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$20.00

Spooky Fun Photopolymer Stamps
$16.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

Halloween Scenes Fun Fold Card

I loved making this card with my Stamp Clubs this month! It's got a fun Z-fold technique with both the card base and the die cut fence strip folded in a way that makes for a cool Halloween scene.

Here's how it looks closed:

And a close up of the fun detail of the front panel and pop out Vampire. (It's a standard pop out mechanism made from card stock to make him pop out when you open the card. It just takes a little strip of card stock, scored and folded into a square that you attach to the vampire's arm and then attach to the inside card panels right at the fold)

Here are measurements:

Black card base: 4-1/4" by 11" - Score at 5-1/2" and 8-1/4" (you will be folding it so the 5-1/2" panel is on the right side and then the other scoreline folds back so the front where the tree is winds up 2-3/4" wide by 4-1/4" tall)

 

Black strip to die-cut fence: 2-1/8" by 11" (Die cut the fence three times in a row across the strip by lining it up for each cut with the section already cut. Because it does not cut at the bottom you can make the hill a variety of heights)

 

To score the die-cut fence: with the right side of the fence facedown and the flat bottom edge flush against the top of the Simply Scored, score at 5-1/2" and 8-1/4" (die cuts have a "right side" based on the cut edges appearing smoother)

 

Black panel to die-cut tree: 2-1/2" by 4"

 

Gray panel for front: 2-1/2" by 4"

 

White panels for inside: 2-1/2" by 4"  and 5-1/4" by 4"

 

Thick White card stock strip for pop-up square behind vampire: slightly wider than 1/4" by 3-1/2" -- score at 3/4"; 1-1/2"; 2-1/4" and 3"

 

Don't be intimidated as this style card is really not tough to make and it's simple stamping and some die cutting for the decorations.

Spooky Fun Photopolymer Bundle
$36.75

Ghoulish Grunge Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$20.00

Cookie Cutter Halloween Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$17.00

Pumpkin Pie Glimmer Paper
$5.00

Halloween Night Enamel Dots
$4.00

Cookie Cutter Builder Punch
$18.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$9.00

2" (5.1 Cm) Circle Punch
$18.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

Pillow Box Thinlits Halloween Treat - Bat Wings Style

First -- a reminder that my 12 Weeks of Christmas newsletters start Monday, Oct. 5 so if you are not on my newsletter list, click here to sign up so you don't miss any of the 12 great ideas. (If I see that you sign up after Oct. 5, I will send you any of the ideas you've missed).

I love the Square Pillow Box Thinlits from the Holiday Catalog! The box is sized large enough to hold a gift card -- which is great for the upcoming Christmas season, but it also holds nice size candy treats. Here it is turned into a Halloween candy holder -- with added bat wings on the sides.

Those wings are pretty easy to make -- first punch out a 2 1/2" circle of Black Glimmer Paper, then cut it in half and I used a 1 1/4" circle punch to "nip" out little divots so they look like wings. Here is a look at those steps using a different color card stock so it's easier to see.

I wrote the words "UP" on the example so if someone at my class used it as a pattern they were sure to make a left wing and a right wing and not two wings that faced the same direction (The black glimmer paper is single-sided so they can't just be flipped). I adhered the wings between the side pieces when assembling. (TIP: I found that the Tear and Tape was the easiest way to assemble the box and held very well. I did use a little liquid glue when inserting the wings)

Here's a look at the back as I love having a surprise message on the belly band. The embossed trees were added with the Woodlands Embossing folder after the two box pieces were cut out with the Big Shot. The folder is part of the "Among the Branches" bundle which includes the stamp set that has the crow and the spooky eyes.

Here's what I tucked inside this one: an over-sized Reese's cup dressed up with Trick or Treat on a punched out circle. (The oversized York Peppermint Patties fit great as well)

Back soon with more fall ideas plus a beautiful quilt made by a friend with a fun Stampin' Up embellishment incorporated as part of the quilt design.

Square Pillow Box Thinlits Dies
$33.00

Sweet Hauntings Wood-Mount Stamp Set
$27.00

Happy Haunting Designer Series Paper
$11.00

Black Glimmer Paper
$5.00

Howl-O-Ween Treat Clear-Mount Bundle
$38.25

Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$7.00

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.50

2-1/2" Circle Punch
$18.00

1-1/4" Circle Punch
$16.00

Note Tag Punch
$18.00

Tear & Tape Adhesive
$7.00

Among The Branches Photopolymer Bundle
$21.50

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

Gift Bow Die Pumpkin & New Snowflake Stamps

This little paper pumpkin dreamed up by the amazing demonstrator Mary Brown may have single-handedly pushed people over the edge at my last Big Shot class to get the Gift Bow BIGZ die for their Big Shot.

Yes, it's made using pieces die cut with the Gift Bow die and best of all, Mary shared a wonderful FREE step-by-step PDF of how to make them (and also instructions for how to turn a couple of them into an amazing centerpiece). Click here to download the how-to sheets from the site that Mary is part of with her friend Connie Babbert. (look in the right column under the Fall 2013 Preview Projects -- it's the Gift Bow Pumpkin Tutorial and the centerpiece one). Her directions were SO easy to follow.

Here's another view -- these just make me smile.

And here are some cards made with a fabulous new photopolymer (completely clear) stamp set just released. I love the type on this Christmas set that's called Endless Wishes (it's on my wish list)!

Here is a close up view of the stamps --- click the image to view them in my online store.

Happy pumpkins and snowflakes. I am sure there are parts of the world where those two are combined right now -- just not here in Florida.

A New Halloween Stamp Set

This brand new photopolymer set is going to be popular for fun Halloween projects. It's completely clear -- so you can see right where you're stamping.

Here are the images you get -- 10 of them for $13.95.

Click to see more details or order in my online store.

A Halloween File Folder Card Thanks to the Envelope Punch

Today's post is a little late as it's been a busy weekend. Bill and I took the kids to Gainesville yesterday to see my Florida Gators beat his Tennessee Volunteers (so only half of our family drove home happy).

Using the new Envelope Punch Board from Stampin' Up to make cards and photo mats that look like miniature file folders is so much fun. Here's a halloween card I made.

It's hard to capture the beautiful glimmer of the black and orange glitter on the front focal point. Washi tape and a quick punch with our Chevron Border punch finish off the vanilla panel on the front. Here's the inside.

I shared a photo tutorial showing how to make the tabs in this post -- so click back to see that. But here are some sizing and written instructions for this version:

File Folder Card: Start with 8½” by 5½” card base, folded in the middle at 4¼”

- Adhere the 1¼” strip of Designer paper on the card’s inside panel, side edge

- Trim 3/8” from the front edge of the card using the Stampin’ Trimmer

- With the card open, line up the left edge of your trimmed front flap with the left side of the opening in the Envelope Punch Board and punch

- Slide over to 2¾” on the left guide ruler and punch again

- Flip the card around (but don’t turn it over) so that the back flap is now lined up with the punch board top rail and do the same two punching steps to the back flap (the Designer paper will be face down and the tabs on the front and back flaps will be offset if you’re doing it right)

- With the Designer Paper facing up, line up the dip in the tab with the cutting groove on the Stampin’ Trimmer. Make sure the edge of the card is flush with the measuring rail so your cut will be straight. Line-up the blade tip in that dip and cut off the part you don’t want so it looks like a folder tab.

- Do the same thing to the tab on the front of the card. Then use the rounded corner punch on the Envelope Punch Board on that outside corner you created when cutting the tabs.

- The vanilla panel measures 5 1/4" wide by 3 1/4" tall.

Heat & Stick Tip: Do NOT over heat when you add the embossing powder to the versamark ink. As SOON as it starts to look shiny, STOP heating and it will be stickier. After applying the glitter, reheat to melt the glitter into the embossing powder.

These are so fun to make. I could see mini file folder cards as a get well card (think hospital patient folder); as a congrats card for many occasions (a good report card, a new job).

What ideas can you think of?

Spooky Banner Class - So Fun!

What great fun the past couple of days as some wonderful ladies visited my home to make the very fun Spooky Banner using the awesome canvas banner kit and Halloween embellishment pack in Stampin' Up's Holiday Catalog.

Here's Shirley, Sharon, Cathy, Mona, Jo, Rosanne and Barb in action or showing off their finished banner.

I liked calling this the "git-r-done" class as Mater said in "Cars." The goal was that you went home with a finished home decor item. How many times have you bought the kit but never made it? Not in this case. And a few folks I did not get a photo of -- so Susan, Nancy and Marg thanks for coming as well. We all had so much fun (I keep saying that but it was a great, relaxing time of crafting.)

If you want to make your own banner, you can order the Simply Created canvas banners and stencil kit from my online store and also the Halloween kit. Those names are hyperlinks to the store so check them out. For those who buy them, I'll be sure to send along an instruction sheet for the same version made in my classes.

Happy crafting!

Flip Card: A Halloween Variation

I've got another idea to share using the new flip card "thinlit" dies from Stampin' Up. This time it's the label card thinlit used for the base and Halloween is the theme. The focal point was inspired by demonstrator Mary Brown as I loved how she used one of the label die set's little banner dies to cut out the word "Beware" from the stamp image in the Halloween Bash set. It fits perfectly -- and the banner die is designed to cut AND make the score lines that gives it some pop-up dimension.

Here's the inside. I love the idea of warning you to beware -- and then surprising you with a sweet message.

I used the same trick shown in my last post to apply and cut the Pumpkin Pie paper panel from the Witches Brew Designer Series Paper so that it fits just right around the curve of the label die cut shape. Scroll down to check out that August 21 post.

As always, if you have any questions, leave me a comment or send me an email. Don't you agree that it's never too early to start thinking about Halloween candy?

Spooky Banner Class

It's almost time to get Spooky -- did you know Halloween is the second most popular holiday for home decor?

If you live in the Merritt Island area of Florida I am offering this banner as a fun class on Sept. 5 & 6. It's $18 to make just the banner to take home all finished. Choice #2 is making the banner plus you take home the stencil kit and 12 left over canvas banner pieces so you can make more banners at home ($35).

Register and pre-pay by Aug. 20. Email me to get more info, ask a question or register.

On a non-stamping note, it's the one year anniversary of the Curiosity rover making it to Mars. I live on Florida's space coast so that's a big deal here. So I'm sneaking in two video links for those who like to keep up with our space program. The first is the CBS News update from tonight's newcast on what Curiosity has been up to (I happen to know the technical consultant for this report --- I'm married to him). Click here for that one.

And if you have a sense of humor, this year old spoof on the engineering team that brought us the rover is so worth watching -- you can read about it and watch the funny video by clicking here.