September Tour de Freaks - BOO!

Bet you couldn't figure out the theme for this month, could ya? What? You did? Well okay, then be prepared for spooky fun from the Freaks this month! I'm the first stop on the tour, but you may have started elsewhere and landed here from Wendy's Wickedly Wonderful blog. Wasn't her schtuff fabulous?! You can continue through the whole tour by clicking the link at the bottom of each blog.

I have three projects today, so let's start with the cards. The first one was a fun bit of sponging (since I still haven't mastered brayering, haha). I used the negative of the Chalk Talk tag cut in Blackberry Bliss, snipped off the dangly bit to make a frame, and embossed it. Makes a nice little window for the image, don't you agree?

STAMPS: Holiday Home, Fall Fest, Holiday Cheer (PLxSU)  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Vellum, Blackberry Bliss, Basic Black  INK: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black, Basic Black & Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write Markers  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Fun Fall Framelits Dies, Tiny Triangles TIEF, Heat Tool, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Linen Thread, Tangelo Twist 3/8" Stitche dSatin Ribbon, Fringe Scissors

 

Up next is my fave of the two cards. Justin Krieger MADE me buy the Motley Monsters DSP (no, seriously, he almost held a gun to my head.....almost), so I just had to use it for this card. I think the Saraha Sand wood grain background sets off the Tangerine Tango stripes nicely, and it all makes a great background for the Fall Fest pumkpins! Love, love, love that greeting, too!

STAMPS: Fall Fest, Mingle All The Way   CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Basic Black, Motley Monsters DSP  INK: Tangerine Tango, Tangelo Twist, Pumpkin Pie, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Fun Fall Framelits Dies, Linen Thread, Gold Basic Metal Buttons, Uni-Ball White Gel Pen

 

And last, but not least, I actually have a little 3D project, inspired by Sandi MacIver's darling pumpkin she posted a few days ago. I thought, "Wouldn't that make an adorable tealight using Vellum Cardstock?"  I colored the vellum orange and added the stripes using Pumpkin Pie Blendabilities markers, then used the Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Die to cut it out. (Sandi MADE me buy that die, too; oh yes, she did!)

STAMPS: Fall Fest, Making Spirits Bright  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Soft Suede, White Vellum Cardstock, Mossy Meadow  INK: StazOn Jet Black, Mossy Meadow, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blendabilities Markers  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Die, Fun Fall Framelits Dies, Banner Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch, Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Burlap 1-1/4" Ribbon (frayed), battery-operated tea light

I made sure the decorations on top wouldn't interfere with opening it to turn on/off the battery-operated tea light inside.

Well, that's all for me this go-round, so head on over to Connie Babbert's blog, Inkspired Treasures to see what she's cooked up. Thanks for stopping by!

Snowman Tea Light Ornament

I saw the most aDORable snowman tea light on Becky Roberts' blog, but wanted to turn it into an ornament to give to my team at our meeting last week. These are so quick and fun to make; all you need is some cardstock scraps, a battery-operated tea light (I found them at the dollar store), and some rhinestones or pearls. I assume you already have basic tools like adhesives, punches, and a Big Shot. (What? You don't? Well call me and let me help get you started with the necessary tools!)

SNOWMAN WITH LIGHT TURNED OFF

You can find the instructions for making it on Becky's blog here. The only thing I did differently was add a flower on the brim, and double punched the ball for the cap to enclose the ends of the gold braid for the hanger. Hot-glued that sucker so it would hold!

YOOUUU LIGHT UP MY LIFE (TELL ME YOU WEREN'T SINGING THAT IN YOUR HEAD, LOL)

I found that my tea light was a little bigger than the 1-3/8" punch, so I had to use a (non-SU) 1-1/2" punch. That put the hole for the nose off-center when I used the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch, so I trimmed off a bit of the top of the face before I punched the hole for the nose. Voila, dead center! The trimmed part was going to be hidden by the hat brim anyway.

Becky used a Sharpie to color the pearls for the eyes and mouth. I happened to have black rhinestones left over from a SU Halloween swirl that retired a couple years ago. Never did use the swirl, but the individual rhinestones sure came in handy!












That sweet little box is also from Becky. I think it's the perfect size for sweet treats, if you don't feel like making a snowman. Chocolate is always a good idea! (BTW, 12 wrapped Hershey's Nuggets fit just right. You're welcome.)

Stamps: None
Cardstock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green, Be of Good Cheer DSP, Window Sheets
Ink: None
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice folder, Decorative Label Punch, Extra Large Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Black Rhinestones (retired), Multipurpose Adhesive, hot glue gun (non-SU),1-1/2" circle punch (non-SU), tea light (non-SU)

Tea Light Holder Tutorial

Here's a quick and easy gift to make, perfect for tucking into a stocking or gift bag. The measurements given below are for tea lights ½" to ⅝" tall. Any more than that will require adjusting the measurements and scoring.

The nice thing about this project is doesn't involve any candle stamping, since my last attempt at that didn't turn out so well. (It may be a while before I try it again, lol.)

For the base, cut heavy cardstock 4" x 5½" and score at ½" on all sides. On the long sides, cut to scoreline, following the heavy lines as shown below. Crease all scorelines, fold tabs in, and glue or use Sticky Strip.

For the cover, score at 1⅝", 2⅛", 5¼", and 5¾". Crease on scorelines, wrap around base and adhere back flap with Sticky Strip. These can be dressed up so many ways! This one was embossed and punched before fastening the back flap. There is a little acetate "window", held in place with Mini Glue Dots, with a bit of bling in the middle.

Adventures in Candle Stamping

Today I am eternally grateful to my loving husband for his kindness, sense of humor, and patience with his crazy wife.

With Christmas right around the corner, I've been looking for gift ideas that utilize stamping, and saw these delightful tea lights on Tanya Boser's blog, Tinkerin In Ink with Tanya.  Tea light gift ensembles have been popping up all over recently, and they looked so easy, I thought I'd give them a try.

First, I'll let you in on a little hint.  DON'T buy the tea lights that have a little dome-shaped top.  The stamped tissue won't lay flat, and you'll have to heat it so long with the heat tool, that the wax builds up on top of your stamped image, like so:

For the next one, I tried shaving off some of the dome, and not heating the tea light quite as long, and the result was better, but still not up to my obsessive compulsive high standards.

Next, a holiday image was in order, with some holly, which turned out okay, but the image should have been a little larger, for more "wow".

Then inspiration struck!  How about a little snowman?!  I love snowmen!!!  Snowmen are one of my favorite things - right up there with raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens!  So, I stamped this little guy from the Tags til Christmas set, without inking up the "To" and "From".  He turned out kinda cute......

....until I realized from where the wick was protruding:

No wonder he has that big smile on his face.  Ummm, I may have to rethink this one.....