Constantly Stamping

Scallop Punch Spider Family

This is my little family of punched spiders for Trick or Treat. Each spider has a peppermint pattie sandwiched between the front and back for a yummy treat. This isn't really my idea, but I sure had fun making them. The bodies of the Dad and Mom are made using the scallops from the Pennant Die and the little girl spider uses the scallop punch. The legs are made using the corner punch and of course the eyes are wiggly eyes from the local craft store. You could make your own eyes from circle punches also. The daddy spider uses Old Olive for his accents and the ladies are accented with Pink Pirourette.

Have fun with these and have a fun and safe Trick or Treat.

Weekend Sketch Challenge #63

This week I decided to attempt Beates weekend sketch challenge. I haven't played for a while, so this is what I came up with last night. I actually did two cards for the challenge.

This was the second card that I did and it is definitely my favorite. I altered the sketch a little and made it square (4 1/2"). This card uses Juntos DSP (#112457) from the Celebrando Creatividad catalog (Spanish). By far, I love this paper more than any other because it is the colors I love and the style I love. The dsp is matted with More Mustard and Really Rust CS. The flower is sponged with More Mustard classic ink. The flower center uses the "Punches Three" level 1 hostess set in a slightly different way. I stamped the image in Really Rust and then punched with the 1 1/4" circle punch. Then I layered it on More Mustard CS punched with the 1 3/8" circle punch and then layered all of that on a Really Rust Scallop circle punch.

This card uses the sketch in a more true manner. It is a standard card base made with Chocolate Chip CS (5 1/2" x 4 1/4" after folded). I rolled it with VersaMark ink and the "Watercolor Vine" jumbo wheel. The flower center is from the WOW stamp set and stamped with Chocolate Chip Ink. The half-back pearls are colored with a Dark Bark Copic Marker and adhered with mini glue dots.

Thanks for looking and as always, you can place an order with me any time by going to my Stampin' Up! website.

Frankie Cupcake Toppers

With Trick or Treat right around the corner, I wanted to share with you some cute little cupcake toppers that I made for a recent workshop. I purchased the pre-made mini cupcakes at my local WalMart Super Center.

I used my curly label punch and some Green Galore & Basic Black CS to punch the heads. (2 green/1 black) I drew the stitches and mouth on with a black pen and attached some wiggly eyes with mini glue dots. I used Sticky Strip to sandwich a flat toothpick between two green "heads". I cut the black piece in half and gave it a haircut with my scissors and attached with a glue stick. (I did this on the back too so if you look from the other side it looks like the back of his head.) This is a fun and easy project. The most difficult part is trying not to eat the cupcakes before the big party!

Sunflower Treat and Tutorial

This is a cute little treat bag that I think would be fabulous for Thanksgiving dinner guests or for a fast and fun teachers gift. I used my Big Shot machine and the Top Note Bigz Die to cut one each of Kraft and Always Artichoke CS. Fold the kraft cs in half and stamp the sentiment in Always Artichoke classic ink using the sentiment from Dreams du Jour (#111624).
Cut the Always Artichoke piece in half (longways), trim off the side tips and layer underneath the kraft cs.

Here is a quick little tutorial I put together on how to make the cute little sunflower.

                                                                 SUNFLOWER TUTORIAL
Punch five flowers with the 5-petal punch. (4 More Mustard & 1 Always Artichoke).

Make two stacks of two punched flowers each and adhere together (I used mini glue dots).

Rotate one set of petals and place on top of the second set. Trim the Always Artichoke flower cs and adhere to the back of the flower as leaves.

Punch a circle from a piece of swiss polka dot paper. (I used Bella Rose collection, but you could also use the Chocolate Chip patterned DSP.) Use a dimensional and apply the circle to the center of the flower.

That's it...you're finished. Wasn't that just too easy! Have fun with this and let me see what you do with these cute little flowers.

Easy Trick or Treat Gifts

I used my Big Shot machine and the Top Note Bigz die to create this fast and fun gift for Trick or Treat. It couldn't be easier. I place a sheet of dsp (double-sided paper) from the Ghostly Greetings collection into my machine. I also ran a sheet of Basic Black cardstock through the machine as well. I folded the orange sheet in half to make a topper. I cut the black cs in half and trimmed off the little points on the sides. This gives a quick and easy bottom border that I don't have to fuss with.

Then I stamped the spider in basic black from the Batty for You stamp set. I punched it out with the 1 1/4" circle punch then layered it with Pumpkin Pie cs punched with the 1 3/8" circle. All of that is layered on a piece of basic black cs punched with the scallop circle punch. For the band across the middle, I cut a 1/2" strip of basic black cs and ran it through my paper crimper. I applied it to the front and trimmed off the edges to match. This is a great way to give texture and the look of grosgrain ribbon without the additional expense. I hid my staples behind the black band. (I believe you should always hide the mechanics of a project if at all possible.)

If you like, you can add a dot of Tombo Multi-purpose Adhesive on the eyes and apply tiny wiggly eyes from the craft store.

Of course, everyone "needs" the Big Shot machine and the Top Note die, but if you don't have one you can still create a cute bag topper with some cardstock and designer series paper like I did here. Have fun with this project and be sure to email me if you have any questions. If you order today, you still have time to receive everything you need to make these fun treats for the kids (little or big).
Here is a shopping list of things you will need:

109363 Batty for You Stamp set
112434 Ghostly Greetings DSP
Pumpkin Pie Card Stock
Kiwi Kiss Card Stock
Basic Black Card Stock
Paper Crimper
1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punches
Scallop Circle Punch
Basic Black Classic Pad
Bigz Top Note Die
Big Shot Die Cut Machine
(Note, the Top Note Die is too large for your Cuttlebug machine).
Medium Flat Cellophane Bags
(Note: I used the small flat bags for the second treat bag.)
Paper Crimper
Paper Cutter
Dimensionals

Other:
small wiggly eyes (optional)
Adhesive
M&M's Halloween Candy (Love the colors...yummy!)

Spooky Spider Oval Frame

I wanted a portable way to show the medium sized spider for my workshops, so I found this wonderful oval frame for $10 at Big Lots. I removed the back and took out the glass. I cleaned the glass and then I took it outside for a little paint job.

First I lightly sprayed the back outside edges of the glass with black spray paint and then spritzed it all over with black so that is would have a splattered effect. After that dried, I used a can of the chrome spray paint to coat the back of the glass. I wanted it to have to look and feel of an old antique mirror. After it dried for a few hours, I added the spider to the front of the glass and placed the glass back inside the frame. This is a great way for me to display my spider and it can be used year after year . If I get tired of it, I can have a new piece of glass cut for the front and I still have a very nice frame.

These spiders won't hang around long. If you would like to create your own Spooky Spider wall hanging, or if you have some other fabulous idea in mind, you can order with me today. Just visit my website and hit the "shop now" button in the top right corner of the page. Or, if you prefer, you can email me. It's just that easy!

Candy Corn Triangle Box

I saved the best for last. I whipped up this cute candy corn box for an upcoming workshop. I thought I was so creative by designing this, but I was out on Split Coast Stampers and found two other people who had very similar boxes...oh well. I guess great minds think alike, LOL.

My box uses Only Orange CS for the base. I cut a top triangle out of Whisper White and a bottom triangle from Yoyo Yellow CS and glued them to the front of the box. I stamped a quick tag in Basic Black ink with the tag stamp from the "Eat, Drink, & Be Scary" set from the new Holiday Mini Catalog. I used my small and large tag punches to layer it and attached it to the corner with a dimensional. I added some prepackaged candy corn and then I cinched the box closed with some raffia...did I mention that I like to use lots of raffia on my fall projects? If you just change the tag, this would be a really cute Thanksgiving favor. I can just see a cute tag made from the "In Everything Give Thanks" set (111584) on page 31 of the Fall-Winter 2008 idea book and catalog.

Flower Fancy Triangle Box

Nobody can make just one. I couldn't resist making another one of these wonderful triangle boxes. This elegant box is made with Riding Hood Red CS and layered with some of the beautiful DSP from the Bella Rose Collection. I already had some flowers stamped with the Flower Fancy stamp set lying around so I decided to add those to the front and the results were beautiful. I used my curly label and large oval punch to add a sentiment and there you go. These would be beautiful wedding favors.