I'm almost ready.....

For the goblins, ghosts and ghouls to come a trick or treating! Actually, the trick or treaters to the house get typical snack size candy bars - no gussying up. The treats below are for:

Brett's classroom of thirty one 5th graders, kept it very simple as they'll tear open the bag to get to the candy. A simple asymetrical tag is stapled to a small cello with a candy treat.


Halloween BIAB's for some of my friends. I used up all my halloween papers this year! There'll be more next year to choose from. This year Making Memories and Cosmo Cricket were my favorites.







And finally, Spooky tablets and test tubes; these are for my nieces and Brett's best buddies. Michaels had these uber cute tablets (Brett's fav is the big eyeball!) that I packed up in a large cello with some candy treats hidden behind (Reese's Cups) and tied off with a candy test tube of Nerds. As my nieces go to school with Brett, I will leave these as a surprise on their desks in the morning before school.

Tomorrow night Brett is off to his first Halloween party - just boys - my girlfriend, Anita, is brave to have 8 rambunctious boys coming over! Morgan is off to an annual teen Halloween party put on by a couple of her best friends. Staying home to hand out candy? It's been years since we've been able to do that!

Happy Haunting!

V.~

Supplies are:
Stamps: Carved and Candlelit, Batty for You, All Holidays by SU!
Inks: Tango Tangerine, Kiwi Kiss by SU! Versafine Onyx Black by Tsukineko
Paper: SU! Basic Black, Green Galore, Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant
Patterned Paper: Making Memories and Cosmo Cricket
Tools: Crop a Dile, Circle punches, Scallop punch, Tab punch, Crimper, Stapler
Accessories: Ribbons by SU! and Michaels, Large Eyelets by WeRMemory Keepers, Cello Bags by SU!, Test Tubes by Martha Stewart,

Thomas Kinkade's Clocktower Cottage

Today is the release day for the newest Thomas Kinkade image by Cornish Heritage Farms, Clocktower Cottage. I've chosen to go monochromatic with the upper card, creating it in shades of mossy green. For the second card, I've gone with a reverse spotlighting effect. The image was first stamped and chalked before adding a vellum layer to mute the colors. Then a second image was stamped in sepia ink and trimmed with an oval die before mounting on top of the vellum layer.

Have a terrific Thursday!

V.~

Here are the supplies:

Clocktower in Moss
Stamps:
Clocktower Cottage © Thomas Kinkade by Cornish Heritage Farms
Each day ... © Thomas Kinkade by Cornish Heritage Farms
Leaves #3 Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
Versafine Spanish Moss by Tsukineko
Versafine Vintage Sepia by Tsukineko
Adirondack Willow by Ranger
Paper:
Spring Willow Light and Dark by Prism
Natural Smooth by Prism
Tools:
Piercing tool by Making Memories
Accessories:
Moss satin ribbon
Mini brads
Dimensional foam

Chalked Clocktower
Stamps:
Clocktower Cottage © Thomas Kinkade for Cornish Heritage Farms
Pretty Pattern Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
Versafine Vintage Sepia by Tsukineko
Memento Summer Sky by Tsukineko
Paper:
Baby Blue Light by Prism
Natural White by Prism
Suede Brown Dark by Prism
Vellum
Tools:
Piercing tool by Making Memories
Edge distresser by Making Memories
I-Kan-Dee Chalks by Pebbles
Souffle pens by Sakura
Nestabilities Oval die by Spellbinders
Cuttlebug by Provo Craft
Accessories:
Dotted sheer ribbon by May Arts
Silver mini brads
Dimensional foam

Be Creative - the CHF blog

The powers that be behind CHF have been furiously working on a new creative place for all things CHF.

You may find it here:

BeCreative - creative inspiration from the folks at Cornish Heritage Farms

There's gonna be candy, and it's not the trick or treating type, so head on over for your chance to win!


V.~

4U BIAB~

For the birthday girl that this card was made for last weekend. The birthday party is tonight and instead of making another card, I decided on a birthday BIAB to house the gift card Morgan will be taking to the party. This bag is based on my Halloween BIAB which is based on Cami's which is based......after all is said and done, apparently Martha Stewart. Who knew? Ü

V.~

Supply List:
Patterned paper is by Pebblesinc from the Sweetheart line, Ice cream cone and 4U tag are Kim Hughes by CHF, Pink and Natural card stock by Prism, Ink is Memento Rich Cocoa for the cone, ColorBox Fluid Chalk for the tag and dtp'ing of the tag edges, Big eyelet is WeRMemory Keepers, Tab Corner punch by SU!, ribbon in stash, maybe May Arts?, Linen thread by SU!, Heart button from my button jar, Glossy Glaze by Ranger, Copic Markers, Inksentials White Gel Pen by Ranger, Dimensional foam

Scene It?

Beacon of Hope, the first set in a new line of images called Scene It, from CHF are available today.

For this card, the lighthouse image was stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia and quickly dunked into clear ep and heat embossed. Liquid bleach was applied to image with a watercolor brush and left to dry, which bleached out the colored cardstock to white. Yellow accents were applied with a colored pencil and then Glassy Glaze was applied over the yellow for added interest. The blue for the sky is chalk applied with a chisel paint brush, it's a very soft effect. A Scor-Pal embossed line at the bottom of the card was sanded to reveal the white core of the patterned paper.

I wanted to add ribbon or buttons or something, but they added nothing to the card but a distraction. So a simple sanded embossed line is the only addition to the card base.

Seize the day!
V.~

Stamps:
Beacon of Hope (Scene It) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
Versafine Vintage Sepia and Olympia Green by Tsukineko
Paper:
Island Mist Medium and Mystic Dark by Prism
Patterned Paper:
Scrapblocks™ Paper Pack by Cornish Heritage Farms
Tools:
Scor- Pal
Embossing Heat tool by Marvy
Piercing tool by Making Memories
Chisel Brush
Watercolor Brush
Sanding Block
Other:
Clear Embossing Powder
Bleach
Brights Chalks by PebblesInc
Glossy Glaze by Ranger
Prismacolor Pencils

50th Birthday Wishes

Mona's newest CHF release today, Invitation Essentials, is perfect for simple to elaborate cards and invitations. I used it very simply here with the Thomas Kinkade papers to make a card for a 50th birthday party that Jay and I will be attending on Saturday. Jay nixed ribbon or fluff, cuz, well, you know....it's for a guy! LOL The little stitches are okay though. :)

V.~

Stamps:
Invitation Essentials (Mona Lisa Moments) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Essential Expressions Classic (Mona Lisa Moments) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
Versafine Onyx Black by Tsukineko
Paper:
Kraft and Natural Smooth by Prism
Patterned Paper:
Thomas Kinkade Paper Pack by Cornish Heritage Farms
Tools:
Distressing tool by Making Memories
Needle
Accessories:
Antique mini brads
Linen thread
Dimensional foam

Sweet and Sparkly 16~

Morgan asked me if I would make a container of sorts for her best friend, Mikie, for her 16th birthday. After a bit of back and forth on what to use for the container, I suggested one of the lunchbox tins; she agreed, which was a good thing as I still have a large box of them under the desk here! Morgan wanted the colors and patterns to be Mikie's favorite, so it's turquoise, cheetah, and bling - perfect for a 16 year old girl!

The tin is filled with M&M packets and a gift card to her favorite clothing store. I deconstructed the gift card holder from the store and made a cheetah one instead. The card ties into the box in it's layout, complete with all those ribbons tied into the holes created with the Fiskar's Threading Waters punch.

They're out to dinner tonight celebrating at a local mexican food restaurant, so it's safe for me to post a pic now!

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: Celebrate Everything and Sweet Shapes by SU!
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Cool Caribbean
Paper: Classic Crest Natural White by Neenah, Black and Turquoise from The Paper Company (Joann's)
Patterned Paper: Cheetah Print Joann's
Tools: Cuttlebug and Red Tag Alpha, Fiskars Threading Waters Punch, Scor-Pal, Distressing tool, Design Ruler by Tim Holtz, Piercing tool
Accessories: Ribbons, lots of 'em!, Rhinestones by KaiserCraft, Black buttons by CTMH, Dimensional foam

Dirty Challenge Spook or Treat ~

Today's post is for the SCS DD/DDA Monthly Challenge. This month the challenge was issued by Emily "Water Pixie" and the perimeters were:

Theme: Halloween
Required element: Googlie Eyes
Restrictions: No Pumpkins of any sort

I barely had time this week to even think about this challenge, and then I got the reminder pm. :) Saturday evening I created this Halloween gift bag from 2 sheets of Making Memories patterned paper and filled it with a dozen simply stamped cellos of candy corn to take as my appreciation gifts for the class I taught at my fav LSS (Paper Tales) on Sunday. The gift tag is an altered shipping tag, very simply gussied up with the same papers, googlie eyes (wish I had smaller ones, but it was late and I didn't want to go out), mini brads, hemp, and ribbon. The gals taking the Cupcake Box Class (a couple of posts down) appreciated the cellos of candy corn, but all wanted to take the bag instead. Another class has been added to the Paper Tales class list. *smile*

Perimeter checklist:

Halloween themed - check
Googlie eyes - check
No pumpkins - check

Okay, I think I followed all the rules this time! You can view the other Dirty Challenge projects at SCS, keyword DCST1008

Happy Monday!

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Trick or Treat (retired), All Holidays
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black by Tsukineko, Memento Tangelo by Tsukineko
Paper: Black by Prism
Patterned Paper: Spellbound Collection by Making Memories
Other: Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, Shipping tags (large/small) , Circle Punch, Crop A Dile, Jumbo eyelets, Piercing tool, hemp, ribbons, mini brads, cello bags, candy corn

I Scream, You Scream.....

We all scream for Ice Cream.....

Morgan requested a birthday card this morning for her team mate - pink the fav color and what teen doesn't like polka dots?

Images are from two CHF Kim Hughes sets: Lil Gal and Birthday Bash. Morgan picked the ice cream cone for the main image. The ice cream cone was stamped twice, once on the image panel and another time on the pink card stock. The cone was colored in with a Copic Marker. The pink scoop was selectively colored with a Copic Marker and highlighted with white gel pen dots. The cherry has a shine due to Glossy Glaze that was applied after coloring. The sentiment was stamped twice on pink card stock, each word cut out and adhered to the image panel. October Afternoon patterned paper, a pierced border, and a couple ribbon ties complete the card. Enclosed in a coordinated envelope and it will accompany Morgan to her game this afternoon to give to her team mate.

Gotta scoot, have a wonderful Saturday!

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps:
Lil Gal (Kim Hughes) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Birthday Bash (Kim Hughes) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
Memento Rich Cocoa
Paper:
Classic Crest Natural White by Neenah
Baby Pink Medium and Suede Brown Dark by Prism
Patterned Paper:
Rain Boots from the Daydream Collection by October Afternoon
Tools:
Design Ruler by Tim Holtz
Piercing tool by Making Memories
Edge Distresser by Making Memories
Copic Markers: 0, E51, RV10, RV17
Inkssentials White Opaque Pen by Ranger
Accessories:
Pink and Brown ribbons - unknown
Glassy Glaze by Ranger
Dimensional foam

Cupcake Box @ Paper Tales

Cupcake Box and Scor-Pal Class at Paper Tales
Sunday, October 19th 1pm

Paper Tales Store Info

V.~

Heart Warmers Door Hanger

Join me at CHF tonight for one of their holiday online classes. My project is this Heart Warmers Door Hanger. I'll be in the chat forums from 5pm - 7pm Pacific time. Here's a link to the online announcement with a supply list. Chipboard, papers, inks, a few bellies and fun holiday stamps are all you need!

Heart Warmer Door Hanger Online Class

V.~

Silhouettes, Mementos and a Blog Challenge~

CHF Blog Challenge Chicks focus today is Tsukineko Memento Inks. I love them, use them all the time, and they will be the Product Focus at CHF starting Friday.

Kim's Flower and Plant Individual images will be available on Thursday, the 16th. Silhouettes are hot right now and if you're new to them, these single images are a perfect way to get hooked!

Brief card details are:
Leaves #3 Backgrounder is stamped with Versamark on Prism Spring Willow Light. Images are stamped with Memento Lilac Posies ink onto Prism Natural White and matted on Spring Willow Medium. A bit of Making Memories Funky Vintage Trim is sewed on with a zig zag stitch with a sewing machine. Image is mounted to card front with dimensional foam.

Inside of card has a coordinated strip cut from a swatch stamped like the background panel. Coordinated envelopes have the focal image stamped in the lower left. The whole kit and kaboodle is tied together with a length of that beautiful ribbon.

Sorry this is short and sweet, I'm juggling a number of things and am trying to get out the door! Be sure to check out the other CHF DT Blog Chicks, you'll find links on the left side bar under CHF Design Team.

Have a wonderful day~

V.~

eta on my way out the door: I often make note card sets sentiment less, that way the recipient (or me) can use the cards as needed. I think of sets you can purchase in the store, often times they are blank on the outside, so why do our handmade cards *need* to always have a sentiment? They don't! Or you can add a sentiment later if you choose.

Suave 16~

Morgan's best buddy, Alec ( they've been best friends since they were 3) turned 16 yesterday and she asked me if I had a card she could give to him with her gift......well, I didn't, so I quickly made a card/bag that matched the gift she picked out for him. He mentioned some time ago he wanted cheetah print fabric to make homemade patches for his skater jeans. Who knew an 1/8th yard of fabric would bring such a smile to his face! It was so very cute. Anywho, I've been making a tin for her best girlfriend using this same patterned paper, so the scraps were perfect for Alec's card and quick lunch bag wrap. Morgan said that card was tight, Alec said it was cool, to me that was a big compliment!

Patterned paper is from Joanne's, black is Prism, red is SU! Die cuts are Red Tag Alpha. It's been a chaotic week around here, I'm hoping the weekend will bring some downtime.

Have a fabulous day!
V.~

Office fun!

I've had a heck of day today......and came home to this from a friend. It sure brought a smile to my face, enjoy!

Thanks, Cindy!

V.~


via videosift.com

Robotic Birthday Wishes~

It's time for Monday's CHF Blog Chicks Challenge, this week it's Quick Cards. Now everyone's opinion on a quick card will be different, if you ask me. If it generally takes an hour to make a card, a quick card could be a 30 minute card. Or a 30 minute regular session would mean maybe a 15 minute Quick Card. For me, since most of my cards take 30 minutes or less, my quick cards should be no more than 10 - 15 minutes.

Funny thing about this challenge, I got stumped. Tell me what I have to do and sometimes my brain just freezes. I started with an oh so serious card and just could not make it work, so back to the drawing board, and with a little inspiration from my good friends, Cindy and Mish, decided on this fresh, fun, robot birthday card.

The robot, from Kim Hughes newest set Lil Guy, by CHF is stamped with Momento Tuxedo Black and colored in with Copic Markers. I added few silver gel pen highlights and a wee bit of gloss on his beacon with Glossy Accents to finish him up. Stamp the birthday greeting in Momento Bahama Blue underneath the robot. Mat the image panel to a thin black mat; stamp the greeting, stitch the ribbons, and set a couple black brads and the image panel is finished. Adhere the completed image panel to the card base that has the perfect patterned paper, Back to the Future from Sassafras.

Be sure to check out the other additions to Monday's CHF Blog Chicks Challenge by clicking on the links on the left side bar under CHF Design Team.'

Quick cards, love 'em!

V.~

Details~
Stamps: Lil Guy (Kim Hughes) for Cornish Heritage Farms, Tag, You're It (Kim Hughes) for Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black by Tsukineko, Momento Bahama Blue by Tsukineko
Paper: Classic Crest Solar White by Neenah Paper, Black by Prism
Patterned Paper: Back to the Future by Sassafras
Tools: Piercing tool/foam mat, Sewing machine, Copic Markers: N1, N3, R27, Silver Signo Gel Pen by Uniball, Black Glaze Pen by Sakura
Accessories: Black mini brads, Ribbons (May Arts and Michaels Arts/Crafts), Glossy Accents by Ranger, Dimensional foam

Forever Friends~

Bethie (aka MyPrecious aka Featured Stamper Challenge Hostess) sent me a pm the other day asking if I would host the FS Challenge for her this weekend. She's out on the town, in the city that never sleeps, with girlfriends whooping it up for her birthday.

You can find the forum here, with all the details on how to play:
FS87 LOVE STAMPIN' ....

My FS card is based on this one:
Appealing Water Garden

I changed up:
- stamps used
- colors
- oval dies instead of circles
- sentiment and brad placement

Click on the upclose picture to see the sparkle! Blue, sparkly, and heading east in Monday's mail.......hmmm, just where could this be going? I hope our birthday girl has been having a great time in the Big Apple!

V.~

Stamps: SU! Always, Beautiful Borders, Paper: SU! Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Ink: SU! Pacific Point, Tools: Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots embossing folder, Nestabilities Oval dies, Mat Pack and Piercing tool, Square punch (for banner end) Accessories: SU! Button Bouquet, Linen Thread, Dimensionals

World Card Making Day~

Today is World Card Making Day, as I'm sure many of you already know. World Card Making Day began in 2006 as National Card Making Day. Founded by Paper Crafts magazine in an effort to bring card makers together at the busiest card-making season of the year, it was first held on October 7, 2006. The initial celebration involved the Paper Crafts magazine audience only; however, due to the positive response it received and the worldwide popularity of card making, Paper Crafts recognized the need to expand, and the holiday transformed into World Card Making Day.

There are WCMD parties happening all over. This card is one I did for the PaperCrafts online WCMD site, you can find the details here:

Teacher Thanks

You'll find challenges and fun things to do at many online sites, if you like to blog hop, you'll find plenty of those too! And blog candy at many places, too!

A great starting point for a day of fun begins at any one of these sites:

World Card Making Day - read the history, view the PC gallery, create, start your blog hopping and more
Splitcoaststampers - lots of challenges going on at the #1 stamping site around!
Cornish Heritage Farms - more challenges happening here!

Today, we've got the regular Saturday activities planned, but I am going to try and get at least one stamping challenge or activity in!

Happy WCMD!
V.~

Young Love~

Oh, to be 15 and in love.....and celebrating your one year anniversary. :) Do remember those days, celebrating every week, every month, your first kiss, your first date, all those milestones that teens celebrate? Morgan asked me if I would please make a frame for her very good friend, Mikaela, and to use blues and greens so it would match her room. Morgan has a special picture of Mikaela and Jesse to insert in the blank area before she gives it to them on October 12th, their one year anniversary. Which also happens to be my wedding anniversary. Jay and I will celebrate 17 years. After I made the frame it dawned on me that I used October Afternoon paper, how appropriate! LOL Guess I should make Jay something, huh?!

Frame is an unfinished wood $1 frame from Michaels Arts & Crafts. I inserted a Clear Card Sheet square to replicate glass as these frames come glass free. The letters are Red Tag Alpha and are cut from coasters with my Cuttlebug, and then cut again from Prism paper and adhered together before attaching to the frame, it gives the frame a bit of dimension. Two blinged hearts, and a ribbon bow complete the frame, all it needs now is Morgan's picture of them.

V.~

Supplies:
Michaels $1 frame, October Afternoon Detours Collection patterned paper, Cuttlebug Red Tag Alpha and Concentric Hearts die, Rhinestones by KaiserCraft, Grosgrain ribbon (unknown), Scor-Tape, Clear Card Sheet, Acrylic craft paint (for frame sides and back), Dimensional foam

Lil Guy and Lil Girl~

2 cards, same layout, different looks, for 2 new sets, Lil Guy and Lil Girl, by Kim Hughes for CHF available today.
Finished cards are 5" x 5" square.

Hey Dude Card Supplies: Little Guy (Kim Hughes) for Cornish Heritage Farms, Fine Houndstooth Scrapblock™ by Cornish Heritage Farms, Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black by Tsukineko, Versafine Deep Lagoon by Tsukineko, Adirondack Pool by Ranger, Paper: Citrus Teal by The Paper Company, Prismatics Intense Orange, Classic Blue and Black by Prism, Classic Crest Solar White by Neenah Paper, Tools: Tracing wheel, Design Wheel by Tim Holtz, Square punch by EK Success (to create banner points), Copic Markers: BG01, N5 and YG01, Piercing tool by Making Memories, Accessories: Orange mini brad, Silver mini brads, Dimensional foam

Sister Card Supplies: Little Gal (Kim Hughes) by Cornish Heritage Farms, Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia by Tsukineko, Paper: Classic Crest Solar White by Neenah, Prismatics Intense Pink, Baby Blue Dark, Frosted Yellow and Suede Brown Dark by Prism, Patterned Paper: Sprinkled and Gum Drop from the Serendipity "Sunshine Lollipop" Collection by Sassafras, Tools: Tracing Wheel, Square Punch by EK Success, Accessories: Aqua mini brad, Pink button, Silver cord, Dimensional foam

Ahoy Matey and Shiver me Timbers~

Two new sets from Cornish Heritage Farms, available today! Pirates are a hot commodity right now, well, at least the romantic notion of them. Not sure I would want to be paid a visit by the real thing, ykwim? So, if you like a realistic set, then Shiver Me Timbers fits the bill. I decided on a booty bag of chocolate coins for this set. Wouldn't this be a fun hand delivered invitation to a pirate themed party or a perfect bag of "gold" for the winner of a party game?

Supplies: Muslin, sewing machine, Cotton cording (jewelry dept at Joanne's), Palette Noir and Burnt Umber ink, Distress Vintage Photo ink, Small shipping tag, Chocolate coins

Pirates, done by Kim Hughes for CHF, fit the fun and whimsical style. This set, Ahoy Matey, is the SOTM set and available for a limited time. I made this card and was going to mail it to Brett, you know how kids love mail....instead, I left it with his teacher to put on his desk to wish him a great day. Inside reads:
You're a treasure. (with the miniature crossbones stamped next to the sentiment).











He loved it~ (and so did his deskmates).

Supplies: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Tangerine and Alabaster, Prismatics Black and Intense Orange by Prism, Solar White by Neenah, Striped ribbon by Michaels, Design Ruler by Tim Holtz, Piercing tool by Making Memories, Dimensional foam

Happy Wednesday!

V.~