Batty Pop-Up Card

Happy Halloween!   I thought I'd share with you what might be my favorite Halloween project that I've created this year!   Here's the outside:

Oops!  Didn't realize that when I added the ribbon and took the photo, I covered up part of the outside greeting!  Here's a photo without the ribbon:

And, when you open up the card, this is what pops up at you:

The card base is Pumpkin Pie card stock, and for the front, I layered on some Basic Black and a striped paper from the Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series Paper (with a Label Framelit window cut in it for the Booglies to peek out of!  "Trick or Treat" is from the Toxic Treats stamp set, as are some of the images stamped on the inside of the card.  Other images are from the Wicked Cool stamp set, and "Boooo" is from the Googly Ghouls set.

The pop up bat is created using layers of accordion folded paper.  The folds are made every 1/2" along a 10" strip of Basic Black.  I used 5 strips total, 2 strips of 3/4" x 10", 2 of 1" x 10" and the center one is 1-1/4" x 10".  The wings were created with a Basic Black punched oval, with circle punches taken out of the bottom of the wing.  The bat's ears and teeth were made using the Petite Pennant Punch.  The eyes and fangs were attached to thin strips of paper that pop out from the accordion-folded body, so that they don't get too squished when the card is closed.  

I was inspired to create this card by an adorable card on page 181 of the 2012-2013 Catalog, which has a pop up Christmas tree in the center.  My original idea was to create a pumpkin.  Here's how my first attempt at that turned out (still needs a stem and some leaves added, and possibly a Jack o'Lantern face?):

And, here's how my first attempt at the bat turned out:

It took a bit of work to figure out how best to attach the eyes and fangs!  

Hope your day is filled with treats!  Thanks for visiting my blog!

- Michelle

Boo!

Happy Saturday!  We're having a good day . . . I went for a run with a friend this morning, and even though when I first woke up, I was half hoping I heard rain so I could sleep in, I was nonetheless very thankful to have the time exercising and chatting with my friend!  Then, it was off to my youngest son's soccer game, which turned out to be a very exciting, good game.  And, we've managed to get the boys' pumpkins carved. Hope you're having a great Saturday as well!

Today, I thought I'd share with you a pin that I created for Halloween:

I used the Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series Paper for the medallion that's the base.  There's a 1-3/8" Circle of Tangerine Tango on top of that, followed by a 1-1/4" Scallop Circle Punch piece of Silver Glimmer Paper, a Bold Brights Designer Button, and a strip of Very Vanilla, cut into a banner shape.  The "boooo" is from the Googly Ghouls stamp set, stamped in Basic Black.  I used one of the images from the Mixed Medley stamp set to add the decorations on either end of the banner, and used the direct-to-paper technique with Basic Black ink on the edges of the banner to make it even more spooky.  A few Googlies provide the finishing touch!

My friend Lea took this idea and created fabulous magnets as gifts for everyone who attended this month's Creative Connections:

Lea used stamps from the Wicked Cool stamp set to create these, along with the spider web image from Mixed Medley.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

- Michelle

Spooktacular News from Stampin' Up! -- 15% off all stamps, plus free digital downloads on October 29th!!!!

Stampin' Up! has just announced some very exciting news!  On October 29th, for one-day only, there will be a one day sale on all stamps in the current catalogs -- 15% off stamp sets including background stamps, personalized name stamps, cookie press stamps, and single image stamps.  (The only sets excluded are hostess sets, bundled stamp sets, and digital stamp brush sets).  And, there are now even more single image stamps from which to choose!  You can see all the single stamps currently available by clicking here.

And, that isn't all!!!!  Stampin' Up! is celebrating Digital Scrapbooking Day next week in a big way!

 From October 29th until November 5th, they'll give away free digital downloads (and you'll want to spread the word about it because if Stampin' Up! gets 18,000 free downloads, they'll give everybody a bonus download!!!), and all digital kits will be 50% off.  You can click here to check out the digital kits.  Plus, you'll want to check out the extra-special posts on the blog at www.mydigitalstudio.net all week!



You might have noticed I actually have been playing a bit in My Digital Studio this week -- I have a new blog header that I created there just in time for Halloween.  Here it is:

I used some of My Digital Studio's great new features to create this.  The cat and pumpkin are actually cropped out of a digital stamp image from the Tricky Treats digital download.  I used the new feature that allows you to use multiple colors and "paint" a stamp image to color them in.  And, the lace trim is recolored in Basic Black using the new feature that allows you to recolor embellishments.  I'm really loving all the new features!   If you haven't tried MDS2 out yet, you're missing out!

Happy Friday!

- Michelle

Fall Fun at the Farm

Today, I was able to head to a local farm with my almost 7-year-old and his class, and we had a wonderful time.  We had fun walking through the garden and having a tasting picnic, where we had freshly picked arugula, pomegranate seeds, carrots, tomatoes, nasturtium, and apples.  Then, we were off to see the farm animals -- sheep, pigs, cows, and chickens -- even got to see some adorable piglets and chicks.  It had rained in the morning, but it was perfectly sunny for our walk around the farm.  The highlight for the kids was choosing pumpkins to take home.  Perfect fall fun!  Here are some photos from our adventure:

I also have a card to share with you that kind of goes along with our day of fall fun at the farm.  It's a variation on the cards I posted yesterday.  I decided to try the same layout as before, just substituting Crumb Cake card stock in place of Whisper White for the base and layer.  Here's how that turned out:

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

- Michelle

CAS Fall Thank You Cards

Here are a couple of clean-and-simple-style thank you notes I recently created, inspired by a beautiful card by Lisa Dolson, who was one of the winners of Stampin' Up!'s October demonstrator art contest. 

 

These cards are made using Stampin' Up!'s Note Cards & Envelopes for the base.  I added a 4.75" x 3-1/4" layer of Whisper White, from which I die cut the window using one of the Labels Framelits.  I tried two different embossing folders for dressing up the window layer.  The first is the Chevron Folder:

 

 

And, second, I tried the Woodgrain Folder (from the Holiday Catalog):

Which do you like best?  It's a close call, but I think the Woodgrain is my favorite.

The leaves are two-step stamped images from the Gently Falling stamp set.  I used the Rock n Roll technique for the solid image.  (Summer Starfruit and Old Olive ink for the smallest leaf, More Mustard and Cajun Craze for the maple leaf, and Lucky Limeade with Island Indigo for the oak leaf.)  The outline of the leaves is Soft Suede. 

The "thank you" image is from the Perfectly Penned stamp set, and is stamped in Soft Suede ink.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

- Michelle

Trick or Treat Diorama Card

Last week, I showed you the 3D project we made at this month's Creative Connections class.  Well, today I have the special card to show you.  The hostess requested that we create a diorama card, inspired by this card by my friend Marlene Caravello, but designed for Halloween instead.   Here is the sample I created:

I decided to use the new Core'dinations card stock in Early Espresso, emboss it with the Spider Web Folder, then sand it for a spooky effect.  I also added a bit of shine on top of that by taking my Illuminate Ink Pad direct to paper across the card stock.

The window is cut with one of the Labels Framelits.  I stamped the bat, spider, and mummy from the Googly Ghouls stamp set in Early Espresso, and finished them off with Googlies.  The RIP and "Trick or Treat" images are from the Toxic Treats stamp set, again stamped in Early Espresso.  I punched out the tombstone image using the Decorative Label and the "Trick or Treat" is die cut using one of the Bitty Banners Framelits. I sponged the images first with Daffodil Delight, then a bit of Pumpkin Pie, followed by Lucky Limeade, and finished off with some Illuminate ink for a spooky-shimmery effect.

Here's a close up of the mummy, where you can also see a bit more of the shimmer:

It was great fun to see the different dioramas my friends created during class (should've taken photos of them, but, alas forgot my camera!)  Hope this inspires you to make your own fun diorama card!  (In case you haven't tried one before, these are easier than they appear -- start with 2 pieces of card stock that are 4.25 x 5.5"  (or really whatever size you'd like your card to be), score them at .5" and 1" from the edge of both the left and right sides of your card stock, cut a window in one piece, adhere the two pieces together using sticky strip between the side and first score line on each side, and decorate as desired).

Thanks for visiting my blog!

- Michelle

Halloween Purse Die Pals

This weekend at my Creative Connections class, one of the projects we made were these adorable Halloween treat boxes, created using the Petite Purse Bigz L Die and the Big Shot, plus some punches.  These are copied from creations by Missi Roeber, who was a winner in Stampin' Up!'s September Art Contest for demonstrators with these adorable creations.  When I saw them in our demonstrator magazine, they were just too wonderful -- couldn't resist making some of my own.  And, I think my Creative Connections friends enjoyed making their own, too!  

Supplies Used:
Bat:  Basic Black and Whisper White Card Stock, 1/2" Circle, 3/4" Circle, Petite Pennant, and Extra Large Oval Punches, Uni Ball Signo Gell Pen

Frankie:  Lucky Limeade, Basic Black & Whisper White Card Stock, 1/2" Circle and 3/4" Circle Punches, Uni Ball Signo Gell Pen, and Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

Jack O' Lantern:  Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Soft Suede and Lucky Limeade Card Stock, Petite Pennant and Extra Large Oval Punches, Stripes and Square Lattice Embossing Folders


Thanks for stopping by!

- Michelle

For the New Mr. & Mrs.

You might remember from this post a little while back, that I was preparing to travel to the wedding of one of my very best friends.  Well, my friend's wedding was the weekend before last, and it was so beautiful . . . like a perfect fairytale!  I'm so thankful that I was able to travel and be there to celebrate with her, her new husband, and their family and friends.  

While I obviously haven't been blogging much since returning from my trip, that's not because I haven't been creating . . . in fact, quite the opposite!  So, now that I'm getting back in the swing of blogging, I have lots to share here!  I thought I'd start, though, by sharing the wedding card I created for my friend.  Here it is:

Supplies used:  

Stamp Set:  Tiny Tags

Ink:  Basic Black

Papers:  Shimmery White, Riding Hood Red, and Cherry Cobbler card stock, Love Letter Designer Series Paper (Retired, but still available as a digital download)

Accessories:  Elegant Lines and Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, Boho Blossoms and Itty Bitty Shapes Punches, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Riding Hood Red Pleated Ribbon (retired), Basic Pearl Jewels

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

- Michelle

Stampin' Claus is Coming to Town . . .

Have you heard the news?!  Stampin' Up! has an early Christmas gift for its customers this month!  During October, you can get a FREE Festive Paper-Piercing Pack when you order a Special Christmas Gift Pack that includes the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper!  

Click here to order yours now!  And, if you are local to me, you'll be able to attend my Holiday Ornament class for free if you purchase your bundle before October 12th!  Please check my upcoming classes link or email me for more information!

That's not the only exciting news, though!  Stampin' Up! has also slashed the prices of My Digital Studio print products!!!  You can see the new prices here.  Also, if you'd like to check out this week's digital downloads, you can see those here.

And, last but not least, Stampin' Up! is testing out the sale of single stamps out of sets!  There are three awesome sentiment sets from which you can pick and choose right now!  These are Word Play, Perfectly Penned, and Seasonal Sayings.  The single stamps are only available in clear mount, and will come packaged in a cello bag.  You can check out the stamps and prices by clicking through to the online store here.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

- Michelle

SUper Friends September Swap

We had a small, but fun meeting of SUper Friends (my team of demonstrators) last month, including a swap.  I received these two beautiful cards.  

The first is from my friend Agnes, and this clever window card features quite a few great new products from the Holiday Catalog.  Agnes used the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set along with the Holiday Ornaments Framelits die.  She also used the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and the new Champagne Glimmer Paper (don't you love how she used some bits left from punching the border as hangers for her ornaments?!)

This next card is from my friend Renate, and I love how she created this adorable pram punch art using a variety of circle punches and the scallop border punch!  The Square Lattice embossing in the background adds just the right touch, too!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

- Michelle