Thursday, October 29, 2020

Blank Page Muse - Halloween Treat Boxes

There probably won't be a lot of trick or treating this year due to the pandemic, but I wanted to make sure my neighbors' little kids got some treats on Halloween. I found the perfect stamp, Halloween Witch Costume Bear by Rick St. Dennis, to use on the treat boxes. These boxes are easy to make and mass produce! Try making one and join us in this month's Blank Page Muse challenge with the theme of "All Things Spooky, Boo!" It can be anything Halloween/Fall that's spooky, cute, whimsical, or fun! Deadline to enter is November 5, 2020.





SUPPLIES:

  • Blank Page Muse Stamp: Halloween Witch Costume Bear by Rick St. Dennis
  • Black ink pad
  • White cardstock
  • Coloring Medium of choice (I used Copic markers)
  • Distress or Distress oxide inks: Squeezed lemonade and Wild Honey
  • Ink blending tool
  • Sentiment stamp of choice - no bigger than 1” x1” (I used Trick or Treat)
  • Fall color patterned paper – 8-1/2” x 11”
  • Scoring tool
  • Strong adhesive
  • Double sided tape
  • Double sided adhesive foam squares or dots
  • Crop-a-dile or small hole punch
  • 14” ribbon – ¼” size; any color to match your patterned paper
  • Scissors
  • Paper trimmer
  • Candy
INSTRUCTIONS:

Make the Label:

  • Stamp the image with a black ink pad onto white cardstock. Color the image and then fussy cut it out.

  • Using an electronic die cutting machine, a label punch or paper trimmer, cut a piece 3-1/4” x 2-1/4” for the label. Since I have a Silhouette Cameo, I cut out a decorative label, but you can just cut a rectangle label.
  • Distress ink the entire label with Squeezed lemonade. Then use Wild honey to ink the edges.
  • Stamp your sentiment using black ink.
  • Glue the image onto the label. Set aside.


Make the treat box - this treat bag will use the entire sheet of 8-1/2” x 11” patterned paper:
  • Score the patterned paper on the short edge at 2-1/2” and 6”.

  • Score the patterned paper on the long edge at 4-1/2” and 6-1/2”.


  • Fold the paper on all score lines, back and forth, to make sure all creases are sharp.


  • Fold the paper to form diagonal creases as indicated in the photo and use your bone folder to make sure the creases are sharp by folding back and forth.

  • Once you have all the diagonal creases made, fold it into a box.



  • Use double sided tape under the flaps so that it doesn’t open up when you stand it up.
  • Add foam squares to the back of the label you made earlier and adhere to the box.

  • Punch two holes on the front and back flaps of the box, an inch from the top.

  • Add candy to the treat box.

  • Thread the ribbon through the holes and tie and bow. The treat box is done!




I hope you give this box a try. You can use any Blank Page Muse stamp for this project! Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, October 23, 2020

Blank Page Muse - Happy Halloween Card

Halloween is just around the corner. I’m getting some cards ready to send to a few of my friends. The card I’m sharing today is stamped with Blank Page Muse’s rubber stamp is called Halloween Witch Costume Bear by Rick St. Dennis. 

This month’s challenge is “All Things Spooky,” but spooky doesn’t have to be scary, it can be cute too! You still have time to enter this month’s Blank Page Muse challenge, so give this a try. It’s a fun card to make! 

Supplies:

  • Blank Page Muse Stamp: Halloween Witch Costume Bear by Rick St. Dennis 
  • Black cardstock – Cut to A2 size for the base (4-1/4” x 5-1/2”)
  • White cardstock – Cut to 3-3/4” x 4-3/4” to line the inside of the card
  • White cardstock – Cut to 4-1/8” x 5-3/8”
  • Bond paper – Cut to 3” x 4”
  • Masking Tape- Cut to 3” x 4” (I used Eclipse Art Masking Tape)
  • Distress ink or Distress oxide – Squeezed Lemonade, Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord, Black Soot
  • Ink blending tool and/or brushes
  • Coloring medium of choice (I used Copic markers)
  • White gel pen
  • Happy Halloween sentiment (I used a die, but you can use any stamp)
  • Spider web and spider dies or die cuts
  • Your favorite adhesive
  • Scissors
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Stamp positioner or stamping block
Instructions:

  • Using the white cardstock that is 4-1/8” x 5-3/8” stamp the image on the center of the paper.
  • Using the coloring medium of choice, color the stamp. After coloring the stamp, it will need to be masked before inking the background.
  • Place the masking tape on top of the bond paper and stamp the image. Fussy cute the bear (mask).
  • Place the mask over the bear image that was stamped on cardstock. Burnish with fingers to make sure the mask does not lift during inking.
  • Using an ink blending tool or brush (preferred), start with Squeezed Lemonade to ink around the bear stamp. Be gentle so that the mask does not lift.
  • Next, ink blend with Seedless Preserves, followed by Dusty Concord, and Black Soot.

  • Remove the mask. If there are any white/un-inked spots, use a matching alcohol marker, water-based marker, or colored pencil to add in the color.
  • Using a white gel pen, add dots (the stars) of various sizes.
  • Add the spider web and spiders. I used a spider web with spiders frame die. It came with one spider and I die cut 3 more and cut off the webs for this project. I cut the frame apart and adhered it to the card.

  • Add the sentiment. I cut the sentiment using a Silhouette Cameo. You can stamp your sentiment onto cardstock if you don’t have a die.
  • Adhere to the base card.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you are inspired to enter our monthly challenge! If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. 

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Rachelle Anne Miller Creative Studios - Baking Squirrels

I just got back from Costco and had to buy their pumpkin spice muffins to kick off pumpkin spice season! I love pumpkin pies, cakes, and muffins, but not that crazy about pumpkin spice coffees. I am sharing this adorable digital stamp called Baking Squirrels by Rachelle Anne Miller. I made a card, but it also will double as a fall display in my home. 

This month's project challenge in the Rachelle Anne Miller Digital Stamps Facebook Group has three themes: 1) Fall/Halloween, 2) Mostly Pink (for Breast Cancer Awareness Month), and 3) Anything Goes. If you use the themes for Fall/Halloween or Mostly Pink, you will get an extra entry in the challenge! Join the Facebook and enter the challenge for your chance to win two digital stamps! Make sure you post your entry in the October Album by the October 28 deadline.

This card is fun and easy to make. Make one for the challenge!



I used Copic markers to color the digital stamp and acorns then used Distress inks to color the leaves and wood grain background. All the supplies and instructions are listed below.

Supplies:
  • Rachelle Anne Miller Creative Studios - Baking Squirrels digital stamp. Print at 3" tall x 3" wide.
  • 12" x 6" white cardstock, folded in half for the base card
  • Brown cardstock (mat) - 5-7/8" x 5-7/8"
  • Fall patterned paper (use what you have in your stash)- 5-3/4" x 5-3/4"
  • White cardstock - 4-3/8" x 4-3/8"
  • White cardstock for stencil - 4-1/2" x 4-1/2"
  • White cardstock - use a 3-1/2" circle frame or solid circle die. I used a die from Stamp Anniething's Shaker Basics Set #1
  • White cardstock - use at 3" solid circle die to cut a circle or if using the Stamp Anniething's Shaker Basic die, save the circle center.
  • Wood grain or tree bark stencil - I used Stamp Anniething's Tree Bark Stencil
  • Distress ink - Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain for the background
  • Distress ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, and Dusty Concord for the leaves
  • Ink blending tool
  • Leaves die cuts, stamps, or punch (you can buy die cuts or make your own)
  • Acorn die cuts or stamps (you can buy die cuts or make your own)
  • 1/4" wide Brown ribbon (ribbon to match your patterned paper)
  • Sentiment - 1" x 2-1/4" - I printed the sentiment on a computer.
  • Brown cardstock (mat for sentiment) - 1-1/4" x 2-3/8"
  • Coloring medium of choice - I used Copic markers (listed below)
  • Your favorite adhesive
  • Adhesive foam dots or squares
  • Glue dot
Copic Markers Used:
  • Squirrel: E09, E29, YR27, E97, E95, E01
  • Acorns: Tops: E17, E13, E11, E01; Bottoms: E95, E37, E35, E01
  • Pie crust, spoon, pumpkin stem: YR27, YR24, YR21
  • Eggs: T2, T1, 0
  • Orange: E08, YR07, YR04, R02
  • Purple: BV08, BV04, BV01, BV000
  • Stool: T2, T2, T1
  • Kitchen cabinets: E47, E44, E43, E42

Instructions:
  • Color the Baking Squirrels digital stamp and cut it out
  • Use the Brushed Corduroy Distress ink and ink the entire white cardstock that is 4-1/2" x 4-1/2". Then lay the wood grain or tree bark stencil over this cardstock and ink with Walnut Stain Distress ink. Distress ink the edges.
  • Use the Brushed Corduroy Distress ink and ink the entire white cardstock 3" circle
  • Use the Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, and Dusty Concord Distress inks to ink the leaves.
  • Layer and adhere all the pieces as shown below. Use foam dots or squares to adhere the sentiment. Use a glue dot for the bow.

Thank you for visiting! I hope you enjoyed this fall card and it inspires you to enter the monthly challenge. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.  



Sunday, October 18, 2020

Paper Nest Dolls - Ellie with Scarecrow

It's been another hot week in the 90s here in the Sacramento, California area, but the weather forecast says cooler days are coming. We need the cooler weather for the trees to change colors. I love the beautiful fall colors, just like the colors in this card I made with Paper Nest Dolls' Ellie with Scarecrow stamp. Isn't she just the cutest? This stamp comes in red rubber and in digital



This card is easy to make and you can use any fall colors and patterned paper you have in your stash. All you need are some leaves die cuts and the fence die cut, which is optional.

Supplies:
  • Paper Nest Dolls stamp (links above): I used the digital stamp and printed the image at 3-1/2" tall.
  • Color your stamp using the medium of choice. I used Copic markers (colors are listed below)
  • Distress ink or Distress Oxide - Tumbled Glass
  • Ink Blending Tool
  • Brown cardstock to mat the colored image (2-7/8" x 4-3/8") 
  • White base cardstock: 12" x 6" folded in half
  • Patterned paper, fall design: 5-3/4" x 5-3/4"
  • White cardstock for layering: 4-1/2" x 4-1/2"
  • Solid or tone-on-tone patterned paper for layering (I used orange with dots): 4-3/8" x 4-3/8"
  • Yellow, green and orange cardstock for leaves
  • Leaves die
  • Fall sentiment: I used Microsoft Word and printed the sentiment at 1-1/2" x 3/4" and used my paper trimmer to cut it out at 2-7/8" x 1"
  • Brown cardstock for matting the sentiment at 2" x 1-1/8"
  • Optional item: fence die cut. I used a die from Gina Marie Designs and used a cardstock that had a wood-like pattern.
  • Your favorite adhesive
Copic markers used:

Ellie:
  • Hair: E39, YR24, YR23, YR20
  • Skin: E04, E11, E21, E00, E000
  • Cheeks: R20
  • Orange: YR27, YR16, YR14M YR12M YR00
  • Green: YG17, YG13, YG03, YR21
  • Gray (Boots): T5, T3, T1
Scarecrow:
  • Face: E43, E42, E41, E40
  • Orange: YR27, YR16, YR14M YR12M YR00
  • Gray: T5, T3, T1
  • Center of sunflower & pole: E43, E42, E41, E40
  • Yellow: Y17, Y15, Y11

Instructions:
  • Stamp or print your image onto white cardstock
  • After coloring your stamp, ink the sky using the Distress/Oxide ink with a blending tool. 
  • Using a paper trimmer or rectangular die, cut out your stamp at 2-3/4" x 4-1/4".
  • Stamp or print your sentiment and cut to the size listed in the supplies list
  • Using a paper trimmer, cut all the cardstock listed in the supplies list
  • Die cut all your dies listed in the supplies list
  • Layer and glue all the pieces together as shown below

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you give this cute fall card a try. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. ~Betty~

Friday, October 16, 2020

Stamp Anniething - Max 11 Hockey

Last Sunday, the folks at Stamp Anniething made a little boy very happy and surprised him during a Facebook Live with a stamp named after him, Max. Max is a hockey fan so, of course, the stamp is a little boy in a hockey uniform. I have been a fan of Stamp Anniething for about two years now, but after this past Sunday, I am a fan for life! I made a couple of cards using the digital stamp, Max 11 Hockey. I used the colors of Northern California's hockey team, the San Jose Sharks.

Stamp Anniething's Kevin Michael Beck hosted a Facebook Live coloring event called Annie "One" Can Color. He used Prismacolor colored pencils to color the stamp. This inspired me to finally try out the Castle Arts colored pencils that my son gave me for my birthday in August (instead of using alcohol markers). These pencils are fabulous! I may like them even more than my Prismacolor pencils. I will use them on a few more coloring projects and give a review/comparison in the future.


Castle Arts Colored Pencils Used:

Skin: 070, 116, 011, 019, 020
Cheeks: 082
Teal: 104, 103, 105, 048
Black: 071, 119, 118, 120


Thank you for visiting today! If you have any question or comments, please leave them below.





Monday, October 12, 2020

Conie Fong Art & Design - Breast Cancer Awareness Month Card

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this month's challenge theme over at Conie Fong Art & Design's Facebook Group is Pink colors with ribbon. In addition, I wanted to create a card that showed the Breast Cancer Awareness Month's theme of Give Hope. Save Lives.


This card is created with two of Conie Fong's digital stamps: 1) Sunflower Bella, and 2) Sunflower Pumpkin (Bundle). The Sunflower Pumpkin Bundle comes in  JPG and PNG formats, so using the PNG format to layer the pumpkins were easy.

Supplies:
  • Conie Fong Art & Design Stamps: Sunflower Bella & Sunflower Pumpkin Bundle PNG
  • White cardstock 12"x 12"
  • Black cardstock
  • Pink cardstock
  • Floral patterned paper - use what you have
  • Gingham patterned paper (you can also use stripes or plaid)
  • Heart Punch, Die, or Die Cut
  • Ribbon Punch, Die, or Die Cut
  • Sentiment "hope" - Stamp, Die, or Die Cut
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Coloring medium of choice - I used Copic markers. Colors listed below.
  • Distress ink- Spun Sugar (you can use any pink ink)
  • Ink blending tool
  • Your favorite adhesive
Copic markers used:
  • Bear: E18, E15, E13, E11, E01
  • Pink flowers & bow: RV17, RV14, RV13
  • Green leaves, center of flowers, bows: YG25, YG23, YG21
  • Pumpkin stems: E57, E55, E53, E50
  • Pumpkins: 1) R89, R85, R83, R81; 2) RV04, RV55, RV02, RV00, T2; 3) RV17, RV14, RV13
  • Ground shadow: R32, R20
Instructions:
  • Using computer software, such as Microsoft Word or Publisher, import the digital stamps and arrange the pumpkins behind and around Sunflower Bella.
  • Print and color the stamp using your favorite medium.
  • Trim the cardstock 3-1/4" x 4-3/4" (I used a frame die)
  • Using a blending tool and Distress ink, lightly ink the white portions (don't go below the ground shadow) of the cardstock just to give it a touch of color.
  • Cut the white base cardstock 12" x 6" and fold in half
  • Cut the black cardstock 5-7/8" x 5-7/8"
  • Cut the pink cardstock 5-3/4" x 5-3/4" and another at 3-5/8" x 4-5/8"
  • Cut the patterned floral paper 5-5/8" x 5-5/8"
  • Cut the heart with black cardstock and one with gingham. The black piece is the shadow so offset it a little and adhere it to the back of the pink piece.
  • Cut the ribbon and Hope sentiment with black cardstock and pink cardstock. Adhere the black cardstock (shadow) behind the pink.
  • Adhere all the pieces as shown in the card below.


I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and make this card for Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Thank you for stopping by and if you have any questions or comments, please post them below.


Thursday, October 8, 2020

Paper Nest Dolls - Witch Avery with Bat

Do you know what is the most popular Halloween costume of all time? If you guessed witch, you're correct. Most adults like to dress up like a scary witch, but little girls like to dress up as a cute witch just like the girl in this card. This digital stamp is called Witch Avery with Bat from Paper Nest Dolls and she is the cutest little witch! It's not too late to make your Halloween cards and it's easy when you use a digital stamp. You don't have to wait for the snail mail to get your stamps, you just download them right after your purchase. 




Supplies:
Copic markers used:
  • Hair: E44, E43, E42, E41
  • Skin: E04, E11, E21, E00, E000
  • Cheeks: R20
  • Orange: YR18, YR15, YR02, YR00
  • Purple: V17, V15, V12
  • Green: YG25, YG23, YG21
  • Gray shoes: T5, T3, T1
  • White: C1, blender
  • Brown: E18, E15, E13, E11
  • Yellow: YR27, YR23, YR20

Instructions:
  • Print the digital stamp 4-1/2'" tall. Cut the image out using a 3-1/4" x 4-3/4" die or paper trimmer.
  • Print the digital sentiment 2" x 2". Cut out the sentiment 2-1/4" x 2-1/4".
  • Print and cut the bats
  • Color the stamp with your favorite coloring medium.
  • Cut the black cardstock 3-3/8" x 4-7/8" and adhere your colored stamp on top. 
  • Cut a piece of black cardstock 2-3/8" x 2-3/8". Adhere the sentiment on top.
  • Cut the patterned paper 3-3/4" x 8-3/8" and adhere to the base cardstock.
  • Adhere the sentiment and the colored stamp onto the patterned paper.
  • Adhere the bats.


Thank you for stopping by. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.


Monday, October 5, 2020

Rachelle Anne Miller Creative Studios - Pumpkin Patch

It is still feeling like summer here in Northern California with the temperatures hovering in the high 90s. According to the weather forecast, the weather will change this week and will dip down into the low 70s by the end of the week. With the cooler weather, I'm ready to make that trip to the pumpkin patch to buy some pumpkins and gourds to decorate for Halloween and Thanksgiving. I'll have to bring my wagon just like this little girl in this cute digital stamp called Pumpkin Patch by Rachelle Anne Miller. This is such an adorable stamp with a little squirrel sitting on top of the pumpkins. This is a great stamp to use for fall, birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, thank-you, and note cards. 




Listed below are the supplies and instructions for this 6" x 6" card. It's a very quick and easy card and you can use any patterned paper and embellishments you have. 

Supplies:
  • Rachelle Anne Miller Creative Studios - Pumpkin Patch digital stamp
  • White cardstock for the base: 6" x 6"
  • Colored cardstock for the mat: 5-3/4" x 5-3/4"
  • Patterned paper: 5-1/2" x 5-1/2"
  • Square die: 4" x 4" - I used the Peekaboo die from Gina Marie to cut a 4x4 frame on colored cardstock. This is optional. You can cut a square frame with a paper trimmer or craft knife.
  • White cardstock to go behind the image: 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" - I embossed this with a zig-zag pattern. You can use any pattern you like.
  • Your favorite coloring medium. I used Copic markers. Colors are listed below.
  • Your favorite adhesive
  • Paper trimmer
  • Optional embellishments: Pumpkin die cuts, ribbon, and acorn charms.
Copic markers used:
  • Skin: E04, E11, E21, E00, E000
  • Cheeks: R22, R20
  • Hair: E39, YR27, YR24, Y32
  • Orange: E04, E08, YR07, YR04, R02
  • Brown: E29, E25, E21
  • Purple: BV08, BV04, BV01, BV00, BV0000
  • Green: YG25, YG23, YG21
  • Squirrel, wagon wheels, & boots: E44, E43, E42, E41, E40
Instructions:
  1. Print and color the Pumpkin Patch digital stamp. Using a paper trimmer, cut it down to 4" x 4".
  2. Using colored cardstock, cut a 4" x 4" frame using a die or a paper trimmer. 
  3. Using the white cardstock, cut a square piece at 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" and emboss using any pattern you like.
  4. Cut the patterned paper 5-1/2" x 5-1/2"
  5. Cut the colored cardstock (mat) 5-3/4" x 5-3/4"
  6. Cut the base cardstock 12" x 6" and fold in half.
  7. Glue all the layers as seen on the card photo.
  8. Add die cuts and embellishments.


I hope you try making this cute, easy, and fun card. If you have any questions or comments, please post them below. Thank you!



Saturday, October 3, 2020

Conie Fong - Sunflower Pumpkin

I love the colors of fall and seeing all the different color pumpkins and gourds. When my kids were little, we always looked forward to visiting our local pumpkin patch and picking out pumpkins in different colors. I do like buying them in different sizes to make a cute arrangement like this one on my card. This gorgeous digital stamp from Conie Fong is called Sunflower Pumpkin (Bundle). It comes with 4 images and 1 sentiment in PNG or JPG format. I used the PNG format to layer additional pumpkins for this card. This is why I love digital stamps!




For this A2 size card, I used Microsoft Publisher (you can use Word or any word processing software) and re-sized the images and layered them. I put the Happy Thanksgiving sentiment on the top of the card. I used Copic markers to color this card, but you can use any coloring medium you like. I added a few sparkly enamel dots. It's a very quick and easy card that you can mass produce in no time.

Supplies:
White cardstock for base for A2 card
Brown cardstock, mat #1
Goldenrod cardstock, mat #2
Coloring medium of choice (I used Copic markers)

Copic colors I used:
Sunflowers: YR23, Y17, Y15; Sunflower centers: E47, E59, E57, E55
Orange pumpkin: E01, YR07, YR04, R02
Yellow pumpkin: E19, YR27, YR24, Y15
Green pumpkin: G28, G85, G46, G24
Pumpkin stems: E37, E35, E31
Leaves: YG67, YG17, YG23
Bows: YR23, Y17, Y15




Thank you for visiting and have a wonderful weekend! 



Thursday, October 1, 2020

Blank Page Muse - Bon Voyage Steampunk Card

It hasn't been a great traveling year due to COVID-19. All the trips I had planned for this year were canceled. My husband and I were to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary with a cruise to Alaska in May, which would have been our first cruise together. We hope to be able to go next year or in 2022. It's good to see that domestic travel is starting to pick up as some places are opening up. This inspired me to make this Bon Voyage Steampunk card.

We have our Blank Page Muse Challenge going on with the theme of Steampunk. All entries must be in by October 4. Try making this very easy card! It only took about an hour. You can substitute with whatever supplies you have, but must use at least one Blank Page Muse stamp. For all the details, head on over to the Blank Page Muse blog.




Thank you for visiting. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. Have a great day!