Halloween / Fall Swap Creations

I have just completed the biggest challenge swap I've taken part in thus far in my time as a crafter over on the Cricut MB. It was a lot of fun, really stretched me creatively, drove me bonkers at times, but ultimately I am pleased with what I created. Here are the goodies I made for my swap partner, with details about the challenge and such. All are Halloween or Fall related crafts.

Challenge 1 ~ We were to create 3 recipe cards of foods we enjoy. These were a huge stretch for me but I finally settled on recipes and the rest just flowed to the paper. I found clip art that worked with my recipes to create each backround paper.

Challenge 2 ~ 6 Halloween or Fall decorated gift bags. This was by far my favorite part of the swap. Challenge 3 ~ We had the choice to create an album or 6 cards. I chose the cards (all previously shown on my blog) and sent them in this Card Box. I love these things. A fun way to keep the cards together and finish off a gift.
Challenge 4 ~ Create 10 embellishments using any technique you wanted.

Challenge 5 ~ We had the choice to make four items from the following list: Mats, tags, journal blocks, titles, inchies or word tags. Here's what I came up with...
And finally, an altered item. This is a wood purse I purchased from Michaels, covered in paper and such. Fun fall decoration.
Thanks for looking~

ATC swaps~

Artist Trading Cards are a new favorite of mine. Simple or elaborate, quick and easy or taking lots of time with details... they all make me happy. Here are 3 I've done for swaps on the Cricut MB.

~Christmas~

~Winged Things~

~Anything Goes~
All stamps are Inkadinkado
Chirstmas: Warm Holiday Wishes
Winged Things: Birds Galore
Anything Goes: Birthday Cupcake

Design Team Member for Just Christmas and Birthday Cards ~ Sketch #4

I am very excited to announce I am now a DT member for Just Christmas and Birthday Cards along with 9 other talented ladies from all over the world. This is a new blog with a great purpose... something we all need over and over and usually never have on hand.

Here is my take for Sketch 4, designed by Karin.

Christmas card created using:
Paper: Cosmo Cricket - Oh Joy paper collection, DCVW
Stamps: Paper Inspirations - Victorian Lady, Autumn Leaves - A Rhonna Christmas Card
Ink: StazOn - Timber Brown, Color Box - Chestnut Roan Chalk
Flowers: Primas
Misc: Brads, stamped image colored with Prisma Color pencils and blended with odorless paint thinner.

Birthday card created using:
Paper: Basic Grey - Urban Prairie
Stamps: Impression Obsession, Scrappy Cat - Birthday Wishes
Ink: StazOn - Timber Brown, Color Box - Chestnut Roan Chalk

Misc: Ribbon is velvet rick rack, 'skittles' dyed with alcohol ink.

Sketch #2 ~ Just Christmas and Birthday Cards

Over at Just Christmas and Birthday Cards, Karin has posted their 2nd sketch as follows.

Here is my take for the birthday card. Nice warm fall colors...

And here is my Christmas card. I adore this stamped image.

A Jolly Holloween

This little lady has got to be one of my most favorite old time Halloween images. The stamp is from Impression Obsession. I love their vintage stamp line. I stamped on off white vellum with black Staz-On ink, mounted to white cardstock and framed with the colored cardstock. Swirls on either side are from a Cloud Nine clear stamp set heat embossed in black. I'd love some ideas to color on this type of stamp / vellum without loosing the vintage feel. Let me know if you have any suggestions!
Thanks for lookin~

Halloween Candy Creations

Over at the Cricut MB, I swap monthly with a great group of gals. We make sets of card candies and start swappin. This month's theme was Fall / Halloween. Here are a few card I put together last night using goodies sent.
Thanks for lookin!

Tons of Blog Candy~

Wowzers~ there is a TON of Blog Candy going around! Here is a few great blog sites I came across today to share with everyone! Some close soon so check them out quick!

Deb over at Sharing My Obsession is celebrating her sons birthday with a great blog candy giveaway. Her artwork is great. Stop by and take a look! Drawing is Oct 18th.

A surprise blog candy is over at White Ribbon Cards Her work is great and geesh she has THE list for challenge blogs! I’m going to have to check some of those out too! Stop by and take a look! Drawing is Oct 12th.

Emma over at Elf-Creations has a divine Christmas Candy giveaway. Drawing is Oct 17th.

Lim at The Voices In My Head is looking for storage ideas for her Magnolia stamps. She has quite the collection! She’s got some yummy candy to giveaway in return for your thoughts. Stop by and take a look! Drawing is Oct 11th.

Camilla is giving away some of the cutest stamps by Whiff of Joy! You have got to stop by her site, check out her amazing work and enter in this candy giveaway! Drawing is Oct 11th.

Silly Monkey Crafts is announcing their new Design Team members... with some awesome blog candy. You have got to stop by and take a look! Drawing is Oct 15th.

Karin over at Scrap Everything – Oct 13th has created a new challenge blog for Just Christmas and Birthday Cards only! To celebrate her new blog she’s got some great candy to giveaway. Stop by and check it out! Enter a card in her first challenge for a second entry in the candy giveaway! Drawing is Oct 13th.

Donalda has a great Whiff of Joy candy giveaway at Enjoying The Journey. Stop by to take a look at her creations~ some super cute cards over there! Drawing is Oct 18th.

Jay Jay at Stempelelf Kreative Welt is giving away 2 sets of blog candy in honor of her going over 71,000 hits! She has some super cute cards to inspire you as well~ Drawing is Oct 11th.

Edna's Place is celebrating her Anniversary with a fab candy giveaway Oct 20th. Stop over and take a look at her lovely work and drop a comment or two :)

Fall Paint Can Swap

A Fall Paint Can Swap on the Cricut MB got my creative energy flowing. I really wanted to create a can that was bold and vibrant, just like the Fall season. I found the butterfly a while ago with intentions to use it on this can... then completely forgot about it! Funny how things work out. I needed something to complete the can when it all came back to me. It really fit beautifully center stage. It just makes me happy. I hope Deb likes it too!

All paper is DCVW card stock with white core. Orange is embossed using Cuttlebugs Pumpkin Harvest folder inked in black pigment, heat embossed with black powder. Green is embossed using the CB Autumn Type folder, also inked and heat embossed in black. Score lines between the pumpkin give it a nice distressed look. I pressed hard using my score-it tool in some places to tear the paper slightly and show the white core. I love how this turned out. All ribbon is misc, fall berries are from the Joann floral department. Can lid scallop edge circle is cut from Cricut Mini Monograms and embossed with the CB Tiny Bubbles folder. The handle is covered in chenille yarn that I crocheted a few long single chain lengths and wrapped around to finish it off.
Thanks for looking!

Cuttlebug A2 folders used: Autumn Type, Pumpkin Harvest, Tiny Bubbles

ATC ~ Wintertime

Artist Trading Cards were a bit intimidating to me at first but now I am really loving them. The work surface is a small 3 1/2 X 2 1/2... that's it! You have to make it all fit and tell a story that fits in your hand. These little frosties are colored with watercolor pencils. Backround paper is stamped with versamark pad. The skittles are colored with alcohol ink and I finally got to use the little sparkly ribbon stuff Kathrin sent me! It is perfect for these little guys.

Best Wishes for a bride to be...

I made this card for my aunts engagement. The large pink cut is a the frame cut from Cricuts Home Accents, embossing is from Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirl and Congrats sets. I just love Bella stamps. This was a gift to me in a stamped image swap... she is Daintybella I think I need to buy her now, LOL! Thanks for lookin!

Simple Trifold card

Sometimes a little simple goes a long way... this card is that for me. It is an 8x11 piece of cardstock, cut in half at 4 inches, scored at 4 and 10 inches.

The Cuttlebug Spot: Challenge 1: Ink up!

Who doesn't love their cuttlebug?! What a great challenge over at The Cuttlebug Spot. This weeks challenge was to use any folder inked. I have been loving these pop up cards for a while now but never tried them out... well, what a perfect oppertunity! For a YouTube tortial by Dawn, click HERE.
For this card I used the spiderweb folder inked with black pigment ink and the dots from the Border: With Love pack. Stamps are Bellas: Witchybella colored with prismacolor pencils and blended with mineral spirits and StudioG. Other: Lime prima, skittle dyed with alcohol ink and misc ribbon.
Thanks for lookin!