Trick or Treat Halloween Blog Hop

Welcome to the "Trick or Treat" Halloween Blog Hop!!

We're so happy you could join us for this super-fun hop showcasing cards, layouts and projects that feature everything fun about Halloween!!  You'll find an array of ideas throughout the hop -- From decorations to gift ideas and more, we hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! This is a TWO-DAY hop, so be sure to catch both days for maximum ideas (you'll find the entire line-up below my post)!! We can guarantee LOTS of treats on this hop (and maybe a few TRICKS too)... So let's get hopping!!  If you've hopped over from Cyndie, then you are in the right place!!  If you've just popped in to visit my blog or are reading this via email and you'd like to join our Trick-or-Treat FUN, then please CLICK HERE to start at the beginning with Lynda's blog because...  It's always a TREAT to start at the start!! :)  We have a WONDERFUL Grand Prize for one lucky hopper today -- A Gift Certificate for Sweet Stamping Treats!!  To be eligible, please visit each "Blog Hop Stop" and leave a comment!!  One random winner will be chosen on Friday, October 21st (giving you plenty of time to finish the hop)... For more details on what you could choose if YOU are the winner, please be sure to visit our sponsor:




This is Lisa of http://craftylam.blogspot.com and today I created a Halloween door sign, "Boo Crew".  I hope you like it. I need to state that I have NEVER, I mean NEVER done a Halloween project. Nor have I ever participated in a Blog Hop! So here I am stepping out of my comfort zone not only once, but TWICE! Eeek!
Here are the items used for this project:

• The frame is from the new Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge that was offered from Close To My Heart. It was cut at 6" using the "Butterfly2", "shift" key, and "decorative layer" function button from "Black Tie" glittered cardstock found at Michael's Crafts.
• The vellum paper was 8.5"x5" that was then cut down to fit the backside of the frame. I used Tombo Mono Multi Glue to adhere it to the frame and then added the letters.
• "Boo Crew" letters are from "Cursive 101" cartridge cut at 1 1/2" on purple cardstock and then Stickled with Gunmetal for extra oomph! (The purple wasn't making as much of an impact as I was hoping for, hence the Stickles.)

The pumpkin is cut using the ProvoCraft "Designer's Calendar" cartridge from page 37 using the "shift" key & the "October" button using orange design paper. This pumpkin was cut at 3".  I used Orange Stickles to add a little sparkle to this pretty pumpkin, she needed a little bling!

This cute little spider (x2) was from ProvoCraft's "Doodle Charms" cartridge at 3" from page 121 of the handbook using the "Black Tie" glitter paper found at Michael's Craft Stores.  Luckily, this little guy won't bite.

Here's a pic of the project full-length, it measures about 18-20" in it's entirety.  The black string is just black sewing thread I had on hand. Using a mini hole punch, I marked where I wanted each figure to hang from and the punched the figures where I wanted them to hang at.  I just looped the thread through the holes 2-3 times just to ensure the creature will hang on for a while (we get stromg winds in October where I live.)

Here's the final project, just shortened a bit, so you could see it well in one shot.

..... Thank you again for checking out my project...  Now hop on over to Deb and remember to visit all the stops for more chances to WIN!! Below are links to BOTH days of the hop so you'll be sure not to miss a THING!! DAY ONE (October 15):

DAY TWO (October 16):

For the Haunted House Blog Hop, please CLICK HERE!!



Happy hopping!

Autumn Sign

I wanted to paper craft,     BAD! I haven't had the chance this week with life and all the cleaning that comes with being a mom of 4 young kids. (I'll probably say this a lot in future posts, sorry. I love my kids a ton, I just have to make time to craft after caring for the kids, housecleaning and getting my fledgling candy business going.)  Anyway, I wanted to make a sign to put inside my house. Here is what I have put together so far......

Using random sheets of paper from "The Uptown Paper Collection" by Corina Nielsen, I cut 1', 2" and 3" strips of 12" paper.  For the 2" & 3" strips, I had to cut 2, since a single strip glued end to end will NOT connect and then flip to make the rosette.  Next, using my new MS score-board, I scored using every other line until I finished each strip. (Note: to save time, I was able to double up these papers when scoring, but it won't be that easy if you use card stock.)  After all the strips were scored, I glued the strips to their own ends, making a ring, remember the 2" & 3" strips need to have 2 strips glued to make larger rings.  Once the glued ends dry, working on a flat surface, stand the ring upright, carefully push the top edge down into the center towards the table, don't crush the fan folds. Now, take a circle punch (2" seems to work real well) and punch out several pieces from scrap paper, it won't matter, these aren't meant to be seen once completed. Take a circle punch, add adhesive, I used Tacky Glue, generously to the surface of the punched circle. Now, taking your fan-fold rosette, carefully center your circle to the backside of your rosette and hold in place for about a minute, applying light pressure.  Once the glue starts to set, you can set it aside and place a light weight on it to ensure it will hold while you work on the rest of the rosettes. I let mine dry over night.

Here is a view of the backside of my rosettes, I ended up using 1" circle punch, which was a bit too small, that's why I suggest the 2" punch, or even a 3" if you've got it.

Next, using an Olive sheet  from "Earth Tones Textured Cardstock" by Best Occasions, I cut out the word "Autumn" from the ProvoCraft "Cursive 101" cartridge.  The "A" is cut at 5" and the rest is cut at 3".  

Clean up the letters and decide how you want them to lay out among your rosettes. Once decided, glue the rosettes together accordingly, so as not to squish the letters too close to each other.  Then, adhere the letters to your rosettes. You'll need to apply light pressure again to get these letters to stick. I used a couple of  small yellow notepads across the letters.  Let dry.

Next, you can put these rosettes on card stock in a layout fashion, but I wanted mine on the wall and since my walls are a white-ish color, I stuck them onto vellum with glue dots.  (The vellum will blend into my walls.) I trimmed off the excess vellum, just in case and added the rest of the rosettes for added color, besides, they were already made. Buttons, which I never use, but have on hand, were threaded using white mercerized crochet cotton from Creative World Traditions purchased at Michael's and then double knotted. The buttons were then adhered using more glue dots.  (The thread was cut at varying lengths to go along with the varying sizes of the rosettes.)  Lastly, Lime Green glitter glue from Studio G (found at Michael's) was applied to all the letters for a little bling.  You know I can't do a project without bling, hahahaha!

Here is the finished project.

(Sorry about the lighting, my iPhone decided it was too bright to flash.)

Happy Crafting!

Birthday Photo Frame

Hi there. Lisa from CraftyLam here.  I have the honor of being a Guest Designer today at SweetSassyDiva! How exciting!  Please visit her blog all week to see other projects the guest designers are creating using the Art Philosophy cartridge.  Here is the project I created using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge that was offered by Close To My Heart...

Items used for this project:
Red cardstock from Recollections "Essentials" 12x12 paper pack
Memento Tuxedo Black inkpad along with the Celebrations Stamp Set from CTMH
Scotch brand Quick Dry Adhesive glue
Stickles in: Crystal, Gunmetal and Silver as well as Red from Studio G
Unfinished photo frame from Michael's 6"x4"
Zebra & White w/Black striped paper from DCWV's "All Dressed Up" matstack
Argyle paper from DCWV's "The Glitter Mat Stack"
Recollections Adhesive Rhinestones
And, of course, The Art Philosophy Cartridge

Let's begin.....

Trace the frame with a pen or pencil, then cut. (Or, if you are confident enough, use a cutting knife/blade to cut out using the frame to trace.) Also remember to trace the interior part so that you will have room for your photo.

Using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge from Close to My Heart I cut the above flowers. The 3 left ones are cut at 3" and the top 2 right ones are cut at 2.5" and the bottom right is cut at 2.75".  The upper left (zebra flower) and the bottom right (argyle flower) are cut using the following buttons: (shift), (font) and (Fleur de Lis)  button  shown on page 68 of the handbook. The upper right (white/black stripe flower) and the bottom left (Argyle flower) are both cut using the following buttons: (shift), (font), and the (cupcake) button found on page 70 of the AP handbook.  The middle left (white/black flower) is cut using the (shift) and (font) buttons along with the (cupcake)button found on page 70 of the handbook.  The last flower, middle right was cut using: (shift), (font) and the (semi-circle) button found on page 69 of the AP handbook.  Next curl your flowers using either a pencil, piercing tool or a quilling tool to roll them up. Make sure you curl them with your pattern on the inside so when you loosen the flower, the pattern will show from up top.

Here are the flowers after I rolled them all up and added Stickles to the edges.  I added "Crystal" to the 1st 3 flowers. I added Studio G's red to the pointy tipped middle right flower. Gunmetal was added to the bottom left flower. Silver was added to the bottom right flower.  While the flowers finished drying, I took the time to take a small sanding block from Close to My Heart and sanded the exterior and interior edges of the red cardstock on the frame.

Almost done! I decided to add 2 of the bling stickers from the Recollections Adhesive Rhinestones set towards the top to give this frame a little bling and a Princess-like touch.  Flowers are drying.

Close up of the Stickled flowers on the left.

 Close up of the Stickled flowers on the right.

Project Completed!!!!

This finished project will be given to my lovely daughter who turns 12 in just 3 weeks!

Boutique Display I Created

I just wanted to share with you all really quick a display I just finished creating for a Boutique event happening this weekend. Mainly, I wanted to show you the versatility of the CTMH's Art Philosophy cartridge.Do you see the business card holder right up front? Yup, the one made out of vellum, that's it.  I used the AP cart to cut out the door hanger box from page 25 of the handbook at 9.25". I added glue dots to hold the box together and added 2 more to the backside just to keep the box in place (centered).  I also hung the loop around some ribbon I have hidden under the damask napking and then taped the flap shut.  That's it. Just wanted to share.

Happy Crafting!

Art Philosophy Boxes

While going thru my Art Philosophy cartridge looking for a project to do for an upcoming blog hop, I decided to play with a few of the boxes that are offered in the cart.  Here are the ones I cut out.

The paper used is from American Crafts, Bookshelf is the oval-dotted one and Amplified is the multi-colored striped one.  Each box was cut at "fit to page" which ended up being 11.5" or 11.75".

Below, is the box you can find on page 24 of the handbook using the "shift", "font layer" and "square6/ dragonfly" keys.

The next 2 pics are of the box found on page25 of the handbook.  Again, you will use the "shift", "font layer" and "rectangle4/star2" keys to cut this out.

This next pic happens to be of my favorite box so far!  I believe it's called a "Gable Box", but I could be wrong.  This one is found on page 22 of the handbook using the "shift", "font layer" and "oval1/snowflake1" keys.  This box has 2 openings: exterior ones have the ribbon pulled thru and tied, the interior one has a set of flaps that interlock. Too cute! I may be using this particular box for my handmade truffles.

Here is a picture of the "Gable Box" opened. You can see the notches for interlocking the interior flaps into place.  Cute, right? I am loving this cartridge more and more!

When I get a little more time, I will add the other 6 boxes onto this blog.  Have a wonderful day and Happy Crafting!

I have just submitted a project to http://sweetsassydiva.com to be a Guest Designer this week. My project will be posted this Thursday, October 6th, 2011! Stay tuned all week to see awesome projects by other wonderful Guest Designers. We are all using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge that was offered by Close To My Heart.  I hope the projects inspire you to create fun projects as well!

Happy crafting!