Halloween Haunt

I'm normally not one for decorating like crazy for Halloween, but this year I have a new Halloween haunt. Almost all of what was used on this house is Stampin' Up, but most of it is retired because I just don't have a big need for Halloween stamps and like many of us, I'm trying to use up what I have, instead of just leaping to buy new. The great thing about Stampin' Up is that using their core colors, everything continues to match, season after season.

All the characters used around the house are from the retired set Booglie Eyes. Here the spider dangles from the eaves from some silver elastic cording (currently available).

I don't know why, but Frankenstein is climing the tree from Seasons of Happiness. I needed somewhere to put him, and he's too small to be behind the fence! :)

The roof is "shingled" with strips that were punched with the (currently available) scallop punch and then layered from the bottom of the roof to the peak. I actually did some of the copper embossing on the shingles with the Versamarker and its refill. I poured a little Versamark refill onto the marker's tip and then used the Spritzer like I would with a regular marker. Then I embossed over it just like you normally would. This isn't a tidy outcome, but that wasn't the point.

The chimney is embossed with Copper embossing powder and then sponged with black Stazon ink. Around the base are some Sunflower dew drops because I wanted a little visual interest up there.

The fenceline is a stamped image from, I think, Martha Stewart's line, but you could easily sketch it out and then cut it out. I stamped it in Chocolate Chip ink onto some retired SU designer paper, then before cutting it out, I layered it on a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock so it would have more body to it and stand up better on its own. See below for tips on cutting out the fence using punches to get into the little spaces.

On the back of each fencing panel I mounted some More Mustard grasses.

The mummy was colored on the lines with Going Gray and Creamy Caramel markers and then the color was "smooshed" around using a blender pen.

Here is the stamp that I used three times for the fencing around the house.

Around the edges of each fence top, I used my 1/8" round punch so I didn't have to squeeze in there with my snips, and then in between the slats, I punched out what I could using my 1/4" square punch. Where the 1/4" wouldn't go, I punched there with my 1/8" round punch again, just to give my snips somewhere to get in there.

And, just for reference, here's the naked birdhouse before I got started. You can usually buy these at any craft store. Before you start, I like to take a permanent marker in a complimentary color and color all the edges of the house, this way if your paper is imperfectly applied, you don't see the gaps through to the plain birdhouse body.

This project took a while, and I recommend using a ruler or scrap paper to measure out your pieces so you don't waste paper trying to get things to fit. Any questions about how I did something, please feel free to ask!

Personalizing my iphone

What can this little Decor Element flower do for my iphone's protective aluminum case? Lots! I had 3 of these Decor Elements flowers and I had my iphone on my stamp table - it's always within reach - and I thought I'd try them out on my case.

You'll see in the pictures below that I've used one flower as is, and then I've also punched and snipped pieces out of two more for some variety. I'm hopeful that these are sturdy enough, and sticky enough, to last for a while. I'll update it to let you know how it goes.

You could also purchase new, premade Decor Elements from the current catalog, and you can order them 24/7 online from my site. Below are a few options currently available, but remember, you can ALSO purchase sheets of Stampin' Up vinyl (in Dark Gray, White, Kraft and Chocolate) and run it through the Big Shot using any of the die cuts! (See page 158 of the current Idea Book & Catalog).

Sweet September Specials from Stampin' Up!

The Stampin' Up! holiday mini is out now - and it's full of amazing goodies. To go with it SU! has released some awesome specials. Read on for details!

Sweet Rewards Promotion

Dates: September 1-November 30, 2009
Promotion Details:
We're excited to bring you this sweet deal for hostesses September through November:

• Host a workshop totaling $250 or more and choose any one item* from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10! (*Offer excludes hostess sets and My Digital Studio.)

On October 1, when My Digital Studio is released to customers, this offer becomes even sweeter:

• Host a workshop of at least $400 and get My Digital Studio for 50 percent off the retail price (retail price: $79.95; promotional price: $39.97)!

Keep in mind, the "sweet rewards" hostess offer is not eligible for online orders through my demonstrator website.

Through September 30, 2009 you can purchase the brand-new Decor Elements Growth Chart (only available through this month) and receive a FREE applicator tool ($1.95 value) with your purchase! This item CAN be purchased online NOW! Click through the link and then click on shop now.

This adorable Growth Chart is available in Taken with Teal, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip.

Camping Thanks

This was a quick thank you for the neighbor who watched our dogs so we could go camping and boating this past weekend.

I sponged the background with bordering blue and cut out and mounted my trailer piece on dimensionals for some interest. I cut off all the wheels from the trailer's stamped image and replaced them with brads and black cutout circles mounted behind the large brads. On each "wheel" I dotted in circles of silver with my Zig Painty Pen.

The camping stamps are from the retired Stampin' Up set Happy Camper with the Kind Thanks from the current set Thank You Kindly.

I'm proud of this one ... but it's not really stamping.

So this isn't stamping ... but it's made with all Stampin' Up supplies, except for the eye and scales. Does that count? The fish, a Rainbow Trout, was handpainted by me! I shocked myself by painting what I think is an accurate representation. I Googled "rainbow trout" and found a photo (here's my model). I sketched its shape in pencil onto Shimmery White cardstock, and then I started painting using an aqua painter and reinkers. I also colored with the markers on the fins and then "pulled" the color with the aqua painter. After painting, I glued the Shimmery White cardstock onto some thin chipboard to give it more stability. I then cut out the fish shape.

I wanted and needed a very fishy card for my husband's birthday (which is today) and we're going to the lake to camp and boat for the weekend which is where he'll get the gift from the extended family. We all chipped in, and he's getting a gift certificate for a guided day of fly fishing! I just know he's going to be so excited to go with an expert. He fishes already and has taken a class that expanded his skills, but I think it would be so awesome to be on-river with someone who can help you "in the moment" to get those techniques down.

After the fish was done and I had misted it with water and then spritzed it with the Chocolate Chip marker and Color Spritzer, I dabbed on some glue and then sprinkled the fish with some Martha Stewart "snow" flakes because in the right light, they're shiny like fish scales. I popped the fish up on dimensionals and mounted it to my card base.

Here is the finished card on top of the custom envelope I showed in an earlier post.

As a funny side note, you never know what in your arsenal can make for good craft. The eye is a large brad that I had in my stash, and when my white gel pen wouldn't stick to it, I used the white finger nail polish that I have for my french manicures - and it worked great! :)

Have a great weekend!