So here is the final card - I only made 25 (was prepared to make 50!) and, for the record, these cost me about $20 to make and it took about two and a half hours - not counting the time I spent cutting out the gravestones while watching CSI NY.

So, here are a couple of mock-ups for 'the' cards (Party invitations! Yay for my FAVourite kind of party! Halloween!!!!) They are all basically the same - but I need some guidance.
They are all on Basic Grey cardstock, using the Graveyard Gala stamp set. I masked out the date/time/place section on the stamp and stamped a name with some acrylic stamps in the middle - is that too much? Is there something else I should put on the headstone instead? Anyhoo, I used some Night and Day Designer paper on two of them but not the third and either Basic Black or Pumpkin Pie gros grain ribbon (which one do you like better?) On the inside is a small tag from "Eat, Drink and be Scary" and the little spider of course...The info about the party will be printed ('puter) on Whisper White cardstock and stuck inside the card.

I think I can safely say the Designer paper needs to stay...and that I'll stamp the crows closer to the headstone (as in the third card)...AND I won't muck up the name either (pay no attention to the apparently drunken stamper in the corner!) But, I have for thee these questions three...

question the first: Black or orange ribbon?
#2: Name or something else on the stone?
and #3: tag or no tag on the inside?

Am I on the right track here?

Online Clearance!

Check out the new Clearance Rack in my online store! There are some old favourites available to order - while supplies last. These are not available to order at workshops, but only online or through me directly. Click the image to see the selection of products available.

Cheers!

Ok, I've never even attempted a 'tutorial' before, and I don't know if this qualifies at all - but I had a request to post the instructions for the little purse invitations I made for Ani's Birthday invitations, so this is my attempt to do that. *I still have some work to do, listing the materials and adding the Big Shot scalloped circle variation, so bear with me. The learning curve is a LONG way up for me.

Purse Card instructions:

Cut cardstock in half width wise, leaving two 5.5”x8.5” pieces. Using your 12" trimmer with the scoring blade, score in the middle and fold.
You now have a standard A4 card – 4.25”x 5.5” (fits in a medium envelope)
I used Stampin' Up! Rose Red cardstock here.

On the NON folded edge, mark off ¾” on both sides. Using the scoring blade on your 12" trimmer means no pesky lines to erase.
Using the Desktop Paper Cutter, cut from the mark to the fold, angling the cut away from the folded edge. You should have a folded edge that’s 5.5” long and a cut edge that’s 4” long.

Cut a circle of matching cardstock at 4” - again, I used Rose Red.
Cut another circle from Designer paper at 3.5-3.75” – fold them both in half. I used Tea Party Designer paper.

Attach a Clear Rhinestone brad to the Designer paper circle, near the middle of the bottom of one edge of the circle.
Set your Crop-a-dile to about 3/4" and punch two (larger) holes in the fold of the Designer paper. Thread about 11” of Whisper White gros grain ribbon into the holes. Attach the ends using some SNAIL adhesive.
This is what the "wrong" side will look like now.

Attach the Designer paper to the cardstock circle.

Attach both to the purse shape.

*Optional: cut a piece of designer paper 5” x 3.75” Measure in .75” on one of the 5” sides, cut at an angle to match the shape of the front of the purse. Attach to the card front.

Attach the rough side of a half-circle of Velcro to the inside top flap of the purse, gently press the soft side on to it. Now fold the flap down into its final position and gently separate the velcro pieces.


You can embellish any way you like - there's a million things you can do with a purse like this!!
hope this helps!

Off to can tomatoes!!

Just getting caught up...
Here are the Crimped Envelope cards we made at August clubs. I learned how to do this from a tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers. What a great technique, and so easy!
I used Herb Expressions and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets, a Very Vanilla envelope, Sage Shadow, Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla cardstock, Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery and Old Olive Classic inks and the crimper, Eyelet Edge punch, Snips, Round Tab punch, ink spritzer, Going Grey Stampin' Write Marker and some Certainly Celery 1/4" gros grain ribbon.

Non-paper fun

Here are some of the arrangements I helped my Mother-in-law make last weekend for her tennis Do. It was SO fun working with flowers after so many years away. sigh. They smell nicer than paper (generally), although, they make me itchy.

Check out the Gerber Daisies that I got at the farmer's market for $4 a dozen *SHOCK* What a find!!

So these pictures are a little washed out, but here's one of the projects my clubs made in August. It's a mini album, the theme of which was chosen by one of my club members (SUCH a smart lady!) A pet mini-album makes a lovely gift for animal lovers... yes, I am thinking of Christmas already!!


I made this using a patten provided by Paula Goff. Supplies: Old Olive and So Saffron Cardstock, Basic Black, Old Olive and Crushed Curry Ink, C is for Cat stamp set and P is for Paws Stampin' Around Wheel, Sponges, various SU! punches and So Saffron Designer paper.

What do you think? Cute huh??

Third and final sneak peek for August

Can you guess what this is??? I'll never tell - some people really like surprises!

Run for the Cure

I've gone and done it! I've signed myself up for the CIBC Run for the Cure in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, October 4th. I haven't run 5 Kilometers in a LONG while (more than half my life ago??), I've had two kids, a back injury, a knee injury and many, many ice cream sundaes and potato chips since last I ran that distance! Do you think I can do it??

If you would like to help me raise money for the cause, please visit my personal donation page HERE. Thanks for your support!

Sneak peeks...

Here are some extreme close ups of a couple of our stamp club projects for August - Fun with Envelopes. More coming soon....

These are a couple of examples of the little case we made at our last club meetings. I made them a few different ways, but all with a pocket on the front and handles. The one on the left is made with Certainly Celery and Soft Suede cardstock, Tall Tales Designer paper, gold brads, medium twill tape and D rings from the fabric store. The one on the right uses Old Olive cardstock, still the Tall Tales dp, gold brads and Chocolate Chip cardstock for the handles. You could put a lovely treat (chocolate sounds nice!), a note pad or some small cards in the front pocket and some nice monogrammed blank cards, some all-occasion cards or a paperback book in the main part of the tote. There are so many ways to dress up a simple box like this. I kept this one really simple, but I'll have to post some others I've been churning out for fall craft sales when I get a chance. They're really fun to do.

My hostesses got a covered sticky-notes pad with a pencil and an assortment of cards to fill the box - only one of which I've pictured here, all using the Tall Tales designer paper and coordinating cardstock. I constantly kick myself for forgetting to take pictures of my stuff before I give it away!!! sigh.

I took this case idea from Leigh O'Brien's "totally totes" tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers - a link won't help you unless you're a fan club member there so I won't try. I can send you directions for my version, which is very simple, more of a jumping off point really, if you wish. Just drop me a note.

Stamp club projects from July

Here are the two cards we made at our last club meetings. The one on the left is made using the Upsy Daisy set, Melon Mambo paper and ink and Crushed Curry paper and ink. We rubbed the inkpads on a sheet of transparency and then brayered it over the image - which had been stamped in VersaMark and embossed with white ep. Sadly, the stamping with bleach technique didn't work at the first class. The bleach was diluted just a teeny bit in the container and it was a dud. Next picture is the sample WITH the bleach technique. I hope you'll try it on your own, it is LOADS of fun. (***note, I don't know about you, but I can't get this one to work on Not Quite Navy cardstock. Might be just me, not sure.)

The one on the right is the 'famous' re-inker spread technique. This technique originated with Crystal French from Denver, and was demo'd at the Stampin' Up! Seattle Regional Seminar by Connie Ingram. Then Sandi MacIver shared the directions on a yahoo group and Patty Bennet did a fabulous tutorial on it. I just love it - I can't stop making them! Just remember, you have to use shimmery cardstock, regular Whisper White won't work.

I'll post the 3D we made in a bit, and I hope, a sneak peek. (I know, I always say that and I *never* get around to it, but this time I'm determined!!!)

toodles!

New Promo for August

Here are a couple of really great deals for August! If you spend $45 on stamps in the "Growing Up" section of the catalogue, you get to choose a FREE pack of designer buttons.

Also, available until September 3oth, is this super cute growth chart Decor Element. It's a big rub-on for walls that is really easy to install and great for boys or girls. Too cute!

Click on the image to see them on my website and get more details. Both offers are available at workshops AND through online orders.

sneak peek?

Well, one of my clubs has already done these this month, but I had a request to get a sneak peek up BEFORE our class for a change, and I am happy to comply.

We're playing with ink this month - re-inkers and water, brayer and acetate, and bleach *(I hope it works this time! Note to self: do NOT rinse out the container just before adding the bleach to the paper towel inside!).

Later today (um, after our class!) I'll post the rest of the picture. ;)

Sigh. Ani's birthday is over - again - it seems like the last one just finished. sigh again. Anyway, as is customary, I bit off more than I could chew with the cake - but isn't that a cute look on her face when she gets it! She wanted ROSES made of icing, and NOT from a store. Where on earth would she get that sort of attitude from, heavens I can't imagine!


I sure wish I could post a few pictures of the littles at the salon - what a day that was! They all got their nails, hair and makeup done with a few temp tatoos and body sparkles on the ears to boot. They all lined up for their glamour shots at the end and they are DARLING - I do not use that word lightly at all!

Now, on to the Thank you cards!