Altered Halloween Trick or Treat Brown Paper Bags

Trick or Treat!  This is a fun project to transform brown sandwich bags into Spooktacular treat bags.  Lots of techniques used, including: Dry Embossing ● Heat Embossing ● Stamping  ● Decoupage ●  Die Cutting ● Punches ● Accenting ● Charms

Project Recipe:Stamps: Inkadinkadoo All Hallows Eve
Colouring Mediums: Versamark Ink, Versafine Ink, Martha Stewart Embossing Powder, WOW embossing powder, pigment ink pad, Black Soot Distress Ink
Paper and Card: DCWV, WRMK, vellum
Tools: Tonic Studios Gothic Die, Tonic Studios Gothic Border Punch, Tonic Label Dies, Grand Calibur, Embossalicious Embossing Folder, Silhouette Cameo
Embellishments: silver-tone charms, Bakers Twine, glossy accents

My "Oldies" (ie using up bits and bobs from my stash that's over 6 month's old) are everything apart from the Bakers Twine and Charms. 

Step 1 - Creating the Topper

The topper has lots of great detail to it.  First of all, I die cut a label shape the stamped my Happy Halloween in Versamark Ink which I then heat embossed with WOW extra fine black embossing powder.  Once melted, the embossing powder acts as a resist, meaning that I was then able to over stamp with the cobweb corner stamp, but it has the illusion of sitting behind the Halloween greeting.  I also stamped on the filigree spider and accented the spider body with glossy accents to create dimension.  For the pumpkins and Versamrk ink, I first stamped "off-the-edge" of the main label and heat embossed with Martha Stewart Peridot Glitter Embossing Powder.  I then stamped the image twice more onto a slightly lighter piece of orange card and heat embossed with WOW black.  I layered up the pumpkins to create some lovely dimension.  

Don't think you always need to buy finishing accents for your projects, they are quite easy to make yourself.  I printed off the word SPELLS onto another offcut of the lighter orange card, cut it out with a tiny banner die and edged it with black ink.  I then tore a small strip of calligraphy-printed vellum and rolled it into a scroll, and glued the SPELLS card around it.  A lovely little accent and made from a few scraps.





Step 2 - Creating the Tag

That said, I did use some sweet silver-tone charms to accent my Tag, attached with sppoky halloween Bakers Twine and a tiny brad.

The tag was cut using the very aptly named Gothic Die Set from Tonic Studios, and I used Black Soot distress ink around the edge.  The mat was cut on my Cameo Silhouette using the trace method.  I have imported all of my Tonic Dies into my Cameo to do this, very useful.

The Trick & Treat sentiment was stamped and heat embossed.


Step 3 - Finishing the Bag

My brown paper sandwich bags fitted perfectly into an 8" Embossalicous embossing folder, so I used the Polka Dot folder and then swiped over the raised embossing with an orange pigment Ink Pad.  

I had a sheet of 12" WRMK cardstock that was Halloween borders, so I cut this into strips and mounted it onto black card that had been edged with the Gothic Border Punch.  This created a decorative edge to the top of my Altered Halloween Trick or Treat Brown Paper Bags.

Here's one final look:

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Autumnal House Mouse Big Apple-tite

Autumn is my favourite season. I know that the Summer is fab but I just love Autumn, the colours, the leaves, the Harvest!  This time last year, I was lucky enough to be visiting the wonderful Autumn colours in New England, so this is my homage to the arrival of Autumn!

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Joanna Sheen House Mouse
Tools: Tonic Studios Elegant Vine Square Die Se, Gothic Border, Tim Holtz Paper Distresser  Grand Calibur
Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads
Paper & Card: My Mind's Eye, Parchment, mulberry paper, Satin Elegance
Embellishments: Raffia, String, Baker's Twine, Sheer Ribbon, Buttons, Skeleton Leaves

Do you recognise the die set that I've used as a mat for the main focal image?   Yes, it's the Tonic Studios Elegant Vine Square Die Set.  Previously I've cut the top die from vellum and laid it over a pattern card, this time, I've cut the filigree layer in patterned card and layered it over a semi-translucent textured mulberry paper.

Plus, you'd never know that there is a tag in the centre of this die set, my focal image hides it completely, those clever, versatile Verso dies!

Do you find it difficult to shabby things up?  I know I do!  However, I've been playing with my Tonic Studios Tim Holtz Paper Distresser and had a good go at distressing all my edges, before inking them up with Tea Stain Distress Ink.  I think I like the effect, what do you think?

You can also see the edge I've punched with my Simplicity Gothic Border Punch - I think it works great on men's cards.



This card is also my Design Inspiration over an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge of us Dies and Punches.  So, the "Oldies" that are over 6 months old on this card are:
My Mind's Eye Card ● Buttons ● Twine ● Raffia ● String ● Ink Pads ● Elegance Satin Stamping card ● Promarker Pens ● Skeleton Leaves ● Mulberry Paper

Here's one last look....

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Cards for Men - String It Up

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Father's Day Gift Tag & Bottle Tag Set

With Father's Day looming, I've made this matching gift tag & bottle tag, to fully co-ordinate with my Bunting & House Mouse Father's Day Card.

Project Recipe:
Stamps: Joanna Sheen House Mouse, LOTV sentiment
Colouring Mediums: Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink Purple, Memento Cocoa, Promarker Pens
Paper & Card: DCWV, Conqueror, Elegance Satin, Textured Pearlescent
Tools: Tonic Studios Butterfly Beautiful Die Set, Grand Calibur, Spellbinders, Silhouette Cameo
Embellishments: Creative Expressions Bakers Twine, Button, Brads, Beads, Wire

To make the Bottle Tag, I created the base shape on my Cameo Silhouette, by merging a circle and rectangle, and then adding another circle, I then used the offset tool to cut out the patterned paper layer. 

I echoed elements from my Father's Day card by using the same Tonic Studio's label die shape and another House Mouse Stamp from the same set as the card.  It tickled my sense of humour that the House Mouse was giving a present of Cheese as a gift on my Bottle Tag - making it a Cheese & Wine Tag (boom, boom!  Ok, pretty "cheesey" joke).  I made the little "Dad" embellishment with some yonks-old alphabet beads, a couple of glass spacer beads and some pretty lilac wire that I twizzled.  I stitched on th button with Baker's Twine using a pretty hefty darning needle.

The gift tag was made from the same Tonic Studio's label die shape, layered up and folded in two.  Again, echoing the main card, I used the same Happy Father's Day stamp, but reversed the colours on the cardstock so that the tag shape was cut from yellow textured card and the stamp mat in lilac.

So, this Gift Tag and Bottle Tag co-ordinate perfectly with my Father's Day Card:

I am entering this project into the following challenges:

ABC Challenge - Open
Anything Goes - Father's Day

Cards For Men - Dad

Craft-room Challenge - Use your Scraps
Crafts & Me - Something Old (Everything apart from Label Die is over 6 months old)

Creative Card Crew - Punches/Dies

CountryViewCrafts - Die Cuts

Fashionable Stamping - Tag Time
House Mouse & Friends - Father's Day
 I ♥ ProMarkers - All Stitched Up
Love to Create - Father's Day
Paper Crafting Journey - Masculine Cards

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Pile it On - Stripes and/or Plaid

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Masculine with Ribbon or Trim

Simon Says Stamp - Father's Day
Simply Create Too - Father's Day

I hope that you like my Father's Day projects, let me know what you think, I love to read your comments!

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Bunting & House Mouse Card for Father's Day

One of the things I love about House Mouse stamps is that they are so versatile, you can use them for cards for men, women and children. As my Dad rather enjoys all my baking, this cupcake house mouse image is perfect for this year’s Father’s Day Card!

Also, I’m really chuffed to report that I amonce again appearing as Guest Designer on this Sunday’s new challenge over on the lovely Joanna Sheen’s Challenge Blog. I the new theme is spots and stripes, and this is the card I’ve designed for my guest slot!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Joanna Sheen House Mouse, LOTV sentiment
Colouring Mediums: Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink Purple, Memento Cocoa, Promarker Pens
Paper & Card: DCWV, Conqueror, Elegance Satin, Textured Pearlescent
Tools: Tonic Studios Butterfly Beautiful Die Set, Tonic Studios Doily Strip Punch, Grand Calibur, Spellbinders, Sewing Machine
Embellishments: Creative Exprerssions Bakers Twine, Button, Brads

To make the “DAD” Banner, I used the smaller label die in the Tonic Studios Butterfly Beautiful Die Set and cut out three labels in textured pearlescent card and three more in patterned paper. I trimmed down the outer edge on the patterned paper die cuts so that they created a perfectly sized mat for the card labels, and layered them together. I then scored the top of each of these labels and threaded them onto some Baker’s Twine, before securing with a brad, to create a bunting.

I threaded another piece of Baker’s Twine through the border I cut from my Tonic Studios Doily Strip Punch. I love this punch, it’s just perfect to lace through with ribbon or, in this case, Bakers Twine.

My image is from the House Mouse Ice-Cream stamp Plate, stamped with Memento Cocoa Ink, coloured with Pro-Markers and decoupaged. I also used a Promarker to create the Polka Dot pattern on the cup-cake wrapper, to nicely echo one of my patterned papers.

I've also being trying to get to grips with my Sewing Machine.  It was a birthday gift about 6 years ago, but I am very challenged in the sewing dept :( and after a disasterous first go, gave up.  However a lovely crafting friend has inspired me to have another go, so I used the machine to accent this card.  I will get better, but at least I've had a go!









I am entering this card into the following challenges:
ABC Challenge - Open
Cards For Men - Dad
Craft-room Challenge - Use your Scraps
Creative Card Crew - Punches/Dies
CountryViewCrafts - Die Cuts
CutiePie Challenge - 3-2-1 (3 tails, 2 mice, 1 sentiment)
LEJ Designs - Celebrate
Paper Crafting Journey - Masculine Cards
Passion For ProMarkers - Add Ribbon, Lace or Twine
Pile it On - Stripes and/or Plaid
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Masculine with Ribbon or Trim
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Simply Create Too - Bingo (O)

Do let me know what you think of this card, I love to read your comments! Pin It Now!

Up, Up & Away

Today's card uses a lovely colour combination of coffees, mauves and creams.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Balloon (unkown make), Globe by Do-Crafts
Colouring Mediums: Memento Ink Pad Rich Cocoa, Promarker Pens
Paper & Card: Stardream, K & Company, Kanban Lavender Rose Collection
Tools: Spellbinders, Grand Calibur, Embossalicious Regency Damask Folder, Martha Stewart Border Punch
Embellishments: Double Satin Ribbon, Lace, Bakers Twine, Hand-made Pearl & Crystal Hat Pins, metal charm, mulberry flowers

My Hot Air Balloon stamp was an Ebay find and I stamped it onto an offcut of Kanban script cardstock.  Then to get the embossed cushion effect that you find on a hot air balloon, I first debossed the outline of each section on the right side of the image with a fine ball tool.  Then I turned the image over, and went back over those lines with the ball tool to push the fibres back out again, then I used a larger ball tool to create the cushioned effect.  I was very pleased with the result.
The card blank was cut from a cappuccino stardream cardstock and I embossed the whole card with my new Regency Damask Embossalicious 8" embossing folder.  These folders are my new toys and I love them.

I created the ruffle ribbon trim by sticking a line of 6mm Super Sticky tape down the edge of my mat. I then stuck down a layer of 10mm double satin ribbon, taking care to create a ruffle effect.  This was finished with some tiny rose mulberry flowers.

The Globe Stamp is from their Chronology Range and is one of the best magazine freebies that I've ever had as it came with my copy of Do-Crafts Creativity magazine.

You can see a couple of my own hand made pearl and crystal decorative hat pins peeking out from behind the tags. 
Other finishing touches include using a Martha Stewart punch on the edge of the main tag, lace, ribbon, bakers twine and a sweet little brass clock face charm (another Ebay find).

This card was shortlisted in the following challenges:
Crafty Catz - Swirls & Pearls
Die Cutting Divas - Embossing with Ribbon

I love to read your comments, they are a highlight of my day, so do let me know what you think of this or if you have any questions. Thank You!

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I Scream For Ice-Cream!

Can you believe it is now November? I just don’t know where this year has gone! Well, if it is November, then it’s time for Dad’s Birthday Card. I got the idea for this Dad Birthday Card as my Dad’s very partial to pudding, especially Ice-Cream, so the House Mouse Ice-Cream stamp seemed very appropriate.

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Ice-Cream House Mouse from Joanna Sheen
Colouring Mediums: Memento Ink, Promarker Pens
Paper & Card: DCWV, Conqueror, card from stash
Tools: Spellbinders, Silhouette Cameo, BigShot, Martha Stewart Punch, Tim Holtz Ruler, Martha Stewart Score Board
Embellishments: Baker’s Twine, Buttons, Rhinestones

Apart from the button, rhinestones and twine, I made all the embellishments on this card using my Cameo, spellbinders dies, Martha Stewart punches and scoreboard. I hope you like all the layers and points of interest.

The mice, which have been stamped twice and decoupaged, have been coloured in with Promarkers, including the gorgeous Grey Squirrel in the 2012 Autumn Limited Edition set.  I've loved the wonderful colours in this series of pens, absolutely fabulous.

The DCWV papers I used were perfect for the project, and I've had this particular stack for about 5 years before using it!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Cards For Men: Sketch
Crafts & Me Challenge: Bling It Up
Die Cuttin Divas: Anything Goes
Here Comes The Boys: Die Cuts & Punches
I Love Promarkers: Cute
LEJ Designs: Anything Goes
Love to Create: Lots of Layers
Oldie But A Goodie: Spots & Stripes (5 year old DCWV papers!)
Paper Crafting Journey: Ribbon or Twine
Pile it On: For the Birthday Boy
Stampin' for the Weekend: Anything Goes
Tuesday Morning Sketches: No 170

Reading comments from fellow crafters is such a pleasure, so I do appreciate it if you can take the time to leave a comment. Thank you!
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