More Halloween!

Here are two more easy Halloween cards:

I don’t usually go for “cute” but who can resist the charms of the above Stampendous! House Mouse dressed in a “cheesy” costume? The paper and the cut outs are all from Bella Blvd’s Halloween Magic collection. The mouse was colored with watercolor pencils and a touch of Ranger’s Stickles glitter glue was added to the side for a little extra sparkle.

Another easy-peasy card using the same Bella Blvd paper collection. The bats are by Hero Arts (stamped in white pigment ink), the Happy Halloween is from a Close To My Heart set.

Thanks for stopping by!

Boo! Gearing up for Halloween

Yes, ghosts and goblins are in the air as card makers gear up for Halloween!

Here are some quick cards using Bella Blvd’s new Halloween Magic papers:

Simple, but cute (and hot diggity, I used up some scraps!) I cut out the Best Witches, punched a few circles from some leftover paper (from the same set) and added it all together, using a few foam squares for added texture. Trick or Treat was stamped using a set from Close To My Heart. The “Halloween Magic” strip is the title on the 12×12 sheet. (Way to use everything!!!)

The same sheet also gave me this cutie:

Happy Halloween is from the same CTMH set as the small trick or treat. Such a useful set!

More to come!

Fabulous Finds Friday — Cue the Cricut

Ok, I caved. I had avoided the electronic die cutter, but then I got the new Cricut Explore™*. And I am loving it.

Here’s what I made right out of the box:

To make this card, I just followed the instructions in the online Design Studio. This card uses a metallic pen (the letter outlines), which comes with the Explore. All the materials I needed came in the Cricut box.

(I won’t bore you with details about the Explore™ — just go to the Cricut website for info and videos. Also, check out what others have to say via Google.)

I am a slow learner when it comes to electronics — it takes me a while to figure out how to work these machines. I found the Explore easy to use — the downside is I think you can only use it with a computer. Also, I think it is helpful to have a space where you can leave it set up.

The best thing, I’ve found, is to play around. Here are my other experiments, done on “opening” day:

I cut out the leaves and then backed the front of the card with blue card stock (paper by Stampin’ Up!)

Then I played around with sizing:

Stickers are cut from Bella Blvd’s autumn collection, then edged with Ranger Distress Vintage Photo ink.

Gee, those leftover piece were just sitting there, mocking me. So I put them to use:

(the darling tag is also from Bella Blvd. The circle of flowers, die-cut layering circle and sentiment are from Technique Tuesday, attached with a 3D Rais’en from Glue Dots.)

Can you stand one more?

As you can see, I have just begun to “explore.”

Thanks for indulging me!

*see disclaimer

Bella, Bella, Bella

In my last post, I showed off some of Bella Blvd’s new paper collection. (check it out here.)

Here are a few more creations:

I love this leaf paper … and I adore the feather dies from Spellbinders. (I keep looking for ways to use feathers!)
This is a simple card. I cut a piece of the leaves cardstock to create the front panel, leaving about a half inch on the top. I scored the top, then attached it to a plain white base to make a vertical card.

I tied a piece of hemp (Hemptique) around it (twice) and attached the feathers using various adhesives, including a dimensional dot.
I cut “Thanksgiving” from another paper in the set and attached it. However, I SHOULD have layered the word on another piece of paper to make it pop. Right now it fades into the background. (I debated pulling it off and redoing it, but figured I’d just mess it up!)
Oh, I edged the front with Distress Ink Vintage Photo brown.

This, too, was fast and easy — I cut a piece of the paper a bit smaller than the front of my folded A2 white card, edged it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, and adhered it. If I had a sewing machine, I would have stitched around it. Wouldn’t that be cute? Added the sticker and poof — it’s a card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fabulous Finds — Bella Blvd Beauties

Been havin’ fun this week with some new papers from Bella Blvd.

I love the bright, happy colors of the collection, which includes Tiny Tots, Hello Autumn, Halloween Magic and Christmas Cheer.

Here are two from Tiny Tots:

And two quick cards (I do more card making than scrapbooking!)

I cut two of the papers to fit this card front and covered the seam with a piece of ribbon from Maya Road. Sending Smiles (Hero Arts) was stamped in Hero Arts Cup O’ Joe brown ink on a scrap, cut and edged with Distress Vintage Photo. It was mounted on foam squares. Yellow Kaisercraft pearls were added.

Another fast and easy card:

First, I stamped Hero Arts‘ Dots and Stripes border using Close To My Heart Cranberry ink. Then I cut the bottom piece  from this card stock:

… and covered the seam with a border from the set. 

Stay tuned for some fun Halloween and Christmas treats!