Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween Treat Box v2.0

About a month ago I went to Michael's and found a little coffin-shaped wooden box that I knew would be perfect for a Halloween treat box to decorate, fill, and send to the Sophomore! Ironically, Angela, aka Inky Button, discovered the Martha Stewart Coffin treat box and decided it would make a great challenge for the Bombshell Hump Day Hop! So, I ended up making and mailing the wooden treat box and made a second cardstock one for the hop.

Here's the one that was sent to the Sophomore, who received it today along with a myriad of Halloween goodies. She loved the coffin, the contents, and all the goodies, which pleases me greatly.



I painted the box with acrylic paint, stamped the Sacred Heart from the Sacred Heart set by Bombshell stamps, and heat embossed the image with Tarnished Gold embossing powder. I then tried using my chalk pencils to color the image and it sort of worked, but then the chalk seemed to fade into the paint, so I ended up going over the chalk with acrylic paint which worked moderately well. Stickles Glitter Glue was added to simulate sparks from the fire.

Thanks for visiting today!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Bombshell Hump Day Halloween Hop!

Hooray! It's time for another Bombshell Hump Day Hop! Angela, aka Inky Button, found a great Coffin Treat Box template at Martha Stewart and challenged us to create Coffin Treat Boxes with Bombshell style!

The entire project



I printed both the top and bottom of the coffin template directly onto plywood colored cardstock. I cut out the bottom of the coffin first, scored the lines, and put the bottom of the coffin together. Then I cut out and scored the coffin lid, but then flipped it over and stamped the garland from the Sugar Skull set using brown ink. The flowers were colored with Copic markers, which I also used to outline and shade the sugar skulls. I then finished cutting, folding, and assembling the coffin's lid. I used brown ink to edge the sides of the top of the coffin. Both the lid and base of the coffin were lined with satin specialty paper (Shantung by FiberMark).

I used the sugar skulls from the Sugar Skull set and stamped them on white paper. I colored them with Copic markers and added some shimmer with Spica pens. Hidden in my stash are some tiny paper bags that would have been perfect for the candy, but I couldn't find them, so I went to plan "B", which looks a bit tacky. I cut second squares to match the stamped squares, used my Tiny Attacher to staple the top corners, added lollipops, and then stapled the squares closed. I did the same thing with a piece of chocolate and a larger stamped square. It was fun to use my new toy (Tiny Attacher), but the result isn't especially elegant. But I've always said that I don't do "elegant" very well.

Closed Coffin Close-Up


Candy Close-Up:


Thanks for visiting my blog today. Now that you've seen my project, hop to the next person on the list below! Be sure to make a comment on each blog, since each comment gets you one more chance to win October's fabulous prize!

Bombshell Hump Day Halloween Hoppers
Angela

Kelli

Lyss

Terra

Kas

Miss Magoo

Sarah K

Glittery Katie

Gabby

Nicole

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Change of pace!

Cathy, of Paper Garden Projects fame, created this wonderful free digital image based on a drawing she had done. She's a fabulous artist and paper crafter, who designed several of my favorite Odd Bird Planet's Stamps.

Anyway, I loved the autumnal still life image and felt like a change of pace, so I made a card with the free digital image.

Here it is!


The image was colored with Copic markers and the shadows (which are barely visible) were added with chalk pencils. The papers are a combination of K & Company and Basic Grey Mellow. I used a stamp from Purple Onion Designs for the sentiment.

So yesterday, in between the downpours and in a steady drizzle, I went to the Farmer's Market, where I saw baskets upon baskets of Indian Corn -- all with different colorations. Being me, I pulled out a pen and a pad and started writing down the color combinations, so if you visit my blog regularly, you'll see different variations of Cathrine's beautiful free digital image -- though I'm back into Halloween mode for a while.

Thanks for visiting today.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Bombshell's Hump Day Hop!

Here's the list of the Bombshell Hotties participating in this week's Hump Day Hop!


Angela

Miss Magoo

Terra

Jacquie (Ms.October!)

Kas

Gabby

Glittery Katie

Sarah K

Lyss



Remember to leave a comment for the chance to win a fantabulous prize!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Countdown to Stamping Around Philadelphia!

I'm beginning to get really excited because Stamping Around Philadelphia is less than three weeks away!!! It's going to be held on November 6th and 7th at a gorgeous resort in the Lehigh Valley of Pennnsylvania. There's still room available, so if you're interested, click here!

It's been forever since I've gotten away to a retreat with other obsessed paper crafters and it'll be my first time at a stamping retreat! Yahoo!!! I'm totally stoked.

I'm also excited that I'll be teaching a special class sponsored by Bombshell Stamps.

Here's a sneak peek of the project.




I can't wait and hope to see some of you there!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Bombshell Hump Day Hop!

Angela/Inky Button, our Hump Day Head Hottie, decided that this week's theme would be "What was I thinking?", which refers to all that stuff that papercrafters seem to *need*, buy, and never use. Since I have a huge stash of that stuff that I "had to have", usually in every available color or pattern, this challenge was relatively easy for me. The hard part was deciding what unused or underused supplies to use.

As a totally indecisive sort of person, I couldn't decide and ended up with two projects, a card and a calendar/wall hanging thingy.

Here's the card.



I used the Cauldron from the Holiday Accessory set by Bombshell stamps. Then I pulled out an old journaling prompt card thingy and set about making another Halloween card. The cauldron was colored with Copic markers and I used Spica glitter pens to add the cauldron's contents and steam. Then I aged the background with chalk to make it blend better with the Making Memories patterned papers (witch legs, orange grid, Halloween words). Finally, I grabbed some Grungeboard, another underused supply, and inked the arrows with Distress Ink and then used Black Soot Distress Stickles over the ink.

The Calendar:


When I returned from visiting the Sophomore, my new Sugar Skull stamps were waiting for me and I had to use one immediately. I also had wanted to finally use the Stampbord and etching tool that I had bought ages ago. I had a Eureeka moment and stamped the Stampbord with one of skulls from the Sugar Skull set. The skull was colored with Copic markers and used some Distress Ink to age the skull. I sponged blue, pink, and purple ink from the skull to the edges of the Stampbord. Then I cut a mask for the skull and overstamped it with the spider web from the Tattoo Backgrounds set using white ink. I let the ink dry and then etched the spider web with the etching tool. I also etched little hatch marks around the circumference of the skull to make it stand out a little bit more. When I was done with that step, I added a bit of Black Soot Distress Ink to the edges of the Stampbord, and added Stickles to the flowers on the skull.

Then I had to decide what to do with my finished Stampbord piece. I remembered all those coasters that I had taken from Chili's and remembered that I had some tiny calendars. I painted the coaster black and when it was dry, I stamped some swirls from the Painted by Me set and a flower from the Sugar Skull set and heat embossed them with black sparkly embossing powder. Then I decided the skull looked lonely, so I grabbed more Grungeboard, chose a crown, some wings, and numbers and painted them with my underused Paint Dabbers. After everything was dry, I adhered all the pieces and added some gems. BTW, if I had known what I was going to do with my Stampbord experiment, I would have colored the heart and lips red, to match the type on the calendar. Oh well.

Now that you've seen what I created for this challenge and read my long-winded ramblings, hop to the next person on the list. Remember, each time you post a comment, you get another entry to win a super-duper fabulous prize!


Angela

Kas

Miss Magoo

Jacquie (Ms.October!)

Gabby

Sarah K

Glittery Katie

Lyss

Terra

Nicole

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Bombshell Stamps' Hump Day Hop!

This week's Hump Day Hop features the Bombshell Girls' take on the October Color Challenge to use orange, black, green, and purple (optional).

Here's my card!


Bombshell Stamp sets used were the Love & Luck set (the birds), the Tattoo Background set (the spider web, Black Widow spider, and the flame border), and the Holiday Accessory set (the cauldron and bones).

The scene was stamped on light purple cardstock. The birds, bones, cauldron, and flames were colored with Copic markers. I used Spica glitter pens to add steam, cauldron contents, and drips. A Glaze pen was used on the Cauldron's handle. I stamped the spider web and bones and heat embossed them with white embossing powder. I didn't like how the bones looked, so I sanded off some embossing powder to age 'em, then added outlines to them with a Sharpie pen to define them better. I sponged Black Soot Distress ink over the entire panel. The color challenge was met with layers of black smudged purple patterned paper, plus green and orange cardstock on a black card base. The sentiment is a sticker from the same 7 Gypsies Halloween sheet I've been using. The card is a bit on the large size at 5" x 8.5"

Now that you've seen my take on the challenge, hop along to the next stop on the following list of Hump Day Hop participants, being sure to leave comments as you go to be entered to win a fabulous prize.


Jacquie (Ms. October)

Angela

Kas

Miss Magoo

Terra

Stephanie

Gabby

Nicole

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Bombshell Stamp Sketch Challenge at Rubber Stamp Chat!

Bombshell Stamps is sponsoring Rubber Stamp Chat's October Sketch Challenge with a sketch designed by little ol' me. It's a simple sketch based on one my favorite "go to" card layouts! It's easily modified to fit any card size, can be flipped, plus you can use any shape to contain your stamped image (ovals, hearts, etc.).

To enter, create a card similar to the sketch shown below and post it HERE. You'll also find a handy-dandy discount coupon for Bombshell Stamps on the Rubber Stamp Chat website. It's that easy!

**Project entries MUST be posted in Rubber Stamp Chat's Forum thread (linked above)**

Sketch & Sample Card



Enter as often as you like, and use whatever stamps you choose...no company or style restrictions. Everyone who plays will be entered in a drawing for the "Love & Luck" stamp set shown below and elegantly displayed on my sample card (above). The stamps come mounted on static cling cushion and ready to use with your favorite acrylic blocks.

Love & Luck
set by Bombshell Stamps



Be sure to post your card at Rubber Stamp Chat to be sure your card is entered in the contest. Plus, feel free to share it at Bombshell Stamps Forum and Gallery!

Have fun with the sketch! I can't see what you do with it!

Thanks for visiting today!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Bombshell Stamps World Card Making Day Blog Hop!

Yahoo! I'm finally home for World Card Making Day and plan to craft most of the day! Yippee!

Some of the Bombshell DT Girls are participating in the World Card Making Blog Hop and we decided to make holiday and/or travel cards. Since Halloween is my most favorite holiday, I decided to make another Halloween card.

Here it is!


I used the Pirate Queen from A Pirate's Life set. Via masking, I added the Witch Hat, Cauldron, and Bones (in the Cauldron) from the Holiday Accessory set, and created a long skirt from the Spider Web from the Background Tattoo set. The Flames also came from that set.

I colored the images with Copic Markers, added some Spica pen for sparkle, and a Glaze pen for the handle of the Cauldron. Since I accidentally smudged the background with black ink after doing all that stamping and masking, I decided to add some Distress ink to camouflage it. My new Scattered Straw pad was way juicier than I thought, so my inking is a bit on the heavy handed side. Not thrilled with it, but I muddled on and used Cosmo Cricket papers together with a sticker from 7 Gypsies to complete the card, which measures 5.5" x 8".

Thanks for visiting my blog! Now go visit the other Bombshell Gals' blogs!

Oh yes. Happy World Card Making Day!

World Card Making Bombshell Gals

Jacquie

Glittery Katie

Kas

Kathi

Nicole

Sarah K

Shannon

Terra

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Bombshell Stamps' October's Color Contest



Bombshell Stamps' Miss October, Jacquie, has started her reign with a great color challenge with a chance to win an amazing prize!

CONTEST GUIDELINES: (CONTEST ENDS OCT. 31, 2009)
The creation can be a card, layout or altered item, but must have:

1. A Bombshell Stamp somewhere
2. Use of ORANGE, BLACK, and GREEN. Purple is an optional substitution color.
3. Tag the photos of your submission with "BSSOCT09" at Paper Crafts Planet, to be entered in the drawing!

The prize is the perfect package to use with the newly released Sugar Skull Stamps!

THE FANTASTIC PRIZE PACKAGE INCLUDES:
• Our Sugar Skull Font mounted stamp set
• Festive printed papers from Crafty Chica
• Paper and brad flowers from C Custom Creations
• Colorful Toe Tags from C Custom Creations

To INCLUDE YOUR SUBMISSION you need to have either an album created in our Gallery, or a profile on Paper Craft Planet (PCP). Just tag your photo with the code listed above so we can find it and add you to the drawing. You can also show off your card by posting it under the contest thread on the Bombshell Stamps Forum.

Now get crafting and have fun!