Creepy Halloween Jars - Quick and Easy!

Last week my daughter's copy of Ranger Rick arrived in the mail.  We were both excited to see this project in the magazine.

Instead of putting this project in the to do someday file (I have too many projects that my kids and I did not get to already that my grandchildren will be very busy) we did it over the weekend.

You know that person that has just an assortment of odds and ends that will help you complete any project - that is me!  First, we went to the junk room (not what my husband calls it but I don't want to put those words on my blog) where we picked out eight jars of different sizes and shapes.  Next, we used Goo Gone to get rid of all of the sticker residue.  This was the most time consuming part of the project.  Really - where do the manufacturers think the labels are going?  Then we printed out the jar labels.  We had to resize some of the labels to fit our jars.  The oldest daughter took all the jar lids out in the garage to spray paint them black, while the other two and I worked on adhering the labels to our jars using my Xyron. Lastly, we filled the jars.

The magazine had some great suggestions for filling the jars but we changed a few.  For bullfrog blood we used the juice from a jar of maraschino cherries, for the venom some canola oil, for the fur of werewolf some very fuzzy brown yarn that we cut and pulled apart, for the eyes of fish some white beads with black dots from a Sharpie floating in water colored blue and for the rat intestines some yellow and white yarn that had been finger knit three years ago that was just waiting for a project to be included in.  We are still on the hunt for some walnuts in the shell for the crocodile brains.

We put it right out for decoration when were done just adding a little spider web to complete the look.

This was a quick and fun project that we all enjoyed doing - and the best part is we did it instead of putting in the to do pile.

Technique of the Week: Scraps!

Scraps!  As any crafting knows (no matter type of crafting you do) there is always scraps left over when you complete a project.  Deciding what to do with scraps can be a challenge - especially deciding to save them or not.  If we do not save them it seems like you could use them on your next project and if we do save them they never get used.

This 3"x3" card was made from all scraps with the exception of the card base.  This was quick and easy to put together and you can change it for a variety of occasions but best of all if used scraps!

Technique of the Week: Making your sentiment fit your card

Many times the size of the stamp that I want to use on my card does not fit the size of the card I am making.  One way to get around this problem is to layer the sentiment on a few layers to fill the space that you feel is necessary.  This card design will work well other sentiments. 

Technique of the Week: Photopolymer Stamps

When I saw the Calling All Heroes stamp set, I knew it was something that my family would have loads of fun creating with.  All of us (including my husband) have our favorite superhero.  I designed this one to be what I would look like if I was a superhero. 

One of the best things about this set, is that you can see where you are stamping.  The stamps are clear (you need to use them with clear blocks).  Stamping the faces or the letters is quick and easy when you can see exactly where you are stamping.

40th Birthday Gift

Recently, one of our very good family friends celebrated his 40th birthday and our family surprised him with this gift.  He just happens to be our local orchestra conductor (in addition to many other things).  We filled this jar with "Joel's Top 40 - 40 songs that remind us of you".  This songs encompassed just about every music genre.

Each juke box label had a song, artist and a message.  One example we used was: “William Tell Overture” by Rossini – for making watching the orchestra fun.  The labels can be found on this page.

This gift can be easily modified for any type of birthday and of course the jar is decorated with Stampin' Up products.

 

Technique of the week: Inspiration

Where do you find inspiration?  I find it just about every place that I look (my list of project ideas is long enough for a few lifetimes.  This card was inspired from page 139 of the new Stampin' Up Catlaog.  Please let me know if you have any questions about the samples displayed in the catalog.

Technique of the Week: Little touches add a lot!

Many times when I am working on a project, I forget that little accents can have a big impact.  The group of three small punches with rhinestones adds a touch of color and dimension to this card.

Technique of the Week: Coloring with Blender Pens

 

This card was made from products that are currently available but inspired from a project on page 55 of the new catalog (available June 2).  I used the blender pen to pick up ink color from the lid of a stamp pad and add color to the floral image.  If you gently pinch the pad before you open it some ink will be on the lid.  

Technique of the Week: Stamping Off

The floral images in the card are all "stamped off".  The card stock is Pool Party and I wanted a soft look to the background but I do not have an ink pad that color.  I used Bermuda Bay ink to stamp the floral images.  To get the softer look, ink the stamp, then stamp on a piece of scratch paper before stamping on your project.  The image on the tag was stamped off twice to get an even softer image.

Technique of the Week: You can stamp with anything!

I was admiring a card in the new Stampin' Up catalog (out June 1) and trying to think about how to make it, when my upline commented that she thought it was done with a pencil eraser. 

Viola!

This card was born.  Sometimes we get so caught up in the newest and greatest products that we forget about the simple things.  You can use anything as a stamp (as long as you do not mind the ink).  I grabbed one of my pencils (Ticonderoga of course) and made this card.  When I was done the ink did come off of the eraser.

Affordable Ideas on how to celebrate your 20th Wedding Anniversary

Today, we are celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary.  They have been the most amazing years of my life - filled with tremendous joy.  Each new day I realize how blessed I am.

Last year, as I searched for ideas for anniversary celebrations, I was disappointed by the lack of affordable ideas that I could find.  So that brings us to this post today - how we celebrated our 20th anniversary.

1.  We were married in my hometown (Racine, Wisconsin).  Racine has lots of delicious places to eat and our wedding cake came from the best bakery that we have ever been to.  If you have ever been to Racine or know anyone from Racine, then you probably know about kringle and O&H Danish Bakery.  Since we no longer live in Racine, I enlisted the help of my father and my cousin to bring us a heart shaped cake decorated like our wedding cake.  My husband is not normally a sweet eater but the night of our wedding he had three pieces of cake (he said that was because we missed the appetizers due to photos and then was talking too much to eat during supper - I think he just really liked the cake).  He was really surprised when the cake arrived.  Perhaps the best part was sharing the cake with our kids.  They love O&H because we go there for doughnuts when we are in town but they rarely have store bought cake (I love baking - but that is a post for a different day).

2.  If you are one of the two regular readers of my blog - you know that I am Stampin' Up demonstrator and one of the things I love to do is make cards.  Over this last year, I made 20 - 3"x3" cards for my husband.  I left these little love notes in his sock drawer, suitcase or computer - any place that I could leave them as a surprise for him.  These were a great way for me to remind him (and myself) about all the ways that he is special to me.

3.  The traditional gift for the 20th anniversary is china.  I ordered all of our favorite Chinese food and served it on our wedding china.  On another note, we started eating all of our meals on our wedding china about two years ago.  We registered for "everyday" china when we were getting married and one day I decided we should use it everyday.  When we want to feel special, we use my mother's desert rose china. 

4.  The modern gift for the 20th is platinum.  I researched a list of platinum albums and then checked our music collection for what we had.  We played this music while eating our anniversary supper.  I do not really enjoy music during supper but my husband does.  It took him a few songs to realize why the music was playing.

I hope these ideas help you to plan your anniversary celebration.

Technique of the Week: Cut back card front

This card brings a smile to my face - I love the colors together and the watercolor wonder paper.  To make this card cut one piece of card stock to 4 1/4" x 11.  Fold in half to make your card body.  Trim the desired width from the top of the card body.  It is hard to tell in this photo but the smile is actually stamped on the inside of the card.

Technique of the week: Graduation Bling!

This graduation card was designed to be given to any grad from any school.  The background color can easily be modified for any school's color.  The letters were cut on the big shot using the silver glimmer paper (currently out of stock) but could also be cut out of the silver foil paper.

Technique of the Week: Pennants and Banners

The Perfect Pennants stamp set and the Banners Framelits Dies make the perfect bundle.  This card came together very quickly.  I love stamps and coordinating framelits or punches. 

Technique of the Week: Layering

First of all, I would like to thank the 3 people that read my blog every week.  There is so much to learn about blogging - how to do it, when to do it - the list is endless.  Even though the amount of things to learn is overwhelming, I grow more confidant with every post.  Until of course I can not figure something out and then I have to call my friend that writes a great blog that you can find here.

This week's technique is about layering.  The focal image was stamped twice once with Basic Gray and once with Bermuda Bay.  The friendship banner was cut out of the Bermuda Bay image and placed over the Basic Gray image using Stampin' Dimensionals.

If you are still reading - I would love it if you left a comment!  Have a great day.

Technique of the Week: Adding depth

I am not sure what the actual name for this card is but I call it the cut back card.  The base is cut for a 4.25" x 5.5" card.  From the front of the card at 1" strip is cut off.  The patterned paper was applied to the inside of the card.  The sentiment is placed on the front but hangs off of the edge. 

Technique of the Week: Background paper

I love this Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper!  (The truth of the matter is a have what some people might call a slight paper problem.......I have loved paper since I was a little girl and I have way too much of it but that does not stop me from collecting more.)

The background on this card is made from one piece of two sided paper.  The paper was cut to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" to fit the card.  I then trimmed off two pieces 3/4" wide and flipped them over.  I then faux stitched them. 

Technique of the Week: Banners

Banners are big right now.  This card was made using the Banner Blast stamp set and Banner punch.  Both items can be found in the Sale-A-Bration flyer.  They are available until 3/31 as a free gift with a $50 purchase.  One of the things that I love about this card is that is not as color coordinated as most of my other projects.

Technique of the Week: Scallop Card Closure

This 3" x 3" card was made using the scalloped tag topper punch. 

1.  Cut paper to 3" x 6 1/4"
2.  Place paper in the punch (as shown in the figure above).  Center the paper and punch.  Flip and punch the other side.
3.  Trim off the tabs of paper left from punching.
4.  Score one of the scalloped ends. 
5.  Score the paper at 3" from the first score line.
6.  Fold along the score lines.

This technique can be used to make cards of all sizes.  You can also use this technique with other punches (slipping the paper in when it is not the designed size for that punch).

Technique of the Week: Water Coloring

Water coloring - my favorite way to add color to any project.  Water coloring can be done with ink refills, ink pads, water color pencils and water color crayons.  No matter what medium I use to water color, I always use my aqua painters.  They come in a pack with two different sizes and very easily to fill with tap water.  I have had mine for around 8 years.

Technique of the Week: Wahsi Tape

I love using Washi tape on my projects, it is not just for cards!  It can be used on anything - scrapbook pages, gifts, journals, etc.  Wahsi tape tears easily and is easy to remove (in case you do not put it in the right place the first time - not that that would ever happen).  This card has Retro Fresh This and That Designer Washi Tape on the tag (multi colored stripes) and towards the bottom (the blue line with arrows).

Technique of the Week: Bling!

Bling is every where - so why not on our cards?  This card uses two forms of bling: paper and sequins.  The gold sequins on the card are from Stampin' Up's gold sequin trim.  The silver glimmer paper is also from Stampin' Up.  Just a little bit of bling adds a lot to a project.

Technique of the Week: Faux Stitching

The stitching on the right side of this card is referred to as faux stitching.  The holes where made using the following tools: pierce mat, pierce template and piercing tool.  After the holes were made, I used a white pen to connect them.

Technique of the Week: Color Coach

I am really enjoying doing my weekly blog posting.  It is forcing me to make sure that I take the time to do something I love - crafting.  I am trying out some things I have not before craft-wise and learning about blogging.

The inspiration for this card came from my up-line.  She issued a color challenge on her facebook page.  I love it when she does these because it is almost always colors I would not put together (and makes me use some of the colors that I would normally use).  This card uses: cherry cobbler, pool party, island indigo (three of my favorites) and blushing bride (not one of my favorites).  Look here if you are in need of some color coaching of your own.

Technique of the Week: Doilies

Doilies are everywhere.  I have fond memories of using them in craft projects when I was little.  These two cards showcase two different doilies being used in two different ways.  The yellow card on the left is using a doily made on the Big Shot for the background.  The blue card features a doily as the focal element.  You can purchase doilies for use in your craft projects, stamps of doilies, digital images for use with digital projects and doily tape!  Go make some Valentines!

Technique of the week: Trimming

 

This is a 3" x 3" card that uses the Love You to the Moon set.  I wanted to make the musical note the focus of the card, so I trimmed around the image.  I used to detest trimming until I used the right tool (just like the saying goes - you need the right tool for the job).  My favorite scissors for this job is the paper snips.

The background paper is Modern Medley and the sparkly is Red Glimmer paper.

Technique of the Week: "Three is a magic number"

One of my favorite Schoolhouse Rock videos is "Three is a Magic Number".  Groups of three can be found everywhere and have been for centuries from Aristotle's ethos, pathos and logos to triangles in structural design, from religion to decorating.

This card is one of my favorite ways to make cards - three simple elements (with effective use of white space).  These cards come together quickly: one stamp, one paper shape and one ribbon.  I did add the glitter to the moon because who can resist glitter?   The set featured here is the Love you to the Moon set (http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=133140) it is available in wood and cling mount.

Technique of the week: Fringe

 I think adding one element that gives a project depth really enhances the project.  If we are making cards that will be mailed we have to take into consideration the depth of the card.  Adding this fringe gives another dimension to the card but does not cause a problem in the mail.

This fringe was make using the Stampin' Up paper snips.  They are the best scissors I have ever used for paper crafting.  I did not ever cut out around images until I purchased these scissors.  The fringe could also be made using the fringe scissors.

Technique of the week: Background stamps

Many times when I am working on a new project, I focus on the foreground and forget about the background.  Stamping an image on the background can really add to the project.  This 3"x3" card uses one of my favorite background stamps - dictionary.