TAC Savvy Projects for People on the Go

Christmas Table Scape for the Kids ... Gumball Favors & Blog Candy Winners!

 

Okay ~ I won't lie ~ I think this idea is FABULOUS!  REALLY!  I LOVE IT!  How cute is this favor!  And the only thing I had to do was add the tag to this one!  {smiles}

BELOW:  I bought this 'Gumball a Day' treat from my friend  Danelle Johnson... who happens to be selling these at our craft shows!  I asked her if I could buy it, show my idea with it on my blog and THEN use it for my tablescape idea because I knew it would be PERFECT!  And it is!  Don't you just LOVE it!  Danelle is selling these little babies for $3 each and they are every kids' dream come true!  {What a fabulous stocking stuffer, table favor or a way to BLESS a special little child!}

So I just added the tag and knew it would be a sensational addition to my  Christmas Tablescape for the Kids! 

 

 

If you hadn't heard ... I so LOVE this idea!  And then during our blog hop and chat last night I got another idea from Chelsea Comer that is just as clever!  Check out  Chelsea's Gumball Holder that is also so cute and so clever!  Now I can't decide which to make for the kiddo's ... no worries though ... either one is a winner!

And speaking of winners ... you're probably wondering who won my Blog Candy from our Deck the Halls Blog Hop!  Can I have a drum-roll please ..... Congratulations to hopper #45 ... our very own TAC Angel Sara Woodard!  That leaves us with Blog Candy for one of our guest hoppers now!  Congratulations ... Eva Costigan!  I smiled when I saw that it was Eva's number because Eva and I worked together at TAC several years ago!  If you follow her blog ... WOW ... you know that girlfriend can color!  I wonder if I should deliver her blog candy or make her pick it up???!  {just kidding} 

It was an AWESOME Blog Hop and I went away with so many ideas and techniques ... now I'm ready to start playing!  Thanks everyone for participating and don't forget to tune in for our next official hop:

 
For our next hop we wanted to focus on a technique so we are making the BRAYER the star of this show!  Friday December 10th and Saturday December 11th is all about BRAYERS! Show us what you do with your BRAYER and feel welcome to include tutorials in your blog posts as needed!

It's easy to play along ... here's how: 

Show us what you can do with your BRAYER and your TAC stamps and products! 

This blog hop is scheduled for Friday December 10th and Saturday December 11th.  On Friday you may begin adding your link(s).  You may add your link until midnight EST Saturday December 11th.

During the blog hop join us over on our TAC Paper Crafting Community for a LIVE chat!  That time will be released closer to the date.

The RULES are simple!  You MUST post a card/project that focuses on a BRAYER Technique!  Please use stamp sets from The Angel Company only.

Self Promoting and/or using this Blog Hop to advertise your products is not acceptable.  Please ... just share your project that has been made with your TAC stamps!!

Two random hoppers(1 Angel and 1 Customer) will receive Blog Candy from Mischelle!

If you don't have a blog you can still play!  You can create a Blog Post on our TAC Paper Crafting Community Blog List.  After adding your post link it to our official blog hop!  It's that easy!

Christmas Table Scape ... for the Kids!

 

For our Deck the Halls Blog Hop I thought I'd work on a concept for my Christmas Table Scape for our kids' table.  So ... I played with some ideas and did a 'mock-up' of my Table Scape so I can work on perfecting it in time for my favorite holiday!

The INSPIRATION piece was this tall jewel tone tree.  (Would you believe I got 2 of these ... years ago ... at Target for just over $10 each!).  This color palette is probably my signature palette for how I decorate the kids area.  I LOVE these rich, luscious, happy, energetic colors!  YUM! 

BELOW:  I always like to have a small gift at each person's place setting.  I thought this simple idea would easily add color and I could use various shades of tissue paper and ribbon to keep the energy bouncing around!

OH!  You noticed my MONKEYS!  LOL!  I LOVE this Sock Monkey set and ... I LOVE MONKEYS!  {I hear some of our Angels laughing ... it's okay ... I'm laughing with you!}  Any whoo ... I wanted to keep the atmosphere light and playful so I decided to use this set for my Christmas Table Scape ... and I LOVE it!  {smiles}

 

I had several ideas for place cards, however, I have lots of these little 2.25" x 3.25" clear frames so thought they would be clean and easy.  I also decided to use my shipping supply stash to make wine glass markers.  Okay ... the kids don't drink wine, however, they do get to drink out of 'fancy' glasses on the holidays and special occasions! 

 

 
 

I also had to work on ideas for each place setting.  You might be wondering about the zebra stripe plates but what other kind of plate would you put with a sock monkey?  LOL!

 

I punched the image below with my green circle Clever Lever Punch, adhered it to a button and then a ring back ... so this little decoration is also a treat!  My nieces will LOVE these rings!

 

Another table scape I tried was using cards as the name plates.  I LOVE the idea of writing a blessing to each child on Christmas and the card would then serve double duty!  Name plate and blessing!

 

Instead of making all of my tags wine glass markers ... I thought some would make darling necklaces as well!  Again ... the girls will LOVE this!  Notice on the image below I dusted the edges of the circle with blue ink ... I kinda' like it!

 

Sophie's blessing card ... I took white crepe paper and sponged pear tart ink on half of it all the way down a strip.  Then I adhered it to her card.  I just wanted to try something different and see what other textures I could introduce!  And inexpensively!

 
 

Here is another 'ring'.  this one has Stickles around the circumference of it.

 
 

Working on a 'boy' scape.  I think a Tic, Tac, Toe game would be a GREAT addition here ... {I'll start working on that!}

 

Kevin's blessing card ...

 

Kevin's name plate ...

 
 
 
 

I LOVE the addition of the die cut snowflake and Stickles!  I could NOT find a snowflake punch anywhere so went to my Spellbinders drawer and found this dinosaur of a die!  I have no idea how old it is but I know I got it years ago ... before I even had the die cutting machine!  FINALLY!  This was my first time using it!  (And I like it!)

 

I colored all of my images with my Copics.  You could easily use prismacolor pencils, watercolor pencils, etc. 

 

The Glossy Accents, Stickles, White Gel Pen, Pop Dots and Snowflake Die ~ these were the stars of the show!  They polished everything up for me and made this table scape FUN!

I hope this inspires you to have FUN this holiday season and do something unexpected!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

 

Wicked Good Blog Hop!

 

Welcome to our Wicked Good Blog Hop!  Today Angels and customers can link their Wicked Good TAC Creations to this Blog from 9am EST to 11pm EST.  After the Blog Hop join us LIVE on our TAC Paper Crafting Community where we will be chatting in the forum!  I will join the chat at 10pm CST and am so excited to visit with you there ... LIVE!

If you don't have a blog ~ no worries!  You can upload your card to our TAC Paper Crafting Community.  TAC Paper Crafting Community  We ask that you type this message in the tag line 'wicked good blog hop' and please use quotes around the copy.  We'll compile all of the images and put them in the Wicked Good Blog Hop Album.  You can even upload your TAC creations that you shared on your blog during the Blog Hop if you like!

Below is my own Wicked Good card and following my card you will find the Linky Tool that you use to add your blog to the hop!

We're so glad you're here and hope you have a spooki-licous good time as you peruse around! 

Now on to my card ... the first on this official hop ...

I first fell in love with my card when I found it on Asela Hopkins blog ... seriously!  {smiles}  From the moment I saw it my mind went crazy ... I SOOOOO wanted to try the color palette, the shading, the grounding, the chicken scratch on the background ... be still my heart!

Here is Asela's fabulous card Asela's Card and here is mine:

 

I added a couple more purple tones to my palette and also chose to emboss on my black cardstock background ... I added some stitching and highlighted with a white gel pen.  I love how Asela put her card on the cardstock so that her hand-drawn horizon line was straight and the card was crooked ... but ... I so am not good when it comes to placing images on crooked ... it's like pulling my teeth.  Lucky for me ... my horizon line was already the way I like it!  I added some black satin ribbon and a little bling.  It totally could have done without the bling but I JUST NEEDED to put it there!  {smiles}

 

 

You may kind of recognize the image I used.  He belongs in a Christmas set and this is what he looked like before I began omitting parts of him:  (I apologize for the dots ... I didn't realize my camera lense was so dirty until I saw these!)

 
I masked out his brows, nose, mouth and stocking.  And checked out this spider web from our new Cup of Love set to check for size ... LOVED it!

 

Then I added the spider to his hand ...

 

And then I was clueless.  I couldn't figure out if I should add black before or after.  (on his face)  I couldn't add it before because I didn't have a black that wouldn't bleed with my Copics ... and then I remembered ... they gave us one at the Copic Certification Class!  YES!  I used a Copic Black Multiliner 0.3 and drew in the eyes and scars trying to mimic what Asela's image looked like ... I LOVED it!

 

I was SOOOO inspired by Asela's card and hope she doesn't mind that I totally CASE'd her entire look!  Truly she was my inspiration and I had a ball recreating her masterpiece with my stamps!  {smiles} 

~ Mischelle

Supplies Used:  Copic Markers 0, C1, C2, C3, C5, C7, C8, BS23, BV29, BV31, YG11, YG63, BG93, RV42; Copic Multiliner Black, Caboodles, Black and DCWV Cardstock, Black Ribbon, Clear Gem, Pop Dots, VersaMark & Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, Transcendence Powder, White Gel Pen, T3186 Holiday Boys, T3411 Cup of Love, T2940 Decorative Corners

We can't wait to see what you've created!  Add your link here:

 

Be A Blessing ~ Bad to the Bone

This is an image from one of our newest sets called Bad to the Bone ~ cute huh!  {smiles}

I wanted to do something little just to bless my boy so this is what I came up with.  Now WHY is this a blessing you ask?  Well, first of all, I DON'T buy him Monster drinks ... and he LOVES them!  He also likes to collect all of their different cans ... go figure.  So just the fact that I would spend $2.95 to buy him this drink is a blessing right there.  Then I wanted to bless him by just telling him that I am glad 'he is'!  Isn't it nice to know that you are loved just because you are you!

So this is what I did.  I just made a simple tag to put with the Monster drink.  Not much to me but meaningful to my Boy. 

When I made this tag I have to admit that I was so irritated with this kid ... UGH!  Flashback to the 1970's.  Visions of my mom sprinting around the yard chasing my older brother with a yellow-orange plastic race track began running through my head.  Had she ever caught him she surely would have hit him with that flimsly plastic thing.  Well, that's how irritated I was with Boy!  I know ... we've all been there!

So ... I decided that I (that's right ... I) needed an attitude adjustment.  I needed to extend some kindness to this kid of mine and let him know that having him in our lives is such a blessing to us!  I did have to remind myself that just because I'm not loving his immediate actions doesn't mean I don't love him.  So this is what I did:

And then I put it in the fridge ... where I knew he'd find it.  That's why it's in plastic ... I didn't want anything contaminating it.  And the plastic actually stuck right to the Monster can.  It was like I planned it!  {smiles}

Since doing this I have seen my Boy trying to make an effort to be kinder and gentler with us at home.  He is a teenager so it's not a fool proof plan, however, it encouraged his soul and I can see that since then he's been a bit brighter around us.  That does my heart good for sure!

Fast forward 2-3 weeks.  Sometimes I wonder if all these 'little' things I do make any difference.  Does anyone notice the little quotes I set out?  The signs that speak encouraging words?  The array of positive reinforcement on the bookshelf?  The answer is YES!  This morning my Boy sent me a text asking about the Great Minds quote I have in the family room.  He needed it because Casyn wanted to use it in her homecoming speech.  WOW!  Out of left field that came.

I tell you that because I want to encourage you!  Moms get very little, if any, thanks.  I want you to know that what you do matters!  Use your creative talents and gifts to speak into the lives of your children, your family, your friends and even those you don't know!  Whether you realize it or not YOU and what YOU do makes a difference!  YOU matter!  Use this incredible power to be a blessing and encouragment to others ... it will make your soul ever so happy!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle
 
 
 
 

Be A Blessing ~ What a Treat Backpack

I LOVE this darling little backpack that we received from Trudy Osborn for our What a Treat Contest Category!  I think it's perfect for little treats and a great example of how we can Be A Blessing! 

Just imagine being the recipient of this precious little gift!   Slip a little note of encouragement and blessing in the pocket and it becomes even more of a treasure!

In the tiny front pocket Trudy reserved this space for pencil supplies.  I LOVE this idea and think this would also be a great location for a note-card from mom.

Trudy used our light purple twill for the straps and hanger ~ it looks white here but is actually a perfect match to the gorgeous lavender in the Miss Moxie paper.

Inside was a tube of candy, chocolate kisses and this precious little notepad!

Darling isn't it! 

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Trudy's Supply List:

• V237 Scarlet CS
• V841 Miss Moxie SWIC
• T3301 Mice Day
• T2610 Running Stitches
• Bind-it-All
• Wire
• F13 Watercolor Pencils
• F04 Blender
• White paper and Tag Board
• B319 Miss Moxie CS
• F358 Scor-Pal
• Red Line Tape
• Buttons
• Scrappers Floss
• Pop Dots
• Crop-a-dile   

Hello Day in 3 Skin Tones!

If you don't have this stamp set yet ... I HIGHLY suggest it!  Oh my goodness I LOVE coloring this little gal!  This image is from a stamp set called Hello Day T-3330 and it is FUN!

I continued my skin tones challenge with this little girl image ... and I adore her!  {If you hadn't caught that by now!  LOL!}

ABOVE:  My favorite of the three!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our Maggie printed paper (peony color)!  I also LOVE the pattern I made on my white cardstock using my Scor-Bug and Scor-Pal!

BELOW:  I used corals for this ~ a palette that isn't on my radar.  A little more difficult and I certainly need more practice with this palette!  My favorite part of this card was embossing the coral cardstock and then running VersaMark ink on top!  Isn't that a GORGEOUS effect!

BELOW:  Sophie told me this card was NOT one of my best and she didn't like the colors I used for the clothes.  BUMMER!  And she's like the target market for this card!  {smiles}.  Oh well ~ I went ahead and finished it anyway.  LOL! 

I added Glossy Accents and then sprinkled Prisma Glitter on top ... thinking that would make Sophie LOVE it!  I can't wait to see what she thinks of it now ... well ... maybe I can.  Don't you LOVE her little glitter shoes!  So cute!

I don't have the colors listed for these, however, I promise to start writing them down so I can SHARE!  I hope you enjoy these ideas anyway!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle
 

Outdoor Adventures Card

I received a request to 'do something' with this stamp set ~ so here is a card I made last night.  This was my first attempt coloring this little guy but it won't be my last!  I have a few more things I'd like to try ... however ... I guess that's another card.

He is colored with Copic Markers and then I used Glossy Accents to add some dimension.

Hope you enjoy!

Mischelle
  

Coloring an image different Skin Tones

BELOW is a card from page 28 of our current Inspiration Book.  Sorry for the appearance ... I took a photo of the page so you could see this image colored Caucasian. 

If you saw my last post you know that Betty (TAC Customer Service) asked me about coloring the same image different skin tones.  Coloring a Caucasian-ish image African American  Here are three cards I did this past weekend each with a different skin tone.  I used my Copic Markers on all, with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.  I also used VersaMark ink on the cards.

ABOVE:  I LOVE the card featured above!  If I have any tips ... it would be that when you use darker colors it takes less layers!  Caucasian skin tones I layer color on top of color on top of color.  The darker the color ~ the less layers you'll do.  You also have to be more conscious of where you put the color.  The darker the color ~ the less forgiving it is when you make a boo boo!  This is a harder skin tone palette to work with but once you master it ~ you'll LOVE it also!

I used 3 colors on the little guys hair (above).  I colored his hair using small circles because I was trying to imply depth and softness.

LOVE the card below!  This is one of my favorite skin tones to work with!  I have a niece and 2 nephews who are 1/2 Tai and 1/2 Caucasian so I often draw on them for inspiration.  And they each have their own skin tone colors ~ just like my brothers and sisters and I do.  I am the neon white girl in the family.  UGH!  {smiles} 

BELOW:  This was my biggest challenge.  I'm not sold on this combination of colors I used.  I was trying to match my nephews skin tones and I just don't have them down yet.  I'll keep practicing though!  And my nephew has straight black hair so that was a bit easier to capture!  I still need to work on adding highlights to my darker hair ... that's another post!

I hope this gives you more ideas for working with your stamps!  Wait until you see my next post ~ it's girls done in different skin tones!  I think you'll LOVE it!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle
   

Be A Blessing ~ Joy Card & Pencils for Sophie

Welcome to a new category on my blog ~ Be A Blessing!  Those of you familiar with The Angel Company know that we place great value in the scripture 'we have been blessed so that we may be a blessing.'  It's a really BIG deal to us!  And because it is such a big deal to us ~ we thought it would be a great idea to show you some of the things we're doing to bless others.  At least this was important to me because I don't naturally think of this stuff!  I've learned so much from the ladies that I work with and my dear friends.  They have taught me (and continue to teach me) how to be a blessing and I am so grateful!

Each month we would like to begin sharing with you little ideas that you can use to make a BIG difference in the lives of your friends, family, loved ones and children!  And this month I'm starting off with a simple little project that I did for my daughter.

When we were back-to-school shopping Sophie saw this little pencil and pencil sharpener set at our local office supply store.  She wanted it and I said 'no' because I thought it was to expensive for what it contained.  (OK ~ it was $3 retail ~ but she has to learn!).  Well, I was in the office supply store today and there it was on clearance for $1.50!  YES!  I picked it up and knew that I was going to use it to bless Sophie!  And seriously ... how COOL is this box!

The only thing I needed to do was make a card for my girl.  Now ~ I know this is an unconventional looking kitty, however, I colored it with my daughter in mind!  This is all about blessing her!  I used one of our newest stamp sets T3419 Ever Grateful ~ oh how I LOVE it!

I colored 2 white flowers with one of the Copic markers that I used on the kitty.  And I added bling because she LOVES those bling flowers!

And then I just added a simple sentiment inside.  One of the great things about blessing kids is that 'short and sweet' is the best way to go!  And it doesn't have to be mushy to be meaningful!

Finally, I added some ribbon around the box and slipped the card under.  Then I placed it on her pillow.  Who doesn't love pillow presents?!  Right!

I find that the people that are the closest to me are typically the ones that I neglect to bless the most.  So one of my newest goals is to begin blessing others with my creative talents ~ like cardmaking!  I CAN do that!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Personalized Christmas Doll & Packaging by Guest Designer Candi Dierenfield

 
INCREDIBLE Candi has done it again!  I SO love this gift and so did my daughter ... who for some reason still thinks this is for her!  {smiles}.

Candi so captures our simple, smart, sophisticated philosophy with this gift and packaging!  How brilliant to take a purchased doll and then add your own embellishments to make this gift so fabulously personal! 

Who knew shrink plastic could be so sophisticated!

And what a great way to utilize red line tape and glitter!  So smart!

How chic this package looks simply stamped with burnt umber ink!

And if that isn't FUN and FESTIVE enough ... wait until you open this box!

How charming to find this string of gingerbread men!  This is truly the gift that keeps on giving!  What little girl wouldn't LOVE to decorate with these little guys!

And then the BIG WOW continues!  Do you see all of the shrink plastic embellishments?!

The Christmas Tree Brooch.

The personalized waistband.

Gingerbread House hair bows.

And the little black patent shoes have also been so lovingly embellished!

 
Thank you Candi!  You really showed us how to take a gift from 'just a gift' ~ to an heirloom that will be treasured for many years to come!

  

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Christmas Paper Crafts: Sassy & Sentimental Stocking Part 2 of 2

Today the sassy side of this stocking shines through!  More Mimi, beads and foo foo ... everything a girl loves!

 
 
 It doesn't matter if you make this darling little stocking for your grown up girlfriends or a little girls tea party ... it's guaranteed to delight!

And it all began ... with our very traditional Reece Stocking!  Shall we get started!

I had to show you this shot of the back of the Reece stocking.  Notice the brush marks in my Gloss Gel ~ not only is this fun to touch but it leaves a FABULOUS first impression!

The first thing I did was google 'stocking'.  I printed off one I liked and cut it out bigger than the image itself.  This stocking said to enlarge 200% ... needless to say ... I used it right off the printer!

 I picked out my papers and put them in the order I wanted them.  I used a clip to hold my stocking at the top and each of my papers in place. 

Here is a view of the back:

And then I very slowly began stitching.  Slow ... because I had to!  {smiles}.

I roughly followed the stocking pattern around.
 

The clip at the top helps you to remember to NOT stitch the top closed!

Here's what it's looking like on back:

Then I took my pinking shears and trimmed it out.  Isn't it darling!

Then I pulled out my secret weapon.  I have to tell you ... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this stuff! 

Apply a coat to the front of your stocking and let it dry.  You can kind of see below that the Gloss Gel makes the paper curl while it's wet.  Don't worry.  It'll be okay.  After the front drys apply a coat of Gloss Gel to the back.  Notice that you can make patterns in the finish with your sponge brush.  You can do zig zags, swirls, straight lines, swoops ... anything your heart desires!

Next I cut a piece of bead fringe the size of the top of the stocking.

I added some red-line tape to the back of it as well as a bead of adhesive along the top of the stocking itself.  Probably not necessary ... I just like glues and adhesives.

Attach the bead trim and let dry.

I attached some ribbon over the twill of the bead trim.   

Here's the back:

 

I could have stopped at this point and added a cute bow with a brooch or something festive ... but ... I just couldn't stop here!  I found this darling fluff at my craft store for half price so I had to get a couple.

Now isn't this FUN!  I don't care if she's a foo foo girl or not ~ she'll LOVE this sassy little stocking! 

 

 Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

 
 

Christmas Paper Crafts ... Sassy & Sentimental Stocking Part 1 of 2

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a swap hosted by my friend Rita on our TAC Paper Crafting Community.  TAC PCC

The theme of the swap was Gift Card Holder ~ any size, any shape.  I was game!  This is one of the projects I sent to Rita.  I thought it would make a darling Gift Card Holder and ... it's actually something I would make and give!

Best of all ~ this isn't just great for a Gift Card  ... it's a great silver ware holder for festive holiday place settings!

Instead of stamping a greeting ~ how about stamping the name of your special guest and using this as a place setting name plate.  You could put a couple of candy canes or mints in the stocking with a little bit of kraft shred.  How fun would that be!

 

And of course ... I think these would make fabulous ornaments for any special tree!  Be sure to include the name of each loved one on the stocking ~ nothing will make them feel more loved!

In my next post I'll share with you the simple steps to creating this project yourself!  And ... give you a peak at my super savvy and sassy girls stocking!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Christmas Count Down by Guest Designer Kim Sears

If you're looking for a Christmas Count Down here is a great idea from Guest Designer Kim Sears!

You just flip the days over as you count down!

 
Notice all of the little touches that really polish this project!

The aging around the numbers and papers, the crinkled song sheet, the button and scrappers floss, the ribbon and glitter ... so much to adore!

 
 
Thanks for a fabulous project Kim!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Halloween ~ Candy Corn Dessert by Julie Griffith

Now how FABULOUS is this!  Julie has some really great ideas for entertaining on her blog.  Take a moment and drop in!  Julie's Blog

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle 

Halloween ~ Treat Holder by Heather Scott

Here is a darling project designed by Heather Scott.  This would be a great project for any holiday or occasion!  You can download the template on Heather's Blog also!  Heather's Template

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Halloween ~ Simply Spooky Place Card

I believe this is the last Halloween project I'll be sharing with you, of MINE, on this blog, this season!  I hear you clapping!  {smiles} 

Like most of you ... I don't have time to re-create the wheel every time I need to do a project.  And actually ... I like my projects to coordinate so repeating elements ties everything together so nicely!  So I won't spend any time telling you everything I've done ... because you've already heard me talk about these same techniques all month.

This is a name plate for a place setting at the Halloween table.  It's fun and super easy!

I used these tiny little plastic frames you can pick up for .50 cents at the dollar store and discount stores.

If you look at the close up below you'll see that I added a piece of magnet to the front of my frame.  The magnet is about 2 x 2.  I buy my magnet in sheets and then cut it down to the size I need.

And ... on the back of each place card I also attached a magnet.  You guessed it!  That's because I can now design place cards for Thanksgiving and Christmas and other special celebrations!  The only thing I have to do is switch the top cards!

For this project I wanted each image to be different, however, I started to struggle mentally because I was designing more girl place cards than boy.  So I had to look at my images differently.

For Jax place card I thought about her favorite color ... Lime Green.  So I chose to outline the mummy in Lime Green and then with my Clear Glitter Gel Pen I colored inside all of the lines.  It's hard to see here ... but it really sassied this up! 

Next I had challenged myself to use an 'old' product.  So I pulled out the sequin flower and brad and really made this a girl mummy!  Isn't she darling!  Just a little detail ... but oh so FABULOUS!

I had one more girl card to make and I was still struggling.  I have to say though ... I LOVE how this ghost turned out!  And, I also incorporated another flower and brad.  If you scroll back up to the top photo you'll see that I also added a flower to the witch's trick-or-treat bag! 

 
Here's how I made my polka dot ghost.

I only have 1 Purple Copic Marker so that's what I used!

I colored this image in once with Purple.  Then I added some deeper shades using the same Purple.  Be careful and only add shading the 2nd and 3rd times.

 
And then I went over it once more with Purple for an even deeper shade ~ shading that is.  (3X total).

Next I pulled out my Copic Colorless Blender and began to make polka dots on top of the Purple.

 
I continued to go over the polka dots until they were as light as I wanted them!  Now how EASY is that!

Notice where I've inserted the black arrow onto the design below.  Where the green has bled out of the image I had used my Colorless Blender. 

 

I decided to do some swirls on this ghost and you can see where I got the Colorless Blender close to the edge and it bled out.  Not a big deal, however, something to watch out for if this really bugs you!

I hope this gave you more GREAT ideas for the VERY fast approaching holidays!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle
  
 

Halloween ~ Tricks & Treats by Guest Designer . . . . . . Kim Sears!

Now how FABULOUS and DARLING are these little treats!  If you're looking for an idea for a school treat ... this might be the one for you!

Candy corn and pixie sticks!  YUM!

Another GREAT idea for a 'treat'!  I LOVE this idea of creating coloring pages for little trick-or-treaters!  And sooner or later ... they might get tired of all that candy and want something FUN to do!

The coloring pages are just one TREAT here though!  Check out the FABULOUS container that Kim designed from the bottom of a CD Box!  Our staff went NUTS when we saw it!  And that pom pom trim is to die for!

This is the project that stole my heart ... and might now make it back to Kim.  Ok.  It'll make it back!  {smiles}.  I LOVE this!

Would you believe that this DARLING creation is from the TOP of that CD Box we talked about a moment ago!  Re-purposed and GORGEOUS!

 

I really like how Kim finished the hanger edges with the ribbon and button.  SO POLISHED!  And don't forget to examine each of the letters in the sign!  Some GREAT ideas!

And what would be a party ... without an invitation! 

Kim was kind enough to send us the template for this party invite so we have it available in our Downloads.  You can find it here Tombstone Invite 

FABULOUS projects Kim!  Thank you so much for sharing and for being a GUEST DESIGNER!

 
   
Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Treat Box ~ cd box bottom, wire coat hanger, miss moxie swic, black cs, antique copper hardware, halloween fabric, brown scrappers floss, green mini pom pom trim, miss moxie ribbon, white button, zip dry glue, crop-a-dile, craft knife, pliers

Halloween Coloring Handouts ~ kraft cs, black cs, white ultra smooth cs, noir palette ink, spookalicious, spooky girls, spooky boys, spooktacular, tombow markers, plastic bags, stapler, crayola crayons, glue dots

Headstone Party Invitation ~ amberley grace cs, playful bet alphabet, pewter hardware, halloween fabric, computer generated inside, noir palette ink, purple hydrangea versamagic ink

Trick or Treat Wall Hanging ~ cd box lid, abc frameworks, miss moxie swic, penelope cs, black cs, whitel ultrasmooth cs, black and white ribbon, miss moxie ribbon, black & green scrappers floss, spooktacular, playful bet alphabet, pewter hardware, antique copper hardware, elizabeth buttons and blossoms, orange paper clip, purple and green rhinestones, wiggle eyes, noir palette ink, purple hydrangea versamagic ink, glue dots, zip dry

Party Favors ~ spooktacular, white ultrasmooth cs, penelope cs, miss moxie cs, purples cs, pixie sticks, candy corn, black and white ribbon, black scrappers floss, white ultrasmooth cs, memento tuxedo black ink, copic markers, small glassine bags, circle punches (extra jumbo, super jumbo, mega), non-toxic adhesive

Halloween ~ Yummy Mummy Mix!

Need a quick and EASY party favor for Halloween?!  Here's an idea that you can complete in a matter of minutes! 

I found this glass on clearance at one of our local stores for .25 cents!  Seriously!  I couldn't pass it up so I purchased 6.  I thought it would make an ideal holder for my Mummy Mix concoction.

Next I took a piece of black cardstock ... a scrap I had laying around and crumpled it all up.  Then I wrapped it around the glass and adhered it.

I stamped my mummy and prepared to color him in!

I pulled out my Tombow Markers and found a color that matched the glasses I had purchased!  #373!  I scribbled some of the ink onto an acrylic block ...

And then used my Tombow Blending Pen #N00 to pick up the ink and color my image.

Pretty easy!

Then I grabbed two Orange Copic Markers YR04 and YR07 and my White Prismacolor Pencil.  First I colored in the bag with YR04.  The lightest orange.

Then I outlined with YR07.

Next I used my lighter orange YR04 to color over and soften the line that I made with YR07.

DISCLAIMER:  I am NOT Copic Certified ... this is just how I do it! 

And then I go in and add highlights with my White Prismacolor Pencil.

I used my circle punch to punch out the mummy.  Then I stippled black ink around the white circle.  Next I took a piece of black cardstock, embossed it with my Fancy Flourishes and punched out a piece with my scallop oval.  I used pop dots to attach the circle to the scallop and the scallop to the black band.

Then I stamped the Mummy Mix stamp onto white cardstock.  Trimmed it down and stippled around it with black ink.  Notice that I took a paper crimper and crimped the end closest to the mummy.  Just for a little more interest.  I added a pewter eyelet, black ribbon and attached to the black strip with a pop dot.

Isn't this fun!  Each of my mummies came in a different color so I'll color each trick or treat bag the color of the mummy that I put in the glass.  And there are so many fun things I can put in the cup itself!  I can really pick out pieces for each recipient or make an all occasion glass for everyone!

I used black tulle to wrap my treats in and to give this project an over all spec-tac-uclar look!  I hope you enjoy!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Halloween ~ BEWARE! Try this dessert ONLY if you DARE!

Your kids are going to think you are POP ROCKIN' when you surprise them with this special dessert!  The best thing about it ... it's FAST, FUN and EASY!

To get started you need some kind of empty vial  {I used some plastic tube vials that I found online} and some POP ROCKS!

I emptied one packet of POP ROCKS into one vial.

Pretty soon ... all of my vials looked like this.  Pretty ... YES!  Spooky ... NO!

So I grabbed my stipple brush and black StazOn Ink and stippled around the vials.

And then the hard part ... I didn't touch them before they dried!  I let them set for 24 hours!  I'm sure they were dry long before that ... but I didn't dare ruin them!

I set my vials aside and prepared my label.  I embossed the saying onto the Miss Moxie paper.  I used my Noir Palette Ink and Transcendence Embossing Powder.  And then I stippled around the edges of each piece with my Noir Ink.

Next I layered each piece onto a piece of black cardstock.

After I made the label I decided it need a punch of something else.  I punched out a bat on plain black cardstock ... but ... it had NO pizzazz!

Then I took a scrap of black cardstock and used my favorite flourish stamp to emboss it.  I embossed with my VersaMark Pad and Transcendence Powder. 

I just stamped this piece ... I wasn't worried about creating a design.

Then I embossed.

Next I took a bat punch and punched out a bat.  I know so many people have die cuts and cutting machines ... you could use anything for this step.  Since I don't have a die cutting computer machine ... I used a punch that I found in my cabinet.

Then I curled each wing around a pen ... to make it look 3-D.

And I attached it to the label.  Doesn't this bat look GORGEOUS with that flourish embossed on it!  It's a little detail that adds LOADS of sophistication!

Then I used a removable tape and adhered the label to my vials.  I used removable tape simply because I do plan on re-using these vials!

Here is a vial that I didn't put a black cardstock backing on the label.  It works ... but I really like the black!

I made some brownies and I serve 1 brownie with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream.

And then I let the kids pour the contents of the vial onto the dessert.  I like to make them guess what it is!  And it only takes one bite to figure it out!

I have to tell you ... POP ROCKS and ice cream ... mmmm, mmmm, good!  I LOVE this dessert!  I promise ... kids young and old will LOVE this too!

Here's to creating FUN and HAPPY memories with our families!  I hope you enjoy this idea as much as I've enjoyed sharing it with my family!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

My Supply List for this Project:

• T3216  Bone Appetit
• T3217  More Bone Appetit
• T2795  Trick or Treaters
• T2804  Fancy Curls
• V841  Miss Moxie SWIC
• F306  Cloud Scissors
• D89  Pop Dots
• Adhesive
• D701  Giga Scalloped Circle Punch
• D74  Mega Circle Punch
• C151  Transcendence Embossing Powder
• TT220  Noir Palette Ink
• Heat Tool
• F464  Stardust Clear Gelly Pen
• Copic Markers
• Prismacolor Pencils
• Black Sharpie Marker
• Stipple Brush
• V215  Black Cardstock
• Magnet Sheets
• Metal Tin

Halloween ~ Death by Chocolate Treats by Julie Griffith!

This tutorial by Julie is one of my FAVORITE!

Sophie and I will be making these DARLING Mummy's for friends, co-workers and loved ones this month.  This is such an EASY and economical project!  You can also adjust the size of your mummy's to fit the size of your chocolates!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle