Happy Halloween!

 It's Halloween!! Around here, that doesn't mean much as they've rescheduled trick or treat to Friday due to the hurricane. We were quite lucky though, as hubby's hometown held their trick or treat on Sunday. The kids were glad to get the chance to snag some candy, and we were glad to get it out of the way! Now, all I have to do is hand out candy on Friday night. Woo hooooo!

As you can see, Andraia's costume is by far the most creative. She told me she wanted to be a zombie bride, and I luckily found this *real* wedding dress at Goodwill for $20. It was in the Halloween costume section, likely because of the stains and tears we found on it. Hubby slashed it up with his knife, sprayed the dress with some "blood" (red mist LOL), and added a touch of black spray paint. I crafted a quick bouquet which I spray painted black, wrapped it in black tulle and adhered said tulle with.........WASHI TAPE. Yup, washi tape. Amazing stuff, that tape is! One black veil and some fake wounds and BOOM. She's a zombie bride. I will say...that girl did not smile once, in true zombie form (probably because every time she moved her cheek, the fake flesh would fall off!)

The zombie bride

 Gothic Fairy

 Bumblebee (I did NOT instruct him to pose, this is just what he did. Love this kid!!)

 Anywho, Sandy came and went here in NH. It wasn't devastating for us, but it was quite the event. We lost a lilac in the back yard and numerous homes were without power, as well as some roads closed due to downed trees and power lines. We were spared major damage, and were lucky enough to have our power throughout the ordeal! So lucky, but my thoughts go out to those who are dealing with the mass destruction of their cities and towns who weren't so lucky.

During the storm, I sat down to create!! One of my creations will be revealed tomorrow, and that would be the XOXO challenge :) You're all going to love it, I hope to see you playing along!

I made this pretty little card with my Ultimate Crafter's Companion (which I will eternally be in love with.) A little pearlescent paper and the Ultimate Tool and you get this cute little accordion card. I used my Scraptastic Club Hall Pass kit for this one, as well as a Humphrey stamp which I embossed with Stampendous! embossing powder in sapphire. The front features the awesome Studio Calico Yearbook paper and some May Arts burlap string in RED which I LOVE.

 The sentiment is from the Mulberry Woods Everyday - Smile stamp set.

 More Yearbook and burlap string!

 Got the inside verse from the Popcorn the Bear Birthday CD Rom. It's a great place to turn when you want to say something so special you cannot find the words. This card is for my husband, so I wanted to assure he understands exactly how I feel :)

 More Hall Pass fun here, a page I made quite a while ago but never posted! Besides more Yearbook, check out the Studio Calico wood veneer speech bubbles, the OA Mini Market grey/cream stickers, BG mini mono stickers, and washis (stuck behind the "cool" speech bubble.) The Thickers came from another kit altogether. The yellow washi up top is also from a previous kit, Bella Blvd tape.

Alright, that's all for now. Back to the craft room later, I have a potty chart order to fill and some pics to get in these kids' albums...oh, and I guess I should pick them up from school, too, huh...

xoxo
Khristen

I Defeated the Canvas Mini Book!

First off, let me start by saying good morning! It's been some time since I've shared a project, but that's only because the weather has been a touch more than dismal here in NH. Rainy, dreary, and chilly...three of my least favorite things. But I was finally able to take pics of the adorable, teeny tiny Maya Road canvas mini album that initially scared the crap out of me. It takes mini to a whole new level! I mean, where do you even find pics small enough? So it screamed out to me, "Art book!" I love those. It's all about playing with new techniques. So, still petrified (when you are a paper scrapper and you are trying to accomplish making something without paper, that's how you feel), I got to work. The majority of this was made with Scraptastic Club kits that I am desperately trying to deplete to make room for another year of kits :)

*drum roll*

Here it is!

 The cover. I wasn't a fan of the ink turning green around the edges at first, until I put the green flower on the front. Goes perfectly, and not intentionally! Just sort of happened that way! Used this fun Balzer Designs mask and some Jenny Bowlin Brown Sugar ink for the background, MLS glitter alpha, MME twine, Frosted Lace Stickles, and Fancy Pants Summer's End chipboard flowers.

 Page 2: Studio Calico Thickers, Glitz Burlap Teeny Alpha (hard to read because of the glare..."inspiring"), MME washi, MME twine, Echo Park A Walk in the Park scrap, Studio Calico chipboard butterfly with a light coating of Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Spiced Marmalade. I love how the JB ink from the cover leaked through the back...looks like I did it on purpose!

 Page 3: LOVE this Studio Calico circle graph mask, especially on the canvas album!! Yellow Daisy Glimmer Mist, MME Funky Vintage Ruby flocked stickers, MME twine, Fancy Pants Delight acrylic stamp, Jenny Bowlin Fountain Pen ink, and Queen & Co. bling.

 Page 4: Seven Seas Chalkboard Glimmer Mist for the background, Jenny Bowlin Fountain Pen ink all over the edges and rubbed over the top of the pink Magic Mesh (what we now call Punchinella...what can I say, I am an old-school scrapper and have a bunch left over from the late 90's!), Lily Bee red alpha, MM mini shimmer alpha, Glitz black Teeny Alpha, Stuff2Scrap chipboard heart coated in gesso and spritzed with Dragonfruit Maya Mist. Hard to tell, but there is a bumpy sort of texture on that pretty heart.

 Page 5: Jenny Bowlin Stick Candy ink rubbed all over the background and then JB Brown Sugar ink to stamp the Amy Tangerine Project stamps all over. Authentique Petite Type alpha, and 7 Gypsies trim.

 Page 6: Jenny Bowlin receipt acrylic stamp inked with American Crafts Cranberry ink (my new favorite go-to ink...this stuff is so crisp and clear, always great images!), Amy Tangerine Is It Any Wonder chevron fabric paper, and Bo Bunny Alora Tiny Type alpha. Such a simple page, yet my favorite!

 Page 7: October Afternooon 9 to 5 Flyer, Fancy Pants Delight acrylic stamp, MM Rummage Magnetic Alpha stamps, and Jenny Bowlin Brown Sugar ink.

 Page 8: Coated the whole page in Oil Slick Glimmer Glaze (LOVE), Twinery Maraschino twine, Basic Grey Chiffon flower, OA Mini Market alpha in grey-cream, Rockabye Thickers, Ruby Red Liquid Pearls.

 Page 9: Fancy Pants Delight stamp, Jenny Bowlin Fountain Pen ink, MME washi, Imaginisce banner, American Crafts Pelican Remarks alpha.

 Page 10: Lullabye Thickers, Lily Bee Buttercup alpha, Bela Blvd washi.

 Page 11: edges brushed with Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain, Amy Tangerine Project acrylic stamps, Bella Blvd Sophisticates alpha, Prima flower. The blue at the bottom is from the back cover of the album, seeping through and looking awesome!

The back cover: Moonlight Glimmer Mist and black Smooch Spritz for the background, a random crocheted ribbon and heart die cut from my stash, Twinery twine, Stuff2Scrap chipboard bird coated with OA Sprinklers in Robot Blue, and Black Soot Distress Stickles for the bird's eye.

So that's it, what do you think? I really love how it came out, and with a zillion Maya Road minis donated by a good friend who had no clue what to do with them, watch for more in the near future. It was a great way to use up my stash (although it didn't even seem to make a dent!)

Now: floors. After: (hopefully) back to the craft area!

xoxo
Khristen

XOXO Challenge #34: Not-so-Halloweeny

Yes, I know Halloweeny isn't a real word. I have made it one, just for this challenge! At True XOXO this month, we want to see your HALLOWEEN pics on a layout...but you CAN'T use the traditional Halloween colors!

I was kind of stuck on this for quite some time. How can one avoid using the traditional colors? It felt so strange...until I sat down to make it. I had recently gotten the Scraptastic Club September Noted kit and add on, so I pulled it out and used the blues and pinks (*gasp*...for a boy's page?) to create this beauty, the story of Patryk and the hated lion costume. He could not STAND this thing. Spent every second trying to wiggle out of it! Misted the background with a Mister Huey in Passport.

 Strip of Studio Calico Heyday paper and a OA 9 to 5 Little Flyer at the top, MME Tangerine Happy Label, and Tangerine Happy dots.

 SC Thickers and AC Remarks Pelican Remarks alpha, random washi.

 Another OA Flyer, and an SC Take Note badge. Love these MME dots!

 A fun little Elle's Studio The Sweet Life cutout, accented with Dark Chocolate Liquid Pearls.

It was hard, but when it was done, I loved the layout! Now show us what you can do with Halloween pics and not-so-Halloweeny colors, and link up at this post here.  Can't wait to see what you create!

xoxo
Khristen

CCCB October Challenge: Fall Colors

Good morning! I am finding it tough to believe it is actually October! Where did this year go? It seems each year flies by faster than the last, and I don't like it one bit!!

A new month means a new challenge over at the Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog. This month,  we want to see your projects using a Crafter's Companion stamp paired with fall colors. It was my father's birthday in September, so I pulled out my Stamp It Australia - Flowing Happy Birthday stamp. I love the script font of this sentiment, so pretty! What to pair it with? Well, I pulled out my Fairyopolis Complete Cardmaking kit, something I've been working with for almost 2 years and it still has SO MUCH STUFF!! I came across the adorable decoupage fairy, the Autumn fairy Rosehip, and knew it was a perfect match with the Lilybee Harvest Market paper I chose. Pumpkin Spice Mister Huey made a great card base, paired with Old Paper Tim Holtz Distress ink around the edges of not only the base, but all the paper pieces as well.

 I love these decoupage pieces! I am going to have to get my hands on the Morehead Christmas Decoupage Set very soon for my Christmas cards, they really take a card from great to WOW in an instant! Of course, if you are doing the decoupage, it is necessary to pick up the Collall 3D Glue Gel Kit...it keeps the pieces layered the way you want them, and sticks them in place securely.

Of course, with a dimensional image, I felt it necessary to pop the sentiment up as well with some adhesive foam circles.

I hope my dad liked his card, as I hope you do too! I want to see your creations over at the Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog, this month the prize is pretty awesome: your choice of 2 six packs of Spectrum Noir markers! Pure awesomeness!

What are you waiting for? Head on over and enter your project today, and check out the cards the DT has done for this. Hope your day is crafty :)

xoxo

Khristen