Spider Webs and Wiggle Wires, Hairy Legs and Googly Eyes!! :)

Hey everyone!!  If you haven't hopped over to Kristal's blog, Getting Cricky, yet, then be sure to pop over and see the WINNER from our last team blog hop (I have a winner to announce here too!)...

I've been having a "throw-back" week of crafting...  Sometimes, I really love a card or layout that I've made in the past, so I update it or change it just a bit to make it new all over again...  Last Halloween I made THIS card:

It ended up being one of my favorite cards EVER, so I decided to use it as inspiration for this year's Halloween card (I've made it in BULK -- 45 cards going all over the country!!)...  And here's the "new and improved" version:

I used the Sizzix Spiderweb embossing folder on white cardstock and then distressed it with black ink (in the first card I had used the color core paper and sanded it up!)...

My spider was cut at 2.5" (I cut TWO and adhered them together to give him extra stability since I wanted to put him on one of my homemade Wiggle Wires)...  This is the spider from the Stretch Your Imagination Cricut Cartridge -- Isn't he so cute???  I used a Gelly Roll White Glaze pen for his mouth, a tiny circle punch for his purple nose, and glow-in-the-dark googly eyes...

My sentiment is stamped on a little hand-cut tag and can be found on the Fall-O-Ween Stamp Art Set (CLICK HERE to get yours for 60% OFF!!)...

I realize that it's hard to tell in the picture, but this little guy is actually attached to a Wiggle Wire so that he can dance and jiggle and cause a giggle!!

Yes, that really is a HAND holding up my card...  You can see more of that hand and the party decor that matches that big creepy eye by visiting my blog over the next week -- I hope you'll stop on by and see all the creepy FUN...  In the meantime, this is what made me happy tonight:

My wall has been slowly accumulating these Halloween decorations, but I was missing a few little things...  Like that pumpkin garland that I added to the top of that much needed shelf that my awesome dad made for me just last week...  See that awesome Jack-O-Lantern picture on the top left???  Oh, that is just the most awesome picture EVER!!  The eyes, nose, and mouth of the pumpkin have little flashing lights behind it so that it twinkles in the dark (SPOOKY!!)...  My mom gave this as a birthday gift to The-Love-Of-My-Life and, lemme tell ya...  He LOVES it -- We never get to turn the lights off (the flash cancels them out in the picture, but it was dark and rainy here today)...  I'm not even sure he's going to let me take it down after Halloween.  Do you think we could add a Santa hat to the top of the Jack-O-Lantern to keep it around longer?  Hmmm...

I did not make this oh-so-awesome Subway Art Sign, but I couldn't resist sharing it with you...  My mom gave this to me for a special celebration...  Isn't it fantastic???

That's all I have to share with you for now...  But I'll be back with more before ya know it!!  :)

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
     1.  Crafty Friends Challenge:  Dry Embossing
     2.  My Craft Spot:  Embossing
     3.  My Crafting Channel:  The Gh'oul Times
     4.  Everyday is an Occasion: Sunday Funday #2 Linky Party
     5.  Really Reasonable Ribbon: Ch#58 Halloween
     6.  Simon Says Stamp!: Joy's Eerie Inspiration

Now, before I rush off, I have a WINNER to announce from the last blog hop!!  I do apologize that it took much longer for me to announce this -- Some of you already know that my dad had open heart surgery last month and things got a little crazy during that time...  My dad is doing exceptionally well, and I thank those of you who sent me kind notes of encouragement and prayer before, during, and after his surgery.  I really appreciate all of your support!!  Now...  Let's announce that WINNER!!

Random.org picked comment number 35:

 And the winner is.........

Congrats, Karen!!  Please email me at scrapbookingwithamy@gmail.com with your mailing address so I can get your labels sent out!!  :)

Until next time,

Decorate To Celebrate Ch#36 -- Halloween!! Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails... :)

It's time again to decorate your celebrations with another Halloween Challenge at Decorate To Celebrate!!

For Challenge #36, we are asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration (or party supply) for a HALLOWEEN PARTY!!  Let's celebrate EVERYTHING WONDERFUL ABOUT SPOOKY SPIDERS AND SLIMY SLUGS with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more!!  :)

I decided to make a pantry full of soups and stews fit for a ghoulish get-together!!  These fun, up-cycled cans will make perfect favors filled with candy corn and double as delightful decor!!  Each can was cleaned and had the label removed before The-Love-Of-My-Life worked his magic on giving each can a rusty finish...  I then decoupaged a pre-made label onto each can and added a muslin covering with a length of homespun fabric ribbon.

My tags were created by stamping each sentiment on a small piece of muslin that I then trimmed into a tag shape.  I found so many wonderful matching sentiments on my K Andrew Designs "Fall-O-Ween" Stamp Art Set...  "eeek!" for the Spider Fangs, "Best Witches" for the Witch's Stew, and "Batty for you" for the Bat Spleen!!  Oh, aren't they just so fun???  :)

To give the tags a bit of stability, I attached a cardstock tag to the back of the fabric tag (I used my CTMH background stamp for these little tags -- You may recall how much fun I'm having making these tags -- I'm adding them to everything!!).  I also added a sprig of orange berries to each can to make them extra festive...

Don't you think my party guests will enjoy these fun little favors???  I think they'll find them delectable!!  I wonder what other fun yummies I can add to these treats...  Hmmm...  Stay tuned to see!!  :)

Okay!!  Now it's YOUR turn!!  When you link up your project HERE before 11:59pm (EST) on Tuesday, October 30th, you will be eligible for YOUR CHANCE to WIN one of Rhonda's AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL mini albums (remember that your project needs to be a decoration or party supply to be eligible)!! :) 

I would like to enter my cans in the following challenges:
     1.  Anything But A Card Ch#4: Fall or Halloween Colors
     2.  Frilly and Funkie: Anything but a card with a TWIST
     3.  Inky Impressions Ch#81: Anything but a card
     4.  Mark's Finest Papers: FOSTV Ch#42: Anything but a card

Until next time,

Paper Playtime Ch#86 -- Welcome to Boo-ville!! Boos, anyone??? :)

Paper Playtime Ch # 86

Theme:  Welcome to BOO-ville

Starts: Monday, October 15th 12:00 am EST

Ends: Thursday, October 25th Noon EST

Winner (chosen by random.org) Announced: Thursday, October 25th late afternoon

Our sponsor this challenge is...
Mary of Cardz TV Stamps
The winner will receive one set of Mary's Cardz TV Stamps!

Here is my project for this challenge:

....Because if I wanted to be welcomed into "BOO"-ville, I'd definitely expect a tasty beverage!!  :) Sheldon Cooper would recommend hot tea or cocoa, so something tells me that a Bottle of Boos... would not quite make the cut for him!!  But thank goodness he doesn't get to decide what tasty beverages we're serving in Boo-ville!!  ;)

To create my project, I started with a plain, glass, long-neck bottle (I'm thinking it was a Jones' Soda bottle as The-Boy-Child and The-Girl-Child are both addicted to those...).  The-Love-Of-My-Life worked his magic to transform the bottle into a rusty-looking creation...  Since I love, love, LOVE to up-cycle, I'm glad he enjoys turning my boring bottles and cans into wonderful canvases for my projects!!  :)

In case you missed the last tag I made that was kinda sorta like this one (antiqued and stamped and oh-so-FUN), I picked up this fabulous background stamp from my Paper Playtime DT Sister and friend, Lucy...  I've probably stamped 100 of these tags to use on various projects -- I just love how the background is so quick and easy to create!!

I hand-lettered the "Bottle of BOOS..." on Kraft cardstock then fussy-cut around the sentiment before mounting it on black cardstock and fussy-cutting a thin border (and, of course, I sponged a little brown ink on the edges for some extra distressing).  Pop dots behind the sentiment allow for a bit of dimension.  That cute little ghost with the glow-in-the-dark googly eyes is actually an upside down "owl" that I punched using the Stampin' Up! Owl Punch (I just had to trim the little feeties off so the ghost didn't have alien antenna!!)...

My "BOO!" tag features that awesome-font sentiment from the K Andrew Designs "Fall-O-Ween" Stamp Art Set...  I added a strip of burlap and a length of homespun fabric ribbon around the center of the bottle because I thought it was as much fun as a label...  Plus the orange pip berries add a bit of extra whimsy, dontcha think???  :)

And there ya have it!!  A Bottle of BOOs that everyone is sure to enjoy with a giggle!!  :)  Of course, if you're having a Halloween Party or Get-Together, you could always try this idea with the bottles of beverages that you're serving to your guests -- They don't have to be empty and up-cycled to be FUN!!  :)

I hope I've inspired ya to make something for the challenge too!!  To link up to the Paper Playtime Challenge #86, please CLICK HERE -- I can't wait to see what you create!!  :)

I'd also like to enter my Bottle of BOOs into the following challenges:

     1.  MCC Ch #1 -- The gh'oul times!

     2.  Love To Create Ch #37 -- Trick or Treat or Something Sweet

     3.  Sunday Funday #2 -- Linky Party

     4.  DL Art Thankful Thursday -- Linky Party 

Until next time,

Decorate To Celebrate Halloween Party -- Jack-O-Lanterns, Pumpkins, and More... :)

It's time for another FUN challenge over at Decorate To Celebrate!!  :)

For Challenge #35, we are asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration (or party supply) for a HALLOWEEN PARTY!!  Come help us celebrate EVERYTHING WONDERFUL ABOUT GHOSTS, GOBLINS, AND GHOULS with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more!!  :)

Didja know that by entering your party supply or decoration in the challenge you could WIN a darling mini album especially created just for you by my fabulous friend Rhonda???  Yup!!  If you don't have one of her minis yet, you'll definitely want to try for one now!!  :)  So be sure to link up your Halloween project HERE before 11:59pm (EST) on Tuesday, October 16th to be eligible for YOUR CHANCE to WIN one of Rhonda's AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL mini albums (remember that to be eligible your project must be a decoration or party supply)!!  :)

This was a really, really, REALLY fun challenge for me this year!!  For the past couple of months, I've had a little creative help from The-Love-Of-My-Life making these super cool cans and bottles and other odds-and-ends...  It is such a joy to see someone else get so excited about what I'm excited about!!  Of course, we could just be suffering from the effects of too many paint fumes too, right???  Nah, I'm just kidding...  We're just having a blast coming up with new things to decorate!!  :)  So look at what I have to share.....

First, I have this way-too-cute Jack-O-Lantern turned Witch to share with ya!!  Eeek!!  Isn't that just too much???  I just can't help but smile every time I see this little guy...  This is also a great way to "freshen up" some decorations that you may have tucked away from past years -- Add a hat to a resin pumpkin, stamp a coffee-stained tag with a cute saying, and VOILA!!  It's like a new little goodie just waiting to greet ya!!  I like to think that my little Jack-O-Lantern has that great big grin cuz the sun is shining...  What do YOU think he's smiling about???

There's a closer peek at my tag -- It's been coffee stained and distressed with brown ink to give it an aged look...  I'm just in love with this effect!!  :)  This fun little sentiment (as well as all the other sentiment stamps I've used today) can be found on the K Andrew Designs "Fall-O-Ween" Stamp Art Set...  This set is simply perfect for all things Fall AND Halloween!!  :)

This simple, yet adorable, Pumpkins sign is a piece of wood that has been painted and hand-lettered...  I added a bit of raffia with a sprig of bittersweet and tied it all up with a homespun ribbon.  This little sign easily sits on a shelf...  Of course, if you're a mom with lots of little ones running around, I wouldn't want anyone to mistake which "Pumpkins" you were giving away selling for just 5 cents...  hee hee...  :)

I added a little "for you" tag to the top of my sign because this little knick-knack is gonna find its way right into a gift bag for my bestie...  I'm sure she'll find the perfect spot to display this little goodie...

And, finally...  My Jack-O-Lantern cans that just make me laugh!!  Even though I've filled this one with some "crazy hair" made of raffia, these would make awesome party favors filled with candy corn or chocolate bars (YUM!!)...  Since I love, love, LOVE finding new ways to up-cycle my cans and bottles, this is the kind of project that I can really have fun with -- Of course, the extra touches that The-Love-Of-My-Life added really made the fun POP!!  :)

After using these as party favors, they would be perfect to house a battery-operated taper or tealight for a splash of light on a dark windowsill or table...

I've saved my favorite thing for last...  It's this AWESOME tag that I've attached to my can...  My friend and Paper Playtime DT Sister, Lucy, has enabled my Halloween-stamping-obsession with this FABULOUS CTMH background stamp...  It was quick and easy to create the perfect tag to add my "Trick or Treat" sentiment stamp to!!  Don't ya love it???

Well, that's it, friends...  I hope I've inspired you to think outside the box and create something for our super-fun Halloween Challenge over at Decorate To Celebrate!!  We'd love to see what YOU create for the challenge -- Will it be a banner? A centerpiece? A lantern?  Need more inspiration??? Hop on over to DTC and check out what the other Designers created too -- It's sure to be a TREAT!!  :)

Until next time,