Witch's Legs

Last year in my travels around the blogosphere, I came across the cutest pair of elf legs made with our adorable 1"x8" cellophane bags.  I knew I wanted to turn these into witch's legs for my SPOOK-tacular Stampin' Buffet.

This is the result:

Colors: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White.  Stamps: Wicked Cool.  Big Shot: Top Note Bigz, Circles #2, Apothecary Accents Framelits.  Punches: Large and Scallop Oval, Ornament, and Little Label Punch Pack. Accessories: 1"x8" Cellophane Bags, Rhinestone Jewels.

To make the shoes, I used the Top note die and cut it in fourths.  Then I took the Ornament punch and notched out part of the piece to make it look more like a shoe.  I would recommend doing both at the same time so that they match up.  To make the buckles, I used the longer image from the Little Label Punch and then used scissors to cut out the middle.

It's not too late to RSVP for next Friday's session of the class if you would like to come make these for yourself.  Just let me know by next Wednesday, October 3.

Halloween Purses

The past two years at the Stampin' Addicts Meet and Greet at convention, I have hosted a treat holder swap.  This year I got so many cute projects but the ones that stole the show were the Halloween-themed purses created by my dear friend Missi Roeber.  She also submitted them to Stampin' Up! for a Stampin' Success contest and won it of course.

I asked Missi for permission to make my own version of her creations to offer at my SPOOK-tacular Stampin' Buffet (since she frequently comes to my classes, I wanted to make sure she was OK with making her project).  This is what I came up with:

Colors: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White.  Big Shot: Petite Purse Bigz L, Stripes and Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. Punches: Pennant, Extra Large Oval, 3/4", 1/2" & 1/4" circles, modern label.

Aren't they just adorable?  A few of the details:  I free cut the eyes and nose of the pumpkin, but for the mouth, I cut about two thirds of a Extra Large Oval punch and then used the pennant punch to notch out the teeth.  For the bat's wings, I also used the same oval punch and then punched out notches with a circle punch.  For the hair on Frankie, I cut it out with the purse die and then carefully cut out the fringe on the hair so that it will tuck into to closure.

Today is the last day to RSVP for this weekend's class (you still have until next Wednesday if you would like to attend on October 5) if you would like to come make these for yourself.  This is always my most popular class of the year and I hope to see you there! 

MDS MONDAY: Printables

You know all the printables that are so popular on Pinterest right now?  Did you know you can use My Digital Studio to make your own.


Stampin' Up! even makes templates that include everything you need to just print a Halloween one out right now:

Template and images from Toxic Frameable Download for My Digital Studio

For this one, I altered the scrapbook page template that came with the Frightening Feline template:

Colors: Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade, Basic Black, Basic Gray.  Digital Stamp Brushes: Frightening Feline, Vintage Overlays, and Distressed Dots.  Digital Accessories: Howlstooth and Scaringbone Designer Series Paper, Stitching, Buttons.

 And then there is this one I made all the way from scratch that has nothing to do with Halloween:

Colors: Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party.  Digital Accessories: Essentials Designer Series Paper, Stitching.

This is one of my favorite quotes and I hang on to these words on those days when my boys are really pushing my buttons and reminding me that they each have their own unique challenges in this world.  Chevrons are all the rage right now and I used a square punch, the same size as the page, and filled it with the chevron print from the Essentials Designer Series Paper.  I had already made the back ground Island Indigo, so when I changed the opacity to 10% it gave me that monochromatic print.

I'm on a home decor kick right now so I have lots of ideas for these.  I'd love to hear your ideas too!

Howlstooth and Scaringbone Frame Insert

Nearly a month ago, when I shared my Halloween Frame Insert, I envisioned a similar version using the Howlstooth and Scaringbone Designer Series Paper  and the Toxic Treat stamp set from the Holiday Mini.  I finally got a chance to get it made:

Colors: More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Basic Gray, and Very Vanilla.  Stamps: Toxic Treats.  Big Shot: Designer Labels Collection Framelits and Typeset Alphabet Bigz. Punches: Extra-large Tag, Decorative Label, 2-3/8" Scallop and 1-3/4" Circle Punch.  Accessories: Howlstooth and Scaringbone Designer Series Paper, brad.

I am offering both of the frame inserts at my SPOOK-tacular Stampin' Buffet on Saturday, September 29 and Friday, October 5.  If you can't come but would like to make your own, visit my KIT page for more details on how to get your own.

BOO banner

Several months ago, my friend Lynne asked me to design a BOO banner for a quick mini class for some of her coworkers.  Hard to believe but that class is now tomorrow.  Here is what I came up with:

Colors: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Whisper White.  Stamps: Googly Ghouls. Big Shot: Perfect Pennants BIGZ L, Typeset Alphabet Bigz, Window Frames Collection Framelits, Chevron Textured Embossing Folder.  Punches: 1-3/4" Circle Punch.  Accessories: Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Googlies, Glitter Brads.

Here is a closer look at one of the pennants:

This banner will also be offered for $8 at my SPOOK-tacular Stampin' Buffet coming up Saturday, September 29 and Friday, October 5 at my house in Farmington.  You can get all the details of the class right here on my blog by clicking on the tab above.

Live too far away to come to my class?  I am also offering this project as a kit.  The kit does not include any stamped images, but does include all the pieces and embellishments precut and textured and ready to assemble for $10 (includes shipping and handling).  It is just one of the kits I currently have available.  To see them all, visit my KIT PAGE.

MDS Monday: Disney Vacation Pictures

It's time for MDS Monday again.  And today, instead of showing you a tip, I'm just going to share with you some page from the album I finished up last week just in time to get 31% off.  Most of the albums I've made so far are for an event like a family reunion or a family vacation.  Our family likes to travel a lot and one of our favorite places to go is DISNEYLAND!

At first I was worried that I would have a hard time using My Digital Studio to scrapbook Disneyland pictures.  I was concerned I would need to find some Disney-licensed elements to include with the pictures.  But as I got going, I decided it wouldn't matter: the pictures bring Disney to the album.  And with a few circle punches, anyone can make a Mickey head and since My Digital Studio uses the fonts you already have on your computer, I downloaded some "Disney" fonts and went from there.
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First the cover.  I kept if very simple and didn't even include a picture on it:

Polka Dot Parade Digital Designer Series Paper, Digital Circle Punches. Font: Started by a Mouse.

 Then the inside cover:

Colors: Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Real Red and Pacific Point.  Small Polka Dot, Large Polka Dot and Grid Digital Designer Series Paper.  Digital Circle Punches.  Digital Stitching Embellishment.

And a few random spreads from inside:

Colors: Summer Sun, Custom Orange, Whisper White, Basic Black.  Digital Punches: Circles, Tasteful Trim Shape 1.   Digital Stamp Brush: Solid Stripes and Pumpkin Patch. Digital Embellishment: Stitching and Downtown Grunge Frame. Title font: Gracie's Curse

Colors: Real Red, Ruby Red.  Circle Digital Punch.  Digital Stitching Embellishment. Font: Started by a Mouse.

Colors: Rich Razzleberry and Tangerine Tango.  Digital Stamps: Decorative Overlays, Spooky Bingo Bits, Picture This Designer Kit.  Digital Embellishments: Candid Frames Designer Kit, Downtown Grunge Designer Kit (stitching).  Fonts: Gracie's Cruse and Nightmare Before Christmas.

Colors: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip.  Digital Stamps: Decorative Overlays.  Digital Embellishments: Downtown Grunge Designer Kit (Frames), Stitchings, Antique Brads.

The Album ended up being 52 pages so these are just a few samples.  I will show more in a few weeks.  And while the sale is over, the opportunity to get your free 30-day trial of MDS2 is not.  Head on over to my store and download your trial version for yourself.  Even if you have already used your 30 day trial of MDS, you can do it again for MDS2.

Come back on Wednesday for a closer look at some of the projects from my upcoming Halloween Class on September 29 and October 5.  It is always my most popular class and I have lots of prizes to give away so come on back.

Last Chance on this Spooktacular Offer!

Look what the UPS man brought me yesterday:

Hall-O-Ween Printer's Tray Kit, available only until September 16 when you join my Stampin' Up! Team!

Well, OK.  It didn't exactly look like this when I pulled it out of the package.  I spent a couple of hours this morning putting it all together with the pieces and instructions from Stampin' Up!  It's still needs a photo, but I wanted to wait and get a good one of my boys this Halloween before I added it.  Instead, I added a piece of Howlstooth and Scaringbone Designer Series Paper in the opening where the photo goes and used a left over piece of spider web to go in the corner.

Time is running out to get one of these kits for yourself! They are only available through Sunday, September 16 and only to those who purchase the $99, fully-customizable starter kit and join the Stampin' Up! family.  I have already had two people sign up because they love this kit so much.  And did I mention the kit is FREE when you sign up and it's a $60 value?  I know I have a lot more friends and customers who love Halloween even more than I do so don't miss out on this fabulous kit.

Let me know if you want more information or you can just hop right on over to my demonstrator web site and click the "join now" button for all the details and the simple and easy online Independent Demonstrator Agreement.

MDS Monday: Span Across Pages

I have another new feature of MDS2 to share with you today: spanning an item across a layout.  This is simple and easy to do so there won't be a lot of screen shots.

First, you need to be designing in two page spreads.  If you've forgotten how to do this, you click the little icon on the bottom, just left of where the thumbnail of your pages appear:

Now, add your stamp or embellishment and move it so it is hanging off teh edge of one of your pages.  You will not be able to see the portion that is hiding behind the other page.  To fix that, right click on the image and select Span Pages:

You can see from this spread that I've used that function on two stamps and the stitching.  I've added a page guide to the center of the spread so you can see where the page break would be:

 
Now another word of warning on this one.  I have had success doing this with embellishments and stamps.  I haven't tried it with text, but I'm sure that works as well. But I tried it with a punch and resizing it and moving it around was difficult.  So I would not recommend using this feature on a punch just yet.  Hoping that is another fix in a coming update.

Here is the competed two page spread:

Colors: Basic Gray and Basic Black.  My Digital Studio Brush Stamps: Toxic Frameable, Bulletin Alphabet.  Digital Designer Series Paper: Howlstooth and Scaringbone.  Digital Embellishments: Mis-stitched and Delightful Digital Tape.

This Friday, September 14 is the final day to order print projects at 31% off.  I ordered two albums last week and I'm hoping to finish up this Disneyland album this week.  Next MDS Monday, I will take a break from showing you MDS2 features and will share how I used My Digital Studio to create a Disney album without any licensed Disney materials.  See you then!

Jumping Frogs and Double Stitched Ribbon

When I was designing my Moving Forward class last month, I wanted to make a full-sized card with that cute frog image.  I came across a card on Stampin' Connections that had the frogs jumping like this up the card.  Here is what I came up with:

Colors: Lucky Limeade, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Midnight Muse and Whisper White.  Stamps: Moving Forward.  Big Shot: Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Accessories: Midnight Muse Double Stitched Satin Ribbon

Notice the ribbon on there?  That is the ribbon that you can get free this month with any $40 purchase.  Spend $80 and get 2 rolls.  It is simply gorgeous and fun to use.  I already have a roll in every color (and maybe some extras in the drawer) but you better believe I will be stocking up this month as well. Head on over to my online store, or click the promotions link to find out more.

It's Back to Spool in September!

Hooray for September!!!  My boys start school tomorrow and I am so excited for them and for me.  We can get back on a routine and I can get back to business and maybe actually stamp a little.

Stampin' Up! has a very fun promotion running in September: get a free spool of 3/8" double stitched ribbon for every $40 you spend!  I ♥ this ribbon.  It comes in the 2012-2014 in colors and is simply gorgeous on projects. Click on the picture below to get all the details or head on over and shop now!

The Stampin' Up! Home Office is having entirely too much fun with this promotion. Check out this fun video:

So what will you embellish with all your free ribbon?

Also, Stampin' Up! has extended two other great offers for the first part of September.  I am so relieved that they  31% off My Digital Studio print projects and select content is extended through September 14 because I am still frantically trying to finish up my projects to get them printed while they are on sale.

AND the fabulous Howl-aween recruit promotion is also extended through September 16.

Join Stampin' Up! for only $99 and get this kit free valued at $60. I have already had one person take advantage of this fun offer and I can't wait to get my own kit so I can put it together.

Please let me know if you have any questions or head on over to paula.stampinup.net for more information or to shop now.

MDS Monday: Using Page Guides

I can't believe it's been a month since MDS2 came out.  And I'm still discovering new things about it. Last week I was working on an album from a trip we went on last summer to Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia and Great Basin National Park when I discovered one of these little gems: Page Guides.  These are so helpful when designing in two page spreads.

So what are they?  They are little red lines that span across a two page spread to help you line things up.  How do you use them?  Very simple:

First, you need to make sure the feature is turned on:

I've circled the little icon that turns this feature off and on.  You can also use the menu bar by going to View: Show Guides or you can click ctrl+M.

Once you turn the feature on, to set a guide click anywhere on the rulers that run on the left and top of the page.  You can adjust them by dragging on them with you get the arrows.   I used the guides here to make sure the top and bottom photos on my page where lined up across the spread:

You can see that the bottom pictures on the right don't align with the ones on the left. Using the guides I moved them down so that they could all be aligned. 

You do have to be careful, there is a glitch in the current version of MDS2; if you have the guides on and use your mouse to move a photo box near the line, the photo box mysteriously disappears from view.  I am sure they will fix that soon, but in the mean time use the arrow keys to manipulate those photos when you are working close to the guides.

Here are the final pages:

Colors: Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard, Basic Gray and Chocolate Chip.  Digital Designer Kit: Travel Log. Digital Punches: Arrows.

I tend to take A LOT of pictures when we travel, so I try to maximize the number of photos I can get on each page and keep them pretty simple.  I thought the addition of the arrows with the tags for each photo was kind of a fun touch here and it meant that I didn't need to add any extra journaling.

Don't forget, we have until September 14 to get 31% off print projects so hurry up and get those albums/pages/cards finished!  You know I am.