Halloween Sleepover: MDS Style

Happy Halloween friends!  With all the storm activity this week it seems like Halloween is an after thought.  Thankfully our friends and family all are doing well after the storm but our thoughts and prayers are with those that are still suffering and trying to recover.  So last weekend Aidan hosted his first sleepover and it was a Halloween theme since he couldn't have the party on Halloween itself.  Being the crazy mom I am I decided to make the decorations, invitation, etc. using My Digital Studio 2 and the Monster Munchies digital download.  This first item was a banner (please excuse the pictures, I had a hard time photographing such a large item).  I used several of the treat labels and added them to pennants and flags that I had decorated.  See the close ups below: 

I used the Pennant die to cut the flag and added a bow with the Scalloped Polka Dot ribbon. 

For the flags I hand cut the tails and stamped them with the spiderweb from the Wicked Cool stamp set.  I used the Simply Scored board to create the lollies, added a piece of 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon as well as a bat (used the retired bat punch, this is still one of my favorites!) and rhinestones for the eyes.

I also decided to make cute little cupcake toppers.  I used the coaster pieces and shrunk them down so I could punch them out with the 1 3/4" circle punch (that way I could also fit more to a page).  Then I just added a toothpick and the 2 3/8" scallop circle punch for the mat.

I also decided to use the pre-designed invitation template for invitations to the sleepover.  These were so easy, added some text as well as the Pumpkin Pie button and taffeta bow and sent them off to the printer.  I even stamped the envelopes to match before they were handed out.

This was the back of the invitation.  The stamps are from the Toxic Treats digital stamp set (you get to print both sides of the invitation for the same price with Stampin' Up!'s digital print services which was awesome!)

I don't know if the boys were all that excited about the decorations but Aidan loved them and I had a great time making them and that all that counts.  These were so simple to create you can make you're next party extra special with MDS2 and a little time.

Halloween Printer's Tray Remix: Take Three

Hooray, it's Friday!  I'm so excited for the arrival of the weekend since we have a lot of things planned, including running in a 5K for Aidan's school and getting family pictures taken.  Today I'm sharing the last project I made using the extra pieces from the halloween printer's tray kit.  This is a scrapbook page that will be perfect for this years halloween page (see I'm already ahead of the game and will just need to add pictures).  I started with Basic Gray for the base of the page and stamped bats in the top right corner and spider webs along the bottom using the Wicked Cool stamp set.  The black pieces are added pieces and are the mats for pictures.  All the other designed and solid pieces (including the super cute hanging bats) are from the tray kit.  The white tag was left blank for journaling.

 

In the top left corning I used all the little flag pieces to create a banner with a piece of Lucky Limeade baker's twine (bows were tied on each of the ends for a finishing touch).  The gray polka dot paper was from the kit and was scored at every 1/4" with the Simply Scored to create the lolly.  I added a More Mustard button to the center which mimicks an element from the printer's tray.

I stamped the cauldron from the Toxic Treats stamp set with Basic Black in on Very Vanilla cardstock, punched it out with the 1 3/8" circle punch and matted with an Old Olive scalloped circle (it's attached with dimensionals so it pops and it's easy to slide the picture under the element).  The numbers were cut with the Timeless Type die set (retired) and More Mustard cardstock. 

 

The finishing touch was to add lots of rhinestones for the bat's eyes and in the center of all of the spider webs.  Now I have to confess something, when I finished the page it was missing a label and I struggled to decide what I wanted to use, in the end I used a die (non-Stampin' Up!) that had the perfect font for the "Spooky" label.  You know I use mostly SU! products but when you have something else that works in your stash you make it work.

 

I love how this page turned out it's so fun and I can't wait to add the pictures of my little pirate.

 

Take care and have a great weekend!

 

Diana



Wacky Halloween Wishes

Good morning friends!  What a beautiful weekend to kickoff fall.  We had a great time with friends on Saturday and I got to putter around the studio working on little projects that I'm trying to get done.  For this weeks shares I decided to focus on one stamp set, Wacky Wishes, and show different ways how you can make simple cards for all sorts of occasions.  This first card is for Halloween and starts with a Tangerine Tango cardbase.  I added a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock (I sponged around the edge with More Mustard ink) and Houndstooth and Harringbone DSP.  The corners of the cardstock and DSP were rounded with the corner rounder punch.  I wrapped a piece of Basic Gray/Black striped satin ribbon around the middle. 

 

I also added three flags with the same DSP in different patterns.  The greeting is stamped in Tangerine Tango ink.  The final touch was to add a spider web, from the Wicked Cool stamp set, to the top corner of the card stock (I used Basic Gray ink and stamped off once before stamping so it was faded) and added a small rhinestone to the center.

I hope you enjoy and check back the rest of the week for other  ideas for this fun stamp set.

Enjoy,

Diana

Treats, not Tricks Halloween Class Samples

Good morning!  Today I wanted to share with you some of the projects we'll be making on this Saturday's Halloween Treats Class.  I tell you these were so fun to make and I know you'll enjoy them as well.  The class starts at 10 AM and will include lots of yummy treats to get you in the holiday mood.  Make sure to RSVP soon to ensure that you have a spot in this fun class.

Wicked Cool - Sketch Challenge

Good evening!  We had another weekend packed with family fun which included a rare October snow on Saturday (thankfully it didn't stick around but boy was it cold!)  Tonight I had to finish up the last minute Halloween projects for tomorrow so I thought I would use this weeks Stamping 411 challenge for the last card I needed.  This sketch is nice and easy which makes it easy to make multiple cards quickly and can be adapted for any occassion. 

This card uses the Wicked Cool stamp set, Frightful Sight DSP, Basic Rhinestones, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Black 3/8" Polka Dot Scallop Ribbon (using the reverse side), 1 3/8" circle punch, and the scallop circle punch.

Hope you enjoy and have a happy Halloween tomorrow!

Happy stamping,

Diana

Fun Little Spooky Bingo Bits

Today's an exciting day, Aidan has his first 1st grade field trip and is heading to Belvedere Plantation to learn the life cycle of pumpkins.  The funny thing is that I think he's just as excited to the bus to the plantation than the field trip itself (he told me this morning the bus is really cool because it has a bathroom, I guess it's the little things!)  Anyway, today I wanted to share the card I make to give my little pumpkin on Halloween.  Aidan loves getting handmade cards and is so appreciative of the effort people go through to make him something (soo sweet!) and I knew he would love some of the cute images from the new Spooky Bingo Bits stamp set.

This card came together really easy with the new 1" square punch and coordinating postage stamp punch.  In addition this card uses the Frightful Sight DSP, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, and the ruffle is made with Cajun Craze cardstock that was punched with the eyelet border punch and then I ran it through the crimper a couple of times to help break down the fibers.  Then I just folded the cardstock over to make the pleats.  The final touch was a greeting from the Wicked Cool stamp set.

I love how cute this card turned out and can't wait to see Aidan's reaction.

Hope you enjoy and happy stamping!

Diana

Stampin' Up Regionals

As you read this I'm in Baltimore attending Stampin' Up! regionals (whoo hoo)!  I've been looking forward to this for months and can't wait to meet lots of fun and talented people and learn some great new techniques.  In addition to fabulous presentations I'll be swaping cards with the other attendees and it's always exciting to see what others create.

I thought I would share a picture of one of my swaps.  It uses the Wicked Cool stamp set and turned out great.  This card also uses the Wicked Fun DSP, Raven Lace, and Rhinestones (who doesn't love a little bling??).  I stamped the candle sticks alternating with Rich Razzleberry and Cajun Craze Ink.  The spiderweb in the main image is stamped with Basic Grey and then "stamped off" one before stamping the cardstock to soften the image. 

I hope you have a great weekend and I can't wait to share all details.

Enjoy!

Diana

Halloween Decor

I seem to have halloween on the brain lately and I'm so excited.  At convention this year I saw some great samples of halloween decor that I just fell in love with and knew I needed to incorporate in this years decorating.  Since Aidan is 5 the key to halloween decorating is to have nothing too scary (I'm already dealing with ghosts). 

I CASED this frame idea from the current Holiday Mini catalog but when I went to the store I found this great graduation diploma frame for 75% (love a sale) so I decided to jazz up the double mats with some of the Wicked Fun DSP.      Since my large mat was 11 x 14 I had to cut the piece of DSP down the middle and adde another print as an accent along with pieces of Black Raven lace ribbon.

 I stamped the images on a piece of Whisper White paper with images from the Wicked Cool stamp set in Basic Gray and Cajun Craze.  I also added rhinstones to the centers of each of the spider webs because doesn't every girl love a little bling? 

The actual Decor Element is actually on the outside of the glass so it looks like a shadow box (can you tell from the picture on the right??).  The final touch was little bats cut out of the same DSP with the new Bat Punch. 

I'm so excited how this turned out and even Chris was very impressed.

Enjoy!

Diana

September Stamp-a-Stack Projects

We just got back from our family vacation to Disney World and while we had a blast we're still trying to get rested from all the running around.  I did manage to complete all the designs for our upcoming Stamp-a-stack and I think you'll really like them.

Christmas Card Option

Stamp Set:  Peaceful Season

Stamp Set(s):  Paisely Prints, Paisely Wheel, Thank You Kindly

Stamp Set:  Word Play

Stamp Set(s):  Elizabeth, Tiny Tiny Wishes

Stamp Set:  Wicked Cool (Isn't this a great new Texture Embossing Folder for the Big Shot???)

Stamp-a-stack will be September 12 at 2:00 PM.  Please RSVP by Thursday to let me know you'll be attending (and let me know if you're interested in the christmas card option).

Have a happy labor day and hope to see you Sunday!

Diana