SUMMER SWAG FROM VINTAGE NAPKINS

Thought it was about time I said hello!  Lost my mojo for crafting the last few months, have spent most of my time just figuring out life :)  Hope all of you are having a fab summer, it's not over yet!  But doesn't it pass quickly?

I made this swag from vintage linen napkins, a Pinterest idea that I have actually used!  It's on my Nesting board I think if you are looking. It was easy and I love the summery look.  I think when fall comes another one is likely coming.

A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES WITH DRACULA! (A Halloween Banner)

I really have neglected one of my favourite sites Gingersnap Creations for quite some time.  They of course are doing Halloween up right!  This will be my submission to the "Horror Story" Challenge!  Whether you adore Halloween or not do go and see what is creepy and dark!

I really have no answer as to why I haven't followed the latest vampire craze as I have been fascinated with vampires since I was a child.  But I am looking forward to the whole renewal of "Dark Shadows"!  I remember getting quite anxious if the school bus was a few minutes late getting me home worried that I might miss the first few minutes of the show!  Barnabas was my favourite character, who was yours?

I found a few images of old movie posters online earlier this year and knew they would be the focus of a new Halloween banner for me.  I have hung this across a small mirror in my stairwell and yes I can still see my reflection in the mirror! LOL

Some yellow and black poisonous flowers and spray from the Bella Creations Halloween Embellishment kit (check out the kit and the domino book tutorial) , some silver bat peel offs (you really can't see these in the photo), a sparkly black bat (K&Co) edged with White Enamel Accents (love that stuff), the center medallion is MS on all three pieces and some fabulous black paper which I picked up at DeSerres backs the image.  The creepy bat hanging at the bottom LOL  found at a local thrift store and is one of those glow in the dark things which I inked up with StaZon in black and glued on with Glossy Accents.

I folded some white crepe streamer in half, sewed a running stitch along the folded edge and used that to frame the central image.  A line of chunky black glitter on top of the stitching line, lots of black ink to add some decay (and red in the appropriate place!)  I used the same orange and black smudged pp with bats on all three pieces as the background (GCD).  Can you make out the "Slayer's Kit" on the bottom right corner?  The slaying sword (some sort of key thingie that the DH sharpened for me!), a cross and a vial of Holy water.  The hanging piece is a metal mold (which I have been hoarding, so it was good to actually use one!) that I inked with a number of different inks, embossed and then glittered!

The third pennant has some of the same basic elements but then stands out with the addition of the fangs!  My favourite piece LOL  A set of rubbery fangs found in the thrift store package of Halloween odds and ends.  Made over with a bit of red ink and glitter...with a bit of drippy, glittery blood below.  All in all a totally blood thirsty project!

BOO BELLA! A Halloween Bingo Card Banner!

We got Halloween going on in the BOO BELLA! group at Bella Creations.  Why don't you come and join in!!

My goal here was to create a fairly simple banner.  Really this one is all about the assembly of different elements, no complicated techniques and I used what was in my stash!  My base and inspiration is the Jenni Bowlin Halloween Edition Bingo cards, all edges inked with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.

The top border on each is a strip of green, black and orange ribbon as I wanted to use those three colours overall.  The bottom border is a candy punch from MS, a strip of vintage orange velvet ribbon and some fun pom pom trim.  Black satin ribbon to string them all together, black tulle for some fluff and a bit of orange organza added,  MS skeletons!  Platinum Stickles around the edges.

The running Jack O Lantern scrap is from Paper Valise (check them out for wonderful bits!) I need to highlight his face so that he isn't lost.  I punched out and inked a moon to set him on.  A vintage owl button and the Jack O Lantern button from my stash.  The center medallions are all from MS.   The "rosettes" are old yellowed cupcake papers which I misted in a different colour for each.  Fringed with my pinking shears. Edged with more glittery Stickles!  The gold centers are chocolate foils (cupcake papers and chocolate foils are a newest obsession!).

A vintage owl button and a candy corn button from my stash.  The "candy" is from MS.

The bat and metal Haunted House brad are Making Memories.  Eeek is K&Co.  Hope you enjoyed looking and are inspired to create a little Halloween for yourself!

"GOOD GRACIOUS WITCH!" - A HALLOWEEN BANNER

Inspired by a banner in the Fall 2011 volume of "Paper Creations" this banner combines a lot of my favourites i.e. it is a hangie thing, rosettes, vintage image, crepe paper and lots of glitter!  One of the groups I moderate at Bella Creations  is all about holiday projects - Celebrer La Fete.   BOO Bella! (halloween) is our focus right now and three different challenges are running.   Banners, exhibition style ribbons and cones - all with a halloween touch of course!  The prizes are a Halloween RAK from me...I have a GREAT halloween stash!  Membership in Bella Creations is free..why don't you check us out and come be a BOO Bella with me!

"TO MARKET" A Fall Banner

I picked up some of the "Garden Variety" paperline from Cosmo Cricket some time ago anticipating a fall project, I particularly adore the veggie patterned paper!  I have had several packets of "Aunt Martha's" Embroidery Transfers in my stash for awhile, this packet was for a set of "days of the week" dish towels.  Perfect match! I fussy cut the ones I wanted, adhered them to card stock then inked and glittered.

Chipboard banner pieces "My Little Yellow Bicycle"
Calendar spots "Jenni Bowlin"
Cow image "Crafty Secrets", green beans "Graphic 45"
Ranger Distress Inks and Stickles
Petaloo Flowers
Yellow tulle and satin ribbons
Core'Dinations card stock in red, MS border punch
Gingham garter ribbon in red, yellow, green and black
Making Memories glittered brads
Vintage - bakelite vegetable buttons and mini clothes pins, milk bottle caps, pea label

OH JOY - A SCRAPBOOK LAYOUT

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One of my favourite pictures from last year!   Lucy (2 last summer) had gone along with mumma to pick up McLean from at African Drumming class he took at the Sechelt Festival of the Arts.  A couple of minutes with the sticks and Lucy stole the show..this picture was featured in the Sechelt Recorder that week.

This layout is a lift from "Scrapbooking and Beyond".   Love banners and was looking for a simple layout that I could put together from my scrapbox.  The cardstock is Core'dinations and the pps are BoBunny.   I used Robin's Eggs to "string" the banner.  Distress Inks for shading and edges, Pigma Pen for faux stitches,  Peacock Liquid Pearls and both black and white Enamel Accents from Ranger.  Butterflies and hearts are Marvy punches.

BELLA CREATIONS - THE BELLA UNIQUE CHALLENGE!

One of the main challenges at Bella Creations each month is the "Bella Unique Challenge" which focuses on a specific technique.  This month the technique is creating your own flourishes using Liquid Pearls.    I absolutely fell in love with Liquid Pearls doing this challenge - who knew!  I chose to make a spring banner (NEST) for my  Design Team submission;

and a close up!

 
Our sponsor for this challenge is "The FLYING UNICORN" who is supplying an absolutely amazing prize!  Check this out!  If you haven't been to "The FLYING UNICORN" be sure and go there also.  Alda has a great inventory of unique items and the BEST shipping rates!

BIRDS, BATS AND BOO! - A HALLOWEEN BANNER

I'm entering this into the GC73: Chestnut Theme Challenge - Gothic Elements at Gingersnap Creations (click here or on the title of this post to go directly there).  Do check out all of the great "Goth-ober" creations!

Between the glittery crows (aren't they always a bit menacing?), the funereal fringe, shrouding and other dark bits (black roses) mixed with some childish "treats",  I think this gives that touch of creep needed in a Gothic creation.

STAR WARS THEMED NAME PENNANT BANNER

McLean (Mac, who will be 5 in December) is crazy for Star Wars right now and in need of new name banner.  To help me along in the "getting it done" category his mumma ordered the papers and had them delivered to me.  Cheeky daughter of mine..but smart.  She ordered two 12x12s of patterned paper (one was double sided), a 12x12 diecut of Storm Trooper heads and a sheet of epoxy stickers.  I still have enough for a layout of Mac in his Luke Skywalker halloween costume.

The pennants I cut out of a glossy chipboard (comic book backers actually), the tops measure 5 1/2" across and 6 1/2" middle to tip.  I glue stick the chipboard then lay that onto the paper and cut with a good kraft knife.  If your blade is fresh this will be a zip.  If the pattern can be turned anyway then you will get 3 pennants - 2 if not from each 12x12 with plenty for creating embellishments or an additional layout or card.

I cut a line of three Storm Trooper heads to top each pennant.  The alphas were cut on the Simply Sweet Cricut Cartridge at 2 1/2 inches twice - one cut with shadow and one without to create the layering.  Additionally I outlined the letters with my white pen.  I used the epoxy stickers to create the embellishments between the Storm Trooper heads and on each of the pennants.  I used navy seam binding for the main ribbon and tied 4" strips of red, orange and green narrow satin ribbon between the pennants.  That will keep them from sliding around and adds a bit of "boy acceptable" fluff!