Leaf Ornaments for Fall with Paper Sweeties

I mentioned in my last post about the leaves finally starting to change color.  You can bring fall inside with lovely 3D leaf ornaments!

Welcome to the November Paper Sweeties Challenge!  It's a color challenge.  You can see all the colors at the Paper Sweeties Blog.

These pretty leaves are so easy to make.  

1.  Punch or die cut three leaves (this will work with about any shape).

2.  Stack the three leaves on top of each other.

3.  Now you will sew vertically down the leaf - be sure to pull a long lead tail before you start.  That way you will have enough thread to add decoration and to hang the leaf.

4.  Decorate with stamps from Paper Sweeties - like these from Autumn Blessings and Give Thanks.  Spread the layers apart.  And you're done!

The paper for these leaves is from Forever Fall at Shabby Miss Jenn's Designs.

Come join us at the Paper Sweeties blog to get all the details on the challenge.

Happy Halloween!

Finally, the leaves are starting to change color.  I've been too preoccupied to notice, but Dennis said something Saturday on our way to lunch about the pretty oak leaves.  So glad he mentioned the leaves, because now I'm noticing them, too!

  You probably already know that I love black cats - mostly because of my black kitty.  I think this scraggly cat die is adorable! He has been retired, but if you want one it looks like the Scrapping Cottage still has some.  You can find him here.  He comes with a cute spider that you can dangle from his tail!

It looks like the kids won't have to wear a coat while trick or treating this Thursday - the high is in the 70s.  I always hated it when I had to put a coat over my costume.  While Lauren was little, it seems like the weather was almost always nice.  I can only remember being really cold one time.   We had a kids Halloween party every year and would often have games set up on our front porch.

You may remember my Valentine countdown which was put together just like this Halloween one.  All the directions can be found at Qbee's Quest.  

If you like the image you can find it at Josiemart.  Again, love that little black cat!!

This treat bag was in the last issue of Paper Haus Magazine.  I folded up the brown bag and sewed the two sides to create a pocket to slip a treat into and the flap is held closed with the ribbon.  

This is that cutie pie ghost I had tucked into a Halloween Treat Cone awhile back.  You can find a pattern for him and a whole bunch of other cutie pies at Gingermelon.   I notice that she has this ghost ornament pattern on sale!

Okay, now - WHO WON THE STAMPIN' WRITE MARKERS?  That would be...

SANDY DEHON

Thank you, Sandy and to all of you who placed a Stampin' Up order!

If you get a chance, LIKE the choux choux facebook page.  Thank you for sticking with me through this long post and have a very Happy Halloween!

Awesome Offer + Awesome Giveaway!

One of my friends asked me to join Stampin' Up! - I've been buying quite a few things from them lately and really liking what I'm getting, so I did!  And I joined just in time to offer you an awesome deal!

Yes, there are 25 stamp sets offered at 25% off - and they are awesome sets!  I already own 4 of them and I just ordered some more!   Most of them are available in wood mount and red rubber (clear mount).  I really like the clear mount - they are easy to use and come in very sturdy slim storage packaging.   I'm going to show you some things I've made with a couple of the sets.

See the details below on the giveaway I'm offering to one lucky winner if you buy one of these stamp sets.  And you have to hurry...

Two of the 25% off stamp sets that I already own are Label Love and Gorgeous Grunge.  I've used images from both on this card.  

And guess what? There is an Artisan Label punch that coordinates beautifully with this set!  I almost forgot that pretty button is part of a lovely tin of buttons that is also available.

The racoon pillow box is a download that also includes an owl and a fox.  They are all so cute!!  

Another 25% off set that I have is Yippee Skippee - it's sentiments are very fun!  I heat embossed "I Freakin' Love You! on a tag cut using the Chalk Talk Framelits.  I tied it onto a clear card.   (I know it's a little hard to see.)

I thought since this is really an I Love You card what is written inside might need to be a little private.  So I folded red cardstock and adhered a heart on the front and clipped it in - that way it can be removed, a love note can be written, and it can be clipped back inside.  

---The Fine Print on the Giveaway---

I have fallen in love with the Stampin Write markers!  They are awesome for adding different colors to a stamp - even in the tiniest places (see the cutest baby tag above).  And I have discovered they even work on clear stamps!  

 For each 25% off stamp set you purchase through my website, I will put your name in a drawing for a complete set of the new colors of Stampin' Write Markers!  That is 10 Stampin' Write Markers and a $28.95 value!!

You have to hurry - the 25% off of 25 stamp sets ends Monday, October 28th!

You can see all 25 stamp sets here.

I will announce the winner on Tuesday, October 29th.

So glad you came by.  Have a lovely week!

Like choux choux on facebook!  

Black Cat Halloween

My sweet black kitty boy is the perfect Halloween decoration all year round.  He adopted us in 2001 and I'm so glad he did.  

But since he won't sit still or pose just where I need him to, I decided to make some black cat decorations that don't have a mind of their own!

These guys are cut from a Silhouette file.  I used heavy duty cardstock (from Papertrey Ink).  Even though the cardstock is nice and heavy, one layer is just too flimsy!  

Cut one front with the eyes and three backs with no eyes.  To get the glitter eyes in just the right spot, lay the front on top of one of the backs and trace the eyes onto the back.

Glitter a little beyond the eyes you drew to make sure you've got them covered.  Glue the back onto the front and then add the additional backs.  So his nose would stand out a little, I just rubbed my finger on a white stamp pad and tapped it onto his nose.

I also created a stand, so I won't have to lean him up on something.  I used fairly heavy chipboard covered with black cardstock to make a really sturdy stand.  

If you have a black kitty that won't pose for you or maybe no black cat at all, maybe a cute one like this will do!

Now a little bit of business...  Who won the Calendar Sets, Dress Shaped Card Set, and Frame Set from The Cutting Cafe?   By random selection (and by that I mean a name drawn by my husband's hand), the winner is...

Four1Lady

Just email me (email at right) and I'll get your info to Regina so she can send you the files.

Thanks for stopping by - hope you have a lovely Friday and weekend, too!

2014 Calendars with The Cutting Cafe - WIN IT!

Every year, Regina from The Cutting Cafe provides 2014 printable calendars in a variety of sizes.  I often use them to make a calendar to keep in my office.  Well, I had more than one idea this time and Regina is offering the 2014 Calendar Set, the Dress Shaped Card Set and the Framed Card set to one lucky winner!

My first idea uses the Dress Shaped Card Set to create a holder for the small square calendar. (You can also see the Dress Banner I created a while back here.)  I cut one layer from printed paper and two from 110# paper to make it very sturdy.  The dress is glued to a vintage doll's dress hanger.

The calendar is also printed on 110# paper, cut and stacked, then attached by a decorated clothespin.  This will make it super easy to change out each month and to changed the entire calendar to 2015.  

Regina's calendar set makes it so easy to add an image.  I had found this sweet vintage Meadow Gold calendar with drawings by Mary Blair.  I added those to the square 2014 calendar and printed the set on 110# manila paper.

I used a hanger to display this calendar, too!  Here's a close up showing the glittered heart.

The last calendar uses the Framed Card Set.  I also stamped each frame shape with a vintage type image.

Very simple to print and then cut the shape with the Cameo.  I printed three months in the center of an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of 110# cardstock.  Then cut one frame shape on the Cameo to use as a guide.  I layered the guide on top of the printed calendar and lined it up inside the cut.  

Then I just placed the two pieces back on the mat using the guide cut to line up where the printed calendar needed to be placed.  

I love old flower frogs so that was a perfect choice for me to display this calendar.  Hope you are inspired to use the 2014 Calendar set from The Cutting Cafe to make your own unique calendars.    If you would like to win the three sets, be sure to mention that you would like to win in your comment.  So glad you came by - have a wonderful week!

(I'll be linking up at Make It Monday.)

Halloween Parade

Do you like scary or cute Halloween?   I tend to go for cute, usually, but I really like this Halloween Parade image.   I guess it's not really scary and it does have some cute elements like the black kitty, of course.  So maybe this falls somewhere in between...

You can get this fun vintage Halloween image at Nicecrane Designs.   I think this image stands really well on it's own and doesn't need that much embellishing.  I went for some gold and black accents with a little bit of twine.  Here's a look at the Terrific Halloween set:

We have been having the most beautiful weather!  Since I complained in the summer (and our summer really wasn't that bad this year), I have to rejoice now!  Temps in the 60s and lows cold enough to need a light blanket, making it perfect sleeping weather.  How about where you are?

Paper Sweeties + 10 Minute Craft Dash

Paper Sweeties is sponsoring 10 Minute Craft Dash!  That's where you post your creation that took 10 minutes or less to put together.  Here are the colors for this week:

And here is my card:

The butterfly frame and sentiment are from the new Smile stamp set.  That frame is very sweet, isn't it?  Visit the Paper Sweeties Blog and 10 Minute Craft Dash for all the challenge details.

Quick and Cute for Paper Sweeties

It's Paper Sweeties Release Day!  Welcome!

I'm sharing a "Quick and Cute" bag using the new tag and sentiment stamps from the Guess What stamp set from Paper Sweeties.   Kirby, who works with me and his wife, Gail, love our sugar cookies.  We made some this weekend, so I wanted a quick and cute treat bag to slip a couple of cookies into  - just to make the sharing a little more fun!

I love the bright colors against the polka dot kraft bag - just the perfect size for sugar cookies!

So glad you stopped by - go by the Paper Sweeties blog for more ideas using the new release stamps.  Come back tomorrow for one more day of the October Release...

Paper Sweeties Release Day Two

The Paper Sweeties Dolls have cute new outfits for Thanksgiving!   I turned them into a decoration to use with my rustic turkey.

I backed them with straws and tied them together with ribbon.  Then just plopped them down in a roll of twine.  This is Jake and Abigail from the Paper Sweeties collection.  Their new clothes are from the new stamp sets that will be released on October 15th.

The Paper Sweeties Blog has all the information on the latest challenges and more projects using the new stamp sets.  

Paper Sweeties October Release

Hi there!  Welcome to Day One of the October Paper Sweeties Release!  I have a fall project for you today.   It all started with a simple linen bag.  I picked up a package of them at Michaels, so I didn't have to cut or sew.  That certainly made this project a lot quicker!

The pumpkin is from the new Give Thanks stamp set and the sentiment is from Autumn Blessings.  The flourish underneath is actually a butterfly trail from the Smile stamp set - all of which will be available on October 15th at Paper Sweeties.

The pumpkin and vine are colored with Copics - which work very well on the linen.  The Paper Sweeties stamps made this very easy to decorate!  Check out the Paper Sweeties blog for other projects with the new stamps and for information on the challenges and current prizes.  So glad you came by - have a wonderful week!

(I'll be linking up at Make it Monday.)

Halloween Puuuurrrrple with Nicecrane

Hi there!  I felt rather puuurrrrple, you know puuuurrrrple - not purple.  Have you seen that paint commercial?  It always cracks me up, because it is so hard to describe color.  

This darling image is from Nicecrane Designs and is available in its original already colored form and a ready to color form.  And since I felt like puuurrrple, I went with the ready to color and my copics.  Just love this sweet little girl and her kitty...

Here's a look at her in both her forms:

She's available in a Pumpkin Pack along with a couple of other images or by herself.   Hope you're having a great October so far.  The weather has been just lovely...