Cauldron Witch Marci Front Spring Card

update 10-31-13: La-la Land is having a Halloween Sale starting today and thu 11-2-13. Link to the sale here.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN....................
This card was not from the first day of the La-la Land Retreat but because it is Halloween today, I need to post this fabulous project designed by Irina. Cauldron Witch Marci stamp image can be found here. Dies used from La-la Land are: Spider Web Boarder die, Creepy Vines die, Eerie Bats die, Open Leaf die, Pumpkins, Spider Web Corner, Heart Tree die, Scary Tree die, Stitched Scallops Boarder, Frightful Fence, Heart Doily Boarder die, and Book Tab and Labels die............all can be found here.  Finished card size is 7-1/2" x 7". I believe the paper used for this cars is from Authentique.  Lots of details to enjoy in this card:

Here's some close-up of the card details: Marci's original hair color was shades of green - I love RED so she got red color hair. All other colors followed the recommended Copics to be used.

 Stamped message is part of the Cauldron Witch Marci:

Pumpkin eyes have dimension by using Viva Black Pearl Pens..............don't you just love it? .Pop those pumpkins up with foam squares. I also added some brown lines using a Copic pen

The spooky tree is stamped with a wood grain stamp and Distress Vintage Photo Ink. Note the eyes are also using Viva Black Pearl Pen.

Here's a side view of the card:

Here's a overhead view on this unique card style:

So are you ready?  Want to see the  INSIDE, yup, the inside of the card?  No Kidding.......flip the front up to reveal.............that cool spider web corner die along with the bat and Book Tab die:

Back of the card: cute, eh?  Such a nice touch............adds soooo much more to this special card!  I love it..........I left the center of the label blank so I can hand write either the year or my name.   This a great way to finish any card!!!

So do you think this is the very BEST Halloween card ever? 

La-la Land Retreat Project Hat and Trinket Box

The La-la Land Palooza Retreat was the BEST retreat ever!!!!! I've never had so much fun, EVER!!!! Irina and some members of her Design Team who attended did a "over the top" job on creating such unique projects as well as make and takes for all of us.  We received such wonderful gifts in our Goodie bags: a Custom made T-shirt (Irina and her Team are so talented - yup, she screened them herself), out own fluffy aprons, our La-la Land mugs, a mini Score-pal, Paper Tole tool and shaping pad along with two 6x6 paper packs. I am spinning with delight from this retreat. So let's get started to reveal some of the projects we made:

This was the very first project designed by Irina: it is a mini Steampunk Hat.  We all had the opportunity to assemble and freely decorate the hat with some available trims. This is what I created. The hat is sitting on a mini bottle of wine. Some of the  La-la Land dies used are Birdcage, Leaf, and Butterfly which can be found here. The Butterfly is outlined using a Sakura Crystal pen.

You can also see some metal mini Gears along with die cut Hearts randomly scattered on the side of the hat. I also randomly sprayed some gold Smooch on the hat.

Quill rolled roses ( a La-la Land die) in black are found on top of the decorative ribbon. The red ribbon was made using Copic R27 - it was originally a cream color seam binding ribbon.

The finished size of this hat is 6" x 3". We had a contest for the best hat - boo hoo, I didn't win but the winner def deserved the recognition - their hat was ever so super!!!!

 

A make and take project: Trinket box found here. This box is sooooo easy to assemble  - it is quite sturdy.  Gold Shimmer  paper used outside and inside. Finished size is 4" x 4". Leaf and Gear dies are from La-la land. Stamped image is called Top Hat Steampunk Marci found here.

Love the effect of the Viva Gold Pearl Pen randomly "dropped" on to the front cover.

 Trinket box inside:

OK - more projects from Day 1 coming in the next post.............so stay tuned and join me for the ride..............it is quite a fun one.................

 

 



The La-la Land Palooza Craft Retreat

I'm so excited to have had the very special opportunity to attend the first La-La Land Palooza Craft Retreat.  It was held locally (for me) in the Pacifica, California at the Best Western Hotel by the Rockaway Beach. I will be posting my completed projects from this 3 day retreat. There are scheduled exceptional "class" projects each day along with additional "make and takes"..............and..............they are not your everyday simple ones, too.  I saw from the schedule, each class project was slotted for at least 3 hours to complete - yeek!!!! I had to stay focused!!!!

YOU MUST go to visit the La-la Land blog, you will be able to see some of the more interesting, inspiring and detailed works of art created by Irina and some of her Design Team: Sandie, Debbie, and Sue (a few of the Design Team were present to teach and be mentors).

So, I promise to get it together to post ASAP so stay tuned for some fun projects................coming!

Eek Treat Bag



This is a fun Halloween treat: It is a SVG cut file from My Scrap Chick: Halloween Treat Bag Toppers and Cards found here. Stamped images are from Jaded Blossom new release for this year: Too Cute to Spook..........crazy cute and can be purchased here.  I love that they can be positioned on to Hershey Kisses OR Rolo Chocolates.  After coloring each image (optional but aren't they ever sooooo cute when they are colroed?), they are easily punched out using a 3/4" circle punch..........whoo - hoo so cute!!!! And, paper scraps used to make this whole treat holder!!!!

 Here they all are in the small treat bag:

 Message stamped in the back is part of the Too Cute to Spook stamp set.................

 Ooops, I decided to add a spooky spider ( I have so many of these!) to the topper:

So all you need to do is stamp the images (I used Momento Black) and color them in your favorite colors. I used my Copics. I also added some Glossy Accents to the eyes so they "pop" - let them dry, then punch them out using a 3/4" circle punch - adhere with a mini glue dot to the bottom of your choice of chocolates. Cute, eh?

And, be sure to check out the other stamp sets from Jaded Blossom with fun candy messages..............they are so fun to give and receive.





Baby Boy Mini Album

Another baby album. They are always fun to make. This one is a for a boy - it seems Girl Baby albums out number the Boy ones. These "Bitty Books" were only available at one time through Stampin-Up. Unfortunately, this product has been retired for many years. I have been saving my stash to use sparingly for special occasions.

The card to match: Stamped message is using Stampin-Up Close to Cocoa ink and the Stampin-Up By Ones & By Two stamp set. Paper is Stampin-Up Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Lighter shade of Brown is from Joann's Fabric Store's pack.

Inside message is a simple Congratulations with the colorful mats like the front.  The hand cut lion is from the Best Creations Safari Boy Paper Collection.

The Best Creations Safari Boy paper is so great, I decided to keep the Album case a bit simple. The mats are cut from a Stampin-Up Framelits Label Collection but I did have to hand cut the Bashful Blue mat which is in between the Chocolate Chip and the Best Creations Safari Boy Paper........oh well. It wasn't THAT bad. Then, all three layers are popped with foam squares.

Here is the album and the Case:

The "Xander" is made using SCAL text is Lobster 2 - it is welded to make one continuous image and a shadow in Chocolate Chip was made. The Lion is cut from Best Creations Safari Boy scraps, then popped with a foam square.

On the album cover, the words Memories is an image from the Silhouette on line store. I made an off set shadow at to go with it.

And, of course some great charms (they can be found at your local craft store) to go with this Mini hung using Brown Embroidery Floss.  Add a little Glossy Accents on the knot to prevent it from coming loose.

Album inside: There are 10 insert pages with mats in Stampin-Up Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip.  Some of the mats have the Best Creations Safari Boy images.

This gift will be sent off to the parents to enjoy.

A Speedy Recovery and Get Well

A friend of mine will be having surgery soon so I decided to send her a cute surprise to help her recover.  The SVG project is from SVGattic.com and the Collection is called Feel Better Soon found here.  From this set the Rx Gift Box and Get Well Card (card is re-sized to A2 measurements)

Here's the shaped card: I added a separate paper pattern mat for the front (easily done using SCAL program by deleting nodes). The Letterpress Swirl Embossing Folder used on the popped up orange heart.  Cuttlebug Dot Embossing Folder used for the band aid.  The Kraft band aid is edges using brown ink and popped with foam squares. "Get Well Soon" is also popped with foam squares. All papers used are from Recollections.  Shimmer Dot mat is from my stash.

Inside message is stamped using Stamping Up "Happy Healing" (OMG - this stamp set is from 1999!). Orange adhesive rhinestones attached at the top right corner.

Here are the pill boxes. The original size was larger. I wanted to make a couple pill boxes so the size has been reduced to finish 3-3/4" x 2-3/4".  Pill box is a metallic Copper card stock from Wausau Paper (I found this random paper pack at a Ross!!!).  Pill Lid is a metallic white card stock also from Wausau Paper. Red and Black card stock from scraps in my stash.  Pill box labels were computer generated, punched using a Stampin Up small oval punch.

Here's another view:

Remove the lids to reveal some treats: Peanut Butter Cups, Hi Chews (a sweet Japanese candy), and Japanese seaweed crackers.

These pill boxes and card turned out great - I am certain the pill boxes will be used again for a birthday, too!

 

Thank you for coming by today to visit!

Unique Photo Jacket and Envelope

This is a Grrrr-eat gift to give someone and I got it from a Jackie C. who was so kind to give such a great memento of my special occasion. I keep it close by to remind me of the wonderful event I had and I wanted to share this with you all so you can also be inspired to make something wonderful like this. It is a unique photo wallet that came in it's own color co-ordinated organdy bag.

Here is the Photo Jacket: measures 6-1/6" x 4-3/8". The paper used is from Best Creations Kimono Collection/#K001 Flower Viewing and the contrast paper is #K004 Colorful Ball. Stickles were added to the umbrella tops randomly.

Open up the tab to reveal a jacket with a thumb pull (can be made using a circle punch)

There's enough room to hold a couple photos of the event:

Flip the Photo Jacket over to see that there is another pocket that holds a note card documenting the event. Optional: Use the Stamping Up label punch for the "pull"

On the reverse side of the note card is a business card from the restaurant:

I will do my best to provide the measurements to make this project: To make the base, cut (1) 4-1/4" x 11" card stock, score on the 11" side @4-1/2", 10-1/2" as shown. This is the Blue color card stock in the project.

Cut (2) 4" x 4-1/4" liners in a pattern paper. This is the Best Creations Kimono Collection/#K001 Flower Viewing in the project. Optional: use a corner rounder on the flaps.

Cut (1) 6"  6-3/4" pocket, score on the 6-3/4" side @2" and 6-1/4".  This is the pocket using Best Creations Kimono Collection/ #K004 Colorful Ball in the project. You will be wrapping this around the base. Note there is a 1/2" allowance for the sticky tape to adhere to the base as shown in the 5th photo.

Lastly, here is the note card cut (1) 3-1/2" x 5" to be inserted into the jacket (at the back). Optional to punch a pull tab.

Hope you all are now inspired to make some of these for some quick and eventful memories.

From Gene

I got this card from my friend Gene L a while back and forgot to post it to share with everyone.  It is a Surprise Pop-Up card using the My Little Shoebox Papers: Aiko/Blue Sky. The tutorial for the surprise pop-up card style can be found on Split Coast Stampers here. This is a A2 size card:

 The stamped and embossed message from the pull out:

Here's Aiko on a scallop circle:  

 I'm not certain where the stamps are from but I do know the inside Kanji Thank You is nicely used with black embossing powder on top a stamped Thank You background on the reverse side of the My Little Shoebox Aiko/Blue Sky paper 

Here's a side view of the card:

 I always love the back of her cards: her stamped signature is so cool!

Hope you enjoyed this card as I do.................a keeper!