One More Halloween Project


I have one more Halloween project to show you. I was scrambling last week to get everything on my "to do" list accomplished before today! Thankfully, I got this project finished in time to include it in a nice little treat bag for my oldest son's kindergarten teacher.

Last week, I went with his class on their field trip to a local farm. They had a hay ride, picked a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, learned about farming, got to get up close and personal with some farm animals... ...you get the picture. It was a fun day for the kids. However, their teacher, Miss Simmons, wasn't able to go with the kids. She was at home battling the flu.

As usual, I took hoards of pictures. In addition to the field trip, we had their Fall Party in the afternoon upon returning to the school. I took some pictures there too. I decided to burn a cd with all my pictures from the day for Miss Simmons. So of course I had to make her a special cd case for the cd. On the back of this, I wrote, "--All your little monsters!" I stuck it in a treat bag I made up for her with some of the Halloween treats I showed you last week from the October 8 for $10 workshop. This is Miss Simmons' first job teaching after graduating from college, and I know she hated to miss the field trip with her kids. Hopefully this cd full of pictures will help her feel like she was there!

We gave her the treat bag on Thursday, and she really loved her special presents. She said it was like Christmas! I told her making things like this is a hobby of mine right now while I'm a stay-at-home mom. She said she was glad to reap the benefits of my hobby! Seeing the joy and surprise from people who receive my little gifts is the reason I love making them. Thanks for stopping by!

Treats for My Guys

Happy Halloween!


Here are some simple jars of candy I made up for my guys--including my hubby. They don't care how elaborately decorated the jars are. They just want what's inside. (Yes, once again they are empty peanut butter jars. I like to recycle.)

I was anxious to use The Greeting Farm's "Spooktacular" stamp set and running out of time! Consequently, these are pretty simple. They're each filled with a different candy, something special for each of my boys.

These stamps force me to work on my coloring technique. I haven't ever outlined an image like I did on the mummy, but I'm pleased with it. Now I wish I had done it to all three. Happy Halloween! Thanks for stopping by!

October 8 for $10 - Project #4


The final project from this month's 8 for $10 workshop was a Stair Step Fold Card. I saw a card by Lorri Heiling on her blog soon after the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog came out. She used the new Pumpkin Patch stamp set for hers. I love the Autumn Harvest stamp set, so I set out to make a card with it instead.

I was also inspired by the children's Halloween poem, "Five Little Pumpkins." You remember it, right? They were sitting on a fence. I pondered for a few moments on how to make a picket fence, and then decided that a rounded white fence using my Scallop Edge punch would be just as nice. To make distressed looking lines to indicate individual slats of wood, stand a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Up! marker so that the writing tip is up. After a few minutes, the ink runs to the other end, and it's just right for drawing sketchy lines.

This card went through many versions before I was completely settled with it. I played with different shades of oranges, rust and golds before settling on just Pumpkin Pie and Really Rust. I didn't like the jack-o-lantern face on the little pumpkins, so I decided to only put it on the large pumpkins. I added sponging to the full moon, Happy Halloween sign and toothpick signpost for extra depth and richness of color.

The last change I made was to chop off the back fold of Garden Green to make it Not Quite Navy. It looked much better and more believable as a backdrop for the big full moon. You can find a Stair Step Card Tutorial on the Splitcoast Stampers website if you'd like to try one yourself.

I'm really pleased with the final version of this card. I didn't come up with using the Stair Step Fold Card to make a pumpkin patch, but I think from there, I created something pretty special that's my own. I don't sit and do that very often. Thanks for stopping by!

Look what I got today!



I ran into my upline, Bobbie Lawrence, at our kids' school today. She gave me this adorable little Halloween treat. She had made them up for her son's preschool class, and apparently she had an extra one to give me! I love getting little surprises like this! How cute! Thanks, Bobbie!

My youngest son thought I should give him the pack of Smarties, but no way! This is a little treat just for Mommy! Thanks for stopping by!

October 8 for $10 - Project #3


October 8 for $10 Workshop Project #3 used the new Sweet Treat Cups and Sweet Centers stamp set from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini catalog. I originally saw the idea for making these into a lollipop style treat on Lydia Fiedler's blog.


After making these, I decided I didn't like the way the lollipop stick made the cardstock "rumple" in the back. I made up the rest of my Sweet Centers treats as little tags or ornaments to be hung somewhere cute until Halloween.


The sentiment that you punch out to make the Sweet Treat Cups fit into the stamped image is too cute to just throw away. I decided to put it on the back of my lollipop/ornament--whatever it is! Thanks for stopping by!

October 8 for $10 - Project #2


Here's the second treat we made at the October 8 for $10 workshop. These little Sour Cream Containers are filled with peanut butter taffy.

Once again, Splitcoast Stampers has a Sour Cream Container Tutorial on their site. They have a few different sizes you can try depending on what you want to use them for and fill them with.


My mom let me borrow this Batty for You stamp set for the workshop. Thanks, Mom! I think I'm going to have to buy it someday for myself.

Thanks for stopping by!

October 8 for $10 - Project #1


This week is the perfect time to show you each of the projects we made at the October 8 for $10 workshop earlier this month.

The first treat is a Halloween Popcorn Pull Treat. I first saw the idea to make one of these with popcorn on Dawn Griffith's blog here. What a great treat to give your favorite scary movie lover for Halloween! There's a Pull Treat tutorial on the Splitcoast Stampers website showing how to make these for any type or size of treat.

Come back tomorrow to see another cute treat from the workshop! Thanks for stopping by!

Deal of the Week #4 - The Last One



Deal #4 is the last Deal of the Week. For all the princesses and pirates you know, the Pirate and Princess Party Kits are on sale this week. They can be found on pages 174 & 175 of the current Idea Book & Catalog.




Princess Party Kit - $9.99, regularly $15.95




Pirate Party Kit - $9.99, regularly $15.95


Contact me if you'd like to place an order! Thanks for stopping by!

Kindergarten Fall Party Treat Bags


My oldest son's kindergarten fall party was Wednesday. My job for the party was to make up the treat bags. Parents could donate candy for them, and then I took all the candy and made up the treat bags Tuesday afternoon.

The past few weeks have been really hectic around here, so I needed something cute and easy to do for their treat bags. I did a search online and found this idea on the Martha Stewart site.

From there, I made my own stamped version from a retired SU! stamp set. I think they turned out pretty cute. They went quickly, which was great, because I had to make 24 of them! Thanks for stopping by!

Deal of the Week #3


Deal #3 is an assortment of cute embellishments for your handmade cards and scrapbook pages. It will last until Monday, October 26th at 11:50am ET. Deal #4 will be revealed on Monday, October 26th at 12:00pm ET.


Basic Jumbo Grommets - $4.49, regularly $6.95



Mini Library Clips - $8.99, regularly $12.95



Circle Designer Brads - $3.99, regularly $5.95



1/2" Library Clips - $3.99, regularly $6.95



Contact me if you'd like to place an order! Thanks for stopping by!

Deal of the Week #2


Deal #2 is a trio of Big Shot dies at a discount and will last until Monday, October 19th at 11:50am ET. Deal #3 will be revealed on Monday, October 19th at 12:00pm ET.


Perfect Setting Bigz XL Die (p. 200) - $25.99, regularly $42.95




Flower Burst Embosslits Die (p. 195) - $5.99, regularly $11.95



Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL Die (p. 201) - $25.49, regularly $39.95





I'm placing an order on Wednesday, so contact me if you'd like to order with me and save a little on shipping. Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Calendars

October Stamp Camp
Birthday Calendars
Saturday, October 24th at 10am




Birthday Calendars make excellent gifts and aren't just for 2010. They may be used each year to keep birthday and anniversary dates at your fingertips. You'll never miss sending a birthday or anniversary card again!




The October Stamp Camp workshop fee will be $15, which includes:

  • One blank calendar from Stampin' Up!, which costs $9.36 including taxes and shipping and handling

  • Use of all the stamp sets and inks that you'll need to complete your calendar

  • Munchies by me!



You may make as many birthday calendars as you wish.
  • Each additional calendar costs $12

  • Completed calendars cost $16 each



Tell me how many calendars you wish to purchase or make by noon on Tuesday, October 13th. Thanks for stopping by!

Thoughts and Prayers


Last week I needed a sympathy card, so I pulled up this card by Gretchen Barron that I liked when she posted it. I pretty much copied the layout using my own patterned paper and color scheme. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday, Dad!


My mom and dad have a beef cattle farm in PA, and the tractors there are green John Deere's. When I saw this card by Jackie Topa, I knew I would have to CASE it someday. I made it for my dad. Happy Birthday, Dad! (Jim's dad's birthday is in a couple months, but his card will have to have a red International tractor on it.)

I've never used sponging to make a landscape scene before. I was a little intimidated by the prospect of it, but it was pretty easy and quick. I was pleasantly surprised. I used Gretchen Barron's Sponged Sky/Clouds Tutorial and Template as guidance for the sky and clouds. I did it from memory, because I read her post a few weeks ago. I should have taken the time to re-read it before doing it, but they still turned out ok. The next time, my clouds should look even better!

I guess that's my lesson, don't be afraid to try something new. Thanks for stopping by!

October 8 for $10 Workshop

This post will remain at the top of the page until Friday, October 2nd. Please scroll down for newer posts.


Come to the October 8 for $10 workshop on Thursday, October 8th at 7pm!


You will make two each of the four items shown in the picture above and described below for a class fee of $10:
  • an adorable pumpkin patch stair step card
  • a slider pack containing microwave popcorn for your favorite movie buff
  • a sour cream container with peanut butter taffy
  • a Sweet Centers lollipop filled with chocolate candies
Don't miss it! RSVP by Friday, October 2nd! Thanks for stopping by!

Stampin' Up! Deals of the Week are back!


Stampin' Up! just announced today that they are starting the Deal of the Week promotion again during the month of October. They did this in July, and there were some great deals to be had!

Deal #1 is a trio of punches available at a discount and will last until Monday, October 12th at 11:50am ET. Deal #2 will be revealed on Monday, October 12th at 12:00pm ET.

Trio Flower Punch - $10.99, regularly $15.95

5-Petal Flower Punch - $10.99, regularly $15.95

My Way Punch - $11.99, regularly $15.95


Contact me to place an order! Thanks for stopping by!

My Digital Studio is available today!


Use the same great artwork, colors, and accessory images found in the current Stampin' Up! product line to create personalized projects. The options are endless: create assorted photo albums, calendars, and greeting cards using My Digital Studio. Once you've created your personalized gift or heirloom, have it printed in Stampin' Up!'s high-quality print facility and delivered to your door.

Check out the current Holiday Mini Catalog for more information or contact me if you're interested and have any questions.

Host a workshop of at least $400 and get My Digital Studio for 50% off the retail price (retail price: $79.95; promotional price: $39.97) when you use your free hostess dollars!


Are you interested in becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator? With the launch of My Digital Studio software, new recruits can purchase an exclusive Starter Kit that includes My Digital Studio, in addition to stamps, inks, and accessories. Click here for more information, or on the link on the right side of this page.

Contact me if you're interested and have any questions about any of the current Stampin' Up! promotions. Thanks for stopping by!

Medallion Card


This is the fourth and final card we made last week at the September 8 for $10 workshop. I posted about this card previously, because I originally made the card for my parents' 35th wedding anniversary.

This card by Lynn Weiss was my inspiration. I simplified it a bit by omitting the layering in the center of the medallion image. It's hard to see in the picture, but I added a little bling by coloring in some of the designs in the image with a sparkly silver glitter pen. Thanks for stopping by!