Author Archives: Karen Fontinelle

Happy Halloween! Halloween Treat Bags!

I hope you have a fun Halloween planned with your family!  I expect to have some trick-or-treaters at my door tonight and I always enjoy giving out the candy!  The little neighborhood carnival is just down the street, so we always do get a lot of kids at our house as they come and go from the carnival.

Here are a couple of treat bags I made for my "big" kids so easily out of the Mini Lunch Sacks #121031 in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Just a few scraps of Wicked Fun Designer Series Paper #117400, some card stock and maybe a little stamping from Wicked Cool.  Use your punches!  Really fun!  I think I might make a couple more bags today for some special trick-or-treaters!

Ghosts Halloween Treat Bag

Did you know you can make ghosts out of the Owl Punch #118074?

Just punch out the owl in white, cut off his feet, and turn him upside down! Put some eyes on him and you've got a ghost!  Love it!

Spider Web Halloween Treat Bag

I finally caught up with myself and found out I DID order the Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder #120889!  Just run this through your Big Shot and you have a great spider web!  To make it show up, I just rubbed my Craft White Ink Pad lightly over the spider web.  On another one I sprinkled on some Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder #101930 and set it with my Heat Tool #100005!  Nice and sparkly!

Have a Happy Halloween!!!

My Digital Studio Halloween Page

My Digital Studio Halloween Scrapbook Page

Images copyright Stampin' Up! 2010

It's fun to play around with My Digital Studio and see what you come up with! And there is SO much to come up with!  Here's a Halloween page I came up first by starting with an already designed template included in the software and then changing the paper and the embellishments.  Even though it is a template in the software, you can change every element of it.  Make some Halloween scrapbook pages ahead of time and you'll be all set to add the spooky photos next week!

Don't miss checking out My Digital Studio HERE!  If you love Stampin' Up!'s great paper, ink, and stamps you will also love this digital papercrafting program they have put together!
 

Halloween Candy Bars

Halloween Candy Bars

Candy is a huge part of Halloween, so I thought it was time to play with some! These are just the "snack size" Hershey bars, but of course if you had the regular size or even the giant size bars you could do the same thing.  I just took small pieces of card stock and Wicked Fun Specialty Paper #117400 and wrapped it around the candy bars.  Then I decorated with my Bitty Bat Punch #119279 and some stamps from Wicked Cool #120600.  Doing these was so much fun!  I may even make some more!  One of my favorites is the bottom candy bar where I punched out the bat and wrapped the black paper over the Pumpkin Pie card stock.  Well, I like them all!  Get out your punches, some scraps of card stock and some Halloween or fun stamps and see what you can come up with!  Wouldn't a bowl full of those be cute to hand out on Halloween?!

More Halloween Spooky Things Decor Elements!

Spooky Things Halloween Decor Elements Frame

Now that I've found my Spooky Things Decor Elements #122296 that I ordered from the Holiday Mini Catalog, I had to make another project!  Of course I forgot to measure before going to the craft store so the frame I bought was a little larger than I needed.  But it still fit using the mat since the frame opening was larger than 12 inches across, and that would have been more difficult to fill.  Anyway, the vinyl Decor Elements….the "happy halloween 31" is placed on the front of the glass of the frame.  Directions come with the vinyl so you will know exactly how to apply or you can read my post from yesterday and watch a video from Stampin' Up! on working with Decor Elements.  I taped a piece of Wicked Fun Specialty Paper #117400 behind the mat for the background.  And then I went wild stamping on the mat!  I used stamps from Extreme Elements #115181 and Wicked Cool #120600 to decorate the mat!  Of course I wanted to use my Bitty Bat Large Punch #119279, so you see three bats flying around, eyes are dots with the white Signo Gel Pen #105021.  Don't worry that just because Halloween will be over you won't be able to use the Bat Punch because clever people have already figured out ways to use the punch for other cute things.

Sometimes it is fun to think of using your stamping supplies for some home decor instead of a card or scrapbook page!

If you need some supplies for holiday decorations, just go to my website and online store HERE and click the Shop Now button!  Easy as pie!

Halloween Pumpkins

Halloween is sneaking up on me faster than I know, and I LOVE Halloween!  I was ready to post a Christmas project yesterday when I realized I should be doing Halloween! FINALLY I was able to find all my supplies I knew I had purchased to decorate these pumpkins.  At the Stampin' Up! Convention this summer Brent Steele demonstrated this project with white pumpkins, so I wanted to try it!  I bought these pumpkins at a craft store so I could save them to use next year.

For this project you need the Spooky Things Decor Elements #120909 in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  You get a whole set of ten vinyl images, so you will have plenty of decorations left over!  Decor Elements are pretty much like big rub ons, so don't be afraid of them!

Spooky Things Decor Elements

I cut out the word I wanted to use and used my handy dandy Decor Elements Applicator #114285 rub the Decor Element from its backing onto the transfer paper.

Transferring Decor Element

When you carefully peel away the grid paper, the vinyl will be attached to the transfer paper.  If any bit is still stuck to the backing, just rub some more and then peel again.

Applying Decor Element

I stuck the word onto my pumpkin, touching only the white paper outside the word in case I needed to move it.  It's a little difficult to transfer the vinyl onto the uneven pumpkin but it wasn't too hard at all.

Pumpkin with Decor Element

Just use the applicator again to rub from the center out, making sure everything is attached before completely pulling off the paper.

If you would like to watch a video about using the Decor Elements vinyl, just click HERE to watch Shannon West from Stampin' Up! demonstrate.

Black Flourish Designer Jewels

Now we'll do a little more transferring and applying of the beautiful Black Flourish Designer Jewels #120987 in the Holiday Mini Catalog. You get a beautiful full flourish in the package, but you can cut it smaller and use the various parts where you want.  In the package, you receive this piece of sticky transfer paper which you rub over the jewels and then peel off the backing so that you can apply and stick the jewels to your project.  Directions are included, so don't worry!

Black Flourish Jewels

Transferring Black Flourish Jewels

You're working with "stickiness" so sometimes a little tricky but not bad!

Black Flourish Designer Jewels

Apply to your project where you want it and then remove the sticky transfer paper.

Decorated Halloween Pumpkins

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

PumpkinDE10

Need any of these supplies?  Just go shop online right now at my 24/7 store!


Simply Adorned Halloween

Now that I am beginning to get a little bit caught up, I realized I should have a Halloween design in my Simply Adorned necklace!  This is what I made very quickly, with little thought or planning.  It would be fun to make some more!

Simply Adorned Halloween Front

Simply Adorned Halloween Back

 

Here are the inserts alone.  I used some Wicked Fun Specialty Paper #117400, stamped a sentiment in the stamp set Wicked Cool #120600(clear) and cut it apart, punched a strip with the Scallop Trim Border Punch #118402, added a little Rhinestone #119246 and also a snippet of the Raven 1/2" Lace Trim #120988.  The tiny pumpkin is made from three circles punched from the cute little punch in the Itty bitty Shapes Punch Pack #118309.  (You've gotta have these punches!  They are so itty bitty and cute!!)  The tiny green stem doesn't show up against the DSP in the background.  You can see I also tied on some bits of the Raven Lace Trim right onto the necklace chain.

Here are just the inserts, front and back, alone so you can see them better. They are just 1" x 1  1/4".

Simply Adorned Halloween Insert

Simply Adorned Halloween Insert

Think about what a great gift these Simply Adorned Charms and Chains would make for someone!  If you are the creative one, you can make them some inserts and give as part of the gift.  If you think they would enjoy the creative side, just give them the jewelry.  Maybe they just want to add a photo for now.  And of course, anything YOU like when you purchase a gift for someone, I think you should get one for yourself too!

Right now you can save $10 on this specially discounted Simply Adorned Bundle of charm and chain!  Check out the Perfect Handmade Bundles at my Online Store and click to find the details of each bundle!

 

Get Started on Your Holiday Projects……at 20% Off!!

Images copyright Stampin' Up! 2010

 
Would you like to have fun stamping and be steps ahead in your Christmas preparation, all at 20% off certain Stampin' Up! products?!  Check out these Holiday Promotion Bundles and see what you can make!  Just click the "Shop Now" button on the page and see the bundles in more detail.  When you click on the bundle you might be interested in, be sure to click on "More Images".  This promotion is available now through Dec. 16.  You'll find cards, packaging and gifts…..and once you really start stamping, you'll probably find your creativity zooms and you'll get even more ideas of things to make! 
 
NOTE:  Stampin' Up! has announced that the Decorative Label Punch will be backordered because of a delay in receiving it from the vendor.  This punch is included in the Tags til Christmas Bundle.  During this time, Stampin' Up! will still ship the stamp set with your order and ship the punch as soon as it is available.  As an additional option, Stampin' Up! has added another bundle, including the Ornament Punch with the Tags til Christmas stamp set.  This bundle will continue to be available even after the Decorative Label Punch comes off backorder.
 
Remember to use the Bundle Item Codes for the discount!  Contact me if you have any questions or need help.

She’s Married!!

The bride was beautiful, the groom handsome, the wedding a whirlwind!  It is an amazing experience to see your child get married and to welcome the new spouse as a real part of the family.  And to see all the months of planning actually come together in the decor, the flowers, the food, the music….everything!  It was all wonderful!

Of course stamping played a part in all of this!  I was honored that my daughter asked me to make her wedding invitations.  We were able to partially design the invitation while I was visiting in June, although it was right at catalog change-over time so would we use retiring paper and could we get enough or would we prefer a new color and accessories from the demonstrator preorder?  Concord Crush seemed to be the right color, and she loved the new "Vintage Wallpaper" embossing folder and Scallop Trim Border Punch so I had to incorporate all of those.  She liked the inside of the Vintage Wallpaper embossing showing so that really dictated the size and design of the whole invitation.  It was a paper-engineering and computer feat, but with tips from my cyber-stamping friends with more computer skills than I had I eventually got it ready to go!

Invitation Cover


Vintage Wallpaper embossing inside

Wedding Invitation Inside

One of the insert cards…..my favorite!  The bride is from the Spanish set in Celebrando Creatividad, Para la novia.  A lot of guests were coming from out of town.

RestaurantInsert

The fan was purchased, of course, but I made the menu, the table number/name, the favor tin and the escort cards.  As you can see, it had a bit of a Spanish (as in Spain) theme!  It was all fun!

Wedding Table Decor

 

And now back to real life!  I don't know where to begin to catch up!  But I know Stampin' Up! has some specials going on and new My Digital Studio downloads, and the holidays are upon us!  Whew!  I better get busy!


Don’t Forget About the Tote-Ally Awesome Tote!

Stampin' Up! has a fantastic offer right now for new recruits, but your time is running out!  When you sign up to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator from now until October 18, while supplies last, you will also receive this wonderful tote to carry all your stamping supplies!  Whether for your personal use or to carry supplies to workshops, I know you will love this beautiful tote, styled after our Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper!  

Check out the information HERE and email me with any questions!

Something Besides Purple!

More wedding preparations and finally I got to use a color besides Concord Crush!  Certainly Celery is a welcome change!  And what a great opportunity to use the fabulous Medallion stamp #115223, the best-selling stamp last year, I believe.  This stamp is so versatile, whether you want a background, something elegant, something large….stamp it with ink, emboss it, do Poppin' Pastels on it (really pretty!)….so many choices!  And it is so much fun to play with the new bling in this year's catalog…..rhinestones and pearls!

Certainly Celery

MYDIGITALSTUDIO.NET For Everyone!

Stampin' Up! has just announced a new website for demonstrators and customers alike dedicated to My Digital Studio!  You'll be able to go there for information, updates, inspiring projects, discussion forums….everything about My Digital Studio!!  I have only had time to take a peek, but I can't wait to really look around later on after the wedding!  If you are not familiar with My Digital Studio, it is a software program that will allow you to create all kinds of digital papercrafting projects:  cards, albums, scrapbook pages, calendars, etc. Stampin' Up! has been putting out plenty of new downloads for purchase as well along and along so it never gets old!


Images copyright Stampin' Up! 2o10

 To join this new community, just go to www.mydigitalstudio.net.  Over in the upper right corner you will see a box to sign up.  I'm sure you will really enjoy this new site PLUS learn a lot as well as we all share what we know and what we've created!

To purchase My Digital Studio, just go to my Online Store HERE, click the Shop Now button, and then click on "Digital Crafting" over on the left column.

A Handy Dandy Paper Cutter Trick

Yesterday as I was making more wedding things, I needed to cut a kajillion small pieces of cardstock and the measurement was 1 5/8".  That takes a tiny bit more effort to find that measurement so I got the idea to line up a ruler on my Paper Cutter #104152.  This fabulous ruler is a Stampin' Up! ruler we were able to buy at Convention!  I used some tape to hold it down.  To be able to just slide the paper in and not have to look for the measurement each time made the task a little faster and easier!

Stampin' Up! Paper Cutter

Do you need something to cut your paper?  Check out the paper cutters and scissors on page 199 of the Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog or my Online Store HERE.

 

October Projects

It's a new month and Stampin' Up! always provides us with Projects of the Month.  They are always over in the left side bar on my blog.  Last month, two of the projects were for Halloween, so I have chosen to leave those up for October, and I just added the new projects!  Be sure to check them out!  Just click on the photo!

I'm sure the Halloween House will be a favorite!


Para la novia

What are these??  These are the beautiful images from the Stampin' Up! stamp set "Para la novia" #114028 in the Spanish catalog "Celebrando Creatividad" on page 22.  I've stamped the bride and the cake with Concord Crush Classic Ink and am busily cutting them out today with my Paper Snips #103579.  Can't show you yet what I am making with them!  But I can say that if you ever have to cut out a quantity of intricate, small images like these, you really need our Stampin' Up! Paper Snips!

Spanish Bride and Wedding Cake

Halloween Bucket

Favor Tin Bucket

Here is one of the many things I have been doing lately to get ready for the wedding.  These are the favor tins partially decorated and being shipped off to the bride to fill and finish.  When I was left with the plastic buckets the tins came in I thought, THROW THESE OUT SO THEY DON"T ADD TO THE MESS!  But then the craft devil said, "But you might be able to use these to wrap Christmas presents!"  Isn't that always the way it happens and then we wind up with all kinds of stuff saved "in case we need it"!  And then I got the idea to take out the paper lining the clear plastic container and decorate it for Halloween!

I used the Wicked Fun Specialty Paper #117400 in the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog and the stamp set Wicked Cool, also in the Idea Book & Catalog.  It was REALLY time for me to stop and stamp a little bit. When I get a little more time I think a cute punch spider on top would be cute! Hope you will be inspired to make something fun out of something you have sitting around!

Wicked Cool Stamp Set

Favor Tin Bucket

Spider Web Lid

  Halloween Favor Tin Bucket

If you need some Halloween stamp sets, paper, or accessories, be sure to check out my Online Store soon!!