TCP Tuesday 178--Best Witches

Well, I've been stamping my little heart out as much as I can. I'm working on a release that's right around the corner--I'll keep ya'll guessing as to who it's for. But as promised, I'm back today with a spooky little card for this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge from The Cat's Pajamas.




Jenny has given us a super cute color challenge that really pairs well with a Halloween theme: Plum Purple, Pear Green, and Smokey Grey. Speaking of Grey, are ya'll watching Grey's Anatomy this season? IT'S GOOOOOOOOD!!!!


Ok, onto a few more details about McDreamy. Ope! I mean my card, but I did have a dream about him last night! I used the (extremely cute) Witchy stamp set, colored her with my Copics and then paper pieced her dress using some paper from my Lime Twist collection from My Mind's Eye--it's perfect for this color challenge! I layered an embossed piece of Sour Apple green cardstock (from MFT, but I don't see CS on their new website! Insert sad face here.), along with a strip cut from my Inside Pinking CutUps die and then tied a little bow with some of our Dove Seam Binding. And do ya'll see my "purposeful placement" of the "31"? CUTE!

Anyway, I hope ya'll get to play along with us this week for your chance to be the weekly winner of some CAT CASH. Don't forget that you could also be chosen as the monthly SWANKY STAMPER and be lavished with several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop. Find all the details on Alma's blog HERE.

SO, I need to get back in there to my stamp table and my Jack Johnson on Pandora, so I'll see ya'll later. Tomorrow is the first Saturday of the month, so I'll be back with my Sketch For You To Try!

SUSIE Q-TIP: After you cut a die cut or punched border, be sure to center it on your card or project so that the ends are symmetrical (look the same) and then trim. Does that make sense? I hope it makes more sense than the note I wrote to myself while I was in the process of making this card to remind me what my tip would be for this post. Here it is--Die cut strips: Cut so that ends are the same/even. HUH? It took me a minute to translate, but then again maybe that one makes more sense to ya'll.

Stamps: Witchy (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Sour Apple (MFT), Smokey Grey, Vintage Cream (PTI), Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Inside Pinking CutUps (The Cat's Pajamas), Nestabilities, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Circle Punch, Dove Seam Binding (TCP), Adhesive Rhinestones, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

Very Verve-y Halloween Tag and Art Project

Well, I know, I know, I fell off the bandwagon last week with my trying to post daily. My kids got sick and it really caught me offguard, followed by a tremendously busy weekend giving their room a makeover with the bunk beds (that we had to put together--*hair flip*)! Oh my gosh, why has life gotten so crazy all of a sudden? I'll try to be better...plus I bet ya'll are still on the edge of your seats to find out what the duct tape reference was all about a few posts ago, right? That will come my friends, that will come.


For now I have a little Verve business to take care of! A couple of weeks ago, ya'll will remember I mentioned being invited to join this little monthly art group. I am so excited to be a part of it because I get to learn new things and techniques. Well this time, we made these little Halloween terrariums. Don't look too hard at it (I kind of burned the paper and didn't do all that great a job), but the glass bell is soldered to the little wooden base. It was my first time to solder! It was so fun and I hope to be able to do it again and make a jewelry piece or something cool.


I brought the terrarium home all finished, but thought it would look even cuter with a tag on it using some of my Verve stamps and dies. Three stamp sets and four different Verve dies later, this is what I came up with! First I used the Text Objects set to make the background paper. Then I cut my die cuts from the Rounded Scallop Frame, Classy Label, Charming Oval and Charming Banner Dies. I love how all the Verve dies are so mixy-matchy...perfect for layering in all kinds of combinations! I stamped the pumpkins from the Bountiful Harvest set and added the wording from the Happy Fall sentiments set. By the way, now would be a good time to pick up some Autumn sets from Verve--they are all 25% off through September 30th!


Ok, well, I'll be back soon--like tomorrow (I PROMISE) with a little TCP TUESDAY card using the latest swanky color challenge!

SUSIE Q-TIP: I used the Charming Banner die to form a little loop for my twine to run through at the top of the tag by just folding it in half and adhering it to each side of the punched circle up at the top of the tag. I had to make sure to not glue it completely together up near the fold, so that it would stay open enough to put the twine through. Pretty cute! I'd encourage ya'll to cut a few of your dies out, and play with folding them in half, using only parts of them, etc. Just fiddle around with the different shapes while your watching TV and you may come up with something unique.

Stamps: Happy Fall, Boutniful Harvest, Text Objects (Verve)
Paper: Black, Vintage Cream (PTI), Rosy Lost and Found (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Tuxedo Black (Memento), Chestnut Roan Cat's Eye (Colorbox)
Accessories: Rounded Scallop Frame, Classy Label, Charming Oval and Charming Banner Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Circle Punches, Adhesive Rhinestones, Corner Rounder, Copic Markers, Licorice Divine Twine (TCP), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: 4 1/4 x 2 5/8"

Mum's the Word and a Winner!

Well, here I am again blogging--three days in a row, trying to stay true to my word of having something every day this week to show ya'll. Again today, I have something still a little crafty, but not in my usual wheelhouse. I also have the winner from Monday's TCP Tuesday CutUps die giveaway.

Earlier this month, one of our local high school's had it's Football Homecoming, so my neighbor's son asked me to make a homecoming mum for the girl he had asked to go with him to homecoming.


The tradition is that the seniors have theirs all done up in silver and white to set them apart from the underclassmen who do theirs up in the regular school colors. I had actually made his sister a mum two years ago when she was a senior. She was sweet enough to hand this one down to her brother and I "upcycled" it, making it bigger and fuller than it was before per his request. LOL!


I added tons more streamers and ribbons with trinkets galore, their names and even feathers around the actual mum part. Those high school girls have mums so big, they have to wear them around their necks like necklaces, and that's exactly what happened here! CRAZY! Anyway, he loved it, she loved it and I killed a hot glue gun in the process. It was all good.

Ok, now for the winner of my TCP Tuesday post from The Cat's Pajamas!

CYNTHIA!!! YOU WON the Hearts Trio CutUps Die!!

Please contact me by sending me an email to susanliles@sbcglobal.net with your address and I'll let Alma know so she can get that right out to you. Congratulations!

Ok kids, I'll see ya'll tomorrow with who knows what else!!

SUSIE Q-TIP: I have now made 4 of these mums and they were all different and special. If you are in the market for one, you can have them made by a florist for upwards of $300 or make it yourself for so much less. Just make sure you buy stock in stapleguns and hot glue a few years in advance. Insurance on your fingertips to pay for burns is also a plus, but not necessary as long as getting fingerprinted is superfluous.

Halloween Decor--In Dollar Store Style

Well, in my bloggy absence, I reassure ya'll I have not been sitting on my laurels eating bon bons! It's been quite busy here in Lilesland--I've spent a lot of quality time with my mom since she moved in, Lindsie who had taken gymnastics since she was three switched to soccer over the summer and that is now in full swing along with Audrie who is now in her 3rd season of soccer. They LOVE it! Here's our little soccer players:


Among everything else, I was recently asked to join a once a month art group. My second "art night" was last Tuesday (I'll have my project ready to show ya'll later this week) and we made a cute Halloween project. That got me to thinking about redecorating my living room wall that was still (don't fall over) spiked with Christmas stuff and dressing it for Halloween! It was really fun planning it all with my mom and getting some direction from her. She's much better than me at the home decor, hence my leaving the Christmas stuff up for lack of any other ideas.

Here's a little before picture:



And here's another picture of the after!


First, I cleaned the chalkboard frame and wrote "boo" in orange chalk, adding a little bat to the end, reminiscent of an old SU! stamp set I once had. My mom thought a little Spanish moss was needed on our "L", so she brought that to me from her house (you'll see more of it when we get going on another project we have up our sleeves!).


The two small black frames had some Christmas patterned paper in them, so Martha Stewart came to my rescue and I switched it out for some of her paper I had from a couple of years ago. I added googly eyes to one of the owls just for fun.


It felt a little sacrilegious to take down the crosses and replace them with skeletons, but it was only in the name of art and decor. I repented that night, but feel ok that God won't be too mad at me. The black one is super glittery and the other five are small ones off of a skeleton garland (?). They are both from Dollar Tree. I cut the bats out with my Cricut and sprayed them with Marshmallow Glimmer Mist. Bending their wings while they were still wet, set them in that position and I love the dimension they give--another "mom" idea.


I grabbed some gauze at the Dollar Tree too to make the cute mummy for my tall frame that once held the "Christmas To Do List". I simply turned it over (since it was the correct size and white on the back) and wrapped the gauze around it like a bandage but a little more hap-hazardly. I have a plethora of googly eyes in all different sizes (because Carole likes them so much), so I found the biggest ones I had and tucked them into the gauze. It needed a little something orange to offset the orange framed paper, so a simple little tag cut from the Framed Greetings MFT Die-namics die did the trick and I then stamped "spooky" from an old Halloween Papertrey set I have. I kept the bird heart the same--they are now my CROWS until it's time to take down the Halloween.


Ok, so I have these four black Dollar Tree frames that I love to just change out for whatever my whim is. As of last week, they still had printables in them for the Royal Wedding party I threw for the girls when Prince William and Kate were married.


Now they have my fun "morphing" pictures (also a Dollar Tree find last year). They are vintage looking photos when you look at them one way and then change into scary ghouls when you look at them at another angle. What are those called? They have those plasic ridges. Super fun.


Ok and lastly, at the art group, Trisha, our lovely hostess had this fabulous vinyl tablecloth on her craft table and I just HAD to have one for my dining room! It's actually from Big Lots (3.50). The pumpkins--a gift I gave my mom one year for her birthday, but they totally work on here with the addition of the little skeleton plate given to me by my neighbor.

Anyway, I hope I've inspired ya'll with some cool and cheap ideas on Halloween decor or at least inspired you to also go ahead and take down the Christmas from last year. Like I mentioned before, we have another altered Halloween project we can't wait to get started on and show ya'll. It's going to be great fun to make. Want a hint? Think Amityville Horror...

SUSIE Q-TIP: If you plan on finding any decor for any holidays at your local dollar stores, I suggest you pick it up super early, as in as soon as they put it out. The good stuff goes fast as I found that out several years ago when I was on a quest to get something I had seen on a decorating blog. The Dollar Tree has had their Halloween stuff out for a few weeks now and when I went to Big Lots the other day, you could tell they were already picked over. I'm just sayin'.

TCP Tuesday 176--Fall Inspirations and WIN!

Well, why is it that my blog posting has fallen off the face of the earth? UGH! I miss coming to the computer and sharing all my stuff with ya'll! That has GOT to CHANGE! This week, I have something planned every day to post, so get ready for some more cards, a little high school, some home decor and duct tape. That should keep ya'll guessing right?


Jen is this past Tuesday's Hostess with the Mostess from The Cat's Pajamas, and I could not pass up her delicious Fall Inspiration Challenge! Take a look at the calm autumn images she's got going on here.


I'm so looking forward to more fall-like days around here. We've gotten a little taste of it over the last couple of weeks, but then it warms back up. So for my card, I incorporated what fall makes me think of, as well as a few colors from the inspiration pics--blue jeans, textures, houndstooth (it's so trendy right now!) and orange. I used the Simply Said stamp set for the sentiment and flourish, some Beige Linen Thread and yummy Mango Seam Binding Ribbon.

I also pulled out my Heart Trio CutUps die from The Cat's Pajamas. We've been giving dies away all week in celebration of CutUps one year anniversary. So how would ya'll like to WIN this Heart Trio CutUps Die? All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post telling me what reminds you of fall. You have until midnight on Tuesday (the 20th), then I'll pick a winner and post it on Wednesday. How's that sound?

Don't forget to play along with Jen's challenge, too! Alma has all the details on what's at stake--CAT CASH and noteriety--on HER BLOG HERE.

One last thing: Notice anything familiar about this card? I used Jen's September Sketch For You To Try for my layout. Check it out on HER BLOG HERE. I guess it's all about Jen today? She's gonna get a big head.


Ok, I think that's about all from me today. I hope ya'll loved this card--I really do MISS YOU ALL, but I'm about to give this blog some love again, so come back and see me!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When using a sentiment as the focal point of a card, try cutting it out with the same shape as it's background panel and then trimming off some of it so that the background is exposed. Line up the edges that "match" and glue it down for a more interesting main panel.

Stamps: Simply Said (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Orange Zest, New Leaf, White (PTI), Regal Rose (SU!), Random Collection (Crate Paper), Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Wild Wasabi (SU!)
Accessories: Heart Trio CutUps Die (The Cat's Pajamas), Lacy Circle and Circle Nestabilities, Damask Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder, Button, Linen Thread and Mango Seam Binding Ribbon (TCP), Silver Flatbacks (Pizzazz Aplenty), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

I {heart} Cupcakes Mini Banner

Well, I'm finally getting a little more rhythm going with my stamping life now that the girls are back to school and I've gotten more comfortable with crawling into my girl cave (and not feeling guilty about it-ha!) since my mom's moved in. Plus, Eric's been out of town for the past two weeks and I tend to stay up late and stamp when he's not here. So my plan was to make something Verve-y the other day and this is what I came up with!


I started out thinking I'd make a birthday card that said, "I Heart U" using the new Verve die set of the same name, and add a little birthday sentiment across one of the letters. However, when I started pulling the things I needed from my Verve drawer, I came across my older Carpe Cupcake stamp set and "I Heart Cupcakes" jumped into my head!


I used SEVERAL Verve dies to make the banner--the Rounded Scallop Frame, Rounded Rectangle (which is slightly larger than the rectangle derived from the scallop frame, so it gave me a little edge to glue the frame to); the Embossed Oval is underneath the heart, the Tagged Rectangle is the base for each of the panels and provides a "little home" for the ribbon, and finally the I Heart U die set. What is that, 5 dies? Does this qualify for any challenges out there? HA!

Ok, well I've gotta run--need to get to the grocery store before it's too late to put something the crock pot today! I pick Eric up at DFW International Airport tonight around 8. Now maybe I can get some sleep. Maybe?

SUSIE Q-TIP: I like this method of attaching banner panels to the twine or string that each piece hangs from... The ribbon on each panel is actually folded over the longer twine of the "garland" and then another piece of twine is tied through the button and around the now doubled ribbon, creating a little "tunnel" for the garland twine. This way, the panels can slide left or right along the twine for easy adjustment of spacing or to make the banner seem longer or shorter. I hope that makes sense. Need more pics?

Stamps: Carpe Cupcake (Verve)
Paper: Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate, Sweet Blush, White (PTI), Sweet Summertime (Little Yellow Bicycle), Red Glitter Paper (American Crafts)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Tagged Rectangle, Embossed Oval, Rounded Rectangle, Rounded Scallop Frame and I Heart You A Cut Above Dies (Verve), Circle Punch, Regular Hole Punch, Copic Markers, Cherry Divine Twine (TCP), Ribbon (AC), Buttons, Jody Boosters

September Sketch For You to Try

Well, happy Labor Day long weekend! Who's got plans? We are going to be grilling out on Monday since it's supposed to cool down to only 90 for the first time in three months! Everyone is so excited to see the heat subside, including me! But for Saturday and Sunday, the temperature here is still going to be up there in the 100's. Luckily today I'll be inside working at Scrapper's Boutique, checking out all the new stuff that's come in! But first, a little reminder that today is the first Saturday of the month and that means it's time for a new Sketch For You To Try from Jen.


Our sponsor this month is that trendy stamp company, Skipping Stones Design.


They have lots of cool stuff, including humorous stamps too, like THIS one I HAD to have a while back and made THIS card with it (for another SFYTT, what a coincedence!).


There's the SFYTT Sketch for September...pretty simple, huh!? I'm usually not a rounded corners kind of person, but I had to use my new Zutter Round it All for something, right?


The Skipping Stones Design set I chose to work with is called Pumpkin Seed Sentiments. It's got several sentiments in that cool font (I used the Thank You stamps--hi Adair, this card's for you!) and 3 background stamps that are easy to use separate or together for a layered look with color variation. I used two of the backgrounds...see there on the green pieces, the circle and the butterfly? I thought all of that suited the new Lost and Found collection of papers from My Mind's Eye and I was in an-ink-all-the-edges kind of mood. Speaking of that, I better go, so I can fondle some more of that paper at the Boutique and hopefully get inky again a little later!

Here's the line up of SFYTT sisters who've got awesome inspiration for ya'll today using the new September sketch including the new Guest Designer of the month, Alyssa from ACS Paper Creations (woOHOooOO!). And since ya'll have a long weekend, check out how to play along on Jen's blog--we'd love to have you!:
Amy Sheffer
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Carole Burrage
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Terri Moore
Jen Tapler
AND we have 2 NEW SFYTT team members! Please welcome:
Becky Carafa
and Iwona Palamountain

SUSIE Q-TIP: I found the perfect brad in my stash for the butterfly, but it was silver rimmed. That just didn't fit the "tone" I was going for with this card, so I colored over the silver with a brown Copic marker. Don't forget about that little trick.

Stamps: Pumpkin Seed Sentiments (Skipping Stones Design)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate (PTI), Sour Apple (MFT), Rosy Lost And Found (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Vintage Photo (Ranger), Chestnut Roan Cat's Eye (Colorbox), Ruby Red (SU!)
Accessories: Lacy Circles Nestabilities, Butterfly Die-namics (MFT), Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Epoxy Brad, Adhesive Rhinestones, Buttons (PTI), Linen Thread (TCP), Felt Ribbon (SU!), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

September Verve Diva Inspirations Hop

Well, I don't know about ya'll, but I cannot WAIT until the weather cools off and fall sweeps in. I want to open my windows and let some fresh air in, take Sage out more and take the girls to a park. With these 110 degree temps we've been having around here, no one can stand to be outside more than a few minutes before you feel like a baked cake. That little bit of dreaming inspired me to make this card for the September Diva Inspirations Hop for Verve! (And now I'd sure like a piece of chocolate cake, too.) Let's get on with the hop, shall we?

Our Diva Inspirations Team and a few special guests from our Release Team are here to start your month off right with a little Verve inspiration! Take a little peek at each of the fabulous blogs below and leave a little comment love for their Verve-alicious eye candy and you just might win some Vervey goodness of your very own!


For my card, I decided to once again mix a little old with a little newness from Verve. Since Autumn Splendor is the stamp of the month for September, I wanted to give it a little love, so I inked up a couple of my favorite leaves and used the Autumn sentiment from that set. I combined it with one of my newest sets, Tag Time, using the circle tag and "hello" stamps from it. It's a little on the clean and simple side, but I like it a lot. I plan to duplicate the tag theme in a Halloween card soon, too!


Here's a few details you won't want to miss:

1. Julee 9. Susan 2. Betty 10. Andrea 3. Dawn 11. Sankari 4. Jen d. 12. Teresa 5. Jen T. 13. Tosh 6. Lynda 14.Charmaine 7. Shannan 15. Maureen 8. Sony

We've hidden a little mystery prize on one of today's hop spots, so be sure to leave a little comment love as you hop around for a chance to win!
Comment Deadline: 11:59pm Mountain, September 12
Prize: $30 gift certificate to Verve

Autumn SALE! Fall is in the air and we're in the mood for a SALE! During September, enjoy 25% savings on all of our autumn themed stamps! Plus, don't miss our September Stamp of the Month special on Autumn Splendor...

At 30% off during the month of September, Autumn Splendor is one splendid deal!

Ok, well the next stop on the hop is Andrea...I'm sure she's got something fabulous to share. Tell her I said HI!

SUSIE Q-TIP: It's time to stamp--do you know where your eyelets are? Even though they aren't the "IT" thing anymore, they are still handy for those holes in the tops of tags.

Stamps: Autumn Splendor, Tag Time (Verve)
Paper: White, Ripe Avocado, Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate (PTI), The Goods (American Crafts)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red (SU!)
Accessories: From the Heart Die Set (Verve), Circle Punches, Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Cropadile, White Eyelets, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Large Dots Embossing Folder, Olive Seam Binding Ribbon and Linen Thread (TCP), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2