Creative Circle Design Team Blog October Hop - "Haunted Halloween"

September was a complete blur for me with frenzied card making sessions, garage sales and other events so it's hard to think that the month has gone and Halloween is just around the corner. Quite truthfully I've been so focused on getting my Christmas projects finished, I hadn't given too much thought to Thanksgiving or Halloween. Yikes! What was I thinking!

Well, no worries. I'm happy to say that the Creative Circle Design Team (CCDT) led by the wonderful Liz Holloway, hasn't lost it's direction or focus and our very creative and uber talented crew of international stampers is here to dazzle you with a "Haunted Halloween" October hop.

But, before we begin, I'd like to welcome our newest CCDT team members, Jay Soriano of Mitosus Crafts and Stesha Bloodhart of Stampin Hoot. I've been so looking forward to seeing their creations on this hop and it's so awesome to have their collective talents join us this month.
 

Jay Soriano

Stesha Bloodhart

Here's My "Haunted Halloween" Art Decor

Halloween is always such a fun time of the year and  I so look forward to seeing what Trick or Treats Stampin' Up! has in store for us in the Holiday Catalogue.  Well I must say I wasn't disappointed this year!  In fact, the Spooky Night Suite on pages 52 through 55 were the inspiration for me to make this  Halloween Sampler. 

Supplies From the Spooky Night Suite:

Stamp Sets: Spooky Cat Photopolymer Stamp Set and Graveyard Gate.

Card Stock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze, Orange Glimmer Paper, Silver Foil
DSP:  Spooky Night

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Momento Tuxedo Black, Versa Mark, Smokey Slate

Accessories:  Cat Punch #144666, Black Rhinestone Jewels, Detailed Gate Thinlet Dies, 1", 11/4", 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Bunch of Labels Thinlets, Wink of Stella Clear, Big Shot, Paper Trimmer, Tom Bow Adhesive, Foam Adhesive Strips, Dimensionals.  

Spooky Cat Bundle -18 Photopolymer Stamps are included in the Spooky Cat stamp set.  It includes tattooed cats, witches' hats, growling owls, bubbly potions, and a rat—who needs "the Scottish play" when you can have this!  The cat punch is a no-brainer for punching out beautiful cat silhouettes that can be used at any time of the year and for any occasion.

The Graveyard Gate Bundle is a spooky collection of  graveyard head stones gates and sentiments for creating a spooky setting.  I absolutely love the Detailed Gate Thinlet Dies which are part of the bundle.  These dies can be used for other occasions besides Halloween, such as Sympathy and Wedding cards.

Details:

Picture Frame: I started out with a 13 1/2" x 11" glass picture frame from the Dollar Store. I used a full sheet of DSP from the Spooky Night DSP pack to line the inside of the frame. I added two 1" by 11" strips of Cajun Craze card stock on either side of the DSP to cover the expanse of the frame. 

Sampler Base: For the base of the sampler I used an 8 1/2" x 10 5/8"" piece of Basic Black card stock. The next layer was a 9 3/4" x 7 7/8" piece of DSP.

Potions, pumpkins, witches' hats, cats, and eerie trees; this Halloween-themed Designer Series Paper has it all and it coordinates with Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla. Product #144610 Spooky Night DSP. 

Panels: I decided on a layout for my sampler and then measured out the panels I would need to cut. I needed the following: 

1.  Top and Bottom Center Panels:  I cut two 4" x 1" pieces of Basic Black and two 3/4" x 4" pieces of DSP with the science bottles.  These panels frame the center panel on the top and bottom.  I sponged the edges of the DSP with Basic Black ink before adhering them to the card stock. 

This is the center top panel.  I  stamped the mysterious beakers from the Spooky Cat stamp set on a piece of Whisper White card stock and then cut it out with a 1" circle punch.  It was layered on a 11/4" basic black circle layer and added to the panel with Dimensionals.

This is the bottom center panel.  I stamped the black rats from the Spooky Cat stamp set on this panel.

2.  Center Panel: The center panel began with a 4" x 5 1/2" piece of Basic Black card stock.  The next layer was a 3 7/8" x 5 1/4" piece of Orange Glimmer Paper left over from last year's Halloween stash.  I cut out the bottom center of this paper so it wouldn't be wasted and later on cut out the numerals "31".  The next layer was a 3 3/4" x 5 1/8" piece of Very Vanilla card stock.

Lots of detail went into creating this graveyard scene.  I began by cutting out the stars and moon on the top of the panel with the Card Front Builder Die Cuts.  

Next I stamped a variety of head stones in the lower part of the panel with Momento Tuxedo Black ink.  I used masks and stamped some of the tomb stone images off at least 2 times to give a misty impression and some additional depth.  This panel has a real spooky feel going on!

I cut out the filigree gate which is totally awesome with the Detailed Gate Thinlet Die and Basic Black card stock. I used Adhesive Foam strips on the back of the gate and attached it over the stamped tomb stones.    I stamped the two brick columns using stamps from the Graveyard Gate stamp set and mounted them with Dimensionals on either side of the gate, matching up the outer edges so they didn't overlap the panel.  

To finish off the gate I stamped the sentiment "Open if You Dare" on Very Vanilla Card Stock and cut it out with the 1 1/4" circle punch and then layered it on a 1 3/8" Orange Glimmer circle.  The edges were sponged with black ink before it was adhered with Dimensionals.  I die cut the lock and key from Silver Foil. 

For the Gate sign I stamped the "You're Invited" image from the Graveyard Gate stamp set in Versa Mark ink and embossed it with Black Embossing Powder. I cut it out and mounted it in position with Dimensionals.  To make it even more spookier I stamped a bunch of bats around it.  Some of the bats were fussy cut out with my detail scissors and added with Mini Dimensionals. 

3.  Right Panels:

The top right panel began with a 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of Basic Black card stock followed by a Cajun Craze piece that measured 2 1/4 x 5 1/4 and a 2 1/8 x 5 1/8" piece of dotted DSP.  The Trick or Treat sentiment was stamped on Pumpkin Pie and cut out with a banner from the Bunch of Banners Thinlet Dies.  A couple of Basic Black Rhinestones were added on the edges.  

The sparkly date numerals were cut from the center Orange Glimmer Panel and DSP using the Large Number Framelit Dies and mounted with the Eclipse technique and they're mounted with Foam Adhesive Tape.  The "Eat at Your Own Risk" sentiment was stamped on Very Vanilla card stock and cut out with the 1" circle punch and mounted on a 1 1/4" piece of Pumpkin Pie.  

The Large Numbers Thinlet  dies are a great investment and can be used for many occasions.  They cut out the numbers from Glimmer and Foil papers with ease. 

The bottom right panel began with a 2 1/2" x 2 1/8 piece of Basic Black card stock, layered with a 2 3/8 x 2" piece of DSP with the witches hats design.  The edges were sponged with Tuxedo Black Ink.  I stamped a witches hat and fussy cut it out and mounted it with Dimensionals.  Although you can't see it in the picture I coloured the buckle with Crushed Curry and then added Wink of Stella to make it sparkle. 
 

4. Left Panels:
The top panel began with a 3 1/4 " x 2 3/4" piece of Basic Black card stock topped with the DSP that has all the pictures of the tree limbs and the moons. I stamped the owl in Tuxedo Black ink onto the limb and then re-stamped it on Very Vanilla card stock using Versa Mark ink. I embossed with Black Embossing powder and then fussy cut out this image and adhered it with dimensionals. Loved this panel!

The center panel measures 1 1/4" x 2 3/4" and I've added the DSP with the writing on it.  

The bottom panel is 2 3/4" x 2 7/8" piece of Basic Black card stock topped with a piece of DSP that has the cats on it. I punched out one of the black cats from this paper and mounted it with Dimensionals.  I coloured the cat with Wink of Stella to give it some shine. 

 

I hope you liked my Halloween Sample and that it's inspired you to make some Halloween creations of your own.  Whether you set aside time just for yourself, stamp with your girlfriends or have a family night you'll be making memories for seasons and years to come, and having a whole lot of fun in the process!
 

Your next stop on this hop is the incredibly talented Liz Holloway's blog.  Wow I know she has some amazing tricks and treats for you and you're going to be scary thrilled to see what she's designed. 

Happy Stamping!

Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Haunted Halloween!

Creative Circle Design Team - September 2017 Blog Hop "Upright Piano"

Hello Stampers! September has arrived and I'd like to thank you for joining us for another of our monthly blog hops with the Creative Circle Design Team. 

Our hops are held on the first Thursday of each month. We are a small group of like minded, international Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators led by Liz Holloway.  Liz provides us inspiration and different challenge themes each month.  I'm sure you'll agree, although this hop is small, its a wonderful source of inspiration! 

If you're musically inclined or know someone who is, I know you're going to simply love this month's theme which features a 3-D "Up Right Piano" and card holder designed by Liz. Each of the Creative Circle Design Team members has been challenged to put our own spin on her wonderfully crafted "upright piano" template.  

Here's My Piano:
Whether it's a Steinway, a Schumann or Wurlitzer, pianos come in many shapes, sizes and designs. My piano is based on one I saw many years ago in an old bar in Virginia City. This upright piano was a rare thing of beauty.  The front, back and sides had an inlaid glass design that reflected all the light in the room. Hopefully I've captured the essence of that piano in my design.  

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Merry Little Labels #144795, Floral Phrases #141767
Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Specialty Papers:  Champagne Foil Sheets #144642, Merry Music DSP #144623
Inks: Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Piano Template SVG (Liz Holloway Design), Gold Thread, Basic Rhinestones, Sponge Dauber, Big Shot, Paper Trimmer, Music Embossing Folder, Detailed Floral Thinlet #141482, Everyday Label Punch #144668


The Piano:

The piano itself,  came together rather quickly using Liz's great SVG design.  This is what it looked like before I began the process of piecing it together.

All the pieces are numbered and she provided a great video tutorial which made assembly a breeze.   It was up to me to design the outer shell and the 4 cards that nestle into the top opening.  

The floral design on the front, sides and back of my piano were created by running the cut panels through the Big Shot with the Detailed Floral Thinlets.  Each panel is backed with the new Champagne Foil sheets that are in the Holiday Catalogue.  

 

Detailed Floral Thinlet Dies

I also embossed the fabulous Champagne Foil Sheets with a non Stampin' Up Musical Notes Embossing Folder and added them to the outer and inner keyboard cover.  

The keyboard cover is held in place with small magnets and opens and closes very easily.  The beautiful key board was printed out on Whisper White card stock.  Note:  My printer wouldn't print out the file on Whisper White card stock, so I took my two sheets of card stock and the file to my local Staples and I had them print out copies for me.  The total charge for the printing and for the counter girl's expertise in duplicating the file for me was only 21 cents.  Best deal I've had in a long time! 

The Cards: 
When I first began this project I was planning to make Musical Flash cards to put in the slot on top of the piano, and Liz had very nicely cut out some musical notes for me to use. However, when I got my first glimpse of the new Holiday Catalogue I change my mind and decided to make "Just for You" cards.

 

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Merry Little Labels #144795, Floral Phrases #141767
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black 
Card Stock:  Whisper White, Basic Black
Designer Paper:  Merry Music DSP #144623, Champagne Foil Sheets.
Keyboard on Whisper White, Musical Notes on Basic Black card Stock 
Accessories:  Paper Trimmer, Sponge Dauber, Everyday Label Punch #144668, Gold Thread, Basic Rhinestones and Dimensionals.  

Details:
1.  Cut 4 1/4" x 11" piece of Whisper White and score at 5 1/2" for card base.
2.  Cut a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Basic Black for the first layer.  Cut a 1/4" by 5 1/4" strip of Champagne Foil and adhere it to the left hand side of the Basic Black layer with only an 1/8th of an inch showing.  Adhere this layer to card base.
3.  Cut a 3 3/4" x 5 1/8" piece of Merry Music DSP and sponge around the edges with black ink.  Adhere leaving only an 1/8" strip around the top, bottom and right side of the Basic Black layer.
4.  Cut key board to measure 5 1/8" by 1 1/8" and sponge the edges with black ink then adhere to the left of the Merry Music DSP.
5.  Stamp the sentiment "Just For You" on scrap of Whisper White card stock and distress with a sponge dauber and black ink around the edges.  Punch out with the Everyday Label Punch.  Using this punch cut out a Basic Black label, cut it in half and attach it to the top and bottom of the Whisper White label.  Attach two Basic Rhinestones to the center top and bottom of the label.  Attach some gold thread to the back of the label so it shows on the left hand side before attaching to the card front with Dimensionals. 
6.  I had some large musical notes cut out in Basic Black card stock that I adhered to the fronts of the cards.  Each card was different. 
7.  The inside of the card has a 4" x 5 1/4" Basic Black Layer and a 3 3/4" x  5" layer of Whisper White card stock.  I used the filigree stamp from Floral Phrases to stamp on the right edge.  

Here are the four cards:

I simply love the Merry Music Designer Series Paper.  It's so lightweight and I love that there are four each of six double sided designs.  The songs are all traditional Christmas songs and come in either English, French or German.  There is also a beautiful Musical Season Bundle that includes a stamp set and a Musical Instruments Framelit Die set.  One of the dies is a smaller but equally beautiful musical cleff.  

Well that's it for this post.  I hope you enjoyed this Upright Piano Project.  Make sure you go over to Liz Holloway's blog as she'll have more details on making this project.   Below you'll also find links to all the other Creative Circle Design Team Members, so make sure you check out their renditions of this piano too.  

Thanks for spending some time on my blog today.  I really appreciate your visiting and I do treasure your comments and feedback, as it totally makes my day.  To leave me a comment just scroll down to the comment section.

Happy Stamping! 
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot