Blossom Petal Builder Werewolf

I know this is a little weird for a July post...

but it is what sprung from more blossom petal builder playtime - I'm betting NO ONE else has made a werewolf with this punch (possibly from ANY punch).

Take 2 of the feather duster looking parts and two of the leaves for his ears, add a RETIRED AND LOVED small oval, small heart eyes, scrap teeth and a few pen marks and you are done.

Mad Scientist

For today I made a Mad Scientist.

NOT mad as in angry, you broke an expensive test tube.

This is a MAD (as in crazy, about to create a monster with a head even bigger his own) Scientist!

Head - 1.25 inch circle, small oval

Eyes - small Heart to Heart and 1/8 hole punch (retired - use a black marker)

Nose - small circle (don't remember which one) trimmed flat on sides

Moustache - modern label punched at end of modern label hole to get just a bumpy sliver

Eyebrows - same as moustache - just snipped off the ends of the sliver to get two small parts

Hair - scrap cut like grass

Body - modern label - trimmed flat at "feet" - drew dots all the way down

Feet - small Heart to Heart

Sleeves - ends of word window

Hands - small circle from itty bitty punch pack at ends of modern label

Test tube - part of word window in vellum - retired slot for end (use a tiny scrap and try to round the ends)

Total Height - 3.5 inches of crazy!

Oh you Little Devil!

On a Halloween roll this week...

Lil' Devil is loosely based on a clip-art devil I spotted.

Parts Photo - list is below

Head - owl punch with feet cut off
Cheeks - small oval
Ears - wing from two step bird
Nose - 1/2 inch circle
Eyes - narrow heart to heart in vanilla, standard hole punch in black, gel pen highlight
Beard - small heart to heart - bumps cut off (I curved my cut just a little bit, it wasn't a straight snip)
Mustache - small heart to heart - cut in half
Horns - 1/2 inch circle next to 1/2 inch circle hole
Neck - small arrow (retired) or just a thin strip of paper
Body - 3/4 inch circle
Arms - piece of an oval ring (large oval around small oval hole)
Hand - circle from itty bitty punch pack at tip of modern label
Tail - branch form two step bird - most leaves cut off, small heart to heart
Feet - small ovals - layer together - at same time punch tip with scallop oval
Pitchfork - 1/2 or less word window in black, 3/4 inch circle around 1/2 inch circle hole - snip part of the circle - add a scrap for middle tine - trim to point with scissors

Assembly Photo

The horns attach to the owl ears - so don't cut them off.
That is also why I left the end leaf on the branch - to attach the heart for his tail end.
I cut the "arm" piece in half before attaching - so one arm could turn up and one down.
Sponged real red cardstock with cherry cobbler ink
Sponged crumb cake clothing with soft suede ink
Drew on eyebrows and mouth with marker.

Simply by leaving off the facial hair and making the nose smaller you can have

Lil' Devil Baby!

I think he is so cute!

The smaller nose is one of the circles from the owl punch.

Definitely NOT Edward

If you are on the Halloween Punch Art Blog Hop and arrived here from Kim Score's Paper Punch Addiction
            

WELCOME!

(And those of you didn't come from Kim's site are welcome too!)

If you weren't hopping but want to, you can go back and check Kim's work then continue on the rest of the hop.

Ready for Punch Art?

Today, I give you a FRUSTRATED Vampire...

--- he is frustrated because his nose is soooo big,

he can't get close enough to bite any one's neck.
(grin or groan - I can't see or hear you so it won't hurt my feelings)

Parts list and tips: (you can easily give him a smaller nose if you prefer)

Head - large oval

Hair - 1 inch circle around the top of narrow heart to heart HOLE - see photo below

Nose - wing from two step bird

Mouth - end of word window

Fangs - tiny scraps

Ears - end of word window - slanted with scissors

Eyes - small heart to heart in white, a standard paper hole punch in black- gel pen highlight

Eyebrows - small heart to heart repunched next to the same hole at the top - which gives you a weird sliver to cut in half for two eyebrows that will fit exactly above the white of his eye

Neck - word window

Neck of cape - 1.75 circle repunched with smaller circles to get curves on each side (bottom)

Cape 'wing' - wide ovals repunched twice with small oval - layer and punch both 'wings' at the same time

Shirt - small oval

Collar - small heart to heart - trimmed with scissors (you are trimming from the middle of one side to the top of the next 'bump' to get this collar shape)

Pants - breast from owl (upside down)

Bow Tie - plus sign looking thing from itty bitty punch pack- cut in half

Shoes - small heart to heart - cut in half


I did his skin in blue since I am so "culturally aware" (hee hee) and read in a highly popular vampire series that vampires are cold and hard to the touch.

Why does Bella like him best if he feels like cold stone when she could have the super hot werewolf?  Please note: That was a rhetorical question - all you Edward fans need not respond. 

Of course, if  I was going to be true to that book series, I could never have given him that big honker of a nose - since all vampires are extremely attractive (this also makes casting for the movies much easier, I'm sure) ;)

This photo isn't the entire vampire, but it shows the hair piece and part of the assembly, so it might help you.

For the hair - the point goes on the front of the oval and the sideburns slide behind the oval
It just slips right on
(trust me)

In the mood for more Halloween Punch Art?
Of course you are!
Click HERE to see what Vicki at It's a Stamp Thing has prepared for you.

Enjoy!

Recycling

I'm being a bit lazy today and recycling a past character.

She began as a generic woman and with a few simple changes and a wave of my wand...

Oh my!  It's almost a self portrait (needs bifocals and a few more teeth)

Nothing hard - you should be able to see the shapes.  Yes, her eyes are two different size circles.  The point of the hat is not a punch  - just cut a scrap into a narrow triangle with your paper trimmer.  Teeth are scraps too.

Halloween Punch Trifecta

Yes that's right ladies - today is the Halloween Punch Trifecta - you get 3 simple fun Halloween punch ideas all on one project.  And I sure hope you think they are all winners!

First I will reveal my own genius - using the new fabulous OWL punch, I give you the letter "e" as a cauldron!

So simple - punch your Owl - trim his feet down to one toe/claw per foot - and punch off  the top of his head with your handy dandy 1.25 circle punch.

Second, I will reveal someone else's genius - problem is, I can't remember whose!  I saw this in the last ten days or so - even left a comment and now I can't find it again (sob!) so if it is your idea PLEASE come claim the credit because it is so cute.  A clever someone gave us a  broom from the medium jewelry tag punch! I LOVE IT!  I used about 1/2 width word window for the broom handle.  Snipped the jewelry tag with scissors.

And the third thing is not as new and exciting but still handy - a witch hat.  You can make it with any piece of a circle and a scrap triangle but for sizing purposes this it the bottom of the owl breast (it was lying there after I punched the cauldron) and since it made a fine brim for the detective hat - it makes a fine brim for a witch hat.  Your witch hat can be a regular triangle - and pointed - or you can bend it over and cut a slit in it - reminiscent of the sorting hat in the Harry Potter tales. 

This recipe page uses the basic recipe for La Madeleine's' Tomato Basil Soup - altered for the Halloween theme into Bloody Basil Brew.

The spillage from the cauldron is a bit of the scallop oval punch.

Letters "r" and "w" are brought to you by the alphabet simple letter dies that SU sells

The letter "b" is brought to you by a combo of the broom AND the ring from a 1.75 circle punched around a 1.25 circle HOLE.

OF COURSE, this "brew" idea could easily be made into a recipe card for an adult beverage - or a coffee drink - or punch - whatever you like to serve at Halloween!

Halloween Thoughts

So.... I've accepted that the calendar reads August.
I've admitted I'm only ready for mid March.
But worst of all - now I'm being FORCED to think Halloween!

My dearest upline, sidelines, and downline are meeting tonight and our shoebox swap is "Anything Halloween". 

Mine isn't finished (yet) so you won't see it until tomorrow but I can show you part of a reject project - nothing wrong with it - it just didn't fit the final "thing".

Remember Wino Kitty?

I altered her to become a black cat for Halloween

For Halloween (or anytime you need a black cat... maybe you are superstitious and need to make a Book of Me Scrapbook page about it?)

Wino Kitty directions are HERE

The changes I made were:

Lose the arms - assume her front paws are straight down her body

Add a tail - you can make one by punching any oval near the edge of a circle or oval hole - this particular tail is the wing from the two step bird around a word window HOLE - that just happened to be what I grabbed.

For the whiskers - instead of drawing - I took a small rectangle and fringed in with scissors on each side then just bunched it up in the middle and stuck it on with a glue dot.  Punched a nose with part of the 1/2 inch circle on the corner of a piece of scrap black.

Instead of drawing on the eyes - I used the 1/2 inch circle in white, trimmed flat- and a tiny scrap of old olive for eye.   If you will punch 2 circles and lay them on top and trim both at the same time - you will have a LOT better change of getting your eyes the same size.  (Voice of experience)

The eye slits are so thin I can't use my "preferred" mini glue dots to attach - this is one of the FEW times I am forced to pull out a glue pen.

And don't forget to add some highlights with your white gel pen - it REALLY makes a difference.  Doesn't seem like it would but TRUST ME - if you don't have a white gel pen GO ORDER ONE RIGHT NOW.  (sorry for screaming but I mean it)

If you shape the eyes differently or add eyebrows - you can change the "mood" of the cat.  Look HERE for a lesson in eyes.

By the way - you might want to go back and check out the comments on the Wino Kitty - that was the post where I asked for sentiment ideas - Carol came up with my favorite (from MANY great suggestions).  Hers was "Only one glass of wine -- another CATastrophe!!!"

Here's lookin' at you...

And if yesterday's ghost isn't your thing - how about a one eyed monster?

SUPER EASY Odd Owl Use and Handy Tip

Here is a really easy idea to use your owl punch for another character.  How about a little Trick or Treat-er?

Yes, turn that old owl upside down - snip off his feet.
With the owl punch in black use the 2 smaller circles for eyes and 2 hearts for his shoes.
Add a little highlight mark on the eyes with a white gel pen.
That's it.  They don't get much easier than this!

HANDY TIP:

The owl can be a little hard to push down (it is cutting a lot of edges, after all) 

So if you only need the tiny heart or just the owl breast - put a smaller piece or smaller strip of paper into the punch - looking at the punch upside down to make sure you are getting the paper in the spot you need and PUNCH.  The punch will "do its thing" much easier with just the small bit of paper in it.

I have to put the punch on the desk and press down when I need the WHOLE owl and parts.

But if I just have a BIT of paper in it, I can hold the punch in my hand upside down and squeeze.

Try it and see if that works for you.

Reverse Sooting Skull

This is a card I did for a "darker side" swap earlier this year.  The technique is called Reverse Sooting and I learned it from Lee Conrey.  This is so HALLOWEENY  but I almost forgot to show it to you!

Each time you do it, you will get a slightly different look. (Stamp = From the Crypt)

I taught a class on this for VC Rocks and one of the "students", Shari Dudek made this card for her swap - I like it much better than mine. (Stamp = Beware Pirates)

Isn't this an awesome technique for Halloween?

But it works for a vintage look too.  Almost like an old photograph.  But this set is retired (sad face)

Want to learn how?

Reverse sooting is a very easy technique but not one you will use very often.

It only works well with certain stamp sets. The train from “Happiness is a Journey” is my favorite for this technique but I have also used it with other “vintage” stamps that have lots of SOLID stamp area and lots of light/dark contrast.

Supplies:

Glossy paper, Versamark ink pad, taper candle (and something to light it with), stamp set with solid areas – light/dark contrast, something to protect your work surface from any dripping wax, a Kleenex or paper towel. (I say taper candle because you have to get the flame right up to the paper – if you have an unburned pillar candle that would also work)



How to:

• Cover your work surface, wax will drip if you are using a taper candle.

• Stamp your image on glossy paper with Versamark, not too close to the edge.

• Light candle and hold paper over it, very close to the flame (actually touching the paper) so that soot covers the image.

• Keep the candle slowly moving or you can burn a hole in your paper. If you hold candle too close to the edge of the paper it may catch on fire.

• Once the image is covered in soot, blow out that candle and GENTLY pat/wipe the soot with Kleenex or paper towel. DO NOT RUB HARD. It is possible to rub away all your work if you use pressure. Gently rubbing will remove the soot. You can then use your image on your project. Wiping with your finger it will feel smooth and the soot will not come off but if you keep on rubbing and applying pressure with your paper towel you will ruin your project.

Info:

• I wouldn’t use this for scrapbooking; I don’t think it would be archivally safe.

• Each image will look different due to soot application and how much you rub off. If you aren’t happy with your first try, do it a couple more times – yes, you are using up your glossy paper but if you need this look, go for it again until you like it.

• You can do the technique on whisper white to get a gray look. It doesn’t wipe off as “interestingly” but it is still pretty cool. You can also use it on color cardstock - play around and see what you like.

• I usually add further distressing with the SU distressing tool, tearing, etc.

• I learned the Reverse Sooting technique from Lee Conrey.

Filling 2 Requests

I really didn't feel like working on what I SHOULD be working on (4 swaps) so I decided to play with some of the requests I've gotten for punch creations.

First is Mrs. Frankenstein suggested by Robbe in the comments of my Frankenstein post.  She came out ummm, well,  ummmm, sorta of, ummmmm,  ... odd?

I recommend swallowing all liquids before looking....


She is a cross between Bride of Frankenstein and Boobzilla.....

Hilarious, huh? 

Obviously gravity has done it's work on her chest - this is no hot young bride for Frankie!  How sad that the butterfly punch that can do Blog Babes can also have this effect on a woman's body.

Robbe, I'm not sure you can use her, but maybe she can be a starting point for you to work from.  Small Tag punch for head and hair.  Butterfly punch for boobs and shoes.  Word window for arms and legs.  1.75 circle for belly.  Small oval for neck.  Snowflake for hands.  She was done all in white except hair, eyes and shoes.  Color is sponged on.

NEXT

I got an email from Kathy Crowley.  She laid on some thick flattery so of course I jumped up and down waving my hand volunteering to try to make anything she wanted.  And what she needed was a dachshund.  I gave her a suggestion for the ears - which is what she was struggling with, so she completed her project without further help.  But since I was procrastinating anyway, I went ahead and made this.

 tiny dachshund

dachshund with a forehead

Body - word window
Head - large heart from heart to heart
Ears - large heart from heart to heart cut in half
Tail - 1 inch circle - toss the circle keep the hole - punch again around the hole getting a curved sliver
Feet - modern label cut in half - punch out the middle "bump"  on each end with a standard hole punch
Forehead (option) - 3/4 inch circle punch put behind the heart

All in Close to Cocoa sponged with Basic Gray.  Black eyes and nose from 1/16 inch punch

I couldn't decide which head I liked better - but either way, with the long body, I'm pretty confident it is recognizable.  I will probably put it in my BOM since my childhood dog was part dachshund.  And I have typed dachshund enough in this post that I think I will actually remember the correct spelling - learning to spell, another plus to blogging that I didn't expect.

OK - Now I'll get back to my swap chores - love designing them but hate making multiples.  Why do I keep signing up for these?  Oh yeah, it is because I love getting back all the cool ideas.

Here's looking at you, kid...

I found blog post inspiration a few days ago as it was headed for the trash. 

I had to pick up some contact lenses for one of my girls and the eye doctor's office sent them home in the cutest little bag - clear but covered with eyes (Appropriate? - Yes!)  Just as I was about to throw the bag away, all those different style eyes got me thinking about all the spooky eyes that might be peering out from the dark around Halloween- so I decided to see what I could come up with.  (I love Halloween and it appears that I can't really put it behind me until the actual day has come and gone)

So let's see what options we have and have a little lesson about conveying emotion through punched eyes

First I just made a series of simple eyes from the small oval punch and either a standard hole punch or a "piece" of the 1/2 inch circle punch.  This page shows just a few possible options.  And these are all glued down - they will remain consistant for four pages of examples.

Next I added just a small white highlight with the white gel pen on most of them and gave all but one ANGRY eyebrows  with the slot punch (one pair of eyes was already slanted to look angry).  This shows how adding just two small punch shapes can totally change the emotion of your character.

Next I slanted the eyebrows the other direction.  Now some look surprised, shocked, bemused, scared etc.  The eye slant, brow slant and positioning of the "iris" all combine to give emotion now.

Finally I just mixed it all up to make myself happy with the variety.

Of course the real variety is endless.  You can use so many of our punches for eyes and you can use PIECES of punches for eyes.  Look at this variety using the butterfly punch - trimmed by varying amounts with the small oval punch - that is right - no hand trimming - just punch a butterfly then punch again with the small oval (once for each eye)

I don't know about you but I definitely see frog eyes and owl eyes in this batch.

Imagine all the possibilities with the different circles and ovals PLUS why not star eyes?  why not word window eyes?  You have already seen me use various hearts for the whites of eyes on my punch creatures.


And you still have time to take this info and mail a simple Halloween card to brighten up a friend's day - if you stop reading blogs and make it RIGHT NOW!

Just punch a pair of eyes and pop them on a black card front like this...

Stamp a simple "Happy Halloween" on the inside, add a short note and you are good to go!

Or if you really have no time - file this away and use the eye idea in the corner of a black Halloween scrapbook page for a simple spooky accent with all the photos you take on Halloween.

I'm melting...

This is not the gift for the Wicked Witch of the West (melting and all that mess)... But if you need a little more "adult" looking treat holder for someone next week (Yes! Halloween is next week!!) this might work for you.  The tutorial and template for this darling watering can can be found here on Splitcoast.

So easy and quick - just print the template on the back of your paper, cut, score, adhere and embellish as desired.  I used Stampin' Up!'s Night and Day Specialty paper from the mini catalog.  The tag sentiment is from Grateful Greetings (also in the mini).  The spider is from the set From the Crypt and is stamped in Versamark Ink for a subtle spooky feel.  Black Hemp is retired but you could easily substitute black grosgrain ribbon.  Mine is filled with candy corn in a small cello bag from SU - just the perfect size for this container.

Here is the first watering can I made - the day I saw the tutorial.

Tip - you can see the print on the inside of the handle if you use the template as is.  So instead of using the handle from the template - I suggest you just cut a strip of paper the same size.

Get your head on straight

If someone tells you to 'get your head on straight' it usually means they don't think you are making the best decisions.

In the case of this card - it is rather literal.

Of course I could also use the sentiment "Sorry, I must have lost my mind"

Or how about "What was I thinking?  Must have a screw loose!"

Truthfully, the card was made this way because my Frankenstein (Becky Hill's request) was just a bit too tall to fit on my card.  And I didn't want to just throw up another punch project unfinished.  And I couldn't come up with a scrapbook project for him (I could have saved him until someone was acting like a monster... but that someone would probably be me so I nixed that idea)

Here is the full sized frank-ster

The head - I used the small tag punch three times. 

1. punch a portion of the small tag into your black paper - punch your 1 3/8 square punch around the hole to get his hair

2. punch the small tag in green for his face - tag part down - sponge edges

3. punch another small tag in green for his forehead - cut down to a little under 1 inch - sponge edge - add scar with marker - adhere hair then adhere to face with dimensionals

The neck is the small oval - sponged and for the card version I cut zig zags

The neck screws and hands are the snowflake punch - trimmed to the right shape, of course

The shoes are 1/2 the butterfly punch - cut straight in on top of shoe.

Arms are word window - Frankenstein had straight arms so I couldn't use the ovals like I did on the "chin men"  (Didn't you ever do the Frankenstein imitation - walking stiffly with your arms straight out in front - hands hanging down?  Of course you did!) 

I made sure the top of the word window arms were not behind the ovals of the jacket - I wanted his shoulders to look as broad as possible

So Becky, does this work for you?

A girl with a reputation...

I am a girl with a reputation ......

I've gotten credit a couple of times now for things I didn't do.  Most recently, Keersten Jensen thought I was the one that came up with the cute little elf from the ornament punch.  That was  Andrea Walford  originally and  the Country Rose (splitcoast name) who added a body.  Now that is the kind of reputation you dream about having.  Woo hoo, I was flattered!                  . 

But what Keersten really wanted was for me to try out an idea she had - to use the pointed end of the ornament punch as a witch hat (like the point of the elf hat) - Great Idea!   So as soon as I had a free minute I pulled out the punches and tried it.  (ahem, I had to try it for her - she hasn't bought the ornament punch yet - have you?) 

Sadly, I was unable to make it work to my satisfaction,

However, the effort resulted in.....

I turned the pointed end around and made it into her pointy chin!  And I'm very happy with this one so THANKS to Keersten for getting me thinking witchy thoughts.  Sorry I couldn't make the hat work - why don't you buy that punch and figure it out for me?  hummmmm?

Ostrich in Disguise

I made this ostrich for a scrapbook page - my youngest is terrified of ostriches due to a bad experience when she was four.  We lay all the blame on her "evil" uncle - my big brother.  It's a funny story and a REAL fear.  I was reminded of it when she refused to go anywhere near the ostrich in a petting zoo at our state fair a couple of weeks ago.

Alas, the scrapbook page would not cooperate and I can't make it come together so it has been temporarily laid aside and the ostrich donned these fake glasses and mustache for night of trick or treating. 

I think you can see the punches if you have been reading past posts - I tend to use the same "tricks" over and over again. 

But here are a couple of things you might not recognize:

The top of his legs is the the bottom half of the butterfly punch

The knobby knees come from leaving just a little in the middle of the snowflake punch as you cut most of the "arms" off.

Yell (by comment or email)  if you have a burning need for a punched ostrich and you can't figure it out.  

I have a sneaky suspicion most of you won't need an ostrich in disguise - hopefully he at least made you grin.

Let me rattle your chain

Since yesterday's witch was pretty complex I thought I'd show a much simpler Halloween project today.

The chain was the start of this.  Do you remember the silly hilt on the pirate sword?  I immediately saw that as a link in a chain so this idea has been brewing for awhile in my little cauldron of a brain.

Remember it is a slot punch - with the word window punched around the slot hole - then reinserted into the word window to make it short and rounded on the other end of the link?  Sounds strange, but really it is easy.  Here is the photo from the pirate project so you can see what I mean. 

So punch a BUNCH of these.  Split every other one with just a tiny cut and link them together.

For the ghost I just cut a "ghost shape" from copy paper.  Place that on your card front and sponge going gray ink - working from the copy paper out - this gives you the soft shadow behind your ghost.  Of course you toss recycle the copy paper once the sponging is complete. 

Eyes - 3/4 circle white, 1/2 circle black, standard hole punch partially punched into the black. 

Eyebrows are two of the slot punches from the chain

Mouth is the scallop oval placed just on the edge of the paper so you just get a tiny sliver

Hands are the large oval, slipped into the corner of the scallop square punch - similar to cookie monsters hands.

I sponged the eye whites and hands with going gray ink.  Hands are on dimensionals.  Chain is secured under hands and at two more spots with mini glue dots.

Your ghost can take a different shape than mine - think about the ghosts from Casper (his Uncles I think) they had pointy heads - wouldn't that be cute?

The chain does lay flat even though it isn't in the photo - so this card is inexpensive to make and to mail.  You could send it as a "chain letter".  (groan)

Small Commercial Break...

I will never nag you to buy product, in fact, I will rarely mention it. (I suspect most of you are demos, anyway) 

This is just a gentle reminder that while I provide you all these ideas for free, I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, so in addition to rabidly loving and using Stampin' Up products, I sell them too!  You can make purchases from me online 24-7 (only USA, sorry). 

The link to my demo site is subtle but it is there on the left column of this blog. (SHOP HERE)   

If you need some product and don't have a regular demo, I'd be happy to help you out.  You can email me anytime for help with products or general stamping questions. 

Thank you for "listening" to this important announcement. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

Blog Babe goes Wicked

I knew that eventually I'd take the butterfly blog babes in another direction and here it is.

Blog babe turned Wicked.  If you haven't seen the musical "Wicked" yet, you need to take a trip to a city where it is playing and buy your ticket.  Wicked is the Wizard of Oz  tale told from a different perspective and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, is the protagonist.  Warning: the soundtrack is totally addicting - you might be humming show tunes for weeks. 

This punch creature is of course not a direct take on Elphaba but the witch with green skin sure was the big influence.  And just because I am pretty sure someone will ask - here is a quick how to. 

Make the blog babe - with the following differences:

• 4 large ovals for skirt

• 1 word window for straight leg

• 1 heart to heart (like arms) for bent leg

• 2 Five petal flowers for boots - cut similar to shoes on blog babe but leave more on the top to make it a boot not a pump.

• Free hand triangle for top of hat - the rest is large and small ovals similar to crow hat.

• Broom is strip from paper trimmer and large oval trimmed with oval scallop

• Hand is trio flower (trimmed)

Baroque Motifs is the stamp on her skirt and hat - embossed with clear embossing powder

I don't expect to have Halloween photos to go with this creation so I'll probably use her when I get around to scrapping my Chicago trip (where I saw Wicked)

Paper dolls for scrapbooks went out of style several years ago but I still like them.  And goodness knows I've got stuff even more out of date than paper dolls in my stash. Some gals have a "Shopping for Scrapping Stuff" issue  (Tri S) - but I'm not going to name names... 

Tri S - sounds like a Sorority - are you member?

Skeleton Spoiler

Warning - Spoiler for Hot Swappin Mama's October Swap - "Cute" Round.  Don't look if you want to be surprised.

I mean it.




No peeking....


I warned you.

Early in September I shared a Skeleton on a gift bag.  Now, I'm using the same fellow on a border for a Scrapbook Element Swap.  Since the Skeleton side was pretty attention grabbing, I decided to leave the other border pretty simple.  (We do want people looking at the cute Halloween photos not just the pretty paper accents)

I've had a few requests for the 'how to' on Mr. Bones but he is really pretty simple and I think you can get most of him just by looking. 
Parts List
Hand - snowflake
Arms, Legs, Ribs, Spine - thin strips from paper trimmer
Shoulder and knee joints - small  heart from Heart to Heart punch
Ankle and Elbow - standard hole punch
Pelvis - Heart to Heart punch, snipped at leg with standard hole punch
nose - tip cut from slot punch
eyes - standard hole punch
feet - same heart as pelvis - trimmed with scissors
head - designer label
hat - gray large oval, white small oval,  gray rectangle 1 x 1.25 inches
flower - Boho Blossoms



Here is a photo of the head/hat progression.  Designer Label rounded by sticking the end in the 1.25 circle punch.

Small oval on the rectangle - trim off the parts that stick out on each side.  Cut a curved slit in the large oval for the head to "barely" slip into.  This is very similar to the crow tutorial.

Follow the photo and you should be building bones in no time.  No calcium required.

Tip - BUY the $3.50 Adhesive Remover #103684.  These thin little pieces are hard to glue down without a trace of adhesive showing  - the adhesive remover works just like magic to rub it off.  LOVE that little guy.

I was an idiot to do these for a swap - it was very time consuming to glue down each piece  and this photo doesn't even begin to show the mess at its worst.  Bad decision on my part but I really think he is cute so I did it anyway.  Hope the ladies like him!

And I think finishing this swap completes all my commitments for awhile - I am back free to PLAY !  Woo hoo - lets get punching!!!!

Spooky Scrapbook Spoiler

OK?

Yes, it is OK to show you more...but only if you are NOT in the "spooky" round of the Hot Swappin' Mamas Swap.  This is a spoiler for those of you in that group.  Don't look if you like to see things in person first....

If this page looks a little empty to you -that is because I only completed the "title" element.  Eight other ladies will create different elements or "layout pieces" in the same colors and theme and we will swap.  The result is some of the BEST layouts you have ever seen using only current Stampin Up product.    This is a TALENTED group of stampers/scrappers!

Here is a closer look at the title:

The stamps are From the Crypt - I used my Big Shot with the Serif Essentials Alphabet Die for the lettering.  Doing multiples for a swap is NO BIG DEAL when you use the Big Shot - I cut 6 letters at a time so it was quick and easy to cut these letters plus black shadows for each one.  Piece of Cake!  (oh, cake sounds good doesn't it?)

I stamped each letter with that spooky flourish looking stamp - trying to get a different piece on each letter.  And the skulls fit so well inside the "O".   

I stamped the bat in Versamark on the Perfect Plum paper and tore two of the edges.  Stamped, punched and matted the spider adding one of my faves (mini library clip) since an embellishment is required in this swap and I didn't have much room left.

I LOVE the way the lettering turned out and I can't wait to see what the other ladies come up with. 

Now I have to get busy on the  borders for the "cute" round of this Halloween Swap - That's right, I signed up for both rounds and I don't even have little kids to take pictures of...

I just really really really like Halloween - after all, it is playing dress up and eating candy - what's not to like?