stamp out loud by tami sanders

Christmas joy!

Today's card uses some of the same techniques as the card done in the last post.

The background has been "Smooched" using Smooch Spritz, then Design Adhesives have been applied and foiled...

  
 

And, as with the last card, there is PLENTY of sparkle and bling!

 

 

To add a bit of dimension to the card, "joy" was added using dimensional foam dots...

 

Smooch Spritz and Designer Foils are both perfect products to use when you want to dress up any holiday project. Both are easy to use and produce GREAT results!

Here's all you need to know to make this card yourself... 

“joy X 4” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Citrus Tickle and Limolicious, Design Adhesives: Memory Box Collection: In the Forest and Calm and Bright, Designer Foils: Cherry Pie and Irish Eyes, ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Golf Course, Stylus Handle and White Foam Blender Tip and Color Catcher

Bazzill: card: Ruby Slipper and Walnut Cream, Hillary and Parakeet cardstocks 

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, black pen and dimensional foam dots

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 4 1/2 square piece of light green cardstock and mat on a 4 3/4 square of dark green cardstock. Adhere to upper portion of card front.

2) Cut a 5 X 5 square of cream cardstock and spritz lightly with both colors of Smooch Spritz; set aside to dry.

NOTE: Make sure that paper is COMPLETELY dry before doing this step - the Design Adhesives will not appy or adhere properly otherwise.

3) Cut the 5 X 5 "smooched" cardstock into 4 - 2" squares. {reserve leftover}

4) Cut apart poinsettia, 3 holly leaves and 1 set of berries, 1 set of ornaments and bird from Design Adhesive sheets. Apply  each set of designs to one of the 2" squares.

5) Apply red foil to poinsettia, berries, round ornament and bird. Apply green foil to leave and pointed ornament.

6) Use black pen to add sides, crowns and hooks to ornaments and legs and feet to bird.

7) Ink edges of all 4 - 2" squares using Golf Course Dye Ink applied with Stylus and blender tip.

8) Adhere squares to matted cardstock at top of card.

9) Cut apart and apply "christmas" beneath and aligned with the left side of the matted square. Apply green foil.

10) Cut apart and apply "joy" on the leftover piece of "smooched" cardstock. Apply red foil. Then trim around word, and ink edges using Golf Course Dye Ink applied with Stylus and Tip. Adhere at an angle at the end and slightly below "christmas".

MORE Holiday and Christmas projects are on the way, so please come back later!

AND --- within the next few months, Clearsnap will be COMBINING Jean's and my blogs into ONE big blog with projects by guest designers too! You can take a peek at it HERE! In the meantime, I will keep posting to our Typepad blogs, but the projects will also be posted on the Blogger blog --- so be sure to bookmark it!

Clearsnap has also started a FACEBOOK page, Be sure to check it out and join up so you can view projects posted by others as well as be the first to know about any news or special announcements!

the switch!

Clearsnap had MADE the change from Typepad to Blogger!

So PLEASE head over to the NEW blog HERE and make sure you bookmark it and/or become a follower!

I think you'll like what you see; the new blog has MORE projects by MORE designers all in one place!

We hope it will be a great source of inspiration for for all your stamping projects.

Thanks so much for your patience during this growth period. Clearsnap is working hard to provide a bigger and better "community" for YOU!

thanks,

 

P.S.: and if you haven't already done so, PLEASE be sure to check out and JOIN the Clearsnap Facebook page. Right now they have a special holiday BLinKie and a chance to win a $50.00 prize pack!!!

jingle bells...jingle bells...

Listen... do you hear them? That distant sound of bells that is getting CLOSER and LOUDER everyday?

The theme of the next round of posts, and I hope to have a LOT of them, will be the holiday season.

Who doesn't love the holidays, and crafting for them? The colors, bright, vivid colors and the BLING! Now is the time to add a touch of sparkle and shimmer to ALL you create.

I'm starting off with an easy card today; one you can mass produce easily if you've procrastinated in getting your holiday cards done, but it still has plenty of BLiNg...

 

The card base is plain kraft cardstock, and the focal piece is just cardstock that has been "Smooched". Design Adhesives snowflakes were added and foiled with silver...

 

 The "peace" sentiment is just another Design Adhesive cut apart and applied to bits of cardstock and then covered in blue foil...

 

Here are the quick and easy to follow directions for this card.

“peace in blue” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Navy Twinkle and Vanilla Shimmer, Design Adhesives: Memory Box Collection: Flurries and Calm and Bright, Designer Foils: Silver Fog and Seaport, ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Mermaid, Stylus Handle and White Foam Blender Tip and Color Catcher

Bazzill: Kraft and Walnut Cream cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive and stapler

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 4 X 12 piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 3 X 4 piece of vanilla cardstock and place in Color Catcher. Lightly spritz with Navy Twinkle Smooch Spritz, then add a quick coat of Vanilla Shimmer. Set aside to dry.

3) Prepare sentiment while "smooched" piece is drying. Cut 5 - 1" X 1" pieces of vanilla cardstock. Cut apart "peace" design adhesive from set, and apply one letter to the center of each square. Gently rub blue foil over letters. Trim the pieces in random legths, keeping the widths to about 1/2". Ink edges using Mermaid Dye Ink.

NOTE: Make sure that paper is COMPLETELY dry before doing this step - the Design Adhesives will not appy or adhere properly otherwise.

4) Cut apart snowflakes from set and randomly apply to "Smooched" cardstock piece. The designs can overlap the eges, just trim excess and use elsewhere. Lay silver foil sheet over designs and rub gently. 

5) To assemble, staple or glue the "peace" letters to the lower edge of the "Smooched" piece, then adhere the "Smooched piece to the center of the card. 

MORE Holiday and Christmas projects are on the way, so please stop back by to see what's new!

AND --- within the next few months, Clearsnap will be COMBINING Jean's and my blogs into ONE big blog with projects by guest designers too! You can take a peek at it HERE! In the meantime, I will keep posting to our Typepad blogs, but the projects will also be posted on the Blogger blog --- so be sure to bookmark it!

Clearsnap has also started a FACEBOOK page, Be sure to check it out and join up so you can view projects posted by others as well as be the first to know about any news or special announcements!

happy turkey day!!!

I had originally intended to post these THREE cards separately - but you are getting them all THREE in one post! Think of it as Thanksgiving dinner AND the leftovers all at once!

 

I started with the same basic set of supplies for both of these cards: Colorbox Archival Dye Ink Queue - Coffee House and Pigment Ink Queue Woodgrain and cream and pumpkin cardstocks. After that, I selected some fall stamps from My Sentiments Exactly, Memory Box and Hero Arts and created this trio of cards using those supplies. I wanted to mix the sheer, clear color of the dye ink with the strong, bold opaqueness of the pigment inks.

For the first card, I used a create your own tree stamp by My Sentiments Exactly and stamped the tree using dye ink and the leaves using the pigment inks...

 

The leaves are NICE and BOLD...

 

For the center card, I wanted to create a "backdrop" for the fall leaves, so I used dye ink to stamp the background, then used pigment ink to stamp the leaves...

 

Since the pigment ink is opaque, the leaves really stand out from the background...

 

And for the last card, I used the same stamp, inked with 3 different colors of pigment ink to stamp the 3 designs. Then, I used Smooch Accent Ink to fill in the leaves...

 

The Smooch Accent Ink added a shimmery touch of color and helped tie the trio together...

 

Here are the directions for these 3 fall themed cards...

“fall tree” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  ColorBox Archival Dye Ink Queue: Coffee House and  ColorBox Pigment Ink Queue: Woodgrain

My Sentiments Exactly: Thanksgiving and Nuture You stamp sets

Bazzill: Festive - Burlap, Candle Glow - Prismatics and Walnut Cream - Smoothies cardstocks and Brown Gingham ribbon

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, and stapler

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 7 X 6 1/2 piece of pumpkin cardstock and fold in half to make a 6 1/2 X 3 1/2 card.

2) Cut a 6 X 3 piece of cream cardstock and stamp tree and ink edges using Mudslide Dye Ink.

3) Use a different leaf stamp for each of these 3 colors: Roussillon, Amber and Ochre Pigment Inks, to stamp leaves at ends of branches and along the bottom of the card.

4) Stamp "Happy Thanksgiving" and ink edges of a 2 1/4 X 1 1/4 piece of cream cardstock using Mudslide Dye Ink. Mat piece on a 2 1/2 X 1 1/2 piece of mustard cardstock and staple folded piece of brown ribbon at upper right.

5) Adhere stamped cream piece to center front of card, then adhere matted sentiment at upper right.

 

“leaf trio” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  ColorBox Archival Dye Ink Queue: Coffee House,  ColorBox Pigment Ink Queue: Woodgrain

Hero Arts: Real Leaves Clear Design stamp set and Old Letter Writing wood mount stamp

My Sentiments Exactly: Thanksgiving stamp set

Bazzill: Festive - Burlap and Walnut Cream - Smoothies cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors and adhesive

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 4 1/4 X 11 piece of pumpkin cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 4 X 5 1/4 piece of cream cardstock and stamp using Old Letter Writing stamp and Putty Dye Ink.

3) Stamp leaves over background using: Roussillon Pigment Ink for large leaf, Amber for medium leaf and Ochre for smaller leaf.

4) Ink "give thanks" stamp using Chestnut Pigment Ink at lower left.

5) Adere stamped cardstock piece to front of card.

 

“maple trio” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  ColorBox Archival Dye Ink Queue: Coffee House,  ColorBox Pigment Ink Queue: Woodgrain and Smooch Accent Inks: Gold Lame, Pumpkin and Molasses

Memory Box: Maple Branch wood mount stamp

My Sentiments Exactly: Multi Classic alphabet

Bazzill: Festive - Burlap and Walnut Cream - Smoothies cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, and dimensional foam dots

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 5 X 8 piece of pumpkin cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Stamp the image 3 times on a piece of cream cardstock using a different color of pigment ink each time: Roussillon, Amber and Ochre. Cut out when ink has dried.

3) Fill in leaves on each stamped image using Smooch Accent Inks and set aside to dry.

4) Stamp "grateful" on a 3/4 X 5 piece of cream cardstock using Mudslide Dye Ink. Dovetail ends.

5) Adhere 3 stamped images using dimensional foam dots to upper portion of card front, then adhere sentiment beneath.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving; and counts all their blessings as they celebrate this special day set aside to GIVE THANKS! 

p.s.:

AND --- within the next few months, Clearsnap will be COMBINING Jean's and my blogs into ONE big blog with projects by guest designers too! You can take a peek at it HERE! In the meantime, both Jean and I will keep posting to our Typepad blogs, but the projects will also be posted on the Blogger blog --- so be sure to bookmark it!

Clearsnap has also started a FACEBOOK page, Be sure to check it out and join up so you can view projects posted by others as well as be the first to know about any news or special announcements!

cool, clear fall days...

I apologize for the unscheduled hiatus...

But, I've got a new project to share today! One that takes advantage of the beautiful fall weather; at least it's beautiful here in Texas, if you aren't as lucky, you can move the fun inside.

This project is also kid friendly, so if your kiddos are out of school, or will be soon, this could be a fun project for you to do together.

First, take a walk outside; around your house, around the block or maybe in your favorite park. Keep a lookout for some unique and pretty fall leaves, you'll need 3 small ones for the project. They also need to be fairly flat too. I found 3 right outside my door that were the right size and had a nice shape...

 

Once you've found the leaves, you need a few fall colors of Smooch Spritz, I used Gold Glow, Gingersnap, Green Olive and Wood Stain, and a 6 X 6 piece of cream cardstock. And since this is a outdoor-sy project, you can keep the mess outside too! Place the cardstock on a patch of grass or other dry and semi-clean area in your yard and isn't too windy. If the weather in your area isn't as nice as it is here, then just use the Color Catcher to keep the mess contained. Then spritz or let the kids spritz, the cardstock with the lighter colors: Gold Glow, Gingersnap and a little bit of Green Olive. You just want light coverage across the paper, you aren't trying to saturate it, and you only want a little touch of the Green Olive You might want to experiment first on a scrap of cream cardstock; I tried the technique out on 2 smaller leaves; they were used on the finished card, the ones at the center...

 

Then arrange the leaves you collected on the cardstock, making sure to leave {no pun intended!} about 1/2 to 1 inch border around all sides of the cardstock. Then spritz lightly with the Wood Stain Spritz, making sure to spray around all edges of the leaves...

 

Let the ink set and dry a few minutes, then carefully remove the leaves - they'll have ink on them and you don't want to smudge your project!

 

Then, just follow the directions below to turn your spritzed paper into the card...

“shadow leaves” card

Skill Level: easy - kid friendly

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Wood Stain, Gold Glow, Gingersnap and Green Olive and Color Catcher {optional}

Petersen-Arne: Paper Accents Muslin cardstock: cream and mustard

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, fine black pen and foam dimensional dots

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 6 X 6 piece of cream cardstock and follow steps listed above to spritz leaves design on it.

2) When paper has dried, tear about 1/2" around all edges. Turn up bottom right corner and secure with a foam dot. Then adhere to a 6 X 12 piece of mustard cardstock folded in half to make card.

3) Use black pen to lightly outline the leaves and fill in the veins. Also cut out the 2 "trial" leaves if desired and add details to them as well.

4) Adhere the 2 smaller leaves at the center of your spritzed leaves using dimensional foam dots to adhere the top one.

5) Write "give thanks..." in black pen under turned up corner.

I'm going to try to squeak a few more Fall/Thanks projects in before we start a new theme - CHRISTMAS!!!

Please be sure to check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

AND --- within the next few months, Clearsnap will be COMBINING Jean's and my blogs into ONE big blog with projects by guest designers too! You can take a peek at it HERE! In the meantime, both Jean and I will keep posting to our Typepad blogs, but the projects will also be posted on the Blogger blog --- so be sure to bookmark it!

Clearsnap has also started a FACEBOOK page, Be sure to check it out and join up so you can view projects posted by others as well as be the first to know about any news or special announcements!

giving thanks...

Time for a new theme! Or should I say themes, because the next round of blog projects will focus on... Fall, Thanksgiving and giving thanks in general.

The first project fits in the "giving thanks" category; it's a little gift pail that would make a nice gift for a teacher, neighbor, co-worker or anyone else you would like to give a little  special thank you to...

 

You can fill it with homemade treats, candy, a gift certificate, or any other little goodie or goodies you can think of.

The pail is just a small, clear, pint size paint can that can be purchased at a craft store, or you might have one sitting around that contained some Prima flowers.

This project is fairly quick and easy to, and can be done assembly line if you need to make several.

Book paper was used, just a few pages out of an old book, to make the flowers, the band on the pail, and to cover the lid.

To make the flowers, 5 circles were punched from the book paper, then the circles were stacked and a hole was pierced at the center. A brad was used to secure the circles.

Then the edges of the circles were fringed, from the outer edge to almost the center, clipping though all the layers. After that, the petals were fluffed, pinched, scrunched and coaxed into fullness.

Smooch Spritzes were used to add shimmery color to the flowers. Smooch Spritzes differ from some of the other sprays out there - think of them more as an ink you can spray. They are SUPER concentrated, and SUPER vivid, and the shimmer is GORGEOUS! And, as if all that wasn't enough, Smooch Spritz will NOT warp your papers. If you give them a try, be sure that you spray lightly at first, just spritz and move your hand like you are spray painting. And the Color Catcher is a great way to spray without all the mess. It's a fold away "spritz station", that keeps the color where you want it - your project - and off other surfaces where you don't want the ink to go.

here is a closeup look at the flowers, note there isn't a warped petal in site...

 

 

 

And here's a view of the "Thank You" tag...

 

When you wrap the paper around the pail, cut out a small semi circle for the handle...

 

And or course you can always make these flowers to use on lots of other projects as well - cards, layouts, home decor, anything that needs a special little floral touch. 

Here are all the supplies and directions you'll need to make this project yourself... 

“flower pail” altered paint can

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Carrot Cake, Gingersnap, Citrus Tickle, Cosmic Pink and Silver Foil, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Pumpkin Spice and Lime Pastel, ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Wicked Black and Color Catcher

Hero Arts: Heartfelt Messages PolyClear Stamps

Other: Pint Size Clear Paint Can, brads, book pages, scrap of cardstock for tag and jute.

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, 1 1/2" and 2" circle punches and 1/8" hole punch.

DIRECTIONS:

PAIL:

1) Cut 2 - 2" strips from book paper - trim each to length that will fit halfway around pail plus 1/2".  

2) Tear along bottom edge of strips; they should measure about 1 1/2" tall. Ink torn edges using Pumpkin Spice Chalk Ink.

3) Wrap strips around upper edge of pail, marking where handles are, cutaway a semicircle on each strip to allow room for handles, then adhere pieces around pail.

4) For lid, push a piece of thin scrap paper into the indention of the lid to make a template, then cut a circle slightly smaller from book paper, ink edge with Pumpkin Spice Chalk Ink and adhere to the center of the lid.

FLOWERS:

1) Punch 5 - 1 1/2" circles and 15 - 2" circles from book paper.

2) Stack 5 - 1 1/2" circles, and make 3 stacks containing 5 - 2" circles each.

3) Use 1/8" hole punch at the center of each stack, insert brads in each set to secure.

4) Clip circles around edges almost to center to fringe. The closer you make the "snips", the fuller your flower will be.

5) Gently squeeze, pinch, crumble and fluff petals to separate.

6) Use Smooch Spritzes to tint flowers. Gingersnap and Carrot Cake were used on the small flower made from 1 1/2" circles as well as one of the larger flowers. Cosmic Pink was used on one of the other larger flowers and Citrus Tickle was used on the last large flower. All had a touch of Silver Foil added for some contrast - but don't overdo it, or you'll end up with grey-ish flowers. Add just a quick spritz of the Silver Foil here and there on each of the flowers.

7) Cut 5 leaves from book paper - 2 small and 3 larger ones. Fold in half to add some dimension, then ink the leaves using Lime Pastel Chalk Ink.

8) Adhere small flower and 2 small leaves to lid, and 3 larger flowers and 3 larger leaves to front of band.

TAG:

1) Cut 2 - 1 3/4" X 1 1/4" pieces from book paper and 1 piece from cardstock. Adhere book paper to either side of cardstock piece.

2) Ink "Thank You" stamp using Wicked Black Dye Ink, and stamp diagonally on tag. Ink edges of tag using Pumpkin Spice Chalk Ink.

3) Punch a hole at the top of the tag, and tie to the handle using a piece of jute.

NOW --- all you need to do is fill your treat pail with whatever you like!

MORE Fall/Thanksgiving/Giving Thanks projects are on the way, so please stop back by and see what's new.

Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

nevermore...

Since I had the polymer clay sitting out {it was used for the charm on the treat box in the last post}, I decided to make a SPOOKtacular pendant for Halloween...

 

Polymer Clay is a great medium to use with your stamping supplies. Stamps can be used to add designs to the clay just by pressing them into it, and your inks and sprays can be used to add some COLOR to the design.

For this pendant, a stamp was pressed into the clay, then after baking, several colors of Smooch Spritz were added to create a soft collage of "Halloween" colors. Then Crafter's Ink in Black was applied and rubbed in to "antique" the piece. Smooch Spritzes add a pretty touch of shimmer and work well on the clay. And the Crafter's Ink can be blended and worked into the design to get in all the little nooks and crannies. Let the ink set a few minutes, then gently buff off the excess.  

Here's a closer look at the pendant...

 

You can see my fingerprints in the clay as i used my "special" tools - aka my fingers to flatten the clay!  I wanted the pendant to have a free form shape, so fingers were the best tools to use to achieve that look.

After the pendant was done, I added a bail to it and strung it on some leather cording.

If you'd like to try using your stamping supplies with polymer clay, here's what you need to know...

“nevermore” polymer clay pendant

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Carrot Cake, Citrus Tickle and Gold Glow, Crafter’s High Top Ink Pad: Black, ColorBox Stylus Handle with white blender tip and Color Catcher

Indus Trading Company: Deerskin Lace – 1/8” black 

Memory Box: Spooky Collage wood mount stamp

Other: Plaid: Forged: metal findings – multi bales and Polymer Clay: beige 

Tools: a wood skewer {or something to punch hole in pendant with}, scissors, pliers and heat gun {optional}

DIRECTIONS:

1) Condition clay according to package directions.

2) Break off a piece and roll to form a 1 1/2" to 2" ball.

3) Use your fingers to flatten into a free form rectangle shape about 1/8" thick.

4) Press stamp into clay, careful not to press too hard.

5) Make hole at center top and bake pendant according to package directions.

6) When pendant has completely cooled, place it in the Color Catcher and lightly spray with Smooch Spritz letting the colors overlap slightly. Set aside piece to dry or use heat gun to speed drying time.

7) After you make sure Smooch Spritzes have completely dried, apply Crafter's Ink using Stylus and Foam Tips, smoothing ink into the impressed designs and also around the edges of the pendant. Let side about 10 minutes, then gently buff with a paper towel.

8) Add bail to pendant, then string onto lacing.

9) Add a protective coat if desired.

This was the LAST of my Halloween projects, but fall and Thanksgiving themed projects are on the way! Please come back to visit and see what's new!

Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

no tricks...just treats!

Halloween is a great holiday to think "crafty". Cards, decor, gift items, party goodies, there are LOTS of things you can create for Halloween.

Today's project is a quick and easy gift idea for teachers, co-workers, neighbors, friends or it would also be perfect as a party favor...

 

 

The base is a diecut pillowbox that was cut from orange cardstock. Then, it was stamped randomly using ColorBox Archival Dye Ink in Wicked Black before it was assembled...

 

The charm was made from polymer clay. A rubber stamp was pushed into the clay to create the pumpkin image, then after the clay was baked, the charm was lightly sprayed with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz, and the design was filled in using Smooch Accent Inks...

 

This is another kid friendly project; kids could easily stamp the pillowboxes, and help make the charms. And the kiddos would REALLY enjoy filling the boxes with treats! {Especially if they could sneak a few treats for themselves while doing so!} These would make cute little gift card holders too - just add some tissue. Adults would need to help assemble the boxes and to supervise the baking and cooling of the charms.

Here's all you need to know if you'd like to try this project yourself...

“treat me!” pillowbox treat container

Skill Level: easy - kid friendly with adult supervision 

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Accent Ink: Carrot, Sundance, Kiwi and Smooch Spritz: Silver Foil, ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Wicked Black and Color Catcher

Hero Arts: Month - October ClearDesign stamp

Bazzill: Intense Orange cardstock and Black Dashed and Black Stripe ribbon

Other: Polymer Clay - Black

Tools: Accucut Die: Box #4 {or purchased pillowbox blank}, scissors, adhesive, toothpick, heat gun {optional}

BOX:

1) Diecut pillowbox from orange cardstock.

2) Ink "trick or treat" stamp using Wicked Black Archival Dye Ink, and stamp randomly over diecut.

3) Assemble box leaving top open to add treats.

CHARM:

1) Condition clay according to package directions, then roll a 1 1/2" to 2" piece of polymer clay into a ball. Press between 2 acrylic blocks to flatten. {see photos of a similar project HERE}

2) Impress pumpkin stamp into center of clay disk. Use a toothpick to add detail to edges and to add a hole at center top.

3) Back charm as directed on polymer clay package.

4) Place charm in Color Cather and lightly spritz charm Silver Foil Smooch Spritz. Use heat gun to speed dry time if desired, otherwise set charm aside to dry.

5) Fill in design using Smooch Accent Inks. Use heat gun to speed dry time or set charm aside to dry. You may want to add a protective coat of glaze.

FINISHING:

1) Fill treat box, then seal.

2) Wrap a ribbon around box, overlapping and securing ends at back.

3) Tie charm onto front using another piece of ribbon.

I still have ONE more {at least!} Halloween project to share; so please come back by to see what's new.

Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

a spell-cial halloween card...

What colors come to mind when I say "Halloween"?

Orange, Black, possibly Yellow? Maybe Lime Green or Purple?

How about Pink?

No, pink isn't a color I usually associate with Halloween either, that's why I thought it might be a fun color to try incorporating in a Halloween card.

I started with a pink card as the base, then added some touches of more "traditional" Halloween colors...

 

I stamped and embossed the cute little witch and her magical "wake" using Top Boss Tinted Embossing Pad and Black Embossing Powder. The images are nice and crisp so the designs are easy to fill in with Smooch Accent Inks. Top Boss Embossing Powders are very fine, so when you heat set them, even the tiniest details remain SHARP!

And thanks to the fabulous built in precision tip that Smooch Accent Inks have, you can "smooch" even the itsy-bitsy-est portions of your stamped and embossed designs...

  

The background paper for the "wake" is white cardstock that has been sprayed with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz, to add some shimmer...

 

The "moon" background that the witch is stamped on is just a circle that was punched from plain, white cardstock. Then ColorBox Pigment Ink in Canary was used to color it in. ColorBox Pigment Inks blend beautifully, even on plain cardstock, so by blending the color from the outside in, the outer edge stayed darker, easily creating a shaded affect.

The same technique was used to create the background for the sentiment, which was stamped and embossed...

 
 

If you'd like to make this card for a spell-cial friend or maybe a daughter, granddaughter or neice, here's what you need to know...

“witchie-poo” card

Skill Level: moderate

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Top Boss: Tinted Embossing Pad and Embossing Powder: Black, Smooch Accent Ink: Carrot, Sundance, Kiwi, Molasses, Grape Soda and Sassy Pink, Smooch Spritz: Silver Foil, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Canary, Stylus Handle and White Foam Blender Tip and Color Catcher

Hero Arts: Month - October ClearDesign stamp

Hampton Art: Mini Flip Flops: Witches Brew

Memory Box: Jewel Spiders

Bazzill: Card: Fussy from Cards & Envelope Set, Black Dashed Ribbon and Blackberry Swirl, Coconut Swirl and Intense Orange cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, fine black pen, foam dimensional dots, 1 3/4 scalloped square punch, 2 1/2 circle punch and a heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

1) Trim 5 X 7 pink card to 4 X 6.

2) Cut a 3 1/2 X 4 piece of black cardstock and adhere to upper portion of card front.

3) Punch 2 scalloped squares from orange cardstock, add stitching lines with black pen and adhere to upper left and lower right corners of black cardstock.

4) Punch a circle from white cardstock and use ColorBox Pigment Ink in Canary, blended with the Stylus and White Foam Blender Tip, to apply ink from outside edge of circle in towards the center. Set aside to dry.

5) Cut a 2 1/4 X 1 1/8 piece of white cardstock and use same technique as in step {4} to color in cardstock. Set aside to dry.

6) Stamp witch in center of circle using Top Boss Tinted Embossing Pad and then emboss with Black Embossing Powder. Stamp sentiment in center of rectangle using same technique.

7) Place a 1 X 5 piece of white cardstock in the Color Catcher and spray with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz; set aside to dry.

8) Fill in witch design using Smooch Accent Inks.

9) Stamp and emboss border design on "smooched" cardstock. Cut out "wake" and fill in "bubbles" using Smooch Accent Inks.

10) To assemble, adhere ribbon about 3/4 from bottom of card, then adhere sentiment about 1/2 from right side of card; adding spider stickers. Adhere moon to center of black background, then use dimensional foam dots to adhere "wake" at bottom of moon.

MORE Halloween projects are on the way, so please stop back by to see what's new!

Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

bucket of fun...

Besides a costume, what does every trick-or-treater need?

Something to put their goodies in!

Today's project turns a plain black bucket from the dollar store into a custom treat pail for your favorite little goblin!

 

Design Adhesives, Designer Foils and Glitters were used to transform the bucket from blah to bling in only about 30 minutes! And this project is kid friendly too, so your kiddos can help embellish their bucket or even make it all by themselves!

 

Design Adhesives are like glue designs you rub on. They are simple to use and make applying glitters, foils or embossing powder quick and easy too. Place the design on pretty much any surface: paper, plastic, glass, wood, chipboard, etc. then gently rub the design. Remove the backing and then you are ready to apply your glitter, foil or embossing powder.

Silver Fog Designer Foil was applied over the  "trick or treat" and the star designs...

 

 
 

I took the pics in the bright sun so you could see the glitters and foils well, but every little scrape and scratch in the bucket as well as static-cling lint showed up as well!

Glitters were used for the candy designs...

 

 
{the handles of the lollipops were done using Goldmine Foil}

And to add the border along the top as well...

 

Ribbon was tied along the top to make another border...

 

And to finish it off, I rolled a piece of lime cardstock around the center of the handle, then tied ribbons at each side...

 

Here are all the supplies and directions needed to complete this quick and easy project...
 

“tricked out pail” altered bucket

Skill Level: easy - kid friendly 

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Design Adhesives: Trick or Treat, Candy Store, Fright Night and Fancy Edges, Designer Foils: Silver Fog and Goldmine and Glitters: Peridot, Sparkling Amethyst, Sweet Orange and Fool's Gold

Bazzill: Intense Kiwi cardstock

Other: ribbons, black plastic pail

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors and adhesive

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut apart "trick", "o'" and "treat" Design Adhesives and apply to center front of pail. Cover words with Silver Fog Foil, rub gently to apply and then gently pull back foil. If you miss any portion of the design, you can reapply foil to cover it.

2) Cut apart 2 candy lollipops and adhere at either side of "treat". Pull away backing from stick portion only, slip under Goldmine Foil and apply to stick. Then remove backing and apply Sweet Orange glitter. Shake off excess. {a clean and dry foam brush works well to help remove excess glitter}

3) Cut apart hard candies and apply at lower left and upper right of "trick o' treat". Make small piles of Sparkling Amethyst, Peridot and Fool's Gold glitters, remove backing from candies, then dip your finger in choice of glitters and gently dab your finger on one of the candies to apply the glitter. Repeat until all candies have been glittered.

4) Cut apart and apply stars around candies at upper right and lower left and apply Silver Fog Foil to them.

5) Cut apart and adhere scalloped border to upper portion of pail. You may need to use 2 strips depending on the size of your pail. Glitter with Sweet Orange glitter.

6) Tie a piece of ribbon around top of pail.

7) Cut a 3" strip of lime cardstock the desired width {depending on size of handle} and roll tightly around handle. Glue end; use clothespins or paperclips to hold in place while glue sets.

8) To finish, tie ribbons at sides of handle.

I hope you liked this kid-friendly project; new projects are added twice a week and MORE Halloween projects are coming! So please stop back by!

Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

it's a banner day...

I enjoy collecting vintage holiday decor items, and Halloween is second only to Christmas when I'm on the hunt for items to add to my collection.

 

I like the classic designs; black cats, warted witches and spooky ghosts, but I am attracted to the colors as well. Classic black and orange with white that has turned a soft cream over the years. And crepe paper, you can't forget about crepe paper, it was pleated and tucked and used to adorn lots of vintage Halloween decor items.

 

So when thinking about Halloween projects for the blog, I knew that I wanted to include at least one that reflected the vintage halloween style that I enjoy; so I decided on a Halloween banner... 

 

 

 

Instead of using cream cardstock to stamp the letters on, I used pages from an old book. Pages from old books take on the same soft creamy color as I find in old Halloween decor...

  

I punched squares from book pages, then stamped the letters on them using Pumpkin Pie Archival Dye Ink. A black pen was used to lightly outline the letters so they would be more pronounced, then then edges of the squares were inked using ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink in Blackbird. Then the squares were mounted on circles punched from orange cardstock, the edges of which were also inked. Then to add the finishing touch, crepe paper was pleated around the edges of each circle...

 

A piece of string, vintage of course, was used to attach all the pieces together. I put a piece of double sided tape on the back of each circle, and pressed on the string. Then smaller circles punched from orange cardstock were glued on to cover the string...

 

If you like a touch of vintage in your Halloween decor, here are all the supplies and directions you'll need to create your own banner... 

“string me along” Halloween banner

  

Skill Level: easy  

 

SUPPLIES:

 

Clearsnap: ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Pumpkin Pie, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Blackbird

   

Bazzill : Intense Orange cardstock

  

My Sentiments Exactly: Romantic Caps clear stamps

  

Other: black crepe paper streamers, string or twine and book pages {You can find old books in flea markets or thrift stores; I used old reader's digest books.}

 

Tools: 1 3/4 scalloped square punch, 2  and 2 3/4 circle punches, scissors, adhesive, double sided tape and fine black pen.

  

DIRECTIONS:

 

1) Punch 9 scalloped squares from book paper. Stamp one letter at a time on each square to spell "HALLOWEEN" using Pumpkin Pie Archival Dye Ink.

 

2) Outline each letter lightly using black pen, then ink edges of scalloped squares using Blackbird Chalk Ink.

 

3) Punch 9 - 2 3/4 circles from orange cardstock. Glue a stamped square in the center of each of the circles.

 

4) Ink edges of circles using Blackbird Chalk Ink. Then apply adhesive around edges of circles on the BACK of each one, and pleat crepe paper around edge.

 

5) Lay out circles upside down and reading from right to left on a table, making sure the letters are turned correctly. Place a piece of double sided tape on the back of each circle, about 1 to 1 1/4 down from top of orange circle. Place string across letters, leaving a 2-3 foot "tie" on each side and about 1/2 to 3/4 space between each letter.

 

6) Punch 9 - 2 circles from orange cardstock and glue a circle to cover the string on the back of each piece. 

Thanks for stopping by! Please be sure to come back for some Halloween project treats!

 

Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!)

 

world cardmaking day - SPOOKY STYLE!

Today is World Cardmaking Day, so in honor of that, I have not one card but TWO to share!

And since the current theme for the blog is "Halloween", both cards are "hauntingly" fun; but they differ in style.

First up is a fun and simple Halloween card playing on traditional colors of orange and black...

 

The row of pumpkins is made up of single pumpkins that have been stamped using Watermark Ink on orange cardstock and then embossed with Top Boss Black Embossing Powder...

 

Then, to add a little shimmer to the pumpkins, I used Smooch Illuminate to fill in the pumpkin designs...

 
 

Here's a closeup of the pumpkins with a little sunlight on them, you can see the shimmer better...

 

The stems of the pumpkins were filled in with Lucious Lime Smooch Accent Ink...

 

Next up is a Halloween card that is a little more on the "dark side"...

 

The background paper was made by spraying several colors of Smooch Spritzes on kraft cardstock, then, while the colors were still wet, the cardstock was shaken to create runs and drips...

 

The designs and sentiment were stamped with ColorBox Pigment Ink in Black and then embossed using Top Boss Clear Embossing Powder, Smooch Accent Ink in Moonlight was used to fill in the wording...

 

A different set of Smooch Spritz colors was used to create the background for the clock piece...

 

Then, a simple, black ribbon was pinned to the bottom of the card using a small, black safety pin...

 

So whether your Halloween-style leans toward fun and funky or distressed and spooky, you'll be able to send a card that reflects YOUR style!

Here are the directions for both cards...

 “happy haunting” halloween card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch: Illuminate and Lucious Lime, Top Boss: Embossing Powder: Black, White and Orange Zest and Watermark Ink

Hero Arts: friendly pumpkin wood mounted stamp

My Sentiments Exactly: Retro Lower/Numbers and Perky Lower/Number clear stamp sets

Bazzill: Parakeet card from Card & Envelope Set and Blackberry Swirl and Intense Orange cardstocks

 Other: white brads and dimensional foam dots

Tools: paper trimmer, adhesive, scissors, paper piercer and heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

1) Stamp 5 pumpkins on orange cardstock using Watermark Ink, and emboss using Top Boss Black Embossing Powder.

2) Fill in pumpkins with Illuminate Smooch and stems using Lucious Lime Smooch, then cut put pumpkins.

3) Cut a 5 X 2 1/4 piece of black cardstock. Stamp "haunting" along bottom of piece using Watermark Ink and Retro alpha stamps, emboss with Top Boss White Embossing Powder.

4) Stamp "happy" above "aun" of "haunting" using Watermark Ink and Perky alpha stamps, emboss with Top Boss Orange Zest Embossing Powder.

5) Adhere sentiment at an angle at top left of card front.

6) Cut a 3/4 X 7 piece of black cardstock. Adhere about 1/2 up from bottom of card. Pierce holes at sides and insert white brads.

7) Adhere pumpkins along strip, using dimensional foam dots to adhere a few of them.

 

“spooky” Halloween card

Skill Level: moderate

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Gingersnap, Cherry Ice, Silver Foil, Limolicious and Citrus Tickle, Smooch Accent Ink: Moonlight, Top Boss Embossing Powder: Clear, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Black and Fluid Chalk Ink: Blackbird and Color Catcher

Hampton Art: Flip Flop: Spooky and Clock clear stamps

Memory Box: Spooky Collage

Bazzill: kraft cardstock

Other: black ribbon, small black safety pin and small antique silver brad

Tools: paper trimmer, adhesive, scissors, paper piercer, dimensional foam dots and heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut an 8 X 8 1/2 piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 5 X 8 piece of kraft cardstock and place in Color Catcher. Spray different areas of paper, letting colors overlap a bit with Gingersnap, Silver Foil and Cherry Ice Smooch Spritzes. While paper is still wet, shake in a downwards direction to help ink run and drip. Set aside to dry.

3) Cut a 4 X 4 piece of kraft cardstock and place in Color Catcher. Spray with Limolicious and Citrus Tickle Smooch Spritzes and set aside to dry.

4) Ink Spooky Collage stamp with ColorBox Black Pigment Ink and stamp towards top of 5 X 7 piece of "smooched" cardstock. Emboss using Top Boss Clear Embossing Powder.

5) Tear around edges of stamped design, reserving excess paper for sentiment. Ink edges using Blackbird Chalk Ink.

6) Fold a 4" piece of black ribbon in half and dovetail ends. Safety pin to lower left of stamped piece and then adhere to front of card about 3/4 from top.

7) Stamp sentiment "haunted", "halloween" using stamps from Spooky set using ColorBox Black Pigment Ink and then embossing with Top Boss Clear Embossing Powder. Use Smooch Accent ink in Moonlight to fill in "haunted". Trim piece to measure 4 1/4 wide, then tear along top and bottom edges. Ink edges using Black bird Chalk Ink and adhere under background image.

8) Stamp "Clock Face" from clock set onto 4 X 4 "smooched" cardstock using ColorBox Black Pigment Ink and emboss with Top Boss Clear Embossing Powder. Stamp hands using black ink and emboss them as well. Fill in hour hand using Moonlight Smooch Accent Ink.

9) Use a paper piercer to place a hole at center of clock and insert brad. Adhere clock to upper right hand corner of card using foam dimensional dots.

I hope you are finding LOTS of inspiration for cards today, and that you enjoyed these two! Please stop back by for more Halloween themed projects. 

And if you'd like to see even MORE great projects featuring Clearsnap products, please be sure to check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog.