Friday, October 21, 2011

Paper Hoarders Design Team Challenge: HALLOWEEN Shaped Card

I love shaped cards. You can ask my friends (those that receive them) how often a card they get (from me, of course) is rectangular. Not very often. Don't get me wrong, I do DO them, but... when it comes to holidays or birthdays (unless I'm doing in bulk!), I try to find something a little original to do. And sometimes I'm stumped.

And sometimes, I have more ideas than one.

Like this week.

Let's just say the final card IS NOT what I had originally designed. This was meant to be a witch's hat. And it was ready to be cut. But then... I sold my first sale in my new Etsy shop! And I changed all thoughts. You see... I sold two ghosts! And with that sale... I changed my total idea to all things ghostly. (just a little plug... if you'd like to see my shop and/or order, just click here.  i will do things custom and will soon post more holiday-theme items, seeing as the holidays are quickly approaching. what do you want to see?)

*note: due to the sticky nature of this project, photos were taken mostly at the end.

First off... I picked a ghost from Paper Doll Dress Up. Then I enlarged him to a 5.5. I copied him, then I flipped him from side to the other side (horizontally). Then I scooted him until he was up against the other one, a mirror image that overlapped. And I welded him together with his twin.

(whew! we're not done yet with the Gypsy, peeps!)

Next, I went to "advanced" and "hid" the elements I didn't want. On one side (the bottom side), I hid all the inside cuts (eyes, billows at the bottom). On the top side, I hid the billows, but not the eyes. Then I cut him out and scored him on my Martha Stewart Scoring Board.

Took out my Christmas Red Stickles (yes, he was still folded!), and did the eyes (remember... the eyes were cut on the top!). This left them red-rimmed on the outside of the card, and red-rum-my on the inside. I opened it and stamped a creepy ax-y-lookin' stamp (something that had fallen off, perhaps?) in Distress Inks and let him dry.

Here's the sticky part... then I cut a used Bounce sheet (you know... the fabric softener sheets) into the ghost form (with my Cutter Bee scissors. my regular paper-type wouldn't cut it) put it in a soda case box and sprayed adhesive glue on it. I tossed glitter (the iridescent pixie glitter) on it until it sparkled and shined! Pretty! I tried to let it dry. It took a long. time. But it was dry for the most part. I picked it up, flipped it over, and sprayed it AGAIN (on the reverse side) with spray adhesive and quickly picked it up.

Getting it to to stick on properly was a chore in itself. Ugh! Messy. Glitter and sticky icky adhesive glue all over my fingertips. Yeah... no pics for this... But when it's wet (the Bounce sheet), it's more stretchy. (My note to self for next time? cut it a little bigger... it seems to want to shrink!) Got it pretty well matched up and stretched out and on. And I let him dry. (notice... the bounce sheet is now on the card, so we're back to "him" again...?) Here's a pic (I got a chance to finally wash my hands!)

After drying, I couldn't see the red Stickled eyes so well, so I added them to the outside. Let him dry again, then took him out for a stroll in my Halloween Haunted Walk (outside my door! see the orange-y lighting? and cobwebs? and black roses?). Yeah... cool-e-o!


Hope you like my shaped card! And if you'd like to see others, simply stop by Miss Tanya's website, as she's got the whole group posted! Please be sure to leave a comment for the cards you visit, as everyone likes a prop or two. Have a HalloSCREAM!!!!!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Paper Hoarders Design Team Challenge: The Sweetest Day

So... it's been a little bit. Yeah... I'm still here, just been busy and frustrated. My mojo's been tampered with and well... yeah... but! it's challenge time again. So you know what that means! And our challenge this week? Um... the Sweetest Day (Make a little sum sum for your honey.)... Say what?

I'm from California, so... I'd really never even heard of it. So... I did a little research and found out there's a reason I never heard of it! Apparently, (per Wikipedia...) it's mainly based in the Great Lakes regions, and was introduced as a "Hallmark Holiday". Oh! and... apparently, it's for gifts to be given to boyfriends, husbands, etc... NOT a reciprocal holiday. So... um... sweet...

Had.

Me.

Stumped.

I'm not sweet. I do things for my hubs all. the. time. Does he appreciate them? Uh... NO...

But... seeing as our anniversary is THIS Saturday, I thought I could do something for that and cover all bases at the same time. But I'm not giving him candy... I'm making him a full menu (Huevos Rancheros for breakfast, Grilled Paninis for lunch, and Bbq-ed STEAK for dinner). It's all his faves and things he's been asking for, so I've got the pork in the crock pot for the Chile Verde, and I'll be doing some more shopping tomorrow night.

So... (clearing throat)... I made this card to go along with it...

I'm a little corny sometimes, and all I could think of (with the lack of mojo-ed-ness here) is a monkey, and inside having it say, "Thanks for hanging around..." Granted, he's hanging on a heart (I welded two hearts together to form the card...) and there are vines and things on that heart, but it's been a jungle of 7 years (we've actually been together much longer...). And I'm glad he's made the constant choice to stay, as I'm super difficult not too easy to live with.

I just love that shiny paper... so I made the card base with it. (Heart - Gypsy Wanderings)

Then folded it a la Martha Stewart-style... bone folder and board...

Did my little monkey...
and added some flocking to his fuzzy (messy little) face.

Had to get some of those vines and leaves around... and in different colors and textures.

I "hid" the heart that came with the monkey and vines... (Monkey & Vines - Sweethearts), so I never cut it and it didn't show in my cuts, because the card base was big enough. Who doesn't have a big heart?
Hope you like it and so does he! You can join in the fun, too! Just go to Ms. Tanya's blog and participate, too! We'd love to see what you come up with!

Happy "Sweetest Day"!!