Create a BOO-tiful decoration for Halloween!

Boo....Eek...Shriek!  Bats, Cats, Goblins, Ghosts & Creepy Crawlies!

Do you enjoy decorating for the changing seasons?  I sure do! As a kid, I loved celebrating the seasons by creating craft projects to reflect the fun activities that we looked forward to. Some things that come to mind are costumes, candy, cool windy shorter days,  laced with apples, apple cider, pumpkins, gourds and pretty leaves! We didn't have a lot to spend in those days, but having to create my own projects heightened my love for crafting!

Would you like to know how to take these painted Smoothfoamtm blocks and balls.....

and turn them into the project shown below??

If so, just click on the link below and you will get the instructions to create this fun Halloween decoration for yourself!

http://www.smoothfoam.com/blog/bats-cats-and-spiders-oh-my/

While you are on the Smoothfoamtm Blog, look around!  You might find something else to tickle your fancy in this array of great ideas!

Pictured below is another Halloween idea for using the Sticky Stickstm  featured in my last Blog post.  The chocolate nugget is wrapped in green paper and the face is drawn on the front.  The adhesive strip on the end of the Sticky Sticks is great for holding items with a little weight.  You don't have to worry about the candy popping off.  Trick or Treat!  Enjoy!

Hope you enjoy the October days ahead with family and friends!

Happy Crafting!

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

HALLOWEEN FUN WITH "STICKY STICKS tm"

Have you heard of Sticky Sticks?  They are unique to the world of craft sticks and I will tell you why!  There is a strong adhesive on one end of the stick.  Peel off the release paper and adhere!  Easy and fun!

I just got some a couple of weeks ago and had to try them out right away.  With Halloween coming up in the near future, I thought these would work great for a quick and easy treat idea, taking advantage of the strong adhesion on one end.  The bond is much stronger than the traditional tape
runner.  This allows you to glue something to the end that might be a little heavier than you would normally consider.
Most households have a craft stash of scrapbook papers, rubber stamps, and such.  I used my die-cut machine and Cricut Artiste cartridge from Close To My Heart for the die-cuts you see here.  The rubber stamp came from Close To My Heart as well. The craft stores are full of cute stickers and embellishments that would be fun to use.  A scissor, paper cutter, pencil & tape runner will come in handy too!

Aren't these a fun cast of characters?  I sure had fun making them!

Being a visual person myself, I think this is the best way to teach you how to do this!

Same story, little different version.......

I will be posting a monthly project featuring Sticky Sticks.  If you enjoyed this project or have any questions, please message me!  I would love to hear from you.

Would you like some of these for yourself?  They are available at most major craft retailers and can be found on their website at http://stickysticks.net/Stores.aspx.

This design concept isn't limited to Halloween!  I plan on making some for the other Holidays and maybe some that are "just because".  If they turn out really cute, I will put them up and share!

Happy Crafting!

"Live Life with a Flourish"

Marilyn

NEW way to Scrapbook your Memories??

Hi Friends!

September has arrived and we are in the last days of summer before we get to Fall!  Summer vacations provide so many photo opps…fun times with friends and family. This accordion-fold mini scrapbook block is perfect for tucking away little mementos & reminders of your summer getaways. It would be fun to make one commemorating any season, or holiday, or a special event like a baby’s birth or a wedding!

Supplies:
3″ Smoothfoam cube
12″ sheets of cardstock with coordinating papers and embellishments
( I used the ”Surf’s Up” assortment from Close To My Heart)
Rubber stamps and ink pads
Die-cuts, mini-envelopes, ephemera, photos
Cosmetic sponge wedge
Dry adhesive
Dimensional adhesive
Jute twine
Paper trimmer and scoring tool
Scissors

1.  Cut a sheet of cardstock into four 3″ x 12″ strips.  Score each strip at 3″ intervals and fold accordion style.

2.  Cut contrasting papers into 2-3/4″ squares and adhere a square to each panel of the cardstock on both sides for all four strips. Adhere a strip to each of the four sides of the cube.

3.  Embellish the squares on each strip as desired with photos, die-cuts, etc. Tuck little notes and other ephemera into mini pockets.

4.  Adhere a finished strip to each side of the cube, then adhere a square of paper to the top and bottom of the cube.

3.  Display your accordion-fold mini scrapbook open, or secure by tying a length of jute twine around the cube.

Below is a variation using one of my favorite papers!  Are you inspired now to make some of these?  I used a three inch Smoothfoam block for each cube.  You can go a little bigger or smaller.  I think this would make a great gift for a friend or family member that you want to share memories with!

Hope you are inspired.  Each page on the scrapbook block has seven surfaces to put pictures, etc.That is a lot of space for little photos and mementos!

Happy Crafting; 

 may the Blessings flow!

Marilyn

ps.  Remember to "Hook it Up"  with CraZy TACKz!  

They are available now online at www.crazytackz.com, at JoAnn's Fabrics stores, Container Stores...and misc. others!  If you don't find them, please ask!