My little ghosts and goblins are mostly grown up.  At 17, my son (the “baby”)  isn’t very interested in costumes or carving pumpkins, and I’ve had to re-think Halloween.   I’m not such a fan that I’ll go all-out Martha style, but I’m enjoying putting together something for the entry to my home.  Here’s a simple start:

• House of Haunts stamp set
• Basic Black and Whisper White card stock
• Pumpkin Pie textured card stock
• Pumpkin Pie Classic ink pad
• Blender pen and Basic Black Stampin’ Write marker
• Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and Sponge Daubers
• Big Shot and Petal Cone L and Scallop Circle Bigz dies
• Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing folder
• Decorative Label and XL Oval punches
• Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sticky Strip and Mini Glue Dots
• Basic Black and Pumpkin Pie 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon

The hat is really simple – a petal cone assembled and inverted on a scallop circle.  I used a sponge dauber to highlight the Spider Web with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (an absolute MUST HAVE product).

If you purchase a demonstrator kit during the month of October, you’ll receive a Big Shot from Stampin’ Up! absolutely free!  Already have the Big Shot?  You can choose $100 worth of Stampin’ Up! product (think of all the dies you could get!) and pay nothing – not even tax or shipping!  Check out the details at my Online Store.

Using the right adhesive makes a huge difference.  Stampin’ Up! sells loads of different products and there is always one that is right for the job.  I use Sticky Strip whenever I assemble 3-D items to be sure they keep their shape, and I like to use Stampin’ Dimensionals to attach layers to cardstock that has gone through one of our Texutred Impressions Embossing folders.  Do you want to know the biggest secret for making this project stick together?  Assemble the Petal Cone die, being sure to Sticky Strip the flaps closed on the top of the cone.  Then use Mini Glue dots to attach the cone to the Scallop Circle.

If you do the math, you may be surprised to find that our adhesives are really cost effective.  Stampin’ Dimensionals are a penny apiece (ok, they’re 1 1/3 cents each if you want to be really technical) and Mini Glue dots are just under 2 cents each.  Once I sat down and figured that out I quit being so stingy with them – I use Mini Glue dots for everything now.  They’re REALLY sticky (just get one stuck to your fingernail and you’ll see what I mean!)

Why don’t you treat yourself to a fresh box of Mini Glue dots?  You deserve it.