Time for Trick or Treat!

I needed a BUNCH of Halloween treats for some very special people:

Maui Stamper Halloween Pumpkin Smarties Treats handmade giftThey didn’t take long, they were fun to put together, and I learned that one package of Smarties has a Weight Watcher’s Points Plus value of 1. (That’s a very good thing!)

Maui Stamper Halloween Pumpkin Smarties Treats handmade giftThe Smarties fit perfectly into the 1″ x 8″ cello bags, and the Framelits Labels are just the right size to create a topper.  A simple pumpkin, a couple strands of ribbon, and too could be ready for a heap of trick or treaters.  (Or grown up trick or treaters…just saying.

Seriously, you still have time to put some of these together for the ghosties and goblins on your route!

Something RemARKably Different

Welcome to the September RemARKable 25th Anniversary Blog tour!  This month I’m working WAY outside of my usual comfort zone!

Maui Stamper mixed media Best of Halloween CatStampin’ Up! demonstrators who went to Convention 2013 might have seen Carrie Cudney’s presentation on Living a Creative Life.  She showed us three mixed media canvases, and I was inspired to try my own.  Talk about a learning experience!!  And photographing this was a challenge.  I’ve got some detailed pictures to help you get a better feeling of what this really looks like.

Maui Stamper mixed media Best of Halloween CatHere’s a closer look at my cat wearing the Sorting Hat from the Best of Halloween stamp set.  The cat was based on the Frightening Feline MDS image and was sketched onto Witches Brew DSP and cut out.

Maui Stamper mixed media Best of Halloween CatLinen thread whiskers were dragged through Basic Black ink, and Rhinestone Jewels were colored with a Sharpie® marker.

Maui Stamper mixed media Best of Halloween CatThe background DSP is also from Witches Brew, and I masked a circle to create a full moon.  One of the things I learned is that if you apply Mod Podge before you add in your color, the color doesn’t sink into the paper (DUH).  Although it would dry, as soon as I tried to add anything over it the color would move.  My background ended up being darker than I would have liked, but I learned something!

That’s Witches Brew Washi tape in the top left corner.

Maui Stamper mixed media Best of Halloween CatI took the spiderweb idea straight from Carrie’s project.  I used a black marker for the lines, then added Black Stampin’ Glitter (which did not photograph well at all, so imagine lots of sparkle here!)

Maui Stamper mixed media Best of Halloween CatThe bats are already on the DSP, the lines and blotches are from Gorgeous Grunge, and Trick or Treat is from the Best of Halloween.

Maui Stamper mixed media Best of Halloween CatThe pumpkin uses the Extra Large Oval punch, the Bird punch (the wing is the leaf) and LOTS of sponging.  The orange glitter is kind of everywhere, but at least it shows in the photo!  And btw, Mr. Maui Stamper has seen this project and neither he nor I have mentioned said glitter.  If you don’t acknowledge it, it doesn’t exist.

Maui Stamper mixed media Best of Halloween CatThis corner photo gives you a better idea for the feeling of the whole project – and a good look at that spooky tree from Best of Halloween.

Maui Stamper mixed media Best of Halloween CatHere’s the cat’s tail and a view of the haunted house.  I used white chalk – classroom type – to outline the cat in hopes of giving it more definition.  This photo also gives you an idea of the way the ink moved around when I put the final coat of Mod Podge on – very annoying.  I won’t make that mistake twice!

Maui Stamper Tag  Best of HalloweenThis stamp set is especially well suited to tags!

Maui Stamper Tag  Best of HalloweenI used one of the Bitty Label punches to create a little interest around the opening for the ribbon.  Did you know that gorgeous black and grey striped ribbon from last year is now available as part of the Halloween Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit?  I was VERY happy to see that!

Maui Stamper Tag  Best of HalloweenOne last look at the tag…and it’s time to head over to Trinity Design Studios to see what Robin has up her sleeve!  The tour logo below will take you there, or click on the link in the list of blogs at the bottom of the post.  Thanks for stopping by!

blogtour-25years-nextNancy Amato                     http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger                 http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley                http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson                    http://stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis                        http://www.thecardladies.com
Sherri Eddleblute                http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com/
Kathy Hamrick                   http://www.countryroads.typepad.com/
Crystal Kondo                    http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh                        http://thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Anne Matasci                     http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com      YOU ARE HERE!!!
Robin Merriman                 http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane                        http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler                        http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds              http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Sharon Tisdale                  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/coveredbridgesstamper/blog
Janet Wakeland                 http://www.remarkablycreated.com

The Sorting Hat

If the Sorting Hat were Elegant Eggplant it would look like this:

Handmade card Best of Halloween Maui Stamper

  • Best of Halloween and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets
  • Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla card stock
  • Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant and Pumpkin Pie FFIP
  • Silver Encore Ink pad
  • Extra-Large Oval punch
  • Rhinestone jewels

Handmade card Best of Halloween Maui StamperThis Best of Halloween 25th Anniversary stamp set is AWESOME!  Be sure you check back on Sunday for the RemARKable 25th Anniversary Blog tour – because we are featuring this set!

blogtour-25years-sept