Halloween Witch Hat Workshop

Recently, I featured this Halloween witch's hat project on the blog.  If you'd like to create your own, I'm now offering it as a workshop on Friday, October 23rd!

Here is a close-up of some of the detail on the hat.  The pattern on the faceted gem in the center will vary (there are 9 Halloween-themed designs to choose from).

All supplies are pre-cut and ready to assemble.  Light refreshments will be available.  The workshop begins at 7pm and will cost $10.  Order your workshop by October 16th to reserve your spot!

Spotlight on Holiday Expressions Catalog

Welcome to our Holiday Expressions Blog Hop!  This month, 30 consultants will be showcasing some of the many new items available in the Holiday Expressions catalog.  Items in this catalog focus on the several holidays falling into October, November and December. 

 

If you have come here from Terrie's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog.  The hop is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!
Our Annual Inspirations Books are a fabulous source of ideas!  I always keep my old ones to reference and get ideas.  Last year, there was a decorated witches hat showcasing the Scaredy Cat line.  I loved that hat, but never got around to making one for myself.  Close to My Heart has a new line in the Holiday Expressions book called Nevermore.  My local craft store had a plain cardboard witches hat, it was on sale, AND I had a coupon that worked on sale items.  Here is my newest Halloween decoration, hanging out on the mantle next to Mr. Bones!

 Here is a close-up of the decorations - complete with clear sparkles, black glitter paper and the spider web faceted gem!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed the witch hat. The original hat, along with instructions, and a few other versions can be found on Jeanette Lynton's blog. 
Here is a list of Close To My Heart Products used to create these cards:
X7198B - Nevermore Paper Packet
Z3083 - Nevermore Assortment
Z1752 - Clear Sparkles Z3170 - Cricut Artiste Collection Z1829 - Black & Grey Glitter Paper Z2060 - Thin 3-D Foam Tape
CTMH Cardstock in Slate and Black
All items can be purchased through my CTMH website.

Now "Hop" on over to Michelle's Blog to see her creation! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas!

Music To The Eyes Blog Hop

 

Welcome to the Close To My Heart Technique Blog Hop.  If you are coming from Denise Elliot's page at Inspired by D, you are on the right track.  There are 15 participants in the hop today and we are all showcasing the "Music To The Eyes" technique found on page 34 of the CTMH Annual Inspirations Idea Book.  

I choose to implement the technique on a Pumpkin Carving layout featuring the Scaredy Cat Paper Packet.

Banners are such a fun addition to fill the empty space in a layout, and CTMH offers a stamp set full of banners!!!!  The little flags from Bodacious Banners were stamped using Thistle, Sunset and Pear ink.  This stamp set coordinates with the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, so the shapes were easy to cut out.  Each stamped area was outlined in black journaling pen to make it pop off of the paper!

The same technique was implemented for the Jack O Lantern from the Halloween Greetings Stamp Set.  So you can get a feel for the impact of outlining, here is the Jack O Lantern half completed.

The flags were randomly arranged to make 3 banners on the right edge of the layout.  Black enamel stars separate each individual flag.  The Frightfully cute saying is also from the Halloween Greetings set.

The picture of my daughter holding up the pumpkin "guts" was such a fun picture that I wanted to make sure it was highlighted.  Using the "love it" stamp (All the Details Stamp Set) was the perfect way to draw attention to the "guts."  The arrow was outlined in black to give it more POP!

While the actual journaling hasn't been completed yet, the journaling box is all decked out and ready to tell the story behind the pictures.  A dash/dot pattern outlines the edge of the box giving it some definition.  Black enamel stars were used to adorn each corner.  The date stamp is from January's National Papercrafting Month Stamp Set, Year >>Noted. 

To embellish the upper left corner, a trio of notched papers was added.  The green polka-dot piece is actually one of the flags from Bodacious Banners.  Instead of using the cricut shape, the stamp was trimmed flush with the edge.

Close To My Heart Supplies used for this layout:
X7185B - Scaredy Cat Paper Packet
Z3011 - Scaredy Cat Assortment
D1555 - All the Details Stamp Set
D1607 - Bodacious Banners Stamp Set
D1605 - Halloween Greetings Stamp Set
Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection
CTMH Exclusive Inks in Pear, Thistle, Sunset and Black
CTMH Cardstock in Pear, Sunset, Thistle, Black and Colonial White
Above items can be purchased through my CTMH website.

CTMH Supplies no longer available:
National Papercrafting Month Year>>Noted Stamp Set
Creme Brulee Cardstock

Thank you for checking out my "Music to The Eyes" creation.  You have reached the end of today's hop.  To start over at the beginning, please visit Sheila Bennett!

Halloween Wreath

Last year, I picked up this Black Feather wreath on clearance at Jo-Ann's.  The price tag says $39.99, but I believe I paid $5 for it. 

It was an adorable and fun addition to our Halloween decor.  But, I felt it needed a little sprucing up.  Armed with my Scaredy Cat Paper Pack and CTMH Cricut Cartridges, this is what I came up with.

The letters and triangle pennants were cut from the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  Each pennant is tied together with metallic black baker's twine.  The flowers were cut from the CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge and inked around the edge with black distressing ink.  The "Oct 31" stamp is from the Halloween Greeting set.   

I love this little spider and web cut from the CTMH Artbooking Cricut Cartridge. Cutting him from the purple glitter paper allowed the spider to really pop out from the web. 

Close to my Heart supplies used:
D1605 Halloween Greetings Stamp Set
X7185B Scaredy Cat Paper Packet
Z1906 Cricut Artbooking Collection
Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection
Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection
Z1921 Baker's Twine Neutral Metallic Assortment
Z1992 Purple Glitter Paper
Z1296 Distressing Ink
Z1795 Quilling Tool (so helpful for these flowers!)
Z2105 Exclusive Ink Stamp pad - Black
Various adhesives

October Workshop - Halloween Banner

Join me this month as we make a Halloween Banner to display the fun costumes you and/or your family have donned over the years! Your finished banner will include 8 decorated flags hung on 2 yards of black and white striped ribbon. 

This workshop will be held on Thursday, October 23rd at 7:30 PM.   All materials will be pre-cut and ready to assemble.  All you need to bring is eight 4"x4" pictures!  Light refreshments will be provided. 

Space is limited, so purchase your kit today to reserve your spot!  The RSVP and payment deadline is Monday, October 13th.  You will receive a confirmation e-mail within 48 hours of your payment.  The cost to create this Halloween banner is $15.  Additional flags (as well as 6 extra inches of ribbon) can be purchased for $2 each.  Please make a note when checking out as to how many extra flags you'd like to make.  Payment for these extra flags can be made at the workshop.

Not local to the area, contact me to purchase the kit (with an added fee for S & H) so you can create your own version at home!  All images will be pre-cut, pre-stamped and ready to assemble.  I am happy to help you out via e-mail or phone with any questions you may have.