Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Happy Halloween everyone!

 I took this photo a couple of years ago at one of our local pumpkin patches, don't those pumpkins look great?

I hope you all have lots of chocolate, laughter and fun today! Halloween has always been one of my favourite times of the year! I'm busy carving this years pumpkins, but here's a photo of last years creations. How do you like the little squash with the parsnip nose and olive eyes? LOL!! 

I'm all ready for the kiddies, I love to see all the costumes! Ghosties and Witches, Pirates and Princesses, Dinasaurs and Ballerinas, all  to knock on my door tonight! Hope you have a happy and safe Halloween with lots of chocolate!!

Don't forget to save the pumpkin seeds for roasting...here's my recipe!
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds:

Try to pull off all the yucky stuff and spread the seeds on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Add dollops of butter around and bake in a 325 oven for a few minutes until the butter is all melted. Stir around and sprinkle with salt. Roast for about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how hot your oven is....just until they turn golden brown. Take out of the oven, sprinkle with a bit more salt and serve when cooled. Delish!!

Here's a bit of Halloween Lore for you!

Did you know long ago the Celts believed that Halloween was a time when the veil between the spirit world and our world was the thinnest? They believed that spirits wandered freely on this night between both worlds looking for their homes. Many believed their dearly departed ones would travel on this night to the Summerland, their resting place. They believed that this, of all nights of the year needed some extra precautions!

Candles were lit along roadsides and in windows to guide the lost spirits on their way and offerings of food were left on door steps and along roadways to provide food for them.

Many were afraid these spirits would possess them and so they carved out pumpkins and turnips with scary faces, lighting a candle in them to scare away the spirits.

Travelling at night wasn’t considered a good idea at all , so if they had to venture out, they would dress in white so they would look like ghosts, or they would wear masks or blacken their faces so they would avoid recognition by the spirits.

They also believed the Fairie Folk or the Wee People were out on this night, catching people by surprise,  playing tricks on them and causing general mayhem in the villages.Townfolk would light bonfires around their homes and through the villages to keep them safe and ward away the ghostly apparitions.

BOO!!  Happy Halloween! 

Thanks for stopping by ... have a Spooktacular time!!

Judy

Envelope Tutorial

Here is my first picture tutorial, I hope you like it!

I really love to make 4" x 4" cards, but what I don't like, is that it's so hard to find a really nice envelope to put them in. I know you can put them into a regular envie... and maybe it's just me...but it really bugs me to have the card sliding around!

So, I took an envelope apart and made my own template which I've tried to make into a PDF to include here....but sigh...my techie skills just won't stretch that far!!

So...now I have to tell you what I'm so excited about with this little 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" envelope. It will fit the scallop card (see previous post) if you turn the card sideways!! Woohoolies!!! Check out the pictures!

Just a sidenote, LOL! I'm really not that colour challenged that I would put together the pattern on the envelope with the colours in the card...it's just so that you can see it better! LOL!!

This is what the envelope looks like and will fit your 4 x 4 card.

See how the scallop card slides in sideways!

You will need to fold your flap about 1/4" higher than the template shows to make it fit your scallop cards.

Here you can see I show with 2 pieces of ribbon: the bottom ribbon is where the fold would be for your regular 4 x 4 card.  The top ribbon points to where the fold should be when you are using your scallop fold cards.

Here's the pattern, if you would like me to email it to you so you can print it on your computer, just send me a note with your email addy. There's a little 'Email me' on the right hand side of my blog!

I hope you enjoy this little tutorial and enjoy making  lots of these sweet little square cards!

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

Scallop Butterfly Card

This card was very easy and quick to make because I used the Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die and my Big Shot. I placed the fold of the card just below the top edge of the die, so that when I ran it through the Big Shot, it just cut the 3 outside edges.  I CASED it from this beautiful card here.  I just loved her colour choices and the way the background paper is made!

I stamped the swirls and flowers in White craft ink on Night of Navy cardstock. Next I stamped the butterfly with Old Olive on Whisper White,   then cut it out, leaving a tiny white border to make it stand out with just a little bit of contrast.

What I used:
Cardstock: Old Olive, Night of Navy and Whipsper White
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink, Not quite Navy and Old Olive
Stamp set: Simple Friendship
Accessories: Bigz Clear Scallop Die, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Scissors for cutting...easy! 

See the next post for an envelope template to fit this card!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your time with me!

Judy

Fall Colours!

This stamps set has to be one of my all time faves! It's so versatile, each and every time it turns out beautiful!

To colour the tree I used my blender pen and dipped it right into the ink pad. I started with the lightest colour, Crushed Curry, then blended in Old Olive and Dusty Durango. To smooth out the effect I shaded in with Close to Cocoa Ink. I then overstamped in Creamy Caramel with the Itty Bitty Background stamp.

I love this card!

 

What I used:
Cardstock: Watercolour Paper, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip
Stamp set: Lovely as a Tree, Autumn Days
Ink: Basic Brown, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango
Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Blender Pen

Thanks for stopping by!
Enjoy ~ Judy

Vintage Thank You

Hi everyone!

We're having a cozy, very rainy day here on the southwest coast, it's a good day for stamping or digging around in your card stash!

I found this card I made a couple of years ago and I know that I cased it from somewhere, I just can't remember who it was from...if you know please let me know and I'll provide a link! Oh...my memory!!

 

What I used:
Carstock: Close to Cocoa, Designer Paper for the flowers (Unknown), Mellow Moss (Stems & Leaves)
Stamp Sets: Lovely Labels (retired), Canvas Background (retired)and Itty Bitty Backgrounds and the sentiment is from Happy Everything.
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Martha Flower Punches, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Round Tab Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Brads, Papershapers small circle and leaf punch, Paper Piercer and Mat Pack

I cut the rectangle for the front pocket, then cut a half circle out to make it really look like a pocket! Then I pierced around it and did faux stitching with my Close to Cocoa marker. And my favourite finishing touch...I sponged all the edges of the card and all the punched out pieces with Close to Cocoa.

Hope you like it! Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

Halloween Gift Holders

Halloween Gift Holders....too cute!

These little gift card holders are so cute and so easy to make! Perfect for your favourite older goblins who don't go out to 'Trick or Treat" but would love a treat of Starbucks for their coffee or hot chocolate fix on Halloween! Mmmm...Pumpkin Spice Latte...I think I hear it calling my name! Okay, getting back on track [g] it could even hold a gift card for a scary movie rental...hmmm...lot's of ideas! LOL!

I used SU Designer paper from last year and rounded the top portion of the card holder with my circle Coluzzle...which is also retired, but you can use a saucer or small plastic lid, just trace around until you get the shape you like. You could also cut it square and use a little corner rounder too, for a different look...it's a very adaptable little pattern. See below for the measurements and directions.

The front view in Orange DSP and Pumpkin Pie Cardstock....don't you just love those booglie eyes!

 

The front view in Green DSP and Old Olive Cardstock...this little guy is not so booglie looking, he looks more surprised. LOL!!

 

What the inside looks like:

 

Measurements and how I made it:

Cut cardstock or designer paper at 11" x 4". Score at 3", 6 1/8" and 9 1/4". Place your circle tracer, at the 1 3/4" section, placing the top of your circle on the top edge. See above inside view to see what I mean.

Next on the first 3" section, place your Word Window punch as far up on this section as it will reach (centered) and punch. Move it to the left and right, keeping it lined up and punch again until it fits your gift card.

Run your sticky strip only on the section that you have punched, on each edge side, fold it up and there you go....your little card holder is nearly done! All that is left is the decorating on the front.

I used the Batty for You stamps, punched out the little bat with the 1 1/4" punch and layered it with the 1 3/8" punch and then the scallop circle punch. I added googlie eyes and dotted the scallop with my marker.

To close the gift holder, I used velcro dots (you can see the open orange one, it's black). Here's a little tip: Keep both velcro pieces stuck together and adhere them to the back of the scallop layer, then fold up your gift holder until it's completely closed, press the flap down and you will have perfectly aligned velcro dots.

I hope you'll give these little gift holders a try, I found the pattern on the web, but it was so long ago, I don't know who the orignal creator is for this cute pattern. But many thanks for a wonderful idea! If you change up the papers, this gift card holder would be great for any occassion!

Happy creating and thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Vintage Autumn

Hi everyone!

Here's a card that I made a few years ago when I first started stamping and I love the way it turned out. I pull it out every Fall because it reminds me of the beautiful patterns the leaves make when they've landed all over the grass and the walks.

I brayered the background and sponged bits of colour here and there...sorry... I made it so long ago, I can't remember exactly what the colours were!

I overstamped with Stampin'Up's! Autumn stamp set, which retired long ago. I just love the skeleton leaves in this old set. The Autumn word is from Hero Arts and that's another oldie but goodie. The ribbon is a gold organza that probably came from my ribbon stash!

 

Recipe...what I know for sure:
Stamp set: Stampin'Up! Autumn (retired) HA: Autumn sentiment
Accessory: Gold Organza Ribbon

Close equivalent to what I used:
Cardstock: More Mustard, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Brayering & Sponging: Hmmm...maybe Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Old Olive and Rose Red, and I remember that I sponged on a bit of Gold craft here and there too. The leaves would be stamped in Basic Brown or Chocolate Chip.

That's it! Hope you like my vintage favourite, thanks so much for stopping by!

Judy

Gingersnap Cookies...delish!

Here's a wonderful and old cookie recipe to share with you. They are perfect for Fall or really anytime! If you make then 1" size they are hard and crispy, if you make them into 2" size, they are softer and chewy. Both ways are equally yummalicious!

I must say they look beautiful on my pretty plate. The china is from the Empress Hotel in Victoria...another one of my favourite things!

 

Gingersnap Cookies

1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup Margarine
1/4 cup Molasses
1 Egg
1/4 Tsp Salt
2 cups Flour
2 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Ginger
1/2 Tsp Cloves

Cream in order given. Roll dough into 1" balls. Roll into white sugar and place on greased or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool and enjoy.

Judy

Cranberries and Fall Colours....

Cranberries from the Cranberry Festival...now, what's not to love about these little guys!! They're so pretty, round and red, I love to make my own cranberry sauce (with Grand Marnier...yummm!), to bake with them and I love to put them around tea lights, so festive. I just love looking at them, they make me happy!

 

These are some of the colours we are enjoying this year...aren't they fantastic? This is taken while driving in Stanley Park...breathtaking!


 

I hope your enjoying the changing seasons wherever you live! Thanks for stoppping by for a peek into my world!

Judy

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! The weather here was fantastic, sunny all weekend! The leaves are turning bright reds, oranges and yellows, truly beautiful, I love it!

We celebrated Thanksgiving weekend by going to the Cranberry Festival in Fort Langley and then had Thanksgiving dinner with family, we had a wonderful time!

I love this stamp set! The card was really easy to make, first I drew a light pencil circle to give me a base to create the wreath, so it wasn't lopsided! This would make a really pretty Christmas wreath too with the little pinecone stamp that comes with this set...lots of ideas, now I just need the time to go along with them!

 

Here's how I made it:

Cardstock: Dusty Durango, Very Vanilla, and Gold
Stamp Set: Autumn Days, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Inks: Close to Cocoa, Dusty Durango, Summer Sun, Old Olive, Real Red
Accessories: Maple Leaf Brads (from my stash), Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon, Cuttlebug Folder

I hope you enjoy my card...thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Charmed, I'm sure!

I love this card, it's so soft and pretty! I CASED it (Copy and Share Everything) from 'musicteacher79' on Splitcoaststampers gallery. Check out Jodie's blog here...lots of lovely things to see.

It's so much fun to find a great idea and tweak it to make it your own. I really like the layout of this card and it sparks lots of ideas for me. I hope it does for you too!

 

What I used:

Cardstock: Kraft, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla
Stamp Set: Charming (Holiday Mini)and Oval All
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Distressing Tool, Half back Pearl, Large Oval Punch and Scallop Oval Punch, Bashful Blue Marker and Horizontal slot punch. I punched a small slot on the top chocolate layer and added my ribbon before I added the stamped Vanilla layer.

I sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa to give it a softer look. Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by ~ Judy

Our Sunday Drive

What a fabulous time we (my husband and I) had going for a drive. We are so lucky because we live in the most beautiful place in the world!

This picture is taken at Spanish Banks, on the way to the University (UBC). The weather was beautiful and we had the top down on my little convertable. We stopped here and shared a tray of chips and a drink while we sat and admired the view.

Stunning isn't it? I can't believe this fabulous October weather!!

 

I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my world!
Thanks for stopping by ~ Judy

Halloween Treat Box

Now this is a seriously cute little Treat Box for your special little goblins!

I used a half piece of cardstock, measuring 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", then scored it at 2" 4" 6" and 8". Turn it around and score it at 2". The 2" section is your bottom. Cut up to the line and cut the 1/2" score right out. I stamped it all and then glued the bottom together. For the handle I got some wire (from the hardware store) and measured a length of 12", wrapped it around my pencil and then pulled it off and shaped it. I know it's hard to see...sorry!

On each end of the wire, I made a U shape, and inserted it on each side of the box after I had set an eyelet with my Crop-a-dile. These are great for those little mini chocolate bars...which I find hard to keep in my craft room...they keep calling me! LOL

 

What I used:

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Black
Stamp sets: Batty for You, Itty Bitty Backgrounds and Frightful Fence Jumbo Wheel
Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Googlie Eyes, and on the backside of the box I cut out a moon using a 1" punch, discard the punched out piece and reposition the punch until you see a cresent moon shape. Punch again and you have a cute little moon. Wire, and black and pumpkin pie grosgrain ribbon for the handle. Eyelets and crop-a-dile.

That's it! Hope you enjoy it. Note to self... I really must take some pictures as I go along, I think it would be much easier than trying to explain what I did!

Judy

Sweet Treats

Here's another class card we did using the treat cups, isn't it cute? You can fill these little cups up with so many different things, candy, buttons, confetti, really anything you can dream up! I used the Top Note Bigz Die to cut the Rich Razzleberry cardstock. Then I turned the cut out Top Note piece and positioned exactly on top of the die again (sideways) and ran it throught the Big Shot a second time....magic....you have a darling medallion.

 

What I used:
Cardstock: Black, Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive
Stamp set: Sweet Centers
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Background #1 Texturz Plate, Top Note Bigz Die, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Plastic Spider ring with the back cut off.
Treat cup from Stampin'Up!

Each layered piece is sponged around the edges with Rich Razzleberry. I hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by
Judy

Autumn Leaves

Happy October!

Wow...I can't believe we're into October already! This is my favourite season, sunny days, crispy cool evenings and the leaves turning fantasic colours...I love it! It's time to curl up in my craft room, put the fire on and cozy up with a good book, right now I'm reading Heartbreaker by Julie Garwood and I'm making deals with myself not to peek. I have to admit, I do peek when things get scary and although I'm better than I was...I still peek sometimes! Shocking, I know! I rattle and poke presents too...LOL! This is one of the cards we made at our September class, it was so much fun to make.

 

Here's what we used:

Cardstock: Dusty Durango and Very Vanilla (Leaves: Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede and Dusty Durango)
Stamps: Wandering Words (Holiday Mini) and Sanded (Background)
Ink: Soft Suede
Accessories: Leaves #2 Original Die, Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon

I used the stylus and mat from the Mat Pack to draw the veins into the leaves then sponged them with Soft Suede. Once I positioned the leaf on the side, I glued it on and trimmed it. If you love Fall, this die is a must have! There are so many projects this would be gorgeous with!

Hope you like it, thanks for stopping by!
Judy