Archive for the ‘Halloween Projects’ Category

3 comments

Glow-in-the-Dark Skull Tag


2010
10.10

Posted in Grunge, Halloween, Halloween Projects, Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts | 3 Comments »

 

I mean, who doesn’t need a glow-in-the-dark skull tag?

Doesn’t everyone?

 

I have more to share but I’m off and running the roads today!  Make sure to check back later and throughout the week for more creepy craft ideas!  Bwa-ha-haaaa!

 

Ingredients:

Happy Hauntings Cricut cartridge

Cricut

manilla shipping tag

scrap piece of black  and cream damask print paper (this is from Paper Studio)

cream colored cardstock OR a piece of a manila folder

Scraps of black paper large enough to cut the skull base

orange and green glittered velvet ribbon

1 orange button

1 lime green button

stapler

preferred adhesive

Spray adhesive for the glitter

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and Antique Linen

Martha Stewart Glow-in-the-Dark Glitter

Directions:

1.  Cut the skull at 4″ – use the black paper for the base/blackout cut.  Use the manila for the top layer.  Assemble.

2.  Spray the front of the skull with spray adhesive and cover with Martha Stewart Glow-in-the-Dark Glitter.  Tap off excess.

3.  Ink the edges of the tag with both inks.  Use more of the Antique Linen and lightly edge with the Vintage Photo.

4.  Cut a strip of the black and cream damask paper to fit the front of the tag.  Snip the top two corners to fit on the tag.  Ink the edges and adhere to the manila tag.

5.  Attach the skull to the bottom of the tag.  Snip of the base of the skull if it hangs off the tag. 

6.  Tie a piece of green glittery velvet ribbon to the bottom of the tag so that it covers the bottom edge of the skull.  Fray the ends of the ribbon.

7.  Remove the white cord from the top of the tag.  Thread through the orange button and tie in a bow.  Cut off excess.  Glue the orange button to the top of a lime green button slightly larger than the orange one.  Glue to the top of the hole on the tag. 

8.  Attach a piece of orange and green velvet ribbon to the top of the tag.  Staple to the back. Fray the ends.

9. Add a sentiment to the back of the tag if you dare or if you’ll be using it on a card, layout or another spooky project get it on it and then send me a picture so I can admire your creepy craft! *wink*

Enjoy your Sunday!  I am off and running to a local Fall Festival with my family.  It’s 86 degrees in Illinois – definitely not fall like BUT beautiful!

Olive a fast craft idea, don’t you?

xKim

8 comments

Moonlight Press Single Page 12×12 Layout


2010
09.23

Tags: ,
Posted in Book Pages, Cricut, Cricut Cartridges, Funky, Funny, Grunge, Halloween, Halloween Projects, Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge, Humor, Humorous, October 31st Cricut Cartridge, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts, Tim Holtz ink, Vintage | 8 Comments »

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out….the mummies are  wrapped tightly and the moonlight glows eerily in this slightly creepy crawly layout waiting for your little goblins 2010 photo. :-)   This layout was made using the new Happy Hauntings and October 31st Cricut cartridges, along with some fabulous paper by Graphic 45.

Ingredients:

Graphic 45 “Society Page” from the Communique Collection paper

Making Memories “Spider Web Toil & Trouble” paper

Black, yellow and cream/off-white cardstock

orange glitter paper

2 manilla shipping tags

cheese cloth or gauze

orange pom pom fringe

olive green glitter ribbon

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen and Tea Dye

Adhesive - liquid glue to attach pom pom fringe 

Directions:

Using Happy Hauntings Cricut cartridge cut the following:

1.  The mummy from page 32 in the handbook.  Cut the base in black at size 5 1/2″ and then in off-white/cream using Layer 1.  Glue the offwhite to the top of the black base cut of the mummy.  Wrap the mummy in pieces of gauze or cheesecloth torn into small narrow strips and inked with Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  Using the gold Copic Spica marker, lightly outline around the eyes, nose and mouth.

2.  The frame(frame9) from page 46 of your handbook. Cut the base using the shift key and the Making Memories Spider Web Toil & Trouble paper at 8 1/4″  Cut the top layer using black cardstock.  Cut the bugs by selecting “Layer 1″ and “shift” and the orange glitter paper.  Glue the top layer of the frame to the base.  Attach the bugs to the sides of the frame. 

3.  Cut “moonlight”  at1 1/2″ - 1x with black paper which is the top layer and 1x with the same paper as the base of the frame by selecting the “shift” button - this is the shadow.  This phrase can be found on page 56 of the handbook.  Glue the black piece to the top of the shadow piece.

4.  Cut the letters “P-r-e-s-s” using black cardstock.  The font used was the ‘Spooky Font.”  The “P” was cut as an uppercase letter at 1 3/4″ and the rest of the letters were cut at 1 1/4″ all as lowercase letters.  Attach to the moon.

Using October 31st Cricut cartridge cut the following:

1.  Cut the moon at 3 1/2″ using yellow cardstock.  Ink the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tea Dye.  Add random dots with the black Copic Spica marker.

2.  Cut the skull and bones 1x with off-white and 1x with black cardstock – cut each at 2″.  Ink the off-white piece with Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Antique Linen and Tea Dye.  Run under water and smear the ink.  Set aside to dry for a few minutes, then glue the off-white layer ontop of the black cutout so that it is slightly off-center to show a slight black edge.  Using Copic Spica Markers, add detail to the bones with the gold marker by lightly drawing and shading around the edges to outline the bones.  Add random dots with the black Spica marker.

The tags:

1.  Remove the white string and replace with the olive green glittered ribbon.  Tie and trim edges. 

2.  Ink the card edges using the distress inks.

3.  Using a fine tip black marker, doodle around the border of the tag to add some extra detail.

Assembling the page: 

1.  Glue a strip of orange pom pom fringe to the right side of the paper.

2.  Attach the frame to the 12×12 Graphic 45 paper by using pop dots around the edges making sure to leave the top and the center untouched so you can slip the tags underneath the frame.

3.  Glue the moon with ”moonlight press” to the upper right corner of the Graphic 45 paper.

4  Glue the mummy so that it’s walking in front of the frame.  when gluing to the layout make sure not to glue it to the frame so that you can lift the mummies body enough to slip a photo underneath.

5.  Add the skull and bones to the lower left corner.

6.  Slip the manilla tags under the frame where you left an opening.

The frame is large enough for a 5×7 photo OR you can use a 4×6 with a border of the background paper showing around the sides. 

I am loving these new Halloween cartridges!  There are so many things on each that my mind is just spinning with ideas!  Now to get my hands to work as fast as my brain…!

Hope you’re all having a great day!

xKim

2 comments

Homemade Apple Cinnamon Simmering Potpourri Recipe


2010
09.21

Posted in Fall Projects, Halloween, Halloween Projects, Olive Food & Recipes!, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts | 2 Comments »

As soon as the crisp cool air moves in I long for the scent of apples and cinnamon filling my home.  To me there is nothing cozier or warmer feeling than a home filled with rich aromatic scents (and of course a fire burning in the fireplace too!)!  This recipe was created by me  MANY years ago, when I was a teen, I can remember my mom baking homemade apple pie and the smell was so intoxicating I wanted to smell that apple pie scent every day!  One day, out of boredom, I started goofing around with my mom’s spices and came up with this awesome and yummy scented potpourri that I like to  simmer it in an electric potpourri pot all day long.  Just this one pot is enough to scent your entire home with the smell of homemade apple pie -I’m telling ya’ll,  there’s really nothing better! :-)

I use this recipe from early fall until mid-winter.  I do have a couple of other homemade potpourri recipes I’ll share with you that are perfect for the holidays.  In the spring and summer,  I usually switch over to a citrusy scent that scents the air with fresh and clean aroma. 

DISCLAIMER:  Please do not leave this simmering potpourri unattended.  Only simmer while nearby and PLEASE make sure to always turn it off if you’re going to be leaving your house – this is no different than a candle!  Make sure to check the water level on a regular basis and add more as needed to keep the pot from cracking or from starting a fire.  Please do not use this when small children are present.  Kids this is for adults to try only!

Recipe:

1-2 apples (I like to use the apples that are getting too soft or have a few too many bruises.  I also toss in any apple peels that may be collected throughout the day.)

1/4-1/3 cup cinnamon.  I get a big container of it from the local Dollar Tree Store and it lasts for several weeks.

Apple Pie Spice

Water

Optional:

10 or more drops of Cinnamon, Apple, Apple Brandy, Vanillar or any other complimenting fragrance or essential oil (this is optional but REALLY gives a stronger scent.  I have made this recipe for years without using the fragrance/essential oils.  I’ve only recently started adding it to kick things up a notch – blame it on Emeril! *wink*)

cinnamon sticks

nutmeg

anise

oranges or orange peels, pears

sugar (by adding a 1/2 cup or so it gives a sweeter scent – I used to add sugar all the time but now prefer the more pungent spicy scent of the cinnamon and apples)

apple cider or apple juice

saucepan

an electric potpourri pot with a low setting

Directions:

I like to heat up this concoction before adding it to my electric potpourri pot because it gets the scent wafting MUCH quicker.  You can just toss it all in the potpourri pot but it will take quite some time for everything to heat up enough to smell.

In a saucepan, combine all ingredients.  Add enough water to fill the container.  If using apple cider or apple juice you can skip the water or add equal amounts to the potpourri mixture. (The photo above does not show all of the water.  The fruit should be covered – fill that pot up!)  Stir and place on  burner on med-low setting until the mixture is heated through.  Once it’s hot, pour the contents into an electric potpourri pot and turn on to its lowest setting. Make sure to check the pot regularily for water level so the pot doesn’t crack or start a fire.  This mixture can be used for several days before losing its scent or getting skunky.   When it seems to resemble sludge instead of potpourri toss it and make a fresh batch.  I’m telling you, your home will smell amazing! 

This recipe can be made without fruit too and you will still have great results.  If I have no extra fruit but want to smell up the house in a good way, I’ll just toss some cinnamon in a saucepan of water and simmer that.  Sometimes I add a few drops of fragrance oil and other times I don’t. 

Olive the smell of homemade apple pie, don’t you?

xKim

P.S.  If you like this recipe and would be interested in others please leave a comment here.  If you have a recipe/concoction that you have tried and would like to share please contact me – I’d love to feature you and your delicious scents! :-)

3 comments

Funky Pumpkin Craft – Another Great Craft for Kids of All Ages!


2010
09.20

Tags: , ,
Posted in Fall Projects, Funky, Halloween, Halloween Projects, OLIVE KIDS!, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts | 3 Comments »

I think I must be ready for fall because I certainly have punkins on my brain the past few days (especially this evening!)…  I have a couple more pumpkin projects I whipped up just in mere minutes this evening as I was sitting here examining the toilet paper pumpkin I posted earlier.  I got to thinking how addicting those things are to make because they’re so much fun to make, there’s no cutting, sewing or gluing necessary.they’re super duper quick and just too stinkin’ cute to have only one….so when my husband started hollering, “honey, uhhh…where’s all the toilet paper?  There’s none in any of the bathrooms and why do we have 12 pumpkins lined up where the toilet paper used to be instead?  And WHY are there pumpkins in all of the  toilet paper holders “….. He knows I’m craft obsessed like no other BUT who would ever want to admit to doing something so corny?!  Sheesh!  So I just shrugged my shoulders and said I had no idea how that happened and then starting shucking the other 12 under the table as fast as I could….  I figured I better find myself a new addiction or should I say a new victim…to “pumpkinize”" (another new word you saw first here on OJS *wink*)! So, I did just that.  I started looking at the case(s) of pumpkins I had decorated earlier and realized I could come up with a more realistic looking one by adding some filler….so I began to play.  I grabbed a bag of fiberfill for one pumpkin and some dry rice and plastic shopping bags for another and started on my next pumpkin adventure….

The tutorial below is based on the darker orange pumpkin on the far left.  These same steps also  apply to the black and white checked pumpkin – you just need a larger piece of fabric, more filler and a paper towel tube.

 Ingredients:

1 empty toilet paper tube for the smaller orange size pumpkin OR 1 empty paper towel tube for the black and white pumpkin

enough fabric to wrap around the filler and tuck far enough into the tube

dry rice

fiber fill, old socks, crumpled newspaper, shopping  bags, rice, etc..to fill the pumpkin

Pumpkin or cinnamon scented dry potpourri ( I used the kind in the paper envelope satchets but any dry brand will work.  Another idea is to use Carpet Fresh but I don’t think the scent would last as long.)

cheese cloth or an old nylon to put the potpourri in

a stick to use for the stem

green fabric scraps or ribbon for the stem

2 green fabric coated floral stems

Directions:

1.  Lay out the fabric so the pattern is face down on the table. Then, stand a toilet paper tube directly in the center of the fabric and start adding small handfuls of dry rice for weight and fiberfill to build the body of the pumpkin. (Sorry for all the wrinkles.  I had already put the pumpkin together but then decided to take it apart to get photos for a tutorial! )

2. Next, start pulling the fabric up and tucking the fabric ends into the center of the tube. 

3. Keep forming the pumpkin, adding additional fiber fill if needed or removing some  if it’s too stuffed.  Continue pushing the fabric ends into the tube.

 

4.  Once all the fabric is tucked in the tube and the pumpkin is formed into your desired shape, add the bundle of fragrance to the tube. (I forgot to take a picture of this step but all I did was add fragrance pellets in a piece of cheesecloth and then tied it with a rubber band.)  By adding it here you can easily remove it to add a new scentor refresh as needed.  Next, place the stick into the tube for the stem.  This also helps hold the fabric in place.

 

5. Grab your scrap of green fabric  and fold in half pushing the center down into the tube.  Arrange to form leaves.

6.  Wrap the green floral stems (or chenille stems) around a pen to form spirals.  Stretch out slightly and tuck one end of each down in the tube. 

Aren’t  these just the cutest darn punkins you’ve ever seen??  Now, I want you to imagine doing this very same technique with a gift wrap paper tube and a large piece of fabric or a sheet.  Can you just imagine how adorable that would look with a pile of funky patterned pumpkins sitting in a corner all grouped together?!  The best part of this whole project is that you can easily take them apart to store and then rebuild them again next year!  The fabric can be washed, changed and the fragrance refreshed whenever needed. 

I’m off to go find something else to turn into a punkin….kids, ya better look out because your mama has lost it!  *grin*

Olive me some funky punkins, don’t you?

xKim

P.S.  If you make any of these PLEASE share!  :-)

4 comments

Toilet Paper Pumpkin Project- Perfect for Kids of All Ages!


2010
09.20

Tags: ,
Posted in Funky, Halloween, Halloween Projects, OLIVE KIDS!, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts | 4 Comments »

This is a great craft for anyone and is super fun for kids of all ages to make.  It is a pretty fail proof project and only takes minutes to complete.  I have made this several times with children as young as two all the way up to adults.  They always turn out absolutely adorable and look quite smashing when grouped in bunches!  Unfortunately, I can’t take all of the credit for this idea because it’s been around for years.

Ingredients:

1 full roll of toilet paper – any brand!

1 fat quarter of orange solid or patterned fabric or enough  tissue paper, crepe paper, plastic tablecloth, towel, shirt, etc., to wrap around the roll of toilet paper

scraps of green solid or patterned fabric for leaves OR floral silk leaves, paper leaves cut with your Cricut or real pressed and preserved leaves

1 stick OR an empty toilet paper tube, a brown paper bag OR whatever else you’d like to use for a stem

2 green coated floral stems OR chenille stems in green or brown

Directions:

1.   Grab your supplies and a clean surface to spread out the fabric.

 

2.  Lay the fabric out face down on a flat surface and place the roll of toilet paper on top in the center of the fabric.

3.  Begin pulling up the sides. 

3. Tuck the extra fabric into center of the roll of toilet paper pressing into the tube opening with your fingers.

4. As your pulling up the fabric and wrapping the toilet paper,  try to fold and tuck in the puckers  (where the fabric seems to loose).  Continue tucking  the fabric in the toilet paper tube until you achieve desired results.

5. Now it’s time for the stem, if you’re using an empty paper towel or toilet paper tube first cut the whole tube open and curl it up so that it fits inside of the toilet paper pumpkin.  If you’re using a stick just push it in.  If using a paper bag, wrapping paper or cardstock crinkle and fold it up to give it some character and then insert it into the pumpkin top.

6. Cut out two leaves free handed or use your Cricut.  I cut these out by hand. 

7.  I forgot to take a picture of this step but all you need to do is take two green coated floral stems (that’s what I used) or two chenille (pipe cleaners) stems and wrap each one around a pen to form a coil.  Stretch each out a bit and either wrap around the pumpkin stem. Stretch the stems out a bit.  Ta-Da!  You just made yourself a purdy lil’ toilet paper pumpkin!

WARNING:  These pumpkins are addicting and before you know it you will have every roll of toilet paper wrapped in your house.  Please remember to leave one roll of toilet paper “un-pumpkined” for those needing to do paperwork! *wink*

Olive funky fun crafts for all ages, don’t you?

xKim

5 comments

A Haunted Picture Frame….Ooooooo-OOoooO!!!


2010
09.13

Tags: , ,
Posted in Funky, Funny, Grunge, Halloween, Halloween Projects, Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge, Humorous, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts, Repurposed, Tim Holtz ink, Vintage | 5 Comments »

An eerie picture frame using the Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge!  I also used the Martha Stewart Glow-in-the-Dark Glitter on the ghost – soooo spooky cool!!!

Ingredients:

Happy Haunting Cricut cartridge

Cricut Expression

1 12″ x 12″ black Shimmer paper by Core’dinations

1 12″ x 12″ black glitter paper by Core’dinations

1 12 x 12 of a patterned paper the diamond shaped paper in oranges and yellows is from Paper Studio

2 manila office folders OR cream colored cardstock

2 pieces of chipboard or several pieces of cereal/cracker boxes glued together

1 small piece of gauze or cheesecloth

a stamp resembling newsprint (the stamp used for the project is from Delta Stamps)

Black ink for stamping

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot

Tim Holtz Distress Ink inAntique Linen

Liquid adhesive  (highly recommend Beacons 3-in-1, Zip Dry or Liquid Fusion!)

Hot glue gun

Optional:  bling to “pimp it up” (photo at the very bottom…),  sandpaper and Martha Stewart Glow-in-the-Dark Glitter (this stuff is sooo cool!)

4 large circular pieces of foam, or furniture floor protectors to give lift and dimension  to your project.

Directions:

1.  (Please Note: There are quite a few layers of each piece  of the frame that I cut to give additional stability because cutting the frame and stand out of only cardstock isn’t heavy enough to support a photo, let alone stand. )

With the Happy Haunting Cartridge you need to cut the following pieces at the stated sizes:

All frame pieces are cut at 7″.

Cut from chipboard: The frame base (layer 1), the stand (layer 1 + shift), and the front piece with the oval cutout (3D Frame + shift).  When cutting chipboard you will need the  deep cut housing and blade OR  if cutting  cereal/cracker/gift boxes you can use the regular blade  and multi-cut but will need to cut out 3-4 of each piece to get the same thickness and then glue the layers together.

Manila folder or cardstock:  Cut the frame piece with the oval cutout  (3d frame + shift)AND the back base of the picture frame (layer 1 + shift)

Black Shimmer paper:  Cut the stand 1x (layer 1 + shift)

Black Glitter paper:  Cut the top layer with the spider web 1x (3D frame)

Yellow and orange diamond shape pattern paper (or whatever pattern you choose!):  Cut the base piece 1x (layer 1)

Ghost from page 37 of the handbook:  Cut  the top layer (select shift) at 4″ from a manila folder or cardstock 1x and then the blackout shape of the ghost 1x from black cardstock (make sure to turn the shift key off).

Stamping and Inking:

1.  Now you’re going to use your newsprint stamp and stamp the manila pieces – all but the ghost shape.  Cover the entire pieces.

2.   Next, with the ink still on the newsprint stamp,  stamp the center of the yellow/orange diamond print paper so that it looks washed out/faded.  If you need to apply additional ink stamp one time on a scrap piece of paper before stamping on the patterned paper.

3.  Ink the edges of all pieces, including the chipboard with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot. When you ink the stamped  manila paper frame with the oval cutout (this is the piece that fits under the spider web) use either a sponge, paintbrush or your finger dipped in water to smear some of the ink to give a more aged appearance ( I used my finger in water to get the look in the sample project!)

4.  (I also lightly sanded the yellow and orange diamond patterned paper just to give it a more aged appearance.)

5. With a liquid adhesive, glue your layers of the frame together in this order:  The black glitter spider web frame layer to the top of the manila/cream scalloped frame piece you just inked and then glue to the chipboard that matches the scalloped frame.  Set aside.  Next, glue the yellow and orange diamond pattern paper (or whatever pattern you choose) to the top of the chipboard base (this is the piece that is just the scalloped square with a few notches in it for the stand.)  Next, flip it over and glue the other piece of manila stamped paper to the back.  This is the opposite side so just match it up as best as you can – it will be slightly off  but gives a more whimsical look and does not show from the front or you can always leave this piece off and just paint the back of the chipboard or leave it plain. Glue the black shimmer paper to the stand (this is the piece you cut out that matches the (layer 1 + shift piece).  Glue the stand using a hot glue gun to the back of the frame.  I didn’t bother using the notches since I covered the pieces with paper but you can – it  will work either way.

2.  Add four large (size of a quarter) foam circles or furniture floor protectors (those felt like circles with adhesive on one side) to the four corners of the frame.  Add a dot of hot glue to the two bottom foam dots/felt furniture protectors and then carefully place the top frame layer (the one with the spider web) to the foam/felt circles so that  the corners match up.  The top  remains open so you can slip a photo inside.  To keep the photo in place use a repositionable glue dot if you want to change the photo each year OR just glue a photo in the inside.  If you are permanently gluing a photo inside you can also glue the top felt/foam circles – so many choices! :-)

 

Assembling the Ghost:

1.  Glue the cream colored ghost to the top of the black ghost cut out.

2.  Ink around the ghosts edges, eyes and mouth with the Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen.

3.  Also, ink the piece of gauze with the Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen and then shred the edges slightly.

4.Glue the gauze to the back of the ghost shape and around the arms so that it fits around the head and then flows over the rest of the body.  Add a bit of hair spray or spray starch if you want it to hold it’s shape. 

5.  Optional but uber cool:  Lift the ghost’s “sheet” and add a bit of glue to cover the eyes and mouth and then sprinkle a liberal coating of Martha Stewart Glow-in-the-Dark Glitter.  Tap off excess.  This stuff really works and looks really neat when it’s dark!  (I about freaked when I came downstairs last night to find a glowing “thing” sitting on my dining room table!  Here it was the whole bottle of glitter!)

 

6. Before gluing the ghost to the picture frame, gently bend it back to give a more 3d effect by holding the ghost in one hand and lightly folding without creasing the center and crinkle the ends or roll tomake the bottom of the ghost appear more “realistic.”

7.  Glue to the picture frame using a hot glue gun so that it slightly overlaps the opening for the photo. 

8.  The photo below is a more “pimped up” picture frame  with blingy clear rhinestones added around the picture frame oval, of course this is optional! :-)

Ta-Da!  That’s all there is to it!  What a super fun and easy way to add some spookiness to a bookcase, shelf or countertop!  This would also make a great hostess gift for the Halloween parties you may be found howling at during the month of October? 

Olive a creepy craft, don’t you?

xKim

8 comments

Shriek! Got Bats? Wall Hanging Halloween Decor


2010
09.10

Posted in Halloween Projects, Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge, Lyrical Letters, October 31st Cricut Cartridge, Random Posts | 8 Comments »

Hi Everyone!  It’s been a really busy week and as hard as it is to believe, I haven’t posted anything here since last Friday!  A WHOLE week ago! Sheesh!  Anyway, I’ve been getting LOTS of emails from ya’ll telling me that I’m evil and one tough cookie with the Spooky September Challenge requirements…heh-heh-heh!   Just to  prove to you that this is a VERY doable challenge I have made something following all of the requirements ! It has a Halloween feel/theme to it…it includes a black and white photo, I used the word “shriek!”…The bandage is wrapped around the corrugated cardboard that says “got bats?” I used a “real” key and it is also attached to the cardboard sign AND it includes a hanger! 

I have had sooooo much fun making this wall hanging too and have a bunch of ideas for several more!  Seriously, you have to give this challenge a try!  I find it refreshing to push myself and to try something new and this is definitely the challenge to do just that!  Plus, the winner receives a HAPPY HAUNTING CRICUT CARTRIDGE!!! It can’t get much better than that! 

Shriek!  Got Bats? Recipe

Supplies Needed:

Cricut Cartridges: Happy Haunting , October 31st and Lyrical Letter

12″ x 12″ piece of chipboard or cardboard for your base ( I used the back to a paper stack)

scrap pieces of a cereal box or chipboard for cutting out “Shriek!” and bats

1 10″ x 10″ black and cream tulle patterned paper by Paper Studio

1 8.5″ x 11″ black and white photo  (there’s a story behind this one! LOL!)

3-4 12″ x 12″ Coordinations black shimmer and black glitter paper

1 12″ x 12″ orange glitter paper by Paper Studio

5″ x 7″ flap from a cardboard box

12″ long Antique (old!) off-white sheer valance or a piece of ribbon or fabric will work for this too.

a key (this is from the Tim Holtz collection)

a thin wire ring (from the jewlery department in most craft stores)

off white strip of torn fabric, gauze or ace bandage to wrap around the cardboard sign

white pen

Hot glue gun

Zig glue pen

3 torn orange fabric strips approximately 1″ wide for bows.

black barbed wire rope for hanging (this was purchased at the Dollar Store about two years ago but I’m sure it can be found elsewhere  OR use ribbon or twine!)

15 rust colored flat back beads 

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Charcoal Black

Directions:

1.  First step is to ink the edges on all four sides of the 12″ x 12″ chipboard/cardboard base.  I inked on  the front approximately 1.5″ inches all the way around the top too.

2.  Lightly ink the edges of the tulle paper then glue it to the chipboard (doesn’t this paper look like vintage wall paper?)

3.  Ink the edges of the 8.5″ x 11″ black and white photo.  Lightly pull the ink into the photo to give a more distressed look.  Glue the photo down on an angle to the patterend paper covered chipboard.  Use the photo for placement.

4.  Using a hot glue gun, attach the off-white valance to the bottom of the chipboard. 

5.  Using a hot glue gun, attach the barbed wire rope or ribbon to the backside at the top of the chipboard to form a hanger.

6.  Tear a flap off of a cardboard box and then tear to size to form a sign to attach to the bottom of the wall hanging.  A 4″x6″ is the approximate size of the cardboard used on my project. Ink the edges to distress.

7.  Tear a piece of off-white fabric in approximately a 1/2-1″ wide strip to wrap around the cardboard and tie in a knot – unravel the ends and edges of the fabric to make it more weathered.  You can also use an actual ace bandage, gauze or bandaid on the sign.

8.  Attach the key to the wire ring and thread through the knot wrapped around the cardboard.

Cricut Cuts:

1. Using the October 31st Cricut Cartridge cut out the spider web and spider.  The spider web was cut at 4″ using the Coordinations black shimmer paper (the shimmery silver/gray side) and then the spider using the Coordinations black glitter paper cut at 2″.  Attach the spider web to the top right corner of the photo. Set the spider aside for a few minutes…

2. Using Lyrical Letters Cricut Cartridge select the “Loop Dee Loo” font and cut out the word “Shriek”  at 2.5′.  Cut one time from a cereal box (or thin chipboard), then cut the letters “S, h, i, k and !” from the  black cardstock and again with the orange glitter paper.  Ink the fronts and edges of the chipboard letters.  Stack the letters with the chipboard on the bottom.  Glue the black letters to the tops of the chipboard and then off set  the orange glitter paper letters to the tops of the black layered letters so that a bit of the black shows a bit on the edges of the letters.  Glue to the top of the photo.  Use the photo above  for placement.

3.  Using the Happy Haunting Cricut Cartridge cut out seven bats using bat 1 and bat 2 in the Happy Haunting handbook.  Cut bat 1 in the following sizes:  2 1/2″, 3″, 3 1/2″, 4″ (2x).  Each bat was cut once using a cereal box for extra stability and then again using the cardstock. Cut bat 2 in the following sizes:  1 1/4″, 1 3/4″, 2″ (cut this one 3x once from each paper – glitter, shimmer and black)  Each bat was made using the Co’ordinations black shimmer and black glitter.  The solid black was the back side of the black shimmer paper.  Mix and match your layers of bats so that you have a variety made up using the three paper colors – glitter, shimmer and solid black.  Adhere the bat layers matching up the sizes.  The biggest bat which is bat 2 cut at 2″ has three layers.  I glued only the body of all three together and folded the wings forwarded to give a fluttering appearance.   Add white gel pen dots and dashes and a white dot for the eyes on each bat. 

4.    Using the Happy Haunting Cricut Cartridge cut out the letters “got Bats?” with the “Spooky Font.”  Cut at 1.5″ with black cardstock for the base and then orange glitter paper.  Glue the  orange glittered letters by off-setting slightly so that there is a bit of a black border showing around the edges.  Glue to the cardboard sign with the word “Bats?” attached to the bandage strip.

5.  Attach the spider to the top left corner of the chipboard above the letter “S”.

6.  Tie two orange bows to the barbed wire rope hanger and then make a third bow and glue to the lower left corner of the valance.

7.  Using a hot glue gun, glue the cardboard, “got bats?” sign to the bottom of the photo so that it covers part of the valance – see photo for placement.

8.  Attach the bats to the valance by using either glue dots of a hot glue gun.  I used a hot glue gun.  Because the fabric is so flimsy and light,make sure to do this on top of a heat resistant mat, wax paper or a scrap of paper because the glue does seep through the fabric -use glue sparingly! I added little dots  of hot glue here and there to the backside of the bats.  Make sure your fabric doesn’t bunch up when adding the glue so that it hangs evenly.  Add the largest bat to the barbed wire rope.

9.  Add three sets of five rust/orange colored flat beads to the edges of the photo.

10.  Hang in your bathroom for some eerie decor or anywhere you want to add a few spooky giggles to your home! 

So I suppose you are wondering where I found this spooktacular photo of the bat in the toilet?  This is a photo from our cabin in Upper Michigan that we found one day two summers ago when we stopped in on our way to a weekend in Traverse City, MI.  My husband went in the bathroom to check things out and came out SHRIEKING, “Whatever you do DON’T go in the bathroom!”   Of course, curiousity got the best of me so I peeked and then squealed as I ran back to our truck to find my camera!  The whole time I kept thinking this is going to make one heck of a scrapbook layout or project!  I have used this photo in Halloween cards and now this layout… but I’ve got plenty more things in mind! *wink*

I hope you enjoyed and are feeling inspired enough to enter this month’s challenge now! 

Olive Halloween crafts, don’t you?

xKim

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