Happy Haunting Halloween...

 Last of the ATCs...well maybe.  I made these two folders for Roni and her Mom.  They hosted an ATC swap and the results of that will be posted next week.  If you have never participated in a swap I highly recommend it.  Lots of fun!

 Inside the ATC folder.  I kept this pretty simple and flat as I think my post office service is not fond of me or my artwork I pay extra to hand cancel and send safely. 
Here are the ATCs I included inside the folder. 

 Here is a piece of artwork I won from Lindsay.  Her work is unique and she has been published so many times I have lost count.  Please go see what Lindsay is up to in the creative realm. 

This is made on a Mahjong tile and I adore it.  Mr. C always says I ride a broom.

 Thank you Lindsay. 

 Here I am wearing my Halloween casual clothes.  Glittered pumpkin socks, a soft orange jacket my dear sister gave me that I get so many compliments each year when I wear it and my new Mahjong Witch pendant.

 Yes, another ATC that is in the mail.  By-the-way this is some of Lindsay's artwork that she got printed by Pinecone Press into 12" x 12" scrapbook papers.  Super cute drawings all over the entire sheet.  I only wish I had purchased many more pages. 

And you asked me to post my costume I wore at the local Chamber of Commerce Saturday as I hosted the Visitor Center.  Here I am in all my Witch glory...complete with Trick or Treat bag I made years ago. While I was at the CofC I had lots of people take a second look.  Several asked if they could take my photo and I said with a smile, "If you must".  :o)  It was a great day and I was definitely channeling my Grandma and Mother.  Grandma's birthday was October 30th and she finally gave in and always dressed up as a witch each year...of course creating her very own costumes and always out-doing herself every year.   So...
In the tradition of Halloween and my lineage I am continuing this Witch costume theme and enjoying it very much. 
Happy Haunting and Safe Trick or Treating to you all...

More ATCs and Lollypops...

 This Halloween Lollypop is made using a sports bar round coaster as the backing which I colored using a lovely purple Distress Stain.  A layer of gold tulle with gold glitter to the edges.  A cardstock pleated center with a fun ribbon bat.  This one is utilizing a drinking straw for the handle.  Off in the mail it went...

 This is a Fall ATC that I made for a friend's mother.  It is off to Texas.

 My friend Joy made me this ATC after I sent her one of mine.  The detail and colors are spectacular in person.  Thank you Joy.  It is truly beautiful.  Can you believe this is her very first ever attempt at an ATC?

 Lunch with some friends and these Lollypops are what I gave along with chocolates inside the cute purchased pumpkin bags.  Ladies can never have too much chocolate!

For the base of these I used a CD and covered it with some Halloween Tissue paper I received as part of a gift.  Again with the cardstock pleated centerpiece.  Finished with a button tied with the same purple yarn I used to tie the bag closed.  The handle this time is one of those plastic stir sticks.  Quick and easy and fun to make.  I think they would be a cute bouquet displaying several in a vase, pumpkin or gourd. 
Hmmm...I am thinking of lots of possibilities with these Lollypops for holidays and birthdays and anniversarys and celebrations of any kind.  They are also lightweight and easy to mail in a bubble pack envelope. 
Getting my costume ready for Saturday.  I will be hosting the local Chamber Visitor Center so it will be simple and easy to still function.  In the past I have been a mime while working as it is work friendly...and if you know me and my love of talking (and I have been told zillions of times that I am too loud!) then you can appreciate my ability to act like a mime and not speak...for an entire day!
Happy Haunting...

Discovery & Autumn Decor...

 Continuing in my Discovery Journal with Roni of Ink Stains I am pleased with these two pages.  This time I did not concentrate on some new undiscovered technique.  I merely selected two pieces of cardstock.  This top photo is really poor as it does not show the cloud themed blues in the paper. 

 This blue cardstock is just a great shade of true blue.  I added some direct inking from the stamp pad.  Both of these pages really take me more into the "discovery" angle of this journal.  I discovered it is very difficult for me to focus.  I am always doing too many things at once and these pages really brought that forth.  I "discovered" some old stamps I forgot I owned so I used them and that was fun...mouse and butterfly and dragonfly.  I used a playing card to represent my favorite number...5.  Mostly this exercise got me to thinking and I do believe that is a huge part of my "Discovery Journal" that I am making.  As the days fly past so quickly what is it that truly makes me happy and what is it that I still wish to do?  Ahhh...discovery...

 I am not one for decorating my home even though I love how others go all out.  Mr. C is a year round Bah Humbug and does not enjoy any holidays so I keep it to a minimum.  Many years I don't put out anything.  This year I wanted to visit with my little treasures I keep in a box.  So many of my things have a very sentimental value to me and I treasure them.  The black with orange cat is something my Grandma crocheted and made decades ago and I just keep it because she made it.  There is a skull ring that Mr. C found in the desert many years ago when he took me for a dirt bike ride to an old abandoned talc mine.  We both laugh every time we see this ring.  It brings back memories of a great weekend together...and he almost bounced me off that darned motorcyle (I was much younger and lighter back in the day).  :o)

Here are my Halloween treasures...some old some not.  Many of these are just small momentos of years past but I like them and they each have a wonderful memory for me.  When I keep my treasures small and in one area it isn't so bad for Mr. C and that way I can still enjoy them too. 
I think this is why I truly love to see and enjoy all the fabulous decorating so many of you do and then share through blogging.  I never really cared much for Halloween as it was SCARY to me.  Now I see that it is so many more things...glamorous, funny, glittery, themed i.e. fairies or wonderful witches.  I am entranced just looking at all the amazing things you each make and decorate with.  Thank you for sharing such wonder.
Our weather is gorgeous...some sunshine, some cooler temperatures, some refreshing rain, some glorious colors emerging on shrubs, vines and trees...all giving infinite inspiration and I am truly grateful.
May you each enjoy much creativity in this the Autumn of the year...

Halloween Origami Pouches...

With less weeds to be pulled I am finding more time to be in my sewing room where I love to sew. There is something quite calming and relaxing about sewing...provided I am not attempting a new pattern or technique unfamiliar to me.
So here are a couple of Origami Pouches in Halloween fabrics.

This is very vintage fabric that I have owned forever. I added a cute charm to each side flap. The lining is the same bright yellow as the cording. These are so simple to make that I actually made two at the same time.

This is some new fabric I bought this year and I adore it. This photo does not do justice to the fabric but that is for another day...photography and I do not see eye to eye. It has such a graphic flair to the standard spider web look. "Hallowgraphix" by Jason Yenter for "In the Beginning" fabrics. I only wish I had bought more than one yard. Each little pouch takes an 18.5" square of fabric and lining.

On this one I sewed buttons to the flaps and like the look.

I am already planning a few more of these little fun pieces for gifts this year. With fabric choices and flap embellishments the options are endless.

Do you sew? Do you prefer fabric or paper or ???

Happy mid week to all...

Halloween Gift Quickie...

Let's see what we will need...Fabric, Felt, Ribbon, Scissors, Glue (optional), Sewing Machine (or hand sew)...what else...CHOCOLATE bars (non eaten preferably!).

This technique has been done many ways especially with paper. I thought it would be fun to use felt and fabric and ribbon. After the chocolate bar is gone (usually in a matter of seconds with me around) this wrap could be used for drink cups or journals or what ever you think of to wrap.

I stitch everything together with my zig zag stitch on the sewing machine. I only use a dab of glue stick to hold the fabric to the felt for stitching. The ribbon is long enough to wrap completely around the bar and tie in the front. Very easy to make.

After the photo was taken I added a small orange tag with the recipient's name and tied to the ribbon was also an orange, yellow and white pony bead to look like candy corn.

Truthfully I don't think anyone cared about the cute wrap however they all loved the chocolate bar beneath it.

This is an easy and inexpensive way to use scraps and give a little gift to lots of people who love chocolate. Of course I try to personalize the type of chocolate to each of the recipients likes but that is not necessary at all.

I have one made for Mr. C and after he tears off the cute Halloween wrap I know he would just throw it away so it will be mine to re-use in another project. The creating just continues and I love that.

Happy creating...

Fabrics with themes...

Hello and no I have not skipped two months this year and yes I am aware of how fast time is passing.

I have been thinking of how fabrics can direct a project with it's themes. I gathered my Halloween fabrics from their holiday bin and set them out on the studio table. I am hoping they give me some inspiration and direction as to what to make with them this year for Halloween gifts.

Each year I usually make my Halloween cards that I mail to family and friends. This year I bought some cute simple cards but that is not enough for me. My creativity gene is begging me to make something in the spirit of pumpkins, ghosts, witches and all things Halloween.

So here I sit blogging while my brain is thinking of what to make. I have some ideas in my head so maybe tomorrow I will see what comes from fabric and thread and mmmmmmmmmmm

I am not into scary or freaky Halloweens so maybe something cute or practical. I like to let ideas spin around for a while before I put them into action. I shall post whatever it is when I have something created and take some pics to share.