In the Decor Elements brochure is a level 2 Dasher – and he’s beautiful. I made this frame by putting Dasher on the outside of the glass and lining the inside with the Holiday DSP from the mini catalog. The frame came with a mat (which I simply covered) and an insert for a picture (which I lined with DSP.) To finish it off, I cut a section from a tiny wreath and used Pop Up Glue Dots to adhere it to the glass. Note – hot glue did not work! 
It’s hard to tell from just a picture, but he has a lovely 3-D look. Isn’t he pretty? Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Category: Holidays
Last Minute Halloween
Need a last minute Halloween gift? I used the Big Shot pillow die and the tutorial found here to make some treat holders for my kiddos. This first one is exactly like the tutorial – a pumpkin.
Then I changed it up a bit and made Frank!
Here’s the Count – 
And a Mummy – 
I’m sure you can come up with other “faces” – grab your punches and give it a try! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Spooky Bouqet
Here’s a scary treat for someone who doesn’t want chocolate! Obviously this means they’re crazy – so how about a crazy gift? 
(It’s not crooked in real life – sorry about that!) This is a Box w Scallop die holding the Daisies #2 flowers in Basic Black with Cast a Spell DSP centers. The little tombstone is From the Crypt. 
You may other occasions to use black, dead flowers! The centers are tiny black pom-poms that I found in the bottom of a box! They finish off the skewers that I used as stems. (Inked black with Jet Black Stazon!) Go spook someone! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Halloween Double Stack
I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth – but my computer did! It got some nasty, nasty virus and had to be wiped clean and restored. (What a mess!) So I finally got it back this weekend and have spent the last two days reloading programs and information. What a wonderful way to spend your weekend! So if you’re checking back to see what’s happened to me – thank you.
Here’s a Double Stack using the Scallop Bag Big Shot die – cut twice and layered on top of each other. I’m working on a tutorial and hope to have it to you later this week.
This uses the cute, cute, cute Halloween set Twick or Tweet. Here’s a close up of the top
I did this same pattern for one of my Artisan entries using Life’s a Breeze and filling it with goldfish crackers. ( I almost just said “goldfish” – eeeew!) The picture doesn’t show the crackers because I didn’t add them until right before I mailed it! 
Okay – off to continue my computer restore! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Build a Bear Halloween
The Build a Bear dies are so much fun to use! Here are two quick Halloween ideas. The first is a tag for a trick or treat bag (or gift) using the bear die and his Halloween costume. 
The next is a covered bag for the kiddos to load up with their treats. The bag came from the grocery bakery section (which I filled with rolls and then reused.) 
She’s wearing the outfit from the clothing die with the pleats of the skirt cut out so you can see the Perfect Plum card stock. The little tag is a metal edge tag with the stamp from Sweet Centers. I did cover the sides and the inside bottom of the bag with Basic Black card stock – to cover the “bakery” writing and to give the bag a bit more stability. Guess I’m ready to go out trick or treating! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Matchbo Christmas
It will be a beautiful day today and an even better weekend! What am I’m doing? A Christmas project! When the matchbox die came out – I knew I wanted to make a tree. So forget the gorgeous weather – pretend it’s Christmas!
This uses 25 matchboxes – and 25 build a brads! The star on the top is the star die. To hold the “tree” on the “trunk” I cut a piece of cardboard 2 1/2 x 12″ and covered it with Old Olive card stock on both sides. It made it very sturdy. The DSP on the outside is Bella Rose. I hand wrote the numbers with a Sharpie. Isn’t it cute? Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Valentine Flowers
Here’s a fun project to dress up your Valentine table. 
These are made with the new Raspberry Tart DSP (front two) and a retired Real Red DSP (back one.) Cut a strip of DSP 2″ x 12 and use your scallop edge punch to punch the long edge. Score between each scallop and accordion fold. Overlap the short edges to made a circle and collapse it into a flower – use a pop up glue dot in the center to hold it in place. Stamp 2 hearts from A Happy Heart and adhere one on each side of your flower. Insert a bamboo skewer (found at the grocery store) pointed end towards the center. I used Crystal Effects to attach it. 
Put a small piece of Styrofoam into the little bucket – or any small container – and push the skewer into the Styrofoam. Add some Crystal Effects to anchor it down. Tie some organdy ribbon around the skewer (wish I had the new white organdy to show you – it looks soooo pretty in the catalog!)
I didn’t have any “shred” to finish the bucket so I cut a 2″ circle, made a hole in the center with my anywhere hole punch and slit the circle to the center. Shred would look better but this was a quick cover! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Limited Supply Challenge
TodayLimited Supply Challenge on Splitcoast is to make a Valentine that you could easily replicate 30 times (think children’s Valentine party.) The color limitations are pink, red. white kraft or black. I chose to use If the Halo Fits and the sentiment from Happy Heart Day and make a Valentine that is super easy – because you let the recipient do the coloring!
The base is the Scallop Circle Big Shot die in Riding Hood Red. I stamped the image in Basic Black and cut it out with my Coluzzle. It looks sort of fuzzy around the edges – hummm, guess I need to change the blade! After I determined where I wanted the crayons to go, I used my Anywhere Hole Punch from the Crafters Tool Kit to punch a hole above and below the crayons and tied them with the beautiful Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon. So easy to make – and make, and make! Fortunately I don’t have to do that anymore! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Santa Gift Card
Are you looking for another way to give a gift card this Christmas? How about letting Santa do it for you? 
This is that same, funny Santa in a larger setting! I cut 2 pieces of Whisper White with the Big Shot Scallop Circle die. Fold down the top 7 scallops on one and adhere a Real Red hat to the top (3.5 x 3.25 – cut into a triangle) and top off with a scallop punched pom-pom! I cut another piece of Whisper White 1/2 x 3.5 and rounded the corners and used sticky strip to adhere to the Santa head. His face is a large oval, nose is a 1/2″ circle, mouth is a 1/2″ circle and mustache is 2 petals from the 5 petal punch. The “googlie eyes” and pastel blush are the finishing touches! The gift card is held in place with 2 mini glue dots on the top corners. Tie shut with some grosgrain threaded through the double slot punch. The score line to open him is on the back piece – so Santa’s face isn’t scored. Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Big Shot ornament
Samantha needed a gift for a secret Santa exchange at school. One day they are to “make” something, one day “bake” and the last day “buy.” Her gift recipient likes Mountain Dew so we made this ornament for her using the Big Shot Snowflake #2 die and some Mountain Dew cans.
We die cut four snowflakes and scored them in half. They are adhered together using Crystal Effects – and then we wrapped the center with silver cord. We used lots of paper clips to hold it until it dried! Since it was still pulling apart at the top and bottom – we wrapped a single strand of cording through the holes and tied it off. It seems to be holding together fine now! The proof will be if it’s still together after being carried (wrapped in a box) in her backpack until class!
She is on her own for “bake!” Enjoy! Hugs, Fran