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
Category: Special Projects
Mom and Me BAB ideas
Here’s a fun idea for parent/child stamping time. This is a variation on a project shown at convention. I used a small, magnetic white board and decorated it with a Build a Bear and background scene. The dry erase pen makes it the perfect place to add a “chat bubble” as well as attach note. 
This board is small enough to fit in a school locker. I did this for a Mom and Me class – so much fun! We also did a BAB bookmark.
To get the arms to fit in the bookmark sleeve, I cut two shirts and cut sleeves out of one. Cut the bear’s arms off (painful, I know) and put the sleeve caps on top. Now you can make your bear’s arms move in any direction. (You may have to trim the edges off the main shirt.)
I’m cleaning out my projects folder and putting them up on my gallery and will try to post some of things as I go. 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
Sneak Peek Case
Here’s hoping that you’ve received your Holiday Mini catalog in the mail! If you have, I know you are overwhelmed with all the awesome new products, stamps and ideas! (If you haven’t, hang on, it’s coming!) One of my favorite ideas was the little wooden frame with the image from Twick or Tweet in the center. I had a wooden frame (though it’s a bit bigger than the one shown) and cased the project. Problem – I don’t have a drill. And it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to own a drill! 
So I punched some Basic Black card stock with the 1″ circle punch and set some Jumbo eyelets in the center. After attaching my Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, I adhered the circles to my frame using the Pop Up Glue dots. Works for me! The DSP is the wonderful Night and Day that is also available in the new mini.
I also want to share with you this beautiful card that my friend Amy gave me this summer.
She used the Medallion stamp set and Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry and Dusty Durango to make this stunner! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Cleaning Up Around Here
I want to show you what I did with one of the convention make and takes. I scrapbook in 12 x 12 – and while I could have taken this 8 x 8 page and put it on a 12 x 12 page – I put it on a piece of chip board to make a display instead of a page. I rounded the corners with my corner rounder and added a piece of Rich Razzleberry polka dot ribbon and a piece of Crushed Curry card stock and put it on a easel for display.
In other stampin news – this weekend I held my Stamp Out Breast Cancer stamp camp (say that three times fast!) and while we were stamping cards, Samantha and her friends came down and wanted to stamp too. But not cards (boring!) – they wanted to create something by themselves. So I set them to work in my office with the All in the Family stamp set, some coasters and a few alphabets. It was “Harry Potter” madness!
So today I get to clean up and put away! Fortunately, the “coaster girls” did clean the stamps and return them to the correct boxes. But between the stamp camp and the girls – I have a lot to put away! Good fun! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Greetings, Earthling!
The first Artisan Challenge was to make projects designed for children. I was assigned the Greetings, Earthling! stamp set and made a party set.
This is the front of the invitation. It is 61/4 x 6 because it holds the Pop Up Ball die.
Each one of the windows has an alien looking out (if you can’t tell, it’s a space ship!) Then you need party favors and decorations.
All of the favors are created with the Big Shot. I used Itty Bitty Backgrounds with Whisper White Craft ink to make the stars. What isn’t shown is the holder for the pennant – 
I used a balloon holder from the dollar store – took out the “stuff” that was in it and insert my dowel rod into the hole. It just fit (though it’s a terrible photo) Now go have a party! 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
Casing Bunnies
Today I want to show you something I cased from Sandi’s blog. It’s a darling little bunny basket made from 4 scalloped envelope dies from the Big Shot! Here’s what I did with it.
Too sweet! I’m hoping to have time today to case a few other projects that I’ve bookmarked!
Don’t forget to leave a post for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate towards any purchase in the current Stampin’ UP Idea Book and Catalog! You can find the details here. Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Punch Bunny Egg holder
Here’s a little Easter Egg holder you can make up very quickly using the cute little punch bunny. Remember the Peppermint Patty bunny?
Now he can hold an egg!
Cut a strip of card stock 1 x 7 1/4 and adhere the ends together with sticky strip. Add two dimensionals on the seam.
Punch the bunny face with the scallop circle punch and draw the details with the Black Stampin’ Write Marker. Stamp the ears using Pick a Petal. Add the Pretty in Pink shading with a Stampin’ Write Marker or Pastels. If you’re using the plastic eggs, decorate them with left over rub ons! This is a great way to use some of those little pieces that are left over from other projects. Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Ladybug basket
At Halloween Cambria had the darling Frankenstein treat boxes on her website. I had so much fun making these boxes and this weekend I decided to use her box idea and make it into something for spring. So here’s my ladybug box!
The ladybug is made with the Big Shot Scallop Circle die using Basic Black, and Real Red card stock and the Real Red DSP. The flowers are made with the Bird and Bloom Sizzlet die. The sentiment is from Curvy Verses. Her little antennae are pony beads on wire adhered between her 1 3/4 circle punch head.
This is the side and below is the back – which is just a single Scallop Circle in Real Red covered with a Scallop Circle in the Real Red DSP. 
I did add a small strip of Garden Green to the bottom of the Basic Black box so she looks like she’s in the grass. Enjoy! Hugs, Fran