Trick or Treat - Baby's 1st Year October Layout

Hi there Crafty Friends! Happy Halloween! I have a quick share for you today - my Baby's 1st Year Layout for October. I just love the funny look on my son's face in this picture from his first Halloween! Such a cutie!

Once again, I've used a combination of several Graphic 45 paper collections (A Place in Time, Children's Hour, and Happy Haunting) to create this layout - and inked all the paper edges with Distress Ink in Ground Espresso. I used two chipboard Jolly Jack-o-Lanterns by Creative Embellishments to embellish the layout - I wanted these to look similar to those on the Happy Haunting paper, so I painted them with orange and green acrylic paint and backed them with some dark yellow paper - then I inked them with Ground Espresso Distress Ink and gave them a generous coat of crackle accents! Here's a close-up of the layered section and a couple of different angles so you can see the details/dimensions.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Happy Trick or Treating!

Master Detective CLUE Game ~ Creative Embellishments

Oh No! Sherlock Holmes has been murdered and it can only have been by one of those closest to him! You are now a Master Detective and must discover which one of Holmes' companions has committed the crime! 

Hi there Crafty Friends! Today I'm sharing my Master Detective Clue Game with you! We LOVE playing games in our family and Clue (by Hasbro) is one of our favourites! As soon as I saw the Master Detective Collection by Graphic 45, I knew I had to create my own version of Clue using the papers!

I created the folding gameboard and covered the back of the board with papers from the Master Detective 12 x 12 Patterns and Solids. All the papers for the game are inked with Distress Ink in Ground Espresso. I outlined the front panel of the gameboard with some Tim Holtz Halloween-themed Design Tape that perfectly complements these papers! I used the Signature Page from the 8x8 Paper Pad to decorate the front of the board.

I made a large envelope for the back of the 8x8 page and attached it with velcro dots - this way it can be used as storage for all of the game cards! I made a second smaller envelope (tucked into the pocket on the front) that can be used during the game to hold the suspect, weapon and location cards for the mystery.

I created the Weapon and Location cards by printing on some of the papers from the 12 x 12 Patterns and Solids - I sized these cards to fit on the 12 x 12 Master Detective Card cut-outs - so all of the cards, including the Character Cards, have the "Master Detective" Design on the back. I also created the game score cards using paper and colours that coordinate with the Master Detective Collection. I laminated all the cards so they could be played with and not get damaged; I also laminated the score cards so that they can be used with dry-erase marker! The game tokens are some small skulls I cut off of a Halloween costume necklace!

For the Game Board itself, I used different papers for each room (and a journalling card for one of the rooms) and then outlined each room with some Tim Holtz Design Tape so that the room boundaries were defined. The game spaces were made using alternating colours of the Houndstooth patterned paper from the 12 x 12 Patterns and Solids. All the room labels, as well as the weapons and "Clue" title are Custom Cut Creative Embellishments Chipboard! Did you know you can ask Nicolle for custom cuts if there is a design you simply must have?!?!?!? All of the room labels and the title are embossed with Vintage Gold Embossing Powder, as was the Candlestick. The Pistol, Wrench, Lead Pipe and Dagger were painted with Prima Metallique and Sparks Acrylic Paints. The Rope was embossed with Distress Embossing Powder in Mustard Seed.

Here's a closer look at all the cards, weapons and game tokens!

Not all those who wander are lost - Junk Journal ~ Canvas Corp Brands October Challenge

Hi there Crafty Friends! Today, I'm sharing a handmade Junk Journal with you! I made this journal for the Canvas Corp Brands October Challenge - "Books Worth Reading" (#ccbchallenge). I have always loved The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkein, so I chose to feature a quote from the introductory poem to the series on my journal cover:

"Not all those who wander are lost." 

I used a 7 Gypsies Book Cover and created a 1.5 in. spine for it and used some gorgeous Canvas Corp Embossed Burnished Floral paper on the spine.  I decorated the cover with papers and canvas from a 7 Gypsies Gypsy Pack and a Book Plate from my stash and created a ribbon closure using some gold crinkle ribbon. I painted the black Book Plate with Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in Golden Goddess to give it a more vintage look. I added a piece of corrugated paper on the back cover as a mat for a Tattered Angels "Field Notes" card (also painted with the Golden Goddess paint).

I lined the inside covers with Tattered Angels Mixed Media Origins Melody paper - it is so beautiful and just waiting for colour to be added! I made three signatures for the journal using several sheets of 7 Gypsies paper, Canvas Corp Corrugated Paper, Mixed Media Paper, Drawing Paper, as well as a couple of sheets of paper by Tim Holtz. I also tucked in a few tags from the Gypsy Pack using some fancy paper clips from my stash.

I used some masks and added some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists (in Sweet Clover, Suede and Denim Blue) to the Mixed Media pages.

With five folded pages in each signature, there is lots of room in the journal to get creative add more 'junque' to the pages! Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Happy Crafting!

Halloween in Wonderland Configuration Book ~ Creative Embellishments

Hi there crafty friend! Today I'm sharing a super fun new project with you! This is my Halloween in Wonderland Configuration Book - combining two of my absolute favourite things - Halloween and Alice in Wonderland!

I started out with a Tim Holtz Configuration Book, which I covered with the blue-toned papers from the G45 collection. Then, I started layering elements from the papers, along with some awesome Creative Embellishments chipboard pieces, to create my cover design. I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut a keyhole shape from the black & white check paper and layered that over main image from the collection's signature page. Next, I cut the characters from a second sheet of the signature page so I could pop them up to create a 3D effect. I added the CE "We're All Mad Here" title and the Mad Hatter Top Hat (from the We're All Mad... chipboard set), which I painted with Prima Sparks acrylic paints. I also added in some CE Pumpkins and Pumpkin Vine Flourishes - painted with Prima Sparks and Prima Metallique Acrylic Paints. Finally, I finished off the cover with a Graphic 45 Shabby Chic Door Plate and Knob and a Graphic 45 Shabby Chic Key.

For the inside of the Configuration Book, I tried to include images of all the main characters from the Wonderland Books. On the left side, I I had to include the Mad Tea Party image, layered on some of the checked paper - I added some stickers from the collection to three of the corners, and one of the cups from the CE Tea Cup Set, which I painted with Prima Sparks and Prima Metallique Acrylic Paints.

For the right side, I used the following CE chipboard elements:

• Mini Web - painted white and then coated with Frosted Lace Stickles
• Simple Key Hole Plate - painted with Prima Metallique Acrylic Paints, with Prima Brads and a peek-a-boo image of Alice from the G45 papers
• One of the open Books, painted with Prima Metallique Acrylic Paints and stamped using the CE Distressed Text Stamp
• An Arched Window (with the Arch cut off) - painted with Prima Metallique Acrylic Paint
• A few Potion Bottles, painted with Prima Sparks Acrylic Paints and decorated with some circle images punched from the G45 papers
• Another Pumpkin (same as on the cover)
• One of the Mini Mushrooms, painted with Prima Metallique Acrylic Paint
• Creepy Gates - painted with Prima Metallique Acrylic Paint - and hinged so the gates open to show the little scene in behind

Here are some close-ups so you can see all the details:

Dia de Los Muertos Altered Doll ~ Creative Embellishments October Challenge

I can't believe its October already! My favourite time of year - beautiful Autumn weather and Halloween! The first of the month means a new challenge is up on the Creative Embellishments Blog. Here is October's inspiration photo and the twist for this month is to make a black & white project!

I was inspired by this month's challenge photo to create this Dia de Los Muertos Altered Doll. The project is mostly black & white (for this month's twist) - but I cheated a little with some neutral for the dress and, of course, the red roses on the Sugar Skull and in her hair.

I started off with a Barbie that I picked up from a local second hand store - I painted her white and braided and put her hair up in a style reminiscent of Frida Kahlo - I used Prima Art Extravagance Clear Sculpture Medium on her hair so that it would stay permanently styled. I made the dress in a flamenco style using tissue paper and patterned papers from Graphic 45's Curtain Call collection. All the papers are inked with Distress Ink in Black Soot. To complete the outfit, I added some handmade paper flowers, a black lace shawl and a white veil.

Nicolle (the owner of Creative Embellishments) is so awesome and cut me a smaller version of the Sugar Skulls just so I could do this project! I primed the small Sugar Skull with white gesso and used Fine Tip Sharpie to outline the details; next, I smudged the mouth with some Distress Ink in Black Soot and I used a thick black Sharpie to outline the outside of the skull and the eye/nose holes. Finally, I coated the sugar skull with a generous coat of Ranger Crackle Accents.

For the shadowbox component of the project, I used the Crackled Brick Stencil with some Liquitex Resin Sand Texture Gel - then painted the box with black gesso and sponged white gesso on to highlight the texture. I added the CE chipboard Wrought Iron Fence 4 and the hanging lamp from the Lamp Post Set. I wanted these two chipboard pieces to look light white-painted wrought iron, so I primed them with white gesso and then sponged on a mixture of White Gesso, Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint in White Pearl and Prima Art Ingredients Texture Powder. Finally, I added a piece of vellum to the back of the street lamp.

The posters on the fence and wall are cut from the Curtain Call paper. I found the Dia de los Muertos poster online, converted it to black and white, printed it, and matted it on some of he Curtain Call paper.

Here are some close-ups so you can see all the details!

I hope you like my interpretation of this month's challenge - I can't wait to see what you create! Remember to follow the Rules for the Challenge so that you're eligible to win!

Challenge Rules:

• Create a NEW project (i.e., layout, mini album, tag, card, canvas, etc…) as of October 1st 2017.
• Please no back linking (meaning projects from previous months that may fit the challenge requirements). Please link only NEW projects.
• Combining the CE Challenge with other challenges is permitted.
• Please add your entry to the InLinkz box on the Challenge Post on the Creative Embellishments Blog to be eligible for the prize. You have until the last day of each month 11:55 pm eastern time to enter.
• It is required that you mention in your blog post that you are playing along at Creative Embellishments together with a link back to our blog. Please make sure to reference our challenge. 
• We would love to see you USE AT LEAST 1 OF CE products on your projects but it isn’t required to play along; however, everyone who does use CE product will get and extra chance at winning.
• WINNERS will have 2 weeks to claim their prize. The winner will be announced on the CE blog post the day after the challenge ends.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!