Halloween Paper Play

Hey There Peeps -

I've been a bit AWOL from this blog.  Not intentionally.  JUST SO MANY CHANGES in my "paper and photo" world.  Things are really different with Creative Memories - a whole new company is coming our way next month.  It's gonna be SO different from what I've known the past 11 years.

Scroll down a few paragraphs to see details about the bunting in the photo as well as other cool Halloween paper crafts!

Yesterday afternoon I made the paper Halloween bunting shown above.  I used mostly scrapbook paper scraps and a black fine tip pen.  The original idea was something I found on pinterest.    I didn't follow a specific set of directions to make the bunting.  The photo on pinterest was pretty self explanatory.  The design was so awesome, I barely altered a thing!  I seriously LOVE this little bunting - thanks Amanda for posting it!  To make the bunting, I used photo mats cut into triangle shapes for each bunting buddy.  I used some cM tools but I also just freehand cut some of the shapes as well.  This bunting oozes with personality. REALLY LOVE!

I also dabbled in some table setting ideas - these were fun as well.  Not as long lasting - but super cute for a Halloween party for kids ages 1 - 92!

A lot of the designs were inspired but not exactly like things I found on pinterest.  Here are some of the inspirational links:  THIS AND ALSO THIS THIS TOO AND EVEN THIS (four separate links can be clicked on in that last sentence).

Don't you just LOVE pinterest for ideas?

The mini bunting is typically something I use when I make a cake or cupcakes.  I mount it onto wooden skewers and plunge it into the cake for decoration.  Normally, I would cut out the bottom of the witches hat cups and either fill them with treats or add a few crayons.  I love the idea of using plain brown paper for a table cloth and encouraging everyone to color while they are at the table!  Yes, adults too.

Another table setting inspiration:

NOTE:  The Frankenstein head is taped onto a piece of black craft foam, cut into a rectangle and added to the straw.  The foam is a bit more liquid proof than just using paper.

Need to wrap a gift or two?  Use your scrapbook paper.  The larger box is wrapped with a paper grocery bag and a few scrapbook paper strips are woven and taped to the top.  The smaller box is covered in black tissue paper from a dollar store tissue pack and a few punched scrapbook paper stars are added to the top.  Who needs wrapping paper?  Years ago, I took one look at my looming paper supply and vowed to hand make all the cards, tags and wrapping I was able!

Done with your table and gift wrap?  Don't forget your house.  Here's how mine looks this year.  Many of these Halloween decorating ideas have been gracing my house for 15 years!

Wanna crochet a few Halloween things for your house?  Well, hop on over to my OTHER BLOG (fly the coop crafts) and check out these Halloween crochet patterns:

Sugar Skull Bunting and Autumn Crochet Wreath.

  

or, need something sweet to put on the table?  Try Halloween bark.



Okay - now you are ready for Croptoberfest, Halloween and everything in between!

Here's a photo update:  I printed 136 digital pages covering my son's (child #3/4) senior year (I know right? Simply insane - it was fun but rushed with Creative Memories digital center closing deadline).  I completed and ordered a digital Day2Day (project 365) album with layflat pages.  AND I ordered many copies of our family beach book to give as holiday gifts this year!  I ordered a slew of pages to cover my personal in stock traditional 12X12 photo albums.  Now I have to make good on my order and get those albums done.

Here's a business update:  I'm looking forward the new stuff Creative Memories has on the horizon, I don't know details of the new company but I do know that they will have traditional Fast to Fab albums (16 designs), a new line of PicFolio album (all made completely in the USA) and a tape runner (made in Denmark).  I don't know if cM will change the company name.  The entire business model is changing to a Party Plan ONLY business.  I'm assuming workshops, monthly product releases, and lessons on how to use your paper and stickers will NOT be part of this new business.  I do know that those of us who have been with cM for many years will have to find new ways to think about how we fit in to the company's new plans.  And oh - they are planning to have digital, but not right away and not yet.

For now, I am just playing with my paper, reducing my stash, having fun creating, planning my photo albums, etc... I'm hosting a Croptoberfest Customer Service Event this weekend and I want to address the scrapbook product stashes that some of my loyal customers may have.  I want them to be able to use their paper and stickers and tools for scrapbooking but I want to offer them the freedom to use it for other fun things too... and thus, I have been playing with paper to inspire them.  I hope my ideas inspire you too - Happy Halloween.  Enjoy.