Halloween Tags with Simon Says Stamp

Hello friends,

I'm happy to be here today sharing a few fun Halloween tags I created for the Simon Says Stamp Blog.  Once again, Palette Halloween fabric makes the perfect foundation for each little scene. The stitching is easy and a great place to try adding stitching to your makes. Lots of details were added with idea-ology Halloween Layers and Paper Dolls, Ephemera and Halloween Transparencies. There is even some added Chunky Rock Candy Glitter for a little sparkle! And even better...the #8 tags fit perfectly into a Simon Says Stamp Mini Slimline Envelope which makes them perfect for mailing a little Halloween cheer in the form of a gift card hidden on the back!

I hope you'll stop by to see all the details! And be sure to scroll to the end of the  Simon Says Stamp post where there are up-close photos of the tags!

Now carry on,

paula

Christmas Joy Kit

Hello Friends,

This post is to introduce my first Christmas kit for 2025 to those who may not be on my email list for kits.

With its vintage-inspired aesthetic, the 'Christmas Joy' altered Pocket Folio (4 1/2 x 6”) is more than meets the eye. Unfold the zigzag, revealing the heart of the folio - six unique sections with added inserts and tags, each with something unique.

The Christmas Joy kit includes everything you need to create the book, including the Pocket Folio substrate + Folio Folders, pre-cut paper + full packages of Christmas Collage Strips, Collage Paper, Layers & Paper Dolls, and a Sticker Book. Kit comes with written instructions, 5 pages of color step-out photos and supply list. As always, the kit comes delightfully packaged.

The total cost for the kit is $90.00 + $10 shipping (US domestic only).

Kit will ship immediately 

KIT IS SOLD OUT

There is one more Christmas kit coming next month!

Now carry on,

paula

PS: If you are not on my email for kits and you want to be, just send an email to paula@oneluckyday.net and say 'I want to be on the list'. I usually send out 3-4 emails a year.

Halloween Book

Hello friends,

I hope you are ready for more Halloween! I know I am!

I created this book for the idea-ology Halloween Live last month and I thought I better share it since it is already Oct 15th! I have a hard time even believing that!

Palette Halloween fabric with the moths was absolutely perfect for the cover of the small book... and it was very easy to add to the cover using Collage Medium. 

This new gothic window is from the 2025 Halloween Baseboard Pack. I added paper and a spiderweb transparency to the background, with a Halloween Portrait sandwiched between the two. Kinda creepy!

The large moth and clipping sticker were also added and then the window was added to the cover.

The book itself was made using the Booklet Folio as the base. When you open the package, there is a cover, two signatures, some twill and some string. We are only using the two signatures, everything else can be discarded or put away for another time.

The two signatures will be combined in the center of the book. To do that, I placed the signatures next to each other like this. Cut 1" off each page (so the last page of signature 1 and the first page of signature 2). These two shortened pages will be combined into a pocket in the next step.

I decided to take this shot after the pages have the first layers of Collage Medium and Collage Paper and ink so you can really see the difference in the pages. You can see I did not add any embellishment to the center cut pages so they could be put together to create the pocket using Scor-tape.

Here is the center "shortened" page (that is really a pocket now).

I added a large card from the Layers pack as the insert for the pocket.

Now lets talk about the pages of the book. I started by stamping the Exquisite floral (CMS453) on some of the pages (starting on page 5).  Then I used Collage Medium to add the Collage Paper Halloween. I also used a stencil from the Multi Shifter Harlequin set (three sizes of harlequin stencils come in one pack) to add Distress Ink Gathered Twigs. 

It would be easier to add the stenciling before you add the Collage Paper since the Collage Medium (once dry) becomes a sealer and it will not allow the ink to become permanent on the page. So on the page below, the glue really dictated where I could add the stenciling (but it worked out really well).

Pages 1 and 2

Three Ephemera pieces + Cello Tape

I always add a layer of Collage Medium over Ephemera - once dry, I use Walnut Stain Crayon to build up the grunge around the tape.

On page two, I used Scor-tape to add the transparent web, then stapled the bug at the top.

Peeled Paint Distress Crayon was rubbed over all the faces in the book. I used a wet wipe to remove some the crayon to give them a spooky feel. I NEVER tint the eyes but I just couldn't help it with this guy.

Pages 3 and 4

Just some large numbers from the Layers Pack + Cello Tape.

This is a much bigger frame but I didn't want to cover the background so I just cut out the oval shape for the people to sit in.

Pages 5 and 6

There is that Stampers Anonymous Exquisite stamp in the background.

Gosh he is my favorite! The crazy coloring turned out so good. 

We've made it to the center.
I added a strip from the Sticker Book along the edge to emphasize that it's a pocket.

I also added an eyelet with a Loop Pin and metal tags to the insert card, along with the phrase "there are others" (Sticker Book).

Pages 7 and 8

On the other side of the pocket, I kept it very simple with just a piece of ephemera.

On page 8 I had this idea to add transparent moths - I thought, adding them on a string so they can move back and forth was fun. 

Again, the build up of distress Crayon over the tape at the top is my favorite detail. (there is collage medium underneath from adding the collage paper).

I also love using the Clipping Stickers to add the words at the bottom. Cello tape really makes it look old and haphazard.  

Pages 9 and 10

I had a left over piece of a transparency that I just has to use up. I decided to make it a flip up window of sorts. I used the black label at the lower edge (sticker book) as a tab to lift the window and reveal the rest of the skull.

On page 10 I just wanted to have some fun by adding a mother as a hat! The words are perfect here!

There is that Exquisite stamp again.

Page 11 and 12 (last one!)

I just added the card with a Mini Paper Clip and some Clipping Stickers on page 11.

Then on the last page I added a flap (because I could). I just cut it from Mixed Media Heavystock, scored one edge and added it to the back of the book (with Scor-tape) so that it folds over to the inside.

Here you can see it opened up to reveal the man that has lost the only thing he has ever loved (or at least that is what his sign says!).

I hope you liked this one. It sure was fun to make and the fabric cover was so easy at the end. Just glue and go!

Now carry on,

paula

Palette Charcoal

Hello friends,

Let's talk fabric today, specifically Palette Charcoal! After working with so many vibrant colors of the Palette Collection over the last year, I worried that charcoal might feel a bit dull. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. These neutrals are a breeze to mix and match! Every single combination was a winner, so in the end, I had to let scale be the tie-breaker for my final project selection.

Speaking of the project. I went with a Display Panel (9 x 9") with a very Halloween vibe! I have to get in all the Halloween makes I can before October runs out! I like this particular one because of the big moon which I colored with something very unexpected (you'll have to wait for that). Now I hope you'll stick around to see how I combined fabric and idea-ology to make something so wickedly fun.

Lets get started with the project!

Start by painting the top and sides of the idea-ology Display Panel with Black paint. Set aside to dry while you work on the fabric background.

For the background, I decided to create a patchwork of three different fabrics: Moths, Map, and Collage. I started with the largest piece (about 6 x 10") I like to cut it a bit bigger than needed so I can square it up at the end. I also cut a matching piece of cotton batting.

Now if you are not a sewer, then this is for you. I'm going to use something so simple to make the diamond pattern. Something everyone has in a drawer somewhere...blue painters tape. 

To get started you need one diagonal line. 

I laid my clear ruler from corner to corner to create that sharp 60 degree angle.

Then instead of using a marking pen, I added a strip of blue painters tape.

I went to the sewing machine and sewed along the tape with rust colored thread.

I also sewed on the other side of the tape. 

Once done, I picked up the tape and moved it (as you see here) so I could continue to use it as a stitching guide.

I kept moving the tape till I had sewing all the way across the fabric. It's just that easy. If you can follow the tape, you can do this.

Back to the table to make another tape line going the opposite corner to corner direction. Then I just started the process over again till I had sewn all the way across the fabric.

When I was finished sewing, it looked like this. All done with a couple pieces of blue painters tape!

Back at the cutting mat, I used a rotary cutter to square up the piece so it would fit panel.

I created two more "patches" to fill in the panel.

As you can see I used the same color thread but sewed different patterns. The bottom windowpane stitching was again created with blue tape as the guide. And the top piece, I just followed the lines in the Collage fabric so it looks sewn together.

I used Collage Medium to glue the fabric patches to the Display Panel, leaving 1/4" around the outside so the painted edge will 'frame' the fabric.

Repeat the process to the add the largest piece (my favorite moths).

This part might look very straightforward, but there are no holes in the display panel for Fasteners and I did not want to punch a hole in the fabric. So in reality, I cut the "legs" off the Large Fasteners before adding them to the panel. Once I had crushed the top with the Texture Hammer, I picked up the Fastener "top", added Collage Medium and replaced it in the divot I made previously. 

*be sure to wear safety glasses when cutting the "legs" off the Large Fasteners.

Next I added a broken window Transparency to a large Baseboard piece, as well as two pieces of ephemera along the bottom.

I want this window to sit away from the fabric so I needed to come up with a way to do that. Enter wood plugs (hardware store). I have a stash of these to use as risers but they were still too big for the top of the window. I used a awl and a hammer to split one in half, then painted it with black paint. Once dry, I was able to add them to the top two corners of the window.

Next up Paper Dolls. Just scribble the color on. It can go on thick, especially over dark clothing. You can see here I have scribbled the green crayon over the dress, but so far, I have only rubbed the crayon with a cotton swab on just the top of her dress. The bottom still needs to be done.

Now there you go. The entire green dress in done.

NOTE: I only used a damp Detailer Water Brush (no water actually inside the brush) to add some Wild Honey crayon accents, like the buttons on the dress and some highlights on the green dress.

Add a set of wings to the mother. Because she needs wings, right? I did cut the halo from the printed wings before adding. It just looks more realistic.

Next is the moon from the Layers Pack. This is heavier weight paper than the Ephemera pack and it has a slick surface. That tells me that Alcohol Ink will color it. So I added Honeycomb Alcohol Ink with a Blending Tool in just one quick go. It worked absolutely perfectly!

Once the Alcohol Ink was dry, I used my fingertip to add very thin random splotches of Glossy Accents over the darker parts of the moon. Then sprinkled some Rock Candy CHUNKY that I had previously colored with 'Gravel" Alcohol ink. Gosh I love how that turned out!

Add the moon to the panel with Collage Medium.

You might not have noticed, but there is a vase of flowers in the window behind the ladies. You will need to add it to the panel before the Baseboard window.

Now add the window to the panel.

Then come the ladies. 

I used 3D Foam Squares on the back so they are raised away from the window.

Now use Collage Medium to add the Gravestone (with Clipping sticker added). You will need 3D Foam squares behind the Gravestone so it will sit upright.

Add some shredded Mummy Cloth below to disguise the base.

Then a sign post from the Baseboard pack.

And a rose from the Ephemera Pack.

I found this sign in the Halloween Ephemera Pack and aged it with some ink and water.

Then added it with a nail, right through the Window Frame.

I also added a few pieces of Cello Tape just for fun!

And there you go! From the Palette Charcoal background to the huge Harvest moon! I love it!

I hope you give Palette Charcoal a go.
These neutrals work so well together for everyday stuff (not just Halloween). Although they would make wonderful treat bags!

now carry on,
paula