Frightful and Delightful Bracelets

As I write this post, it is a glorious crisp fall day in northern Michigan. Fall instinctively brings the thought of pumpkins, mums, apple cider, yummy donuts, and especially Halloween.

I always look forward to this holiday to begin creating all things Halloween. While visiting my sister, Peg, of the Crystal Pinecone, in Grand Marais, Michigan this week, we created these sweet bracelets with some of our recent shopping finds. Peg always continues to take my breath away with her so many clever ways to celebrate Halloween.

The Brown Lady Ghost of Rayman Hall, England

This ghost is known as "The Brown Lady of Rayman Hall, England. The picture was originally taken in 1936 by Indre Shira and Captain Provand, photographers working for "Country Life" magazine. The photographers were shooting in the hall when they noticed the apparition.

The first reported sighting of "The Brown Lady Ghost" was in 1836, when Colonel Loftus said he saw her in a brown dress. Loftus reported that her eye sockets were empty. The next reported sighting of "The Brown Lady Ghost" was in 1926 when two small boys saw the apparition.

This was the project I completed last Saturday, October 23rd, when I was lucky enough to be included in a very fun Saturday event entitled "A Halloween Tea" at our local scrapbook store, Artful Scrapbooking.

Even though I cannot take credit for the original design by Ellie,

I did add some of my own images from Moonlight Journey.

A Halloween Tea

The punch was spooktactular with a fine white rising mist, sandwiches, shortbread finger cookies, all amazingly arranged by our hostess Pamela. We even watched some classic scary Halloween movies while completing our haunted houses. Thank you again, Pam, for such great effort and a spooky project to make.

To my delight, I also received this gorgeous altoid tin last week from my sweet friend Becky Loyall, of Whymsical Musings.

This tin created by Becky Loyall.

I was so inspired with her amazing gift, that I created these two tins to share.

Halloween tin images from Seneca Pond and Shabby Cottage Studio.

Ahhh......the fun of Halloween!

'Just can't get enough.

Hostess Halloween Candy Gift

I really enjoyed assembling these colorful candy canisters as hostess gifts for my nieces yesterday. It was easy to prepare them from recycled glass jars purchased from the Salvation Army as Halloween hostess gifts.

I did a little digital magic by altering a downloaded label, and adding new words that I enjoyed from one of Christine Edward's "Wicked Halloween Swap" gifts from Val. I wrapped them with clear cellophane, gathered them at the top, and tied with black raffia. They were really accepted with great enthusiasm! Thanks, Christine and Val, for your inspiration!

New Orleans, One Magical Place

New Orleans still haunts my mind with it's style. Five years ago, while attending a national racquetball sporting event with my hubby, we had the best time ever! I distinctly remember the historic sites, the rhythmic sounds, the tantalizing tastes, and the exotic aromas of New Orleans. We took a streetcar to St. Charles Avenue from the famous above-ground cemeteries to the Riverwalk shopping pavilion and then onto riverboats moving lazily along the Mississippi.

There were voodoo tours, readings, drum and chant rituals. Marie Laveau, the great voodoo queen, is still a staple at the New Orleans historic Voodoo Museum. Visitors can get their own good-luck bags of herbs and oils, and arrange for spooky tours of swamp country. You can even get palms or tarot cards read in Jackson Square. There are artists who sketch visitors in watercolors, oils, or even purchase prints of French Quarter scenes. Or how about that special purchase of an alligator head, or maybe feet as souvenirs!

What an mysterious and magical place. One of the most beautiful streets is St. Charles Avenue. I don't really know if the Garden District survived the great Hurricane Katrina, but it will always be here in the photos I shot that one hot and rainy day back in July 2004.

Can you even imagine having a driveway to your house as grand as this one?

A few blocks away on Napoleon Avenue, vampire mystery novelist, Anne Rice, bought Saint Elizabeth's Asylum, once an orphanage. Wealthy sugar and cotton planters had built stupendous homes in the Garden District. This is such a grand city, not only for it's Victorian mansions, but most of it's architecture. I felt like I was trapped in a movie from the 1920's or 30's.

Tomorrow I will take you to Oak Alley Plantation, one of the most gorgeous plantations you could ever visit, that once was the movie site for "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte," starring Bette Davis. They say it's definitely haunted!

And, for my next gift reveal during the 13 Days of Halloween Swap, here are Hope Malott's gifts to me. I did not have any of this silver garland or the black or white raffia. How could I be so lucky?

Thanks again, Hope!!

13 Days of Halloween, Day 2

Today I am revealing my gift wrapped in old sheet music dated October 20th.

What an amazing vintage postcard banner! Hope Mallot purchased this for me from her favorite Etsy shop called VintageScraps.etsy.com. The colors are just lovely, and sparkling with clear huge glitter strung on black seam binding! I love it. It is hanging above my computer so I can enjoy it constantly!!

13 Days of Halloween, Day 1

I truly believe that how a gift is presented is such an important aspect to the art of giving gifts.


Hope Malott presented me with a splendid array of music sheet wrapped goodies. Some were wrapped in old book pages, then machine sewn on three sides. But, the most important thing was that she was thoughtful and they were an extension of the gift inside.


I tried to do the same by wrapping my presents in reproduction advertisement paper bags in black and dark beige tones, with a touch of contemporary. I purchased these beautiful ghoulish children tag images from Kirsi. Then I embellished each tag with the required dates and glued clocks to the underside portraying the "witching hour."

One thing, that Hope did, that I should have done was recycle too, both for the sake of our planet, and to acquire a potpourri of different kinds of items and styles for potential creative situations later. I systematically cut away the musical paper. I knew that at some point I would want to put it to use again. I even saved the pretty vintage seam binding ribbons that wrapped her lovelies too.

How exciting it was to receive an "extra" gift for the 18th! Thanks, Hope for the sweet gifts that came my way on the first day. I am sure I will be enjoying the fruits of your paper punching techniques by using these adorable vellum bats and posies. I sure love those Dove dark chocolate candies! I am very happy to be part of the next 13 days of celebration. Hope that everyone was as fortunate as I was! Here is my first gift to a very generous partner.

These were some of the Halloween postcards I created for her. She tells me she has been sending them out already to her friends. Lovin' that!

Hauntingly Magical Halloween Celebration

Make a Smilebox greeting

You are cordially invited to attend a Hauntingly Magical Halloween Celebration hosted by Vanessa Valencia of "A Fanciful Twist." Please join the fantasy by attending her event this Saturday, October 17th.

I'm warming up the cauldron to display some of my creative treats and tricks. This little witch is getting so anxious! Don't miss this enchanting party. You won't be disappointed. Just click on her blog and start blog hopping with the partiers.

See you there!

My Gift to Jennifer

There are a million reasons why I love Halloween. It's probably one of the best days of the year to show off your imagination. You can be someone else for a day, wear a costume, and this craziness always leads to even more conversation.

I also like it because it is just plain fun to buy and get all the candy! I love the smell of the chocolate wafting through the wrappers, when it sits by your front door waiting for all the kids to come knocking for the big giveaway.

And, let's not forget about all the fabulous scary movies that come out in the theaters, or the awesome movie marathons on TV. How about the ghost stories? I just love watching "Ghost Hunters." I love listening to the cool "oldies" Halloween music, and there is the decorating! This was part of my swap to Jennifer Wells, for my "Wicked Halloween Swap." In addition to the above, I threw in a couple of boxes of M & M peanut and regular candies, 3 orange and black polka dot pencils, some clear witch and spooky rubber stamps, a "Ghost Crossing" sign from a local craft store, and an orange glass votive pumpkin.

Seriously, I don't understand how some people don't like Halloween. I could go on and on.

Witches Ball Slippers and Gifts

Looking for sweet little girl shoes is one of my favorite pastimes when I scavenge the Salvation Army on Wednesdays. Finding these adorable shoes became a pair of "Marie Antoinette and Her Masquerade Witches Ball" slippers as one of my first gifts to Kathy during the Sweet and Sinister Swap.



Then I created this "inchie" art journal from a composition book using these beautiful images purchased from Kirsi. I really adore her style! Next, I proceeded to embellish the inside covers. By using a wide band of black lace, it became a pocket for some of my "Day of the Dead" tags.

And to continue with something sweet, I filled a vintage canning jar with gummy worms and placed a very sinister label from "Love Manor" to identify it's contents.

My sweet sister, Peg, painted and designed this adorable black "Cat Rock." She lives in northern Michigan on Lake Superior, and she and my mom have a quaint gift shop during the summer. They only stay open during the warmer months, ending their season the day after "Starry Starry Night", which is the day after Thanksgiving. I am helping her create her own blog, but the distance between us presents a challenge. You may discover some things for your holiday gift-giving by visiting their online store by clicking on The Crystal Pinecone Gift Shoppe.

Of course, I had to package up a few of my "signature" dishcloths. The pattern was featured in a past issue of Somerset "Life." It is also available online by visiting Homespun Living. Deb does a fabulous job knitting, sewing, and is clearly another Martha. I enjoy reading her blog very much.

And last, but not least, was a "Scary Fairy." I am getting pretty good on sewing their little tutu skirts. Kathy thanked me profusely for my handiwork. I had a grand time creating things for her, and you can see what she sent me in the next post.

Happy Haunting,
Nancy

Sweet and Sinister Swap

Talk about packaging with the "Wow Factor!" These gorgeous gifts were sent to me by the amazing and sweet Kathy Riley of Bourbonnais, Illinois. We were swap partners in the fabulous "Sweet and Sinister Swap" this year hosted by Kari Ramstrom of A Year of Color. They truly were just too beautiful to open.

Yesterday was a hectic day for me socializing (the entire day and half the night), creating art, laughing, and sharing photos and news of our families with my old scrapbooking buddies. My package from Kathy sat home and I had yet to tear it open. It was driving me crazy! I wanted to take snapshots of these meaningful gifts from her to share with you. And, what an awesome treasure was to be found when I opened them!

Any gift worth giving is worth creating with effort and meaning, and Kathy did just that! I think what's really important is to pay attention, take the time to give appropriate gifts, and to give gifts with a great deal of thought put into them. For me, the process of gathering, putting together, and presenting gifts is really a very personal experience, for both in what is being given and what is received.

Thank you so very much, Kathy, for your present. It is so inspirational, made with love, and really just way beyond my expectation. You never know what you're going to receive when participating in swaps, but you keep your senses open and try to create something that will absolutely perfect!

The lovely thing about receiving something with inspiration is it really can be a life changing event. It goes on forever. Every time a person gets involved in something that you've inspired them to do, they may remember that you were motivated to become involved in the first place because of you.

This was the first thing I opened. Every time I look at these little baby witch booties, I smile. They are just down right adorable! Don't you agree?

Because of a very sweet Kathy, I received a gift of inspiration. Her "Sinister" Candy Tower is an enginering marvel. It's so cool. It is filled with my favorite chocolate. She also sent a mouth-watering bag of Lindt's milk chocolate truffles! OMG! These both have to be my most favorite candy. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, she including this simply amazing Halloween journal.

I am in awe of Kathy's dedication and devotion in trying to please me and make something I would love to own.

This is the bead detail on strands of fibers.

As Kathy has written me after our swap, I must quote part of her email for you to see just how devoted she was in making this journal even more special. "Now, in your journal. . . I absolutely LOVED the witches board. . . . . the little thing for the hands.. placard ??. . . actually moves. . . it worked great until I had the book closed and then it was not as free moving. . . . if you turn the book sideways a bit, it will roll down. . . I think it smooshed and it closed too much with the book closed. If you try to push down the bottom of the hole where it slides and try to raise the top just a bit to give it more room, it may work. . . otherwise, you can still move it back and forth by hand. . . just not as much fun."

Now what really sent me "over the top" was this Day of the Dead garland. It has to be seen to be appreciated. I had trouble photographing it due to the lighting today, and sometimes black and white photos average the exposure, which creates less than perfect photos. It is wonderful with

beautiful images depicting this honorable day.

I have to say, I was thoroughly pleased with my exchange. She even included two pieces of silver glittered fabric, ribbons, and a mailing label on her package of a haunted house. Hopefully, I will be able to post the things I mailed Kathy during the week. I have been neglecting my housework during these past few days, and need to buckle down.

Thank you, Kari, for matching me up with such a "over the top" partner. Now, we just have to get Kathy to create a blog of her stunning artwork. Kathy, you rock!

13 Days of Halloween Swap Partner

Will you check this out!! I just received some wonderful goodies from my "13 Days of Halloween" swap partner, Hope Malott of her blog and Etsy shop called "Hopeful."

The rules are that I can't open her gifts until October 19, and then one package a day until the big day of Halloween. I love the vintage music sheet wrapping paper, and that creepy spider. I am really going to try and wait. It is hard to do this, considering I was one of those kids that opened Christmas gifts (when my parents were gone) and then re-wrapped them. Thank you so much, Hope, for this grand display of surprises. I am so excited to start opening each one to share with you.