From the Editor

Fall 2011 Issue

It's a close toss-up between spring and fall, but I must say that autumn is my favorite time of year. I love sweaters, crisp weather (always perfect to wear my hand-knit cardigans), and the rich, jewel-toned colors that are synonymous with this season. I look forward to Halloween and the gathering of costumed children that march down my street to attend our town's annual Fright Night celebration at the old church across from my house. I fill the old Portland Cutter sleigh that lives on my porch with pumpkins and line up lit candles on the steps where I hand out candy from an old pumpkin basket I bought years ago.

This issue of Paper Creations features projects that reflect the best of fall's offerings. Our selections are eclectic with assorted fall themes, and we have gathered some wonderful Halloween cards, decorations, and treat bags to help make this October 31st extra special. Connie K, one of our newest designers, has created an absolutely wonderful set of "good" witch wands that you might even want to consider using as the perfect accessory should you be dressing up for an All Hallows Eve party.

Just a reminder‚ Stephen's Thank-You Card Project is still in full-swing. There is still time for you to participate in Stephen''s goal to make a card for every actively deployed service member in the U.S. military overseas. Please send your thank-you card creations to: Stephen's Thank-You Card Project, Bazzill Basics Paper, 7001 W. Erie St., Ste. 2, Chandler, AZ 85226. For more information, see our Cards of Gratitude page.

Enjoy!,

Happy Birthday
Sweet, simple, and to the point, this Happy Birthday greeting is the perfect card to send to either gender.

Tag Trio
Cupcake-like in appearance and studded with rhinestones, buttons, and flowers, these festive tags are simply the sweetest of gift toppers.

Asian Garden Collection
The peaceful simplicity of Asian imagery is creatively captured in this stylish trio of cards. A harmonious blending of floral and geometric patterned papers and embossed metal artistically reflects the beauty of the Orient.

Easel Card

Silver and Gold Cards
One sheet of beautiful gold and silver striped patterned paper was the inspiration behind this understated collection of cards. Suitable for a silver or gold anniversary, or for sending an elegant thank-you note, they are quick and easy to make. Coordinated ribbons, brads, fabric buttons, and domed metal frames saved me time and provided just the right finishing touches.

Easel Card
A double-front fold is an easy technique to try when creating an easel-style card like the one featured here. The card stays propped open by a row of red rhinestones strategically and colorfully placed on the inside of the card. Glittered and gold borders add extra sparkle and texture.

Thanks!
Coordinated mini-print patterned papers are cut into strips, then artfully arranged to create a unique, one-of-a-kind background. Try switching out the strips with squares or triangles for a completely different look.

My Teddy

There's No Place Like Home
Whether notifying family and friends of your new address or sending congratulations to someone who has bought a new home, this charming trio is sure to be happily received.

May All Your Wishes Come True
Overlapping circles create festive rows of assorted stamped-pattern scallops. A bright turquoise ribbon ties everything up in a nice, big bow.

You Can Achieve It
Mini-print patterned papers in chocolate brown and sapphire blue beautifully partner with a stamped spray of wildflowers and an inspirational sentiment.

My Teddy
Oh, it's such hard but rewarding work being a teddy bear. Beloved, brave, cuddly, consoling, and comforting, he's always at the ready to spread some cheer, make one smile, or heal a hurt. So, it's not surprising that the two cards featured here send along a teddy with the most tender of sentiments.

My Favorite Deputy
Punched metal and cardstock stars, rope lassos, and the sweetest "Hello Kitty" images partner up to create this Old West themed Happy Birthday set.

Howdy
Create this sweet Western-themed card for your favorite little cowgirl or horse lover.

Flights of Fancy Collection

Flights of Fancy Collection
Nostalgic images of fairground festivities from yesteryear partner beautifully with muted patterned papers in faded shades of brown, nutmeg, clay, soft teal, and vanilla. Edges are torn, distressed and antiqued in remembrance of a more gentle time.

The Fall Garden
A plain chipboard album page and die-cut illustration board label are easily transformed into decorative table accents by adding an easel back to the back sides. The die-cut blossoms, leaves, and butterflies are hand curled for added dimension. Small embellishments, distressed labels, and tags provide the perfect finishing touches.

Many Happy Returns
Gel look-alike candles are simple to make with the help of Paper Glaze and a matte finishing spray.

Best Wishes
Gel-like in appearance, dimensional candles add a punch of festive pizzazz to these colorful birthday cards and gift tag.

Autumnal Cards
The rustic collection of patterned papers used for creating the cards featured here offers a wide range of embellishments and stickers. Having such a varied assortment from which to choose is a sure-fire guarantee for a successful outcome in both coloring and styling.

Scary trio          

Without You Times a Dragon
It's all too true‚ time drags by so slowly without that special person around. Just a fun card to send as a reminder that they are fiercely missed!

Scary Trio
You don't have to go all-out grunge to get great Halloween results. What about mixing scary imagery with style? Three creepy spiders, a scary skeleton, and a spooky house are popular All Hallows Eves images. Traditional color choices, of course, would be black and orange. But look what happens when you throw purple and green accents, rhinestones and satin ribbon into the mix. It's still scary, but with polished, high-style expression. Definitely uptown!

Happy Halloween
Planning a party and shopping for costumes and trick-or-treat candy can leave little time for creating Halloween cards to send out to family and friends. This little card is a snap to make and will make life a little easier when you're "batting" your head against the clock!

In the Pumpkin Patch
Stripes and polka dots happily unite to create this funky Halloween greeting. Small details not to be overlooked are the sparkled frosting on the pumpkins and big orange button.

Fang-tastic Cards
Great patterned paper from BasicGrey provides versatile imagery as shown on the set of cards featured here. "Batty for You" is definitely Halloween themed, while "Magical Dreams" hails from the ethereal world of imagination. These two cards are also the first to introduce a new website: Paper Fashions, Etc. Designers Diane Noble, Gayle O'Dell, and Melissa Rodgers teamed up to pool their talents and put forth a wonderful array of digital printable elements. You'll be seeing and reading more about these talented gals in future issues, so stay tuned!

Fright Night Whimsy
Take a lighthearted approach to Halloween this year. Fright Night doesn't necessarily have to be all that scary, does it? The cards featured here put a cute spin on traditional Halloween imagery.

Sweet Mini Book
Who could resist this sweet, scallop-edged mini book? A tiny-print paper sets the tone, then is crowned with a jeweled flower embellishment and neatly tied up with a red velvet ribbon.

Pumpkin Goody Bags
What would a Halloween party be without great-looking trick-o- treat bags? These fun bags are easy to make (use leftover scraps so they won't cost much), and would be the perfect Halloween project for kids of all ages.

Paper Pumpkin
Glittered cardstock forms the ribs of this easy to make autumn decoration. And here's another idea...reduce the size of the strips to make smaller versions, then display as a sparkling centerpiece for your holiday table or mantel.

Happy Halloween Gift BAg

Happy Halloween Gift Bag
What can you do with leftover scraps? We all seem to have a box filled with "a little of this and little of that" that we can't bring ourselves to discard. When designer Tracey Taylor discovered a lonely and unused chipboard album page, she decided to incorporate it into this fun and colorful gift bag. See what's in your box to produce your own unique results!

Five Black Cats
Crowned with button centers, an assortment of paper rosettes enhances a sparkling vintage image on this beautifully finished Halloween banner. Beaded trim and frosted mini stars add a shimmering effect, while a wire hanger is softened with a wide black-and-white striped bow.

Good Witch Wands
Vintage Halloween decorations are extremely desirable, but difficult to find. Consider yourself lucky if you own any, as today's prices for such treasures can be staggering. Fashioned from antique imagery and stunningly executed, the Halloween wands featured here are more than worthy rivals to those from yesteryear, and are sure to become coveted family heirlooms.

Witch Hat Centerpiece and Name Card Holders
Brewing up plans for a Halloween party? This bewitching collection of tabletop delights is as easy to make as saying "abracadabra!" (Visit our website at www.papercreationsmag.com to see another variation of what the most stylish witches are wearing this holiday season.)

Trick-or-Treat Canvas
Perfect for hanging on a doorknob, cabinet pull, or for tucking into a basket filled with pumpkins as a festive centerpiece, this trick-or-treat canvas adds just the right amount of Fright Night pizzazz to your Halloween decorations.