Day 2 of the Papertrey Ink August Release

Yesterday was all about back-to-school projects. Today, I'm jumping in with a Halloween theme! As with a lot of you, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. So...of course...I needed to create some Halloween themed Stitching Dies for Papertrey Ink. And not only that, I have an additional twist on them which I'm going to show you today. :)

I don't want to keep you in suspense, so let me just let the cat out of the bag on that twist. (More cats in bags later this week, if you've seen a preview or two over on Nichole's blog!) Today I'm showing you the Along Came A Spider Collection. It consists of a  spider webs and a spider stitching dies and a coordinating $5 stamp set that you can add to your project so it looks hand sewn...but it is super fast and easy instead because it is stamped.

Here's a close up so you can see exactly what I'm taking about. I used the half web die, the straight hole line, and the spider die to cut the holes and shapes. Then I used the stamp set to connect the dots and make it look like I stitched it up with floss. Only it took seconds, not ten minutes. SIMPLE. Additionally, there is a spider body stamp that I used to add Royal Velvet lines to the spider. The lighter purple shading was added with a Copic marker.

Turning to more of a technique application, I thought I'd heat emboss the Along Came a Spider stamps in gold embossing powder on Lizzie's new Gable Box Die. Fantastic. I die cut the spider out of True Black cardstock and gave it the same treatment. There is a separate spider body die that I used to make the head and thorax Simply Chartreuse.

A close up of all that fun detail. It is definitely a fun new look.

Also, you see a glimpse of Lexi's new stamp set Haunted Borders. Those are seriously fun and will fill a niche in your collection.

Included in the Along Came a Spider Die Collection, is a full sized stitched web which looks great on its own.  By coincidence, it fits nicely in the Tag Sale #4 Die. I plan for a lot of coordination across products (love it so!), but this one got by me and was just a lucky fit. I turned it into a pumpkin by trimming and adding a brown "stem" and leaves from Dawn's Leave It Be. A sentiment from the Along Came a Spider stamp set is stamped on a tag cut with the Tiny Tags dies.

There are a few other spiders in the PTI catalog, like this one from Spooky Sweets II. Fun to team them up with that dotted web. Just more options for you.

How about moving onto a felt project? I've got two pairs of Baby Booties today for you. Or should I say, BOOties:)? How sweet are these? Perfect for an October baby. And with the entire line of Seasonal Stitches, you can make seasonally appropriate booties for all the babies in your life, no matter when they were born.

The Along Came a Spider collection is great on cards. How great is it it that you can also use it like this to make such detailed handsewn projects? I used the half web across the toes here on the bootie and then flanked the heel strap with the quarter web. A most excellent fit. The spider was sewn together and added to the top.

Here's the last of the Seasonal Stitches for fall. Seasonal Stitches: Pumpkin Head (just the name makes me giggle), features a classic jack-o-lantern look. And sized perfectly for the Baby Booties.

Just a side note: I switched over to a size 26 tapestry needle for my felt projects. The needle is tiny, so a threader is a must. Tiny is very advantageous, however, because it is smaller than the diameter of the holes created with the stitching dies. It just darts right through without adding any pressure to the holes. With projects like the baby bootie in particular, this is a big plus. The holes are close to the edge and using this needle is a good tip for avoiding making them bigger. Pick up a pack next time you are at the craft store. :)

Next up, a project that I've been meaning to do for awhile and Halloween is the perfect time to bust out the idea. I made luminaries with the Along Came a Spider Dies, Seasonal Stitches: Pumpkin Face dies, and the Bunny Bag. I trimmed the flap off the Bunny Bag so they are open at the top. Miniature battery operated tea lights fit nicely inside.

The magic really happens when you dim the lights and turn on the tea lights. The holes in the stitching dies are perfect for this. These would look lovely lined up on a mantle this fall. And really couldn't be simpler. This is a very easy project.

I wanted to show you that Along Came a Spider is another die set that is compatible with the Clever Barrette Die. There is a "holes only" die that is in the shape of the spider body. You just cut that into the top barrette cover and stitch in your spider. My little girl can't wait to wear these!

I added eyes to my spider with white brads. They fit nicely into the already existing stitching holes.

I know there is a lot more Halloween to come over the next few days. Hope you are in a spooky mood. All these products and more will be available at www.papertreyink.com on August 15th at 10 PM EST. And more inspiration below using some of the new products from today as well:

Nichole Heady
Lizzie Jones
Lexi Daly
Dawn McVey
Maile Belles
Heather Nichols
Laura Bassen
Ashley Cannon Newell


Supplies

Trick or Treat
Stamps: Along Came a Spider, Keep It Simple: Halloween
Dies: Along Came A Spider
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Winter Wisteria, Royal Velvet
Ink: True Black, Royal Velvet

Gable Box
Stamps: Along Came a Spider, Haunted Borders
Dies: Along Came A Spider, Gable Box, Haunted Borders
Cardstock: True Black, Simply Chartreuse
Gold Embossing Powder

Pumpkin Tag
Stamps: Along Came a Spider, Spooky Sweets II, Leave It Be
Dies: Along Came a Spider, Spook Sweets II, Leave It Be, Tag Sale #4, Tiny Tags
Cardstock: Orange Zest, Simply Chartreuse, Dark Chocolate, Stamper's Select White
Ink: True Black, Simply Chartreuse
Button Twine

Spider Booties
Dies: Baby Booties, Along Came a Spider
Felt: Smokey Shadow, True Black, Limeade Ice

Pumpkin Booties
Dies: Baby Booties, Seasonal Stitches: Pumpkin Face
Felt: Orange Zest, True Black

Halloween Luminaries
Dies: Seasonal Stitches: Pumpkin Face, Along Came a Spider, Bunny Bag
Cardstock: Smokey Shadow, Orange Zest, Royal Velvet, Winter Wisteria
Foil Trim
Tea Lights

Barrettes
Dies: Clever Barrette Covers, Along Came a Spider
Felt: Vintage Cream, Royal Velvet, Winter Wisteria, Smokey Shadow
White Brads