The "Queen of Halloween"

 Our very creative and talented blog reader/friend, Doris, took us up on our long distance paper bag project challenge that Sheila and I just shared with you!  We are so excited to have one of you join us!! Now, I am not surprised that Doris joined in, since the theme is Halloween, and she IS the "Queen of Halloween", at least in my book. Her cover is awesome!  Just makes you want to peek inside, doesn't it?  The colors, the tag, and that ribbon - perfect!

 Doris went a step further than either of us, and made pages that lift up!! How cool is that! I am sure Sheila and I will be trying that out with our next paper bag book.  

These colors just "scream" Halloween to me - bold and bright, and she has the best Halloween embellishments!

 Look at these great layouts...can't you just picture them with Halloween photos..witches, goblins, ghouls, pumpkins...trick or treat!

 I wanted to include a closeup of some of the tags Doris included in her book, because these are so very cool! Look at the fabulous images..and how she tied the embellishments in with them, like the broom with the witch...keep an eye on the night sky on October 31st. Doris...the spirits may be flying....

THANK YOU Doris for sharing with all of us!!! Your Halloween album is AWESOME!!!

Maura's Halloween Paper Bag Book

Happy Halloween! Sheila came up with this great long distance project for us - a paper bag album.  I chose the Graphic 45 "Halloween in Wonderland" line to use for mine, and the black bags from Michaels.

I used some tags from samples I made for last year's make and take at Captured Moments open house.  Photo mats are in coordinating colors, and I also inserted some acrylic pages like Sheila, and "fussy cut" some of the designs to go over it, and added a rub-on.
Sheila here...I love the papers that Maura chose to work with. Totally different than the clean design I lean towards, so it is always fun to see her projects in person and this paper bag book is no exception! I like that we both added transparencies but I really love all the add ons that she included on them. Totally worth the "fussy" cutting!

I decided to challenge myself with the cover (and it is now challenging me, because I can't get it to go in the order that I want ).  I bought some canvas and took out my acrylics and painted it black, and then just played with other colors to come up with this wild and crazy design.  Added some gold webbing, and the word "spooky", ribbons through the D-ring on the end, and there it is.

LOVE the cover that you did! The canvas wrap makes it very professional looking on the spine and that POP of lime green is so you. Very cool effect in person.

 Added some tags with ribbons to this page, and a bit of doodling with the white pen.
Love that velvet scallop edge! 

 Here, I added another tag that I had previously made.

 This paper line was so much fun to work with!
You are the master of doodling. I love that added pop of the white pen. I wish I had thought to do that on my black photo mats. Need to make a note of it for next time.

 A few rub ons, stamps, and Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee - now wouldn't that be a costume!

 Off with her head!  A bit of doodling again, and some skeleton ribbon, and a very cool black cat.
I was so tempted to cut off that skeleton ribbon for myself. LOVE it and have never seen it before. Perfect addition for the theme.

 Another acrylic page inserted with a fussy cut design on it.

Back cover.

I think the ghoulies and gremlins are playing with me, because I cannot get the photos to go in the actual order of the book...oh, well, there really isn't a sequence.

I love all the texture that your book has. I can't tell you how many times I flipped a page and ran my fingers over the velvet or felt or embellishments. Your use of them throughout the book really makes it interactive. I pulled out every single insert just to make sure I wasn't missing anything! 

Maura, I am so glad that you enjoyed my long distance challenge for us! I really had a lot of fun with this style of book.

Remember how Sheila and I invited you our blog readers to join us in this project?  Well, one of you did, and there will be a special post to follow, highlighting the awesome book she made!

Sheila's Halloween Paper Bag Book

Here is my version of the Long Distance Halloween Paper Bag album that Maura and I made that was inspired by this video. I used the Apothecary Emporium collection of papers by Echo Park. I purchased just the 6"x6" paper pad, the sheet of cards and the sticker sheet to complete the book. I had a bunch of stickers left over too.

 For my cover I decided to use heavy chipboard with hinges die cut from grunge board.
Maura here - I love the effect Sheila got with the hinges - they are just so cool, and what a great idea for holding the book together!

 The label inside the front cover pocket has a journaling spot on the back.
The simplicity of the colors and designs gives Sheila's book her clean, graphic style.  I love it!

 I really like the transparencies that I added inside each spread. They were just collected from bits and pieces left over from other mini book kits and such.
The polka dot transparencies are a very cool element in this book.  I like how you can peek through and see what's coming.  I wouldn't have thought polka dots for Halloween, but look how well they work here.

 Inside each small pocket are numbered tags. You can add either photos or journaling...or both!
The pennant number tags used on the tags give continuity to the design.  I also like how Sheila used the staples in a creative way.

 I used black paper bags that I got at Michael's.
Just perfect for our books - thanks for telling me about those Sheila!

 I kept it fairly clean and simple by using black photo mats on the paper bags.

 Inside each paper bag are alternating photo mats of black and orange cardstock. The leftover stickers can be used to embellish these once photos or more journaling is added.

 And that back cover label also has a journaling spot on the back of it.
Ok, how smart are you?! You were really thinking ahead on the left page - I noticed how you stapled the words on the left and kept them free to fit right over the photo, once that is put in to place. Since neither of us had photos yet for our books, you've made it easy to add yours later!

I really liked the construction of this paper bag book and am already planning on making more.The bags really give you a lot of extra room to insert photos and memorabilia. It was fun!

I agree!  This was a great project you came up with Sheila!  I can see so many uses for this style book. Again, I love the simplicity of design, and color coordination of your book, and those hinges - awesome!!

Halloween Long Distance Project - Sneak Peek...#2

The ghosties and ghoulies and goblins are gathering....and Sheila and I are due to share and exchange our long distance project soon.  So, I just couldn't resist another sneak peak of one page in my book to share with you all.  I added a couple of clear plastic pages into my book, and this is one.  I like to peek through to the next page...kind of a sneak preview in itself :).

Now, what we would like to know from you, our blog readers, did you take us up on this challenge?  Are you working on your Halloween paper bag book?  Are you ready to share???