Second Day of QuicKutz Ornaments

QuicKutz Dies Used:

Dragonfly 4X8 Alphabet
Nesting Flowers CC-FLOWERS-01
Holly & Berry KS-0979

QuicKutz Dies Used:

Mailbox REV-0219
Garland KS-0588

Don't forget our QuicKutz Advent Calendar Promotion, available on http://www.quickutz.com/. For the second day of Advent promotion Click Here!

First Day of QuicKutz Ornaments

We love hearing from our QuicKutz retailers around the globe. Occasionally we receive fun project ideas—projects that we know you’ll love, too! Jennifer from Beach Scrapbooks in Virginia Beach recently sent us a variety of ornaments that she and her team created from QK dies. These ornaments, made from both old and new dies, are sure to brighten up a Christmas tree, a door handle, or a window sill.

Stay tuned over the next 12 days as we unveil Beach Scrapbook’s creations. We’ll give you tips on how you can create your own ornaments, as well.

Festive holiday décor made by hand. Does it get any better than that?

QuicKutz Dies Used:

Nesting Circles CC-CIRCLES-01
Nesting Flowers CC-FLOWERS-01
Nesting Stars CC-SHAPE3-021
Tree REV-0253

Note: Beach Scrapbooks also used the Franki SkinniMini Alphabet on this ornament. Because Beach Scrapbooks has been collecting our dies for awhile, you may see a few discontinued products used in the completion of the project, including the Frankie SkinniMini Alphabet. You are welcome to substitute dies or alphabets for others in your collection. In this case, another great option is our 4X8 Sticky Note Alphabet.

Thanks again to Beach Scrapbook's creative designers who made these great ornaments: Jen Goodwin, Janice Roller, Melissa Hudgins, Amy Norman, Elizabeth Kipp, Linda Ross, Susan Hobbs, Jody Blaufus, Michelle Avants, and Barry Webster.

Check out Beach Scrapbook's blog for more great ideas for any time of year!

December Promotion

Count down to Christmas with QuicKutz as we offer daily deals you won't want to miss! Each day from December 1st to December 25th, you'll be able to open the calendar to reveal an assortment of 2x2, 4x4, Cookie Cutter, and Border dies at deep discounts. These dies are not only perfect for Christmas presents, they're just the thing you'll need to scrapbook your 2009 memories.

The deal will change daily. The price will remain the same. Let the countdown to Christmas begin!

Thinking Outside The Mini Album Box

I recently purchased a new home, and in order to properly thank my realtor, I decided to create a special thank you album. I wanted my thank you to be substantial and unique. The Santa’s Workshop Mini Album Kit and the Gingerbread Folder Insert were just the ticket to creating what I had envisioned. As you can see, I am using the perfect patterned paper from American Crafts.

I used the Gingerbread Page Insert and folded it down towards the spine as to create a little lift when he opens the card.

I cut the Gingerbread Folder Insert die to cut white cardstock for journaling. I also wanted a nice pocket to tuck in a gift card.

I hope he will like this one!
I challenge you to think outside the “mini album box” with your new Holiday Gift Set, and then share your creations with the QK community! We’d love to see your creations in the community gallery. While visiting the QK site, also check out the forums, create a wish list, and inventory your own QK collection!
Tamara WarnerQuickutz Ambassador

need inspiration?

I think it is time we give a shout out to Michelle, who hosts The Creativity Room blog. Michelle also happens to be the ultra-talented Director of Product Development here at QuicKutz, mother of two darling little girls and my boss! How she juggles it all...I just don't know!

The Creativity Room is one place I visit when I am in need of some inspiration. Take a peek for yourself...you will find loads of fun things to do with your QuicKutz products!

Halloween Treat & Story

Each year, my class loves to listen to this version of an oral story, enhanced with an interactive element. This is all you need to incorporate a fun story of "Witches Brew" using an overhead Projector. Have fun with the script, alter it and make it your own. I drape the overhead with a black cloth and even dress up like a witch as well.

What do you need to gather:
-Overhead projector
-Red, yellow, green, blue food coloring
-Few drops of cooking oil
-ENO package
-Glass pie plate half filled with water to be placed atop of an overhead projector
-A few die cut shapes of witches, (bats too!) to lay on the overhead at the beginning of the story
-piece of yarn
-stir stick or a spoon

Be sure to tell the story slowly, using the directions within the story

Boys and girls, when summer is over and you are getting ready to go back to school the Halloween witches are also very busy making plans for Halloween. They gather around from all over the world, big witches, small witches, fat witches, ugly witches, silly witches and old witches.
All the witches hop on their broomsticks and fly far, far, far away to the cave of the oldest witch of all. Each one will bring a secret ingredient to be put in the pot of brew. The old witch is ready and waiting for the other witches. Her lazy black cat is asleep near the fireplace where a large pot is filled with water and hanging over the fire.

Would you look inside the pot?
-remove the witch die cuts from overhead and place the glass pie plate with water in it on the projector

Watch very carefully.

The ugly, old witch is saying "fellow witches, let's begin our brew. What have you brought with you to make it more horrible than last year? I am putting some green slime from the darkest
corner of my cave into it.

- drop two drops of green food coloring into the water.

"I have a drop of blood from a rat , "said the skinny little witch

- add a drop of red food coloring

"I will add some juice from this jar of rotten blueberry jam " said another witch.

- drop in some blue food coloring

Hey, hey, hey wait till you all see what I brought!!! It is a pair of eyes from two dead fish said another witch.

-add 4 small drops of cooking oil.

Let me add the spit from a coyote screamed the large witch.

- add three drops of yellow coloring

I will fool everyone with a few drops of ketchup, said another witch.

- add three drops of red food coloring

Here are a couple of snake eyes……and a snake! Yelled another witch

- add in two drops of cooking oil and the small piece of yarn.

I risked my life getting some rattlesnake poison, shouted one witch.

- add two more drops of yellow coloring

So, one by one the witches added their secret ingredients to the brew. The mean old witch carefully stirred.

- slowly stir the brew to swirl the colors.

The fire became hotter and hotter and soon the brew began to bubble and boil. If you listen carefully, you can even hear it.

-add in an ENO tablet to the plate. It will fizz and bubble for a minute, it will then turn the mixture black.

Now the witches cackled with glee as they hopped and danced around their horrible brew. Each one takes a vial of it, hops on her broomstick and flies off screaming "Happy Halloween."

Serve some homemade brew to the children that you have prepared prior to the story.

Homemade rootbeer or a lemonade with red food coloring is a great homemade brew idea!

Thanks to Ambassador Tamara Warner for this fun Halloween idea to use at a party or school.

from our haunted house to yours...

Today I made a Halloween treat to share with the neighbors.  This recipe is from the Kids from Haiti Cookbook that QuicKutz published a few years ago.  It has become a family favorite.  I will share it at the bottom of the post for anyone who might be interested.  And don't let it scare you...it is all done in the microwave!!

I used the new haunted house QK SHAPE-044-2.

Gathered my supplies...you really could use any kind of container...I just happened to have these boxes on hand...you just might recognize them!

I added this Halloween wish.

The finished product!  Happy Halloween to each of you!

Marshmallow Caramel Corn (shared by the Carroll Family)

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

4 cups mini marshmallows

2 bags microwave popcorn (popped)

Melt butter in bowl in microwave.  Stir in brown sugar.  Microwave 2 minutes.  Stir in 2 cups marshmallows.  Cook 1 minute.  In large bowl mix 2 cups marshmallows and popcorn.  Pour sugar mixture over popcorn and mix well.  Enjoy!