Pumpkin Carving paper lanterns with DS cut file

You can't help but look at the images from pumpkin carvings and see paper lantern possibilities.  The square images are perfect for simply welding together.  But of course, I wanted to make some out of the circle images which is a bit more work- but not much.  Here's the step by step: 

Download and cut the lantern base with DS and Plantain Schoolbook (see link below), I cut mine out of a Debbie Mumm 12x12 patterned paper

PSI_laternbases.cut file

Score at 5 and 10 inches

Attach squares of vellum (about 4.25 by 4.25) to back side

Attach tabs of piece one to opposite side of piece two.

Cut your choice of circle images from Pumpkin carvings at 4 inches and glue over vellum.

Insert FAKE candle

Now what if you don't want to weld the square images together?  Well, your in luck, I've included a square lantern base on the same file (page 2).  Follow the exact same instructions but use square images from the pumpkin carving cartridge (still cutting at 4 inch).

FYI: Costco now has the pack of fake candles, 30 candles plus 30 extra batteries for $20, great buy!

With all these, I'm sure my kids will want to make lots.  And whats great is that I can make the bases for them to finish and they can choose 4 different images for each one (there so many cute ones, who could pick just one?).  Of course if you don't have pumpkin carvings, any shape welded into a 4 inch circle or square frame will do!  Thanks for looking and for taking the time to comment!

Quick Halloween cards with Pumpkin Carving

Here's a quick card to make with Pumpkin Carving. 

Start with 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 card base, fold in half,

add 1 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch strip patterned paper

wrap ribbon to meet on front

cut "boo" at 1 3/4 inch, mat on 2 inch square (I used pop dots)

adhere over ribbon

cut several pumpkin faces at 1 1/2 to 2 inches from white, toss the cuts, but keep the eyes and adhere to black background.

So, I know this is a cheep cartridge, only $18, but WHY couldn't they have included black out and shadow???? There are only two shapes, a circle and a square, how hard could that be?.  Instead you have to use a circle punch or get out a different cart, sheesh.

My boys and I also made the haunted house from happy haunting's this week.  It was a trial run, but it went pretty well.  The instructions are a bit intimidating, but it wasn't as bad as I thought.  We used black cardstock and then vellum for the windows.  My one tip, put the windows in as you take them off your mat.  They are in a logical order, but once you (or your 7 year old) takes them off the mat, it is not fun to figure out which window goes where.  Its hard to see in the dark photo, but with the light on, it looks really cool in real life.