This fact makes me giddier than if I had a sugar rush from eating a dozen deluxe caramel apples.

And it means that as we embrace the t-minus six months point until All Hallows’ Eve, I’ll be ramping up my Halloween papercrafting all the more.

For today’s #MakeHalloween365 project, I’m sharing a set of five super cute, fun, and very easy to make Halloween gift tags that I created a bit earlier in the year.

This set of Halloween gift tags was included as part of some October 31^st related happy mail that I recently posted to a dear friend on the other side of the country.

We’re both die-hard Halloweenoholics, and I love knowing that just like myself, she adores receiving spooky season mail at any point in the year.

This sweet, festive Halloween tag set was intentionally left on the simple side, so that my friend could, if she so desires, use them as tags on presents for other people.

If one wanted, they could add some bling, enamel dots or other embellishments, (3D) bows, charms, or various other components here, too. Again though, I was aiming for eye-catching, but not overly complex.

As much as I adore an in-depth project with oodles of layers and details, sometimes it is both refreshing and enjoyable to put together quicker makes like these five tags.

The whole set took me less than 1.5 hours to whip up. Which, let me tell you, is mighty speedy in terms of how long it usually takes me to complete a papercrafting project.

Not everything we make needs to be uber elaborate or take scads of time. This is something I have to remind myself of a touch more often.

The jumping off point for this set was four cut apart squares on a 6”x6” piece of Recollections Halloween paper.

I knew that I wanted a set of five tags, however, but did not want to repeat any of the same images.

Thus, for the fifth gift tag, I opted for a dimensional Halloween word sticker from Jolee’s Boutique, which I feel fits in well with the general colours and themes of this gift tag set.

You could easily skip making the 5^th tag and stick with four tags instead, if so desired. Or, conversely, you could keep going and create additional gift tag designs as well.

Projects like this are tons of fun and a perfect way to put our stashes of Halloween papercrafting supplies to good use!

Products used to make these cute Halloween gift tags

-Black cardstock

-White cardstock

-Vibrant orange cardstock

-Gold metallic cardstock

-Assorted Halloween papers – Halloween Party 6”x6” Paper Pad from Recollections

-Stitched edge tag nesting die set

-“Scary” Halloween word sticker – Large Doily Medallions from Jolee’s Boutique

-Intricate design crescent moon die (or other crescent moon die of your choosing)

-Flat bow die

-Bare branch wreath die

-White gel pen – Uni-Ball White Gel Ink Pen from Signo

-Black pen – Uni-Ball Air Black Pen from Signo

-Pleated black ruffle trim

-Black lace

-Black and white baker’s twine

-Glue gun and glue sticks

-Dimensional foam, pop dots, or similar to elevate some of your layers

-Adhesive, such as a tape runner, of your choice (I often use my Scotch Tape Glider)

How to create this charming 5-piece set of Halloween gift tags

As each of these tags are very similar to one another, I’m not going to bore you all by repeating what would essentially be the same instructions multiple times.

Instead, I’ll outline the general steps involved with each and refer you to the numerous project photos peppered throughout this post for precise specifics on each individual tag.

To begin with, die cut five matching stitched edge tags. Two from white cardstock, two from black cardstock, and one from orange cardstock.

Next, using a slightly smaller sized stitched edge tag die, die cut four tag shapes from (four) different pieces of Halloween paper from the 6”x6” paper pad, along with one tag from metallic gold cardstock.

Adhere the one patterned paper, or gold cardstock, tag shape to each tag base.

Die cut five tags of the same (smaller of the two dies) size from white cardstock. Adhere a blank white tag to the back of each tag. This then enables you, or your recipient, to write a message on the back of each of these gift tags, if they wish to do so.

On the gift tag with the gold metallic cardstock tag layer, adhere a strip of pleated black ruffle trim.

Die cut a crescent moon from metallic gold cardstock, a bow from black cardstock, a bare branch wreath from white cardstock. Attach these die cut pieces to their respective gift tags.

Cut out the Halloween image pieces from the same 6”x6” Recollections Halloween paper pad.

Using either a black ink or white gel ink pen (and, optionally, a ruler to help keep your lines straight) hand draw stitching around the edges of each of the four Halloween paper pieces.

Using foam dots, adhere each of the four Halloween images to its own respective tag.

For the fifth tag, die cut a smaller sized (third) stitched tag using black cardstock.

Attach a piece of black lace to the tag base, top with the small black tag, and top that piece with the Jolee’s Boutique “Scary” sticker.

Note: this is the only tag out of the five that calls for a third size of tag to be die cut.

Attach a loop of black and white baker’s twine through the small hole at the top of each of the gift tags.

And just like that, your fast, easy, and frighteningly cute five-piece Halloween gift tag set is done.

The versatility of handmade gift tag sets

Handmade tag sets like these have a multitude of uses. Naturally, using them as part of your gift wrapping is a great way to put them to good work, but it’s not the only one.

You could skip adding the white cardstock layer on the back and instead adhere one or more of these tags to a scrapbook layout, Project Life page, card, larger tag, mini album, Memorydex card, tag flip, pocket letter, or other paper crafting project.

Or why not attach all five tags to a length of trim or sturdy string and hang them as an adorable mini garland?

You could also include them in a Halloween paper crafting swap or some happy mail, gift them to your child’s teacher, or pen a note on the back of each and slip into your little one’s (or significant other’s) lunches throughout the month of October.

And, of course, they make for delightful pieces of festive Halloween décor sprinkled throughout your house or clustered together, such as on a Halloween tiered tray or a lovely dish.

Plus, if you needed to make a larger number of tags like this, they are quick and easy, so whipping up ten, twenty, thirty-one – you name it – shouldn’t take an immense amount of time.

I really enjoyed making this fun set of Halloween gift tags and hope that you do as well, if you give a similar project a go.

Be sure to tag your own creations with #MakeHalloween365 when you share them online so that we can all be inspired by your fa-boo-lous Halloween crafts.

Here’s to less than half a year to go until All Hallows’ Eve returns. I can scarcely wait! How about you?

The post Cute, Fun, and Very Easy to Make Halloween Gift Tag Set appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

It is awesome to see the positive reaction that this Halloween crafting hashtag has already received. Thank you very much to everyone who has supported and engaged with this hashtag right out of the gate.

I am excited to watch #MakeHalloween365 blossom and grow, like the loveliest of autumn pumpkins, into a thriving hashtag community for Halloween crafters and creative folks the world over.

To that end, I’m delighted to share my own contributions to the tag and have decided that this year (and quite possibly beyond), I’m going to be posting at least one Halloween themed craft project per month here on the blog.

Some will have accompanying YouTube videos as well.

Not only will this help to generate more content for which to use and share the #MakeHalloween365 hashtag, but it will go a long way to ensuring I have plenty of Halloween paper crafting projects ready go when fall returns.

If you enjoy Halloween related crafting of any kind – be it paper crafting or otherwise – and would like to join me in sharing at least one Halloween craft project a month, I wholeheartedly welcome you to do so.

Of course, you do not have to do so in order to use #MakeHalloween365. Whether you create one, five, twenty, or a hundred Halloween craft projects throughout year, you are always welcome to use this hashtag.

One of my favourite elements of fall time is the gorgeous display of colours that the sky often takes on as the sun sets.

We live deep in the heart of a narrow valley, so we don’t get to see as many sunsets as in certain other parts of the world. Thankfully though, we still experience some, with those of October and November often being amongst the most breathtakingly beautiful.

Throughout the year, I often think fondly (and longingly) of those gorgeous displays of overhead autumnal colour.

Recently, I was in the mood to celebrate them in paper crafting form.

And so set to work creating this oversized tag that features a sunset tucked behind a classic four-pane window that comes complete with a dangling spider to up the spookiness factor all the more.

Products used to make this handmade oversized Halloween tag

-Black cardstock

-Grey cardstock

-White cardstock

-Orange and black bat print paper – Halloweeny 12”x12” Paper Pad from Recollections

-Peachy-orange embossed skull cardstock – Embossed Halloween 6”x6” Paper Pad from Recollections

-Black embossed bat cardstock – Embossed Halloween 6”x6” Paper Pad from Recollections

-Teal and peach print paper – Splendor Lovely Paper from My Mind’s Eve

-Black (or other colour) oversized tag – 4 1/8” x 8.5” Dylusions Black Journaling Tag from Ranger

-Window with dangling spider die

-Flourish die

-Polka dot border punch – Double Bubble Border Punch from Fiskars

-Black and cream journaling pieces – Narratives by Karen Russell from Creative Imaginations

-Black ink pad – Autumn Leaves Onyx Black Ink Pad from Stampology

-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads in the following colours: Pumice Stone, Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade, and Stormy Sky

-Black enamel drops – Ebony Black Crystal Drops from Nuvo

-Pleated black satin ruffle trim

-Black lace

-Teal green seam binding

-Orange ribbon

-Blue and green ribbon

-Blue embroidery thread

-Peach embroidery thread

-Black buttons

-Teal buttons – Charm Pack G0R356102 from Santoro

-Small peach ribbon flower embellishments

-Blue paper flower

-Glue gun and glue sticks

-Dimensional foam, pop dots, or similar to elevate some of your layers

-Adhesive, such as a tape runner, of your choice (I often use my Scotch Tape Glider)

Note: Following on what I said in my last project share post regarding the requests I received to give more in-depth project instructions, it struck me that it is logical to list the materials used in a given project and then proceed with the instructions themselves. Thus, I will be doing just that starting with this post.

How to create a beautiful peach and teal Halloween sunset window oversized tag

Start with a black (or other colour) oversized tag 4 1/8” x 8.5” Dylusions Black Journaling Tag from Ranger.

If you do not have a tag this size on hand, you could use a ruler to draw the same dimensions onto a piece of sturdy cardstock or chipboard, cut your handmade tag out, and use that instead.

As well, the general layout of this tag lends itself excellently to a card, so that is another alternative to making a tag that still works great with this particular Halloween window design.

Next, trim a piece of teal and peach print My Mind’s Eye paper slightly smaller than the tag front and punch two pieces of grey cardstock the same size as the top and bottom edges of the MME paper using a Fiskar’s Double Bubble border punch.

Attach the grey punched cardstock to the top and bottom of the teal and peach paper and adhere this to your tag base.

Cut two pieces of peachy-orange embossed skull cardstock and distress them with some fine sandpaper or a nail file to give them more of an aged, worn look.

Apply a small amount of Pumice Stone Distress Oxide Ink and a very light amount of black ink in various spots across both pieces of embossed cardstock to give even more of a distressed and aged appearance.

Back both of these pieces of embossed cardstock onto black cardstock, leaving a very narrow visible border of black cardstock on all sides.

Arrange one panel towards the bottom of the teal and peach print MME paper and another (horizontally) about halfway down the total length of the tag.

Select three cream and black journaling pieces, topping two of them with pieces of orange and black bat print paper. Arrange as desired slightly above and below the middle of the tag.

Die cut two flourish shapes from black cardstock, arranging them just below the middle of the tag.

Cut a piece of black embossed bat pattern cardstock that’s a little over half the length of the MME teal and peach paper, trimming it just slightly smaller than the width of that panel. Attach with either adhesive or foam dots, if added dimension is desired.

To create the fall sunset panel, begin with a piece of white cardstock. Use Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads in the following colours: Pumice Stone, Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade, and Stormy Sky to make an ink blended sky. Apply a light dusting of water to the ink once you’ve blended it.

Next, die cut the window (with spider) shape from grey cardstock. If you do not have a die like this (I picked mine up 2 – 3 years ago on Ali Express), you could use any suitable window shaped die of your choosing and (optionally) add a die cut spider, spider charm, spider sticker, or even a small black spider toy to the window instead.

Apply black enamel drops to the spider and allow to dry before attaching the grey cardstock window piece to your inked sunset background.

If you do not have black enamel drops, you could use black embossing powder, black glitter, black Stickles, or colour the spider with a black marker or pencil crayon instead (or simply leave it as is for a uniformed grey look).

Attach the window panel to the tag base. Thread the round black and heart shaped teal buttons with embroidery thread and arrange them as shown. Likewise place the peach ribbon flowers and blue paper flower as shown around the base and sides of the window panel.

Top the window panel with a piece of black lace to create the look of a valance.

Beneath the window panel, adhere a piece of black ruffle trim, a piece of teal green seam binding, and a piece of orange ribbon.

Tie a basic bow from a piece of the same black lace that you used for the window valance and attach it below the blue paper flower.

Lastly, cut one piece each of teal green seam binding, orange ribbon, and blue (with green edges) ribbon, or other ribbons and trims of your choosing, and tie them through the hole at the top of the tag.

Your Halloween sunset window tag is now complete and ready to be enjoyed as part of your festive décor or gifted to whomever your heart desires.

It’s never too soon to start counting down to – or crafting for – Halloween

From the get-go of this blog’s life, I have wanted to make fall/Halloween/Samhain relating crafting a big part of the projects that I share here.

Things got off to a decent start on that front in 2020, WCL’s first year of life.

However, I feel that thanks to #MakeHalloween365, I will be able to amp up my Halloween crafting all the more. And, in turn, help to make it a standout element of my blog, Instagram, and YouTube channel.

As of today’s date, March 28th, there are 217 days to go until Halloween.

While I do not want that time to vanish too quickly (after all, each day behind us is, objectively, one less in front of us), as a perpetual Halloween lover, it just comes naturally to me to countdown until All Hallows’ Eve the whole year through.

Whether you do the same or not, I hope that the Halloween projects I share here and those posted by others who use the #MakeHalloween365 hashtag will prove inspirational as you go about making your own fall and Halloween themed creations of all kinds.

Here’s to a year of fa-boo-lous Halloween fun and crafting! I can hardly wait to see what you all make!

The post Beautiful Halloween Sunset Window Oversized Tag appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

Specifically, when Tyler Durden (played by Edward Norton) says to Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter) that she met him at “a very strange time in my life.

Initially, this line swirled around in my head in relation to mine and my husband’s lives, which have been quite interesting as of late to say the least! (In no small part because Tony, my husband, has been dealing with some serious medical issues that have required multiple surgeries throughout February and March.)

However, with unsettling rapidity, it became clear that these iconic closing words were suddenly applying to the world at large as well.

Things are truly strange across the globe at the moment. Newly generated uncertainty, fear, and very real medical issues have injected themselves into each of our lives to varying degrees.

Without the slightest whisper of a pun intended, things are deadly serious right now the world over and we must all do whatever can to stay as safe and healthy as realistically possible.

While, at the time of writing, Canada is not yet in official lockdown (isolation), early on last week Tony and I put ourselves on voluntary lockdown.

Between the fact that he’s recovering from surgery and I’m immunocompromised due to some of my chronic illnesses, we simply cannot play fast and loose with our lives (none of us can!).

However, as much as we could discuss this Coronavirus situation at great length, that is not the primary purpose of today’s post.

No, right here and now, a few days after the Spring Equinox, as the lingering elements of one season gradually wrap up and the second chapter of the Wheel of the Year begins, I’m launching the first edition of a new reoccurring post series on Witchcrafted Life.

Winter 2020 edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, & Me

Going forward with this series, I will aim, when possible, for each entry to appear slightly before the next season begins. As the idea just came to me, however, that isn’t possible this time around.

So just what is “Magick, Crafty Makes, & Me”, you may be asking.

Great question! It is a new quarterly blog post series here that will feature three different areas of discussion:

-Magick: This section will look at some of the most engaging, interesting, or just plain cool online content that I’ve come across in recent months pertaining to witchery, magick, Paganism and related topics.

 Please note: I realize that not all Pagans are witches or otherwise magick workers and vice versa, of course, but hope that one can look upon the general spirit of this word in this context, more than if each link itself specifically deals with the subject of magick.

-Crafty Makes: This section will feature will likewise feature some fab online content, however, it will pertain to paper crafting and the occasional link to a different type of crafty or artistic project as well.

-Me: Last, but not least, this area will be a brief overview of some of what’s been shaking in my own life recently, plus a handful of links that have struck a chord with me personally (but which may not be strong fits for either of the above categories).

Chances are that many of the links I feature in this series will be fresh ones that were released in the last few months. Sometimes, though, I will include older interesting content that I’ve only just recently discovered (and think you’re apt to likewise enjoy or find informative as well).

So, without further ado, let’s jump right into the inaugural edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, & Me.

Magick, Witchcraft, Paganism, and Spirituality

-An ever-increasing number of us are dealing with a slew of very real, complex and sometimes challenging thoughts and feelings regarding the health of our planet. We Need to Talk About Ecological Grief addresses some of the topics pertaining to this area and is sure to provide both a sense of not being alone in your concerns and plenty of food for thought at the same time.

-Crafty folks and fans of time-honoured arts everywhere, who also have an interest in magickal topics are sure to delight in the post Button, Scissor and Needle Magick from the frequently updated website, Otherworldly Oracle. (I also adore their recent look at the Magick and Beauty of Facial Wrinkles)

-From one of my all-time favourite websites (point blank – not just pertaining to spiritual matters) comes this lovely piece detailing 17 Signs that You’re an Old Soul.

As a soul born so old, I teeter on calling myself an ancient soul, posts like this resonate deeply with me, just as I’m sure they will for many other aged souls and those who are close to such individuals.

-Not, perhaps, since the horrors and challenges of WW2 has the planet so collectively been in need of the comforting powers of a good cuppa. And for those of us who are of the witchy persuasion, each cup of tea can be a way to inject and connect with magick all the more in our daily lives. Thus Willow’s terrific infographic look at Tea Magic: Types of Tea and Their Magical Uses is all the more welcome and beneficial during these highly challenging times.

-S. Elizabeth, a contributing writer at Haute Macabe (and author of the blog These Unquiet Things) has just announced the release of her new book, The Art of the Occult, and it sounds like it is going to be every sublime thing you’d imagine based on its immediately engaging subject matter.

–The Magic is Gone: a captivating book review by Peter Marshall of Sir Keith Thomas’s serious tome of a 1970s classic, Religion and the Decline of Magic.

In this review, the author specifically focuses on the question “were humanist free-thinkers the engineers of magic’s decline?” and will quickly has you pondering the same question.  

-There are countless ways to help usher in, honour and continue to celebrate spring both during and long after the start of the season. One traditional and very charming approach is laid out in Folkloric Dolls: Bulgarian Martenitsa Welcoming Spring.

-Witchcraft and magick need not be overly complex or time-consuming practices in many instances – especially when it comes to everyday witchcraft. The Witch’s Guide has a lovely recent post detailing Simple Ways to Add Magick to Your Morning Routine, which helps to remind us all just how easy and wonderful it is to start our days off on a magickal note.

–Your Witchcraft Practice is Valid is the post that witches far and wide, old and new to the craft alike need to hear, take to heart, and help promote the message of.

Card Making, Scrapbooking, Paper Crafting, and Other Crafts

-Crafters of every sort who work with stamps are apt to enjoy this wonderful post on how to make your own DIY Vintage Foam Stamps care of Diana at Dreams Factory. (While there, she has a terrific post on How to Make Avocado Dye for Paper that you’ll want to check out as well.)

-Fellow Canadian scrapbooker Tracy McLennon has curled Rinea Foil Paper to look like spirals of gift wrapping ribbon and the results are downright jaw-dropping!

-Speaking of foiled things, foil has made major waves in the paper crafting world over the past few years, as an ever-increasing number of companies offer products for both hot and non-heat related foiling.

If you’re looking to learn more about this beautiful paper crafting technique, be sure to dive headfirst into Scrapbook.com’s in-depth article on the subject: Crafting with Foil: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need.

-If you’re itching for a rustic, super easy to make décor craft that works as splendidly for various holidays as it does the rest of the year, may I suggest KariAnne’s beautiful DIY Wood Bead Garland with Heart project.

-I’m head-over-heels in love with Heather Nichols’s Quick & Easy Witches Shoe Shaped Halloween Tags over on YouTube (coordinating blog post here). For all my fellow Pagan paper crafters, these are bound to appeal to you not only for October, but the whole year through.

-Looking for a thoroughly darling spring paper crafting project? May I suggest this charming Paper Flower Filled Spring Rainboot project from Michelle Zerull that was posted on the Echo Park blog.

-On the hunt for an eye-catchingly unique card making project this spring? If so, this step-by-step photo tutorial post on How to Make String Art Cards might be right up your alley (you could also use this string weaving technique for tags, scrapbook pages, junk journals, mini albums, and other types of paper crafting projects, too).

-This elegantly gorgeous Easter Centerpiece project that Vera Shelemekh shared on the Graphic 45 blog works marvellously for Easter, naturally, but could easily be adapted for Ostara, Beltane, or countless other occasions (fall time holidays included).

What’s shaking in my life and on my radar

While this month (and year) has seen its fair share of challenges to say the least, it also housed a positive date for us as well. My husband and I observe the day that we first met, back in 2004, with as much gusto as we do our wedding anniversary.

To differentiate between the two anniversaries, we call the March date that we met our “loveiversary” and celebrated this year’s with a low-key, at home observance.

As I’ve already discussed some of what’s been going down in our lives earlier in this post, I’m going to hop right into sharing a few links on various topics that have struck a chord with me as of late.

-A fascinating story that details the little known war effort contributions made by Canadian Inuit people during WW2, which highlighting the war effort work of Qapik Attagutsiak, who at 99 years old, is the last living Inuit contributor to this important cause: Front Line Hero.

-As serious as everything that’s happening at present is, sometimes it can help to embrace the lighter and/or more creative side of dark times. On that front, I especially enjoyed Jessie Gaynor’s The First Lines of Ten Classic Novels Rewritten for Social Distancing.

-Few people get straight to the heart of the matter, regardless of the subject, like Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. He brings that same no-nonsense pragmatism and insight to his brief two-minute-long YouTube video (shared here above): An Astronaut’s Guide to Self-Isolation.

-It’s going to take a whole lot of willpower not to live off of Rhian’s swoon-worthily delicious looking Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf from Ostara straight on to Litha (heck, who are we kidding, all year long!).

–Original Catfluencer: How a Victorian Artist’s Feline Fixation Gave Us the Internet Cat. The 19^th century + cats, need I say more?

-There is NEVER an appropriate time to belittle, bully or otherwise be unkind to someone about any element of their appearance, but during the midst of a global pandemic, it all the more inappropriate and out of line, as Renee Engeln PhD, discusses in Stop Body Shaming During the Outbreak.

-While various parts (our street included!) of the world are still carpeted in plenty of lingering snow, many others are experiencing the beauty and warmth of early spring already. If, like me, you’re an avid fan of witnessing seasonal blooms spring to life, you may enjoy this (serenely beautiful illustration filled) post that explores why Not All Cherry Blossoms Are The Same.

If you’d like to stay abreast of what’s transpiring in my life, be sure to follow me on Instagram. I generally post there multiple times a week, regularly covering the types of topics that this post series focuses on (witchery, paper crafting, and what’s going on in my daily life), plus plenty of nature shots, seasonal content, history and vintage related images, pics of our precious pup, Annie, outfit photos, and lots more.

Strange times make strong souls

While some of you have known me elsewhere online for anywhere from a few months to many years, if we’re just meeting for the first time here on Witchcrafted Life, which launched on January 1, 2020, then it’s safe to say that the Fight Club line I touched on at the start of this post definitely applies both within and outside of my own life.

These are strange times, no two ways about it. They’re dark as pitch, profoundly uncertain, and going to altar life as we know it on this planet for a very long time to come.

Yet, each challenge we come up against and are able to survive in the face of has the ability to make us stronger, wiser, braver more resilient, and, hopefully, even more compassionate beings.

Seek silver linings, take comfort in the simple joys of life, do anything you safely can to help others (including providing space to listen and support those who are suffering in countless ways right now), remember that you are stronger and more resilient than you may ever fully realize, and hold fast to hope no matter what.

Want to contribute to this fun new post series?

If you run a blog, website, YouTube channel, or podcat pertaining to Paganism/witchery or paper crafting and have a standout story that you think would be a good fit for the next edition of this post series, please don’t hesitate to email me or leave a comment below with the URL to that story or video.

I’m delighted to get the ball rolling on this blog’s first reoccurring post series and look forward to sharing all kinds of inspiring content from across the web here with you via each quarterly edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, and Me.

The post Winter 2020 edition of Magick, Crafty Makes, & Me appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.