Midnight Jamboree by Linda McClain

I'm crazy excited to be hanging out with you and the rest of the talented team at CutCardStock. Grab a comfortable chair and your favorite beverage (no judgement), because I have a lot to share with you.

If you haven't already heard, Orange, Brown, and Gold Cardstocks are on sale this month, just in time for the Fall season. Unfortunately, we don't have much of a Fall in Texas - we're still hot, hot, hot. But that doesn't keep me from celebrating my favorite season - Halloween.

I created a little cupcake party for two. It would be romantic if it weren't also a little eerie.

For giggles and grins (insert evil laugh - Mwahahahaahhaha), I also created a basket to hold Sprinkle Sticks.

What are Sprinkle Sticks? It's not a Halloween trick - it's a fun treat! Sealed at both ends, they hold edible sprinkles. Just rip open one end to spread yummy colored sugar over the cupcakes.

I topped my Sprinkle Sticks with this fun, vintage man in the moon.

And, finally, because I really do love sprinkles, I quickly decorated this four-pack of Halloween Sprinkles by Wilton. I ran out of time before I ran out of ideas, so this is just a start.

Here's the whole gang - ready to party.

Tips and Tricks

I created this Midnight Jamboree Cupcake Carnival (that's a mouthful!) from a kit by SVGCuts, so the primary ingredient besides the gorgeous cardstock is a cutting machine, software to cut SVG files and this kit: Midnight Jamboree. Mary has provided a fabulous video tutorial at the SVGCuts.com site for how to assemble each of the different pieces in the kit (there's more than I showed), so I won't give a step by step tutorial for each piece. Instead, I'll give you a few tips to add some personal touches.

The Banner:

I used Basis Orange 80 lb card stock, Pop-Tones Orange Fizz 65 lb card stock, Basis Black 80 lb card stock, Neenah Classic Crest Barionial Ivory card stock (love the yellow undertones) and some Halloween themed pattern paper.
After cutting out the pumpkins, ink the edges with Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo Distress Inks for extra dimension.
For the warty-pumpkin look, run the pumpkins through the Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss embossing folder.
Hand-sew around the edges of each banner with DMS Black (#310) embroidery floss.
After you cut one set of banners out of different Halloween patterns, stretch the length of each of the banners 1/2" in the Silhouette Studio software and print them again in the same black, cob-web paper so each banner has two layers with a common tail.
Create a stem with black rhinestones and green ric rac.
Run raffia ribbon and baker's twine through jumbo eyelets to assemble the garland.

Cupcake Dish:

Most important of all - the Cupcakes! I used this recipe for Pumpkin Cupcakes - nom nom!
Martha Stewart's Animal Masquerade treat wrappers are a perfect match. It's a good thing.
I used Basis Orange 80 lb card stock and more of the same Halloween themed paper.
Machine stitch around the panels before assembling the bottom of the box.
Add a little baker's twine bow to the black cat - so he's not quite so scary.
Line the inside of the dish with raffia.

Black Cat Bucket:

I used Basis Orange 80 lb card stock, Basis Black 80 lb card stock, Neenah Classic Crest Barionial Ivory card stock and Halloween themed pattern paper for the handle.
I used some Ivory colored DMC embroidery floss for the whiskers and brow.
For a more distressed look, put Distress Stickles around the edge of the cat and on his nose and lower lip.
Using the Outline and Offset features in the Silhouette Studio software, create a small black layer for the handle accent.
Fill the bucket with raffia and Sprinkle Sticks.

Man in the Moon Sprinkle Sticks:

I used Basis Black 80 lb cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Barionial Ivory card stock and this gorgeous Stardream Metallic Gold card stock.
Add a little Antique Linen Distress Stickles around the edges of the moon.
Simply seal the end of the straw (these are from Queen and Company) by stapling with a small stapler (I used Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher) or machine sewing across the bottom. Carefully pour your sugar sprinkles into the top of the straw and then seal the top.
Use some Washi tape to secure the Man in the Moon to the straw.
Give him a baker's-twine bow.

Then, invite your cup-cake culprits to rip the end off of a Sprinkle Stick and decorate their cupcake.