Welcome to the Reed Ranch!: Can you believe it's October???

Halloween has never been one of my ideal holidays... the dark side of it that is... but if you keep it cute and cherrie and fun, with little pumpkins and cute little kids in their homemade costumes... it's darling. I use to love to answer the door just to see all the little kids in their costumes. However, living on the Reed Ranch for the past 25 plus years, I can probably count on one hand the entire number of trick r'treaters we've had over the years.... ok maybe on two hands... but that's it. So some years, just to get my fix, I'd have to go into Clairemont where Jerry's mom lived in a "normal" neighborhood (with houses and side walks and street lights), and hang out in her living room on Halloween night just so I could see the little munchkins come to the door.

Perhaps another reson I've not focused on Halloween is because David's birthday is the next day November 1st... and I never wanted to combine Halloween parties with his birthday... just wanted to keep it separate and special for him. Jerry was good at helping me be sure to do that... you see he has a December birthday and knows what it's like to share your day with a holiday!

So the Reed Ranch has never been a "Haunted House".... but thanks to Jerry and his incredible skills and talents.. it's been not only Our House, but Our Home. He's built two additional garages and knows how to do construction when that's not even his field.... when we built our home he really did a good portion of that as well. Even though we had a contractor, Jerry was sure to have his hand in it... he did the entire electrical system, put in all the flooring not to mention did all the painting himself.. so he not only saved us a chunk of change, but he made it a part of him.. a part of us ... The Reed Ranch.

So with my dedication to Jerry and with Halloween quickly approaching, I thought I'd share with you this tutorial on how to build a Haunted House treat box.... I cased it from Creations on Paper so you can see the structure of the box... but you'll have to use your creative imagination to decorate to your liking.... kinda likie what Jerry does at the Reed Ranch!

First you will need the following supplies:

Cardstock:
- Basic Black
- Basic Gray
Tools:
- BigShot Fancy Favor Box Die #115965
- Texture Impression Folder - Square Lattice #119976
- Scallop Trim Border #118402

Measurements:
- Cut 2 pcs - 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" Basic Black CS
- Cut 2 pcs - 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" Basic Gray CS then score @ 3/4"
- Cut 2 pcs - 1-1/2" x 2" Basic Gray then score @ 1/2"

STEP 1: CUTTING and EMBOSSING
Die cut a Fancy Favor Box. I use an 8-1/2" x 11" and cut the CS length wise first at 5-1/2" so it would fit the Big Shot. TIP: Position your CS at the side of the box where there is no flap then make sure you have a small flap at the bottom to seal your box.

Cut the 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" piece at a slant. Position one tip to the -3/4" and the other tip at 0" (cutting edge). Then emboss your pieces with the Square Lattice Folder.

STEP 2: PUNCH

Take your 2 pcs of 1-1/2" x 3/1-2" Basic Gray CS, Punch with Scallop Trim Border then score at 3/4". Do the same with your 2 pcs of 1-1/2" x 2" but score these at 1/2".