Welcome to the Murder on the Orient Express (Party) & Giveaway

Who's excited for the Murder on the Orient Express movie coming out on November 10th starring Kenneth Branagh as Poirot?  We are and we thought we throw a Murder on the Orient Express party to celebrate. From now until the movie launch we will be featuring a craft or recipe that salutes one of Dame Agatha's many books every Thursday, and most will salute, Murder on the Orient Express. Once we're done, you should have everything you need to throw the perfect Murder on the Orient Express Party. The first step of planning any party is the invitation. And that's what Lorraine Masonheimer has created for you today. Your ticket to the Orient Express...

Don't forget to comment in the section below to win a paperback copy of Murder on the Orient Express. US Residents only. 

For a Murder on the Orient Express movie viewing party, gather your friends with a train-themed invitation complete with travel sleeve.  The “ticket” is made with the train’s colors, a train track, a drop of blood and a grease stain.  All to be revealed by reading the novel or watching the movie.

Supplies:

8½” x 11” brown leather texture cardstock

Black, red, cream, navy blue and yellow gold paper

Black and white striped paper

Splatter & 1” circle stamps

Charcoal gray and light gold ink pads

Glue dots

X-acto blade

Scissors

Step One:  Create Invitation Base

Cut a 7½” x 4” rectangle from the brown leather texture cardstock.  Cut the blue paper to 7” x 1¼”, the gold to 7” x ¼”, the black to 3½” long x ¼” side and the striped paper to 3½” x slightly less to create the rail line.  Using the computer, create a 7” x 2” text box and type the suggested details as shown on the cream paper.  Create a 7” x 1¼” text box and type the suggested details as shown on the blue paper.  This example uses AR Julian.  Print onto an 8½” x 11” cream paper.  Cut to fit and glue as shown.

Step Two:  Assemble, Stamp & Embellish

Glue the cream paper to the top of the leather base.  Glue the gold slightly underneath the cream paper.  Glue the blue slightly over the gold paper.  Glue the black and white strip paper to the black strip centered to form the train track and glue as shown to form the ticket stub. 

Stamp a circle over the Venice Simplon Orient-Express type using a charcoal inkpad.  If desired, stamp a small splatter onto the stub using a light gold inkpad.  Cut a small blood drip from red paper and glue as shown.

Step Three: Create Travel Sleeve  (Optional)

Cut a 8¾” long x 7” wide shape from the leather texture paper.  To create the front flap, score and fold at 4” and clip the left corner as shown.  To make the tab, score and fold at 7¾”, clip the corners and glue the right side to the back.    If desired, type “Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits,” print, cut into an 4” long oval and glue to the front flap.  Slip the invite into the sleeve, and the sleeve into a business-sized envelope and mail.

TIP:  Ask guests to arrive in period costumes or favorite Orient Express characters and let the mystery unfold—All Aboard!

Don't forget to leave a comment to enter to win a Murder on the Orient Express paperback book.