davebrethauer

Christmas in July

 

Hello friends-

My how time flies!  I can't believe its already Friday again.  And today marks the last day of July which means summer is half over.  So have you seen the July Holiday Release?  I LOVE it and wouldn't mind having everything in the release.  Yes I did say everything.  I want and need it all.  Oh please Santa I've been a good girl!!  I'll get right to the card as I'm SO excited to have my first holiday card completed.  I had fun mixing four of the new clear sets with a decorative paper I had on hand.  I'm not sure what paper collection its from but it worked perfect for a traditional Christmas card.  My card has a vintage feel to it and I'm quite pleased at how it came out.  I can't wait to play with the fifth clear set Advent Calendar (CL143). 

I hope your week has been good and that you're managing to stay COOL!!  Our weather has been perfect here in MN.  I know the east and west coasts have experienced some extremely HOT weather and I feel for you.  Right now I'm thinking about fall and winter seeing I'm a stamping instructor.  Its time to start planning and making holiday card samples.  I dislike it when I have to scram for holiday cards come mid December!!  Can anyone relate to the mad December dash?  Now that I'm a weekly guest blogger here I should have a good stash of holiday cards come December!!  Thanks for stopping by today and hope you have a fun and relaxing weekend filled with lots of sunshine and good times.  Tami  :D    

 

Card Supplies:

Notecards-Crimson, Dill

Stamps-Twelve Days (CL140), Night Before (CL141), Snowy Eve (CL142), Snowman Friends (CL144)

Memory Box 6x6" Designer Paper 

Spica Glitter Pen-Buttermilk

Other Paper-Classic Crest Natural White 80# Cover

Pearl Stickers-Berry

Inks-Versafine Vintage Sepia, Color Box Chalk Chestnut Roan, Creamy Brown & Lime Pastel, Brilliance Poppy, Versa Magic Tea Leaves 

Card Directions:

Stamp reindeer script image from Twelve Days (CL140) in vintage sepia ink on a scrap of natural white paper.  Clean stamp and stamp a second image using poppy ink capturing the North Pole circle image.  Let dry and cut out circle of the North Pole.  Paper piece the red North Pole to the brown reindeer image.  Stamp flourish from Night Before (CL141) set in tea leaves ink.  Stamp snowflakes from Snowman Friends (CL144) in poppy ink on reindeer image.  The stamp is a small trio of snowflakes but I only inked one snowflake and stamped it a total of seven times (including once on red North Pole image).  I find its easiest to omit part of an image when you have a small ink pad.  After you complete all the stamping on the main image carefully rip the bottom edge of the natural white paper in one direction and edge all four sides with creamy brown chalk ink.  Layer to a scrap of dill notecard as shown.  Cut the designer paper to 4 x 5.25" and distress edges with chestnut roan chalk ink.  Attach decorative paper to a crimson notecard.  Stamp Christmas (poppy ink) from Snowy Eve (CL142) set and let dry.  Edge Christmas with creamy brown ink and then go around it with tea leaves ink.  Note:  I used the lime green chalk ink to darken the white sides on the dill paper layer.  Same with the poppy ink.  Use it to go around the edges of the crimson notecard.  I think its a nice touch!!  Pop up the Christmas image using dimensional dots or 3M tape.   Add a berry pearl to the flourish as shown.  Use the buttermilk glitter pen to add highlights to Christmas, the North Pole circle and each snowflakes.  Thanks again and please let me know what you think.  Do you have a favorite(s) new stamp or set?  I'd love to know!!  SMILE   TGIF : )  

Class Tour in Massachusetts

I was able to spend a day exploring (on foot) in Boston. I love going to Boston Common and so I used that as my beginning point and walked around from there. I was able to make it to a few paper places, Black Ink, Paper Source and Rugg Road Paper company, which were all within a mile of each other.

Black Ink had some very interesting paper products - unusual paper clips, interesting gifts, a small section of stamps. I believe they incorporated products from another store, the Museum of Useful Things, into their inventory recently. Rugg Road Paper Company was all about invitations and cards - a nice store that a friend had told me to visit.

I passed by the public library as I was running around - cool building. I was able to see a lot of the Beacon Hill neighborhood and some of the Back Bay area - it would be easy to move here!

I couldn't resist a tour of some local gardens in picturesque New England, and so I decided to see the Heritage Gardens and Museum in Sandwich (a town on Cape Cod). Full of daylilies (more varieties than I've ever seen - what a collection!) and rhododendrons, this immaculate 100 acre garden (and auto museum!) was such a treat on a hot summer day. Here's some photos to give you a sense of what a gorgeous place it is.

Colorful Creations

I arrived on Cape Cod on Sunday for my visit to Colorful Creations. Jayne, the super talented owner, was there early to greet me and help get set up in their huge classroom area - I think it can fit 40? 48 students? The store is quite amazing - there's an area to sit and read, lots of supplies, a chic array of merchandise and even an art bar where you can complete a self guided project. They are super organized!

I met one of Colorful Creations' staff, Erin- who took a quite famous picture of John Mayer on a cruise - and still gets phone calls from Access Hollywood and People Magazine at the store!

What can I say about the surrounding area - picturesque, coastal, relaxed - this is a great destination out on the Cape.

Ink About it

Ink About It, in Westford, MA, is owned by Lori and Linda and it's a perfectly conceived store for rubber stampers and scrapbookers. A large classroom area, friendly staff and lots of ideas are the ingredients for this successful retail location. Ink About It is also one of Memory Box's stationery stores - where you can purchase all of our notecards as well as our line of specialy notecards and envelopes.

Lori and her husband took me to eat at Karma for sushi (GREAT spicy tuna rolls) and she showed me around town. The entire area was experiencing a wetter/cloudier than usual summer, but the sun peeked out a few times, and it is such a wonderful area.

One of the people who won our $100 monthly Memory Box contests, Janice WIlson, took my classes - and it was nice to connect with someone who reads the blogs. There were 4 other students who had taken a class from me in Boston (about 5 years ago!) - and I am happy to say they are still creating.

Absolutely Everything

Kate, the owner of Absolutely Everything, helped me as I taught my first day of workshops at her cool mixed media/rubber stamp/scrapbook store in Topsfield, MA. I was a little jet-lagged, waking up at 7:30 (4:30 AM my time) so that I could begin 3 workshops at 10. 

Topsfield is a beautiful area, full of trees and grand, old houses - and Kate's store is a perfect stop for paper artists.

A Pink Christmas

 

Welcome!! Have you started on your holiday cards yet? This will be my first. It is so nice to have the holiday images are released in July! It gives me a good jump start on getting all of those holiday cards done early.  I enjoy experimenting with nontraditional color combinations for holiday cards, so I went with shades of pink with a hint of black for my project this week. I decided to play with some of the images from a couple of the new clear sets. I used images from the Snowy Eve (CL142) & Night Before (CL 141) sets. The clear sets are the same amazing quality of previous sets released. They stamp a very crisp image. You will love them!

Paper & Measurements: Currant note card (a bit lighter than Raspberry note card used last week), Cotton Candy (a lovely pale shade of pink) card stock (4" x 5 1/4"), white (3 5/8" x 4 3/4") & black (3 3/4" x 4 7/8") card stock.

Inks used: Memento Rose Bud & Tuxedo Black.

Stamp "Christmas" from Snowy Eve (CL142) stamp set across the top of your white piece in Rose Bud ink. Stamp the swirly circle image from the Night Before (CL141) clear set using Rose Bud ink. The dotted line under "Christmas" was stamped with an image from the retired Whimsy clear set. There are many fun things you could use to "attach" your ornaments. Draw a line to attach the ornaments using a fine point black pen. I colored the circle images with a light pink colored pencil (you could also try shading with a variety of pink shades), then applied glitter to them. Attach bows to the top of your "ornaments", I used glue dots to do this. Adhere your finished piece to your black piece of card stock, then to the Cotton Candy piece, & finally to your Currant note card.  Super simple!!

I hope you enjoy your day!! Hopefully it's cooler where you are at. We reached 103 degrees yesterday, & they are predicting 104 degrees for today. This is pretty extreme heat for the Pacific Northwest!! I hope you will stop by for another visit next Tuesday!!

I've gone green!! :D

 

Good day my friends.  Its raining in MN and that's a good thing as we certainly need the rain.  How has your week been?  Today I decided to change my color palette up a bit and go green!!  I have really been enjoying the beautiful Fernbrae papers so I just had to use another piece of Dave's lovely paper on my card this week.  I just love anything with circles.  I used my new clear Seed Stems set and decided it was time to give my Versa Magic Dew Drops some much needed love.  Seed Stems is such a versatile set (19 stamps).  There are so many wonderful possibilities and I really had fun playing with it.  Do you have a favorite clear Memory Box set??   

Have you seen the new Memory Box Holiday release yet?  I am just dying and want everything in the July release. Yes I did say everything!!  I love all the new stamps, the three beautiful paper collections, and the new seasonal trimmings.  I can't wait to stamp with some new products next week.  Dave is in New England now getting ready to teach at his second store in MA.  I am SO jealous.  I wish I still lived in Massachusetts so I could be there taking a class or two from the master!!  Hi Dave (thumbs up and high five).  Have a super duper weekend my friends and thanks for stopping by.  Catch you next week with some new Memory Box goodness.  Be good now.   Tami :)  

 

Card Supply List:

Fernbrae 6x6" paper

Notecards-Dill, Parsley, Vanilla Bean

Stamps-Seed Stems (CL139), Happy Birthday (B1228)

Jewels-Canary, Pistachio

Pearls-Mint

Inks-Color Box Chalk Chestnut Roan & Lime Pastel; Versa Magic Chalk Jumbo Java, Hint of Pesto, Niagara Mist, Sage, Sahara Sand, Tea Leaves, Spanish Olive (Do you think I used enough inks?)  LOL!!

Spica Glitter Pens-Buttermilk & Clear  

Twine-May Arts L-400Y 

Punch-Martha Stewart Butterfly Trio

Other Paper-Neenah Classic Crest Natural White 80# Cover

Card Directions:

Cut designer paper to 4 x 5 1/4" and edge sides with Chestnut Roan ink.  Mount paper to a Dill notecard.  Stamp stems and leaves on natural white paper using Tea Leaves ink.  Next play around with the round stamps in the set and stamp images in an ink you like and decorate each circle with smaller stamps from the set using a darker shade of ink.  Basically I matched the colors in the Fernbrae designer paper to the Versa Magic inks listed above and just played around with different ink colors.  After you finish stamping the main images heat set the inks with an embossing gun.  Trim the stamped images with a paper cutter and edge all four sides of the natural white paper with Chestnut Roan.  Layer the main image to a Dill paper scrap.  Wrap the natural thin twine around the panel three times and secure to back side with Scotch tape.  Punch out a tiny butterfly from  a coordinating Fernbrae paper scrap and distress with Chestnut Roan.  Glue down the butterfly and adhere two Canary Jewels.  I put a Mint Pearl (in center) on the left stem and used three Pistachio Jewels on the right image.  Stamp Happy Birthday (B1228) in Jumbo Java ink and edge paper with Chesnut Roan.  I used two paper layers behind the sentiment.  First layer is a scrap of Parsley paper and the second layer is from a Vanilla Bean notecard.  Stick a Pistachio Jewel in each corner of the sentiment.  I used dimensional foam tape under the layered sentiment and placed it on card as shown.  Use the two glitter pens I mentioned to add a little sparkle here, there, and everywhere.  

Brand New 2009 Holiday 6x6 Paper

Hi everyone - if all goes right, I will be on my way to Boston today, but wanted to quick sneak on the previews for the new 6x6 paper. All of these packs are showing up in stores this week and next - our brand new collections are titled Twilight, Spiceberry and Dewfrost.

Dewfrost is our pale, powdery blue collection (with a hint of chocolate and robins egg here and there). It goes great with our Robins Egg, Vanilla Bean and Mocha cards and papers.

This is our Spiceberry collection - we love our Crimson cards with it - as well as our Soiree Truffle and Mars cards and envelopes.

Finally - Twilight. With twisting flowered vines and sparkles, this is one of my favorites. Goes great with Gourd notecards and of course Licorice!

Circle Play

Welcome to my Tuesday post! I hope to inspire you today with the possibilities of creating a fun pattern background with "embellishment" stamps. I chose 2 stamps each out of the Little Birdie & Hear Me Roar clear sets. I wanted to use a "circle" theme, so I chose images that followed that theme. I also wanted to create something cheery, so I chose some really bright colors. I did not to add a sentiment, because I wanted an all-purpose card. This is an easy card to put together & I there are so many fun color combinations you could use. Thanks for dropping by today & enjoy your day!

Paper used for this project: Raspberry note card, White card stock cut to 4" x 5 1/8", Mango Biscotti card stock cut to  1" x 5 1/8", Key Lime card stock cut to 1/2" x 5 1/8".

Inks used: Memento Pear Tart, Rose Bud & Tangelo.

Stamps used: Embellishment circle stamps from Little Birdie clear set (CL133) & Hear Me Roar clear set (CL131).

Misc items used: Buttons from my stash, double sided adhesive & glue dots.

To make this card, stamp a random circle pattern onto your white card stock. I masked off the left hand side of the white piece before stamping the images so I could visualize the finished piece after the Mango Biscotti & Key Lime pieces were in place, but this is not necessary. Adhere your Mango Biscotti piece & Key lime piece to the left hand side of your white card stock. Adhere that piece to your Raspberry note card. Adhere buttons with glue dots.

Fly fly fly!!

 

Hello friends and Happy Friday.  I'm really looking forward to the weekend.  How about you?  Any special plans?   Its rather chilly in MN today and only 58 degrees. Can you say brrrrrrr???  I had to close all the windows this morning as I was freezing.  I actually thought about turning on the furnace but no way!!  I just couldn't get myself to do it in July.  It feels like fall and quite a nice change.  We have had the strangest weather this summer but who's complaining  right?  Anyway I better move onto some serious stamping business and not bore you any longer!!  :D  

Next week Dave flys to Boston (I am so jealous and pouting) to begin his tour of classes.  Oh how I wish I could be in New England vacationing and taking one of his classes.  Two would be even better!!  It also marks the week all the new Christmas in July stamps, new designer papers, and trimmings will be released.  I just can't wait to see everything!!  How about you?  Are you as excited as I am?  I am for sure a Memory Box paper collector and my Memory Box stamp collection isn't too shabby either!!  There is always room for more goodies so I say bring it on!! I know I'm going to want everything in the release!!  I sure hope my Mom *Ellie* is NOT reading this blog or I'm going to be in some serious trouble!!  Dave, I wish you all the best with your classes and safe travels.  Thanks for stopping by my friends and I hope to see you next week.  Its going to be an exciting week for sure.  Be good now and have a super fantastic weekend everyone.  SMILE its Friday!!  Life is good!!  Tami       

PS...I apologize for the late post but AOL crashed on me last night (again) and my computer would not boot up no matter what I tried.  I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to post today from my laptop but I finally got it working early this morning.  Not fun times!!  :(   

   

Card Supplies:

Notecards-Blueberry, Hyacinth

Designer Paper-Fernbrae Collection (6" x 6") 

Memory Box Pearl Stickers-Frost, 14-Karat Gold  

Stamps-Butterflies (B1206), Stipple Dots (B1157), Missing You (A852), Tiny Heart (AA177)

Ribbon-May Arts KN14 

Inks-Color Box Chalk Creamy Brown, Color Box Pigment Scarlet, Versafine Vintage Sepia

Punches-Stampin' Up Corner Tag, Fiskars 1/8" Circle 

Spica Glitter Pen-Clear

Flowers-Prisma  

 ***A little note from me.  I'm sorry but I just couldn't help myself.  I felt the need and desire to design with the beautiful Fernbrae paper again this week and four of my favorite Memory Box stamps. I find myself using these stamps over and over again.  I can't even begin to tell you how much I especially love Stipple Dots.  I use this particular stamp year round on everything.  I hope you will enjoy my card today and its also a great way to use up your paper scraps!!  Thanks again.  :D 

Card Directions:

Cut two strips of each decorative Fernbrae paper at 1" x 4" as shown.  Cut one strip at 1" x 4" from a Hyacinth Notecard.  Edge all five strips with creamy brown chalk ink.  Stamp Missing You in sepia ink on a scrap of Hyacinth paper and stamp the butterflies in scarlet ink.  Make sure to heat set the butterflies if you use pigment ink.  If you own the Stampin' Up tag maker punch then use it to make the tag cuts on the left side of the paper.  If not, simply cut the two left corners on the Hyacinth paper to resemble a tag.  Edge the tag with creamy brown ink and punch an 1/8" circle for the ribbon to pass through the hole.  Adhere all five paper strips to a Blueberry Notecard.  Wrap the red ribbon around the card (ribbon will show on the inside of the card) and make a single knot. Incorporate the tag into the ribbon by feeding the ribbon through the hole you punched on the tag and tie another loose single knot to secure the tag on the card.  Trim the ribbon edges.  Color in the two butterflies with a Spica clear glitter pen.  Adhere a red and brown paper flower as shown on right side of card and stick a Frost Pearl Sticker in the flower center.  Lastly, stick on three 14-Karat Gold Pearl Stickers near the butterflies.  Whew!!  See you next week.