davebrethauer

Design Team Focus {Suzanne Czosek} 4

The last item that I am sharing with you made by Suzanne is this cheery triptych. She combined 5 stamp images and paper from the Brioche collection to create an art piece that makes me want to go explore the world. This is actually perfect - I am off to Maui tomorrow for vacation with my wife and kids, and this definitely sets the mood!

It is subtle, but in the first panel Suzanne layered the Springtime Wishes E1335 over the First Flight Butterflies F1328.

She used the Adore Peony Collage G1433 on the second panel - cutting out extra petals to make the flower dimensional.

...and in the last panel, a combination of the Eiffel Tower D1723 and the Journey Collage G1733!

All of the panels were stamped on the 12x12 Cherry Branches paper

Can't wait to pick up a few new ideas on my Hawaiian journey - and this art piece will inspire me. I hope you enjoyed getting to see some more projects from Suzanne!

Design Team Focus {Suzanne Czosek} 3

Suzanne explored the world of paper arts in a different direction with three collage canvases - shown here today. I have always had an appreciation for art done on canvas, it seems to make everything seem so...professional! And these tiny canvas pieces make doing an "art piece" very accessible.

She used parts of the Fine Fern print (G1719), Create Art (G1330) and the Cocoa Bean Butterfly (C1714) to assemble the scene above.

She used the Orchid Branch print (G1718) and the Journey collage (G1733) here. The mauve looks great with the brown!

The same color scheme was applied to the Hope square. In addition to the Orchid Branch print, she used the Hope Collage G1732 for the background.

And here they are grouped together - wouldn't this look terrific hanging on a wall in your studio?

 

Design Team Focus {Suzanne Czosek} 2

Suzanne continues to dazzle me today - I think that this card might actually qualify as couture in the stamping world.

She did some really interesting piecing on the Orchid Branch Print G1718 - stamping on vellum and then cutting out petals to layer and build the flowers.

Isn't it interesting how the petals curl and overlap on the flowers? This 3-D effect adds a lot to the card, and she added some shading to make it really feel like the flowers have depth.

The simple white background is perfect. And the tiny Diamond Jewel stickers in the center? Quite beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Love B1423 makes a nice layer - this would make  a thoughtful wedding card!

She added the painted Cocoa Bean Butterfly C1714 onto the wide silk ribbon - another special touch. 

Can you imagine receiving this beautiful card?

Design Team Focus {Suzanne Czosek} 1

I thought that I would introduce you to another member of our talented design team this week who has a detailed style that is similar to Deborah's - but she puts her own twist on each card and we can always spot it. This week's special Design Team member is Suzanne Czosek, who crafts cards and other paper projects professionally! Here's a little background on Suzanne:

Suzanne Czosek lives in Northern Illinois with her husband, nine year old daughter, fourteen year old daugher, sixteen year old son and two dogs (Harry and Emma).  She works full time as a project manager and her passion is her stamping and crafting projects.  She is part of the Crafts N Things Design team and publishes a technique article in every issue. She has a few cards planned in the next issue using the new Memory Box stamps.  She loves contributing to the Memory Box Outside the Box Blog.  You can find her teaching classes at Stamp Scrap and More in Mundelien, Illinois.  Her style in cards ranges from beautiful and elegant to vintage and shabby chic. 

She loves working with Memory Box - the stamps, papers, jewels and everything is wonderful and she is so happy to be designing for them. 

Let's take a closer look at her project today!

Receiving a card from Sue is more like receiving a gift - the sculpted components and layers are substantial, with extra attention to texture.

Isn't it beautiful the way she layers ribbon, paper roses and canvas paper butterflies?

The details are superb - I noticed as I photographed the card that there was a different story from every angle. I love the beaded pin that is tucked underneath the bouquet and expertly cut rose stems. Where are the rose stems from? Well...

 ...the Hope Collage G1732 is where she carefully cut out four stems, and placed them so that it looked like they were bundled in with the paper roses.

I especially like how she re-interpreted the entire image of the Hope collage. It has been completely transformed from a background stamp, into several different elements.

If you are lucky enough to live near Stamp, Scrap n More, plan on taking a class with Suzanne and come away with tons of new ideas! More tomorrow...

 

Design Team Focus {Deborah Nolan} 3

One thing I've noticed this week about Deborah Nolan's cards are that they all have exquisite color coordination. Trying to figure out how to compose a greeting as a work of art is something that I was always trying to figure out when I started papercraft - and I think I can safely say that Deborah is exceptional with this. Her use of color really stands out - everything coordinates perfectly.

She also likes to build interesting elements into her cards - here a layered flower is a sculptural element all on it's own!

Or maybe she throws in an interesting border - like the row of pearls and printed papers. Here's the how-to for making this greeting:

How R U?

• Memory Box Petal Soiree Shimmer paper
• Memory Box patterned papers:
  • Minuet
  • Pixie
  • Bubblegum Moroccan
• Memory Box stamps:
  • Fine Fern Print (G1719)
  • Circle Word Background (E1711)
• Inks:
  • Ranger Distress (Peeled Paint, Victorian Velvet)
  • VersaFine (Black Onyx)
• Memory Box White Pearl Stickers
• Making Memories felt alphabet stickers
• Junkitz button
• DMC linen embroidery floss
• Tools
  • Punches (Martha Stewart, EK Success, Stampin’ Up!)
  • Tim Holtz ink applicator tool

I thought I'd end our focus on Deborah with a beautiful card she created that is a little more on the serious side. With everyone's attention on Japan this week, and all of the help going their way, the theme of "unity" seemed fitting.

Lots of different shades of blue come together here. She stamped directly onto the subtle gingham background paper (in the Bluebird shade).

Sparkling glitter dots the butterfly wings and card edges - and it catches the light as you turn the card to look at all the details.

Unity

• Memory Box Silver Soiree Shimmer paper
• Memory Box patterned papers:
  • Minuet 6x6 Paper Pack
  • Blueberry Gingham
• Memory Box Grass Print stamp (C1721)
• Inks:
  • Ranger Distress (Chipped Sapphire)
  • VersaFine (Black Onyx)
• Narratives Rub-On Sentiments
• Stickles (Diamond)
• Zig marker (black)
• Tools
  • Punches (Martha Stewart)
  • Tim Holtz ink applicator tool
  • Nestabilities die

I hope the projects I shared gave you a sense of who Deborah is - she's a great member of our Design Team!

Design Team Focus {Deborah Nolan} 2

I am continuing to feature Deborah today and so I'm sharing another cheery and detailed greeting she put together. But first, a little background on Deborah, for those of you haven't had the chance to meet or take a class from her!

Here is Deborah's formal biography:

Deborah Nolan is an attorney who prefers making cards to making arguments. She lives with her husband (better known to the world as Spouse on her blog, Society of Stamp- & Scrap-Addicts) one daughter - the irrepressible Gigi, an Airedale Terrier named Bisquit, and a snotty cat named Puddin' (who has no right to give herself airs, given her lowly origins). Memory Box is Deborah's first design team experience, and she considers herself a lucky duck to be amidst such fine people playing with such fine product! She's been published in Cards, Take Ten, The Stamper's Sampler, and Somerset Memories, and enjoys teaching stamping and scrapbooking classes. She is currently engaged in a covert stamping activity that involves a little blue frog and which will be made public on April Fool's Day (if she doesn't croak first).

For the card idea above, Deborah used some of the 12x12 Rolling Hills from our Brioche collection...

...as well as some of the delightful Pool Distressed Dot paper (to make the flower)...

Want to make this terrific card? Here's the ingredients!

• Memory Box Eggshell card
• Memory Box patterned papers:
  • Brioche
  • Pool Distressed Dots
• Ranger Distress ink (Broken China)
• Memory Box Diamond Jewel sticker
• Twine
• Generic satin ribbon
• 7 Gypsies clear button
• Tools
  • Tim Holtz ink applicator tool
  • Tim Holtz flower die

 

I have a couple more wonderful Deborah originals to share with you - but you'll have to tune in tomorrow to see them!

Design Team Focus {Deborah Nolan}

Memory Box has so much talent packed into our Design Team, that I thought I'd start sharing some information about each one of them - beginning with Deborah Nolan! I met Deborah during my class tour in the summer of 2010 and was so impressed with her work that we decided she'd be a great asset to the team!

As you can see, Deborah has had plenty of practice with colored pencils! She picked up the greens and blues in the patterned background paper by saturating the butterfly wings with expertly blended color. It looks as if a tropical butterfly landed on the card!

She cut the butterfly out and gently bended the wings up, so that they float over the row of white pearl stickers. Here's a list of supplies she used to make the card:

• Memory Box Pistachio Soiree Shimmer paper
• Minuet 6x6 patterned paper
• Memory Box Wonderland Butterfly stamp (E1713)
• Memento ink (Tuxedo Black)
• Prismacolor Pencils
• Gamsol
• Memory Box white pearls
• American Craft Thicker alphabet stickers
• Pop-dots

Deborah can also put together a card that is so elegant - here a couple images and some background paper combine to create a subtle greeting (or wedding card!).

The Birch Branch print (G1720) was stamped in Memento London Fog ink - so it was just dark enough to show up over the grey blue background paper (the blue background paper with white pattern is 12x12 - French Toast from the Brioche collection). Deborah added some Diamond Jewel stickers to the branch - which look like little drops of dew on the front of the card.

The Love stamp (B1423)  in the lower right hand corner finishes the composition. You can make it too with the following supplies:

Love

• Memory Box Frost Soiree Shimmer paper
• Memory Box Brioche (12x12 French Toast) patterned paper
• Memory Box stamps:
  • Love (B1423)
  • Birch Branch Print (G1720)
• Memento (London Fog)
• Memory Box Diamond Jewel stickers

I'll post some more projects from Deborah over the next few days - and let you get to know her a little bit better!

March 2011 {Project of the Month}

We decided to kick off March's Project month by using our theme of an artful "journey" - so we paired the Cocoa Bean Butterfly (C1714) and Journey Collage (G1733) together.

 

For an added twist, we used a stamp from our kids' poppystamps line, the Checkered Background 258G

Begin by stamping the Journey collage onto our Parchment cardstock with Memento Rich Cocoa ink. Cover the word "journey" with a piece of post it tape -  

Next, stamp the 258G Checkered Background onto the Journey background with Versamagic Thatched Straw ink and emboss with clear embossing powder.

The embossed area will act as a resist - rub the edges with a dauber that has some Versamagic Gingerbread ink on it. The embossed areas will remain the color of the Thatched Straw, while the non-embossed paper will darken - it gives a really interesting effect!

Mat it with Soiree Truffle Matte Cardstock.  Remove the mask to let the word "journey" show again - then finish off with a butterfly! I stamped the Cocoa Bean Butterfly on a sheet of this beautiful red floral paper...

This patterned paper is from the Brioche 6x6 paper pack...

...and of course, we had to use a piece of our 8 1/2 x 11 Key Lime Dot paper to punch up the color in the background.  I inked the edges of the strip with Gingerbread, then attached it to a Squash Notecard. 

One note on the butterfly - do you see the body and the antenna?

If you want them to show up on the card, but don't want to try and cut out those tiny little bits with micro-tip scissors, stamp the butterfly on the journey background (before you emboss the Checkerboard background).

Enjoy making March's project of the month - send us pictures of your own variations of this card to  info@memoryboxco.com or upload it to our Flickr gallery (click here).

 

Color of the Month - March 2011

I thought a deep, earthy green color for the Color of the Month would be perfect. Now that all the leaves are opening on the hydrangea bushes and the crocus and daffodils are popping up through the soil, it was easy to get in the mood to use this Moss color.

I began with the Vintage Background stamp (G1712) by inking it with Pear Tart and Rich Cocoa Memento markers. I rubbed the Pear Tart marker over the green shaded area below, and the Rich Cocoa Marker around the sides (see below). This gave the background an interesting look - as the words faded from brown to green and back again.

Next I stamped the Fern Print (G1719) on top with Brilliance Pearlescent Thyme ink

The Pearlescent Thyme ink matches the Moss card perfectly - they look so good together!

We added 2 patterned papers - the gray paper with the script writing is from the Minuet pack

and the dot paper is our 8 1/2 x 11 Distressed Dot Vanilla Bean paper

Our Color of the Month stores are stocking this limited edition color (only for the month of March) - so hurry up and get your hands on some!

 

New Spring Release 2011 {Spring Symphony}

I spent the weekend celebrating my son's 13th birthday!

It's hard to write that sentence! Like all parents, I can't believe how quick the time goes and to think that my youngest is now a teenager makes me pause a little. When I think about how I gave him his first bath after he was born - and now his feet are almost 2 sizes bigger than mine...

Anyways - we celebrated his birthday with a surprise party. Getting (6) 13-year old boys to keep the party a secret was not as big a challenge as I thought it would be, and it was well worth all the trouble to see the look on Cooper's face when everyone surprised him after school in the parking lot! We all piled into a van and went to the Great Wolf Lodge for some swimming and partying. I don't think we could have scheduled it better - it was wonderful to be in a warm indoor pool while it snowed out side!

We had done a similar surprise party for my daughter when she turned 13, so we assumed that Cooper would be expecting this. But, it turns out, he was completely surprised. Hearing him say, "I still don't know what's going on...", as we loaded up the kids and sleeping bags was priceless.

It did take a lot of coordinating - contacting 6 different sets of parents, setting a date that everyone would be in town for, getting a room that sleeps 7 kids and 2 adults, renting a van so that everyone could ride down together from Seattle, and making sure everyone was fed. Oh, and don't forget pool passes, arcade tokens, "wolf ears", dart guns for all the boys, an assortment of Trophy cupcakes and phone calls to all the parents to let everyone know things were going well. After the weekend, it's nice to get back to work!

I'm excited to announce that we are releasing some new Spring stamps this week - in a program that I am calling "Spring Symphony". You can see the new images, as well as the stores that have signed up to receive the whole assortment, by clicking here.

The image above, titled On the Lake (F1770), is terrific for coloring in with your Copics.

And just look at what happens when you spread a layer of clear glitter glue over the "lake" - it looks like the sun shimmering on the water. I'll have more to share with you on the new release soon - stay tuned!