Create x3

Another {Layout} & New Releases!

Today I wanted to share my second layout featuring Baby Kiwi.  :)  This layout uses the same colors and papers as the layout I posted on Monday.  If you missed that post, look here.  :)

For this layout, I also started by sewing around the edges of my papers that I have picked to use.  I also used a border punch to punch one edge of the strip of paper that will go across the center of my layout.  After sewing and punching, I inked the edges with Memento ink.
 
Then I wanted to use bullets for my journaling so I grabbed the Memory Box Sparkle stamp {A1208} and stamped a few on a piece of Memory Box Sweetbay paper.  Then I punched them out with a circle punch, inked the edges with Memento ink, and added a dot of Stickles to the center of the "sparkle."  Now I have my bullets complete and ready for my page.
 
To finish, I added lots of embellishments and my journaling.  The journaling strips are backed with Memory Box mango cardstock.  Then the sparkle bullets were added to the left side of each journaling strip.  Here is my finished layout "Time to Grow":
 
 
Papers:  Memory Box mango CS, Memory Box Sweetbay, Memory Box Rhubarb Tart, Bazzill
Tools:  EK Success binding edge punch
Stamps:  Memory Box Sparkle A1208
Stamp Ink:  Memento bamboo leaves, Memento tangelo
Alphas:  My Littleshoe Box apples alpha
Paints:  Making Memories chocolate, Luminarte twinkling H2Os blushing caramel, Stickles lime green
Embellishments: Deluxe Designs chipboard heart, Basic Grey Archaic & Offbeat buttons, Basic Grey brads, Prima canvas tag, Jillibean Soup bean seeds (felt flowers) ribbon, & journaling sprout, Scenic Route chipboard, Karen Foster Scrappers Floss white

I hope you have enjoyed seeing two different layouts this week using the same color scheme and Memory Box paper packs.

And be sure to look here for all of our NEW holiday releases just revealed this week.  There are 30 stamps, three 6x6 paper packs--Dewfrost, Spiceberry, and Twilight--and new jewels!  These are all AMAZING!!!  I will be sharing some creations with you the days ahead!  Be sure to check the participating stores to get these AMAZING releases!

Have a great day everyone, and thanks to all of you that leave comments.  I always appreciate them, and I love hearing about how you love Memory Box!

Let's Create Some Layouts!

This week, I am going to share two layouts with you.  They will be similar yet unique by adding different embellishments.  I will also be using the same color schemes; however, different Memory Box 6x6 paper packs!  So, grab your papers, stamps, and embellishments, and let's get started!

To start this layout, I first picked my papers by matching them to my photos.  If you remember from this post back in March, that is usually how I start a layout.  Then I decided to use sewing on both layouts I created for this week.  So, I went ahead and did my sewing around the edges of my cardstock and my Memory Box Sweetbay paper.  The stitching is nearly impossible to see in this photo on the patterned paper but it's there. :)  The Memory Box mango biscotti paper I will use for my title.

Next, I used my Quickutz to cut out my letters for the title with the biscotti paper.  I also inked the edges of the letters so that they would show up even more. I just LOVE using biscotti paper for die cuts and letters!  If you haven't tried it, you should!

Now, are you wondering what the title Kiwi means?  Well, you will see in just a minute.  She is going to be the new addition to our family!  :)  Hold on, and you will get to see our "little precious."  To finish my layout, I added lots of embellishments.  I did not do any stamping on this particular but for my layout I will share later this week, I did.  Anyway, after adding my embellishments, here is how my layout turned out:
 
 
 
Papers:  Memory Box Rhubarb Tart, Memory Box mango biscotti CS, Bazzill
Alphas:  My Littleshoe Box apples alpha, Quickutz studio alpha
Paints:  Making Memories chocolate, Luminarte twinkling H2Os blushing caramel
Stamp Ink:  Memento rich cocoa, Memento tangelo
Embellishments: Jenni Bowlin die cut calendar, Basic Grey brads, Maya Road chipboard branch & flower, Prima canvas tag, Jillibean Soup bean seeds (felt flowers) & ribbon, Scenic Route chipboard, Doodlebug flower

Did you guess Kiwi was a bird?  :)  She is a Caique, and we will get her in September.  She has not been weaned yet so we have to wait until then to get her.  Isn't she a cutie?  Anyway, I hope you liked the layout and that you will try some biscotti papers for your next layout title!  Have a great day, and I will see you soon with my second layout.

Create a Script Background

Ooh, I just LOVE the Memory Box Script Block {E453} stamp.  I haven't had time to play with it yet so I took the time today!  First, I thought I would use it to create a background.

To create the background, I stamped the image in Memento tuxedo black ink onto my stamp positioner.  After lining up the image on my Memory Box aqua scalloped notecard, I stamped the image onto the notecard using VersaMark ink.  I repeated this process until the entire card was covered in "script."
 
After I finished creating my background, I noticed the upper right hand corner had some slight overlap.  So my original idea for the card was modified just a bit so that I could cover that area.  I used a piece of Memory Box Rhubarb Tart paper to cover the overlap.  I also wanted to add some ribbon for fun.  I just love brown and aqua!

Next, I added the sentiment, my bow, and some pins to complete my card.  Here is how it turned out:
 
 
Papers:  Memory Box Co. aqua scalloped notecard 84008, Memory Box Co. Rhubarb Tart
Stamps:  Memory Box Co. Script Block E453, Memory Box Co. Thank You B1055
Stamp Ink:  VersaFine vintage sepia
Embellishments: misc. ribbon, Dritz pearl pins

I hope you will use your Memory Box stamps to try a background with VersaMark.  It really is fun.  Have a great Saturday.  See you again soon!

Changing {Ideas}

Have you ever had an idea for a card or layout but as you go along, everything seems to change?  Then your card or layout turns out totally different from what you had envisioned.  Well, today's post is exactly that!  I was going to show you a card using repetative stamping and highlighting just one section.  Well, as I went along, the paper turned out TOO pretty to cover it up.  So, bare with me as you see my process change from what I thought I would create to what I actually end up with!

First, I started with two sheets of beautiful Rhubarb Tart papers.  I cut four 2x2 squares, and I stamped the same image on all four pieces.  Then to highlight one section, I colored the birds with two Copic markers.  And notice how I stamped the "highlighted" section on a piece of Rhubarb Tart paper that had more white on it.

After that, I began putting my card together.  As I layed it out, I could see that I needed to ink my edges, and then I discovered that the pretty red Rhubarb Tart paper was all being covered up, and I wasn't sure I liked that.

So, I tried my card without three of the squares.  And oh, how I liked it so much more.  The paper is way too pretty to cover up.  Here is what I ended up with:
 
 
Papers:  Memory Box peony notecard (22033), Paper Trey Ink, Memory Box Rhubarb Tart
Copics:  R35, R46
Stamps:  Memory Box Co. Espalier Birds E1261, Memory Box Co. Oh Happy Day B1216
Stamp Ink:  VersaFine onyx black, Memento tuxedo black
Embellishments:  Memory Box pearl stickers white, American Crafts ribbon

Definitely much better showing the pretty pattern on the paper.  And I just love this stamp.  It can be used for SO many different things.  Did you see how I added the Memory Box pearls too?  Fun, fun!

I hope you see my process here, and that you like the end product better.  I know I do.  Have a great day, and thank you for stopping by!  See you next time!

Using Several Shades of Cardstock!

Since we had our swatch book giveaway of the Memory Box cardstock colors, I thought it would be fun this week to show you different ways to use your cardstock.

First, let me tell you a little bit about the Memory Box cardstock.
1.  It is smooth cardstock.
2.  The colors are rich and beautiful.
3.  The core and back of the cardstock is white which is great for writing notes, paper tearing, sanding, etc.

For my card today, I wanted to show you how I used four different shades of Memory Box green cardstock.  My card is a 5x5 card, and I cut four 2 1/4" squares out of parsley, peapod, endive, and dill cardstock.  I also cut out a square of Rhubarb Tart paper centering the pretty flower.  Here is what that looks like thus far (this picture is not true to color):

Pretty plain, huh?  Well, watch how we can dress it up!  Next I embossed each green square and then inked the edges.  I also inked the edges of the center square, added a ribbon, paperclip, sentiment, and Stickles.  I also used Pop Dots under the center square to give it a bit of dimension. Now let's look at my card:
 
 
Papers:  Memory Box Co. Rhubarb Tart; Memory Box parsley, peapod, endive, and dill cardstock
Tools:  Cuttlebug Bird & Swirls embossing folder
Stamps:  Memory Box Co. Thank You (B1055)
Stamp Ink:  Stampin' Up! garden green, Memento tuxedo black
Embellishments:  misc. ribbon, Glue Dots pop dots, paperclip, Stickles fruit punch

Look how those few things dress up this simple card.  And look how fun it is to use several shades of green cardstock!  I hope you will try dressing up your Memory Box cardstock for fun. It is really great paper to work with!  Enjoy, and on Friday, I will share another way to use your cardstock!  See you then!

Swatch Book {Part II} and RAK!

So, did you get your papers cut and labeled?  Today I wanted to share the completed swatch book with you.  To create my cover, first I cut two pieces of chipboard the same size as the swatches (2 3/4" x 4 1/4")--one for the cover and one for the back.  Then I cut two pieces of patterned paper from the Rhubarb Tart collection to cover the chipboard.

Once I attached the paper to the chipboard, I punched hole in the covers so that I would not put my embellishments where the holes would go.
 
Then I decorated the cover a bit but not too fancy as this will get some good use.  I added eyelets and large metal rings to hold it together.  You could of course bind it with your Bind-it-All or any other method you like.  I like the larger rings because it allows for growth.  The smaller rings were a very tight fit so I could not use those.  Here is my finished swatch book:
 

Papers:  Memory Box Co. Rhubarb Tart
Tools:  Crop-a-Dile
Alphas:  Rose Moka brown alpha stickers, Making Memories rub-on alphas
Stamps:  Memory Box Co. Solid Butterfly (B1048)
Stamp Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink faded jeans
Embellishments:  misc. ribbon, Heidi Swapp flower, Memory Box jewel stickers sky blue (15508), We R Memory Keepers eyelets

Now for the big surprise!  I am giving away this particular swatch book as a RAK to one of my lucky readers!  All you have to do is tell me why you would love to win this swatch book in the comment section here.  Leave your comment by this Sunday, April 19th, at 11:59 p.m. CST.  I will pick a random winner and announce on Monday!  Have a great weekend, and good luck!

Use a Flourish to Create a Branch!

Memory Box has several beautiful flourish stamps and birds, and I thought I would try and combine the two for fun!  So, I grabbed my stamps and my Rhubarb Tart papers and got to work!

To create my "branch," I stamped the Memory Box Grandiose Border stamp {E1038} onto kraft colored paper, and then I cut it out.  I mounted my "branch" to a piece of corrugated cardboard to give it a "rough" look.

Then I stamped my bird onto the same kraft colored paper and colored in my bird with my Copic markers.  I added a Memory Box jewel sticker for the bird's eye.
 
For my card base, I used a Memory Box Meadow notecard {22026}.  I then trimmed one of the beautiful green papers from the Rhubarb Tart pack and rounded the corners of both the patterned paper and notecard.  Next, I took another piece of patterned paper and tore it to fit the card.  I made it slightly larger than the cardboard piece so that you could see the contrasting paper.  Then I set the bird on the branch, added some hemp, and there you have my completed card.
 
 
Papers:  Memory Box Co. Rhubarb Tart and Meadow notecard (22026), PTI
Stamps:  Memory Box Co. Grandiose Border (E1038), Memory Box Co. Swirl Bird (C1047)
Stamp Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk dark brown and creamy brown
Embellishments:  hemp from Hobby Lobby, Copic markers Y21 and Y26, Memory Box Co. jewel stickers sparkling diamond, Dymo labeler

I hope you enjoyed this, and you really should try using a flourish as a branch!  Fun, fun!  Thanks for stopping by, and have a blessed Tuesday!