Create x3

Various {Hearts}

Today I thought we would take a quick break from our holiday creations and play with one of my favorite stamps--the Memory Box Vine Heart stamp {D377}.  Even though I love this stamp, sometimes it is a bit too large for what I need.  Today, I am going to show you how to make various sized hearts out of this one stamp!

To begin, I stamped the vine heart three times using three different Memento inks.  I stamped them onto Memory Box sherbet and poppy blue cardstock and also on Memory Box 6x6 Sweetbay patterned paper.

Then, I cut out the larger "Sweetbay (green)" heart leaving it the original size.  I then used my Quickutz heart dies to punch out several different sized hearts.  Notice how part of the vine image remains on the smaller hearts. After punching the hearts out, I did ink the edges of each heart.  I also used my EK Success punch to punch the edges of a white piece of cardstock.

And to finish, I put all of my elements together to create this thank you card. The sentiment is a rub-on, and notice how I added some Memory Box jewels to the largest heart.
 
 
Papers:  Bazzill, Memory Box sapphire, sherbet, & blue poppy CS; Memory Box Sweetbay
Stamps:  Memory Box Vine Heart D377
Stamp Ink:  Memento danube blue, bamboo leaves, tangelo, rich cocoa
Embellishments: Memory Box grass green jewels, Bazzill ribbon, Quickutz rub-on sentiment, Quickutz heart die cuts, EK Success scalloped scallop edge punch, misc. corrugated cardboard

So, just because a stamp may seem too large, don't ever hesitate to think about using a punch or die cut to make it smaller.  I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial!  See you next time!

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!

Paper Piecing Artsy Owl {Part II}

So, did you get your owl pieced the way you want him?  I hope you had fun!  If you missed the instructions for my pieced owl that we will use on today's card, see my post from Tuesday here.  Today we are going to use our pieced owl and create a card.

To start, I knew I wanted my owl to be on a branch.  So, I took a Maya Road tree branch and traced it to make my own tree branch on a piece of corrugated cardboard.  The branch was a bit too small so I elongated it a bit for my branch.

After tracing and cutting out my branch the way I wanted it, I sponged a bit of ink onto it.

Then I chose another piece of Sweetbay paper for the background on my card.  I embossed it with a Cuttlebug Forest Branches embossing folder, and I distressed and inked the edges.
 
Next, I used my sewing machine to sew on the card and the piece of Sweetbay paper.  I also wrapped a piece of hemp around the paper for more texture and fun.

Next, it was time to attached the branch and the owl to finish my card.  I also added buttons to his eyes and used a rub-on sentiment.  Here is how my owl card turned out:
 
 
Papers:  Memory Box Co. Sweetbay, Paper Trey Ink
Stamps:  Memory Box Co. Artsy Owl F1258
Stamp Ink:  VersaFine vintage sepia
Embellishments: hemp from Hobby Lobby, Cuttlebug forest branches embossing folder, Crate Paper rub-on, Basic Grey archaic buttons

I would love to see your pieced owl card. If you piece an Artsy Owl {F1258} stamp, please be sure to come back here and leave a link so I can look.  I am sure others would love to see it too!  I hope you have enjoyed this.  Have a great day!

Paper Piecing Artsy Owl {Part I}

I love the Memory Box Artsy Owl {B1258} stamp but this is one I haven't had time to play with either.  So, for the next two posts, we are going to design with the Artsy Owl stamp.

For today's post, we will piece our owl.  I love to paper piece but I don't do it very often.  This is the perfect stamp for paper piecing.  First, I started by stamping the whole owl on background paper I chose from the Memory Box Sweetbay collection.  Then I stamped parts of the body onto different papers from the same paper pack.

After that, I cut out the feathers.  Then I layed the feathers on the image starting from the bottom up to make sure they would all be the right fit.  Now you can see too that I stamped his wings and ears onto the green paper to the left.  I ended up using 5 different papers from the Memory Box Sweetbay collection to piece my owl.
 
After I cut out the wings, I attached them first to my "base owl" using my adhesive.  Once the wings were attached, I began permanently adhering the feathers from the bottom up just as I did when I was making sure that they would fit properly.

For my final piecing on the owl, I stamped and cut out the eyes and nose.  Once my owl was completely pieced as I wanted him, I cut him out, and he is now ready to use on my card.

Next time, we will put together our card using our pieced owl.  Have fun piecing your owl, and see you soon!

Create a Scene with Several Stamps!

Today, I wanted to show you how to create a scene using several stamps.  First, I looked at my Memory Box stamps and decided I wanted to use the following stamps: Just a Note {B1053}, Bare Oak {F1177}, and Forget Me Not Spring {C1041}.  As I chose the stamps, I knew I wanted to create a Fall scene depicting the leaves falling off of the tree.  So, after picking my stamps, I picked my papers--I wanted papers that had greens and browns so I chose Memory Box Sweetbay papers.

Next, I stamped the tree onto the plain colored Sweetbay paper.  I used VersaFine ink because it is great in capturing fine details such as the small branches in the tree.
 
Then I used just a portion of the Forget Me Not Spring {C1041} stamp to stamp leaves on several different designs of the Sweetbay papers.  After stamping, I cut out the leaves with my scissors.  I also used three different ink colors.
 
Once my leaves were stamped and cut out, I started placing them on the tree. And I also inked up my sponge to create the grass at the base of the tree.
 
After my scene was complete, I put together my card.  And here is how it turned out:
 
 
Papers:  Memory Box Co. Sweetbay and Memory Box Co. Vanilla Bean (44044)
Tools:  Creative Memories circle maker, A Muse stamp positioner
Stamps:  Memory Box Co. Just a Note B1053, Memory Box Co. Bare Oak F1177, Memory Box Co. Forget Me Not Spring C1041
Stamp Ink:  Adirondack lettuce, Adirondack citrus, Memento bamboo leaves, VersaFine vintage sepia
Embellishments:  Creative Café button, misc. ribbon

So, don't limit your creativity!  Think of how you can combine stamps, use just a part of a stamp, etc., to create something unique and fun!  Happy stamping!