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Peonies are among the first to reappear each spring - here's our version, the new Vintage Peony stamp, from the Song of Spring Collection.
It's stamped with VersaMark on a background print from the Frond 6x6 Set - then chalked. Layer it over Vintage Notes, add an accent strip (also from Frond), a simple greeting and Grass Green Jewel Stickers. Guaranteed to add an upbeat moment to anyone's day!
Here's a new stamp from our Easter Suite Collection. It's a perfectly-balanced tree, adorned with eggs - just waiting for you to add the finishing touch with Smooch Accent Inks, markers, watercolors or color pencils. I took the easy route here - and Smooched them in shades of Pool, Taffy, Green Apple, Kiwi, Sundance and Grape Soda.
It's an easy card to make - and you can vary the colors, adding more of your recipient's favorite shades. Have fun with this one!
The new Clear Tree Border, from our Song of Spring Collection, offers so many options. Watercolors, chalks, color pencils, markers, or punches - and it's a stamp that works for all seasons too. I wanted something quick, colorful, and similar to the pale pink cherry blossoms that are appearing early this year. The Gossamer 6x6 Set is perfect for this. The strip of dark brown with pink dots is from our Poppystamps Snow and Cedar 6x6 Set.
If "worktable cluttering" was an Olympic event, I'd win the gold medal. My work area is somewhat organized - and I like to clean up after each project. Somehow - one card later - it's a total mess again! Does this happen to anyone else?
Although it seems as though it was just Valentine's Day (it was!) - it's time to start on Easter cards using our great new stamps from the Easter Suite Collection. Here's a peek at the new stamps that are on the way - and the Retailers who have already ordered them. Hope your favorite store is listed here!
We have a new Notecard color... Dove Gray, and it's a perfect match for our Spearmint, Gossamer and Frond 6x6's and their 12x12's too. It also coordinates beautifully with our Soiree Shimmer and Matte stationery - a few of the 32 colors are shown here.
OK - you're probably wondering how anyone can be thrilled enough to blog about gray notecards, considering all the other great Memory Box colors we already have. Maybe it's a function of age, AARP and all of that good stuff. Or maybe it's because Dove Gray enhances other colors and looks great with brights, pastels and other neutrals.
I love gray, and laugh when I recall that a designer told me - about three years ago - that gray would never become popular and that chartreuse would be gone in two years.
Here's Dove Gray with two of our new spring stamps - First Flight and Springtime Wishes Block - and more butterflies punched from Soiree Lake, Celery and Aqua Matte Cardstock. The background is from our Skylights 12x12 print. I punched an extra set of Dove Gray butterflies and layered them beneath the Soiree butterflies to add dimension and create the illusion of a soft shadow.
The glimmery pearlescence of a Soiree Grass A2 Card creates a nice contrast around the soft matte finishes of the new Frond 6x6 prints and ColorBox Chalk inks
The Blooming Tree stamp and Spring/Sings Combo greeting are part of our latest release - Song of Spring - scheduled to arrive in stores towards the end of the week. Trees, flowers, birds and a wonderful new Springtime Wishes Block help welcome the new season. If only the weather would take a hint from the new release!
It's easy to also imagine the tree covered in shades of Pink Pastel, Berrylicious or Blush Rose for spring and summer cards. Then - in the fall - reach for your Pumpkin Spice or Burnt Sienna inkpads. And finally, for winter cards - Alabaster highlighted with sparkly Winter Frost Glitter and Memory Box Sparkling Diamond Jewel Stickers.
A 4.25" wide piece of our new White Willow 12x12 print becomes a "horizontal matchbook" card in soft shades of cream, aqua, green and dusty brown. The range of colors in the print creates a nice contrast, and forms a border for the folded edge.
I've re-discovered my ribbon-slotting punch and plan to use it often on similar cards featuring our six new 12x12 sheets from the Frond and Spearment Collections. I wish I had thought of this a long time ago!
One more heartfelt greeting for the last-minute Valentiners among us...
Valentine wishes on a pretty pink door hanger would be a fun way to surprise someone next Sunday. The Gossamer 6x6 Set - and matching Flitter 12x12 print - make it a sweet and easy project.
Yes, I admit it took me longer to tie the little bows than everything else combined - but I think the bright pink ribbon coordinates nicely with the punched Soiree Azalea Cardstock hearts and Hot Pink Pearl Stickers. Like dark chocolate truffles...one can never have too many pinks at Valentine's.
A great thing about hearts, flowers and pinks and browns is that they are timeless design elements. A simple change of the greeting - and this idea could easily convey birthday, get well, thinking of you or congratulatory wishes. It could even welcome a new baby girl.
Our surprisingly warm weather - clear, sunny and 56 degrees today - makes it feel as though spring has arrived in Seattle. Shrubs and perennials are starting up again - and the yard (it's not officially a "garden" yet) is filled with tiny pale green leaves and tender shoots. It's a good time to start on spring greetings.
We're also launching a new Color of the Month program - introducing a collection of special notecards in limited edition colors. It's for those of us who just have to have the perfect color for each card. "Seedling" is our choice for March. It's a soft, fresh green that complements our new Frond and Spearmint 6x6 Sets - and is great with our Gossamer prints too. It also matches Memento Pear Tart inkpads. Be sure your Retailer is participating in the new program - so you'll have a pack (or two, or three) and be ready to create along with us in March.
Tracy - of Photoscraps in Maryland - sent us these beautiful cards by Laura Etchemaite. Batik Birds (D1313) and Lovey Dovey Tree (E1308) from our Valentine Studio Collection and great layering techniques create beautiful cards in a wonderful palette of refreshing colors.
Enjoy!
Love you card
Laura Etchemaite
(size:5 1/2" x 4 1/2" closed)
Supplies:cardstock Bazzill. Patterned paper: Origins and Bittersweet from Basic Grey. Stamps: Lovey Dovey from Memory Box, Simple Valentine from Papertrey Ink. Stickles, brown pen.
Directions:
1- Make card from cardstock.
2- Adhere patterned paper.
3- Make the hill with coordinated pattered paper.
4- Stamp the tree image on the card and on several different pink patterned papers.
5- Cut out the hearts from the pink papers and adhere them on the front of the card with foam tape of different thickness.
6- Apply stickles on the hearts.
7- Draw and cut clouds from white cardstock.
8- Adhere them to the card using foam tape. Apply stickles.
9- Doodle around the edges with brown pen and stamp sentiment.
Share your heart card
Laura Etchemaite
(Size:5 1/2" x 4 1/4" closed)
Supplies: Cardstock: coral and cream from Bazzill, brown from Hero Arts. Patterend paper: Nook & Pantry and Sugar Rush from Basic Grey. Stamps: Batick Birds from Memory Box, La Lettre and Valentine Sayings from Hero Arts. Ink: Versamark, Scattered Straw distress ink from Rangers, Rich Cocoa from Lasting Impressions, coral and brown from My Mind's Eye chalk inks. Ribbon. White pen from uni-ball Signo. Pearls stickers in hot pink from Memory Box. Scalloped punch from Stampin'up.
Directions:
1- Make card from brown cardstock.
2- Cut patterned paper, round one corner, adhere to card and draw faux stiches around it.
3- Cut a 2 1/8" x 2 1/8" piece of yellow patterned paper. Stamp La lettre on it with Scattered Straw ink.
4- Clear emboss Batik Birds on top.
5- Sponge with coral chalk ink the birds and with brown the branches. Wipe the image with a slighty wet paper towel to remove the excess of ink.
6- Embellish with pearls.
7- Adhere the image with foam tape to a light blue paper.
8- Adhere them to a larger piece of coral cardstock. Stamp sentiment and tie ribbon.
9- Cut a piece of cream cardstock and scallop one edge. Adhere the coral panel to it using foam tape.
10- Adhere to the front of the card using foam tape.
