InKollage

Biking by Moonlight

Cool, crisp fall evenings are perfect for leisurely bikerides...so is the Brand New Bicycle 98404 under the canopy of the Orchard Tree Frame 98300.  A moon of Parchment Cardstock and tiny dots of Sweet Orange Glitter illuminate the night sky.

The Memory Box Metal Adapter Plate is a great addition to your regular diecutting plates when you're using intricate dies like Brand New Bicycle and Orchard Tree Frame.  Here's the stacking sequence I use with the Big Kick:

• Multi-purpose Platform
• Metal Adapter Plate
• Cutting Plate
• Die - face-up
• Cardstock
• Cutting Plate

This sequence shields the Metal Adapter Plate from the curling and scratching of the top cutting plate.

Use the Metal Adapter Plate and other required plates to diecut the Brand New Bicycle from Jack o' Lantern Cardstock and the Orchard Tree Frame from Mocha Cardstock.  Punch a 1" circle of Parchment Cardstock for the moon.  

Diecut the 6x6" Blackbird print for the background with the Debutante Frame 98297.  Punch little holes in five of the background starbursts and attach Scotch tape behind the holes.  Use a paintbrush to brush Clearsnap Sweet Orange Glitter onto the adhesive in the punched holes.

Layer the pieces and attach them to a Crimson Notecard - use foam dots to attach the tires, seat and pedal of the bicycle.  Coordinate the card with a matching Crimson Envelope.

Have fun with variations of this card too.  Change the background for different seasons - soft greens and flowerbuds for spring or a bright yellow sun and big blossoms for summer.  View the Memory Box Dies here. 

Three Ghosties

A Black Velvet Smooch-Spritzed Mango background and the Moonlight Woods F1885 stamp create a quick backdrop for some new Memory Box dies.  Ghost Trio 98376 is cut from glossy white cardstock and Swooping Bats 98409 look great in black felt.  

There are so many great Halloween and Fall stamps and dies in the Holiday 2012 release - get an early start on your projects and make a variety of cards. There's no rule requiring the same card for everyone - so be creative and have fun!

Everyone has quite a stash of dies now.  If you're looking for more ways to use enjoy them throughout the year (like 365 days!) - join us for the Memory Box Calendar class at the Tukwila Impress on Monday September 3rd.  I'll diecut everything ahead of time - so all you'll have to do is assemble a simple easel, stamp quickly, and play with paper and diecuts!  Please call the the store to pre-register (206 901.9101) - the class requires a lot of prep and I want to be sure to have kits for everyone who loves Memory Box.  

It's a great way to celebrate Labor Day with dies, stamps and papers proudly made in the USA.  Here are some  class designs - we'll make a seasonal or holiday frame for each month...

And here's a link to a Poppystamps project - a veggie garden card:  

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Butterflies, Classes and a 25th Birthday Celebration!

Coordinating dies - Delia Butterfly 98353 and the intricate Finn Butterfly - make a quick summer card for any occasion.  I love how the soft translucence of vellum creates a shadowy effect on the Bill of Sale background here.  The delicate Finn Butterfly overlay really pops against the Kiwi vellum - add a few of the cutouts to create a design-within-a-design. 

We'll be playing with a lot of Memory Box dies, papers and stamps at Impress this weekend.  It's Birthdays Happen! at Bellevue from 11:00-1:00 on Saturday July 21st - here are 2 Memory Box cards from that class:

July 21st is also a special day for Impress - it's their 25th Birthday celebration!  Join the celebration at all three stores and enjoy a 25% discount on purchases that day.  It's their way of thanking you for your support, friendship and creativity throughout the years!

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A Branch in Bloom

Create a colorful card to celebrate a summer birthday with the Grove Branch 98311, Grove Leaves 98348 and Floral Delights 98349. The sweet little Floral Delights flowers don't just look pretty - they multi-task and help attach the delicate branches to the background too!

View the Memory Box Dies from the Summer Collection - and classic favorites - here.

Summer classes begin this week - it's Birthdays Happen! at the Tukwila Impress on the 4th of July.  It's a fun, fast-paced class - we'll make five cards and a quick tag.  Here are two Memory Box cards:

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Smiling Thoughts

The Orchard Tree Frame Die 98300 is a great backdrop for every season.  Layer it with the Debutante Frame Die 98297 and Fresh Fruit 12x12 print for a sun-splashed summer background.  Add the Hanging Monkey C1753 diecut with one of the Monkey Mania Dies 98112- and your card will make anyone smile!

Add a bit of dimension to an otherwise flat card by diecutting an extra monkey from scrap cardboard and layering it behind the stamped monkey.  Thick (1/8") foam squares on the ends of the greeting strip make it look like the monkey is holding a sign.  Just a few tricks to add some interest to your card.

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Bloomin' Birthday

Let the Dancing Tulips Die 98295 do a birthday dance with a cheery flower!  The Blooming Rosette Die 98121 and decorative center from the Woodrow Rosette Die 98250 show how easily the rosette sets can be mixed and matched into an array of flowers and medallions.

It's fun to combine vintage-y images like  Distressed Garden Record G1848 with bright contemporary dots.  A quick greeting - Happiest Birthday B1354 - adds the final touch. View all of the great Memory Box stamps, papers and dies here.  Clearsnap's Archival Dye Inkpads create quick, fast-drying backgrounds and greetings.  

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Spring Songbird

A glittered diecut songbird perches on a delicate branch to welcome Spring today in Seattle today!  I love how the Poppystamps Nestled Bird 817 works perfectly with the Memory Box Leafy Branch Globe E1850.

The watercolor-y background is simple, quick and always unique.  It's a blend of inks from the Colorbox Playground Multi-Color Inkpad, spritzed with water.  Create a stash of these backgrounds and have them ready for your next Memory Box moment.

Here are 3 of the cards from the next Beyond the Box class, at the Tukwila Impress on April 29th.  We're using our favorite Memory Box stamps, dies and papers and taking them beyond everyday designs with a variety of inking, layering and stamping techniques.  

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