New Cottage Flower Circle Frame and Bold Friendly Greetings by Jean Okimoto

The new Cottage Flower Circle Frame is ready for spring...and so are we!  It's fresh, delicate and perfect when you need a quick card.  Finish it off with  a message and dotted strip from the Bold Friendly Greetings Clear Stamp Set.  

Hi everyone, Jean Okimoto here with a simple design for any occasion.  Add a dimensional look to your cards by pressure-embossing the delicate dies, then topping it with the diecut.  

Cut textured white cardstock with the 4" Circle Basics die.  

Separate the frame and the blossom stem of the Cottage Flower Circle Frame.  Pressure-emboss the frame onto the circle diecut.  

Cut the frame from smooth white cardstock.

Here's a tip to make it easy to attach the diecut frame to the embossed frame.  Just add  tiny dots of glue to the soon-to-be-hidden sections of the the embossed  frame instead of the delicate diecut.  Press the delicate diecut onto the embossed frame.  

Stamp the dotted strip - from the greetings set - on white cardstock with Brilliance Pearlescent Thyme. Dry the ink,then trim it to about 4-½" long.

Stamp the greeting onto white cardstock with Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid.  Trim it with the 1" x 2-¼" Rectangle Basics die.  

Cut the blossom stem from green cardstock.  Attach pink felt to adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) and diecut just the flowers.  The adhesive backing stabilizes the felt and keeps adhesives from soaking through the fabicc.

Cut the small Simple Pot from silver cardstock.

Attach all of the pieces to a side-folded 5-¼" square card - use foam dots for the greeting.

Very big thanks to everyone from Monday's SIMPLY ASIAN class at Impress!  I appreciate how so many of you drove and/or ferried to Tukwila  after days of snow, ice and slush.  Thanks also to everyone who helped shovel your driveway so you could get to Tukwila.  And thanks to Ann and Shari for helping everyone fill their shopping baskets with the new Spring Collection.   See you again at this Saturday's BIRCH PRESS GREETINGS Class at Impress!

Supplies

 

94242 Cottage Flower Circle Frame craft die

99999 Simple Garden Pots craft die

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

30087 Circle Basics Set

CL5236 Bold Friendly Greetings

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a card to share using some of the latest release. These dies and stamps are so much fun!

I loved the mermaid from the Mermaid Wonder Frame die and I cut her out in a white paper. I colored her in with Copic Markers. I took the fish from the Underwater Scene die and did the same thing. Cut out in white and then colored with Copic Markers.

For my background I used a piece of glossy photo paper. Using two different colors of liquid water colors I placed drops on the paper. Then I took my mist bottle filled with water and sprayed over the drops.

The sprays of water will send the color in different directions on your paper. If you get any pooling of color near the edges, just place a paper towel next to the paper to pull away the excess water color. Let the paper dry and then you can trim it down to fit on your card.

I finished the card off with the cute sentiment from the Ocean Typewriter Sentiments stamp set. I added some clear gems and some clear Nuvo drops to make bubbles on the water.

I hope you try out this technique, it's super fun and you get a different look each time you do it depending on how much water you spray and in what direction.

 

Supplies

 

CL5240 Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

94222 Mermaid Wonder Frame craft die

94224 Underwater Scene craft die

Hello and Welcome!  It's Isha  sharing a clean and simple, tall format card using various stamps and dies. I love creating different card style so today I have cluster and layers :)

I started by creating a white cardbase. I then stamped some hearts using very light ink colors. I  flicked some pink and gold splatters to it.

Now, I cut a panel using watercolor paper and colored it using pink watercolor, let dry. Meanwhile I die-cut a white twig, a vellum heart and the word "LOVE" using gold and white cardstock. Adhere the white LOVE word to the gold shadow die-cut.

I then die-cut the pink panel using "Heart Board" die. Once all the die-cuts were ready, I simply adhered all the pieces to the card forming a cluster.

Here is a close up

Hope you got inspired by this card. Have a wonderful crafty day! 

 

Supplies

 

94104 Heart Board craft die

94021 Snowberry Sprigs craft die

94119 Love Jotted Script craft die

32238 Have a Heart die set

CL5238 Have a Heart

Greetings friends.  You may or may not have noticed that Memory Box has a brand new release!  It has lots of new dies in time to make your Spring cards (bunnies, baskets, flowers, etc) and there are also lots of nautical dies for fun beach-themed cards (mermaids, fish, shells, etc).  There are even great sentiment stamp sets that coordinate beautifully with the new dies.

Want to check out the new collection?  You can flip through the latest catalog and see all the new items as well as samples to help inspire you. Click on the photo to go to the catalog page, or you can also see it here.

The cards today feature some of the newest dies that have been paired with cardstock in various colors as well as sponged Distress Oxide inks for coloring.

Stay tuned as we have more new samples coming during the week and next week (February 25th- March 1st) we will have chances to win some of the latest release....both on the blog and on Instagram (username memoryboxco). 

What are you most excited about in the new collection?

 

 

Supplies

 

94219 Friendly Hummingbird craft die

94242 Cottage Flower Circle Frame craft die

94235 Egg Basket Frame craft die

94237 Gentle Bunny craft die

94230 Butterfly Frond craft die

CL5239 Springtime Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

I was so excited to see the Lily of the Valley products in the NEW SPRING 2019 COLLECTION!  I have the most gorgeous Lily of the Valley garden hidden under this winter's snow...the scent in the spring will be amazing.  Today's card is one for a spring birthday and uses the two new Lily of the Valley dies and a new sentiments stamp set.

• LILY OF THE VALLEY FRAME die 94215
• LILY OF THE VALLEY SPRIGS CIRCLE die 94217
• BOLD FRIENDLY GREETINGS CL5236 Clear Stamps Set

to make the front of this card

• Start with a white side-folded notecard.
• Die cut the Lily of the Valley Frame twice, once from white cardstock and once from a warm springy green.
• Snip off the white flowers from the inner circle of Lily of the Valley blooms.
• Snip off the white large blossoms from the four corners of the Lily of the Valley square frame.
• Glue the square frame to the front of the notecard, adding the four white blossoms on top of the green ones and a little pearl at the base of each one.
• Glue the center Lily of the Valley circle inside the frame, adding the white flowers on top of the green ones.
• Glue the leaves back into their outlines.  (I did use tiny pieces of Scor-Tape on the back to hold the leaves in place before removing this piece from the die so I didn't have to glue them back in.)
• Stamp "happy birthday" from the Bold Friendly Greetings set using Hero Arts Green Hills ink on white cardstock.
• Mount this sentiment on a scrap of the green cardstock and adhere it to the front of the card.

on the inside

• Die cut the Lily of the Valley Sprigs Circle twice, once from white cardstock and once from more of the green already used.
• Layer those two images with the white one on top and slightly askew from the green one underneath.
• Die cut a circle a bit larger than the sprigs circle using the CIRCLE BASICS SET 30087 (or use another circle die or a punch).
• Glue the Lily of the Valley Sprigs Circles to the larger green circle.
• Add the large circle that was part of the Lily of the Valley Frame, snugging it close to the left edge of the solid green circle.
• Use "best wishes" from the Bold Friendly Greetings stamp set inked with Green Hills, curving it a bit on the acrylic block to fit inside the circle
  

Hope you've had a chance to look at the new Spring 2019 Collection here on the Memory Box website.  

Happy Crafting!

 

Brighten a winter day with the new Stained Glass Rose Circle Frame and a little note.  The greeting is from the new Springtime Typewriter Sentiments Clear Stamp Set.   Hello and happy weekend - Jean Okimoto here with more designs from our 2019 Spring Collection of dies and stamps.

There are many ways to use this delicately-pretty new frame.  Circles are an easy way to add a bright background to each blossom.  The ¾" circles aren't a perfect fit - but I think they add a cool, quirky pop of color.  Hope you agree!

Sponge the smoother side of watercolor paper with Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid, Pearlescent Orange and Rocket Red Gold.  Cut ¾" circles with a Circle Basics die - cut a few extras so you can chose the perfect colors.

You could glue the circles behind each delicate rose...that would take more time and patience than I have.  Here's an easier way - pressure-emboss Stained Glass Rose Circle Frame directly onto a side-folded A-2 card of white textured cardstock. The embossing shows exactly where the roses are - and adds shadowy extra dimension.  

Glue the circles onto the embossed roses - then attach the white diecut frame over the circles.  Adhere the leaves and a few spots on the frame.  You won't need any glue behind the delicate rose diecuts.

Stamp the greeting - from the Springtime Typewriter Sentiments set - on a scrap of sponged watercolor paper with VersaFine Clair Pinecone.  Use a light touch when stamping - the pearlescent inks can be a little slippery.  Heat-set the ink and trim the greeting with the ½" x 1-¾" Rectangle Basics die.  Attach it with foam dots.

Add pale pink gem stickers.

Hope our Spring Collection has arrived at your favorite retailer.  It's in stock and waiting for you at Impress!  Spring will be here soon - I hope.

If you're in the Seattle area, join us for the SIMPLY ASIAN class at Impress on February 18th, Presidents Day.  Create cards with the latest release, favorites from the stash - and designs from Birch Press and Poppystamps too.  Please call the store at 206 901.9101 to reserve a seat if you can join us.  

Thanks for visiting...enjoy your weekend!

Supplies

 

94231 Stained Glass Rose Circle Frame craft die

CL5239 Springtime Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

30087 Circle Basics Set

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

Happy Friday everyone!

Today I have a card for you which features several new products from the 2019 Spring Release.

To make this card I lightly sponged the card front with Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide ink and misted it with plain water.

Next I die cut the Hummingbird and the flower circle frame from watercolor paper.  The hummingbird was sponged with Broken China, Ripe Persimmon and Scattered Straw Distress Oxide inks.  

 

Using Distress Oxides inks, I painted the flowers in the circle frame.  I pressed the ink pads to my craft mat and used a brush to apply the inks to the die cut.  I love how soft the Distress Oxides look for this card.

I also painted a strip of watercolor paper the same color as the flowers.  I stamped the sentiment with Versa Mark Ink and heat embossed it using white embossing powder.  

To assemble the card I used foam tape to adhere the card front to a white card base and then glued the circle frame to the middle of the card.  Then I used foam tape to adhere the hummingbird and the sentiment to the card front.

I added some glass embellishments to finish off the card.

Thanks for stopping by today and have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94240 Wildflower Circle craft die

94219 Friendly Hummingbird craft die

CL5237 Best Life Typewriter Sentiments

Let's celebrate Valentine's Day by meeting the new Happy Octopus die set - and matching him up with some favorites from our Valentine's Collection.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here with the first of many wonderful new dies from our Spring Collection.  I think he's perfect for the transition from one great release to the next.  

Cut the main section of the octopus from gray cardstock and attach a scrap of black cardstock behind the eyes.  Cut two more of the octopus from black cardstock and layer them for dimension.

Cut two sets of tentacles from gray cardstock.

Paint watercolor paper with turquoise and green dye inks.  Airdry it, then spritz it with Imagine Crafts Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz.  Heat-set it.  Cut it with the ring and waves.  Cut another set from black cardstock.

Attach the octopus and two tentacles to the waves.  Slip the bottoms of the six tentacles in the foreground through the wave slots and tape the ends on the back.

Layer the black diecuts behind the watercolored pieces to add dimension and highlight the details on both pieces.

Cut four hearts of glittered red cardstock with Heart Board.

Cutting Sending Jotted Script from gray and white cardstock.  Leave the tiny dot over the "i" in the die until you're ready to attach it.

Prep gray cardstock with anti-static powder.  Stamps "hugs" - from the Best Life Typewriter Sentiments Clear Stamp Set - with VersaMark.  Emboss it with detail white powder.

Attach the pieces to a top-folded white A-2 card.

I think you'll love the new Spring Collection.  It's filled with butterflies, flowers, Easter icons and nautical designs - and three must-have greetings stamp sets.  We're looking forward to sharing our new designs and ideas with you!

Thanks for visiting...

 

Supplies

 

94104 Heart Board craft die

94073 Sending Jotted Script craft die

CL5237 Best Life Typewriter Sentiments

94227 Happy Octopus craft die

Hello everyone.  This is Trina and I am sharing a CAS birthday card today made with products from the Valentine’s Collection.  

This card came about because I really wanted to use the bike from Neighborhood Heart Frame.  The bike was die cut from X-press It cardstock and coloured in with Copics.  The bike was a bit flimsy, so a second bike was die cut from black cardstock and adhered behind.  The heart balloons were also die cut from X-press It cardstock using a heart die from Have a Heart and coloured in with Copics.  

The sentiment from Best Life Typewriter stamp set was white heat embossed on a black strip.  The sky background was created by sponging Tumled Glass and Salty Ocean distress inks over a cloud border stencil on an A2 sized white panel.  Drew in the balloon strings with a ruler and black Copic multiliner, then assembled the card.  Crystal glaze was added to the balloons for some shine and dimension.  Once dry, white highlights were added with a white gel pen to finish.

That does it for me.  Happy Valentine’s Eve.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a great day.

 

 

Supplies

 

94102 Neighborhood Heart Frame craft die

CL5237 Best Life Typewriter Sentiments

32238 Have a Heart die set

With Valentine's Day coming up fast I have a quick and easy card that would be perfect for this  week or even a wedding or baby shower card. It would be easy to change up the colors to fit the theme of the bridal shower or baby shower.

I started with some bright pink paper and die cut the Heart Sprinkles die. It's so cute! Then I layered it on a lighter pink paper before putting it on the card.

The stamp set from Birch Press Designs called Wishing You the Best has so many great sentiments to choose from. The showering you with love is so cute, I stamped it on the side of the card and then finished it off with some little enamel heart stickers that I had.

Have a wonderful day!

 

Supplies

 

94112 Heart Sprinkles craft die

CL8127 Wishing You the Best clear stamp set

I decided this past week to recycle some holiday gift boxes for packaging Valentine treats.

I began by using Scor-Tape to mount pretty pink papers on the top and side edges of each of the boxes.  (These papers are from a Papertrey Ink collection.)

For the top of this box, I added a WRAPPED CIRCLE 30114 cut from white cardstock with a pink cardstock heart cut using one of the dies from the HAVE A HEART set 30118.  I used foam dots to secure some flowers to the heart.  I also used a white grosgrain ribbon around the sides of the box top and added a light pink bow tie at the front.

I started by papering this box with a shimmer pink cardstock.  I added a smaller piece of pink-white striped paper on the top of the box before placing a large white doily in the center.  I chose a die from the STITCHED SCALLOPED CIRCLES set 30047 ( a set from 2015 no longer in stock--Don't have this die?  Use another Wrapped Circle, a heart, or a punched shape for the center!) and cut it from more of the striped paper, doing my best to line up the stripes when I glued it to the doily.  I used glue dots and foam dots for the white leaves and the pink flowers cluster on one edge of the scalloped circle.  I tucked in a small pink gingham bow and put a small white heart on each corner--these were left from cutting out the BRIGHT HEARTS 94120 from an earlier card project.  (I have a small yogurt cup on my work table holding lots of these little hearts in white, pink, and red.)

For this little square box, I used a smaller doily and a smaller Stitched Scallop Circle in the center for the top.  What you don't see in this photo are all of the hearts glued on the box top edges, more leftovers from cutting out the Bright Hearts die.

Once I got started I could hardly stop!  Here are some of the red ones...

Here I used the WOODLAND HEART FRAME 94121 on the top.  All four sides of the box have red cardstock Wrapped Circles under white cardstock Wrapped Circles that have then been cut again with the Bright Hearts 94120 die.

This box has a white cardstock Wrapped Circle on the front with a red cardstock heart from the Have a Heart set of dies in the center.  Then there's the little HEART GIFT BOX 99954 on top of that with a smaller white heart to cover the window opening.  I glued on some red and white stamens and a small red rose before tucking a folded doily into the heart box.

For this tall square box I used the PINPOINT HEART CIRCLE FRAME 94106 on the top of the box, adding tiny pearls on the hearts, larger pearls at the ends of the spiral vines, and a cluster of flowers in the center. All four sides of the box have red cardstock Wrapped Circles under white cardstock Wrapped Circles that have then been cut again with the Bright Hearts 94120 die.

Now I'm thinking ahead to Easter gift boxes and looking at the newest Spring 2019 collection for inspiration!  

Happy Crafting!

Our friends at Simple Pleasures in Colorado Springs, CO have asked us again this year to design something special for their anniversary celebration (24 years young!) and we couldn't have been more honored!

We are switching it up a bit this year - and creating small sentiment sets that feature a "focus word" and a matching die. These fun little sets allow you to create a changeable sentiment on your card simply by pairing the focus word with any number of sentiments.

The CL302 Thank set is such a great basic - stamp and cut the large THANK image and then pair that with the others...

THANK goodness we are friends

THANK you for everything

This will be a set you use over and over!

The CL304 Pawsome set is great for making cards for the pet lovers on your list! Such sweet sentiments here...

You are perfectly PAWSOME

PAWSOME friends forever

Dog moms and dads everywhere can now receive some really cute greeting cards!

The CL301 Sympathy set is understated and touching - combine multiple stamps and the sympathy image to create longer phrases...

With deepest Sympathy during this difficult time

With heartfelt sympathy in your time of loss

And finally the  CL303 You set - a terrific set of phrases to help you craft some cards for all the important people in your life!

YOU are the best

I'm here for YOU

YOU mean so much to me

You'll use these sets a lot - the classic font can go with nearly every style!

And yes, there is a matching die in each set that corresponds to the focus word!

To order these sets from Simple Pleasures, please visit their website where you can find all the details - or give them a call at (719) 528 - 1338.

 

 

Greetings friends.  Today I want to talk about layering stamped images to get a raised metallic look.  The Have a Heart stamp set has several stamps that are meant to be layered on top of each other, which makes it a great set for this technique.

The first step is to stamp the solid heart with red ink onto white cardstock.  I placed my paper inside a stamp positioner to help line up the images.  I don't know if you can see from the picture, but I also added a piece of removable tape to help stamp in a straight line:

The next step is very important.  You have to let the ink dry completely before you do any embossing.  I let my ink dry and then added a layer of talc to make sure my next step wouldn't stick to the red heart.  I then stamped decorative stripes on top of the hearts using Versamark ink and gold embossing powder.  Here is what the stripes look like before you emboss:

And after you emboss:

Embossing the stripes in gold gives you a raised texture to the card and adds a lot of sparkle to the card.  I made sure to add some gold metallic paper behind my cardstock to make the gold embossing "pop" even more.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

 

 

Supplies

 

CL5238 Have a Heart

CL5237 Best Life Typewriter Sentiments