Today I have three cards made from three of my plaid collections envelopes that I posted last Monday.  Remember these?  You can find that post here.

I thought I might begin with this envelope...

And here is the finished card, both the front and the inside.

I used a white notecard as a backdrop for the darker red plaid and used a white cardstock mat behind the brighter red plaid before layering on the holly branch and the cardinal.  I used a different red plaid for the background inside.  Then I layered on a white square on more of the bright red plaid before adding another holly branch.  In retrospect I think I should have added another white mat behind that second plaid so it would show up more.  The holly branch and the cardinal are from the Spirit of Christmas stamps and dies set.

For the second card I used leafy stems from the Berry Wreath stamp and die set on three different plaid layers.  I really like the way these three different plaids work so well with each other and the watercolored leafy stems.

I made it originally to be a top fold card, but it also works with the side fold.

For the third card I used my favorite red/orange plaid matched up with an orange striped paper on the front and a red dot paper on the inside.

Again the striped paper under the white box on the inside gets lost against the dots so I think another white mat would look better...something I'll keep in mind as I complete more cards from these envelopes.  

materials used for these cards

• white notecards and cardstock
• Memory Box WATERCOLOR PAPER WP101
• CHRISTMAS PLAID 6 X 6 PAPER PACK PP1009
• GARLAND STRIPES AND DOTS 6 X 6 PAPER PACK PP1011
• SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS STAMPS/DIES SET CL5261-D
• BERRY WREATH STAMPS/DIES SET CL5260-D
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne (black) ink
• pan watercolors and water brushes

Have you been using the plaid papers in interesting ways?  This month's challenge on the blog is Playing with Plaids.  Check out that post for more inspiration!

Happy Crafting!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Sunday everyone.  October is breast cancer awareness month and there are several challenges honoring it with a pink theme.  I’m sure you’ve figured out where my inspiration came from. 😉  One of the challenges is generously donating $4 per entry to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  Pretty amazing, right?  So if you are interested in entering to donate, head on over to the Jingle Belles challenge HERE.  

Okay, now onto my simple pink Christmas card.  Started by die cutting the Charming Snowman Collage die from mixed media paper resulting in this.

Adhered a torn snowy ground mask to the bottom of the panel, and ink blended Spun Sugar and Picked Raspberry distress inks (DI) with blender brushes to create the bright pink sky.  After the photo was taken, I lightly blended Black Soot DI around the top and side edges.  Spritz it with water then blot with a paper towel to give it texture.

Die cut the snowman again, this time from white glitter paper in the Frosted Glitter Pad.  Colored the outline piece with Copic Sketch markers C00, C1, C3 and 100 (arms), then inlaid it into the panel. 

For better details and definition, the hat and scarf were die cut from alcohol ink friendly paper, colored with Copic markers then pieced on top.  The mixed media eyes, nose and buttons were also colored with Copic markers then inlaid back.  Black heat embossed the sentiment from Spirit of Christmas stamp set with clear glitter embossing powder and mounted the panel to a white card base to finish.

Not my usual or comfortable color to create with, but it was a fun change up.  And that’s it for today.  Thank you for joining me.  Have a wonderful week.

 

Supplies

 

94498 Charming Snowman Collage craft die

GP1004 Frosted Glitter Pad

CL5261 Spirit of Christmas clear stamp set

Hello and welcome!  Today I have made two slimline Christmas cards using some of the newly released dies from Memory Box.  I used the new "Knotted Diamond Background" die cutting it twice and putting one on the top half of the slimline and the other on the bottom half.  The sentiments are in the center where the two larger dies meet.

I cut the background die twice from the beautiful turquoise glitter paper in the "Twinkling Jewel Glitter" paper pack and also  from white card stock for my first card.  I adhered the white diamond backgrounds to the card base, then paper pieced in the glitter paper inside the white die cut.  For the sentiment, I cut the largest "Knotted Circle Wreath" die from black and white card stock and pieced it together before stamping/heat embossing the sentiment from the "Spirit of Christmas" stamp set.  The tiny bow on the circle is from the "Mistletoe Bundle" die and it is cut from the turquoise glitter paper.

Next, I added some red metallic pen dots where the lines crossed in the background and added clear gems on top of the red dots.  I have used the technique a lot because it actually saves quite a bit of money on gems if you just use clear ones, but color the spot underneath where you adhere it.  To add a little to the sentiment circle I adhered three tiny snowflake sequins from my stash.

Here's one last look at my first card:

Here's my second slimline card made with some of the leftovers from my first card:

For my second card, I used the two leftover turquoise "Knotted Diamond Background" dies and backed them with two cut rectangles from the "Delicate Paster Glitter Paper."  I cut the "Mistletoe Wreath" out of red glitter paper and added it to the center of my card.  The heat embossed sentiments from the "Berry Wreath" stamp set was placed on foam tape right where the two diamond background dies met in the center.  Here's a closer look so you can see the lovely shine and glitter up close:

I love being able to get a second card by using the leftovers from one card and adding just a few extras to it.  Be sure to check out all the brand new release goodies from Memory Box, there are some really gorgeous products!  Thanks so much for stopping by and see you next time!

 

 

Supplies

 

94482 Knotted Circle Wreaths craft die

94488 Knotted Diamond Background craft die

GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

CL5261 Spirit of Christmas clear stamp set

94484 Mistletoe Bundle craft die

GP1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

94489 Mistletoe Wreath craft die

CL5260 Berry Wreath clear stamp set

Hello there! Michelle here, sharing a non traditional Christmas wreath. I used the stamp set Berry Wreath and the coordinating die. I stamped the wreath using Memento Ink in desert sand and used a no line coloring technique.  I used Copic Markers to color in shades B21, B23, B39, BV04 (blue shaded berries); BG11, BG23, BG75, BV20 (aqua shaded berries); W2, W5, BG96, BG99 (leaves). Die cut after coloring is complete.

Trim and score a card base 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.  I trimmed a piece of black gingham pattern paper from Christmas Plaid 6x6 paper pad.  Adhere to the card base. Situate the wreath and mark where you want to trim the excess. Also mark where you want your sentiment.

Emboss the sentiment with gold powder. Adhere the wreath with foam tape. For a finishing touch I splattered some gold paint, scattered some sequins,  and added a twine bow with bells. 

Thanks for stopping by for a peek!

Hope you enjoy your weekend!

 

Supplies

 

CL5260-D Berry Wreath clear stamp and die set

PP1009 Christmas Plaid 6x6 pack

Diecut a Pinpoint Snowflake Plate and construct the new Charming Snowman Collage, complete with paper-pieced glittery accents.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with two of our newest holiday designs.  It feels like we skipped fall and went directly from summer to winter...so let's build a snowman today.

Cut Pinpoint Snowflake Plate and the mid-sized Stylish Rectangle from smooth white cardstock.  Cut Charming Snowman Collage from the rectangle offcut.  

Attach black and orange cardstock scraps for the head, eyes, nose and buttons.  The buttons are actually partially-cut, but I used a skewer to push the cardstock back and form squarish circles, like lumps of coal.

Cut the scarf from the green 6x6 Holiday Glitter Pad sheet. A tip - turn the glittered cardstock over and trim the scarf from the white side if the glitter and shiny blade make it hard to see what you're trimming. Cut the twiggy arms from dark kraft cardstock - including the sections that extend from the arm over to the edge of the snowman.  Place pieces of tape across backside of the collage where the scarf and arms will be inserted and press the diecuts onto the exposed adhesive.

Attach the Poppystamps Flurries Wide Washi Tape to black cardstock.  Another tip - run the tape-covered cardstock through your diecut machine with the cutting plate(s) to firmly compress the tape. Attach the tape-covered cardstock behind the snowman to fill the outlines. 

Cut Resting Birds from the red Holiday Glitter Pad sheet.

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded textured dark gray A-2 card.

Cut smooth white cardstock with the smallest Stylish Rectangle die.  Stamp the greeting - from the Christmas Tiles Clear Stamp Set - with Tulip Red VersaFine Clair.  Add a Resting Bird.

Here's a link to view our latest release - including some beautiful designs from Birch Press Designs too.  It's a very contemporary collection of favorite holiday icons.  Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting...see you next week!

 

 

94498 Charming Snowman Collage craft die

94513 Pinpoint Snowflake Plate craft die

94416 Stylish Rectangle Trio

CL5263 Christmas Tiles clear stamp set

98527 Resting Birds

GP1005 Holiday Glitter Pad

WT302 Flurries Wide Washi Tape

Hello everyone.  I have another simple Christmas card to share today featuring the just released Mistletoe Bundle die and a fun and easy watercolor background technique called Print Making Coloring that Kathy Racoosin shared HERE.  

The mistletoe was die cut from Memory Box (MB) watercolor paper and placed on top of a full sheet of MB watercolor paper.  Spritz lightly with water then started watercoloring the mistletoe using Zig markers.

Spritz more water to get the colors to move and flow over onto the bottom piece.  While the mistletoe is still wet, flipped it over onto the panel to make the “print(s)”.  I wanted a lighter print background, so I used more water and added less color to the die-cut.  Repeated the process until I was happy with it.

For texture and more interest, added black splatters.  Set aside to dry.

Next, die cut a window opening from Bristol paper using Double Stitch Rectangle.  Heat embossed the sentiment from Berry Wreath stamp set with Liquid Platinum embossing powder on the bottom.

The bow and Stitch Rectangle Trimmings frame were die cut from gold foil paper in the Polished Foil Pad.  The berries were die cut from white glitter paper in the Frosted Glitter Pad.  Used C1 and C3 Copic markers to add shading to them.  Adhered the print background piece directly onto the card base.  Popped the Bristol panel on top with foam tape then assembled the card to finish.

More new products have been added to the Holiday collection, so make sure to check them out.  And that does it for today.  Thank you for joining me.  Have a wonderful day. 

 

Supplies

 

94484 Mistletoe Bundle craft die

94360 Double Stitch Rectangle Cut Out

30082 Stitched Rectangle Trimmings

CL5260 Berry Wreath clear stamp set

WP101 Watercolor Paper

FP1001 Polished Foil Pad pack

GP1004 Frosted Glitter Pad

Greetings friends.  I thought I would give you a small sneak peek of new items that will be released tomorrow.  One of my favorite new dies is the Bountiful Wreath.  The reason I like it so much is that it is just so practical.  Of course you can use it for autumn and Christmas, but you can use it for other holidays as well!  I immediately knew that I wanted to make a Halloween wreath.  I think it is also the first time I have ever made a gray wreath!

To make the card, I cut out the wreath twice...once in light gray and once in dark gray cardstock.  The die also comes with two wreath sprigs, so I cut out extra pieces of dark gray cardstock to "fluff" my wreath up a bit.  Next, I cut out a lot of Halloween elements from the Haunted Entrance Dome Layer die. My glitter bats didn't show up very well, so I cut out small cream circles to look like moons so that I would have a backdrop for the bats.  I added Halloween baker's twine to the entire wreath, but it became a bit hidden due to all the things I added to the wreath.

Here is a close up of the wreath:

Here are some other wreaths I cut that I am getting ready to use.  Once is for Christmas and the other will be another Halloween card:

I also have plans for a pink/red one for Valentine's Day.  I really love having dies that I can use over and over throughout the year.  What color combinations and occasions would you use with the wreath die?

Don't forget to check the website tomorrow to see all the latest products!

Now for something completely different...I am not going to show you a finished project.  Instead I'm going to show you how I approach using a variety of papers together with watercolored images because I love mixing up multiple papers on one card.  This past week I received Memory Box  6 X 6 paper pads in the mail that I had ordered--CHRISTMAS PLAID PP1009 and GARLAND STRIPES AND DOTS PP1011.  And this is what I did with them:

Let's see how I got to these ten envelopes.  You can guess from just the front covers of these paper pads how many designs and color combinations are possible:

I began by taking all of the plaid papers out of their binding and laying them out in pairs, front and back.  Then I began matching up combinations in much the same way that I play with fabrics as a quilter, considering colors, tones, patterns, textures.  As I worked through the sorting process I stopped occasionally to look for papers in the Stripes and Dots collection that I could add in for more interest.   As I worked I also began cutting the papers into standard sizes I use most...4 X 5 1/4, 4 1/4 X 5 1/2, 3 X 6, 2 X 6...and included whatever smaller scraps were left over as well.  I placed each paper collection into an envelope and set all ten of them aside.

Next I stamped a bunch of images on Memory Box WATERCOLOR PAPER WP101 using VersaFine Clair Nocturne (black) ink.  I chose the cardinal, holly leaf and berries branch, and poinsettia with coordinating dies from SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS CL5261-D.  I stamped both the smallest and the medium-sized mistletoe sprigs from MISTLETOE SWAG CL5247.  (You may have this stamp set or MERRY AND BRIGHT MISTLETOE CL5246 in your stash.  They are no longer available in the online catalog.)  And I used the smaller leafy branch and its die from BERRY WREATH CL5260-D.  With the envelopes of papers close by I chose colors from my pan watercolors that coordinated with the papers and used waterbrushes to paint the images.  I spattered some of the images with watery gold paint once they were dry.

This is one of my favorite combinations:

And another:

And just one more:

I now have ten envelopes of coordinated papers, cut to sizes I use most often, along with some already prepared watercolored images all ready to assemble into at least ten, and probably lots more, cards.  All I need to do next is pull out the box of white and holiday-colored note cards, some coordinating cardstocks if I want to layer anything, adhesives, and some sentiment stamps and inks and I'll be ready to go.  Maybe I'll start with this envelope: 

Happy Crafting!

Add rows of white, orange and yellow floss to the Stitched Tree die for a giant candy corn to tower over two little ghosts.  Hi, happy weekend...Jean Okimoto here with my last Halloween 2020 card - let's use a winter die for a fun fall card.

 

Cut the top three sections and a bit of the 4th section of Stitched Tree from dark Kraft cardstock.  Trim it with the second-largest die from the Birch Press Designs Tall Triangle Set.  Trim the bottom of the triangle about ⅛" below the third stitching section.

 

Stitch the pattern with white, orange and yellow floss - tape the beginning and end of each color securely with Scotch Transparent Tape (Magic Tape might tear).  It was easier to stitch twice with a single strand than once with a double strand that kept tangling.

 

Cut the second-largest Stylish Rectangle from black cardstock. Cut white cardstock with the 1" Circle Basics die.  Cut the bat - from the Haunted Entrance Dome Layer set - from the black sheet in the Frosted Glitter Pad.  Cut the Ghosts from the white sheet in the Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad.  Cut the pumpkins from one of the white sheets in the Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad and color them with a Sharpie or Copic marker.

 

Attach the diecuts to a side-folded dark orange A-2 card.

 

Stamp the greeting and tab from the Halloween Pumpkin Clear Stamp and Die Set on yellow cardstock with Versafine Clair Summertime and Nocturne.  Dry the inks and cut it with the coordinating die from the set. Lightly ink the edges with Nocturne.  Cut two more glittered ghosts and attach scraps of black cardstock behind them for the eyes and mouths.

 

Think of the different ways to use your Memory Box designs and get the most from your stash!  You're all so creative...I love the challenge of finding new and unexpected (and unintended!) ways to use our products and sharing those ideas with you.

 

Thanks for visiting...see you on Thursday!

 

 

  

 

Supplies

 

CL5264-D Halloween Pumpkin clear stamp and die set

94405 Stitched Tree

94507 Haunted Entrance Dome Layer craft die

GP1004 Frosted Glitter Pad

94416 Stylish Rectangle Trio

GP1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

57216 Tall Triangle Set

30087 Circle Basics Set

Hello there.  I have a simple Christmas card to share today made with products from the latest Christmas release.  It was inspired by this month’s Playing with Plaids challenge.  I don’t know about you, but plaids are great for masculine Christmas cards. 

Alcohol ink-friendly cardstock was used for the cardinal from Spirit of Christmas stamp set and the Forest Pine Branch die-cut.  Did no line coloring on both using Copic Sketch markers (R24, R27, R46, R89, Y32, Y35, Y38, 100 for the cardinal and BG93, BG96, BG99, E23, E25, E29 for the branch).  Added snow to the branch with a white gel pen and die cut the cardinal out with the coordinating die.  My alignment was off, so had to fussy cut to fix it.

Dies from Rectangle Basics were then used to die cut from the Christmas Plaid paper pack and from suede cardstock.  Heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder.  Inked around the edges with suede dye ink and lightly with Black Soot distress ink.  Added gold and black splatters for some texture then assembled the card to finish.  Since it’s a masculine card, no bling or fun embellishments. 😂

Currently, there is a problem with the challenge link tool, so feel free to enter your plaid cards on Instagram using hashtag #mbchallenge66.  That does it for me.  Thank you for joining me today.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Supplies

 

CL5261-D Spirit of Christmas clear stamp and die set

94481 Forest Pine Branch craft die

PP1009 Christmas Plaid 6x6 pack

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

Happy Friday everyone! Today I have another fall themed card for you. The colors are very similar to my last card I posted. I guess I liked that color scheme. 

To create this card I started by using a stencil to dry emboss the card background. I used 110 lb. cardstock and ran it through my die cut machine as if I was embossing a die cut.  

Next I stamped the pumpkin and multiple leaves from the Halloween Pumpkin clear stamp set. I only used the leaves on the top portion of the pumpkin image. I used Copic Markers to color my images. Once they were all colored, I fussy cut them.

Copic colors used: B99, BG34, BG32, BG11, YG97, YG95, YG63, R27, YR07, YR04 and Y35.

I also colored a 1" strip of white cardstock with a Copic Markers, BG34 and B99. I stamped and gold heat embossed the word grateful on the strip. I also die cut the Scribble Leafy Branch Outline 3 times from white cardstock and colored them with the same color markers.

I placed my strip across my card front and and arranged my leaves and die cuts around it. Once I was happy with the arrangement, I went back and glued everything in place.

I spattered the card with gold ink and then adhered the card front to a kraft cardstock mat.

Next I used foam adhesive to glue it to a white card base.

That's it for today!  Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great weekend.

 

 

Supplies

 

94274 Scribble Leafy Branch Outline

CL5264 Halloween Pumpkin clear stamp set

CL5236 Bold Friendly Greetings clear stamp set

88615 Leafy Rows Stencil