New and Old

A rich Soiree Chocolate A2 Card, the Tree of Love, Gossamer's vintage script print and a background of Cool Beans creates a quick and easy card here.  It's like a serving of visual comfort food - our new "old favorites" coming together on a simple card.

I was at CHA earlier this week - and had the pleasure of meeting Lori, Jenny and Jennifer.  Heather was there too, but we were working in different areas and I didn't have a chance to visit her.  Next time! Tradeshows are tradeshows - but the process of meeting new friends, and connecting with those we've known for years, is always a highlight at any business gathering. 

Have fun re-creating this card - it'll be a little different each time you cut a section of the Gossamer prints or stamp the trio of hearts.  Like combining basic ingredients in a fresh new way.

 

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Create Art!

Brrrrr....it's still really chilly here on Cape Cod.  I am keeping warm in my crafty space and having so much fun using all of the new images.  Are you absolutely in love with the new "What's In the Box" release?  I am!  Here is a card that I created using the fabulous new Create Art (G1330) and Distress Swirl (D1333) stamps.  When I opened up my box of goodies these stamps spoke to me immediately so I new they were going to be inked up first! 

I started out knowing that I wanted to use a Soiree notecard in Aquamarine.  The colors of the new 6x6 paper packs go perfectly with the yummy greens and blues available.  The Soiree notecards are a very nice heavy cardstock with an extra special shimmer to them that makes your cards really standout! 

On to the Soiree notecard I layered a piece of brown cardstock that I roughed up the edges of with my edge distresser.  I then layered a piece of patterned paper from the Spearmint 6x6 paper pack.  On to that I stamped the Distress Swirl with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. 

For the main focal point of my card I stamped the Create Art stamp in Shabby Shutters Distress Ink on natural colored cardstock and cut it out, roughed up the edges and then inked the edges up with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and adhered it to my card using foam tape.  I then stamped the same image with Versamark and embossed it with my ultrafine silver embossing powder.  From that embossed image I only wanted to use a tiny bit to really make the word Create stand out on my card.  I cut out the word and mounted that onto brown cardstock that I, again, roughed up the edges of and mounted that to the main image using more foam tape. 

To finish off the card and add a little bit more glitz I used the Pistachio Jewel Stickers to highlight the Distress Swirl stamp.

You are going to love playing with all these new images and papers.  The new "Create Art" stamp is surely going to be added to my most used collection.  What are some of your favorites???

Happy Crafting!

Thinking outside the box...

My friend, Dorothy, has probably been the biggest influence for me in thinking "outside the box."  She can make something lovely from the simplest of items.  She has been known to use onion skins and dryer lint to make something beautiful.  So when I saw this gorgeous tree image, I thought, What would Dorothy do?  I stamped the F1332 Brilliant Tree with Versamark onto cream cardstock.  Then I colored the image with eye shadow.  I thought if Pearl ex has mica powder, and eyeshadow has mica powder in it, why not try it.  I liked the way it turned out.  I cut out the image with a Nestabilities die, sponged the edges with Sea Breeze Versa Magic ink and layered it onto an oval of Truffle cardstock.  I stamped D1327 Wild Roses onto opposite corners of a rectangle of White Willow patterned paper in Espresso Adirondack ink.  I cut the rectangle in half and layered it onto a bigger Truffle rectangle.  It was then adhered onto an Eggshell Notecard. 

This tree image cheered me up on a dreary winter day.  Spring can't come soon enough.  I'll be doing two classes in February at Baas Junction.  Hope to see you there.  Happy Stamping!

Butterflies Are Free...

What's in the box?  Well, surely you know by now...fabulous stamp images and very lovely paper designs - all of which make me long for sunny Spring days.  Ah, but I live in New England so I actually have many more weeks of winter to get through first. I will just have to create my own Spring with new Memory Box images such as the ones used in this card I am calling "Butterflies are free..."

This design idea came immediately to mind when I saw these two new stamps.  Using Ice Blue Brilliance ink, I stamped First Flight (F1328) onto a Pistachio Soiree shimmer card. I tied coordinating ribbon (a muse) around the card with a simple knot and added a row of five Frost Blue Pearls to accent the bottom right edge. I stamped Tree Frame (E1326) in black onto a piece of White Willow from the new Spearmint paper line. I mounted this onto a piece of Lagoon Soiree shimmer paper and using foam tape, I adhered this layer to the card base. Also in black, I stamped Happy Birthday (B1054) and I added a bit of Gelly Roll glitter pen to some of the tree branches to highlight the shimmer papers.

This is just one of the all-occasion cards I will be teaching in my class at Ink About It on Thurs, Feb 18th.  If you are in our area, stop by to see all of the Memory Box images and papers from What's In The Box 2010, or to sign up for a Memory Box workshop.

Gossamer and Lace

This card was completely inspired by the beautiful Happenstance paper in the Gossamer collection. I love the beautiful tree image on this paper!  The front of the card was created by positioning the tree in the die cut and cutting it out. The back of the card was created using the same die cut on brown cardstock.

Sponge the edges of the pattern paper using a brown die ink. Stamp the birds in the nest using a brown pigment ink on white cardstock. Color the birds using watercolor pencils and highlight the wings and eyes using a white gel pen. Cut out the birds in the nest and pop dot them on a branch.

Punch out a tag from the coordinating Gossamer pattern paper and stamp the sentiment.

Wrap twine 3 times around front of the card and attach a button by tying the twine through the button and create a bow.  Attach a strip of lace under the twine.  The button, twine and lace were all found at an antique mall.  Die Cut back of card from coordinating cardstock. (I used brown)

Products:

• Gossamer Paper - SC-Happenstance 10053, 6 X 6 Paper
• Twine, Buttons, Lace   
• D1315 Nesting Birds
• B832 Thank You Script
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels 8
• McGill Punch - Tags
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Watercolor Pencils
• Signo Uni-Ball - White Gel Pen

Have a lovely day!

Suzz

Binder Clips

Whenever I get new papers from Memory Box, I have this urge to frame them rather than use them.  They are just so pretty!  Does anyone else have that problem?

As a compromise, I often make decorative items with my papers so that I can keep the papers around for a long time.  For today's project, I chose a couple of papers from the new Spearmint 6" x 6" pack to decorate my clip. 

First, I started with a heavy duty metallic clip that has a magnet on the back:

Next, I stamped the Periwinkle butterfly (B1181) onto two sheets of patterned paper and cut out one of the butterflies so that I could paper-piece it onto the background:

I used some embellishment glue to attach my paper to the metal and then placed a clear epoxy sticker to the top to protect my image and give it a more finished look:

The nice thing about these clips is that you can easily personalize them to give as gifts by choosing specific stamps and papers.  They are also quick to make and very affordable in that each clip costs under $2 to make.

 

Introducing....

Hello, My name is Jennifer Van Pelt and I am so excited for our store and teachers to be included on the Memory Box Design Team! We have several teachers and myself of course, who teach using the fantastic Memory Box Stamps here in usually sunny San Diego at The Stamp Addict. I started stamping in 1996 when I attended a home stamping party and did a Mother's Day card for my mom....that was it, I was hooked! Three years ago I had the opportunity to make my 'hobby' my vocation and I bought my store The Stamp Addict. So far it has been a fun wild ride of paper, inks, stamps and embellishments! Of course with all the fabulous new images, papers and bling, umm excuse me 'embellishments' Memory Box keeps coming out with, I will never catch up with making all the ideas I have for cards and scrapbook pages! I look forward to sharing them with you through this blog. Here is one of my favorite cards from the Make-N-Takes we did at the store for the 'What's In the Box 2010' Release party yesterday and today...I hope you like it as much as I did. Laura Fisher one of our superstar staff members and teacher used two of my favorite stamps from the new collection to created this cute card with the Squirrels and tree stumps! Don't you just love it!!!

 

 

Rainy Day Blues and Greens

Sunny San Diego?  Not today!  We are experiencing a heavy rain and wind storm.  Just last week we had our large backyard Pepper trees thinned and today the rain and wind just flow through the laced branches.  Otherwise we would be dealing with downed limbs for sure!

With that inspiration, I'm indoors with a nice warm fire in fireplace, working with the newest Memory Box stamps from 'What's In the Box".  The beautiful Brilliant Tree (F1332) and Birds in the Vines (E1331) called out to me and I came up with this card. 

I find asymmetrical positioning interesting so I stamped the tree off the page in Turquoise gem (Tsukineko's Versamagic chalk ink) then embossed it with clear powder.  A little Alabaster (Colorbox pigment) ink over and around the embossed image highlights the tree and sets it apart from the background paper. Be sure to use a damp cloth to remove the ink from the embossed design---that's when it really POPS! 

Stamp the "Birds in the Vines" in an all over pattern with Sea Breeze (Versamagic) chalk ink on an eggshell notecard. Add a strip of the new Spearmint "Glimmer" paper to create dimensional layering.  I try to balance colors according to the "Rule of Threes"  (bring a color onto your card three times to coordinate things)  Try it and see! 

I'll be teaching this card and several others in class on Feb 3rd at Stamp Delights in La Mesa, Ca.   Come join us! (619) 465-6873

This little gem of a card will be offered as a free Make N Take at The Stamp Addict on January 23rd by Kathy Olsen as part of their Memory Box "What's in the Box" Debut. 
  Check their calendar for other free activities that day---see you there!

 

   

 
   

Valentine Photo Folder

It's Angela again - if you are Angela's Husband, stop reading right now or you will ruin your Valentine's surprise!  One of my favorite things about the Memory Box 6x6 paper packs is that the hard work of putting together coordinating papers is already done.  In particular, I like this Gossamer pack because it has a romantic feel without being overly feminine.  I went a little overboard on my husband's card this year - combining card and memory book - by altering a CD holder.  For the cover, I simply glued the tree paper to the front - the tree makes a wonderful focal point - then stamped "happy valentine's day" below in brown ink.

 For the inside pages, I cut the floral paper to create a pocket on the left.  I love how the blowing petals continue underneath the photo.  To create the tag on the right, I cut a notecard in half and trimmed off a corner at the top.  Then, I used the corner I removed as a template to cut the other side so it would be symmetrical.  Punch a hole in the top, thread your ribbon, and you have a great tag!  I stamped the D1315 Nesting Birds right on top of the decorative paper and colored the birds with a Copic marker.  The Gossamer papers are light enough that you can stamp and color right on them, which saves a lot of time cutting and layering!  More time for stamping and eating chocolate!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Batik Birds

I'm always on the look out for fun, new techniques to bring to classes at One Little Spark.  This one falls right into that category - not only is it fun, but it's easy, too!!

This technique is called a Triangle tri-fold card and look lots more difficult that it actually is. When opened, the card looks like this....

The 3 1/2" x 10 1/2" base card is made with Truffle card stock, one of my very favorite Memory Box colors, and two triangles cut from the Gossamer paper line. After stamping the birds onto one of the lovely 6" x 6" Gossamer papers, I trimmed this image into a small square, added three pink pearls and  then adhered it to a slightly larger piece of Truffle card stock. The sentiment was stamped onto vanilla card stock and then punched out with a Marvy small square punch and adhered to the center section of the card. 

Another view of the card...

With just a small strip of adhesive along the back of the card, a 12" piece of sheer ribbon was attached.  When ready to close, simply bring the ribbon around to the front and tie in a pretty little bow at the edge of the card!

Supplies include: Memory Box Gossamer papers, truffle card stock and pink pearl accents, Batik Birds (D1313) and Hope Your Valentines Day is Sweet (B1180); Memento Cocoa Brown ink; miscellaneous sheer swiss dotted ribbon.