Heart Wreath Owl Card!

If you missed the class Julia did at The Stamp Addict using Memory Box stamps and the Cuttlebug here is one the cards and how it was made:

Supplies

Card base: Kromecoat White

Rose colored piece: 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"

Flitter Pattern: 4 1/2" X 3 1/4"

 

Stamp branch heart on "Flitter" paper. Color with tan and pinky copic markers.  Use stamp positioner to position "Owl Love You" owls across the heart.  Put paper through the cuttlebug using the "Moroccan Screen" embossing folder.  Stamp owls on small piece of white cardstock.  Color owls and cut out.  Attach on branch with foam tape.  Add tiny pink bow to top of heart.  Attach with a sticky dot.  Punch a tiny scalloped heart.  Stamp words in middle.  Embellish with copic marker dots in each scallop.  Attach heart with foam tape. Put stamped piece on rose colored piece and attach to card.  Voila!

Framed Flowers

I'm a little jealous of those of you seeing signs of spring, when all I see out my window is snow.  At least I have pretty stamps with floral images to play with to help me think springy thoughts.  When I saw this peony stamp, I thought they had an old fashioned, vintage feel to them.  So that's the direction my stamping took for this card. 

I made a border on the Lagoon notecard by stamping the C1340 Ivy Border with Marvy Heritage Sea Foam.  I colored the peonies with markers and stamped them on eggshell.  I cut out the image with an oval nestabilities die.  I stamped the peonies again on a scrap of white cardstock with Versamagic Ocean Depth and embossed with clear powder.  I sponged over the flower portions of that second image with chalk ink to add depth to the blossoms.  After trimming out just the blossoms I added dimensionals and layered them over the stamped flower.  I die cut an oval border from pool note card.  I added a chiffon ribbon and popped up the focal image with thin dimensionals. 

There are so many possibilites for these stamps.  I'll be teaching four springy cards on March 20th at Baas Junction.  Enjoy your Saturday!

Clean and Crisp

That's what everything looks like around here....clean and crisp.  The recent rains have washed every leaf, tree and bush leaving them all shiny and fresh.  The air is still a little cool (sorry east coasters) and feels very clean and crisp as well.  My potted flower bulbs are starting to emerge from the earth--they know it's time to come out. Can anyone tell me what kind of flower is sprouting? 
 

So, all this beautiful new growth inspired my to make a card which is simply clean and crisp too!  I used the new Dotty Tree Birds stamp (D1347), stamped in black to show off the charming pattern on the tree trunk.

  

The leaves and birds were colored in with my current favorite pens...Sakura Metallic Gelly Rolls.  The ink adds a beautiful shimmery color which compliments the metallic finish on the Lagoon Soiree background paper.  The birds were colored using the Sakura pens and my water brush which diluted the color a bit...a very fun technique! 

 

 Colored gem stones added to the branches give this card just a little finishing touch.

You can make this card included in an evening class on Thursday, March 11 at Stamp Delights in La Mesa, Ca. Call Debbie @ (619) 465-6873 to register.  

OR you can join us at Jazi Crafts for a daytime class on Saturday, March 13th in Oceanside, Ca. Call Michelle @ (760) 414-9645

 

  

Dandelion {LOVE}

When I first saw the Dandelion stamp from the Spring Collection it made my heart beat a little faster.  It was one of those magical moments where you feel instant inspiration and I knew that I wanted to turn it into a tree.  

 

 

  

I used the Valentine Studio Tree of Love stamp as the trunk base, then stamped the dandelion in bright colors over the trunk.  This was such a fun card to create and I love the cardstock and Kraft card bases from Memory Box.  

I will be teaching this card plus 4 others at Stamping Details in Poway CA on March 15th.  Come and join me for some Memory Box FUN!!

A Topiary Notecard

Valentine's Day, Presidents Day - and before you know it, St. Patrick's Day and Easter - the holidays are just flying by.  Take a moment to create some all-occasion cards today - here's one, using our new Branchy Topiary, from our latest release, Easter Suite.

Then...when you're back in the holiday-card mood, turn it into an Easter card, with a few pretty eggs tucked into the pot.  

Seeing the topiary - it looks like Rosemary - reminded me that I planted a few last summer.  I went outside to see if they survived the winter - they did!

Read more...

What's in the Box???

I am having a lot of fun using all of the new stamps from the What's in the Box release.  The papers are typical Memory Box.....you know, the GORGEOUS I NEED TO HAVE THAT kind! The stamps are beautiful and thoughtful.  The only problem I have now is that it is too hard to pick which ones to use.  I guess if I am going to have a problem, that's the kind I don't mind having ;)

The three cards featured above are a part of my upcoming class "What's in the Box with Memory Box" at Colorful Creations, in Hyannis, MA on Tuesday March 9th from 6-8pm.  Give the store a call to sign up if you are in the area.  I would love to meet you :)

These three cards in particular hold some of my *most* favorite new images.  The Brilliant Tree is beautiful and so so versatile.  There have been a few cards with this stamp featured on this blog already and each one is completely different from the next.  I am swooning over the Create Art stamp and want to use it on almost every card I make.  It works great as an interesting focal point to your card or as a subtle background like Suzz did in the last post.  Beautiful card there Suzz ;)  And how can you resist the adorable Grove of Trees.  I used this stamp to create what feels like a very cool winter-scape, but just think how cute it would be colored in using bright vibrant spring and summertime colors.  

I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to share my enthusiasm and love of all things Memory Box & stamping with my fellow crafters.  Have a great day out there and keep wishing for flip flop weather to get here VERY SOON!!!!  

Happy Spring

We are still experiencing the cold dreary winter days here in Il along with the snow and ice.  Creating this card was so much fun as I can start to imagine the robins nesting and the green shoots peeking through.

Here is the recipe:

1. Cut a 3 3/4" circle from white card stock.
2. Cut the lovely Frond patterned paper using the Labels 8 die cut.
3. Trace the outside of the labels 8 die cut on truffle card stock twice and cut out.
4. Stamp happy spring onto white card stock and cut to 2" x 3/4". Cut truffle card stock to 2 1/2" x 1" and mount sentiment.
5. Stamp Wild Roses using brown pigment ink around the edges of the patterned paper.
6. Stamp birds in nest on white card stock using brown pigment ink. Color using watercolor pencils.
7. Ink up the Tree Frame stamp and wipe off any ink on the frame. Stamp on an angle on the circle. Repeat again to add more branches on the edge.
8. Ink up Create Art using light brown dye ink. Spritz with water using mini mister. Stamp over circle. Repeat to cover entire circle.
9. Sponge on broken china distress ink over the entire circle. Sponge on randomly shabby shutters on the circle. Repeat on the white card stock for the sentiment.
10. Mask circle center by placing a smaller circle over the stamped images. Sponge edges of the circle using brown dye ink.
11. Trace smaller circle using white gel pen.
12. Highlight branches lightly using white gel pen.
13. Attach pattern paper to brown background. Attach circle and sentiment to card front.
14. Score 1/4" from the top on the die cut brown card stock. Apply tape along top and attach to the backside of the card front to create the back of the card.

Products:

• Truffle Card stock
• Memory Box Frond Pattern Paper
• Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 8
• Versafine - Vintage Sepia
• Signo - Uniball White Gel pen
• Ranger Distress Inks - Broken China, Shabby Shutters, Vintage Photo
• Memento - Rich Cocoa
• Watercolor Pencils
• Memory Box - G1330 Create Art
• Memory Box - D1327 Wild Roses
• Memory Box - D1315 Nesting Birds
• Memory Box - E1326 Tree Frame
• Memory Box - B1225 Happy Spring

Have a wonderful day!

Suzz

 

 

Back to Nature

F1332- Brilliant Tree

B1054- Happy Birthday

 

F1321- Flower Bundle

 

These are samples from a class that I am teaching at Stamping Details TODAY (Feb. 19th)!  These stamps are so gorgeous.  My new Memory Box FAVORITE is the Shimmer Papers, they are thick sturdy cardstock, you can feel the quality.   It has a hint of shimmer while holding the inks perfectly.  
 
If you are in the Poway, CA area stop by and say hi, I have a few extra kits if you wanna stay and take the class.  Have a great weekend and Happy Stamping!!

 

Wedding Day Memories

I wanted to make a wedding keepsake for a special family member recently and the Gossamer papers were a perfect fit. I used several of the designs from the 6x6 paper pack to line a white 7 gypsies printer's tray. I added a few Memory Box stamps, some ribbons, silk flowers and metal embellishments, and my gift was complete.The Classic Flourish (D991) and Swish Border (C989) were nice accents to the papers. I dressed up the Swish Border with a few pistachio green jewel stickers. The new Batik Birds image (D1313) was stamped on white cardstock, I tore the edges, embellished it with pink pearl stickers and layered it with foam tape. A few flowers, organdy ribbon, decorative metal corner pieces and a nameplate from Tim Holtz finished off the piece.

Right now this tray is displayed at Ink About It, but I look forward to eventually sending it off to cousin Beth in Minnesota. I think she'll enjoy it.

Have a great weekend; do something creative!

Book 'em, Danno!

 
I can't get enough of the new stamps and paper packs.  If it sits still, I'm gonna stamp it!  (Thankfully, my children never sit still, so they are safe!)  As I mentioned in my introductory post, I'm originally a bookbinder who became a stamper.  So I love to combine my two loves.  This book is really practical.  It holds 12 CDs inside. The Brilliant Tree is the perfect size to serve as a focal point for the front cover.  To get the multicolored effect, I used VersaMagic Dew Drops in Turquoise Gem and Aquatic Splash.  The Dew Drops make it easier to control where you're putting your color.  I then colored the branches with a brown Tombo marker.  If you get a little of the ink on your marker tip, simply color on a piece of scratch paper until the ink runs true to color again.

  
The Flower Bundle stamp has a flower blossom mounted on the side, but if you just stamp the leaves and stems, it has a very "Asian/bamboo" look to it.  It provides the perfect finishing touch to this Japanese Stab Binding.  The covers are a Cherry wood lined on the inside by Memory Box Glimmer paper.  Please join me at Prairie Art Stamps in Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, March 13 and learn how to make both of these books.  Previous bookbinding experience is not required - really!!!  Hope to see you there.