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26 posts from March 2011

Sun 20

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary.....

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While it's not quite garden planting time in northwest Ohio, these stamps make me want to plant some flowers.  It was so exciting to play with the new Spring Symphony collection and this is the first creation of many to come from these lovely stamps.  Did you ever have a card that you thought you would never finish.  You have the picture in your mind but translating that picture to actually creating is a different story.  Well, that's what happened with this card, but I am happy with the final results and I know it would be easy to make now that I've worked out my kinks.  I even found an old unloved flower punch that worked perfectly with the flower stamps.   

Here's how to make this card:

  • Trim a Blue Poppy note card to 4-1/4" square. 
  • Punch a strip (about 1-1/2") of Key Lime Moroccan with grass punch.
  • Punch a strip (about 1/2") of Parsley with Acanthus punch - trim off "stems" and space to your liking and attach behind grass strip.  Use trimmed off pieces to make taller flower stems.
  • Punch three stems from Key Lime Distressed Dots with Branching Out punch and attach behind Acanthus punched strip.
  • For petals:  Stamp Flower Shadow with Dandelion and RoseBud ink on white paper.  Overstamp Spiral Flower with VersaMark and emboss with white embossing powder.  Make sure Shadow stamp inks are dry before stamping with VersaMark.  Stamp Spiral Flower with RoseBud ink on Bubblegum Moroccan.  Punch out flowers with five petal flower punch. 
  • Stamp bee with black ink at top of note card.
  • Stamp bee again on white paper and emboss and color body with yellow glaze pen.  Cut out embossed bees and adhere to bees on note card.  Draw bee trails with fine tip marker. 
  • Stamp Miracles of Springtime at bottom of grass.
  • Attach grass and stems to bottom of note card.
  • Attach flowers with different height mounting tape or pop dots.
  • Place White and Daffodil pearls on flower centers.

Ingredients:

  • Blue Poppy Note Card
  • Key Lime Moroccan
  • Key Lime Distressed Dots
  • Parsley card stock
  • Bubblegum card stock
  • A1743 Sprial Flower
  • A1742 Flower Shadow
  • B1766 Miracles of Springtime
  • B1764 Happy Bee-Day (bee on end)
  • Punches:  EK Success Acanthus Leaf, Fiskars Squeeze Branching Out, Martha Stewart Grass, unknown (maybe EK Success?) five petal flower
  • Inks:  Memento Rose Bud and Dandelion, Archival Jet Black, VersaMark

Hope this card gives you a little taste of Spring!  Check out the rest of this wonderful collection at your local stamp store.  Happy Stamping!

Sat 19

Think Pink (and Blue)

Hi, all! 

My card today is simple and quick, and I had a blast making it!

03-19-11---MB---Thinking
SUPPLIES: Papers: Minuet collection (3 different ones - can you spot the green one?), Gingham in Pool, card in Pool; Stamp: Makes Me Smile (B1765); VersaFine ink; Prima flowers; Recollections pearls; Martha Stewart baker's twine; Frosted Lace Stickles; Tools: Stampin' Up! scalloped borfer punch, Sizzix branch die, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.

DIRECTIONS

  1. Cut patterned papers and adhere to card.
  2. Cut white card stock to fit and emboss.
  3. Punch embossed card stock and adhere to card. 
  4. Stamp sentiment.
  5. Die cut branch and adhere to card.
  6. Adhere flowers and pearls.
  7. Tie bakers twine around card.
  8. Apply Stickles.

And there you have it!  Assembling this card ought to take you about 10 - 15 minutes. And once you're finished, run outside and play!

Signature


 

Fri 18

Chalk It Up!

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 Memory Box's newest stamps from the Spring Symphony collection are here!

The possibilities are endless with the Gorgeous Bloom and today I think it's perfect for chalking delicate color on it's petals. This card also utilizes the complimentary Gorgeous Mini Bloom) as a dimensional layer. 

IMG_1718
 I took my color cues from a ranuncula bouquet in a wedding photo---soft green centers with peachy pinks radiating to the outer petals.  Ranunculas also come in vivid reds, yellows....actually, lots of springy colors!

To make this card...

1.  Stamp Gorgeous Bloom (E1760) twice on white scrap paper.  Once on card stock and once on text weight paper.  I didn't want the layers to become too bulky so I used text weight paper for the middle layer.  Stamp Gorgeous Mini Bloom (E1761) on white card stock paper and apply chalks (Garden Blooms palette by Craft-T) to each image.

2.  Cut away the outer petals on the text weight image so that it is smaller than the original image. Use foam dots between each layer and add pistachio gemstones to the flower center. Edge the outer layer with Old Rose Colorbox pigment ink--then smudge it with your finger.

3.  Punch scallop borders on the solid and patterned paper (from the Pixie paper Collection); add a narrow strip of pool blue paper to coordinate. 

4.  Tie the wide silk ribbon all the way around the card cover and form a big fluffy bow.  

5.  Attach the stacked flower to the bow with foam dots and anchor the bow to the card with strong glue dots.

6.  Stamp the adorable Spiral Butterfly A1744 onto the notecard and again on white scrap card stock. Working with the white scrap, ink up the Butterfly Shadow A1745 with Memento Angel Pink and Summer Sky Blue and carefully stamp it atop the Spiral Butterfly image.  Cut out only the wings and adhere them over the spiral butterfly on the note card.  

7.  Enjoy your craftiness!

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Happy Friday! 

DA995DF6505C9086364AE6FF4AF862C2A1744



Thu 17

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patty's Day!  In our family we have a set of twins (my BIL and SIL) who were born on St. Patty's day. That means two St. Patty's Day birthday cards.  Here is one of the cards: 

P1010362

This card uses the wonderful Shamrock (E1336) stamp as balloons. They are stamped on vintage music using Memento Bamboo Leaves. Hand cut and sponge the edges with brown dye ink. (Memento Rich Cocoa).  The background is G1404 Renaissance Tile and stamped repeatedly using the same green dye ink on white cardstock. The sentiment Happy Birthday Candle C1373 is stamped with brown pigment ink. (Versafine Vintage Sepia). Tie a little brown twine and green buttons to form your bouquet of balloons.  Mount on white cardstock and onto chocolate soiree cardstock for the card base.

Have a wonderful day!

Suzz

Wed 16

Shades of Spring

After a very brutal winter, the snow has finally disappeared to be replaced with lots of pretty yellow crocus that are popping up all along our front flower garden which means spring can't be too far away!  This time of the year always makes me think in shades of pink, yellow and green  - yes, I think in color and I dream in color. Everything has it's own color!

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For this card I went back to one of my favorite Memory Box stamps - the Nature Print Egg.  The egg was stamped once on three different patterned papers and trimmed. Two strips of green paper, one 2 1/2 x 5 1/2" and one 1 1/2 x 5 1/2",  were punched with the Martha Stewart grass border punch. After trimming half an inch off the lower front portion of the yellow base card, the bottom of the larger of the green strips was aligned along the bottom of the trimmed area and adhered to the base card. The pink egg was slightly tucked under the "grass".  The blue egg was then put in place, followed by the smaller strip of grass which was attached with dimensional dots.  The third egg was then positioned.  With the grass and eggs in place I simply closed the card and stamped the sentiment below the front edge that was previously trimmed off.  The final touch was a pretty pink ribbon tied across the top of the card.

SIgnatureA1 
Supplies:

Papers  - Bubblegum Dot (77890), Blueberry Dot(77886), Distressed Thistle (77862), Dill (22011), Sunflower yellow note card (22043),

Stamps  -  Nature Print Egg (C1345) and Happy Easter (B835)

Ink  -  Memento Tuxedo Black

Tue 15

Waltzing with Matilda

The Waltzing Matilda paper from the Minuet Collection just makes me smile.  It's quirky and fun...kinda like me!  I couldn't wait to design a card featuring this paper.

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**This card is 5 1/2" square, but works easily as well as a regular 4 1/4" X 5 1/2" card.

  1. Die cut a circle from white cardstock Nestabilities Classic Circle.
  2. Ink up Fine Fern Print(G1719) with Memento Inks in New Sprout and Bamboo Leaves and stamp on the left half of the white circle.  Don’t worry about being precise.
  3. Stamp 3 or 4 more times on the left half of the circle varying your ink (light or dark) and varying the height of the fern.
  4. Use the Nestabilities Classic Circle Die to cut 1/2 circles from piece of Dill card stock and Waltzing Matilda paper.  Trim about 1/8" from the straight side of the Matilda half circle.
  5. Attach ½ circle of Waltzing Matilda to ½ circle of Dill cardstock making sure the curved sides are even.  Attach to right half of the Fine Fern Print circle piece.
  6. Use the Classic Scalloped Circle Nestabilities to die cut a scalloped circle from the Dill card stock.
  7. Attach the Fine Fern Print piece to the scalloped circle.
  8. Attach a piece of  Waltzing Matilda paper to the Mocha card stock mat.
  9. Attach off white grosgrain ribbon to the front of this piece about 1 inch from the bottom and adhere in back.   Attach all to front of Blue Poppy card.
  10. Attach stamped image to the front of card using foam tape.
  11. Stamp Very Best (B1359) with brown ink on small white cardstock and attach to small Blue Poppy cardstock and attach to front of card
  12. Attach Robin’s Nest gems to sentiment with a tiny dot of glossy accents or a mini glue dot. 

Enjoy this beautiful day!

My blog signature 

Mon 14

Happy St. Patrick's Day

When the newest Card Color of the Month arrived at Your Maine Stamper, I knew I had the perfect backdrop for stamping my St. Patrick's Day cards.  Moss is the best green ever!  

These are the materials I chose to work with for the card:

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Stamps:     G1404 Renaissance Tile
                 E1336 Shamrock (clover on the side)
                 B1229 Happy St. Patrick's Day

Distress Ink:  Peeled Paint
Memory Box Pearl Stickers
Lemongrass Offray Ribbon $1 bin at A.C. Moore

 

I decided to keep the card simple, stamping directly on the Moss notecard using the Peeled Paint Distress Ink, inking the card edges with more Peeled Paint, adding a few pearls and a ribbon.  A quick and easy card!  I should be able to make more than I need in an hour!

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1.  Ink up G1404 Renaissance Tile with Distressed Peeled Paint and stamp on the left side of the card front.

2.  Ink up E1336 Shamrock with Distressed Peeled Paint and stamp three times on the card front, going off the edge on two of the images.

3.  Ink up B1229 Happy St. Patrick's Day with Distressed Peeled Paint and stamp on the card front at an angle.

4.  Ink up the clover on the side of E1336 with Distressed Peeled Paint and stamp randomly on the card front until you are pleased with the look.  

5.  Using the Distressed Peeled Paint ink pad, apply ink directly to the edges of the card.

6.  Add some Memory Box Pearl Stickers to the centers of the design on the Renaissance Tile.  I discovered when I added the ribbon that I covered up five of the pearls, so you may only want to add the six shown in the photo.

7.  Wrap a piece of pretty ribbon around the card front and tie in a bow.

These notecards are white on the inside, so I have lots of room for stamping more shamrocks/clover and adding a message:

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks,
May your heart be as light as a song,
May each day bring you bright, happy hours,
That stay with you all the year long.

Or:

May you always be blessed
with walls for the wind,
a roof for the rain,
a warm cup of tea by the fire,
laughter to cheer you,
those you love near you,
and all that your heart might desire.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Happy Stamping!

Thu 10

Butterfly Flutterby

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It's raining in Pennsylvania but at least it is warm. I am crossing my fingers that spring might be almost here!

Spring not only brings warm weather and flowers, but butterflies. The soft pastel card reminds me of spring and the return of the butterfly.

I stamped leafy background E1715 with Momento's summer sky ink. I stamped the flowers from vine border D1322 with Momento's rose bud ink. (I stamped off once so the color wasn't so intense.) I layered this panel onto the pink distress dot paper that was punched with a flower border. This panel was layered onto paper from the Pixie collection and finally layered onto the base card of light olive card stock. The flowers were all embellished with dots from the ice white pearl pen by Viva.

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The damask butterfly D1350 was stamped 3 times with Ranger Distress ink forest moss on paper from the Pixie collection. I cut all 3 butterflies out. The first I glued to the blue vine panel. The next 2 I adhered with glue on the body only and I folded out the wings to create dimension. I added a few white pearls to the body and stamped the saying and the card is completed.

Enjoy the return of the butterflies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thu 10

Wild Grass

  Frenchtoast_mbblog

This monochromatic design is simple, but the stamped silk ribbon gives it a touch of elegance. Paired with the Brioche French Toast paper, the quartz shimmer paper makes a perfect card base and mat layers.

 Using Momento Cocoa ink, stamp script from Journey Collage (G1733) onto Nestabilities label cut from the quartz shimmer, then stamp the Grass Print (C1721) image three times over the text with Faded Jeans Distress ink. Heat set briefly to dry.  Also with Faded Jeans ink – stamp Floral Icon (C995), or other type of flourish, onto the silk ribbon (May Arts).

Adhere Brioche French Toast paper to quartz card base and layer larger Nestabilities label over pattern paper at left edge.  Wrap ribbon around card base – centering across larger label and tie in square knot. Adhere the smaller label with the stamped images over the ribbon.

This is the kind of card I keep on hand and just add a sentiment to the inside as needed. It works for a variety of occasions.

Thanks for visiting the blog today.  Happy Saturday!

Lorisig-sm

 

 

Wed 09

Friendly Neighborhood

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It's the first time I've ever combined EIGHT different prints and SEVEN Memento Markers - but I think they created a friendly little neighborhood, ready for spring.  The Mango, Pool and Key Lime Moroccan houses seem pretty happy to be mixed and matched with the roofs, from the Brioche 6x6 Set.

The two stamps - Home Sweet Home (D1725) and Cozy Home (D1726) - are fun and easy to "remodel" with our printed papers.  Add a new roof, downsize to just two stories, paint the trim and add fresh curtains.  Like HGTV, but easier!

Here are the directions for this card:

Memory Box Products

  • Home Sweet Home D1725
  • Cozy Home D1726
  • Mango Moroccan
  • Pool Moroccan
  • Key Lime Moroccan
  • Brioche 6x6" Set
  • Pool Distressed Dots
  • Soiree Lagoon Shimmer Cardstock (5.5" square card)
  • Berry Pearl Stickers

Other Products

  • VersaFine Onyx Black Inkpad
  • VersaMagic Turquoise Gem Inkpad
  • Memento Dandelion, Tangelo, Desert Sand, Pear Tart, Summer Sky, Canteloupe and New Sprout Markers
  • Daubers
  • 4" Circle Die and Diecut System
  • Detail Clear Embossing Powder 

Directions

  • The houses and roofs are stamped with Onyx Black and embossed with clear embossing powder
  • Stamp and emboss Home Sweet Home on Mango and Key Lime Moroccan 
  • Stamp and emboss Cozy Home on Pool Moroccan
  • Color the window trim, doors, porch lights, steps and curtains with Memento Markers
  • Cut the houses out (trim the Key Lime house to two stories) and ink the edges with Onyx Black
  • Stamp and emboss the roofs on the Brioche prints
  • Cut them out, ink the edges with Onyx Black and attach them to the houses
  • Diecut a 4" circle and ink the edges with Turquoise Gem
  • Stamp and emboss Home Sweet Home on the left side of the circle
  • Attach the houses to the circle
  • Cut a 1-3/4" x 5" strip of Pool Distressed Dots and ink the edges with Turquoise Gem
  • Assemble the card
  • Attach seven Berry Pearl Stickers along the right edge of the circle

P1030448 

Here are two of the four projects from the Flip, Fold and Flourish class at the Bellevue Impress on Saturday March 12th. I'll share a variety of inking, blending, folding and accenting techniques in fresh Spring colors.  Design Adhesives and Designer Foils will add a bit of bling.  Special thanks to everyone who took last weekend's class at the Tukwila store - we laughed so much it's a miracle we completed the cards!