Those funky and cute swirl flowers!

I have noticed all of my design team are as in love with the new Valise papers as I am. I can't get enough of them. I wish Dave had made the herringbone green in a 12X12 though. Hey Dave are ya reading this? 12x12's please!!!

When I get something new I have to think of all the ways I can use them and the scallop and rosette center die were no different. I looked at them and thought wow those swirl flowers are so hot right now. I can use these dies to make them.

Here's how:

I cut the scallop and rosette circle from the daisy paper in the Minuet collection with my Cuttlebug.

 

I sponged the edges and the underside of each piece with tea died distress ink.

 

 

Cut a swirl from each piece. Don't worry if it is even or not. It won't make a difference, it adds whimsey.

 

 

Using a paint brush, starting on the outside wrap the die around the brush till you reach the end. Pull it off and let it unravel and it will be in flower shape.

 

 

Put a dollop of glue on the base and then I smush the flower down with an acrylic block to curl the edges a bit and flatten the flower down.

 

 

You have cute little roses.

 

Try these yourself and get double duty from your Memory Box dies!

 



Valise - Spring Sings

The Valise paper made this card so easy to create. I cut a corner of the beautiful paper and just filled in each section. A little stamping, a little Flowersoft and a little layering and I was done.

Recipe:

1. Stamp Dill Print using brown ink into large frame.  Outline with yellow watercolor pencil. Accent with flower soft.

2. Punch little butterflies from blue Valise Paper. Accent with Memory Box Crystals and glue dot to card front.

3. Stamp Nesting Birds onto kraft cardstock. Color birds to coordinate with lovely birds on paper. Accent nest with flowersoft.

4. Cut out circle image from paper. Stamp Dill print using brown ink on bottom edge. Accent with flower soft. Pop Dot.

5. Cut out tag and stamp Spring Sings sentiment using black ink. Stamp Damask along bottom using black ink pressing lightly.Pop dot and attach at an angle over existing tag.

6. Tie twine around and add embellishments.

7. Mount panel onto Soiree Chocolate Card Base.

Products: Memory Box - Nesting Birds (D1315), Dill Print (F1356), In The Spring Nature Sings (B1337), Valise Papers, Watercolor Pencils, Twine, Flowersoft - light yellow

If you are in the U.S., Happy Memorial Day!  Have a beautiful week! 

Suzz

 

Kids can stamp too!!!

 

Throughout the past year and a half, I have taught quite a few Memory Box classes.  I have to say that one of the favorite classes that I have taught has been a kid's class!  Nothing compares to the enthusiasm and excitement a group of crafty kids has for learning how to stamp and create some fun cards.  They LOVE coloring with Copic Markers and I think a few mom's out there have cursed me for introducing this marker to their little crafter :)

The three cards featured above are from my kids class, "Let's Get Stamping" and I just love that they are simple enough for kids to create but still fun and interesting enough for anybody to make or receive!

From Left to Right:

Card # 1 "Happy Bee-Day" features the sentiment from Happy Bee-Day (B1764) and the side stamp of the little bee buzzing all around. The Bee was colored in with a Y15 Cadmium Yellow Copic Marker and I used a .05 Journaling Pen to make the little trails.

Card #2 "Thank You" features the Spiral Flower (A1743) and the Thank You Combo (B1751).  The flowers were simply colored in with bright copic markers and accented with a piece of ribbon and Hot Pink Pearl Stickers.

Card #3 "Thinking of You" features Bubba Elephant (D1741) and the Makes Me Smile sentiment (B1765).  I used a piece of patterned paper from the Pixie 6x6 paper pack that had an adorable elephant print to coordinate with the card.  Bubba was colored in using a Cool Gray No. 3 C3 Copic Marker.

I will be teaching this class twice over the summer on Cape Cod at Colorful Creations in Hyannis, MA. If you are in town with your little stamper I would love to meet you and teach them a thing or two about stamping and cardmaking!  Check here for dates and times this class is offered or click on the link above "Find a Memory Box Class Near You" to see who is teaching some fun classes in your neck of the woods! 

Happy Crafting!

Melissa

 

 

 

Bouquet of Thanks

Hiya, Stampers!

I really loved making today's card because it involved using a lot of Memory Box patterned papers - and I looooves me some Memory Box patterned papers!

I used papers from the Brioche and Minuet collections, as well as Pea Pod card stock, Kraft card (4.25" x 5.5") and the oh-so-versatile Thanks Script (A833) stamp, .

For a complete list of supplies and instructions, check out my blog!

TFL!

Pool Party ~ Penguin Style

Everyone knows that the Memory Box Penguins love to party. This little one is ready to enjoy some "tubing" and have fun in the sun.

I must say that this card was inspired by my recent trip with my grandkids to the Legoland water park. What a perfect set up for children to slide, splash and float on inflatable tubes in the warm water.  So, why not a penguin too!  I plan on creating a scrapbook layout using the photos from that day along with this adorable tube penguin.

1) Die cut the scalloped circle using Scalloped Circle Die (98109) with the Squash Gingham patterned paper and stamp the water puddle (Jumbo oval C478) in light blue ink.

2) Stamp Tube Penguin (C1072) on white scrap paper, color with Prismacolor pencils, cut out closely and mount onto the water puddle.  I added Glossy Accents to the inner tube--check out that perpetual shine!

3) To make the banner, repeatedly stamp (Little Banner A1707) onto colored scraps (Brioche and patterned papers), cut out and attach with Glossy accents (a superb adhesive) to a strand of twine and the base notecard.  

4) Attach the Fun in the Sun (B1077) message which was stamped on a label from Pastry Labels Die cut (98107)---Love the embossed edges on the die cut!

5) The sunshine was brought to you by the Ring and Dot (B1435) stamp! A little more twine, a few paper flowers and you have a Pool Party--Penguin Style!

Join me in class on June 28th at Stamp Delights for our Summer Sensation Class.

Happy Friday!

A Daughter's Inspiration

Today, my post is dedicated to my wonderful mom.  45 years ago this week she brought me into this world and she has been an inspiration to me ever since!  Oh no, now I'm getting weepy.  Here's a pic.  This was taken a few years ago in San Diego.  I hope I look just as good at her age!

 

Love you, Mom!

My mom loves birds....she used to collect bird figurines and has a curio cabinet filled with them.  When I was younger I would quiz her on what each one was.{smile}  So, with that in mind,I'm featuring the Chickadee (F1257) and the yummy paper from the Valise collection.   I used Prismacolor pencils and blended them with odorless mineral spirits and blending stump.   I don't have a lot of confidence with coloring, but I think it turned out okay.

 

• Paper:  Cranberry, Vanilla Bean, White, Fresh Fruit 12 X 12 paper, and a piece of the lovely flowered paper from the 6 X 6 Valise paper pack
• Stamp:  Chickadee (F1257); Scalloped Polka Dot (G1434)
• Ink:  Ranger Archival Ink in Coffee and Crimson
• Other:  Berry Pearls (15512), Prismacolor pencils, Odorless Mineral Spirits, Blending stumps

Instructions:

• Start with a Cranberry Note Card
• Cut a mat from the Vanilla Bean card stock and adhere to front of card
• Cut a smaller mat from the 6 X 6 Valise Paper pack and adhere on top of Vanilla Bean mat
• Ink up Scalloped Polka Dot stamp with red ink.  I used Archival Ink in Crimson and stamp onto white paper and die cut with the Scalloped Circle Die.  Adhere this piece to the right side of your card.
• Cut a strip of Fresh Fruit paper and mount to a strip of Vanilla Bean paper and adhere across your card.
• Stamp Chickadee on white card stock and let dry.
• Cut a piece of Cranberry cardstock and Vanilla Bean slightly larger.
• Color the Chickadee with the medium of your choice.  I shaded with Prismacolor and then blended with Odorless mineral spirits.

Want to see a tutorial on using the Memory Box dies such as the Scalloped Circle Die?  Check out this awesome video Using Memory Box Dies by MB Design Team Member, Patter Cross.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother"

 

Stepping Up

I LOVE cards with unusual folds.  So when I found these Outer Stair Step Cards from The Paper Cut, I just had to have them! These are die cut and scored cards that fold in an interesting way that allow me to add all sorts of stuff to "junk it up" as my friend Cathy would say.

If you can't find these cards or you prefer the challenge of cutting and scoring your own stair step cards, just Google "stair step cards" and you'll find tons of on-line tutorials.  

I had a pile of Valise paper scraps left from my banner project at the beginning of the month that I thought would work perfectly to cover the cream card front and add interesting details and dimension to the steps on this card.  

• Papers:  Valise--Bill of Sale, Rustic, Keepsake, Tickets Please, and Bauble 12X12 scraps
• Ink:  Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate 
• Stamp:  C212 Happy Birthday
• Stamp:  C1373 Happy Birthday Candle (candle on the side)
• Stamp:  B1359 Very Best (bird on the side)
• Stamp:  A1707 Little Banner
• Adhesive:  Glue Glider Pro with Perma Tac
• Punches:  Paper Shapers 2" and 3" scallop circles; Marvy 2" square 
• Other:  Mizuki Cord, gold; Karen Foster mini-charms--School

Start by covering the card front with a piece of kraft paper and ink the edges.  I used the back of a piece of Bill of Sale.

Add a decorative piece of paper to the tall rectangle on the card front.

Cut out and ink the edges of a number of tickets from Tickets Please and journaling blocks from Keepsake papers.  

Punch scalloped squares and circles from Bauble and Rustic papers, ink the edges, and layer onto tickets and journaling blocks.

Stamp sentiments on paper scraps, trim, ink edges, and adhere with pop-dots to card elements.

Attach one ticket to the front of the first step.  Add another to the second step.  And place the tallest one on the third step.

To add a little more interest to the card front, I created a mini-banner.  Stamp A1707 Little Banner a number of times on scrap Bauble and Rustic papers.  Cut out (I cut off the tiny scallops) and adhere back-to-back pieces over a short length of Mizuki cord.  Tuck one end behind the card front and secure it with a piece of heavy duty tape.  Put a pop-dot behind one banner pennant and adhere that to the card front.

Because this card is going to a guy who is an architect, I tied on the pencil and compass charms with a scrap piece of twine.  I'll add his name to the sentiment block on the tallest tag and numbers for his birthdate to the front under "May" to finish the card before mailing it.

Think about Stepping Up your card-making and include some stair step cards in your repertoire!  Just change the sentiments and this could become a card for any number of occasions--thank you, thinking of you, anniversary, Father's Day, or whatever!

Happy Stamping!

Monkeying Around...

These fun animals from At The Zoo are happy to welcome a new baby girl to the neighborhood. 

I started with a Begonia card and a small layer of Bubblegum gingham at the top.  I added a Meridian Border (98134) die embellishment in white under the gingham and stamped It's a girl (B1746) above in black. Add baby pink pearls between each scallop for some litle girl bling.

I stamped, colored and cut out Hanging Monkey (C1753) and hung him from the scalloped border. You could easily cut him out with the Monkey Mania die set, but I don't own that one yet.  Can you believe it? 

The Baby Carriage (C1752) was stamped directly onto the card and also onto Bubblegum gingham. Cut and adhere the gingham pieces to the carriage.  I used both the Bubba Elephant stamp (D1741) and the matching die (98113). These are really fun to use together. I love the way it leaves a small edge around the image. For great tips on lining up the stamp with the die - check out this tutorial by Ellen Hutson. Once you see ow easy it is, you'll want all the matching die and stamp sets.

Enjoy the weekend.

May Day Memory Box

Hello Everyone,

Julia Quincey one of the teachers here at The Stamp Addict is teaching a Cuttlebug class on Monday May 23rd and Saturday May 28th, featuring Memroy Box papers and stamps!!! There are still a few spots available you can call the store at 619-667-5060 to sign up.  Here are two of the cards and a tag you will be making in the class.

On this card she uses the Tree of Blooms (G1769), Woodland Basket (C1348), Egg Nest (A1017) and Flutter Chick (B1250) Stamps.

 

 This cute round card uses, Marquis Border (B1750), Welcome Little One Combo (B1749), Hanging Monkey (C1753) and Bubba Elephant (D1741) Stamps.

This tag uses, Bigger Banner (D1708), and Bumblebee Penguin (C1064).

Thanks!

Ahhhhh those Memory Box Dies

 

Hi Everyone!

I am having the best time with Memory Boxes new dies and Valise papers. The shabby chic kraft paper is awesome. 

I will be teaching both of these cards and others at One Little Spark in Tuckerton NJ this Saturday May 21 at 10:00.

If you live in the area or are visiting the Jersey shore come on down for a great class.