A Snow Day Greeting

I remember when I was teaching how much I looked forward to snow days.  This card is perfect for a friend who has really enjoyed her days off (and delayed starts) recently because of snow.

STAMPS

• G1404 Renaissance Tile 
• B1765 Makes Me Smile
• G1792 Flurry Wreath
• E1410 Crystal Snowflake
• B1378 Snow Day (snowflakes on the side)

INK:  Memento Danube Blue

 

INSTRUCTIONS

For the Front of the Card

• Ink up G1404 Renaissance Tile and stamp on the front of a Russian Sage notecard.
• Layer on white scalloped oval (The Paper Cut); make little round dots on each scallop using a Memento Danube Blue marker.
• Ink up and stamp B1765 on a scrap of white cardstock; trim into a small rectangle; ink the edges; adhere on top of the scalloped oval.
• Add a wide white grosgrain ribbon tied in a big bow around the front of the card.

For the Inside of the Card

• Ink up G1792 Flurry Wreath and stamp onto white cardstock.  Ink up and stamp E1410 Crystal Snowflake in the center of the wreath.  Trim to a square and ink the edges.
• Punch out a heart from white cardstock. (I used the red heart punch from PaperShapers.) Ink up and stamp B1378 Snow Day in the center and add more tiny snowflakes from the stamp on the side. Ink the edges and pop dot onto the center of the Crystal Snowflake.
• Cut another rectangle of white cardstock, ink the edges, and stamp more tiny snowflakes on the ends.  This will be where to write the message.
• Adhere the Flurry Wreath piece and the message to the inside of the card.

Don't forget to sign and date the back of the card!  Sometimes I use one of my address stamps or I stamp a large A.  Usually I just sign my initials and the date I made the card.  

Happy Stamping!

Spring Window

Hello everyone!

This is a fun little spring card using Memory Box dies.

I am at CHA this weekend and am therefore experiencing computer issues.  The full directions will be posted on February 1st when I get back.  I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.  Thank you!

-Donna

Lovely Damask Heart

Here's an easy card that should have taken about 15 minutes that actually took hours.  (Has that ever happened to you - you have an idea in your head, but making it happen doesn't always come easily.) The actual color is warmer and the glittery heart doesn't show up as well as in person - hopefully you can run with the idea.  The G1855 Damask Heart is such a timeless stamp.  I was picturing this being used for a wedding or anniversary card - if you use red glitter then it's a valentine.  The Soiree Cream note card has a beautiful texture to it that isn't visible in the picture - it has a very rich look in person. 

Here are the details:  Stamp Damask Heart with VersaMark on a Soiree Cream note card.  Sprinkle with Sticky Embossing powder and heat until just melted (if you overheat the powder the glitter will not stick).  Sprinkle with Latte Glitter Ritz glitter and rub in glitter with your finger.  Brush off excess glitter with a paint brush (or blush brush).  Next take a lint roller to remove any persistent glitter. 

Stamp B1423 Love and Hearts with Timber Brown StazOn ink on a piece of shrink plastic and punch with an oval punch.  (I used an EKSuccess 1-1/4 x 2 inch oval punch.)  Leave room to the left of the stamped "Love" to punch your hole (Iused the largest hole on the Cropadile.)  Shrink your oval and then add metallic rub on wax to add color - avoid the word love so that it remains visible.  Add a jump ring through the hole of the charm and tie with metallic cord.  Attach to card front with small glue dots. 

Let me know if you have any other ideas for this card or technique - I'd love to hear them. 

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Thanks from the heart

Here's a card I created for a recent class taught at Ink About It.  It features the Cupid Heart die (98281), the Script Thanks die (98240) and the Chrysanthemum stamp (G1857).  The heart is cut from Squash Moroccan paper, Thanks is cut from Vanilla Bean paper and I stamped the new Chrysanthemum image with Momento Cocoa ink onto the back of the Moroccan paper so I would have a cream tone background. Pastel chalks were used to color the stamped image and both this, as well as the heart, were edged with the Momento Cocoa ink.  I added a distressed button from my stash collection with a glue dot. All of this sits atop a Lavendar card base.

Hope you can find some time this weekend to be creative. 

Happy Friday!

Happy Spring!

With the mild winter we  have been having it feels like spring.  I was having some fun playing with the beautiful Love & Kindness release. 

Recipe:

1. Cut card base 8 1/2" x 11". Score fold in half. Sponge edges with brown dye ink.
2. Cut white cardstock 5" x 3 3/4".
3. Stamp Blank Ticket using brown ink. Turn and stamp other direction. Repeat until surface is covered. Sponge edges and center with yellow and brown dye ink.
4. Die cut Darla Butterfly and Vivienne butterfly from white cardstock. 
5. Stamp Damask heart using brown ink over Darla Butterfly. Sponge with yellow dye ink. Sponge edges with brown dye ink.
6. Sponge Vivienne butterfly & Butterfly Center with brown dye ink.
7. Assemble butterfly and glue dot centers.  Add brad in center of body.
8. Stamp Chrysanthemum frame using brown ink on white cardstock. Cut out.  Color flowers with watercolor pencils. Sponge edges with brown dye ink.
9. Assemble card and add brad accents.

Hope your day is seeing some sunshine!

 

Suzz

 

 

Wishes from the Heart

Did you see the wonderful Glittered Ombre Heart video on Dave's blog ?  It also includes great music - by Emma and Cooper Brethauer - in addition to the beautiful project!

That's what inspired this card - which features the ColorBox XOXOXO Multi-Colored Inkpad - instead of different colored glitters.  

Brayer XOXOXO onto cardstock.

Diecut Cupid Heart 98281 from a doublestick tape sheet and attach it to the cardstock.

Diecut Serafina Heart 98278 from Current Cardstock and attach it to the tape, starting at the bottom point and moving counter-clockwise.

Brush Winter Frost Glitter onto the remaining exposed adhesive, then trim the cardstock.  

Stamp Valentine Duo B1424 on Bubblegum Moroccan with the Peony and Chianti inks from XOXOXO, emboss it the Opalescent Clear Powder.  Attach a strip of Bubblegum Distressed Dots.  Add three circles punched from Cotton Candy-glittered cardstock. Attach everything to an A6 card of Bubblegum Cardstock, tuck your special card into a coordinating Mars Shimmer A6 Envelope, and send it to someone special!

Here's a similar card - featuring the Quinn Flourish 98267 and Heart Chain Border 98277 Dies - on the Clearsnap blog:

While you're there, enter to win a drawing for a generous giftpack of some great new products they're releasing - details are at the top of the of the post.  Or, if you're headed to CHA, stop by Booth 847 to meet the Clearsnap team, see their latest/greatest products and the samples we've created for the tradeshow.

My last two Valentine classes are at the Bellevue Impress (phone 425 453.2748) on Saturday January 28th - Valentines by Design from 11:00 to 1:00,  with layered, artsy techniques:

Then it's LoveNotes from 2:00-5:00 - making 8 cards or a chipboard book of the 8 designs featuring old and new favorite stamps and dies, including many from the Love and Kindness Collection:  

 

Sorry to be so wordy today...there's just so much to say and do!

 

Read more...

 

 

 

 

Heart Canopy and Alcohol Inks

As soon as I saw the Heart Canopy die, I knew exactly what technique I wanted to use!  Alcohol Inks of course.  One of my favorite mediums.  This card was a HUGE hit at my class at The Scrapbooking Studio in Bloomington, IL this past Sunday.

We took a piece of glossy paper and "marble-ized" it with Ranger Alcohol Inks.  To do this: 

• add a piece of felt to an ink blending tool
• Choose three colors of alcohol inks.  I used Lettuce, Wild Plum, and Butterscotch.
• Start with the first color and place the nozzle of the bottle into the middle of the felt and squeeze for about 2-3 seconds.  Do the same with the 2^nd & 3rd colors to the left and right of this color but do not allow the colors to touch.
• Squirt blending solution over the top from side to side a couple of time.
• Then just start pouncing the felt onto the cardstock.  I like to turn the handle as I pounce and cross the page.

Then:

1. Trim this piece down to 3 3/4" X 5 
2. Take Light Pink Quatrefoil paper (Echo Park) and die cut with the Heart Canopy die (98283) Adhere over the alcohol inked piece and then adhere to the front of a Mocha Note Card
3. Die cut the Mocha card stock with Twiggy Tree die (98143)
4. Cover entire top of Twiggy Tree with Versamark ink by pushing ink pad directly onto the card stock.  Apply Judikins Sticky Stuff embossing powder to the entire tree and heat just until glossy Cover entire tree with brown glitter.  Use scrap paper to push the glitter into the glue then tap off excess.  Heat set for about 10 seconds with heat gun.
5. Run tree thru the Xyron to make a sticker out of it.  (So much easier than adding glue) Then attach to front of card.
6. Stamp Valentine Greetings (B1175) with brown dye ink.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!  Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Spring Card!

Hello!

Today, I am sharing with you a card I will be teaching on Tuesday February 14th at The Stamp Addict in San Diego. 

It uses Memory Box Stamp - D1831 Oak Leaf and

Memory Box Dies: Oak Leaf (98243), Small Pinwheel Posie (98271), Scalloped Posie (98269), Pinwheel Posie (98270) plus several different Memory Box papers.

I hope you enjoy and if you would like to make it with us on Valentine's Day call us at 619-667-5060 to reserve your spot!

 

Cupid & Seraphina Heart Dies Wishing You the Warmest Valentine's Day

Hi, everyone!

Today's card features some of the fantastic new dies from the Love & Kindness collection!

S U P P L I E S:

Memory Box patterned paper: Pixie, Bubblegum Gingham, Bubblegum Distressed Dots; Inks: VersaFine (Onyx Black); Memory Box stamps: Valentine's Duo (B1424); Memory Box dies: Cupid Heart (98281), Serafina Heart (98278); Memory Box Jewel Stickers; Fibers: Offray Straight'n'Narrow ribbon: Other: pop-dots

Thanks for looking and have a blessed day!

Sweet and Sophisticated Valentine

  As much as I love to dress up my Valentine cards with ribbons, gems and glitter sometimes a "no frills" card is needed.  I had to pratically sit on my hands to stop adding embellishments and just keep it simple.

The heart has a "faux letterpress" treatment that is easy and fun to play with.

•  Start with a 4x4" panel of watercolor paper (it's thick and relatively soft), an embossing folder  and pigment ink. 
•  Apply pigment ink directly onto the interior surface of the embossing folder. On this card I used  the "debossed" side of the folder--that way the background has color and the foreground remains  uninked.
•  Carefully position the watercolor panel in the inked embossing folder.
•  Run the folder through your die cutting machine using the manufacturers recommended recipe  for embossing.  Let dry.
•  Run the embossed panel though the machine using the heart die cut and the cutting recipe.

This effect mimics the beautiful printing technique called Letterpress or "relief printing" dating back to the mid 15th century.  No heavy printing press or special training required here!

• Die cut 2 branches (one adhered beneath the heart and one on top of the elevated heart.
• Add a die cut bird in black card stock.
• add stair-stepped strip with Happy Valentines Day sentiment.
• Sit on your hands if you're tempted to add anything else. Enjoy the simplicity.

Supplies:

Watercolor paper -I used 140# cold press

Colorbox Cranberry pigment ink

Sizzix embossing folder (tight patterns work best for this technique)

#98254 Grand Heart Die

98187 Woodland Branch Die

98160 Perched Reedbird Die

B971 Happy Valentines Day Stamp

Once you try this "faux letterpress" technique you'll find yourself playing with different patterns and colors.  Light opaque pigment ink on dark paper looks stunning too.  Give it a try!

Let me know how your cards turn out---post them on our Memory Box Flickr Gallery.

Also, find a Memory Box class near you for this and other Valentine Cards.

Happy Friday!