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18 posts from April 2012

Mon 30

Spring Time Beauty!

Julia Quinsey has done it again! She has created another fun filled class featuring Memory Box Papers, Stamp and Dies here at The Stamp Addict in San Diego. Here are a few of the 7+ cards she will be teaching on May 19th and 21st.  Call 619-667-5060 to sign up and reserve your seat!

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Thanks for stopping by!

 

Sun 29

Simple Thank You Butterfly

Hi, all!

I'm quite smitten with the Memory Box butterflies, and I've made a really simple and elegant card that takes very little time but which gets a nice reaction from the recipient!

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S U P P L I E S

Memory Box card, (Sunflower) cardstock, (Bubblegum) patterned paper, (Brioche) stamp (thank you), and dies (Vivienne, Darla); VersaMark ink (Onyx Black); Zig pen (black)

I N S T R U C T I O N S

  1. Die cut 2 Darla butterflies (one each from cardstock and patterned paper) one Vivienne butterfly, and one body (Darla) from cardstock.
  2. Bend all butterfly diecuts at center for dimension,then layer and adhere to card: solid cardstock, solid patterned paper, Vivienne cardstock, solid body.
  3. Stamp sentiment.
  4. Draw dotted flight line.

You're finished! The best thing about this card is that you can make it using all kinds of combinations of papers, colors and sentiments so no matter how busy you are and/or how sudden you might need a card, you can make this one in a jiffy!

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah

Sat 28

One Stamp, 4 Dies

Here's a super quick and easy card for you:

Dragonfly
Sometimes simple is better.  Die cut Meadow Dragonfly 98318 from clear shrink plastic. (You may have to use scissors to release it from the shrink plastic.)  Shrink according to package directions.  Color dragon fly with markers - I used permanent marker for the body and a Zig metallic Posterman marker for the wings.  Stamp bamboo rectangle (I snipped it from a bamboo placemat) with G1842 Mercer Rose Background using gray dye ink.  Dry with heat gun.  Cut your frames from linen cardstock (base square is 4-1/4").  Layer on top of base 4" square.  Glue focal piece to center, attach to 4-1/2" card base (the linen cardstock is too flimsy to stand on its own) and you're done. 

It's a bit cold and dreary here today, so I hope it's sunny wherever you happen to be!

Thanks so much for looking!

Fri 27

A Butterfly to Brighten Your Day

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  It's rain or shine lately--a few days of rain followed by a few days of glorious sunshine.  Spring can't make up it's mind.  I've noticed quite a few hummingbirds and butterflies and was inspired to make this butterfly card.

  I created an embossed alcohol ink background for this pretty butterfly by placing a few drops of alcohol ink onto a small piece of felt then dabbing the color onto a 3 1/2 x 5" shimmer sheet panel (mylar).  The variations are endless when you play around with different colors combinations.  Add your favorite colors until you're happy with the outcome.  I used teal, brown and metallic copper diluted with blending solution--it will dry in just a few seconds.

 Place the panel inside an embossing folder and run though a CuttleBug or Big Shot machine using manufacturer's instructions for embossing. Use a sanding block to remove the ink on the raised design revealing the base shimmer sheet color.  

 Die cut both parts of the butterfly and layer the pieces together (don't forget the body) --attach to your card with a tiny foam square to raise him off the card.  Gently bend the wings forward.

 Die cut the label and stamp your thank you message---raise this up with foam dots too.

 A simple satin ribbon and paper flower completes the flutterby card and it's ready to brighten someone's day!

Supplies:

    98264 Darla Butterfly Die

    98265 Vivienne Butterfly Die

    98139 Primo Label Die

    B1751 Thank you Combo Stamp

    Alcohol inks

    Blending solution

    Embossing Folder

    Shimmer Sheet panel

Happy Friday---Have a great weekend!

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Thu 26

Dogwoods in Springtime

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I created a layered card using a card base of Ivory Cardstock.  The next layer is ivory cardstock stamped over with the Renaissance Tile with black ink. The next layer is ivory cardstock is stamped over with the Dream Definitions using black ink.   Then the dogwood stamp was stamped over the definition using black ink and colored with a hint of watercolor pencils.   The dragonfly was cut from the ivory cardstock with the tile stamped background.  The sentiment happiest birthday was stamped on coordinating cardstock.  All the edges were distressed with brown dye ink.

Have a happy Thursday!

 

Suzz

Wed 25

Garden Treasure Box (aka: Die Crazy!)

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Ok, I admit I went a little crazy using Memory Box dies on this altered cigar box project.  Once I got started, it was hard to stop. There were so many dies that just worked perfectly with my vision for this garden themed treasure box.  And I just love the vintage mini garden faucet for the knob.  

I won't go into detail on making the box because that's a unique process that each person would do on their own.  (See the Ink About It workshop calendar for a Cigar Box workshop in June.)  Instead, I will focus on showing how I incorporated the many dies and hopefully inspire you to create a treasure box of your own.

Cigarboxtop2_blog
Here's a closer view of the top.  As you can see, it's very dimensional thanks to the many dies used. I like the way the Tessatina Border mimic garden lattice, so I wove the Grove Branch through it and added the flowers and leaves.

Darla Butterfly (98264),Vivienne Butterfly (98265), Willow Dragonfly (98319), Grove Branch (98311), Fancy Blossoms (98312), Tender Leaves (98313), Tessatina Border (98302)

Cigarboxside3_blog
I added the Estate Fence ( 98285) to both sides of the box.  For adhering delicate, intricate dies like the fence, I learned a tip from a crafty friend, Mary Russo. She uses a basic sponge brush dipped in glue (thinned with a bit of water) and applies by dabbing the brush lightly over the back of the die. Place the die where you want it and lay your hand over it for a few seconds to set the glue. This is great if you are doing a larger project with lots of dies such as this box. I find my Quickie Glue Pen works just great when I am adhering only one or two dies.

Cigarboxopen4_blog
Finally, when you open the box, you are greeted by another gardenscape. I continued the use of the fence inside. Next, I layered the Debutante Frame (98297), stamped with the Hope Collage image (G1732), with the Twirling Vine Frame (98299).  I highlighted the word hope by adhering a glass pebble over it.  The outside front of the box is embellished with the Chadwick Label (98209) and the smaller label from the Promo Labels set (98139).  I hand wrote "Hopes, Dreams and Wishes" on the label.

I am pleased to be giving this particular box to a special friend. I hope the project inspires you to create something unique for yourself or to give as a gift - which is so fun to do!

Lorisig-sm

Sat 21

A Heart for Mom

Here's a card I made for my Mother-in-Law for Mother's Day:

Momcard1

Hopefully she'll like the bright colors.  Here's another view from the side:

Momcard2
Can you see the glitter on the flowers?  I wanted to try using the heart die as a mask.  This could easily be a one layer card. 

Here are the details:

Cut a piece of copy paper the size of your desired finished top layer (or card front for a one layer card).  My layer is 5-1/4" square.  Place the 98254 Grand Heart Die on the copy paper template where you want it to be on your finished card.  (I placed it higher, so that there would be room for the sentiment at the bottom.)  Tape the heart down with removable tape and run it through your die cutting machine. 

Cut a piece of water color paper the exact size of your copy paper.  Apply Restickable glue stick around the heart on your copy paper mask.  Let the glue stick dry, then attach on your water color paper. 

Lay a piece of copy paper on the center of the heart (mask no. 2) And stamp G1828 Vintage Dreams with VersaMark.  Peel off mask and emboss with white embossing powder.  

Place heart mask on top of water color paper and stamp D1841 Drift Flowers on the left side of the heart and emboss with white embossing powder.  

Place mask over heart and sponge desired ink colors over the stamped heart.  (By cutting the mask the same size as the paper, it is easy to keep repositioning it.)  I used Distress Concord Grape, Broken China, Tumbled Glass, Seedless Preserves, and Adirondack Watermelon as my inks.  

Cut 98256 Pepita Border from watercolor paper and color with same inks.  

Stamp sentiment on water color paper with VersaMark and emboss with white embossing powder.  Die cut sentiment with oval die and sponge ink over top (with die in place).  

Attach all pieces to water color layer (I used Quickie glue pen to attach the border).  Trim off edges of border.  Place on 5-1/2" square card base.  

Add glitter to flowers and add pearls. (I think it took longer to type the instructions that to make the card. :)

Hope you give this masking technique a try.  I'd love to see what your samples on Flickr.  

Have a great weekend!

Wed 18

Garden Serenade


P1080165

A pair of songbirds  - cut from felt with the Poppystamps Nestled Bird Die 817 - perch on the diecut branches of the Orchard Tree Frame 98300.  

The Memory Box Metal Adapter Plate makes it quick and easy to diecut delicate designs like this.  Add it to your usual stack of plates for thin metal dies - I like to place it between the Sizzix Multipurpose Platform and the cutting plate, then add the die (cutting side up), cardstock, and the final cutting plate. This helps keep the Metal Adapter Plate flat, and it won't conform to the shape of the cutting plate when it starts to curl.  Everyone has their favorite stacking sequence - this works for me and the many, many sheets of cardstock and felt I've diecut for classes.

Be sure to stop by the 3 Impress stores for their big annual Spring Sale - it starts tomorrow, April 19th. Special discounts, prizes - and the perfect time to stock up and fulfill your Memory Box and Poppystamps wishlists!  

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Mon 16

Time for a little reflection!

Pat Holcomb, one of the teachers here at The Stamp Addict, taught this card in a class a few weeks ago. 

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She used Memory Boxes Tree Border (D1277) with Black ink.  She then used Tim Holtz's Distress Inks and colored pencils to create the background and the hills.

I hope you enjoy!

 

Fri 13

Fancy Blossoms

IMG_4042

 

It's that time of year when the blossoms are blooming and it inspired me to share this card with you.

 

The decorative border was created using a small scrap of pink iris shimmer sheet (mylar) and applying multiple alcohol ink colors with a felt blending tool.  To further blend the colors I added a drop or two of alcohol blending solution which softens the color as if it were watercolored.

 The alcohol ink dries immediately and the strip is then placed in an embossing folder and run through the die cutting machine.

Lightly sand the raised image to reveal the original pink shimmer sheet.  Layer the embossed piece and adhere to the base card stamped with Vintage Dream (G1838).

Die cut the Grove Branch (98311) and Fancy Blooms (98312).  The Fancy Blooms were cut from watercolor paper painted with Twinkling H2O's.  Adhere the blooms to the branch, bend the petals forward and add pearl centers.

White seam binding was sprayed liberally with Perfect Pearls Mist (Pearl color) and scrunched into a tight ball to create wrinkles.  Dry the ribbon with a hair dryer to stiffen and set wrinkles.  Add a pink fancy blossom to the bow and place pearls randomly throughout the blossoms

Any type of sentiment can be added to this card to fit your occasion.  I hope you give this one a try.

Happy Friday!

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