Outside The Box: August 2014

Sat 23

Precious Daisies Bouquet

Most people blog about the latest shoes/handbags/foodtrucks they've found. Or cars/cocktails/hotels. I found some great new felt colors at Impress this weekend! Don't judge - these are beautiful colors, trust me! One's a rich warm orange and the other is a minty retro turquoise. Jean Okimoto here - would anyone else be as excited about new colors of felt?

Memory Box Products

Precious Daisies Die 98813
Zinnia Bouquet Die 98783
Star Flowers Die 98892
Urban Lowercase Alphabet Die 98874
Zippy Dots Stencil 88568
Latte Notecard
Granny Smith Cardstock
Granny Smith Envelope

Stencil Zippy Dots partially - and lightly - on the Latte Notecard with Memento Luxe Wedding Dress Pigment Ink. Heat-set the ink. I love the Latte Notecard - it's perfect with these bright colors of felt.

Diecut the delicate bows from the Precious Daisies set several times and layer them for a bright pop of gold. Add a Star Flower center to each felt daisy.

Attach adhesive label paper to a scrap of felt and diecut "hi." The paper stabilizes the felt and prevents any liquid adhesives from soaking through. Impress has a great selection of felt in the latest colors.

Please visit our Ideas Gallery for detailed directions and a product list for today's card.

Thanks for stopping by this weekend...do you like these colors as much as I do?

Be sure to drop by again tomorrow - Shelby has another one of her great projects for you!

Posted at 6:49 PM 08/23/2014 in All-Occasion, Clean and Simple, Dies, Flowers, Jean Okimoto, Stencils, Techniques | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Fri 22

Plush Poinsettia, Joyeux Noël and more!

Pam here to share a couple more cards with the Memory Box 2014 Holiday Collection. You already know I love Christmas and creating with Memory Box Co.! : )

This is an A2, white, side fold card...the black layer is glossy card-stock cut to 3 3/4 in. x 5 in.

I die cut the Pine Needle border die in Metallic Silver card-stock, taped it to the black layer and then rounded all four corners with the EK Sucess Medium size corner rounder punch.

Look at all the awesome detail! YES! That's Memory Box for you! : )

I heat embossed the sentiment stamp, Wonderful Time Combo with detail Gold embossing powder.

I die cut the Plush Poinsettia die in Metallic Gold and Silver card-stocks. Glued them together, then layered it on with mounting squares.

Love it! Wish you could see it IRL! It makes me smile! Always love it when cards work out how you want them to!

I couldn't just stop there... this card evolved from other things I was trying! lol

I made two cuts of the Plush Poinsettia die and adhered them to the top and bottom corners of my A-2 size card panel.

Then I die cut the Grand Joyeus Noël die in that panel. I had to trim the left side with a scissors.

I love how the design shows in the letters! FUN!

* remember to click on the photos to see them full size *

Then I used the Poinsettia Bloom die over the bottom corner. I'm whispering this, but I snuck in a garden sprig from poppystamps there too.... sssshhhhhh

That's it from me today! I had fun and I hope you're having fun with this collection too! Holler if you have any questions and thanks for commenting! Nothing like encouraging a gal to keep die cutting and inking!

'preciate it so much! Take care!

ttul,

p.s. keep the clear bags your Memory Box and poppystamps dies come in. When you are done with a card, slip them into one of these bags to keep your card looking new. You can still admire it!

Posted at 1:00 PM 08/22/2014 in Borders, Christmas, Dies, Flowers, Poppystamps, Winter | Permalink | Comments (16)

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Fri 22

Freestyle stamping

I call this technique free style stamping, sounds fancy huh? It really just means doodling, something that I love to do. Did you know that doodling can make you smarted. Check out this article. Lots of famous people doodle also, so we doodlers are in great company.

While have done this technique for years, it wasn't until I was taking the new online class Stretch Your Stamps, that I was reminded of it. I stamped gathered blooms using my favorite inks Momentos.

The trick with this technique is to think "Outside the Box"!! (hee hee) Instead of the stems on the gathered blooms, I saw a vase. I stamp the image off the paper, which always creates more interest.

I then put some ink directly to a craft sheet, but you just as easily use an acrylic block and added some greenery to the image with a waterbrush.

From there I began my doodling using an extra fine point sharpie. (make sure your piece is completely dry before doodling- no smears please.)

Here the doodling is just about complete. To finish it I added some accents to the vase and flowers. I created shadows around the image and added some splatters.

The trick is just to have fun. I would sooooo love to see what you all do with this technique. Send me a link.

Posted at 6:24 AM 08/22/2014 in Birthday, Clean and Simple, Flowers, Stamps | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Thu 21

Spooky House

Hello Hello! Marnie here I have for you today a Spooky House made from the Village House 98594. I'm getting into the Halloween Feel can you tell? I was so happy with my little trees. They came from the Harvest Moon Tree 99029 I cut out the center and one of the longer branches, they are really cute little trees. The clouds are stenciled in black Memento Tuxedo Black Ink with the Cloud Cover Stencil 88558 and the hills are made out of two shades of green and the Big Word Pop 99047. Finally a moon punched from yellow and some stars created with Stickles.

I hope you like it! Have a most Wonderful Day! Thank You for stopping by.

Posted at 12:00 AM 08/21/2014 in Dies, Halloween, Landscapes, Stencils | Permalink | Comments (6)

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Wed 20

Did Someone Say "Spooky?"

Need another reason to add the new Spooky Background stamp to your Memory Box collection? Create a word block with it – and let a friendly ghost do the talking! Jean Okimoto here – with another quick card for you.

Memory Box Products

NEW Big Word Pop Curve Die 99047
Ghost Trio Die 98376
NEW Spooky Background Stamp G1996
Jack ‘O Lantern Cardstock
Mango Notecard
Mango Envelope

Stamp Spooky Background with Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black – then heat-set it. Imagine Crafts’ Memento Luxe inks are rich, vibrant pigment inks. They’re great for stamping, stenciling and shading. Just heat-set them or heat-emboss them with clear powder for best results.

Big Word Pop Curve (99047)

5.7 x 1.5 in. or 14.5 x 3.9 cm.

99047

Cut the bottom edge with the Big Word Pop Curve and daub a bit of Tuxedo Black over any partially-cut letters that appear near the bottom edge. Attach the ghostly guys and some sequins – and you have another fun Halloween card that’s sure to make someone smile! It doesn’t get any easier than that.

Visit our Ideas Gallery for detailed directions and other cards featuring our 2014 Holiday Collection.

Thanks for stopping by...be sure to return tomorrow for Marnie's great project!

Posted at 4:55 PM 08/20/2014 in Celebrations, Clean and Simple, Dies, Fall, Halloween, Jean Okimoto, Stamps, Techniques, Words | Permalink | Comments (2)

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Wed 20

Spooky Spiders

Hi, Jean Okimoto here, with a quick Halloween card today. I love our typography stamps - the new Spooky Background creates a great backdrop for the Haunted Webs and Scary Spiders. Stamp it with quick-drying Memento Morocco ink for a subtle monochromatic look that makes the web and spiders jump out at you.

Save yourself some time by cutting the spiders from self-adhesive craft foam for dimension and quick assembly. Add a few bright green sequins for a pop of color...and that’s it!

Memory Box Products

NEW Haunted Webs Die 99007
Scary Spiders Die 98704
NEW Spooky Background Stamp G1996
Mango Cardstock
Licorice Notecard
Mango Envelope

Visit our Ideas Gallery for detailed directions for this card – and a few more too.

Big Thanks to everyone who took last weekend’s Merry Holidays class at Impress. Hope you liked the cards and techniques!

Thanks for stopping by – hope you'll be back this evening for another project.

Posted at 2:48 AM 08/20/2014 in Celebrations, Dies, Fall, Halloween, Jean Okimoto, Stamps, Words | Permalink | Comments (7)

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Tue 19

Merry Card & A Call to Destruction?

Hey, there, Stamp Lovers!

I decided to change it up a wee bit by using PARTS of die cuts to see what would result. I really like what happened, and I challenge you to take some time to mutilate your die cuts (lol)!

Check it out:

I took the "Merry" from the Merry Christmas To All die:

98970

And the center of the Dazzling Snowflake to decorate my Cabrini Ornament:

99041

And here's what I got:

S U P P L I E S

All products by Memory Box unless otherwise stated.

Dies (Cabrini Ornament, Dazzling Snowflake, Merry Christmas to All): 6" x 6" patterned paper scrap (discontinued Winterberry collection); cardstock: (The Paper Company, Neenah 110# Solar White, discontinued Soiree Shimmer scraps); Accents: gems & pearl (Mark Richards, Recollections)

T I P

Die cut the snowflake and set the resulting die cut to the side. Now die cut the ornament but save its negative. Place the ornament's negative on top of the snowflake die cut to determine placement, then carefully place the ornament die into its negative (on top of the snowflake die cut). Use low-tack tape to adhere the ornament die to the snowflake to prevent slippage. Run it through your die cutter and carefully remove your new die cut, paying attention to how it fits within the ornament die cut. Slide it into place within the ornament die cut on your project and adhere.

I hope you give these techniques a try. Look at your dies and see what happens if you "tear up" your die cuts. The results are like doubling your die collection and can be quite exciting!

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah

P.S. Don't forget to come back tomorrow to see our Jean's next masterpiece!

Posted at 12:00 AM 08/19/2014 in Christmas, Dies, Techniques | Permalink | Comments (10)

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Mon 18

It's A Shore Thing

People drive for miles and miles and wait in line for up to two hours for one of Red's Eats famous Maine lobster rolls. Earlier this year I created a scrapbook page in homage to Red's Eats. This was before the DEEP OCEAN LOBSTER die No. 98986 appeared in the Memory Box catalog. I now need to revise this page and add some cute little lobsters!

Since I got my DEEP OCEAN LOBSTER die, I've been making a variety of cards. You may remember that I created a shore dinner card when I first got the die and posted it to this blog.

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the little lobster die--DEEP OCEAN LOBSTER No. 98986--and had some fun with word play and numerous lobster cut-outs in bright red paper to create some late summer cards.

Holly Berry notecard
Licorice Distressed Dot paper
White and Red Cardstocks
DEEP OCEAN LOBSTER die No. 98986
CURLING CLOUD die No. 98976
CLASSIC UPPERCASE ALPHABET die No. 98361
TYPEWRITER UPPERCASE ALPHABET die No. 98367

White notecard
Red, White, and Green Cardstocks
DEEP OCEAN LOBSTER die No. 98986
BURSTING BERRY VINE BORDER die No. 98981
CLASSIC UPPERCASE ALPHABET die No. 98361
TYPEWRITER UPPERCASE ALPHABET die No. 98367
1 1/2" and 1" circle punches

In Maine we tend to pronounce LOBSTER as "lobstah", hence a revised title of the B52 song on this card. I couldn't resist using the VIRTUOSO MUSIC die No. 98356 even though I couldn't find it in the online catalog. You could easily substitute PARTY MUSIC die No. 98757 (which I now know I need to purchase!) or MUSICAL MOTIF die No. 98747.

White Notecard
Bluebird Distressed Dot paper
Red and black cardstocks
DEEP OCEAN LOBSTER die No. 98986
CURLING CLOUD die No. 98976
CLASSIC UPPERCASE ALPHABET die No. 98361
TYPEWRITER UPPERCASE ALPHABET die No. 98367

I love using dies in ways other than they were intended--the Curling Cloud upside down as a wave; the Bursting Berry Vine Border as underwater foliage. I hope you are having a summer with opportunities to make your own creative cards using the Memory Box dies.

Happpy Crafting!

Posted at 12:00 AM 08/18/2014 in All-Occasion, Anne, Patterned Papers | Permalink | Comments (5)

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Sun 17

Masculine Birthday

Good morning everyone! I hope you've had a wonderful weekend and are enjoying the waning summer season and gearing up for Autumn and the beginning of school for those with kids. A big thank you to all of the awesome participants who joined me last month for our day full of all things Memory Box at Simple Pleasures. The uber talented Jenny Griffiths will be teaching some amazingly cool classes this coming weekend at Simple Pleasures...August 22st and 23rd. Call the store or stop in to register for a few hours of fun and creativity!! These classes are also available as a kit.

On to my card for today. I'm always in need of masculine cards and just love the new die called Gear Assembly.

I cut the Gear Assembly die twice. Once in black card stock to create the shadow and once in gold for the main element. You can find all of the very cool gear dies HERE. The background paper was created using plain black card stock and irRESISTible texture spray from Imagine crafts. I'm loving this product. It's fast and easy way to create some wonderful and unique effects with regular cardstock.

The sentiment (Happy Birthday Special Combo B1910) was stamped in Memento Luxe (wedding dress color) and the embossd with clear embossing powder.

Thanks for stopping by today and hope your upcoming week is a great one!

Shelby

Posted at 2:00 AM 08/17/2014 in Birthday, Dies, Masculine, Stamps | Permalink | Comments (4)

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Sat 16

New Castle Snowflake and Pinecone Corner Merry Christmas!

Let it snow! Well, it's raining here anyway...close enough for August! We're glad because Tim is re-seeding the yard. Grow grass grow!

For my card today, I cut the Pinecone Corner die from Dill and Vanilla Bean card-stock.

Cut the brown pinecones away from the complete corner piece, shape them with a stylus on a molding mat or mouse pad, ink them with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and the ink blending tool and then mount them over the green pinecones die cut with mounting foam squares.

Die cut the NEW New Castle Snowflake die from white card-stock, adhere it with Tombow mono multi liquid glue.

Emboss the Merry Christmas sentiment with Tsukineko Imagine white embossing powder, tie on a festive little ribbon and embellish with some glitter domes.

Thanks for stopping by today! Stay warm! : )

P.S. Want to know how I learned to tie bows that stay tied AND the loops lay straight across from each other? HERE and HERE are the videos to watch! Try it! Yes, I know, he's showing shoes but if you want awesome bows on the packages you wrap....you'll be delighted with this! and the extra bonus, use it to tie your shoes! : )