Sprinkle Dots Peony Joy by Anne Thompson

This is my last holiday card this month before I start using products from the new 2020 Christmas release which you will be able to see on the Memory Box site TODAY!  

I made today's Christmas-in-July card with Memory Box supplies from previous collections.  It all started because I had a peony left from a previous project that I wanted to incorporate, I had found a package of Holly Berry notecards with last year's Christmas stamps and dies as I was rummaging through things, and I knew I wanted to use a favorite stencil to create the background.

supplies

• HOLLY BERRY NOTECARD 22016
• WATERCOLOR PAPER WP101
• SPRINKLE DOTS STENCIL 88597
• VersaFine Clair Tulip Red Ink; fingertip dauber
• two of the MATINEE RECTANGLE LAYERS 94438
• red dot paper from COTTAGE STRIPES AND DOTS PP1004 6X6 pad
• peony stamped, watercolored, and die cut from PEONY GARDEN CORNER CL5255-D clear stamp and die set
• "joy" stamp from BOLD CHRISTMAS GREETINGS CL5233

to make this card

• Tape the stencil on top of the smooth-sided watercolor paper and apply ink using a fingertip dauber.  Trim this panel to 4 X 5 1/4 and adhere it to the front of a Holly Berry notecard.

• Using the Matinee Rectangle Layers, cut one from a piece of the Cottage Stripes and Dots red paper and a smaller one from a scrap of smooth-sided watercolor paper.

• Stamp "joy" using the same VersaFine Clair Tulip Red ink on the watercolor paper rectangle.

• Layer the two rectangles and place them in the lower right corner of the front panel.
• Stamp, watercolor, and die cut a single peony (or do what I did and use a flower left from a prior project) and glue it over the upper left corners of the two rectangles.  

And there you have it...

Be sure to look at the newest 2020 Christmas release and start writing out your wish list.  There are new dies, glitter glues, and 6X6 paper pads as well as two new embossing folders.  And keep checking the blog in the days to come for samples from the Design Team!

Happy Crafting!

Peace and the Pretty Blossom Stem Holiday Card by Anne Thompson

I'm still working on my July personal challenge to make holiday cards from Memory Box Spring 2020 and Garden Party products I have on hand with sentiments from previous holiday releases.  Today's card features the Peace Jotted Script, the Pretty Blossom Stem, and Wrapped Stitched Rectangles on a pretty piece of Garden Party paper.

materials

• white notecard
• a pretty piece of paper from the GARDEN FOLLY 6X6 PP1005
• bright red glitter paper from the TWINKLING JEWEL 6X6 GP1003
• white cardstock
• two of the Open Studio WRAPPED STITCHED RECTANGLES 30094
• PRETTY BLOSSOM STEM 94422
• PEACE JOTTED SCRIPT 94072
• white adhesive-backed pearls

In the photos above you can see how I cut everything from red glitter paper and white cardstock.  I trimmed a piece of pretty floral paper 4 X 5 1/4 and adhered that to the front of a white notecard.  I used foam tape to place the red glitter Wrapped Rectangle at an angle.  I used large Glue Dots under the flowers to attach the Pretty Blossom Stem to the white Wrapped Rectangle and then used Scor-Tape to secure that to the glitter rectangle.  The next step was to use a glue pen to layer the Peace Jotted Script, red glitter paper on top of white cardstock.  After trying a number of various placements, I used just one large Glue Dot under the "a" to attach "peace" to the panel.

To finish the card I added white pearls to the flower centers.  And on the inside I added a narrow strip of the same Garden Party paper I used on the card front.

Happy Crafting!

 

Concentric-Cutting with Square Basics by Jean Okimoto

Multi-colored diecut frames are everywhere right now and the 16-piece Square Basics set is a great way to create that look.  View Jennifer McGuire's video for her great techniques and examples.  

You won't need a special set of dies to cut frames - thick or thin.  This link to our #300-series of dies displays our nesting sets of squares, rectangles, hexagons, ovals, octagons and circles that are perfect for frame-cutting. 

Hello, Jean Okimoto here with a design that began as a trial and became a card.  Tape the 2", 1-½", 1" and ½" dies together.  Brush the remaining exposed tape with the embossing powder tool to reduce the tackiness so the tape won't damage the diecuts.  

Instead of patiently piecing strips of the Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad and diecutting them into nesting frames I diecut the glossy cover of the 6x6 pad "for practice" and decided to use it for today's card.  

Remove the frames from the die and rotate them to arrange contrasting colors.  Cut the ½" square again from another section for better color contrast. Re-assemble the pieces and tape them together on the reverse side.  Pale peach sections keep the card from looking too sweet or like a pink and blue baby card.  

Cut the butterfly print - from the Springtime Bouquet 6x6 set - with the 3" square die.  Stamp the greeting - from the Cherry Blossom Wreath Clear Stamp and Die Set - with Lilac Posies Memento Luxe and emboss it with detail clear powder.  Cut it with the 1-½" square die.

Cut the 2 small Poppystamps Intricate Cut Butterflies from the pink Delicate Pastel 6x6 sheet.  It's a set of 4 detailed butterflies...beautiful details without the little pieces!  

Attach the diecuts to a side-folded 5-¼" square white card - use foam tape for the butterflies.  Square cards require extra postage.

Revisit your stash of prints, glitter and metallic cardstock and up-cycle them into great frames.  I'll  use the blue and green frame squares for a weekend project.

Thanks for visiting!

 

Supplies

 

30088 Square Basics Set

GP1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

PP1006 Springtime Bouquet 6x6 pack

CL5256-D Cherry Blossom Wreath clear stamp set

2367 Intricate Cut Butterflies

Giulia Border Joy Holiday Card by Anne Thompson

I'm continuing my challenge this month to create holiday cards from Memory Box materials I have on hand, not necessarily holiday-themed, and mostly pulling from the Garden Party and Spring 2020 collections.

This is actually the second card I made and my favorite of the two.  

materials used for both cards

• white notecard
• white cardstock
• Leafy Jumble Stencil 88613 from Open Studio 2019, similar to Leafy Rows Stencil 88615
• VersaFine Clair Tulip Red ink
• deep red glitter paper from the Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad GP1003
• Giulia Border 94411
• Joy Airy Script 94325 from 2019 Holiday
• 6X6 papers from Garden Folly PP1005 and Cottage Meadow PP1003

I started my cards by die cutting everything first.  I actually cut the Joy Airy Script twice and the Giulia Border four times to have what I needed for the two cards.

Then I made a sandwich for my Big Kick and embossed the Leafy Jumble stencil twice on thin white cardstock.  I used the VersaFine Clair Tulip Red ink direct to paper over the raised leaves to use as the base on the card fronts.

I used Scor-Tape to attach the leafy panel to the front of a white notecard.  I added a strip of white cardstock  1 1/2 X 5 1/4 which I first edged with the Tulip Red ink.  I used Glue Dots under the flowers to attach the red glitter Giulia Border on that white strip.  Then I adhered the Joy Airy Script with a glue pen.

On the inside I added a piece of paper from the Cottage Meadow pad and a white cardstock rectangle.

Then I went back to the front of the card and auditioned a bunch of different ribbons and bows before settling on the red satin bow.

The other card has the fold at the top edge, the embossed and inked leafy panel, and three narrow strips of white cardstock with the Giulia Border on each one.

From the outside it is not obvious that it is a holiday card because...

...the sentiment is on the inside.

Are you thinking Christmas in July?  Have you thought about ways that you might repurpose some of your stamps and dies to create holiday cards?  And have you made and posted anything to this month's Framed! challenge yet?  So many questions...

Happy Crafting!

Framed! December Holiday Cards by Anne Thompson

Framed! is the Memory Box Challenge for July.  My personal challenge every July is to get a head start on creating my holiday cards.  For today's post I am combining both challenges to make two sparkly December holiday cards, repurposing dies from both the Spring 2020 and Garden Party Collections to work as holiday images.

materials used:

• spruce green notecards
• Cottage Stripes and Dots PP1004, two green dots papers, cut 5 1/4 X 4
• white cardstock, cut 5 x 3 3/4
• Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad GP1001, two pieces light green
• Bubble Circles 94439
• Magnolia Wreath 94419
• Magnolia Double Arch 94421
• Matinee Rectangle Layers 94438, the two smallest dies
• Joy Airy Script 94325 from 2019 Holiday Collection

Magnolia Wreath card

When I first looked at these dies I thought they would work for a holiday wreath, sort of poinsettia-like.  I cut both the Magnolia Wreath and the Magnolia Double Arch from the light green glitter paper.  Using tiny Glue Dots under each flower, I placed the arch with the largest flower on the left of the card front, added the wreath on top of that and then added the other arch piece on top of the wreath.  

For the sentiment label, I chose the two smallest rectangles from the Matinee Rectangle Layers set.  I cut the larger one from the same light green glitter paper and the smaller one from white cardstock.  I layered them together with Scor-Tape and then added the Joy Airy Script cut from more of the light green glitter paper.  I attached the label with foam dots, tucking it inside the wreath a bit and overlapping the right edge.

On the inside I added a piece of dot paper topped with a white cardstock rectangle and used Glue Dots to attach another one of the Magnolia arches.

Bubbles Circles Joy card

The Bubbles Circles remind me both of the wreaths that my dad makes and the pretty balls that he uses to decorate them.  I cut all three of the Bubble Circles from the light green glitter paper and stacked them on the top-fold card front, snugging them together in the lower left corner.  

For the sentiment label, I chose the two smallest rectangles from the Matinee Rectangle Layers set.  I cut the larger one from the same light green glitter paper and the smaller one from white cardstock.  I layered them together with Scor-Tape and then added the Joy Airy Script cut from more of the light green glitter paper.  I attached the label with foam dots in the upper right corner.  I added a white satin bow in the lower left where the three circles meet.

On the inside I attached a piece of the green dots paper centered with a white cardstock panel.  I used Glue Dots to attach one of the Magnolia Arches in the upper right corner.

Do you work on holiday cards in July as well?  What Memory Box dies and stamps in your stash could be used for them?  Take another look at what you have and how you might repurpose those dies and stamps for holiday greetings.  

Happy Crafting!

 

Hello Card by Donna Sledzik

Hello everyone!  The inspiration for the background of today's card came from this video I watched by Mary Beth Shaw. 

To create the background I took a page from a magazine and placed a stencil underneath it. Next I used a sanding block to lightly sand across the the paper. 

I think dark images work the best and a light hand in sanding is key.  I ripped a few pages before I got the hang of it.  

I glued my image to a piece of cardstock and then trimmed it to fit on my card.  Next I mounted the background on a kraft cardstock mat, then glued it to a white card base.

Using kraft cardstock, I die cut 2 small circles and 1 medium circle from the Geodesic Circle Die set which I glued to my card front.

Next I stamped, watercolored, and die cut my flowers and leaves then glued them to my card. I spattered the card with gold ink and while this was drying, I die cut my word hello from gold metallic cardstock.  

To finish the card I adhered the word hello and added Gold Nuvo Drops to the center of the flowers.

That's it for today!  I hope you have a great week.

 

 

Supplies

 

94408 Geodesic Circles

94105 Big Hello Premiere

88615 Leafy Rows Stencil

CL5258-D Wild Rose Stem clear stamp and die set

Leafy Tree Frame Best Wishes by Anne Thompson

It's Sunday night as I write up this post and almost everything that could go wrong in this process has gone wrong.  Ever have one of those days?!  The computer has been acting up and the camera died after three photos.  So I'm just going to have to work with what I have because this goes live at 3:01 AM.

I've spent the month of June making birthday cards to replenish my dwindling supply.  Today's card with the sentiment "best wishes" could be used for a birthday card or for any occasion when you want to send best wishes.  I used watercolor paper, two dies, and two pieces of the same dot/stripe paper on a white notecard.

I started with a piece of Memory Box WATERCOLOR PAPER WP101 and green paints from my Kuretake watercolors.  I wet the paper first with a wide brush and clear water and then dabbed on various shades of green paint with a smaller brush and let the water move the colors to blend them. 

After the painted paper was dry I cut it using the LEAFY TREE FRAME 94420 and the BEST WISHES BANNER SCRIPT 94394.

I cut two pieces of the same double-sided dot/stripe paper 5 1/4 X 4, placing the dots on the front of the notecard and the stripes on the inside.  This paper is from the SPRINGTIME BOUQUET STRIPES AND DOTS PAPER PAD PP1007.  I used very narrow Scor-Tape and a glue pen to add the die cut pieces to the dotted paper on the card front.  I found a sticky-back green gem to dot the i.

I like the way the Leafy Tree Frame embosses the leaves on the tree and lines on the frame, giving it a lovely texture.  Perhaps I could have gotten even more dimension if I had die cut the image while it was still damp.  I find that even lightly misted paper often gives a better impression than really dry paper.

That's it!

I'm really ready for a new challenge, a new theme.  I wonder what July will bring...

Happy Crafting!

 

 

Gloriosa Butterflies, Geodesic Ovals and Glitter by Jean Okimoto

There are so many ways to combine the great dies, papers and stamps in our 2020 collections.  Take advantage of the coordinating colors and themes to create quick cards for any occasion.  

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with two cards using the same papers, dies, stamps and colors to streamline the process and save time.  The tools and supplies are ready - make some cards for your stash, or for gifts.  

 

Cut the Gloriosa Butterfly Duo Backgrounds from Juicy Pear cardstock.  Cut the Gloriosa Butterfly Duo Outlines  and center/antennae sections from the lime green glitter cardstock in the Twinkling Jewel 6x6 Glitter Pack.  Cut the tiny butterflies - from the Butterfly Meadow die set - from the green glittered cardstock too.

Cut the leafy green Garden Folly 6x6 print with the big little Geodesic Oval dies

Score, cut and fold an A6 (4-½" x 6-¼") card and a top-folded A2 card of Easter Grass cardstock.  

Stamp the greetings - from the Poppystamps Greeting Basics Clear Stamp Set - on light green cardstock with Shady Lane VersaFine Clair.  Quickly heat-emboss it with detail clear powder.  Trim the greetings with the Rectangle Basics dies.

Assemble the cards - use foam dots for the greetings and butterfly wings.

Take a few extra minutes to make duplicate or similar cards with the tools and supplies you're working with.  Save some time now, have handcrafted cards ready when you need them... and have a great weekend!

 

Thanks for visiting...

 

Supplies

 

94418 Geodesic Oval Trio

94387 Gloriosa Butterfly Duo Background

94383 Gloriosa Butterfly Duo Outlines

PP1005 Garden Folly 6x6 pack

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

CL490 Greeting Basics

94238 Butterfly Meadow

GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

Diecut Wide Washi Tape Stickers by Jean Okimoto

Memory Box and Poppystamps dies create unique washi tape stickers for any project  Add them to cards, giftbags, tags, party favors or decor for color-coordinated accents with a very strong adhesive.

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with 2 easy summer cards.  I use a lot of labels, sticker sheets and laminates - I'll have a stash of of the liner sheets if I save them.

Attach Cornelia Aqua Wide Washi Tape to a recycled liner sheet from address labels.  Cut it with the Poppystamps Thank You Stitched Tag. Cut the Poppystamps Grosgrain Bow and the tag's "thank you"  from pale peach cardstock.  Attach everything to a side-folded blue 5 x 3 ½" notecard.  

Cut the middle-sized Geodesic Oval from the washi tape too.  Cut the Geodesic Oval again from natural white cardstock - we're using the frame. Place the smallest Poppystamps Flora Bloom in the 2 ¼" Flora Blooms Solids die.  Cut natural cardstock with the double-die. Color a light-colored Delicate Pastel glitter cardstock sheet with a marker.  Let the ink dry, then punch ¼" circles.  Cut a scrap of it to fit behind the circles in the diecut flower.

Stamp the greeting from the Peony Garden Corner Clear Stamps on natural cardstock with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair.  Attach the Geodesic Oval, Flora Blooms and greeting to a top-folded A2 card of Coral Cream cardstock.  Add the glitter dots.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

Supplies

 

CL5255-D Peony Garden Corner clear stamp set

2333 Flora Blooms

2365 Thank You Stitched Tag

2358 Grosgrain Bow

2331 Flora Bloom Solids Set

94418 Geodesic Oval Trio

GP1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

WT509 Cornelia Aqua 1 inch Washi Tape

Tulip Trio Frame Birthday Card by Anne Thompson

I'm still making birthday cards this month to replenish my supply.  I like to have a variety on hand to choose from when I need one.   Here's a bright, sparkly new one to add to my stash.

From the front you could imagine this card could be for any occasion.  But when you look inside...

...there's the birthday message!

This was a very simple card to make.  I chose two coordinating prints from the GARDEN FOLLY 6X6 paper pad PP1005 and some white cardstock to make the paper layers on the white notecard.  I added pieces from the TULIP TRIO FRAME 94440 cut using a piece of bright red glitter paper from the TWINKLING JEWEL 6X6 glitter paper pad GP1003 as the focal image for the card front.  There is plenty of room on the white cardstock to add a name or other stamped or handwritten message once I know where this card is going.

On the inside of the card I layered more of the red plaid paper and white cardstock as a backdrop for the BIRTHDAY CURSIVE SCRIPT CIRCLE 94396 and two solid candles from TALL BIRTHDAY CANDLES 94395, both cut from more of the same red glitter paper.

That's it!  Easy peasy.

Want to submit your birthday card in this month's challenge?  Check out how to here.  We would love to see what you've been making!

Happy Crafting!