Hearts and Hugs by Jean Okimoto

 

Doesn't it seem like we just celebrated Christmas...and now Valentine's Day is a week away? Here's a design that could be a quick Valentine - or a friendship card.  It's also some inspiration for February's Memory Box Challenge - this month's theme is "I'll drink to that."  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with slimline that's a mix of Memory Box and Poppystamps designs.

It's great that the little Cuppa Love heart can be perfectly aligned with the 4th heart from the bottom of the Sprinkle Heart Collage!  I think it looks like the collage hearts are floating out of the coffee cup.  Yes or no??

Cut gray cardstock with the 1-½" x 6-½" Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles die.  Cut the rectangle with Sprinkle Heart Collage.

Cut bright pink cardstock with the same rectangle die, then trim a little from the top and both sides so it'll fit behind the heart collage.  No guessing or measuring needed!

Here's an easy way to add the coffee.  Cut Cuppa Love from natural cardstock.  Attach Scor-Tape to the oval coffee insert die and cut the oval from brown cardstock.   Attach the (self-adhesive) brown oval behind the surface of the coffee cup and sprinkle that section with detail clear embossing powder.  Heat-emboss it.  It'll be glossy, like hot coffee (or really dark chocolate) - and adhered too.

Cut the cup insert from lighter pink cardstock.  Cut the Cuppa Love heart from a pink sheet in the Graceful Garden Glitter Pad.

Attach Scor-Tape behind a scrap of the bright pink cardstock and cut the Poppystamps Playful Hugs.

Attach the diecuts to a gray slimline card (3-½" x 8-½").  Add jewels from the Pastel Fairy Jewels set - these are from the first column of the jewels.  Cut a slimline-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Big thanks to everyone who ordered my LOVE...Simply Stated card kits from Impress - hope you liked the designs!

Thanks for visiting...have a great weekend!

 

 

Supplies

 

94548 Sprinkle Heart Collage

94637 Cuppa Love

94554 Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles

jwl002 Pastel Jewels

gp1002 Graceful Garden Glitter Pad

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

2407 Playful Hugs

Brown Bear Hugs by Jean Okimoto

Send bear hugs and Valentine wishes with a spooky Halloween forest, a Christmas polar bear and heart garlands from a globe die.  Take advantage of the versatility of these great dies and repurpose them for other holidays and occasions.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a combo designed to get the most from your Memory Box collection.

We're using 3 shades of Kraft cardstock here - light, medium and dark.  Cut medium Kraft cardstock with the largest Rectangle Basics die.  Cut it with the Ghosts in the Forest die.

Cut the red Glitzy Glitter Pad sheet with the Heart Streamer Globe.  Add a 4th heart to one of the streamers.  Attach the streamers to the trees by taping the ends behind the edges of the diecut.  Attach it to a natural A2 notecard.

Cut Layered Polar Bear's background from light Kraft cardstock.  Color the ears with a brown marker.  Attach a scrap of   Black  Glossy Paper behind the eyes and nose. Cut the remaining pieces dark Kraft cardstock.  Assemble the beqr.

Cut red cardstock from the Berry Red Collection with the smallest Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out die. Cut "hugs" from black cardstock with the Lower Case Poetic Alphabet and attach it to the heart.  Attach the heart to the bear using foam tape at the top of the heart.

Attach the diecuts to a natural A2 notecard - use foam dots for the bear.  Add the clear Christmas Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A2-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front during mailing.

Layered Polar Bear is really a bear for all seasons.  Add bunny ears for spring - and a mask, witch hat or ghost costume for Halloween.  He's great for baby, thinking-of-you and birthday cards too!

Thanks for visiting - see you again this weekend...

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94685 Layered Polar Bear

94558 Heart Streamer Globe

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

94359 Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out

94622 Ghosts in the Forest

cry102 Christmas Fairy Crystals

gp1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

sp1001 Berry Red

sh44004 Black Glossy Paper

 

 

From Poppystamps -

Supplies

 

2332 Poetic Lowercase Alphabet

Sweets Packages for My Sweeties by Anne Thompson

Here are simple little packets to hold sweets for your sweeties.

• I actually made quite a few of these over the weekend using up more of the Jolly Christmas 6X6 papers.

This is the way I assembled them.

• Trim your paper to 3" X 4 1/2".  You'll need two of these.
• Score both pieces at 4".
  
• Add a piece of double-sided tape (I used Scor-Tape) on the back side of one of the folds.
• Add the other scored piece on top, matching the inside and outside plaids.  This forms the base of the packet so it will stand up.
  
  
• Add a strip of a coordinating paper to the center front.
• Punch a hole on either side of that strip near the top of the packet.  You will add baker's twine (or another kind of ribbon, twine, etc.) to close the packet once you've added the sweets.

• I used large Glue Dots to secure the chocolate squares inside the packet, attaching one to each inside strip.  

• I decorated this packet simply, adding small white pearls to the flower centers and larger red Fairy Dewdrops over the berries printed on the paper, and tied the packet closed with baker's twine.

• For this packet I die cut three of the SCALLOP PINPOINT LOVING HEART CUT OUT 94364  from white card stock.  I used the heart centers by gluing the largest one to the front center strip and then adding the others with foam dimensional dots between each one.
• I used baker's twine to tie the packet closed.

For a quicker assembly, use 8 1/2" X 11" card stock.  I prepared these for my valentines class at the senior center.

• Cut your card stock strips 3" X 8 1/2".
• Score at 3 7/8" and 4 5/8".
• Add decorative papers and embellishments to the front, add your sweets to the inside, punch two holes at the top through all the layers, and tie the packets closed.

You might need to adjust the size of your strips (width, length) depending on what kind of sweets you want to tuck inside...peanut butter cups, needhams, small candy bars, bags of sweets.  

And for decorating them--any of the hearts and floral dies and the valentine words dies from Memory Box!  Mix it up even more and add vintage valentine images, paper clips, buttons, ribbons, etc. 

Happy Crafting!

Bear Hugs for You by Jean Okimoto

The Layered Polar Bear - from our Christmas release - makes a great addition to Valentine cards too.  Cut this very popular guy from soft white felt and

Open Studio Watercolor Paper for plush texture and contrasting shades of white.

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with my favorite design from our holiday release.  Pair the friendly bear with the Woodgrain Tree Trunk and imagine "xoxo" carved into the trunk with Poppystamps' Poetic Lowercase Alphabet.

Prep white wool-blend felt by attaching it to adhesive label paper or a sticker sheet to stabilize it and prevent adhesives from saturating it.  Cut the large bear background.  Color the eartips with a pink marker.  Let it dry for a few minutes - then blot it to be sure it's really dry.

Cut the other bear sections from Open Studio Watercolor Paper.  Attach a scrap of Black Glossy Cardstock behind his face.  The glossy finish makes a big difference  - his eyes look brighter.  Assemble the bear - use foamtape behind the top layers of the paws and leave a section on the left unattached to insert the hugs heart

 

Cut a bright red 6x6 from the Berry Red Collection with the smallest

Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out.  

Cut "xoxo" and "hugs"  - from the Poppystamps Poetic Lowercase Alphabet - from dark brown cardstock.  Attach the letters to the heart.

Cut Woodgrain Tree Trunk from medium-brown cardstock.

Prep bright red felt with adhesive label paper or a stick sheet and cut 3 of the Layered Birds.  Cut the coordinating smaller top layers from the Berry Red 6x6.

 

 

Attach the diecuts to a light kraft slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½").  Add the amber-colored Autumn Fairy Crystals.  

Cut a slimline-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Add a greeting - the new For You Posh Script - cut from light kraft cardstock and the bright red Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  Cut 2 background layers from the kraft cardstock and pressure-emboss 1 using the rubber mat and plate(s) required for your machine.  Pressure-embossing creates a debossed area to easily attach the detailed top layer.  Attach the other kraft background behind the greeting for extra dimension.

Construct a brown bear with brown felt and cardstock if they're more common in your neighborhood - like they are here.   He's also great for baby and kid cards too - and birthdays, holding a balloon or cupcake!    Add a scarf for extra color on winter cards.

Thanks for visiting - keep warm, be safe and have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94709

94685 Layered Polar Bear

94684 Layered Birds

94630 Woodgrain Tree Trunk

94359 Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

sp1001 Berry Red

wp101 Watercolor Paper

sh44004 Black Glossy Paper

 

 

 

 

From Poppystamps:

Supplies

 

2332 Poetic Lowercase Alphabet

Love and Joy by Donna Sledzik

Hello everyone!  Today I have one more Christmas card for you using new and old products.   I used the Heart Ring Stack die from the 2023 Valentine's Day release and turned it into a Christmas card.

I die cut the Heart Ring in the middle of a white cardstock panel and saved the die cut heart outline.

Next, I ink blended a piece white cardstock to go behind the heart die cut. 

I glued this panel behind the die cut and glued the heart outline in place.  I adhered the white card front to a black cardstock mat and then used foam tape to glue it to a white card base.

Next, I stamped, colored and cut out the images and used foam tape to adhere them to the card.

The sentiment I stamped and white heat embossed and glued it under the row of hearts.

I decided that the card needed a little something else so I added gold ink spatters.

That's it for today and my last post for 2022.  See you next year and have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

Supplies

 

94662 Heart Ring Stack

CL5273D Festive Christmas Greetings clear stamp and die set

Sending Warmest Wishes

Good morning everyone!  Today's card features new dies from the 2023 Valentine's Day release.  I decided to do a Christmas card using the new dies to show how you can stretch your dies to work for any occasion.

I die cut a white cardstock panel using the Pinpoint Snowflake Plate and adhered it to a dark brown cardstock mat.   Using a blender brush and Gathered Twigs Distress ink, I added a little color to the snowflake background.

Next, I die cut all my elements from white cardstock and used Distress Ink and a blender brush to add color to the die cuts.  Make sure you save the inside parts of the cup to paper piece and color.

Distress colors used:

• Cup, sending and heart - Lumberjack Plaid
• Pines and Holly - Rustic Wilderness
• Hot Chocolate - Gathered Twigs

I glued the cup to the background and then fit the die cut pieces back into the cup.

Next, I adhered the evergreen and holly to the card.

The word "sending" was glued in place and "warmest wishes" was white heat embossed on a strip of dark brown cardstock and glued the sentiment strip under the word "sending".

To finish the card, I glued a red fairy crystal to the holly leaves.

I hope you have a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by today!

 

Supplies

 

CRY102 Christmas Fairy Crystals

94513 Pinpoint Snowflake Plate

94637 Cuppa Love

94661 Sending Love Daily Script

94680 Alpine Snowflakes

94687 Pine Needle Frame

94599 Holly Branch

A Wish for Peace by Jean Okimoto

Create a pastel holiday card of pinks, plaid and Fairy Crystals with the Poinsettia Watercolor Floral set.  The 6x6 Berry Red Collection has the perfect pinks to complement  the Christmas Jolly plaid.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a holiday design for you.

Cut Poinsettia Watercolor Floral in 2 shades of pink from the Berry Red Collection.  Cut the center accent from the yellow 6x6 in the Graceful Garden Glitter Pad.  Assemble the poinsettia - use the darker pink for the base layers and the medium pink for the tops.  

Save the extra diecuts and create an extra poinsettia with light pink base layers and darker pink tops.  

Stamp the greeting - from the Sweet Christmas Clear Stamp Set - on lighter pink 6x6 with Lightning Black Brilliance.  Dry the ink, then trim the greeting with the second-smallest Nested Globe die - just turn it sideways for a greeting tab.

Cut another pink globe, the pink/red/gold/white Christmas Jolly plaid and White Woodgrain Paper with the 3", 2-½" and 2" Nested Globes dies.

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded textured gray A-2 card - use foamtape near the tips of the poinsettia.

Add pink Autumn Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A-2 sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Layered, contrasting diecuts add dimension to any design.  Mix 2 shades of red or cream cardstock for a different look.  Or use a combo of matte and metallic cardstock - or matte cardstock and glittered cardstock.  Have fun with this design - rearrange the diecuts or rotate the entire poinsettia for a different look.

Thanks for visiting...see you again on Thursday!

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94676 Poinsettia Watercolor Floral

94532 Nested Globes

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

cl5283 Sweet Christmas clear stamp set

gp1002 Graceful Garden Glitter Pad

sp1001 Berry Red

pp1019 Christmas Jolly 6x6 pack

sh44001 White Woodgrain Paper Pack

Sweet Holidays Wishes by Anne Thompson

For today's post I used the Celeste Plate and the Celeste Snowflake to create a holiday card with a sweet message.

I cut the CELESTE PLATE 94699 from one of the red plaids in the JOLLY CHRISTMAS PP1019 6X6 paper pad and added it to the front of a plain white notecard.

Next I cut both parts of the CELESTE SNOWFLAKE 94697 from a sheet of white glitter paper.  This was a loose sheet in my paper box but I'm pretty sure it came from the FESTIVE GLITTER PAD GP1006.  Doesn't the snowflake look like a beautifully decorated sugary cookie?!

From the clear stamp set SWEET CHRISTMAS CL5283 I chose the sentiment "Hope your Holidays are Sweet" and stamped it with VersaFine Clair Nocturne (black) ink on a scrap of white card stock. 

To finish the card, I trimmed the sentiment piece down a bit and added a scrap of the same red plaid I used for the Celeste Plate under it and then trimmed that.  I added the sentiment in the lower right corner.  I used a foam dot in the center of the Celeste Snowflake to add it to the card.

Whatever holidays you celebrate this month may they be sweet ones for you.

Happy crafting!

 

Snow Globe Holiday Card by Sara Cook

Hi everyone.  I have a card using the Nested Globe dies and the new matching Nested Globe Bases to create a snow globe.

Snow Globe:

Die cut 2 pcs of white card stock using 2nd smallest die from the Nested Globe die set. Ink blend one of the die cuts Distress Prize Ribbon ink then on the top ink blend with Distress Chipped Sapphire ink.  Splatter white gesso on the night sky. Fussy cut the other globe to create a snowbank.  Die cut the trees from the darkest from from the Lush Green paper pad.  Use the Snow Maker pen to add some snow effect on the trees and top of the snowbank then heat set with a heat gun.  Die cut the Nested Globe Bases from the white Rainbow Reflections Mirror pad.  Glue the edges to the base to add dimension.  Adhere the snow bank to the background, not adding glue to the top of the bank.  Tuck a few trees behind the snowbank and some in front.  Adhere the base to the bottom.

Frame:

Die cut the Pine Needle Frame die from the darkest color in Lush Green pad.  Trim 1/4" strips from the same color and adhere behind to die cut.  This is to hide the 1/4" foam tape.  Add 1/2" foam tape behind the frame.  

Sentiment:

Die cut the middle sized Banner Sentiment Trio die from white card stock.  Stamp Holiday Greetings from the Festive Christmas Greetings set with Distress Prized Ribbon ink.  Use the Snow Marker and outline the banner die cut and heat set. 

Assembly:

Adhere a A2 black card base to a white A2 card.  Adhere the frame, then center the snow globe to the center.  Add the sentiment with foam tape above the snow globe.  Add some Clear Fairy Jewels to the tips of the pine needles.  

 

Supplies

 

94675 Nested Globe Bases

94677 Little Trees

94532 Nested Globes

94687 Pine Needle Frame

94580 Banner Sentiment Trio

JWL001 Clear Jewels

cl5273 Festive Christmas Greetings clear stamp set

sp1003 Lush Green

First Snow…from Skates to Winter Boots by Jean Okimoto

Turn a pair of ice skates into waterproof winter boots for a walk in the woods this weekend.  Add a glittery scarf and a matching pink felt hat and you're ready for winter!  Happy First Snow Weekend if you're in the northwest - Jean Okimoto here with a holiday slimline on a frosty Saturday.

If (like me!) you can't skate, but you can walk the dogs - just eliminate the blades from the Classic Pair of Ice Skates.  Diecut them in adhesive pink vinyl (attached to heavyweight white cardstock) and create glossy, waterproof boots for a walk in the woods.  Cut the sole and heel from black cardstock.  Stitch the boots with floss or crochet thread.

We're borrowing the scarf and hat from the Little Bundled Snowman and cutting them in girlie pink.  Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to pink felt and cut the main portion of the hat.  The paper backing stabilizes the felt and prevents adhesives from saturating it.  Cut the pompom and bottom band from the pink 6x6 in the Delicate Pastels Glitter Pad.  Cut the scarf sections from the pink 6x6 too.  Trim the fringe and assemble the scarf - I've used some of the pieces and added the short fringed end over the top to resemble a knot.  (I hope!)

Cut the small and medium Alpine Snowflakes from a silver Majestic Hues Glitter Pad 6x6.

Brayer Delicata Silvery Shimmer ink onto White Woodgrain Paper and dry the ink. Diecut it with Birch Tree Trunks.

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½") - use foamtape for the hat, scarf and the boot on the left.  

Keep warm, be safe and have a great weekend...see you again next week!

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94680 Alpine Snowflakes

94678 Little Bundled Snowman

94701 Birch Tree Trunks

94674 Classic Pair of Ice Skates

gp1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

gp1008 Majestic Hues Glitter Pad

sh44001 White Woodgrain Paper Pack