Something Blue by Anne Thompson

I've been making so many cards lately with oranges and golds and browns that I needed a major change. So I went looking through my Memory Box paper collections and found two pieces of a great blue plaid left in my Spring Plaid 6X6 pad PP1012 and a coordinating pale blue cardstock from the Stormy Blue Collection SP1006 which inspired me to make two sweet hello cards to send to friends this week.

• For each card I cut the plaid paper 5.5 X 4.25 and covered the fronts of white notecards.
• From the pale blue cardstock I die cut three sets of each of the flowers--Layered Fresh Flowers 94474 for the left card and Layered Daisies 94472 for the right card.
• I put the flowers together with Glue Dots.  These flatter cards will be less expensive to mail and there is still lots of dimension to them.
• Also from the pale blue cardstock I cut two of the Hello Cursive Script Circle 94521 and used a glue pen to adhere them to the card fronts.

Easy peasy! 

Do you find yourself in a color rut using the same combinations again and again?  Look through all of your papers and find yourself a color challenge!  For me it was thinking about what to do with that blue plaid paper that got me looking for coordinating cardstock and then I spent a lot of time looking through my dies to choose something I thought might work,  auditioning and discarding several before settling on the layered flowers and that hello circle sentiment.  

Happy Crafting!

Tiffany Inspired Card by Michelle Bala

Hello there! Michelle here, sharing a Tiffany inspired color combo. I trimmed a piece of Fresh Aqua paper to fit a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 card base. 

I die cut the Floral Chain Craft Die in white cardstock.  I adhered this to the card base with foam tape. I embossed the sentiment with white embossing

powder. I used the stamp and die combo set Signature Greetings.

For a finishing touch I added some Clear Jewels and sequins.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a great week!

 

Supplies

 

94542 Floral Chain craft die

CL5272D Signature Greetings clear stamp and die set

SP1004 Fresh Aqua 6x6 pack

JWL001 Clear Jewels

Two Very Different "You Anchor Me" Cards for Guys by Anne Thompson

I knew that I wanted to use the "You Anchor Me" clear stamps and dies set this week to create some cards for guys that could be used for a variety of occasions.  This is the first card I made:

• I started with a white notecard and covered the front with brown dot paper from the Garland Stripes and Dots paper pad PP1011.
• I used VersaMark ink to stamp the anchor from the You Anchor Me stamps and dies set CL5269D on white cardstock, embossed it with Detail Gold embossing powder, and cut it out with the corresponding die.
• I used a scrap of the dot paper and stamped the sentiment "knowing you are always there anchors me" on the stripe side of that paper with VersaMark ink and embossed it in gold, trimmed it down and mounted it on a scrap of dark brown cardstock from the Earth Neutral Collection SP1009.
• I cut the swirly rope from the End of My Rope dies set 94546 from more of the dark brown cardstock.
• To complete the card, I adhered the sentiment block in the upper righthand corner and then threaded the rope through the hole in the anchor and secured both to the card front using glue dots.

For the second card, I wanted to play with the idea of stripes which is this month's blog challenge.  I used glitter paper to cut out lots of swirly ropes and those became my stripes.

• I had one piece of turquoise plaid paper left from the Dashing Holiday paper pad PP1001 which I used to cover the front of a white notecard.
• I used five of the swirly ropes as stripes across the front of the notecard.
• I added three Marina Sailboats 94575 cut from white and turquoise cardstock scraps that I backed first with Scor-Tape.
• Inside I added another rope, a silver-embossed anchor, and the sentiment "drop Anchor where your heart is".

These are very versatile stamps and dies that can be combined in any number of ways.  

Happy Crafting!!!

 

 

 

Easy Gift Tags by Michelle Bala

Hello there! Michelle here, sharing some quick and easy gift tags. I used Thanks Cursive Script Circle Die, Hello Cursive Script Circle Die and Stitched Circle Layers Die.

To create the tag base I die cut two circle shapes, the smallest and the third from the largest. I adhered them together than punched a hole in the top of the arch, as shown. I assembled the bases and allow for drying time.  Next, I colored up some cardstock with Copic Markers. I die cut Hello and Thanks Cursive Script and adhered them to the tag base. I added some coordinating twine and cord, and also Bright Jewels gems.

Here are the Copic colors I used:

pink: RV55 RV17 RV19

yellow: Y08 Y18 Y38

orange: YR04 YR07 YR09

green: G14 G07 G09

aqua: BG13 BG18 BG09

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Supplies

 

94521 Hello Cursive Script Circle craft die

94516 Thanks Cursive Script Circle craft die

30036 Stitched Circle Layers

JWL003 Bright Jewels

Spotlighting Sweet Peas by Trina Pham

Hello and happy Labor Day to those celebrating.  For my card today, I modified the spotlighting technique to use with the Blooming Sweet Pea 3D embossing folder to create a very simple floral card.

Started by die cutting a circle stencil from masking paper using Circle Basics die.  Adhered the stencil to a Bristol panel and applied Milled Lavender distress ink (DI) with a blender brush.

Insert the panel into the embossing folder and ran it through my die cutting machine.

Placed the circle stencil back and applied Shaded Lilac DI to the raised areas.

Used a sanding block next to buff the raised areas and remove the colors.
 

You could skip applying the darker ink color before sanding, but I wanted the contrast.  For some texture and a faux watercolor look, spritz it with water and blot with a paper towel.  

A circle frame was then die cut from Twilight Purple color paper with the circle die used to create the stencil and the next circle size up.  The Signature Greeting sentiment was heat embossed with white embossing powder on black cardstock, then die cut out with the matching die.  Assembled the card onto a white card base and added some clear jewels to finish.

Really simple… and that does it for me.  Thank you for joining me today.  Have a wonderful week.

 

 

Supplies

 

EF1020 Blooming Sweet Pea 3D Embossing Folder

CL5272 Signature Greetings clear stamp set

CL5272D Signature Greetings clear stamp and die set

SP1008 Twilight Purple 6x6 pack

JWL001 Clear Jewels

30087 Circle Basics Set

The Secret is Outside the Box...our Memory Box STAMPtember Collaboration with Simon Says Stamp is Here! by Anne Thompson

Happy STAMPtember from Memory Box and Simon Says Stamp!!! We are celebrating today with a beautiful exclusive stamp and die set by Memory Box in collaboration with Simon Says Stamp.  The TRUE FRIEND stamp and die sets went live at 12:01 AM today, September 5th, and are available from SimonSaysStamp.com for a limited time while supplies last.  

So what have I been creating in secret with my TRUE FRIEND stamp set in preparation for this event?  A notecard and coordinating envelope...

...with some additional stamping inside including several of the small flowers and three of the sentiments from the set around my handwritten message:  "hello, friend"; "friendship is made up of a million little things"; and "thanks for being a true friend".

materials used

• white notecard and envelope
• white cardstock for the stamped image
• TRUE FRIEND clear stamp set
• VersaFine Clair Shady Lane ink
• orange plaid paper from Memory Box's Christmas Plaid 6X6 pad PP1009
• orangey-red cardstock from Memory Box's Sunny Orange 6X6 cardstock pad SP1002
• colored pencils

There's a lot going on with social media this week regarding this STAMPtember collaboration.  This is the 12th Anniversary of STAMPtember and it's bigger and better than ever!  There will be a Simon Says Stamp live chat Friday at noon ET on Facebook to chat about all things STAMPtember and Memory Box.  There will be more samples from Memory Box Design Team members on our Memory Box instagram stories.  Steph at Simon Says Stamp will also be posting to their newsletter and social media accounts.  Who knows where and when more ideas will pop up!  And...don't forget to get your True Friend set before they are all gone!

Happy Crafting!

#SimonSaysCREATE

#STAMPtember

 

Add Color with the 6x6 Collections by Jean Okimoto

Add color and dimension to your designs with colorful stamped diecuts of the Memory Box 6x6 cardstock collections.  Chose from 108 great colors of 110# cardstock designed to coordinate with our plaids and prints.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with an easy way to create quick, colorful collage-y cards. 

Cut the Spring Plaid Slim sheet with the 2.8" x 7.8" Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  Select matching colors of the 6x6 sheets from the Twilight Purple and Vibrant Violet Collections.  Stamp the castle, scroll and greeting from the Majestic Achievement Clear Stamp and Die Set with Onyx Black VersaFine and quickly emboss everything with detail clear powder.  Stamp and emboss the clouds on white cardstock.  Cut the images with the coordinating dies.

Cut light purple (.6" x 5.6") and teal (.9" x 5.9") accent strips from the Twilight Purple and Fresh Aqua 6x6 sheets.

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-⅝") - use foamtape for the left cloud and the castle.  

Color Clear Jewels with a yellow Sharpie or Copic Marker and attach them to the castle.

The 6x6 Collections were introduced this Spring and quickly became a favorite source of great coordinating colors for stamping and diecutting.  They're the perfect match for our prints, washi tapes and glittered cardstock from previous collections too.  They are colored on both sides for versatility.

Thanks for stopping by - see you again on Thursday!

 

Supplies

 

CL5267D Majestic Achievements clear stamp and die set

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers craft die

JWL001 Clear Jewels

SP1007 Vibrant Violet 6x6 pack

SP1008 Twilight Purple 6x6 pack

SP1004 Fresh Aqua 6x6 pack

PP1015S Spring Plaid Slim

Thanks Balloon from a Cursive Script Circle by Jean Okimoto

Create a thanks balloon with a mix of dies, a few snips, and glitter.  The Balloon Bunch is a versatile must-have die waiting to be transformed.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another idea to repurpose a basic design with a new favorite die.

Cut Thanks Cursive Script Circle from the lime green Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad.  Wiggle and pull the offcut areas away from the diecut - that's easier than vice-versa.  Cut the bottom section of the large Balloon Bunch balloon from the lime green glittered 6x6 too. Cut the yellow-green 6x6 from the Lush Green Collection with the 2-¼" Circle Basics die.  Attach the solid circle behind the Thanks Cursive Script Circle.  Attach the glittered bottom piece behind the solid circle to form a thanks balloon.

Cut the two smaller balloons from 6x6 sheets in the Berry Red Collection.  Attach the thanks balloon to the smaller balloons with foamtape.  Tape white twine behind the balloons and tie them together near the bottom.

Cut the dark green 6x6 Lush Green sheet with a portion of the 2"x7" Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  Cut the 6x6 Madras Plaid Coral and Green sheet with a portion of the 1.7" x 6.7 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  Cutting precise rectangles with the Slim dies - or portions of the dies - is easier than measuring and cutting rectangles with a paper trimmer.

Cut the pale orange 6x6 from the Sunny Orange Collection with the smallest Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles die.  

Attach the diecuts to a vertially-grained slimline card of Cream Woodgrain cardstock - use a double layer of foamtape at the top of the thanks balloon.  The Woodgrain cardstock adds texture but doesn't overwhelm the other design elements. 

Color Clear Jewels with pink and orange Sharpie or Copic Markers and attach them to the smaller balloons.  5 of them instead of my usual 3!

Special thanks to everyone who bought all of last week's BLOOMERS Card Kit from Impress - I appreciate your support!  Stamps and Memories in Hawaii ordered kits too. Hope you'll experiment with beautiful Memory Box colors and papers to create unique cards inspired by the cards.  Thanks for ordering the kits Ann and Roxy!

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

   

Supplies

 

94522 Balloon Bunch craft die

94516 Thanks Cursive Script Circle craft die

30087 Circle Basics Set

94554 Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles craft die

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers craft die

PP1013 Madras Plaid Coral and Green 6x6 pack

JWL001 Clear Jewels

GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

SP1003 Lush Green 6x6 pack

SP1002 Sunny Orange 6x6 pack

SP1001 Berry Red 6x6 pack

SH44002 Woodgrain Paper Pack Cream

You Rule Layered Castle by Michelle Bala

 

Hello there! Michelle here, sharing a layered castle card. All Memory Box supplies are linked below. 

The trick to getting the layers to line up is to trim the each paper the same size than secure the die to the direct center of each paper. When assembling the layers I line them up first than trim the excess from the side, if any. Assemble the layers with foam tape, except the first layer/ or base layer. Adhere that directly to the card base.

For the top panel, I framed the castle layeres with the Double Stitched Rectangles Die. I also used some elements from the Majestic Achievements stamp set. I added some Bright Jewels to give shimmer.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Supplies

 

94510 Fantasy Castle Collage craft die

94511 Imperial Castle Collage craft die

94512 Stone Keep Castle Collage craft die

CL5267D Majestic Achievements clear stamp and die set

94360 Double Stitch Rectangle Cut Out

SP1004 Fresh Aqua 6x6 pack

SP1007 Vibrant Violet 6x6 pack

SP1009 Earth Neutral 6x6 pack

JWL003 Bright Jewels

White Focal Point Floral Chain Thinking of You Cards by Anne Thompson

This month's challenge on the Outside the Box blog is to use a white focal point so I challenged myself to make three such cards using the FLORAL CHAIN die 94542 for that white focal point image.

materials used

• white notecards
• plaids from CHRISTMAS PLAID PP1009 (I noticed in the catalog that we are sold out of this paper pack, but you could easily substitute papers from Dashing Holiday PP1001, Garland PP1010, or any of the other 6X6 packs.  I chose papers that had white in the design to coordinate best.)
• FLORAL CHAIN 94542
• the medium banner from BANNER SENTIMENT TRIO 94580
• "Thinking of You" stamp from DEEP OCEAN BLUE CLEARSTAMPS SET CL5268
• FAIRY JEWELS BRIGHTS JWL003
• some larger black jewels from my stash
• white cardstock scraps
• red cardstocks from BERRY RED 6X6 PACK SP1001
• dark gray cardstock from EARTH NEUTRALS 6X6 PACK SP1009
• VersaFine Clair ink Nocturne (black)
• clear acrylic block for the stamp; tape runner; Glue Dots

Let's look at one card close up to see the steps I took to make it.

I started with a white notecard and added a piece of black/white checked paper from the Christmas Plaid pack trimmed 4 X 5.25.

I cut the Floral Chain twice, once from white cardstock and once from a dark gray from the Earth Neutrals pack.  I used Glue Dots on the gray flower centers and adhered the white flowers on top set off just a bit for a gray shadow.  I used more Glue Dots to attach the chain to the card front at an angle.

I cut two of the medium-sized banners, one from white cardstock and one from the dark gray.  I used the VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink to stamp the "Thinking of You" sentiment on the white banner before adding it on top of the dark gray one and attached the finished banner with Glue Dots to the notecard.

I added some large black gems to the flower centers and one to the sentiment banner to finish the card.

The other two cards are made in the same way but with red plaids, red cardstock, and red or green Fairy Jewels.

Do you have people that you send cards to regularly?  I have a list and mail cards usually every Wednesday to three friends who have moved into assisted living or rehabilitation facilities.  I hope these three cards this week will help to brighten their days.

And if you haven't entered our monthly challenge on the blog I encourage you to do so--with a white focal point.

Happy Crafting?