Oceans of Love by Melissa Rusk

Hello friends! Today I have a watercolored card to share with you. I have been rediscovering my love of watercoloring lately and I decided to make it work for this ocean scene today.

I die cut the Sailboat Frame die in watercolor paper and then got to work playing with my new watercolor set. I painted the water with two blue colors and then set it aside to dry. For the sunset I started at the bottom with pink and then added more colors to get the look I wanted. I blended them together with water and I just love how it turned out.

Then I painted the boat and clouds with just some simple colors to make the sunset stand out. Once everything was dry I was able to glue it all to the card.

I stamped the sentiment from the Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments set and then added a few sequins to finish the card.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

 

Supplies

 

94226 Sailboat Frame craft die

CL5240 Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

"Ahoy Matey!" Pirate-themed Cards using the Sailboat Frame by Anne Thompson

I had this crazy idea to make pirate-themed cards when I first saw the Sailboat Frame die.  I found the perfect paper collection to pair with it from Echo Park called Pirate Tales--I chose 6X6 papers, stickers, and ephemera.  I made three cards which could also work as party invitations for a pirate-themed gathering.  

the first card

materials used

• SAILBOAT FRAME 94226
• white, red, navy, light blue, and medium blue cardstocks
• "ahoy matey!" stamp from the OCEANSIDE TYPEWRITER SENTIMENTS clear stamps set CL 5240
• VersaClair Nocturne (black) ink
• various printed papers, stickers, and ephemera pieces from the Echo Park Pirate Tales collection

to assemble the card

• Start with a white side-folded standard A2 card.
• Die cut the Sailboat Frame from red, navy, white, and light blue cardstocks.  You'll use some of the pieces for this card and save the others for later ones.
• Use the navy water, light blue sailboat, red sails, and navy clouds peeking out from under the white ones.
• Glue the frame to the top of the notecard.  Add the inner circle with the bottom edge touching the frame.
• Add the sailboat, sails, and clouds to the scene.
• Cut a pirate flag from the paper collection and put it at the top of the mast.
• Use some decorative themed paper across the bottom of the card--here I used sharks.
• Stamp "ahoy matey!" in VersaClair Nocturne ink on a piece of red/white striped paper and place this on top of the shark paper.
• I added a "YO HO YO HO" sticker in the upper left corner of the frame.
• On the inside and on the back I added more of the papers and stickers from the Echo Park collection.

the second card

For this one I used: a light blue notecard; medium blue cardstock for the frame, water, and cloud linings; navy for the boat; and  white cardstock for the middle circle, sails, water, and the clouds.  I added a striped flag on the mast and "ahoy matey!" stamped on a red/white striped paper strip as well as two small stickers.  On the inside and on the back I added more of the papers and stickers from the Echo Park collection.

the third card

• light blue notecard
• Sailboat Frame in white and navy
• light blue water and cloud linings
• medium blue boat
• pirate flag and stickers
• papers inside and on the back, more stickers and ephemera
• stamp "ahoy matey!" on the inside red/white striped paper

Now I just need to convince my son and daughter-in-law to host a pirate party for one of my grandsons!  I'll provide the invitations!  And tattoos!  And stickers!

What paper collections do you have that coordinate with Memory Box dies???  Time to go through that stash and use up some of those lovely papers!!!

Happy Crafting!

Spring into Easter by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.  No butterflies today.  I have a clean and simple (CAS) Spring card to share.  Since I love stretching my supplies and it is Easter weekend, I couldn’t help but bring back the Snow Much Fun stamp set to create this bunny in a field of tulips card. 

One great trick for preserving white space and keeping cards CAS is to work within a frame.  Here I took a square die from the Square Basics set and die cut an opening from a Bristol panel.  Used that same die with one that is two size up and die cut a frame to frame the opening.  Stamped the bunny from Snow Much Fun with Copic friendly black ink, added some light shading with Copics, then die cut out with the matching die.  Used scissors to cut around the arm so he could interact with one of the tulips.

The tulips from Springtime Tulips were die cut from white cardstock and colored with Copics.  Before assembling the scene, Shaded Lilac distress ink was blended directly onto the card base for the sky.  Adhered the back tulips directly on the card base then popped up the bunny, front tulip and the window panel with foam mounting tape to give it some dimension.  Stamped the sentiment from Springtime Typewriter in black on a strip of Bristol paper to finish.  

This could easily be turned into an Easter card by using one of the Easter greetings in the Springtime Typewriter set.  That does it for me.  Happy Easter to those who celebrate.  Have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

Supplies

 

94216 Springtime Tulips craft die

CL5224 Snow Much Fun clear stamp set

32224 Snow Much Fun die set

CL5239 Springtime Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

30088 Square Basics Set

Creating the Shadow by Trina Pham

Happy Sunday everyone!  It appears I am on a butterfly roll and have a couple more really easy clean and simple (CAS) butterfly cards to share today.  Then again, it’s not surprising since Memory Box offers so many gorgeous butterfly dies.  Some of them come with a matching shadow die, while some do not.  But there are two easy ways to create that shadow if the latter is the case.

For my first card, I took the butterfly die from Butterfly Heart Frame and created a DIY stencil from acetate.  

Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon and Cracked Pistachio distress inks were then blended through the stencil onto regular white cardstock.

The sentiment from Springtime Typewriter stamp set was stamped with Blueprint Sketch distress oxide ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  The butterfly with antenna/body were die cut twice from white scraps and white glitter paper then stacked.  Mermaid Lagoon distress ink splatters were added to finish.  

My second card used an even simpler method to create the shadow.  Simply die cut directly from the card panel, then back the opening with color cardstock, pattern paper, or whatever you like, etc.

For my card, I backed the opening with a leftover alcohol ink piece.  

The butterfly this time was die cut from white scraps and silver foil paper.  The sentiment was heat embossed with silver embossing powder to match.  Besides being simpler, this second method allows dark cardstock to be used.  

And that concludes this post.  We are half way through our Clean and Simple challenge this month, so there is still plenty of time to link up your CAS entries.  Thank you for hanging with me.  Have a wonderful week.

 

Supplies

 

94110 Butterfly Heart Frame craft die

CL5239 Springtime Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

Clean and Simple Cards with Blooming Floral Circle Frame by Anne Thompson

Maybe you'll recognize this first card from the introduction to this month's challenge.

I chose to feature one die on a series of clean and simple cards for each season: BLOOMING FLORAL CIRCLE FRAME 94218.  

For this spring card, I used an aqua notecard, white cardstock cut with the Blooming Floral Circle Frame, cloud paper cut with one of the Wrapped Circle dies just a tad bigger than the floral circle as an underlay, and a scrap of pool distressed dot paper cut with a small circle die the same diameter as the inner circle of the frame.  I stamped "springtime wishes" from
SPRINGTIME TYPEWRITER SENTIMENTS CL5239 using Hero Arts Tide Pool ink on a scrap of white cardstock.  I layered everything up using a glue pen, tucking the sentiment under one of the branches and adding the small cut-outs on the end of that tag.

Want an even cleaner and simpler version?

Here I covered the front of a pink notecard with plaid paper, added the white cardstock Blooming Floral Circle Frame, and glued on a bow and a few small pearls.  Summer card!

Here I've added fall and winter cards with the summer one.

For the oranges fall card (which I made as a birthday card with a sentiment from Bold Friendly Greetings CL5236), I used a gold cardstock and a darker orange one for the circle frames and layered them just a bit offset before adding the ribbon bow.  The winter dark chocolate card has a white cardstock circle frame over a kraft circle die cut to the same size and finished with a brown ribbon bow. 

I'm now thinking of other color combinations and celebrations appropriate for this design.  So many possibilities!

I also added coordinating papers to the inside panels of each card and also on the back--trying to use up some of the pretty papers from my 6X6 collections and scraps from previous projects.  

Happy Crafting!

Splendid Rose Frame and Little Dragonflies by Jean Okimoto

Here's a contemporary Asian interpretation of this month's CAS Challenge theme - and it's quick and easy!  The Splendid Rose Frame is a very popular set for any occasion.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another way to use this versatile design.

Cut the Splendid Rose Frame circle section from black cardstock.  Cut the solid blossom from red cardstock.  Cut two of the Little Dragonflies from gold mirror cardstock.  

Cut a 1-⅛" strip of printed paper.  This beautiful pattern is from Shizen Design.

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded A-2 card of Kraft cardstock.

Make a set of notecards with flowers of different colors for a very special gift.  Add envelopes, pack it in a poly bag and tie it with gold cord for a quick and easy gift set.  It's sure to be appreciated - and used!

Thanks to everyone from last weekend's SPRINGTIME IN SEATTLE class at Impress!  The warm, sunny spring day matched our flowery cards.   Special thanks too - Ann and Lynne - for helping everyone find everything they needed for their spring cards and Easter projects!

Thanks for visiting...see you again tomorrow, and on Thursday.  Hope you won't get tired of me after three days!

Supplies

 

94229 Splendid Rose Frame craft die

99751 Little Dragonflies

Butterfly Frond, Bold Friendly Greetings and Circle Basics by Jean Okimoto

Mixed, layered design elements from Butterfly Frond and Poinsettia Circle Frame die sets create a simple card for a special friend or family member.  The delicate, debossed blossoms from the Poinsettia Circle Frame set aren't just for holidays - they're great for spring and summer cards too.

Hi, happy weekend - Jean Okimoto here with mix+matchup of  classic favorites and the new Butterfly Frond from our Spring Collection.

Cut Butterfly Frond from smooth white cardstock.  Cut a circle of pale pink cardstock with the 3-¼" Circle Basics die.

Stamp the greeting from the Bold Friendly Greetings Clear Stamps on the circle with Rocket Red Gold Brilliance.

Cut two of the Poinsettia Circle Frame flowers from Coral Creme, Flamingo and Petunia cardstock.  Layer them - slightly offset.

Attach the diecuts to a side-folded A-2 card of textured white cardstock.  Add clear gem stickers.

Why not brighten someone's day with a thoughtful, unexpected card that's designed to make them smile?   They'll appreciate it - and you'll smile too, when you think of how happy they'll be when your card arrives!  

Thanks for visiting - see you again next week...

 

 

Supplies

 

94230 Butterfly Frond craft die

94081 Poinsettia Circle Frame craft die

CL5236 Bold Friendly Greetings

30087 Circle Basics Set

Mer-mazing! by Trina Pham

Hi everyone.  It’s Trina here sharing a really quick and easy ocean scene CAS card made with products from the Spring Collection.

Using Circle Basics, a circle aperture was die cut in the center of a Bristol panel measuring 5”x3.75”.  The underwater scene from Underwater Scene Circle and the mermaid from Mermaid Wonder Frame were die cut next from Bristol paper as well.  Adhered them on the backside of the circle opening to create the scene.  

The background was created by watercoloring Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet and Salty Ocean distress inks on watercolor paper.  Sparkle spray was added to give it some shine, but it doesn’t show in the photo.  The sentiment from Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments was white heat embossed on a black strip.  Popped the panel onto a white card base with fun foam for some dimension to finish.

And that was all there was to it.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful week.

Supplies

 

94224 Underwater Scene craft die

94222 Mermaid Wonder Frame craft die

CL5240 Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

30087 Circle Basics Set

Seashell Circle Frame and Bold Friendly Greetings by Jean Okimoto

The delicate Seashell Circle Frame is great for thank-yous, birthdays and celebrations.  I've chosen a few pretty colors for this card - hope you'll like it in beachy greens+blues or natural driftwood+sandy tones too.    

Watercolored diecuts add a quick burst of colors - and a stamp from the Bold Friendly Greetings Clear Stamps Set adds a personal, almost-handwritten look.

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a card that practically shouts that spring's here and summer's coming!  Remember those precious scraps of watercolored paper you've been saving?  It's time to diecut them into pretty little shells for today's design.  Cut a bunch of extra shells - they'll be great for other cards and tags too. 

Prep the die by rubbing it briskly with scrunched wax paper - it helps release the diecut, and the little offcut bits and pieces. Cut Seashell Circle Frame from smooth white cardstock.  

Attach the watercolored shells behind the frame.  Stamp the greeting - one of many great messages from the Bold Friendly Greetings Clear Stamps - on a white A-6 notecard with Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance.

Attach the diecuts and lavender gem stickers.

There are so many materials available to diecut the shells - glitter paper, mirror cardstock, watercolored scraps and pearlescent paper are just a few ideas.  

Thanks for visiting...looking forward to seeing everyone again at the BEYOND THE BOX class at Impress on Sunday!

Thanks for stopping by...

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94225 Seashell Circle Frame craft die

CL5236 Bold Friendly Greetings

Seashell Circle Frame with Elegant Shorebirds by Anne Thompson

Here are two cards that feature the Seashell Circle Frame, cards that would work well as masculine ones because of the colors I chose.

Both cards use the SEASHELL CIRCLE FRAME 94225 and one or two of the ELEGANT SHOREBIRDS 99730.  The card on the right also uses the waves from the WONDERFUL WHALE FRAME 94228.

the first card

materials used

• black A2 side-fold notecard
• Die cut Seashell Circle Frame and Elegant Shorebirds from both white and medium gray cardstocks.
• Layer the images with the gray on the bottom and slightly offset to make a shadow of the images.
• Cut a circle from the same black notecard stock the same size as the Seashell Circle Frame using a circle die or trace the outline of the Seashell Circle Frame and cut it out.
• Attach the layered images to the black circle and then that circle to the notecard--or skip the circle and just put everything on the notecard.  Use single pop-dots for the center shells and double them for the shorebird so he sits a little higher than the shells.
• I lined the inside notecard panels, distressed licorice dots on the left and a black and white stripe on the right.

the second card

materials used

• brown A2 side-fold notecard
• Die cut Seashell Circle Frame, Wonderful Whale Frame, and Elegant Shorebirds from both white and lighter tan cardstocks.
• Layer the images with the lighter tan on the bottom and offset for a shadow effect.  Use just the waves from the Wonderful Whale Frame.
• Adhere the waves behind the Seashell Circle Frame using a glue pen and then attach
  to the front of the notecard.
• Add two of the shells in the bottom right corner and pop-dot one of the standing shorebirds next to them.
• Use a pop-dot to add the flying heron to the edge of the center circle.
• I papered the inside of the card with a brown/black stripe on the left and a sandy-looking paper on the right.

Imagine these cards in other color combinations--black images on white notecards, blues on white, darker browns on kraft...I think there are many many ways to change the look by changing the tones of the shadows, too.  I LOVE this Seashell Circle Frame!!!

Happy Crafting!