Cheerful Floral by Anne Thompson

For today's birthday card I chose the large CHEERFUL FLORAL CL5278 and the coordinating BOLD CHEERFUL FLORAL CL5279 clear stamp sets along with a set of Distress Inks in shades of blue to highlight the largest flower.

to make this card

Stamp the large floral image from CHEERFUL FLORAL CL5279 on white card stock using VersaFine Clair Nocturne (black) ink.

These next stamps are all from BOLD CHEERFUL FLORAL CL5279.

Stamp the largest bold flower using the lightest blue Distress Ink, Tumbled Glass.

Stamp this next image using Salvaged Patina Distress Ink.

Stamp this center of the flower image using Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.

Then stamp the smallest image in the flower center using Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink.

By using inks that start out really pale and finish with the brightest, you get some interesting depth and texture in the flower.

I chose a coordinating blue card stock from LAGOON SP1010, a plaid from ANEMONE PLAID PP1025, and a floral from ANEMONE GROVE PP1026 for a variety of layers on this card.

Working from the top layer, trim each paper as listed below and attach them as you go (stamped image to the blue card stock to the floral paper, etc.)

• trim the stamped image to 2 1/4 X 3 1/4
• trim blue card stock 2 1/2 X 3 3/4
• trim floral paper 3 X 4 1/4
• trim blue card stock 3 1/4 X 4 1/2
• trim plaid paper 4 X 5 1/4 

Add the finished layered panel to the front of a top-fold A2 (4 1/4 X 5 1/2) note card.

When I attached the stamped image to the next paper layer, I positioned it toward the top to leave room to add one of the HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOIL GREETINGS WHITE TABS ST006.

I'm not sure that I lined up all of my stamping perfectly, but I like the end result using the bold stamps to color the central flower.  These are the two stamp sets:

I think I'd like to try this again maybe using shades of pink and red or yellows and oranges.  And maybe I'd add some leaves because there are interesting bold stamps for those, too.  Have you used these two sets together yet?  

Happy Crafting!

 

Happy Easter Gift Bag with Layered Lamb and Clara Blooms by Anne Thompson

It doesn't feel much like spring here today with over a foot of new snow on the ground!  I'm still thinking spring, however, and crafting the items I need for Easter a week from today.  Here's a Happy Easter gift bag that features the Layered Lamb and Clara Blooms.

I began by die cutting the LAYERED LAMB 94730 from watercolor paper.  I then inked all of the pieces with VersaFine Clair Morning Mist ink, a gray ink, using a fingertip dauber.  I assembled the lamb using a glue pen.

Next I cut out multiples of the CLARA BLOOMS 94730, one set from a green card stock in the GREENERY COLLECTION SP1011 and two sets from a light yellow card stock from the SUNRISE COLLECTION SP1013.  I used fingertip daubers to add VersaFine Clair Shady Lane ink to the green leaves and layered all three sets with the green ones on top of the two yellows.  I then added Hero Arts Butter Bar ink to the petal pieces and layered all of them together to make two large blooms.

I die cut the HAPPY EASTER CURLED SCRIPT 94731 from black mirror card paper.

For the gift bag I cut a piece of green card stock from the Greenery Collection 3X6 and added it to the front of the bag.  I used dimensional foam dots to add the flowers near the bottom of the panel and the sheep tucked in around them.  I used a glue pen to add the "happy Easter" greeting.

And I have a gift bag ready for Easter treats!  Think about ways you can use Memory Box die cut images to decorate your gift bags and boxes.  Happy Crafting!

Layered Lamb 94730 Clara Blooms 94688


Happy Easter Curled Script 94731

Greenery SP1011
Sunrise SP1013

 

Sitting Sparrows Under the Berry Branches and Leaves by Anne Thompson

I wanted to use the Sitting Sparrow die for today's card from the newest collection, 2024 Spring Cheer, because it was one I hadn't yet tried.

I began by die cutting the SITTING SPARROW 94724 twice using two colors of blue card stock from the LAGOON SOLID CORE CARD STOCK PACK SP1010.

I used a fingertip dauber to add a bit of Peacock Feathers Distress Ink to the various bird parts and colored the bird beaks with an orange marker.  I assembled two birds, one with the lighter blue body and darker blue accents and the other vice versa.  The embossed areas on the bodies make it easy to add the wings in the correct position.  I added tiny blue BRIGHT FAIRY JEWELS JWL003 for eyes.

Next I die cut the BERRY BRANCHES AND LEAVES 94704 from a bright green paper from the GREENERY SOLID CORE CARD STOCK PACK SP1011.  I added bright green Fairy Jewels (from the same set--JWL003) where the berries would go.

I used a lighter blue card stock from the Lagoon pack and one of the larger NESTED GLOBES 94532 to cut a shape to anchor all of the images I'd cut and assembled.  I chose the SNOW FLURRIES STENCIL 88626 and the Peacock Feathers ink to add some interest to the shape.

To assemble the card, I started with a white horizontal side-fold note card and inked around the edges using a fingertip dauber and the Peacock Feathers ink.  I added the globe shape with the flat edge aligned with the fold on the notecard.  I used a glue pen to attach the branches and leaves at the top edge of the dot-stenciled shape.  I popped the birds on using dimensional foam circles.

One of my neighbors had bluebirds in her yard the other day, so I might have to send her this card.  A great design for any season--just change up the paper and Fairy Jewel selections!  I'll add an appropriate sentiment on the inside--there are so many good ones to choose from in the Spring Cheer Collection--dies, stamps, and foil greetings tabs.  

Happy Crafting!

Sitting Sparrow 94724Berry Branches and Leaves 94704

Nested Globes 94532Snow Flurries Stencil 88626

Lagoon SP1011Greenery SP1010

Fairy Jewels JWL003

 

Cheerful Florals for Spring Birthdays by Anne Thompson

I hope you remember to set your clocks--spring ahead!  In celebrating the arrival of spring, at least clock-wise, I decided that for today's card I would use stamps from the new Cheerful Floral and Bold Cheerful Floral clear stamp sets on watercolor paper so I could use some watercolor pencils to color the images.

I stamped the large floral stamp from CHEERFUL FLORAL CL5278 with VersaFine Clair Nocturne (black) ink on watercolor paper. 

I used my Derwent Watercolour Pencils to color the image.  When it was dry, I trimmed it to 5 1/4 X 4.  I then pulled some color from a raspberry pencil onto a wet brush to spatter the white areas around the edges.  I used a Hero Arts Raspberry Jam ink and a finger dauber to add a touch of color around the edges.  I mounted the panel to a piece of raspberry red card stock from the BLUSH SOLID CORE CARDSTOCK PACK SP1012 that I had trimmed 5 1/2 X 4 1/4.  I added the panel to a horizontal side-fold note card.  

I knew I wanted to use this for a spring birthday card.  I found a sentiment I liked on the new clear stamp set BOLD CHEERFUL FLORAL CL5279.  (There are so many great sentiments on both of these stamp sets.  This card design could be used for many occasions just by changing out the sentiment stamps.)

I stamped "happy birthday to you" in the lower left corner of the panel.

I liked this card so much that I made another one, this time backing it on a green card stock paper from GREENERY SOLID CORE CARDSTOCK PACK SP1011.

I want to stamp this image again on regular card stock and multimedia paper to try various other coloring materials--regular colored pencils, markers, pastels...and I want to switch its orientation on a card with maybe the tulip-like flowers on the left or play with vertical positions and maybe try it on a regular A2 side-fold or top-fold card.  I think there is a lot that can be done with this stamp.  AND there are also stamp and die combination sets for these two:  CL 5278D and CL5279D!

Happy Crafting!

Cheerful Floral CL5278/CL5278D

Bold cheerful Floral CL5279/CL5279D

Blush SP1012            Greenery SP1011

More is More on this Happy Spring Card by Anne Thompson

I didn't have a final plan in mind when I made this card.  I knew I wanted it to have flowers and chickens and a basket of eggs, so I made a lot of each.  And this is the end result:

materials used

• LAYERED CHICKS 94726
• WOVEN BASKET OF EGGS 94732
• HAPPY SPRING DEBUT SCRIPT 94779
• CLARA BLOOMS 94688
• A2 RECTANGLE FRAMES DIE SET 94672
• inks and fingertip daubers:  Ranger Rusty Hinge and Peacock Feathers; Hero Arts Raspberry Jam, Butter Bar, Fresh Peach,: and VersaFine Clair Green Oasis
• SUNRISE SOLID CORE CARD STOCK PACK SP1013
• LAGOON SOLID CORE CARD STOCK PACK SP1010
• water color paper in two different weights
• white note card
• glue pen, Glue Dots, tape runner, foam dimensional dots

I started by die cutting, inking, and assembling the images--chickens from both yellow and orange card stock; the basket and eggs and the two parts of the Happy Spring sentiment from water color paper; and the flowers and leaves from a lighter weight water color paper.

Once I had everything cut out, colored, and assembled, then I had to decide how to put it all together.  I chose a piece of light blue card stock from the Lagoon Collection, used a large rectangle die  from the A2 Rectangle Frames Die set to cut it and added that to the front of a white note card.  I placed the basket of eggs in the lower right corner, using a foam dimensional dot.  I then put foam dots on the back of the Happy Spring sentiment and placed that in the middle of the card.  I added a Fairy Jewel to dot the "i".   Next I adhered the flowers flat to the note card, tucking them under the sentiment a bit in places.  Lastly I chose the three yellow chicks and popped them into empty spots.  Here's a close-up of the finished card:

I'll send this card out sometime this month when spring actually arrives.  It felt very spring-like today.  Rain is forecast for almost every day this week which should wash away what little snow we have left.  Maybe the woodchuck was right and we will have an early spring!

Happy Crafting!

materials used

Layered Chicks 94672

Clara Blooms 94688

SP 1013  Sunrise       SP1010 Lagoon

Happy Spring Debut Script 94779Woven Basket of Eggs 94732

A2 Rectangle Frames Die Set 94672

 

Hippity Hoppity Bunny Happy Easter by Anne Thompson

Here's another cute bunny from the 2024 February Spring Cheer Collection--Hippity Hoppity Bunny.

to make this card

• Die cut the HIPPITY HOPPITY BUNNY 94728 from watercolor paper.
• Color the bunny overlay pieces --I used a fingertip dauber and Hero Arts Wet Cement Ink.
• Add the white head piece to the background bunny and then adhere the colored overlay pieces--I used a glue pen.
• Color the tiny basket and eggs--Again I used fingertip daubers  and Ranger Distress Rusty Hinge for the basket, and Hero Arts Inks in Raspberry Jam, Fresh Peach and Butter Bar for the eggs.
• Add the eggs by attaching them to the back of the basket and each other.

• Choose one of the plaid papers from ANEMONE PLAID PP1025, trim it to 4 X 5 1/4, and add it to the front of an A2 note card--I used a top-fold card.
• Select a coordinating green from the GREENERY SOLID CORE CARDSTOCK PACK SP1011, trim it to  2 X 3 1/4, and add it to the note card in the upper left corner.

• Glue the bunny to the green panel.
• Add the basket of eggs using a piece of dimensional foam behind the basket and a dot of glue on the handle to secure it to the bunny's hand.

• Die cut the HAPPY EASTER DOVER SCRIPT 94729 from watercolor paper and a scrap of the green that matches the bunny panel.

• Stack the letters and then adhere them at an angle at the bottom of the note card.
• Bunnies have pink eyes so I used a colored pencil to color his eyes, but I'm going to keep looking for the right tiny gem instead.

Once I get this guy's eyes fixed, he'll go into the stack of Easter cards I'll have ready to mail out in early March.

Hop on over to the Idea Book and Catalog here for more Spring Cheer inspiration.  And keep checking the blog every day for even more from the Design Team.

Hippity Hoppity bunny      Happy Easter Dover Script 

94728                                       94729

Anemone Plaid           Greenery Cardstock SP1011

PP1025

  

Festive Bunny Happy Easter by Anne Thompson

I have an Easter card for today's post that features the dressed up Festive Bunny from the newest Memory Box collection--Festive Spring Cheer.

materials used

• LAGOON SOLID CORE CARDSTOCK PACK SP1010
• VIBRANT VIOLET 6X6 PACK SP1007
• ANEMONE PLAID PP1025
• FAIRY JEWELS, BRIGHT JWL003
• white cardstock
• scraps of grays from the Earth Neutrals 6X6 pad

• HAPPY EASTER CURLED SCRIPT 94731
• BERRY BRANCHES AND LEAVES 94704
• FESTIVE BUNNY 94733

to make this card

• start by selecting one of the plaid papers from Anemone Plaid, trim it to 5 1/4 X 4 and add it to the front of a white note card  (mine is a top-fold card)
• die cut all of the Festive Bunny parts--the body of the bunny from two shades of gray or brown cardstock; the vest and the arms that show the gloves from white cardstock; the coat parts from two shades of violet cardstock
• assemble the bunny body and add a black jewel for his eye
• and then dress the bunny--I actually put the clothes together and added them to the bunny as a completed unit
• use dimensional foam to attach the bunny to the left side of the note card

• die cut the Berry Branches and Leaves from one of the dark teal cardstocks
• add the branches to the upper right corner of the note card and then add the leaves at the branch tips
• add Fairy Jewels to each of the berries on the branches
• die cut the Happy Easter Curled Script from a scrap of the same cardstock used for the darkest color of the coat
• use a glue pen to add it to the lower right part of the note card

Here's another look at the finished card.

Be sure to look at the Idea Book and the Catalog on the Memory Box website.  And  keep checking the Outside the Box blog for more inspiration from the design team members.  We have lots of ideas for celebrating spring! Happy Crafting!  

Anemone Plaid PP1025Berry Branches and Leaves 94704

Happy Easter Curled Script 94731Festive Bunny 94733

Vibrant Violet 6X6 pack SP1007

Lagoon Solid Core Cardstock Pack SP1010

                                                              Bright Fairy Jewels JWL003

 

 

Anemone Card and Envelope by Anne Thompson

Need a card at the last minute?  Have some of the White Anemone Rub-Ons?  Make a card and envelope like this!

I made cards like this yesterday with a group at the senior center here in town.  

These are the materials we used.

• Choose one of the plaid papers from ANEMONE PLAID PP1025.
• Trim it to 4 X 5 1/4.
• Add it to the front of an A2 top-fold note card.
• Cut a piece of white card stock 3 X 4 1/4.
• Select one of the stemmed anemones from WHITE ANEMONE RUB ONS RUB103.
• Apply it to the white card stock using the stick provided.
• Add VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze ink around the edges using a fingertip dauber.
• Add that panel to the note card.

I always like to bring some element from the front of the card to the inside.  We took the piece we cut from the background panel and cut it in half to make two 1" strips.  We added one to the inside of the card along with a smaller Anemone blossom.

I also like to add something to the envelope that hints about what's inside.  We added the other strip of paper and one or two more Anemone blossoms or buds to the envelope as well.

And that's it.  We chose to use our cards as valentines and added stamped valentine messages inside and out on the note card.  A card like this can be used for so many occasions.

Happy Crafting!  And Happy Valentines Day later this week!

Anemone Plaid PP1025

White Anemone Rub Ons RUB103

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anemone Bud Duo Thank You by Anne Thompson

I love all of the anemones in the January 2024 Anemone Collection (here), and I especially loved putting the Anemone Bud Duo together for this thank you card.

materials used

• ANEMONE BUD DUO 94765
• THANK YOU DEBUT SCRIPT 94775
• ANEMONE PLAID PP1025
• white card stock
• glue pen
• Hero Arts inks:  Bubble Gum, Forever Green, Green Hills; fingertip daubers

• die cut the Anemone Bud Duo from white card stock
• use the fingertip daubers to blend two green inks onto the stem, leaves, and other parts of the buds as shown on the envelope
• use another dauber to blend pink ink onto the bud where the yellow is on the envelope image
• assemble the flower spray using a glue pen

• select a dark green plaid from the Anemone Plaid 6 X 6 paper pad, trim it to 4 X 5 1/4 and add it to the front of a white note card

• die cut the Thank You Debut Script background from white card stock
• use a fingertip dauber to add some light green ink around the edges
• die cut the detailed lettering from a scrap of the plaid that you chose for the background on the card front
• assemble the greeting using a glue pen

• assemble the card front by adding the Anemone Bud Duo using foam dimensional dots under the buds
• glue the bottom of the stem in place
• add the sentiment at the bottom right

And there you have it!  A lovely thank you card to send any time!  I really like the simplicity of this card but it would be easy to fancy it up with a doily behind the Anemone Buds or another die cut shape from a white or colored card stock or even a paper from the Anemone Grove PP1026 paper pad.  I'm sure you can think of lots of ways to start with this design and make it your own.  

The lovely products in this collection give me hope for that early spring promised by the groundhog the other day!

Happy Crafting!

Thank You Debut Script 94775
Anemone Bud Duo 94765

Anemone Plaid PP1025

Elegant Anemone Hello by Anne Thompson

For today's card I wanted to highlight the Elegant Anemone die and papers from both Anemone Grove and Anemone Plaid.

materials used

• ELEGANT ANEMONE 94769
• HELLO DEBUT SCRIPT 94772
• ANEMONE GROVE PP1026
• ANEMONE PLAID PP1025
• circle dies
• Hero Arts inks:  Forever Green, Green Hills, Bubble Gum

to make this card

• select four coordinating papers from the two paper pads--I used a whole sheet and a scrap of one of the florals and plaid scraps for the other pieces I needed
• cut the largest floral piece 4 X 5 1/4; for the plaids cut one strip 1 X 5 1/4, cut one strip 1 1/2 X 5 1/4, cut one strip 2 X 3

• begin assembling the front of the card by adding the large floral piece first, then the 1 X 5 1/4 piece, and then the 2 X 3 piece

• add the 1 1/2 X 5 1/4 piece snugged up next to the first strip and covering part of the smaller piece

• next cut some circles using your circle dies--one large circle from white card stock, one slightly smaller from another piece of the floral paper, and one even smaller from white card stock

• die cut the Elegant Anemone from white card stock; use green inks to color the stem and leaf parts and pink to add shading to the flower petals
• assemble the flower using glue dots and a glue pen

• take the circles you cut out earlier and ink the edges of the two white ones
• layer up the three circles and add them to the card front
• attach the Elegant Anemone using dimensional foam dots and a glue pen

• die cut the Hello Debut Script using white card stock for the background and a scrap of the floral for the detailed letters
• add some pink ink to the white background and then glue on the letters
• add this to the front of the card over the stem using dimensional foam dots

Here's another look at the finished card.

Happy Crafting!

Elegant Anemone 94769

Hello Debut Script 94772

Anemone Grove PP1026

Anemone Plaid PP1025