Backyard Bloomers by Jean Okimoto

Backyard Floral Stems, paired with a set of floral buds from Birch Press Design, create a bright garden greeting.  Hello, Jean here with a versatile design for spring, Easter or friendship cards.

The stems are perfect for any season - use them as background greenery, a  filler for bouquets or as buds and blossoms.  They're topped with the Birch Press Design Delicate Floral Buds Contour Layers here.  A jeweled felt Gentle Bunny adds a plush texture and sparkly bling.

Cut Backyard Floral Stems from Lush Green Collection 6x6 sheet.  Trim the top from the tall center stem.  Cut Delicate Floral Buds Contour Layers from 3 shades of Berry Red 6x6 sheets.  Cut a pale yellow 6x6 from the Sunny Orange Collection. You'll have a great supply of colorful layering buds for other projects too.

Cut the 4-¼" high Curved Cap Pinpoint Layer from a bright yellow-green sheet from the Lush Green Collection.  Attach the stems to the background.  Assemble and attach the buds.  The Birch Press Design set includes color-coded assembly directions of the detailed pieces.  The base layer of each bud is also lightly marked with assembly guidelines for you.  Or, rearrange the layers and create your own designs!

Attach adhesive label paper or a sticker sheet to white wool-blend felt and diecut Gentle Bunny.  The paper backing stabilizes the fabric and prevents adhesives from saturating it.  Cut another bunny from watercolor paper or heavy white cardstock and layer it for dimension.  Add pink gems from the Pastel Jewels set - press them firmly onto the felt.

Stamp the greeting - from the Big and Little Spring Clear Stamp Set - on the pale yellow sheet with Green Oasis VersaFine Clair.  Dry the ink, then trim the greeting with the smallest Rectangle Basics die.

Attach everything to a top-folded 5-½" square card.  Cut a 5-½" square layer of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.  Square cards require extra postage.

Pair these stem and bud sets for greetings throughout the year.  Transition from buds to blooms in spring and summer to seed pods in fall colors. Cut the stems from black cardstock for a spooky Halloween garden scene in October.  Cut them in white or silver glitter for a frosty winter scene. 

Imagine different ways to combine your Memory Box, Poppystamps and Birch Press Design products and take advantage of the great design elements in your stash!

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

 

 

Supplies

 

94638 Backyard Floral Stems

94237 Gentle Bunny

94646 Curved Cap Pinpoint Layers

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

cl5254 Big and Little Spring clear stamp set

jwl002 Pastel Jewels

sp1002 Sunny Orange

sp1003 Lush Green

sp1001 Berry Red

 

Supplies

 

57492 Delicate Floral Buds Contour Layers

Freshwater Fish Stories by Jean Okimoto

Say hello to Friday with embossed, stenciled and diecut Freshwater Fish. They're from coordinating sets of a 3D embossing folder, dies and 2-layer stencils.  Hi, Jean here with a white and bright design from our spring collection - and a new pinpoint cover plate from Birch Press Design.

Spritz both sides of watercolor paper with a fine mist of water.  Emboss it with the Freshwater Fish 3D Embossing Folder.

Use a sponge, dauber or blending brush to color the fish with the Freshwater Fish Stencil Set and Distress Oxides.  Colors used here are salvaged patina, iced spruce, twisted citron, peacock feathers, broken china and shaded lilac.  Dry the inks, then diecut the fish.  Smaller accent pieces are also included in the sets.

Brayer the fish with VersaMark - use a clean, well-inked pad.  Heat-emboss them with detail clear powder for a glossy highlighted texture, like fresh-caught fish.  Add black Sharpie marker dots for the eyes.

Cut white and black cardstock with the End of My Rope die - save the ropes for another project.  Diecut the white interior offcut with the Birch Press Design Pinpoint Contour Plate.  Trim a tiny amount from the edges of the black offcut and attach it behind the white layer.  The dark backing emphasizes the pinpoint pattern - it makes a difference!

Cut a blue 6x6 from the Glitzy Glitter Pad with Hello Rush Script.  Cut watercolor paper with the die too and layer it behind the glittered greeting for extra dimension.

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded 5-½" square white card. Add turquoise Christmas Fairy Dewdrops.  Cut a 5-½" square of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.  Square cards require extra postage.

Freshwater Fish are perfect for embossing and diecutting from Memory Box mirror cardstock too. The Rainbow Reflections and Vintage Pastel 6x6 pads have a wide range of beautiful colors that capture the details of this great fish trio.  Add them to birthday, retirement and Father's Day cards for that special guy.

Thanks for visiting...have a great weekend!

Supplies

 

ef1028 Freshwater Fish 3D Embossing Folder and Matching Dies

88622 Freshwater Fish Stencil

94468 Hello Rush Script

94546 End of My Rope Set

ddp101 Christmas Fairy Dewdrops

gp1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

 

 

 

Supplies

 

57511 Pinpoint Contour Plate

Purple Valentine's Day Card by Sara Cook

Hi everyone.  I have a purple Valentine's Day card featuring the Love You Posh script die.  This design can be easily changed up using any of the color paper pad.

Background:

Cut a silver paper from the Festive Glitter pad to A2 size.  Die cut the top plate from the Birch Press Kinsley Heart Layer set from a deep purple from the Twilight Purple pad.  Adhere the top die cut onto the silver glitter paper. 

Sentiment/Focal Image:

Die cut the 2nd to largest heart from Double Stitch heart Cut Out die set from a mid-tone purple from the Twilight Purple pad.  Die cut the bottom layer of the Love You Posh Script die set from the matching silver card stock and the top die from the matching deep purple card stock as the back ground.  Adhere the top die cut to the bottom.

Assembly:

Adhere the background to a white A2 size card.  Adhere the heart cut out to the upper center of the card than adhere the sentiment int eh center of the heart.

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94668 Love You Posh Script

94359 Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out

SP1008 Twilight Purple

GP1006 Festive Glitter Pad

57402 Kinsley Heart Plate Layer Set

Shimmery, Shiny Girlie Fish by Jean Okimoto

Fish cards - logically - are usually guy-cards in bold greens, teals and blues.  Maybe it's time for a fish card in soft, pretty peachy-pinks - with a lot of shimmery sparkle, of course!  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a sweet girlie fish card for you today.

I found an ink-blended piece of cardstock in just the right mix of pink and peach, then spritzed and splattered it with Imagine's Gold Shimmer Spritz.  Heat-set it, then cut it with the 2.5" wide Nested Globes die.  

Cut three fish from the Ocean Fish 3D Embossing Folder and Cutting Dies Set from the gold 6x6 in the Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad.  Pressure-emboss the fish - one at a time - in the Ocean Fish 3D Embossing Folder.  Attach them to the globe with foam tape.

Attach the Birch Press Shimmer Lines Wide Washi Tape to pale peach cardstock and cut it with Curling Waves dies .

Attach the diecuts to a side-folded white A-2 card.  Add the gold jewels from the Autumn Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A2-sized sheet of cardstock to cover and protect the card front for mailing.

Combine your favorite dies and embossing folders with your favorite colors and see the designs acquire a whole new look...like a peach-colored underwater scene!

Thanks for visiting!

 

Supplies

 

 

94532 Nested Globes

EF1031 Ocean Fish 3D Embossing Folder and Matching Dies

EF1032 Curling Waves 3D Embossing Folder and Matching Dies

FP1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

CRY101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

wt715 Shimmer Lines Washi Tape

You Are Special to Me With Sweet Poppy Stem by Angie Cimbalo

Hello and welcome, it's Angie here today with Hello card made with the new "Sweet Poppy Stem" dies released this past May.  Here's a closer look at my card:

Here's how I made my card:

1)  I die cut the Sweet Poppy Stem dies and colored them with Zig Clean Color markers

2)  I took a piece of plaid paper from the Spring Slim paper pad and cut it to mini slimline size 3" by 6".

3)  I added flower after putting it together and added a few "Lavender Bouquet" dies cut from black in the bottom left corner.

4)  The sentiment is from Birch Press Design's Crystal Lingo stamp and die set and heat embossed in white on black card stock.

Here's one last look:

I hope you like my card for today!  I had so much fun creating it!  Be sure to check out all the new Memory Box goodies on their website HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Supplies

 

94648 Sweet Poppy Stem craft die

94640 Lavender Bouquet craft die

8155 Crystal Lingo clear stamp and die set

Curled Waves Heart Hugs by Jean Okimoto

Hi everyone - need a friendship card?   Rotate Curled Waves and pair them into swoopy hearts for a new look on a tall slimline. Jean Okimoto here with a simple design in soft shades of peach, gold and gray.  It's versatile too - switch to reds and pinks in February.

Attach Birch Press Design Shimmer Lines Wide Washi Tape to light peach cardstock.  Cut it with the dies from the Curled Waves 3D Embossing Folder and Cutting Dies set.  

Cut three small Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Outs from the gold sheet in the Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad.   Create swoopy, wonky hearts with pairs of the Curled Waves   - overlap the halves and attach them to the gold hearts.

Tape a piece of gold cord behind each heart.  Attach the hearts to a pale gray slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½") - use foam dots for the heart on the right.

Cut the delicate Big Hearts Posh Script from the light peach 6x6 in the Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad.  Leave it in the die and attach lined doublestick tape behind the diecut and run it through the machine to cut the tape layer.  Remove the tiny bits in the B, g and s.

Cut the solid Big Hugs background from the pale gray cardstock - and again from cardboard.  Attach the gray layer to the cardboard layer for dimension.  Press the  "self--adhesive" delicate diecut (still in the die) firmly onto the gray layer,

Arrange the gold cord and tape it to the card under the BI section.  Attach the greeting - use foam tape under the BI, H and s.

Cut two of the small Intricate Mini Butterflies from the pale peach sheet in the Delicate Pastel 6x6.

Curled Waves can be more than just waves - they can also be question marks if you ever need a card with questions marks.

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

 

 

 

Supplies

 

ef1032 Curling Waves 3D Embossing Folder and Matching Dies

94528 Big Hugs Posh Script

94641 Intricate Mini Butterflies

gp1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

fp1002 Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad

94359 Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out

 

Supplies

 

wt715 Shimmer Lines Washi Tape

Ruffled Poppy Stem on a Simple Slimline Card by Jean Okimoto

Ruffled Poppy Stem - and the Birch Press Design dragonflies - create a garden scene for any occasion.  Textures and metallics add dimension and sparkle with some inspiration for the June Metallic Mania Challenge.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a simple design for a busy weekend.

Before we start on the card - special congratulations to the Impress Insiders Group!  We now have over 1,000 creative, artistic members sharing ideas, techniques, support and friendship.  Thanks Ann and Shari for creating - and leading - this awesome group!

Pressure emboss Black Glossy Paper (cardstock) with the Geometric Crystals 3D Embossing Folder using the plates required for your machine - place the black side of the cardstock against the smoother side of the folder.   Trim it to 2" x 5-⅜".  

Cut Kraft Woodgrain Paper (cardstock) with the 6-⅛" x 1-¾" Slim Basic Rectangles die.

Cut the white 6x6 Polished Foil Pack paper with the 1-½" Circle Basics die.  

Cut the blossom petals and bud of the Ruffled Poppy  Stem with a coral sheet from the Berry Red Collection.  Cut the center from a yellow-green sheet in the Lush Green Collection.  Cut the stems from a darker green 6x6.  Assemble the blossom and bud.

Cut the backgrounds of the Birch Press Design Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers from the darker gold Polished Foil Pad sheet.  Cut the wing overlays and body from the gold Festive Glitter Pad sheet.  Assemble the dragonflies.

Attach everything to a white slimline card (3-½" x 8-½") - use foamdots for the blossom.  

A mix of textures - and matte, glossy and glittered cardstock - add dimension to any project.  It's an easy way to highlight a simple design.

Thank for for visiting our blog - have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94667 Ruffled Poppy Stem craft die

SH44003 Woodgrain Paper Pack Kraft

30087 Circle Basics Set

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers craft die

SP1001 Berry Red 6x6 pack

SP1003 Lush Green 6x6 pack

FP1001 Polished Foil Pad pack

GP1006 Festive Glitter Pad

57487 Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers

SH44004 Black Glossy Paper Pack 10 sheets

EF1016 Geometric Crystals 3D Embossing Folder

Flowers for Mom by Jean Okimoto

Gather an assortment of spring blossoms for a Mother's Day card and mix, match and layer them for dimension.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a slimline design for a stylish Mom - with casual upside-down Wooden Alpha W's instead of the proper M's.  We're using the new Birch Press Design Wispy Bloom Contour Layers for their pointy, contrasting look.

Blend salvaged patina and shaded lilac Distress Oxides on smooth white cardstock.  Add a light spritz of water and let the colors blend as they dry.  Cut it with the 2-¼" x 7-¼" Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.

Cut Ruffled Blooms from different shades of Lush Green and Fresh Aqua 6x6 sheets.  Cut some extra centers from Lush Green sheets.  

Cut Layered Periwinkle from Vibrant Violet and Twilight Purple 6x6 sheets.

Cut the Birch Press Design Wispy Blooms Contour Layers from Twilight Purple sheets.  Cut the stems from a Lush Green sheet.  

Cut the wide leaves from the Exquisite Leaf Set from a Lush Green sheet.  Trim the larger branch - we're using the 2 lower leaves here.

Attach the ink-blended rectangle - at a wonky angle - to a white slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-⅝"). Attach the leaves and the assembled flowers.

Diecut the letters from the turquoise Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad 6x6.  Use the upside-down W's instead of the M's from the Wooden Alpha set for a casual look. Or use the more formal M.  Either way, the Wooden Alpha dies add great texture to the mirror cardstock.

Attach the yellow-gold Christmas Fairy Jewels.

This design works in a rainbow of color combos...try your favorites!  It would be nice with mirrored floral diecuts and/or leaves too.  

If your Mom's card is already done - rotate the M's right-side-up to say "WOW". It would be great for a grad, a new hire or to celebrate a recent promotion or achievement.   Even a new flower garden!

Thanks for visiting - see you on Friday...

Supplies

 

 

JWL005 Christmas Fairy Jewels

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers craft die

94664 Exquisite Leaf Set craft die

94657 Ruffled Blooms craft die

94614 Layered Periwinkle craft die

94579 Wooden Alpha craft die

FP1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad 6x6 pack

SP1003 Lush Green 6x6 pack

SP1007 Vibrant Violet 6x6 pack

SP1004 Fresh Aqua 6x6 pack

SP1008 Twilight Purple 6x6 pack

57506 Wispy Blooms Contour Layers

Love Blooms by Jean Okimoto

Let your Memory Box supplies do the work for you by creating a backdrop for layered roses from Birch Press Design.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here, taking advantage of the Rose Bouquet Wide Washi Tape's design and colors on slimline card.

Cut the Birch Press Design Rose Bunch Contour Layers from 3 colors of the Berry Red 6x6 Collection - a light, medium and dark.  Assemble the roses - the bottom layers have light outlines to serve as guides for adhering the top layers.  Or be creative and just attach the layers wherever you wish - no rules here, it's not paint-by-number. 

Here's a tip I've shared before, it's just a friendly reminder.  If you're not sure which size you should diecut for a background or layering strip - cut the larger size. If necessary, just re-cut it to a smaller size instead of starting over again.

Attach Rose Bouquet Wide Washi Tape to white cardstock and cut it with the 1-⅞" x 6-⅞" Slim Rectangle Basics Layer die.

Stamp the greeting - from the Friends and Family Clear Stamps Set - on a light green 6x6 from the Lush Green Collection with Onyx Black VersaFine.  Quickly heat-emboss it with detail clear powder.  Cut the top edge with the short side of the 6-⅜" x 1-⅜" Slim Rectangle Basics Layer die, then trim the bottom. That's easier than using a paper trimmer and cutting (and re-cutting!) the sides until you have an even block.

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card - 3-½" x 8-½".  Add the lime green Bright Jewels.

Designs from Memory Box, Poppystamps and Birch Press Designs are a great combination for any project or  occasion.  I love how they work together and use them often for my card kits.

 Thanks again to everyone who ordered my Cards by Color kit! It sold quickly, and I've added more kits.  

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend!

 

 

 

Supplies

 

CL5276 Friends and Family clear stamp set

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers craft die

SP1003 Lush Green 6x6 pack

SP1001 Berry Red 6x6 pack

JWL003 Bright Jewels

WT499 Rose Bouquet Wide Washi Tape

57495 Rose Bunch Contour Layers

Vibrant Violet Blossoms by Jean Okimoto

Is spring your favorite cardmaking season too?   I love how layered blossoms and foliage create a slimline card for any occasion.  The new Fuddled Leaf Branches Contour Layers from Birch Press Design balances the bold flowers and Bright Jewel gemstones and Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad blossoms add sparkly violet accents.

Hi everyone, Jean Okimoto here with a very layered design from our spring releases.  The Memory Box 6x6 color collections make it easy to select, combine and layer diecuts in coordinating colors.  9 assortments - totaling 108 colors - create a lot of flowers and leafy backgrounds.

Cut white cardstock with the 7-¼" x 2-¼" Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles die.

Cut Ruffled Blooms from different shades of the Vibrant Violet 6x6 Collection.  Cut the smallest flower from the violet Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad 6x6 too.  Cut glittered Star Flowers too.

Cut the background of the Birch Press Design Fuddled Leaf Branches Contour Layers from a medium-green 6x6 in the Fresh Green 6x6.  Cut the detailed top layers from a lighter green sheet.  Leave the top layers in the die and attach ScorTape or Couture Creations doublestick tape behind the diecut pieces.  Run it through the machine again to cut self-adhesive layering pieces.

Attach the top layers to the background leaves - they're lightly scored to indicate where the top layers should be placed.  Here's a link to view the newest products from Birch Press Design.

Cut the 2 leafy branches from the Layered Star Flowers set from the darker green 6x6.

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card (3-½" x 8-½").  Add the violet Bright Jewels gemstones.

Slimline card dimensions are great for collage-y floral and garden greetings.  They provide a lot of white space to balance the brightness of the flowers.  Slimline cards are also a nice surprise for a recipient who thought it was just another piece of mail.

Hope you'll have a chance to make a few spring cards this week.  Diecut a bunch of flowers, leaves and branches - then build paper bouquets for cards, layouts or mixed media.  You can never have too many flowers!

Thanks for visiting our blog...see you again on Friday!

 

 

Supplies

 

94657 Ruffled Blooms craft die

94612 Layered Star Flowers craft die

SP1007 Vibrant Violet 6x6 pack

SP1003 Lush Green 6x6 pack

57500 Fuddled Leaf Branches Contour Layers

JWL003 Bright Jewels

94554 Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles craft die

GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad