Glad Tidings by Donna Sledzik

Hello everyone and welcome to day two of our Holiday Blog Blitz!

I love the new stamp sets in this release!  I decided to use the "Tidings Wreath" stamp set today and loosely watercolor my stamped image.

I stamped the wreath image onto watercolor paper and used Distress Inks to color the image.  

I painted the leaves first and let them dry completely before painting the berries.  If the leaves were still wet the green and red paint could bleed into each other.

Once my paint was dry, I added some shading with colored pencils to help define the leaves and berries.  I also spattered the card front with green distress ink. 

Using foam tape I adhered my painted card front to a white card.  

I stamped and white heat embossed my sentiment on a strip of black cardstock and glued this to my card.

That's all for today's card! It's a fairly quick card to make!

Do you want a chance to win the new Tidings Wreath clear stamp set?  Leave a comment on this blog post anytime before Sunday, September 1st at 11:59pm EST.  One comment will be selected at random to win the prize.  All contest winners will be announced on the Outside the Box blog on Monday, September 2nd at 6:00pm EST. 

Thanks for stopping by today and good luck!

 

 

Supplies

 

CL5245 Tidings Wreath clear stamp set

New Release Blog Blitz! by Jean Okimoto

 

Have you noticed this week that we have been posting from the new release?  You can find a link to the entire release here. There are stamps as well as dies and items for Fall as well as Christmas.  Hopefully you will be inspired for the upcoming seasons!  

Would you like to flip for through the new look books?  There is the one for Halloween as well as Christmas.  

We will be celebrating the new release on the blog this week from Monday, August 26th- Sunday, September 1st.  There will be a new sample each day as well as a chance to win a prize each day this week.  

Hi - Jean Okimoto here with the first blog blitz project and a chance to win a great prize.

Cut watercolor paper with the 3-¼" Square Basics die.  Sponge it with Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry and Spun Sugar Distress Oxides.  Spritz it with a light mist of water, then heat-set it.  Splatter it lightly with Imagine Crafts Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz.  Set it aside to dry.

Cut Chandele Star from white cardstock.  It's a great new design that's not just perfect for Chrismas - use it throughout the year for celebrations and special events.

Stamp the greeting - from the new Merry and Bright Mistletoe Clear Stamps Set - on white cardstock with VersaMark.  Emboss it with detail clear powser.  Sponge it with Rocket Red Gold Brilliance.  Wipe the residual ink off with a tissue.  Cut it with the ¾" Square Basics die.

Pressure-emboss the dried watercolor paper with Chandele Star using the plates and embossing mat required for your machine.  

Cut a stencil from vellum using the Chandele Star.  Vellum is great for disposable stencils because it keeps a crisp edge and doesn't get saturated with ink.   Sponge Rocket Red Gold Brilliance through the stencil onto the pressure-embossed star.

Attach the diecuts to a side-folded A-2 card of textured white cardstock.  Add ¼" circles punched from gold glitter cardstock.

Want a chance to win the new Chandele Star ?  Leave a comment on this blog post anytime before Sunday, September 1st at 11:59pm EST.  One comment will be selected at random to win the prize.  All contest winners will be announced on the Outside the Box blog on Monday, September 2nd at 6:00pm EST.  Good luck!

Thanks for visiting.  Stop by again tomorrow for Donna's project and another chance to win a prize from our latest collection!

Supplies

 

94317 Chandele Star craft die

30088 Square Basics Set

CL5246 Merry and Bright Mistletoe clear stamp set

Create a Dark Floral Card with Scribble Posies and Scribble Fronds by Jean Okimoto

Combine Scribble Posies Outline,  Scribble Frond Background and Scribble Frond Outline on a spring card delivering a simple upbeat message.  There were happy thoughts - literally - when I saw this great new collection!  

Hello, happy weekend - Jean Okimoto here with another blog blitz design and a chance for you to win a die from the Garden Bouquet Collection.  Bright florals on a dark background are a great spring theme - but it can be challenging to create that look with stamps.  Memory Box dies and cardstock create that look quickly and easily.

 

Cut Scribble Frond Outline from Easter Grass cardstock.  Cut Scribble Frond Background from Juicy Pear cardstock.

Cut Scribble Posies Outline from flamingo, white and Coral Creme cardstock.  Save the delicate center and outer outlines too.   (Outer outlines??)  

Cut scraps of yellow glittered cardstock and attach them behind the blossoms.  

Stamp the label outline - from the new Big and Little Words Clear  Stamp Set - with Verdant VersaFine Clair.  Stamp the greeting.  Dry the ink, the trim the cardstock and trim the corners with a corner punch.  I used the 4mm corner section  from the WeRMemoryKeepers corner rounder.  

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded 5-⅜" square card of textured dark gray cardstock.  Add pale peach gemstickers.

Would you like a chance to win Scribble Posies Outline Die Set?  Just add a comment to this post by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, May 12th.  One winner will be selected at random to win the new die.  All winners will be posted on the Outside the Box blog on Monday, May 13th at 6pm EST.  Good luck, and I hope you will visit us often this week!

If you're in the Seattle area - join us for another ASIA NOW class at Impress on Mother's Day, May 12th.   We're making 6 contemporary cards featuring our favorite almost-Asian dies, beautiful artpapers and lots of techniques.

Impress is celebrating Mom and Ladies Day at Tukwila too - Moms and ladies receive a 30% discount on one item of their choice on Sunday, May 12th.   Take advantage of this great discount and buy one of the Memory Box dies you've been eyeing!

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94273 Scribble Frond Background craft die

94272 Scribble Frond Outline craft die

94268 Scribble Posies Outline craft die

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

Wishing you the Best by Donna Sledzik

Hi everyone,

I hope you are enjoying all the designer's posts this week!  There are so many inspiring ideas using these wonderful new Memory Box products.

For my card I decided to use the beautiful new Rose Bouquet stamp set.  This floral image is so much fun to color and I can see using it for many projects.

To create the card I stamped and colored the image using colored pencils.  Once the coloring was done, I spattered the image and a white card base with black ink.

I trimmed my stamped image to fit onto my card at an angle. I adhered this to a piece of black cardstock and trimmed the black to only mat two sides of my paper. To finish the card, I glued this to my card base and then added my die cut word "wishing" and my stamped sentiment to the card front as shown.

Would you like to win your own Rose Bouquet stamp set? Leave a comment to this post by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, May 12th. One winner will be selected at random to win the new stamp set. All winners will be posted on the Outside the Box blog on Monday, May 13th at 6pm EST. Good luck, and I hope you will visit us often this week!

Have a great weekend and good luck!

 

Supplies

 

CL5241 Rose Bouquet clear stamp set

94070 Wishing Jotted Script craft die

Blog Blitz…Introducing the New Antique Leaf Label and Scribble Roses Outline and Background by Jean Okimoto

Welcome to our Garden Bouquet Collection Blog Blitz!  Here's a trio of  beautiful new botanical dies perfect for garden greetings - Antique Leaf Label, Scribble Roses Background and Scribble Roses Outline.  The greeting is from our new Open Studio Rose Bouquet Clear Stamps Set.  

Hello, Jean Okimoto here with a simple watercolored design ready for any occasion.  I love artsy, round flowers - and the "dark floral" look that seems to reappear each spring.  Overlapping layers of Peerless Watercolors fall into place between the delicate details of the Scribble Roses Outline dies.

Cut Scribble Roses Background from watercolor paper - leave the diecuts in the offcut and tape them lightly on the reverse side  so they're easier to handle.  Paint them with loose, overlapping layers of pink, peach and yellow watercolors.  Heat-set them, then define the different shades with a wet paintbrush.    Paint a scrap of watercolor paper for a greetings background. Dry the watercolors

Cut the Scribble Roses Outline and Antique Leaf Label from white cardstock.  Save the leaves - we'lll need 5 for the card.

Stamp the greeting - from the Rose Bouquet Clear Stamp Set - with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair.  Dry the ink, then diecut the label.

Assemble the roses, then attach the diecuts to a top-folded card of Rock Candy cardstock.  Add clear gem stickers and a few of the diecut leaves. 

Here's a great new feature Dave's added to several of the new dies - little arrows on the offcuts indicating the tops of some of the floral dies.  Just draw a pencilmark on the back of the diecut at the arrow and the guessing is over!

It was hard to pick a die for our blitz giveaway because there are so many great designs to chose from!  I decided to pick the Antique Leaf Label because it's so versatile and easy to use - and I'll be using it often here on the blog. Would you like a chance to win your own Antique Leaf Label die? Add a comment to this post by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, May 12th.  One winner will be selected at random to win the new die.  All winners will be posted on the Outside the Box blog on Monday, May 13th at 6pm EST.  Good luck, and I hope you will visit us often this week!

Big thanks to everyone from last weekend's STASH CARDS - BIRTHDAYS HAPPEN class at Impress!  Hope you like the cards and techniques!  Enjoy making more class cards at home with the packet of extras from my stash.  Thanks Erin and Lynne for helping us fill those shopping baskets!

Looking for something to do on Mother's Day?  Join us for another ASIA NOW class at Impress - we're making 6 contemporary Asian cards - and using a lot of Memory Box and Poppystamps designs.  

Impress is celebrating Mom and Ladies Day at Tukwila too - Moms and ladies receive a 30% discount on one item of their choice on Sunday, May 12th.   Take advantage of that great deal and buy one of the Memory Box dies you've been eyeing.

Thanks very much for stopping by - be sure to comment on all of the Design Team's blog blitz posts for a chance to win great prizes from our latest collection!

 

Supplies

 

94258 Antique Leaf Label craft die

94271 Scribble Roses Background craft die

94270 Scribble Roses Outline craft die

CL5241 Rose Bouquet clear stamp set

Faux Stained Glass + Blog Blitz Giveaway by Trina Pham

Happy Sunday everyone!  Trina here and I am capping off the week for the 2019 Spring Collection Blog Blitz.  With it being named Stained Glass Rose Circle Frame, I couldn’t resist using the faux stained glass technique to create my card with it!  There are many ways to do this technique and I’m sharing my favourite method. 

Started by die cutting a circle from X-press It cardstock with the second largest die in the Circlr Basics set.  Next added Stick It adhesive to the back of two pieces of white cardstock and one piece of black cardstock then die cut them with the Stained Glass Rose Circle Frame.  Adhered one of the white ones to the circle.

Colored the piece with Copics.  Thought it would be fun to have the roses in rainbow colors.  Did some light shading for the other areas.  It’s going to look like one hot mess.

But no worries because the second white piece will cover it all up like so.

For the stained glass effect, applied Crystal Glaze (could use Glossy Accents instead) to each individual section, and set it aside to dry.  The black piece was then inked with VersaMark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder for some shine.  I did this twice to get a smoother look.  I would have preferred to use foil paper, but I didn’t have any black.  When the Crystal Glaze dried, the black piece was added on top.

The sentiment from Bold Friendly Greetings was white heat embossed on a black strip.  Attached the circle frame to a dark gray panel that was adhered to a white card base, then popped up the sentiment strip on with foam tape to finish.  This technique is not limited to just this die.  Many of Memory Box’s intricate dies would look amazing.

Now the final giveaway!  For your chance to win the Stained Glass Rose Circle Frame die, leave a comment on this post by 11:59 pm EST tonight.  The random winner will be announced tomorrow at 6:00 pm EST here on the blog.  Thank you for visiting.  Good luck!

Supplies

 

94231 Stained Glass Rose Circle Frame craft die

CL5236 Bold Friendly Greetings

30087 Circle Basics Set

Blog Blitz – New Floating Butterfly and Bold Friendly Greetings by Jean Okimoto

Set the scene for spring with the new Floating Butterfly and screenprinted papers in beautiful colors.  Welcome to Day #6 of our Spring Collection Blog Blitz!  Hello - Jean Okimoto here with a set of super-quick cards featuring the delicate new butterfly and Bold Friendly Greetings from our latest release.

There are so many ways to fill the butterfly's background including watercolors, glitter, fabric or sequins.  I chose a beautiful paper from Shizen Design's 18-piece set of 6 color-coordinated prints.  This one's a swirly pattern of flowers, tendrils and paisleys.  The paper set is a popular spring design - I bought it at Impress.

Cut three of the 4"x2-¾" Wrapped Stitch Rectangle from smooth white cardstock.  Stamp the messages - from the Bold Friendly Greetings clear stamps set - with Brilliance Pearlescent Jade, Orange and Purple.  Dry the inks, then cut Floating Butterfly.  Save the white diecuts for another project - were're using the offcut here.

Attach sections of the printed paper behind the cutout.

Cut the butterfly again from Coral Creme, Navajo and Kachina cardstock.  

Attach the diecuts to side-folded A-2 cards of Kachina, Snapdragon and Coral Creme cardstock.  Add clear gem stickers.

Want a chance to win the beautiful - and versatile - new Floating Butterfly?    Add a comment to this post by Sunday, March 3rd at 11:59pm EST.  One comment will be selected at random to win the butterfly.  Winners will be announced on the blog on Monday, March 4th at 6pm EST.  Good luck!

Be sure to add your comment to all of the Blog Blitz posts from February 25th thru March 3rd.

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

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94221 Floating Butterfly craft die

CL5236 Bold Friendly Greetings

30094 Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

Blog Blitz - New Happy Octopus and Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments by Jean Okimoto

Welcome to our Spring Collection Blog Blitz!  Watercolors are the backdrop for the new Happy Octopus, Underwater Scene fishes and Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments on today's card.  

Hello, Jean Okimoto here with a nautical design  - and a few techniques.  I'm hoping it looks like the octopus is emerging from the water and greeting the fishes.  

Create a quick ombre look with Blue Breeze Kaleidacolor.  Follow the instrucions on the container to move the individual inkpads together for brayering, but separated for storage.  Spritz the smoother side of watercolor with water.  Ink a 4" soft rubber brayer by rolling  it repeatedly (about 25 times) over the inks.  Cover the entire inkpad by rolling it in one direction instead of  back and forth.  

Hold the inked brayer horizontally (to prevent drips) and spritz it with water - two spritzes are better than one.  Roll the inks onto the damp watercolor paper.  Air-dry it for a few minutes.  

Spritz it lightly with water, wait a few seconds, then heat-set  both sides to minimize curling. Cut it with the waves and frame section of the Happy Octopus set - run it through your machine with the waves running horizontally instead of vertically.

Here's an easy way to select a specific section of the paper to diecut the fishes - 

Cut the fishes from a Post-It - use the offcut to select the area you want to cut.

Place the die back into the cutout and cut the fishes, exactly where you want them!

Cut the octopus head twice from watercolor paper.  Attach a scrap of black cardstock behind the eyes of one head.  Layer the second head behind it for dimension.  Cut the tentacles.  Attach the head and two tentacles behind the waves.  Slip two tentacles between the wave slots and tape them behind the waves.  

Stamp the greeting from the Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments set on the smoother side of watercolor paper with Electric Purple Radiant Neon.  Emboss it with detail clear powder.  Cut it into a strip with the scalloped edge of the wave section.

Attach the diecuts to a Violet Notecard - use foam dots for the fishes, greeting and octopus head.  Color clear gem stickers with a Sharpie or Copic Marker that matches the greeting.  The ink is much pinker that it appears on the inkpad.

Want a chance to win the whimsical Happy Octopus die set?  Add a comment on  this post by Sunday, March 3rd at 11:59pm EST.  One comment will be selected at random to win the set.  There will be a chance to win one of the new release items each day this week through Sunday.  Winners will be announced on the blog on Monday, March 4th at 6pm EST.  Good luck!

Big thanks to everyone from Sunday's GREETINGS FROM BIRCH PRESS class at Impress!  Hope you like the cards - and all of the techniques we used with those great dies and stamps.  Thanks also to  Ann, Erin and Lynne for your help in finding the supplies we needed for our cards.

Be sure to comment on all of the Design Team's blitz posts.  Hope you're a winner!

Supplies

 

94227 Happy Octopus craft die

94224 Underwater Scene craft die

CL5240 Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

Hello by Donna Sledzik

Hello everybody!

Happy New Year and welcome to our first blog blitz of 2019.  We're featuring the new Valentine release.  I hope you've enjoyed all of the inspiring blog posts this week and have left comments on each one for a chance to win one of the new dies!

Today I have a card for you that features several new products that I love!

To make the card, I die cut the Heart Board Die twice on a strip of white cardstock.

Next I cut a strip of watercolor paper a little smaller than the die cut strip and painted the the background which will go behind the hearts. 

When my background was dry I glued my die cut strip to the watercolored strip of paper.

I spattered a white cardstock layer with black paint and glued my heart die cut strip to it.  I die cut the word hello from black cardstock and adhered this to a strip of vellum paper.  I added the strip of vellum to my card by folding the strip behind the card front and gluing it in place.

I stamped the sentiment on black cardstock and heat embossed it using white embossing power.  I used foam tape to adhere it to my card.

Would you like a chance to win the Heart Board die for yourself?  Leave a comment on this post before Sunday, January 13th at 11:59pm EST.  One person at random will be chosen to win the die.  All the winners will be posted on the Outside the Box blog at 6 pm EST on Monday, January 14th. Don't forget to visit the blog this week for more chances to win.  

Good luck to everyone and thanks for stopping by!

 

Supplies

 

94104 Heart Board craft die

94105 Big Hello Premiere craft die

CL5237 Best Life Typewriter Sentiments

Valentine’s 2019 Blog Blitz Giveaway…Have a Heart Clear Stamp Set by Jean Okimoto

It's Day #4 of our Blog Blitz...here's a very Valentine design featuring the new Have a Heart Clear Stamp Set and a sweet greeting from the Best Life Typewriter Sentiments Clear Stamp Set.  Hi everyone, Jean Okimoto here with a simple stamped hearts card for your favorite sweetie.

Have a Heart Clear Stamps - and its coordinating die set - make it easy to mix, match and layer the design elements.  Use basic colors or a rainbow of pastels, then add a dash of metallic ink, glitter and gem stickers. 

Cut smooth white cardstock with the 4" x 2-¾" Rectangle Basics die.

Stamp the red images with VersaFine Clair Tulip Red.  Air-dry the ink for a few minutes.

Here's the diagonal  technique I recommend in classes for very precise stamping.  Attach the stamp diagonally for better visibility  - it keeps  your fingers off to the side instead of directly over (and covering) the stamp.  This also eliminates the distracting top edge of the block and lets you "point" the stamp exactly where you want it.  

Stamp the vertical and horizontal lines over the big solid heart with Brilliance Lightning Black.  Stamp the solid outline over the lines.

Stamp the greeting - from the new Best Life Typewriter Sentiments Clear Stamp Set - and the small hearts.  Dry the inks.

Cut a ¾" x 3-¼" strip of black glitter paper.  Cut a ¾" x 3-¾" strip of red Wax Lips cardstock.  

Attach everything to a side-folded A-2 card of Rock Candy cardstock.  Add red gem stickers.

Want a chance to win this great set of heart stamps?  Leave a comment on this post before Sunday, January 13th at 11:59pm EST.  One person will  be randomly selected to win the Have a Heart Clear Stamp Set.    All the winners will be posted on the Outside the Box blog at 6pm EST on Monday, January 14th. Don't forget to visit the blog this week for more chances to win.  Good luck!

If you're in the Seattle area and want a few more Valentine ideas - join us for the LOVE...SIMPLY STATED class at Impress on Saturday January 12th.  We're making 5 cards and a sweet little candy wrapper.  Fold a simple freeform origami heart on beautiful Shizen Design screenprinted paper.  Add great inks, glitter and sequins to your cards and make them extra-special.

Thanks for visiting...join us again tomorrow for Donna's cool design, and another chance to win a great prize from the Valentine's 2019 Collection!

 

 

 

Supplies

 

CL5237 Best Life Typewriter Sentiments

CL5238 Have a Heart

30086 Rectangle Basics Set