Dies in the Raw by Michelle Bala

Hello there! Michelle here! Today I wanted to share two cards with you. I used dies that were untouched, or uncolored. The first one is an Easter card I made for my niece. I used the Little Bunny Trio Die and Small Clutch of Eggs Die and die cut the images several times.  I used a pink and ivory scheme but imagine all the different color combos you can choose!  After I was happy with the alignment, I adhered the bunny/ egg rows with foam tape onto pink cardstock.  I added some gold paint splatters. 

I embossed the Happy Easter sentiment with gold embossing powder onto kraft cardstock than mounted the panel onto gold glitter paper. I used the stamp set Big and Little Spring Clear Stamps. For a finishing touch I added some sequins.

For my second card, I left the dies uncolored...

I inked up a piece of teal cardstock with evergreen bough distress oxide ink. I die cut the Splendid  Poppy Stems several times. Than adhered them to the inked up card base randomly. Trim off the excess stem or flower. I added some splattered whit and gold paint and set aside to dry. 

I embossed the sentiment with gold embossing powder. I used the stamp set Sunflower Wreath. When the panel is dry adhere it to the card base.  Before I adhered the sentiments, I strung some gold thread in a circle than layered the sentiments on top. I added sequins for a finishing touch.

Hope you enjoyed this post! Thanks for stopping by!

 

Supplies

 

CL5253 Sunflower Wreath clear stamp set

CL5254 Big and Little Spring clear stamp set

94455 Little Bunny Trio craft die

94456 Small Clutch Of Eggs craft die

94442 Splendid Poppy Stems craft die

Easter Candy Wrappers with Open Studio 3D Embossing Folders by Jean Okimoto

Open Studio 3D Embossing Folders create great treat wrappers for Easter Sunday.  These simple, one-piece designs are perfect for many favorite Easter candies.  I've filled these with the foil-wrapped Ghirardelli chocolate eggs and bunnies.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a quick and easy weekend project.

Cut 7.5" x 3" strips of cardstock.  Score and fold them at 3.75".  Cut them with the big Half a Dozen Eggs die - place the bottom edge of the die about ⅛" below the fold. 

Place the folded egg diecuts in the 3D Embossing Folder. Run it through your machine with the plates and/or mats required for pressure embossing.  I used the thick base platform, embossing folder with the folded egg and 2 layers of cardstock (as a shim) on my Platinum machine.

Ink the embossed egg with Distress Oxides and a firm foam ink pod.  The pods are like hard marshmallows - they'll ink the raised areas - but not the debossed areas.  Here are the colors I used - worn lipstick, twisted citron, spun sugar, tumbled glass, cracked pistachio, squeezed lemonade and shaded lilac.  Heat-set the inked areas.

Punch holes at the top of the eggs.  Attach the candy to the egg with doublestick tape.  Tie the egg with gold cord and curl the ends of the cord with the side of the green plastic burnisher.

 

The Open Studio 3D Embossing Folders are generously sized at 4.5" x 3.75".  We've used just small sections of the folders - the entire folder is great for embossing cardfronts and tags too.  If you're as ancient as I am you might remember tediously pressure-embossing with a stylus and a light box.  We don't need those anymore!

The folders used here are Chrysanthemum Field, Serene Mandala and Heart Bouquet. 

Thanks for visiting...hope you'll have a chance to try this stay-at-home project with your favorite Memory Box Open Studio embossing folders.  Take care and stay healthy!

Supplies

 

EF1001 Chrysanthemum Field

EF1004 Serene Mandala

EF1006

30072 Half a Dozen Eggs

Add Special Dimensional Effects with the Genoese Egg by Jean Okimoto

Let the new Genoese Egg add layers of dimension and texture to your Easter cards with a combination of shadow diecutting and embossing.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a springy Easter design for you.  Memory Box dies make it easy to add special effects to your cards and layouts - I'll share some techniques here.

Sponge the smoother side of Open Studio Watercolor Paper with Twisted Citron, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, and Tumbled Glass Distress Oxides.  Spritz it with a very light mist of water, then use the inky daubers or sponges to soften and blend the adjacent colors.  

Cut it with the 3-¼" tall Half a Dozen Eggs die.  Pressure-emboss it using the plates and rubber embossing mat required for your machine.  Cut Genoese Egg from an adjacent section of the watercolor paper.  Cut Genoese Egg again from smooth white cardstock and remove the outer rim - we're using just the decorative inner section.  

Attach the white portion - slightly offset -  behind the watercolored diecut.  Attach that to the pressure-embossed egg.

Cut the pale yellow/green dotted sheet from the Springtime Bouquet 6x6 pack with the 4.25" x 5.5" Rectangle Basics die.  Attach it to a side-folded white A-2 card.  

Cut Wild Grass Border from green cardstock.  Trim the short edges with the 4.25" x 5.5" rectangle basics die.  

Cut Gentle Bunny and the two larger bunnies from the Little Bunny Trio from the white glittered cardstock in the Delicate Pastel 6x6 pack.

Cut three flowers from the Cherry Blossom Elements set from the white cardstock in the Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad.  Color the flowers with a pale peach marker.  

Attach the diecuts to the background.  Add dots of Sour Apple Sparkle Glitter Glue to the flower centers.  Set the cards aside to dry the glitter glue.

Hope you'll give this triple-dimension technique a try - it adds a lot to a simple card...and it's easy.  Thanks for visiting!

Take care and stay healthy...

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94430 Genoese Egg

94415 Wild Grass Border

94431 Cherry Blossom Elements

94455 Little Bunny Trio

30072 Half a Dozen Eggs

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

94237 Gentle Bunny

WP101 Watercolor Paper

GP1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

PP1007 Springtime Bouquet Stripes and Dots

40121 Sour Apple Sparkle glitter glue

Watercolor Flowers on Easter/Spring Cards by Anne Thompson

Have you watched Dave's video yet on watercolor techniques?  You can view it here.  I've spent some time this past week playing with my watercolors (Kuratake Japanese watercolors, set of 36) and the new stamp sets to create some Easter and spring cards.  

This first card uses the WILD ROSE STEM clear stamp and die set CL5258-D reimagined in yellows, oranges, and reds.  It's the card I shared in the introduction to this month's Memory Box Challenge:  #60 Spring Fling (Spring Themed Cards).

I stamped the image with VersaMark on the new Open Studio Watercolor Paper WP101 and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder.  Once it was painted and dried, I used the coordinating die to cut it out.  I adhered it with Scor-Tape to an orange striped paper from the COTTAGE STRIPES AND DOTS PP1004 pad on a white notecard.  (I find that Scor-Tape works the best to secure painted watercolor paper to another surface in order to get a nice flat adherence.)  The sentiment "thinking of you at Easter" is from the Poppystamps set CL491 SPRINGTIME FUN stamped on the striped paper with VersaFine Onyx Black ink.

This next card is stamped and embossed, painted and die cut in the same way using the single blossom and two leaves from that same stamp set.  The paper is also from the Cottage Stripes and Dots paper pad.  The sentiment is another from the Poppystamps Springtime Fun set of clear stamps.

For this third card I chose the large SUNFLOWER WREATH CL5253.  It is a very large image and I positioned it on the edge of the watercolor paper cutting off some of the blossoms on the left.  I used three different yellows and an orange for the petals and three browns and a purple for the seedy centers.  Once it was painted and dried I fussy cut around the image and used Scor-Tape to adhere it to the papered notecard.  The background paper is from the SPRINGTIME BOUQUET PP1006 pad.  The sentiment "a happy HELLO" is from the Poppystamps Springtime Fun set.

Two more:  the single sunflower stamped multiple times, painted and spattered; the two leaves stamped multiple times, painted and spattered; "Happy Spring" from the Open Studio BIG AND LITTLE SPRING CL5254 clear stamp set

My next adventure is to try other sets of watercolors I have as well as watercolor crayons and watercolor pencils.  I seem to have more time to play in my craft room these days.  Hope you are all well and finding more crafting time, too.  Someone sent me a note the other day stating that instead of saying that she is sheltering in place she is now an artist in residence.  I think I will adopt that title as well!  And maybe you should too!!!

Happy Crafting!

 

Add Twinkling Jewel Glitter Cardstock and Watercolors to a Lacework Egg by Jean Okimoto

The delicate details of a glittery Lacework Egg sparkle on the matte watercolored background for today's Easter card.  Turn the Poppystamps Whittle Cloud Border into a bouncy green lawn for bunny-hopping and a greeting from the new Big and Little Spring Clear Stamp Set.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a bit of inspiration for April's Spring Fling Challenge.

Sponge the slightly smoother side of Open Studio Watercolor Paper with overlapping layers of Distress Oxides - Picked Raspberry, Shaded Lilac, Peacock Feathers and Cracked Pistachio.  Spritz it - very lightly - with a fine mist of water.  Use the inky sponges to blend the colors.  Dry it, then diecut it with a die from the Half a Dozen Eggs set.

Here's a tip...scrunch a piece of waxed paper and rub it briskly over the Lacework Egg die before cutting the white Delicate Pastel Glitter cardstock.  Prepping the die first makes it very easy to remove the detailed diecut from the die.

Cut Gentle Bunny and Little Bunny Trio from the white glitter cardstock.

Cut the pale green pinstripe Springtime Bouquet print with one of the new Poppystamps Whittle Cloud Border. It's now a spring lawn for bunny hopping.  

Stamp the greeting - from the new Big and Little Spring Clear Stamps - on white cardstock with Pearlescent Purple Brilliance.

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded 5-½" square lavender card - use thin foam tape for the bunnies.   Add purple gem stickers.  Square cards require special handling and extra postage - but they'll be appreciated.

Hope our Design Team has inspired you to keep creating during these difficult weeks.  Cards are a great way to keep in touch - now, more than ever before. Continue  to support your favorite Retailers and their online stores.  

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

Supplies

 

PP1006 Springtime Bouquet 6x6 pack

GP1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

WP101 Watercolor Paper

94237 Gentle Bunny

94455 Little Bunny Trio

CL5254 Big and Little Spring clear stamp set

94428 Lacework Egg

2318 Whittle Cloud Border

30072 Half a Dozen Eggs

Happy Easter Card with Little Bunny Trio in a Springtime Bouquet Papers Pocket by Anne Thompson

My friend Donna showed me a neat paper folding technique to create a pocket of sorts and I made one to highlight the die cut bunnies for this card.  

I began by choosing double-sided papers from the SPRINGTIME BOUQUET PP1006 6X6 pad.  I used two pieces, a striped one and a floral that coordinated.  I cut the striped paper 4X5.25 and taped that to a white notecard and set it aside.  With the floral piece of paper I cut a 4" square and a 2" square.  I set the 2" square aside.

I took the 4" square and folded it in half, keeping the floral side on the outside, opened it up and folded it in half again to make the four quarters.   

I placed the square flat  with the inside yellow print facing up and folded each of the floral points in to the center.  Then I folded each point back to the outside edge.

I used Scor-Tape to attach this pocket to the front of the notecard.  (I put it down on an angle but you could line it up square for a different look.)

I added the 2" square of the floral paper in the center opening of the pocket.

I die cut the LITTLE BUNNY TRIO 94455 from a scrap of pink glitter paper from the DELICATE PASTEL GLITTER PAD GP1001.  I used foam dots behind the two larger bunnies and a mini Glue Dot behind the smaller one as I added them inside the pocket.

I chose the "Happy Easter" sentiment from the Poppystamps SPRINGTIME FUN CL491 set and stamped it with VersaFine Onyx Black ink in the lower righthand corner of the card directly on the striped paper.

Another look at the finished card...

And because you know I usually make at least two, here's another.

For this card I used two pieces of the same paper from the COTTAGE MEADOW PP1003 6X6 pad--leafy corner on one side and leaves on the other.  I assembled this card in the same manner as the first, but added "Happy Easter" from the Memory Box/Open Studio BIG AND LITTLE SPRING CL5254 clear stamp set.  I think I like this one best because of the papers I chose and my paper folding was a little more precise.

I love these little pockets.  I'm going to try them with squares in other sizes and with other die cuts in the centers.  You could also use dimensional stickers (like butterflies) in the pockets.  They fold pretty flat for mailing but pop up a bit once out of the envelope.  Fun!

Happy Crafting!

 

 

Bramble Collage, Little Bunny Trio and Cherry Blossom Elements by Jean Okimoto

The new Bramble Collage - cut from a Cottage Meadow print - creates a spring bunny scene.  Add some glittered flowers from the Cherry Blossom Elements and dot the centers with Open Studio Glitter Glue.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here with an Easter design for you.

Cut the Cottage Meadow print with the largest Wrapped Stitch Rectangles die.  Cut the rectangle with the Bramble Collage.  

Cut Sweet Bunny and two of the Little Bunny Trio from the white Delicate Pastels 6x6 glittered cardstock.  The smallest bunny is cut from the reverse side so he faces left.

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded green A2 card.  

Cut Cherry Blossom Elements from pink glitered cardstock.  Attach the flowers to the card - add dots of Butterscotch Glow glitter glue.

There are so many great ways to use the new Cottage Meadow 6x6 set.  The colors are bright and fresh - try them on your next card!  

Thanks for visiting!

Supplies

 

94443 Bramble Collage

94455 Little Bunny Trio

94431 Cherry Blossom Elements

30094 Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

94237 Gentle Bunny

PP1003 Cottage Meadow 6x6 pack

GP1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

40101 Buttercup Glow glitter glue

Twiggy Nest, Small Clutch of Eggs, Little Bunny Trio, Matinee Rectangle Layers, and lots of Glitter Paper by Anne Thompson

How about that Little Bunny Trio robbing the Twiggy Nest of its glittery Small Clutch of Eggs?!  That's the Easter Bunny scenario I had in my mind as I pulled out dies and papers to create this card.   That Easter bunny has to get his eggs somewhere!

To begin, I used one of the larger dies in the MATINEE RECTANGLE LAYERS 94438 to cut one of the lighter glitter papers from the DELICATE PASTEL GLITTER PAD GP1001.  I adhered this to a Meadow notecard with Scor-Tape.  I then cut a smaller rectangle from the Matinee Rectangle Layers using Key Lime Dots paper.  I attached that to the glitter rectangle using more Scor-Tape.

Next I die cut the TWIGGY NEST 94424 using a bright green glitter paper from the TWINKLING JEWEL GLITTER PAD GP1003.  I used a little glue to stick the bottom of the nest onto the Key Lime paper.

I cut lots of eggs from the Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad with the SMALL CLUTCH OF EGGS die 94456.  This die cuts three large and three small eggs each time.  I used Glue Dots on the backs of the eggs to tuck them into the nest among the twigs which also helped to secure the top of the nest to the card panel.

I used a pink glitter paper from the Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad to cut out the LITTLE BUNNY TRIO 94455.  I put a foam dot on the back of the largest bunny and added him to the Key Lime rectangle.

To finish the front of the card I tied some lime dotted ribbon in a bow.  On the inside I added another of the larger Matinee Rectangle Layers cut from Key Lime dot paper with a smaller white cardstock one on top where I can write my message.

 

the second card

This time I used a Birch Press Design Persimmon notecard and one of the printed papers from the COTTAGE MEADOW PAPERS PP1003 for the card base layer.  I tucked a glitter paper Matinee Rectangle in the upper right corner so I wouldn't cover up too many of the corner flowers.  I assembled the nest and its eggs in the same way as before and this time used all three glittery bunnies at the bottom of the card.  I added a large pink satin ribbon bow to the edge of the nest to finish this card.

I have a good start now on crafting Easter cards.  There are sooo many great products to use from the Spring 2020 Collection!!!  What have you been doing with the new glitter papers and glitter glues?  Post your creations in this month's challenge!

Happy Crafting!

 

 

Twiggy Nest 94424

Small Clutch of Eggs 94456

Matinee Rectangle Layers 94438

Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad GP1003

Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad GP1001

Key Lime Dots 77898

Little Bunny Trio 94455

Cottage Meadow PP1003

 

Adriana Pop Up Easel Set, Little Bunny Trio and Half a Dozen Eggs by Jean Okimoto

The Little Bunny Trio, Adriana Pop Up Easel Set and a Cottage Meadow 6x6 print create an Easter scene in bright spring pastels.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another pop up easel  design - using the new Adriana Set in its original vertical, delicately diecut format.

Cut the detailed botanical layer and its solid background from medium green cardstock.  Cut the larger card base from  slightly darker green cardstock.  Fold the little tab backwards and attach a strip of Scor-Tape to the top of the tab.  Attach the lighter green layers to the tab.

Cut the 2" tall egg - from the Half a Dozen Eggs set - from the pink floral Cottage Meadow 6x6.  Cut Little Bunny Trio from the white Delicate Pastel Glitter 6x6.  Cut the trio again from watercolor paper.  Attach the watercolor paper bunnies behind the glittered bunnies for dimension.

Prep the inside of the card with the embossing powder tool.  Stamp the greeting - from the Big and Little Spring Clear Stamps Set - with VersaMark.  Emboss it with Iridescent Opaque Mboss Powder from Imagine Crafts.

The Adriana set includes dies to cut decorative "stoppers" to keep the cards standing vertically instead of flopping down.  Cut two of the smallest stopper, layer them for dimension and attach them inside the card.

Hope you'll experiment with different ways of using the versatile Adriana Pop Up Easel Set - with a large flower or heart,  butterflies, a simple greeting or quote.  It could also frame a a photo or display a small calendar.  

Big thanks to everyone from last Saturday's SIMPLY ASIAN class at Impress!  Hope you liked the origami fish and the contemporary cards we created.  Special thanks to Jenny for her tasty popcorn assortment - and for thoughtfully providing individual bowls for everyone!   Thanks too - Ann, Erin and Lynne - for helping us fill those shopping baskets again!

No classes for me this week...I'll see everyone again at the SPRING THINGS class on March 28th. 

Thanks for visiting...see you again on Saturday

 

Supplies

 

30072 Half a Dozen Eggs

PP1003 Cottage Meadow 6x6 pack

CL5254 Big and Little Spring clear stamp set

2366 Adriana Pop Up Easel Set

GP1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

94455 Little Bunny Trio

Greetings by Donna Sledzik

Hello everyone!  Today I have a card for you which features many new products from the 2020 Memory Box Spring release.  

To make this card I die cut the Willowbend Collage frame, the Bramble Collage frame and the Cherry Wreath from white cardstock. I cut the wreath in half and colored the flowers and leaves with Distress Oxide inks. 

For the background behind the trees, I used a sheet of paper from the Springtime Bouquet 6x6 pad.  I sponged the paper with Wilted Violet Distress Ink and spattered the paper with gold and white ink.  Once the paper was dry I used foam tape to adhere the Willowbend die cut to the background.  I then used foam tape to glue the Bramble die cut on top of it. 

I used felt to die cut the bunny from the Bunny Egg Collage die and glued it to the background.

I glued the flowers to the bottom of the card and added pearls to the flower centers.

Next I stamped the sentiment on a strip of cardstock that I had inked with Worn Lipstick Distress oxide ink. I used foam adhesive to glue that to my card front.

To finish the card, I adhered the card front to a pink cardstock mat and glued it to a white card base.

I hope you enjoyed today's card and thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

Supplies

 

PP1006 Springtime Bouquet 6x6 pack

94445 Bunny Egg Collage craft die

94450 Willowbend Collage craft die

94443 Bramble Collage craft die

94429 Cherry Blossom Wreath craft die

CL5256 Cherry Blossom Wreath clear stamp and die set