Happy New Year! We appreciate your support, creativity and inspiration throughout 2023. We're here to share more ideas, techniques and designs in 2024!
Send warm winter hugs with a friendly brown bear on a background of Vintage Tray diecuts. Add a sparkly heart from Poppystamps. Hi, Jean here with an early Valentine design - or a friendship card for someone who deserves a special hug.
We're using extra Vintage Tray 3D Embossing Folder and Die Set offcuts from previous projects. They're cut from the Poinsettia Plaid and Poinsettia Garland 6x6 packs.
Cut pale pink cardstock with the large rectangle section of the Vintage Tray die. Spritz both sides of the rectangle with a light mist of water. Place it in the matching section of the 3D embossing folder and run it through your machine using the required plate(s) to add a woodgrain plank texture.
Attach adhesive label paper or a sticker sheet to brown wool-blend felt and cut the base of the Layered Polar Bear. It stabilizes the felt and keeps adhesives from saturating it. Cut the other pieces from kraft cardstock. Attach a scrap of black cardstock behind the eye and nose cutouts.
Cut the heart - from the Poppystamps Heart Jumble - from the pink Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad 6x6. Attach it to the bear - use foam tape on the right edge.
Glue two layers of white cardstock together and cut the Hugs Daily Script background. Pressure-emboss it with the detailed overlay die using the rubber embossing mat and plate(s) required. Cut pink cardstock with the detailed die - leave the little ovals for the "g" in the die until you're ready to attach them (they tend to get lost). You'll have an extra set of pink letters - save it for another project.
Attach the diecuts to a white A6 card (4-½" x 6-¼") - use foam tape for the bear. Add gold Autumn Fairy Crystals. Cut an A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.
Thanks for visiting our blog...wishing you a year of good health, happiness and creativity!
Accent the details of the Magolia Blooms 3D Embossing Folder and Cutting Dies Set with pressure- and heat-embossing for extra dimension and glossy highlights. Hi, Jean here with a double-embossed design from our Magnolia Collection.
Diecut heavy white cardstock with the 3.75" x 5" A2 Rectangle Frames die. Spray both sides of the rectangle with a light mist of water - give each side 2 quick spritzes from about 12" away. Pressure-emboss it with the Magnolia Blooms folder - slightly offset so the layered diecut blossom will extend beyond the right edge. Attach it to a top-folded 5.5" square white card.
Glue two pieces of pale pink cardstock together for extra thickness. Cut it with the large matching die from the embossing folder set. Press VersaMark ink onto the blossom on the embossing folder - use a light tapping motion. Place the diecut in the folder and pressure-emboss it using the plates and/or mats required for your machine.
Use a cottom swab to daub the blossom's center with mustard-yellow ink. Impress' Harvest Fresh Ink was used here. Heat-emboss the entire blossom to highlight the texture and add a glossy finish.
Glue two pieces of light mint green cardstock together for dimension and diecut Tilted Thanks.
Cut the loose leaves - at the bottom of the Magnolia Leaf Branch - from light mint green cardstock. Attach the leaves behind the blossom, then attach the blossom + leaves to the background.
Attach the greeting - use a sliver of foam tape behind letter "t." Autumn Fairy Crystals. Cut a 5.5 square of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing. Square cards require extra postage and special handling.
The Magnolia Blooms 3D Embossing Folder and Cutting Dies set includes two blossom dies to create a variety of designs. Use the versatile dies to cut stencils too - for quick and easy cards on a busy day.
Thanks for visiting - see you on Friday...
Supplies
ef1036 Magnolia Blooms 3D Embossing Folder and Cutting Dies
A deconstructed Plush Narrow Succulent becomes a felt flower on a spring card here...just another outside-the-box way to use one of the popular die sets from the Plush Collection. The Lavender Folia Handmade Paper from Birch Press Design creates a leafy background to match a trio of Little Dragonflies.
Hi, Jean Okimoto here combining an assortment of different textures and materials with one great feature in common - they all cut perfectly with Memory Box dies! Handmade screenprinted papers, wool-blend felt and glittered cardstock are beautiful additions to any project - but can be challenging to cut with scissors, paper trimmers, punches and rotary cutters. Cutting them with dies from Memory Box, Poppystamps and Birch Press Design makes it quick and easy, with perfect results.
Cut the Folia leafprint with the 2-½" x 3-¾" Rectangle Basics die.
Cut the Plush Narrow Succulent petals and centers from purple felt.
Layer the individual petals and glue them in pairs. Attach them around a 1-½" circle of scrap cardboard. It's easier to work with them that way - and you can rotate the entire flower to find the perfect spot for them when assembling the card. Attach the two center layers and a glittered hexagon.
Stamp the greeting - from the Time to Celebrate Clear Stamp Set - on a side-folded 5-½" square gray card with Wilted Violet Distress Oxide. Purple Delight VersaFine Clair would be a great ink for this too if you can find it. I've ordered one from Impress and look forward to using it here and in classes.
Attach the diecuts to the card...that's it! Square cards and multiple layers require extra postage - but I hope you'll agree that this card is worth the effort, and a few extra cents.
Thanks a bunch for visiting - join us for Sharon's great design tomorrow.
Bamboo Poles, Little Dragonflies - and a Snow Bunny transformed into a panda? Why not? Hi, happy weekend, Jean Okimoto here with another outside-the-box idea for you today.
That required a bit of imagination - but the pieces were repurposed into a friendly little pup. Today's panda was more challenging (those eyes!) - the Clutch of Eggs die and a screw punch were perfect for that sweet, droopy expression.
Attach adhesive label paper or a sticker sheet to white felt. The paper backing stabilizes the felt and keeps adhesives from saturating it. Cut the face, muzzle, midsection and two noses (for the paws) from the felt.
Cut two 1" circles of black cardstock with the Circle Basics die for the ears. Cut the body section, nose and paws from black cardstock.
Cut two big eggs from the Clutch of Eggs set from black cardstock. Punch eye circles with a screw punch.
Assemble the panda. Smile. Trim it to about 3-⅜" tall.
Attach the diecuts to a 5-½" square card of textured green cardstock.
Hope you enjoyed creating a panda - and finding more ways to use your Memory Box dies! Pandas are my second-favorite animal, after dogs. We have two cocker spaniels - but no pandas.
Enjoy the long weekend if you have a holiday on Presidents Day. If you're in the Seattle area and need a few birthday card ideas - join us for another CAKES, CANDLES AND BIRTHDAY WISHES class at Impress on February 19th. Six colorful cards that may seem complicated - but are super-easy and quick.
I am sharing our brand new Deep Edge dies with you today - a specialty collection of dies that are capable of cutting deeper, and into thicker materials, than ordinary paper dies.
They can certainly be used on paper - and I created a bunch of fun cards in the video with regular cardstock - but they can also cut through thin wood, thin metal and multiple layers of fabric. They are ideal for applique projects - you can line up the die exactly where you want on the fabric, which eliminates waste - and since they can cut up to 6 layers of fabric at once they are a real timesaver!
These dies are sturdier and stronger than regular paper dies - they are made from carbon hardened steel that stays sharper longer and can cut through a surprising number of mixed media materials.
If you use them on cardstock, they work like normal dies - but if you are trying to use them on thicker materials, I recommend the following sandwich:
Note that the die will be cutting face down into the metal adaptor plate - these dies really cut well, so if you are running thicker material through your machine, you'll want to cut into the metal plate (this won't hurt the Deep Edge die). The metal plate will get pretty dented - so reserve a metal plate just for Deep Edge dies. Again, this is only if you are cutting material besides cardstock!
Now lets create something! The video will show you the step by step for these projects - I love assembling these types of dies, it is like putting together a puzzle.
This fun little guy is the 30099 Wonderland Snowman and he couldn't be more fun to assemble. This is a terrific way to use up all those little scraps of patterned paper that you couldn't throw away - I used pieces of patterned paper for the hat, arms, scarf and even the nose -and used plain old solid cardstock for the nose and eyes.
You can play around with how things are positioned - the arms could be holding something (or cheering!) - get everything in place and then glue it down. Once you;ve done your first card, you can use that as a template to make more.
Cutting fabric is a breeze with these dies - and in the video I show you how to iron some Heat n Bond onto the fabric and then cut things out. I cut out 3 pieces at once (technically, the fabric is ironed onto the Heat and Bond, so I am cutting 6 layers at once).
The Heat and Bond is an "adhesive" - you iron it onto the back of the fabric, die cut your shape, then iron the shape onto your project. You can stitch around the edges or leave it unstitched - the Heat and Bond helps give the fabric a clean cut and stiffens the fabric for die cutting.
I am using fabric from Joanna Figueroa - she is a terrific quilting fabric designer who makes the most amazing fabrics. I love the color relationships in her designs - so timeless and happy. She even let us use her fabric design on our Deep Edge die packaging!
Here's a onesie that I made using the 30105 Cheering Snowman - I just bought a pack on onesies from Target and was able to cut and iron the pieces onto 6 of these in less than an hour. Now I am ready for gift giving!
I couldn't resist creating a snow globe as part of the collection! The 30108 Enchanting Snowglobe is a great base design for using in lots of different ways - the pieces can be layered and combined to create little forests surrounding a cabin or can be used with other dies to create charming scenes.
I love how the 99784 Warm Christmas Wishes looks like curls of smoke coming out of the chimney - position it so that the bottom is close to the chimney and attach it an angle.
One tip is to cut everything out first and then assemble - that way you have everything on hand and ready to go, and it is easier to keep track of where things are to be placed.
I tried him in a different color scheme here - with some more muted colors, since it was a winter themed card. (Tip - leave off the hat and he looks ready for springtime!)
Now the 30098 Arctic Penguin is really easy to mass produce. He doesn't have nearly as many pieces as the Snow Bunny - and he takes up the whole entire card, so all you need is some fun background and the card is finished!
I tried him out over and over - and I think I like the scarf a little higher on his body, making his face a little smaller. I layered the "rosy cheeks" behind the scarf on both versions, but you can see that making the scarf a little higher on the second version seems in better proportion to his body.
Here's a version with a plain background - still fun to do and even easier!
I wanted to share few more ideas from the collection - they didn't end up in the video, but I wanted to give some inspiration! This is the 30100 Snow Kitty Deep Edge die - if you are a cat lover then this large size kitty is sure to please.
This project uses three different Deep Edge dies - the 30102 Feathered Friends , the 30107 Swooping Branches & Leaves and the 30096 Wintry Snowflakes. I designed these images to all work with each other - the designs are all open and curved, so all of the elements can be combined to create fun scenes like this, whether it is on a handmade card or a mixed media or fabric project.
I use the other two bird designs from the 30102 Feathered Friends Deep Edge die and perched them on branches from the 30110 Basic Forest Branches Deep Edge die.
And how could I not create a couple of Santas?
The first one is the 30101 Jolly Old Santa Deep Edge die - his oversized design fills a card and would make a great tag, or look good on an appliqué Christmas stocking!
And here is another Santa version - his mustache is so much fun to play with and position!
The 30103 Gleeful Santa is one of the easier designs to work with - a simple design that comes together quickly to create a cute greeting card. (Tuck a gift card in the brim of his cap!)
I also thought some little houses could be used for lots of different things - so I designed the 30106 Mountain Village Houses Deep Edge die. This one can be used year round for all sorts of projects, but I have always liked creating little "villages" and neighborhoods on cards.
I used a ton of scraps here and all of the textures and color creates a lot to look at - so I kept the background neutral with a simple layer cut using the 30009 Stitched Rectangle Layers die.
I designed a second snowman - can't have too many snowmen in my opinion - and he is a winner! The 30105 Cheering Snowman Deep Edge die is so friendly and happy that you will be reaching for this one again and again.
I added a simple trim around the background using the 30090 Scalloped Stitch Fancy Frames die - for a delicate touch.
I couldn't forget a reindeer! Here's the 30109 Decorated Deer deep edge craft die - ready for you to wrap a few Christmas lights or ribbon around his antlers!
He looks terrific on the onesie here - it makes such a thoughtful and sweet gift!
And last- a mitten card (slip some cash inside for a quick gift) using the 30111 Warm Mitten die for all those helping hands you need to thank!
For more ideas - check out our Design Team blog posts for some wonderful ideas! Donna created an amazing mixed media ornament with the Snowglobe using cork board and watercolor paper Jean made a cute paper ornament with the birds, Anne sewed a mini quilted ornament, Jenny whipped up some Kitty ornaments, and Laura crafted an adorable Bunny out of felt. Enjoy!
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