Faux Christmas Tree by Jean Okimoto

Narrow Woodgrain Planks and a pine print from the Yuletide Cheer 6x6 create a contemporary Christmas tree - like a DIY recycled pallet tree from a holiday magazine.  Add a bright red Sunlight Sparrow and a Merry Christmas Swirl greeting.  Hi, Jean here with a just-in-time design.

 Cut the Yuletide Cheer pine print with the Narrow Woodgrain Planks die.  Tape the backside of the longest plank so the finely-textured woodgrain pattern stays intact  Cut a 5/8" piece for the top of the tree.  

Daub Pinecone VersaFine Clair ink on a strip of Kraft Woodgrain Paper.  Cut a strip about 1/4" x 4-1/2".  It's longer than necessary - it'll be trimmed after the tree is assembled.

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to bright red wool-blend felt to stabilize the felt and prevent adhesives from saturating it.  Cut the bird base and head layer.  Cut the beak section from a scrap of black cardstock.  Cut the wing from the red Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  

Cut the solid Merry Christmas Swirl background from white cardstock and a dark yellowish/green 6x6 in the Greenery Collection.  Cut the white layer with the set's detailed die.  Assemble the greeting.

Attach the diecuts to a white A6 card (4-1/2" x 6-1/4").  Add red Christmas Fairy Dewdrops.  Cut an A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Hope you've liked the holiday projects we've designed for you - and that we've inspired you to create unique cards for everyone on your list.  

Thanks for visiting our blog - see you on Friday...

Supplies

 

94837 Sunlight Sparrow

94803 Merry Christmas Swirl

94823 Narrow Woodgrain Planks

pp1032 Yuletide Cheer 6x6 pack

ddp101 Christmas Fairy Dewdrops

fp1003

sp1011 Leafy 6x6 pack

sh44003 Kraft Woodgrain Paper Pack

Friendly Bird and Drifting Snowflakes by Jean Okimoto

Drifting Snowflakes - placed vertically - create a frosty background for a plush Friendly Bird.  Hi, Jean here with a simple winter design made even easier with an instant greeting using a foiled Christmas Labels Greeting Tab.

Cut the Drifting Snowflakes background from a white 6x6 Majestic Hues Glitter Pad sheet.  Cut the detailed snowflakes from white cardstock.

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to bright red wool-blend felt.  The paper backing stabilizes the felt and prevents adhesives from saturating it.  Cut Friendly Bird's base, tail and overlay from the felt.  Cut the feathers and top of the head from the Cranberry 8.5 x 11" cardstock.  Cut the beak section from a orange/yellow 6x6 in the Sunrise Collection - then color the eye section with a black marker.

Glue two layers of white cardstock together for dimension and cut it with the 2.5 x 3.75" Rectangle Basics die.

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded white A2 card - use foam tape Friendly Bird's tail.  

A tip for storing the foiled greeting tabs - attach a piece of removable tape or washi tape behind the tabs to keep them in place.  Not a major discovery,  just sharing an easy way to keep things organized!

Attach a Christmas Labels greeting tab - use foam tape for the left edge.  Add red Christmas Fairy Dewdrops.  Cut an A2-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Thanks for visiting our blog...keep warm and have a great weekend!

Supplies

 

94841 Friendly Bird

94816 Drifting Snowflakes

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

st022 Christmas Labels Foil Greetings White Tabs

sh44014 Cranberry Paper Pack

gp1008 Majestic Hues Glitter Pad

sp1013 Sunrise 6x6 pack

ddp101 Christmas Fairy Dewdrops

Snowflakes and Stitches by Jean Okimoto

Celebrate the season with double-embossing, felt, simple stitches and glistening snowflakes.  We're using the other half of the Winter Knit 3D Embossing Folder design from my December 3rd post.

Cut a piece of Cherry Red 8-1/2" x 11" cardstock to fit into the Winter Knit 3D Embossing Folder.  Spritz both sides of the cardstock with a light mist of water, place it in the folder and run it through a diecut machine using the plates required for your machine.  Gently dry it with a heat-tool if it's still damp.

Tap a clean, well-inked VersaMark inpad over the embossed design.  Just tap, don't squish it.  I usually ink both sides of the embossed design and chose the side that highlights more details.  Cover the inked design(s) with detail clear powder.  Tap off the excess and heat-emboss it.  Turn the heat-tool off 2 or 3 times while embossing so it won't overheat.

Cut the cooled, embossed design with the new Stitchable Stocking die.  

Cut a 1/2" x2" strip of white wool-blend felt for the stocking loop.  Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to the felt.  Cut the toe and cuff sections.  Align the cuff and toe with the stitching dots on the stocking and stitch it with white embroidery floss or crochet thread. Attach the felt loop.

Cut two sets Cherry Red cardstock buttons.  Layer them for dimension and stitch them with thread or floss.  Glue them to the cuff.

Cut the light Kraft cardstock with the 3-1/2" wide Nested Globes die.  Cut Alpine Snowflakes from a white Delicate Pastels Glitter Pad 6x6.  Attach the diecuts to a light Kraft card (4-1/2" x 6-1/4".  Add red Christmas Fairy Crystals.  Add a greeting banner from the Merry and Bright White Foil Banners - attach the right side with foam tape.  Cut a A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend!

 

 

Supplies

 

94825 Stitchable Stocking

ef1044 Winter Knit 3D Embossing Folder

94532 Nested Globes

94680 Alpine Snowflakes

sh44015 Cherry Red Paper Pack

cry102 Christmas Fairy Crystals

gp1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

st016 Merry and Bright Foil Banners White Tabs

94824 Stitchable Mitten

Merry and Bright Stitchable Mitten by Jean Okimoto

A double-embossed Stitchable Mitten from the Winter Days Collection is very merry, and very bright.  Vertical placement of the Winter Knit 3D Embossing Folder design elongates the mitten - like me hoping that vertical stripes would help me look tall and slim.  Wishful thinking!  

Hi, Jean here with a bit of inspiration for December's Ravishing in Red Challenge.  It's simply stitched in two colors - just enough to add texture and live up to the name of the great die set.

Using the pattern vertically also lets you cut the Stitchable Stocking for another project.

Cut a piece of Cherry Red Cardstock to fit into the Winter Knit 3D Embossing Folder.  Tap a clean, well-inked VersaMark inkpad repeatedly over the design.  Don't squish it into the design, just tap it.  I inked both  halves of the folder to chose between the  heat-embossed results.  Spritz both sides of Cherry Red Cardstock with a light mist of water to soften it and prevent cracking.  Place it in the inked folder and run it through your diecut machine using the plates required for embossing folders.

If the cardstock is still slightly damp - gently dry it with a heat-tool.  Sprinkle both VersaMarked designs with detail clear powder, tap off the excess, then heat-emboss each side.  Stop and let the heat-tool cool down two or three times to prevent overheating.

Prep the Stitchable dies by rubbing them briskly with scrunbched waxed paper to help release the little dots.  Select the embossed pattern for your card and cut it with the Stitchable Mitten die.  

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to wool-blend white felt to stabilize the felt and prevent adhesives from saturating it.  Cut the mitten cuff.  Stitch the top row of the cuff with white crochet thread.  Align the cuff with the holes on the mitten, then stitch the remainder of the cuff.

Stitch the rest of the mitten with red crochet thread.

Cut  the flowers from the set twice from Cherry Red Cardstock.  Cut the centers twice from a light green Leafy Collection 6x6.  Cut the leaves from a medium green Leafy Collectiobn 6x6. Save the extra pieces for another project.

Cut light Kraft cardstock with the 3-1/2" wide Wrapped Stitched Rectangles die.

Attach the diecuts to a light Kraft A6 card - 4-1/2" x 6-1/4".  Attach a Merry and Bright Foil Banners Black Tab - use foam tape for the left end.  Add red Christmas Fairy Dewdrops.  Cut an A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

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

Supplies

 

94824 Stitchable Mitten

ef1044 Winter Knit 3D Embossing Folder

sp1011 Leafy 6x6 pack

sh44015 Cherry Red Paper Pack

st017 Merry and Bright Foil Banners Black Tabs

30094 Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

ddp101 Christmas Fairy Dewdrops

Holiday Greetings from a Sweet Bird by Jean Okimoto

Deliver holiday greetings with the new Sweet Bird on a sparkly double-embossed snowflake background.  Hi, Jean here - cyclone has passed - just working around flickering power, weak WIFI  and non-loading photos.  We have a generator but it doesn't guarantee WIFI or post photos!

Used the Snowflake Hot Foil Plate to pressure-emboss heavy white cardstock.  Spritz both sides of the cardstock with a light mist of water and wait a few seconds for it to be absorbed.  Pressure-emboss the cardstock with the plates and rubber mat required for your machine,  Hot foil plates are are thicker and less pliable than other embossing products.  Don't force it through your machine if it seems to be struggling.  We don't want to damage the plates, the machine or your arm!

If the embossed cardstock is still damp, gently dry it with a heat-tool.  Place it (detaled-side-up) on a hard, flat surface and use a hard rubber brayer to apply VersaMark from a clean, well-inked pad.  Cover it with clear, ultra-fine iridescent embossing powder, tap the excess off and heat-emboss it.  Let it cool, then cut it with the die from the Vintage  Tray 3D Embossing Folder and Cutting Die set.  

The blackout embossing/inking technique is popular right now.  Let's call this the whiteout technique!

Use four of the five tray offcuts for the background.  Cut the mid-sized Alpine Snowflake from the 1-3/4" x 1-1/2" block - it doesn't matter if you cut into the snowflake patternn - we just want  a glittery white snowflake diecut to layer behind the bird. 

Cut the turquoise Rainbow Reflections 6x6 with the Vintage Tray's narrow rectangle.

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to  turquoise wool-blend felt to stabilize it and keep adhesives from saturating it.  Cut Sweet Bird's tail and main section from the felt.  Cut the 2 wing sections from the Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  Cut the head and chest sections from an aqua 6x6 in the Lagoon Collection.  Cut the small beak/face section from a light orange 6x6 in the Sunrise Collection.  Color the eye area with a black marker.  Assemble the bird.

Attach the diecuts to a white A6 card (4-1/2" x 6-1/4") - use foam tape for Sweet Bird.  Add a greeting from the new white Merry and Bright Foil Banners set.  Add red Christmas Fairy Dewdrops.  Cut an a A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Thanks for visiting!  Have a Happy Thanksgiving if you're celebrating tomorrow!

 

 

Supplies

 

94815 Sweet Bird

94680 Alpine Snowflakes

EF1040 Vintage Tray 3D Embossing Folder and Die

MBF015 Snowflake Hot Foil Plate

ST016 Merry and Bright Foil Banners White Tabs

sp1010 Lagoon 6x6 pack

sp1013 Sunrise 6x6 pack

ddp101 Christmas Fairy Dewdrops

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

Winter Geese Greetings by Jean Okimoto

New Happy Goose (on the left) and Bundled Up Goose send Christmas greetings!  The scattered tree background is from the new Nutmeg Forest 6x6 set of fall and winter prints.  Hi, Jean here with another layered felt design featuring our holiday collections.

Attach adhesive label paper to white, bright red and turquoise wool-blend felt.  The paper backing stabilizes the felt and keeps adhesives from saturating it.  Cut Bundled Up Goose and Happy Goose.  Cut the beak and feet sections from an orange 6x6 in the Sunrise Collection.  Color the eye areas with a black marker.  Attach the beak diecuts behind their heads.  

Cut the hats from the red and turquoise wool-blend felt.  Bundled Up Goose's hat has a pouf too - but it's just a simple pouf-less stocking cap here.

Cut Bundled Up Goose's wings from pale gray cardstock.  Ink it with a light layer of Morning Mist VersaFine Clair to highlight the details.

Cut the scarves from the Bundled Up Goose set from red and turquoise Rainbow Reflections Mirror Cardstock 6x6's.  Cut the turquoise 6x6 with the 1-¼" Circle Basics die.  Layer it behind a Merry Christmas Foil Greetings White Circle Tab for dimension and contrast.

Cut the Christmas tree print from the Nutmeg Forest 6x6 set with the 3-¼" x 4-½" Rectangle Basics die.

Attach the diecuts to a natural A6 card (4-½" x 6-¼") - use foam tape for the top of the hats and the ends of the scarves.  Cut an A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

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

 

 

Supplies

 

94829

94828

pp1034

st012

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

30087

sp1013

cry102

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

Green Birds and a Brown Bear by Jean Okimoto

 

Send fall greetings with the Layered Polar Bear - now appearing as a friendly brown bear in soft felt.  He's sitting on the new Snowy Log - before the snow - and three members of the new Little Bird Bunch.  Hi, Jean here wishing you a Happy Fall!

Designs from the Winter Days Collection - Snowy Log, Little Bird Bunch and the Nutmeg Forest 6x6 set - are very mix- and match-able with dies from previous holiday collections.  

Cut Snowy Log from dark brown cardstock.  Ink the short end of the larger diecut with Pinecone VersaFine Clair to create a shadowy hollowed end.   

Cut Little Bird Bunch from an olive green 6x6 in the Greenery Collection and the chartreuse Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  Color the beaks with a black marker.  Save the 2 extra birds for another project.

Cut the gold-accented Nutmeg Spice 6x6 with a portion of the 2-¼" wide Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  Trim it to 5-⅝" long.  Cut Orange Peel cardstock with a portion of the 2" wide Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.    Trim it to 4-¾" long.

Cut the large solid Layered Polar Bear from medium-brown cardstock.  Color the areas that will appear behind the facial features and ears with a black marker.  Attach an adhesive label sheet (or a sticker sheet) to brown wool-blend felt and cut the remaining pieces.  The paper stabilizes the felt and prevents adhesives from saturating it.  Cut the paws from dark brown cardstock and layer them behind the felt paws for extra dimension.

Glue 2 pieces of dark brown cardstock together.  Cut it with the solid Happy Fall Posh Script background die.  Spritz both sides with a list mist of water.  Pressure-emboss it using the rubber embossing mat and plates required for your machine.  Embossing the background makes it very easy to align and attach the detailed top layer. Cut the greeting's detailed top layer from Orange Peel Cardstock. 

Attach the diecuts to a recycled Kraft A6 card (4-½" x 6-¼").  Cut an A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Mix and match the dies and papers from different collections.  The colors, patterns and shapes are versatile and create holiday greetings for the special recipients on your list.

Thanks for visiting - see you on Friday!

 

 

Supplies

 

94821

94747

94811

94685

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

pp1034

sh44017

sp1011

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

Geese Giving Gifts by Jean Okimoto

 

Greet the holidays with gift-giving geese from our Winter Days Collection.  Hi, Jean here with a few repurposed and combined designs from our holiday and classic collections.  

Create a simple, contemporary Christmas tree using the Fringed Scalloped Frame Set and embroidery floss.  Turn a flower from the Stitchable Mitten set into a tree topper with a Glitzy Glitter Pad 6x6. The Classy Goose's Santa Hat becomes a cozy plaid stocking cap without the white pouf.  

Cut the 2-⅝" wide Fringed Scalloped Frame from a medium-green Greenery 6x6.  Stitch a tall triangle and a base with bright green embroidery floss.  Cut the gold Glitzy Glitter Pad 6x6 with the 6-petaled flower from the Stitchable Mitten. 

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to red and soft-white wool-blend felt.  The paper backing stabilizes the felt and prevents adhesives from saturating it.  Cut the Classy Goose and Young Goose.  Cut the Young Goose's earmuffs and scarf.

Cut the beak and feet pieces from a dark orange Sunrise 6x6.  Use a black marker to color eye areas.

Cut  the Classy Goose's scarf and hat from a red and gold Nutmeg Plaid 6x6.

Cut the Pretty Presents giftboxes from bright dark green 6x6s in the Greenery Collection.  Cut the bows from a Glitzy Glitter Pad 6x6.

Assemble the geese and gifts then attach everything to a natural A6 card (4-½" x 6-¼").  

Thanks for visiting our blog.  Hope our Design Team's ideas are inspiring you to create unique cards for the holidays!

 

 

Supplies

 

94826 Classy Goose

94827 Young Goose

94761 Pretty Presents

94824 Stitchable Mitten

94842 Fringed Scalloped Frame Set

PP1033 Nutmeg Plaid 6x6 pack

SP1011 Leafy 6x6 pack

sp1013 Sunrise 6x6 pack

GP1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

A New Collection…2024 Winter Days by Jean Okimoto

 

The wonderful 2024 Winter Days Collection has arrived!  Holiday icons and greeting dies,  rub on transfers, stencils, 6x6 plaids and prints, a clear stamp + die set - ready for your winter projects!  

Hi, Jean here introducing a versatile Stitchable Mitten die set  to send warm winter wishes.  The new Snowflake RubOns add a frosty holiday look with crisp, opaque details that pop against the Cherry Red Cardstock background. The Wavy Sheet Music die - from an earlier release - is a great backdrop for a Christmas carol-inspired foil greeting banner.

Use the Stitchable Mitten die to find the perfect section of snowflakes for your design.  Tape the die over the rub on transfer and cardstock and lightly trace the outline. I left about ¾" of cardstock uncovered at the bottom because it will be covered by the felt cuff. Handcut it about ¼" larger than the traced outline.  

Carefully remove the paper liner from the rub on.  Lightly tap the rub on onto the cardstock mitten.  Tape the die to the rub on and cardstock.  Cover it with printer paper and roll it through the diecut machine to transfer the snowflakes and diecut the mitten in one easy step.  (The rub on set includes a wood craft stick if you prefer to burnish the rub on after diecutting the mitten.) Carefully remove the frosty plastic liner.

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to white wool-blend felt and diecut the cuff. Stitch the top row of the cuff with white embroidery floss.  Cut the mitten set's button from Cherry Red Cardstock and stitch it to the cuff.  Stitch the rest of the cuff and the mitten.

Cut a green 6x6 from the Greenery Collection and Cherry Red Cardstock with the 3-¾" wide Rectangle Basics die.  Trim the corners with a corner rounding punch.  Spritz both sides of the green rectangle with a light mist of water.  Pressure-emboss it with the Wavy Sheet Music die using the rubber embossing mat and plates required for your machine.

 

Attach the diecuts to a light Kraft A6 card (4-½" x 6-14") - use foam tape for the top and thumb of the mitten.  Add a greeting from the new Merry and Bright White Foil Banner set.  Add red Christmas Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Thanks for visiting - see you again on Friday with more Winter Days designs!

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94824 Stitchable Mitten

st016 Merry and Bright Foil Banners White Tabs

rub105 Snowflake Rub On

sp1011 Leafy 6x6 pack

94809 Wavy Sheet Music

sh44015 Cherry Red Paper Pack

cry102 Christmas Fairy Crystals

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

 

Watchful Bird On a Branch by Jean Okimoto

Plush felt and shimmery Rainbow Reflections cardstock add bright texture to a holiday greeting from our 2024 Yuletide Collection.  Golden pine branches and Fringed Scalloped Frames create a green-on-green backdrop for a festive bird.  Hi, Jean here with a simple holiday design from our latest release.

Attach adhesive label paper or a sticker sheet to bright red wool-blend felt and cut the large bird from the new Watchful Bird set.  Cut the detailed overlay from the red Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  There's an additional head overlay diecut but we're not using that here.  Cut the backing piece for the eye and beak from Glossy Black Paper (cardstock).  Push a toothpick thru the eye cutout of the main felt diecut to enlarge the opening.  Assemble the bird - attach the black diecut behind the head.

Cut the olive green pine print -  from the Yuletide Cheer 6x6 set -  with the smallest Fringed Scalloped Frame.  Cut two shades of green from the Greenery 6x6 Collection with the next 2 larger frames.

Attach the diecuts to a green notecard.  Add clear Christmas Fairy Dewdrops.  Cut an A2-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Holiday icon prints from the Yuletide Cheer 6x6's create great backgrounds for Watchful Bird.  Coordinate them with Fringed Scalloped Frames from the Greenery, Lagoon and Blush Collections for quick and easy holiday cards.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

Supplies

 

pp1032 Yuletide Cheer 6x6 pack

94804 Watchful Bird

94842 Fringed Scalloped Frame Set

sp1011 Leafy 6x6 pack

ddp101 Christmas Fairy Dewdrops

fp1003

sh44004 Black Glossy Paper