Now that summer is here, I am so excited about what is happening in our garden! So far we have been able to enjoy lettuce, and spinach, as well as summer squash! But, the one vegetable I am super excited to harvest is carrots! I don't think there is anything better than a home grown carrot. Well, maybe to me! So, to show my love for this humble vitamin A-packed veggie, I bring you this card.
I love the Veggie Good set, and matching dies. I began by die stamping and then cutting out five carrots, coloring them with Copic Markers, and setting them aside. I took a panel of watercolor card stock, and created a blue washed background, and after it had dried, ran it through the Big Shot with the Pinpoint Square Layers Die.
I stamped a sentiment from the set, and then I adhered the panel to a white card base using foam. I layered, and adhered my carrots.
Did you plant a garden this year? If so, what are you looking forward to harvesting? I would love to know! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy crafting.
Greetings everyone! Have you noticed that Memory Box has a new release of of clear stamp sets with coordinating stamps? There are new fruits and veggies as well as a sweet bumblebee set that will make wonderful cards for the summer.
This week from Monday, May 30th- Friday, June 3rd, the Memory Box Design Team will be showing you ideas for using the new products. There will be lots of inspiration and even chances to win prizes!
To get the week started, I am going to share a couple of cards using the new Easy Peasy set.
For the card above, I die cut the Botanical Stem die and then cut it into pieces to thread through the lattice of the Zimmer Oval Background. The Oval Background reminded me of lattice from the garden, so I thought it would be a nice backdrop for the peas. For the peas, I stamped them with Black Tuxedo Memento ink and then colored them with various Copic Markers (YG25, G24, G19, and G28)
Here is a close up of the peas:
For the second card, I used the same stem die as well as the same pea stamp set:
For the background "paper," I used the Memory Box Peony Blossoms stencil and placed it onto light yellow cardstock. I then sponged the stencil with a Versamark ink pad over then entire surface. I removed the stencil and then sponged the surface with blue and green PanPastel chalks. Here is a close up of the peas and stencil with chalk:
Now for the fun part... would you like to win one of the new release stamp sets? Leave a comment on any of the designer posts this week for your chance to win. The more designer posts you comment on during the week, the more chances you will have to win! On Saturday, June 4th, we will draw five random winners from the comments to win the new stamp set of their choice. Good luck!
Donna will be posting another idea later today, so be sure to check back!
Half a Dozen Eggs topped with felt Sketch Bunny Backgrounds - what could be easier for quick Easter basket fillers? Or maybe placecards for a special brunch or dinner! Hi there, Jean Okimoto here with a last-minute idea for those who celebrate Easter. Easter is my favorite holiday - I love the pretty colors, and it's also a candy-holiday. Two key factors when selecting a favorite holiday.
Today's project was inspired by Jenny's great card in jellybean colors. A craving for dark chocolate was also an incentive.
Attach adhesive label or sticker paper to felt and diecut Sketch Bunny. The paper stabilizes the felt and keeps liquid adhesives from soaking thru. Set them aside - don't forget to save the poufy little tails too!
Score 3"x 8.25" pieces of Memory Box Signature Patterns at 4-⅛", 4-¼" and 4-⅜". Fold it on the 4-¼" scoreline. Place the folded edge about ¼" above the bottom cutting edge of the egg die. Cut the folded eggs. Crease them along the other two scored lines.
Signature Patterns are perfect for diecutting, backgrounds and party favors. Used here are - Mango Distressed Dots, Key Lime Dots, Pool Dots, Squash Gingham, Bubblegum Distressed Dots and Key Lime Distressed Dots.
Attach the felt bunnies and their sweet little tails in colorful combinations for a bright pop of spring color. You could also add some optional diecut felt flowers, leaves and names or initials - but hey, it's already Easter eve!
Fold the wider edge of the wrapper behind, then attach a Peppermint Patty egg with doublestick tape. Punch a hole through the tops. I used a vintage (1990's !!) handheld oval punch - but a ¼" circle works just fine. Yes, it would be easier to punch the holes first...smile!
Tie the tops with tulle - 10-11" strips of 6" wide tulle make it easy. Fold the ends into lengthwise layers and trim them in a deep, narrow "V-shape."
Thanks for stopping by on this busy spring weekend...see you again next week!
A chocolate Springtime Bunny stops by with an Easter wish and a watercolored egg today. Hi, Jean Okimoto here, with another spring design and some quick tips too. We've moved so quickly thru our January release...Easter is less than three weeks away!
Stamp Blooming Sketch Border on the smoother side of watercolor paper with Memento Luxe Espresso Truffle. Emboss it with detail clear powder. Cut it with the 2.5" tall egg from the Half a Dozen Eggs set, then paint it with Peerless Watercolors.
Cut Pasture Grass from green cardstock. Paint scraps of watercolor paper with pink, yellow and violet - then cut little eggs using the die from the Springtime Bunnies Set. Attach the eggs (big and little) behind the grass. That's a lot easier than gluing the grass to the card, then trying to glue the eggs behind the grass.
Prep a scrap of cardstock from a Mocha Notecard with the embossing powder tool. Stamp the bunny with VersaMark and emboss it with detail white powder. Cut it with the matching die from the Springtime Bunnies Die Set.
Stamp the greeting on natural cardstock with Electric Purple Radiant Neon and emboss it with detail clear powder. It really is purple, but the embossing turned it into a pretty pink. Cut it with the smallest Pinpoint Rectangle Layer - then trim the excess cardstock with the inner edge of a larger rectangle.
Attach everything to a side-folded A-2 card of textured natural cardstock- use foam dots for the bunny. Add small iridescent sequins.
Here's an easy way to organize, store and use Peerless Watercolors . Find them at Birch Press Design - a cool, upscale online collection of beautifully functional products for dining, decorating, crafting and gift-giving. It's owned by Dave and Monica Brethauer, owners of Memory Box and Poppystamps. Their great design aesthetic is reflected at Birch Press too!
Use plastic divider boxes for storage, and as palettes - be sure they're sealed between each section so the colors won't flow into each other. Print the names on return address labels and attach them to a rectangle of watercolor paper that's divided into sections.
Place little blocks of the colors in each section and add a drop or two of water when you're ready to paint. You won't waste a bit of it - whatever you don't use with stays right there in its own section. Let it dry, and it'll be ready for your next project!
These containers come in different sizes and configurations. I use several of them because mine have 11 sections - I would have picked something larger - but I used what I had. If I had waited till I found the "perfect" containers, I would have forgotten what I had planned to do with them!
I'm not usually a super-organized label-er, but this really does save time - and it's handy for on-the-go projects too.
Special thanks to everyone from last week's Springtime Greetings and Birthday Wishes classes at Impress! Hope you liked the projects - and those yummy spring colors. See you again at the Asia Now class on Saturday the 12th for some contemporary Asian designs using silkscreened papers, dies and easy origami. "Easy" and "origami" are rarely used together - but it'll be easy...promise!
Keeping cool has been quite a challenge this summer - so let's make it into a card with the Brilliant Border Dies. Jean Okimoto here, with the instructions for my Memory Box Challenge inspiration card.
Daub Sunflower Yellow onto white cardstock and cut Brilliant Circle Border Background. Mask off a portion of white cardstock and daub it with Sunflower Yellow. Cut it with the Coffee on the Go die for a cool glass of fresh lemonade.
Please visit our Ideas Gallery for detailed instructions and supply lists.
We've added a Memory Box Look Book class to the Impress summer schedule! Here's a peek at some of the 8 July Look Book cards featured in the new COLOR, CREATE + ENJOY Class in Tukwila on August 23rd. Call the store - 206 901.9101 - to reserve your seat. See you there!
Thanks for visiting - join us again tomorrow for a great card that Shelby's designed for you.
It's time for some cake and a party time celebration! Thanks for stopping by - Jean Okimoto here this evening.
Don't save the new Stitched Happy Holiday Square Frame for winter cards...use it for celebrations throughout the year. The "holiday" portion of the die is separate and interchangeable so you can mix and match typestyles, backgrounds and colors. I've combined it with the "birthday" from the Open Studio Party Clear Set.
Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid and Sunflower Yellow Inkpads
Memento Morocco Pigment Inkpad
Daubers
Please visit our Ideas Gallery for detailed directions and supply lists for today's birthday card - and more.
Have you shopped at Dave and Monica Brethauer's Birch Press Design store recently? It's an online collection of beautiful, classic must-haves for your home, gifting and entertaining. View the new collection there - then return to the "Birch Press and Another Prize" post on Outside the Box and tell us what your favorite new item is. You'll be entered in a drawing for a small flame rolling pin - perfect for summer tarts! View the details here. Hurry... the entry deadline is 11:59 PM EST on July 26th.
Have a great weekend - see you again on Wednesday!
We just had a small, mini-release, and I was inspired to make a picnic basket with our new fruit dies. I supplemented with some of earlier dies and punches to add a bottle of wine and some glasses, a "cheese", a loaf of bread, and some flowers.
S U P P L I E S
Memory Box dies (Mixed Fruit, Bountiful Basket, Dancing Tulips, Witch Kit, Petite Cake, Party Glasses, Asti Butterfly Wings) patterned paper and cardstock; Distress inks, (Ranger)
T I P S
Use your dies to represent something they aren't. I used the edge of a butterfly wing to be the loaf of French bread, the cake to make a container of something tasty, (it was originally supposed to be a cheese - lol), and the bottle from Witch Kit to act as a wine bottle.
Whoohoo the weekend is almost here, and I'm definitely looking forward to the 75 degrees and sunny forecast for Saturday!! With Mother's Day and Father's Day just around the corner, I wanted to do something a little bit different for today's post and show a wonderful way to use stencils to make a great gift set.
I created a set of coasters for my Dad for Father's Day though of course Moms drink tea and coffee as well:)
I've used the fabulous stencil called Rings and Puddles 88506. As soon as I saw this stencil all I could think of is that it looks just like the coffee rings and spots on the "good furniture" (as my mother would say) that my dad created with his coffee cups! I wanted to give him a reminder of the good ol days:)
I picked up the 4x4" unglazed tiles from Lowe's (you can find them at Home Depot too)...they may be referred to as natural stone tiles depending on the store. I washed the tiles with warm water and soap just to get the extra dust off so the ink would take better to the tile. I used a rag and added copic refill (Y28) to the rag and rubbed it on the tile to give the tile a little darker color.
I prefer using tiles that aren't completely smooth to add a little more character and texture, and it looks a little more natural and worn as well.
Spray the backside of the stencil with a temporary adhesive as the stencil will tend to slip since the tile is not flush with the table top like paper. I've found Stazon ink is the best ink when I work on tile because it dries quickly and is permanent. I applied the ink using a blending tool and foam pad. I stamped out different portions of the stencil varying the patterns on each of the tiles so each had a slightly different unique look.
I cut a 3.75 x 3.75" piece of self adhesive cork and apply to the back of the tile. I used a corner rounder prior to applying the cork, but that's my own personal preference. The last step is to apply several coats of acrylic sealer letting the tiles completely dry before applying each coat.
I hope I've inspired you to a little bit today! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and can find some time to do what they enjoy.
Hi, Jean Okimoto here, with a birthday card featuring the new Grand Happy Birthday Die. I love how big it is...perfect for aging eyes like mine! The 2014 Creative Elegance Collection includes great Valentine and all-occasion dies and Dave's new line of Designer Stencils.
Diecut Grand Happy Birthday, trim it and attach it to the card. Diecut and assemble the cakes and cake plates. Attach them to the card with foam dots. Attach Scor-Tape to a scrap of Cherry Blossom Cardstock and brush Cotton Candy Glitter onto the adhesive. Diecut Hearts and Stars from the glittered cardstock. Attach the stars to the card - use foam dots for the medium and large stars.
Special thanks to everyone who took last weekend's Memory Box classes at the Tukwila Impress. It's always fun to play with the latest, greatest Memory Box products...and last Saturday was no exception!
Christmas came - and went - so quickly that it's already time for a New Year card! Jean Okimoto here today, using several of my favorite Memory Box Dies.
The week between the holidays is a busy one, so it's a very simple card - just stamp the background, and diecut the pieces. Cut a stencil of Party Glasses from the plain stencil sheets, then stencil them with Turquoise and emboss them with the sparkly Opalescent Clear Powder. Assemble the card - and that's it!
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