Blue Friendly Snowman by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.  I’m sharing another monochromatic blue Christmas card today.  It features the Aurora Snowflake cling stamp, Layered Friendly Snowman die and Brilliant Joy die from the current 2023 Christmas collection.  

Created the sky using the VersaMark Resist technique.  Stamped the snowflakes background onto white glossy paper with VersaMark ink then set aside to dry (could use your heat tool to speed up the process).  A ground mask was then fussy cut from masking paper and adhered to the bottom of the panel.  Ink blended Tumbled Glass and Mermaid Lagoon distress inks (DI) next, and wiped off excess ink with a paper towel to complete the technique.  The VersaMark ink stamped image resisted the blended inks.

The snowman pieces were die cut from white cardstock.  The two back body layers were colored with C0/C2 Copic Sketch markers.  The scarf and earmuffs were ink blended with Blueprint Sketch DI using a finger blending brush.  Shaded the nose with a black Polychromos pencil.  Didn’t colour it orange in keeping with the blue monochromatic color scheme.

The JOY sentiment layers were die cut from Bristol and white glitter papers.  The letters were ombré ink blended with all three blue DIs mentioned above to tie it all together.  Die cut JOY two more times from thick white paper and stacked for dimension.  Assembled the card onto a white card base to finish.

And that does it for my card.  Thank you for joining me today.  Have a wonderful day.

Supplies

 

94746 Layered Friendly Snowman

94759 Brilliant Joy

CS2083 Aurora Snowflake Cling Stamp

GP1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

Snowy Pine Trees by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.  My monochromatic masculine Christmas card today was inspired by this card on IG made with an embossing folder.  I used the Pine Tree Grove die from the current 2023 Christmas release with the Layered Narrow Pines dies from last year’s Christmas collection for my card.

I didn’t have two gradient blue color cardstock, so all pine tree layers were die cut from white Bristol paper, ink blended with either Stormy Sky or Faded Jeans distress inks using blending brushes, then glued together.  A clean tree sample can be seen to the left of the card in the photo above.

The torn paper mask technique was used again, this time to create the snowy hills on navy blue cardstock.  Printer paper was torn to look like slopes, then white pigment ink was applied over their edges.

Next, arranged and adhered the trees onto the panel before splatteringn with diluted white gouache paint for falling snow.  Painted white gouache paint at the tree bases and on the trees for accumulated snow.  White heat embossed the sentiment on a navy blue cardstock strip to finish. 

That does it for my card.  Thank you for joining me today.  Have a wonderful week.

Supplies

 

94736 Pine Tree Grove

94706 Layered Narrow Pines

CL5285 Shining Star Clear Stamp Set

Happy Fall by Anne Thompson

We're having gorgeous weather this week in Maine--so warm that it hardly feels like fall, yet the leaves are turning colors and the evenings are cool.  I love this season!  Today I have two fall cards for you...to celebrate my favorite time of the year.

materials used

• white note cards
• plaid papers from POINSETTIA PLAID PP1023
• dark gray, medium blue, and white card stock
• silver mirror card stock from VINTAGE PASTEL MIRROR PAD FP1002
• WINTER TREE ARCH 94735
• A2 RECTANGLE FRAMES DIE SET 94672
• HAPPY FALL POSH SCRIPT 94747
• LEAF BUNCHES 94745

to make this card

• die cut the Winter Tree Arch twice, once from silver mirror paper and once from a dark gray card stock
• die cut rectangles from plaid papers using the size die from the A2 Rectangle Frames Die Set that fits neatly behind the tree arch 
• assemble those panels--plaid papers behind the Winter Tree Arches

• cut two more rectangles a bit larger from white card stock and two a bit larger than that, one from a dark gray card stock and one from a medium blue card stock

• assemble the panels--plaids behind the Winter Tree Arches get attached to those white rectangles and then to the colored rectangles and finally to the white note cards
• die cut the Happy Fall Posh Script backgrounds from scraps of the plaids used and the detailed lettering from the silver mirror card and the gray card stock; assemble and add to the base of the Winter Tree Arches on each card

 

• die cut some leaves using the Leaf Bunches die and another plaid paper

• add a large leaf bunch to each note card

Two fall cards ready to go!  I hope you are enjoying autumn wherever you are.

Happy Crafting!

Toolbox by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.  Happy Father’s Day to all the fabulous fathers / father figures celebrating today.  Since losing my dad a couple years ago, I have stopped making Father’s Day specific cards, but masculine cards are always handy to have.  I am using the Toolbox 3D embossing folder (EF) with coordinating dies from the 2023 Spring collection to create a simple masculine card good for many occasions.  

The toolbox was created from Kraft woodgrain paper.  The back base layer is 3”x1.5” and the two boards are 3”x0.75”.  Inked and shaded them with Kraft dye ink and/or Gathered Twigs distress ink.  For the handle, started with a 3”x1” piece and die cut with the smallest A2 Rectangle Frames die.  When assembling it, left a small space in between the boards.  Used a circle hole punch to punch from brown cardstock for the nails.

The tools were die cut from silver Pastel Mirror paper and various color cardstock using the coordinating EF dies.  Ran all the pieces through the die cutting machine in the EF to give them details and dimension.  I think next time instead of die cutting fromin different color cardstock, I would just die cut from white and color the necessary parts in with Copic markers.  The background panel is white woodgrain paper dry embossed with the Toolshed 3D EF.  White heat embossed the sentiment from Poppy Stamps Birthday Blowout on black cardstock, then assembled the card onto a white card base to finish.  

That does it for my card today.  Thank you for joining me.  Have a wonderful week.

Supplies

 

EF1034 Toolbox 3D Embossing Folder and Matching Dies

EF1019 Toolshed 3D Embossing Folder

94672 A2 Rectangle Frames Die Set

sh44001 White Woodgrain Paper Pack

sh44003 Kraft Woodgrain Paper Pack

FP1002 Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad

CL470 Birthday Blowout clear stamp set

Rectangle Duo Border Birthdays by Trina Pham

Hello and happy Easter!  No Easter card today.  Instead I used the Rectangle Duo Border hot foil plate two ways to create two simple birthday cards.

On this first card, the hot foil plate foiled the double line frame as it is intended using gold hot foil.

The peonies were die cut from white cardstock and colored with Shaded Lilac distress ink using a finger blending brush.  The leaves were colored with YG61, YG63 and YG67 Copic Sketch markers.  For some sparkle, spritz the peonies with a shimmer spray.

On the second card, the hot foil plate was flipped and the backside was foiled resulting in a thick solid frame.  It doesn’t foil as cleanly and it took a few tries to get this result… but it worked and is one way to stretch your hot foil plate.  😉

Kept it really simple as a masculine card and did some partial hot foiling with the Confetti Dot hot foil plate.  Heat embossed the sentiments with gold embossing powder on both cards to finish. 

No matter what I tried, I could not get another decent photo of the confetti card. 🤷🏻‍♀️   Anyway. Thank you for joining me today.  Have a wonderful day.

Supplies

 

MBF006 Rectangle Double Border Hot Foil Plate

MBF001 Confetti Dot Foil Plate

94714 Luxe Peony

CL470 Birthday Blowout clear stamp set

Freshwater Fish Stories by Jean Okimoto

Say hello to Friday with embossed, stenciled and diecut Freshwater Fish. They're from coordinating sets of a 3D embossing folder, dies and 2-layer stencils.  Hi, Jean here with a white and bright design from our spring collection - and a new pinpoint cover plate from Birch Press Design.

Spritz both sides of watercolor paper with a fine mist of water.  Emboss it with the Freshwater Fish 3D Embossing Folder.

Use a sponge, dauber or blending brush to color the fish with the Freshwater Fish Stencil Set and Distress Oxides.  Colors used here are salvaged patina, iced spruce, twisted citron, peacock feathers, broken china and shaded lilac.  Dry the inks, then diecut the fish.  Smaller accent pieces are also included in the sets.

Brayer the fish with VersaMark - use a clean, well-inked pad.  Heat-emboss them with detail clear powder for a glossy highlighted texture, like fresh-caught fish.  Add black Sharpie marker dots for the eyes.

Cut white and black cardstock with the End of My Rope die - save the ropes for another project.  Diecut the white interior offcut with the Birch Press Design Pinpoint Contour Plate.  Trim a tiny amount from the edges of the black offcut and attach it behind the white layer.  The dark backing emphasizes the pinpoint pattern - it makes a difference!

Cut a blue 6x6 from the Glitzy Glitter Pad with Hello Rush Script.  Cut watercolor paper with the die too and layer it behind the glittered greeting for extra dimension.

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded 5-½" square white card. Add turquoise Christmas Fairy Dewdrops.  Cut a 5-½" square of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.  Square cards require extra postage.

Freshwater Fish are perfect for embossing and diecutting from Memory Box mirror cardstock too. The Rainbow Reflections and Vintage Pastel 6x6 pads have a wide range of beautiful colors that capture the details of this great fish trio.  Add them to birthday, retirement and Father's Day cards for that special guy.

Thanks for visiting...have a great weekend!

Supplies

 

ef1028 Freshwater Fish 3D Embossing Folder and Matching Dies

88622 Freshwater Fish Stencil

94468 Hello Rush Script

94546 End of My Rope Set

ddp101 Christmas Fairy Dewdrops

gp1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

 

 

 

Supplies

 

57511 Pinpoint Contour Plate

Forest Path Valentine by Jean Okimoto

Designs from our holiday release are great for Valentines too!  Forest Path creates a natural setting for a Poppystamps Whittle Forest Reindeer.  Add a garland of bright red hearts and a glittery mountain stream.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a simple design for your favorite guy(s).  

Cut Forest Path from light Kraft cardstock.  Use Post-It notes to mask the areas at the base of the trees.  Sponge or brush brown ink onto the trees.

Cut the curvy stream section from a white 6x6 in the Delicate Pastels Glitter Pad.  

Cut two streamers from the Heart Streamer Globe set.

Cut the deer from the Poppystamps Whittle Forest Reindeer Kit from dark Kraft cardstock.  Cut the antlers from a scrap of brown cardstock.  Ink the deer with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate.  

Stamp the greeting - from the Poppystamps set -on natural cardstock with Tulip Red VersaFine Clair.  Quickly heat-emboss it with detail clear powder.  

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

Hope you've enjoyed seeing our Valentine designs as much as we've enjoyed sharing our ideas with you. Thanks for stopping by.

 

Supplies

 

94702 Forest Path

94558 Heart Streamer Globe

gp1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

 

 

 

Supplies

 

KT003 Whittle Forest Reindeer Kit craft die

LOVE YOU more than chocolate by Jean Okimoto

Happy 2023! Here's to a fresh new year - and new designs to greet, celebrate, thank and remember special occasions and everyday moments.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with an improvised Valentine candy box idea - and timesaving shortcuts for special greetings.

Here's the rest of the greeting - using Poppystamps' versatile Poetic Lowercase Alphabet.  Let's do the card front first...

Cut the Christmas Jolly red/black/gold plaid with the second-largest Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out Die.  We're using just the simple inner heart - the stitching details create a separate outline.  Cut a dark red 6x6 from the Berry Red Collection too.

Cut two of the smallest Slim Basic Rectangle Layers from the bright red Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad 6x6.  Tape the slim strips perpendicular to each other and trim the ends with the Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out Die.  Cut the Poppystamps Grosgrain Bow from the red mirror cardstock too.  

Stack the heart diecuts with the bottom layer offset to the right to resemble a heart-shaped candy box.  Attach the red strips and grosgrain bow. 

Cut light kraft cardstock with the 2-¼" x 7-¼" Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  Cut the rectangle with the Love You Gallery Script background.  Attach narrow strips of doublestick tape behind the greetings cutout. Three narrow strips vs. a solid block of tape provides some wiggle-room to adjust the delicate word outline and letters.

Cut the detailed Love You Gallery Script from light Kraft cardstock - save the inner letters for another project.  Cut it again from a bright red Berry Red 6x6 - save the outline for another project.

Attach the light Kraft outlines to the taped background, then add the red letters and hearts.  It's quick and easy with doublestick tape!

Attach the diecuts to a light Kraft slimline card - use foamtape to attach the heart candy box.  Add red Christmas Fairy Dewdrops.  Cut a slimline-sized rectangle to cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Here's an easy way to diecut and attach the "more than chocolate" greeting.  Cut the entire set of Poppystamps Poetic Lower Case Alphabets from the same dark red cardstock used for the base of the heart candy box.  You'll have all of the letters you need - and many more for other greetings.

Attach Scor-Tape to light Kraft Cardstock and cut the smallest Slim Basic Rectangle.  Attach the letters to the Scor-Tape covered strip - save the tapeliner and use it to press the letters firmly onto the strip.  Spoon detail clear embossing powder over the strip, to cover the remaining exposed tape.  Tap the excess powder off.   Heat-emboss it.  The letters will be straight, even and securely attached.  Glue the greeting strip inside the card.

A lot of details and techniques here - hope you like the card!  Thanks for visiting...see you again on Friday!

 

Supplies

 

94636

pp1019 Christmas Jolly 6x6 pack

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

94359 Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out

sp1001 Berry Red

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

ddp101 Christmas Fairy Dewdrops

 

 

 

 

 

Poppystamps items -

Supplies

 

2358 Grosgrain Bow

2332 Poetic Lowercase Alphabet

Bold, Bright Valentine Wishes by Jean Okimoto

Bold, bright cards for guys can be challenging.  The right Memory Box dies and papers make it easier than ever for Valentine's Day '23.  Hi, Jean Okimoto combining the new Memory Box Heart Ring Stack and the new Poppystamps Vintage Scalloped Heart set.  I love buying Poppystamps and Birch Press Design products to use for my class kits.

Cut white cardstock with the 6-⅜" x 1-⅜" Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  Cut the rectangle with Heart Ring Stack.

Cut the red, black and gold-lined Christmas Jolly  plaid with the next-largest rectangle die.  The die is longer than the 6x6 plaid - but diecutting the plaid is easier than measuring and cutting it with a paper trimmer.  Why measure and handcut (and hope it's straight!) when it's faster to diecut?
 

Cut the lined heart from the Poppystamps Vintage Scalloped Heart set from the bright red Rainbow Reflections 6x6. The scalloped die cuts a separate heart - it's a great set!  Cut the 5th heart of the Heart Ring Stack from the beautiful shimmery red 6x6 too.

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½") - offset the Heart Ring Stack so bits of the plaid background create a dimensional look. Use foamtape for the large heart.

Prep white cardstock by brushing it with anti-static powder to eliminate stray specks of gold embossing powder.  Stamp the greeting - from the Big and Little Valentines Clear Stamps - with VersaMark. Emboss it - heat the back of the cardstock for a few seconds, then finish it from the top to prevent scorching.  Attach the greeting.

Add the light gold Treasure Chest Fairy Gemstones.  As always, cut a slimline-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Thanks for visiting our design blog throughout the year!  Hope we've inspired and encouraged you to create unique cards to greet, celebrate, and remember the special people in your life.  

Special thanks too - to Dave and Monica Brethauer and everyone at Memory Box for the great designs that make it all possible.

And thanks to Ann, Shari and Roxanne and everyone who ordered my card kits from them.  And thanks for folllowing on Instagram - I appreciate your support and comments.

See you next year...

 

94662

pp1019 Christmas Jolly 6x6 pack

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

gem101 Treasure Chest Fairy Gemstones

cl5252 Big and Little Valentines clear stamp set

 

 

 

Supplies

 

2562 2562 Vintage Scalloped Heart craft die

Layered Narrow Pines Along a Forest Path by Anne Thompson

I often send cards to mark the change of season.  As we've recently moved from summer into fall and those cards have been sent, I've started working on cards to mark the Winter Solstice and to celebrate the transition from fall into winter.  The snowy Layered Narrow Pines and the Forest Path work well together (and even alone) to create that wintery feel.

materials used for this card:

• white notecard
• brown plaid and green plaid papers from WOODSY PLAID PP1018
• white cardstock
• FOREST PATH 94702
• LAYERED NARROW PINES 94706

to make this card

• cover the front of a white notecard with brown plaid paper 5 1/2 X 4 1/4
• die cut the Forest Path and the snowy layers of the pines from white cardstock
• die cut the narrow pines from a dark green plaid paper--while I had the dies out, I also cut some trees from green cardstock from the Lush Green Collection and lots of snowy layers

• use a glue pen to attach the snowy details to the pine trees
• glue the Forest Path background and the path to the notecard
• add the three Layered Narrow Pines
• leave space in the snowy foreground to add a sentiment later

variations

For the second card I used a blue paid for the background, snipped off the white trees from the Forest Path, and added five of the Layered Narrow Pines that I had cut from the green cardstock.

And for the third card, I used just the three Layered Narrow Pines against a soft green plaid background.

These are also good designs for cards to send to guys on your list--just change up the sentiment for any winter celebration.

I love how so many of the Memory Box dies work together.  I think the combination that I used for these cards was sort of expected.  But I've been trying out some other more unexpected combinations of dies, papers, and techniques to see what happens as I start to create more holiday cards.  It's exciting to see what works and what doesn't--maybe I'll even share some of both!  Happy Crafting!