Spring Bloomers and a Bunny by Jean Okimoto

Stenciled blossoms and a popular new bunny from Poppystamps are great for all-occasion cards.  The bold flowers and sweet poufy bunny are more than ready for spring...are you?  

Hi, Jean here finally after many hours of home security, modem and electrical issues.  Imagine loud warning chirps at exactly 25 minutes past the hour, every hour, 24/7!

Stenciling is quick, precise and forgiving when necessary.  Stenciling on the reverse side of a stamped image is even better.  Here's another design featuring Spring 2024's Cheerful Floral Clear Stamps and Cheerful Floral 6x6 Art Stencils.

Prep white vellum with the embossing powder tool to eliminate stray flecks of powder.  Stamp the floral image with VersaMark.  Heat-emboss it with detail white powder.  Flip both the stencils and the stamped, cooled image over to the backside and stencil the reverse side with Brilliance Inks - Pearlescent Lime, Lavender, Purple and Sunflower Yellow.  The stencils are numbered for sequential coloring and can create the look of layered colors. Cut it with the die included in the stamp set.

Reverse-stenciling keeps the white embossing clean + white and eliminates scratched, scraped embossing. 

Cut two pieces of white cardstock with the second-largest Nested Globes die.  Layer them for dimension, then attach the floral diecut with narrow strips of doublestick tape - it won't be visible under the opaque inks.

Sweet, poufy Poppystamps Cuddle Bunny will make you smile!   Cut him from the horizontal textured side of Open Studio Watercolor Paper.  The light horizontal lines add more character to this already-sweet bunny.  Color the ears and the nose area of the solid head piece with pink ink - Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid was used here. Color the eye areas with a black marker.  Attach it behind the other head diecut.  Assemble the bunny.

Attach a 1-½" x 4-½" piece of ScorTape to white cardstock. Cut it with the Thank You Daily Script background die.  Cut the detailed top layer of the greeting from a pale blue/lavender Ocean Blue Collection 6x6.  Before removing the diecut - carefully remove and save the  teardrop shapes for the "a" and "y" and the open oval for the "o."  Attach the top layer - and the tiny saved pieces.  Use the tape liner like a presscloth to press all of the pieces firmly onto the adhesive-covered background.  Cover the exposed adhesive with Imagine's Iridescent Embossing Powder, tap the excess off and heat-emboss.  Attach it inside the card.

Thanks for visiting our blog...Happy Easter to everyone celebrating on Sunday.  See you in April!

Supplies

 

cl5278

88619 Cheerful Floral Stencil Set

94655 Thank You Daily Script

sp1005 Ocean Blue

jwl003

94532 Nested Globes

wp101 Watercolor Paper

 

 

Supplies

 

2566 Cuddle Bunny

Spring Cheer Collection is Here! by Jean Okimoto

Meet the sweetest new members of the Memory Box family of dies!  They're from the just-released Spring Cheer Collection - Layered Lamb, Layered Chicks and Layered Bunny - ready for your spring and Easter projects.  The release also includes 4 beautiful, vivid 6x6 solid-core 110# cardstock color assortments perfect for diecutting, stamping, embossing and foiling.  Hi, Jean here with my first of many designs from this wonderful collection.  

Cut Layered Lamb from Open Studio Watercolor Paper.  Color the legs with a dark gray marker.  Color the areas for the ears, muzzle and eyes with pale pink watercolors and a black marker.  Set the diecuts aside to dry.

Cut Layered Chicks from pale yellow and two shades of orange in the Sunrise 6x6 pack.  Color the eye areas with a black marker.

Cut Cute Layered Bunny from Open Studio Watercolor Paper and gray cardstock.  Color the eye area with a black marker.

Here's a quick and easy way to cut the eggs from the Woven Basket of Eggs set.  Cut ½" wide strips of the peachy-pink, green and blue 6x6 sheets in the Blush, Greenery and Lagoon packs.  Tape them together and diecut them all at once.  Cut the basket from light kraft cardstock.

Cut Happy Easter Dover Script from the turquoise Rainbow Reflections 6x6.

Cut pale blue cardstock with the 2.9" x 7.9" Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles die.

Attach the diecuts to a pale blue slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½") - use foam tape for the bottom edge of the basket.  Add turquoise Christmas Fairy Dewdrops.  Cut a slimline-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

These adorable spring diecuts are great for shower, new baby and birthday cards too.  The new 6x6 collections make it easy to coordinate and layer the perfect colors for any season.  Or trim them with the A2 card-sized Rectangle Basics, Wrapped Stitched Rectangle or A2 Rectangle Frames dies - then attach them to plain white A2 cards for custom-colored cards! 

Thanks for visiting...hope this spring card and happy colors are the beginning of a great, crafty weekend for you!  See you with another design from our new collection on Tuesday!

Supplies

 

sp1013 Sunrise 6x6 pack

sp1010 Lagoon 6x6 pack

sp1012 Blush 6x6 pack

sp1011 Leafy 6x6 pack

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

94729 Happy Easter Dover Script

94727 Cute Layered Bunny

94730 Layered Lamb

94726 Layered Chicks

94732 Woven Basket of Eggs

94554 Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles

ddp101 Christmas Fairy Dewdrops

wp101 Watercolor Paper

Snow Fairies…Inspired by a TV Show by Jean Okimoto

International TV shows don't often inspire card designs - but the Snow Fairies documentary on Japan's NHK TV inspired today's card.  They're adorably fluffy, rare long-tailed birds  - and the Poppystamps new Nordic Bird Bunch set has the perfect die for this little bird (they just needed longer tails).  Hi, Jean here with a  ScandinAsian Valentine idea.

Cut Birch Tree Trunks from Open Studio Watercolor Paper.  The diecut is very detailed, but it's easy to remove.  Start at the bottom of the trunks and wiggle the offcuts away instead of trying to pull the trunks out. 

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to wool-blend white felt and red felt.  The paper backing stabilizes the felt and prevents adhesives from saturating it.  Cut the second-largest heart of the Double Stitch Happy Heart Cut Out set.

Cut the Nordic Bird bases from white felt.  Cut the 2 larger wing pieces from Open Studio Watercolor Paper (instead of felt) to highlight the Nordic details. Cut the combined beak/eye sections and the left bird's wings from black cardstock. Some Snow Fairies are all-white, some have darker sections - we'll have one of each type.

They have very long tails. We're using 2 branches from the tree trunk (shown on the left side of the packaging) to create special felt tails for them.  Trim the original tails, then attach the tree branch sections.  Cover the area with a wing!

Glue 2 pieces of gray cardstock together for dimension and diecut the new Hugs Debut Script background. Cut the detailed top layer from red cardstock.  Cut the background from red cardstock too, for more dimension.

Assemble the birds and greeting.  Attach everything to a gray A6 card (4-½" x 6-¼").  Add bronze Autumn Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Looking for more ideas?  Search Snow Fairies NHK TV - the show is available on demand until March 31st.  Not sponsored or anything like that...I just think you'll enjoy it too!

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend!

Supplies

 

94776 Hugs Debut Script

94361 Double Stitch Happy Heart Cut Out

94701 Birch Tree Trunks

wp101 Watercolor Paper

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

 

Supplies

 

2601 Nordic Bird Bunch

Frosty Winter Garden Greetings by Jean Okimoto

Shimmery pink ink adds frosty definition to a 3D-embossed winter garden design.  The new Vintage Lantern and Classic Pine Needle Sprigs in shiny gold mirror cardstock create a warm color contrast.  Hi, Jean here with a mix of pearlescent, shiny and sparkly design elements on a holiday card.

Have a spray bottle of water nearby.  Press Delicata Pink Shimmer ink - from a juicy, moist inkpad - onto the new Poinsettia Corner 3D Embossing Folder.  Spritz both sides of Open Studio Watercolor Paper with a light mist of water.  Quickly spritz more water into the air and pull the inked embossing folder thru the mist to prep it for inky embossing. Place the watercolor paper - smoother side facing the inked surface - into the folder and run it through your diecut machine using the plate(s) and/or mat(s) required for pressure embossing.  Pigment inks are recommended for this technique - dye inks would dry too quickly.

We're working on the product link for the Poinsettia Corner 3D Embossing Folder - here's a picture and a link to our website:

Heat-set the ink.  Diecut the cooled paper with the largest A2 Rectangle Frames die.  Attach it to a top-folded natural A2 card.

Cut natural cardstock with the 2.25" x 3.5" A2 Rectangle Frames die.

Cut Vintage Lantern (including the candle) from the gold Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  Assemble the lantern.  Press Pink Shimmer ink onto a scrap of natural cardstock and heat-set it.  Cut a candle, remove and wick and flame, then attach the inked candle over the gold candle.  Color the gold flame with a bright yellow Sharpie.  Heat-set it.  Attach the candle behind the lantern.

Cut Classic Pine Needle Sprigs from the gold Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  Trim the section on the right side of the larger sprig.

Attach the diecuts to the small rectangle.  Add pink Pastel Jewels.  

Experiment with different pigment inks for a different look.  Inking highlights the details of 3D embossing folders.

Thanks for visiting the blog - have a great weekend!

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94743 Vintage Lantern

94672 A2 Rectangle Frames Die Set

94757 Classic Pine Needle Sprigs

wp101 Watercolor Paper

FP1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

JWL002 Pastel Jewels

 

ef1038 Poinsettia Corner 3D Embossing Folder and Dies

Fall Greetings by Jean Okimoto

Celebrate the change of seasons with Gypsy Oak Leaves and warm fall colors - highlight the earthy colors with shimmery, glittery accents for extra sparkle.  Hi, Jean here with a quick switch to fall designs from our Christmas 2023 Collection.   I got off to a quick start with a hoarded sheet of ink-blended Open Studio Watercolor Paper in great fall colors.  

 

Stencil it with a few random dots of VersaMark using the new Snow Flurries Art Stencil.  Heat-emboss the stenciled dots with detail gold powder for a loose, speckled look.

 Cut three solid background Gypsy Oak Leaves.  Cut the detailed overlay leaves from the gold Rainbow Reflections 6x6.

Cut kraft cardstock with the 1-¾" and 1-¼" wide A2 Rectangle Frames Dies.

Glue two layers of kraft cardstock together and cut the new Happy Fall Posh Script background.  Spritz both sides with a light mist of water.  Pressure-emboss it with the detailed overlay script background using the rubber embossing mat and plate(s) required for your machine.  Cut the detailed script from the orange Glitzy Glitter Pad 6x6.  Assemble the greeting.  Pressure-embossing the background is an extra step - but the detailed layer fits snugly into the debossed letters for easy assembly.

Attach the diecuts to an orange A2 card - use foam tape for the leaf tips.  Add coppery Autumn Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A2-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Thanks for visiting the blog...see you again tomorrow!

Supplies

 

94747 Happy Fall Posh Script

94744 Gypsy Oak Leaves

94672 A2 Rectangle Frames Die Set

88626 Snow Flurries Stencil

wp101

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

gp1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

Flower Garden Ghosts by Jean Okimoto

Do flower garden witches wear colorful hats to match their flowers?  They do today!  Hi, Jean here with another mix of new designs, , stash favorites and two little ghosts from Poppystamps.

Cut the Garland 6x6 print with the second-largest A2 Rectangle Frames die - no measuring, guessing or wonky edges!

Cut Large Layered Witch Hat from coral cardstock.  Cut the vertical trim from light peachy-orange cardstock.  Cut the hatband from the chartreuse Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  Assemble the hat.

Cut the Poppystamps Whittle Scary Guys ghosts from the textured side of Memory Box Watercolor Paper.

Cut the Boo Posh Script background from a scrap of the Garland floral print.  Cut the delicate greeting overlay from the light peach Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad 6x6.  Assemble the greeting.

Attach the diecuts to a dark peach notecard - use foam tape for the ghosts' heads and hat.  Attach pale beige/pink Autumn Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A2-sized rectangle of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Halloween isn't just orange, black and white anymore.  We have winter pastels and spring pastels - let's add fall pastels to our repertoire.

Thanks for visiting...have a great weekend!

 

 

Supplies

 

94690

94672 A2 Rectangle Frames Die Set

94587 Boo Posh Script

94693 Large Layered Witch Hat

pp1010 Garland 6x6 pack

wp101

fp1002 Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

 

 

Supplies

 

2545 Whittle Scary Guys

Dimensional Stenciling with Memory Box Dies by Jean Okimoto

 

Embossing and stenciling are great basic papercrafting techniques. Combine them to add texture and dimension to highlight your design.  Hi, Jean here with another idea featuring the bold Fanciful Gilded Frame from our Fall '23 Collection.  The hat-wearing cat is from Poppystamps.

Spritz both sides of an A2-sized rectangle of orange cardstock with a light mist of water. Place a layer of heavy plastic between the Fanciful Gilded Frame die and the cardstock to  cushion and protect the cardstock.  A single layer of plastic from a quart- or gallon-sized Ziploc back or page protector sleeve would be great.  Pressure-emboss the design using the rubber embossing mat and plates required for your machine.  

Remove the plastic layer, then replace and attach the die to the embossed cardstock. Use the die as a stencil to apply Onyx Black or Nocturne VersaFine Clair with a sponge or blending brush.  Heat-set the ink.

Diecut the embossed design with the 4" wide Nested Globes die.  Cut the orange cardstock with the 2" wide Nested Globes die too.

Cut the ghosts - from the Ghosts in the Forest set - from the textured side of Open Studio Watercolor Paper.  Attach scraps of black cardstock behind the faces.

Cut Large Layered Witch Hat from the black Glitzy Glitter Pad sheet.  Cut the hat's vertical trim from the black Rainbow Reflections sheet.  Cut the hatband fron the chartreuse Rainbow Reflections sheet.

Glue two layers of black cardstock together for dimension and cut the new Poppystamps Whittle Purring Cat.  Attach a scrap of the orange Glitzy Glitter Pad sheet behind the nose.

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded A6 card (4-½" x 6") cut from a 12" square sheet.  Or use a side-folded A6 card cut from an 8-½"x11" sheet.  Add taupe Autumn Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A6-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Hope you'll try this embossing+stenciling technique to add extra dimension and details to your cards.  

Thanks for visiting...have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94660

94693 Large Layered Witch Hat

94532 Nested Globes

94622 Ghosts in the Forest

wp101 Watercolor Paper

gp1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

 

Supplies

 

2546 Whittle Purring Cat

Plumed, Layered, Glittered and Ghostly by Jean Okimoto

Create a feathery background for the new Large Layered Witch Hat.  Diecut and stencil the trio of Plumed Gypsy Feathers in a colorful mix of pink, orange and coral inks.   Hi, Jean here with another Halloween slimline design for you today.

Cut the small Plumed Gypsy Feather from and coral cardstock.  Create 3 DIY feather stencils by cutting the feathers from vellum - one for each color.  Stencil Electric Pink, Electric Orange and Electric Coral Radiant Neon ink feather backgrounds onto the rectangle.  Dry the inks with a heat-tool.

Cut pink and coral cardstock with the Plumed Gypsy Feather die.  Cut the orange Glitzy Glitter Pad 6x6 with the feather die too.  Attach the diecut feathers over the stenciled backgrounds.

Cut Large Layered Witch Hat from black cardstock.  Cut the vertical trim from the black Glitzy Glitter Pad 6x6.  Cut the hatband from the orange Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  Assemble the hat

Cut the ghosts - from the Ghosts in Forest set - from Open Studio Watercolor Paper.  Attach scraps of black cardstock behind the faces.

Attach the diecuts to a kraft slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½").   Add the amber Autumn Fairy Crystals.  Cut a slimline-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.  

Thanks for visiting!  I'll be posting again on Friday - hope you won't get tired of seeing me this week!

 

Supplies

 

94693

94711 Plumed Gypsy Feather

94622 Ghosts in the Forest

94554 Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles

gp1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

wp101 Watercolor Paper

Halloween Lineup by Jean Okimoto

A lineup of Halloween icons fills a slimline card from end to end on an "everything" card.  Hi, Jean here with a very layered collection of fall diecuts featuring my favorite ghosts with new designs from our latest release.

Cut kraft cardstock with the 7-⅞" x 2-⅞" Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangle die.  Attach it to a kraft slimline card (8-½" x 3-⅝").

Cut Layered Greenery Stems from black cardstock and the black Glitzy Glitter Pad 6x6.  

Cut the ghosts - from the Ghosts in the Forest set - from the textured side of Open Studio Watercolor Paper.  Attach scraps of black cardstock behind the faces.

Cut Boiling Cauldron from Black Glossy Cardstock.  Cut the dripping overflow from the lime green Graceful Garden Glitter Pad 6x6.  Cut the standing bubbles from the chartreuse Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  Assemble the cauldron and bubbles - I trimmed the bottom edge of the tall bubbles a bit.

Cut Autumn Pumpkin from the dark orange 6x6 in the Sunny Orange Collection.  Cut the leaves and tendril from the chartreuse Rainbow Reflections sheet.  

Cut Large Layered Witch Hat from black cardstock.  Cut the vertical trim from the black Glitzy Glitter Pad sheet.  Cut the hatband from the orange Rainbow Reflections sheet.

Assemble the stems, pumpkin, and hat.  Attach the diecuts to the Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangle - use foam tape for the ghosts' heads.

Halloween seems like a great reason to fill a card from one end to the other with a variety of diecuts.  Our Fall '23 Collection has the perfect designs for that!

Thanks for visiting - see you again tomorrow...

 

Supplies

 

94691

94690 Autumn Pumpkin

94622 Ghosts in the Forest

94694 Layered Greenery Stems

94693 Large Layered Witch Hat

94554 Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles

gp1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

sp1002 Sunny Orange

wp101 Watercolor Paper

sh44004 Black Glossy Paper

gp1002 Graceful Garden Glitter Pad

Bubble, Bubble…Boiling Cauldron in the Forest by Jean Okimoto

Update a familiar ghostly forest scene with the new Boiling Cauldron from the Fall '23 Collection.  The friendly ghosts are a safe distance from the bubbly pot!  Hi, Happy Friday - Jean here with another mix of favorite dies and new designs from our latest release.

Cut taupey-gray cardstock with the 3-¾" wide Curved Cap Pinpoint Layers die.  Cut it with the Ghosts in the Forest die.  Cut the ghosts from Open Studio Watercolor Paper.  Attach scraps of black cardstock behind the eyes.  Attach a dot of the orange Glitzy Glitter 6x6 behind their mouths.

Cut Boiling Cauldron from the black Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  Cut the bubbly cauldron rim and 4 loose bubbles from the orange Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  The loose bubbles became pumpkin lights to brighten the background here.  Cut the standing bubbles from the orange Glitzy Glitter 6x6.

Use a corner punch to round the top corners of a dark gray top-folded A2 card.  Attach the diecuts - prop the top of the ghosts up with foam dots so they'll lean forward.

Mixing, matching and layering "old" and just-released design elements is a great way to get the most mileage from your Memory Box stash and celebrate Halloween '23!

Thanks for visiting...have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94691 Boiling Cauldron

94622 Ghosts in the Forest

94646 Curved Cap Pinpoint Layers

FP1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

gp1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

wp101 Watercolor Paper