Combine the Gracious Floral and Magnolia Collections by Jean Okimoto

Design elements from spring's Magnolia Collection and the Gracious Floral Collection team up for a slimline card.  Hi, Jean here with a mix of dies, stencils, clear stamps, a plaid 6x6,  jewels and a 3D embossing folder that somehow became floral design for summer greetings.

Glue two pieces of lavender cardstock together and diecut the flower from the Gracious Floral 3D Embossing Folder and Die Set.  Diecutting the double layer adds extra dimension to the flower and it's faster than cutting two flowers and gluing them together.  

Ink the flower in the top portion of the  embossing folder with Brilliance Pearlescent Purple.  Tap the ink onto the design - don't squish or rub it into the flower.  Place the diecut flower securely in the folder and emboss it using the plates required for your machine.

The Gracious Floral Stencil Set is numbered for easy reference.  We are using the flower upside-down - it's OK!  Brush, sponge or daub Pearlescent Purple using stencil #A2 for the shaded purple areas.

Stencil Brilliance Pearlescent Yellow onto the flower's center using stencil #A4.  Stencil Brilliance Pearlescent Thyme using stencil #A3.  Add a light layer of Pearlescent Thyme to the center of the flower - just enough so you'll still see the yellow ink.

Cut Magnolia Leaf Branch from green cardstock.  Trim the two highest leaves on the left and the branch tip.

Stamp the greeting - from the Gracious Floral Clear Stamp and Die Set - with Electric Purple Radiant Neon.  The color sounds a little scary, but it's a great purple - not too red, not too blue.  Quickly heat-emboss the greeting with detail clear powder.  Trim it horizontally with the smallest Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die - cut 1 short end using the die.  Trim the other short end using the side of a larger die.

Cut lavender cardstock with the ⅞" Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  Cut the purple Magnolia Plaid 6x6 with the smallest rectangle die.

Cut white cardstock with the 1-⅞" rectangle die.  Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card - use foam tape for petal- and  bigger leaf-tips where they extend past the background block.  Add purple Autumn Fairy Crystals.  Cut a slimline-sized rectangle of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Mix and match your blossoms and branches to create new designs and get the most from your Memory Box stash.  Thanks for visiting - see you on Friday!

 

Supplies

 

cl5280 Gracious Floral Clear Stamp Set

pp1021 Magnolia Plaid 6x6 pack

94721 Magnolia Leaf Branch

88620 Gracious Floral Stencil Set

ef1026 Gracious Floral 3D Embossing Folder and Die

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

Outline-Embossed Curlicue Plate by Jean Okimoto

Here's another way to decorate Easter eggs with the versatile Curlicue Plate - reverse-embossing!  This technique highlights the finely-detailed outlines of the design instead of the bold, solid patterns.  Hi, Jean here with an "accidental/what-if?" process using this popular die from our Spring Collection.

Blend Distress Oxides on heavy white cardstock.  Colors used here are salvaged patina, twisted citron, worn lipstick and kitsch flamingo.  

Here's a tip - place a piece of smooth, heavy plastic between the die and the cardstock for a smooth embossed finish.  Guessing that it cushions the paper and minimizes cracking and creasing.  Quart- and gallon-sized Zip-Loc bags are great for this technique - just avoid the printed areas on the bag.  Use each piece of plastic just once to keep the embossed design clear and unmarked.

Lightly spritz both sides of the color-blended cardstock with a light mist of water.  Place the plastic layer between the Curlicue Plate die and the uninked side of the cardstock.  Add the rubber embossing mat and plates required for die-embossing on your machine.  Run it through the machine twice.

Place the embossed cardstock on a hard, flat surface and use the direct-to-paper technique to apply Pearlescent Jade Brilliance ink to the raised design.  Heat-emboss it with detail clear powder.  Cut the cooled cardstock with dies from the Half a Dozen Eggs set.

Cut Wild Grass Border from a yellow-green Lush Green 6x6 sheet.

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to pink and white wool-blend felt and cut Bunny Face.  Cut the muzzle from white cardstock.  The paper layer stabilizes the felt and prevents adhesives from saturating the fabric.  Attach a scrap of black cardstock behind the eyes.

Stamp the greeting - from the Springtime Typewriter Sentiments Clear Stamp Set - on white cardstock with Electric Pink Radiant Neon.  Heat-emboss it with detail clear powder.  Trim it with the smallest Rectangle Basics die.

Attach the diecuts to a white A6 card (4-½" x 6-¼") - use foamtape for the bunny and greeting.  Add pale turquoise Pastel Jewels.  Cut an A6-sized rectangle of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Reverse-embossing sounds strange - why emboss the un-inked side - but this technique adds another option to the many ways we can use our Memory Box dies.  Curlicue Plate is quickly becoming a real favorite - it's easy to understand why!

Thanks for visiting - see you on Friday...

Supplies

 

94698 Curlicue Plate

94545 Bunny Face

94415 Wild Grass Border

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

30072 Half a Dozen Eggs

jwl002 Pastel Jewels

cl5239 Springtime Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

sp1003 Lush Green

Bunny Face and Rainbow Eggs by Jean Okimoto

Rainbow-colored Curlicue eggs surround a plush felt Bunny Face in a contrast of colors and textures.  The new Curlicue Plate is great for pressure- and heat-embossing in addition to diecutting!  Hi, Jean here with a quick and easy way to decorate a bunch of eggs in bright spring pastels for your Easter cards.

Blend Distress Oxides on heavy white cardstock - I've used worn lipstick, kitsch flamingo, salvaged patina and twisted citron.  Dry the inks.  Trim the cardstock about ¼" smaller than the Curlicue Plate so it fits inside the cutting edge.  Spray each side of the cardstock with a light spritz of water from about 12" away. Let it absorb the water for a few seconds.  Pressure-emboss it using the rubber embossing mat and plate(s) required for your machine.

Place the embossed cardstock on a smooth, flat surface and brayer Pearlescent Jade Brilliance ink evenly over the raised areas.  For best results and even inking - lift and roll the entire brayer over the inkpad about 25 times instead of using short strokes (which could leave dark blocks of ink in some areas).  

Quickly heat-emboss it with detail clear powder for a glossy, pearlescent look.  Unlike the smooth details of an actual embossing folder, this technique creates a rustic, hand-carved look.  Let's call this one rainbow-rustic!  

Cut eggs from different sections with the 2" high die from the Half a Dozen Eggs set.  I inked, embossed and brayered several pieces of cardstock to create a bunch of eggs in different color combinations.

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to white and pink wool-blend felt.  The paper backing stabilizes the fabric and keeps adhesives from saturating it.  Cut Bunny Face from the felt and attach a scrap of  black cardstock behind the eyes.  Cut the mouth and nose section from heavy white cardstock.  Attach a scrap of black cardstock behind it to emphasize the details.  Bunny looks a little confused here - maybe he just emerged from hibernation and can't believe it's almost Easter!

Cut white cardstock with the 2" x 7" Slim Basic Rectangles die.

Stamp the greeting - from the Springtime Typewriter Sentiments Clear Stamp Set - on pale aqua cardstock with Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair.  Heat-set it, then trim it with one end of the second-smallest Slim Basic Rectangles die.

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card (8-½" x 3-⅝") - use foamtape for the 2nd egg, Bunny Face and greeting.  Add aqua Pastel Jewels.

Think of different ways to use the new Curlicue Plate in addition to basic diecutting and pressure-embossing.  It's also great for stenciling.  Save and use the offcuts as accents for other projects too.

Thanks for visiting - see you again on Friday...

Supplies

 

94698 Curlicue Plate

94545 Bunny Face

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

30072 Half a Dozen Eggs

jwl002 Pastel Jewels

cl5239 Springtime Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

Curlicues, Plumes, Swirls and Shimmer by Jean Okimoto

The new swirly, curly, spiraled Curlicue Plate is quickly becoming a Design Team favorite.  It's great alone as a bold background - or highlight it with the new Plumed Gypsy Butterfly or Plumed Gypsy Feather.  Hi, Jean here with another butterfly card that just couldn't wait for warm and sunny butterfly-weather.

Trim an ink-blended (or watercolored) background to 4" x 5-¼".  Attach it to a top-folded white notecard.  

Prep the new Curlicue Plate by rubbing it briskly with waxed paper to make it quick and easy to remove the offcuts.  Cut Curlicue Plate from white cardstock.  

Cut the Plumed Gypsy Butterfly background from a shimmery purple 6x6 in the Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad.  Prep the detailed butterfly die with scrunched waxed paper, then cut it from the Rainbow Reflections sheet too.

Stamp the greeting - from the Sweet Christmas Clear Stamp Set - on white cardstock with Brilliance Pearlescent Purple.

Attach the greeting and diecuts to the card - use foam tape for the butterfly, and leave the outer edges unglued.  Add pale pink Pastel Fairy Jewels.

The Curlicue Plate is great for pressure-embossing and paper-piecing too!  Save a few of the offcuts if you're cutting it from colored or metallic cardstock. They create great design elements - especially the 3 main circular pieces.  We save everything, don't we?

Thanks for visiting our blog,  Keep warm and make some cards this weekend - and please stop by to enjpy Laura's great design on Saturday!

 

 

Supplies

 

94698 Curlicue Plate

94708 Plumed Gypsy Butterfly

CL5283 Sweet Christmas clear stamp set

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

jwl002 Pastel Jewels