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

Drifting Feathers by Jean Okimoto

A trio of the feathers - simply stenciled - creates a glittery friendship card for a winter day.  Hi, Jean here with a simple design using DIY Plumed Gypsy Feather stencils cut from heavyweight vellum for easier placement and crisp stenciled edges.

Prep the small Plumed Gypsy Feather by rubbing it briskly with scrunched waxed paper to help remove the tiny offcuts.  Cut the feather stencil three times from heavyweight vellum.  Cut white cardstock with the medium-sized Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles die.  Stencil the feathers with Distress Oxides - salvaged patina, iced spruce and kitsch flamingo.  

Cut the feathers again from the pale blue Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad sheet and the silver Majestic Hues Glitter Pad sheet.  The pink-stenciled feather doesn't have a glittered layer - that's part of the "missing" theme.  (The Delicate Pastels Glitter Pad has a matching pink sheet if you want 3 glittered feathers.)

Glue 2 pieces of white cardstock together for dimension,  then cut the background of the Miss You Posh Script.  Pressure-emboss it with the detailed top layer of the greeting. Cut the detailed top layer of the greeting from the pale aqua sheet in the  Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad - leave the tiny dot for the "i" in the die (or on the cutting plate) till you're ready to attach it because it tends to disappear.  Embossing the background creates a debossed area to easily align and attach the top layer.

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½") - use foamtape for the greeting.  Add the pale pinkish-violet Winter Fantasy Fairy Gemstones.  Cut a slimline-sized rectangle of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend!

 

 

Supplies

 

94589 Miss You Posh Script

94554 Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles

94711 Plumed Gypsy Feather

FP1002 Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad

gp1008 Majestic Hues Glitter Pad

gp1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

gem102 Winter Fantasy Fairy Gemstones

Pretty Colors in the Tool Box by Jean Okimoto

Fuchsia, Pumpkin and Teal in the toolbox?  Yes, when they brighten a gal's slimline thank you with a happy Whittle Beaver!  Hi, Jean here with mix of old, new, blue, Memory Box and Poppystamps. I like a lot of open space on my cards - but these great design elements wanted to be together, filling the entire card. 

The new Toolbox 3D Embossing Folder & Matching Dies and the Woodgrain Fence Pickets are from our '23 Spring Collection.  Cut the pickets from light kraft cardstock.  Cut the tools from the silver Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad 6x6.  Place them in the matching 3D Embossing Folder and add the details and dimension (one tool at a time is easiest!) using the plate(s) required for your machine.  

Mask the "metal" areas of each tool and sponge or daub the handles with StazOn Inks.  Airdry the first layer of ink, then repeat.  Colors used here are Pumpkin, Teal Blue and Fuchsia Pink.  Set them aside to dry completely.

Cut Wood Grain Planks from light kraft cardstock - we're just using a few of them here.

Cut the question mark - from the Wooden Alpha set - from light kraft cardstock too.

Cut the Poppystamps Whittle Beaver from dark kraft cardstock.  Lightly ink the edges and paws with Pearlescent Chocolate Brilliance ink.  Attach the fuchsia screwdriver between his paws.

Stamp the greeting - from the Poppystamps Whittle Wild Animal Sentiments - with Pinecone VersaFine Clair.  Dry the ink and trim the greeting with the second-smallest Rectangle Basics die. 

Attach everything to a light aqua slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½") - use foamtape for the question mark and the beaver.

Make this card using different colors and greetings for your favorite DIY/fix-it/build-it gal or guy.  A toolbox card would be great for someone who just completed (survived?) a home renovation project too. The Woodgrain Fence Pickets can also diecut a great stencil for birthday candles...just some extra ideas!

Special thanks to everyone ordering my new kit - BLOSSOMS & BUNNIES - from Impress! They sold out quickly, I'm making more.

Thanks for visiting - see you on Friday...

 

Supplies

 

EF1034 Toolbox 3D Embossing Folder and Matching Dies

94703 Woodgrain Fence Pickets

94579 Wooden Alpha

94565 Wood Grain Planks

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

 

Supplies

 

2414 Whittle Beaver

cl500 Whittle Wild Animal Sentiments clear stamp set

Dazzling Seashells Collection by Jean Okimoto

Pearly, pastel Dazzling Seashells are great for any occasion...and ready for a shell-ebration!  This beautifully-textured collection of 7 designs is from the Dazzling Seashells 3D Embossing Folder and Cutting Dies set.  Hi, Jean here - it's cloudy and in the 30's outside, a perfect day to stay inside and create cards with a warm, tropical theme.

Blend twisted citron, worn lipstick, kitsch flamiongo and cracked pistachio Distress Oxides on smooth, heavy white cardstock.  Trim it to fit in the Dazzling Seashells 3D Embossing Folder.  Lightly spritz both sides of the cardstock to prep it for embossing.  Place the inked side against the debossed (sunken) side of the folder.  Pressure-emboss it using the plates(s) required for your machine.

Place the embossed cardstock on a hard, flat surface and apply a layer of Pearlescent Jade Brilliance using a hard rubber brayer.  Dry the ink.  Cut the shells with the coordinating dies.

Prep Ring Stack by rubbing it briskly with scrunched waxed paper to make it easier to remove the delicate diecut.  Cut Ring Stack from the gold Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad sheet.  Cut two more of the end ovals again to lengthen the diecut - hide the overlapped extension under the second shell from the left.

Cut white cardstock with the 7-¼" x 2-¼" Slim Basic Rectangles die.  Attach the Ring Stack diecuts to the rectangle - use tiny dots of glue just where the ovals are joined.  Attach the shells.

Stamp the greeting - from the Deep Blue Ocean Clear Stamp and Die Set - with Pearlescent Jade Brilliance.  Dry the ink and cut the greeting lengthwise with the second-smallest Slim Basic Rectangles Die.  Trim the short ends.  

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card (3-½" x 8-⅝") - use foamdots for the greeting.  Add aqua Christmas Fairy Jewels.  Cut a slimline-sized rectangle of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Dazzling Seashells would be beautiful cut from Rainbow Reflections or Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad 6x6 sheets too.  Their pearly shimmer will enhance the detailed textures of each shell.

Thanks for visiting...have a great weekend!

 

 

 

Supplies

 

ef1029 Dazzling Seashells 3D Embossing Folder and Matching Dies

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

94547 Ring Stack

cl5268d Deep Blue Ocean clear stamp and die set

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

cry102 Christmas Fairy Crystals

Garden Greetings…Gentle Rose Watercolor Floral by Jean Okimoto

The new Gentle Rose Watercolor Floral appears to have many tiny layers.  They are actually just four detail pieces - easily layered over the background that's gently marked with guidelines for the detail pieces.  Theyt're lightly marked so you can rearrange the layers if you prefer - and no one will know!  Hi, Jean here with another beautiful, layering floral set from our Spring Collection.

Paint heavy white cardstock with two shades of peachy-pink inks or watercolors.  Dry it, then spray the darker section with a light mist of Imagine's Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz.  Dry the ink, then diecut it with the Gentle Rose Watercolor Floral set.  Assemble the rose.

Cut Wayfarer Leaves from light green cardstock.

Prep Thistle Stems by rubbing it briskly with scrunched waxed paper to help remove the delicate pieces.  Cut it from the light gold 6x6 in the Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad.

Add splatters of the Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz to white cardstock.  Dry the ink, then cut it with the 2" x 7" Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.

Attach the Gentle Rose, Thistle Stems and Wayfarer Leaves to the rectangle - use foam dots for the center and right edge of the rose.

Attach the rectangle to a white slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½").  Add the peachy pink Pastel Jewels.  

Roses are always a classic design element for celebrations, thank-yous and friendship cards.  Adding Wayfarer Leaves and Thistle Stems to your collection makes it even easier to create garden greetings for any occasion.

We're working on the links for the Wayfarer Leaves and Thistle Stems.  View the entire Spring Collection here.  

Thanks for visiting - see you again on Friday!

 

 

Supplies

 

94689 Thistle Stems

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

fp1002 Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad

jwl002 Pastel Jewels

Trio of Window Collages by Jean Okimoto

Colorful butterflies flutter through a trio of collaged windows on a slimline thank you card.  The new collages - Distant Sun, Cloudy Moon and Cloudy Sun - create a layered, dimensional backdrop for the Intricate Mini Butterflies.  Hi, Jean here with more great dies from our Spring '23 Collection.

Score white cardstock horizontally at 3-⅝" and 7-¼".  Cut Cloudy Sun Collage from the front of the 3-⅝" panel. Cut Cloudy Moon Collage from the backside of the second panel.  Cut Distant Sun Collage from the front of the third panel.

Cut blue cardstock with the 3-⅝" x 8-⅝" Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  Attach the rectangle behind the Distant Sun Collage panel - align the left edges.  Trim the right edge.  Trim the top and bottom edges of the tri-folded card.

Prep the Intricate Mini Butterflies die by rubbing it briskly with scrunched waxed paper to help release the detailed diecuts.  Blend yellow, chartreuse, green, teal and blue inks on smooth white cardstock.  Dry the inks, then cut it with the Intricate Mini Butterflies die.  I cut two sets of the butterflies so I could select the sizes and colors  I wanted for the card.

The butterflies are just glued at the center, allowing the wings to lift at the edges.  Attach the 3 smallest butterflies to the blue area within the Distant Sun Collage.  Attach the 4th butterfly partially over the bottom edge of the Cloudy Moon Collage.  Attach the remaining 3 butterflies to the card front.

Cut Tilted Thanks from the turquoise sheet in the Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad.  Attach the greeting to the card and add turquoise Pastel Jewels

Tri-fold collage cards are fun to create - and receive!  Substitute birds or dragonflies instead of butterflies for a totally different look.  Or maybe a plush brown felt Layered Polar Bear holding a bunch of balloons just barely floating over the window collages?

 

Thanks for visiting - see you again this weekend...

 

Supplies

 

94626 Cloudy Sun Collage

94627 Cloudy Moon Collage

94628 Distant Sun Collage

94641 Intricate Mini Butterflies

94470 Tilited Thanks

jwl002 Pastel Jewels

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

Hearts and Hugs by Jean Okimoto

 

Doesn't it seem like we just celebrated Christmas...and now Valentine's Day is a week away? Here's a design that could be a quick Valentine - or a friendship card.  It's also some inspiration for February's Memory Box Challenge - this month's theme is "I'll drink to that."  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with slimline that's a mix of Memory Box and Poppystamps designs.

It's great that the little Cuppa Love heart can be perfectly aligned with the 4th heart from the bottom of the Sprinkle Heart Collage!  I think it looks like the collage hearts are floating out of the coffee cup.  Yes or no??

Cut gray cardstock with the 1-½" x 6-½" Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles die.  Cut the rectangle with Sprinkle Heart Collage.

Cut bright pink cardstock with the same rectangle die, then trim a little from the top and both sides so it'll fit behind the heart collage.  No guessing or measuring needed!

Here's an easy way to add the coffee.  Cut Cuppa Love from natural cardstock.  Attach Scor-Tape to the oval coffee insert die and cut the oval from brown cardstock.   Attach the (self-adhesive) brown oval behind the surface of the coffee cup and sprinkle that section with detail clear embossing powder.  Heat-emboss it.  It'll be glossy, like hot coffee (or really dark chocolate) - and adhered too.

Cut the cup insert from lighter pink cardstock.  Cut the Cuppa Love heart from a pink sheet in the Graceful Garden Glitter Pad.

Attach Scor-Tape behind a scrap of the bright pink cardstock and cut the Poppystamps Playful Hugs.

Attach the diecuts to a gray slimline card (3-½" x 8-½").  Add jewels from the Pastel Fairy Jewels set - these are from the first column of the jewels.  Cut a slimline-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Big thanks to everyone who ordered my LOVE...Simply Stated card kits from Impress - hope you liked the designs!

Thanks for visiting...have a great weekend!

 

 

Supplies

 

94548 Sprinkle Heart Collage

94637 Cuppa Love

94554 Wrapped Stitched Slim Rectangles

jwl002 Pastel Jewels

gp1002 Graceful Garden Glitter Pad

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

2407 Playful Hugs

Heartfelt Garden Greetings by Jean Okimoto

Plant a row of hearts with the Cattail Border and Heart Ring Stack for a Valentine or friendship card.  Add delicate Pastel Jewels and a glittered heart for sparkle.  Happy weekend everyone,  Jean Okimoto here with a garden-themed slimline in soft shades of pink and gray.

Cut textured gray cardstock with the 2-¼" x 7-¼" Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  It creates a crisp extended bottom edge for the Cattail Border.  Tops of the border will be cut off, but they'll be covered with hearts anyway.  Cut the rectangle with Cattail Border.  Handcut the "ground" at the base - wonky, to resemble a garden surface.

Cut Heart Ring Stack from the gray cardstock to outline the hearts - it'll be easy to adhere later if you place two ¼" wide strips of lined doublestick tape horizontally behind the cardstock before diecutting.    Cut Heart Ring Stack again from a pink 6x6 in the Berry Red Collection.  Leave the hearts and little pieces in the die.  Trim the heart on the right from both pink and gray diecuts.  

Place the Heart Ring Stack die over the border to check if any of the cattails will still be visible and trim them if necessary.  Trim the second stem on the left so it'll be short enough to attach a jewel later.  Attach just the base of the border to a white slimline card (3-½" x 8-½").   Several of the stems will be adjusted next.

Attach the gray Heart Ring Stack outline - adjust the stems to align with the hearts when necessary.  Cut the 5th heart from a pink 6x6 in the Graceful Garden Glitter Pad.  Attach the hearts and pieces to the card.

Attach the yellow, peach and pink Pastel Fairy Jewels to most of the stems.

Attach two scraps of white cardstock with doublestick tape and cut a double layer of the For You Post Script background.  Pressure-emboss it with the detailed top layer of the greeting to create a debossed area to easily attach the pink layer.  Cut the top layer from the pink cardstock used for the hearts.  Assemble the greeting and attach it to the card.

Cut a slimline-sized piece of cardstock to protect jewels and card front for mailing.  

Create this design in red and brown if you need a few more Valentines.  Or red with black stems on a Kraft card.  Heart Ring Stack is another very versatile design that's perfect throughout the year.

Thanks for visiting - enjoy the weekend, see you next week!

  

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94709 94709 For You Posh Script

94625 Tall Cattails

94662 Heart Ring Stack

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

jwl002 Pastel Jewels

sp1001 Berry Red

gp1002 Graceful Garden Glitter Pad

Watercolored Heart Ring Stack by Jean Okimoto

 

Send heartfelt greetings with a row of ink-blended, watercolored, gold-spritzed hearts - and a pop of glitter.  Contrast it with a simple matte greeting that's just half of the great new Sending Love Daily Script die set.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another favorite die from our Valentine '23 Collection.

Blend Distress Oxides on watercolor paper.  Colors used here are dried marigold, kitsch flamingo and picked raspberry.  They don't capitalize the names so I just go along with that!  Use a large round paintbrush to add splotches of water to the different colors.  Let the colors begin to blend for a few minutes then heat-set it.  Spritz it with Imagines Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz.  Splatter it with a few drops of the spritz too.  Air-dry it for a few minutes, then heat-set everything.

Cut it with the 1-⅝" wide Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  Trim the short ends so it's about 6" wide. 

Cut white cardstock with the 1-⅜" wide Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.  Trim the short ends so it's about 5-½" wide.  Cut it with Heart Ring Stack.

Attach the Heart Ring Stack and the offcut to the watercolored strip - offset the rings for dimension.  

Cut the love background portion from the Sending Love Daily Script from a dark pink 6x6 in the Berry Red Collection.  Cut the love overlay from a pink 6x6 in the Vibrant Violet Collection.

 

Cut the light coppery 6x6 from the Majestic Hues Glitter Pad with the 5th heart portion of the Heart Ring Stack die.

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

Heart Ring Stack is perfectly-sized for different card formats.  Add it to your next slimline, mini-slimline, A6 or A7 designs for a unique, classic design that's not too wonky...or too traditional.  

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94662

94661 Sending Love Daily Script

gp1008 Majestic Hues Glitter Pad

sp1001 Berry Red

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

sp1007 Vibrant Violet

Lightly-Layered Luxe Peony by Jean Okimoto

Remember vellum?  Transform the beautiful Luxe Peony into a delicate camellia with layers of sweet pink vellum.  The shadowy overlapped petals create depth and dimension and a soft background for the glittery yellow centers  from the Layered Fresh Flowers die set. Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a floral slimline that could be a Valentine - or a thinking-of-you card for someone deserves a hug.

Cut two sets of Luxe Peony from pink vellum.  Layer the diecuts to build three blossoms - you'll have a few extra pieces.  Use short bits of doublestick tape near the center of the flower to attach the layers.    They'll be hidden by the centers of the flowers.Cut the two centers - from the Layered Fresh Flowers set - from a yellow 6x6 in the Graceful Garden Glitter Pad.  Cut the small round piece in half.  Attach the centers.  Lightly curl several petals using the side of a bone folder or the plastic flower burnishing tool.

Cut two sets of  leaves - from the the Luxe Peony set - from a green 6x6 in the Lush Green Collection.

Cut Pinpoint Burst Heart from white cardstock

Cut two white solid backgrounds from Big Hugs Posh Script.  Pressure-emboss one of them  with the delicate Big Hugs die using the rubber embossing mat and plate(s) required for your machine.The embossed greeting makes it easy to attach the pink glittered layer.    Cut a pink 6x6 from the Delicate Pastels Glitter Pad with the delicate Big Hugs die.  

 

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½").  Add clear Christmas Fairy Dewdrops.  Cut a slimline-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Experiment with different colors and weights of vellum and discover new ways to use the Memory Box floral dies.  Assemble a stash of floral cards and be ready for any occasion!

Thanks for visiting...see you on Friday!

 

 

Supplies

 

94714

94474 Layered Fresh Flowers

94639 Pinpoint Burst heart

94528 Big Hugs Posh Script

sp1003 Lush Green

gp1002 Graceful Garden Glitter Pad

ddp101 Christmas Fairy Dewdrops

gp1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad