Be Cool with the New Sunburst Stripe Circle and the Sweet Seal by Jean Okimoto

 

The new Sunburst Stripe Circle sets a summer scene for the Sweet Seal and offcuts of the Wave Ribbon Collage.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here with a friendship card I've created for you today.  

Cut Sunburst Stripe Circle from yellow cardstock.  Trim it with the 2-¼" Rectangle Basics die. 

Cut   Sweet Seal from gray cardstock.  Attach a scrap of black cardstock behind his face.

Cut Wave Ribbon Collage - we'll just use the offcuts here today.  Attach the offcuts - staggered and in wonky order -  to an A-2 card of textured white cardstock.  The top two offcuts are from the top and bottom of the die.  Their straight edges are partially concealed by the seal.  

Stamp the greeting - from the Wirework Hearts Clear Stamp Set - on smooth white cardstock - with Summertime VersaFineClair.  Love that great orange!  Trim the greeting with the smallest Rectangle Basics die.  Attach it with foam dots.

Attach the sun and seal to the card - then add some orange gem stickers.

If you're in the Seattle area (or nearby!)  - save Saturday the 18th for the Impress Holiday Kick-Off.  Great displays, the latest holiday products, inspiring samples - and a Birch Press Design trunk show too!  The first 25 people at each store receive an Impress  goodie bag - and everyone gets a 10% shopping discount.  Make a Memory Box/Poppystamps/Birch Press Designs  wistlist and bring it with you!

Join us for my the first Birch Press Design class at 1:00 pm on the 18th (a new time) too.  Make 6 cards - 3 for the holidays and 3 for any occasion -  using the latest and greatest dies and stamps from Birch Press,  and beautiful artpapers from Shizen Design.  Birch Press steel dies - like those from Memory Box and Poppystamps - are original designs by Dave Brethauer and they're made in the USA.  

Thanks for visiting.  See you again on Saturday - here on Outside the Box - or at Impress in Tukwila, WA.

 

 

Supplies

 

94048 Sunburst Stripe Circle craft die

99906 Sweet Seal craft die

94005 Wave Ribbon Collage craft die

CL5218 Wirework Hearts clear stamp set

30087 Circle Basics Set

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

Summer Meadow Collage, Cascadia Butterfly Trio and Leavenworth Butterfly Trio by Jean Okimoto

 

Watercolors create a soft background for the Summer Meadow Collage and a trio of vellum butterflies.  Add a greeting from the Sentimental Iris Clear Stamps Set, gold-glittered accents and turquoise gem stickers.  Hi everyone, Jean Okimoto here with a thrifty design using the remainder of yesterday's watercolored background.  

Kaleidacolor dye ink refills are great as liquid watercolors and come in a wide range of beautiful colors.  

Cut Summer Meadow Collage from white cardstock - leave a generous  border of cardstock.  

Place the watercolored background behind it and tape everything securely so it doesn't shift.  Diecut through both layers at once.  The resulting background wasn't a complete rectangle because portions of it were used on another card - but it won't show.  Optional - trim a tiny amount from the edges of the background so the colors won't be visible from the side.  

Cut Cascadia Butterfly Trio from lime, purple and turquoise vellum.  I cut all three sizes of each so I could try different color and size combinations.  If you don't have colored vellum,  diecut the butterflies from white vellum,  then sponge them with Brilliance Pearlescent Purple, Lime and Jade inks. Yes, Brilliance metallic inks dry on vellum!   Air-dry the butterflies - heat-setting them may cause curling.

Cut gold glitter cardstock or heavy paper with the antennae/centers from the Leavenworth Butterfly Trio.  

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded 5-½" square card of textured white cardstock.

Stamp the greeting - from the Sentimental Iris Clear Stamp Set - on white cardstock with Verdant VersaFine Clair.  Dry the ink, then cut then cut it with the ¾" x 2" Rectangle Basics die.  Attach the greeting - use a foam dot on the right edge.

Add turquoise gem stickers.

Enjoy a 25% shopping discount at the Impress 31st Birthday Celebration this Saturday, July 21.  Yes, 31 years of creativity, inspiration and one-stop shopping for the latest papercrafting supplies.  Bring your Memory Box and Poppystamps wishlists and add some great designs to your personal collection!  The birthday discount code for your online shopping on July 21 is 31st birthday.  

Thanks for visiting - see you again on Saturday!

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

99095 Cascadia Butterfly Trio

99098 Leavenworth Butterfly Trio

94013 Summer Meadow Collage craft die

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

CL5202 Snetimental Iris clear stamp set

Flitter Side Butterfly and Wonderful Jotted Script by Jean Okimoto

 

Wonderful Jotted Script and a trio of Flitter Side Butterflies create a colorful summer design today.  Paint a vivid background of diluted Kaleidacolor dye ink refills, diecut the butterflies, add a layered greeting and gem stickers - and you're ready for any occasion.  

Hello, Jean Okimoto here with a watercolored design in some of my favorite colors.  It's a versatile design that would be beautiful in your favorite colors too!

Paint the rough side of watercolor paper with loose, watery layers of Kaleidacolor dye ink refills.  Outline and define some areas with a waterbrush.

Add color variations, spots and splotches by lightly spritzing a large clean stamp block with water and pressing it firmly onto the watercolor paper.  Lift it - it'll have a few inky bubbles - press it onto a section with a contrasting color.  Let those little bubbles create some very cool spots and splotches.  Dry the inks with a heat-tool by alternately heating both sides of the paper to prevent curling.  

Cut the detailed Flitter Side Butterfly from green, purple and turquoise cardstock.  Cut the background butterflies from the watercolored paper.

Cut the background Wonderful Jotted Script from natural cardstock.  Cut the detailed "wonderful" from a slightly bluer shade of cardstock.

Attach the diecuts to an A-6 (4-½" x 6-¼") card of natural cardstock.

Print "you are" with a label maker.  Attach them to the card with double-stick tape - the label adhesives aren't always secure on cardstock.

Add pale lavender gem stickers - I've colored clear stickers with a Sharpie.  

Create a stash of watercolored backgrounds and they'll be ready - and dry (!) - when you need a quick card.  Butterflies are always a great design element for watercoloring.  Colors can be bright and splashy or soft and dreamy.  View the collection of Memory Box Butterflies and pick your favorites!

Big thanks to everyone from last weekend's BUTTERFLIES + BLOSSOMS class at Impress.  Hope you liked the colorful summer designs and techniques.  Special thanks too - Ann, Cindi, Shari and Erin - for helping everyone fill their shopping baskets.  

Be sure to stop by both Impress stores on Saturday July 21st.  It's Impress' 31st Birthday and they're celebrating with a 25% shopping discount for everyone!  Bring your Memory Box and Poppystamps wishlist - it's time to fill your collection with the stamps and dies you've been admiring!

Thanks for visiting...hope you like butterflies and watercolors as much as I do!

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94002 Flitter Side Butterfly craft die

94007 Wonderful Jotted Script craft die

Big Butterfly Wing, Wrapped Stitch Rectangles and Kaleidacolors by Jean Okimoto

 

Big Butterfly Wing and Kaleidacolor inkpads make it easy to design simple summer cards for any occasion.  Wrapped Stitch Rectangles create the perfect frame to balance the bold butterfly without competing for attention.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here with a quick and easy card for you.

Cut white cardstock with the 4-¼" x 5-½" Wrapped Stitch Rectangle.  Cut it with Big Butterfly Wing.

Keep the inks separated and roll a 4" soft rubber brayer over the Melon Melody Kaleidacolor.  Lift and roll the brayer towards you 10 to 15 times to ink the entire roller. Brayer the inks onto the rougher side of  watercolor paper - roll the brayer back and forth several times to transfer all of the ink to the watercolor paper.

Use a waterbrush to move the colors around and blend them a bit.  Extend the top and bottom colors to fit the height of the butterfly diecut.  Add a light spritz of water to create a few random light and dark areas.  Dry the inks with a heat-tool.  Alternately heating both sides of the watercolor paper reduces curling.  

Trim the watercolor paper using the 4" x 5-¼" Rectangle Basics die.  

Cut the body/antennae section from gold glittered cardstock or heavy paper.  

Attach the diecuts to an A-6 (4-½" x 6-¼") card of yellow cardstock.    Add green gem stickers.

Butterflies are great with watercolors - the Big Butterfly Wing takes full advantage of them.    Kaleidacolor dye inks range from soft pastels to vibrant jewel tones.  They work like liquid watercolors and their great color combinations eliminate the guesswork of picking colors.   Brayer them directly onto the paper as we did here - or press them onto a large stamp block for a palette of five perfectly coordinated inks.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at another BUTTERFLIES AND BLOSSOMS class at Impress on the 14th.  Mix, match and layer great artpapers, felt, sequins and industrial tape on bright summer cards for birthdays, thank-yous and just to say "hello."  We'll use Big Butterfly Wing and Flitter Side Butterfly -  and the best-selling Poppystamps Plumed Peacock, with matching flowers.

Thanks for visiting - we're just one day away from the weekend!

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

99943 Big Butterfly Wing craft die

30094 Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

Hutton Wreath, Thanks Jotted Script and Feathered Friends by Jean Okimoto

The happy Feathered Friends owl joins the new Hutton Wreath and Thanks Jotted Script on a color-splashed thank you card today.  Hi everyone - Jean Okimoto here with some of my favorite dies - and a timesaving 3-in-1 Jotted Script technique.

I love thinking of ways to save time - the husband says I'll spend 30 minutes trying to find a way to save 30 seconds.  If everyone saved 30 seconds, it would add up, wouldn't it?  Here's how to adhere the four Jotted Script dies,  glitter-ize them and add a bit of contrast against a matching background.  Not exactly rocket-science, but it's foolproof and sparkly!

Attach Scor-Tape to coral creme cardstock and diecut the Thanks Jotted Script background.  Cut the delicate "thanks" from dark brown cardstock.

Carefully press the delicate diecut onto the adhesive-covered background diecut.  Place the liner over it and give it an extra press.  Brush ultra-fine iridescent glitter over the remaining exposed adhesive.  I love the Impress Sparkle Glitter...it's almost time to buy another jar!

Cut Hutton Wreath from green cardstock.  

Cut Feathered Friends Deep Edge Dies owl from screenprinted paper.  Cut the face from natural cardstock.  Cut the wing from gold wrinkled paper.  Both papers are from Shizen Designs - I got mine from Impress.  The eyes and beak are on the same die - cut them from orange cardstock.  Use a marker to color the eyes black.  

Attach the diecuts to an A-6 (4-½" x 6-¼") card of coral creme cardstock.  Add peachy-pink gem stickers.

We're loving the "Jotteds" - it's hard not to use them.  I'll use them for stenciling on a future card.  Or cut the bold outline from the front of the card, then attach the delicate script on the inside to create a word window card.   So many possibilities!

Thanks for visiting - keep cool!

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94008 Hutton Wreath craft die

94011 Thanks Jotted Script craft die

30102 Feathered Friends craft die

Beach Scene Card for This Month's Challenge by Anne Thompson

I created a beach scene card for this month's challenge using the new WAVE RIBBON COLLAGE die and a variety of dies from the Nautical section of the Memory Box catalog.  I was inspired by a wallhanging I recently made, an "accidental landscape" of the ocean and beach which I used as the backdrop for the card photo below.

materials used:

• blue notecard
• Bluebird Distressed Dots paper
• Key Lime Gingham paper
• light brown cardstock with torn edge for the beach; dark brown cardstock for seaweed
• WAVE RIBBON COLLAGE 94005
• OCEANSIDE LIGHTHOUSE AND WAVES 99736
• BEACHFRONT SEAGULLS 99724
• SEAWEED STALKS 99717
• CHEERFUL CRABS 99722
• OCEANA CORNER 99144
• ELEGANT SHOREBIRDS 99730

Die cut the Wave Ribbon Collage into the front of the notecard.

Adhere a piece of the Bluebird Distressed Dots paper  4 X 5 1/4 to the inside righthand panel of the notecard.

Glue on a piece of light brown cardstock with the torn edge overlapping the bottom of the Wave Ribbon Collage cut-out for the beach.

Die cut the Seaweed Stalks from Key Lime Gingham paper and dark brown cardstock.  Arrange on the beach, leaving some parts unglued so you can tuck in other elements.

Tuck in the white cardstock shell and starfish cut from the Oceana Corner among the seaweed stalks.

Die cut the crabs from olive green textured paper.  Add them among the seaweed stalks.

Add the two seagulls cut from white cardstock using a glue pen on their legs/feet and on the wave lines to anchor them.

Cut the waves twice in white cardstock using the Lighthouse/Waves die.  Use a glue pen on the Wave Ribbon Collage lines to hold three of them in place.

To finish the card die cut the heron/crane from white cardstock and use small foam dots to pop it onto the card.

Creating this scene was fun to do.  We look forward to seeing what you come up with for this month's Challenge!  

Happy Crafting!

Supplies

94005 Wave Ribbon Collage craft die

99736 Oceanside Lighthouse and Waves

99724 Beachfront Seagulls

99717 Seaweed Stalks

99722 Cheerful Crabs

99144 Oceana Corner

99730 Elegant Shorebirds

Wave Ribbon Collage, Thanks Jotted Script and Forget Me Not Blooms by Jean Okimoto

 

The new Wave Ribbon Collage and Thanks Jotted Script have become instant favorites - and it's easy to see why!  Add some blossoms from the Forget Me Not Blooms set for a quick see-through card that works for any occasion.

Hi everyone, Jean Okimoto here with another idea featuring the Summer 2018 Collection. Duo-tone Memory Box Notecards are great for the Wave Ribbon Collage - the vibrant outer colors contrast against the crisp white interior and create some very cool shadow effects as the card is opened.  

Cut an unfolded Key Lime Notecard with the Wave Ribbon Collage.  Cut Thanks Jotted Script from a portion of a Key Lime Notecard for the background - and a darker green for the delicate script.

Attach adhesive label paper or a sticker sheet to bright orange felt and cut the blossoms from the Forget Me Not Blooms set. The paper backing stabilizes the felt and keeps adhesives from saturating the felt.  Cut another set of blossoms from white cardstock. "Sandwich" the delicate green stem lines between the felt and white blossoms.  This creates a clean back view and sturdy base for the felt pieces.  

Attach the greeting and add clear gem stickers...5 instead of my usual 3!  

Wave Ribbon Collage can be used in so many ways.  Create an underwater scene and add  strands of seaweed. Turn it horizontally for waves on a beachy summer card.  Transform the delicate lines into balloon strings too.  It can be quite scary in black on a spooky Halloween card.  Laura wove strips of artpapers from her stash thru the collage for a very cool look.  

I love designing with abstract dies like Wave Ribbon Collage - hope you do too!  There are so many ways to use the great dies from our Summer 2018 Collection.  We appreciate your support and choice of Memory Box, Poppystamps and Birch Press products - personally designed by Dave Brethauer and proudly made in the USA.  

Looking forward to seeing everyone at this weekend's SURF + TURF class at Impress!  Yes, we'll be using Wave Ribbon Collage as a backdrop for a very easy* (*promise!!) origami fish.  Impress just received more great screenprints from Shizen Designs..can't wait to use them too!

Thanks for stopping by - see you again here on Saturday, or at Impress...

 

 

Supplies

 

94005 Wave Ribbon Collage craft die

94011 Thanks Jotted Script craft die

99997 Forget Me Not Blooms craft die

Key Lime A2 notecards

You Make Me Smile Card by Donna Sledzik

Good morning everyone!

Today I have another summer card featuring the new Riverbank Oval die.  

To create this card, I die cut the the Riverbank Oval from white cardstock, using the oval opening as a stencil for my background.

I used a circle punch to create a mask from a post-it-note and placed that over the sky area before I began sponging my inks on the background.

I used tape to secure the oval die card to my card front and sponged the background using Distress Oxide Inks, using Fossilized Amber, Antique Linen, Broken China and Faded Jeans. (I love the soft color the oxide inks give the background!) I misted the background with plain water to give the sponged area some texture.

Once the area was dry, I removed the circle mask and painted the sun in using Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide ink. 

Next, I glued the Riverbank Oval die cut over the sponged background and glued my die cut sailboat in place.  I used a sponge to apply Antique Linen ink to the bottom of the boat and painted the waves under the boat with white acrylic paint.  

I stamped the sentiment on a kraft strip of cardstock and embossed it with white embossing powder.

I adhered the card front to a pool cardstock layer, which I glued to a kraft card base, and I finished it off with a few clear embellishments.

Thanks for stopping by today!

 

Supplies

 

94010 Riverbank Oval craft die

99996 Sailboat Circle Frame craft die

CL5200 Whale Hello There clear stamp set

New Flitter Side Butterfly and Thanks Jotted Script by Jean Okimoto

The new Flitter Side Butterfly and Thanks Jotted Script add a breezy touch to any card - here's a bright summer design for you.   Hello, Jean Okimoto here with more designs from the Summer 2018 Collection.  

Paint watercolor paper with diluted Kaleidacolor Dye Ink Refills - leave a few white areas for contrast.  Spritz it lightly with water, then heat-set it.  Cut it with the 1-¾" x 3" Rectangle Basics die.  

Attach Scor-Tape to the top of coral creme cardstock and cut the solid Flitter Side Butterfly.  Cut the detailed Flitter Side Butterfly from gray cardstock.

Remove the tape liner and attach the detailed butterfly - slightly offset.  Brush clear iridescent glitter onto the remaining adhesive to create a very sparkly butterfly.  

Diecut Thanks Jotted Script from coral creme and gray cardstock.  Layer the pieces - adhere the first and last letters, then adhere the remaining letters.

Cut a 1-¾" x 3-¾" strip of coral creme cardstock.  

Attach everything to a top-folded A-2 card of gray cardstock - use foamdots for the right edge of the butterfly.  Add peachy-pink gemstickers

 

 

The loose, elegant typestyle of the four Jotted Script dies makes it easy to add a fresh, contemporary look to cards.planners and layouts.  A few tiny dots of glue adheres the layers.  You'll see a lot of Jotted Script cards here on our blog!

Thanks very much for stopping by again...enjoy the weather and have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94011 Thanks Jotted Script craft die

94002 Flitter Side Butterfly craft die

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

New Summer Meadow Collage and Awesome Jotted Script by Jean Okimoto

Butterflies and blossoms from the just-released Summer Meadow Collage create the perfect backdrop for the new Awesome Jotted Script set.  Add a watercolored background and pale turquoise gem stickers and you'll have a sweet card for a very special person.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here with more inspiration from our Summer 2018 Collection.

Cut white cardstock with the 3-¾" x 4-¾" Pinpoint Rectangle Layer.  Cut Summer Meadow Collage - save the center offcut.  This die is designed to  cut a delicate frame with an open center.  We'll recyle the offcut to create a solid background for the greeting here.

Paint watercolor paper with pale, diluted layers of Kaleidacolor ink refills.  They're perfect as liquid watercolors - and come in over 50 great shades ranging from soft pastels to bright jewel tones.  Airdry it for a few minutes, give it light spritz of water to soften the colors,  then heat-set it.  Cut it with the same Pinpoint Rectangle Layer die. 

Stamp the greeting - from the Spring Lilacs Clear Stamps - on the collage offcut with Starlite Black Brilliance.  

Cut the delicate Awesome Jotted Script from dark gray cardstock.  Cut the background from pink cardstock.  Here's a tip to make layering quick and easy...attach both ends of the delicate script to the matching background first, then secure the remaining portion.  You'll never run out of background - or have too much background.  

Attach the diecuts to a 5-½" square white card.  Add pale turquoise gem stickers.

There are three other Jotted Script die sets - birthday, thanks and wonderful - and we love all of them too!  They may look fragile - but they're easy to diecut.  Trust me - I cut twelve "awesome" sets and twelve "thanks"  for last week's Summer Hearts class in just a few minutes.  

Special thanks to everyone from the BEYOND THE BOX and SUMMER HEARTS classes at Impress last weekend.  I appreciate how so many of you took both classes - and drove or ferried to Tukwila for the entire day!  Thanks too - Shari and Laura - for helping everyone fill their baskets. 

Thanks for visiting - see you again tomorrow...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94015 Awesome Jotted Script craft die

94013 Summer Meadow Collage craft die

CL5199 Spring Lilacs clear stamp set

30065 Pinpoint Rectangle Layers