Create a Dark Floral Card with Scribble Posies and Scribble Fronds by Jean Okimoto

Combine Scribble Posies Outline,  Scribble Frond Background and Scribble Frond Outline on a spring card delivering a simple upbeat message.  There were happy thoughts - literally - when I saw this great new collection!  

Hello, happy weekend - Jean Okimoto here with another blog blitz design and a chance for you to win a die from the Garden Bouquet Collection.  Bright florals on a dark background are a great spring theme - but it can be challenging to create that look with stamps.  Memory Box dies and cardstock create that look quickly and easily.

 

Cut Scribble Frond Outline from Easter Grass cardstock.  Cut Scribble Frond Background from Juicy Pear cardstock.

Cut Scribble Posies Outline from flamingo, white and Coral Creme cardstock.  Save the delicate center and outer outlines too.   (Outer outlines??)  

Cut scraps of yellow glittered cardstock and attach them behind the blossoms.  

Stamp the label outline - from the new Big and Little Words Clear  Stamp Set - with Verdant VersaFine Clair.  Stamp the greeting.  Dry the ink, the trim the cardstock and trim the corners with a corner punch.  I used the 4mm corner section  from the WeRMemoryKeepers corner rounder.  

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded 5-⅜" square card of textured dark gray cardstock.  Add pale peach gemstickers.

Would you like a chance to win Scribble Posies Outline Die Set?  Just add a comment to this post by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, May 12th.  One winner will be selected at random to win the new die.  All winners will be posted on the Outside the Box blog on Monday, May 13th at 6pm EST.  Good luck, and I hope you will visit us often this week!

If you're in the Seattle area - join us for another ASIA NOW class at Impress on Mother's Day, May 12th.   We're making 6 contemporary cards featuring our favorite almost-Asian dies, beautiful artpapers and lots of techniques.

Impress is celebrating Mom and Ladies Day at Tukwila too - Moms and ladies receive a 30% discount on one item of their choice on Sunday, May 12th.   Take advantage of this great discount and buy one of the Memory Box dies you've been eyeing!

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94273 Scribble Frond Background craft die

94272 Scribble Frond Outline craft die

94268 Scribble Posies Outline craft die

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

New Starflower Flower Frame with Big and Little Words by Jean Okimoto

Create spring-into-summer cards with the just-released Starflower Flower Frame and a thoughtful greeting from Big and Little Words. These great new designs from our April 2019 Collection began shipping yesterday - they'll be at  your favorite Retailer soon!  Hello, happy weekend - Jean Okimoto here with a watercolored card featuring one of many beautiful flower dies from this wonderful new collection.

Press the Melon Melody Kaleidacolor inkpad onto a large acrylic block.  Use it as a palette to paint watercolor paper  in soft overlapping shades of green, yellow and orange.  Heat-set the inks.  Splash it with a few dots of the green ink and set it aside to dry.

Pressure-emboss Starflower Flower Frame on a Lemongrass Notecard using the embossing mat and plates required for your machine.  The embossing creates a nice base for attaching the diecuts - simply add a few drops of adhesive and place them in the debossed areas surrounding the embossed design.

Diecut Starflower Flower Frame from pale green cardstock - save the oval flower centers.  Attach the diecut and flower centers to the notecard.

Cut the watercolored paper with the Starflower Flower Frame - we'll just use the center portion here.  Attach it to the notecard.

Stamp the greetings - from the new Big and Little Words Clear Stamp Set - on pale green cardstock with Pearlescent Thyme Brilliance.  Dry the ink and diecut the greeting with the smallest Rectangle Basics die.

Attach the greeting and yellow gem stickers to the card.  Here's a closeup showing the great embossed details on the blossoms.

This special release is filled with beautiful flower designs - traditional, classic, contemporary and scribbly.  I love the solid background and delicate detailed combinations - you'll see them often here on Outside the Box and in my classes.

Big Thanks to everyone from last weekend's Charming Prints class at Impress!  It's always great to see my friends and loyal students - and to meet newcomers too.  Special thanks to Jenny for her special Easter candies - so yummy in those sweet little spring pails!  Thanks too - Erin and Lynne - for helping everyone fill their shopping baskets!

If you're in the Seattle area this weekend be sure to take advantage of Impress' annual Spring Sale and their 20% shopping discount.  Check out the Memory Box Collection at Impress  - don't forget your your Memory Box/Poppystamps/Birch Press shopping list!  Enjoy inspiring samples, beautiful displays and great customer service.

Join us for a new ASIA NOW class at Impress today too - and take advantage of the 20% shopping discount for class supplies, and everything you've ever wanted.  We'll be using some of the great new dies and stamps from the April Collection - along with beautiful papers, lots of techniques and a very cool origami fish.

Thanks for visiting...have a great weekend!

Supplies

 

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

94246 Starflower Flower Frame craft die

Lemongrass A2 notecards

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

Whale Hello by Laura Fulcher

Greetings friends.  Or should I say whale hello there friends?  Today I want to talk about creating a striped background using Distress Oxide inks.

First, I started by adding some strips of low-tack tape to my white cardstock.  I used strips of Eclipse tape, but you could use washi tape as well:

I used a ruler/lined mat underneath my card so that my stripes would be straight.  Notice that I used various widths of tape as well as random spacing between the tape strips.

Next, I colored between the various strips of tape using Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean and Faded Jeans Distress Oxide ink.  Use extra post it sheets for masking if needed.

Before I removed the tape, I lightly spritzed the ink with water to make it look splotchy.

When I removed the tape, I was left with this:

To color the whales, I colored the top part with C3, C5 and B21 Copic markers.  For the bottom of the whales, I used C1 and a tiny bit of C3 Copic markers.  Here is a close up of the coloring:

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you had a whale of a good time.

 

 

Supplies

 

94228 Wonderful Whale Frame craft die

CL5240 Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

99969 Swirl Switch Clouds craft die

Clean and Simple Cards with Blooming Floral Circle Frame by Anne Thompson

Maybe you'll recognize this first card from the introduction to this month's challenge.

I chose to feature one die on a series of clean and simple cards for each season: BLOOMING FLORAL CIRCLE FRAME 94218.  

For this spring card, I used an aqua notecard, white cardstock cut with the Blooming Floral Circle Frame, cloud paper cut with one of the Wrapped Circle dies just a tad bigger than the floral circle as an underlay, and a scrap of pool distressed dot paper cut with a small circle die the same diameter as the inner circle of the frame.  I stamped "springtime wishes" from
SPRINGTIME TYPEWRITER SENTIMENTS CL5239 using Hero Arts Tide Pool ink on a scrap of white cardstock.  I layered everything up using a glue pen, tucking the sentiment under one of the branches and adding the small cut-outs on the end of that tag.

Want an even cleaner and simpler version?

Here I covered the front of a pink notecard with plaid paper, added the white cardstock Blooming Floral Circle Frame, and glued on a bow and a few small pearls.  Summer card!

Here I've added fall and winter cards with the summer one.

For the oranges fall card (which I made as a birthday card with a sentiment from Bold Friendly Greetings CL5236), I used a gold cardstock and a darker orange one for the circle frames and layered them just a bit offset before adding the ribbon bow.  The winter dark chocolate card has a white cardstock circle frame over a kraft circle die cut to the same size and finished with a brown ribbon bow. 

I'm now thinking of other color combinations and celebrations appropriate for this design.  So many possibilities!

I also added coordinating papers to the inside panels of each card and also on the back--trying to use up some of the pretty papers from my 6X6 collections and scraps from previous projects.  

Happy Crafting!

Whale Hello by Donna Sledzik

Good morning everyone!

We are finally getting some warm temperatures here in New England so I thought a warm weather card was in order!

 

I love all the new ocean themed products from the new Memory Box release!  

For my card today I only used the center portion of the Wonderful Whale Frame Die. 

 I used white cardstock to die cut my pieces and sponged all the elements with Distress Oxide inks.  I misted the waves with plain water to create the look of water droplets.

I glued my background pieces to my card front and then added my whales and circle frame.  I used foam tape to adhere the largest whale to the card.

I stamped the sentiment with Versa Mark ink on a strip of black cardstock and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  Using foam tape I glued this to the card.

I glued the card front to a gray cardstock mat and using foam tape I adhered it to a white cardbase.  

To finish the card I added some Crystal Clear Nuvo Drops to the card!

I hope you all have a great day and thanks for stopping by today!

 

Supplies

 

94228 Wonderful Whale Frame craft die

CL5240 Oceanside Typewriter Sentiments clear stamp set

Seashell Circle Frame and Bold Friendly Greetings by Jean Okimoto

The delicate Seashell Circle Frame is great for thank-yous, birthdays and celebrations.  I've chosen a few pretty colors for this card - hope you'll like it in beachy greens+blues or natural driftwood+sandy tones too.    

Watercolored diecuts add a quick burst of colors - and a stamp from the Bold Friendly Greetings Clear Stamps Set adds a personal, almost-handwritten look.

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a card that practically shouts that spring's here and summer's coming!  Remember those precious scraps of watercolored paper you've been saving?  It's time to diecut them into pretty little shells for today's design.  Cut a bunch of extra shells - they'll be great for other cards and tags too. 

Prep the die by rubbing it briskly with scrunched wax paper - it helps release the diecut, and the little offcut bits and pieces. Cut Seashell Circle Frame from smooth white cardstock.  

Attach the watercolored shells behind the frame.  Stamp the greeting - one of many great messages from the Bold Friendly Greetings Clear Stamps - on a white A-6 notecard with Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance.

Attach the diecuts and lavender gem stickers.

There are so many materials available to diecut the shells - glitter paper, mirror cardstock, watercolored scraps and pearlescent paper are just a few ideas.  

Thanks for visiting...looking forward to seeing everyone again at the BEYOND THE BOX class at Impress on Sunday!

Thanks for stopping by...

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94225 Seashell Circle Frame craft die

CL5236 Bold Friendly Greetings

New Splendid Rose Frame and Butterfly Meadow by Jean Okimoto

The Splendid Rose Frame and butterflies from the Butterfly Meadow create a versatile card in soft spring colors.  Add a simple greeting from the Poppystamps Birthday Blowout Clear Stamp Set - and you're ready for any occasion.

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with an updated, glittery version of my March Challenge inspiration card.  But first - thank you for all of your wonderful comments during our Spring Blog Blitz and congrats to all of the winners.  Enjoy your prizes!

Create a dreamy background for these great new dies with a Pastel Kaleidacolor inkpad.  Spritz a 5" square of watercolor paper lightly with water.  Press the inkpad (keep the colors separated) onto a large acrylic stamp block.  Spritz the inks and let them blend for a few seconds.

Press the inks firmly onto the damp watercolor paper.  Lift and rotate the block to transfer the residual inks to other sections of the paper.  Lightly spritz the paper, then airdry it for a few minutes.  Heat-set it from both sides to minimize curling.

Cut it with the 3-¼" Circle Basics die - save a section for the greeting.

Cut the inner frame and rose section of the Splendid Rose Frame from dark gray cardstock. Cut the solid rose from pink cardstock.  Pressure-emboss it with the detailed rose using the embossing mat and plates required for your machine.  The embossing adds extra dimension to the pink diecut.

Stamp the greeting - from the Poppystamps Birthday Blowout Clear Stamp Set  - on a scrap of the watercolored paper with Espresso Truffle Memento Luxe. Love that contemporary typestyle!   Heat-set it.

Cut the butterflies from the Butterfly Meadow set from turquoise glittered cardstock.  Cut extra butterflies from gray cardstock and layer them for dimension.

Attach everything to a side-folded A-2 card of textured gray cardstock - use foam dots for the greeting.  Add clear gem stickers.

We'll be using several of the great Spring Collection stamps and dies in classes at Impress on Sunday March 10th.  We'll mix and match the just-released designs with classic favorites from my stash.  It's  FRIENDS + FLOWERS at 11:30 - followed by SIMPLY ASIAN at 2:30.  Cool techniques, some origami - and a lot of Memory Box, Poppystamps and Birch Press!  Join us if you're in the Seattle area - call Impress (206 901.9101) to reserve your seat.  

Thanks for visiting -  see you again next week...

 

Supplies

 

94238 Butterfly Meadow craft die

94229 Splendid Rose Frame craft die

CL470 Birthday Blowout clear stamp set

30087 Circle Basics Set

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