Typewriter Holiday Elements, Bold Christmas Greetings and Delicate Pine Frame by Jean Okimoto

Stamp the Typewriter Holiday Elements text block and trim it to create the perfect background for the Delicate Pine Frame.  Add a trio of glittered birds - also from the Delicate Pine Frame set - and a greeting from the Bold Christmas Greetings set for a classic  holiday greeting.

Hello, Jean Okimoto here with a simple design that's easy to mass-produce for everyone on your card list.  The "'twas the night before Christmas" text block is about 5-½" square and generously-sized for backgrounds.  It's easy to diecut two 2-½" x 3-¾" rectangles for this design.

Stamp the text block on white cardstock with Iced Spruce Distress Oxides.  Dry  the ink and cut it with a Rectangle Basics die.  Sponge the text very lightly with Delicata Shimmer Silver.  

Cut the Delicate Pine Frame from green cardstock.  Cut the birds from red glittered carstock.  

 Stamp the greeting - from the Bold Christmas Greetings set - with VersaFine Clair Tulip Red.  Cut it with the coordinating dies of the Bold  Christmas Greetings set. Cut an extra set of the words and layer it for dimension.

Attach the diecuts to side-folded A-2 card of white textured cardstock.  Add gold gem stickers.

Special thanks to everyone from Monday's MERRY + QUICK cards class t Impress.  It was fun meeting new students and catching up with my loyal Memory Box/Poppystamps/Birch Press fans too.  We used the just-released Birch Press Design triangle die sets and loved them.  Thanks Ann and Shari for helping everyone find the great products and supplies on their wishlists - and ordering more of the best-sellers!

Thanks for visiting...

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

CL5234 Typewriter Holiday Elements clear stamp set

CL5233 Bold Christmas Greetings clear stamp set

94031 Delicate Pine Frame craft die

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

32233 Bold Christmas Greetings die set

Thankful Jotted Script and Leaf Collage by Jean Okimoto

Leaf Collage and Kaleidacolor create a fall backdrop for the new Thankful Jotted Script die set.  It can  be a Thanksgiving card - or a thank you card for a special gift or act of kindness.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here with another November Challenge inspiration design.  

Press the inks from the Tomato Vine Kaleidacolor onto a large acrylic block - keep the colors separated as though the inkpad is in storage.  Use a tissue to remove the strip of brown ink. Spray the inks with two or three light spritzes of water.  

Press watercolor paper onto the diluted inks, then rotate it 90 degrees to pick up more color.  Set it aside to airdry.  I like to use large pieces of watercolor paper so I can rotate it to find the perfect blend of colors for the collage.

Splatter a few drops of water onto the dried watercolor paper.  Let it set for a few seconds, then press it with a double layer of folded papertowel to blot some of the color for a speckled look.  Dry it.  

Clean the acrylic block and press the inks onto it again.  Use a damp paintbrush to splatter some of the Olive Green ink (between the brown and the yellow). 

Cut white cardstock with the 3-½" x 4-¾" Wrapped Stitch Rectangle die.  Cut the rectangle with Leaf Collage.  

Trim the watercolor paper slightly smaller than the rectangle.  

Diecut Thankful Jotted Script from white and bronze metallic cardstock.

Attach the diecuts to a white 4-½" x 6-¼" card.  

Add ¼" circles of orange glittered cardstock.

Memory Box dies and Kaleidacolors are the perfect combination.  Create great backgrounds or blend  colors to create paint custom-colored diecuts.  Color extra pieces of watercolor paper and have them ready for future projects.

Enjoy the long weekend if you have a holiday on Monday.  If you're in Seattle, join us for the MERRY AND QUICK holiday cards class at Impress on Veterans Day.  

Thanks for visiting...

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94076 Thankful Jotted Script craft die

30094 Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

99800 Leaf Collage

Bold Greetings Die Set, Bold Greetings Clear Stamps, That’s Acute Triangle Die Set, and That’s Acute Clear Stamps by Jean Okimoto

Combine That's Acute Triangle Dies and That's Acute Triangle Clear Stamps and create a forest of colorful trees for the holidays.  Stamp and diecut a Bold Christmas Greetings  message for a pop of bright purple.   Add sparkly gem stickers - and that's it!

Hello, Jean Okimoto here with a plush felt design to warm a frosty winter day.  Or a rainy fall day!

 

Attach adhesive label paper - or a sticker sheet -  to wool-blend felt and cut triangles with  the dies from the That's Acute Triangle set.  The paper backing stabilizes the felt and keeps adhesives from soaking through.

Stamp the striped triangle from the That's Acute Triangle Clear Stamps with Imagine Crafts Radiant Neon Electric Purple.  Emboss it with detail clear powder.  The color of  the stamped image doesn't look like the inkpad - but it really is Electric Purple.  It's very electric, and very purple!

Cut it with the coordinating That's Acute Triangle die.

Cut a white cardstock background with the 3-½" x  4-¾" Wrapped Stitch Rectangle die.

Attach the diecuts to a white 4-½" x 6-¼" card.  Use foam dots for the tip of the stamped triangle.  Use foam dots for the top and bottom of the "y" and the bottom of the "j."

Attach silver gem stickers.

Have fun creating this card in your favorite colors too.  Mix  different shades of green with a bright red stamped triangle on a Kraft card.  Or try gold, copper and silver glittered cardstock with a teal striped triangle.  

I could spend hours mixing and matching colors & textures, matte & metallic, prints & solids.  There are so many options for these versatile dies and stamps!  They're all designed for you by Dave Brethauer and proudly made in the USA.  

If you're in the Seattle area and need a few fresh ideas for quick holiday cards - join us for the MERRY AND QUICK class at Impress on Veterans Day, November 12.  We're making 7 deceptively simple cards that don't look quick-and-easy - and they're great for mass-production too.  

Thanks for visiting -

 

Supplies

 

32232 That's Acute Triangle die set

CL5232 That's Acute Triangle clear stamp set

32233 Bold Christmas Greetings die set

CL5233 Bold Christmas Greetings clear stamp set

30094 Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

Equal Triangle Dies, Equal Triangle Clear Stamps, Leaf Collage and Hello Jotted Script by Jean Okimoto

Add details to Leaf Collage diecuts with the new Equal Triangle Clear Stamps, then layer them over stamped triangles cut with the coordinating Equal Triangle Dies.  It's just one of many ways to use the new triangle dies and clear stamps from the Holiday Happenings release.

Hello, Jean Okimoto here with another beyond-the-box way to accent your Memory Box diecuts.  Begin by pressing the Kaleidacolor Tomato Vine inks onto a large acrylic block.  Keep the colors separated, as though it's in storage.  Use a tissue to remove most of the strip of brown ink.    

Spray the inks with two or three spritzes of water then place watercolor paper (smoother-side-down) onto the diluted inks.  Press the paper down to absorb some ink, then rotate it about 90 degrees to pick up and blend more colors.  Carefully remove the paper and set it aside to dry.  Diecut the dried watercolor paper with Leaf Collage.  Save the scraps for the greeting background.

Cover slightly more than half a leaf with a Post-it Note.  Stamp it with the large "horizontal" lined triangle and VersaFine Clair Pinecone.  Stamp extras for future projects.

Remove the mask and dry the ink.  Cover the stamped half of the leaf with a new Post-It Note.  Shake Gold  Sheer Shimmer Spritz vigorously, then dribble some ink onto an acrylic block.  Use a paintbrush to splatter ink droplets over the unstamped half of the leaves.  

Stamp the two sizes of triangles from the Equal Triangle Clear Stamps on ivory cardstock with VersaFine Clair Verdant.  Dry the ink, then cut them with the coordinating Equal Triangle Dies.  

Cut ivory cardstock with the 2-¼" x 3-½" Rectangle Basics die.

Cut the Hello Jotted Script from green cardstock.  Cut the greeting background from the watercolored paper.

Attach the diecuts to a side-folded A-2 card of textured green cardstock.

Add light orange gem stickers.

Why not reate a stash of fall cards for birthdays, Thanksgiving and special thank-yous while your supplies are out?    Use the same technique to stamp circles, stars and ovals as ornaments for holiday cards too!  Try stamping the lines in opposite directions for a cool grid effect.  

Thanks for visiting - have a great weekend!

 

 

Supplies

 

32229 Equal Triangle die set

CL5229 Equal Triangle clear stamp set

99800 Leaf Collage

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

94069 Hello Jotted Script craft die

Thankful Jotted Script, Looking for Mr. Right Triangle and Snowberry Sprigs by Jean Okimoto

 

Create a simple fall card with the new Thankful Jotted Script set and Looking for Mr. Right Triangle stamps.  The delicate Snowberry Sprig - like autumn seedpods - adds a woodsy botanical look perfect for Thanksgiving.  Wouldn't it be nice to send (and receive!) Thanksgiving cards before the big  holiday rush?

Hello, Jean Okimoto here with a November Challenge inspiration card today.  This month's theme is "Falling for You" - and we can't wait to see your great designs.  View the Challenge details here. 

Diecut the 2-¾" Wrapped Stitch Rectangle from smooth white cardstock. Stamp three triangles from the new Looking For Mr. Right Triangle clear stamps set with VersaFine Habanero and VersaMagic Turquoise Gem.  

Diecut Thankful Jotted Script from dark brown and dark orange cardstock.  

Here's a timesaving tip to create a dimensional Snowberry Sprig diecut...spread a thin layer of glue between two pieces of brown cardstock (80# or less).  Press the layers together.  Diecut the Snowberry Sprig - you may need to use a metal shim and/or run it through the machine two or three times.  

Gently pull the offcut sections away from the sprig instead of trying to pull the sprig out of the surrounding cardstock.  These simple steps are a lot easier than cutting the sprigs separately and gluing the delicate bits together.  As a bonus, the machine's pressure on the double layers seems to add a subtle sheen to the pods.  

Attach the diecuts to a 4-½"x 6-¼" Kraft card.  Add ¼" punched circles of orange glittered cardstock for a seasonal accent.

 Thanks for visiting...see you again tomorrow!

 

 

Supplies

 

94021 Snowberry Sprigs craft die

CL5231 Looking For Mr. Right Triangle clear stamp set

94076 Thankful Jotted Script craft die

30094 Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

Cool Cat and Looking For Mr. Right Triangles by Jean Okimoto

Cool Cat poses among a trio of Looking For Mr. Right Triangles on an any-occasion card today.  The Kaleidacolor-ed background anchors the stamped triangle diecuts and gem stickers add a bright touch.    Hi there - Jean Okimoto here with another triangle card - I  love these new stamps and coordinating dies from the 2018 Holiday Happenings Collection...hope you do too!

Here's an easy way to create a background in about a minute -

Press Dessert Heat Kaleidacolor onto an acrylic block - keep the colors separated as though the inkpad is in storage.  Quickly paint watercolor paper with wide streaks of each color.  Let the colors blend randomly where they overlap - don't try to paint beautiful bands of color.  Set it aside to dry.

Cut it with the 2-¾" x 4" Wrapped Stitch Rectangle die.

Stamp the smoother side of watercolor paper with the big solid triangle from the Looking for Mr. Right Triangle set three times.   I've used VersaFine Clair Glamorous and Charming Pink and VersaFine Habanero.  Don't forget to clean - and dry - the stamp when switching colors.  Dry the inks.

Stamp them with the small lined triangles and VersaFine Clair Nocturne.  Dry the ink.  Cut them with the 1-¾" die from the coordinating set.

Cut Cool Cat from charcoal glittered paper.  

Attach the diecuts to a dark gray A-2 card.  Add pale orange gem stickers.

Know someone who loves cats - and is looking for Mr. Right?  Send her a card - in her favorite colors - and brighten her day!  There are so many ways to use the new triangle dies and stamps with all of the great inks and papers available right now.  Enjoy!

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

 

Supplies

 

32231 Looking for Mr. Right Triangle die set

CL5231 Looking For Mr. Right Triangle clear stamp set

94087 Cool Cat craft die

30094 Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

Stitched Bump Border and That’s Acute Triangle Halloween Treat Wrappers by Jean Okimoto

Here's a variation of the Stitched Bump Border treat wrappers - with That's Acute Triangle Clear Stamps, Friendly Ghosts, Swirling Ghosts, Cool Cat and Crouching Cat.  Hi there, Jean Okimoto here with another Halloween project and an excuse to buy more candy.  Hershey Snack Size KitKats and Milk Chocolate with Almonds are the perfect size for this version of my treat wrappers.  Trust me - I did a lot of  candy research for you!

Cut Mango Dots and Gingham patterned papers to 5-½" x 9-¼".  Starting at a short edge - score it at 1-¼", 5", 5-¼" and 5-½".  The 1-¼" section will become the folded flap.

Cut it with Stitched Bump Border.  Divide it into three pieces of varying widths.  Fold it on the 1-¼" scoreline to determine how much space you'll have for stamping.  Mark it lightly along the edge of the border with a pencil.

Stamp the That's Acute Triangles with VersaFine Habanero and dry the ink.  Stamp the black images with VersaFine Clair Nocturne.  Dry the ink.  Erase the pencil lines.

Cut Swirling Ghosts, Friendly Ghosts, Crouching Cat and Cool Cat.  Attach scraps of black or orange cardstock behind their faces for the eyes if they won't be placed over orange or black backgrounds.  

Fold the wrappers on the remaining scorelines.  Attach the treats with doublestick tape.  Punch a ¼" hole and attach orange tulle.

Have fun with these candy projects - there are so many ways to use our great triangle stamps and Halloween dies.

Hope you're designing and linking a Halloween or candy-themed project for our October Treats and Tricksters Challenge.  Or combine both themes a create a Halloween candy project for your favorite kids!

Thanks for visiting...

 

 

Supplies

 

99708 Stitched Bump Border

94086 Friendly Ghosts craft die

94088 Crouching Cat craft die

94087 Cool Cat craft die

CL5232 That's Acute Triangle clear stamp set

99192 Swirling Ghosts

Mango Dots

Mango Gingham

That’s Acute Triangle with Cool Cat and Poinsettia Circle Frame by Jean Okimoto

A glittery black Cool Cat with a Playful Boo, orange poinsettias and That's Acute Triangles?  Yes, if it works for Halloween!  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a beyond-the-box way to extend the holiday season and use the beautiful Poinsettia Circle Frame in October.

Orange flowers on a black background are a little scary - and a great frame for the Cool Cat.  Add a That's  Acute Triangle greeting pennant and this cat's message is very clear.

Scrunch a sheet of waxed paper and rub it briskly over the Poinsettia Circle Frame die to help release the intricate diecut.  Cut the frame from orange cardstock.  Cut Playful Boo from the same bright orange.

Cut white cardstock with the 2" Circle Basics die.  Sponge it lightly with Starlight Black Brilliance to create a stormy backdrop for Cool Cat.

Cut Cool Cat from black glittered craft foam.  Attach a scrap of bright green cardstock behind the face for a pair of glowing green eyes.

Stamp the That's Acute Triangle on bright green cardstock with Nocturne VersaFine Clair.  Dry the ink, then cut around it with a die from the That's Acute Triangle set.  

Attach the diecuts to a side-folded black A-2 card - use foam dots for the right edge of the greeting.  Add orange sequins.

The new That's Acute Triangle dies and clear stamps sets will be an obvious  go-to combination for Christmas trees.  Why not turn them on their sides for pennants and greeting blocks too?  Mix, match and layer them in bright colors and metallic artpapers for cool, abstract contemporary greetings.  

Or go way beyond the box and use the dies to cut bright triangles and diamonds of paper and fabric to make rolled "beads" for your mixed media and collage designs.  I"ll design a card with them and share it soon.  I think I have a few scraps of paper I can use...do you?

Till then - have fun discovering new ways to use dies and stamps from Memory Box, Poppystamps and Birch Press Designs for your fall and holiday projects!

Thanks for visiting...

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94081 Poinsettia Circle Frame craft die

32232 That's Acute Triangle die set

CL5232 That's Acute Triangle clear stamp set

94087 Cool Cat craft die

99875 Playful Boo

30087 Circle Basics Set

New Poinsettia Circle Frame and Typewriter Holiday Elements by Jean Okimoto

A glittery Poinsettia Circle Frame can create a pretty pink slip-through window card for the special people on your list.  Add a simple greeting from the new Typewriter Holiday Elements Clear Stamps and a sparkly single poinsettia.  Hello - Jean Okimoto here with a very girlie design for you today.

Cut pale pink cardstock to 5-¼" x 10-½".  Score it at 3-¼" and 8-½".  Round the inner corners.

Cut Poinsettia Circle Frame.  Attach Scor-Tape to a 4-¼" square of pale pink cardstock and cut it with the 4" Circle Basics die. Save the paper liner.

Attach the frame to the adhesive-covered circle.   Use the liner like a presscloth to securely attach the intricate diecut.  Brush iridescent glitter onto the exposed adhesive of the frame and the center circle.

Cut the center out with the 2" Circle Basics die.  Cut the single poinsettia from the glittered center circle.

Attach the frame to the left panel - not centered, but about ¼" over to the left.

Cut a 2" circle of white cardstock and stamp "noel" from the Typewriter Holiday Elements set with Pinecone VersaFine Clair.  Quickly emboss it with detail clear powder.

Fold the card - and determine where to place the tape to attach the greeting circle. Attach the greeting to the right panel of the folded card.  It will slip through the frame and help keep the card folded.

Attach pale pink gem stickers to the poinsettias.  Add ¼" circles of silver glittered cardstock.

Poinsettia cards are everywhere now as we prep for the holidays - but this beautiful die doesn't have to be a holiday design.  It's the perfect flower frame for any occasion - imagine it in white with a sparkly yellow center, or fuchsia with a chartreuse center. Or bright orange and black with a Cool Cat on a glam-creepy Halloween card?  

Special thanks to everyone from last weekend's STASH CARDS - FRIGHTFUL + DELIGHTFUL and COLORS OF CHRISTMAS classes at Impress!  Thanks also to Jan for her cool Memory Box Batty Favor Box treats - and to Jenny for the rich and creamy real Lindt chocolates from  her recent trip to Europe.  Loved your Halloween cards too Jacky and Jenny!  And thanks for a great lunch Robin!  Wondering if we ate all day?   We did, and we made cards between the snacks.  

If you're in the Seattle area be sure to stop by Impress for their holiday event on Saturday the 20th.  Beautiful displays, inspiring samples and a great selection of Memory Box, Poppystamps and Birch Press Designs for holiday projects.  Demos from 10-Noon, make and takes throughout the day - and a goodie bag to the first 25 customers at each store. Enjoy a 10% discount on holiday items too!

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94081 Poinsettia Circle Frame craft die

CL5234 Typewriter Holiday Elements clear stamp set

30087 Circle Basics Set

New Celebrate Jotted Script and Friendly Ghosts by Jean Okimoto

Let the lovable Friendly Ghosts peek through the branches of the Sapling Collage on a Halloween card that I hope is more delightful than frightful.  It's hard to imagine these simple white shapes can have so much personality!  One of them even multi-tasks as part of an exclamation mark inside the card.

Cut Sapling Collage from dark orange cardstock - be sure to leave some space around it to cut the outer frame from the Delicate Pine Frame set.  Cut the frame  - leave the diecuts in the die.  Attach ¼" Scor-Tape along the edges of the frame and inner rectangle.  Flip everything over onto a top-folded black A-2 card.  Press the die firmly onto the card to transfer the diecuts, then carefully remove the die.  Nice and easy and perfectly aligned!

Tuck the ghosts under the collage and add green gem stickers.

Attach Scor-Tape to dark orange cardstock and cut the Celebrate Jotted Script background.  Cut the delicate "celebrate" from black cardstock.  Attach the black diecut to the adhesive-covered background.  Brush iridescent glitter onto the remaining adhesive around the black diecut.  

Attach the glittered greeting and the littlest Friendly Ghost to the inside of the card.  Create a ghosty exclamation point with the help of the cool Whimsy Cat die - cut the cat  from white cardstock and use one eye offcut for the dot below the little ghost.  (Did I just hear someone say I need to get out more and get a life?)

Hope you enjoyed this friendly Halloween design and have fun creating with the great new dies and stamps from our Holiday Happenings release!  

Be sure to enter the October Tricks + Tricksters Challenge - share your Halloween or candy-themed projects for big and little kids for a chance to win some great prizes!

Thanks for visiting...Laura has a great project for you tomorrow.  I'll see you again on Thursday, or at Impress on Saturday.  We have two classes coming up - STASH CARDS - FRIGHTFUL AND DELIGHTFUL at 10:30 and COLORS OF CHRISTMAS at 1:30.

 

  

 

Supplies

 

94074 Celebrate Jotted Script craft die

94086 Friendly Ghosts craft die

94031 Delicate Pine Frame craft die

99738 Sapling Collage

99873 Whimsy Cat