A Day of Thanks by Jean Okimoto

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating today!  A handcrafted card with stamped, embossed branches and a simple message would be appreciated during these challenging times.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a basic design that works in seasonal colors throughout the year.  Examples - soft green branches + lavender berries for spring, chartreuse branches + yellow berries for summer,  and dark green + bright red for the holidays.

Prep kraft and orange cardstock with the embossing powder tool to eliminate stray specks of powder.  I've added a bit of detail clear embossing powder to my Imagine Crafts Copper Mboss for a smoother image. Use a 1:5 ratio of clear powder to copper powder.  Mix the powders with a few shakes before each use.  Stamp the branches on kraft cardstock with VersaMark and emboss it with copper powder.  A tip...pre-heat the stamped, powdered cardstock from the backside for a few seconds first, then finish embossing from the right side.   That prevents over-heating and produces a smoother, glossy finish.

Stamp and emboss the 2 extra leaves on orange cardstock.

Cut the cooled branches and leaves with the matching dies from the set.  Diecut dark brown cardstock to mat the branches and leaves for added dimension.

Stamp the greeting on turquoise cardstock with Pinecone VersaFine Clair.

Cut the turquoise sheet from the Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad with the berries die from the Mistletoe Bundle set.

Attach everything to a kraft A-6 card (4-½" x 6-¼") - use foamtape for the greeting.

As always, thanks for visiting - and for selecting Memory Box designs and products for your handcrafted projects.  We appreciate your support and love sharing our ideas with you!

Supplies

 

CL5262-D Harvest Love and Kindness clear stamp and die set

GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

94484 Mistletoe Bundle craft die

A Little Polar Bear and a Stitched Circle by Jean Okimoto

The new Stitched Circle die creates a great backdrop for the sweet polar bear from the Snowglobe Backer set.  Add a matching scarf and Special Merry Christmas message - and glitter.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another stitched design for the holidays.

Cut kraft cardstock with the 4" Circle Basics die.  Prep the Stitched Circle Die by rubbing it briskly with scrunched waxed paper to help release the little dots, then cut the circle.  Use Scotch transparent tape to attach red floss to the backside of the diecut in the area between the two dotted circles.  Don't tape the floss ends in the center - if you decide to cut the center out later (like I did)  you'll cut the threads.  Stitch between the alternating dots.

Connect the stitches, then tape the end of the floss on the backside.  

Repeat the process with green floss.

After finishing the stitching,  I decided to diecut the center - using the 1-¾" Circle Basics die.  Cut a 1-½" circle from the bright green glitter sheet in the 6x6 Holiday Glitter Pad.  

Cut the polar bear in the Snowglobe Backer set from Open Studio Watercolor paper.  Attach a scrap of black cardstock behind his head for the nose.  Color the paws, muzzle and center with very diluted iced spruce Distress Oxides. Wrap and tie three strands of floss around his neck for a scarf.

Save time when attaching delicate greetings with these tips.  Pressure-emboss Special Merry Christmas on the front of the card using the rubber embossing  mat and plate(s) required for your machine. That creates an inset section to align the greeting.  Cut the greeting from Open Studio Watercolor Paper.  Another tip - leave the diecut in the die, place a strip of ¼" wide lined doublestick tape across each word and run it through the machine again.  This 2-step process usually cuts the adhesive layer but leaves the line intact for easy removal.  Press the greeting onto the pressure-embossed area for a perfect fit.  A few extra steps - but it makes it so easy to align and inset the delicate greeting!

Attach the diecuts to a red A-6 card (4-½" x 6-¼") - use foamtape behind the top portion of the bear.  Punch ¼" circles of the green glittered cardstock.

Stitching adds color, texture and dimension to a card - and stitches don't smudge, bend or fall off in the mail!  Why not design and create a unique stitched card for the special people on your list this Christmas?

 

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

 

Supplies

 

94404 Stitched Circle

30087 Circle Basics Set

94491 Snowglobe Backer craft die

94499 Special Merry Christmas craft die

GP1005 Holiday Glitter Pad

WP101 Watercolor Paper

Build a Pinpoint Burst Plate Birdhouse by Jean Okimoto

The Pinpoint Burst Plate creates a dramatic background for any occasion.  Take it a step further and add texture to the Poppystamps Bird House Pop Easel Set.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a shaped card featuring great designs from Memory Box and Poppystamps.  My stash includes the Poppystamps dies and stamps I buy for my class kits - and I love sharing ideas for using them.

First - a sideview of the Poppystamps Bird House Pop Up Easel Set card - using the basic construction pieces and some extras.  A portion of the packaging shows the pieces included in the set.  It includes a cardinal, but we're using the Memory Box Singing Birds here.

Cut the smoother side of Patina cardstock with the first die shown on the package.  It embosses wood panel lines too, but we don't need the lines - so turn the diecut over to the backside where the embossed lines are less visible. Cut it with the Pinpoint Burst Plate.

Cut the textured side of Navajo cardstock with the largest die and crease it backwards on the scored line.  Cut kraft cardstock with the second house layer.  Cut the snowy roofline and the entry ring from a white glittered cardstock sheet in the Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad.  Cut two sets of the pine brances from minty-green cardstock.

Attach the kraft house to the folded tab on the easel.  Add the other diecuts.

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to red felt and cut two of the Singing Birds.  The paper backing stabilizes the felt.  Attach the birds with foam tape - use two layers of tape for the bird on the right.  Add ¼" punched dots of the red glittered cardstock from the Holiday Glitter Pad.

Stamp the greeting - from the Spirit of Christmas Clear Stamp and Die Set - with Tulip Red VersaFine Clair.  Cut it with the matching die.

Cut the narrow "snowline" from the same white glittered cardstock and trim it to form a "stopper" to support the birdhouse.

Here's the finished easel card, perfect for an A-2 envelope.  Hope you like it!  

Special thanks to Ann at Impress Cards + Crafts and Roxanne at Stamps + Memories for buying my COOL WINTER WISHES Class Kits for your stores. Thanks also to everyone ordering their kits for holiday crafting.

Keep warm...thanks for visiting, see you again this weekend!

Supplies

 

94514 Pinpoint Burst Plate craft die

99953 Singing Birds

GP1005 Holiday Glitter Pad

GP1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

CL5261-D Spirit of Christmas clear stamp and die set

2396 Bird House Pop Up Easel Set craft die

Charming Snowman Collage and the Pinpoint Snowflake Plate by Jean Okimoto

The Charming (and popular!) Snowman Collage fits perfectly into the Poppystamps Oval Fold Frame.  Add frosty texture with the Pinpoint Snowflake Plate -   and a layered Birch Press Mod Alphabet greeting.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here on a frosty fall weekend.  I love Memory Box collage dies for their versatility and surprising results.

Cut dark gray cardstock with the Poppystamps Oval Fold Frame.  Crease the left edge backwards on the scored line, forming a hinge to attach the front panel to the back panel.  Cut white cardstock with the Oval Fold Frame.  Remove the large oval offcut and cut it with the smaller oval die included in the Oval Fold Frame set.

Cut the white panel with the Pinpoint Snowflake Frame.  Attach the pinpoint layer to the dark gray layer.  Cut a dark gray cardstock back panel with the 4-¼" x 5-½" Rectangle Basics die.  Attach the card front to the back panel using the hinged tab. 

Cut Charming Snowman Collage from the smaller oval offcut.  The bottom left edge will split apart - re-assemble it later.  Color the nose offcut with an orange marker.  Color the twiggy arms of the delicate offcut with a tan marker - color it all the way, up to the inside of the circle.   Trim the arms.   Define the eyes with a skewer or piercing tool.  Attach the collage to the inside of the card.  

Cut the scarf section from the turquoise sheet in the 6x6 Twinkling Jewel Glitter pad.  Attach the nose, arms and scarf. 

Cut a red glittered Twinkling Jewel bird using the Resting Birds die.

Attach the arms, nose, scarf and bird to the collage.

The Birch Press Design Mod Alphabet Clear Stamps and Die Set includes both narrow and wide alphabet dies.  Cut JOY from white cardstock with the wider alphabet.  Cut the thinner JOY from red cardstock.  Layer the letters and attach them to the frame.

It all sounds very complicated - but it's really easy.  These unique dies create a collage-y - but flat - card for easy mailing.  There's just enough space for your signature on the inside.

Thanks for visiting...have fun designing and creating your holiday cards!

Supplies

 

94498 Charming Snowman Collage craft die

94513 Pinpoint Snowflake Plate craft die

GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

2359 Oval Fold Frame

98527 Resting Birds

8139 Mod Alphabet clear stamp and die set

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

Create a Tri-Fold Fall Collage by Jean Okimoto

Layer the Wooded Glen and Little Orchard Collages and diecut a mix of tree backgrounds from 6x6 prints for a tri-fold fall card.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a collage-y, layered forest scene for a thank you or Thanksgiving greeting.  Here are the supplies for this card...

I wasn't sure if I wanted a tall slimline card - or a shorter version - so I started with the taller version, then shortened it later.

Trim kraft cardstock to 10-½"* x 6-¼". (*a correction!) Score it horizontally at 3-½" and 7".  Trim the corners with a corner rounder.  Cut Wooded Glen Collage from the front of the first panel on the left.  Cut Little Orchard Collage from the back of the center panel.  

Cut an assortment of tree backgrounds from the 6x6 dark red and coral Garland Stripes and Dots.  Cut more backgrounds from the dark maroon floral Garland print. (It's shown on the bottom left corner of the paper pack.)  Attach the backgrounds behind the tree trunks of both collages.

Stamp the greeting - from the Harvest Love and Kindness Clear Stamp and Die Set - on the smooth side of turquoise cardstock with Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair.  

Cut a 3" x  5-¾" strip of turquoise cardstock, round the corners and attach in to the third panel.  Attach the greeting with foamtape.

It needed a sparkly - but matching  - accent so I spread some Open Studio Sunlit Gold Glitter Glue on the dark red striped print.  Heat-set it in short bursts to prevent scorching.  Let it cool, then punch ¼" circles.

The tree collages are designed for layering - but they're also great on individual panels.  Little kids would love the little trees - maybe with a bear or deer from the Snowglobe Backer set added just for fun.

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

 

Supplies

 

94505 Wooded Glen Collage craft die

94506 Little Orchard Collage craft die

PP1011 Garland Stripes and Dots 6x6 pack

PP1010 Garland 6x6 pack

CL5262-D Harvest Love and Kindness clear stamp and die set

40127 Sunlit Gold glitter glue

Special Delivery on the Vintage Sled by Jean Okimoto

 

Create a holiday scene with interactive dies from our 2020 Christmas Collection - and the Resting Birds from many collection ago.  Mix and match your designs and enjoy the satisfaction of getting the most from your supplies.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a little composition of holiday icons.

Cut the base of the Vintage Sled from turquoise cardstock.  Cut the top layer from thin wood veneer.  Attach the veneer sections with ⅛" wide double-stick tape.  

Cut the deer - from the Snowglobe Backer set - from dark kraft cardstock.  Color the antlers, nose and hooves with a brown marker.  Attach the antlers.  Add highlights and spots with a white pencil.  Loop a strand of red crochet thread around the deer and tie a knot, then tie the other ends to the sled.  Keep the threads loose and curvy.  

Cut Resting Birds from red cardstock in the 6x6 Holiday Glitter Pad.

Cut the tree trunk - from the Pine Tree Collage set - from dark brown cardstock.  Cut the tree triangle from green cardstock.

Stamp the greeting - from the Spirit of Christmas Clear Stamp and Die Set - on white cardstock with Tulip Red VersaFine Clair.  Dry the ink, then trim the greeting with the matching die.  

Cut a white cardstock background with the 2-½" x 3-¾" Rectangle Basics die.

Attach the diecuts to a kraft A-2 card.

Think of all the different ways you can combine the Memory Box holiday dies. Diecut several of each design, cut some backgrounds and stamp an assortment of greetings.  Trim the greetings, fold some cards and you're ready to design unique holiday cards for everyone on your list. Greetings from the heart will be more important - and appreciated - than ever this year. 

Thanks for visiting...keep warm and create some great cards!

 

Supplies

 

94504 Pine Tree Collage craft die

94495 Vintage Sled craft die

94491 Snowglobe Backer craft die

GP1005 Holiday Glitter Pad

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

CL5261-D Spirit of Christmas clear stamp and die set

98527 Resting Birds

Sparkly, Poufy and Bright by Jean Okimoto

The Stitched Circle Wreath can be a poufy, sparkly addition to holiday cards with a special yarn - and a some simple stitching.  Add a soft felt polar bear, a quick greeting and layered 6x6  prints.  Hi, Jean Okimoto back again after some photo-uploading glitches last night.

Cut red cardstock with the 3-¼" Circle Basics die.  Cut the circle with the Stiched Circle Wreath.  Stitch it with white sparkly yarn - tape the ends of the yarn to the reverse side of the circle with Scotch Transparent Tape.  Sparkly yarn is my new favorite accent - and it's perfect for the Memory Box ready-to-stitch die designs.  

Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to white wool-blend felt and cut the bear from the Snowglobe Backer set.  The paper backing stabilizes the felt and keeps liquid adhesives from soaking through.  Define the polar bear's eyes using a needle or skewer.  Attach a scrap of black cardstock behind the face for  the eyes and nose.

Cut a 6" x 2-¾" strip of the Christmas Plaid sheet.  Cut a ¾" x 8-⅜" strip of lime green cardstock.   The greeting is from the Berry Wreath Clear Stamp and Die Set.  Stamp it with Tulip Red VersaFine Clair on the chartreuse striped sheet from the Garland Stripes and Dots 6x6 set.  Dry the ink and trim the greeting.

Punch ¼" dots of glittered cardstock from the Holiday Glitter Pad.  Attach everything to a slimline Smoky card (3-½" x 8-½") - use foam dots for the right side of the greeting.

Thanks for visiting...enjoy your weekend!

 

 

Supplies

 

94407 Stitched Circle Wreath

94491 Snowglobe Backer craft die

CL5260-D Berry Wreath clear stamp and die set

PP1011 Garland Stripes and Dots 6x6 pack

GP1005 Holiday Glitter Pad

PP1009 Christmas Plaid 6x6 pack

Add a Penguin to a Stitched Burst Winter Card by Jean Okimoto

A very cool little penguin from the Snowglobe Backer die set joins the Stitched Burst on a contemporary slimline card for the holidays.  Frosted Glitter Pad accents add a bit of sparkle.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another holiday design - and more stitch therapy!

Prep the Stitched Burst die by rubbing it briskly with scrunched waxed paper to help release the tiny dot offcuts.  Cut it from kraft cardstock.

Here's a tip - round the corners of the cardstock so the extra floss doesn't get stuck on the corners as you're stitching.  (Yes, it would be smarter to precut the circle - but I wasn't sure if I wanted a circle, square or octagon when I began.)  Stitch it with black floss - tape the ends of the floss on the backside with Scotch Transparent Tape (Magic Tape might tear).

Stitch it with white floss.  

Stitch the final starburst with red floss.  Cut it with the 3" Circle Basics die.

Cut the penguin from white and black cardstock. Define the eyes with a paper piercer or skewer. Cut the flippers from orange cardstock.  Cut a scrap of orange cardstock, place it under the white diecut and mark eye positions.  Color the eye markings with a black marker.

Stamp the greeting - from the Berry Wreath Clear Stamp and Die Set - on a strip of red cardstock with Onyx Black VersaFine.  

Cut a ¾" x 3-⅛" strip of the black sheet from the Frosted Glitter Pad.  Cut a ¾" x 3-¾" strip of green cardstock.  Punch ¼" dots from the Green Frosted Glitter Pad sheet. 

Attach everything to a white slimline card (3-½" x 8-½").  The red greeting strip is very wonky and the green strip extends above the top edge.

Don't be intimidated by Memory Box stitching dies - they're easy to use, versatile and will be great for cards throughout the year.  Stitched Burst can also be a sun, medallion, fireworks - even a flower.  Experiment with different threads, colors and patterns.  It can be a great stress-reliever and create a feeling of accomplishment when you add that final stitch!

Thanks for visiting...

Supplies

 

94406 Stitched Burst

30087 Circle Basics Set

94491 Snowglobe Backer craft die

CL5260-D Berry Wreath clear stamp and die set

GP1004 Frosted Glitter Pad

Stitched Tree on a Garland Background by Jean Okimoto

 

A holiday background from the Garland 6x6 pack sets the scene for the Stitched Tree and glittered birds. Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another design featuring this great ready-to-stitch tree die.

Cut Intense Kiwi cardstock with the largest die from the Poppystamps Tall Triangle Set.  Prep the Stitched Tree die by rubbing it briskly with scrunched waxed paper to help release the little dots.  Cut the tree, then punch a hole about ½" below the center of the tree.  Trim the bottom of the triangle. Tall Triangle Set is a must-have for the holidays - and it's great for small pennants too!

Create a tree trunk by stitching brown floss from the punched hole at the bottom to the hole at the top of the tree. Tape the ends of the floss on the backside of the diecut with Scotch Transparent Tape  (Magic Tape might tear). Stitch the tree with green thread in the following sequence - horizontally, along the sides, and some random diagonal stitches.

Cut a blossom and three sets of birds - with the Birds and Blossoms set - from the dark red sheet in the 6x6 Holiday Glitter Pad.  

Cut the Garland print with the largest Wrapped Stitch Rectangles die.  Attach it to a top-folded white A-2 card and add the tree.

Stamp the greeting - from the Spirit of Christmas Clear Stamp and Die Set - with Tulip Red VersaFine Clair.  Emboss it quickly with detail clear powder - it's a fast-drying ink!  Add the birds.

Stitched designs have become my creative - and appreciated - diversion from the daily news and pandemic statistics.  These simple stitches reward me with a feeling of accomplishment.  Hope you'll give it a try - leave a comment if stitch therapy works for you too!

Thanks for visiting.  Have a Happy - and safe - Halloween if you're celebrating!

Supplies

 

94405 Stitched Tree

30094 Wrapped Stitch Rectangles

PP1010 Garland 6x6 pack

CL5261-D Spirit of Christmas clear stamp and die set

94243 Birds and Blossoms

GP1005 Holiday Glitter Pad

57216 Tall Triangle Set

Warm Wishes with the Stitched Circle and Knotted Circle Wreaths by Jean Okimoto

Let the Stitched Circle Wreath add a burst of contemporary color to a traditional design.  Need glitter?  Bright sparkly berries and bows from the Mistletoe Bundle set are the perfect accents.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another holiday idea for you.

Prep Stitched Circle Wreath by rubbing it briskly with scrunched waxed paper to help release the tiny dots.  Cut it from Granny Smith cardstock.  Trim it with the 3-¼" and 1-¼" Circle Basics dies.  Stitch the starbursts with green floss - tape the ends of the floss to the backside with Scotch Transparent Tape (Magic Tape might tear).

Cut the largest Knotted Circle Wreath from Granny Smith too.  Cut the Mistletoe Bundle berries and two bows from red glittered cardstock in the 6x6 Holiday Glitter Pad.  

Prep the smoother side of Intense Kiwi carstock with the embossing powder tool and stamp the greeting - from the Berry Wreath Clear Stamp and Die Set - with VersaMark and emboss it with detail clear powder.  Love that typeface!

Attach everything to a side-folded A2 card of Intense Kiwi cardstock - attach the greeting with foam tape.

Prep the inside with the powder tool and stamp and emboss another greeting from the set.  Attach a few more glittered dots.

 

Hope you're enjoying the versatility of the new ready-to-stitch designs (94404, 05, 06, 07) as much as I am.  There are so many ways to use them with a wide range of basic threads and sparkly specialty yarns.  I can't sew, knit, quilt or crochet - but I can stitch these simple designs!

Thanks for visiting - see you on Thursday...

 

 

Supplies

 

94407 Stitched Circle Wreath

94484 Mistletoe Bundle craft die

94482 Knotted Circle Wreaths craft die

30087 Circle Basics Set

CL5260-D Berry Wreath clear stamp and die set

GP1005 Holiday Glitter Pad