Bear Hugs for You by Jean Okimoto

The Layered Polar Bear - from our Christmas release - makes a great addition to Valentine cards too.  Cut this very popular guy from soft white felt and

Open Studio Watercolor Paper for plush texture and contrasting shades of white.

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with my favorite design from our holiday release.  Pair the friendly bear with the Woodgrain Tree Trunk and imagine "xoxo" carved into the trunk with Poppystamps' Poetic Lowercase Alphabet.

Prep white wool-blend felt by attaching it to adhesive label paper or a sticker sheet to stabilize it and prevent adhesives from saturating it.  Cut the large bear background.  Color the eartips with a pink marker.  Let it dry for a few minutes - then blot it to be sure it's really dry.

Cut the other bear sections from Open Studio Watercolor Paper.  Attach a scrap of Black Glossy Cardstock behind his face.  The glossy finish makes a big difference  - his eyes look brighter.  Assemble the bear - use foamtape behind the top layers of the paws and leave a section on the left unattached to insert the hugs heart

 

Cut a bright red 6x6 from the Berry Red Collection with the smallest

Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out.  

Cut "xoxo" and "hugs"  - from the Poppystamps Poetic Lowercase Alphabet - from dark brown cardstock.  Attach the letters to the heart.

Cut Woodgrain Tree Trunk from medium-brown cardstock.

Prep bright red felt with adhesive label paper or a stick sheet and cut 3 of the Layered Birds.  Cut the coordinating smaller top layers from the Berry Red 6x6.

 

 

Attach the diecuts to a light kraft slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½").  Add the amber-colored Autumn Fairy Crystals.  

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

Add a greeting - the new For You Posh Script - cut from light kraft cardstock and the bright red Rainbow Reflections 6x6.  Cut 2 background layers from the kraft cardstock and pressure-emboss 1 using the rubber mat and plate(s) required for your machine.  Pressure-embossing creates a debossed area to easily attach the detailed top layer.  Attach the other kraft background behind the greeting for extra dimension.

Construct a brown bear with brown felt and cardstock if they're more common in your neighborhood - like they are here.   He's also great for baby and kid cards too - and birthdays, holding a balloon or cupcake!    Add a scarf for extra color on winter cards.

Thanks for visiting - keep warm, be safe and have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94709

94685 Layered Polar Bear

94684 Layered Birds

94630 Woodgrain Tree Trunk

94359 Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

sp1001 Berry Red

wp101 Watercolor Paper

sh44004 Black Glossy Paper

 

 

 

 

From Poppystamps:

Supplies

 

2332 Poetic Lowercase Alphabet

Heartfelt Holiday Wishes by Jean Okimoto

Happy Holidays from Memory Box to everyone celebrating today!  

Hi, Jean Okimoto here  - transitioning between holidays on my final Christmas design of the year.  The new Cuppa Love die set joins a dark floral print from the Garland 6x6 set to send warm winter wishes.

Cut Cuppa Love from cream cardstock.  Cut it again from dark brown cardstock and keep all of the offcuts except the heart and the piece inside the handle.  Attach the brown diecut and offcuts behind the cream diecut.  The die set includes solid shapes for the beverage surface and the front of the cup.  I wanted to add dimension so I stacked the pieces instead of paper-piecing them.

Cut the small inner heart from the red glittered Festive 6x6.

Select a section of the Garland floral print for the cup and cover it with a piece of packing tape to add a glossy finish - like a ceramic glaze.  (Details, details!)  Cut it with the solid cup die.  

Cut a red 6x6 from the Berry Red Collection with the second-largest Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out die.  It cuts a solid heart - the double stitch pattern appears on the offcut outline.

Cut a ¾" x 5" strip of the green glittered Festive 6x6.  Cut a ¾" x 4-¼" strip of the medium-green 6x6 in the Lush Green collection.

Stamp the greeting - from the Sweet Christmas Clear Stamp Set - on cream cardstock with Satin Red VersaFine.  Quickly heat-emboss it with detail clear powder.

Attach the strips, diecuts and greeting to a top-folded light green A-2 card.  Add the lighter red Christmas Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A2-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Hope you've enjoyed the Christmas ideas from our Design Team.  We're getting ready for Valentine's Day and look forward to sharing more projects featuring our latest release!

Thanks for visiting...see you on Tuesday!

 

Supplies

 

94637

94359 Double Stitch Loving Heart Cut Out

pp1010 Garland 6x6 pack

sp1003 Lush Green

gp1006 Festive Glitter Pad

cry102 Christmas Fairy Crystals

sp1001 Berry Red

cl5283 Sweet Christmas clear stamp set

A Wish for Peace by Jean Okimoto

Create a pastel holiday card of pinks, plaid and Fairy Crystals with the Poinsettia Watercolor Floral set.  The 6x6 Berry Red Collection has the perfect pinks to complement  the Christmas Jolly plaid.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a holiday design for you.

Cut Poinsettia Watercolor Floral in 2 shades of pink from the Berry Red Collection.  Cut the center accent from the yellow 6x6 in the Graceful Garden Glitter Pad.  Assemble the poinsettia - use the darker pink for the base layers and the medium pink for the tops.  

Save the extra diecuts and create an extra poinsettia with light pink base layers and darker pink tops.  

Stamp the greeting - from the Sweet Christmas Clear Stamp Set - on lighter pink 6x6 with Lightning Black Brilliance.  Dry the ink, then trim the greeting with the second-smallest Nested Globe die - just turn it sideways for a greeting tab.

Cut another pink globe, the pink/red/gold/white Christmas Jolly plaid and White Woodgrain Paper with the 3", 2-½" and 2" Nested Globes dies.

Attach the diecuts to a top-folded textured gray A-2 card - use foamtape near the tips of the poinsettia.

Add pink Autumn Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A-2 sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Layered, contrasting diecuts add dimension to any design.  Mix 2 shades of red or cream cardstock for a different look.  Or use a combo of matte and metallic cardstock - or matte cardstock and glittered cardstock.  Have fun with this design - rearrange the diecuts or rotate the entire poinsettia for a different look.

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

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94676 Poinsettia Watercolor Floral

94532 Nested Globes

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

cl5283 Sweet Christmas clear stamp set

gp1002 Graceful Garden Glitter Pad

sp1001 Berry Red

pp1019 Christmas Jolly 6x6 pack

sh44001 White Woodgrain Paper Pack

First Snow…from Skates to Winter Boots by Jean Okimoto

Turn a pair of ice skates into waterproof winter boots for a walk in the woods this weekend.  Add a glittery scarf and a matching pink felt hat and you're ready for winter!  Happy First Snow Weekend if you're in the northwest - Jean Okimoto here with a holiday slimline on a frosty Saturday.

If (like me!) you can't skate, but you can walk the dogs - just eliminate the blades from the Classic Pair of Ice Skates.  Diecut them in adhesive pink vinyl (attached to heavyweight white cardstock) and create glossy, waterproof boots for a walk in the woods.  Cut the sole and heel from black cardstock.  Stitch the boots with floss or crochet thread.

We're borrowing the scarf and hat from the Little Bundled Snowman and cutting them in girlie pink.  Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to pink felt and cut the main portion of the hat.  The paper backing stabilizes the felt and prevents adhesives from saturating it.  Cut the pompom and bottom band from the pink 6x6 in the Delicate Pastels Glitter Pad.  Cut the scarf sections from the pink 6x6 too.  Trim the fringe and assemble the scarf - I've used some of the pieces and added the short fringed end over the top to resemble a knot.  (I hope!)

Cut the small and medium Alpine Snowflakes from a silver Majestic Hues Glitter Pad 6x6.

Brayer Delicata Silvery Shimmer ink onto White Woodgrain Paper and dry the ink. Diecut it with Birch Tree Trunks.

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½") - use foamtape for the hat, scarf and the boot on the left.  

Keep warm, be safe and have a great weekend...see you again next week!

 

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94680 Alpine Snowflakes

94678 Little Bundled Snowman

94701 Birch Tree Trunks

94674 Classic Pair of Ice Skates

gp1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

gp1008 Majestic Hues Glitter Pad

sh44001 White Woodgrain Paper Pack

Create a Pinpoint Snowflake Ornament by Jean Okimoto

Create unique ornaments with basic diecut shapes, pinpoint plates, and shimmery metallic 6x6 Mirror Pads.  The designs add texture and luster to simple shapes for cards and holiday decor.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with an easy way to add special details to your diecuts.

Cut the basic Frilling Snowflake Ornament from the pale blue Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad 6x6.  Here's a tip for selecting and cutting the perfect section of a large die...

Cut a contrasting paper template with the basic background die.  Use the offcut to select a section of the Snowflake Plate to be transferred to the ornament.  (It'll be reveresed on the card.)  Place the ornament diecut face-down into the template and diecut the details onto the ornament.

Punch a hole and tie the ornament with gold cord.  Use the side of a bonefolder - or the plastic burnishing tool - to curl the cord.  Follow the curve of the cord for best results.

Diecut Joy Posh Script from a light lavender sheet in the Twilight Purple Collection - and from the violet Glitzy Glitter sheet.

Cut the turquoise Rainbow Reflections 6x6 and a darker lavender Twilight Purple 6x6 with the second-smallest  Slim Basic Rectangle Layers die.

I used scrap of ink-blended Open Studio Watercolor Paper from my stash for the background.  It's sprayed with Imagine's Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz, air-dried for a few minutes, then heat-set. Trim it to 1-⅞" x 3-¾".

Attach the diecuts to a white slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½").  Add lavender Autumn Fairy Crystals.  Cut a slimline-sized rectangle of cardtock to protect the card front for mailing.

Thanks for visiting our blog - hope you'll try these techniques on your holiday cards!

 

 

Supplies

 

94513

94695

94591 Joy Posh Script

94556 Slim Basic Rectangle Layers

gp1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

sp1008 Twilight Purple

wp101 Watercolor Paper

cry101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

fp1002 Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad

Heartfelt Holiday Greetings by Jean Okimoto

Glittered cardstock and plush felt create warm, sparkly winter accessories for the 
Tall Bundled Snowman.  Add a greeting from the Sweet Christmas Clear Stamps and your card is ready to go!  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a  basic holiday design you can personalize with your favorite colors and 6x6 prints.

Cut the small and medium Tall Bundled Snowman shapes.  Attach scraps of black cardstock behind the eyes and buttons.  Cut the carrot nose and twiggy arms from orange cardstock.  Color the arms with abrown marker.  Attach the nose and arms to the small snowman.  Layer the small snowman over the medium-sized diecut for dimension.

Cut the hat and scarf from the turquoise Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad 6x6.  Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to turquoise felt and diecut the scarf and hat again.  The label paper stabilizes the felt and keeps adhesives from saturating the fabric.  Assemble the hat and scarf.  Save the extra pieces for another project.

Cut the heart - from the Heart Streamer Globe set - from a red 6x6 in the Festive Glitter Pad.

Stamp the greeting from the Sweet Christmas Clear Stamp Set - on a light green 6x6 Lush Green Collection 6x6 with Green Oasis VersaFine Clair.  Dry the ink, then diecut the greeting with the 2-¼" x 1-⅛" Rectangle Basics die.

Cut the Garland 6x6 print with the largest Rectangle Basics die.  Attach the rectangle to a white side-folded A2 card.

Attach the diecuts to the background - use foamdots for the greeting.  Add pale turquoise Christmas Fairy Crystals.  Cut an A2-sized piece of cardstock to protect the card front for mailing.

Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Thanksgiving if you're celebrating on Thursday!

Supplies

 

30086

94683

94558 Heart Streamer Globe

cry102 Christmas Fairy Crystals

cl5283 Sweet Christmas clear stamp set

pp1010 Garland 6x6 pack

gp1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

gp1006 Festive Glitter Pad

sp1003 Lush Green

My Winter Solstice/Greetings from Maine Card by Anne Thompson

I designed a card for today that will most likely be the one that I use to send a Winter Solstice message or greetings from Maine this holiday season.  As I write this post, this card very much looks like the view from my window--a dark evening sky, silhouettes of bare trees among the pines, and a few scattered snow flurries.

• This is a card of many layers.  I started with a white A2 notecard and covered the front with a brown/blue plaid from WOODSY PLAID PP1018.
• For the next layer I added the BIRCH TREE TRUNKS 94701 cut from a light brown Woodsy Plaid paper.

• The third layer is the PINE NEEDLE FRAME 9487 which I cut in a dark green plaid paper from the JOLLY CHRISTMAS PP1019 paper pad.

• The final addition is the center of the GLORIETTE SNOWFLAKE COLLAGE 94696 cut from white cardstock.

Because I plan to make a bunch of these cards I will set up an assembly line process, die cutting multiples for each step.  If everything goes according to plan they'll be ready to be sent out in time to celebrate the Winter Solstice.  If not--they'll be Happy New Year greetings!  

Happy Crafting!

 

Trio of Frilling Snowflake Ornaments by Jean Okimoto

Snowflakes, glitter glue, jewel gemstones and plaids?  Yes, when the new Frilling Snowflake Ornament set makes it easy to combine design elements for a simple holiday slimline card.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a basic design you can create for anyone on your list.

Cut the dark red and the bright green 6x6's from the Berry Red and Lush Green Collections with the solid Frilling Snowflake Ornament die.  Cut the red/white/green diagonal stripe from the Jolly Christmas 6x6 too.  Punch holes at the top with a ⅛" circle punch, screwpunch or rotating leather punch.

Cut the snowflake and the snowflake ornament from the gold Rainbow Reflections 6x6 sheet.  Assemble the red and green ornaments.  Tie them with gold cord and curl the cord using the side of a bone folder or the plastic flower shaping tool.  For best results, follow the curl of the cord.

Here's a tip - if you're trying to match a special color but can't find the right shade of glittered cardstock - create a custom match with Open Studio Glitter Glue.  Diecut Special Merry Christmas from the same red 6x6 used for the ornament.  Shake the bottle of Ruby Crystal Glitter Glue and squeeze a blob of it onto scrap paper.  Generously finger-press the glitter glue onto the greeting.  Just daub it on - don't try to spread it out.  Air-dry it while you assemble the card.

Attach the ornaments to a white slimline card (3-⅝" x 8-½").  Attach the pale green Bright Jewels.

Add the greeting - slightly curved.

The Memory Box 6x6 plaids and prints are designed to coordinate with the 6x6 paper collections, glittered cardstock and mirror cardstock.  Mix, match and layer the papers and discover great combinations.

Thanks for visiting - see you again next week!

 

Supplies

 

94695 Frilling Snowflake Ornament

jwl003 Bright Jewels

94499 Special Merry Christmas

sp1003 Lush Green

sp1001 Berry Red

pp1019 Christmas Jolly 6x6 pack

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

40126 Ruby Crystal glitter glue

Snowgal’s Snowglobe Window Slimline by Jean Okimoto

Create a 3D snowglobe window card with a Nested Globe die and Poppystamps Flurries Wide Washi Tape.  Add a layer of acetate for glossy, glassy shine.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a very layered holiday slimline.   

Trim an 8-½" x 11" sheet of white cardstock to 10-¾".  Score it horizontally at 3-½" and 7-¼".  Cut a window from the center panel with the 3" Nested Globes die.  Save the offcut - and trim it to form a low snowbank.

Attach Poppystamps' Flurries Wide Washi Tape to black cardstock and cut a 3-¼" x 4-½" rectangle.  Cut an acetate sheet (or transparency) to the same size.  

Cut the medium and small Little Bundled Snowman pieces from white cardstock.  Attach a scrap of black cardstock behind the smallest snowman for the eyes.  Cut the arms from light Kraft cardstock.  Scribble orange marker on white cardstock and cut the carrot nose.

Cut the scarf and the hat's pompom and border from the bright pink Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad 6x6.  Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to bright pink felt and cut the triangle portion of the hat.

Assemble the snowlady.   Fold and attach the narrow end of the scarf behind the neck.  Attach the scarf and hat.  The Little Bundled Snowman set includes several different layers to add dimension to the scarf and hat - mix and match them to create the perfect accessories.

Attach the acetate behind the globe cutout. Attach the snowlady and snowbank to the background.  Attach the background behind the acetate.  Cut the snowglobe base from dark gray cardstock and attach it to the card front.  Tape the top and bottom edges of the center panel behind the card front.

Cut Joy Posh Script from white cardstock and the pink Twinkling Jewel 6x6.  Cut Alpine Snowflakes from the silver Majestic Hues 6x6.  Attach the greeting and snowflakes - use foamtape for the greeting.    Add clear Christmas Fairy Jewels.

The Nested Globes and Nested Globe Bases work with a many of our new - and favorite - holiday dies.  Combine, layer and highlight them and create an assortment of cards to chose from for the special people on your list.

Thanks for visiting - keep warm!

 

Supplies

 

94675 Nested Globe Bases

94591 Joy Posh Script

94680 Alpine Snowflakes

94678 Little Bundled Snowman

94532 Nested Globes

gp1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

jwl005 Christmas Fairy Jewels

 

 

 

Supplies

 

wt302 Flurries Wide Washi Tape

Build a Big Layered Pine by Jean Okimoto

 

 

Need a bigger tree for the new Layered Birds and Layered Sled?  Create a taller, wider layered pine with glittered, overlapping diecuts of Layered Narrow Pines.  

But first...Happy Veterans Day and Thank You to those who served our country!

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another way to use the great versatile designs from our Christmas '22 Collection for your holiday greetings...

Cut the large Layered Narrow Pines from a Lush Green Collection 6x6 sheet. Remove the trunks of the two smaller pieces.  Color the remaining trunk with a brown marker.  Overlap and glue the pieces to form a wide "tree."    

Cut the narrow overlays with a green Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad  6x6.  Layer them over the tree.  It's a new tree - big enough for the birds!

Cut Layered Birds from heavy white cardstock.  Attach adhesive label paper (or a sticker sheet) to bright red felt and cut the birds again.  The paper stabilizes the felt and keeps adhesives from saturating the fabric.  Assemble the birds.

Use a hard rubber brayer to roll Starlite Black Brilliance over a strip of White Woodgrain Paper to define and darken the texture.  Cut the individual strips in the center portion of the  Layered Sled.  Cut the remainder of the sled with the red Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad 6x6.  Cut the handle from dark gray cardstock.  Assemble the sled.

Cut two of the small Feathery Snowflake Discs from heavy white cardstock.

Stamp the greeting - from the new Sweet Christmas Clear Stamp Set - on white cardstock with Satin Red VersaFine.  Quickly heat-emboss it with detail clear powder.  Cut it wit h the 1-¾" Square Basics die.

 

Attach the diecuts to a 5-½" square light green card.  Square cards require extra postage and special handling, but some designs just call for a square.

Thanks for visiting our blog...keep warm and have a great weekend!

Supplies

 

94681 Feathery Snowflake Discs

94684 Layered Birds

94686 Layered Sled

94706 Layered Narrow Pines

sp1003 Lush Green

gp1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

cl5283 Sweet Christmas clear stamp set

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

sh44001 White Woodgrain Paper Pack

30088 Square Basics Set