St. Maarten and Amy Tangerine

Ahhhhhh, a day off from both jobs!!!   Still in my pj's, drinking a cup of coffee, and getting lost in Pinterest-land!     Then it hit me...HELLO!...you have a blog...you haven't posted in a long time!!  Get to it!

So, here I am.  Sharing a project I made for display at The Scrapbooking Studio in Bloomington, IL. 

My beautiful niece (and god-daughter) Jen and I took a trip to St. Maarten this summer to celebrate her high school graduation.  We had such a great time.   It was relaxing, yet adventurous.  And fun!  So, I decided to work with the Amy Tangerine line from American Crafts to highlight some of the pictures.  The bright colors are perfect for this tropical theme.

The first picture here is the left side of the layout:

And here is the right side:

All the papers are from the Amy Tangerine line as is the adorable little felt camera embellishment.

The flowers are made from Zipper Trim from Maya Road.  I'm now addicted to making flowers out of this stuff!

Here's a close up of one of the zipper flowers:

I added a rhinestone button I had laying around.  I think its from Bazzill.  Here's a tutorial from Caroline at Maya Road on how to make the zipper flowers.  Once you get the hang of it, they're super easy to make!

And of course, you can get all your supplies at The Scrapbooking Studio!

Merry Christmas to all!

Linda

Snowy Landscape - Memory Box

Do you have last minute Christmas cards to make??  Well, this card is it.  The Country Landscape die from Memory Box is just wonderful.    It's the perfect thing to make a quick but beautiful holiday card. This is one of the most popular card designs at The Scrapbooking Studio in Bloomington, IL. It's really pretty, but so easy and fast to put together.

For this card, I simply die cut the Country Landscape from white shimmer paper and then die cut a 2nd one from scraps of paper from the Yuletide and Tinsel 6X6 paper packs.   I paper pieced the corresponding trees and houses from the scrap pieces and attached them to the shimmer white piece.  This was attached to a piece of the light blue snowflake paper from the Yuletide pack and added to the front of the card.

I added the Star of Wonder at the top, stamped All is Calm in the lower right corner...added a touch of Stickles...and we're ready to go!

Enjoy your day!

Linda

Christmas Wall Hanging

In today's post, I'm featuring another project I created for display at The Scrapbooking Studio in Bloomington, IL. 

I love looking through my mom's old picture album when she and my dad first started their family.  The photos I used here are of my brothers at Christmas time 1961.  My parents never did have a lot of money, but they made up for it in love and filled our home with happiness.

I'm featuring papers from Echo Park Season's Greetings Collection.  But you'll see pieces and parts from many of my favorite designers and companies including Maya Road, Ranger, Tim Holtz, and Kaiser Craft.

Here's the entire wall hanging.  The frame is just a cheap bare wood frame that I bought a few years ago. I think I got it at one of the big chain hobby stores.   I painted it with black acrylic paint.  I cut Echo Park Ornaments paper the size of each frame and then distressed each piece with a paper distressing tool and distressed with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  I glued each piece to one of the frames and then used an Exacto knife to cut out the center.  Finally, I took sand paper and gave all the edges a worn look and distressed again with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. 
For the words on each frame, I actually cut the phrase from a piece of Seasons Greetings Borders paper.   Here are the details of each frame.

I used Tim Holtz Idea-ology Metal Corners.  The green strip at the bottom is cut from the Echo Park Season's Greetings Borders paper.  I added Glossy Accents over the green and Christmas Red Stickles over the red dots.  No project is complete without Stickles! :)  The flower I made from Maya Road Satin Pleat Edging in Golden Yellow.  It's super easy to make.  Just follow the instructions in this video.  The center of the flower is a clear Raspberry Bead from Maya Road that I colored with Alcohol Inks....or you could use Copic Refill.

Here's the second frame:

The background paper is cut from a sheet of Echo Park Season's Greetings Christmas Ads paper.  I just distressed it slightly with Antique Linen Distress Ink.  I cut one of the cards from the Journaling Cards paper and adhered it to a piece cut from the reverse side of the Christmas Ads paper.   The list of toys are actually toys from the 1961 era.  In fact, I'm pretty sure my oldest brother received the Handy Andy Tool Set which contained REAL miniature sized tools for kids.  There's a large chunk out of a concrete pole in my parent's basement as proof they really worked!

The vintage wood snowflakes are from Maya Road and I just distressed them with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink and added a red rhinestone to the center.  The tree, I die cut out of Grunge Paper using Sizzix Tim Holtz Snow Tree die.  I cut a second tree out of the reverse side of the Echo Park Poinsettias paper and distressed it with Antique Linen Distress Ink and adhered it to the Grunge Paper tree.  I just added a bit of Star Dust Stickles to the swirls on the tree.

Finally, the third frame...

Again, I added the metal corners from Tim Holtz.  The wood curl is from Kaisercraft.  I just colored it black with a Sharpie and then covered with Diamond Stickles.  The stickles are clear until you use them on a dark background.  I didn't even realize they would come out this yellowish green!  The metal charm is from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Christmas Adornment pack.  I colored the holly and ribbon with Copic markers.

Sorry for such a long explanation!  The best part is that all of the supplies to make this project are available at The Scrapbooking Studio in Bloomington or Moline, IL!

Talk to you soon!

Linda

1 Stamp - 2 Cards

First of all, I love Penny Black stamps.  Last year, she introduced a new line of Fashion Girls stamps.  I instantly fell in love with them.

As part of my in-house design team work for The Scrapbooking Studio in Bloomington, IL, I decided to take the Fashion Delivery stamp (4213K) and make two different cards.

The first card pairs this stamp with beautiful papers from Echo Park's Season's Greetings Collection.  This paper has a retro feel and I love how it coordinates with the stamp.  I used a simple paper piecing technique for her coat and the rest is colored with Copics.  I really like the colors in this card.

For the 2nd card, I paired up the stamp with papers from the Amy Tangerine line from American Crafts.  For this one, I simply used Copics for all the coloring.  Found a coordinating button and cute birthday sentiment from Memory Box.

I hope this inspires you to think outside the box.  When you use a stamp, think of all the possibilities and techniques to create different looks and pieces of art.

See you soon!

Linda

Santa Globe - Memory Box

How many of you have fallen in love with the "globe" stamps and coordinating Grand Snow Globe die 98228 from Memory Box?   I know I have.  I bought ever single one of the snow globe stamps.  Let's see...there's the Polar Bear Globe D1823, the Cottage Globe D1822, the Santa Globe D1821, and the Pinecone Globe D1824.  They're all adorable.  We had a lot of fun playing with them at my recent class at The Scrapbooking Studio in Bloomington, IL.

Here's one of the cards we made featuring the Santa Globe.

For another "globe card", check out Dave's video here.

Linda

New Die from Memory Box - La Rue Flourish

Do you ever start out with a card design in your head and when you're finished with the card it's completely different than you planned?  Well, this is that card.  From the colors, to the die I used, nothing is similar to my plan.

But, I L*O*V*E this card!   And it has quickly become a customer favorite at The Scrapbooking Studio in Bloomington, IL also.   I'll be teaching this card there along with 3 others on Thursday, November 17.  Call the store at 309-585-0409 to sign up!

I can already tell this La Rue Flourish die is going to be one of my "go-to" pieces all year round!

Take Care!
Linda

Flowering Christmas Tree

I have to say of all the cards I've designed for classes this holiday season, this one tops the list.   From the colors, to the adorable Christmas Carols paper, to the beautiful and intricate Flowering Christmas Tree die...its perfect!

I taught this card in a class at The Scrapbooking Studio this past Saturday and I think everyone really liked it, too.

Here are the deets!  Unless otherwise noted, all the product for this card is from Memory Box!

• Using Flowering Christmas Tree die (98195), die cut a tree from Lagoon Soiree Shimmer paper and one from the teal print paper from the Yuletide 6 X 6 paper pack (10147).  
• I ran both trees through  the Xyron to make the adhesion on the card easier.  Then set aside.
• Attach 4 X 5 1/4" Christmas Carols paper (10138) to a 4 1/8" X 5 3/8" Licorice mat and then adhere to front of a Kraft Note Card.
• Punch a 1 X 5 1/4" strip of teal print paper using the Fiskars Bracket border punch and set aside.
• Adhere 2 X 5 1/4" black snowflake paper (from 6 X 6 Yuletide pack) to 2 1/8" X 5 1/4" Robin’s Egg card stock then adhere the strip of punched teal paper behind the right side of this piece and adhere to front of card.
• Decide which Flowering Christmas Tree you want to be the base.  Then, trim the flowers from the opposite tree and add to top of corresponding flowers on base tree.  When done, remove the tree from the sticker paper and add to front of card.
• Use Essex Label die (98207) and die cut a piece from Lagoon Soiree card stock. Don’t worry about cutting off the right and left side because you will trim these pieces off.
• Stamp Christmas Sparkles (B1775) with Archival Jet Black ink onto white cardstock and cut out around stamped line.  Adhere this piece to front of Essex Label and adhere to front of card with foam tape.
•  Add rhinestones to flowers on tree and label.  Accent with Stickles if you want.

Enjoy and have a great day!

I'm back

I can't believe how long its been since I last posted.  So much has happened!   Several more classes have been taught in both Springfield and Peoria, IL.   A new scrapbook store has opened in Bloomington, IL!  Yippee!  We needed one so badly.  We're happy to have The Scrapbooking Studio.  In fact, I'm working there part time and will be teaching a class featuring Memory Box designs this Saturday, October 22.

Here's one of the cards we'll be making.

It features all new papers and stamps from Memory Box, Inc. and colored pencil techniques.  Can't wait for this class.  It will be fun.

If you're interested in signing up, call The Scrapbook Studio at 309-585-0409.

Peoria Class Update

Wow!!  I had such a great turn out for my Memory Box Fall card class at Scrapadoodle in Peoria yesterday.   My first time teaching there so didn't think I would have more than a handful....I had 13 wonderful students.   And I do believe everyone enjoyed the time.

Here are the cards we made....

We used a lot of different techniques in class including Copics, masking, UTEE cracked glass technique, colored pencil blending, and as you can see, lots of distressing!   Of course, all the stamps, papers, and dies were from Memory Box.

I have to thank Dave Brethauer, the owner of Memory Box, for providing all the product!  He is so wonderful to work for!

Next Memory Box class is at Prairie Art Stamps in Springfield, IL on Saturday, September 10.  Can't wait!

Harvest Wreath

Over on the Memory Box Designer Blog, Outside the Box, I'm featuring a card I designed using the Maple Wreath stamp (G1793) and coordinating Maple Wreath die (98200).   I heat embossed the stamped image then colored with Twinkling H2O's.

Here's the same basic card layout but this time I used the Harvest Wreath (G1791) and coordinating Harvest Wreath die (98198).

I love using Twinkling H2O's.  In this example, I started by coloring the leaves entirely with Sunshine.  Then randomly colored with Ginger Peach, Hot Cinnamon, and Wild Vine.   

If you love to color, this card is for you!

And, if you live near Springfield, IL, this is one of the cards we'll be making at my September 10 class at Prairie Art Stamps.  Call the store if you would like to reserve a spot.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fall Leaf Trio

Hi!  Thanks for visiting my new blog.   Today, I'm featuring one of the cards I'll be teaching in Peoria, IL at The Scrapadoodle on Saturday, August 20.  

I really like the way this card turned out.   I used various Copic markers and using the "feather-flick" technique randomly colored a piece of cream Neenah paper.  Then I stamped Fall Leaf Trio (F1776) from Memory Box with Rich Cocoa Memento ink onto this paper and trimmed closing around the stamped edge.  This was a fun "experiment" and made a beautiful design on the leaves. 

I cut out another fall leaf trio using the Fall Leaf Trio (98208) die from Memory Box.

The card is a Wassail Note card.  The designer paper is the new Woodland Path from the Nightfall Collection!  Great colors.  On the right side of the card, I stamped Vintage Halloween Words (G1802) with Rich Cocoa Memento ink.   Of course, everything is distressed with Ranger Distress Inks in Brushed Corduroy.

Hope you enjoyed my card and maybe I'll see you in Peoria!

My First Post

Well, I’ve gone and done it.  After much encouragement from friends and trying to build up the courage, I’ve started a blog.

Just a little about the purpose of the blog…  Well, I’m a member of the design team for Memory Box.  They are a fabulous rubber stamp/paper company out of Seattle.    I’ll share my designs here and I’ll also post information about classes that I’ll be teaching.  You can also see my posts on the Memory Box design team blog, Outside the Box.

I’ve been working at and teaching at our local scrap/stamp store for over 6 years, but unfortunately they closed this past spring. 

About a year ago, Dave Brethauer, the owner of Memory Box, visited our local store and invited me to join his design team.   I was flabergasted to say the least and very honored.

So, I’m looking to branch out with my teaching gigs!  In fact, I’ve taught at Prairie Art Stamps in Springfield, IL and at The Ink Spot in St. Louis, MO in the past.  I’ve got classes set up at Scrapadoodle in Peoria, IL in August and October and at Prairie Art Stamps in September.   I continue to set up new classes so keep an eye out.

You might also see cards created using stamps from two of my other favorite companies, The Cat’s Pajamas and My Favorite Things….if time permits!  They have the cutest quirkiest stamps that are fun to work with.

Finally, thanks so much for visiting.  It means a lot and I’ll try not to disappoint.