Trendy Trees - Outside the Box

Sharing my  post from the Outside the Box blog...

What a great class we had at Scrapadoodle in Peoria this weekend!  Thanks to everyone that took the class.  Lots of new crafters I hadn't met before!   We had loads of fun.

Next up, I'll be teaching at A Small Cleverness in Orange Park, FL on October 12 and 13.   Anyone that signs up for both of my classes, will get to make a bonus card....as a thank you from me!   Here's one of the bonus cards....

I  have to say some of my favorite products from Memory Box are the stamps and matching dies.  Here I used the Trendy Trees stamp (F1891) with the matching Trendy Trees die (98428).

Instructions:

• Stamp Trendy Trees with Brown Archival Ink (Ranger) on Parchment paper and then stamp just the top part of the trees again on scrap paper.  I used a piece from the Blackbird 6X6 Paper Pack.
• Color the image that you stamped on the scrap paper with markers, Prismacolor pencils, or watercolor pencils.  I used Ranger's Distress Markers then topped off the leaves with a bit of Stardust pen from Sakura.
• Cut out the image around the tree tops.  Leave as one big piece rather than cutting the tree (circles) individually.  Distress with Distress Inks of your choice.  I used Scattered Straw, Shabby Shutters, and Tumbled Glass.
• Die cut the image you stamped on the Parchment paper with the Trendy Trees die.  See Patter's video here for some great tips on cutting your image perfectly!  Distress this piece with your choice of ink.  I used Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.
• Adhere the "tree tops" to the cream cardstock and set aside.
• I cut a tag from Kraft paper about 2 1/4" X 4 1/4" and attach to a piece of Vanilla Bean paper about 2 3/8" X 4 3/8" and trim to a tag shape.  Attach the Trendy Trees to the tag and set aside.
• Cut a piece of Thistle Distress Dots paper and attach to a Vanilla Bean mat then attach to Kraft Note Card.
• Attach the stamped image to front of card.  I added a bit of ribbon and a button to top off the card.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you are enjoying this beautiful fall weather!


Linda

10N-KRAFT (33021) SH-VANILLA BEAN (44044) Trendy Trees Die - 98428 Trendy Trees Stamp - F1891 Thistle Distressed Dots - 77862 Kraft Paper - 44019

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Hardware Journal

Another journal today...I feel bad that I can't remember who I gave this one to??!!  But it was a year ago and I'm much older today.  Pretty sure it was Trish.

Anyways...I like the simplicity of this journal.

I used a paper from the Splendid Collection from Athentique.  I really like the heavy weight of their papers.  They work great for journal covers.

I punched a border using EK Success Abstract Flower Edger Punch for the left spine and then covered it with Tim Holtz Tissue Tape in Symphony.  The pearl/jewels on the lower right are from Prima as are the black jewels behind the rose.

The book plate and knob are also both Tim Holtz Idea-ology.  Remember...I'm addicted to all this hardware.  :)

Finally, I made the rose by hand by punching out three 5-petal flowers from grunge paper.  I inked them up with Fired Brick Distress Ink and stamped them with a background image.  I then cut and formed them into this 3-dimensional rose!   I absolutely love it!

For some glitz, I added Rock Candy Distress Stickles to the flower and the petals (also cut from Grunge Paper).

thanks for stopping by today!

Linda

Bats around the Cauldron

Just like most people, sometimes card designs come to me pretty quickly and other times I really struggle.  Lately, I've been feeling the creative bug and I've been able to design lots of cards pretty quickly.  Well, relatively.....I'm forever putting a card together only to rip it apart because I didn't like something.  Takes me a couple times to get it just right.

I like using purples and greens with orange for Halloween cards.  I especially like the distressing on this one.  Looks a bit eery.....

Instructions:

• Stamp Bubbling Pot with Black Versafine Ink onto cream paper and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. 
• Scribble Shabby Shutters or Peeled Paint Distress Marker on a craft mat and use a water brush to color the steam rising from the kettle.
• Distress paper with Shabby Shutters, Seedless Preserves, and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks. 
• Attach Key Lime Gingham paper to lower portion of Licorice paper.  Attach stamped image on the upper half of this paper.
• Die cut border from licorice paper and attach over seam.  Then add orange ribbon and attach on back.  Add this to front of Kraft Note Card.
• Stamp Halloween Bat with Black Archival Ink onto Grunge Paper.  Trim around bat.  Add Spiced Marmalade or Shabby Shutter Distress Ink over words.  Edge the bat with Black Sharpie marker.
• Die cut Swooping Bats from Licorice paper.  Add two of the die cut bats and the Grunge Paper Bat to the front of the card with glue dots or clear glue.  You can add the left over bat to the inside of the card if you like.

I designed this card especially for a class I'm teaching in Peoria, IL at Scrapadoodle.  The class is Sunday, September 30.  Hope you can join us!

Linda

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Florida....here I come!

I am so excited to have been invited to teach two Memory Box classes at A Small Cleverness in Orange Park, Florida.  I'm so giddy I can hardly stand it....and those around me can hardly stand it either. {smile}

Anyway, the classes will be Friday, October 12 with a repeat of the classes on Saturday, October 13.   Donna Kazee, the owner, will be scheduling the times, so if you're interested {hint, hint}, call the store at (904) 272-0503.

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

It's my favorite...and it's the one I featured on the Outside the Blog blitz to promote the new Memory Box Holiday 2012 release a few weeks ago. 

I am just so grateful that Dave Brethauer, the owner of Memory Box invited me to be on his design team back in 2009.   So many times I don't feel worthy of this opportunity.  And I can't thank Donna enough for inviting me to her store.

Talk to you soon!

Linda

Where has the time gone......and another journal

Wow...this is sad.  I can't believe how long its been since I've posted anything.  I'll just blame it on summer...crazy hectic schedules.

Here's one of the journals I recently created for a friend at work. 

For this journal, I used an older collection from My Minds Eye called Lost & Found 2 - Rosy "Ordinary" - Dream paper.  It fit the size of the journal perfectly.  I grabbed an extra sheet of paper and cut out the frame with "dream" and the bird and popped it up with foam tape.  Then I added Glossy Accents over the word "dream."

The flowers are left over Hero Arts or Prima flowers.  I just layered them and added a couple of snaps and a button to the centers and layered them over a gem flourish.

This one is simple but cute....I think.
Now....I'll be back very soon with some lovely creations featuring the new What's in the Box - Holiday 2012 release from Memory Box!   Wowza...they've outdone themselves again!

We've got a blog blitz going on over on the design team blog - Outside the Box.  There will be give aways all this week!  Check it out!

Linda

Free Goodies at Memory Box

Hi, everyone!

I'll be back later with a new card design, but I need to get the word out!    We're having a huge give-away over on the Memory Box - Outside the Box Blog!!  Click here for the deets!!!!

Hurry......the contest ends August 4!!!!

Style is Eternal - Hero Arts

I'm so excited to be asked to teach a class at Scrapadoodle in Peoria, IL featuring Hero Arts products.   I quickly got to work and finished two cards.  Two more to go.   Here's one of the cards I'll be teaching.

This card features papers from Authentique's Delightful Collection.  The stamp set is called "Style is Eternal".  It's actually a stamp set with matching Framelets die cuts created in partnership by Hero Arts and Sizzix.  The set is adorable.

I just added a couple of buttons from my stash to finish it off.

Want to make this card???  Well, call Scrapadoodle at 309-691-5152 and sign up.  I'll be teaching on July 8 and again on July 11.  Will I see you there?

Linda

The Grove

Happy Father's Day to the best dad in the world!!  Almost 80 and still going strong.

Today, I'm featuring a card I designed using the new Summer Release from Memory Box.  It features the new Grove Leaves Die.  It coordinates with the previously released Grove Branch.  See how that happens??!!  :)

Instructions:

• Cut a piece of glossy paper to 3 3/4 X 5.
• Choose 3 colors of Alcohol Inks.  I used Wild Plum, Bottle, and Stream.   Apply the alcohol inks onto felt attached to an Alcohol Blending tool, then squirt on some Alcohol Blending Solution.  Apply to the glossy paper using a pouncing motion and continue to turn the handle in your wrist as you cover the paper.  Set aside.
• Die cut a piece of white cardstock (4 X 5 1/4) using the Grove Leaves Die from Memory Box.  Distress the edges with Brushed Corduroy.
•  Attach the alcohol inked piece behind the Grove Leaves and then adhere to the front of a Mocha Note Card.
• Die cut the Grove Branch from a piece of Mocha paper.  Run through a Xyron to make a sticker out of the die cut or add 2-way glue then attach to the front of the card.
• Die cut a piece of Aloe paper using the Tessatina Border die...it's everyone's favorite!  Run through the Xyron X and attach to the right side of the card.
• Stamp sentiment using Coffee Archival Ink and adhere to a Mocha mat then attach to the front of card.

Supplies: 
Memory Box:  Mocha Note Card, Aloe Paper, Grove Leaves Die, Grove Branch Die, Tessatina Border Die, Wishing You Combo stamp.
Ranger:  Alcohol Inks, Alcohol Ink Blending Tool, Alcohol Ink Blending Felt, Archival Ink
Sizzix:  Big Shot

Cottage Leaf from Memory Box

Memory Box released their most recent collection this past week!   Being on the design team, I've had the privilege of getting to play with the products a week early.  I've already made a boat load of cards.  This is a great small collection and so fun.

Here's one of the cards I designed to teach at Scrapadoodle in Peoria, IL.

This is a super simple card but I like that about it.  I love the cheery colors, too.  Why don't you join me for my class at the Scrapadoodle!  It's Sunday, June 24 from 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.  Call the store at 309-691-5152 to sign up!

Supplies:
Memory Box:  Currant Note Card, Currant Gingham Paper, White Paper, Just a Note Combo, Cottage Leaf Die
Hero Arts:  Smooth Clear Gemstones

Memory Box - Love those Butterfly Dies!

I keep coming back to the butterfly dies...Vivienne, Darla, Kaleidoscope, and Moonlight... Just seems like they are the perfect addition to any card.

Here's my latest design using Vivienne and Darla.

This card starts with a Hyacinth Note Card.  I added a white and Licorice mat.  Then I die cut 2 Tessatina Borders (98302) from Hyacinth Paper and trimmed the ends.

Die cut Flower Cottage paper using just the circle from the Grand Snow Globe 98228 and adhere to Scalloped Circle 98109 die cut from Licorice paper and attach to mat. Wrap baker's twine around and tie a bow then attach all to the front of the card.

Die cut Latchette Border 98294 from Licorice paper and attach to bottom of card.  Trim ends.

Finally die cut Vivienne Butterfly from Flower Cottage paper and Darla Butterfly from Aloe paper and attach to front of card.

Memory Box has a new release coming out.  All next week we'll be featuring designs from the new release over on the Outside the Box blog.

Linda

Explore-Create-Discover Journal

I’d like to share this journal I made for my friend, Maureen.   It’s one of my favorites because I used a lot of Memory Box products. 

 

This journal is made from Bo-Bunny Et-Cetera paper and bound with a Zutter Bind-it-All.  The inside pages are just plain kraft text weight paper.

To decorate the cover, I stamped Blank Ticket with Coffee Archival Ink and die cut with the Blank Ticket matching die from Memory Box. I distressed this piece with Faded Jeans and Peeled Paint Distress Inks. I stamped Create Art (also from Memory Box) with Coffee Archival onto cream paper and then distressed with Fired Brick Distress Inks.  I attached these pieces overlapping onto the front of the journal.  The larger die cut is from Spellbinders.  Since the word “discover” was going to be covered up anyway, I trimmed it from the previously stamped paper and trimmed it down as the title of the journal. 

The flowers are all from Prima or Hero Arts.  I just mix them all up in one container, so I’m not sure which is which.  I distressed each of the flowers with various distress inks and added Linen Distress Stickles to give them some texture. 

I especially love the branch and the bird.  They are both from Memory Box.  The branch is the Woodland Branch and the bird is the Perched Reedbird.  I die cut the bird with Grunge paper first and then from some scrap paper!  I adore how this little bird turned out.  I added some Star Dust Stickles to the branch just for some fun and texture.

Have a great day!   Give someone a hug today!
Linda

Dogwood in Spring

Today I'm featuring the Flowering Branches stamp from Memory Box.  It reminds me of a dogwood tree.  It's sentimental since my mom has always loved them.

I'm also featuring the Gothic Rosette 98249 die.  I know, I know...its supposed to be a rosette, but I also love it as a border die!
Instructions:

• Cut a 4 X 5 1/4 mat from Vanilla Bean paper
• Stamp Mail Definitions G1839 with brown dye ink onto kraft cardstock and adhere to top of Vanilla Bean mat
• Die cut Gothic Rosette from Bauble cardstock (from the Valise Collection) and adhere about 3/4" below the Mail Definitions
• Cut a piece of scrap ribbon and adhere between these two pieces then attach this entire piece to the front of a Sky Note Card
• Stamp Flowering Branches with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate ink onto cold-press watercolor paper and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.  Trim around outside stamped edge
• Watercolor flowers with Tim Holtz Worn Lipstick Distress Marker using water brush
• Distress with Shabby Shutters and Stormy Sky Distress Inks and blending tool/foam and attach to Vanilla Bean mat and then Sky mat and attach to front of card with foam tape
• Stamp Just a Note Combo B1852 with brown dye ink and attach to Sky mat and then attach to front of card

Enjoy this beautiful day!
Linda

Journal for Cindy

It’s time for another journal.   This journal was made for my friend and co-worker, Cindy.  Cindy is a blast to be around.  She has a wonderful smile and an infectious laugh.  When we were working together on a huge project at work, she kept me in stitches.

When I set out to create a journal for her, I channeled her whimsy and fun side and this is what I came up with. So, this one is a little whimsical and a little grungy.  Not that Cindy is grungy….just the journal is.  {smile}

 

The journal was first covered with 12 X 12 paper called Produce from the Farmhouse Collection by Crate Paper….one of my favorite companies.  I used the same paper (front and back) to layer into a collage.  

I used a technique from Tim Holtz for the pinwheel.  First a cut a scalloped circle from Raspberry Gingham paper from Memory Box.  I then took Tim Holtz tissue tape and ruffled it behind the circle.  I die cut another decorative circle using the Lace Circle die by Memory Box from a piece of Pool paper also from Memory Box.  Then layered on a flower, another circle and a decorative brad.

The “pointing finger” is a stamp designed by my friend, Wendy Vecchi and stamped onto Grunge Paper.

I topped it all off with a double bow I tied from some May Arts ribbon!

This was definitely one of my favorites.

It’s Spring!

Happy first day of spring to everyone!!  

Ahhhh...I love this time of year.  Everything is so fresh, new, and green. What better time to try something new. 

For me, I finally tried my hand at making a round card.  I don't know what I was afraid of.  It really wasn't too difficult.  Although there are probably a few things I would do differently next time.

I’m sharing my blog post from the Outside the Box blog today featuring the Leafy Branch Globe stamp (E1850) from Memory Box.   I'm really drawn to stamps with a nature theme.  I just had to add a cute little robin to the branch in honor of this day.

The Leafy Branch Globe was inked up using Archival Coffee ink and stamped onto Parchment paper.  The image was colored with Ranger Distress Markers in Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint.  I used a waterbrush to blend the colors.

The little bird is actually from the Heaven Sings stamp (B1385) from Memory Box.  Yep, it's a Christmas stamp, but it's one of those bonus stamps that Dave Brethauer from Memory Box so wonderfully creates with a sentiment and image on the side of the stamp.  I just colored the bird with Distress Markers in Vintage Photo and a touch of Fired Brick and stamped it on the branch.  The image was distressed with Stormy Sky and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks using an ink blending tool and foam.

Enjoy this beautiful day.....do something new today!  It’s time for change.  {smile}

Kim’s Journal

Hi, everyone!

Time to feature another journal.   When you look at this one, you’re going to think the colors are a bit subdued.   That’s for a reason.  This journal I designed for my friend and former co-worker, Kim.   If you’ll recall from a previous blog entry, I designed 12 journals for some co-workers, including Kim.  As I designed each one, I tried to tailor it to the person.

Kim has such a warm spirit about her.  She loves nature and is so kind and loving.  Just one of those people who brings joy to other’s lives.

She chose to retire at the beginning of the year and I miss her and her smile.  I hope you can see the beauty in this journal just as we see the beauty in Kim.

For the life of me, I can't remember what company the paper is made by.    At the spine, I added Tissue Tape and Film Strip Ribbon from Tim Holtz Idea-ology Line.  The tag is an inventory tag that I crumpled and then distressed with Distress Inks from Ranger.   I dyed the seam binding ribbon with Distress Inks as well.

The bird cage and bird are die cut using Tim Holtz Caged Bird Die by Sizzix.  The chain and jump rings are also from Tim Holtz from his Idea-ology line.  I think the beads are from Maya Road.  They were clear and I just added Ranger Alcohol Inks to match them to the journal colors.

Hope you enjoy!  Talk to you soon!

Linda

Easter Egg Trio for Memory Box

What's not to love about the Filigree Easter Egg die??!!

I'll be teaching in Peoria, IL at the Scrapadoodle on March 24.  In planning for the class, the owner Lynne Demanes asked me to use this die.  She said its many of her customers' favorite!  And who could blame them.

So, here we are!  I hope they like it!

I started out by die cutting three eggs out of papers from the Viola 6 X 6 paper pack using the Classic Egg die (98305).  It was hard to choose just three!  Next, I cut the Filigree Egg (98306) 3 times from the new Aloe paper.  I ran the Filigree Egg pieces through my Xyron "X" and attached them to the Classic Egg pieces. Sentiment is Easter Joy (B1763)

The card is made up of an Aloe Note Card, a white mat and the top mat is the new Sky paper.  My favorite.
If you live in the Peoria, IL area I hope you'll consider taking this class.  1:00 to 3:30 on March 24 at the Scrapadoodle. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda

Journal for Lisa

Time for another journal.    This is one I made for my friend, Lisa.   She's a dancer and is hilarious.  Very expressive and fun.  Just a joy to be around.

The journal is a bit subdued, I suppose, but I love the quote I found to put on it.  No idea who to credit it to.  It seems a bit blurred in the picture.  It says "Beauty without expression is boring."

I really like the way this one turned out.  Simple, but elegant.

The curio knob looks like its off center, but it isn't.   I'm anal...remember.   It just looks that way in the photo.

I painted the wood hanging plaque in Brushed Corduroy Distress Crack Paint, but did NOT like how it turned out, so after it dried, I just added some gold Alcohol Ink Mixative.  Perfect!!!

Here is a list of the products I used:
Paper:  Classic Chic paper from Basic Grey Little Black Dress Collection
Scroll Gaffer Tape: 7 Gypsies
Wooden Hanging: KaiserCraft Flourish Pack - Hanging Plaques
402 Sticker:  Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Crowded Attic Salvage Stickers
Knob:  Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Curio Knobs

See you soon!

Linda