Memory Box November Challenge Inspiration

Hello there!  Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  I thought I would give you all a bit of challenge inspiration by using a patterned paper from the new Memory Box Dashing Holiday Paper Pad.  I thought it would be super cute to have a simple wreath made from the newly released Jovial Wreath Die with the Classic Ice Skates as the focal point of the wreath.

I started by selecting one of the patterned papers from the Dashing Holiday Paper Collection.  The one I chose is the green diagonal plaid with grey and a little bit of white.  I misted it with shimmer mist and set it aside to dry while I did the rest of my die-cutting.

The white frame is a single layer that I had leftover from when I made the Shining Dove card several days ago.  That post is here.  This provided the perfect guideline for adding my wreath to the card.   I love it that with so many of the Memory Box frame dies you can mix and match with others in your collection.  

I die cut three of the Jovial Wreaths from #110 Metallic Pearlized Nickel Cardstock.  Next, I layered up each layer how I wanted them to look which was with the foliage primarily at the top of the wreath.  You could do it anywhere you want.  

I then cut three of the Classic Ice Skates dies and glued them one on top of the other to make a thicker element.  This gives a much more 3D appearance to the skates.  Using a silver metallic pen, I colored the blades of the ice skates. This was the easiest way to get a color match to the nickel cardstock.  

Next, I went back to my patterned paper and using Stick-It Adhesive, attached it to a piece of plain white cardstock so that it would be thicker.  Then I die cut it with Rectangle Basics in the 2nd to the largest size. You can really see the shimmer in some of the angles.  

I added that to a top folding card base, then continued to add the other elements into the card.  First came the frame, then the wreaths, and then the ice-skates.  I had planned to use white pearls for the decorative elements on the wreath, but when I placed them without adhesive, it was not enough contrast and so I switched over to Gold Foiled Pearls.  

For the sentiment, I die cut three of the "Peace" Cheshire Script die cut words and glued them together as well, placed them in the bottom center space that was open and added a large gold pearl on each side of the word.  Without those, I felt like the sentiment kind of got lost in the rest of the card.  

Although you can't see the shimmer in this photo, you can really see it in the next one.  I love adding shimmer mist to winter-themed cards for the frosty look.  

There was no stamping required for this card, just die cutting which is how I started making cards.  I used to detest stamping until the MISTI came along.  But I also enjoy just selecting a group of die cuts to work with and seeing how it all plays out once it's assembled.  I actually like this card much more than with the white pearls, and I hope you do too.

I've linked the supplies I used below for your convenience.  The Classic Ice Skates are no longer available from Memory Box, but there are lots of them out there if you google.  Sorry about that! 

Affiliate Links may be used at no additional cost to you.

Memory Box - 30086 Rectangle Basics Set Shop at: SSS | MB	Memory Box - Dashing Holiday Double-Sided Papers Shop at: SSS	Memory Box - Jovial Wreath Die Shop at: SSS | MB	Memory Box - Peace Cheshire Script Die Shop at: MB
Memory Box - Shining Dove Frame Dies Shop at: SSS | MB	PP.Com - Cougar White Digital Smooth - #110, 200 pack Shop at: PPC	Ranger Multi Medium Matte Shop at: SSS	ScraPerfect No Clog Tip for Ranger Multi Medium Matte Shop at: SSS
Studio Katia Gold Foil Pearls Shop at: SSS	Teflon Bone Folder Shop at: SSS

Memory Box Holiday Greetings Stamp Set

Hello!  Today I thought I would do something a bit different for you.  I used the new Holiday Greenery Stamp Set from Memory box for my Watercolor Card. Isn't this swag just beautiful?  I'd love to have something so fresh and Christmasy in my own home during the holidays.

This was really easy to create.  I started by heat embossing the image onto a piece of Canson Bristol Smooth Cardstock using Versamark and Antique Gold Embossing Powder.  I took a combination of May Green, Green, and Dark Green in my Zig Markers and just scribbled it into each of the leaves.  Using a brush with very little water, I moved the color into the edges and let everything just kind of blend together how it wanted to.  I used the Red Zig for the Berries.  Next, using light blue, I went all around the swag, working the color outward with more water this time.  Once I got in and around all the berries and greenery, I added more of the light blue and worked it outward, turning the paper rather than trying to turn my hand.

I set this aside to let it dry before continuing on to the next steps.  While I was waiting, I chose the colors I wanted to use for all of the background layers. I chose Navy, Teal, and Satin Red, and die cut them with Rectangle Basics Dies.

I mounted those to a 4.25 x 5.5 Top Folding Navy Cardbase.  Using my Copic White medium, I mixed a little bit on the top of an acrylic block and using a Princeton Neptune #1 Script Brush, I put white splatter over the entire panel to make it look like snowfall.  Again, I set that aside to dry.  I've found that the longer bristles and smaller sized brush give me the type of splatter I was looking for in this case. 

Once that was completely dry, I added some Nuvo Drops in Ivory Seashell (white pearl) for the little berries and some White Blizzard for the highlight on the red berries.  I let that dry overnight and then hit it with some shimmer mist on the following morning.  Not too much as I didn't want the watercolor to run, but enough so that the recipient will notice when they receive the card.  Then I attached that panel to the card base with all the layers that I had prepared.  I also added a plain white panel on the interior for a note.  A simple gold sentiment to math the gold embossing, "Peace" in Cheshire Script finishes this card off.

This is a little bit different of a style for me, so I hope you like it or that it inspires you to try something new to you.   I'm not super comfortable with this type of watercolor, but I keep practicing, so I am improving. Thanks for stopping by today.


Affiliate Links may be used at no additional cost to you.

Canson Bristol Paper Shop at: SSS	Memory Box - Holiday Greenery Stamp Set Shop at: SSS | MB	Memory Box - Peace Cheshire Script Die Shop at: MB	Memory Box - Rectangle Basics Set Shop at: SSS | MB
Papertrey Ink Deep Indigo Cardstock Shop at: PTI/ITP	Teflon Bone Folder Shop at: SSS	Tim Holtz Tonic Paper Trimmer Shop at: SSS	Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops Ivory Seashell Shop at: SSS
Tonic Nuvo Glitter Drops White Blizzard Shop at: SSS	Tsukineko Sheer Sparkle Shimmer Spritz Shop at: SSS	Versamark Ink Shop at: SSS	Wagner Heat Tool Shop at: SSS

Memory Box Peace Winter Card

Hello there!  Today I have a card for you featuring some of the new Holiday 2019 Dies from Memory Box!  Given my love for shimmer and shine any time of year, you know that I had to use some of that on a winter snowflake card!  I started by misting up a couple of 4.25 x 5.5 card panels with clear shimmer mist.

I strongly considered using white on white for this card, but I wanted an "icy" color for the card base.  I chose Pearlized Powder Blue from PaperPapers.com.  Once my white card panels were dry, I die cut the Bauble Snowflake Frame Die from one panel and a couple of the smaller snowflakes from the Sparkling Snowflake Trio.  I mean, with "Sparkling" in the name, you know I had to do it.  With the other panel, I cut several more of the snowflakes so that I could layer them up on the front of the card and the inside of the card as well.  I could also have used a shimmer or metallic white cardstock but that paper doesn't give quite the same effect as the white card stock with shimmer mist on it.  These dies cut so well that I don't have any trouble popping them out of the negative.

Memory Box Dies are made in the USA of 100% US Steel.  I don't know about you, but that is something that's important to me as a US Citizen.  They also cut beautifully, every single time.  I am not using a metal adapter plate, but as my cutting pads wear, I may need to add one to my die-cutting sandwich.  I do have a Gemini, but I feel faster cranking everything through my Cuttlebug. When I found out that the Cuttlebug was being discontinued, I bought a dozen sets of "B" plates and a couple of "C" plates.  Eventually, I will have to switch over, but I'm going to be fighting it every step of the way.

Once I had all the snowflakes die-cut, I started laying them on top of each other to see how I would group them.  I always like to put a sparkly little gem in the very center, so it was mostly a matter of what snowflake went on top of which other one. I pretty much always do the largest on the bottom getting smaller with each layer.  I also rotate the additional layers slightly to make it look like there are as many "branches" as possible together.  After I adhered them together at the centers, I laid them on a piece of white printer paper and Misted them yet again with the some Silver Iridescent Shimmer Mist.

After I set those aside, I grabbed the frame and used micropore tape all along the backside of it to keep the little pieces from falling out.  Then using my Tonic Nuvo Shimmer Pen, I went all over the front of the frame.  This gives the most sparkle possible but you need to be squeezing the brush a little the whole time to keep the product coming out.  I wouldn't really do it on something that was any larger because it would be pretty hard on your hands, but I wanted that super shimmery shine today.

After making my card base, I laid everything out on my card to decide how I wanted the layout to look.  I put foam tape all the way around the large frame and adhered it to the card base.  Next, I put Multi Medium Matte all around the small, skinny frame with the dotted detail and adhered it directly to the card.  I put gems around the larger frame at the inner corners and then at the center point on each outer side of the frame in the center of that side.  The detail in all Memory Box dies is just incredible and I have to say I love working with them.

Normally, I try to block the sunlight from the afternoon hours by pulling down my blinds.  I hadn't quite gotten it done when I snapped this picture.  The sun had just gone a little behind a cloud eliminating the really dark shadows that come with full sun.

This is really simple to do as it is primarily assembly.  With a variety of small one-word dies to choose from, it's easy to put a card together.  You could do mass die cutting, and then sit in front of the television and do mass assembly if you wanted to.  I have so many projects and ideas to share right now, so I'll be back soon with another project to share with you.

I'm trying to get better at remembering to take process photos for you, but there weren't really any in this case.  It was simple die-cutting and assembly.

Affiliate Links may be used at no additional cost to you.

Memory Box - Bauble Snowflake Frame Dies Shop at: SSS | MB	Memory Box - Peace Cheshire Script Die Shop at: MB	Memory Box - Sparkling Snowflake Trio Dies Shop at: SSS | MB	PP.Com - Cougar White Digital Smooth - #110, 200 pack Shop at: PPC
Ranger Multi Medium Matte Shop at: SSS	Scotch 3M Foam Tape Shop at: SSS	Scotch Micropore Tape .5 inch Shop at: SSS	Scotch Micropore Tape - 3 - 1-Inch Rolls Shop at: SSS
ScraPerfect No Clog Tip for Ranger Multi Medium Matte Shop at: SSS	Teflon Bone Folder Shop at: SSS	Tim Holtz Tonic Paper Trimmer Shop at: SSS	Tsukineko Sheer Sparkle Shimmer Spritz Shop at: SSS

Papertrey Ink November 2017 Create Along With Us

It's time for the November 2017 Papertrey Ink Create Along With Us Challenge which is a monthly occurrence most of the time.  I have been inspired by all the lovely snowflake cards and tags this release and I've been anxious to use my Silver White Winters Stamps and Coordinating Dies. I started with a white, top folding card base made from Stamper's Select White Cardstock, an A2 panel of Night Sky Shimmer Cardstock die cut with an A2 Stitched Rectangle Die from WPLUS9, Versamark Ink and some Silver Embossing Powder.  I cut one of each of the snowflakes from Silver Cardstock and then attached the small one on top of the larger one in the same design. I used Ranger Multi Medium Matte to do this. Once that was dry, I set a crystal in the center of the snowflakes, also with Ranger Multi Medium.  Then I placed the the snowflakes loosely on that panel so I could arrange my swooshes and greeting stamps how I wanted them. I put that A2 panel in my Mini MISTI so I would be able to stamp it twice if wanted or needed to.  In this case it was a want.

I inked it lightly in Versamark and heat set it with Silver Embossing Powder.  I don't have any Fine Detail Silver (although I added some to my cart at Papertrey for my next order) so I had to keep a gentle touch with what I was doing.  After I heat set my stamping, I lightly inked it up again with Versamark and Silver Embossing Powder and heat set it then repeated it one more time, giving it three layers of heat embossing.  This really adds a ton of dimension.  Because my silver powder is not a Fine Detail Powder, I couldn't keep the swooshes as fine as the stamp but in this instance, I was going for a bolder embossed looked.  I'm telling you, I love this technique for adding dimension but you definitely must use a light touch and add layers rather than trying to go heavy handed and do it less times. I do have some Ranger Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder that is Fine Detail Powder, but I felt it was too gunmetal grey for these shiny silver snowflakes.  I used Silver Mirror Board from Do Crafts for my die cuts. 

That's it for today.  I hope you like my card and will come back another day.  I'll be back tomorrow with my card for The Card Concept Challenge.  Thank you so much for stopping by!