From Memory Box website . . . if you want to see more, go to www.memoryboxco.com and click on "Outside the Box" on the list.

09/11/2011

All is Calm, All is Bright

I've been patiently (?) waiting for dies I ordered through my local stamp store and happily received them on Wednesday. It's always fun to play with new dies. If you're looking to make a simple Christmas card, I don't think you could get much more simple than this. This card has no stamping only dies. Maybe use B1301 All is Calm for the inside sentiment? This reminded me of peering out the window at a peaceful winter scene and Dave's creativity does all the work for us. I thought a simple, peaceful card would be appropriate also for this day of remembrance.
Dies used - 98166 Deer Trio, 98167 Star of Wonder
Papers: Kraft note card, Parchment, Licorice Dots, Soiree Cherry
Other: Nestabilities Labels 18
Maybe take a moment today to honor all those who lost their lives or those who lost those they loved ten years ago.

09/10/2011

Who Can Resist RESIST?

I keep saying that ("Who can resist resist?") and am powerless to stop myself because it's so darned true!
I had a lot of fun with this card - unfortunately, the picture doesn't do it justice. All the more reason to try this one at home so you can see for yourself! After I did this technique once, I was totally hooked!!!

S U P P L I E S
Memory Box stamps: Crow (B1389), Harvest Moon (G1804); Memory Box Soiree Shimmer Paper (Onyx, Silver); Swathmore watercolor paper; Ranger Distress embossing ink, Ranger Distress Seafoam White embossing powder; Ranger Distress inks (Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood, Concord Grape, Soot); Memory Box diamond jewel stickers; Perfect Pearls (Perfectly Pearl).
T O O L S
Heat tool, stamp positioner, foam ink applicators, Ranger craft mat, Ranger water mister

I N S T R U C T I O N S

1. Stamp Harvest Moon with embosSing ink on watercolor paper and heat emboss with Seafoam White powder.
2. Apply Mustard Seed and Dried Marigold inks to moon with ink applicators - it's okay to color outside the lines. ;~D
3. Apply Weathered Wood ink to center of card, working out. Apply Chipped Sapphire ink to edges, working in. Repeat with Concord Grape.
4. Saturate panel with Perfect Pearls solution by spritzing. (Fill Ranger Mister up to the "R" in "Mister" on the side of the bottle and then add Perfectly Pearl Perfect Pearls - I used about 1/8 teaspoon.)
5. Don't panic at how dreadful it looks (and it will look scary). When this baby dries, you're going to be very happy!
6. Once your very cool, shimmery panel is dry, stamp crow with Soot ink.
7. Cut panel to your preferred size and mount on a mat of Soiree Shimmer Paper (silver).
8. Adhere matted panel to Soiree Shimmer card (Onyx).
9. Add diamond jewel stickers.

Piece of cake! (Or should I say candy, given the season?)
TFL and have a great weekend!


09/07/2011

SITTING and WAITING

Crow and Pumpkin C1800 - patiently waiting for the next trick-or-treater - fits perfectly on the Museum Tag E1771 and matching Museum Tag Die 98145. The delicate Frosty Border 98171 goes quickly from elegant+icy to scary+sinister when it's diecut from Soiree Onyx Shimmer Cardstock.
It's great that many of the Memory Box Dies can be used throughout year with a simple change of paper. Frosty Border would be pretty in the summer too - with flowers placed behind it, letting the border become the center of the flowers. Well, summer is just beginning here in Seattle, so maybe I'll still have time to do that.
The background stamp - Vintage Halloween Words G1802 - is missing from the picture below. It's probably where the supplies all go to hide when I'm scrambling to post an idea!

Here's another Memory Box Halloween idea featuring the Frosty Border die...find the directions here.

09/06/2011

Catalina Seasons

The day after labor day may still be 90 degrees, but in my mind, summer is over and autumn begins. So what better to celebrate the start of fall but with a "happy fall" card.
I used the catalina wreath die 98189 for the fall card. I love the intricate dies that Memory Box sells. There are nothing else like them out there. I know some people are scared of how intricate they are. I use my cuttle bug with 2 paper shims and I roll the die through my machine several times. I haven't had a problem with them cutting.
I start by cutting my die and inking it with Ranger's new distress stains.

Next I cover the whole thing with versamark ink and emboss with clear embossing powder.

While the wreath is till hot, dip it back into the embossing powder and reheat. Do this 3-4 times to create a thick coating over your wreath.

You will have a strong embellishment for a card or a scrapbook page. I had such fun with this technique I went ahead and made a spring and holiday card too. I am seeing a wreath in shades of blues with snowflake paper for winter.

Happy Fall Everyone!!