davebrethauer

Ombre Glitter Heart Card Video

2012-01-23T10:15:46-08:00

I've been anxious to use a bunch of glitter on one of the Valentine projects and came up with a fun (and quick!) card project here in the studio! I am using the La Rue Heart die, packing tape and some Martha Stewart Glitter to create a beautiful ombre effect. Watch the video to see how! (Bonus - my kids, Emma and Cooper, created a new opening soundtrack for my videos this week! Look what can happen when school is cancelled for a week in Seattle because of a snowstorm!):

I mention in the video that you could use double stick adhesive sheets instead of packing tape (they are more sticky and the glitter will adhere a little better) - but as you can see the tape will work! I used the popular 98255 La Rue Heart die:

...all of the swirls and loops create a delicate pattern, and surrounding it with some beautiful glitter...

...will create an amazing look. I used a deep pink Tourmaline color with a Sterling Silver - I love how they look with each other!

By slightly overlapping the Tourmaline and Sterling Silver colors, you can create an ombre effect - it's so eyecatching! I used two colors - but try 3 or more colors!

Here's a close up of the overlap - all of the glitter crystals run together beautifully. And the sparkle is amazing!

Heart Tuckaway Card Video

2012-01-15T09:00:00-08:00

Last week, I was working in my studio on a project for embossing, and had a happy accident! I was trying to color an embossed background with alcohol inks and decided to add some copic blender solution to the paper, to help the ink mix a little - and came across a really amazing way of distressing a background! I decided to create a video about it, and combined the technique with instructions for making a valentine card with a special fold. And, my creative daughter Emma has created a little piece of music for the beginning and ending of the video! I hope she'll do a new piece of music for the videos every now and then - I love it!

The card below shows the alcohol embossed background - I've "opened up" an area on the heart so I can add an embellishment (in this case, it's the 819 Attic Key die from poppystamps). I really like how the ink lands and dries around the embossed areas - and when some of the embossing is removed, it creates a beautiful effect.

I am featuring the 98254 Grand Heart, the 98107 Pastry Labels and the 98280 Heart Delights dies for this project...

...and the G1855 Damask Heart stamp matches perfectly with the Grand Heart die,as you can see in the video.

The measurements for the Tuckaway fold are below - I used them to make a Valentine card, but as I point out in the video, you can use any large die to create a flap and fold, as long as you position the die correctly when cutting! Just click on either image below to get a better look at the exact dimensions.

Then, after you run the die through your machine, in the correct position, you'll get...

...and that will give you a flap to tuck under!

My Favorite New Stuff for January 2012

2012-01-06T16:36:55-08:00

I have been glued (sometimes literally) to the desk in the studio, playing with the new January dies and stamps - and thought that I should put together a little video of some of the samples I've been creating. The video has no audio, so you'll have to play some music or hum a little tune while you watch...

...you can also watch it on Youtube if you prefer by clicking here.

In case you missed it, I did a video of a Paper Rose Collage this week - you can check it out here.

Paper Rose Collage Card Video

2012-01-03T20:36:29-08:00

It's time to kick off 2012 with a new launch of products and some new ideas. By now, there are shipments arriving (or on their way) to stores around the globe, with dozens of new craft dies (and some new Valentine's stamps!). I've been hard at work in the studio putting together some projects for this year - and I've decided to begin with a video of a project I made using 8 (yes 8!) new craft dies - and the new Chrysanthemum frame stamp.

This project is really fun to do - switch up the colors and composition to make it your own - but no matter how you create it, you'll enjoy putting together all of the elements to create something beautiful. Enjoy the video below to learn how I did mine!

I've been wanting to make some dies that used a quilling tool for awhile now - and thought that they would fit in perfectly with our Valentine's program. I haven't picked up a quilling tool since I worked at a stamp store in the 1990's, but it's just as easy as ever - and so much fun to do!

I used the Pinwheel Posie (98270), the Small Pinwheel Posie (98271) and the Scalloped Posie (98269) to create the flowers on the project - the dies cut out spirals of paper, which you twist into roses with the quilling tool to make your "paper roses". I included photos of what the flowers will look like right on the packaging - just a simple twist of paper and you get a terrific effect!

I also created some more of my popular matching dies - in this case the Vivienne Butterfly (98265) and the coordinating Darla Butterfly (98264). These layer together (as you can see in the photo above) and give the butterfly a gentle layered effect.

The project even includes the Fringe Circle die (98268) - it makes a great layer to put the "paper roses" on top of - as you can see in the video.

I used one of my older dies - the Blank Ticket die (98213) to cut out one of my newest stamp images - the G1857 Chrysanthemum frame.

The Blank Ticket die positions perfectly over the stamped image (watch the video to learn about positioning) to cut it out in seconds!

I think I've been missing the warm weather a little - we've been harvesting kale and arugula from our winter garden for salads at dinner, and I've been thinking about flowers and butterflies every time I go out there to get some. This project gave me the opportunity to make my own paper flower garden - and now you can too!

Eiffel Tower Tag

2011-12-30T18:27:00-08:00

Hello! Today I'm sharing some wonderful projects by former Design Team member Patricia Thorpe. She sent in a few beautiful projects and these are the first two I'll share...perfect as we get ready to transition to Valentines and Spring projects. She made a tag perfect for a love note, and also a gorgeous card.

Patricia says: “Whenever I see an Eiffel Tower stamps, Cole Porter’s timeless classic, “I love Paris” automatically starts playing in my head.” Heck, I love Paris in any season so I had to incorporate hearts…"

Supplies:

Paris Tag

Fine fern print G1719

Birch Branch G1720

Vintage Record G1712

Eiffel Tower D1723

Love and Hearts B1423

Black embossed the eiffel tower

Journey card

Journey collage G1733

Vintage Record G1712

Wonderland Butterfly E1713

Grass Print C1721

Birch Branch Print G1720

Brushed corduroy distress ink

Design Team Focus - {Debbie Fitch}

2011-12-29T11:56:39-08:00

Today we have a pretty card sent in by the lovely Debbie Fitch. She teaches Memory Box classes at Baas Junction (now Bayer's Pampered Stampers) in Ohio! The card she made to share today is classic and clean and beautiful.

Here's the bio Debbie submitted so we can all learn a bit more about her: "I live in a small town with my husband and two of my three sons. I've been crafting since I was a little girl and stamping since I decided to make my own Christmas cards in 2003. While mentoring at the local elementary school, I discovered that the reading teacher was a stamper when I gave her one of my cards. I began to look forward to sharing ideas with her as much as working with the children. Through that relationship I met a group of retired teachers who stamped together. They really challenged me to be creative and push myself. Then I learned about Baas Junction. The ladies were so willing to share their knowledge with a novice. I learned about the MB Design Team opportunity through Sherry Baas and was very pleasantly surprised when I was chosen as I had never submitted anything to design team calls or for publication. I love all the Memory Box products and feel very fortunate to be able to work with such quality products and people. The very best part about the Memory Box experience has been being able to share Memory Box with others and all the wonderful people I have met in my classes."

Flowering Christmas Tree Video

2011-12-16T05:24:52-08:00

If I could pick one die that was our most popular design of the year, I would have to say that it was the Flowering Christmas tree. Since we released it July 1, 2011, we have sold this die more than any other in our collection (it is in stores in 21 countries!). My goal when I began designing dies this year was to create die cuts that would change the way people used dies - to make the designs as intricate and artistic as possible. This die really stood out and has been our go-to design when making samples and classes for the past 6 months. I created a video that shows a some ideas and tips using the die - enjoy!

I included a few color variations in the video (simple backgrounds with this die, because the design is so complex). The idea of layering the flowers onto a second cut piece came from Sharon, owner of the Cat's Meow, when I visited her store in California this summer. It was such an effective way to use this die and the results were perfect!

I simply cut out two trees - one with red cardstock and one with green cardstock - then used scissors to cut out the red flowers to be glued onto the green tree.

Adding a few red jewels to the centers makes the piece pop a little bit too.

Here's a color variation using aqua tones - the tree looks a lot different with Lagoon cardstock and bright white flowers. The centers? I used White Liquid Pearls and dusted them with irridescent glitter while they were still wet.

And here's the tone on tone variation I shared in the video. I love the look of artwork that has 2 shades of a color! A cream Flowering Christmas Tree on top of a textured cream background is simple and eye-catching. I used the Charlotte Border die 98242 to create the detailed edges and mounted everything onto a bright Cranberry notecard.

Have any of you used the Flowering Christmas Tree die? I'd love to see what you've done with it! Upload your creation to our Memory Box Flickr gallery so we can all get inspired!

Birdhouses and blouses...more projects from Anne Thompson

2011-12-15T15:11:51-08:00

Anne is so clever and creative...and always comes up with projects that are out of the box and totally unique. Today's projects are no exception. She made some beautiful birdhouses using MB stamps and papers and then, she stamped a blouse! Wait until you see these.

These birdhouses are so full of details and embellishments...you can tell a lot of care went into making them. Wouldn't these be a nice gift for someone? Or a pretty scene for a mantle or a table top?

Now - check this out! Anne stamped a blouse with Memory Box images! How great is this project? Have you ever done this before?

Butterfly beauties from Julia Quincy of the Stamp Addict

2011-12-08T09:19:11-08:00

Today's project comes to us courtesy of the talented Julia Quincy from the Stamp Addict! She created two butterfly beauties to share. One project is a nice all-occasion card, and the other one is a gorgeous gift box. Thanks for sharing Julia!

C1355 Dotty Butterfly and E1713 Wonderland Butterfly are "flying" over the 12x12 Butterfly Ballet paper. I like how the wings pop up off the card.

She used the D1363 Spring Branch, the G1718 Orchid Branch print and the G1719 Fine Fern print to build up a scene for the box lid. The layers come together beautifully!

Design Team Focus {Jennifer Van Pelt}

2011-12-06T10:57:15-08:00

Looking for an amazing way to give a present this month? The very talented Jennifer VanPel from the Stamp Addict sent in this neat project. At first it looks like a beautifully decorated box....which would be great....but then you open it up and surprise!

Here is the gorgeous box when it is all closed up. Didn't she do a fantastic job of combining papers and inks and stamps? I think it's wonderful.

Would you ever imagine that all of this was inside? How cool is this?

Wouldn't this be a nice gift box for someone? you could put little notes and presents into each individual box and the recipient would be so happy to open each one!

Here is a close up of all the gorgeous layers in the flower on the top of the box. Are you inspired? I am!