handmade cards

NND JANUARY Release Day 3 – heartfelt meows & heartfelt woofs

| marialrussell

It is the third day of the reveals by Newton’s Nook Designs.  Were you able to hop along with us for the last two days? Which one are you dying to get your hand s on so far? You have a chance to win the stamp set being revealed each day so please read through ’til the end of the blog post to find out more info.  [Just a little important note:  I know some of you had difficulties finding the comments section.  If you would like to leave a comment to participate in the giveaway, the “comments section” will only be ever visible when a single post on WordPress is being viewed. Please click on this particular blog post and you will be able to leave a comment below.  Thank you!]  

For Day 3, we are showcasing the Heartfelt Meows Stamp set and coordinating dies and Heartfelt Woofs Stamp Set and coordinating dies that pairs well with the Heart Frames Dies & Banner Trio Dies.

For my cards today, I also used the bow from the Baby Bib Die Set with the Argyle Stencil Set.

To make both cards, I die-cut the scallop heart frame using the second die from the Heart Frames Dies Set on some X_Press It Blending Card Stock. Since Both cards are completely identical in design, I needed two hearts. I stamped the images from the Heartfelt Meows and Heartfelt Woofs with Memento Tuxedo Black on each heart and colored the images in with alcohol markers .

I worked on both background panels by inking up some Light Blue & Pink Card Stock with some darker shades of pink and blue using Argyle Stencil No. 1. I waited for both panels to dry for about 10 minutes, then used Argyle Stencil No. 2 and applied texture paste all over. This gave it more texture and dimension. I set both panels to dry for about half an hour, then adhered on a top-folding notecard.

I cut strips of brown and red card stock as well as two bows, and added both on the cards with liquid glue for more stability. I foam-mounted the focal panel and finished the card designs by adding the sentiments.

Would you like to win the “Heartfelt Meows” or the “Heartfelt Woofs” Stamp Set? We will choose ONE lucky winner for each stamp set!

Here’s how to win: Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)!  The winner will be chosen at random from the collective reveal posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday January 20th at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 21st. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton’s Nook Designs

Donna Idlet

Ellen Haxelmans

Tina Herbeck

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Zsofia Molnar

Maria Russell (you are here)

Farhana Sarker

Tatiana Trafimovich

Amanda Wilcox

——–SUPPLIES——-

NND JANUARY RELEASE DAY 2 – ORCHIDS STAMP SET & COORDINATING DIE

| marialrussell

It is Day 2 of the January reveals by Newton’s Nook Designs.  I hope you were able to check out yesterday’s reveal.  You also have a chance to win the stamp set being revealed each day so please read through ’til the end of the blog post to find out more info.  [Just a little important note:  I know some of you had difficulties finding the comments section.  If you would like to leave a comment to participate in the giveaway, the “comments section” will only be ever visible when a single post on Word Press is being viewed. Please click on this particular blog post and you will be able to leave a comment below.  Thank you!]  

For day 2, we are showcasing the Orchids Stamp Set and coordinating die.

For my card below, I also used the Frames and Tags Die Set with the new Petite Hearts Stencil that was just revealed yesterday.

To make the card, I stamped the images from the Orchids Stamp Set on some Bristol Smooth White Card Stock with VersaMark ink. I sprinkled some white embossing powder and heat-set with my heating tool. I colored the images in with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and used the coordinating die to cut them out.

Next, I die-cut the scallop using the scallop die from the Frames and Tags Die Set on some Bristol smooth white card stock. I inked up this panel with some Spun Sugar Distress Oxide ink for some subtle color.

I sprayed some Pixie Spray on the Petite Hearts Stencil to temporarily adhere the same on the background panel. This will prevent it from slipping while I’m adding the embossing paste for more texture and interest. I set this panel aside to dry for about half an hour, and then adhered on a top-folding notecard.

I added a few droplets of some gold watercolor paint using my paintbrush, then adhered the focal images on the card with liquid glue for stability. I finished the design by adding the sentiment that was die-cut using the tag from the Frames & Tags Die set that was heat-embossed with my heating tool!

Would you like to win the “Orchids” Stamp Set? This stamp set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!

Here’s how to win: Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)!  The winner will be chosen at random from the collective reveal posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday January 20th at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 21st. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton’s Nook Designs

Donna Idlet

Ellen Haxelmans

Tina Herbeck

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Zsofia Molnar

Maria Russell (you are here)

Farhana Sarker

Tatiana Trafimovich

Amanda Wilcox

——–SUPPLIES——-

Faith, Trust & a Little Pixie Dust with CC Designs

| marialrussell

Don’t you just love cheerful cards? I have a really cute and simple card to share with you today, featuring the newly-released Tinks Stamp Set by CC Designs.

Here’s how to make the card:

  • Stamp the image from the Tinks Stamp Set on some X-Press It Blending Card with alcohol markers.
  • Fussy-cut the image using precision snips.
  • Add Stardust stickles to the wings and set this aside to dry for about half an hour.
  • Cut a panel of Neenah solar white card stock measuring 4 1/4 x 5 1/2. Adhere this panel on an A2-size notecard.
  • Ink-up the panel using the Treeline Stencil with some blending brushes and 3 colors of pink dye inks.
  • Adhere the focal image on the card with liquid glue.
  • Stamp the sentiment on some black card stock. Sprinkle some white embossing powder and heat-set with the heating tool.
  • Adhere the sentiment on the card.
  • Finish the card design by adhering a few yellow stars to the background.

Isn’t she adorable? I hope you got inspired today. The supplies I used are listed and linked below. Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!

———SUPPLIES——–

NND JANUARY Release Day 1 – KNEAD KITTENS + A7 Frames & Banners Die, Love & Meows Stencil & Petite Hearts Stencil

| marialrussell

Hello and Welcome to the Newton’s Nook January Release. I am so excited to show off the new products by Newton’s Nook Designs.  You also have a chance to win the stamp set being revealed each day so please read through til the end of the blog post to find out more info.  [Just a little important note:  I know some of you had difficulties finding the comments section.  If you would like to leave a comment to participate in the giveaway, the “comments section” will only be ever visible when a single post on Word Press is being viewed. Please click on this particular blog post and you will be able to leave a comment below.  Thank you!]  

Brace yourselves because for the first day of the reveals, we have a lot of AMAZING products to show you today! We are showcasing the Knead Kittens Stamp Set and coordinating dies, A7 Frames & Banners Die Set, Petite Hearts Stencil and the Love & Meows Paper Pad.

For my shaker card, I started by stamping the images from the Knead Kittens stamp set on some on some X-Press It Blending Card. Lately I have been using this card stock because it just makes blending so much easier. I colored the images in with alcohol markers and die-cut with the coordinating dies.

Next, I die-cut the card background using the new A7 Frames & Banner Die Set using different colors of card stock with the new Love & Meows Paper Pack. I created my shaker well and added some heart confetti as my shaker element. [Designer confession: To be honest, the paper pack is so beautiful I was having a hard time cutting it out. I may have to go for therapy one of these days about my paper pad collection that I can’t seem to part with. But that’s another story for later, haha!].

I closed the shaker and added this focal panel on an A7 card base. I adhered the images on the card with liquid glue.

I finished my design by die-cutting the sentiment strip using one of the dies from the A7 Frames & Banner Die Set. I stamped the sentiment with Versamark ink and sprinkled some white embossing powder, then heat-set with my heating tool. I adhered the sentiment strip with liquid glue and used some white gel pen to add texture interest to the kittens’ faces.

Would you like to win the “Knead Kitten” Stamp Set? This stamp set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!

Here’s how to win: Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)!  The winner will be chosen at random from the collective reveal posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday January 20th at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 21st. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton’s Nook Designs

Donna Idlet

Ellen Haxelmans

Tina Herbeck

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Zsofia Molnar

Maria Russell (you are here)

Farhana Sarker

Tatiana Trafimovich

Amanda Wilcox

——–SUPPLIES——-

COUNTDOWN TO CONFETTI – DAY 4

| marialrussell

It’s the final Day of the Countdown to Confetti January Release by Reverse Confetti! The whole gang is here to show you all the amazing projects we’ve put together to encourage you to shop! Remember, all of the products are now available today!

For my projects below, I used the Stitched Daisies Cover Panel, the hearts from the Postal Cover Panel, and the sentiment from the Valentine Sentiments stamp set.

Sometimes, simplicity is the key to a beautiful card. I die-cut the background panel using the Stitched Daisies Cover Panel Die and adhered on a white A2-size notecard. I die-cut the hearts using the medium heart die from the Postal Cover Panel die set on different colors of pattern paper. I layered the hearts and foam-mounted all of them onto the card.

The sentiment was stamped on some black card stock with VersaMark Ink. I sprinkled some white embossing powder and heat-set with my heating tool. I adhered the sentiment with foam and liquid adhesive.

I finished my design by adding another heart from the Love Bugs stamp set and covered with Stickles.

To go with this beautiful card, I decided to make a little treat box using a Punchboard from the collection. I filled it with some Hershey’s Kisses and closed both ends with some pink ribbon.

I added the die-cut sentiment using the Layered Lots of Love die set and adhered on the treat box with liquid glue. I finished this treat box by adding the cute little honeybee. Here are both projects again:

I hope you got inspired and like my projects this week! Hop along with us and see all the amazing projects prepared by the entire team!

Here’s the hop list:


Reverse Confetti

Cheiron Brandon

Audrey Tokach

Becky Roberts

Maria Russell (you are here)

Amy Rohl

Lisa Henke

Kelly Lunceford

Dilay Nacar

Amy Kolling

Michelle Short

Kellianne Wilson

Tiffany Pryce Russom

Andrea Shell

Rachel Alvarado

Dana Kirby

Candice Fisher

Susan Wymer

Amy Tsuruta

Tricia Barber

Melissa Phillips

Jenny Colacicco

Olga Moss

Jeanne Jachna

Lien Leysen
Heather Ruwe

COUNTDOWN TO CONFETTI – DAY 3

| marialrussell

It’s Day 3 of the Countdown to Confetti January Release by Reverse Confetti and we have more amazing products to show you! Remember, all of the products you will see during the reveals will be available on January 8th.

Don’t forget to leave a comment each day during reveal week here on the blog and on the Reverse Confetti FaceBook group for a chance to win the gift certificate.

For today’s sneak peek, we are showcasing the Hello Daisy Stamp Set and Dies.

I am honestly 100% fan of daisies! They just remind me of happy days and sunshine! I didn’t think that this card below will need anything else because the images speak for themselves, don’t you think? You can easily mass-produce the card I have below for a little “hello, I love you-just-because” kind of thing!

I started by stamping the images in with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on some Express-It blending card stock. I colored the images in with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers. I adhered the panel on some A2-size notecard.

I stamped the sentiment “hello” a few times with some Versafine ink to get a good impression to make sure it stands out. Other than that, I didn’t think it needed anything else because the images just speak for themselves, don’t you think?

I hope you got inspired as much as I did! Don’t forget to check our tomorrow’s post fo the finale and get more inspiration from the whole team. Hop along with us for a chance to win the gift certificate. Check out the rest of the inspiration below:

Here’s the hop list:
Reverse Confetti

Audrey Tokach

Maria Russell (you are here)

Lisa Henke

Amy Kolling

Kellianne Wilson

Dana Kirby

Amy Tsuruta

Melissa Phillips

Jeanne Jachna

COUNTDOWN TO CONFETTI – DAY 2

| marialrussell

It’s Day 2 of the Countdown to Confetti January Release by Reverse Confetti and we have more amazing products to show you! Remember, all of the products you will see during the reveals will be available on January 8th.

Don’t forget to leave a comment each day during reveal week here on the blog and on the Reverse Confetti FaceBook group for a chance to win the gift certificate.

For today’s sneak peek, we are showcasing the Poppies stamp set and coordinating dies.

For my project today, I also used the Stitched Daisies Cover Panel and the Big Hearts Sentiments Stamp Set & Dies.

I started by stamping the images on some Express-It Blending card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I used different shades of quick-dry dye inks in pink and green to add color. What I love about this stamp set is you don’t really need to use other mediums to color them in but I used my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers to create some depth and dimension to the images. I die-cut the images using the coordinating die.

Next, I die-cut the background panel using the Stitched Daisies Cover Panel with some Neenah Solar White Card Stock. I used a stencil from my stash and applied some texture paste for added texture and interest. I let this panel dry for about half an hour, then adhered on some A2-size notecard. I adhered the colored images on the card with either foam or liquid glue.

I stamped the sentiment with VersaMark ink on some black card stock and sprinkled some white embossing powder, then heat-set with my heating tool. I used the coordinating die to cut it out and foam-mounted the sentiment on the card for added dimension. Lastly, I applied stickles to the images for more interest to finish the design. Here’s another look:

Be sure to hop along with the rest of the team today!  Comment along the way for your chance to win a Reverse Confetti gift certificate and don’t forget to check the Reverse Confetti FaceBook Group and leave a comment there as well!  I hope you will come back tomorrow to see more of the new release!

Here’s the hop list:
Reverse Confetti

Audrey Tokach

Maria Russell (you are here)

Lisa Henke

Amy Kolling

Kellianne Wilson

Dana Kirby

Amy Tsuruta

Melissa Phillips

Jeanne Jachna

NND NOVEMBER Release Day 3 – SNOW ANGEL NEWTON + SNOW ANGEL PUPPY + ROLL WITH IT

| marialrussell

It’s the last day of the reveals by Newton’s Nook Designs and we are featuring three products today. If you haven’t hopped along with us yet, now is a great time to catch up. You have a chance to win the stamp set being revealed each day so please read through ’til the end of the blog post to find out more info.  [Just a little important note:  I know some of you had difficulties finding the comments section.  If you would like to leave a comment to participate in the giveaway, the “comments section” will only be ever visible when a single post on WordPress is being viewed. Please click on this particular blog post and you will be able to leave a comment below.  Thank you!]  

For Day 3, we are showcasing the Snow Angel Newton Stamp Set and Dies, Snow Angel Puppy Stamp Set and dies and the Roll With It Stamp Set.

The first and second card samples are completely the same design. I started by stamping both images from the Snow Angel Newton and Snow Angel Puppy on some Neenah Solar white Card Stock. I colored the images in with alcohol markers and die-cut using the coordinating die. I did use my precision snips to cut out the “wings”.

Next, I ink-blended two panels (measuring 4 x 5 1/4) of Bristol Smooth white card stock with Salvaged Patina (for the blue card) and Kitsch Flamingo (for the pink card. I stamped the images on both panels with Versamark ink and embossed the image with white embossing powder and heat-set with my heating tool. I used the coordinating die and die-cut some masking paper to mask off the images. Since I was planning to add texture paste to the ink-blended backgrounds, I didn’t want the image covered with paste.

I used the Petite Snow stencil and texture paste for added texture to the background. Using Therm-O-Web’s Stencil Pal made it easier to spread the paste evenly on both panels. I removed the mask and set both card panels aside to let it dry for half an hour.

I adhered the colored images on the card with liquid glue. I also stamped the sentiment on black card stock with Versamark ink and heat-set with the heating tool, then adhered on the panel with liquid glue.

Lastly, I added the black & white stripes pattern paper on two A2-size notecards, then added the focal panel with liquid glue.

For my next card, I repeated the same steps above for stamping and die-cutting using the images from Snow Much Cheer.

For my card layout, I used the Slimline Frames and Porthole Die Set to die-cut the scallop on some Neenah Solar White Card Stock. I ink-blended this panel using the Slimline Masking Square Stencil and Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide ink.

I foam-mounted the focal panel on some Red Slimline card base measuring 8 1/2 by 3 1/2. I adhered the images on the card and stamped the sentiment in t he middle square with Memento Tuxedo black ink. I colored the letters and the snowman’s head with alcohol markers.

I finished my card design by adding some glittered stars. I love how this card turned out!

So there you have it folks! If you hopped along with us throughout this week, I’d LOVE to hear what your favorites are! I hope you have been inspired by the design team all week long! The products will be available tomorrow so grab your favorites first thing before they sell out!

 Would you like to win the “Snow Angel Newton ” or the “Snow Angel Puppy” Stamp Set? We will choose ONE lucky winner for each stamp set!

Here’s how to win: Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective reveal posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Wednesday November 17th at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Thursday, November 18th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton’s Nook Designs

Ellen Haxelmans

Tina Herbeck

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Zsofia Molnar

Maria Russell (you are here)

Farhana Sarker

Tatiana Trafimovich

Samantha VanArnhem

Amanda Wilcox

———–SUPPLIES———

NND NOVEMBER RELEASE DAY 2 – ALL BOOKED UP + BOOKMARK DIE SET

| marialrussell

It is Day 2 of the October reveals by Newton’s Nook Designs.  I hope you were able to check out yesterday’s reveal.  You also have a chance to win the stamp set being revealed each day so please read through ’til the end of the blog post to find out more info.  [Just a little important note:  I know some of you had difficulties finding the comments section.  If you would like to leave a comment to participate in the giveaway, the “comments section” will only be ever visible when a single post on Word Press is being viewed. Please click on this particular blog post and you will be able to leave a comment below.  Thank you!]  

For day 2, we are showcasing the All Booked Up Stamp Set + Coordinating Dies and Bookmark Die Set.

I started by stamping the images from the All Booked Up Stamp Set on some Neenah Solar White Card Stock. I colored the images in with alcohol markers and used the coordinating dies to cut them out.

Next, I used the new Bookmark Die Set to die-cut some Bristol Smooth white card stock. I ink-blended this panel with Twisted Citron and Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide inks. I also used some White Copic paint to splatter some white paint on the bookmark for added interest.

I adhered the colored images on the bookmark and added glossy accents to the eyeglasses for added texture. I set this aside to let it dry for about half an hour and worked on adding a sentiment to the bookmark. I stamped the sentiment on some black card stock and with Versamark ink and sprinkled some white embossing powder to this. I heat-set the powder with my heating tool and adhered the sentiment onto the bookmark.

I finished the bookmark by adhering some gold stars. I also added some blue ribbon with white & gold twine and for a little bit of a festive and fun touch, I added the gold jingle bells!

Would you like to win the “All Booked Up” Stamp Set?  This stamp set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!

Here’s how to win: Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective reveal posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Wednesday November 17th at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Thursday, November 18th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton’s Nook Designs

Ellen Haxelmans

Tina Herbeck

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Zsofia Molnar

Maria Russell (you are here)

Farhana Sarker

Tatiana Trafimovich

Samantha VanArnhem

Amanda Wilcox

———–SUPPLIES———