Paper Crafting

COUNTDOWN TO CONFETTI – DAY 1 – SPRINGTIME SENTIMENTS & SENDING SMILES

| marialrussell

I am pleased to join the Countdown to Confetti Day 1 by Reverse Confetti. We have lots to show you and there is also a giveaway so please read through the end of this post to find out how you can WIN!

For my first project, I am showcasing the Springtime Sentiments and Sending Smiles Stamp Set and coordinating dies, along with the Layered Mom & Frame Confetti Cuts.

I have also used the Dot to Dot stamp set which is, incidentally, a free with $60 purchase.

I have two projects to show you today and I am so excited to share them with you.

Here’s how I made this project:

  • Stamp the images on some Neenah solar white card stock using layering dye inks.
  • Use the coordinating dies to cut them out. Set this aside for now and prepare the background panel.
  • Cut some A2-size panel of some blue card stock and use the Dot-to-Dot stamp set to start randomly stamping the images on the panel with blue and white pigment inks. Let this panel dry and adhere on some A2-size note card.
  • Die-cut the frame from the Layered Mom & Frame Confetti Cuts and adhere with foam adhesive for added dimension.
  • Adhere the focal images using liquid glue. Add some foam adhesive to layer the flower.
  • Stamp the sentiment from the Sending Smiles stamp set on some black card stock with VersaMark ink and heat-set with the heating tool. Adhere the sentiment on the card and finish the design by adding some enamel dots.

I really LOVE the simplicity of the Sending Smiles stamp set. It’s so easy to stamp and layer! This stamp set is a must-have for sure!

For my second project, I am showcasing the Easter and Eggstra Cover Panel Confetti Cuts.

  • Prepare the background panel by die-cutting some white and yellow card stock using the Easter Cover Panel.
  • Use an embossing mat to dry-emboss the Eggstra Cover Panel Confetti Cuts on some white card stock.
  • Adhere the yellow scallop on some A2-size notecard.
  • Foam-mount the white Eggstra Cover Panel on the card for added dimension.
  • Die-cut the Easter Cover Panel with some pastel-color card stock and put it together by following the photo instruction below:
  • Adhere the egg die-cuts on the foreground with liquid glue and layer the flowers with foam adhesive for added dimension.
  • Ink-blend a panel of some Bristol smooth white card stock with some distress oxide inks.
  • Use the Happy Easter Confetti Cuts to die-cut the words and adhere on the card front with liquid glue.
  • Finish the design by using some white gel pen to add more interest to the words Happy Easter.

I can’t wait to hop around and see what the other team members designed! Leave a comment by noon central on March 7th for a chance to win. There will be a $15 Gift Certificate for one blog commenter and also one FaceBook commenter. Winners will be announced on the Reverse Confetti Blog and FB Group on March 7th at 5 PM CST. Make sure you pop over to the Reverse Confetti Blog for all the details!

Hop Listing

Reverse Confetti

Audrey Tokach

Maria Russell

Lisa Henke

Cheiron Brandon

Amy Kolling

April Antonio

Dana Kirby

Amy Tsuruta

Joy Baldwin

Jeanne Jachna

Retiring Products Feature Week with Newton’s Nook Designs – HAPPY LITTLE THOUGHTS

| marialrussell

Hello and Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Did you see that Newton’s Nook Designs is having a retiring sale on their website? It’s time to make room for new products so they are retiring select designs! These designs are available at up to 40% off while supplies last so hurry and get your favorites before they’re gone for good!

All throughout this week, the NND Design Team will be sharing inspiration using some of our favorite products from the retiring list!  Check out what I created today and don’t forget to check the NND Blog each day this week for more fun inspiration! Take advantage of this sale because there’s a TON of AMAZING products right now that you can purchase with a huge discount.

For my project today, I am showcasing the Happy Little Thoughts Stamp Set and Happy Little Thoughts Coordinating Dies. The background pattern paper is from the Love & Meows 6×6 Paper Pad that was die-cut using the scallop from the Frames & Flags Die Set.

Here’s how I made this card:

  • stamp the images on some Neenah solar white card stock and color the images in with alcohol markers.
  • die-cut the images using the coordinating dies.
  • die-cut the background panel using the scallop die from the Frames & Flags Die Set and Love & Meows 6×6 Paper Pad. Matt this piece with some red card stock for a little dimension and adhere on an A2-size notecard.
  • die-cut the small rectangle using the die from the Frames & Flags Die Set and Happy Little Thoughts Coordinating Dies.
  • adhere some acetate sheet behind this panel and add foam adhesive to create the shaker well.
  • in-lay the colored image on this panel with liquid glue.
  • add some clear sequins with a few heart enamels as the shaker element and adhere this panel on the card front.
  • stamp the sentiment on some black card stock with versamark ink and sprinkle with white embossing powder. Use heating tool to heat-set the sentiment.
  • fussy-cut the sentiment with precision snips and adhere on the card.
  • finish the design by adding the bow (die-cut using the bow die from the Baby Bib Die Set) with liquid glue.

I am super bummed that this stamp set is retiring. Don’t forget to check out all the Retiring Products Category by Newton’s Nook to see what is going away and grab your favorites now before they are gone for good!  Here is a direct link to the retiring products page: http://bit.ly/NNDretiringProducts. The supplies I used are also listed and linked below. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you like my project!

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Love & Meows SKETCH CARD

| marialrussell

Love is in the air and I am busy creating Valentine’s Day Cards. What have you all been up to? If you haven’t seen the new release by Newton’s Nook Designs, y’all need to head on over there and check out all the new products, including the new Love & Meows Paper Pad.

I found a few card sketches while browsing on Pinterest so I thought I’d give it a try today. I don’t normally create sketch cards because mixing patterns is not my thing; but when you have a really cute pattern paper such as the Love & Meows Paper Pad, you can’t help but show it off!

Here’s how I made this card:

  • Stamp the image from the Knead Kittens stamp set on some X-Press It Blending Card and color the image in with alcohol markers.
  • Use the Knead Kittens coordinating die to cut the image.
  • Cut some red card stock measuring 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 and adhere on an A2-size notecard.
  • Cut a few pieces of pattern paper from the Love & Meows Paper Pad and adhere to the card.
  • Use a scallop border from your collection and die-cut some dark pink card stock. [Designer tip: this will create a smooth transition between the patterns.]
  • Die-cut a small stitched rectangle with some Neenah solar white card stock. Matt this piece on some dark pink card stock that matches the scallop border. Adhere this panel on the card front.
  • Adhere the focal image on the card for added dimension.
  • Stamp the sentiment with VersaFine Clair ink in Black
  • Finish the card design by adding some heart enamel dots with liquid glue.

This card is easy, peasy! I may have to start making sketch cards more often since this took about less than 30 minutes, and it can easily be mass-produced! What do you think?

I hope I’ve given you some great inspiration today using the new products from the January release by Newton’s Nook Designs. The supplies I used are listed and linked below. Thanks for stopping by!

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NND JANUARY RELEASE DAY 4 – LOVE BOTS

| marialrussell

It is the last day of the January reveals by Newton’s Nook Designs.  If you haven’t hopped along with us yet, please check out all of the posts from Day 1 since this is your last chance to do it.  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 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 4, we are showcasing the Love Bots Stamp Set and coordinating die.

Do you remember when you were a kid and you were so excited to go to school on Valentine’s Day? That’s my inspiration today! I wanted something fun that kids can make themselves using this stamp set so I opted to do a colorful design that can easily be mass-produced.

To make the card, I stamped the images from the Love Bots Stamp Set on some X-Press It Blending Card and colored the images in with alcohol markers. I used the coordinating dies to cut them out.

Next, I used some rectangle dies from my stash and created a stencil on some acetate sheet. I used this stencil to ink up a panel of Strathmore Bristol smooth white card stock with different colors of distress oxide inks. I adhered this panel on an A2-size notecard.

Since this is a “kid-friendly” card, I didn’t need to add foam adhesive to any of the images so I added them with liquid glue. I finished the card design by adding the sentiment that was die-cut using one of the banners from the A7 Banners & Frames die set that I heat-set with my heating tool. I used my white gel pen to add some stars and dots to the card for some whimsical touch. Here’s another look:

Would you like to win the “Love Bots” 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

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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

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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

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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

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Heffy Doodle and Newton’s Nook Designs Collaboration Blog Hop

| marialrussell

Welcome to the Heffy Doodle and Newton’s Nook Designs Collaboration Blog Hop! Design Team members from both companies are sharing inspiration using products from both companies!

For my first card, I am showcasing the Yappy Happy Mail stamp set and Sending Heffy Cuts Die by Heffy Doodles, along with Newton’s Happy Mail Stamp Set and Dies, Clouds and Hills & Grass Stencil.

Here’s how I made my first card:

  • Use the Clouds and Hills & Grass Stencil with distress inks and blending brushes to ink up a panel of some Neenah Solar White card stock. Make sure you alternate the colors between the cloud layers.
  • Use a die from your collection to create the stitching line for the paper airplane for added texture.
  • Adhere the panel on some A2-size notecard.
  • Stamp the images on some Neenah solar white card stock and color the images in with alcohol markers.
  • Use coordinating dies to cut them out.
  • Ink-up some Strathmore Bristol Smooth white card stock with distress oxide inks to add some color, then use the Sending Heffy Cuts Die to cut out the word.
  • Adhere the sentiment strip to the background panel.
  • Stamp the Hugs & Kisses sentiment on some black card stock with Versamark ink and heat set with your heating tool. Cut and adhere this strip on the card.
  • Adhere the colored images on the card with either liquid or foam adhesive for added dimension.

My second card below is fairly easy. I wanted to create my own pattern paper by using the envelope image from the Yappy Happy Mail stamp set.

Here’s how I made the second card:

  • Use a die from your stash to die-cut a small panel of Neenah solar white card stock.
  • Use your stamping block and adhere the envelope image from the Yappy Happy Mail stamp set.
  • Stamp the images randomly onto the card stock with Memento Ink.
  • Flip the envelope stamp on your block to use the solid part of the image and stamp some color using Spectrum Noir Oasis Quick Dry Dye Ink. Stamp the heart onto the envelope image with red ink.
  • Fill-in the spots by stamping the paw prints with some Bubblegum ink.
  • Matt the panel with some blue car Stock and adhere on a red A2-size notecard.
  • Stamp the images from the Yappy Happy Mail, Just a Note and Sips & Stories stamp set.
  • Use the coordinating dies to cut the images out.
  • Use the third die from the Framework Die Set with some red card stock that matches the notecard.
  • Adhere some Vellum onto this piece and foam-mount to the card for added dimension.
  • Adhere the colored images with liquid glue.
  • Finish the design by adhering some red heart enamel to the card and stamp the sentiment with black ink.

BLOG HOP DETAILS:

To be entered to win the giveaway, all you need to do is comment at each stop (link below) and hop along!

Newton’s Nook Designs will be giving away $35 Gift Code and Heffy Doodle will be giving away a £25 Gift Code to their respective stores!  Be sure to comment before 11:59 PM EST on Dec 28th to be entered to win!

Each company will post their random winner on December 29th at 10AM EST!  Make sure to check the Heffy Doodle Blog and Newton’s Nook Designs Blog to see if you’re a winner!

BLOG HOP LINEUP:

Heffy Doodle Blog

Tatiana Trafimovich

Tina Herbeck

Amanda Fitterer

Maria Russell

Cassie Trask

Samantha Mann

Amanda Stevens

Zsofia Molnar

Newton’s Nook Designs Blog

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Mixing & Matching Stencils with Newton’s Nook Designs

| marialrussell

I am so excited to be on the Newton’s Nook Blog today and it is my turn to share a cute Christmas project, showcasing two of my favorite stencils –> Pawprints and Snowfall, along with the Christmas Puppies Stamp Set and its coordinating dies with the Frames & Flags Die Set.

Stencils are so inexpensive and they can create a HUGE impact on your projects! Newton’s Nook Designs has a wide selection of stencils available at the shop. Designer tip: The secret to mixing and matching these stencil designs is to layer different textures.

Here’s how I made this card:

I hope that you will give this technique a try and I would love it if you tag me on social media if you did. The supplies I used are listed and linked below. Thanks for stopping by today and happy stamping!

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