Maria Russell Designs

Sweet Treats Blog Hop ~ Message in a Bottle & Paper Coffee Mug Treat Holder

February 4, 2017February 2, 2017 | marialrussell

Hello stampers and crafters! Thank you for stopping by my blog. Welcome to the sweet treats blog hop hosted by Newton’s Nook Designs. I have a special treat for you today. I am sharing two Valentine’s D.I.Y projects.

The first project is a unique holder for your love letter. I call it, Message in a Bottle. I made this project a few years ago and posted it on my YouTube channel. Back then, I wanted to give my husband something unique on Valentine’s Day so I made this cute, shabby chic message in a bottle project that housed a music sheet by Led Zeppelin, called “Thank You”. This was the very first song that my husband played for me on the guitar when we were still dating many, many years ago. However, the Message in a Bottle project that you see below is a lot simpler. If you are looking for a unique project this Valentine’s Day, the possibilities are endless using this idea!

I started out by cleaning up a small empty wine bottle and set it aside to dry. For my example below, I used a music sheet patterned paper (Note: You can write your own love letter instead) I rolled the patterned paper using a pencil to make it easier for me, then tied it with a bow.

To add interest to the message holder, I added the love die-cuts using Newton’s Nook Designs Darling Hearts Die. There is a small “love” script die that is included in this set and is perfect for this project. I also used some of my favorite sequin mixes to further decorate the bottle.

This is like a shaker card, without having to use foam adhesive. I think it turned out so cute! To finish off the design, I die-cut the heart tag using the Darling Hearts Die on pink patterned paper. I used the sentiment and the heart from the Holiday Smooches stamp set. I used my crop-a-dile to turn the die-cut into a tag. I tied it on the bottle with my silver twine. Don’t you just love this unique love letter holder?

The second project is an adorable paper mug treat holder idea, using the We R Memory Keepers Punch Board. This Punch Board is one of my all-time favorite crafting tools because of its versatility. You can make your own envelopes, treat boxes and treat holders.

I followed a video tutorial on YouTube on how to create this Paper Coffee Mug. Since this project is for Valentine’s Day, I wanted to use White, Pink and Gold for my project. I used a beautiful patterned paper that I got from Michael’s to decorate my paper mug.

I then stamped this cute Newton image (from the Newton Loves Coffee stamp set) on Neenah solar white card stock and colored him in with my Copic markers. I used the coordinating dies to die-cut the image and adhered him to a pink circle card stock. I die-cut the scallop circle with my stitched fancy scalloped circle die to further decorate my tag. I love the pink and gold color combination.

I bought some of my favorite Keurig coffee pods and I put them inside this clear cellophane bag. To finish wrapping up my package, I used my sweetheart twine to close the bag, and stamped my sentiment on this pink heart tag die, and tied a bow. I love this paper mug treat holder to package up some favorite coffee pods.

Here is the paper coffee mug treat holder:

Would you like to win a $10 store credit to Newton’s Nook Designs online shop? We are giving them out to TWO lucky winners!

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 Monday, February 6th at 9pm CST to comment — winners will be announced on the NND blog on Tuesday, February 7th.

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

Maria Russell (you are here)

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InLinkz.com

New Tag Dies at Kat Scrappiness Plus Project Share

January 27, 2017 | marialrussell

I have made some projects today showcasing the new Heart Stitched Tag Dies and Stitched Scalloped Nesting Dies available at the shop.

I have also shared them on my YouTube channel if you’d like to see the card and tags. Supplies are listed and linked below:

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You’re One in a Chameleon

January 23, 2017January 23, 2017 | marialrussell

I am back today with Craftin Desert Divas and I am sharing this cute card for the January Mood Board challenge #CDDMonthly. Below you will find the inspiration photo.

I started out with by die-cutting my card stock using the Fancy Frame Dies. I used my distress inks to distress my background and splattered white paint all over the card panel. I stamped my cute Chameleon on Neenah solar white card stock, and colored him in with my Copic markers. Doesn’t this cutie remind you of Pascal? He is the Chameleon in the Disney movie, Tangled.

To create my scene and to finish my design, I die-cut the grass, the white picket fence and the birch tree using the Outdoor Landscape 2 dies.

Here is my card:

If you would like to participate and join in the fun, create a card using the inspiration photo and share your projects on the CDD Facebook Group Gallery or share your projects on Instagram using the hashtag #CDDMonthly. You have the whole month of January to participate. Tara will announce the winner on the CDD Facebook group.

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Craftin Desert Divas – Spare Parts Stamp Set Release

January 21, 2017January 21, 2017 | marialrussell

January 20th was release day for Craftin’ Desert Divas and the Design Team is showcasing this adorable new stamp set called “Spare Parts” . I absolutely adore the images on this set! Please join us on the Facebook Gallery Page to share your creation and participate on the monthly challenges to win some amazing prizes.

Here are the new stamps and dies for the release. If you placed an order of $50 or more before taxes and shipping, you will get a FREE Candy Jar die with your order whiles supplies last.

I started out by die-cutting my card base and used some cute patterned papers to layer them on my card. I then stamped my images on Neenah solar white card stock and colored them in with my Copic markers. I wanted to create a Valentine’s Day card, and wanted to use some soft colors for my robots.

For the second card you see below, I distressed my background with spun sugar distress ink. I used my wet watercolor brush to splatter some water on my background. I really love the distressed look it gives once the ink reacts with the water!

I used one of my all-time favorite stamp set from CDD, called Doodled Frames for both cards. I used the delicate bow image, coloring them in with my Copic markers and fuzzy-cut them with my cutter-bee scissors. I finished off the design by adding the pink hearts with glossy accents. I love how this card turned out.

Here are the two cards that I made:

This stamp set is a must-have. You can use it for everyday cards, anniversary or Valentine’s Day. The kids will love this stamp set too.

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You Octopi My Heart

January 20, 2017March 14, 2017 | marialrussell

Hello crafters! It’s Maria Russell here with you again today to share with you a cute Valentine’s card, showcasing the Stitched Fancy Scalloped Rectangle Dies, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Lawn Fawn Octopi My Heart stamp set and dies, and a LOT of products available now at Kat Scrappiness.

I wanted to record a process video earlier to show you how I made this shaker card but I am still recovering from laryngitis and it was so hard for me to talk and craft at the same time. I apologize if I don’t have a process video for you today.

I started out by die-cutting my shaker panel using the new Stitched Fancy Scalloped Rectangle Dies, with the Stitched Rectangle dies. I also used my acetate sheet to adhere to the panel to create the window for my shaker card. I stamped my images on Neenah solar white card stock and colored my Octopi with my Copic markers. I also stamped the coral images from an older Lawn Fawn Mermaid For You stamp set. I die-cut the images using the coordinating dies.

I wanted to color my card stock using the stitched wave border dies to create some waves, so I used the Inkadinkado Masking paper to cut out my mask. I used my distress inks to color the background. I splattered some water using my watercolor brush to create “bubbles”. Somehow it didn’t look like I had enough bubbles so I used my Copic White Opaque paint and splattered some white paint all over my background. This made it look more realistic!

I finished off the design of the card by using some beautiful sequin mixes from Kat Scrappiness for my shaker element. I used 6mm Metallic Grape, 6mm Sparkling Snow Sequin Mix, White Diamond Sequin Mix and some green seed beads I had from my stash.

Here is my card:

I hope you got inspired today. Thank you so much for stopping by. Have an amazing day!

———–SUPPLIES——————–

Stitched Fancy Scalloped Rectangle Dies – Kat Scrappiness	Stitched Rectangle Stacks	Lawn Fawn Octopi My Heart Stamp Set & Dies	Lawn Fawn Ocean Waves Borders Dies	Inkadinkado – Masking Paper
White Diamond Sequin Mix	Sparkling Snow Sequin Mix-KatScrappiness	6mm Metallic Grape Sequin Mix-KatScrappiness	Heat-Resistant Acetate Sheet	Uni-Ball Impact White Gel Pen
Ranger Multi-Medium Matter 0.5 Bottle	Neenah Solar White 110 lb card stock	Stampoholic NANO Stamping Tool	Memento Tuxedo Black Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Mermaid Lagoon
Scotch Foam Adhesive 1/2 inch	Sizzix Accessory Cutting Plates	Sizzix Big Shot Machine	Tombow Stamp Runner Dot Applicator and Refill	Distressed Ink – Mini Cubes
Scotch ATG Tape Glider

InLinkz.com

Newton’s Nook Designs – January Release Day 4 ~ Newton’s Happy Mail

January 19, 2017January 19, 2017 | marialrussell

Hello Newton’s Nook fans! Today is release day (Day 4) at Newton’s Nook Designs. It is the last day of the release at NND so please make sure to check out the previous posts. All the new stamps and coordinating dies will be available for purchase tomorrow, January 20^th. Aren’t you excited? You also have a chance to win each stamp set during release week so check out the details I have indicated at the end of this blog post.

Today’s stamp set and coordinating dies called Newton’s Happy Mail is really special because it features our beloved Newton. Can this image get any cuter?

I started out by stamping my image on Neenah solar white card stock. This is my favorite card stock as you can already tell for Copic coloring. I also used a previously released stamp set called “Sweater Weather” to create my scene. Newton is collecting the happy mail while his wife watches him from the window. Aren’t they adorable? I hope you love my card as much as I do.

Don’t you just love the images on this set? This stamp set will be available for purchase on January 20 at 8:00 a.m. CST.

Would you like to win this “Newton’s Happy Mail” stamp set? This set will be given away to ONE (1) 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 19th at 9pm CST to comment — winners will be announced on the Newton’s Nook Designs blog post on Friday, January 20th.

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

Maria Russell (you’re here)

Newtons Nook Designs – January Release Day 3 ~ Pug Hugs

January 18, 2017January 18, 2017 | marialrussell

Oh my goodness! Are you ready for today’s total cuteness? Today is release day (Day 3) at Newton’s Nook Designs. I hope you have been checking out the daily posts since Monday. The whole design team at NND has been busy creating wonderful projects to give you some daily inspiration. You also have a chance to win each stamp set during release week so check out the details I have indicated at the end of this blog post.

For my cards, I used this cute Pug Hugs stamp set and Pug Hugs coordinating dies, stamping my images on Neenah solar white card stock with my memento tuxedo black ink. I colored the Pugs using my Copic markers and die-cut the images with its coordinating dies with my die-cutting machine.

Here is my first card:

Since Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, I just had to make a Valentine-themed Pug card! I created my own patterned paper by combining the hearts from the Pug Hugs stamp set and the Flirty Flamingos stamp set.

Don’t you just love those cute Pugs? This stamp set will be available for purchase on January 20 at 8:00 a.m. CST.

Would you like to win this “Pug Hugs” stamp set? This set will be given away to ONE (1) lucky winner.

Here’s how to win:

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

Maria Russell (you’re here)

Newton’s Nook Designs – January Release Day 2 – Love & Chocolate

January 17, 2017January 17, 2017 | marialrussell

Hello stampers and crafters! Thank you for stopping by. Today is release day (Day 2) at Newton’s Nook Designs. If you haven’t checked out yesterday’s post, please do so to see the amazing projects created by our design team members. Please also check out our Instagram photos to get more inspiration.

For my card below, I stamped my images on Neenah solar white card stock with my memento tuxedo black ink. I colored the images using my Copic markers (I opted for pastel colors), and die-cut my stamped images with its coordinating dies. To give my macaroons a little bit more detail, I used my liquid appliqué and heating tool to puff up the white liquid and make it look like icing.

At this point, I decided to make this a shaker card. I used my 3M Scotch foam adhesive to adhere it on my card stock to create my window panel for the card. I wanted the macaroons to be the main focal point on this card so I created a white on white background, and used some clear sparkling sequins for my shaker element.

I also used this stamp set for my planner layout this week. I really love stretching my stamps and using them to decorate my planner.

I hope you like my card and my planner layout and somehow got inspired today. This Love & Chocolate stamp set and Love & Chocolate Dies will be available for purchase on January 20 at 8:00 a.m. CST.

Would you like to win this “Love & Chocolate” stamp set? This stamp set will be given away to ONE (1) lucky winner!

Here’s how to win:

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

Maria Russell (you’re here)