Valentine’s Cards

NND March Release Day 2 – Newton’s Umbrella and Rainy Day Doxie + Giveaway

| marialrussell

Hello and Welcome to the Newton’s Nook March Release Day 2. 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 Newton’s Umbrella + Coordinating Dies with the Rainy Day Doxie + Coordinating Dies.

I started by stamping the images from Newton’s Umbrella and Rainy Day Doxie with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored the images in with alcohol markers and used the Coordinating Dies to cut them out.

The background for this card was made by using a flat watercolor brush and my FAVORITE, Prima Mixed Media Pastel Dreams Watercolor Confections. Aren’t the colors to die for?! I basically just swiped the colors and used my Heat Gun to speed up the drying process. I adhered this panel on some top-folding notecard.

Next, I used the Land Border Die to die-cut two strips and foam-mounted this onto the card for added dimension. I adhered the focal image also with foam adhesive and liquid glue to secure it in the middle.

I finished my card design by stamping the sentiment from the Uplifting Wishes stamp set with some Versafine Claire Nocturne Ink.

The next project is exactly the same process, except that I added the Spring Blooms Pattern Paper onto the background, before adhering the watercolor panel. I only used the blue color from the Prima Mixed Media Pastel Dreams Watercolor Confections.

The texture was added using some “watered-down” Aged Mahogany Distress ink.

I finished the card design by adding the sentiment that was stamped on some back card stock with Versamark Ink, and heat set with the Heat Gun. I used the Banner Trio Die to die-cut the strip and adhered to the card with liquid glue.

Would you like to win the “Newton’s Umbrella” or “Rainy Day Doxie”Stamp Sets?  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 March 23rd at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, March 24th. 

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

Farhana Sarker

Tatiana Trafimovich

Amanda Wilcox

NND March Release Day 1 – Spring Haul, Spring Garden Line & Quatrefoil Stencils with Spring Blooms Paper Pad + Giveaway

| marialrussell

Hello and Welcome to the Newton’s Nook March 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!]  

For Day 1 of the reveals, we are showcasing the Spring Haul Stamp Set and Coordinating Dies, along with the Spring Garden Line Stencil, Quatrefoil Stencil and the Spring Blooms Paper Pad.

You will be seeing A LOT of watercolor backgrounds this week for my projects. My all-time favorite watercolor to use is the Prima Mixed Media Pastel Dreams Watercolor Confections. With that in mind, I started by adding some water to a trimmed panel of watercolor card stock measuring 3 1/4 x 5 inches. I added the colors orange and yellow to compliment the focal image.

Next, I used the new Spring Blooms Paper pad and trimmed to A2-size to adhere on the top-folding notecard. I adhered the background with liquid glue.

I stamped the images on some Neenah solar white card stock and colored the images in with alcohol markers. I used the coordinating die to die-cut and adhered on the focal panel with liquid glue. Easy, peasy! Here’s another look:

I am so in-love with this next project. I trimmed a panel of Neenah solar white card stock measuring 4 x 5 1/4 inches. I used some washi tape to temporarily adhere the stencil and started with the leaves/stalks using some blending brush and some green dye ink. I followed the same procedure with the pink tulips using some pink dye ink and let is dry for a few minutes.

Next, I used a blending brush with the Clouds Stencil and inked up the background with Tattered Rose Distress Oxide inks. I also made sure to angle the stencil so the clouds looks more realistic, instead of having straight lines!

To add some texture, I watered down some Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and used the brush to splatter some colors on the background. Once the panel was dry, I adhered it onto some top-folding notecard and stamped the sentiment from the Uplifting Wishes Stamp Set. Here’s another look:

Would you like to win the “Spring Haul” 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 March 23rd at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, March 24th. 

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

Farhana Sarker

Tatiana Trafimovich

Amanda Wilcox

NND January Release Day 4 – Never Enough Cats & Coordinating Dies + Giveaway

| marialrussell

I am a bit bummed because today is the last day of the reveals. I hope you were able to join us since Monday.  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 4, we are showcasing the Never Enough Cats Stamp Set and coordinating dies. I also used the Frames & Flags Die Set and Meow Stencil for my project today.

I started by stamping the images on some X-Press It Blending Card and colored the images in with alcohol markers. I used the coordinating die to cut it out.

The scallop frame was die-cut using the Frames & Flags Die Set. I used some distress ink to add some color and added texture to this panel by using the Meow Stencil and some white texture paste. I left this panel to dry for about half an hour then foam-mounted it onto some A2-size card base.

I adhered the focal image with liquid glue and finished the design by adding the sentiment that I heat-embossed on some black card stock. Here’s another look:

Would you like to win the “Never Enough Cats Heart” 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 19th at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 20th.

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 – Never Enough Dogs & Coordinating Dies + Giveaway

| marialrussell

Hello and Welcome to the Newton’s Nook January Release Day 3. I hope you were able to join us since Monday.  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 3, we are showcasing the Never Enough Dogs Stamp Set and coordinating dies. I also used the Circle Frames Die Set for my project today.

My card below is very simple but I love how it turned out!

I started by stamping the image on some X-Press It Blending Card and colored the image in with alcohol markers. I used the coordinating die to cut it out. I adhered the pattern paper from the Love & Woofs Paper Pad on the card base.

The scallop circle and the scallop pattern paper were die-cut using the Circle Frames Die Set and foam-mounted onto the card for added dimension.

I adhered the focal image with liquid glue and finished the design by adding the sentiment that I heat-embossed on black card stock. Here’s another look:

Would you like to win the “Never Enough Dogs Heart” 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 19th at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 20th.

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 – Newton’s Heart Stamp Set & Coordinating Dies + Giveaway

| marialrussell

Hello and Welcome to the Newton’s Nook January Release Day 2. 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 Newton’s Heart Stamp Set and coordinating dies. I also used the Petite Hearts Stencil and Heart Frames Die Set for my project today.

I started by stamping the image on some X-Press It Blending Card and colored the image in with alcohol markers. I used the coordinating die to cut it out.

Next, I used the Petite Hearts Stencil and some white texture paste to add texture to some Neenah Solar White card stock. I let this panel dry for about half an hour, then adhered it on some white top-folding card base.

The hearts were die-cut using the Heart Frames Die Set with the new Love & Woofs Paper Pad and last year’s Valentine release, Love & Meows Paper Pad. The flag banner was cut using my precision snips to add the fishtail, and adhered on the card with liquid glue. I adhered the hearts with the tape runner, and added the focal image.

Don’t you just love the pattern papers by Newton’s Nook Designs?! They all go perfectly well together!

I finished my card design by stamping the sentiment and adding some puffy heart stickers for added texture and interest. Here’s another look:

Would you like to win the “Newton’s Heart” 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 19th at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 20th.

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 1 – Puppy Heart Stamp & Dies with 2 Paper Pads + Giveaway

| 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!]  

For Day 1 of the reveals, we are showcasing the Puppy Heart Stamp Set and coordinating dies, with the Love & Woofs Paper Pad and Love & Chocolate Paper pad. Incidentally, the Love & Chocolate Paper Pad will go perfectly well with the Love & Chocolate stamp set.

I started by stamping the image on some X-Press It Blending Card and colored the image in with alcohol markers. I used the coordinating die to cut it out. I also used the Frames & Flags Die Set to cut out the scallop frame and the stitched banner with the Love & Woofs Paper Pad and adhered the scallop panel on some red card base.

Next, I die-cut the red tag using the Fancy Edges Tag Die Set and foam-mounted this piece on the card for added dimension. I added the stitched banner and the focal image on the tag with liquid glue.

I finished the card design by stamping the sentiment and adding the die-cut arrows, as well as some red enamel heart. Here’s another look:

Would you like to win the “Puppy Heart” 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 19th at 9pm ET to comment  — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 20th.

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——–

You Are My Happy with Crafty Meraki

| marialrussell

Hello everyone!  I am super excited to share my very first blog post here as a member of the Crafty Meraki design team!  Since Valentine’s Day is fast-approaching, I figured it’s only appropriate to share a fun Valentine’s Day Card!

For my card today, I am showcasing the CM Valentine Stamp set and CM Valentine Coordinating Dies along with the Outside the Box Slimline Die. 

To make the card, I started by stamping the images on some Neenah Solar White Card Stock. I colored the images in with alcohol markers and used the coordinating dies to cut them all out.

Next, I prepared the slimline background panel by inking up some Strathmore Bristol smooth white card stock with distress oxide inks.  I also used a stencil from my stash for added interest.  I cut some leftover stamp packaging and added some tape on all sides and adhered the 3 sides first to create a pocket.  I added some confetti as my shaker element and adhered the top to close the shaker.  I love that even though this is a flat shaker card, the shaker bits inside move freely creating a fun, interactive element.

I die-cut the Outside the Box Slimline Die on some Neenah solar white card stock and adhered on the focal panel with foam tape.  I added the colored images on the foreground with liquid glue.

The sentiment was stamped with Versamark ink on some black card stock that I heat-set with my heating tool.  I finished the design  by using some white gel pen to add some dots and stars for added texture and interest.  Here’s another look at the card:

I hope you like my card today and got inspired!  To be able to purchase the items I featured today, click on the “highlighted” products to take you to the online store . Thanks for stopping by!

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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(insert here)

Stock Your Stash Challenge with Reverse Confetti

| marialrussell

Hello my crafty friends, it’s a lazy Sunday on my side of the world! The skies are dark and dreary and it’s raining, boo! I figured today is the perfect time to create something extremely colorful and I am joining the Reverse Confetti’s Stock Your Stash Challenge and this month’s theme is “LOVE IS IN THE AIR“.

The Stock Your Stash Challenge link list will be open from the 1st of the month until noon CST on the 29th of the month. Click the “Play Along...” button on our Reverse Confetti’s sidebar to go current link list post. Reverse Confetti stamps and/or Confetti Cuts are required to win. This is a way we get to thank their customers for using their stamps. Anyone is welcome to play, though! You may enter as many times as you wish.Use #SYSChallenge when playing along with this challenge.There will be a random winner selected each month and that person will receive a $20 gift certificate to the Reverse Confetti store. The winner of challenge will be posted on the Reverse Confetti blog at the end of the month.

For my card below, I am showcasing the Large Circle of Hearts Confetti Cuts along with the Valentine Sentiments Stamp Set and the Stitched Daisies Cover Panel Confetti Cuts.

Here’s how I made this card:

  • Adhere each heart on top with foam dots for added dimension.
  • Flip the background panel and add some acetate sheet and foam adhesive to create the shaker well.
  • Add some bokeh sequins as the shaker element. [Designer tip” since the background is already colorful, you don’t need to add more colors to the design.]
  • Adhere the card panel on some top-folding A2-size notecard to close the shaker well.
  • Finish the card design by stamping the sentiment from the Valentine Sentiments Stamp Set with VersaMark ink. Sprinkle some white embossing powder and heat-set with heating tool. Fussy-cut the sentiment with precision snips and adhere on the focal panel.

I hope you like my project and will play along. The supplies are listed and linked below. Thanks for stopping by! Happy Sunday!

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