Valentine’s Treat ~ Lawn Fawn Science of Love

| marialrussell

It is that time of the year again when we’re all thinking about making cards and special treats for our loved ones for Valentine’s Day.  I used to make a ton of Valentine’s projects when my kids were little to help them bring the treats to class but I also made some very special treats just for them ~ and my husband.

When my kids were still young, I decorate the house on February 1st but on the eve before Valentine’s Day, I really go all out!  I wait until my kids are past asleep, and then I decorate the dining room with all sorts of stuff.  I really love seeing the reaction on my children’s faces when they come down for breakfast and see all the little treats I laid out for them.  Of course I do the same for my husband and include little treats in his lunch box.

Here’s a project that I used to make with my kids to bring to school.  I really love Lawn Fawn and the sentiment is perfect for these little test tubes.  If you have younger kids, please get them the plastic version so no one gets hurt on Valentine’s Day.

 

I hope you like this project.  I will be posting more Valentine’s crafts in the next few days/weeks.

Have an amazing day!

Brentwood Owl Valentine’s Card

| marialrussell

I want to start the New Year by creating a cute and lovable Valentine’s card using www.jessicalynnoriginal.com’s Brentwood Owl. This is a digital stamp that is available for download at Jessica’s online store. What is versatile about digi-stamp is the fact that you can print out a couple of images and adjust the size for your paper-crafting project.

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I colored Brentwood using my Copic markers. I wanted to use my warm grays because the whole design I had in mind will be pastel colors. I think it worked out really well.

Materials Used:

8 ½ x 5 ½ card stock in soft gray

5 ½ x 4 ¼ Designer Series Paper (for the scallop)

White card stock – used for the Fence

Mint Green card stock – used for the grassy hill

Beige and pink card stock – used for the flowers

Pink glitter card stock – used for XOXO script

Lawn Fawn – XOXO Scripty Die

Mama Elephant All Prettied Up Die set

My Favorite Things Fence Die

My Favorite Things – Grassy Trio

Lala Land Love to Garden Die Set

3M Scotch Foam Adhesive

Tombow mono-multi liquid adhesive

Stampin Up – Glue Dots

I die-cut the fence and the grassy hills border using dies from My Favorite Things. I think both of these dies will be a staple for my card-making projects. The fence die leaves an impression on the die-cut and looks a little bit more realistic. I also love my newly acquired Mama Elephant, All Prettied Up die-set. I have used them quite a bit and it’s becoming my favorite die. I wanted Brentwood to look like he is popping out of the box – special delivery style!

I hope you all had a great Christmas holiday and New Year celebration as much as I did and I look forward to a great, bright, happy, healthy new 2016!

Handmade Holiday~Christmas Tags

| marialrussell

Here are some Christmas tags that I made recently.   I wanted to use my stamps and dies and create personalized tags for my holiday Christmas wrapping.

I used my Lawn Fawn stitched circle tag die as well as some of the lawn fawn stamps that I already have from my stash.  It turned out really cute.

If you’d like to see it, here is the video. However, I am also sharing photos of the tags for some holiday inspiration.

Enjoy!

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Christmas tags by Maria Russell
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Christmas tags by Maria Russell
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Christmas tags by Maria Russell

Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop ~ Barista Brentwood Owl

| marialrussell

Who doesn’t love coffee, right?  At least I have never met anyone who doesn’t.  Jessica Lynn Original Stamps is the sponsor for the Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and since I love coffee, I decided to participate!

 

I am also a member of JLO’s Design Team and I am so excited to use this adorable new stamp called “Barista Brentwood Owl”.  If you love this image, you have two ways to get it.  First, you can click on this link to download your free image (only available for this blog hop) http://www.jessicalynnoriginal.com/jessicalynnoriginal-coms-barista-brentwood-owl-digital-rubber-stamp/.   Second option, this stamp is also available for purchase at www.jessicalynnoriginal.com if you prefer to have your own photopolymer stamp.

 

For this blog hop, Jessica is also giving away an electronic $20 gift certificate at her website.  This certificate is valid for a year from the date of issue.  The blog hop owners will choose a random winner so please click on the link below to find out more information and to see all the amazing cards created by the participants on this hop: http://coffeelovingcardmakers.com

 

For my card, I used the digital version of this stamp.  I colored this cute image using my Copic markers, and dressed up Barista Brentwood with a Santa hat to make him festive!  I also decided to use one of my dies to create the whip cream on top, highlighted it with Crystal stickles and I used my Wink of Stella Brown Glitter Dust Pen to create the chocolate shavings for the cream.   I also used liquid appliqué to dress up the Santa hat and glossy accents for the candy cane and hearts.  Here are the photos:

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Created by Maria Russell for http://www.jessicalynnoriginal.com
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Created by Maria Russell for http://www.jessicalynnoriginal.com

Thank you so much for checking out my Blog and I hope you all have an amazing day! Happy holidays!

 

Handmade Holiday Series ~ #1

| marialrussell

I wanted to do a December Daily but due to travel commitments and my children arriving for the holidays, I decided to create this series.  I will be posting videos on my You Tube channel with handmade projects that you can create, whether it is card making related or DIY projects that you can give as gifts this holiday season.  Here are the photos and I have also linked my youtube video below.

Happy crafting!

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Bird House Tea Light holder or Christmas Ornament by Maria Russell

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Birthday Party Favor Boxes & Invitation with Tombow USA

| marialrussell

I am fortunate enough to be one of the finalist for Tombow USA Design Team for 2016.  We were asked to create a project that is not holiday specific using a bright color palette.  I immediately thought of this project that I have been meaning to do since I got my stamps and dies last summer.  I decided to create a birthday party-themed project.  Here are the materials that I have used:

Materials:

Birthday party favor kit from Stampin Up to create the faux cake boxes (or Card stock and sweetie pie framelits from Stampin up). Note: You have a choice between using the project kit or use the dies to create the boxes. I opted to use the kit to have a two-layer faux cake.

Paper straws (to use for the diecut candle pieces)

Tombow Mono Dual brush pens

Tombow mono liquid glue

Tombow Foam adhesive

A2 size card stock

Party invitation stamp

Balloon framelits

Step by step instruction for the birthday party kit and birthday invitation:

Instructions for the party favor boxes:

  1. Die-cut the pieces using the sweetie pie framelits or purchase the birthday party kit from Stampin Up, with the coordinating stamps.
  2. Stamp the coordinating boxes using the stamps.
  3. Assemble the boxes. For 3D projects, especially boxes, use Tombow mono-liquid glue. It is the best glue to give you time to work on your project before it bonds permanently.
  4. Use tombow dual brush pens to color the back of the boxes to make it look like icing. Set the boxes aside.
  5. Either die-cut the candle using the framelits or use the candle pieces from the kit.
  6. Cut the paper straws to fit the die-cut candle pieces.
  7. Use the tombow glue to adhere the candle pieces on top of the boxes.
  8. Assemble the cake stand using some hot glue.
  9. Arrange the boxes on top of the cake stand.

Party invitation:

  1. Stamp the images on an A2 size card stock to create the party invitation.
  2. Die cut the balloons using your framelits.
  3. Using the Tombow dual brush pens, color the balloon strings and adhere the die-cut piece inside the party invitation using Tombow foam adhesive.

 

Here are the photos:

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Created by Maria Russell
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Created by Maria Russell
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Party Invitation (Outside)
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Party Invitation (Inside)

If you like watching videos, I have posted this project as well on my YouTube channel.  Here is the link below:

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and I am looking forward to creating more Christmas projects in the next few days. Happy crafting!

 

Black Friday Weekend~Herding Dog Stamps

| marialrussell

I am still away as I write this Blog post but I am so excited to share the cards I created for this Blog hop. I am a dog lover. I also grew up with German Shepherds; they hold a special place in my heart. They are the most loving, protective, faithful companions in the whole world.

 

This first card reminded me of my childhood dog named Snooky. I kept this card simple.

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The second card is a bit funny! I wanted to create simple cards and just highlight the dog images on this stamp set. They are just beautiful.

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The third card is my favorite. It is a Christmas shaker card. It is finally officially appropriate to decorate for Christmas after Thanksgiving so I can’t wait to get back home and start decorating my home.

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This is a blog hop and Jessica Lynn Original is having a HUGE Black Friday sale, specials on Brentwood packs. Please do not forget to check out www.jessicalynnoriginal.com to avail the sales. I am the last person on the hop but if you guys haven’t checked out the other post from our wonderful design team, this is the order of the hop:

Jessica – http://jessicalynnoriginalstamps.blogspot.com/

Sharon – http://sharonshowcase.blogspot.com/

Jeanette – http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/
Vickie – http://stuffbyvickie.blogspot.com/

Jennifer – http://glitterinmyhair.blogspot.com/…/11/JLOblackfriday.html
Amanda – http://wombatleu.blogspot.com/

Maria – https://mariarusselldesigns.wordpress.com/ (you are here)

 

Celebrate your family. Celebrate life and health. I am thankful for my family and friends, and each and every one of you. Happy thanksgiving!