Diecutting

Dear Santa Christmas Cards

| marialrussell

Hello stampers and crafters! I am back today and I am sharing two cards that I designed, showcasing the Dear Santa stamp set, the Kat Scrappiness Christmas Tree and Happy Holidays Dies and a whole lot of other supplies available for purchase at the shop.

Since I have just arrived a few hours ago from spending Thanksgiving with my family, I will not have a process video for you today for these two cards. However, these cards are pretty simple and can be mass-produced.

For the first card, I started out by stamping a bunch of the cat images, the ball of yarn, and the presents on Neenah Solar White card stock, using memento tuxedo black ink. I colored the image using my Copic markers. I also die-cut the Christmas tree using the Doodlebug “Here Comes Santa Claus” patterned paper, then adhering the pieces together with my favorite Tombow liquid adhesive.

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I wanted a white-on-white background to make my images pop but I didn’t want my card panel to look flat, so I decided to use my Taylored Expressions Twinkling Holiday embossing folder. Embossing the card stock gave it more of a dimension. I adhered all of my pieces together using my liquid adhesive and Scotch foam tape, and finished the card design with a cute Lawn Fawn tag that says “Define Naughty!” with my Lawn Fawn Peppermint twine.

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Here is the first card:

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For the second card, I didn’t want to use traditional Christmas colors. I colored my cat image with light grays and pink Copic markers. I used a patterned paper from Pinkfresh Studio 6×6 paper pad to die-cut the front panel of my card.

Using my blending foam, I distressed my white card stock with Spun Sugar distressed ink and blended it until the colors matched the pink twine. I die-cut the sentiment using Kat Scrappiness Happy Holidays Script die. I LOVE THIS DIE! It cuts like butter! I then adhered all of my pieces to the front panel of my card using my liquid adhesive. I finished the design with my pink and gold twine, and White Diamonds Sequins by Kat Scrappiness. I think the card turned out simple yet classy!

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I hope you like both cards and got inspired today. I promise to have a process video for my next design team project.

I have listed and linked all the supplies that I have used below in case you’re interested to purchase them.

Have an amazing day!

———-SUPPLIES———–

https://static.inlinkz.com/ppr.js

MFT Stamps Monster Love

| marialrussell

I am completely obsessed with MFT Stamps lately so when I was asked by Jamie of not2ShabbyShop to pick the stamps I wanted for my design team package for September, I naturally picked a cute stamp from MFT called “Monster Love”.  What’s not to love?  They are so easy to stamp and with a stamping tool, you can easily achieve perfect results each time.
I originally filmed a process video for the cards but with a vertigo attack recently, I accidentally deleted the footage!  I still shared them on my recent YouTube video though if you’d like to see it.
Here are the 3 cards that I designed showcasing the stamp set.  I also used my all-time favorite Tag Builder Blueprints No. 5.

I hope I have given you some inspiration today! Have an amazing day!

Recipe for Happiness by MFT Stamps

| marialrussell

Good morning my dear crafty friends. Today I am featuring the MFT Stamps Recipe for Happiness stamp set and dies. I would say MFT Stamps is on my top 5 favorite stamps and dies.  I love the Recipe for Happiness stamp set. The sentiments they included in the set and the images are just way too cute! Here are the projects that I created showing them off. I also used the Peek-A-Boo Wonky Windows die-namics.

 

I hope you enjoy the cards and have an amazing day!

 

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Created by Maria Russell
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Created by Maria Russell
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Created by Maria Russell

Rock Lobster Stamp Set by JessicaLynnOriginal

| marialrussell

I am thrilled to finally be able to post photos of this new stamp set by Jessica Lynn Original called Rock Lobster. I love Brentwood, but don’t you just love that little smiley fish? It’s so adorable! Jessica is such a talented artist and a wonderful person; I am so proud to be a member of her design team.

Below you will find a photo of the stamp set. I think this will be a great addition to your collection. Just like the rest of Jessica’s stamps, this is made of high quality photo polymer material. You don’t have to be a skilled stamper to use this set.

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Since today is Halloween, I wanted to create a Halloween card. I have always believed that you can use any stamp set for any occasion, with just a little imagination. I always liked stretching my stamps and dies. Since Brentwood is already dressed up as a lobster for Halloween, I figured he needed some confetti to go along and celebrate my favorite holiday! I also used my We Are Memory Keepers Fuse tool for the first time to create a flat shaker. Note to self: next time, do not touch the fuse tool with your fingers to check it it’s hot enough! Ouch!

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The next card is one of my all time favorites! I think everything just worked and blended together beautifully. I love the colors on this card. I used my Avery Elle Wonky Stitched rectangle die to create the frame for my shaker card. I used a combination of blue, iridescent and white sequins and seed beads for my shaker elements. A video tutorial will be posted soon on my YouTube channel so please stay tuned for that.

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I hope you like what I’ve created. Please don’t forget to go to www.jessicalynnoriginal.com to grab this stamp set.  Happy Halloween!

Halloween-Themed Pocket Letter

| marialrussell

First of all, please let me just explain that I am not crazy and I know it’s only June, LOL!  This Pocket Letter project is a sneak peek of my challenge in July for the Facebook group, Crafters With Artitude.  I am the host for next month’s challenge and since Halloween is my favorite holiday, I decided to make the event ~ HALLOWEEN IN JULY.  There is going to be a prize for this Challenge.  Please watch the video to learn more about the details:

Happy Crafting!

Father’s Day Card Tutorial

| marialrussell

Today’s card features my all-time favorite stamp so far, from Stampin’ Up! called Sheltering Tree.  This stamp set is so versatile and you can use it for any occasion.  I wanted to create a simple, yet elegant card for Father’s Day.  The card that I designed today is really beautiful but it is also very easy to make.  Please watch the video below and see for yourself. I have listed the supplies I used here on my Blog but for instructions to make the card, please refer to my YouTube video.

Supplies I used:

Sheltering Tree Stamp Set from Stampin’ Up! & Fahter’s Day Paper Pumpkin Stamp

Look Up to Father Stamp Set from Stampin Up

Whisper White card stock 1 piece of 8 1/2 x 11 card stock – cut at 5 1/2 (to get two pieces of 8 1/2 x 5 1/2)

Pistachio Pudding Designer Series Paper – 5 1/4 x 4

Whisper White card stock – 5 x 3 3/4

Labels Framelits

Wood grain embossing folder

Early Espresso Stampin Pad

Pistachio Pudding and Wild Wasabi Stampin Pads

Memento Tuxedo Black Stampin Pad

Created by Maria Russell
Created by Maria Russell
Created by Maria Russell
Created by Maria Russell

I hope you found the video helpful and hope to see what you create.  Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing Dads out there, and happy crafting!

Start of the Summer Design Team Showcase Featuring Brentwood at the Beach – Win a Prize!

| marialrussell

JessicaLynnOriginalDTLogo

Hello and Welcome to the Start of the Summer Design Team Showcase Blog Hop created by the JessicaLynnOriginal June 2015 – January 2016 Design Team! I am pleased to announce that I am one of the designers for JessicaLynnOriginal.Com.

Today we are featuring projects using the Brentwood at the Beach Digi Stamp that really showcase and introduce our talented design team members! This fun stamp captures that summer vacation and can be used in many ways. This card kind of reminds me of my son when we were on a holiday in The Maldives. He loves surfing and scuba diving but most importantly, he loves to just hang out by the shore, collect shells and play with hermit crabs. Put your feet up and grab a cool drink to sip as you travel along the hop, getting inspired by the different takes from each of our designers. If you are coming from Jessica’s blog, then you’re in the right place.

Here is the card:

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If you’d like to see a video on how I created this card please watch it here:

This digi-stamp is available free for download today (May 23, 2015 at 0800 CST) so please hurry and check out the website (http://www.jessicalynnoriginal.com/free-digital-brentwood-owl-summertime-fun-stamp-2015/). While you’re there, please check out the other stamps available for purchase as well. My favorite is the Brentwood Owl.

Supplies I’ve used:

Brentwood at the Beach Digital Stamp
Card base – Light Blue Card Stock (8 1/2 by 5 1/2, scored at 4 1/4)
Dark Blue Card Stock – 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 to create the water background
Tan Colored Card Stock – Used to die-cut and create the “Sand”
Designer Series Paper – Used to cut the Surf Board
Orange Card Stock – used to die-cut the umbrella
Dies – Umbrella Die, Stitched hillside border die, feather framelits
Copic Markers Used for the Owl ~ E25 and E35 blended with Dark Chocolate Brown Alcohol Marker (main body). I also used R000 and B00 for the eyes.
The shorts were colored using Coastal Cabana Alcohol Markers.
Copic Markers Used for the Starfish – R24 and R29
Copic Marker Used for the Coconut – G05
Hologram Shell Stickers

Win a prize! Please let me know what you think in the comments below. Comment on each of the blogs in the hop and you will be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate towards anything at JessicaLynnOriginal.com! After the hop, Jessica will randomly select a winner and announce the lucky person on her blog on Sunday, May 24th. Here is the link to Jessica’s Blog ~ http://jessicalynnoriginalstamps.blogspot.com.

Next on the hop is Vickie Yearly ~ http://stuffbyvickie.blogspot.com/2015/05/welcome-to-start-of-summer-blog-hop.html blog!

If you got lost along the way, or if a link doesn’t work, please click here to see the link for everyone’s Blog (http://jessicalynnoriginalstamps.blogspot.com/2012/05/got-lost-along-this-hop.html)

Thanks for stopping by! Happy crafting!

Some Bunny Loves You

| marialrussell

My creativity mojo is visiting today so I decided to take advantage and create this card using my cute stamp set from Lawn Fawn called Snow Day. This stamp set is so versatile and is just not meant for winter or Valentine-themed card. You can also use this for your spring-themed cards, or create a “Just-Because” card like this one.

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The idea to make this card actually came to me while my daughter and I were having our little heart-to-heart talks. She is currently visiting for two weeks during her school break. I am really enjoying our time together. During one of our talks, I realized that the shy, little girl I once drove to school every day, has now turned into this beautiful, intelligent, amazing woman. It’s actually making me a bit emotional just writing this Blog, LOL! Wait, where was I going with this? Oh, right! During one of our “talks”, she mentioned to me that her boyfriend calls her “Bunny”. I don’t know about you but I think sometimes we, as crafters, get our crafting ideas out of the blue. I even have them while I’m in bed trying to get some sleep (note to self: put a little notebook by the bed stand). I thought about the stamp set that I recently purchased from Lawn Fawn and started crafting today.

My daughter’s favorite color is purple. I wanted this ‘just because” card to look really subtle but sweet at the same time. I think I’ve achieved this by combining the pinks and the lilac with a soft mint-green and a darker aquamarine ink to create the trees in the background. What do you guys think?

I hope I somehow inspired you to get your creative juices flowing and start crafting. Here’s to a great weekend!