Greeting Cards

Inky Paws Challenge No. 42 ~ Birthday

| marialrussell

There’s a new Inky Paws Challenge on the blog (http://www.inkypawschallenge.com) and this time it is a birthday theme!

Here is the inspiration photo:

nndbday-challenge-42

I colored my image on Neenah solar white card stock with my Copic markers.  I also used my gel pens to add some whimsical touch to the “cake”.  There’s really nothing much more to it so I am just going to show you the card:

nndipc42

For more information about the inky paws challenge, please visit http://www.inkypawschallenge.com. You have two weeks to join.  Winner will get a $10 gift code for the Newton’s Nook Designs shop.

The supplies that I have used for today’s card are listed and linked below if you are interested. Have an amazing day!

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Easter Interactive Cards with Xyron Plus More Spring Cards Inspiration

| marialrussell

Hello stampers and crafters! I hope you’re having a great day so far. Thanks for joining me today. I am back to share with you some Easter cards that I have made ages ago. I forgot how I loved making interactive cards.  For the Easter cards you see below, I have made a ton of them back when I first started paper crafting. I didn’t have enough supplies then so it is really more fun for me to re-create them now. These cards can be easily mass-produced!  They are so simple!

I started out by die-cutting my white card stock and patterned papers using my oval dies.  I also die-cut a ¾ inch. colored card stock and adhered it to the center of the patterned paper. To create the “cracked” look on the “egg” and to be able to open and close the card, I used my Lawn Fawn stitched scallop edge die. By doing this process, it will ensure that your patterned paper are perfectly lined up together.

Using my Xyron Teresa Collins Mega Runner adhesive, I adhered the bottom decorative patterned paper to the card base. I then used my paper punch to punch a hole on the top panel, and inserted a decorative brad so I can open and close the card.

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I stamped my little chick image on Neenah solar white card stock (twice) and colored him in with my Copic markers. I fuzzy cut the images with my precision-cut scissors and used my Xyron mega tape runner again to adhere the image inside the card.

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To finish off the design, I stamped my sentiments on both cards, and covered the brad with some decorative flowers. Aren’t they adorable? They are so easy to make. Even little kids will love creating these interactive Easter cards.

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Here are some other spring-related cards that I designed before and recreated for this blog post using my Xyron tape Runner and Sticker Maker. I hope I have given you some inspiration to create some cute Easter and spring cards. Happy crafting!

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You Are My Favorite Little Nut

| marialrussell

Hello my crafty peeps! I hope you are all having a fantastic day! I am super excited to share with you today’s cards. This is my first blog post as a Design Team member for Xyron, Inc., Yay! (I’m still doing my happy dance in my head as I write this post) I have been a Xyron fan since 2003 and I have been using their products since.  Today’s “just-because” cards are so easy to replicate.  I am showcasing the Xyron 5-inch Creative Station Lite, Teresa Collins Mega Tape Runner and stamp set and dies by Neat and Tangled.

I started out by stamping my images on Neenah solar white card stock and colored them in using my Copic markers. I lined up my coordinating dies on the images using low-tack tape to hold them in place, and proceeded to die-cut them on my Big Shot machine.  Using a wreath die, I die-cut my card stock twice. I wanted some dimension to the wreath and also make it sturdier. I used my scissors to remove the “hooray” part of the wreath.  Using my Xyron 5-Inch Creative station, I inserted the die-cuts through the machine to run it through. Without removing the other piece out of the sticky sheet, I adhered the pieces together. This will ensure that they are perfectly lined up. With the help of my craft pick, I started removing the extra adhesives between the spaces.

Without lifting the die cut piece out of the sticker sheet, I went ahead and colored it using my Copic markers. This technique ensures that your intricate piece gets held in place while you’re coloring the card stock.

Using the negative piece of the wreath, I distressed the background using Broken China Distress Ink. I used my paintbrush to splatter some water on my background, and let it sit for about 30 seconds them picked up the water with my paper towel. I love the fun splatter effect!

I lifted the colored wreath out of the sticker paper and carefully adhered it to my card panel. I love using my Xyron Creative Station Lite (or Xyron Sticker Maker) to adhere die-cuts to my card. Since the Xyron gives complete adhesive coverage, this intricate piece will stay securely adhered to the card.

Using my stamping tool, I lined up my stamps and stamped the sentiment on my card.  I used my Teresa Collins Mega Tape Runner to adhere my critters and the hearts to the card front. To finish off the design, I added glossy accents to the hearts.

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Here is the first card:

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Since I have leftover stamped images, I decided to create another card.  Here is a card that you can give as an anniversary card, or just-because!

 

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I hope you like my cards.  If your would like to check out a beautiful card created by my fellow Xyron DT member, Pam Bray, here is her post: (http://www.pammejoscrapbookflair.com/…/hello-beautiful-with…)

The supplies I have used are listed and linked below. Have an amazing day and happy crafting!

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Newton’s Nook February Release and an Easter Card

| marialrussell

Hello my crafty friends! I am back today to share with you an Easter card that I have made (with a process video below). In the video, I have also shared the February release of stamps and dies by Newton’s Nook, including all of the other projects I have made.

You might think it’s strange that the Easter eggs on my card below look like a tree ornament, right? Let me tell you the inspiration for this. I have a small tree in my craft room that I decorate for every holiday. Easter is no exception. I love decorating my craft space and this tiny tree give a nice glow in the evening when I’m crafting and it makes me happy. Here’s the photo:

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I will not post a step-by-step instruction this time but if you would like to see how I made the card, I have a link of this video below. Supplies I have used are also listed and linked. Have an amazing week and happy crafting!

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YouTube video:

 

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Inky Paws Challenge #41 – Newton’s Nook Designs

| marialrussell

There’s a new Inky Paws Challenge on the blog (http://www.inkypawschallenge.com) and this time it is a color challenge, using Mint, Light Pink, Yellow and White. I absolutely adore pastel colors so I decided to participate in this challenge!

Here is the inspiration photo:

nndinkypaws41

I started out by die-cutting my Neenah Solar White card stock and distressed my background using Spun Sugar and Scattered Straw distress inks.  I splattered white paint all over my background using my white opaque paint.

I stamped my image showcasing NND’s Sweater Weather stamp set and colored her in with my Copic markers.  Using the same mint Copic marker, I colored my card stock and used my “love” script die to die-cut the pet sentiment, and stamped “you” from the tag sampler stamp set.

I used my Xyron sticker maker to adhere the “love” sentiment on my card.  I always use my sticker maker to adhere intricate dies.

Here is my card:

nndinkypaws41a

For more information about the color challenge, please visit http://www.inkypawschallenge.com. You have two weeks to join.  Winner will get a $10 gift code for the Newton’s Nook Designs shop.

The supplies that I have used for today’s card are listed and linked below if you are interested. Have an amazing day!

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Newton’s Nook Designs February Release – Day 3 – Newton Loves Cake

| marialrussell

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Hello everyone!  It is the last day of the February release 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. [ 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.   I have contacted WordPress and that is what they told me. Thank you for understanding and I apologize for the confusion.]

 

All the new stamps and coordinating dies will be available for purchase tomorrow, February 17th.  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 today’s post, I have created a birthday card, showcasing the new stamp set called Newton Loves Cake and Newton Loves Cake coordinating dies.

I started out by stamping my images on Neenah solar white card stock, with my memento tuxedo black ink.  I colored the images with my Copic markers and die-cut them using the coordinating dies.

I die-cut my card panel and distressed the background using my favorite distress inks – Spun Sugar and Shaded Lilac.  For the second card, I used Spun Sugar and Evergreen Bough.  I wanted to use some soft pastel colors for these two birthday cards.

To finish the design, I die-cut a rectangle frame to create a window, adding the banner to the frame.  I stamped my sentiment and adhered the 3 silver stars.  I also used my white gel pen to add some white dots to the card, making it look more whimsical.

Here’s the first card:

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And here’s the second card I designed with the same concept but different shape and colors.  I wanted to really show off this stamp set by creating more than one sample for you.  The possibilities are endless using this stamp set!

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What do you guys think? I hope you like the birthday cards. This Newton Loves Cake stamp set and coordinating dies will be available for purchase on Friday, February 17, at 8:00 a.m. CST.

Would you like to win the “Newton Loves Cake” 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, February 16th, at 9pm CST to comment — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, February 17th.


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

Newton’s Nook Designs

Amanda Bodine

Holly Endress

Ellen Haxelmans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Juliana Michaels

Naki Rager

Maria Russell (you are here)

Jennifer Timko

Tatiana Trafimovich

 

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Newton’s Nook Designs February Release – Day 2 – Beautiful Spring

| marialrussell

nnd_feb17_releaseicon

Hello stampers and crafters! It is the second day of the February release 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.  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 today’s post, I have created a spring card for you, showcasing the new Beautiful Spring stamp set and Beautiful Spring dies.

 

 

 

I started out by stamping my images on Strathmore Watercolor Paper with my Versamark Ink.  I sprinkled white embossing powder to the stamped images and heat-set it with my heating tool.  I then colored the images with my Zig Clean Real Brush Markers, and die-cut the images with the coordinating dies.

I wanted to create a window for my card and so I have used some of my square dies to die-cut the window panel.  I adhered the tulips with my adhesive, and covered the window with a pink square frame.

 

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To finish the design, I die-cut a grass border using the new NND Land Borders die set and also added a white picket fence using my picket fence die.  I also added the bow to the top of the “window” and stamped my sentiment inside the card.

 

For a little fun, I added the battery-operated LED Tea light inside the card.  I will be adding this card to my Easter table decor.

 

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What do you guys think? I hope you like my card. This Beautiful Spring stamp set and coordinating dies will be available for purchase on Friday, February 17, at 8:00 a.m. CST.

Would you like to win the “Beautiful Spring” 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, February 16th, at 9pm CST to comment — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, February 17th.


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

Newton’s Nook Designs

Amanda Bodine

Holly Endress

Ellen Haxelmans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Juliana Michaels

Naki Rager

Maria Russell (you are here)

Jennifer Timko

Tatiana Trafimovich

Newton’s Nook Designs February Release – Day 1 – Newton’s Pot of Gold & Land Borders Die

| marialrussell

nnd_feb17_releaseicon

Hello stampers and crafters. I am super excited because it is the first day of the February release at Newton’s Nook Designs. 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.

I have created a St. Patrick’s Day card and a small treat bag to go with my card, showcasing the Newton’s Pot of Gold stamp set and the amazing Land Borders Die.

 

 

I started out by stamping my images on Strathmore Watercolor Paper with my Simon Says Stamp Intense Black Ink. I colored the images with my new Derwent watercolor pencils, and fuzzy cut my images with my honeybee precision cut scissors. I die-cut the hill and the grass border with the new Land Borders Die set.  To create the “rainbow” effect on my card, I used my pastel craft paint and paintbrush, swiping the paint across the card stock. Once the paint was dry to the touch, I used a smaller paintbrush to draw the heart on the rainbow.

 

 

Before I adhered the colored images on my card panel, I stamped the background with the shamrock image included in the stamp set, adding some pink hearts to create my own patterned paper. I finished the design by adding the sentiment “Lucky that You’re My Friend” and used my white gel pen to add some dots on the rainbow.  Here’s my card:

 

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For the treat bag, I colored the other image with my Copic markers and added gold stickles to the Pot of Gold. I die-cut a rainbow with pastel colored card stock, and also die-cut the grass with the new Land Borders Die. I adhered all of my décor pieces to the treat bag. To finish the design and to be able to close the bag, I die-cut two small bows with the Pines and Holly die-set and adhered these bows on tiny clothespins.  Here’s the treat bag:

 

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What do you guys think? I hope you like my card and the treat bag. This Newton’s Pot of Gold stamp set and Land Border dies will be available for purchase on Friday, February 17, at 8:00 a.m. CST.

Would you like to win the “Newton’s Pot of Gold” Stamp Set? This 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 February 16th at 9pm CST to comment — winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, February 17th.


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

Newton’s Nook Designs

Amanda Bodine

Holly Endress

Ellen Haxelmans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Juliana Michaels

Naki Rager

Maria Russell (you are here)

Jennifer Timko

Tatiana Trafimovich

 

 

Valentine’s Day Card

| marialrussell

Hello everyone! I’m back today to share with you a cute Valentine’s Card, showcasing products available at Kat Scrappiness, i.e. stamp sets by Lawn Fawn – Love Letters, Cheery Christmas and Mom & Me stamp sets, Stitched Fancy Scalloped Rectangle Dies, Inkadinkado masking paper and Gina Marie Designs ribbon bow dies. I apologize that I don’t have a process video today as I am currently traveling for a few days.

I wanted to create a very simple card with some masking technique.  I started out by die-cutting my watercolor card stock using the stitched fancy scalloped die. I stamped my two squirrels on Inkadinkado masking paper and fuzzy cut them with my precision scissors.

Using my stamping tool, I laid out my scene and stamped my squirrels twice with Versafine vintage sepia pigment ink.  I heat-set it with some clear embossing powder.  Using the mask I created, I covered the squirrels so I can stamp the wood stump on top of the squirrel. Removing the mask, I also set the tree stump with clear embossing powder.

I colored the images using my Zig clean color real brush markers.  I used my heating tool to dry them out a little, and covered the images with my mask.

I smudged some spun sugar and shaded lilac distress inks on a clear acrylic block, sprayed it with water, and used my flat watercolor brush to carefully start brushing the color onto the paper.  [Since the images are already covered with my masking paper, I was not afraid to do this technique.] I removed the mask and set it aside to dry.

I finished off the design by using a patterned paper by Crate Paper design, and die-cut a bow using a ribbon bow die by Gina Marie Designs.

Here is the final card:

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I hope you got inspired today. The supplies I have used are listed and linked below.  Thanks for stopping by and have an amazing day!

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