maria russell designs

Newton’s Nook – Love Bites – Cards for the Children’s Hospital

| marialrussell

I was requested to donate some cards at the local Children’s Hospital where I live.  I was supposed to make it very simple, kid-friendly with no sequins or glitter.  Since Valentine’s Day is fast-approaching, I decided to use the new Love Bites stamp set by Newton’s Nook Designs.

The Love Bites stamp set is so versatile, you can create so many different projects using this set.  It doesn’t have to be Valentine’s-related.  You can also use it to make cute little notes to your kids to add to their lunchboxes, or just leave them notes to brighten their day.

I have a video tutorial for you creating 3 projects so I will keep this blog post short.  Here are my projects:

NNDLoveBites5

NNDLoveBites6

NNDLoveBites7

Here’s the video:

Thanks for stopping by today.  I have listed and linked all the supplies below.  Have a great day!

Maria Russell Signature Logo

———–SUPPLIES———–


At The Beach Scrapbook Layout

| marialrussell

Hello my crafty friends!  I am so excited to share my very first post for the Paperhouse Productions and today and I am sharing a very simple scrapbook layout showcasing the At The Beach 12 x 12 Paper Crafting Kit.  This pack is AMAZING as it contains card stock and puffy stickers to embellish, plus other ephemeras to decorate my project.  I thought it’s perfect to showcase the photos that I took while my husband, daughter and I were in The Maldives in July of 2016.

 

I started out by printing a couple of my photos with my colored printer and cut these photos down to size.    When I do scrapbook layouts, I kind of just go with what I feel that day and I don’t overthink about making sure the lines and photos are all perfect!  It is after all, a handmade project!

 

I adhered the photos with my favorite adhesive and added some of the embellishments.  I LOVE the puffy stickers that were included in At The Beach Paper 12 x 12 Paper Crafting Kit.  Here’s what it looks like:

 

PHPBeach1

 

I also added the card stock stickers and journaling cards that are included in the pack:

 

PHPBeach2

 

I adhered the alphabet stickers and the rest of my embellishments to finish my design. Here’s what it looks like:

 

PHPBeach3

 

I hope you all got inspired today!  Don’t forget to check out the beautiful paper products available at www.paperhouseproductions.com.  I also listed and linked the supplies that I used below.  Have a wonderful day!

Products used:  At The Beach 12 x 12 Paper Crafting Kit

 

NND September Reveals – Day 1 – Shades of Autumn and Falling Leaves Stencil

| marialrussell

NND ReleaseI con_Sept17

 

Hello September! I am super excited because it is the first day of the September reveals 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.  [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 understanding and I apologize for the confusion.]

 

For today’s cards, I am showcasing the Shades of Autumn stamp set and its coordinating dies with the Falling Leaves stencil.

 

 

I stamped my images on Neenah solar white card stock using my stamping platform. I die-cut the images using the coordinating dies.

 

I made two cards for you today. The first one is relatively simple.

 

NNDShadesofAutumn1

 

For my second card, I stamped and die-cut the small leaves and little acorns to create a wreath for my card. I also used the falling leaves stencil to add some color and finished the design by adding a small bow on the wreath, using the Pines and Holly die set. Here’s the card:

 

NNDLeaves1

 

This “Shades of Autumn” stamp set and coordinating dies will be available for purchase on Friday, September 15th, at 8:00 a.m. CST.

 

Would you like to win the “Shades of Autumn” 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, September 14th at 9pm CST to comment — winners will be announced on the NND blog post on Friday, September 15th.

 

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

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

 

Honey Bee Stamps – Message in a Bottle

| marialrussell

HBunderthesea

I am so psyched to share with you today’s project because this week, Honey Bee Stamps is releasing the new Under the Sea stamps, dies and embellishments.  Wait ’til you “sea” the new products that are going to be featured this week.  Today is the first day and I am showcasing the super cute “Message in a Bottle” Stamp set.

I have to apologize that I will not be able to participate in the blog hop on Friday, July 14th.  I had to travel for a family emergency concerning my father-in-law and will not be available for the month of July.  Please check out the design team’s projects this week for more inspiration.

I started out by stamping my images on Neenah Solar White card stock and colored the images in with my Copic markers.  I did not have the coordinating dies just yet for this set and since I wanted to make a shaker tag, I decided to use my Exacto knife to cut out the middle portion of the bottle, and then covered both sides with acetate sheet.

HBmessage1

HBMessage2

I used a tag die from my stash to die-cut the tags.  I tore the card stock and sponged it with my distress ink to create the look of sand.  I adhered the shaker element using my Xyron mega tape runner and foam tape.  To finish my design, I stamped the sentiment, added the sun, and the cloud.  Here is what it looks like:

HBMessage4

Here’s another look:

HBMessage5

You are all going to absolutely love the new stamp sets and dies for the July release.  The stamps, dies and embellishments will be available for purchase on Friday, July 14th.  Please stay tuned for more project inspiration from the design team this week.  Have an amazing day!

Pink and Main & Xyron Blog Hop

| marialrussell

xyronpinkandmainphoto1

 

Welcome to the Fun Collaboration Blog hop with Xyron and Pink and Main!  There’s prizes too!  We are giving away a $25 gift card from Pink & Main and a Xyron Mega Runner.  All you have to do is leave a comment on the Xyron’s Facebook page during the hop and the winner will be announced there too.

 

For our collaboration, we are showcasing products by Pink and Main, and of course, Xyron.  Here’s a photo of the items I got to play with.  I am showcasing Pink and Main’s Airmail stamp set,  Take Flight 6×6 paper pad and the Xyron Mega Runner adhesive.

 

IMG_5061

 

I started out by stamping my images on Neenah solar white card stock and colored the images in with my Copic markers.    Using my DIY clouds stencil and my Broken China distress ink, I stenciled the color to my crd stock to create the sky.

 

IMG_5062

I used my die to cut the window on my card front.

IMG_5063

Using my Xyron Mega Tape Runner, I adhered the fun foam to my card front to create some dimension.

IMG_5064

 

Here’s my card.  I also stamped the image on the envelope to match my card.  I love how it turned out.

 

XyronPinkandMain-2

 

Please don’t forget to go to the Xyron Facebook page and leave a comment to enter the giveaway.  If you are interested to purchase the stamps and paper pad that I used, please visit http://www.pinkandmain.com.  Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

World’s Best Dad Card with Xyron

| marialrussell

Hello my crafty friends!  I am back today to share with you a very simple Father’s Day card, using dies from Gina Marie Designs and the best of the best, Xyron 1.5 Inch. Sticker Maker and Xyron Mega Runner adhesive.

XyronFD1

I find it hard to create cards for guys because I am always guilty of over-embellishing my cards or using feminine colors.  I thought my card below is super simple, yet it is perfect for your Dad, or husband for Father’s Day.

I started out by die-cutting my card stock using my dies.  Since the fishing pole is quite intricate, I had to die-cut it twice to have more stability.  I adhered both pieces using my sticker maker.

XyronFD2

I colored my fish die-cut using my sponge and distress oxide inks (worn lipstick and peeled paint).  I wanted the colors to blend well together to make it look more realistic.  I colored the rest of the die-cut pieces with my Copic markers.

XyronFD3

To finish my design, I highlighted my fish with my Spectrum Noir glitter brush pen, and added the black rhinestone to the fish’s eye.  Here’s my card:

XyronFathersday.jpg

I hope you like my project today and got inspired to create a simple father’s day card.  The supplies I have used are listed and linked below.  Have a great weekend!

———–SUPPLIES———

Blessed To Be Your Friend

| marialrussell

Hello everyone! I am back to share with you a very special card that I made, dedicated to our Kat Scrappiness Design Team Coordinator, Deb Peterson Rauch.  I am showcasing the Bear and Bird stamp set and its coordinating dies, the Concord & 9th Tree Ring Background stamp, Kat Scrappiness Double-stitched rectangle dies and the Blessed Scripty dies, plus other products available at the shop.

I will not have any step-by-step instructions or a process video for this card. It is very simple but I love how it turned out.

This card is dedicated to Deb. I am “blessed to be Deb’s friend”. Deb has a huge heart. When I got sick, a few weeks ago, Deb has been (and still is) such a great confidant to me! She was my constant support during those times when I feel like I would never get better. When I start panicking with the pains I had, I would constantly send Deb a message and ask her so many medical questions and she would immediately give me answers, advice, support and recommendations. It didn’t matter what she was doing that day, she would always send me a reply and make me feel “safe” and less paranoid. Both Deb and Kathleen understood that I had to take it easy and need time to heal.  Thank you, Kathleen Driggers. Thank you, Deb for all the things that you do, for being my friend, and a great DT Coordinator. This card is for you:

KatScrapBlessed

I hope you like the card today and got inspired. The supplies I have used are listed and linked below. Have a blessed and wonderful day!

————SUPPLIES————

Prayers & Hugs Coming Your Way

| marialrussell

Hello everyone! It’s Maria Russell here with you today. It’s been awhile since I made a project for Kat Scrappiness. I was traveling for two weeks and if you have been following me here on my blog, you’ll probably know that I got sick. I am on the mend now but it is taking a lot longer than expected which is making me a little miserable!

I apologize that I don’t have a process video for you today because it takes awhile for me to create a project right now. I can’t sit still for so long and look down so I constantly take a break and walk so I don’t get any pains. Please bear with me as I get better and I promise to make more process videos once I am over this hump.

For my shaker card today, I am showcasing the Hero Arts Color Layering Poppy Stamps and Dies, the Prayers Stamps and Die set, with the Wood Floorboard Prints Cling stamp, as well as the White Diamond sequin mix by Kat Scrappiness, and a lot more supplies available at Kat Scrappiness online store.

I started out by stamping and layering my images on Neenah solar white card stock using three Lawn Fawn Ballet Slippers, Guava and Lobster ink. I die-cut the flowers using the coordinating dies.

I stamped my background using the wood floorboard cling stamp with light- gray ink. I wanted a subtle background for my card because I wanted the main focal point to stand out, which are the poppies!

I die-cut the prayers die using a dark gray card stock, and stamped my sentiment using the Hippo Ink on my card front.

I ran my flowers, branches and die cut sentiment using my favorite Xyron sticker maker and Mega Tape Runner. I also adhered my acetate sheet using glue dots, and created my shaker window panel with scotch foam tape. I added my favorite White Diamond sequin mix by Kat Scrappiness and adhered my window panel to my card base.

I finished off my design by sponging my Neenah white card stock with the Tim Holtz worn lipstick distressed oxide ink to match the color of the dot details on my shaker card.

Here is the card. I hope you like it and got inspired today. The supplies I have used are listed and linked below. Have a great weekend!

IMG_4893

————SUPPLIES———–