Handmade Flower Embellishments

Today was a fun and creative day, as I completed 2 of the cards for the Flower Embellishments class that will be held on Saturday, June 25th, and also on Thursday, July 7th.

You will have fun learning how to make these handmade flowers for your cards.

This rose is really pretty and is made from 4 flowers cut from a die.

This flower is made from scalloped circles, also cut from a die, and made from printed vellum.  The button for the center of the flower is so cute.  It is also cut from a Joy Crafts die.

Hope you'll join this fun and creative class.
Anna

A Beautiful Birdcage

I just LOVE this new birdcage and it's a new die that has arrived at the Creative Corner! At least we can say that spring has arrived at the Creative Corner!

This birdcage is so delicate and the door actually opens. I also used the new branch die as well as the floral punch/embosser set. It was all put together with Memory Box paper, a Hero Arts butterfly stamp colored with Copics, white flat pearls and stickles for the sparkle.

This is the birdcage die
and this is the branches (#2) die.
This is the floral punch and the embosser set.

A new bird die is also available. I can't wait to play with that, but I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day,
Anna

Soni made these fabulous Valentine cards!

Aren't these cards gorgeous!!! Soni Larson, a member of the Creative Corner's design team, made these wonderful Valentine cards!!! She used the Nellie Snellen Heart dies as well as some Creatables swirls and ribbon border dies. And how clever was Soni when she used the pretty, frilly frame die and cut it to make the corners! Soni also used Memory Box printed paper.

I know that one of these cards will be going to Al (Soni's hubby) and won't he be lucky come the 14th!

And don't forget, if you make too many cards for Valentine's Day, you can always use them for Anniversaries, Weddings, Mother's Day or even a Birthday for that someone special in your life.

Hope this gives you some inspiration for your cards.
Have a wonderful day and
Happy Stamping,
Anna

More than just a card.......

I have stumbled upon Elly's blog and have been inspired by her work. Elly is from the Netherlands and she has a wonderful blog! Check it out and see the unique and beautiful cards she makes!

Elly created a really pretty "Book Card" and this is my version of it.

I used Impression Obsession stamps and the new Nellie Snellen cutting dies. I just love that circle "doily"; it is so delicate and goes with the border die.

The swirls are from the Creatables die set.

I used Memory Box printed paper as well as distress inks to decorate the front and inside.

Here is the inside of the "book". The walls are made by accordion folding the card stock and decorating the edge with the border die.

This little book/box is so versatile.........you can fill it with chocolates (as I did below) for your Valentine OR put a picture inside and it will look like a frame, ready for someone's birthday or Mother's Day! I am sure that you will come up with lots of uses for it!

These are the new dies that I used to create the sample.

This will be a class in the near future!!! I am sure that many of you will love it!

Also, keep a look out on the calendar, as the flower cards will also be a class!

Happy Stamping!
Anna

More with Watercolor Backgrounds

Lately, I've been hooked on making these watercolor backgrounds. I've even did demos of it at the NJ State Fair this past Sunday. Everyone liked them because they are so easy to make and the shimmer you get from the Twinkling H2O's is really spectacular. (Not sure if you can really see it in the pictures)

I had to make some thank you notes and this is technique is wonderful. It's not too time consuming and each card looks different. I used sayings as well as picture stamps and had fun embellishing them.

As you can see, you can get a lot done in no time!

Thanks for stopping by!
Anna

Watercolor Cards

All of us learned so much from Dave Brethauer when he was here teaching classes. I, myself couldn't wait to go home and try the watercolor techniques. It was so relaxing to make the watercolor backgrounds. I haven't used my twinkling H2O's in such a long time, so it felt good to pull them out again. The shimmer in those paints just make those backgrounds gorgeous.

Here are the cards that you can make if you take the watercolor class with me. You'll learn how to make the great backgrounds, learn how to blend the colors, as well as learn how to use your twinkling H2O's and watercolor pencils. Hope this gives you some inspiration for your next project.

Thanks for stopping by,
Anna

Dave's Classes

Hello Everyone!
On Thursday, July 22, we were very fortunate to have Dave Brethauer, owner and artist of Memory Box stamps come and teach 3 classes.
Here are a few pictures from the day.



This is a picture of the happy students from the first Colored Pencil class.
Dave was very informative and everyone learned so much. Dave then repeated the class for the next group of students.

Finally, there was the Watercolor techniques class. Dave is an excellent teacher and he had so many great tips.
I was so excited that I couldn't wait to get out my watercolor pencils and Twinkling H2O's so that I could try it over the weekend. What fun!!! (I made a few cards and will set up some watercolor classes, to accommodate those who weren't able to get into that class)

Here's the chocolate box and souvenir pin that everyone got at the class. I had a lot of fun making them and using "Fred P. Bear" stamp...........he is just too cute!

These are the cards that were completed. Aren't they wonderful!

Thanks to everyone for coming and making the day a great success.

Thanks for all of the goodies that everyone brought: Ann, your desserts were just fabulous as always, the blueberry bars were outrageous as was the zucchini bread; Soni, the chocolate strawberries were just wonderful; thank you Irene for the tasty, home baked pound cake; we had so much fresh, sweet fruit brought by Anna and Yvonne; and a sinful chocolate dessert by Sue; the goodie table was just overflowing! I was even reminded today that there's always so much good food at the shop!
Thank you Barbara for the extra table and chairs and thank you Maryanne for your help in setting up for the class!

I thank you again........for all of your help and support! I could not have done it without you!

I'm looking forward to the next event! Oh, yes, it's this Saturday!!! Hope you can come and celebrate the Store's Anniversary! There will be prizes and raffles, Make & Takes, refreshments and lots of fun........all day long!

See you soon,
Anna

Zero Calorie Cupcake Card!

Everyone knows that I have a sweet tooth, so I just couldn't wait to create something with this new cupcake stamp from Memory Box! I really like the font of the saying and the stamp also has the small version of the cupcake on the side; it's like getting 2 stamps in one!

Unfortunately, the scan doesn't show the pale pink air brushing I did with my Copic, nor does the glitter on the cupcake show up. (I even took photos of the card and it still looked washed out.) But I think you get the idea. Wouldn't it be fun to put a little cupcake in one of those clear mini pails (from Stampendous) and attach this gift card to it? Wouldn't that be a neat surprise for someone and brighten their day!

Hopefully I'll get to play with more Memory Box stamps in the next few days in the mist of also getting ready for Dave's classes......he'll be here before we know it! Today he was at "Your Maine Stamper" and they had lobster rolls and a strawberry kiwi trifle! WOW! I'm counting the days until the big day with Dave!!!

Have a wonderful day and
Happy Stamping,
Anna

New Memory Box Cards!

I just couldn't wait to stamp with the new Memory Box stamps!!!! Here are 3 cards I already made.......and all of the cards are really simple designs; you will be able to make several of each of them to send out to friends! I can't wait to get back to work on Tuesday and make more!

This first card, I used the "old fence" and printed paper from Memory Box and air brushed with my Copic marker to get the column of light on the crow. It was so much fun. You can stipple or use a dauber to get a similar effect. The wicked stamp is from A Muse.
For the "Joy" card, I used Memory Box paper and Spellbinders Nestabilities to create the shapes. I colored the poinsettia with Copics and air brushed the background.
Lastly, this card was inspired by Dave.......he designed a similar card 2 years ago for Make & Takes. This time I added Fred P. bear, added a Design Adhesive for the glittered snowflake and lots of glitter and stickles. I just love that cute polar cub.......I've been using him on lots of little projects. Those who come to Dave's classes, will be treated to a surprise and will be the first to see him pop up all over the place!

Join the class on Thursday, July 15, at 1PM, and you can already have these 3 cards for the upcoming holiday season!

Thanks for stopping by and see you soon,
Anna

Tomorrow's Make & Take!

Isn't this gift card cute! And it's so easy with just 2 great Memory Box stamps. The cute polar bear cub is the latest stamp from the "What's in the Box - Holiday collection". You can't see it on the screen, but you are also going to use the new, Shimmer Spritz from Tsukineko. It's a wonderful spray with just a bit of glittery shine that makes the card stock glimmer perfectly. And then of course, just a bit of stickles finishes off the card!

Hope you'll be able to stop by and make your first Christmas card of the year! (Coincidentally, the card is made up of patriotic colors!)

Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!
Anna

The New Fall & Christmas Release from Memory Box is Here!

I am so excited!!! The new Fall & Christmas release from Memory Box has arrived!!! It was just a blast opening the two huge boxes and getting my hands on the new stamps. Dave really out did himself this time. The stamps are just great, the paper is beautiful and the card samples are stunning!

I called several people to share in the excitement, but no one was home. But happily, Maryanne got her voice message and came down to see for herself. And she was thrilled to be the first to see all of the goodies! We were just "ahh-ing" over all of the samples! Maryanne can't wait to start her Christmas cards, but first she said she wants ALL of the stamps. Then she was worried that she may be getting "Soni-itis". O-oh.....we all know where that's going!

I took some pictures; first of just everything out of the boxes and then of the completed display. When I came home, I had to make a quick slide show for you. What a fun and exciting day!



Don't forget that we are one of the first stores that has this new release.
Hope you'll be able to stop by and see for yourself! It's just so much better in person!
Anna