Birthday Card #1

I came across some scraps of beautiful origami paper that apparently, eons ago -- I couldn't bear to throw away --- and there was so little of it that I actually had to cut it in half lengthwise and piece it together in the middle to fit across this card and my second birthday card below. My friend, Donna, gave me the wonderful LEAFY BRANCH Cuttlebug embossing folder awhile back (used for the top part of the card), and it is one of my favorite embossing folders! I used Martha Stewart's butterfly punch twice, raised up the top butterfly with a glue dot and added a set of antennae, too, using needle nose pliers and gold wire. A row of gold beads finished off the body. For the inside of the card and the envelope, I stamped a butterfly then added some paper pierced dots. If you are worried about making a perfect spiral, just draw the spiral with pencil first, pierce the dots, then erase your lines. The HAPPY BIRTHDAY saying is from a wonderful Close to My Heart set of sayings called Say It In Style.

Birthday Card #2

Here's the 2nd card I made using some origami paper scraps - can you find the middle seam?! The "Birthday" had a void in the ink when I stamped it -- of course AFTER I had finished the entire card....so, I took this happy little opportunity to re-stamp the "Happy Birthday" on another matching piece of card stock, cut out just the "Birthday," layered it with the navy blue matching card stock, and raise it up with foam tape. Whew!! -- and yet another happy little mistake that made the card turn out even better than I had imagined!

The lace punch is by Martha Stewart, the scallop punch is by Stampin' Up, and the present stamp on the envelope is by Hero Arts.

Projects for Memories Live On

Black and white designs are some of my favs and here's a new set of ideas just completed for display at MLO. These designs feature a luscious piece of designer paper from Creative Imaginations called White Fanfare, and when I deliver these projects tomorrow, I've got to buy this paper and more ribbon so I can make a batch of cards for a few upcoming weddings! (You've got to see these papers in person to appreciate the striking impression they make.) There is also a FREE download on my MLO site for the wedding sentiment shown here. Just click on my pic above then MLO DOWNLOADS in the navigation bar to get yours today. BTW - the shoe is a design that you'll get to make if you take my MLO September 27th class. We'll be making it as a witches shoe along with some fun Halloween projects - including a purse to match the shoe!

BLOG CANDY!

Here's some new BLOG CANDY: A set of 2 brand new coordinated photo albums for your 4x6" photos. I have several sets in a variety of colors and patterns, so I will randomly pick a few winners on August 1st. Enter to win by leaving a comment or sending me a comment about the paper crafting items that you are hoarding in your house -- Paper and ribbon definitely top my list! I'm running out of room to store them, and I have to start using what I have before Scrapbook Expo arrives next month (so I can make room for a few more must haves)!

Winners must be able to pick up these albums at:
Memories Live On in Cupertino, CA.

I love this stamp set from Stampin' Up! (SU). It's called Bird on a Branch and I finally got it converted to use with my clear stamp blocks. Now, I can't stop using it! These are the first cards I've made with this set which also uses extra large eyelets from We Are Memory Keepers (from last year's Scrapbook Expo), Martha Stewart's Lace Punch and SU's scallop punch. The middle closeup photo also shows the Martha Stewart mini pearls ($2 from Big Lots) that I added to 4 of the largest flowers. The last photo shows a bit more detail of the 2 white-on-white cardstock rectangles placed on top of a brown rectangle (Chocolate Chip SU) - a simple technique that gives a finished overall professional look to the card.

Oh, how I wish there were more hours in a day to stamp...but I've got to put my "toys" away and focus on getting ready for my Christmas in July class this Sunday. I LOVE Christmas - so this will be one of my favorite classes EVER! This class sold out 2 months in advance, but I will be repeating the class on Sunday, November 15th, 1 to 4 pm. Call Memories Live On to register: 446-9901.

Cricut Expression Reviews Wanted!

I don't have a Cricut yet - do you? Should I get one? Michael's is selling them for 1/2 off this week - for $99. I'm skeptical -- it sounds too good to be true! (I'm suspicious -- Michael's NEVER EVER lets us use our 50% off coupons on them!) ......and feeding my suspicion is the Cricut website here where they are announcing that something amazing and new is about to be revealed. Has anyone heard if it's a new and improved model? Please leave your comments and share your thoughts about the Cricut with us -- the good, the bad, and anything else that makes for good reading!

BLOG CANDY WINNER!!

I'm happy to post the winner of my BLOG CANDY frog punch give away: Dawn L. it's you!! Congrats and thank you for your lovely comment - it made my day!

You are so extremely talented! Your cards always amaze me with their creativity and beauty. Memories Live On is so very lucky to have you! And we are all so lucky that you share your ideas with us and inspire us with your works of art.

Look for another BLOG CANDY give away soon ;-D

Wedding Shower Invite

My lovely surrogate daughter, Jimena, is getting married soon, and an invitation to her shower arrived in the mail today -- a beautiful creation by one of her friends! I thought I'd show it here as an example of a stunning but simple-to-make invitation. There's a white layer that appears to have some black rub-on designs added to the top 1/3. This top 1/3 was run through a Cuttlebug to create an embossed pattern, and a pink gem was added to the center. The white text layer is matted by a thin black layer and a thin pink layer to create a stunning finished look. (The invitation was photographed on a black background.) Nice use of fonts and a cute saying, too! The whole invitation is clever and quite doable - and it all arrived in a business-sized envelope. LOVE it!

Frog Close Up

Here's a close up of the EK Success frog punch used in the card below -- all glammed out with pink gem eyes! The pink gem eyes are wonderful for your female frogs - while the amber colored gems are perfect for your male frogs! Amuse and Hero Arts makes gems that fit just right in the eye area on this frog punch. The gems shown in the photo are 1/8" or about 3 mm. I also used a 03 black Micron pen for the mouth and raised the frog for added dimension with foam tape.

BLOG CANDY: TOADALLY Awesome!

AT LAST! I've posted pictures showing the EK Success frog punch and sayings!

Katie's Card: What's Inside

Someone asked me to show the inside of Katie's GORGEOUS tree card below. Again she used her new EK Success border punch to create a quick and easy way to finish the inside. This is a wonderful idea for any card base made with dark-colored cardstock.

New Card from My SSF

I got this LOVELY card recently from my SSF - Stampin' Sister Forever - Katie. It's one of those KEEPER cards and it just makes me happy looking at it! She used FLOWER SOFT on the branches - a new product that really adds a nice ethereal 3-D quality to stamped projects. (Stamp set: Thoughts and Prayers by Stampin' Up) For the wavy brown border with the pierced dots, she used a punch from EK's new line of punches. Of course, it was a must have for me as I thought she actually needle-pierced the dots above the wavy line...but no -- she did the wavy border and the pierced dots all at once with a simple press of a punch! Do you have friends that take you down that path of "Paper Craft MUST HAVES?!"....but as my friend Donna says -- it's a happy path! (...as she bought this same new EK punch with me!!)

FREE DOWNLOAD for MLO's Christmas in July

GIVE YOUR PROJECTS A PROFESSIONAL TOUCH! This card looks like a Papyrus card that would cost a lot of money...but simply by combining and layering our new white-on-white flocked cardstock by Creative Imaginations and your photo - look what you can do! (HINT: Separate layers with solid cardstock to accent each layer.)

See the post below to see a wedding card also made with these new textured papers!

Use this sentiment for the inside of a card or a layout, too! The sentiment is a FREE DOWNLOAD on my MLO site and includes the template to make the tree that serves as the "A" in this card. Get it now! Just click here or on my photo in the upper right corner.

Embossed and Flocked Cardstock Has Arrived!

New embossed and flocked designer papers have arrived at Memories Live On! You have to come and see them in person to appreciate how divine these textured papers look, and I've designed some quick and easy cards with these "to die for" papers to show you how they give your projects a professional touch! This card reminds me of a Papyrus card that would cost a lot of money....but just by combining and layering our new leaf-embossed cardstock by Bazzill, the white-on-white flocked cardstock by Creative Imaginations, and Jolee's stickers - look what you can do! The picture doesn't do it justice - you must see it in person! I've also designed a simple show-stopper Christmas card, too, for our Christmas in July theme this month at MLO. (I'll post a FREE download and picture of the Christmas card by Tuesday.) Both cards will be on display in the store after tomorrow - Come and take a look!

(The metallic flourish stickers on the envelope are by Best Creations, and MLO carries a nice selection of them in the back left of the store. Right next to those stickers, you'll find the ribbon with the saying.)

Quick Card

Need a quick card or want to give several cards in a set as a gift? Try this simple idea using any stamp set you already have. Lay a piece of computer or scrap paper across the middle of a card front, stamp right to the computer paper edge to keep your line straight, add ribbon and an embellishment or saying in the lower left corner. (This card has a metallic oval on it that says THANK YOU. Memories Live On sells a variety of these oval sayings.) I've also made a short video on how to tie this type of knot - just click HERE to view. (Stamp set: Pocket Silhouettes / Ink color: Chocolate Chip * both by Stampin' UP!)