Mint Monday and gratitude day 7

Today’s gratitude: Today I am thankful that I had 5 amazing designers working with my stamps, creating beautiful projects that inspire others. And to top it off, 6 more amazing designers are going to continue the tradition. I am so blessed by these women, not only by their creativity, but their thoughtfulness, kindness, and professionalism. Thank you, ladies!

Good Monday Morning! Today there is eye candy! I hope you are enjoying seeing projects with Mint Motif stamps as much as I am! And remember, send your pictures and blog links to Kimberly1Crawford@gmail.com

A huge thank you to everyone!! You really liked Beyond Borders because it is currently sold out! More have been ordered. Be sure and sign up to receive an email announcing their arrival.

Sneak Peeks start THURSDAY (1th) for the November release (14th)! We will be releasing two sets this month, one set which will work with pretty much every set we have released so far, and one that is just plain fun. Be sure and check the banner ads at Splitcoast Stampers for some hints and peeks! :) It will also be the first time we will get to see the new design team’s creations! I can hardly wait!

Charlene Austin, former design team member, with Beyond Borders and Very Merry Sentiments

Look at the heat embossed zig zag! LOVE!!!

Kim Howard with Very Square

LOVE the design, simplicity, use of color, its awesome!

Kim Howard with Very Square again

Simple, elegant. Black and white really makes the patterns pop!

Julie Overby, former design team member with Very Square Sentiments and Beyond Borders

How beautiful and elegant is this? I love how she made this so shabby chic! The pearls between the quatrefoils is a lovely touch as well.

What are you grateful for today? thanks for stopping by!

an ending

A quick card tonight, with two of my favorite companies, Hero Arts and Mint Motif! :)

The background started with a Hero Arts Graph Design Block. Then Mint Motif’s Beyond Borders image was generation stamped over the top. Generation stamping is stamping your image and then continuing to stamp, without re-inking. Cool effect. One more thing, the brown paper is thick cherry wood paper.

Today is the end of an era in my family. This morning my parents closed on my grandparent’s house. It was time. My grandma is now 90 and grandpa has been gone since 1998. They built the house in 1960, just to their design. Its hard to believe that we won’t be stopping over there anymore. I know with us living in Iowa now, we wouldn’t be able to stop much, but its still the idea. When we were up north last week, we spent quite a bit of time there, cleaning the last nooks and crannies out. It was easier to be busy than to stop and think about what was really happening. The kitchen was the hardest. Its where grandma always was. Where we had to be to hang out with her. I still felt like a 10 year old girl, standing at the stove, learning how to make gravy for the family dinners. A feeling of gratitude also swept over me, knowing that she had taught me how to make the traditional Christmas cookies, right there. I spent quite a bit of my childhood, well, my whole life, at the house and even lived there for two summers during college. I have so many wonderful memories of the house. Part of my life story is a part of it. So, my heart is breaking just a little bit today. Life is very bittersweet.

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Beyond Borders, Very Square Sentiments), Hero Arts (Graph Design Block, Watercolor Petals), Ink-Palette (Giverny Green, Noir), Ranger-Distressing Inks (Frayed Burlap, Tumbled Glass), Gems-Hero Arts (Midnight Black Accent Pearls), Wood paper-Creative Imaginations (Cherry Thick)

more Mint Motif peeks

Its day two of sneak peeks! Today I am focusing on the set, Beyond Borders. What I love about this set is the fact that the borders are all 5.55” long. Meaning, you can cover a standard A2 card, the long way!

I designed this set on paper at CHA this past summer and then on the computer the second I got home. Borders and patterns like these were everywhere!!! And now you can create your own papers, in any color you want!

I like to call this border, gems. I love how easily these emboss to create a wowee look!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Beyond Borders, Very Square Sentiments), Ink-Versamark (Watermark), Embossing Powder-Stampendous (White Detail), Spellbinders-Labels One, Classic Rectangles Small, On the Vine Border Grand

Doesn’t this make you think of Rainbow Bright? Or maybe leg warmers? I am pretty sure I had a sweater with this pattern on it! :) I love it. It makes me smile! So, the warm fuzzies sentiment worked swell. :) Zig Zag borders are so popular right now and this one will let you have a ton of fun!!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Beyond Borders), Hero Arts (Everyday Sayings), Ink-Palette (L’Amour, Orangerie, Paris Lights, Giverny Green, Reflection Blue, Lavendar Sachet)

Be sure and check out the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You site this week, as this card was created before the sketch came out, but happened to be one and the same. Great minds think alike! :)

This background is called lemons. This might be my favorite one, at least right now. :) I stamped the background in the same ink color as the cardstock. Then, I used a Copic marker and colored the inside of each lemon. A small dot of white was added to the centers.

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Beyond Borders, Very Square Sentiments), Ink-Palette (Hawaiian Shores) Versamark (Watermark), Embossing Powder-Stampendous (White Detail), Copic-BG10, White pen-Uniball Signo U53 Broad, Spellbinders-Classic Circles Large, Lacey Circles

Check back tomorrow and a peek at Very Merry Sentiments. Both sets will be available on October 14th at i{heart}papers.com. Hope you are enjoying what you are seeing so far! thanks for stopping by!

Mint Monday

Its been quite sometime since we have had a Mint Monday! I am happy to say that life has once again returned to normal, we are settled, and I am ready to get back into the groove of things! :)

If you have made a project using Mint Motif stamps, be sure to email me at Kimberly1Crawford@gmail.com. I would LOVE to share your project and a link to your blog or gallery!

AND, in case you missed it, don’t forget the design team call we have going for Mint Motif! The deadline is THIS FRIDAY! There is lots of details HERE.

Please email your applications with all this information to
dt@iheartpapers.com. Deadline to apply is October 1, midnight EST.

I made a small flower, using the leaf image from Mint Motif’s school basics. Well, I made two. And I wanted to use the other one. (The first one is HERE) So, I grabbed more of the October Afternoon Seaside papers that the flower was made from and made another card.

The cork was stamped with a sentiment from MM’s Very Square Sentiments and it was die cut with a Spellbinders Classic Square. The thin cork from Creative Impressions is very easy to cut with your dies. I am sure that my love of all things kraft and twine also includes cork. :) And yes, Angela, I have an addiction! :)

The October releases will be peeking in just a little bit! (the 11th)! Oh, I cannot wait for you to see these images!! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square Sentiments, School Basics), Patterned paper-October Afternoon (Seaside 8x8) Making Memories (Ledger), Cork (Creative Impressions), Twine (May Arts), Spellbinders (Labels One, Classic Squares Small)

bright birthday

I love this card. I haven’t said that lately. But this one came together, just like I saw it in my head. Yay and whew for when that happens! :)

A Classic Scalloped Square was cut from white cardstock. Then the polka dotted background from Very Square was stamped in yellow ink. Once the yellow dried, the sentiment was stamped in dark blue ink. (speed it up with a heat gun, if you are impatient like me) A few flowers were cut from the patterned paper (my favorite go-to technique because they match perfectly) and foam mounted to the scalloped square. The scalloped square was also foam mounted to the card. Foam mounting your elements adds amazing depth and can help highlight elements you want the eye to notice. And the final finishing touch, that trim! Doesn’t it scream fiesta!?!? :)

Well, tomorrow will be the sneak peek for the next Mint Motif release! Can you believe it? These next sets are something I have been wanting to create for a very long time. In fact, they were the second set I started sketching and gathering inspiration for!! I cannot wait to share them with you!! (And the release will be on July 14th. :))

thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square, Very Square Sentiments), Patterned paper-Cosmo Cricket (De Lovely 6x6), Ink-Palette (Paris Lights, Beaux Arts Blue), Trim-Chatterbox, Gems-Hero Arts, Spellbinders-Classic Scalloped Square Large

Mint Motif and 2Sketches4You

I thought today I would show you the cards made by the design team member for this week’s sketch at 2Sketches4You. Mint Motif and i{heart}papers.com are sponsoring this week’s sketch. Fun!!

You have until Saturday to load a card you created using their sketch, to their Mr. Linky. And when you do that, you are entered in a chance to win a set of Mint Motif stamps!! :)

Kazan Clark:

Julie Overby:

Latisha Yoast:

Charlene Austin:

Kate Baldwin: i{heart{papers owner:

And for those of you who have been asking, Mint Motif stamps are designed by me, for i{heart}papers.com, which is the only place that you can buy the stamps. The store there is fabulous. Don’t blame me when you fill up your cart! And there is a fantastic sale going on right now, I’m just saying. :)

Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend! thanks for stopping by!

Mint Monday

Happy Monday! And yes, you are seeing that correctly, Mint Motif is sponsoring the sketch over at 2Sketches4You!! Kazan and Laura create amazing sketches each week. Stop on over and see what their design team has created using Very Square and Very Square Sentiments with this sketch. I know I can’t wait! :)

AND we will be giving away a set of Mint Motif stamps on the site!! Here is what you have to do: create a card based on this sketch, using any product your heart desires. Then post it, using Mr. Linky at the 2Sketches4You site. You will be entered for a chance to win.

And here is my take on the sketch challenge. Love the sketch. It works perfectly with Very Square! Ok, maybe more that love this sketch. :)

To make the squares “smaller,” once they were stamped onto cardstock, I cut them out using Classic Squares Large from Spellbinders™. Die #4 lines up with the outside edge of the stamped square image, making it simple to cut out evenly.

The leaves were fun to make. I stamped the diamond background from Very Square onto cardstock. Then I die cut a circle. Placing the circle of cardstock over half of the circle die template, I ran it through the machine again. Perfect little leaf! :)

Here are some Mint Motif sightings from the web:

• Jennifer McGuire
• Ida Krause
• Design team member-Latisha Yoast
• Design team member-Geny Cassady
• Design team member-Kazan Clark
• i{heart}papers.com store owner-Kate Baldwin

Remember to email me if you have made a project using Mint Motif stamps. I would love to share it here and on the Mint Motif Facebook page! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square, Very Square Sentiments), Patterned paper-October Afternoon (Fly a Kite), Canvas-Hancock Fabric, Ink-Clearsnap (Colorbox Chalk-Deep Lagoon), Pearls-Hero Arts, Spellbinders-Classic Squares Large, Classic Circles Large, Big Scalloped Circles Large

Final Day of Borderabilities and a video

S4-239 Classic Scalloped Border Petite

For this card, I used the two-cut die from the set. I cut three pieces of crepe ribbon from Tattered Angels. Because the die cut has holes in it, I though it would be fun to string twine to it, to create a unique pleated border.

Supplies: Patterned paper-October Afternoon (Thrift Shop), Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square Sentiments), Twine-May Arts, Spellbinders-Labels Eleven, Flying Beauties, Classic Scalloped Border Petite, Ink-Palette (Noir), Crepe Ribbon-Tattered Angels (Rockin Renassiance)

Direct link to today’s video: Borderabilities Part Two

S4-241 Jumbo Scalloped Border Petite

And one last project. The Jumbo Scalloped border, cut from fabric paper, was a great place to put a strip of stamped cardstock. Easy! :)

Supplies: Spellbinders-Jumbo Scalloped Border Petite, Hearts, Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square), Ink-Palette (Paris Lights), Patterned & Fabric paper (American Crafts-Dear Lizzy), Stamps, Cardstock, Ink-Papertrey Ink, Pearls-Hero Arts

That wraps up Borderabilities week! Hope it was fun! Have a wonderful weekend! thanks for stopping by!

ice cream!

We need ice cream here in Iowa. Wow, its been SO hot here. Shocking for a Minnesota girl, a northern Minnesota girl. I don’t even have clothes appropriate. In MN, we wear sweatshirts and shorts all summer! :)

I adore these Limited Edition dies from Spellbinders™! These are the smallest dies in the Nested Ice Cream Cones set. And they easily cut the stamped backgrounds from Very Square. You can see a closer look below. And yes, there are two “scoops” of ice cream. :)

One more thing to point out-the scalloped border on the bottom was made from die cutting circles from the polka dotted background. Fun!

Ok, this is the last card from all my playing when the stamps first arrived. Are you liking your stamps? Make sure you share your projects with me because I cannot wait to see!! :) I am busy getting ready to teach a class at All About Pictures in Cedar Rapids, IA tonight. Its a monthly Spellbinders class. Each month we will make a different project featuring a new technique with the Spellbinders products. If you are in the area, I would love to see you in the next class! (the 4th Tuesday of every month)

Oooh-cute card alert!! Check out what Mint Motif design team member Charlene Austin made!

thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square, Very Square Sentiments), Patterned paper-October Afternoon (Fly a Kit, Thrift Shop), Ink-Palette (Sunflower, Burnt Umber, Beaux Arts Blue, Landscape), Twine-May Arts, Spellbinders-Big Scalloped Squares Large, Nested Ice Cream Cones, Classic Circles Small

Mint Monday

Today marks the start of Mint Mondays! I thought it would be fun to feature techniques, projects, videos, and paper crafters, all revolving around the Mint Motif stamp line.

Project by Julie Masse:

You can see why I had to feature this project from the wonderfully talented, Julie Masse! She made this gorgeous card using Very Square and Very Square Sentiments.

And while she stamped the backgrounds and sentiments, those flowers were also stamped with Very Square! Check out her tutorial HERE. What a way to kick off Mint Mondays!

Check out these fabulous projects I found online using Very Square and Very Square Sentiments:

• Geny Cassady
• Heidi Blankenship
• Kate Baldwin
• Kendra Wietstock
• Cathleen Torina
• Lori Tecler
• Bonnie Rose
• Jeannette Ledin

I cannot wait to see more projects from all of you!! If you have projects to share, please email them to me at the address listed at the upper right side!! :) thanks for stopping by!

banners

When I saw the cloud background from Very Square, I knew I wanted to make little banners. (This is the first card I made with my stamps when they arrived. :)) I was happy with how the sentiment fit so perfectly! Just so you know, this card is not standard size. The length is 6 inches.

To create the banners, I stamped the polka dot image from Very Square onto white cardstock. Then I die cut the banner shapes, using the Classic Long Rectangles small. The top edges were folded over the string. The string truly is attached to the card with the little clothespins.

**There is now a fan photo album for Mint Motif at Facebook!! Simply become a fan and you can share all your fabulous Mint Motif creations with other fans! Click HERE.**

**And starting Monday, on my blog it will be Mint Mondays! I will be featuring projects from other paper crafters, the design team, techniques with the stamps from the Mint Motif line, and lots more!**

Thanks again for all your support and all your purchases!! You have all made this new adventure such a wonderful time!! Many hugs, have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square, Very Square Sentiments), Ink-Palette (Giverny, Belle Rose, Orangerie, Paris Lights, Water Lily), Twine-May Arts, Clothespins-Creative Impression, Spellbinders-Classic Long Rectangles Small, Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles Large

another thank you

I apparently have a thing for crocheted flowers these days! :) Another simple card that shows how easily the sentiments from Very Square Sentiments fit inside the background images from Very Square. The card base got a little bit of scoring to mimic the image.

still in MN, but thanking you for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square, Very Square Sentiments), Ink-Clearsnap (Colorbox Chalk-Sour Apple) Palette (Noir), Flower-American Crafts (Dear Lizzy)

thank you

Sorry! This project has been removed for publication. Look for it in the May 2011 issue of CARDS Magazine.

Good Monday morning! Thank you all so much for a fun release last week and for being so patient through all the computer glitches! :) We are in MN packing up our house this week, so the posts will be short and sweet.

I stamped the quilted looking background from Very Square onto cream cardstock. They were cut out by hand and mounted onto a Long Scalloped Rectangle Large. I love how the sentiments fit perfectly onto the square background images. Makes card making easy! :)

Hope that you had a wonderful weekend! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-Mint Motif (Very Square, Very Square Sentiments), Ink-Palette (Sunflower, Noir) Clearsnap (Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown), Patterned paper-Basic Grey (Origins), Flower-American Crafts (Dear Lizzy), Brad-Basic Grey (Origins), Rub-ons-DCWV (Stitching), Spellbinders (Long Scalloped Rectangles Large)