An Easter Garden!

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Posted by Nancy Dynes

21 March, 2017 - , ,

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Hello, friends! I hope you’re enjoying a lovely day. It’s Nancy, and I’m thrilled to welcome you to the Maja Design Blog. I’m relishing the beautiful weather and staying busy as ever in my craft room with my Easter preparations. I have a new card to share featuring two spring elements, Easter eggs and handmade flowers.

Two of my favorite Maja Design collections, Vintage Autumn Basics and Vintage Summer Basics, are used in the creation of this card. As usual, the paper is distressed, layered and stitched to form a base. One of the many things I adore about Maja Design paper is that it’s strong and behaves much like fabric when I’m working with it. As you can see, I really put it to the test and it holds up every time.

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You’ll find a blooming rose and a wildflower gracing my little garden. If you visit my blog you’ll find tutorials for both styles of flowers as well as the Easter egg. A die cut flourish, ribbon and cheesecloth add a soft touch.

Design paper is border punched and layered to anchor the egg and florals. A die cut Spellbinder’s frame is tucked in behind the egg.

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Additional Supplies: Martha Stewart Lace Border Punch, Sentiment Stamp, Archival Ink, Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Dies, Magnolia Rose Leaf Die, Flourish Die, Spellbinders Frame Die, Foam Adhesive, Button, Lace, Cheesecloth, Sewing Machine, Thread. 

Thank you so much for visiting! Don’t forget to check out the March Mood Board if you haven’t already done so. There’s still time to get your project entered. Sending wishes for sunny days filled with many joys!

Hugs,Nancy-sign

 

 

Spring Blessings!

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Posted by Nancy Dynes

10 March, 2017 - , ,

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Welcome, crafty friends! It’s Nancy here on the Maja Design Blog, and I have a new card to share! Spring is in full swing in my area, and that means warm days, budding trees, nesting birds, butterflies, and fragrant blooms. It also means Easter is quickly approaching, which has me scrambling to complete my cards.

Today’s card features one of my handmade Easter eggs and wildflowers. You can find tutorials for each of these elements on my blog. Below is a close up photo of the embellished egg. I’m using two different Maja Design collections; Coffee in the Arbour and Vintage Autumn Basics. That’s one of the many advantages of Maja Design papers. They work together beautifully!

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The base of the card is formed by three layers of design papers that are distressed, layered, and hand stitched.  The butterflies are die cut and layered for a dimensional effect.

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The sentiment and accent stamps are applied with archival ink.

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The interior of the card is also stitched and embellished with coordinating stamping. You’ll find a peek of the inside in the photo below.

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Additional Supplies: Butterfly Stamps-Prima, Archival Ink, Dies: Tim Holtz Tattered Florals, Tim Holtz Butterflies, Floral Flourish, and Magnolia Rose Leaf die, Tim Holtz Distress Tool, Foam Adhesive, Burlap, Button, Sewing Machine, Thread.

Thank you so much for being here today. I hope you have plenty of time to enjoy crafting with your own gorgeous Maja Design papers. If you’re not certain where to purchase them you will find a link to all of the online sellers on the Maja Design website. I wish you a weekend filled with the beauty of nature and the joy of loved ones!

Hugs,Nancy-sign

 

 

Nancy Dynes

My name is Nancy Dynes. I love creating with layers, dimension, and all things feminine. Maja Design Papers speak to me and inspire my imagination. I am honored to be a member of this amazing Creative Team, and look forward to growing in my craft while working alongside these talented artists.

‘Now is the Time’ Card

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Posted by Nancy Dynes

21 February, 2017 - ,

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Hello! Welcome to the Maja Design Blog! It’s Nancy, and I’m thrilled you’re here with me. I hope you’re having a wonderful day.

I’m reflecting on time this week, as my youngest child  is about to graduate from university. How did all of those years slip away so quickly? They truly did fly by. I’m reminded to savor each precious moment, for time is a gift and memories are treasures. I’m drawing my inspiration for this card from Maja Design’s gorgeous Vintage Autumn Basics collection.

I begin by distressing, layering, and stitching design papers to form a base. All of the embellishments for this card are die cut from the Vintage Autumn Basics Collection. A double layer of vintage die cut clocks anchor the floral arrangement.

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I have a tutorial for these roses here on the Maja Design Blog. Below, a border punch adds a lovely touch to strips of design paper. In the bottom corner you’ll find a stamped sentiment.

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A twine bow ties everything together with a feminine flare.

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Maja Design Papers Used: 

Additional Products Used: Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Dies, Tim Holtz Clock (hands) Die, Prima Clock Die, Magnolia Rose Leaf Die, Martha Stewart Lace Border Punch, Twine, Sentiment Stamp, Archival Ink, Sewing Machine, Thread, Tim Holtz Distress Tool, Adhesive.  

Thank you so much for visiting! I’m always excited when it’s my turn to join y’all on the Maja Design Blog. May each moment of your day be filled with beauty and crafty adventures!

Hugs,Nancy-sign

The Secret Garden

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Posted by Nancy Dynes

7 February, 2017 - , ,

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Hello! Welcome to the Maja Design Blog! It’s Nancy here with you on this beautiful Tuesday. A week ago I posted a complete tutorial for paper roses, so I’m using some of my handmade blossoms to bring this secret garden to life. I have a passion for secret gardens. Honestly, I can’t get enough of them. My home, Charleston, is filled with private gardens sequestered behind tall brick walls with elaborate wrought iron gates. I’m always trying to peek beyond the gates to glimpse the beauty that lies beyond.

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You don’t have to peek around massive iron gates to visit my garden! Inside you are greeted by distressed Maja Design papers, layered die cut doilies, abundant handcrafted blooms, shabby resin embellishments, and a sweet stamped sentiment.

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You can create your own rose garden anytime you wish by checking out the tutorial presented here on the Maja Design Blog last Tuesday.

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Maja Design Papers Used: 

Additional Products Used: Magnolia Rose Leaf Die, Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die, Doily Die, Tim Holtz Distress Tool, Tim Holtz Mini Mister, Impression Obsession Stamp, Archival Ink, Twine, Melissa Frances Resin Lock & Key, Adhesive, Sewing Machine, Thread.  

Thank you so very much for sharing your time with me! Don’t forget to check out our February Mood Board Challenge. We just launched it this week, so you have plenty of time to participate. May this day bring you untold joys and creative adventures!

Hugs, Nancy-sign

From My Garden to Yours!

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Posted by Nancy Dynes

24 January, 2017 - ,

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Hello, friends! Welcome to the Maja Design Blog. It’s Nancy here, and I’m so very happy to be here with you. If you’ve seen any of my previous projects, you know I handcraft almost all of my flowers. Today I’m sharing a tutorial for one of my favorites, my ‘wild roses’.

All of my blossoms begin with Maja Design Papers. They are perfectly suited to flower making. The papers are double sided and they are nice and strong. They can hold up to just about anything you throw at them, which you are about to see.

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Begin by die cutting 6 petals (3 large and 3 small). I used Tim Holtz Tattered Florals, but you can use anything you have on hand, or even hand cut your petals.

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Punch a small hole in the center of each petal.

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Spray or brush both sides of each petal with water. You don’t want them to be sopping wet. Just moist enough to make them pliable. As you make more flowers you’ll begin to get a feel for the level of moisture that works best for you.

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Use a shaping tool to form two small petals that will become the center of the bud, as demonstrated below.

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Use the shaping tool to form the third small petal as shown in the photos below.

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When complete they will look like this:

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Roll and squish the three large petals. You may have to spray a bit more water. Use care not to tear the petals as you roll them. Once all of your petals are prepped it’s time to bake them. Yes, bake them. My husband often comes home to find a batch of flowers in the oven instead of cookies. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees and bake for about 10 minutes, depending on how moist your petals are. Be certain to bake until they are completely dry as this will prevent tearing when you unfold them.

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Always use care when baking paper. Never leave it unattended and check on it frequently. While your petals are baking it’s time to form a base for the bud.

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I use a small wooden bead and floral wire. You can purchase the beads and wire at any craft store. Twist the floral wire around the bead.

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Below is a batch of petals fresh from the oven. The shape is now baked into the paper.

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Thread the first petal onto the bead.

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Adhere two sides of the petal to cover the wooden bead.

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Adhere the other petals gently to form a bud.

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Adhere the second petal gently over the first. Stagger the petals for a more natural look.

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The third small petal is adhered in the fashion shown below.

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Finally, adhere all three large petals. Stagger each petal for a fuller bloom. You’ve done it! You have created a ‘wild rose’ in a few simple steps.

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Below you’ll find a few additional blossoms I crafted to give you an idea just how beautiful Maja Design flowers can be. Each is unique and special. Each one will be a perfect match to whatever project you’re working on. It takes a little more time and effort to create your own flowers, but the result is 100% worth every moment you spend on them.

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Other Supplies Used: Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Dies, Wooden Beads, Floral Wire, Adhesive, Mini Mister, Flower Shaping Tools. 

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! It’s been a great pleasure sharing these flowers with you. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do. I send you wishes for all things good and wonderful!

Hugs,Nancy-sign