March Card Club - a simple sketch with a little die cut greeting

I usually make our last card a little easier than the other two and so for this month I used a few diecuts layered over a decorative paper background and a little ribbon bow.  The circles were cut with a new to me die (CB) which cuts a variety of circles.  I used the three largest and then layered them in a variety of configurations.  Closer together and overlapping simulates the look of a wreath.  The design becomes a bit more asbstract as you separate them more and they overlap in a few more places.  All of them work well.  So we started by adhering our backgrounds to our cards and then played with our die cut circles until we were happy with them.  We glued them into place and then added the little leaf die cuts (SU) into the arrangement.  Having cut all these elements from the same cardstock meant that they gave a unified look.  The little greeting was cut using a large word die (CB) from the same cardstock as the circles and we used a little rhinestone for the dot on the "i".  We coloured our rhinestones with Sharpie markers to coordinate with our other elements.  The little bows were made from 1/8" satin ribbon in a coordinating colour and tied in a bow using the rabbit ears method which results in stable bows.  They were added with glue dots.  Another wonderful evening of creating and visiting.  So nice to have a new person in the group and look forward to our next get together at the end of May!!!  Therese

 

March Card Club - skinny shaker card with bright papers and a layered embellishment

An easy shaker card!!!!  I have made shaker cards in the past and they involve dimensional tape to create an enclosure for the shaker material and making sure that there are no escapees along the way.  I found this design online as I was searching for ideas for Card Club.  It is so much easier and makes a card that is easily mailable as well.  You start with a coordinating card front and background. I would recommend a background paper that is a little heavier.  For those that were only bond weight papers I adhered them to a scrap of light weight cardstock.  I applied double sided tape to all four sides of the back of the background.  Next, I used a  larger piece of clear cellophane and laid my background face down on it and folded the edges to the back on only three sides securing it to the tape.  The fourth side is sealed only closed once you have added your shaker material into the shaker pocket.  I used a variety of sequins for these shaker cards but you can consider glitter, small round beads, confetti, etc. or any combination you like.  We added the torn strip of vellum to our shakers securing the ends to the back with double sided tape before using double sided tape to adhere them to our card fronts.  We layered our embellishments and then mounted them over the vellum using 3D foam tape.  These do not really need greetings but for those who wanted one there was a variety to pick from.  I used two small font greetings on two of mine.  For these embellishments I used scallop circles (SU) layered with glittered flowers and a punched butterfly (SU) with gold cording tied around its middle to simulate a body and antennae.  I look forward to making variations of these in smaller sizes and using different shaker elements.  Therese

 

March Card Club - lady bugs over layered decorative paper and greetings

It was great to get together with friends and make cards once again!!

We started with these cards that featured lady bugs and some fun decorative papers.  I started with a black card and added a subtle green background paper that I embossed with Swiss Dots (CB).  The other two panels were cut the same size and as you can see below can be used in a variety of ways in the creation of a card design.  It is always fun to see what others do with exactly the same supplies - a creative bunch.  I first chose a greeting and auditioned all the pieces so I could establish the relationship of all the pieces to each other and then added the greeting first.  I added the little lady bugs (SX) with 3D foam tape.  I had preassembled the lady bugs which are on a small green die.  The wings were cut from red and the body from black cardstock.  I added antennae using black thread secured with double sided tape on the back.  I see that some of them have become wonky.  I will certainly be using this die again though it is the first time I have used it though I have owned it for quite a while.  They are very cute and so many people respond postively to them.  I used all the same papers because havine tried different ones I could not get the same feeling in the cards as I could with this combination so I just made all the kits with the same supplies.   Therese

 

Baby cards

One of my friends is wanting a few baby cards to welcome the new additions to our parish.  We worked out a gender neutral colour scheme and I made up this card for her approval. She was happy with it so I made up some kits and we got together today to make them up!!

I used a light yellow card added a floral green background to which I had added a length of yellow ribbon adhering the ends to the back with double sided tape.  The baby is a digital from Clipart Library.  I laid out a dozen on a sheet and laser printed them.  I die cut them with a new stitched circle die.  I cut a coordinating scalloped circle from green cardstock using my Nestibilities.  I used my scallop oval punch (SU) to cut the oval from the inside of the green circle which ensures that it matches perfectly.  The little greeting is a font with a dotted frame which I created in Corel Draw.  I watercoloured all the babies when I was prepping the kits so the assembly of cards went fairly quickly today.  We glued the baby images to the scallop circle and then mounted it over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  The greeting got the same treatment and that finished up one card.  We made up a total of ten today and when she needs more she will be in touch and I will put together a few more kits.  It was really nice to be making cards with friends!!!  Therese

 

Blue and yellow quilt

 I finished this blue and yellow quilt (41.5" x 55") yesterday.  I worked on the quilt top last weekend.  I laid out all the precut squares of about 4" on the floor in the spare room and rearranged them until I was  happy with the layout and then stitched them together into squares of four.  These were part of several batches of precuts I have bought over the years and thought it was time to get them stitched up into a quilt.   In hopes of not having to add more than a thin batting I rough cut old sheets into squares and then stitched the squares to them with a square of stitching.  As I went along in this process I realized that not all the squares were the same size so I measured the smallest one and then trimmed all the others to the same size centering the joins to the middle.  

  

It was a bit of work but sure worth it when it came to stitching the squares together.  So much easier to line up the corners!!  I had picked out navy broadcloth for the binding and had a blue heavy weight cover to use as the backing.  I had picked up the rows into piles so I laid them out yesterday back into rows.  I stitched all the rows up and then stitched the rows to each other including the thin batting into the seams.  I dug out my backing to find that did not have enough that was good to get a backing for this quilt.  Bummer!!  I dug out a different one but because it was medium weight I decided to add another layer of cotton for batting.  I laid them into a sandwich, pinned it extensively and added a few rows of quilting to adhere all the layers to each other. 

I cut an 3" binding out of the navy and madeup a double fold binding.  I bound the edge using navy thread and a wavy stitch to ensure I did not miss the backing.  I like the idea stitching the batting to the squares and then all you need to do is add a backing and the binding.  In this more traditional type of quilting I can certainly see the value of trimming all your squares to insure they are the same size before you start stitching them together.  I see that I must have mixed up the last two rows  - oh well - it will have to do!!    It will be washed and the set aside for donation to the Linus Project.    Therese

Baby card featuring a cute baby in a tub, rickrack and ribbon and a scalloped border

My friend is going to be a grandma and wanted a card to celebrate the arrival of her grandson!!  I chose a warm blue card and some coordinating multicoloured diamond paper which I paper pierced with my pattern tracing wheel before adhering it to my card.  I combined the baby image with the greeting in Corel Draw leaving room for the embellishments and laser printed it.  I watercoloured the baby and tub and added clear glitter to the bubbles.  I added the blue rick rack to which I had tied a little length of red ribbon securing the ends on the back with double sided tape.  I trimmed the bottom with scalloped decorative scissors and used a push pin to paper pierce each scallop.  I added the embossed line using my score too.  I used my distress tool on the top and sides above the rick rack.  I mounted this focal element to my card using 3D foam tape.  Babies are the best!!!  Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a little yellow truck full of little hearts

I love these little trucks.  My sister owns the stamp and die and I made a whole bunch a while back when I was visiting.  They make wonderful all occasion cards especially for guys.  I coloured the wheels black and all the chrome and glass with a clear glitter pen.  I trimmed a blue background and stamped it with pine trees.  I trimmed a little strip of browny black and added to the bottom and added a wavy strip of green above that to simulate roadside greenery than mounted it to a dark brown card.   I adhered the truck to the front of my card using double sided tape behind the wheels and 3D foam tape on the back and front which left enough room for me to tuck in some fun stuff.  I dug out my stash of heart punchies and die cuts and filled the back!!  No greeting on this one so it can be used for a variety of occasions!!! Therese

All occasion card featuring a lacy gold heart

I created this card thinking it might work as a wedding card and once I was finished I was not so sure.  It would certainly work as anniversary card.  I mounted the floral paper to which I had added a length of light green ribbon to a burgundy card.  Next I added the lacy gold heart die cut using dots of white glue on the back.  I stamped the brown heart die cut with a script stamp in brown ink  and then added the light green bow using a glue dot.   I mounted the brown heart inside the gold one which leaves a nice gap that contrasts nicely.    Therese
 

Wedding card featuring a cute little cake, an embossed layer and layered oval greeting

Antoher wedding card!!  For this one I added a gold ribbon to a white background embossed with a flourish embossing folder (CB). I mounted this background to an ivory card.  I stamped the little cake (Old Island Stamp Company) on white cardstock and gold embossed it.  I painted it with shimmery paints in white and ivory.  I mounted it to a gold metallic layer and added it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  The little greeting is a laser printed font oval (SU) layered onto an oval (SU) of the same gold as the image and then onto a pearly scalloped oval (SU).  Added the greeting to my card using 3D foam tape.  It has been quite a while since I used that stamp.  It is good to revisit your stamping roots!!  Therese
 

Wedding card featuring handmade rose petal paper, lace & ribbon and little hearts

I have been back to cardmaking this week.  This is a wedding card that includes rose petal handmade paper which I made quite a while ago.  I added a layer of off white lace which worked really well with the soft white of the handmade paper.  I trimmed the lace to the same width as the paper and added two little gold brads at the top then added it to a burgundy card.  I added glue stick to the lower area of the handmade paper  and gently placed the lace into it.  It worked very well for keeping it stable and does not show through.  I trimmed a short piece of off white organza ribbon and tied the burgundy organza ribbon to it in the middle with a single knot.  I tied a short length of gold cording to the middle of it with a single knot as well.  I used a glue dot to adhere it to my card front.  I trimmed the two little hearts and painted them with shimmery paint.  Once they were dry I adhered them to the cording with double sided tape and then used more double sided tape to adhered the cording to the handmade paper.  Love the way it turned out!!  Therese
 

Slow Sunday Stitching with Kathy - buttons on an Adult bib for Extended Care

When I talked to my Mom last week she indicated that there were not enough bibs for everyone at the Extended Care where my Dad is living and was wondering if I could make some.  I decided to go ahead and make one from instructions from online.  I found the tutorial I used at Sew With Aloha.  I made up a pattern using a piece of white heavyweight paper and her instructions.  

I found my new pin cushion quite handy.  I created it to replace the one I had around the body of my machine which was losing pins every time I lowered it into the cabinet.  This one works much better in that regard though today I found that it works very well as a mobile pin cushion.  I simply brought it to my cutting table (kitchen island) and then put it back on my sewing machine when I returned to my sewing room.  

I followed her recommendation to use a smaller plate (small Corelle - 6.75") for the neck opening.   It seems like plenty of room as it expands to a bit more once you have sewn it up. I used a cotton polyester red and black plaid fabric for the front and added a tab (2" x 26"or so) down the front to similate a buttoned up shirt.  I stitched the tab to the center front of the bib after I had traced the pattern onto the fabric and cut it out.  I laid the front onto the good side of the backing, pinned it carefully and stitched all the way around leaving an opening on the side and then cut it out.   I used flannel as the backing which I pieced from scraps set aside from making baby blankets for the grandchildren over the years. I clipped the seam allowances to allow for the proper curvature once the bib was turned inside out.  I pinned the outside edge carefully, ironed it over the pins and then over stitched the edge quite close to the outside edge.  I used gray thread for piecing and had planned on changing the bobbin thread to a coordinating colour but only remembered after I was more than 80% around the perimeter so I left it the way it was.  I would have been better with green thread in the bobbin.  Next time!!  I added velcro to the back flaps but should have staged it before I sewed them into place because I did not realize how much the slope of the shoulders would affect the angle of the two back pieces. It does have some adjustment so I will leave as it is and see if I get any feedback.  I inherited my Mom's button collection when she moved so I was able to find a set of buttons that were a perfect colour for the front tab.  I handstitched them into place with gray thread being careful to hide the stitches as much as I could on the back which worked quite well because of the center seam.  This bib can certainly be used on both sides which makes it more vesatile and had I thought about it I could have put a tab on both pieces and buttons down both sides sewn back to back.  Next time!!  

This little bit of  hand stitching is all that I will get done today!!  It has been a busy week and next week will be much that same with out of the house commitments every day of the week!!   I am linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching.  Therese

New phone case

A new phone ( new to me ) requires a new phone case.  This is the one I made for my old phone.   This phone is larger than the old one and I wanted it to slide more easily into my purse so I chose a polyester fabric for the outside.  This is outdoor furniture fabric so is quite rugged and will stand up to the wear and tear of lots of use.  I used a light aqua flannelette for the inside of the case to give it a bit of softness and it will be gentle on the surfaces of my phone.  I cut two pieces 4.5" x 14", laid the good sides together and stitched them together on both ends.  I pressed the seams and added a line of top stitching in a dark red thread.  I did forget to put in my loop with the D ring so I cut a slot in the seam and 

added it afterwards and added a bit of backstitching to reinforce that area.  I found a decorative stitch on my sewing machine which combined a very short zigzag with a few stitches of a longer zigzag which I thought would nicely finish the two side edges.  I stitched the edges really close so the stitching would be outside of the edges of the fabric to really make a neat edge.  I really like how it turned out and would certainly consider this stitch for doing any sort of applique in the future.   I hand stitched on a snap which fits just above the phone and will keep it safe in the case even if it gets jostled a bit.  I ran a dark red sharpie on the edge of the case over the stitching to dye the aqua threads that were visible under the stitching.  Worked really well.  Therese