Denim tote bag with a patchwork border

I had a great sewing weekend and worked on this this denim tote for my grand daughter.  They are headed to university this fall and I have made several bags for them to embellish and hopefully sell to her fellow students over the course of the year.  They are taking Art and Design along with Business Management.  I have started using up my stash of denim for this purpose.  I started with the little strip of decorative fabrics and then worked everything else around it though it did not end quite where I had planned - it should have been a bit higher up to allow for more place to embellish.   I added decorative stitching to my seams and on the back I sewed together a few of the pieces with raw edges just using several rows of stitching to keep the pieces together.  I used red thread for most of the decorative stitching and added a red pocket to the back before adding the lining.  I added a double loop next to the pocket which is a good place to keep your keys safe but still very available.

  I found a very cute little pin which I added to the top loop. This side is made up of quite a few more pieces but it makes the patchwork more interesting!!  I added a seam to the middle of the pocket to help keep things organized.  The inside is fun and funky floral fabric and I added a pocket there too!!!  It is 19' wide by 15" tall including a  3" bottom with 23" handles.   Therese

 

All occasion card featuring double embossed vellum, mettalic cardstock and watercoloured flowers

I am back at working on getting cards ready for my upcoming family special occasions.  

For this card I started with a large lilac card and I chose the polka dot decorative paper for the background.  I found the floral image in stash which I fussy cut.  I then decided to frame it with silver metallic paper strips and then decided on double embossed triangular corner pieces.  I laid my strips on my background, moved them a little and drew a very light pencil line.  I positioned my vellum scrap with a square corner in place and trimmed it to the line.  I did the same for the other three corners.  I embossed them with a flourish embossing folder, brushed the high areas with a purple ink and embossed them with a pearl embossing powder.  They turned out great!!!!  I adhered them to my background with double sided tape and then added the silver metallic strips with double sided tape as well.  I trimmed the strips to the edge of the background and then adhered this large element to my card front.  I watercoloured the flowers to coordinate and added it in the middle using 3D foam tape.   Therese

All occasion card featuring a watercoloured daisy, embossed strip and decorative paper background

Another one for my stash!!!!!!  I started with a large blue card, added the decorative paper background and the coordinating strip of embossed cardstock.  I coloured the flower )?) to coordinate, added four lines of paper piercing,  layered  with green cardstock and mounted it to the front of my card using 3D foam tape.   Therese
 

Another attempt at fire starters

I have decided to give fire starters another try!! I have coated some toilet paper rolls with wax and have set them aside.  In the meantime I have been experimenting with how to best add some combustible materials to the inside before I wrap them in paper.  

With a bit of experimenting in the fire pit I have come up with a plan.  The wrapping paper needs to be not wrapped too tight so I think just overlapping with a staple in each end should work fine.  The inside needs to have a space for the air to travel in so I have made up some waxed rectangles of corrugated cardboard t

that just fit on the inside in the middle.  I will stuff a little bit of newspaper in the other side.  With both ends lit up the air can quickly start going through and will keep the flames burning until the kindling has started burning.  I will post photos of the finished fire starters once I have a few made up.    Therese
 

All occasion card featuring inchies, decorative paper strips and faux stitching

I was inspired to make this card after using inchies in one of my cards which will be showing up later.  I trimmed a piece of decorative paper to length for my large card and then trimmed it into three - all different widths.  Magically, the space that was left was just the perfect size for housing inchies.  I dug them from the little baggie and chose the ones that worked best with this colour scheme.  After gluing them all into place the rest of the card needed "something" so after a bit of brainstorming I decided to add some faux stitching with a dark brown pen.  I started added faux stitching all the way around each of the rectangles.  Next, I added one line from the middle left to the bottom right hand corner staying within the borders.  I was using a steel ruler so I did the other side as well.  I moved the ruler around and kept adding stitches.  After adding two lines closer together I decided it was finished!!  I like it!!!  This one is going into my card stash.  Therese
 

A new line of prayer flags are now up!!

I have been working on a new set of prayer flags for more than a year now as they other set was losing pieces as they faded with the sun and wind.  I had some black fabric that was not stable so I decided to sew small scraps to each side to make some colourful flags!!  I stitched a strip of scraps to one side and flipped the rectangle of black fabric over and stitched another line of scraps over the first seam.  I moved up the flag and added another two rows and repeated this process until I had covered both sides of the black fabric.  That was one flag.  I made forty of them.  They are substantially heavier than the last set but very colourful!!!  I did add fabric strips on both ends.  

As previous I left about 5 feet at the leading edge at the house and then overlapped the top edge over the paracord and stitched each one into place with a wavy line leaving about 6" between them.  I used line green polyester embroidery thread.  The ones from 2021 were still well attached at the top though the covering on the paracord was completely gone leaving only the strands inside.  They were still holding very well.  

We put the new set up yesterday.  They were pretty well as long as the last set. 

We set out the new set, undid the old set at the house and I climbed the neighbour's tree (I did get permission) and cut down the old set.   I was surprised that the tree had started growing over part of the cord in the four years since we put up the last set.  After cutting the cord I removed as much as I could so the tree could go on growing as it needed to.  So this time we secured the new set using a tie down straps with grommets on both ends instead of tying it directly to the tree.  That will allow the tree to grow and still secure the flags sufficiently!!

The final adjustment was made on the house end setting the flags high enough not to be in the way and still with some slack so they would move nicely with the wind.  

Love them!!!    Therese

 

All occasion card featuring washi tape, ribbon, brad and embossed feather

While in the cardmaking mood I made this card!!  I started with a black card and trimmed out a background from a scrap of scrapbooking paper.  I added three strips of washi tape  - blue, feathers and gray.  It took a little to get some of the older tapes to come off the roll in one piece.  I stamped and embossed the feather on a scrap of cardstock and then watercoloured it to coordinate with my background.  I trimmed a blue layer and added black ink to the edge and then used my distressing tool to distress the edges of both layers.  I like the way the black edge is softened by the distressing.  I added a star brad and a short piece of ribbon to this focal element before adding it to my card using 3D foam tape.  I like how it turned out.  Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a fun pennant background, embossed vellum and two watercoloured hearts

 I started with a large envelope and trimmed a green card to fit.  I added the pennant background.  I trimmed the bottom off the piece and turned it over to reveal the orange which works really well.  I tore a piece of vellum and embossed it with a burst (TH) and then I added the two hearts using a brad.  The hearts were die cut from hand decorated watercolour paper which I made up a while back.  They have been textured by the old cutting plate I used which gives them a lot of texture.  I mounted this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Another special occasion!!  Therese

Crafting - repackaged the little fire starters

 I have decided to repackage the little pine cone fire starters I made a while back!!  They are harder to handle and store when they have wax on the outside of them so I tore some rectangles of brown paper (box stuffing from online purchases) and wrapped each one and tied the ends with thin cording.  This way they store easily without transferring wax to any surface and are still easily used to start a fire.  I am working on reimagining fire starters that do not have any exposed wax.  I used bags from when I purchased bananas at the grocery store.  So many reuses in this project!!!  Therese

Sewing - little flannel handwarmers filled with white rice

I have made several batches of these cute little handwarmers with flannel we received at the fabric sale.  I took them as a project to my quilting campout weekend and sold quite a few to the ladies there.  The remainder will be at the Rhubarb Tea tomorrow.  

They are two 4" squares of flannel stitched all they way around leaving an opening.  Trim the corners and turn inside out, press and fill with a slight quarter cup of white rice and then stitched all they way around again which seals the opening as well as strengthened the integrity of the unit.  I added a tag that indicates that they need 20 seconds in the microwave when used as a handwarmer.  On the other side of the tag I put instructions for use as a cold pack - 3-4 hours in the freezer.  As you can imagine they have many other uses.  For example, they can be tossed into a container as a "Corn Hole" game or they can be placed in a saucer or small container and used as a pin cushion as well.  It was a very good use of the flannel scraps!!  Remember to store them in the pockets of your winter jacket and you will find them when you need them.  Therese

 

Event - Gramma Link Africa "Everything Rhubarb" Tea on Saturday, June 21st

 

You are all invited to come and join us for tea and some rhubarb pie.  There will be LOTS of rhubarb on the bake table as well so shop for supper and put some in the freezer!! We have some very accomplished bakers and always have a great variety of wonderful baking, jams, etc.  We will have our merchandise for sale as well so a lot of handmade items - aprons, potholders, bowl cozies, etc.  Lots to choose from as well as small quilts!!!  Therese

All occasion card featuring a sunflower over a sunflower background embellished with a bit of ribbon

Another card for an up coming family event.  I started with a brown card, added a torn background of really great sunflower gift wrap and then added my sunflower (Biblical Impressions).  The sunflower was stamped and embossed with gold embossing powder and then watercoloured.  After it was dry, I added paper piercing, a green layer and added it to my large card using 3D foam tape.  Going to a special person who loves sunflowers!!

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a cup of coffee over a hand decorated background embellished with flags and eyelets with string

Another card for upcoming family events!!  I started with a navy card to fit in a large envelope.  I trimmed a piece of hand decorated paper in blues and added some small paper pierced paper flags on the left hand side.  I covered them with a red strip of cardstock and then added three pewter eyelets into which I tied a piece of white string which I watercoloured to a bit of a gray to coordinate.  I added this large embellished background to my card.  I stamped the coffee mug (Stamp Barn) in black, watercoloured it and added paper piercing before adhering it to my card front.  Love the blues!!  Therese
 

All occasion cards featuring collaged backgrounds, embossed strips and layered lighthouses

I made these cards for my son and sons in law for Father's Day.  I found the light house photos in my stash which I took in PEI on one of our trips there.  These were sized and colour printed.  I layered them onto black and added a decorative border on the right hand side using decorative scissors, paper piercing, border punches and scored lines.  For two cards, I trimmed a collage to fit on my off white cards and adhered them into place.  For the third card I used a colour printed background for my background.  For the strips I started with a blue strip of cardstock and added green and other blue strips to make up my element which I then embossed and paper pierced.  They are unique but similar.  I glued the strips to my backgrounds and then mounted my light houses over them using 3D foam tape.  Therese
 

Graduation card featuring a graduation cap, some ribbon and a colourful yet significant background

 Our oldest grandchild is graduating from high school this year!!!!!!!!!  They are headed to university in the fall and have jobs lined up during the summer so life is going along as it does!!!  I found a similar greeting on a card on line and loved the message so I worked it up for the greeting on this card.  I laser printed it and trimmed it down to fit on my large card.  I chose this specific background because it was bright and colourful and also illustrates how life goes - no straight lines, some wide some not so much, lots of overlapping but if you follow your heart you will stay on track no matter how wiggly life is and whether you are up or down compared to everyone else.  I added some ribbon flags on the side and paper piercing on both pieces.  Therese

All occasion card featuring a collage background, die cut trees and a large yellow moon

 For this card I started with a brown card and trimmed the brown collage to make a background that fit.  I added paper piercing and then die cut two sets of trees to use for my focal element.  I had to cut the die (TH) twice to get the width I needed.  I cut one from a piece of brown water damaged cardstock which had colour variations in it.  The other layer I cut from a lighter beige cardstock in the same way I cut the first one.  I layered them, adhered them to each other and then embossed the bottom edge.  I then tore off the bottom of this large element and then trimmed it to the same size as my background.  After adhering it to my card I coloured a 1 3/4" round punchie with yellow and shimmery gold paint to make my moon.  Once it was dry I added some glue and slipped in behind the trees!!  Perfect!! Therese

All occasion card featuring rose collage background, ribbon and a rose topiary

Another card featuring a collage background.  This one was made a little differently, in that I covered the whole hand decorated sheet with a piece of rose tissue paper.  You can just barely see the snowflake background through the tissue.  I trimmed it to size, added a blue ribbon and adhered it to a green card.  I watercoloured the topiary in coordinating colours, added paper piercing and then layered it onto a green cardstock rectangle.  I left some space on the right hand side which I punched with a border punch to add some detail and texture.  I layered this focal element onto my card using 3Dfoam tape and then tied a short piece of the same blue ribbon to the one on my card to simulate a bow.  

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a bright collage background, a stamped image and some colour and paper piercing

 This card also started with a dark green card!!  I trimmed the bright collage to size, added some lines of paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel and adhered it to my card front. I stamped a bridge (SU) in brown on ivory cardstock, watercoloured it and then added paper piercing after it was dry.  I layered it to a piece of orange cardstock and as a final touch I added several small leaf punchies.  Therese

All occasion card featuring a collage background, stitching, embossed tag and a little chicakee

I started with a dark green card and trimmed one of my collages to fit.  After cutting it I found that the paper I had used as a substrate could simply be peeled off.  I guess deli paper does not take glue well.  There were enough layers that it was mostly still intact so I added a row of stitching all they way around in case the deli paper wanted to let go of everything I had adhered to the top of it.  I embossed the background added a bit of green ink around the edges to highlight the raised areas.  I found the tag in my stash.  I trimmed it, glued it to a green layer and embossed the top piece.  I added a white eyelet and paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel all the way around.  I watercoloured the fussy cut chickadee and added it to the tag. I added coordinating fiber in the eyelet and then added the tag to the front of my card using 3D foam tape.  

A few more cards to go!!

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a hand decorated background with an embossed vellum strip layered with fun hearts

I started with a green card and trimmed out a hand decorated background from a large sheet.  I tore a strip of vellum and embossed it with polka dots.   I added it over the backgroun and folded the ends over the edge and secured them with tape.  I added a whole lot of fun coordinating hearts.  I arranged them first and then adhered them into place.  I did watercolour several of the hearts and embossed the yellow ones!!  

Therese
 

Cardmaking - Card #3 - torn decorative paper background, dry embossed image and coordinating cardstock layer

This quick and easy card was our third!!  I cut the decorative paper 4.75" instead of the usual 5.25" which allowed us to tear it into two across the short side and have a swath of colour below our focal image.  The focal image combined a dry embossed image ( gift, flowers, cup and elephant) with a coordinating background of colour coordinating cardstock.  We simply added our two pieces of torn background to the card front, adhered the two elements of the focal element to each other and then added the focal element to the card front using 3D foam tape.  I added a little clear glitter with a glitter pen to the images.  I had packed the glitter pen but totally forgot to mention it when we made up the cards!!  Dah!!!  As you can see these were easily assembled as either landscape or portrait cards and with the various focal elements were appropriate for a variety of occasions!!  A wonderful way to finish off our cardmaking evening!!!  

Therese

 

Cardmaking - Card #2 - decorative paper background combined with a custom tag featuring a circle punchie, brad and fiber

Our second card had all sorts of options.  I chose landscape images from my stash of digital images and created decorative elements 1.25" x 3.75".  After printing them on white cardstock I cut them apart and married them up with a tag, a circle punchie (1"), a brad and some coordinating fiber.  The tag I created by cutting rectangles and cutting the round end from one of my label dies.  I lined up the end of my rectangle to just cut of the bits on both sides of the rounded section.  I placed my cutting pad so no more would be cut off and ran the sandwich to just cover that area.  Works well for making custom tags the width I needed.   We started by adding our decorative background to our card fronts.  Next, we coloured our images and added our circle punchies to be framed by the rounded section of the tag.  Next, we added our embellished image to be properly framed on the tag.  With that in place we punched a hole for the brad.  We inserted the brad into the hole, tied on the fiber and then spread the tangs on the back.  This large element was then mounted to our card using 3D foam tape.  I just realized that I could have included tall vertical images as well instead of making them all horizontal.  Always, something to learn!!! 

Image credits: Butterflies, Tulip and bees, and Popsicles - Melonheadz, 

Books - Pixabay

Acorns and Ferns - CLKER

Candles - Black Berry Jelly

Leaf Swag - Anne's "Cards 4 You "

Parrot - Clipart Library

Heart Flowers - ???

Therese

 

Cardmaking - Card #1 - double embossed leaf with a ribbon and brad over an dry embossed background

It was a beautiful spring day and a warm evening when the girls came over to make cards!!!!!!!!  

This was our first card.  We started with embossing our backgrounds and adhering them to our card fronts.  After embellishing the two rectangles - one solid cardstock the other decorative paper we adhered them to each other.  We added a ribbon and then a brad.  The leaves were ready to go.  They were die cuts from my stash.  Those that were not coloured I watercoloured and then I embossed them all with the TH embossing folder for the Tattered Leaf die cuts, added a bit of gold embossing ink and then embossed them with gold embossing powder.  Just the right amount of gilding!!!  We added some double sided tape to the back, slipped the ends under the ribbon and pressed them into place.  These large focal elements were added to our card fronts using 3D foam tape.  A great all occasion card!!!  Therese    
 

Collages for cardmaking using hand decorated papers, scraps, tissue, napkins and torn pattern pieces

Needing to start on cards for family for next month I wanted to make up a few collages for backgrounds.  I chose papers that were not speaking to me from my stash and added pieces using diluted clear glue!!  

The bright one (T,L) was a swap item which had writing on it which I covered with scraps.

Brown one (T,M) was a colour printed image.  I added watercolour all the way around, torn bits of pattern instructions and tissue and two strips of paper napkin.  

Scrappy (T,R) started as a sheet of scrap paper to which I added a whole variety of paper scraps from my stash and then I added several strips of white tissue to soften the edges and keep them all in place.  

Blue collage (M,L) started with a scrap piece of paper to which I added some deli paper.  I added torn pieces of paper and some little squares.  Over that I added some torn pieces of white tissue.  It has a dark line because I had already cut that one apart so I just laid the piece next to each other.  

Rose tissue (M,R) started with a subtly stamped piece of decorative paper in browns and blues and I adhered a large piece of rose tissue paper over it.  

Motley yellow (B) started with a piece of hand decorated paper and I overlaid a piece of paper napkin which I had used to wipe up some paint in yellows and browns.  There was less see through than I expected so it may get another layer or some stamping before I use it.  I have not made some of these in quite a while and I am looking forward to making cards.  Therese

 

Birthday card with LOTS of candles made from rolled paper with gold flames

 I made this great card for my oldest grand daughter's birthday - 18 years old!!  I so remember their birth and so many memories as they grew up and it simply does not seem like that much time has passed!!!  

I rolled hand decorated papers onto a wooden skewer adding a little glue just inside the beginning edge so that they would not stick to the skewer but start adhering right away.  I just kept adding glue and rolling until I got to the end of the paper (3.5" or so tall and 3"-4"long).  I slipped them off the skewer and left them to dry and made 18 in all!!  I punched 18 flames (bird's wing - SU punch) and adhered thin strips of black paper to the backs to create wicks.  I created a large card and adhered the candles with double sided tape trimming them to angle at the top.  Once all the candles were in place I added the flame/wicks combos by inserting the wick into the angled opening at the top and adhering the flame with 3D foam tape.  I tore a strip of vellum, stamped the greeting and the birds, added paper piercing and then folded the end to the inside of the card securing with double sided tape.  I have been wanting to make these candles for a long time but I almost always mail my cards which makes it impractical. Fortunately, I was able to hand deliver this one at a family get together.   They are off to University in September!!!  Therese

All occasion card featuring a cute little snail over a fun strawberry background

What a fun little card this one is!!!  I started by creating a card to fit into a small envelope (6.5" x 3.5") onto which I mounted a piece of realistic strawberry paper.  I watercoloured the snail, paper pierced its edges and added a green layer before mounting it to my card using 3D foam tape.  I love how this one turned out!! 

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a hand decorated background and floral elements

I created this card for Mother's Day!!!  I created a pink card and added four strips of hand decorated paper for a background.  I dug through my stash of flowers and found the three smaller ones which are die cuts cut from decorated watercolour paper.  I added three little other flowers I found in the same stash to give them centers.  The leaves were cut from a green scrap.  The large flower was created using several layers - first a watercoloured die cut (TH), then a scrap of embossed vellum and a fussy cut flower (Jane's doodles) which I watercoloured to coordinate.  I adhered this large flower to my card using 3D foam tape.  

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a cute little daisy with little ribbon flags over a hand decorated background

Another Mother's Day card!!  I started with a terra cotta card trimmed to fit in a large envelope.  I added a hand decorated background and then added a strip of paste paper on the left hand side.  The little potted flower was watercoloured, paper pierced and then layered onto an embossed background to which I had added some ribbon flags.  A fun card for a special person!!

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring little squares of decorative paper, a doodled vine and a layered photo of a flower

Another card I created for Mother's Day!!  I started with a very light dusty pink card and added some little squares leftover from my last class.  I doodled a vine in between using a green gel pen adding leaves as I went.  I went back and added three little dots here and there to simulate flowers.  I added paper piercing to the 4" x 4" photo which was trimmed from a photo calendar I received from my sister, Sylvia, last year for Christmas.   I love her photos and they always make wonderful cards.  I cut a pink square of cardstock, punched the two corners and then added the photo into it.  Love those colours!!

Therese
 

Sewing - - Bag #2 - tote using scraps of corduroy and medium weight poly cotton

Bag #2

This is the second bag I have created for my grand daughter to decorate and sell to their friends once she heads to university this fall.  This activity should keep them in a bit of spending money while they are going to school.  

I started with scraps of brown corduroy and a few scraps of coordinating floral corduroy and some almond coloured poly cotton (pant legs).  I decided to make this one a bit smaller ( 18" x 33" - with 21" handles) and used a neutral poly cotton for the lining and the inside pocket.  I incorporated the shirt pocket into one of the sides as well.  I triple reinforced the handles within the 1/2" seam allowance at the top so they should be fine for anything but a bag full of text books!!  

I used the floral, the almond and a black poly cotton to create the "piano key" accent and added 

some of the leftovers to the handles as well.  I did have to stitch the main light panel (where the artwork would go) but it should be fine once it has been painted!!  

I added one strip of the floral fabric to the bottom of the shirt pocket and then another scraps of brown to make it the size I needed for this side of the bag.  I added a black/brown corduroy bottom.  

I created the lining from a neutal poly cotton and created a zippered pocket from the same.  I added a tab in brown to the edge of the pocket.  

I am really loving the fun of making fabric with scraps and mixing and matching pieces to make the whole assemblage work.  

Totally fun!!!  

Therese