Cardmaking - butterflies and flowers with thinking of you greetings on coordinating tags with a crystal brad

 I made up these cards from a set of tags I had tried out as a card for my March Card Club.  In the end the combination of the four layers of cardstock and the embellishments ended up making the card not suitable for mailing to I abandoned the idea.  So to use the elements I had assembled I cut the tags apart, replaced the fiber with a crystal brad and then mounted them to coordinating card fronts.  I printed some "Thinking of you" greetings, punched them with the large oval punch (SU) and then layered them onto scallop ovals.  I had already added butterflies and flowers to the decorative paper layer so they will go into the IWIN card stash for the fall!!  I am glad I was able to work the tags into cards!!!  Therese

March Card Club - Card #3 - quick and easy with embossing and ribbon

 For our last card we made this quick and easy card!!  We embossed a layer of white, ivory or metallic and added ribbon before layering onto a coloured card front.  The one on the left was not as effect as  I expected it would be - very reflective and therefore very bright.  I added four lines of paper piercing after embossing with the little floral stems (Quick Kutz).  I used double sided tape on the back to secure the ribbon ends and then tied the remainder to the front using a single knot to simulate a bow!!!  It was then mounted to a navy card.  For the other card I used the Manhattan Flower (SU) embossing folder and then trimmed the right hand edge following the edge of the embossed flower.  Added the ribbon in the same manner and the other one and mounted the layer to a black card front.  I provided a few different colours  of ribbon/seam binding in case the girls wanted a non monochromatic look for their cards!!  It was a great way to finish up our evening and so good to see all of them again!!  Therese 

March Card Club - Card #2 - colour blocking with strips of cardstock and fun images for every occasion

 As it happens these card kits were very much the same - envelope, white cardstock and a extra background layer!!  It was not planned that way but when I was making up my instructions I realized how similar they were!!  For this second card we glued strips of cardstock to a layer to create our background.  I had cut strips for my scraps so there was a variety of widths and well as colours!!  Again, they chose their images first so they could make coordinating backgrounds.  Once the strips were all glued to the substrate we simply trimmed to the edge to create our background.  We embossed the backgrounds and then applied Versamark ink to them to get some contrast without adding any colour.  We adhered our backgrounds to the white cards and then fussy cut our colour printed images.  Some of the images did not require any trimming so they were just added using 3D foam tape.  The little truck is from CLKER and the butterfly is from Pixabay.   These were all very unique and looked very interesting!!!  Therese

March Card Club - Card #1 - decorative paper squares and embossing for a background with a fussy cut focal element

 We had a wonderful time making cards again this month!!  The weather was nice enough for several of the girls to walk over!! Spring is on its way!!

For this first card we created a background using 1" squares of decorative paper in a variety of colours to coordinate with each person's chosen image.  We used a ruler/straight edge across the 4" x 5.25" scrap layer and used it to set our first line of squares overlapping the sides.  The next row was added by eye and then the third row as well.  Some of the girls had more rows and one even made her landscape so had longer rows.  No problem!!  Everything works!!   Once that was done we trimmed our squares to the edge of the layer and we were able to use some of them to fill in the little spots that were missing.  After that we embossed the area that was free of squares to add some texture.   We glued this background to our white card fronts and then fussy cut our images - some right to the edge and other leaving a white border which simulates a die cut image.  Then the images were coloured and mounted to our cards using 3D foam tape.  The cupcake and wreath are both from Melonheadz and laser printed.  This is a very versatile sketch and the squares really can be glued on in any way you wish!!  It is also a technique that uses up your scraps and provides a large variety of colours for very fun backgrounds.  I fussy cut the cupcake right to the edge and ran a black Sharpie along the edge to remove the white line created by the cardstock.  Makes it pop!!  I left a margin of white on the wreath because of its very wavy edge and it worked really well.   Therese

Cardmaking - cards from card kits from my January Card Club which feature used Canadian postage stamps

I have really enjoyed making up these cards!!  They are all different colours to coordinate with the postage stamps featured on them.  You can check out the details and the other cards I made here.  These will be going into my card stash for later.  Therese

 

Cardmaking - cards made up for January card kits - fun backgrounds with a bookmark on the front

 I have just got around to finishing up the card kits from my January Card Club session!!  These 

ones have bookmarks tucked under the strip on the front which is a gift in a card!!!  You can check out the details and the other ones here.   Therese

Cardmaking - cards from kits featuring a wobbly line of embellishments

 Just got to the kits left over from my January Card Club.  These ones feature a wobby set of embellishments which are mounted on a thread. Totally fun and it is not often you can get movement 

when you are creating handmade cards.  You can check out the details and the other cards here.  Therese

Sewing - reusable make up remover pads from a donation of new flannel

In the donation that we received the other day was a ziploc bag of small flannel scraps.  I decided that they would be perfect for making up make up remover pads.  I used two layers of flannel sewn with good sides out (3"square) and then pinked the edges to preven too much fraying.  I washed them after I made them and they get really all scrunched up so I have indicated that they should be washed by hand after use and laid flat to air dry.  I have packaged them in fours so buyers can pick the colours they like!!!  Therese

Slow Stitching - stars for another baby quilt

I have decided to make another baby quilt using the cotton scraps from Gramma Link Africa.  I traced this star from an image from the internet - I wanted the soft points and then I added the swirl to give it a bit of interest.  I have traced it with the yellow marker from the Crayola Ultra Clean Washable markers set and will stitch them up in yellow as well.  I will use the same stitch as I used on the hearts.  Therese

Sewing - baby blanket in green, white and yellow with embroidered hearts

I have finished up the baby quilt using the embroidered heart & star squares I have embroidered.  I created the pattern for the heart and star, printed it the size I needed for the 6.5" square and then traced them with a gray marker - Crayola Ultra Clean Washable marker.  After they were all embroidered I cut the remaining squares from cotton scraps which were donated our our Gramma Link Africa group.  I stitched them all together and am really happy with how it turned out.  When I brought it to show the girls they agreed to add batting and a flannel backing.  In the process of getting it ready to go I decided that I needed an outer sashing so I cut and stitched up some yellow strips and added them to the outside.

It looks more finished with the outer sashing so I am glad I took the time to make it.  It also gives the quilt a bit more width which might be more appropriate for anyone wanting to buy it at our next event.  

Fortunately, I also realized that they would not have the appropriate fabric to make a binding so I cut that also for the quilt.  I handed over the bundle and they will finish it up!!  They are a great group of sewing/quilters and always do a great job!!!  Therese

Slow Stitching - heart and star for a baby quilt

 I wanted to make up a baby quilt with some cotton fabric scraps donated to our Gramma Link Africa group and so I designed an heart and star pattern, printed it the right size for my 6.5" white squares and then traced them on with the gray marker from my Crayola Ultra Clean Washables marker set.  I stitched the heart in green to coordinate (3 strands) and the star in yellow to coordinate (2 strands).  The green is done up in a new stitch which I cannot recall what it was called.  You start with a small stitch, bring your thread up a stich length away and then pass your needle behind the stich and bring to the back where you came up and it resembles a chain stitch.  You continue with the same stitch pulling your thread behind the previous stitch.  I like that it is more defined than the chain stitch and with three thread made a very well defined line.  The yellow star I did in stem stitch and the star in single running stiches emanating from the center.  I made up 7 of  them - one for each row of the quilt.  It is a win win when you can stitch squares and then include them into a quilt.  Therese

Cardmaking - leaves featured over an embossed background highlighted with ink and accented with leather zigzag

A card for a family member with a birthday coming up soon!!  I started with a large brown card and added an embossed background which was highlighted with ink to bring out the details in the gears.  I adhered it to the card and added a zigzag die cut of leather.  The leaf (SU) was stamped several times, watercoloured and embellished with paper piercing thanks to my pattern tracing wheel.  I found some coordinating  scraps to make flagged accents for them and adhered them into place.  Therese
 

Cardmaking - outdoorsy paper with beavers, birds, and bear along with some leather leaves

I started with a large kraft card base, embellished it with some stamping (SU) to add a bit of texture.  I framed three pieces of  this fun paper which I found in my scraps that features birds, beavers and bears along with a few funky snails!!  I layered them with coordinating cardstock and adhered them with 3D foam tape.  I added three leather leaves in the space to emphasis nature.  

Therese
 

Health - Dr. K Boogie Woogie piano on YouTube

 A great channel for great boogie Woogie music which is excellent to exercise to!!!

Dr. K Boogie Woogie

Therese

Sewing - a repair on a denim bag

 

I did a repair on a denim bag that we received in our fabric donations a few weeks ago.  It was headed to the second hand store but I thought it was more likely to be offered for sale if it has not damaged.  

You can see that there was a tear on the top edge of the bag so I added a denim scrap and stitched it in place to repair the tear.  It did not look elegant so I found a tag in my stash that had woven edges and would fit to cover the repair.  I stitched it over the repair and now it looks much better.  Understandably it is not perfect but it does look neat.  On hindsight a little fabric collage would have been more designer!!  Next time!!  Therese

Gift in a gift - a cute package for a small gift

Here is a cute way to wrap a small gift and give a gift in a gift which easily transforms a potholder into a little container to package a small gift.  So fun!!!

You simply need a needle and thread!!!  Almost any thread will do though one with a little weight works best - crochet thread, embroidery thread, yarn, fine cording will all work perfectly.  Take a length between 7-12" and starting with one corner poke through the corner diagonally and continue to capture all four corners in the same way.  Pulling tight will bring the corners together at the top and you simply have to tie a bow to secure the package.  See photo below.  

Any small gift can be packaged this way though you might consider wrapping it in a small box or some tissue paper to prevent it from falling out of one the gaps on the sides.  No waste!!!  

Simply place your little gift inside with your tie loose and then tighten and tie off.  

Environmentally friendly can be very cute!!

Therese

 

Sewing - potholders featuring Canadian hockey fabric with coordinating fabrics

I picked up a few scraps from sorting last week.  We are preparing for our Fabric Sale in April.  I thought this Canadian Hockey fabric would make some cool potholders for Dad's or guys for the upcoming BBQ season!!  I found some blue and red cotton as well so it worked really well to make up a couple of sets of potholders for our merchandise table for our upcoming Gramma Link Africa events.  

I added three layers of flannel as batting in the between the front and the back and stitched several lines of sewing to keep all the layers together.  I self bound them by bringing the backer to the front and stitching it down through all the layers.  I added a corner loop in the process.  

Therese

 

Sewing - potholders featuring teapots framed in red and blue

Another set of potholders for our next GA event!!!  I love how these worked out!!  

The teapots were cut out of a Debbie Mumm fabric scrap and I dug through my stash to see what I could find that would work with the teapots.  I chose to use red and dark blue fabric and different ones on each side and switched the orientation as well because that worked best with the scraps I had of each fabric.  I really like how they worked out.  I cut the fronts to be 7" square after I framed the teapots with the red and blue fabrics.  The backer was created by framing the tea pot to 9" with red and blue fabric.  I added three layers of flannel as batting in between and then stitched a square around the teapots which framed each of them.  I added the loops to the top right hand corners through only the front and batting and they get stitched again when I bind so that is enough to keep them stable. I bound the set by folding over the backer once to the edge of the front and next folding it over the front and stitching it down.  I did the corners like you would for a quilt.  I am really loving this set!!  Hopefully, they will be just the thing for someone's kitchen!!  Therese 

Fish Fry starting on March 7th!! Best fish in town!!

The best fish in town and only for the next month or so on Fridays!!!!  

Make a date with your friends and come and have a wonderful evening out with the best fish!!!  

Therese
 

Sewing - sock monkey

I made a sock monkey today!!!  One of the girls at Gramma Link Africa asked if anyone was willing to make one for her granddaughter who lost her whole collection to a house fire.  I agreed to make one and here it is!!!!  I perused several patterns and how to videos on line and instructions were fairly similar so I just printed out a set and got started.  I had batting on hand and the socks (it takes one pair) were sourced locally.   It was an enjoyable day of sewing - both by machine and by hand to get it done and it is rather cute and I hope it will bring healing to the loss.  

Therese
 

Valentine's card featuring a serendipity heart, embossed mesh over a collage background

A Valentine's card for my DH!!  We are celebrating a week farther into February because we were doing Christmas last weekend with family who just returned from China!!!  

I started with a large black card and created a collage background in tones of gray.  I stamped the outside edge in red to coordinate with the heart.  I laid the serendipity heart die cut (from my stash) over the mesh which was embossed with gold and silver embossing powder (from my stash) and stitched an X with gold thread and tied to the back.   I added a piece of printed deli paper which I tore and added red watercolour to the backside and then mounted this large element to my card!!  

Therese

 

Sewing - small quilt - heavy weight cotton outside, dotted fabric inside - self bound

I have stitched up another small quilt for the Linus Project which supplies ambulances with blankets for anyone who needs one when they are called out to an emergency.   The inside is fun polka dot fabric and the outside is a heavy weight floral fabric.  The batting is one layer of flannel.  They appreciate quilts that are less bulky as these have to stored in the ambulances where space is at a premium.  It measures 40" c 50".  It will share space with the others I have ready to go and will be dropped off after my sister picks them up.  Therese
 

Sewing - Potholders from scraps using QAYG technique

Another set of potholders made in my more traditional way - backer that comes to the front to bind them, a loop in the corner and scraps sewn to the flannel ( 3 layers) using QAYG.  I added several rows of stitching to the blue strips after I added the backing which very nicely quilting the layers together.  I used a few scraps from the construction of the previous set of potholders I made for the Sewing Group Challenge.  

Therese
 

Sewing - large shopping bag with flying geese border and scraps on the back and a zipper

I set aside the supplies for this bag last year and a few weeks ago I dug it out and got started.  The "flying geese" were already done and only needed to be framed with the brown strips.  I see from the photo that the geese are somewhat disguised with the strips in between being too much the same colour.  They read more like arrows but that works as well.  I used a blue green broadcloth inside and a flannel layer in between.  The two sides were sewn up as french seams so there are no raw edges inside.  I boxed the bottom and added handles when I finished the top edge.  I created a finished zipper assembly and added it to the top.  I ended up a bit wider than I expected so it filled the top opening.  

I ended up adding a twill loop and two buttons to allow the zipper to be opened conveniently.  I did add two stitches through the layers on the back end as well to secure the flaps for better closing and opening.  I added a braided thread pull to the zipper to make it easily accessible.  I may have been better in a brighter colour.  

It measures 20" wide and about 18" wide so has a lot of room for anything that needs being carried from one place to another in a very fashionable manner!!!  

Therese

 

Sewing - potholders with a front pocket in blues, browns and yellow

I have issued a challenge to the GLA Sewing group to make up a set of potholders.  We will have a really good selection for our first event in May.  I made these from the same fabrics I used to make an apron last year for our Gramma Link Africa events.  Several at the sewing group meeting preferred potholders with a pocket to protect their hands on both sides.  I did some research on line and found a tutorial and made it my own.  The pocket is made of the beautiful floral fabric and hemmed at the top.  The potholder base is made from cottons and flannels - top layer is yellow and blue below, 3 layers of cotton flannel, and a backer which is wider and taller in the speckled blue which comes over an is used to bind them all the way around.  I added a loop because several people hang theirs and there is no harm in adding one as they can just as easily be stored in a drawer or basket.  The loop lays flat on the potholder and therefore does not stick out from the side which I think is a better presentation.  I am really looking forward to seeing the potholders these wonderful sewers will be creating!!!  I did not set any limits so it will be great!!  Therese

 

Cardmaking - Birthday card featuring watercoloured candles, a decorative border and shimmery background

 So fun to be making cards!!!  The candles were stamped (SU) a while back and I watercoloured them and made a long strip of them.  I bordered punched a rectangle and mounted the candles piece to it then border punched the bottom edge.  I layered this piece over the shimmery background and added a folded circle over the edge, added an eyelet and tied on a gold thread.  I then adhered this large element to a purple card front!!!  Theres

Sewing - finished the mushroom bags and added embellisments

I have been working on these bags off and on for quite a while.  I finished them this week.  I finished the seams and added ties and buttons so the handle could be shortened for carrying at the end of the arm instead of over the shoulder.  You simply tie the twill tape to one of buttons to shorten the handle and it easily can be changed whenever you need.  I chose heart buttons and a flower one for my daughter in law who is such a wonderful gardener.  

I added a mushroom embellishment on the one for my youngest grand daughter so she could easily be able to see which one was hers.  I am sure they will get lots of use as they use the library services often.  It is so fun to create gifts for family!!

Therese

 

Crafting - shrink plastic embellishment for a bag featuring a cute mushroom image

I wanted a little embellishment for my youngest granddaughter's bag so I decided to create a fun mushroom embellishment with shrink plastic.  I found the mushrooms image (Pixabay), sized it and then printed it about 6" or so.  I laid a sheet of transparent rough textured shrink plastic over it and traced the outline with a fine tipped black permanent marker and then added colour using pencil crayons with various levels of pressure to provide different values of the colours.  It does not require too much colour to really get a very good result with pencil crayons.  Once I was finished colouring I cut the circle out with scissors and punched a 1.4" hole at the top so I could add a  hanger.  I heat it with my heat gun until it was flat though it did go through quite the convulsions getting there.  It finished up just over 2" around.  I am very happy with the finished piece!! She will be able to use it any way she wishes as she grows up.  Therese

 

Sewing - mushrooms sewn into book bags with an inside zippered pocket

 

I started by cutting strips of red fabric to frame the mushrooms which will finish at 16".  I created a square with an enclosed zipper the same size as the embroidery which will be sewn in at the same time as I sew the bag and create a zippered pocket on the inside of the bag.  I stitched on the two sides, pressed the seam allowance towards the red fabric and then top stitched the seam at about 1/8" to secure the seam allowance and protect the seam.  Next I stitched on the top and bottom pieces.  The bottom section and the back are one large piece with a fold at the bottom. I top stitched those two seams as well after pressing them towards the red.  This securely creates the pocket with a zipper.   I stitched the two sides and top stitched both of those seams as close as I could to the bottom corner.  I cut a handle  - 25"x 4.5" - folded a seam allowance on both sides to the middle and pressed them.  I then folded the two edge to each other and top stitched both edges at about 1/8".  I created inside facings, pinned my handles into place and stitched the top edge.  After pressing it down I top stitched this seam twice - 1/4" and then again at 1/2" which captures the handle twice.  I then folded and pressed another seam allowance and stitched the bottom edge of the facing to the bag.  Gives a neat finish inside the bag.  My next blog post will show the finishing touches!!  Therese

Sewing - Gramma Link Africa Fabulous Fabric Sale at Gaetz United in Red Deer

 You are all invited to come and enjoy a great shopping experience at our Fabric Sale. 

We have fabric  - quilting cotton $4/m, all other fabric is $2m.  

There are $1 rolls and you can stuff a bag for $5.

You can stuff a bag of scraps for $1 - two bins - cottons and everything else!!

There is a whole room dedicated to sewing, crafts & knitting supplies and notions!!!

Admission is $2 and come early to get the best selection!!

Therese

Sewing - jar openers with fabric scraps and shelf liner

I brought home some shelf liner from our sorting session for the fabric sale last week.  I cut the piece of liner into 9 pieces and then dug into my scraps to find some fun fabrics to make up some jar openers.  I enclosed the shelf liner on the edges just like I do potholders - fold over the edge and then fold over onto the liner and stitched it in place.  I added two lines of stitching in the middle to keep the layers together when it is being used.  I used a piece of scrap paper on top of the shelf liner so that my presser foot would travel well when sewing.  It is easy to remove the paper because it has been pierced by the needle.  Just simply press a finger near the seam and pull on the paper on the other side and it separates easily.  These will be dropped off to be added to our inventory of merchandise for our next event.  

Therese