A cute punchie snowman with a tutorial

I wanted a snowman on a project I am working on and decided to see if I could build one using punchie shapes.  There are a lot of tutorials out there for making all sorts of punchie creations so after reviewing several I came up with this design.  I am really happy with how he turned out and he is pretty cute!!

Here is what I used:

1 - 1 3/4" circle punchie in white cardstock

1 - 1 1/4" circle punchie in white cardstock

1 - triangle of orange cardstock 1/8" x 5/8"

2 - brown cardstock snowflake pieces for arms

1 - 6" blue yarn for a scarf

You will also need scissors, a fine tip glue applicator and a black fine tipped Sharpie marker.

The first step is to cut a small sliver off the 1 1/4" circle (SU)  - the head - like in the photo above. 

Next, apply a slight bit of glue to the straight edge you just cut and overlap it over the 1 3/4" circle  (SU) - the body - with even angles on both sides.  If you wish to have a wonky snowman or have it looking in a certain direction you would adjust these angles.  

Next, you glue the nose in the middle of the head and draw in the mouth with the marker being careful not to go too low so it will not be covered by the scarf.  Your mouth can be a line or coould be rough circles if you are wanting to simulate lumps of coal.  

Next, add two circles for the eyes just above the nose.  If you are not sure about the placement of these features start by using a pencil which allows you to erase and redraw if necessary.  Once you are happy you can simply overwrite them with the black marker.  

Next, glue your arms on.  These were created by punching a large snowflake (SU) from brown cardstock and trimming all the arms apart.  You could just as easily trim arms from brown cardstock by hand or use a branch or tree die cut to get the shapes you need.  You could also consider not adding arms at all!!

Lastly, you just need to tie on your scarf.   I just wrapped the yarn around the neck of the snowman and tied it off with one knot then applied a tiny bit of glue under the chin to keep the scarf in place.  You certainly could use ribbon or cut a scarf out of cardstock if you wish.  

It was fun to get creative with punchies and thanks to everyone who has posted their punchie creations which have been very informative and inspirational for this project.  

Therese

Fun themed "D" postcard

I created this fun postcard for a "D" themed postcard for a swap on one of my groups.  We were encouraged to be creative so I played around with a few ideas before I decided to create this card with lots of D words. I have provided a list of the ones I thought of as I went along in an envelope on the back so that the recipient can take up the challenge of guessing them before they dig it out.  I used a book page as my base and added a bit of paint and ink.  A bit of stamping and drawing, fabric and punchies and finally my nicely decorated letter D.
Had a great time making this postcard and I hope my partner will enjoy the D word challenge!!

Therese

Gifts of Imperfection - happiness, joy & intuition

 Another couple of pages in my journal for my Gifts of Imperfection online course with Brene Brown on Oprah.  I am still working on the journal prompts Brene provided us to work on until the beginning of Part 2 which starts on April 3rd.  For this one we are encouraged to consider the difference between happiness and joy!!
I hand lettered the title, filled in the open parts of the letters with colourful gel pens and added a watercolour background.  I am still using my Creative Lettering book by Jenny Doh for inspiration.  Below I added some flowers stamped in blue using a foam die cut (Tattered Flowers by TH).  I used the Generational stamping technique - you stamp 2-3 times before reinking your stamp which gives you several intensities of colour which adds depth to your background.

For this page we needed to draw or in some way convey our image of our intuition.
I used the same technique for this page as I did for the previous one though I did change up the hand lettering and the colours I used.  The hand lettering inspiration for INTUITION came from a Cardmaker magazine I took out of the library last week.  I drew my hearts and coloured them with colour pencils.
We have three more prompts to finish up before the beginning of Part 2!!

Therese

Gifts of Imperfection - prompts & my Daytimer

After checking my daytimer today I realized that I had some work to do before my Book Club meeting tomorrow.  Brene has given the students of her course follow up work - Stay Awake Journal Prompts - to do until the second half of the book is presented in Part Two of the online course starting in March.  Number one was about finding ways to be supportive of yourself when you are tempted to "suck it up" or "keep on, keeping on".  I went looking back for my comforting activities and put those on my DIG DEEP BUTTON.

I hand lettered the title, the words and illustrated my button using a fine tip Sharpie marker.  After I was finished I added watercolour to the titles.  I will probably go back later and add colour to my illustrations as well.  It will be one of those activities I can choose when I need some down time.  It will be creative yet undemanding.  I did the same for my other pages - lots of lettering and then a bit of watercolour.

Number two concerns connection and being proactive in thanking those who stand for us, with us and provide balance in our lives.  
Number three concerns being aware of ways in which we attach judgement to receiving from others. We cannot freely give to others if we hold judgement about receiving.  If we are attaching judgement to our actions and/or those of others only awareness will bring us to a new way of thinking.

Number four concerns our feelings of being worthy! We need to change our thinking from "I will be worth when......................." to "I am worthy now - not perfect, but worthy because I was born to this time and place".  I arrived worthy and nothing can change that, but I do have a choice to think as I wish. I need to change my mind!!
Number five concerns our definition of LOVE!!  We need to find some action words that define this word for us.


I have filled in my pages and they are ready for my meeting tomorrow!!  I am so grateful for my daytimer - it's a place I can keep track my life and it keeps me ahead of the curve. I keep track of swaps, projects, household responsibilities, my to do list, long range goals, etc.  I am currently using a table in Word Perfect with four columns - date, today's to do list, events and my master list.   I cut and paste items from column to column as needed.  I leave everything that gets done in a day in my second column next to the date and usually include any noteworthy events such as arrivals of swap items, etc.  It is really handy for tracking swaps - finding when I mailed it and who I sent it to.

Therese

Star Card

On one of my groups I joined a Star card swap.
What a fun little card to make!!  You can find a tutorial here at Splitcoast Stampers.  I have modified the dimensions (see below) so I could put my card in an A2 envelope.
You start with an equilateral triangle, score each point twice, make one valley and one mountain fold and then tuck the flaps into each other!!     I added sponging and stamping to the other points, created a layered embellishment and added stitching with a blue gel marker on the points.

My embellishment started with a round greeting layered onto a blue scallop circle layered onto an embossed silver one and finally a larger white one.  I added blue glitter glue to the greeting and the blue scallop and a blue sequin flower which I attached with a silver mini brad.

Here is what the card looks like inside and the folds on each point.  I added a white equilateral triangle to the inside which is also embellished with faux stitching using a blue gel pen.

I printed a script background onto an 8.5" x 11" piece of white cardstock.  On the back of my printed sheet I measured and marked the center and then used my ruler to make the two other sides 8 1/2" as well.  I used a metal ruler and exacto knife to cut out the triangle.

I added some free form flowers similar to those I created in this Watercolour Flowers tutorial. to my triangle card base.  Next, I figured out where to score my points and then folded the card.

To make a star card to fit in an A2 envelope you need to cut an 8.5" equilateral triangle (center line is 7 3/8").  You need to score each point at 2 1/2" (mountain fold) and 3 5/8" (valley fold).  This creates a small equilateral triangle on the inside of your card.

Here is what it looked like before I added my stamping and the layered embellishment.

Have go with this card!!  Would work really well with a double sided cardstock which has a more subtle pattern on one side of it.  You can easily make this card into a gift by adding a hanger on the top point of the card to make it an ornament.   I will be making some of these for Christmas next year!!!

Therese

Little boy birthday!!

How does it happen that babies turn so quickly into little boys???    
Our second youngest grandson will be a year old very soon.  He is learning to walk and loves playing and eating!!
I made him this card with balloons and an embellished little tag house!!  I reverse embossed - debossed  - the white core card front and sanded it to give it a bit of texture and interest.  Added stitching to all the elements, added fiber to the tag house and strings to the balloons, then glued them into place!!  I love the colours and am sure he will be have a wonderful birthday!!

If you are close to your grandchildren - count your blessings!!

Therese

Mixed Media advent calendar

I have been working on a Mixed Media Advent Calendar for a swap on AFTCM for the better part of a week now - off and on between cleaning up and sorting my stuff!!
I am so happy with how it worked out!!!!!!!!!!
I used heavy weight cardstock - the backs I ripped off of commercial cards before I refurbished them for donating. Check out the cards here and here.

 Check out the process I used for decorating both sides of these papers before I created the little houses.  For the backs - the glossy ones have alcohol ink backgrounds and the matte ones have collage.  All the fronts were decorated with a multiple step paper decorating process that used a handmade stamp, acrylic paint and plastic wrap.  Fun!!

To keep all the houses looking like they belonged in the same neighborhood I decided they would all have black roofs, A's down their sides, a door and windows.  Each also has a number which doubles as a house number.  After all, we need to know how many sleeps before the big day!!
So there are little houses, big houses, skinny houses and everything  in between. Even a few duplexes!!

 Some with chimneys, some with dormers, some with hedges and a wide variety of roof styles.  The scored flaps are folded to the back and tied on the sides with fiber to create a little pocket which holds the surprise of the day as we count down.  The letters on the roofs and down the sides were created with decorative packing tape I bought at Michaels last year!!

 Worked so well - added texture and a funky style to the whole lot!!  It was fun to design doors and windows for each house and hand draw the details.  They were all layered and watercoloured to give them a bit of dimension.  None of the houses are exactly the same.

 So click on the photos and check out the fun little details I added.  A little bit of something below the roof line, something above or around the door, etc.  I used brads and eyelets for the door handles.

They have numbers on the backs as well.  These were die cut from foil lids!!  The little pockets are waiting to be filled!!
It has been a super fun project.  It can be used to count down to any occasion and left up year round should the recipient be so inclined!!
A wonderful little neighborhood!!


I have a few leftover card backs which I hope to use to make another little village.  Maybe I will use different architectural guidelines for the next one!!!  What fun!!  They can stand on a shelf or mantle or maybe could be tied together to stand independantly.
Consider making yourself a fun little advent calendar that you can reuse every year to count down to Christmas and, if you make it fun enough, it will decorate your house or studio all year long!!  A new tradition!!
Would love to see what you have created!  Leave a comment and include a link!!

Therese

House book

 I have created a little House Book for a swap on AFTCM.  The theme is A Garden Journey, so I created some house shapes and decorated them with garden images.  It has been a fun project.
I started with some very thin corrugated cardboard which arrived last week wrapped around a new "toy"!!  I designed my pages, cut them out and die cut the fence from scraps.  I backed the pages with foreign language book pages.  I stamped the fronts with a text stamp in dark brown and added some stippling as well.  Finished all the edges with a large black permanent marker.

Here is my book all closed up.  I have added a tie on the left hand side that slips around the fence post which keeps it nicely closed.  I have four pieces - the fence, the one storey, the two storey and the large apartment building in the back.  I had wanted to have all of the windows on the buildings be on the front of the pages so it would look like a neighborhood.  Unfortunately, I was not paying as much attention as I should have when I was decorating the pages and you will see that the windows ended up on the back instead of the front. Not wrong, but not what I had imagined!!
The fence is decorated with flower and vine punchies on both sides.

With the fence flipped open you can see the front of the first house.  I added a window and a door with the large marker and filled in the details with a fine tip Sharpie.  I added punchie flowers to create a window box and a grass die cut at the bottom.  In between, I added my wording by tracing a letter template lightly with a pencil and then giving the letters weight using the fine tip marker.  I wanted the letters to be a little sketchy so left them a bit rough.

The back of the first house features an architectural window with a window box, two large flowers, a grass die cut, a butterfly and the continuation of the quote.
The front of the second house features a garden scene which includes a bird on a branch, a small butterfly, a grass die cut and five layered flowers.  These are all punchies!!  The quote continues in the same manner as the previous pages.

The back of the second house features a balcony with flowers in a window box, a grass die cut, a butterfly, some leaves and a large flower along with a few more words from my quote.
On the front of the last page I have created a garden  of love that features a wide variety of heart flowers all growing next to each other.  Added "Sow love!" in the same manner as the quote on the previous pages and some grass at the bottom.

On the back page I drew in lots of windows and gave them all different window treatments.  Each window received a flower box and a tiny heart as well.  Added the saying, some butterflies and some grass at the bottom.
I bound the pages with some cording which I knotted on the outside of the book on the left hand side.

I am very happy with how this little project turned out even with the mishap of the windows.  I liked combining lots of different items and techniques.

My little book will start it's trip to my partner tomorrow and hopefully will arrive there some time next week!!

Therese

4x4 chunky book page

On AFTCM, we are exploring the Teesha Moore style and are having a 4x4 chunky book page swap. " Let's face it" is the theme and this is the concept I came up with - four faces.  Using handmade decorative paper  cut to 4x4, I laid one on top of the other and drew the center line and then cut it out.  I transposed the pieces so that each side would have a pink and blue face and glued them to a 4x4 of white cardstock.  Started by tracing the cut line and continued adding texture and details such as the eyes with black Sharpie markers in three different sizes.  Also, cut out hearts for lips and glued them in place.  Added silver Sharpie in several different areas for accent and a bit of bling.  Happy with the result!!
It is a reminder that we can only change ourselves.  As we change our perspective, we see the world differently and, therefore, make different choices which changes the world for us.  We are co-creators!!

Therese

All Occasion cards - butterfly

I love this butterfly!!! A recent acquisition created by Marianne Designs and sold at Ecstacy Crafts!!

I started by stamping a subtle background on my card and added a free form border with a fine tipped Sharpie marker. I added a layer of embossed metal tape which was trimmed with decorative scissors then layered on this beautiful butterfly using double sided tape only to its middle so its wings are free to flutter. To finish it off I added three little black punchies (1/4" circle punch) to the lower edge and a flight trail below the butterfly with the black marker!!

It can be difficult to cut a die with this intricate a pattern and get all the pieces to come out of the die when removing the die cut. I have found that using a layer of wax paper between the die and the cardstock really helps though it does not completely prevent having to pick some of bits out of the solid backed die!! But, it is so worth it!!

I applied the metal duct tape to some scrap cardstock which gave it some substance before I embossed it.

Therese

My Art - summer puzzle piece

Just returned from a trip out west for a family reunion on my Mom's side and a visit with my daugther, son in law and grand daughter!! It was a good time all around. My granddaughter is just over two and talking miles a minute and always a going concern!! Fun!! Really nice to spend time with our kids!! The reunion was great and so nice to reconnect with extended family members!! Great to be out in the country and feel the breeze and see nothing but fields on the horizon!!

Worked on my Summer Puzzle piece for a mingle on my altered books group!! I glued 9 small pieces together to make the equivalent of an ATC size and then added papers to simulate sea and sky! Added double sided tape to the bottom and glued on some sand and a sea shell - picked on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico years ago!! Added a sequin sun and drew in some birds and sailboats!! A typical scene here on the Bay of Quinte in the summer!!

Great weather here so far!!

Therese

My Art - guy cards

A couple more guy cards. On the first I layered a watercoloured
baseball image onto a piece of "caught in a crystal" background paper!! Added a bit of a ribbon and a tag. I used the horizontal slot punch (SU) to cut a very slight slot on the spine so I could pass my ribbon through. I like to use a punch to make a slot or hole on the spine for ribbon or fiber because it cuts so cleanly.

To do this just hold your punch upside down so you can see the paper through the punch hole. Line up the spine edge so the punch just barely catches the edge. Will nicely cut a slot for your ribbon. If needing a hole for fiber I usually use a round hole punch the appropriate size. Again, hold the punch upside down so you can see how much of the spine you are punching. Usually, about 1/4-1/2 of the hole is sufficient for passing your fibers through.

On the second I used several elements and combined them in an interesting layout. I added some track in front of the train with a black marker, watercoloured the image and then cut out. The lake scene I watercoloured, trimmed and layered onto black. I layered the black colour printed greeting on black and then created an interactive layout with them. It was fun to play and rearrange until it "worked"!! Just glued all the elements to a testured white card.

Try using your images in a way you have not done before. Cutting them out, stamping in a different colour, using only part of a image, etc. It makes for more versatility with the stamps you already have and a different look to your layouts. It is good to step outside the box - our own or someone else's - to see what is possible. If something really doesn't work out put them in your serendipity or collage box for addition to some later work of art!!

Therese