Cards from card kits featuring watercoloured wildflower die cuts, lace and a thread

 

I have been working on getting the extra card kits on my desk made up into cards.  These are the last two from the January cardmaking class.  I used four flowers on the first one because I glued the first one not quite where it needed to be so I simply added an extra one to balance things out.  I had a spare in my stash of wildflower die cuts.   I used different ties - green fiber on one and green crochet thread on the other.  I really love these cards and left them without greetings in order to increase their versatility.    Therese

Cards as a gift featuring Tim Holtz wildflower diecuts, embossed and sanded white core backgrounds and some lace & fiber

Another set of card which I made as a gift to support a friend who had been generous with cardmaking supplies for me.  These fit in smaller envelopes and feature embossed backgrounds made from white core aqua cardstock which I sanded to reveal the core colour.  I love the velvety feel of these backgrounds as well.  I added lace/organza ribbon across these background before mounting them to the white cards.  Some are tied with coordinating floss.  I die cut white flowers using the Tim Holtz wildflower dies.  I like the subtle contrast of the white flowers on the sanded backgrounds.  I got a chance to use a variety of embossing folders in order to make all the card a little different.  

Therese

Exchange cards featuring resist backgrounds, die cut butterflies, wood grain tags and a bit of lace

I have had this paper in my background stash for quite a while and I believe it is gift wrap from a long ago special gift!!!  I have since cut it up into 4" x 5.25" pieces so I can have handy backgrounds for my cardmaking.  I discovered that the printing very nicely resists watercolour so I stamped on them and then added watercolour to give them a bit of interest.  Next I added a strip of handmade pattern paper washi tape and then adhered them to kraft cards. The wood grain tags were cut from the remnants of our Christmas crackers which our daughter included in our box of gifts.  I embossed them with a wood grain embossing folder and then sponged them with a bit of brown ink to highlight the texture.  I added a little bit of lace, a brown fabric tie at the top and then a butterfly die cut (TH-SX) which I embellished with clear glitter on the body and the wings.  I mounted the tags to my cards using 3D foam tape.  They are off to my Card Exchange partners in this week's mail!!

Therese

Sympathy card from a card kit - TH wildflower die cuts from Hammered botanicals paper, a bit of lace and a layered greeting

We have a service to go to this week and I have prepared the sympathy cards I need from card kits from my last class. I used the Tim Holtz's wildflower dies to cut the flowers on this card from paper produced when I had a go at Hammered Botanicals.  Where the colour was not perfect I simply used watercolour to augment them until they all looked very much like wildflowers.  I added a length of lace to the diamond background paper adhering the ends to the back with double sided tape before adhering this large element to a green card front.  I tied white thread to the lace using a double knot to add some interest and texture.  I used a fine tipped applicator to apply white glue to the back side of the flowers, tucked them under the lace and held them in place for a bit.  I punched the laser printed little font greeting with the Word Window punch (SU) and then layered it onto a coordinating Modern Label punchie (SU) before mounting it to my card front just below the lace and to the right of the flower stems using 3D foam tape.   I love this colour combination and it makes a wonderful sympathy card.  Therese

Embossed background with a cute digital image

I need a few cards so I am making up the few card kits I have sitting on my work surface from previous classes. 
This one is from this class which features four embossed rectangles adhered to a coloured card front.  These ones were all different which adds interest to the the background.  I watercoloured the laser printed digital image (Cre8tive Hands) of a cute little bunny, layered it onto dark brown and added four little pieces of ribbon/lace with flagged ends to the right hand side using double sided tape.  I adhered this focal element to the front of my card using 3D foam tape.            Therese

Flower die cuts combined with handmade paper for great cards

I found these card kits sitting in my craft room when I was preparing for my last class and decided I should make them up and add them to my stash.   They have been sitting since March when I prepped them for this class.  It was fun to have the freedom to make them up a bit differently because time has passed and I did not have the original idea so clearly imprinted in my head.  I positioned the flowers differently and even made one a portrait card and used lace on it!!  No idea where the ribbon went - it was not in the envelope so I had to invent something new.  I sponged the off white lace with green ink to get it to coordinate but I like the look of it.  It was fun to see the decorative paper centers for the flowers as well.  So much has happened since then - so many other cards and projects created!!              Therese

Digital images, lace doily and some embossing for a get well card

A fun get well card!!!  I laser printed the image (Pixabay), trimmed it then added a piece of a paper lace doily to the bottom edge.  I embossed the top edge of a blue card using a dots border embossing folder then glued my image element below it.  I stamped the greeting on the lower right hand corner with blue ink.
The doily was rescued from a plate when we were out a while back and I knew I would find a place for it!!

Therese

More scrappy background cards!

 A couple more embossed scrappy background cards!!
For the card on the left, I trimmed my background to 4"x 5.25", added a length of vintage turquoise seam binding and glued it to a turquoise card.  I watercoloured the greeting (Mud Maven Designs), layered it onto blue and then added it to my card using 3D foam tape.  I tied a short piece of seam binding to the one on the card with one knot to simulate a bow.
For the card on the right, I trimmed my background and added a strip of purple to the top and bottom before adding two lengths of scallop lace and a pink ribbon in between.  I glued this large element to the front of a bright green card.  I watercoloured the image (Melonheadz Designs), layered it onto green and distressed the edge before adhering it over the ribbon on my card using 3D foam tape.  I added a layered punchie greeting which I created using a laser printed punchie (Word Window -SU) over a label (Modern Label - SU).
Fun cards to make and these cute little images are a perfect pairing with them.

Therese

Get well card with silk flowers and lace

Another card for my stash!!  I found this short piece of lace mixed in with my seam binding and set it aside because it perfectly matched the cardstock I had used for this card.  I dug through my background stash and found this watercolour/plastic wrap one that had the perfect colour combination to coordinate with the lace.  I trimmed it to size, added the lace adhering both ends to the back of the back ground paper with double sided tape. I perused my silk flowers and found a large white one and a small lavender one which worked perfectly so I layered them and added them to this layer using a small yellow brad.  I adhered this whole layer to the lavender card front which I had set aside.  I punched a purple label and added a little laser printed greeting punchie (SU) and adhered it to the front o my card with 3D foam tape.

Therese

Lacy wedding card

Made a wedding card for my stash!! The image looks wonky now that I look at it a little closer!!  It really is nice and square!
I started with a kraft card front and using double sided tape I added to pieces of lace that almost met in the middle.  I used double sided tape to adhere the ends inside the card as well.   I punched a strip of kraft cardstock with the eyelet punch (SU) and sponged the edges a bit with brown ink.  I trimmed the strip the width of the card, added a length of white satin ribbon adhering the ends to the back with double sided tape.  I mounted this piece over the gap in between the two pieces of lace.  I die cut the embossed heart (SU) from shimmery cardstock and sponged the edges a bit with brown ink.  I stitched on some white floss and tied a little bow to give it some texture.  I adhered it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I layered a little greeting (Modern Label and Word Window) from some punchies and tied it to one of the holes in the border using the same floss I made the bow with.  Really happy with how this worked out!!

Therese

An Art canvas with a life quote

I created this art canvas for a young woman who is graduating from high school in June and attending university away from home.
I gave the deep 8" x 10" canvas a teal acrylic paint colour wash on the front and sides then added a few blue spatters before leaving it to dry.  I cut the letters from black art paper using a set of Cookie Cutter alphabet dies and used a piece of low tack masking tape as a line to set them all in place and adhered them with white glue applied using a fine tip bottle.  After drying it overnight, I stamped flourishes around the front edge using black Memories ink and a small flower/flourish clear stamp.  I had to apply a little support from underneath in a few places to get a full impression.  I used my stipple stamp (SU) and the black ink to add a bit of texture within the flourishes and the lettering.  I used a black permanent marker to colour the back portion of the sides and used masking tape to ensure a nice straight line.

To seal my canvas I applied a coat of matte Modge Podge to the sides and the front. Once that was dry, I added a length of black cotton lace to the front portion of the sides using a thin piece of double sided tape on the back of the lace to keep it in place and stapling the two ends at top center.  This beautiful fabric flower covers the staples.  It is held in place with a glue dot and a couple staples in the outer layers to ensure it is secure.  I used a black sharpie to colour the staples so they don't show.  I added a hanger on the back and signed it. It is ready to go!!    Really enjoyed making this canvas!!
Therese

Lacy wedding card

A wedding card!!  After doing a bit of inspirational research on Splitcoast Stampers where I was drawn to the lacy neutral cards I went digging in my stash to see what I could find.  Was there any doubt?? Some beautiful lace and a length of wide brown satin ribbon.  I used two pieces of lace stitched together to create what I needed for this oversize card.   I positioned double sided tape on the center of it, laid it carefully in place before using pressure to adhere it to my kraft card front.  I also used double sided tape to adhere the ends to the inside of the card.   I cut a length of brown ribbon, laid it over the center attaching the ends to the inside card using double sided tape as well.  I cut the butterfly (MD) from white cardstock, added clear rhinestones on his body and used a piece of double sided tape to adhere it in place after securing the ribbon to the card front just below where I was positioning the butterfly with double sided tape as well.  I stamped the greeting (SU) in dark brown on kraft, trimmed it to 5/8" and used a small label die (SX) to trim both ends.  I punched a tiny hole in one end and tied it to the butterfly's wing using brown thread which I coloured using a brown sharpie marker.  I added a bit of 3D foam tape to the back of the greeting and glued it to the front so it would hang nicely.
Very happy with how it turned out!!!

Therese

Three denim and lace cards

Needed a swap card that included denim and a rose so I printed off a few roses (with added leaves) overlaid onto a brick background (CLKER), dug some denim from my mending stash and started playing!!
For my first card, I stamped all over the worn denim using dark blue ink and a set of rose stamps (Stampendous).  I watercoloured my rose image, cut around the petals with my exacto knife, added a light blue background and some short lengths of white lacy seam binding.  I used double sided tape to hold this element to my stamped denim and used my sewing machine with white thread to stitch all the way around.  I trimmed two of the lace ends diagonally and tucked the other two under the denim and then stitched this whole element to a navy card front!! Cutting out the petals really gives the flower dimension!!  I added a scroll greeting which I watercoloured to coordinate with the flower element.  I found that the denim stretches when I am stitching it into place so I will have to stabilize it with double sided tape in a few more places next time.

I used the same flower image (CLKER) for this card.  I watercoloured it and added a piece of denim to the top and bottom of it which I die cut on one edge using a border die (SU).  I added some cotton eyelet trim to the left hand side of the card, overlaid my image over its edge and then my denim pieces over it and stitched everything to a navy card front using white thread.  I added more double sided tape behind the denim this time and it stayed in place much better.  I stitched "kindness" on the bottom right hand corner which was stamped and trimmed from an all over stamp (SU).  It still needed a bit of something so I added french knots on the points using yellow embroidery thread that coordinated with the center of the flower.  Just what it needed!!

For my third card, I used the same flower image (CLKER) which I watercoloured and layered onto black cardstock. I stamped a piece of denim with some flower images in blue ink and stitched it to the left hand flap of a navy gate fold card capturing a piece of lace seam binding in the process.  Next, I laid my layered flower image onto the flap, tucked in a piece of lace seam binding and stitched all the way around my image which very nicely attached it to the flap!! I stamped the same flower images in white on the right hand flap of my card.  To finish off my card, I tied the two pieces of lace in a single knot and trimmed the ends diagonally.  To keep the knot tight I used a dab of glue just beneath it.

One of these will be off to my swap partner and the other two I will use for my monthly card exchange.  I really love the look of white lace with denim and it was fun to use some denim scraps on my cards.

Therese

Pink and green shabby chic card

Yet again, another card made from the pink gingham announcements that I unearthed from a "To be sorted" box!!  I changed it up a bit for this one.  I added a piece of black lace to the right hand side of a quarter sheet of the gingham announcement and added a collage image (designsbymikel) with a black hummingbird just inside the pink border.  I added a laser printed greeting (Pink Cat Studio) which I layered onto green on the lower right hand side and just above it a gold embossed butterfly image adhered with 3D foam tape.  After assembling the elements I thought it needed a bit of grunge so I used my stipple stamp (SU) and added some green stippling around the edges of the card.  That was better!!

Therese

Shabby chic card

I made this card for one of my friends down east!  I was putting away some of the paper crafting supplies I have won as prizes on one of my groups and lo and behold I found this element and this paper that coordinated!!  I trimmed the Victorian floral element from the sheet it was printed on and trimmed the decorative paper to fit on my blue card front with a small border all the way around.  I added the lace to the decorative paper and then sewed it to my card front with my sewing machine. I love the look!!  I added a couple of ribbon flags to my floral element and glued it over the lace on the front of my card using 3D foam tape.  Dug through my greetings stash and found - happiness - and thought it was most appropriate.  I sponged it very lightly with some distress ink to tone down the white and added it to the front of my card with 3D foam tape.
I love it when things fall into place!!  I managed to finish off the blue cards, create the purple cards, make this card and a sympathy card for my sister today!!  I also did laundry, washed up bathrooms, made muffins and walked to the post office!!  Good enough for today!  I am off to read my book for a bit before heading for bed!!

Therese

Winter Fashion Tag

This afternoon I took the time to create this tag for a swap on AFTCM themed Winter Fashion. It was such fun to make!!
I started with corrugated cardboard - light bulb packaging - and cut my tag to 3.5 "x 6.5".  I painted the corrugations with a bit of blue acrylic paint and let it dry.  Next, I used a bit of diluted white glue and added a layer of silver snowflake tissue paper which had previously been painted blue on the back. I used the foam brush to ensure that the paper settled into the valleys of the corrugations.   Once that was dry, I added some lace to the bottom edge, covered the joint with blue ribbon and stitched both pieces to the tag.  I added a bow layered with a pearl button over the lace using hot glue.  At the top, I added a 1/2" circle and punched a center hole.  It still needed a bit of something so I used a small script stamp and randomly stamped it in black on the upper portion, used the black stamp pad to slightly distress the edges and a silver pigment ink pad to highlight the top of the corrugations with a bit of  shimmer.  That was better!!
For the main element I sized, laser printed on white cardstock then fussy cut this dress image from CLKER.  I painted the bodice with shimmer acrylic paint and once dry added a row of clear rhinestones to the upper edge. I adhered some sparkly snowflake fabric (dryer sheet stamped and embossed with silver embossing powder) to the lower portion of the dress and trimmed it to the edge.  Next, I fashioned a billowy skirt using shimmery tulle.  I used a double layered rectangle which I machine basted across the top, gathered tight and tied off to stabilize the gathering.  I folded over the raw edge and machine stitched the top of the skirt to the dress just below the bodice.  To finish it off neatly I added a length of ribbon (same as the tag) over the stitching using double sided tape and also attached the edges of the tulle to the back of the skirt using double sided tape.  I used a brad to anchor the top of the dress form to the tag and 3D foam tape down the center back of the dress to attach it to the tag.  I backed the tag with black paper to hide the printing and the stitching.  I tied a long strip of tulle to the top of the tag through the hole and added a couple of short pieces of ribbon and lace.
I am most pleased with the results of my creative afternoon!!  I really love that image and have used here  previously.  The tag will be on its way to my partner early next week!!

Therese

"Watercolour flowers" cards

 Here are a couple of cards I created using the backgrounds I created using this Watercolour Flowers Tutorial I created.  It is a quick and easy technique that requires minimal supplies and gives you very unique & artsy looking flowers. Check it out!!

For this card I trimmed the quarter sheet background down just a little, added a piece of black lace across the lower section, mounted a layered silk flower accent with a small black brad and added an embellished layered greeting.  I mounted this element to a black card front.  It still needed just a bit of something so I added five feathery leaf punchies (MS) in two colours of green.    Loving it!!

For this card, I trimmed the background quite a bit more and mounted it to a black layer.  I stippled the outside edge of my blue card using black ink and a stipple stamp (SU).  I added a piece of 1/4" black ribbon across the card front and added the layered accent over it.  I used the same ribbon to create a flag embellishment, glued it to the back of the layered greeting and glued this element to the card front using 3D foam tape.   Pretty happy with this one too!!

I am really loving the artsy look of these backgrounds and am looking forward to creating a few more with different elements!!  Hope you will give it a try!! If so, please leave a comment and a link to your creation if you can.

Therese

Purple butterfly birthday!

I have acquired a new little desk for my sewing machine which means that I can leave it out ready to be used in my craft room!  I will post photos later. Thanks, Loraine!!
I collected all of my layers for this card and started stitching!!  I stitched the watercoloured butterfly image (Meljen's) to the coloured layer, the greeting to the coordinating rectangle, layered it onto the decorative paper (wax resist background) and stitched it to the card front.  I love the look of stitching on paper and it is really fun to do!!  I added a short piece of lace to my image and added  it to my card front using 3D foam tape at a bit of an angle.  It still needed a bit of something so I created a flower using the same lace by basting one edge of a short piece, gathering the lace and tying off the threads.  I used a glue dot to hold it in place.  Happy with how this one came together!!

Therese

Serendipity squares card

I had a young friend/cardmaker over today for a play date!!  I made a couple of cards and she managed one and brought home the pieces she had picked out for her second one because we decided to spend some time at the park instead.  I love the way kids are so free to just do art!!
In the process of cleaning a shelf in my craft room I came across several pieces of serendipity collage so I trimmed them down into 1.25" squares to use as the focal points on our cards today.  I cut out some coordinating squares for layering, put out some images and greetings and a few items for embellishing like the border punched accents on this card - like a little smorg for creativity.
This is a quick and easy card.  I layered the serendipity elements on coordinating squares and framed them off with some bordered punched paper lace.  I layered a strip of coordinating card stock below the paper lace to "colour" the flowers and used a glitter gel pen to highlight the center of the flowers and the doily border.
So I encourage you plan a play date with a young card maker and have some fun!!

Therese

Cardmaking - June - Vintage

Our last Wednesday cardmaking session before the summer break!!  It is hot here!!  We were glad to have our cards made early and be off to cooler places!!
For our first card we made one with a bit of a vintage look!!  After not finding enough of what I needed for these card kits in my decorative paper bucket I decided to make up what I needed.  I started with brown paper that came in a box a few weeks ago wrapped around something "important".  I wrinkled it, opened it up and wrinkled it again and then started adding different colours of brown acrylic paint washes and then wrinkled it again.  Once it was dry I ran a dark brown ink pad over the wrinkles to highlight the texture.  Added a lighter colour to soften the dark one and I was happy with that.
I added a piece of my new decorative paper to my card front overlapping the section I had embossed.  I added a piece of paper lace - from way deep in my stash - being sure to only dab my glue stick on it so the holes would remain open.  I layered my collage element over a layer of kraft and mounted it over the end of the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  For a little more texture I added a small flower (TH) cut from corrugated cardboard and adhered it to the card front using a brad to which I had added a gold sequin - just a bit of bling!!   The images were all different and were cut from a 12 x12 page of scrapbooking paper.  I trimmed each image using my Fiskars stamp edger scissors.  Just the look I was wanting.

Therese