A birthday card featuring a paper collage background, sunflower embellishments, a digital greeting and a small butterfly

For this birthday card I created a brown card base to fit in one of the large envelopes from my stash.  I created a collage background using paper scraps and regular tape trimming it to fit on my card before adhering it in place.  I created five sunflower embellishments using two paper flowers in yellow and brown, large copper sequins and a gold brad in the center to hold all the elements together.  I added silk flower leaves to the back using double sided tape.  I used a corner rounder on my greeting (digital from Desert Diva), sponged it with green and brown ink and placed it on my card front.  I auditioned my embellishments until I was happy with them and then glued them down with 3D foam tape.  To finish off my card I added a little butterfly element to my greeting.  Perfect!!!!!!!

Therese

Thank you card for family in China featuring chinese greeting stamps, embossed greeting and a silk flower

I made this card for my son and his family who currently live in China (they are well).  I received five Chinese greeting rubber stamps as a gift and thought I would use them to make my thank you card to them.  I was fortunate to have my daughter in law provide the meanings for the little round greetings.  They are all wonderful such as long life, double happiness, etc.  I decided to stamp them all in a random fashion on red cardstock, embossed them in gold embossing powder and then I watercoloured it to give the panel more texture and depth.  Once it was dry I mounted it to a gold card.  I stamped the thank you greeting (SU) and gold embossed it.  Mounted it to a special red paper and added a deep yellow silk flower to the left hand side using a tiny gold brad with a sequin.  I added a short piece of gold ribbon to the left of my card front and mounted the layered greeting over it.  Very happy with it!!  Next time I use the little stamps with a round circle punch!!  Therese

Cards from card kits featuring embossed rectangles, layered silk flower embellishments and little greetings

 I am in the process of cleaning up my craft room and preparing for my class at the end of the month so I started with seeing if I could refurbish the card kits I had sitting on my desk.  I remember now that I have tried that in the past and was not successful so I just made them up and will have them on hand for giving as hostess gifts or for the next mortgage fundraiser. 
These were all from the same card kits from the September card class.  I used the corner rounder on some of the corners and embossed them all to give them texture.  The focal elements are layered silk flowers with sequins and a brad to hold them together.  After adhering my decorative paper to the front of my cards I added the embossed rectangles in a variety of configurations.  I added the silk flower embellishments with 3D foam tape and finished two of them off with little laser printed font greetings.  I left one without a greeting because it makes the card more versatile!  Therese

Thank you card featuring an embossed sanded white core background, an embellished silk flower and a flagged vellum greeting

For this thank you card, I started with a coral piece of white core cardstock which I trimmed to fit the white card I created to fit in my small envelope.  I embossed this layer with a floral embossing folder (SU) and sanded it. I took a small strip of the same paper and embossed it with polka dots and sanded it as well.  I adhered it to the main layer after tucking a small vellum greeting beneath it.  I added a little silk flower embellished with a white sequin and silver brad to secure the vellum greeting to the other layers.  I adhered this large layer to the front of my white card.  I flagged the end of the vellum greeting to finish off my card!!!!!!  Therese

Cards featuring decorative paper, three embossed layers and a floral embellishment

A few more cards for my stash.  I made these up from card kits which were also featured in my September cardmaking class.  The large decorative papers were glued to the coordinating card fronts and the three pieces of cardstock were embossed with three different embossing folders.  I corner rounded some of the corners to provide a little variety in the look of the layers.  They were arranged on the card fronts to make a pleasing arrangement and then glued in place.  The 3D embellishments were created by layering silk flowers adding punchies/sequins and then held together with a coordinating brad.  These were applied to the cards using 3D foam tape.  To finish off my cards I added the greetings.  Card kits are so quick and easy!!      Therese

Another large card that features a reused card front and some silk flowers

Still making cards for my sister!  For this card I created a large blue card and then trimmed a piece of pink shimmery paper to leave a small border all the way around.  I trimmed my card front into three pieces - two plaid borders and the main section in the middle.  I adhered both borders to my pink layer and then added the middle section in between spacing it evenly top and bottom.  I found some coordinating silk flowers, added iridescent white sequins and mounted them in the gaps using tiny white brads.  This worked out so well - a beautiful card with lots of texture and dimension!!   Therese

A birthday card for my Mom (85) featuring a blue tag, an embossed collage background and a beautiful silk flower

My Mom will be 85 at the end of the month and we will be celebrating with her!!!!!  Blue is her favorite colour so I always like to include it when I am making a card for her.  I started with a large blue envelope and made a blue card to fit.  Next, I worked on a blue and white collage background. I dug through my scrap paper bucket and found a variety of white and blue pieces - a bit of watercolour trimmed from a decorative paper piece, some glittery gift wrap, tissue paper, etc.  I dug out a piece of scrap paper and glued on my white and blue scraps which included a few pieces of sheet music.  Once it was dry I embossed it with a large embossing folder which I had to do in three different runs to get it all done.  I stitched on two lengths of while lace and then adhered a length of white seam binding over the stitching tucking the ends to the back and adhering them with double sided tape.  I found this tag in my stash which coordinated so I added a small ribbon at the top and adhered it over my lace.  I found the greeting in my stash, trimmed it to size, distressed its edges and glued it to my tag.  A trip to my silk flower stash yielded these blue and white silk flowers which I layered and secured with a white button brad.  I added it to my collage background before adhering this large element to my blue card front.  I am very happy with how it turned out!!  My Mom is an amazing woman who has lived her life within certain confines but did it with grace.  This is a perfect card for her!!  She has been a seamstress and quilter most of her life hence the stitching and button brad!!             Therese

A cute thank you card featuring a reused card front, some ribbon and silk flowers

Another large card for my sister!  This one features a very cute pink and yellow card front which was donated to me for cardmaking.  I made a large white card and then trimmed a coordinating pink layer leaving a even margin all the way around.  I trimmed the original card into three pieces - the yellow top portion, the little border and the bottom floral portion.  I adhered the top and bottom to my pink layer and then added a length of light pink ribbon in the gap between the two securing the ends to the back of the layer using double sided tape.  I positioned the little border over the ribbon and added three silk flower/sequin embellishments which were adhered with little white brads.  I then adhered this large element  to my large white card to finish my card.  I love this colour combination!!

Therese

A birthday card using new Spell Binders Ironworks Accent die, birthday greeting digital image from The Spruce and some shimmery ribbon

Another card for my stash!!  This one features a die cut from a "new to me" Spellbinders set - Iron Work Accents.  It is perfect for using with round greetings so I laser printed this one from The Spruce which is a fun birthday greeting.  I punched out the greeting (1.75" SU), sponged the edge and added a little silk flower with a sequin and a brad to add some texture to this card.  I adhered the greeting to the green die cut which I had embellished with a clear glitter gel pen.  The background is an embossed and sanded white core cardstock, layered onto pink foil gift wrap and then onto a green card front.  I added the layered greeting to the card using 3D foam tape.  It still needed a bit of something to I added a length of shimmery white ribbon and tied on a short length using a single knot to simulate a bow.  I used a slot punch (SU) to make a cut on th spine to facilitate getting the ribbon end adhered to the inside of the card.  Flagged the ends of the ribbon to finish off my card and that was definitely better.               Therese

Embossing, die cuts and silk flowers make for a beautiful birthday card

Cards are always a great hostess gift so I am putting together a few to bring along to a summer BBQ!!  I started with a gray card which I embossed with a very organic and stylized embossing folder.  I embossed the blue label die cut (SX) with the Swiss Dot embossing folder and punched a slot (SU) on each end for the ribbon.  I slipped the ribbon in both sides and then adhered the label to the front of the card and the ends of the ribbon to the inside front with double sided tape.  Next I added a black oval (Nestibilities) which I highlighted with a clear glitter gel pen.  The focal element is a laser printed digital greeting (font words - Bird's Cards frame) punched with a large oval punch (SU) and adhered to the inside of an opening in a decorative label die cut (SX).  These layered so nicely!!!  I added two layered silk flower embellishments to finish off my card!!  The colours matched perfectly!!!             Therese

Hammered botanicals background with silk flowers and seam binding

I made a special card for my god daughter's birthday!!  I used one of my hammered botanicals for the background and found coordinating silk flowers and vintage seam binding in my stash.  I added a bit of coordinating watercolour around the edges of the background where the white was distracting and glued the 5" x 8" piece to a lightweight green cardstock.  I added a piece of purple seam binding across the length and glued the ends to the back of the layer.  On the right over the seam binding I added a layered greeting which consisted of an oval punched laser printed digital image (Birds Cards), a coordinating purple oval and an oval of vellum which I trimmed with scalloped decorative scissors.  On the left above the seam binding I added three dark purple silk flowers to which I had added tiny iridescent white sequins with tiny black brads.  I tied a short length of the same seam binding in the middle using one knot which nicely simulates a bow and positioned it where it looked like it belonged.  To finish off my card I glued this large layer to the front of a large white card (5.5" x 8.5").   I hope she enjoys it and the little treats I have included inside.  

Therese

Red and orange with a round Get well greeting

I made another get well card for my stash.   I started with a scrap of decorative paper I had on my desk which featured oranges and reds.  Check out the cards I made with the other piece of this rainbow paper.   I found an embossing folder that coordinated nicely and embossed the top portion of a orangy rust card and adhered my decorative paper to the bottom portion.  I layered a laser printed round greeting (CLKER) with a watercoloured border onto a red scalloped circle and added a yellow silk flower, a yellow sequin and attached them all together using a tiny gold.  I pierced each scallop to add a bit of texture to this focal element.  It needed a bit of something to finish it off so I die cut this swirl and glued the ends to the back of my focal element before adding it to my card front.
I really like the colours and it makes a very nice bright get well card.

Therese

Mother's Day cards from card kits

I made up these two card from card kits that I have on hand from a while back.  For both of these, I cut the decorative paper twice - once vertically, once horizontally though I did angle the second one a bit which created a different effect.  The pieces are glued to the layer leaving a bit of room between them and all around the edges then it is glued to the coordinating card front.  Both of these have layered greetings created from round digital images.  The round greeting image is one I found on The Spruce.  I added a silk flower and some leaves with a sequin and brad to the one on the left which I had laser printed as is. On the right hand one, I digitally added a little flower digital image from Meljens Designs before laser printing and watercolouring it.  I sponged both with a bit of colour before layering them onto coordinating scalloped circles which I cut using Nestibilities.  I added dots on the pink one using a silver gel pen.  Cards from kits is always very quick because part of the work is already done!!  Nice to have a few of those on hand.        

Therese

Scrappy backgrounds for quilted looking cards

 I dug out my scraps the other day and made a whole bunch of backgrounds.  I used straight edged scraps and glued them down to a substrate of paper or cardstock one at a time next to each other until the whole surface had been filled.  I trimmed as I needed to the edges or to make the pieces fit.  I embossed them once they were dry.
Here are some of the cards I made with the backgrounds I created.
The greetings are digital images from Mud Maven Designs.  She has some very cool greetings on her site!!  Worth checking out!!
I trimmed my background to 4" x 5.25", added a two lengths of scallop lace with pink ribbon between them.  I watercoloured the greeting, layered onto dark pink and adhered it to my card over the ribbon.  I layered two silk flowers and adhered them to my card front using a yellow brad.  I love that the greeting has a little graphic!!

 For this card I thought the greeting was most appropriate!!!  I trimmed my background to 4" x 5.25", I glued several short pieces of ribbon to back of the image and then stitched it to the background.  I glued this large element to the front of a black card.  I watercoloured the flowers on the greeting - adds a nice touch to have the graphics included with the greeting.

For this card, I trimmed my background to 4" x 5.25", added a brown gros grain ribbon cross the top portion and glued it to a blue card front.  I watercoloured the greeting, layered it onto a rectangle of green cardstock leaving extra on the right hand side which I punched with a scallop border punch (SU).  I added two lines with a glitter gel pen and then a little drop of blue glitter glue in each of the scallops to finish it off.
I really love the look of these backgrounds and they are super easy to make and use up scraps.  A great activity to do with the kids or with a group of friends when you are wanting to be creative together.               Therese

Felted wool roses for my twig wreath!

It has been a long time coming but I finally finished my twig wreath with the felted wool roses my daughter gave me three years ago for Christmas!!!!  I love how it turned out!!!
The felted wool was cut with a spiral blossom die and I stitched them up individually.  I arranged them the way I wanted them and then stitched them to an extra piece of wool felt.  I added a few silk leaves left over from my flowers for cardmaking.  I attached cording to the felt and then tied the whole piece to the wreath!!  There are navy blue and three colours of dark pink and some light pink flowers.

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

Large birthday card with a layered flower embellishment

A card for my oldest daughter who is having a significant birthday this weekend!!!  

She loves autumn colours so I chose a piece of scrapbooking paper that reflected those colours with attitude.  I added a strip of brown grosgrain and a length of lace using double sided tape and tucked the ends to the back.  I created the coordinating embellishment using a large yellowish silk flower, a smaller brown one, a green sequin and held them all together with a dark brown brad.  I glued the decorative layer to a large deep red card front and adhered the embellishment over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  I punched out the laser printed greeting using the Decorative Label punch (SU) and punched another in dark brown.  I cut the brown one in half lengthwise and mounted both halves to the back of the punchie using double sided tape.  I mounted the greeting to my card front using 3D foam tape!! 

They will all be here for the day tomorrow!!!  It will be a wonderful day of celebration!!

Therese

Mixed Media fabric wall hanging with a quote

I have finally finished my wall hanging.  It has taken longer than I expected but there were several times in the creative process that I had to wait for inspiration to come.  That is as it should be!!
I started by sewing blue, pink and patterned fabric scraps together to create a panel in a bit of a log cabin style layout.  Next, I played with a variety of elements to see how and what I would use to create my piece.  I eventually decided to add my quote to a non running fabric (Windex wipes) using a fine tip Sharpie.  I printed rhw quote onto paper and was able to see it well enough thriough the fabric to trace it.  I trimmed the edges of the fabric, stitched it to my panel and then used the overcast stitch with black embroidery thread to secure a larger fiber over the machine stitching.  Two squares seemed quite jarring - they were pretty much too light for the rest of the piece so I watercoloured them in blue, masked them off and added stippling in navy ink.  That toned them down considerably.  I started auditioning trims and eventually chose the two pieces of cotton eyelet lace and the pink fabric trim.  The pink was not quite the right colour so I added a red acrylic paint colour wash.  That was better.  I sewed on all the trim using white thread in my sewing machine.  To add yet more texture I added some white hand stitching over the pink trim adding pink and white glass seed beads as I went.  That worked out very well.  Knowing that I wanted to add some floral elements I auditioned some silk flowers and really liked these blue ones.  I added blue flower sequins to their centers, some silk leaves in behind and added a tiny yellow seed bead to the center as I stitched them into 3D embellishments.  Next I played with placement of my flowers until I was happy with the layout.  Two of the smaller ones were used to disguise the two squares that had been toned down as they still contrasted too much with the rest of the piece.  That worked out well.  Before sewing on my flowers I played around with how I would finish off the edges of my hanging.  I finally decided to lay the front face down on the back and stitched around the edge leaving a gap to turn the whole thing inside out.  I did remember to add two white bias tape loop hangers to the top before I stitched it up. Very happy with how that worked out!!  I stitched up the gap, pressed everything very well and added a row of machine stitching all the way around the edge which stabilized it very nicely.  As I was getting ready to add my flowers I decided that the quote needed to have some flowers on it.  I dug through my stamps and found this doubled ended flower stamp (SU).  I coloured the areas with markers, huffed on it and stamped them in place - one on the left and the other on the right.  To add texture, I added french knots to the flower centers.  Very happy with that!! Next, I thought maybe the back and the front needed to be attached more closely than only on the edges so I added hand stitching (not all the way through) to all the pieces generally adding thread in the same colour as the fabric was printed so that the only effect I created was texture on the fabric.  I added pink french knots to the little roses on the fabric on the left hand side.  I like the way that turned out!  Finally it was time to sew on my flowers!!  I stitched them on by hand using yellow embroidery thread.  The result did not please me as much as I had hoped it would.  It still needed a bit of something!!!  I auditioned a wide variety of options and finally settled on leafy green cardstock die cuts.  I watercoloured them with yet more green, dried them and moved them around my flower until I was happy with the layout.  I took a photo with my camera to use as reference before I stitched them around my flowers.  That was much better!!!
Here is a photo of the first one I made where I used much more of a collage technique.

Here is the back of my wall hanging.  It features hand painted fabric which I made myself.  I started with a piece of white cotton to which I applied several colour washes of acrylic paint in pink and blue. Once dry,  I added a layer of batting which I stitched into place using blue thread in a diagonal grid pattern.  I added white dots to each space using acrylic paint and a little round foamie dot.  I added four blue loops at every other intersection and pink french knots in between.  I had made it large enough so I could  just fold over the edge and stitch it in place had I decided to finish it off that way.
 I am happy with my wall hanging!!!!  I will be writing my credits on white cotton, stitching it to the back then packaging it up and it will be off to my swap partner on Monday!!

Therese

The last of the paper!!

Here are a couple more cards using that wonderful paper!  There are only scraps left which will no doubt end up in a sheet of serendipity paper somewhere down the line.
For these cards I layered the silver gray ribbon over the light rust one that came with the paper using double sided tape.  I trimmed it to length and folded the ends to the inside of the card fronts.  I attached them with double sided tape and added a piece of regular tape over that because they were not staying in place.  I added a 3D embellishment created using a flower die cut, several silk flowers, a copper sequin and silver brad. I sanded the shiny silver brads so they would have a dull finish which worked better with the paper. I watercoloured the laser printed greetings and layered them onto the rust ribbon slides and adhered them to the card fronts using 3D foam tape.
These are my exchange cards for this month and are off to my partners in tomorrow's mail.

Therese

Cards for a gift

Here I am again with this paper!!  I needed a small gift to bring along to the neighbours when they invited us over for dinner the other night.  I quickly made these four cards and packaged them in a folded wrapper tied with a ribbon.  You can see a similar one here.

I prepped the supplies for these cards:  rust card base, a layered diecut and silk flower embellishment, silver gray ribbon, rust ribbon slider and an oval laser printed greeting.  You can see from the photos that I just combined the elements differently to get several different looks including changing the

orientation.

I would normally pull cards from my stash for a last minute gift but since I moved last year and have not taught cardmaking classes the selection in my card stash has been pretty low!!
I will have to make a point of getting at least a few cards ahead!!

I like the summery look of these cards!!

Therese