A set of cards for a friend that feature paper buttons, a stamped greeting and some paper flags

 I created these four cards as a hostess gift for a friend who invited us for a meal this weekend!!

She really appreciates cards and likes to bless her friends with them so I know she will appreciate them.  To continue using my stash of large cards I chose four envelopes that were the same size in four different colours.  I created white cards for them and then created the cards to coordinate with the envelopes.  I stamped the greeting in one of the corners and then dug through my paper scraps and found small scraps in the colours that coordinated with the envelopes.  I used my chevron punch to flag the one end and then applied a piece of double sided to my card front and started applying the scraps to the tape varying their length to create a bit of interest.  I trimmed the pieces just above the tape.  Next, I dug through my cardstock stash and found a strip of cardstock that worked with my chosen papers, trimmed it to size and then embossed it with a fun embossing folder.  I glued this strip over the tops of the papers and added a paper button to which I had tied some thread/fiber with 3D foam tape.  Really happy with how they turned out!!!!!!!!      Therese

Large birthday card with an embossed label, gift wrap background and lots of glitter

I made this birthday card amidst the Valentine's cards I was making so it ended up with this red, white and black theme. 
I started with a large red envelope and made a red card that fit inside.  I added this layer of cool gift wrap that looks like weathered wood that was saved from Christmas.  I created a background by gluing strips of red cardstock onto a piece of scrap paper and die cut a large label (SX) from the panel.  I embossed it with a large embossing folder with a delicate geometric pattern.  I had to trim off the two bumps on the sides to get it to fit on the front of my card so I glued those inside the top and bottom curved areas on the label.  I added a chalk board greeting to the middle of the label and then embellished it with red and iridescent dots of glitter glue.  After it was dry I glued this large focal element to my card front sandwiching a loop of light gray organza ribbon in between.  To finish off, I flagged the ends of the ribbon.  Really happy with how it worked out.  I am enjoying the large cards but it does mean that to stick to my plan of destashing large envelopes this year I cannot dig into my stash for a last minute card!!!!                Therese

Large card featuring digital image with watercolour, stamped greeting and some ribbon

Another grandson with a birthday!!  For this card I started with green envelope and created a red card to fit inside.  I found this yellow layer in my pile of discards from used cards and it was just the right size to fit on my card!!!  I embossed it with large polka dots and sanded them to show up the white core of the card.   I am again using a laser printed image from Cre8tive Hands - a little bear this time!!  I watercoloured the image and layered it with a rectangle of blue cardstock which coordinated with the ribbon on the gift.  I distressed the edges of the blue to add texture and mimic the feeling of the sanded layer.   I added a green ribbon across the bottom section and glued the ends to the back of the yellow layer.  I rubberstamped and embossed in clear the greeting on a scrap of white cardstock and mounted it to the layer using 3D foam tape.  I adhered this large layer to the front of my red card and used 3D foam tape to mount my focal image.  I am sure they will both enjoy their birthdays!!!!  Therese

Large birthday card that features watercoloured digital stamp, fiber and some glitter

I made this card for my grandson whose birthday is coming up next week!!!!  I laser printed several images from Cre8tive Hands on a sheet of white cardstock and trimmed them out last week and I decided to use this little dog for his card. 
I started with a large envelope and I created a beige card to fit inside.  I found a piece of decorative scrapbook paper that coordinated and added a brown punched border (SU) on the right hand side.  I pierced each scallop with a push pin and then scored a line next to them.  I glued this to the back of my decorative paper.  I watercoloured my image and sponged the edge with blue to coordinate.  I added dots with a brown marker to highlight the edges.  To add texture I tied a length of orange fiber around my decorative paper layer and tied a knot on the right.  Wanting to add a bit more interest I dug through my stash of round punchies and found several that coordinated and glued them to the back of my coloured image.  I glued this large focal element to my card front over the fiber before gluing the whole thing to the front of my beige card.  I added some glitter glue in a coordinating colour to the circles' edges and one dot in the middle of the two brown ones.  Once they were dry I pressed my card a bit because the glitter glue had caused the circles to buckle a bit.  Pressing helped them to settle back into place.  This card is ready to go and will be send off when I get his brother's card ready as well.   Therese

Large birthday card featuring a large flower element background, an embossed flagged strip and some bling

My last card for my sister for this cardmaking session!!  Again, I am using an element trimmed from a large sheet of scrapbook paper.  I trimmed out the flower, layered it onto red and then onto a green card front.  I added an embossed strip of coordinating cardstock which I flagged on the end before adhering to my card front above the flower.  I sponged the edges of my laser printed punched greeting before adding it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  To finish it off I added three little clear rhinestones to the greeting!!  Done!! 

Therese

Large card featuring a cute mouse, a embellished greeting and some ribbon

What a cute little mouse!!  It was trimmed from a scrapbook sheet of patterned paper.  I trimmed the top section from another piece and added the border to the top to coordinate with the bottom section.  I added a little punchie greeting that has been embellished with clear dimensional paint which coordinates nicely.  I layered this image with red paper.  I created a large red card, embossed a brown layer of cardstock with my scoring tool to give it some texture before adhering it to my card.  I created a large flagged strip of dark brown cardstock and added a bit of red checkered ribbon to which I tied another short piece to simulate a bow.  I adhered that to my card front before adding my focal element which I adhered with 3D foam tape.  Very happy with how this one turned out.  Really enjoying making these large cards!!!

Therese

Large birthday card featuring a reused card front, layered greeting and ribbon

For this large card for my sister I reused a card front.  It was just short for the size of card I need so I trimmed the bottom portion into two pieces and added a large layered greeting to cover the gap.  Worked perfectly!!  I added a little pink ribbon to the greeting to introduce a bit more texture even though the card front has some rhinestones and lots of glitter. 

Therese

Large birthday card featuring a cute little pig, some ribbon and a layered greeting

What a fun card!!!!!!!!!  This little pig was part of a large sheet of scrapbooking paper. I trimmed it down to the size I needed for this card and trimmed off the top portion and reattached it using regular tape on the back.  I created a layered embellished greeting .  A scallop circle, a round stamped greeting (SU) in green, a flower sequin all held together with a tiny gold brad.  I added a length of green ribbon where my pieces of paper joined adhering the ends to the back.  I slipped a red scalloped circle below it and then mounted my layered greeting over the ribbon.  Everything coordinates so nicely!! 

Therese

Large birthday card that features torn paper, ribbon flags and a large reused card focal element

Another large card for my sister as I use up her stash of supplies!!  I reused a card front and used it as my focal element.  Love the flowers!!  I layered it onto a pink layer and added coordinating ribbon flags on the right hand side by added double sided tape to the back.  I created a large yellow card front, embossed the middle section and added the two sections from a strip of green paper which I tore in two - one at the top and one at the bottom.  I mounted my large focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.   Worked out really well!!         Therese

Large birthday card featuring a reused card front, dimensional magic and some embossing

I am working on a few large cards for my sister who left some supplies here a while back and I am in the process of making her some cards with the little stash.  I reused a card front for this card.  I layered it onto a purple layer which I embossed and punched on the right hand side.  I used a zig zag border embossing folder and my scallop border punch (SU).  I used my small hole punch to punch holes in each scallop.  After layering these two I mounted the large element to a green card front.  Thinking it needed a bit of something I added rhinestones in the middle of all the flowers - some small clear ones, some larger and much more textured.  To finish it off, I added clear dimensional paint to all the balloons!!!!!  Love it!!          Therese

Valentine's heart cards with ribbon/thread, heart punchies and a postal background

A few more Valentine's cards!!!!!!!  I created this background a while back using images from Graphics Fairy and really love how well red hearts work with it.  I found these two in my stash so decided to use them for these cards.  I mounted them to black card fronts. On the left hand card I added a length of black ribbon to which I tied a short length using a single knot which nicely simulates a bow.  I dug through my little stash of hearts and found a collection for my card.  After finding an arrangement that I liked I glued them in place using white glue in a fine tip applicator which worked really well.  I left off a greeting to make this card more versatile!!
For my second card I tied on some heavy black thread wrapping it several times around my card front before tying it off.  I added six red hearts in different shades over the thread using 3D foam tape and finally added a little laser printed greeting on the bottom right hand corner.  I will have to find the digital file I created and print off a few more and see what else I can create with it!!

Therese

Valentine's card with beautiful paper, a large greetings and a layered embellishment

I continue with Valentine's cards to add to my stash!!  I used this beautiful floral gift wrap for the background on this card.  I love this paper!!!  I bought years ago and I will soon be at the end of the roll!!!!!!!  It lasted a LONG time!!!!  I have only every used it for crafting!!
I trimmed the background and glued it to a black card front.  Found the greeting in my stash, layered it with gold gift wrap and mounted it over the background.  I added a 3D embellishment  which I created using a little trimmed heart which I found in my stash layered onto a little red heart die cut.  They coordinate nicely and I really like how this card worked out.

Therese

Valentine's card that features a blingy heart, seam binding and a laser printed greeting

Another Valentine's card!!  I used a fun background from Melstampz which I printed a while back, trimmed to size and mounted to a black card.  I added a length of dark pink seam binding adhering the ends to the inside of my card using double sided tape.  I created a layered heart focal element using a glittered heart, a silver heart punchie (SU) and a little darker teal heart die cut (CB).  After gluing them all together I mounted this large element to my card using 3D foam tape overlapping the seam binding.  I added a little laser printed greeting just to the left below the heart.                Therese

Exchange cards that feature dimensional paint, Mud Maven birthday greetings and a bit of bling

I created these cards for my card exchange this month!!  I chose large yellow envelopes and created white cards to fit.  I cut two light weight yellow cardstock layers one for each card.  I dug through my scrapbook paper stash and found these two papers that I liked and coordinated well with the yellow layers I had created.  I trimmed an opening in each one to accommodate my large birthday greeting (Mud Maven) which was laser printed onto white cardstock and trimmed.  I ran my tracing wheel all over them for a bit more texture.  I adhered my decorative papers to the yellow layers which resulted in most of the tracing wheel texture fading away and added a piece ribbon to each of them before adhering these large layers to my white card fronts.  I watercoloured my greetings, added clear glitter using a Stardust gel pen and then added clear dimensional paint to the stars.  Once they were dry, I mounted them to the fronts of my cards using 3D foam tape.  I thought they still needed a bit of something so I added a wavy border around the greetings using gel pens.  That was better!!  A bit of bling on the ribbon and I was done!!  They will be off to my swap partners tomorrow as today at -35C and I have decided to stay inside!!         Therese

Valentine's card with a doily, heart focal element and some embossing and thread

It is time to think of Valentine's!!! I am making a few cards for my stash.  I started with the focal element - a vintage heart digital which I laser printed a while back.  I used my Circle cutter to trim it out of the sheet because I did not have a circle die the right size.  Worked really well!!  I layered it onto this beautiful white paper doily and wanted some contrast so I added a circle of gold foil in behind.  The foil is from Ferraro Rocher chocolates!!!  Chocolate is always good and if it provides crafting supplies that is a double good!!!  I embossed a coordinating red card front with a script stamp (SU) and embossed it with gold embossing powder to create my background.  Added gold embroidery thread to create some upward movement in the background adhering the ends in the center where they will be covered by the focal element.  I glued my large heart/doily element to my card using 3D foam tape after stabilizing it with a circle of cardstock on the back.  I found the greeting in my stash, trimmed it before layering it with red and mounting it to my card using 3D foam tape.  Worked out well!!!!!!!!!  Therese

Card kits with bright paper, a large greeting and sequin embellishments

I made up a few of my card kits from the class to add to my stash.  

On the first one I used a different label to cut the bright pieces so I trimmed the greeting to the edges of the label and mounted them similar to my second card on my original post which you can see here.  I also added a little silver butterfly punchie to the mix of embellishments.  

For the second card I pretty much made it up as I did the original ones.  I did add some dots with a clear glitter gel pen all the way around the greeting in between the sequins.  I did add some embossed lines to my third card.  Card kits really make cardmaking quick and easy!!!  With all the pieces ready to go it often is just a matter of positioning and gluing them into place.  

Therese

You warm my heart card with an embossed and watercoloured heart, thread and a sanded embossed background

Working on Valentine's cards for my stash and decided that this greeting created a card that could easily be given to any family member on Valentine's or any other occasion as well.  I used solid white core cardstock, embossed it with a polka dot embossing folder and sanded it to reveal the core.  Love the look and texture of this layer!!  I trimmed the four corners with my corner rounder punch, added gold embroidery thread from top to bottom before adhering it to a blue card front.  I mounted the heart - gold embossed and watercoloured - over the thread using 3D foam tape.  I trimmed the laser printed greeting, flagged the end and tucked it underneath the heart adhering it with double sided tape.  A cute little card!!!!

Therese

Quilted cell phone case

 I have had the fabric for this case sitting on the ironing board for several weeks now and finally took the time today to sew up this little project.  I have been using the case my sister made since I got the phone from her.  It had a button closure and I would sometimes have it hang up on the button so I decided to make myself one with a zipper instead.  I chose a piece of fabric for the inside that somewhat coordinated with the pieces I wanted to quilt on the outside and stitched strips of fabric as wide as my base adding them incrementally by sewing the first two, folding the top one down and added another strips until I had the piece completely covered. 

 I folded over both top edges on one side and stitched in one side of the zipper and then did the same for the other side of the zipper.  Fortunately, the zipper was long enough to allow me to stitch in the pocket I decided to add to my case.  I simply used a folded piece of the lining fabric, quilted it so it would keep its shape and then added fusible webbing between the two bottom edges to make that nice and neat.  Next, I stitched this edge to the middle of my case on the side I wanted the pocket.  Next, I trimmed the ends, turned it inside out and stitched them up.  I turned the case outside out and then added a line of stitching on each end on the outside which

captured the seam allowances and left the inside of my case looking neat. I have enough room inside to add my headphones when I go to the gym and also a little room on the end for my little pointer.  I did have to hand stitch one of the allowances on the inside right next to the zipper to reduce its width because it was getting caught in the zipper as I open and closed the case.   I expect it will work very well and it certainly will store in my purse's middle section very nicely. 
It took longer than I expected but that is par for the course when you are learning as you go. 
Therese

Birthday card with flower die cuts, fiber and a bit of embossing

I was working on card kits for my class  and decided that this design would not work the best so I just made up the card.  I die cut the flowers on the left hand side of the pink cardstock layer. and then stamped the greeting in dark pink.   I added a bit of stamping in pink ink and some manual embossing to add texture to the layer before backing it with a dark floral scrapbook paper.  I added the little yellow thread afterwards so used a needle to get it between the layers which worked really well.  I glued the large layer to the front of a card brown card.  I added little yellow circles to the flower centers and three brown sequins to finish off my card.  Pretty happy with it!!!

Therese

Little pick up truck cards for Valentine's and birthdays

My sister bought the stamp and die set for the little pick up truck a while back and I have used it several times to make some little trucks for my card making!!   I made several in the last few days.  I used blue decorative paper to create the sky.  It is a very subtle floral pattern and works very well as it shows a bit like clouds.  I cut rectangles and glued them to the top of coordinating cards.  I sponged a green tree line on the top right and stamped pine trees on the other three.  I also added a torn strip to those three along with another green layer which I cut with my wavy cutter.  For the one on the top right I used a diecut green border which was cut from a green cardstock collage.  It works very nicely as well to create a tree line.  I embossed the bottoms with embossing folders that would created texture to simulate a road - distressed lines and some rough texture on the edge of one of Tim Holtz embossing folders.  I watercoloured the bottom edge of the trucks to coordinate with their colour and used a clear glitter gel pen to colour the lights, hubcaps, windshield, door handle and bumper.  I mounted the trucks with 3D foam tape leaving space in the back to add my accent elements.  I used punched balloons tied with thread for one, a variety of different sized and coloured red hearts for another one and created gifts for the other two.  I took die cut rectangles and tied thread to them from bottom to top tying a bow to finish them off.  I embossed afterwards which gave them much more texture which I liked much better.  The embossing did not bother the thread.  I mounted the gifts with 3D foam tape at the top edges and double sided on the bottom edges to keep them in place.  I stamped Happy Birthday on the bottom two and just added a few birds in the sky for the top two.
In the end, the truck filled with hearts can certainly be an anniversary card instead of a Valentine's one so I appreciate it's versatility.  Really love these cards and they are great for guy birthdays!!       Therese