Slow stitching - #3 is red in my rainbow set

Here is my third square of slow stitching.  The heart was actually two pieces so I stitched it down the middle as I was stitching it down to start and then I stitched around the outside edge.  I learned a new stitch - open chain stitch.  I have tried it before and was not able to understand how to execute it but with my new little book of stitches it was more clear.  I did fly stitch on the right  hand side of the blue strip though I made the center stitches quite short and they are less connected than in the book.  It is a work in progress!!!

Therese

Exchange cards for my swap partners featuring glossy backgrounds, sequins and large laser printed greetings

 I made up card kits for my exchange cards this month!  They both feature some bright glossy backgrounds which I made with glossy photo paper and inks.  I used a variety of dies to cut pieces for these cards.  The large greetings (Desert Diva) were printed on white cardstock and trimmed to size. I embossed them both manually with different embossing folders.  I added faux stitching to first one and used my tracing wheel to add some texture to the second one.  The elements were assembled and mounted to coordinating cards.  I added the sequins using tiny pieces of double sided tape.  You can check the others here.  They will be on their way tomorrow!!           Therese

Quick and easy card featuring the Manhattan embossing folder, some ribbon and a small greeting

I made up these card kits for my Special Card Class in May.  These are quick and easy yet quite a versatile design.  I embossed the neutral layer with the Manhattan embossing folder (SU) and added a length of organza ribbon before gluing this layer to a coordinating card front.  I trimmed a section off of the green one before adding the ribbon which allowed room to the right for the little Word Window greeting punchie.  For the blue card, I simply added the greeting below the ribbon where it was frame with the ends.        Therese

A friendship card featuring strips of decorative paper, an embossed layer and a fun digital greeting

Making up cards for my stash from card kits.  These were featured in my March cardmaking class.  The fun little greeting is a digital from Desert Diva which I sized and laser printed on white cardstock.  I sponged the edges to coordinate with my card elements, distressed them before adhering it to a rectangle of green cardstock.  The strips where adhered to the green layer using double sided tape and then the edge was covered with an embossed strip of orange cardstock.  I adhered this large layer to a mustard card and then added the greeting using 3D foam tape.  The strips were trimmed like banners to finish off the card.
For my second card the horse digital is from Beccy's Place.  I layered orange and purple behind my image and added an embossed line and a pierced scalloped edge.  I added a little coordinating oval font greeting punchie as well. 
Two more to add to my stash!         Therese 

Slow Stitching - first orange square!!

It took me three sessions to finish up the yellow square.  It only took me two sessions to finish up my first orange square.  This orange fabric has good weight and was easily able to support the elements and stitching I added to it.  I started with running stitch through the middle of the strip and added long stitches placed next to each other to anchor the two sides.  Next, I did the three little patches using small stitches on their edges and a different colour floss to created the little star/flowers in their centers.  I used the fly stitch to secure the edges of my hand cut heart using two different green flosses. First time doing the fly stitch.  I think it would have been better had they been a little closer together but I was concentrating on doing them correctly and failed to be really careful about spacing.  I will consider adding another set of stitches in between in my next stitching session.  To finish off my square I added french knots using yellow floss inside the heart.  I am happy with my progress and look forward to finishing my first set of rainbow squares.  I will post them as I finish them.  Therese

Cards made up from card kits featuring a die cut layer backed with decorative paper, fiber and embossed greetings

I am still making cards for my stash and using card kits from my desk to make the process quick and easy.  These cards were featured in my January Cardmaking Class.   The top one features a gold embossed Merry Christmas greeting, some die cut hearts and some fun sweater knit paper to back them.  I added a length of gold embroidery thread through the opening before adding the paper to cover up the openings.  That layer had been over stamped with a script and scroll design.  I glued this large layer to a coordinating card front. I added three little gold sequins to finish it off. 
The next card features leaf die cuts on the left with the same gold embroidery thread.  The third card features a rose pattern die cut opening and a blue fiber tied to the front.  I backed this one with hand decorated watercolour paper. 
A few more for the stash!!

Therese

A birthday card featuring fun decorative paper, an embossed strip and a tag with image and greeting

A few more cards for my stash from card kits.  These card kits were featured in my March Cardmaking class.   The bicycle (SU) and greeting were combined in Corel Draw and printed on white cardstock.  They were trimmed into rectangles and then the corners were cut to create the tag.  I used my slot punch (SU) to cut the slot for the twill tape which was adhered with double side tape. I sponged the outer edges and then added faux stitching with a fine tipped Sharpie marker.  I adhered the decorative paper to the kraft card front and added an embossed strip before adding the tag using 3D foam tape.   

Therese

Christmas cards featuring a farm scene with fiber and oval punched font greetings

 I am working on yet more Christmas cards!!  These ones feature a fairly graphic image of a barn (Pixabay) that is very effective.  I printed the digital image on white cardstock and trimmed them to 4" x 5.25".  

To the first one I tied on a length of red fiber before adhering this large element to my black card front.  I mounted a layered greeting over where the fiber is tied on the front.  The greeting features a laser printed font greeting punched with an oval punch (SU) and then layered onto a pewter metallic scalloped oval punchie (SU).  I mounted the greeting using 3D foam tape which allows room for the fiber.  For the second card, I punched an opening with the oval scallop punch (SU) in the upper left area of the printed panel and tied on a length of red fiber between the opening and the right hand side.  After mounting this large element to a black card front I added a font greeting oval punchie in the opening using 3D foam tape.     Therese

Slow Stitching - first yellow square

Here is my first square in my Slow Stitching project!!  I started with stitching down the strip on the left.  I did running stitch in the center to keep in place and added blanket stitch on one side and cross stitches on the other.  Next I added the blue square using small stitches all the way around and longer stitches to create a flower in the center.  I added the green triangle and did running stitch in both directions on it.  The little portion of a pansy on the upper right was stitched down with running and seed stitches.  It has been positioned away from the edge to allow a quarter seam allowance when it is incorporated into a project.  The other scrap was stitched down with running stitch and finally I created the heart shaped element.  I started by drawing a shape using a pencil because I noticed that I am not easily able to make straight lines with my stitching and I did want my heart to look like a heart once I was done.  I started by stitching the end of my little fabric strip to my fabric in the dip of my heart.  I used green floss to couch my strip onto the line that I had draw which worked quite well.  To finish it off I cut my strip and stitched down the end over the end where I started.  I think it will be sturdy enough to stay in place.  I made a real effort to not pull my stitches too tightly in order to not shrink my fabric square.  Once it was ironed it still measured 4" square!!!  I have backed this square with some white fabric because the yellow was so thin I was not sure it would be able to carry the weight of the stitching.  I am learning as I go!!  So far so good!!!  Therese

Slow stitching - a new project!!

 I have decided to start a new hand stitching project and will be modeling it after "slow stitching" which Liz Kettle promotes as stitch meditations.  After some health issues she wanted to find a meditation practice she would do every day and developed this process for herself.  I have tweaked the process in that I have decided to start with 4" squares in rainbow colours which I hope will yield squares which I can later use in sewing projects. I have cut 5 sets of six squares (yellow, orange, red, purple, blue and green) to begin with using up scraps and finding the colours I needed in my stash.  I have decided to use a sort of collage technique on my first set using small scraps to execute a heart theme.  I dug through and sorted my small scraps drawer into colours so I could easily pick pieces to coordinate with my coloured squares.  I have collected a few scraps for each square and for hand cut hearts.  I will be creating hearts by couching a strip of fabric for the others.  I have decided to forgo any embellishments in case the squares end up in quilts where they will be handled and washed regularly.  If they end up in other sorts of project I will consider adding embellishments once they are part of a project. 

Here is my first set of squares ready to go!  

I have collected my stitching supplies in a box lid - thread, needles, pins, scissors and my small book of embroidery stitches.  My little book will be a good reference as I am not familiar with many stitches.  I will be putting my scraps down with raw edges and would like to use wide stitches to properly secure the raw edges as I am stitching them into place.
I started on Tuesday morning with the yellow square and I will be sharing it in my next post!!
I do enjoy hand stitching and it is very peaceful to do a bit of stitching first thing in the morning!!  Therese

A birthday card that features fold over rectangles to create an opening filled with a little flower

This card kit was featured at my Special Card Class in May   It features double sided cardstock with the back design being revealed when the middle section corners are folded up.  I cut four rectangles and scored the corner and then mounted them to a green card front.  It middle element was created by layering  an embossed flower shape over a 1.75" circle punchie and finishing it off with a 1/2" circle in the center of the flower.  I adhered it in the center.  I added the stamped greeting below with 3D foam tape.

Therese

A little birdie card with a Tim Holtz bird and bird cage with a little tag

These little birdie cards are always handy in that they can cover so many occasions!!  I have made these quite a few times using this sketch.  Made up these card kits for my May Cardmaking Class. The birdcage and bird & wing (TH) were die cut in different colours.  I added a tiny black brad to the bird for his eye and add the beak detail with a marker before watercolouring in some detail. I mounted the bird behind the bird cage and added the embossed wing on the outside.  I added the top thread before  mounting it to the background paper.  I added the little tag to the thread and then glued the thread to the back using double sided tape.  I then mounted this large element to a dark brown card front.  I added rhinestones into the holes at the bottom which was backed with double sided tape when I adhered the bird cage to the decorative paper.  I mounted the tag with 3D foam tape to finish off this card.    Another one for the stash!!                 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

Birthday cards featuring a large layered background with a digital greeting and a bit of embellisment

Needing some cards for my stash I decided to mine the collection of card kits on my desk.  These kits were featured in my September cardmaking class. They feature a square of decorative paper layered with coordinating cardstock to which a coordinating ribbon was added before adhering it to the front of a coordinating card.  Three of the greetings are from Desert Diva, the third is created with a font. The last two have images from Cre8tive Hands which I watercoloured and added glitter with a gel pen.   They were sized, laser printed on white cardstock and trimmed out to a square.  They were distressed on all sides and layered onto a square that was die cut from the layer applied behind the decorative paper which is efficient and also guarantees that they will coordinate perfectly.  The greetings were applied to the front of the cards using 3D foam tape.  I added balloons to the first card to make it more appropriate for a child's birthday.  I added sequins and rhinestones to the second on along with some clear glitter using a gel pen to the greeting and to add some faux stitching to the top portion of the card front.   For the third card, I used a landscape orientation, added some clear glitter to the greeting and a glittery purple butterfly also with 3D foam tape.  I tied a short length of the same ribbon to the piece on the decorative layer to simulate a bow on all of them.  A very versatile sketch and making cards up from kits goes very quickly and you can customize them as you wish. 

Therese

 

Christmas card featuring an origami wreath, stamped background and greeting

This card features an origami wreath which I created years ago when my sister first started making cards. She had taken a class and I was keen to try all the techniques she had learned.  This wreath was on a used card.  I removed the wreath and replaced the plastic bow with a fabric ribbon one.  Found this background in my stash and sponged it with ink until I was happy with it.  I sponged the greeting as well and then simply layered the wreath and greeting onto the background and then added this large element to the front of a red card.  The wreath was created using gift wrap and I do not recall the technique but I expect I still have the instructions somewhere.   This is really a blast from the past!!

Therese

Christmas cards featuring reused panels with ribbon and greetings

A few more cards for my stash of Christmas cards!!  

This first one features a small card front which was square so once trimmed was just the perfect size to layer onto my green card front.  I added a black layer to which I adhered the Santa image and the layered laser printed greeting.  The second card features an image trimmed from the center of a large card.  I fussy cut the two corners with an exacto knife so I could slide on my stamped greeting.  I added a little holly brad on the right before gluing this large element to the front of a red card.  

My third card features art from a friend of mine years ago.  I simply trimmed the card front, added a red ribbon gluing the ends to the back and added a little laser printed font greeting which I had trimmed with scallop decorative scissors and used a push pin to paper pierce the scallops.  I simply tied a short end of ribbon to the front using a single knot to simulate a bow.    Therese

Baby quilt with some slow stitch quilting

 I started this quilt earlier this year and have finally finished it (35" x 44").  I did slow stitching using coordinating crochet thread and running stitch to tie the layers together.  It was a very pleasant afternoon of hand stitching!!  I trimmed the backing even leaving a border to use to bind the quilt.  After folding and ironing it into place I used my sewing machine to stitch it.  Very happy to have finished it and am looking forward to finishing the other two I created at the same time.  Therese

Christmas card featuring used card panels with a bit of texture

A few more Christmas cards for my stash featuring some front panels from used cards that were donated to me. 

The first one has reused the front of a card I designed years ago for a fundraiser and one was sent back to me.  I simply trimmed the front panel and adhered it to an ivory card front.  The second one was a small card almost perfectly sized for the front of an A2 card.  I added some paper piercing using my tracing wheel to the edges before gluing the trimmed image to a red card.  The third card was created with a panel trimmed from a large card which was nicely proportioned for an A2 card.  I simply trimmed it out and glued it to a dark green card.    Therese

Christmas card featuring a textured tissue paper with a star cut out layered onto decorative paper and a layered greeting

I found this tissue/freezer paper star cut out in my stash of Christmas card making supplies.  It was from a card I made a while back and worked perfectly with this colour printed background paper.  I glued the decorative paper to a green card front and then gently glued the star tissue paper over it.  I added a layered laser printed greeting created from a font greeting oval punchie (SU) over a gold scalloped oval punchie (SU) adhered with 3D foam tape.  A fun blast from the past on this one!!

Therese

Christmas card featuring a used card front with some added texture from a tracing wheel

What a cool card front!!  So much texture on this one with all the beads and rhinestones.  There was one little area where the bling had fallen off so I added a bit of white glue and filled in with some green glass beads and a rhinestone coloured red with a Sharpie.  I left it to dry overnight and then finished up the card.  I simply added some lines of paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel - along the four edges and three wavy ones below the greeting.  Quick and easy!!!   Therese

Christmas cards featuring used card fronts with embossing, faux stitching, brads and some texture

 Another batch of cards featuring used card front from my stash of cards donated for cardmaking. 

First card, a trimmed card front which I  manually embossed with wood grain texture to frame the central wreath image.  Used a corner round on the corners before mounting to a dark green card.  Second card, a trimmed card front to which I added a star brad to the large star element, a ribbon with three small gold brads between the star and the greeting and some faux stitching around the edge using a gold gel pen.  

 Third card, a trimmed card front to which I added a short length of embossed foil ribbon between the Christmas stocking and the greeting.  

Fourth card, simply trimmed the card front and mounted it to a coordinating dark red card front. 

Fifth card, a trimmed card front to which I added four wavy lines of paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel. I then mounted this element to a red layer and added it to a green card front which I had embellished with a strip of navy cardstock.           Therese

Birthday card featuring a fun little fish, a collaged and embossed background and a digital greeting

My grandson's birthday is coming up and I have made him a card!!  I love this cute little fish (digital image from Blackbery Jelly) so I sized it large and printed it onto white cardstock.  I trimmed it close, watercoloured it and layered it with blue and yellow cardstock.  I created a background by gluing strips of torn cardstock to a substrate - mostly blues with one green one at the bottom.  I passed it through a dotted embossing folder and then adhered it to a navy blue card front.  I adhered the fish image to the background using 3D foam tape.  I found this laser printed greeting (digital from Birdie Brown) in my stash, waterecoloured it and layered it onto yellow cardstock before mounting it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I added a bit of glitter to the candle and the bubbles using a clear glitter gel pen to add a bit of bling!!!  Really happy with how it turned out!!         Therese

Christmas cards featuring used card fronts, font greetings and some ribbon and fiber

 A few more cards!! Using up a stash of donated cards!!
First card, trimmed the card front, punched an opening on the top right hand corner, tied on a short length of white fiber before adhering it to the front of a pink card.  I added a small font greeting into the opening which was punched with the Word Window punch. 
Second card, I trimmed the card front and needed a bit more length so I added another piece of gold cardstock on the left hand side which I had trimmed off of a previous card.  I added a piece of red satin ribbon over the joint and then mounted this to a coordinating green card.  To finish off I added a layered font greeting on the lower left hand side using 3D foam tape. I sponged the oval greeting punchie in green and layered it onto a red scalloped oval punchie to create the greeting. 

Therese

Birthday card featuring a cute little bird, a digital greeting and some decorative paper

Making cards for family birthdays!!  I started with a large envelope and made a black card to fit inside.  I printed the coloured cute bird digital (Melonheadz) on white cardstock and trimmed it.  to the image I added two lines using gel pens - peacock and royal blue then a row of black dots using a fine Sharpie marker.  I used watercolour to fill in the "BIRTHDAY" in the digital greeting (Desert Diva) I added before I printed it.   To finish it off and add a bit more texture I used my distress tool on the edges.  I added a piece of coordinating colour printed decorative paper to my black card and then added a strip to which I had added five pewter eyelets on the right hand side.  To finish off my card, I added my large image using 3D foam tape.  Happy with the way it turned out!!         Therese

Christmas cards featuring used card fronts layered with font greetings

 Made a few more Christmas cards using my stash of donated used cards.  These were relatively quick in that I simply trimmed them, added a layer if necessary and then a little font greeting.  

First one, a simple trim of the card front which I adhered to a blue card and added a small greeting. 

Second one, a trimmed card front with a small layered font greeting.  

Third one,  trimmed card front with a layered oval greeting created with oval punchies.  

Fourth one, added a little border of green foil on the left hand side, a purple layer adhered to a light green card front.  Added a small sponged font greeting embellished with some faux stitching using a gel pen.  

Fifth card, trimmed the card front, added a red layer and then a small layered font greeting created using a Modern label punch and a Word Window punch.      Therese 

Birthday card featuring colour printed leaves, a font greeting and some fiber and eyelets

Another card for upcoming family birthdays.  I started with another large envelope and created a green card to fit inside.  I digitally altered the leaf image (CLKER) by adjusting the colour to get the three colours - green, yellow and red.  I sized and arranged them in Corel Draw, added a font greeting and printed it on white cardstock.  I trimmed the image from the letter sized sheet and added some texture using my pattern tracing wheel.  I love the look of it!!  I cut a piece of brown cardstock and then tore it to create a gap and then added eyelets and red fiber to make an interesting design element.  I glued this tied up layer to the front of my card and then mounted my large image over it.  Have not used eyelets in years but really happy how this turned out.  I am enjoying making large cards. 

Therese

Christmas card featuring a reused card front, layering and a small layered greeting

Stash busting in support of stash building!!  Creating Christmas cards with a stack of used cards that were donated to me!!
For this card I trimmed the central image to fit on the front of an A2 sized card and added two small strips of red on each side before adhering this large element to the front of a green card.  I punched a Modern Label from a scrap of the same red and added a small font greeting punched with the Word Window punch (SU) over it and then mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape.

Therese