Christmas card kits - Card #2 - a little tree die cut, a square of torn decorative paper and small greeting

For Card #2 I decided to use a square of decorative paper which I tore into two pieces and mounted to my green card front leaving an even border all the way around.  The paper has stripes so I could have torn it the other way and had a bit of a different look.  I mounted the little tree die cut - my own handmade paper - over the gap using 3D foam tape.  It could have been mounted on the right instead.  I added a small laser printed font greeting to the right which was printed on white cardstock and punched with the Word Window Punch (SU).  I simply glued it in place.  Two different papers in this set of cards.  

The other cards in this set feature this other striped paper and you can see that I tore the paper differently on this one which gives the card a different look.  I mounted the little ivory tree which I had previously embossed along with the little font greeting which I trimmed with my Scalloped Oval Punch (SU).  

I am always on the look out for ways of using my tools differently and I was wanting to give my little greetings a bit more interest and I had the punch upside down on my desk and it just occurred to me I could use the punch to give my greetings  a decorative edge.  You can see below that I use the punch upside down and simply insert the little greeting into the slot of the punch. It is easy to align because you can see exactly where it will come down.  I really like how they turned out.   It works best on slim greetings because if they are a bit larger you can detect the curve of the second scallops which I found a bit distracting.    Therese

 

Christmas card kits - Card #1 - Embossed dove, decorative papers and a layered PEACE greeting

 I have been playing with making up some Christmas card kits. I will not be having a class at home due to the restrictions so I thought some card kits would be in order so those who are interested can start on their Christmas cards now and have them ready in time for the Christmas season.  

For Card #1 I am featuring an embossed dove (SX) on a square of white cardstock.  It is layered with a coordinating square of cardstock.  The scalloped oval punchie (SU) is cut from the inside of the square which guarantees that it is exactly the same colour.  To start I have chosen a blue cardstock for this card and a coordinating blue decorative paper which I have adhered to my card front. I adhered my dove to my layer and mounted this focal element to the top portion of my card using 3D foam tape.  I added a blue embossed strip of cardstock trimmed to the width of the paper  just below the image and then I added my layered greeting also using 3D foam tape.  The greeting is a font called NOEL which I designed with a dotted outline and then laser printed before punching out with the large oval punch (SU).  I have a large variety of colours and papers in this kit which is always fun to create!!

This is my second sample.  I usually make this one in class but in this case I just decided to make it up and include it in my post.  I love the wonderful handmade paper on this second card and it works so well with gold and silver!!

Therese

An all occasion card featuring a pieced background, ribbon and a cute little hedge hog image

What a cute little set of hedge hogs!!  I started with a green card, created a background using scraps of decorative paper and regular taper to secure them on the back before trimming to size.  I added a green ribbon before mounting the background to my card.  I trimmed the little colour printed image of the hedge hogs to size, ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four edges and then mounted it to brown carstock.  Once trimmed, I mounted this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Thinking it still needed " something" I added three little green rhinestones just below the ribbon on the right of the image and that was much better!!!!!  Therese
 

An all occasion card featuring a pieced background, fussy cut buttons and fiber

 I am really enjoying creating all occasion cards!!  They are perfect for more than one occasion so make a versatile addition to my stash!!  I will have more than I need!!  Is that even possible??

For this card I started with an aqua card.  I found a piece of coordinating paper in my stash, trimmed it to width and then tore it near the top.  I adhered the top piece to my card and then trimmed the bottom piece to fit on my card and adhered it into place.  There was a wide white strip on the bottom edge which seemed to need "something" so I trimmed some scraps of the same paper and added them to the white strip going in the other direction.  Love how it turned out!!  I fussy cut three little buttons which I found in my stash and tied coordinating green fiber in their holes using a long needle.  I mounted them over the torn opening in my background using 3D foam tape.     Therese

An all occasion card featuring a pieced background, an embossed butterfly and ribbon

I have been a little carried away with making all occasion cards.  I am really enjoying playing with all my "stuff"!!

For this card I started with a kraft card and added a paper pieced background which I created using scraps from my stash.  I simply taped them together on the back and trimmed it to size for my card.  I added piece of black ribbon before mounting it to my card front.  I added the butterfly image (Magenta) which is embossed with black embossing powder and then embellished with clear glitter on its wings then die cut round (Nestibilities).  The outer edge was embellished with a black marker and dots were added inside of that line.  The butterfly was mounted over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  It still needed "something" so I added a folded piece of the same ribbon over the one on the card securing it with double sided tape and then added a glilttery rhinestone embellishment.  That was better!!!

Therese

All occasion card featuring a floral background, a strip of pink flocked paper, stitched border and a watercoloured embossed flower

Still making all occasion cards!!  

I started with an aqua card and added a laser printed floral paper in pinks and aquas.  I trimmed and added a strip of pink flocked paper.  Love the texture!!  I used a eyelet border punch (SU) to create the little yellow strip from cardstock and then stitched it with shiny aqua embroidery floss.  It was trimmed to the same width as the background and mounted with double sided tape over the flocked paper.  The flower (SU) is silver embossed, watercoloured and then fussy cut.  I mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

Therese

 

An all occasion card featuring a stitched floral layer, some paper piercing and a leafy border

The focal element of this card was trimmed from a used card and features some very clever stitching that creates flowers!!  Beautiful!!  I added faux stitching all the way around my trimmed piece using my pattern tracing wheel.  I added a coordinating leafy border in the same colour as my card front and then added another strip of coordinating cardstock to finish off my layer.  I added a line of faux stitching on the right hand side of my card as well before adhering it to my card.  This is a larger than A2 card created to fit an envelope from my stash.         Therese
 

All Occasion card featuring a stamped leaf, torn paper and tracing wheel texture

Still making all occasion cards.  For this one I started with a green card front, added a mottled green decorative paper background and then a strip of torn paper in a lighter green colour which I trimmed to be the same width as the background.  I watercoloured my stamped leaf ( Old Island Stamp Company) and layered it with a large border using another green cardstock.  I ran my tracing wheel on all four edges making wavy lines of paper piercing which adds texture to this layer.  I mounted this focal element to my card using 3D foam tape.  

Therese
 

All Occasion Card featuring an embossed apple, ribbon and a decorative paper background

Another all occasion card!!  I started with a red card, added a polka dot red and white background which I had run down all the sides with my pattern tracing wheel to add some texture.  The apple was embossed using an embossing folder (QuikCuts), trimmed to size, and layered with black cardstock.  I added several pieces of coordinating ribbon on the right hand side using double sided tape before using 3D foam tape to mount my focal element to my card front.  Really love the colours on this one!!

Therese 

A baby card featuring a pieced cardstock background, some green raffia and a cute rattle image

We are expecting a new addition to our family which is due very close to Christmas!!  I have prepared some baby items as I usually do for these occasions and we are hoping to send these off to my son and his wife very shortly.  

For the baby card, I started with a gray card front, added an embossed (D"vine Swirl - CB) paper pieced cardstock background.  I used greens, yellow and grays then just barely highlighted the embossing with a beige ink pad.  I added a green raffia across it and then tied on another short piece to simulate a bow.  I mounted this large element to my gray card front.  I watercoloured the rattle image (Crea8tive Hands) in green and yellow adding some clear glitter highlights.  I added faux stitching to the edges of the image using my pattern tracing wheel before mounting it to a light green cardstock rectangle.  I used 3D foam to adhere this focal element to my card.  For my greeting I started with a font greeting oval punchie from my stash, sponged its edges with green ink then mounted it to a light green scalloped oval (SU).  To finish it off I added clear glitter dots to the scallops!!   Therese

 

Baby card featuring a pink rattle, a paper pieced background, some ribbon and rhinestones

We have a new baby girl in our extended family.  All is well and they are now both home.  New babies are the best!!

I started with a large pink envelope and created a pink card to fit inside.  I paper pieced a pink background and then added pink ribbon over the joints before securing it to my pink card.  I trimmed the little rattle (laser printed digital image from Pixabay) to which I added a little font greeting, layered it with bright green to coordinate with the middle paper and then created a large backer for it.  The backer was embossed with lines around the image using my score tool, trimmed with scallop decorative scissor and all the scallops were pierced with a push pin to add texture.  The bottom border was embellished with some pink rhinetonres.  I mounted this large focal element to my card using 3D foam tape.  

Therese
 

Get well card featuring a watering can, a sanded and embossed background and some seambinding

I made this card for my sister in law who had her appendix removed last week!!  She is home and healing but it is always a slow recovery when you get your appendix removed.  

I started with a blue green card, added a watercoloured watering can with flowers.  This image is from image swaps a long while back and was stamped on a hexagon.  I trimmed the edges to make the image sit straight, distressed the edges and added some paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel.  I embossed a brown white core background and sanded it to reveal the white core then added a little eyelet punched border punch to the bottom.  I fussy cut a chalkboard greeting, punched a hole and slipped it onto a length of green seam binding.  I added the seam binding to my background using double sided tape to secure the ends to the back.  I tied on another short piece using a single knot to simulate a bow and used 3D foam tape to secure my greeting to the card front.  

Therese
 

An all occasion card featuring a watercoloured background, a watercoloured floral image and some ribbon and raffia

This card was created from parts rescued from a used card.  I trimmed off a portion of the card including the watercoloured background, a deep pink and white layer.  I added a green raffia across the bottom and tied on a piece of burgundy organza ribbon to simulate a bow.  I mounted this layer to a tan card.  From a different portion of the card I rescued the floral image mounted to the distressed edged rectangle.  I watercoloured the flowers and mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape.  It is so much fun giving these beautiful elements a new life!!

Therese
 

All Occasion card featuring rose (digital) with texture provided by scoring, embossing, tracing wheel and paper piercing

I need a few all occasion cards so I decided to make a few more than I need so I can have some on hand.  

I will be using some envelopes that are just a smidge smaller than A2.  

For this first card I started with a white card and added a purple decorative paper background.  I trimmed a white strip, flagged the end and embossed it before adding to my card.  The rose is one of my hand drawn doodles which I laser printed and trimmed to size before watercolouring.  I distressed the edge and using my pattern tracing wheel to paper pierce a line on all four edges.  I layered my rose to a coordinating purple cardstock, added two embossed lines using my scoring tool and then trimmed the edge with scalloped decorative scissors.  I used a push pin to pierce all the scallops before mounting my focal element to the front of my card using 3D foam tape.  I am glad to be back to cardmaking!! Therese

 

An all occasion card featuring a an embossed layer with leaf die cut openings filled with decorative waxed paper and some seam binding

This card was created using a card front trimmed from a used handmade card that features some openings filled iwth waxed decorative paper.  I embossed the layer with a leaf embossing folder, added some green seam binding and then adhered this layer to a red card.  Another wonderful all occasion card!

Therese

 

Two card featuring panels from a handmade card with flowers and a stamped floral border

For these two cards I started by trimming a handmade card with several folds into panels.  For the first, card I used three panels which I layered on to a stamped background (Worn - SU) which I create a while back using green ink on white paper.  I adhered my background onto my pink card front then added my three panels.  I added a dark green seam binding which coordinated nicely and tied on a short piece to simulate a bow.  A great all occasion card.  

For my second card, I used the fourth panel and added a score line and the same seam binding treatment.  The bee has been highlighted with clear dimensional paint.  Another great all occasion card.  These are both headed to my card box!!

Therese
 

Two cards featuring reused card fronts with butterflies and delicate fabric flowers

I have been making cards again and started with a stack of cards that were donated to me by a friend for reusing in my card making.  There were two the same so I made these two cards.  I created a pink card and trimmed the original card front to just fit on my card and adhered it into place.  Done!!

For my second card, I created a pink card in a different colour and trimmed the other card so that it removed the greeting and I added a trimmed piece back onto the right hand side which I had trimmed with a strip punched with the eyelet border punch (SU).  I added a pink ribbon over where they join and glued this large layer to the front of my pink card.  I will be adding these to my stash!!

Therese

All occasion cards featuring pieced decorative paper backgrounds, layered focal elements and some blingy touches

 These are my Card Exchange cards for October.  I used large cards and made blue green cards to fit inside.  The one on the left has a pieced background created with some striped coordinating paper.  I simply used regular tape to adhere the pieces to each other on the back.  I added a pink ribbon, a layer butterfly focal element and some faux stitching.  Thinking it still needed something I added six little pink rhinestones and that was much better!!  The butterfly was assembled with double sided tape and butterflies from my stash.  

For my second card I added an orange polka dot paper to my card and then layered on two pieces of coordinating pennant paper adding a gold orange handmade paper in the gap.  I die cut a large circle from the scrap of polka dot paper and watercoloured it to reduce the contrast between the dots and the background.  I die cut green circle and punched a leaf from the middle of it before embossing it with the Swiss Dot (CB) embossing folder.  I layered the two and then added a leaf punchie which I found in my stash.  The leaf is a punchie that was embossed with a leaf embossing folder before being embellished with gold embossing powder and watercolour.  

They are headed to my exchange partners in tomorrow's mail!!

Therese

Sympathy card featuring velvet ribbon, a layered butterfly and greeting

This sympathy card is going to a member of our congregation who suddenly lost her husband recently.  They are no doubt grieving the loss immensely.  

I started with a large envelope and made an ivory card to fit inside.  I added a layer of hand decorated paper and then a coordinating blue velvet ribbon on the left hand side.  I cut the butterfly wings from the scraps of the decorative paper, the solid butterfly (SX) from a coordinating cardstock which I watercoloured to give it texture and the body from silver foil cardstock.  I glued the body in place on the solid butterfly and then added the wings gluing them only next to the body so they would be free.  I adhered the butterfly to my card front using 3D foam tape overlapping its wing over the ribbon.  I punched a coordinating laser printed greeting, a larger oval and then a scalloped oval (SU) from blue and layered them after sponging their edges.  I adhered it to my card using 3D foam tape.  

I hope they find solace in each other and peace as they grieve their loss.  Never easy!!   Therese

 

Anniversary card featuring a layered heart and greeting with beautiful red ribbon

Our son has been married for a year!!  Time flies!!  I started with a red card and added an embossed (heart embossing folder - CB) which I rubbed with a gold pigment pad and then added gold embossing powder.  It was too thick so I used a brush to lighten it up before I heated it.  I like the way it turned out.  I added a red ribbon and then mounted it to my red card.  I added a layered heart - gold die cut (SU) and a red heart punchie (SU) which I embellished with dots around the edges using a gold gel pen.  I mounted it over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  I used gold embossing powder on the oval greeting as well before mounting it to a red scalloped punchie (SU).  I embellished the scallops with the gold gel pen as well.  I mounted the greeting just tucked under the heart. To finish off my card I tied a short length of the ribbon using a single knot to the one on my card to simulate a bow.    Therese

Thinking of you featuring a silver embossed flower and greeting with butterfly sticker and some ribbon

My friend has surgery last week and she is home recovering!!  I wanted her to know I am thinking of her as she heals her body and gets back up to speed with her regular life.  I stamped the little flower image and embossed it with silver embossing powder.  I added the little butterfly sticker and the little dots too! I watercoloured the flowers to coordinate.  I trimmed the white, flagged the end and added a piece of orange ribbon to the top.  I mounted this layer to an orange piece and trimmed it to even around the white one.  I cut an orange card to fit in an envelope from my stash and then added the paste paper background that coordinated perfectly with the butterfly.  Love it when it works out so well!!  To finish off I tied a little bit of orange thread to my ribbon to echo the colour of the flowers.  It is off in tomorrow's mail!!

Therese

 

Birthday card featuring a watercoloured laser printed digital landscrap, a paper collage background and a little font greeting

For this birthday card I created a green card to fit inside a large envelope from my stash.  I created another scrap paper collage background with blue paper scraps to create my water and sky.  I added a bit of water colour to my sky to soften the floral pattern.  I added a strip of green to lower the horizon line of my focal element - a canoe on a lake (CLKER).  The image is a digital one which I laser printed and trimmed to size.  I stamped some trees after placing a paper mask to protect the water and canoe area.  Next, I  watercoloured the image, layered it with a black cardstock rectangle and mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape. I flagged and layered my little font greeting and then mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape on one end and double sided on the other.  

Therese

Birthday card featuring letter scrapbook paper, ribbon and a greeting with a paper button

My youngest granddaugther is so looking forward to school so I added bold letters to her birthday card!!  I decided to try the slimline card style using a #8 envelope which are common and available locally.  I created a yellow card to fit inside.  The scrapbook paper was a strip of letters so I cut it in two and stacked them.  I added a yellow ribbon over where they join and secured the ends to the back before adding it to my yellow card front.  I found a coordinating greeting in my stash, sponged its edges and added a little brown paper button (CB die cut) with gold string tied to it.  I mounted the greeting over the ribbon and then tied a short piece of ribbon to the one on the card to simulate a bow.  

Slow Stitching - my next project

Here are the pieces to my next slow stitching project.  We are expecting another grandchild and this slow stitching project will be creating a little panel that will be part of the baby quilt I am making for its arrival.  The little oval shapes were hand cut around plastic templates - one a little larger than the other. I will reveal what they are once I get started!!  It is a busy time with harvesting of my garden so it may take a day or two to get started!!

Therese
 

Slow Stitching - completed house panel

 This is the completed house panel.  I am still deciding if I would like to add trees, shrubs or flowers before I call it done.  So it will sit for a bit until I decide.  In the meantime, I have another slow stitching panel that I will be starting on soon!!  More details coming!

Therese

Sewing projects - a cute pencil case and another small quilt

I have a little girl with a birthday coming up so I made her a pencil case with glittery butterfly fabric!  I combined it with black fabric and added a black zipper on the front.  It is the first time that I successfully added tabs on the end of my zipper which makes a neater finish.  I added some new pencils and some funky pencil crayons that have multi coloured leads!  She is going to school this year and taking the bus with her siblings.  She has been waiting a long time for this year!!  

I finished another small quilt top which I worked on more than a month ago.  I added a polyester blanket for batting and a dark green polyester cotton backer which I also used to create the binding.  I like using this technique because it is fool proof!!  I managed my corners better this time around as well so I am improving!!  It measures 35" x 46".  It will be headed to the Linus Project when they are accepting quilts again.  

Therese

Slow Stitching - last buildings on my house panel

This is the last structure on my house panel.  I chose two different blocks of fabric and stitched them up to look like apartment buildings.  It worked very well that they had squares on them.  I have three roofs which indicates that there is a building hiding behind the two that you can see in the fore ground.  All the roofs were done with running stitch each with a bit of a different pattern and texture.  I added Xs in the outer edges of the red building, outlined the windows in navy and then added french knots in between the windows as ornamentation on the building.  I stitched the door as a double door and later went in and added white stitching to some of the vertical and horizontal lines of the building.  I added a little peak in the roof line with white thread and added a little french knot in navy to repeat the ornamentation I had added to the building.  

For the brown building I stitched all the way around then added the little triangles just below the roof line in beige.  I added the four pane windows in navy along with the french knots as ornamentation also in navy.  The door's perimeter was stitched in navy and I used off white thread to add the line in the center to make it a double door.  I also added off white thread to several of the vertical and horizontal lines in the building to add texture and properly secure the pieces to the background.  

A totally fun project and it is good to have a large panel to build a quilt around.   Love how the background looks so much like clouds in the sky.  

Therese

 

Christmas cards featuring embossed backgrounds, a decorative paper strip and watercoloured ornament with ribbon flags

Two more cards featuring embossed snowflake backgrounds!!  I mounted them to red card fronts and added the trimmed strips of decorative paper featuring little gifts I cut from the 12" x 12" sheets I have been using for the last while to make cards.  The ornament images are from Get Drawing.com.  I laser printed the digital images, trimmed them to size, watercoloured and embellished the ornaments with clear glitter, added faux stitching with a black permanent marker and ribbon flags before mounting them to my card fronts using 3D foam tape.  I have manged to get 15 cards made with those two sheets of decorative paper and  have only little tiny scraps left over!!  It has been fun making these cards!!  

Therese

Slow Stitching - fifth little house on my panel

 After a few more searches on line I decided to make a house with interesting perspective - you can see both the side and front of the house.  It was a bit tricky to get all the layers laying down properly so they all met up and did not create jogs in the wrong places. I tacked everything down with small pieces of fusible web once I was happy with how they all were placed.  It sure made it easier to do the stitching because everything stayed where it was positioned.  I ran stitching all the way around the roof and then did one row of running stitch on the inside perimeter.  For the front peak I started on the outside and kept going all the way around until I finished off in the middle.  For the front I added french knots on each polka dot in navy thread.  LOTS of texture there though it does now show very much.  I stitched the door in blue and added a handle and windows in yellow.  I stitched a diamond window above the door in navy and then framed it in yellow.  On the side of the house I added running stitches between all the dots so this piece has a lot of texture as well.  I gave the wide window three panels using brown thread and then added highlights in yellow. The chimney was done in rows of running stitch from the top to the bottom.  It was done first so I was able to add a couple rows below the roof line which will help keep everything secure.  

Therese

Christmas cards featuring decorative paper with stripes, watercoloured Santa image with ribbon flags and faux stitching

 A couple more cards that feature decorative paper from two 12" x 12" sheets I have used for making cards in the last little while.  The backgrounds were trimmed from the sheets and mounted to coordinating  red card fronts. These ones feature cute little Santas from Get Drawing.com.  I laser printed the digital images, watercoloured them, added faux stitching with a black permanent marker along with some ribbon flags and then mounted them my card fronts using 3D foam tape.    Therese

Slow Stitching - fourth little house on my panel

For my fourth house I ended up overlapping two plaid pieces to form the body of the house.  I tried a different roof line and like how that worked.  I ran three rows of running stitch around the perimeter of the roof and body of the house. I used black thread on the roof and red & yellow on the house.  I stitched the outer borders of the windows and then added mullions as well.  I stitched the door in red and added a black handle.  I added a few more rows of yellow on the rows of the plaid and a row of black just under the eaves.  I like how this one is situated into the landscape.  

Therese

 

Thank you card featuring a sanded collaged white core cardstock background, ribbon and a large layered font greeting

We spent almost a week camping up north with my sister and her husband.  They are long time campers and we are just newbies.  It was great to get a chance to visit around the camp fire after supper.  We all made our own food and ate together with social distancing.  I was there to pick blueberries so we spent two afternoons picking and I managed to get the two pails I needed for the winter.  I cleaned my berries and put them in the freezer in the trailer - so nice!!  I came home with a box of crabapples too!! It was our first time of camping together and I wanted her to know how great it was to be there with them.  I started with an envelope from my stash and made a green card to fit inside.  I created a pieced background from white core scraps which I embossed and sanded. Love how it turned out!!  I added a green ribbon across and tied on a little piece of pink gros grain.  I found the round greeting (1.75" punchie SU) and was lucky enough to find a scalloped circle (Nestibilities) in my stash that worked perfectly.  I used a push pin to pierce each scallop and sponged the greeting with green ink before layering them.  I mounted the greeting with 3D foam tape and added one little rhinestone to finish off my card.  

Therese

Christmas cards featuring embossed backgrounds, a decorative paper strip and a watercoloured bird image with ribbon flags

 A couple more cards featuring a strip of decorative paper I trimmed off the 12" x 12" sheets I have been using in the last while to make Christmas cards.  I embossed green cardstock for my backgrounds using a snowflake embossing folder and mounted them to red card fronts.  I added the trimmed strips of little trees and then mounted my images using 3D foam tape.  These cute birds are by MelJens Designs.  After watercolouring the laser printed images I ran my pattern tracing wheel around the edges and added some ribbon flags.  Therese

Thank you card featuring a polka dot background, a little bear (digital) and some bling

My grandchildren sent along some of their creations in a long envelope a few weeks ago. I was so pleased to receive their little gifts that I sent them a thank you card!!!  

I started with a #8 envelope and created a pink card to fit inside.  I pieced the red polka dot paper with a strip of coordinating pink floral to create my background.  I found the little bear (Crea8tive Hands - digital) in my image stash. I watercoloured it to coordinate with my background, distressed its edges and mounted it with 3D foam tape to the top portion of my card.  I found the greeting in my stash, trimmed it to size and then added two little rhinestone blings once it was adhered to my card.  

I have put their art up in the kitchen/dining room so I will see it everyday!!

Therese

 

Slow Stitching - third little house on my panel

I have been slowly working on my Slow Stitching project featuring little houses.  I finished the second house in May and the project has been off and on for the last four months.  I have really enjoyed the process of getting the little houses done.  I stitched along the lines in the roof.  The stitches barely show but it worked well to securely attach it to the background.  I added stitching to the rest of the house using thread that coordinated with the colour of the part and in the end stitched the windows with orange thread which stands out a bit.  I really like how bright the windows and the door are.  It was fun to make a wonky door and add windows to it with thread.  

Therese
 

Christmas cards featuring a decorative paper with strips of images, a large greeting and some faux stitching

I made six cards using these large greetings from Mom Junction. I laser printed the greetings, trimmed them to size and then watercoloured them.  Once they were dry I added glitter using a clear glitter gel pen on several parts of the image and used a black permanent marker to add faux stitching to the edges.   The backgrounds were trimmed from one sheet of 12"x 12" which my sister donated to me during her downsizing.  I mounted the background to a coordinating card front and added the greetings using 3D foam tape to finish off my cards.  I added single panel inserts with appropriate greeting inside.

Therese

 

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

Christmas cards featuring decorative paper with stripes of images, a laser printed greeting and a little snowflake embellishment

I have made another batch of Christmas cards!!  I am on track for getting all my cards done in time to be sent in early December.  I started with two 12" x 12" pages of decorative paper which featured strips of Christmas images which my sister donated to me as she was downsizing her collection of decorative paper.  I worked out the most efficient way to cut the paper to have backgrounds with out having to cut into the strips.  These ones are pieced strips of decorative paper.  I covered over the second row from the top with one I cut off the top of the sheets which had words I did not want on my cards.  I added a strip of dark red with a border punched bottom edge (new to me MS punch) and assembled the pieces using regular tape on the back.  I found these greetings in my stash.  I trimmed them to size, sponges their edges with green ink and mounted them over the dark red strip.  I added little snowflake embellishments which I created using mini snowflake diecuts, sequins and tiny brads.  I added them to my card fronts using 3D foam tape.   It was good to be back in my craft room creating cards.  We are starting into the harvesting season so there are more demands on my time.  

Therese

Anniversary card featuring a lacy heart die cut, a paper collaged background, layered font greeting and some rhinestones

Have been having fun creating paper collage backgrounds with scraps! I simply adhere the scraps to each other using regular tape on the back and then trim to fit on my card.  For this card I started with a large envelope and created a large yellow card to fit inside.  I created a paper collage background and adhered it to my card front.  I die cut the lacy heart in brown, adhered it to a gold piece of cardstock and then fussy cut all the way around.  I adhered it to my card front and then added a little layered font greeting which I flagged at both ends and layered on orange.  To finish it off I added little brown rhinestones to each heart using white glue in a fine tip applicator then set it aside to dry before pressing.  

Therese

Anniversary card featuring a paper collage background, a lacy heart die cut, some embossing and a stamped greeting

For this card I started with a large envelope from my stash and made a brown card to fit inside.  I created a paper collage for my background using paper scraps and regular tape on the back to hold them together.  I trimmed the collage to fit on my card before adhering it in place.  I die cut a lacy heart using one of my new dies - works really well with a thin shim.  I used the next die - a stitched heart - to cut an opening in a piece of brown cardstock and then embossed it with a flourish embossing folder.  I used white glue in a fine tip applicator to adhere the lacy heart to frame the opening.  I layered this focal element over my background and adhered it in place with 3D foam tape.  I stamped the greeting on ivory cardstock, trimmed it to size, flagged the end, layered it onto red cardstock and then ran my tracing wheel over both long edges to add a bit more texture.  I used 3D foam tape to secure it to my card front.  To finish my card I added some red rhinestones to my heart using little dots of white glue.  Works so well to have the glue in a fine tip applicator.  I left it to dry completely before pressing my card.  

Therese

A birthday card featuring layered stamped floral elements, a paper collage background and a digital greeting

For this birthday card I started by creating a white card to fit in a large envelope from my stash.  I created a paper collage using paper scraps and regular tape trimming it to size before adhering it to my card front.  I found these little stamped floral elements in my stash (SU) and watercoloured them to coordinate with my background.  I layered them onto pink squares once they were dry.  I trimmed the laser printed greeting (Desert Diva digital) to the same size as the floral elements, watercoloured it and mounted it to a pink square of cardstock as well.  I played with the layout of all the elements until I was happy and adhered them to my card front using 3D foam tape.  To finish off my card I added five little clear rhinestones to the greeting.  Done!! Love the colours!!

Therese

Exchange card featuring a black upcycled denim feather, black lace and a layered greeting

For my second exchange card I decided to use a black upcycled denim feather which I recently created.  You can check here for more information.   I trimmed a blue green card to fit in my envelope.  I added the decorative paper in two pieces and created a layer to cover where they join.  I started my layer with a strip of bright yellow cardstock and added a length of black lace securing the ends to the back with double sided tape.  I stitched on a length of yellow ribbon before mounting the strip to my card front.  I created a swirl at the top of my feather, placed it over my ribbon and tied a single knot to secure it to my card front.  I added a layered greeting to finish off my card.  My greeting consists of a yellow scalloped circle (Nestibilities), a black circle punchie (SU), a stamped circle greeting all held together with a gold star brad.  I mounted the greeting to my card using 3D foam tape.     Therese

Exchange card featuring a black denim feather, a little birthday greeting tag and washi tape

 This is one of my exchange cards for this month.  It is another I have created using an upcycled denim feather which I created recently.  I am really enjoying making cards with my little fabric feathers!!

For this card I combined a strip of pink cardstock to a piece of blue green using pink and black washi tape.  I burnished it really well so it would hold the two together well.  I trimmed the piece to fit inside an envelope I found in my stash.  I stamped a feather on the pink portion and a harlequin pattern on the bottom section in two different colours and then a worn pattern over that in black to help the card work with my feather.  I created a little tag for my greeting by layering a little oval font greeting punchie sponged with pink to a larger scalloped oval punchie in black.  I punched a small hole, added a gold knotted cord.  I added a swirl to the top of my feather and looked for a way to add them to my card.  I decided on a black ribbon which I attached to my card using a small glue dot.  I pressed the middle of my piece of ribbon to the glue dot and pressed firmly.  I threaded the tag onto one side and then tied the ribbon around the top of my feather.  Done!!  Love these little feathers!!    Therese

All occasion card featuring a wood grain and embossed background, ribbon and a butterfly

 My favorite colour combination is pink and green so I made one of my wood grain backgrounds using those colours.  I embossed it with this rose embossing folder (SU) and then highlighted the raised areas with dark green.  I added a coordinating ribbon and then a little butterfly punchie which I embellished with three little rhinestones.  I am really liking how varied you can get in the colours when creating wood grain backgrounds.  Pretty much anything goes!!!  

Therese

An all occasion card featuring a wood grain and embossed background, ribbon and three die cut leaves

I found the plain die cut leaves in my stash and decided to embellish them a bit before adding them to my card.   They are the Tim Holtz Tattered leaves and I embossed them all with the coordinating embossing folder.  The navy I left as it was, highlighted the brown one with a bit of brown ink to emphasize the texture and the last one was white core cardstock so I sanded it a bit which really brought out the embossing.  It was really nice to have them all look a little different in that they were all the same die cut.  I added a length of white ribbon near the top and then played with the leaves until I was happy with the lay out.  I used white glue in a fine tip applicator to adhere them to my background.  I added a tiny white brad on the stem of the sanded leaf and tied a short piece of kraft cording to it before pressing it all the way down which captured it very nicely.  I mounted my large element to a navy card front to finish off my card.  

Therese