All occasion cards featuring photos from calendars

These were my next three cards.  

For the first one I trimmed this wonderful rose photo for a 4" x 6" calendar page.  I created a white card and added this beautiful pink background paper.  I die cut an ironwork border from some green shimmery cardstock and then trimmed it into two pieces.  I trimmed another strip, cut it into two as well  and added my ironwork pieces to each of them with regular tape on the back.  I mounted them on the top and bottom of my card.  I tore a piece of vellum to highlight the rose photo. added some paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel, adhered them to each other and then to my card front.  Love it!!

For my second card, I trimmed out the Wilson Snipe photo for the calendar page and found some paper that really echoed the colours in the photo.  I trimmed out a background and then cut it in half and flipped over the top and used tape on the back to piece them back together.  I added a dark brown strip and added three brads at the top to echol colours from the photo.  I added two strips of coordinating blue cardstock to the back of the photo at the top and bottom.  I mounted the photo to my card using 3D foam tape. 

For my fourth card, I started with a photo of a red winged blackbird.  I created a black card and stamped and clear embossed feathers in the top right and lower left corners.  I found this paper in her stash that perfectly matched the red of its wind.  I stamped both pieces with the feather using scarlet ink - I really like the effect.  I mounted both pieces to opposing corners which allows the ones on the card to show.  I layered the photo with black cardstock and then mounted it over my background using 3D foam tape.   I added three little black circle punchies below the photo.  It has been fun making cards with these wonderful photos.  I have a few more picked out and may get a few more cards made by the end of the week.  Therese

 

Large Christmas cards with fun little buses

 I have made up a few more Christmas cards for my sister with school buses.  

The first one features a kraft coloured card and stitched background paper in red, green and yellow.  I found a greeting in my stash that worked well. I punched stars out of the top portion and then added them to several of the panels in the paper.  To add variety I punched a few smaller stars and added them to other panels.  I did punch a few more from a scrap of the same yellow cardstock as the greeting.  The little school bus (ClipartMax) was printed on white cardstock and fussy cut.  I adhered it to my card front using 3D foam tape in the largest panel along with a few small stars. 

For my second card, I trimmed this bright red and green paper and adhered it to a bright green card.  I embossed a red strip of cardstock and added the greeting with a green brad.  I mounted the strip to my card and then the little fussy cut bus over it using 3D foam tape.  

I will have to be sure to get these to her well before the start of the holiday season!!

Therese

All occasion cards with bird photos

I have made another little batch of cards for my sister with the stash she left here a few years ago.  I have used photos from calendars which another of my sisters, Sylvia, has given us for Christmas over the years.  She takes wonderful photos so it was easy to make cards with them.  

For the first card, I trimmed the photo from the 4" x 6" calendar page and then created a half sheet card from brown cardstock.  I used this orange paper with very subtle stripes for my background and added a wide brown fabric ribbon then mounted it to my card.  I layered the bird photo with a deep yellow layer.  To echo the green in the photo I trimmed a length of green fiber mesh and folded it in half and overlaid it onto the brown ribbon.  I held all of these in place with double sided tape.  I mounted the bird over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  

For my second card, I started with a mallard duck image trimmed from a 4" x 6" calendar page and then created a dark green card.  I found a speckled paper which echoed the colours in several areas of the photo.  I layered a black strip of cardstock over a green one, added paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel, adhered it to my background and added a large white brad to the left hand side.  I mounted this large element to my card.  I layered the photo with a piece of black handmade paper with a deckled edge on one side.  I mounted this element to my card using 3D foam tape.  

Very happy with how these turned out!!  Therese

 

All occasion cards with school buses and fun squiggly decorative paper

 For my last two cards for this card making session I made two cards with black and white images of this great bus (Colouring Page) and used the same fun squiggly lined paper with words.  For the first one, I used two pieces and added a gray dotted paper in between letting some of the black card show through.  I added a black border to my image using a large tip Sharpie marker and then added it to my card using 3D foam tape.  I added two little chevron punchies which adds just a spot of colour to my card.  

My second card features the bus layered on black and mounted over the black strip I added between the two papers using 3D foam tape.  I added three clear rhinestones to the left hand edge of the strip.  Perfect!!

Therese

All occasion cards with school buses and decorative papers

 Another couple cards with school buses.  I started with a half sheet red card.  For my background I combined a decorative paper with pinwheels and an embossed strip with I sanded to reveal the white core.  I also border punched it with scallops and paper pierced each one.  I embossed a burnt orange piece of cardstock and adhered it over where the paper met.  The school bus (Colouring Page) was watercoloured, layered onto green and then added to my card using 3D foam tape.  

The other card features that fun squiggly paper with words.  I created a half sheet black card, added the fun background paper and a black strip which I fish tailed.  I layered the bus with a red rectangle and mounted it to my card front.  I like the sketchy look of this image!! 

Therese

All occasion cards with school buses and decorative paper

Another couple of cards for my sister's stash!!  I started with a half sheet black card.  I created a background by combining a piece of decortive paper to an embossed piece of green white core cardstock which I sanded a bit to highlight the texture.  I added two strips of decorative paper - an orange one over a yellow one and flagged one end.  I adhered this strip over my background.  The bus (Colouring Page) was watercoloured, layered with green cardstock and then mounted to my card usign 3D foam tape.  

My second card started with a half sheet card in blue.  I added a background full of fun strips with dotted center lines.  I added an embossed orange strip which a fish tailed on one end.  The bus (Colouring Page) was coloured with colour pencils and highlighted with a glitter pen on the windows and the chrome.  I trimmed a green layer which I border punched on the bottom with this dotty chevron pattern.  I added an embossed line with my score tool.  The image was distressed on its edges, paper piercing was added on all four sides with my pattern tracing wheel.  It was adhered to the green layer and this focal element was added to my card using 3D foam tape.  

Therese

 

All occasion cards featuring buses and layered decorative papers

These are for my sister.  She owns a small fleet of school buses and wanted cards that reflected her business so I printed up this school bus (Colouring page) on white cardstock.  I trimmed them out of the letter sized sheet and went looking for paper.  

For the first card I created a black card and added a yellow layer of paper.  I trimmed the fun scribble paper with words on it to be just a bit smaller leaving a small margin all the way around before adhering it on my card.  I trimmed a strip of red cardstock and layered on a strip of gray dotted paper which was my next layer.  I trimmed out a green layer for my bus image (Colouring Page), border punched the bottom, embossed a line above it with my score tool and then adhered my image.  The image was watercoloured and then I ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four edges then adhered it to my green layer.  This large element was adhered to my card using 32D foam tape.   

For my second card I created a white card and adhered my background to it.  I stamped a strip of coordinating green cardstock with little bubbles and adhered it to my card.  I trimmed my image and layered it onto a navy piece of cardstock after chalking the image.  I punched the bottom edge with my scallop punch (SU) and used a 1/16th inch punch to add a hole to each scallop.  There was just enough room to add a strip of orange over the scallops.  I mounted my large image layer to my card front over the green strip using 3D foam tape.  

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring die cut leaves, seam binding and some brads

This card echoes one I made earlier and makes use of a piece of brown cardstock from which I had previously die cut a leaf (TH).  I trimmed it to size for my card and added a piece of green swirly paper in behnd which gave me a green leaf.  I added a length of vintage green seam binding and three little antique coloured brads before adhering it to my oatmeal coloured card.  I found the other leaf in my stash which was die cut from a subtle hand decorated paper.  I like how it contrasts with the green and brown and yet is not too stark.  Again, another all occasion card which works as well for a birthday or condolences for someone who has had a loss.  Therese
 

All occasion card with fun shoe paper, pink and aqua colour scheme and a fussy cut gift

This is my fourth card featuring this wonderful gift (Artful Stamper) which  stamped a while back when I was making this card.  I cut a large card and adhered this fun shoe paper to it.  Love those shoes!!  I created an embossed aqua strip of cardstock and a shimmery pink paper strip.  The pink strip was trimmed with scallop decorative scissors and paper pierced with a push pin in each scallop. I added a little length of pink ribbon to the aqua strip before adhering it to the pink one.  I tied another short length to it with a single knot to simulate a bow.  I adhered this embellishment to my card.  I watercoloured the fussy cut gift (Artful Stamper) to coordinate with my card.  

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a bright background, ribbon and a layered floral focal element

This card started with the little floral element which I punched from stationery.  I added another circle punchie that incorporated the colours of  the image and then added a purple scalloped circle (SU).  I found a piece of yellow cardstock on my desk which worked well with the flowers so I dug through my purple stash of scraps to see if I could find something that worked.  I found this colour printed decorative paper which worked really well.  I trimmed it to have a wide margin and adhered to the yellow layer then ran my pattern tracing wheel around all four edges to add some paper pierced texture.  I added a length of purple ribbon and adhered this large layer to my dark purple card front.  I used a push pin to pierce the scallops of my layered focal element and mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape.  A nice cheery card for any occasion!!  Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a floral panel, ribbon and a teal flower embellishment

 This card inspired me to use the most colours I have probably ever used on any one card.  I started with the focal element - decorative paper on a burgundy layer.  I found the peach paper next and added a little strip of yellow on the bottom (it coordinates better than it appears on this photo) which I cut with deckle decorative scissors and then paper pierced with my pattern tracing wheel.  I added the burgundy ribbon next and adhered my background to my green card.  I auditioned my focal element and was inspired to add an aqua flower with a silver brad and then two hand cut green leaves.  That was enough, I adhered my layered focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  It is much easier to combine colours if you have something in your design to guide you as in the piece of decorative paper for this card.  It is similar to decorating a room using a piece of art - if the piece of art works so will the room!! Therese

All occasion card in red, white and black, a bit of ribbon and a fussy cut gift

It has been fun making large cards again.  I am making half sheet cards for my sister who has a stash of large envelopes.  

I started with a red card and then cut two pieces of coordinating red and white papers to create my background which I adhered to my card. I embossed a black strip with large polka dots (CB), added a length of red ribbon before adhering it to my card front.  I tied another short piece of ribbon to the one on the strip with a single knot to simulate a bow.  I watercoloured the fussy cut gift (Artful Stamper) to coordinate.  I added it to my card using 3D foam tape.  

Therese
 

All occasion card featuirng a few little bluebirds, some embossed flagged strips and ribbon

 Little birds on all occasion card allow a person to quote "A little bird told me...." in the beginning of their greetings inside.  These little birds (Pixabay) are colour printed and trimmed to size.  I chose a green card that coordinated with the subtle colours in the image and found a background that worked the same way.  I trimmed out to strips of cardsock that coordinated, embossed them and then flagged their ends.  I added the ribbon after adhering the background and element so I used double side tape on the ends and trimmed them to the edge of the card.  I tied a short length of the same ribbon to the one on the card to simulate a bow.  To finish off my card I adhered my focal element to my card using 3D foam tape.  I really like this image and have used it many times - the joy of digital stamps and images.  Therese

All occasion card featuring a leather leaf, an orange paper pierced frame and some fun fabric paper

Another all occasion card for my nephew's birthday.  He has had a bit of a go with his health and I wanted him to know we have been thinking of him.  He is back to work feeling better now.  

I started with a beige card and added the very autumnal fabric paper to it using white glue in a fne tip applicator.  I trimmed out a frame (Nestibilities) and then used Deckle decorative scissors to give some detail to the outside edge.  Next, I added some paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel.  I used my wood burning tool to add details to the leather leaf (TH), added a short piece of twine to the stem and then adhered it inside the frame using double sided tape.  

It is on its way tomorrow!!

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring die cut wild flowers, a torn strip of paper and ribbon

Another card using some wildflower die cuts (TH)!  The pink one was in my stash and I die cut the other two from some hand decorated paper with a very subtle pattern.  I trimmed my background to size, added a torn strip of green paper and then a pink ribbon.  I adhered this to a tan card.  The wild flower stems were tucked under the strip/ribbon and adhered in place with white glue applied with a fine tip applicator.  I like the subtle contrast and the bit of texture provided by the die cuts.  

Therese
 

All occasion card with pink, yellow and orange paper, black strips embellished with rhinestones and lots of bling

Another card for my sister.  I love this bright decorative paper with pink, yellow and orange!  Works so well for this card.  I made a half sheet card in deep rose red and cut three pieces of coordinating paper which I pieced for my background.  I covered the joints in the papers with black strips of cardstock and then embellished them with a row of clear rhinestones.  The gift (Artful Stamper) was stamped a while back when I was making these cards.  I fussy cut the image and then watercoloured it to coordinate with my background.  

Therese

 

Baby card featuring a polka dot background, some ribbon and a watercoloured horse

The polka dot background on this card is a piece of packaging!!   I am always inspired to save pieces of paper to incorporate into my cards.  It is fun and sometimes not even much of a challenge as in this case.  I trimmed the polka dot piece to size and added a yellow ribbon and then adhered it to a white card.  I found this little horse (Beccy's Place) in my stash and watercoloured it to coordinate with my background. I punched the left hand side with a scallop border punch (SU) and then added an embossed line with my score tool.  I layered it with another piece of aqua cardstock (CB - Swiss Dot) to help cover the printing and tied on a short length of the same ribbon to the one on my card to finish it off.  A great baby card or one for a young child!!

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a triad of leaves on a plaid background with a bit of twine

For this card I started with the background which is a panel reused from a larger card.  I trimmed it to size, distressed its edges and then for yet more texture I ran my pattern tracing wheel around all four edges.  I punched two small holes near the top edge and threaded some twine into them and tied the ends off on the front.  I added some lines of texture to my leather leaf die cut (TH) with a wood burning tool.  I love how well that works!!  I layered it over two other die cut leaves (TH) - a brown textured brown one and a smooth navy blue one.  I adhered the blue leaf to the brown one and then added some white glue in the area that would be hidden by the leather leaf and put it in place.  I adhered this trio to the background tucking the stems under the twine.  To finish off my card I adhered this large layer to the front of a brown card.  

Therese
 

Slow Stitching - Cat squares - Q2, Row 4, Squares 1-5

My fourth row of cat squares for Quilt 2

 

All occasion card with decorative paper, an embossed strip and a watercoloured gift

I made a few more cards for my sister from the supplies she left here a few years ago.  

I created a blue half sheet card and cut a striped  decorative paper background.  I cut a strip off the side of my background, flipped it and used regular tape on the back to attach them back together.  I embossed a strip of gray cardstock with a polka dot (CB) embossing folder and highlighted the dots with silver ink then touched the sides with black.  I adhered the strip over where the papers joined.  I fussy cut the gift (Artful Stamper) and watercoloured it to coordinate with my background.  I had stamped a few of these when I was creating cards a few weeks ago.  You can check one of them out here.  

I have a few more to show you over the next few days so come back and check them out.  

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a lace panel, some vellum and a layered butterfly

I started with the butterfly sticker when creating this card.  I adhered it to a silver die cut butterfly adding 3D foam tape below its wings to give it some dimension.  Next, I chose this piece of green lacy fabric and adhered the butterfly to its center.  I chose a blue card to coordinate with the butterfly's wings and eventually found this chevron paper which had several colours in common with the butterfly.  I added a layer of torn vellum over the background before adding my focal element.  I have two other pieces of this fabric so I look forward to experimenting with them as I created cards with them.  I will have to find some papers with this green - it is somewhat unusual!!

Therese
 

Anniversary card featuring a cute little house with a green spring and a gold and red heart

This card is for my son's second anniversary!!  Their daughter is coming up to a year old.  She is very curious and is interested in everything.  We are fortunate to get a lot of photos and videos so we feel like we know her though due to restrictions we have yet to travel to see her!!  This too will pass!!

I started with the red and gold heart.  I die cut two - red and gold  - and interchanged the pieces.  I used regular tape on the back to keep them together.  I die cut the little house (TH) from tan cardstock and embossed it with the Distressed embossing folder (CB) and then sponged on several colours of brown ink to highlight the texture.  I added the brown strips to create the roof.  I used a greenery die to cut the sprig for the front. I was able to add a bit of a curve when I glued it into place which gave me just the perfect place for my little heart.  I used a dark brown scrapbook paper for my background, embossed it with leaves (CB) and then sanded the embossing to highlight the texure.  The contrast was a bit to stark so I sponged on a little green ink to tone it down a bit.  Finally, I added several tracks of paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel and then adhered it to my red card.  I added the little house to the left and it was done!!  Therese
 

Cards for a gift - embossed leaves and dragonflies with ribbon and decorative paper

I made these four cards as a gift.  I took inspiration from the last set of cards I made and used a large element on a layered decorative paper background.  I added either a strip of cardstock or a ribbon over where the papers join.  I used ivory card bases for all the cards.  The leaf and dragonfly stamps are from Magenta and were gold embossed, fussy cut and then watercoloured to coordinate with the backgrounds. It helps to have a sketch when making a set of cards. They look like them belong to each other even when the colours and papers are very different.  I have really rediscovered some of my stamps of late and am enjoying using them again.  

Therese

Slow Stitching - Cat Squares - Q2, Row 3, Squares 1-5

My third row in Quilt 2.  Therese

 

Another set of cards featuring butterflies

I have made these note cards as a gift for our new pastor.  I decided to use some butterfly stickers from my stash and chose to make them all in a similar design - two decorative papers, a strip of cardstock and the butterflies layered onto a scallop circle.  I chose the papers from my stash of scraps to coordinate with the butterflies so it gave a good variety of colours for this set of cards.  If he is not one to send cards then he will have a gift for someone who does.  

Therese

 

Welcome card

 We have a new pastor in our community and I made this card to welcome him!!  The little houses are fussy to assemble but look so very cute!!  I backed the openings with little tiny pieces of cardstock or vellum and then mounted them to little tags of a different colour to provide some contrast and definition to the structures.  I created my background using a strip of embossed blue cardstock for the sky, an embossed strip of green for the landscape below and a combinations of green strips for the front for grass.  I tucked the houses just a tiny bit behind the bottom strips and then punched the letters from black cardstock and used white glue in a fine tip applicator to add them to the card front. We have to count our blessings everyday!!  Therese

All occasion card with a layered collage butterfly, embossed vellum and a floral decorative paper

Another card to add to the stack I am amalgamating for my friend.  I started with a light blue card, added a coordinating floral background, and then a piece of embossed vellum.  For my focal element I chose a butterfly I stamped a few days ago while I was creating another set of cards which coordinated nicely.  After fussy cutting it I distressed the edges.  I found a scrap of green cardstock that worked well and trimmed a piece with a little extra room to the right hand side.  I punched the edge with a scallopy border punch and then embossed a line with my score tool.  After layering them I mounted this butterfly element to my card using 3D foam tape.  It is a message that we all can find comfort in as we face the challenges in our lives.  

Therese
 

Slow Stitching - Cat squares - Q2 - Row 2, Squares 1-5

This is the second row for Quilt 2.  Therese

 

All occasion card featuring diecut wild flowers (TH), ribbon and three dots

The colour combination for this card was inspired by the polka dot red and pink paper from which I cut some of the wildflowers (TH).  It has a shade of blue green on the back of it so I decided to layer some hexagonal blue green paper onto red for this card.  After trimming a piece to size I added a length of ivory gros grain ribbon near the bottom securing the ends to the back using double sided tape before adhering it to my card.  Next, I die cut several of the same wildflower (TH) from some of the scrapbook paper and three different red cardstocks from my stash.  To get the change in direction in the flowers I used the back of the die cut.  They have a bit of a different texture and the edges are less rounded - it provides a bit of variety.  I simply tucked them behind the ribbon and used white glue applied using a fine tip applicator to adhere them to the background.  I added three little red circle punchies to the ribbon to finish off my card.  Therese