Spooktacular card!!

Another card which is not typical of the cards I usually create!! This one is for the Technique swap - TORN - on Just Cards combined with the challenge on the Created By Hand blog which is OVAL. I was perusing this on line e zine called Crafting Ireland and on page 77 found a card tutorial for a mummy which used an oval and torn fabric!! Just what I needed as inspiration for this card!!

I cut a black oval (NS) and wrapped it with torn strips of white tissue paper. Initially, the strips were about an inch wide but in the end I trimmed them down to about a half inch to be more in scale with my oval. I applied glue to the ends of the strips and started wrapping them around the oval leaving spaces for eyes and a mouth. It looked too ghoulish with just blank spaces for eyes so I decided to use my punches to make some. I started with one large black oval (SU) and glued on a small yellow one. I cut that in half and added the two ends of a large oval with the middle perpendicularly punched out of it using the large oval punch. Unfortunately, I had to use two ovals because one of the ends fell inside my punch!! Who knew there was even an opening there!! So, I now have two pieces of cardstock inside my punch. Yes, two!! I did it again!! I will have the punch doctor (DH) take a look at it and see about extricating the pieces before they get lodged somewhere that interferes with the workings of the punch!! I added the details using a black fine tip Sharpie marker. I eased them under the tissue paper a bit which made them look more real. I mounted this to a purple card front on which I had dawn a haunted house, a cemetery and some bats and added a round punchie in yellow for the moon! I coloured in the details with glitter gel pens - I am loving those!!

Lastly, I added the laser printed spooktacular greeting with mini black brads and the two letter punchies using 3d foam tape!!

Very happy with how this "one of a kind card" turned out!! It was fun to do some hand drawing right on the card and embellish it with the gel pens!!

Therese

Handmade paper swatches!

Handmade paper swatches - all ready to go!! I signed up for a swap where paper makers from everywhere will be sending in little swatches of their handmade papers and one blessed soul will be creating a book for each of us - 56 of us!! There will be page for each sample along with the recipe!! They had scans of previous swatch books and they looked so cool and what a resource!! So I managed to get my papers made, my swatches ready along with all the other required elements like payment and a return address label, put all the elements into a large bubble envelope and sent it on its way yesterday!! Not sure how long it will take to get a book back but I am hoping that maybe by Christmas though it may be the new year if any of the swatches are delayed for any reason! Regardless, I am sure the book will be a feast for the eyes when it finally arrives!!

Therese

Trick or treat card!

Have joined a new card group, Just Cards and the swap info came out this week. I joined four swaps so I thought I would get started!!

I created this card for the Colour Theme Swap - Orange and Black. As my DH just commented - this is not my typical card!! I downloaded the digital stamp from Robin's Art Musings - here!! She has several there including a cat, a spider and a bat!! I laser printed it and cut it out with a round Nestibilities die, coloured it with my "new to Me" Portfolio water soluble oil pastels and mounted it to a black and then an orange scallop circle (NS). I added some stenciling to the top right of the card using some punchanella (thanks, Dale) and the Portfolio pastels. I simply placed the punchanella on the card front, rubbed an orangy red pastel over the surface and took a damp paint brush and washed over the area which nicely coloured the cardstock through the holes! I can see a lot of potential for these pastels!! I washed some colour over my harlequin decorative paper as well to help it coordinate better with the orange scallop. I embossed my black torn strip with a large dot embossing folder and added stitching with a white gel pen. Added stitches to the card and on the diamonds of my decorative paper with a black gel pen. Once the decorative paper and the black strip were glued down I added the plaid ribbon which was the subtle addition of colour that this card really needed. I went "stash diving" to find this cool glittery green wired fuzzy stuff - it was on someone's discard pile at Christmas so I took it home. Perfect to add a bit of glitz to this card!! Final touch was to add some dots on the orange scallop with a glittery black gel pen!!

Really happy with how this card worked out!! I will be submitting it for our weekly challenge on CST which this week is Stitching!!

If you are a Canadian paper crafter consider joining CST - Canadian Stamp Talk. It is a great group moderated by group owner, Nancy from Calgary.

So fun to create without limits!!

Therese

Mail Art

On AFTCM, I signed up for a mail art swap!!

I started by printing the names of the recipients using a nice chunky font and traced them onto the front of my yellow envelopes using a black gel pen. I filled the names in with some doodling, added the address of the person as well as my return address and the postage stamp. Next, I added a border and some doodling in the body of the envelope as well. Once finished with the artwork I started filling in the designs with glittered gel pens in a variety of colours!!

This is my first mail art!! I really enjoyed the process and after I was done I decided to search on line to see what others have done. There is as much difference in mail art as there are artists, though most of the art I found on line was a bit more edgy that what I have done here.

I have added a RAK to the envelopes so they will have a bit of surprise when it arrives in their mail box!!

I enjoyed challenging myself to do something I have never done before!! I have been exposed to mail art online over the years and have received several different examples as well.

Challenge yourself to something you have never done before!! Grow!!

Therese

Fall themed spring card

Made a few more spring cards!! You can find my other spring cards here along with a link to the tutorial. I used 6"x12" to create these cards which makes them 6" square so I will create custom envelopes for them!!

I stamped the rust cardstock with a newspaper background from Impression Obsession which I bought over the summer. Added some distressing around the folds with a dark brown ink pad and added an embossed and sanded piece of decorative white core cardstock. To that, I added a large oval (NS) which I stamped with a text background stamp in beige chalk ink. The leaves were cut using the

TH tattered leaves die - both oak ones. I watercoloured them, dried completely and embossed with clear several times toget a nice glossy finish. Layered these onto the ovals and added raffia bows!! I added a TH ticket strip die cut on the lower flap which I filled with light coloured layers which were stamped with a QF flourish in dark brown. The greeting was printed transparency leftover from a previous project which suited this project perfectly!! I added a small silk flower with a brad and adhered the elements to the top of the bottom flaps so the greetings are hidden by the card front.

Really happy with how these worked out!! I am off to make my envelopes so these can be ready for giving!!

Therese

Challenge Christmas cards

A friend of mine decided to create a challenge!! She cut a whole bunch of these scallop cards using her XL Sizzix die from bright red cardstock and handed them out to 5-6 of us and challenged us to think outside the box and make some cards!! Some were beginner card makers and others have been at it a bit longer and I am probably the veteran. It was a fun challenge and I was super impressed by what the other created - much more out of the box and

creative than I managed to be!! She brought all 23 cards to cardmaking class on Wednesday night and let everyone who was there vote on which one they liked the best. She also had the girls at her workplace vote so we don't yet know who's card came in first but it was fun for all of us to have the chance to create. She has created a prize for the winner - a nice quilted bag.

As you can see, I got started making Christmas cards and just kept

going!! The others were much more broad in their creations - sympathy cards, etc. I also used the cards as is, others added them as a layer on A2 sized cards!!!!!! Those were really nice and that option created so many more possibilities.

Card #1 - A layer of decorative paper to which I added a greeting and some other stamping, some die cut buttons with embroidery thread tied into them, a bit of ribbon and some embellishment to the scallops using a white gel pen.

Card #2 - mini fiber snowflakes attached with glitter glue, large rhinestones, an embossed rectangle on which I layered a stamped greeting!

Card #3 - decorative paper trimmed by hand to reflect the scalloped border, a stamped label embellished with a stamped greeting and 5 petal punch (SU) poinsettia!

Card #4 - decorative paper die cut with an oval with a colour printed winter village scene below it, a bit of ribbon and a stamped greeting layered below the opening.

Card #5 - Lots of piercing, an embossed layer, a glittered tree and a round greeting layered over a die cut bookplate!!'

It was a very fun challenge and I congratulate all the other players for their great cards!! Will let you know if any of the above won or placed at all!! Thanks to Diane for the challenge!!

UPDATE: Just a note to say that Card #4 was the second most voted card in the challenge. One of my friend's card came in first so she decided to award the prize to the next in line which was me!! Here is the wonderful bag that she made as the Grand Prize!!

It is a large colourful bag which is great for all sorts of occasions!! Opens up wide for great access to the contents - I took it shopping on the weekend!!

Thanks, Diane!!

Therese

Cardmaking - September - butterflies!!

I love the little butterfly borders on these cards!! A friend of mine has the punch (MS) and she punched a whole bunch of long borders for me!!

I embossed the background using my newest embossing folder Musical Flourish from Cuttlebug!! When gluing the border to the layer I chose to just lightly tap my glue stick to the back side of it then lightly pressed it to the embossed surface. Swiping the glue stick just adds glue to the holes yielding a messy card front. Added a short piece of ribbon, a colour coordinated stamped and punched butterfly (SU) with a mini black brad and glued the entire layer to my colour coordinated card front. Added a little greeting to one using some 3D foam tape.

Love the contrast between the black and the other colours! Worked well with both the bright or softer pastel colours!!

Have a few swaps to work on so watch for more in the next few days!!

Therese

Cardmaking - September - spring easel

Just love this cool little easel card!! It is created using a tutorial I found at SplitcoastStampers!! You can find the Spring Card tutorial here! They use larger paper but somewhere online I had seen instructions for using a piece that was 8.5" long but when it came time to actually create a sample I could no longer find the tutorial but I did figure it out. You need to use a piece of paper that

is twice as long as it is wide. So I used cardstock that was 4.25" x 8.5" which created a card that is 4.25" square and fits into a regular A2 sized envelope. Using 5.5" x 11" would create a 5.5" inch card and 6" x 12" would yield a 6" square card. So create what works best for you!!
You can see from the top photo that the card stands

very nicely!! You can write a small greeting on the area directly below the image if you pull it open. To get your card to stand you may have to burnish the bottom flap fold very neatly!!

Once you have created the four folds you simply trim off the two top corners of the card to create your diamond shaped front. It took a bit of thinking when creating images for these cards because they had to be on a diamond shape (square on its point). The little teapot is a digital image from CLKER and the flowers are from digital stamp sets that were available from StampinUP during Sellabration last year!!

So a little cutting, foldi

ng, colouring and gluing - the result is a cute little card!!

I really like the easel idea so I may be using it later on for mounting a larger card front!!

NOTE: Here is another spring card I created yesterday! Added clear dimensional paint to the wings!! Love the way it turned out!!

Therese

Cardmaking - September - chalkboard

What a cute little chalkboard card!! It is a real chalkboard!! I created it using some chalkboard sticky backed poster paper I purchased at Michaels. So fun!!

I die cut the frame using the large frame (SX) die though I did fold the cardstock in half before cutting to ensure that the frame would fit the width of the card. The original size is about a quarter inch short. I embossed the die cut frame using the distressed lines embossing folder (CB) which gives it the wood texture I was looking for then rounded the corners. I mounted the chalkboard piece to the back of the frame, removed the backing and adhered the entire element to the front of a white card. I printed the apple and leaf (digital stamp from ABCteach) and cut them out. Created a stem using a scrap of brown cardstock and mounted them all to the card front using 3D foam tape. Added the greeting using chalk!! The cool thing is that it can be erased and a new one written in!! I included a little post it note in the card kit to be included in the card informing the recipient that they can use the card front as a little chalkboard!! Would be cool in a locker or on the fridge for leaving little notes!!

Therese

Cardmaking - September - leaves

Fall is coming!! We get back to our regular schedules - for me that is my regular cardmaking classes!! Great to see familiar faces, some new ones and get back to cardmaking!!

We started the evening with this card. It features an embossed background which I distressed around the edges with my distress tool and also aged with watercolour. I used my Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die to cut the leaves - two of them from my own handmade paper and one from fabric paper which I created earlier this week. I embellished the handmade ones with watercolour to give them a bit more dimension. Layered them onto my embossed layer, added a double knotted raffia accent and glued it to my card front. Would make a great card for a fall birthday or for Thanksgiving!!

The fabric paper was able to withstand a lot of folding and bending as I did my best to not waste any of it when I was die cutting my leaves!! If you are needing sturdy paper for anything, fabric paper is a great option. I have included more information on the fabric paper posting so check it out by clicking the link above!

Therese

Fabric Paper!

I created fabric paper today!! Have been wanting to give this technique a try for a while and discovered it was the Monthly Technique over on Art Techniques so I decided to give it a try today!!

Basically, you are using glue to adhere paper to fabric. Once you have the concept down you can go in so many directions that the sky is the limit as to what you end product is going to look like.

I decided to keep it simple for my first time. I dug into my fabric stash, discovered several medium sized scraps of bed sheet that I had left over from another project and decided to use that as my base. Next, I dug into my collage paper scraps and collected a few pieces - decorative paper, music sheet, book pages, paper napkins, white and coloured tissue paper and a few stamped images left over from previous projects. Rip all your papers into small pieces (2"x3" or so) before you start gluing as your fingers will get all goopy and make ripping paper challenging.

I used glue that DH was prepared to throw out because it had become too thick to use in the shop. You can use any PVA type glue you have. It needs to be watered down so add at least 1 to 1 water. I added more than that because my glue was very thick to begin with. It should be soupy.

Lay a piece of plastic that is larger than your largest fabric piece on your work surface. I used a garbage bag but you can use what you have. This will allow you to remove the fabric paper from the surface once it is dry. Lay your fabric piece down. I started with scraps but I would recommend a piece that is about 12"x12" or so. Smooth out your fabric and start brushing on the watered down glue until your fabric is completely saturated. Now, it is just a matter of laying pieces of paper over the fabric and ensuring it is also saturated with glue. Just keep adding glue as you need it. You can use your brush or your fingers to incorporate your pieces. Once you have covered every inch of fabric with at least one layer of paper the whole thing needs to be set aside to dry!! Fortunately, I have drying racks that I use for my handmade paper which worked ideally for this purpose and my fabric paper dried much more quickly that otherwise. Most people recommend leaving to dry at least overnight to make sure it is completely dry. Your fabric paper is ready to use once it is dry!!

I added stitching to my papers after they were dry. It helps to keep all the layers together and adds wonderful texture as well.

#1 - (top piece) I started by adding a layer of white tissue paper one little piece at a time and overlapping them as I went along. Added some small pieces of music sheet and book page over that. Added some decorative tissue paper, some paper table cloth, some maroon handmade paper and some gold plastic netting (onion bag) and then added some pieces of kraft tissue paper over that.

#2 - (middle piece) I started with a paper napkin ripped in pieces, added pieces of book page, maroon handmade paper, red tissue paper, decorative red tissue paper and kraft tissue paper pieces. Added stitching after it was dry.

#3 - (bottom piece) I started with a flower paper napkin ripped into pieces and added all sorts of flower images from other paper napkins and tissue paper then filled in the holes with ivory/gold paper tablecloth and yellow tissue paper. Added stitching when it was dry.

I am very happy with all the papers I made today!!!!!! Not sure exactly what I will make with them but I expect that at least one or two will end up in my cardmaking class next week!!

You can find instructions by simply doing an internet search for Fabric Paper instructions. Here are a couple of links you can use - CPS , Craft Test Dummies, for more info. Colour can be added during the creation process or afterwards. Stamping and embellishments can be added once it is dry.

This fabric paper is very sturdy so can be used for all sorts of projects - journal covers, collage, 3D projects, etc!!

Have fun!!

Therese

More handmade paper!!

Had a couple of papermaking classes this week!! It is always fun to create with like minded people!

I made up several different batches of paper so there would some variety in the sheets the girls brought home.

You can see the small sheet - 3.25" x 4.5" - perfect for the front of a card but also perfect for tags, book pages or covers, etc.

We made 8.5" x 5.5" in class which is just the size you need to make an A2 sized card - fold and embellish!! Can also be trimmed to create layers on cards, die cut or embossed, etc. I used this size of paper for the covers of my handouts. Check them out here!

To finish up the batches I took out my other vat and large mould and deckle and made large sheets from the leftovers!!

Had a wonderful time and I have a few more sheets to add to my stash of handmade paper!!

Therese

Leaf shrink plastic charms!

Don't you just love Shrink plastic?? It is such a versatile product!! I am involved in a Charm swap on AFTCM and this month we have been challenged to use shrink plastic to create our charms.

I started with black shrink plastic because when it shrinks it just creates a bit of a shadow on your project instead of clear dimension which is hard to disguise when you use the clear shrink plastic.

I used my Big Shot and TH leaf die (SX) to cut my shrink plastic and then I sanded each leaf on both sides.
Usually, I sand before I cut but today I simply forgot but I am glad I did because you can see here that I created a great background image by photographing the "dust" after sanding!! You simply never know where you will find creative fodder, so stay vigilant as you craft for serendipitous art that will just present itself when you least expect it!!

Back to the charms! I trimmed the stems off because they are likely to break off once they shrink to half their size. I also punched a hole (1/8") at the top for the jump ring. I painted them with acrylic paints including some shimmery stuff to help them glitter and be beautiful. I painted one side of each of them, set them aside until dry and then painted the other side to create double sided charms. Once they were all dry I laid them on my heat proof surface (foil over corrugated cardboard), placed the sharp end of a skewer in the hole and heated them with my heat gun - voila!! Little leaf charms!! I did add some Pearl Ex and spray matt finish just to finish them off!!

I have a wonderful little collection of charms which will make a wonderful bracelet!!

These will be on there way to my partner later today!!

Therese

Gate fold - raven

I was on a roll!!

I created another gate fold card for a card swap on AFTCM! I folded the edges to the middle and decided to make this one landscape. Added hand decorated paper to the top flap and another piece to the bottom flap layering in a piece of black ribbon. I tied a short piece of ribbon to the long one to simulate a bow. I embossed a yellow label die cut (SX) on which I layered the raven image which had previously been mounted on black.

Love the colours of this card!!

Therese

Gate fold - Thank you

Two more gate fold cards!! A couple Thank you cards this time. Used colour printed collage images on both, layering them a bit differently.

On the left, I simply layered the collage image on black, added a greeting and layered it again on green. I added the ribbon later by sliding it between the black and green layers, then behind the yellow I layered onto the card front.

On the right, I layered my image onto an embossed blue rectangle and added a colour printed greeting. This element was layered onto an embossed label die cut (SX) which I attached to my layered card front with a couple yellow brads.

It was fun to play with my elements and come up with different layouts!!

Therese

Gatefold cards - ladies!

Created these for a monthly exchange I participate in!! Have not made gate fold cards in quite a while and surprisingly I made five of them today!!

For the first two, I started with the same colour printed collage image and layered it several times - with blue & yellow for the left hand card and green with yellow for the one on the right. Was fun to create two fairly different looks using the same image. Added hand decorated paper to my card fronts once they were folded encasing the vintage seam binding as needed. A little bit of bling was enough to finish them off!!

Therese

Handmade paper booklets

I finished off these booklets this morning!! They are handouts for my papermaking class tomorrow and feature handmade paper covers!!!

I laser printed my pages, layered them between the handmade paper covers, punched the holes using a template and bound them with colourful fibers!!

I am looking forward to my class tomorrow! Have prepped several different batches of paper so the participants will be able to take home several different sheets and really get an idea for the scope of what is possible when recycling paper scraps!!

No doubt there will be a pile of paper to feature here in the next few days!!

Therese

More beeswax!

What is better than one friend and a play date?? Two friends and play date, of course!! We visited with Marg a few days later and brought along our beeswax collage box of goodies and played all day!! I started with this collage which I created on a chipboard coaster - be on the look out at garage sales, etc for these -they are perfect little canvases!! This one was ivory so I just created on the back side. First, I applied some beeswax and layered in a piece of paper napkin that coordinated with the woman's dress and added the script and edging (paper napkin). I cut out and layered in the woman who was printed on cardstock which helped her stand out and not be transparent like the paper napkin images which had been separated into single layers and were very transparent after the application of beeswax. The paper napkin rose and words on bond paper were added afterwards. Again, I applied beeswax to the edges of the coaster and applied gold Pearl EX to the whole thing. Marg suggested buffing with pantihose afterwards and it REALLY makes the whole collage very transparent and shiny!! Really happy with the way it turned out!!
This was my second attempt!! Went with a bit of a steampunk look!! Started with some copper and black mesh from Magenta, added some blue paper napkin over that, then added my cut out collage images - map, tower, clock face over medallion, portrait and little man. This time, I added texture by using a rubber stamp!! I added a pool of wax over the map, heated it with a heat gun until all molten and then placed my stamp into the wax. I had added embossing ink to the stamp - rubbed it into the surface so that all the rubber was covered - before placing it in the wax. When the wax had cooled the stamp came off very easily but you do have to wait for the wax to cool before removing the stamp. Instant texture!! I added a small copper gear as my little 3D embellishement and I was done. Added beeswax to the edges and copper Pearl EX as usual. The Pearl Ex really highlighted the texture I added using the stamp!! A little buffing with the pantihose and I was done!! Really happy with this one too!!

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UPDATE: I finished off this beeswax collage today for submission for an Art Lottery I am participating in!!

I cut a brown circular backer for it and glued it in place with double sided tape and glue to be sure it would stay in place. I punched two holes and set copper eyelets in each one to accommodate a hanger. Added a short piece of black 3/8" gros grain ribbon as a hanger.It finished it off quite nicely!!

Therese

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After a wonderful lunch - Thanks Marg!! I created this little collage. I was experimenting with adding colour using wax crayons and the little mini iron! Works like a darn!! It will take a little practice to get the coloured wax nicely blended and dripped where I want it!!

For my first try, I am happy with the results. Realized as well that elements can be attached with drops of wax - coloured or otherwise. Adding colour takes a bit of planning and is a little harder to remove completely!!

All in all, a great day of projects and learning as you go!! It was great to have others playing at the same time, comparing notes and seeing what others were doing!! I will be relegating a pair of pantihose to my craft room to be used with beeswax. They are a little lonely in the drawer anyway!!

Nights are getting much cooler and the days are comfortable!! The seasons are changing!! So are the trees here and there!!

Enjoy the last bits of summer and play a little with your friends!!

Therese

Beeswax collage - friends

Have been visiting with my friend, Linda!! It is so wonderful to have creative friends that you can have play dates with!! We played with beewax and came up with several collages!!

Here is my first one! I brought along some 4" masonite squares and we started with those. I layered some small collage images - Eiffel Tower, bottle of wine on an elegant table, an old trunk and an old clock face (scrap bin) over an embossed panel and a handmade paper background which were all layered onto the tile using beeswax. We painted our tiles with white gesso before we started to help with the reflection of light through the layers. Really glad we did because it turned out a bit on the dark side because of the elements I used. Finally, I added some words which I layered onto white bond so they would be clearly visible and a copper eyelet to the center of the clock. I like to have at least one 3D element to add a bit of dimension though I was able to add a fair amount of texture to the wax using my little clover leaf mini iron. Once I was happy with my collage I added wax to the edges and highlighted the whole thing with copper Pearl Ex -sides as well. The Pearl Ex really brings out the texture in the beeswax. I had predrilled holes, so it was easy to add a wire hanger and some beads to finish it off!!

I am using a small crock pot to melt my wax and a natural bristle brush to add the wax to my collage pieces and substrate. We used both a heat gun and the mini iron to help encase our elements into the beeswax surface we had created when adding our backgrounds. I am melting ivory beeswax sheets in my crockpot and Linda was using Ranger Beewax in her Ranger Melting Pot with an insert. Both work perfectly well!!

We experimented with coasters next!!

Therese

Christmas - Joy

Still more Christmas cards!!

Embossed white core cardstock with a star embossing folder (Darice) and sanded it! I cut out the inside of the frame using an exacto knife, tied on a white ribbon with a gold tie and backed the hole with white embossed (CB) cardstock.

The joy is a diecut (SX) which I cut from adhesive backed cardstock (release paper facing up), peeled off the backing and sprinkled with red glitter (MS) which I pressed into the adhesive rather than rubbing it in. Pressing gives more of a dimensional look to the glitter - rubbing gives a more reflective quality to the glitter!! I applied glue to the back using a fine tip applicator, gently placed it into the opening and applied only slight pressure to not disturb my glitter. I applied this layer to a red card front!!

This card satisfies this week's challenge on CST - having the sentiment as the main element of the card and Sylvia's August Christmas card challenge - glitter!!

Thrifty Tip: Need a fine tip applicator for white glue?? Use an empty fabric paint bottle with a fine applicator tip!! Works wonderfully!! Have paint left in the bottle?? Create some decorative paper with the paint - squeeze onto paper and distribute with a brush or fingers!!

Therese