A card from a kit with a few extras

I created this card using supplies from a card kit I created for this class.  In the process of creating it I was inclined to include a few extras such as adding strips both above and below the greeting, sponging the edges of the laser printed greeting as well as using 3D foam tape to highlight it and embellishing the leaf with clear dimensional paint!!  These fun upgrades created a unique card that has a bit more texture than the original.
It was fun to add a few more touches to this card from a kit.

Therese

Mother's Day cards reusing calendar photos

Both of these cards feature my sister's photography!!  She creates 4" x 6" calendars every year that feature her photos and I always get one for Christmas which sits on my desk all year long.  These photos are both from one of her flower ones from several years ago.  I trimmed the photos from the calendar pages and mounted them to coordinating cardstock layers which I had embossed with border embossing folders (SU).  I used the coordinating border die to cut the bottom edge of the pink one.  I could have done the same on the other but I had not left enough room to make that work.  I added coordinating ribbon across this layer gluing the ends to the back with double sided tape.  I added a little sponged tag greeting on the blue one with a silver brad and tied on a piece of white fiber which I tied in a bow.  On the left hand one, I used a punched greeting created using a digital frame (SU) with a font greeting in the center.  I punched a circle to fit the circle size and sponged some pink ink into the center after placing the hole over it.  I placed the punchie over this area and sponged green ink all the way around the edges.  I added some clear rhinestones over the circle then mounted the greeting over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  I glued these large elements to coordinating card fronts.  Love how these turned out!!  

Therese

Mother's Day cards created from renovated card fronts

These cards reuse card fronts though there was a bit more work involved than just layering.
For the top one I trimmed the image using a decorative label (SU) then I trimmed off the sides as they were distracting from the heart image.  I used my handmade stamp positioner to stamp a greeting (SU) on the lower right hand side.  I added a pink silk ribbon and tied on a short length with a single knot to simulate a bow. I layered this element to the back portion of the card which featured pink stripes.  Fortunately it covered a printed panel at the same time.  I trimmed that out and layered it to blue cardstock then to an off white cardstock layer before gluing this whole element to a pink card front.  I did distress the outer edges of the blue and off white layers with my distress tool (SU).  Happy with this card!
The lower left hand card, I trimmed out the framed floral element then cut out two of the embellished corners from the card.  They fit perfectly side by side on my pink card front!! I did add a pink ribbon before adhering the floral image in place.  I used a laser printed digital image (SU) of a label to which I had added a greeting for my greeting.  The printed greeting was h I die cut with the smaller version of the one I used above.  I punched a hole that coordinated with the center portion of the greeting and sponged some pink ink in the hole.  Next, I covered this area with the punchie and sponged all the way around with ink until I was happy with the colour.  I mounted it over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.
The right hand card below had a butterfly with a clipped wing on the right hand side once I had trimmed the floral image to fit my yellow card front.  I decided to trim it just a bit more so I could add a dark brown layer in between which highlights the punched border (SU) I had added on the bottom edge.  To cover up the butterfly I trimmed a printed greeting with my decorative label punch (SU) and then I punched an orange one to highlight it.  I layered them, trimmed the right hand side and then added a little yellow bow using heavy thread which I tied on.  Once I glued it in place I glued this layer to the brown one and stitched around the edges avoiding the floral elements which were very close to the edge.  To finish off my card I glued this large element to my yellow card front.  

My stash is growing and I am loving the cards I made!!  

Therese

Mother's Day cards from card kits

I made up these two card from card kits that I have on hand from a while back.  For both of these, I cut the decorative paper twice - once vertically, once horizontally though I did angle the second one a bit which created a different effect.  The pieces are glued to the layer leaving a bit of room between them and all around the edges then it is glued to the coordinating card front.  Both of these have layered greetings created from round digital images.  The round greeting image is one I found on The Spruce.  I added a silk flower and some leaves with a sequin and brad to the one on the left which I had laser printed as is. On the right hand one, I digitally added a little flower digital image from Meljens Designs before laser printing and watercolouring it.  I sponged both with a bit of colour before layering them onto coordinating scalloped circles which I cut using Nestibilities.  I added dots on the pink one using a silver gel pen.  Cards from kits is always very quick because part of the work is already done!!  Nice to have a few of those on hand.        

Therese

Mother's Day cards created reusing card fronts

Mother's Day is coming and I am preparing a few cards for my stash.  I decided to see how many I could make reusing old card front which have been donated to me.  

For the first card I trimmed out a floral element then gold embossed a greeting on the lower left, added a pink foil layer and glued this large element to a light blue green card.  I added a beautiful pink silk ribbon gluing the ends to the inside of the card and tied on a short length with a single knot to simulate a bow.  I slit the spine of my card to insert my ribbon before gluing.  

For the right hand card, I pretty much repeated the process.  I trimmed the beautiful rose image, silver embossed a greeting, added a silk ribbon with a simulated bow and glued this large element to a coordinating red card front.  

For the center card it was a bit more complicated.  Once I had trimmed out the floral image there remained some writing on the top right hand side so I created a "patch" that coordinated, layered them and punched both layers at the same time.  Next, I positioned my patch in the opening and taped it into place on the back.  I added a small silk flower over the area and secured it with a rhinestone brad.  Next, I wanted to add a ribbon down the right hand side so I removed the flower/brad and ran the ribbon between the tines of the brad and reassembled the embellishment.  I glued the ends of the organza ribbon to the back of the layer and tied on a short length to simulate a bow.  Like how that worked out!!  I had no greetings that would fit in the open spaces so chose to punch a hole and mount a small sponged greeting to the back instead.  I added dots all the way around using a silver gel pen.  I glued this large element to a coordinating light blue green card front.  

Some times reusing a card front takes more time than creating from scratch but it is nice to be able to reuse those beautiful images.  

Therese

A few more Easter cards

 I made up a few more Easter cards for my stash!!  These two were created using one used greeting card with beautiful crocuses on it.  I cut around the crocuses from the front of the card and layered it on an embossed purple card front and added a layered punchie greeting.  

For the second card I used the image on the inside of the card and trimmed it to size.  I added a yellow organza ribbon to which I tied a short length with one knot to simulate a bow.  I glued this large element to a purple card front.  I added a laser printed layered punchie greeting to the lower right.   

For this card, I layered two coordinating pieces of decorative paper to a purple card front and overlaid a white ribbon where they met.  I cut a slit in the spine of the card with my slot punch (SU) so I could insert my ribbon before gluing both ends to the inside of my card with double sided tape.  I stamped an Easter greeting in dark green (SU) and punched it out with a 1.75" punch (SU) and then layered it onto a purple scalloped circle which I cut with my Nestibilities.  I sponged the edges of my greeting before gluing it to my circle and then adhered this element over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  I love this crocus paper!! Reminds me of heading out in the spring with my aunts on the farm to find the wild crocuses!!

Therese

A couple Mother's Day cards with reused elements

I made a couple of Mother's Day cards to add to my stash!!
For the one on the left, I started with a pink card front.  My next layer was trimmed from a used card.  I added half of a white paper doily and covered the edge with a strip sitting on my desk that was trimmed from a used card which I stitched in place with my sewing machine.  I added this beautiful collage element tag which was a RAK in a previous swap on a light blue organza ribbon gluing the ends to the back of the layer with double sided tape.  I added a couple pieces of tape in behind so it would stay in place.  I glued this large element to my card front and finished my card with a round watercoloured circle punchie greeting (Desert Diva).  I like the shabby chic look of the vintage image with the lace and ribbon.
For the card on the left I stared with a trimmed layer from a used card which I embossed only on the left hand side avoiding the beautiful gold edge on the bottom.  I layered it onto pink and then onto a light pink card.  For my focal element I started with a small colour laser printed floral element (Pixabay) to which I digitally added a greeting using a font.  I layered it onto green and tore of the bottom.  Added a little piece of white fiber which I tied on the front with a double knot and then layered onto pink which I also tore on the bottom.  I glued this on my card front on the left hand side to cover writing from the original card.  Pretty happy with both of these cards!!
Mother's Day will be here faster than we expect!!

Therese






pab plus a font
desert diva greeting

A beautiful thinking of you card that features a butterfly embellishment

I started this card with the butterfly!  It is a plastic magnet with beautiful colour and detail. Love it!!  I cut off the magnet and it made the perfect embellishment for this card.  The orange background is two triangles of scrap stamped cardstock which I adhered together using handmade faux washi tape and it was the perfect colour to coordinate with the butterfly!!  I added this yellow cardstock paperclip which I die cut a while back and has been sitting in my stash.  It was the perfect colour as well.  I glued the back of the paper clip to the orange layer then adhered my butterfly with two little strips of 3D foam tape which gives it great dimension!!  I dug through my serendipity stash and found this decorative paper which worked nicely so I trimmed off a piece and adhered it to my brown card front after I had embossed the right hand edge.  I added my butterfly focal element over that and finished off my card with a layered punchie greeting.    Worked out so well and I love the deep rich colours!!         Therese

A light house birthday card with LOTS of texture

Had a whole lot of fun with this card!!  I received an art postcard from my aunt just after Christmas because she received my exchange gift on Christmas Day.  She is an artist and this was a cool postcard made up from art of a friend of hers.  I saved it because it was cool!!  I have been sort of brainstorming how to best use it and today I figured it out!!  I trimmed it to size and then embossed it with a gears embossing folder.  Next, I sanded it which very quickly really gave it lots of texture!!  I was going to colour wash it as well but in the end decided not to.  I went looking for an image to use with it and found this paper in my serendipity stash which I thought would work pretty well so I trimmed it and stamped it with a light house (Class Act ) and a birthday greeting (SU) in black ink.  Very happy with that!!  I lightly colour washed the image and the background of the greeting before tying on a short piece of twine with a double knot.  I added a piece of torn vellum to my postcard background and then adhered it to a brown card front.  I added my lighthouse focal element over it using 3D foam tape.
I really love how it worked out!!!    Therese

Watercolour and white embossing resist on watercolour paper

My grand daughter was visiting this week and we spend some time in the craft room.  She was working on her own projects so I got started on a technique that I have been wanting to revisit - white embossing resist!!  I discovered some small sheets of watercolour paper in my stash a while back and thought they would work very well for this technique which I have been seeing on Splitcoast Stampers lately.  I started with a couple of small clear stamps that have not seen much,  if any use.  I stamped them with Versamark on the small sheets of watercolour paper and embossed them with white embossing powder. I added a greeting (SU) under the floral swirl and embossed it as well.   I used regular palette watercolours on the left hand one by simply applying several colours with a very wet paintbrush until I was happy with the look of it.   For the second one, I used distress inks applied to a craft sheet, spritzed with water and laid the paper in the puddle.  I kept dipping until I was happy with the look!!  Once dry, I trimmed the sheets neatly and stitched them to coordinating layers (4" x 5.25") using my sewing machine. Next I layered them onto coordinating card fronts.  I finished off the left hand one with star punchies which I painted with pearly acrylic paint and I used colourful sequins on the other one.  Very happy with how these turned out and I will be using them for my exchange cards for my partners this month.    Therese

Serendipity backgrounds

My grand daughter was visiting this week and we made some quiltie serendipity backgrounds with the scraps I had sitting on my desk from last week's class.   She managed over 20 and I had just over a dozen!!  It was nice to be just gluing paper down on old card backs and spending time together even if not much was being said.  She has already used one of hers on a card!!  I will put mine in my stash and I am sure they will emerge shortly in my next few cardmaking sessions!!               Therese

Tulips for a get well card

I colour printed several of these tulip tags from Graphics Fairy when I was printing images for other cards a few days ago.  They are really cute and came in a sheet with several other Easter images.  I trimmed the image to the edge of the design, ran a marker around the edge and then ran a brush full of water all the way around it and it created an automatic colour wash of the edge!! The versatility of waterbased markers!!  I found this nice polka dot paper which coordinated nicely so I trimmed out a piece and glued it to a red card front.  I inserted a piece of red organza ribbon through the hole in the tag and then glued both ends to the inside of my card snipping a slot on the spine for it using my slot punch (SU).  I adhered my tag to my card using 3D foam tape and added a laser printed layered punchie greeting (SU)  just below it to finish off my card. It is a springy card which will work nicely to cheer someone who is under the weather.

Therese

Be you card featuring a colour washed paper doily

A "for any reason card" embellished with a graphic from a sheet of Adorn It scrapbook paper. My sister gave a selection of them to me for my birthday a couple of years ago and I am working on using them up.  They are very beautiful and the paper is good quality so they take watercolour very nicely!!  I trimmed the image, watercoloured the flowers and words and layered it onto a decorative paper that featured roses and pearls which I have always thought was very beautiful. I embossed my dark green card front with a corner embossing folder (SU) doing it twice to get both corners that would be showing once I glued on my colour washed paper doily.  I have some smaller pieces from broken plates for my Big Shot which allow me to selectively use certain areas of an embossing folder or die and in this case allowed me to get both corners embossed with two passes without debossing any of the other area.  Fun!!  I glued my paper doily in place and trimmed off what went over the edge of my card.  I added a length of shimmery organza ribbon over the doily gluing both ends to the inside with double sided tape.  I then mounted my focal element using 3D foam tape which nicely finished off my card.    Therese

Leather leaf embellishment from reused leather

I have been collecting leather to make die cuts for cardmaking and recently I finally cut the pieces up and die cut as many leaves and acorns as I could out of them.  They were both dark brown - a tanned leather wallet and a pair of suede slippers both beyond being used any more.  I got a whole bucket full and I am looking forward to creating with them.
For this card, I started with the leather leaf and created a background for it from light brown cardstock which I embossed (TH-SX) and colour washed around the edges.  I added a small piece of double sided tape to keep it in place and then used my sewing machine to stitch it in place all the while giving it veining detail!! I tied a small piece of twine to the stem.   Next, I went looking for a background in my stash and found this piece of paste paper in dark brown which I made years ago which really worked with my leaf.  I trimmed a piece and layered it onto green. I glued my leaf embellishment into place then added two brown mini brads - top and bottom. Next, I glued this large element to a black card front and to finish it off I added a colour washed Decorative Label (SU) greeting punchie!!  Very happy with how this one turned out and I look forward to more with my little stash of leather embellishements.       Therese

Art Quiltie with a locket and key with hidden quotes

I am participating in an Art Quiltie swap on my fabric postcard group!!  I have really enjoyed creating these little works of art and this one was no exception!!
I started with the folded fabric points which I found in my fabric stash after I moved a few years ago. I do not recall exactly which project I was working on at the time of their creation but I have a little baggie of them.
I chose 8 of them - 4 blue, 4 red and then found a 4" x 4" precut floral square in a coordinating yellow which I used for the front of my quiltie.  I positioned the points around the edge and stitched them in place with a line of machine stitching very close to the outside edge.  I thought I was being very careful in laying them out but I see that they are all off a bit at the points which I did not notice until much later in the process.  I could not undo at that point so it is how it is. I cut a piece of batting and stitch it to the front by folding back the points and stitching as close to the first seam as I could.  On hindsight it might have been better to do that seam first but I did not have that vision before I started.  I hand lettered some quotes onto fusible fabric label tape and adhered them below the points.  I stitched one of  my fabric collage into the center, finished adding the quote in fabric label and stitched on a small locket and key charms.  Next, I chose a yellow tiny gingham fabric square (4.5") for the back of my quiltie.  I added fusible webbing to the edges, positioned my quiltie to the wrong side, folded the edges over the front and fused them in place.  That finished off the edges very neatly.  Wanting to add a bit of hand stitching I did blanket stitch all the way around using dark blue crochet thread.  Once finished I thought a few beads would be nice as well so I added yellow, red and blue beads (seed & longer ones) all the way around using light weight yellow crochet thread.  That finished it off nicely and gives it a handmade look!!  It is off to my partner as we speak!!  I hope my partner will find the quotes on the inside front below the petals!!  A bit of creative fun!!

Beautiful cross on an Easter card

An Easter card with a beautiful cross!!  This image is from Art by Jean and she has a wide variety of beautiful images for download on her blog including backgrounds!!
I colour printed the cross on ivory cardstock and layered it onto a blue green cardstock.  I used a blue green card, added a yellow background paper to which I had adhered a lacy die cut and embossed border (SU) which was colour washed with yellow watercolour to tone it down a bit.  I glued the background to the card, adhered my focal element and then added a layered laser printed punchie greeting.
I really like that the darker edge of the decorative paper creates the sense of a line in the design and putting the cross askew a bit allowed my greeting to nest into one of the scallops.  Perfect!!

Therese

Easter lilies in deep colours

Here is another Easter card that is a bit out of  my comfort zone in the way of colours.  I started with a green card which I stamped with green ink using two different homemade stamps to create an interesting background.  I added an embossed dark blue layer and then a strip of gold embossed mesh (window screening) which I flagged on one end.  I layered the laser printed lily image (Clipartfox) onto orange before adhering it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I chose the colours from the image - green, blue and orange so it works on one level but the jury is still out if they are too intense for Easter.    Therese

Easter cards with printed vintage graphics

For these two cards I expanded my mind to include more toned down colours for Easter cards using blues, browns and greens in deeper shades that I would ordinarily.  I am happy with them though they are a bit somber for spring Easter cards. They no doubt will suit someone.
I used a greeny blue card for the first one and added two squares of brown cardstock just off set a bit from each other.  The laser printed vintage image (Graphics Fairy) was layered onto  pink and then onto yellow before being adhered to my card front.  Love those little blue birds!!   For my second card, I used a vintage image from Clipartpal which I laser printed and trimmed.  I started with a blue card front and added a green embossed frame die cut (SX) to which I had added two punchie eyelet borders (SU) in brown top and bottom.  My image fit perfectly in the center!  I added three little ribbon flags to my image before mounting it in the opening of the frame with 3D foam tape - brown, yellow and green which I trimmed with flag ends.
It is good to stretch ourselves creatively, to expand our ideas, to do something out of our comfort zones regularly.  That is how new things are invented and fun serendipities come to bless our lives.

Therese

Layered Easter card with a digital greeting

In all the years I have been  making cards I have always thought that this crocus paper is the very best for Easter cards.  Unfortunately, I have only four small pieces left and I am not even sure where I can buy more.  I went looking for pieces of decorative paper that would coordinate and found three - green, yellow and purple!  I layered all the strips onto a green rectangle leaving spaces on the top and bottom and in between them.  I then adhered this large layer to the front of a green card.  I used a punchie greeting which I created using a digital file from Netty's cards. She has a huge collection of greetings and many round ones which can be printed the right size to be punched with round punches.  For this one I used a 1.75" round punch (SU).  I laser printed it on ivory and watercoloured it with yellow and purple to coordinate with my card.  I layered it onto a purple scalloped circle which I cut with my Nestibilities.  Very happy with how this one turned out!!
Therese

A beautiful Easter card in blue and green

For this card I used a digitl image of a cross from Clipartkid which I laser printed on ivory and punched with my 1.75" round punch (SU).  I went looking in my stash for something to layer it to and found these two large scallops that I very much liked together.  It took a while to convince myself that I did not need to add another layer in between.  I like the space!!  I chose a soft blue card and added this soft decorative leafy paper (inside of a used card) as a background.  I added some organza ribbon adhering both ends to the inside of the card and then adhered my focal element over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  I punched the label from the green layer before I glued my focal element together which insured that it was exactly the right colour.  I layered a small laser printed greeting to the green label and then adhered it to my card front below the focal element.  To finish off my card I tied a short length of the same ribbon to the length on my card using one knot to simulate a bow.
Happy with this one too!              Therese