Thank you & sympathy cards featuring decorative paper, musical washi tape, punchies/diecuts and little greetings

 I am working on cards for my stash!!  I like to have a few on hand to give in sets as gifts.  You never know what you will need so I have started with a Thank you and Sympathy card.  I trimmed the diamond paper to fit across my white card base and then trimmed the darker piece to finish off the backgrounds.  I simply interchanged the placement and attached them with musical washi tape.  I added three little coordinating punchie flowers adhered with a tiny black brad to the first card and a little thank you greeting (laser printed font).  To my second card, I added a small piece of pressed dusty miller along with a brown die cut branch (Tim Holtz) and finished that arrangement off with a little raffia bow.  I colour washed the little greeting (laser printed font) and added it to my card with 3D foam tape.  It is a start and I will be making more as time permits.     Therese

Exchange cards featuring embossed images on embellished decorative paper backgrounds

For my exchange cards for this month I thought I would go bright and different.  I started by stamping two different Chapel Road stamps onto a sheet of bright colour printed background paper (Morgue File) and embossing them with black embossing powder.  I stamped quite a few, fussy cut them and chose the brightest ones for my cards.  I choose two different purple cardstocks to make my large cards.  For the first card, I added  pieces of bright gift wrap and some glittery gold washi tape to the card front.  Next, I embossed strips in yellow, pink and green that coordinated with my three hearts and embossed them with letters.  I added faux stitching with a black marker to the strips which were trimmed to the edges of the background and also around my background.  I added the strips at different angles and mounted my hearts which were reinforced with cardstock on the back using 3D foam tape.  

For my second card I trimmed a letter background (Vintage Feedsacks) with watercolour washes that coordinated with my squares and then used a scribbly stamp to add some dimension to my background.  I added the background to my card front and then layered a black strip of cardstock over yellow and pink strips which were rejects from my first card after I added black highlights.  They worked very nicely for this card!!  I trimmed the strip to the edge of my card and layered my squares on coordinating cardstock and then mounted them to my card using 3D foam tape.  

They are both bright cards but in much different ways! It is always fun to experiment and try new ways of doing things!!  Embellishing decorative papers is a way to make papers that you may not prefer or are a bit boring more exciting, unique and appropriate for the project at hand.   Therese

 

All occasion cards featuring layered backgrounds and a cute little school bus

I made quite a few large cards for my sister early this year and she recently received them through one of my other sisters who lives closer to her.  When I saw her last weekend she thanked me for the cards and I asked her if was still interested in cards.  She was surprised that there were any supplies left.  I ensured her there was plenty and more cards could be forthcoming.  She requested "school bus" cards!!  She owns several school buses and would like to use them for her business.  No problem!!  I downloaded several bus photos -she did not mind some cartoony ones - and printed off six of this one from Klipartz.  After sizing them, I printed off a sheet of six and then fussy cut them leaving a small white border.  Gives them the look of having been die cut!!  Very cool!!  Next, I made some large cards and decorated them with some of the papers from her stash!  It was fun to play and combine different fun papers, add some embossed and embellished strips of cardstock, some brads and even a few places where I punched out some chevrons!!  I have made them all without greetings so she can customize them when she is ready to use them.  I did not plan on having three of each orientation but that is how it worked out.  I will set them aside and print off a few more of a different little bus and get creative with them!!  What fun!!!    Therese

 

Handmade card upcycled into a one of a kind needle case

My daughter gave me this felted wool card a few years ago for my birthday and I have saved it because it was so beautiful and I had been wondering how I could repurpose it.  I found a place on line where a lady was creating a needle case and it dawned on me that I could repurpose this card into a needle case for my slow stitching box.  

It was perfect!!  I removed the paper liner and replaced it with a green felted wool insert layered with a hand cut red felted wool heart.  I stitched them into the spine with ivory thread and I now have a good place to put my needles which in the past have resided in two little quilties.  It fits nicely in my box.  

I am so glad to be able to use it with good purpose and see it regularly when I am stitching.

Therese

Antoher batch of fire starters packaged in upcycled paper bags

 I made up another bunch of fire starters using the papers which I used to reduce the wax in my prayer flags when I was making them. I did augment the wax on these in the same way that I have been making the wax crayon paper.  It has been good to be able to upcycle some of the items that are leftover from other projects.  Once the fire starters were finished I decorated some paper bags ( bananas ) with some of the decorative paper I created with leftover paint when I am working on projects.  I put a dozen fire starters in each bag. They all looked pretty cool!!  I gave them to family members who like to have fires when they are out camping or in their backyards.    Therese

Thinking of you card featuring a large flower die cut, four squares and a layered center

I made this card a while back for a friend who has been healing and I am just getting to blogging it now.  I started with a white card base and added the four lilttle squares that had been trimmed off of a large sheet of decorative paper when I was making a large card.  I added a large orange flower die cut which I had stamped with a homemade stamp in orange and then added faux stitching to the edges using a green marker.  I layered a white five petal punchie (SU) with an aqua six petal one binding them with a silver brad.  I adhered this piece to the center of my flower with 3D foam tape.  I stamped the little greeting below using orange ink.  

I am sure she enjoyed the cute little card when it arrived in her mailbox!!

Therese

 

Anniversary card featuring Calico Collage images, an embossed scalloped circle and a stamped greeting

 My last July card for my youngest daughter on her anniversary!!!!!!!  I trimmed these previously colour printed images from Calico Collage, markered their edges with a black Sharpie and then adhered them to a large red card.  The heart is also a Calico Collage image which I cut with my circle cutter and also markered its edge with a brown marker.  I found a circle in my stash that was pretty close to the right colour so I die cut a scallop circle from it, chalked its edges and then embossed it with the "Subtle Texture" (SU) embossing folder.  Perfect!!  I mounted the image to the scalloped circle and adhered it to my card using 3D foam tape.  I found the stamped greeting in my stash.  Add two rows of paper piercing and then tucked it just under the edge of my scalloped circle.    Therese

Birthday card featuring a serendipity background and a large tag with a greeting and some watercoloured candles

Another July card for the special occasions in my family!!  I started with a large kraft card and then created a large serendipity background using scraps of paper in coordinating colours.  Once it was dry, I trimmed it to size and ran my pattern tracing wheel on all of its edges to create some texture then adhered it to my card. I die cut a brown tag and them embossed it with the "subtle texture" 3D embossing folder (SU).  Perfect!!  I trimmed yet another piece of the white cardstock I had stamped with the candles (SU) to the width for my tag and then tore the top and bottom.  I stamped the greeting, watercoloured the candles, added texture with my pattern tracing wheel and then a little tab with a tiny brad.  To finish it off I added a kraft hole reinforcement then tied on a length of gold/ivory fiber.  I mounted my tag to the card using 3D foam tape.  It is so nice to have time to be cardmaking!!          Therese

 

Birthday card featuring a striped collage background in blue and yellow scraps and little tag focal element with a bouquet of flowers and a layered greeting

 This card is for my Mom - her favorite colour is blue!!  I added a bit of yellow when I used all these strips of decorative scrapbook paper from my little stash of blue papers.  They coordinated so nicely and I simply taped them together on the back.  I layered the background onto a piece of yellow scrap book paper and then onto my large blue card.  This image is one of those I stampd a while back from one of my older SU sets - candles, flowers, leaves, a rabbit and this bouquet.  I thought it would be handy to have stamped images ready for creating cards.  Needless to say, I have a little stash of black and white images now!!  I might have gotten a little carried away - it was a bit of ink and scrap pieces of white cardstock!! I watercoloured my flowers to coordinate with my background, added a green ribbon and a layered oval greeting (font - laser printed) to the lower section then added a few lines of paper pierced texture with my pattern tracing wheel.  To finish it off I added some blue watercolour to the edges and mounted it to a rectangle of textured yellow cardstock.  I punched the bottom edge with  scalloped border punch (SU) and punched tiny holes in each scallop.  I mounted this focal element to my card front with 3D foam tape.  

Therese

Birthday card featuring a background made of scrappy strips, a little digital greeting and a layered length of watercoloured candles

 Still working on large cards for the special occasions in my extended family.  This one started with a deep rose card and I created a strippy background for it.  I tore my strips and adhered them to a 5.5" x 8.5" scrap piece of bond paper until it was completely covered.  After it was dry, I trimmed it to size and stitched the edges with rainbow thread which I used on my prayer flags which added more colour and texture to it before adhering it to my card front.  I die cut two scallop borders (SX) from pink cardstock and layered my focal element - a whole row of watercoloured candles (SU)  - with a rectangle of green cardstock.  I had already added two rows of paper piercing to it to add texture.  I layered the borders to the top and bottom of the green rectangle and added paper piercing to the scallops with a push pin.  I added a little laser printed digital greeting (Desert Diva- digital) which also was embellished with paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel to the upper edge and then mounted this large element to my card front with 3D foam tape. Pink and green - my favorite colour combination!!!!!  Love how this one turned out!!

Therese

Birthday card featuring a collaged background, fabric lace and ribbon and a long row of watercoloured candles

 Another card for July birthdays!!  I started with a large coral rose card and created a collaged strips background that coordinated.  The strips were gleaned from my little stash of decorative papers which were sitting on my desk from a previous cardmaking session.  I tore the paper into strips and adhered them side by side on a piece of 5.5" x 8.5" of scrap bond.  Once it was dry, I trimmed it to size.  To give some soft texture I handstitched two lengths of off white lace to each other on their straight edges and adhered them to my background securing the ends on the back using double sided tape then added a shimmery ribbon across the stitching also securing the ends to the back with double sided. tape.  I had chosen this length of stamped candles as my focal point so I watercoloured them to coordinate and finished off the flames with some clear glitter.  I added a row of paper piercing on the top and bottom of this layer and then adhered it to my card using double sided tape and glue.  I did tuck the little font greeting (laser printed) in before pressing the card.  It has a row of paper piercing too.    Therese

Thread holder using a pegboard

I have repurposed a pegboard that I used for my craft sale set up into a thread holder.  I ordered 6" peg board hooks from online - they are twice the price locally - and was able to put up all of my large spools.  There is evern room for more than one on a peg in some cases when the spools are different sizes and also room for bobbins on the end so they can live together.  I have not yet decided to add the regular and small spools as it would be more difficult to see the colours of them.  I have them in trays in drawers now and it is really easy to find the colour I am looking for when I have a project I am working on.  Brian was able to make the modifications required and attach it to the wall just above my sewing desk.  As you can see there are several other items that have found their way to the bottom hooks which were scavenged from my craft sale display box.   Therese 

My "tree" quilt is finally finished

I have finally finished the hand stitching of the leaves on this quilt top (51" x 39.5").  I like how it came out but stitching in the middle of the quilt was harder than I had expected due to the weight of the fbric and backing.  I pinned the leaves in place one at at time and used green embrodery thread and running stitch to secure them to the quilt next to the "trees".  I placed the next one over it once I had finished the first one and repeated 18 more times.  I really like how the quilt feels so now I have to find a backing to sandwich my polyester batting into the quilt. 

I found a dark green cotton polyester piece that was the right size for the back and there was enough from the other scraps to make a binding in the same colour.  Perfect!!  I added some vertical stitched lines using an off white thread on the front and dark green on the back once I got the backing pinned into place.  After that I stitched on some outline leaves with the same thread placing them next to the lines on the front to simulate a forest in the background.  I had one leftover leaf and so I traced it with a pencil where I thought leaves would look appropriate then roughly followed the line to create the outline leaves.  I really like how that looks.  I cut 3" strips for my binding and stitched them together.  I decided to use a wavy decorative stitch to stitch it into place because I usually miss the back portion when I use a straight line and have to go back and finish all those places by hand.  I had folded the edges of the 3" strip into the center and then in half so I would be assured that as long as I caught the back with stitching it would be secure.  I am pretty happy with how it worked out.  The wavy line does not distract from the quilt and it certainly ensured that I did not have to do any handwork once I was done.  I washed the quilt after I finished it to wash out the pencil lines and to see that it all held together.  The hand stitched leaves are now a little fuzzy but that is fine.  All good!!!!!  I have a special purpose for this quilt which I will share later.    I have several possibilities for the next quilt - will have to see which one calls to me.  I have also started on another hand stitching project which features stitching decorative fabric elements to solid coloured 6" squares.  I will blog those once I have started the first one.     Therese

 

Exchange cards featuring cool light bulbs and fabric paper backgrounds

These are my two cards for my exchange partner for this month.  I have seen quite a few cards online with light bulbs and when I found a great image on Beyond The Fringe Crafts I downloaded and used it for these cards.  I sized the images for large cards and printed them on white cardstock.  I fussy cut them, watercoloured them and the bulbs a coat of clear dimensional paint.  I used two larger kraft cards which have coordinating envelopes for my card bases.  I added some fabric paper which I had on my desk since creating cards for Father's Day.  I added embossed borders to each of them - one on the bottom and a rick rack border to the other one.  I added a row of machine stitching to the edges and then mounted them to my card fronts.  Once they were dry, I added the light bulbs with 3D foam tape.  I did add some words to the digital I downloaded. There are so many great saying out there so I just chose two that spoke to me.  They are on their way to my partners in this week's mail.  Therese

 

Birthday card with a scrappy background and a collaged tag with some fiber and a small digital greeting

I am working on my family cards for July and decided to make some large cards again.  I started with a large brown card and created a scrappy background for it.  I found most of these pieces in a box that I had not looked in for a while.  They are mostly 12" strips which were cut off of large 12"x 12" sheets for a different project.  I started in the corner with the stripy triangle and then added the brown strip trimming to the edge of my 5.5" x 8.5" bond substrate as I went.  I added the little turquoise triangle after I was finished. I pressed the background, trimmed it to size and then adhered it to my card front.  I die cut a large tag (Elison) using a scrap of cardstock.  In a previous crafting session I had stamped a whole bunch of images from this older SU set onto white cardstock strips and miscellaneous pieces of white cardstock from my bin using Black Versafine thinking at some point they would come in handy.  I decided to use some of the candles for this card.  I trimmed a piece which fit across my tag, watercoloured the candles to coordinate with my background,  added some paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel and then embossed two lines using my score tool.  After embellishing the flames with clear glitter I adhered this to my tag and trimmed it to the edges.  I found some handpainted paper which coordinated nicely so I trimmed off a piece and then tore it in two.  I adhered one piece to the bottom of my tag and the other to the top of it.  I trimmed the decorative paper to the edge of my tag with scissors.  It coordinates very nicely with my background. I found this little laser printed greeting (Desert Diva - digital) in my stash.  I matted it with two little scraps of cardstock - brown and light teal - and added it to the lower edge of my tag using 3D foam tape.  I punched a hole in the top of my tag and added rust and teal fiber to finish it off. Thinking it still needed " a bit of something" I added a strip of double sided tape on the back of the right hand edge and added a few small lengths of coordinating ribbons - flagging all the ends.  That was better!  I adhered my tag to my card using 3D foam tape.   It feels good to have started these cards because July is going to be busy and it is always better if the cards are ready ahead of time.  Therese
 

"Owl always..." all occasion cards featuring little felt owls, embossed teal strips and some coordinating backgrounds

I have had these felt owls along with the teal strips sitting on my desk for quite a while and I finally made cards out of them.  

I embossed the teal strips and flagged one end, added coordinating backgrounds, little black branches  (SU - bird punch) and the little font greetings which I printed  a while back knowing I would like to pair them with these little owls.

A versatile greeting that can lead in so many different directions.  

Therese

 

Thinking of you card featuring a silver embossed little flower bouquet and greeting with a watercoloured embossed background

I was making cards the other day for my July family special occasions and decided to make a few extra for my stash.  

This one features a stamped and silver embossed floral image along with a "Thinking of  you" greeting from the same stamp set.  I has been sitting on my craft table and not too far away was this background which was embossed and partially coloured.  Not sure where it came from because I do not own this embossing folder.  Anyway, I paired them up and added a blue ribbon and a green card.  I watercoloured the background ensuring that I left some white spaces to off set the image.  I trimmed it to size and added the wide blue ribbon and then mounted it to a green card.  I watercoloured the image, added paper piercing on all four sides with my pattern tracing wheel and then added a bit of blue watercolour around the edges.  Once dry, I mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape.  Worked out really well!  Therese

 

Anniversary card featuring a white fabric collage background and a stitched heart

 This card was created with a third piece of the white fabric collage I made a while back.  I hand cut a heart from some beautiful fabric and stitched it to my white collage background using all over stitching after I had gone all around the edge.  I used coordinating thread and then decided to add a row of green decorative stitching around the edge. It did not show up as much as I would have like.  I created a layered button to add to my heart.  I started with a red circle to which I added a gold embossed border.  I added a green circle which I over stamped with little bubbles.  Next, I added a brown heart and tied them all together with gold cording.  I stitched this large element to a piece of scrapbook paper uisng dark red thread which framed my piece nicely.  I adhered this large piece to an off white card front.  For my greeting, I stamped "Happy Anniversary" (SU) on a strip of kraft cardstock in brown, trimmed one end with a tag die to get a nice scalloped design with a hole in it.  I flagged the other ends and then ran my pattern tracing wheel on all the straight edges.  I tied on a piece of gold embroidery thread and tied a knot then slipped the greeting over the button.  I used a small piece of double sided tape to hold the greeting from moving.    Therese

Prayer Flags are flying high

I made another set of prayer flags this week and unfortunately I did not get any photos. This is the fabric rectangles I used which gave a different pattern to them.


I took time yesterday to iron out the extra wax from them and then piled them into a stack.  This morning I decided to get started on sewing them to my almost 100 foot length of orange paracord.  I measured the length of the yard again and it came to almost 70 feet so I had some cord to spare.  I decided to leave 5 feet at the house end and the rest at the tree end so I woul have enough to secure each end properly.  I folded the flags over a half inch or so and used this beautiful raibow thread to stitch them to my paracord. 

 I tucked the paracord into the fold, pinned it a several places and used a small zigzag stitch that remained over the cord so each flag would be well secured.  I back stitched on each side and placed them about 6" from each other.  

I did stitch on some strips of yellow and red fabric (12" x 1.5")  to each side of the flags in the same way I stitched the flags.  I put them about a quarter inch apart.  A few near the house and quite a few more on the tree end.  They are much more responsive to the wind and flutter very nicely.  The flags are a little stiffer but they still flutter.  It will take them a while to soften up.  

I am fortunate that an eye hook was found in the workshop stash and my husband put it up on the peak of the garage roof.  He tied it in place with a clove hitch knot and secured the ends.  

I climbed this pine tree to secure the other end.  Fortunately, the neighbours gave me permission to attach it to their tree.  We had originally tied it one set of branches lower but that left the flags hanging almost where we could touch them so I climbed up and moved the end of the paracord up to the next set of branches which was much better.  I tied a clove hitch and several other knots and tied up the bundle and used a zip tie to attach that to the cord.  Not sure if there is any danger from birds and squirrels trying to make off with the cord I left up there.  Time will tell.

Below is what they look like from the road that backs our property.  They look exactly like I wanted them too.  It is so nice when a project works out they way you envision it.  

The wind will send my prayer of good will to all.  I wish that all who see them will be blessed with all that is good!!  Compassion and wisdom, health and wellness, friends and family in a larger community, peace and joy, love and light - every good thing!!  The red and yellow symbolize love and light!!!  Therese

 

Birthday card with fabric collage background and stitched candles

 The white background for this candle card is one trimmed from the large fabric collage I made a while back.  I found some scrappy pink pieces in my stash and used them as the candles and added several as flags on the right hand side.  I stiched all the way around the scraps, added double layer flames in yellow and stitched those down then added wicks in dark brown thread.  I stitched the background to coordinating scrapbook paper capturing the fabric flags at the same time.  I adhered this large layer to a large white card which I created to fit in a large envelope from my stash.  I really like the look of these fabric candles.  

Therese