My Art - Christmas Cards - Swirls

This paper is gift wrap I bought last year!! It is so cool - red background, orange and white swirls with white snowflakes!! It is not traditional colours but I thought it worked wonderfully!! Ripped the red layer to reveal the stamped greeting and then the paper to reveal some of the red layer and then glued them to the white card front. The embellishement is a 1 3/8" orange punchie, a 1.25" red punchie and a white snowflake attached with a silver brad. It is attached to the card front with 3D foam tape to give it some dimension! Really love the way this one worked out! It was one of the favorites at class.

I hope you have been inspired to start on your Christmas cards!! Some have bought the kits and will be making them up over the summer at the cottage or by the pool!! It is great to have one step up towards preparations for Christmas!!

Have a great summer! I will be taking a break from Cardmaking classes over the summer and will be back on September 16th with some new cards!!

I will publish the yearly schedule later on this week!!

Therese

My Art - Christmas cards - O holy night

More of this night sky cardstock!! I had some black and some navy so each person received some of each colour!! I silver embossed the star and tree on the card front. Stamped the tree trunk and O holy night in colour on a quarter sheet of white. We just ripped the white into snowbanks and layered them on the bottom of the card and trimmed them to the card edge. I ripped the greeting snow bank first and then the one with the stem. The leftover was ripped twice more to make two more snowbanks!! I love the texture of the ripped snowbanks!! Click on the image to get a closer look!!

Therese

My Art - Christmas - Silver tree

I used a gray with red for this card for a softer look!! Really like the way it turned out. I distressed the edges of the tree layer (silver embossed) and added the ribbon on the bottom with double sided tape to the back. I tied the ribbon with a silver string and then added the brad over it. Some of the girls added the image to the red layer and then added the ribbon and that worked well too.
A quick and easy card!!

Therese

My Art - Christmas cards - Vintage Santa

Love the vintage images! Have been wanting to incorporate some of these into my Christmas cards for quite a while.
I laser printed several images and chose layers and papers to coordinate with them so there was a variety of cards for each person. I tied a square knot in the ribbon and then cut it so that the knot would be where I wanted it on the card. This process saves ribbon!! Once I had layered the image I glued it in place and added the snowflake with a silver brad. The background is navy with white specks that really looks like a night sky! I added some swirls stamped in white.

There are many places on the internet that have images you can download. These images come from a CD.

Therese

My Art - Christmas cards - snowflakes

For those who took the Christmas Card class today they've started on their preparations for Christmas and it isn't even July!!! Yeah!!
The center panel of this card is paper napkin that was laminated with Modge Podge because the layers would not separate nicely!! It gave the paper a nice textural quality - a bonus!! We ripped both edges and glued the middle portion to the trimmed embossed background (CB Snowflakes) layer and then glued the edges to the back of it. This whole layer was then glued to the card front. Tied on the fiber and finished it with a double knot. The snowflake was one that I bought last year at a dollar store. Just nipped off the circle for hanging and it is now a 3D embellishment for this card!! Glued it on with a glue dot. Glue dots are great for adding any sort of 3D or heavy embellishment to your cards.
Always keep an eye out for interesting papers and supplies for your cardmaking!! I am always on the look out!!
There are quite a few who are making their Christmas cards monthly - what a great idea!! I will have to consider that for the fall!!

Therese

My Art - Dad cards

Dad Day cards!! It is coming up so quickly!! I made these up and will have them off in the mail this afternoon in hopes they will reach their destinations by Friday!!

I used printed newspaper (foam stamps and black acrylic paint) as backgrounds on these cards. I had created them for another project and it did not turn out but worked wonderfully on these ones. The little metal letter discs I found at a dollar store which I don't often frequent often so I bought a few packages!! It was fun to go digging through my images for ones that would be appropriate for these cards for some special guys!!

I hope you will celebrate with all of the guys who have or do play a special role in your life.

We are blessed by the men who so willingly participate in our lives and do their best to give us what we wish for and want!!

I am prepping for my Christmas Card class on Saturday!! It is a head start on Christmas which will all make us feel good this year because we will be ahead of the curve in preparation for Christmas!!

Summer is on its way here in south western Ontario!!

Therese

My Art - All Occasions class - border punchie

One of the girls who comes to Card Club brought this idea several months back. It uses the SU scallop border punch to create an embellishment for cardmaking. I expect you could use any border punch!! I cut a 2.75" square of cardstock and centered and punched each side to create a decorative slot!! Each was decorated differently - I stamped a coffee cup with bleach on the brown one, embossed flowers in silver on the pink one, silver embossed candles on the blue one and added layered punchies with a bard to the yellow one. It creates a frame that can be filled with just about anything.
I added a rectangle of embossed cardstock into the slots and a rectangle of scrapbook paper to the front of the card before all the other elements were added. Again, a greeting can be added on the lower right when the time comes to send out the card.
I always enjoy finding news ways of using the tools I already have!! Not sure where the technique originated but thanks to all those who create and share which inspires the rest of us to get at making art!!!

Therese

My Art - All Occasions class - Be happy

These are quick and easy "Be Happy" cards!! Cut the cardstock to 4.25" x 11" to make it easier to emboss it with the Swiss Dot embossing folder in my Cuttlebug. The "Be Happy" is stamped and then punched with a 1" punch, layered onto a 1.25" punchie, onto a 1 3/8" punchie onto a scallop punchie!! I applied double sided tape to the inside front of the card to hold the ribbon in place which is just below the embossed design on the card front. A greeting could easily be added to the lower right hand of the card.

Very versatile design!! The embellishment could be situated anywhere on the ribbon - I happen to like the left hand side.

Therese

My Art - All Occasions class - Glitter paper

These were such fun to create!! I had wanted to use my glitter glues but when I dug them out they had dried somewhat and were quite thick and would not squeeze out nicely. I decided that I would make my own glitter paper with them so I dug out some fabric paint, acrylic paint and inks and got about making my own decorative paper. I used a foam tray as a palette and loaded on a variety of mediums as well as a blob of glitter to use on each sheet. I started with white cardstock and used a wet brush to help loosen my paints and make them more transparent. I just started painting on colour using the most vibrant first and toning down with the lighter colours. Along the way I added the glitter glue which also benefited from the extra water to help them spread nicely. Made several sheets of each colour. It can be a bit messy so it worth making a few extra sheets while you have all the tools and paints out. It is hard to see in the scans - these are shiny and glittery!!
Once they were dry I cut the 8.5"x11" sheets into quarters and embossed them with different embossing folders using my Cuttlebug. The embellishments are all different - round sequins on a string on the blue one, punched daisies with a brad on the turquoise one, punchies and a brad on the black one and punchies and a large sequin star with a brad on the red one!! Greetings can easily be layered onto these cards for any occasion. I thought that the black one would be good for a teenager who likes music!! The sequins on the blue one reminds me of jewelry or patio lights!!
I did forget to scan these before I used them as I have in the past to create my own digital art resources! Always good to have your own graphics to use when creating digitally!!
I hope these will provide you with inspiration to create your own decorative paper!!

Therese

My Art - All Occasions class - Manhattan flower

Using my newly acquired Manhattan Flower (SU)embossing folder I created some embossed cardstock. Trimmed them to the edge of the rose pattern then trimmed them to fit evenly on the card front. I used silver foil on the black one. The foil is an acquired craft material - the result of a chocolate treat!! I just glued the foil to cardstock, cut to quarter sheet size and embossed it!! The greetings are colour printed to coordinate with the card. I tied a short piece of ribbon into the knot of the longer piece which creates the same effect as a double knot.

THRIFTY TIP: To use up short pieces of ribbon just add them in the knot of another piece to create tails. They do not have to be the same ribbon or the same colour. I save my small pieces in ziplocs and look there first when I am looking for ribbon. You can use a piece as short as 2.5 inches!!

Therese

My Art - All Occasions class - alcohol inks

My Cards, Cards, Cards - All Occasions class was this past weekend! It was a great morning with some very creative and interested participants! It was so fun to prepare the kits for this class. We made twenty cards and all are different because that is really what works best for those who are participating!!
I created the alcohol ink backgrounds using glossy white cardstock, alcohol and reinkers. Mostly they were SU classic pad reinkers! I love this technique!! Always get such vibrant and interesting results. I did quarter sheets (4.25"x5.5") then stamped them with the flourish stamp in black Staz ON. The stamp is from a SeeD set called Bella Flora. I trimmed them to evenly fit on the card front and added a ribbon at the top that is tied in a square knot. You can just stamp on a greeting that suits the occasion when you are ready to use them.

Therese

My Art - graduation card

It is the time of year for graduations!! I made this card for my nephew who is graduating from high school. It is simple and elegant. I used textured cardstock, silver foil cardstock, a decorative brad and a handmade silver tassle. The greeting is embossed with silver embossing powder!!

Graduation is a turning point in life and a time to realize the dreams for your own life. May we all, no matter what we are graduating from, be willing to use the power of our thoughts, words and actions to create what we want in our life.

Therese

My Art - invitations

This is a prototype for an invitation to a recommitment ceremony for a friend of mine !! I love the photograph!! They were married over Niagara Falls last year and will be celebrating with their families this summer!! She came over last week and we kicked around a few ideas and this started to gel so we made up a few of the pieces and finally put this prototype together as a sample. She was off to shop for embellishments and I printed and prepared the pieces!!

The words in the final are all under the photo and are actually a quote that they both appreciate about great love!!

Blessings to you, girl! I know you will enjoy your celebration of love and life with your family and many years with your new husband!

Celebrate all that is good in your life!!

Therese

My Art - May cardmaking - dragonfly

These were inspired by the card I made for my friend's birthday. I changed the format to landscape and added the dots instead of a greeting to make the card more versatile.

Check out the awesome dragoflies by clicking on the photo for a closer look!!

I learned that double sided tape is not a good option for the sewing machine if you are going to be using it a lot without checking on the needle!! It gums up the needle and it eventually refuses to work properly!! I am wondering if glue stick would have been a better option?? Maybe though I originally went with tape because I thought it would be better. Lesson learned!! I will bring a spare needle to class the next time so I we can have everyone take advantage of using it for adding some cool texture to their card!!

I see that I have been on a bit of an embossing kick!! Do love those for some quick texture to any card!!

Enjoy playing!!

Therese

My Art - May Cardmaking - clear embellishment

I have wanted to try this for a while - a card with a clear embellishment!! Fun!!
I created my embellishments using packaging from my latest stamp set, Sizzix dies and my Cuttlebug!! I cut the shapes and then ran them through my CB using the Swiss dots embossing folder!!
I would like to play with these some more. I think I will try alcohol inks on them next time and see if that works though having them clear is cool too!!

Therese

My Art - May cardmaking - Flourishes

This card features stickers!! Always a quick way to get started on a card is to use a sticker and go with it!! These I have had around for quite a while and am not sure where I purchased them. I layered three of them onto 1 3/8" punchies then onto small scallops (scallop nestibility). I stamped the card edges with a new stamp from a set I purchased a few weeks ago. Made for a very old world looking card that will work for a lot of occasions - maybe even a male birthday with a different greeting. I distressed the edge of the brown rectangle to keep with the old world feeling!
You can check out my sister's blog for a different take on a card created around a sticker!!

Therese

My Art - May cardmaking - Manhattan flower

Love this embossing folder!! It was on backorder for a few weeks and I picked it up last week and just knew I wanted to make a card with it. Some people have made some awesome cards with this one!!
Very quick and easy card!! Used white cardstock in the SU Manhattan flower embossing folder and then trimmed it to the edge of the rose design. Trimmed it to fit on the card front with a border all the way around!! Yes, this embossing folder is larger than the front of a A2 sized card!! Added an organza ribbon below and the card is done!!
This one would be great for a wedding/anniversary or even a graduation!!
You can check out Catherine's blog on May 6 she posted a card she created with her embossing folder. She is my awesome SU demo!!

Looking forward to more cards with this one!!

Therese

My Art - friend's birthday card

My good friend turned 61 last Friday and here is the card I made for her!! I am sure she had a grand day with her family and friends!!

Embossed the top part with the Floral Motif embossing folder (CB) and added a couple layers below that. Used the SU scallop punch on the pink and then punched 1/16" holes in each scallop and tore the blue layer. Glued them together and sewed them (no thread) to create texture and interest. Added a greeting below that!!

The dragongly is a new to me technique. Heated Pearls!! Very easy to do with a few supplies. Apply white glue to black glossy cardstock with a brush - used a silicone one - and just pounce it around. Add some mica powder ( Pearl ex or Perfect Pearls, etc) and pounce it around to distribute. Once the whole sheet is covered heat with a heat gun. The glue will bubble and dry into an awesome looking decorative paper!!! I used 1-2 tbsp of glue on an 8.5" x 11" cardstock and about 1/2 tsp of Pearl Ex. Totally fun, quick and easy!!

I cut the dragonflies with a Sizzix die in my Cuttlebug. I cut the bodies from some black handmade paper, trimmed them and glued them over the decorative paper in the center to give the dragonfly more definition!!

Totally happy with the way this card and this technique worked out. If you are wanting some black glossy cardstock I have some for sale here:

www.tmalakrsc.blogspot.com

I am sure you could use any glossy paper and maybe even any regular cardstock though it might take a bit more glue because some of it would absorb into the paper. Try it!! I found instructions for the technique on line at

www.splitcoaststampers.com

Have fun!!

Therese

My Art - baby thank you cards

Babies!! Created a set of these for a first time Mom who is due very soon and will be moving soon. It is always nice to have cards on hand to send as gifts arrive. I made these teal because I did not know whether she was having a girl or a boy!!

Used the Swiss dot embossing folder (CB) on the top portion of the long narrow card that fits in a #8 envelope. Trimmed the bottom section with the SU scallop border punch. The sentiment is stamped in seaglass and embossed with pearl embossing powder - gives a nice subtle sheen!! Added to the card front with green crystal brads. Teal ribbon tied in a square knot with the ends trimmed.

Quick and easy yet elegant cards for any occasion!!

Therese

FYI - cardstock for sale

Hey! I returned from Ohio last week with cardstock for sale! You can check it all out here:

http://www.tmalakrsc.blogspot.com/

The supply for some of the colours are low already!!

If you are interested please just send me an email
bmalakatcogecodotca

Therese