A card that incorporates a watercoloured digital image, paper flowers and some stamped stitching

Making cards for special days in the lives of my special people!!  This one is for my sister!!  I started with the laser printed image of little sunflowers (CLKER) to which I had added a font greeting before printing.  I watercoloured the image and layered it onto a dark yellow cardstock rectangle.  I stamped the leaf stitching (SU) which I then watercoloured as well.  I trimmed the bottom with decorative wave scissors and pierced a row of dots just above it.  I went digging in my decorative paper stash for coordinating papers and found these blue hued ones that worked.  Blue is one of my sister's favorite colours!!  I trimmed my scraps and mounted them to brown cardstock leaving a bit of space at the bottom where I trimmed it with scallop decorative scissors and mirrored the paper piercing on my focal element by piercing each scallop.  I used a long unused stamp of zigzag stitching (Hero Arts) and stamped each joint between the papers.  My sister is a quilter and will appreciate the stitching on this card even if it is stamped.  I mounted my background to a blue card front and positioned my focal element over it and found that it needed a bit of something to make it pop so I dug through my silk flower stash and found these paper flowers which were exactly the right colours.  I layered two (brown & yellow), added a little brown flower punchie and then a blue sequin before binding them with a brown brad.  After a bit of auditioning I added the floral 3D element to the focal element and adhered this large element to my card front using double sided tape.  Really happy with how this one worked out!!!!!!!        Therese

A cute little bird, a label and a fun greeting for an all occasion card

A few more cards for the stash!!  I manually embossed my blue card using a swirl embossing folder (TH).  I found the yellow top note label die cut in my stash and die cut a circle (Nestibilities) which would accommodate this cute little bird image (Beary Wishes).  I manually embossed it with  a star embossing folder.  I watercoloured the laser printed digital image of the bird and mounted it to the back of label. I added a nice green organza ribbon and tied on a short piece with one knot to simulate a bow then adhered this large element to the front of my card.  I found the laser printed greeting in my stash, watercoloured it and mounted it to a green circle (Nestibilities) before adhering it to the front of my card over the ribbon to finish off my card.  Little birdie cards are handy for a wide variety of occasions and this one is pretty cute so would do for a child's birthday or for a new baby!!                Therese

Embossing, die cuts and silk flowers make for a beautiful birthday card

Cards are always a great hostess gift so I am putting together a few to bring along to a summer BBQ!!  I started with a gray card which I embossed with a very organic and stylized embossing folder.  I embossed the blue label die cut (SX) with the Swiss Dot embossing folder and punched a slot (SU) on each end for the ribbon.  I slipped the ribbon in both sides and then adhered the label to the front of the card and the ends of the ribbon to the inside front with double sided tape.  Next I added a black oval (Nestibilities) which I highlighted with a clear glitter gel pen.  The focal element is a laser printed digital greeting (font words - Bird's Cards frame) punched with a large oval punch (SU) and adhered to the inside of an opening in a decorative label die cut (SX).  These layered so nicely!!!  I added two layered silk flower embellishments to finish off my card!!  The colours matched perfectly!!!             Therese

An elegant card with a beautiful white dress

I love this dress image from CLKER!!!!!!!!!  It is a classic image suitable for a wedding and/or a shower when done is white shimmer as I have done for this card.  I have coloured it in different colours which makes it suitable for a graduation card!!   I layered it onto an aqua rectangle and added three little rhinestones for a little bling!!  I embossed a white layered with a beautiful flourish embossing folder and added a coordinating vintage seam binding before adhering it to a white card.  I mounted the large focal element over the seam binding using 3D foam tape.  Always good to have one of these on hand. 

Therese

Cute little girl with an apple printed on vellum and mounted to a reused layer

For this card I reused part of a larger commercial card for my background.  I found the image in my stash as well (Heather Ellis).  It is printed on vellum so I very carefully coloured it on the back using watercolour (markers or chalks will not wrinkle the paper) and layered it onto a an ivory rectangle before adhering it to my background using four tiny white brads.  I layered this large element to a coordinating card front!!!  I really love this cute little girl images because they work just as easily for little girls as adult women and almost anyone in the case of this thank you card. 

Therese

Layered hearts for a fun anniversary card!!

I like to feature hearts on anniversary cards and am always looking for new ways to feature them.  I had these cut and sitting on my desk from this card from my All Occasion Class.  I decided to layer them and then wanted a way to interlock them so I dug through the scraps sitting on my desk and found this little strip which did exactly what I wanted.  I decided to layer them onto this dark red colour which I embossed with stars instead of hearts which was my original intent.  Somehow, I just could not do the hearts and the stars were calling to me.  So hearts it is!!  I glued down my hearts and then punched out an opening using my Modern Label punch (SU) just below the bottom of the lowest heart.  I glued this large element to a green card front which coordinated with the strip I used.  I added the little punched greeting into the opening using 3D foam tape.  the card still needed "a bit of something" so I added clear rhinestones to the strip and that was better.  After a bit of pondering I also added some to one of the hearts and to the greeting.  That was better but it still was calling for more bling so I added dots to the background layer using a clear glitter gel pen!!  That was better!!!  Always amazing how the muse calls and we are guided!!  Therese

A fun old bicycle image with a cool chalkboard greeting and some bakers twine

Still working on cards for my stash!!  This card features a cool image of an old bicycle (CLKER) which I laser printed on white cardstock, trimmed and sponged the edges with purple to coordinate with the bakers twine I had chosen.  After sponging I decided to distress as well so I had to sponge the edges again to eliminate the stark white.  I also decided to add some faux stitching to give the image a bit of punch.  I fussy cut a chalkboard greeting which coordinates with the sort of vintage feeling of the bicycle image.  I adhered the greeting to the background using 3D foam tape and then inserted bakers twine in the holes of label greeting and used double sided tape to adhere the ends to the back.  I adhered this large element to my card front.  I used 3D foam tape to adhere my bicycle image to my card. 

Therese

An all occasion card with a beautiful butterfly

Still working on cards for my stash!!  I started with this beautiful butterfly (Pixabay) which I colour printed on white carsdstock and trimmed. I layered it onto brown cardstock and then while rummaging in my background stash I found this one created using inks which worked really well. After trimming it to size I tied on a piece of coordinating ribbon and glued it to a coordinating card front.  I adhered my large focal element using 3D foam tape and positioned it over the ribbon.  I tied a short piece of ribbon to the one on the card using a single knot to simulate a bow.  Would work well as a sympathy card or for any occasion for a butterfly lover!!
Therese

Combined a cute cat, some fiber and a punched greeting for this great birthday card

Our son in law shares a birthday day with my Mom so I prepped this card for him.  I am stretching my vision of what works for guy cards and decided that this cute little cat would work just as well for an adult as it would for a child.  I laser printed this digital image (CLKER), trimmed it and watercoloured it.  He is really cute!!  I added a brown rectangle layer, ripped the bottom edge and added a few rows of piercings using my pattern tracing wheel.  I watercoloured the punchie greeting (SU- frame with font greeting) and highlighted the edge with brown.  I found this orange duplex paper in my stash which I thought would look good sanded so I embossed it with this tight embossing folder which somewhat reflected the cat's triangular markings.  It took quite a bit of sanding to reveal the white cardstock which was beneath the orange but I am happy with how it turned out.  I adhered the background to a brown card and auditioned the cat and greeting to see how they looked.  After gluing them down it still needed "a bit of something" so stamped the greeting and the bottom edge of the image with my stipple stamp (SU) and brown ink.  That was better.  Still needed something so I added this perfectly coordinated fiber which I entwined between the image and the greeting.  Better!!    Therese

A card for my Mom which features fun paper, watercoloured digital image and a fun layered greeting

My Mom's birthday is coming up - she will be 82!!  She is still a going concern - quilting, gardening, cooking, reading and taking care of my Dad.  Her favorite colour is this great blue colour so I started with that.  I added this fun decorative paper which I colour printed for a different project and found in my stash.  I glued it to my card front and added white ribbon which I glued to the inside of my card with double sided tape.  The flower image is a digital from Cruzine which I laser printed on white cardstock and trimmed to size before watercolouring to coordinate with my background paper.  I layered the image onto a rectangle which I created using blue and green cardstock and added to my card using 3D foam tape.  I used this oval punched greeting (Bird's Cards) which I sponged on the edges with blue and green and then added a green oval punchie which I trimmed in two and allowed the two halves to show a bit on the top and the bottom of the greeting one.  I mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape and added a bit of blue watercolour to it which finished it off perfectly!!!  Therese

An old mill graphic with seam binding and a simple greeting

Another card for the stash!!  This one features an old mill image from Arthurs' Clipart  which I laser printed, trimmed and watercoloured.  I embossed green cardstock with a grungy TH embossing folder and added a length of eggplant vintage seam binding from top to bottom securing the ends with double sided tape before adhering it to a deep purple card.  I distressed the edges of the mill image and adhered it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I found a coordinating greeting punchie (modern label - SU) which I had embellished with clear dimensional paint which I added over the seam binding below the image with 3D foam tape.  Finally, I tied on a short piece of seam binding to the one on the front using a single knot to simulate a bow!!

Therese

Embossed serendipity collage backgrounds, embossed &laser printed digital image and small greetings

These cards feature serendipity collage backgrounds which I made up a while back.  It is a great project to work on when you are between projects.  I stamped the backgrounds and embossed them with an all over design embossing folder (Latttice -SU).  I mounted both of these to coordinating green cardstock and then to coordinating card fronts.  For the first one, I chose a dry embossed image of tulips which I created using a brass stencil and a stylus.  I sponged the edges and mounted it to my card front and then added a small layered greeting below and to the right a bit.  The second one, features a colour printed birdie image and a friends greetings (Melonheadz) which I sponged and backed with green cardstock after overlapping them in the corners.  I am stretching my boundaries a little and trying new layouts and ways of doing things!!  Fun!!!!!            Therese

Hammered botanicals as backgrounds and focal elements for these cards along with simple greetings

These two cards feature "Hammered botanicals" backgrounds which I made last year using my Big Kick and some flowers and leaves from my garden and yard.  I trimmed my backgrounds and layered them onto green cardstock.  For the first one, I added a laser printed vellum greeting to which I added a couple of lines of piercing using my pattern tracing wheel before folding the ends to the back and securing with tape.  I mounted this large element to a coordinating purple/pink card.  For my second card, I added a coordinating shimmery ribbon securing the ends to the back with tape as well.  I sponged the edges of my laser printed greeting (Melonheadz) with pink and layered it onto green and trimmed.  I distressed the edges before mounting it to my background using 3D foam taper and positioning it at an angle.  I added 5 clear rhinestones - three on the left and two on the right.  Again, I mounted this large element to a coordinating purple/pink card.  With a bit of experience from last year I will probably try a few more of these backgrounds again this year.  

Therese

A honeycomb background with some fun font images which have been embellished

I found these backgrounds on my desk in a little container in which I have been collecting backgrounds leftover from other projects.  I created this background earlier this year using SU digital stamps when I was working on Valentine's cards.   I decided to find another creative way to use them so I added some sequins to these two.  For the first one, I added three little flower sequins which I mounted to the background just above the greeting using tiny gold brads.  I used a green fine tip marker and added some leaves, swirls and dots.  I watercoloured in the leaves as well as a few of the hexagons.  To finish off this element I manually embossed the edges with a dots embossing folder and mounted it to a red card front.  The Hello greeting is a part of an image font.  For the second card, I watercoloured some of the hexagons in yellow and blue/green and the bee's body (image font).  I coloured the bee wings with a clear glitter gel pen.  Next, I added yellow and white sequins to some of the hexagons using small pieces of glue dot to secure them in place.  Finally, I manually embossed a few aress with a dots embossing folder and mounted this large element to a blue/green card front.  I will have to go find this background and print off a few more as they are great for making cards in a hurry!!           Therese

Reused an image and layered it simply for a Praying for you card

This image was trimmed from a large greeting card which was donated to me for card making.   I added a green layer and then bordered it with my pattern tracing wheel to give it a bit of texture.  I mounted this large element to a sky blue card.  I added a small laser printed greeting punchie (Word Window - SU) using double sided tape which I sponged on the edges just a bit to give it definition.  Love it!!

Therese

Little birdie card with the Tim Holtz die

I made a few of these card kits for my March class.   I made this one up and have a few more to go but will do them up later as I have already several of these on hand.  They have fun background with something interesting on the left hand side.  I have given the bird a beak and a brad eye then mounted it to the cage and finally added its wing. I added the blue ribbon through the hole at the top and then mounted the cage to my card front to which I had already mounted my decorative paper background using 3D foam tape in the center and double sided tape on the perimeter.  I slipped my little tag onto the ribbon and glued it to the inside of my card using double side tape.  I tied a short length to the piece on the front using one knot to simulate a bow.  I added a small piece of 3D foam tape to the back of my little stamped tag and adhered it at a bit of an angle.  I coloured clear rhinestones with a green sharpie marker and positioned them in the holes at the bottom of the cage which are backed with double sided tape which secures them nicely!!  Therese

Large cards from my sister's stash!!

My sister visited a few years ago and left a bit of her stash behind so I have been making cards for her when I get a chance.  Knowing that I would be seeing her I set about making a few cards for her.  I have been enjoying these large format cards - 5.5" x 8.5".  

For the first card I started with some large images which I printed when I was working on another project.  I usually fill a half sheet of images or greetings while I am at it when I am colour printing.  This little bear with the balloon (Pixabay) is one of my favorites from La Petite Femme on Pixabay!!  I started with a red card and mounted a fun scrapbooking paper to it.  I added a strip of brown cardstock about a third down from the top.  I added  short pieces of coordinating ribbon to the back of the image and added a line of faux stitching before mounting it to a dark red layer and adhering to my card front using 3D foam tape.  The colour printed greeting I found in my stash and was just what I needed.  I trimmed it, layered it onto brown and flagged the right hand side.  I mounted it below the image to the left hand side of the card.  Love it!!
For the next card I used a dark pink card and mounted this fun background paper to it after cutting it twice to made four different sized pieces.  I added a length of pink polka dotted ribbon about one third down using double sided tape to keep it in place.  I layered the colour printed balloons (CLKER) onto yellow cardstock, trimmed it and mounted it over the ribbon on the the top of the card using 3D foam tape.  I added another length of the ribbon to the lower portion and mounted the laser printed greeting which I had also mounted to yellow cardstock over it!!  A fun birthday card!!

For the next card I started with a light pink card and mounted to it some beautiful shimmery pink embossed decorative paper.  I found the two halves of a paper doily in my stash and cut out the centers with a doily thinlit die (SX).  I embossed the dark pink layer for my rose image (CLKER) using a lace border die (SU) on top and bottom and fussy cut the edges.  I mounted the lace doily pieces to the back of this piece using double sided tape.  I inserted the lace between the paper doily and the rose layer before mounting this large element to my card front.  I adhered the ends of the lace to the inside of the card using double sided tape and added the laser printed greeting to the rose image to finish of my card.  Thinking it still needed " a bit of something" I added two clear rhinestones to either side of the greeting.  Done!!

For my next card I started with an off white card and mounted a layer of this fun striped scrapbook paper which I had backed with a layer of brown cardstock.  I layered the colour printed image of the brown coffee cup with blue cardstock and mounted on the top portion of my card.  I layered the laser printed greeting with the same blue cardstock and adhered it below the cup image using 3D foam tape as well.  Thinking it needed a bit of something I stamped and embossed with clear embossing powder a little coffee bean from one of my stamp sets.  I fussy cut it  and mounted it to my greeting!!  Much better!!
For my next two cards I used that same little bear image from Pixabay - la petite femme!!   For the first one I created a card using red and black embossed cardstock by just taping together the pieces I needed.  I added a strip of shimmery pink embossed paper which I flagged on the left hand side.  I added the laser printed digital image of the little bear with a balloon onto the red section of the card and added the laser printed chalkboard greeting overlapping the image and the pink strip.  Love how it worked out. 

Very pleased with how the first one turned out I decided to use the same colour scheme for my second one!  The triangle is what I had trimmed off the black layer for my first card so I mounted it to the top of a red card so it would highlight the greeting.  I used a polka dot border embossing folder to emboss a strip of dots on my card front before adding my bear image and the chalkboard greeting.  Love this one too!!
So a few cards for my sister made in one afternoon of creating!!                 Therese

Birthday card with a heart, some fun ribbon and a collage image

My sister has a birthday this coming week and being as I saw her this week I gave her her birthday card a few days early!!  I was great to see her and the rest of my sister were there as well at the funeral this week. 
I started with this large red top note die cut which had a heart die cut out of it.  I added a little texture by manually embossing it with a large polka dot embossing folder.  I tied on a black ribbon between the opening and the edge of the top note using knitting ribbon and a double knot.  I went looking in my image stash for something appropriate for mounting behind it and found this collage stamped image that has been there for a long time!!  Perfect and large enough that I could choose what I wanted to show through.  I mounted it with double sided tape behind the opening and trimmed off the sides. I found the vellum greeting in my greeting stash and it was perfect!! I folded the two ends over the edge of the top note and adhered them with double sided tape.  I mounted this large element to the front of a soft blue card onto which I had already adhered a colour printed background (Melstampz) trimmed to fit with an even border all the way around using double sided tape.  It still needed " a bit of something" so I paper piereced all the way around the edge of the heart opening using a push pin.  That was better!!!  Wishing her a great birthday tomorrow!!!!!!!!              Therese

Tim Holtz wildflower dies and some hand decorated paper for this sympathy card

My uncle passed away last week and the funeral was this week.  I started with the hand decorated background which was created using watercolour and plastic wrap.  The soft colours were just right for this sympathy card.   I ripped the background in two and die cut the top portion using my new TH Wildflower thinlit dies.  I reassembled the pieces on a dark green layer and then mounted the large element to an off white card.  I added a layered greeting.  I used a laser printed greeting from my stash which was created using a font and punched with the Modern Label punch (SU).  I layered two circle punchies to create an accent for it.  I embossed the green one with a flower from an embossing folder (CB) and layered it onto a yellow one before added the printed label punchie which I adhered to my card front using 3D foam tape. 
It was so good to see so many of my cousins which I had not seen in over 20 years at the funeral and it was wonderful celebration of my uncles life.  He will be missed!          Therese

Handmade paper, crocus digital image and a little punched greeting for a quick card

Another paper background I found in my stash was this handmade paper one!!  I have a little bucket on my desk into which I have been adding trimmed backgrounds leftover from other projects.  I mounted the handmade paper (I made myself) to a light yellow card and went looking for an image that would compliment it.  I found this little laser printed crocus image (CLKER) which was just the right size so I watercoloured it, mounted it to a rectangle of yellow cardstock and added a small greeting (Word Window - SU) below it.  I distressed its edges before mounting to my card front over the handmade paper.
I am having fun making cards and using up my supplies but goodness me I have enough for more than a lifetime!!

Therese