All occasion card featuring a random collage background, a watercoloured floral image and some bling

 I am enjoying this process of creating background right on my card front!!  I used the same process for this one - edge to edge and butted tightly to each other.  To ensure they are well placed I positioned a piece of double sided tape across the middle of my card which kept the pieces in place while I applied glue behind the top and bottom portions.  I chose a landscape format for this card and again used a floral digital from Craftstarters.com.  I watercoloured it to coordinate, added a black border a bit heavier than last time still with good result.  I ran my tracing wheel on all four sides and mounted this image to my card front.  I added clear glitter to the flower's center petals and some blue rhinestones to the upper left corner.  I am making a dent in the little pile of triangles!!      Therese

Fabric gift bag made from elegant and lustrous brocade fabric

I have a gift I need to wrap and I always struggle with exactly how to do it so that the gift can be special but the wrappings will be reused.  Gift bags is the obvious choice, in that most people will not throw them out because they are easily reusable and stored.  Not wanting to purchase a bag I decided to see if I could make a fabric gift bag that would have the benefits of a reusable paper gift bag.  I started with a fairly small piece of beautiful fabric which came along with a fabric acquisition that was mainly for quilting.  I was not sure what I should do with the few pieces that were in this lot but they were too beautiful to not hang on to until a project or purpose presented itself.  It is an elegant brocade fabric with a bit of body and a lustrous finish.  I cut the piece in half and trimmed the edges of one piece to be more true.  I stitched the two short ends together.  I should have top stitched it after pressing but I was making it up as I went so I did do it later but it was not as elegant as if I would have been had I done it immediately.  I folded and pressed this tube with the seam in the middle of the whole and stitched the bottom closed.  Next, I folded both sides so I could stitch the bottom to create box corners.  Mine measured about 2.75".  After pressing the bottom triangles into place on the bottom of the bag I stitched across both ends and across the middle which nicely finished the outside and inside.  After pressing again, I folded the bag on the edge of one side and stitched across it to define the bottom edge on this side.  Next, I did the same to the other side.  These two seams nicely define the bottom which allowed me to cut a cardboard rectangle that just fit on the bottom which gives the bag more structure.  Next, I stitched up the top edge and then folded it over and double stitched it at the fold.  Next, I added the ribbons for the handles.  On hindsight, I should have positioned the ribbon handles on the sides before I did the top stitching because that would have been a better finish with less seams.  So this bag now folds flat neatly and the cardboard stays in place while it is stored.  You can see below photos of the front and back.  

I have decided not to include a tag as most people can sort that out themselves and most of the bags that have come my way have tags that have not be used.  On hindsight it is a bit large for my gift but it is a good size for reusing.  This was a fun project and I expect I will probably make a few more with those scraps of beautiful fabric that I have in my stash!!  

Therese

 

Thank you card featuring thin heart collage, red ribbon and a font greeting

I created this thank you card today using the scraps from yesterday's heart art collage for my Mom.  I started with a large purple card which fit in an envelope from my stash.  I stamped the front with a swirly heart background (SU) and gold embossed it.  I trimmed the collage scraps straight across and adhered them next to each other with the soft edges to the outside on the front of my card.  I overlapped where they join with a red ribbon with gold trim adhering the ends to the inside of my card.  I added a short piece over it on the left and tied them together with a short piece of gold fiber leaving the ends long.  I found this laser printed font greeting (NOEL) in my stash.  I watercoloured the body of the letters with purple and then added a bit of clear glitter to the letters.  I ran my tracing wheel on all four edges and then watercoloured the background in light green.  I layered my greeting onto a gold layer and adhered it over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  Those hearts make the most wonderful background!!  I love the softness of colours and the edges.    Therese

All occasion card featuring a collaged background, a floral image and rhinestones

Having really liked the last card I made I decided to make another one in the same fashion.  I adhered triangles to the front of my card reaching from side to side and tight to each other.  I added the black border to it using a fine tip black Sharpie.  I found another little floral image in my stash and watercoloured it to coordinate with my background.  I gave it the same black border treatment with a black marker though a bit heavier this time and I still like it.  I mounted my image to my card front using 3D foam tape and then added three pink rhinestones to finish off my card.  

Having fun!!

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a collage background, a little watercoloured flower and black borders on both

In the midst of getting cards made for my stash I decided to see if I could make some backgrounds using my little stash of triangles that I created a while back when I made these cards for my January Card Exchange partners.  I adhered random triangles tight to each other and reaching from side to side on my card front.  This card fits inside an envelope from my stash.  I trimmed all the scraps to the edge of my card once my glue was dry.  I found the little laser printed flower image (Crafterstarter.com) in my stash.  I watercoloured it to coordinate with my background, added a row of paper piercing on each edge and then added black highlighting on the edges using a large black marker.  I liked that the colour absorbed randomly and so I emphasized that by making the corners a bit heavier with colour than the sides.  Just enough to emphasize the focal element's edges.  I mounted the image to the background using 3D foam tape and then used a fine tip black marker to make a randomly drawn line all the way around my background.  Thinking it still needed a bit of something so I added clear glitter to the image - petals, center and the little yellow "bobs".  I am really liking these collaged background created right on the card front.  FUN!!!!!!!  Therese

Therese
 

Heart art for my Mom - heart collage using tissue paper, thin decorative papers and white glue

I made some heart art for my Mom.  Right now she needs to know that she is loved and is a blessing to all those around her.  

I created a couple of panels using white tissue paper, white glue with gold glitter and hand cut hearts from my large stash of thin decorative papers - quite a few which were napkins and paper towels I used to clean up after doing some creative art using acrylic paint.  I always wipe up my palette in order to not waste the paint.  I water down the paint in my palette, wipe it out and then spread out the paper to dry!!  It makes the most interesting and unique papers.  I did this same technique when I created my heart art for the front line workers.  I wanted my art for my Mom to be beautiful on both sides and the process of creating these pieces means that the side that is against the plastic is very shiny and smooth so I decided to make two and glue them together so I would have the great texture on both sides of my heart.  After my two pieces were dry I removed them from the plastic and cut one into the shape of a heart.  I used white glue to adhere it to my other panel.  Once that was dry I trimmed out the heart with my scallop decorative scissors.  I die cut a filigree heart from silver card and glued it to one side of my heart and added a glitter butterfly as my focal element.  I punched a hole at the top and added a ribbon so it could be hung in a window or on a door handle. To finish it off I used a pin and pierced each scallop which adds a bit more interest.   You can see below how it looks with a bit of light from behind.  The two layers makes it more opaque but you still get the stained glass look which I really like.  I will be sending it off to her in today's mail.  

Therese

 

Gray and maroon flannel quilt top

I worked on piecing this quilt top last week and was unable to finish because I had miscalculated and then had to cut more pieces.  I sorted it out today and ended up having to add two strips to the edges to make it wide enough so it would seem that when it comes to quilts I have difficulty getting the numbers right.  I have washed this quilt top as well because the gray plaid pieces were precut and had not be washed.  Not too much shrinkage so I will move ahead with adding a batting and backing next time I quilt.  

Therese

 

Little paisley quilt

I managed to get this quilt top finished today.  I used dark green backing and a cotton flannel batting.  I washed before quilting because the paisley fabric was precut and had not be laundered.  It did not shrink too much so I did not have to trim too much before binding.  I did a self binding with the backing coming to the front and being stitched into place.  I am happy with it!!

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a lacy copper foil heart over a copper ribbon with a carved wood grain background

 A card which will be sent with our thanks for the blessings of gifts during this Christmas season!!  I cut another lacy heart from the piece I created by gluing copper foil paper to cardstock.  This one leaves a large heart out of the center so I cut another one from green cardstock and used it inside of my copper foil frame.  I started with a dark green card.  I added a length of copper ribbon to one of my carved wood grain backgrounds which I made a while back securing the ends to the back and then added this large layer to my card front.  I adhered the lacy copper foil heart to my card front using a white glue from a fine tip applicator.  I pressed it with my hand for a bit to ensure good contact between the heart and the embossed background.  I embossed the green heart and adhered it inside of my heart frame.  Love this one too!!           Therese

Slow Stitching -working on the last large leaf

I am still working regularly on my large leaves - my latest slow stitching project.  It has been a while and I am gaining.  I just started the last leaf yesterday and am very happy with how they have all worked out.   I will post all of the leaves when I get this one finished!!  

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring copper foil hearts on a carved wood grain background

 Another card of thanks for the blessings of the season!!  I am using the few supplies I have left over from unwrapping gifts on Christmas Day.  This year I have decided to use the seasonal items to make my January Christmas cards instead of my thank you cards as they are more appropriately used there.  

I added strips of the foil gift wrap in between two of the wood grain lines and secured the ends on the  back using regular glue.  I adhered this large element to my gray card front.  I used some of the hearts which fell out of the lacy heart I cut for my last card as focal elements on this one!!  I adhered the hearts with white glue onto the embossed carved wood grain background which I made a while back.  Worked out really well!!!  Therese

All occasion card featuring an embossed border, some decorative paper and a digital of the Eiffel tower with two little red heart punchies

Another card for my stash.  Making these cards without greetings means they can be used for a variety of occasions.  For example, this one could be used for an anniversary or as a Valentine's card.  

I started by creating a red card for an envelope from my stash.  I created an embossed border using my scoring tool.  I added the Eiffel tower image (CLKER) in the middle of the opening and then two little strips of coordinating decorative paper.  I punched two little red hearts from scrap cardstock and adhered them on the tower.  Very happy with this one!!

Therese

 

Christmas cards featuring embellished scrapbook paper, chipboard ornament (reuse) and gold JOY die cut

Having committed to making Christmas cards monthly I have begun.  These cards are the ones I have made for January.  I cut circles (Nestibilities - Classic rounds) for the ornaments and managed to get twelve from the scraps of the Christmas crackers our daughter gave us for Christmas.  I decided to die cut JOY (Sizzix) from gold decorative paper to embellish my ornaments which echos the gold in them.  I created my ornament hangers from the same paper.  I cut a half inch strip from the gold paper, trimmed the bottom edge using my Fiskars Scallop decorative scissors and then trimmed the strip on every second scallop which gives each hanger a nice scalloped edge.  I used the same scissors to trim both corners just a bit to give the corners a soft rounded look.  Once I laid my ornaments on my decorative paper I found that having it outlined in brown would be beneficial but the next Nestillibities gave too much of a border so I cut the backers from brown cardstock with my circle cutter instead which allows me much more flexibility in size.  I glued my decorative chipboard circles to the brown ones and then added my JOY and hangers with double sided tape because of how slick the surface was.  In the process I decided to add some gold to my backgrounds as well.  I could have spattered them but having not perfected that skill I decided to use my stipple stamp (SU) with gold pigment ink and gold embossing powder instead.  Worked well and really helped create unity in my cards.  I still needed a string to hang my ornaments so I dug through my stash of crochet thread and found a length of brown that would work perfectly.  Considering it was just a length it is possible that I dyed it at some point in time for another project.  I added a length to my background securing one end on the back and the other to the front in the area that would be covered by the ornament with double sided tape.  I tied on another piece and tied a bow in it leaving it at the top.  I adhered my backgrounds to coordinating brown card fronts.  I added 3D foam tape to my ornaments and added them to cards pressing my hangers down a bit to touch the thread I had attached.  Next, I slid the bows down to be just above the hangers.  I like that the bows add texture and interest to my cards without too much bulk.    You can check out all my cards below.  You can see that the middle two have gold embossing on the ornaments.  I did this to cover up the bit of shadow that was remaining when I removed the writing using alcohol.  On hindsight, it might have been better to use brown ink instead as the gold embossing distracts from the gold JOY.  I did audition a brown JOY and it was not better than the gold one so on went the gold ones!!  I am very happy to have my first Christmas cards made.  I need to print inserts and add envelopes before I consider them all done but I will get that done this morning and into the box they will go.    I keep a running tally on a sticky note on the box so I always know how many I have on hand.    It is encouraging to have these made but I am usually pretty good at the beginning and sort of fall off as summer comes.  No matter, the more I do earlier the better off I am in the fall at crunch time.    Therese

 

Embellishing ordinary & plain scrapbook paper to give it more pizzazz

 I have committed to making Christmas cards every month again this year in order to reduce the stress of having to get them all done in the fall.  To that end, I started on my January ones this week.  I am reusing the decorative chipboard that our Christmas Crackers were made from to create ornaments for this set of cards.  I was looking for some decorative paper for my backgrounds and hoping to find something that coordinated reasonably.  The best I could find in my stash was this dotted paper but it was way to ordinary and plain to be used the way it was so I decided to embellish it with stamping.  I chose two brown stamp pads which echoed the colours in the chipboard ornaments and used the Harlequin background stamp (SU) to stamp all of my trimmed backgrounds.  That was much better!!!!!!    Therese

An all occasion card featuring a copper foil heart and ribbon with a carved wood grain background

I will be sending this one with my thanks to a special person for their wonderful gift this season!!  

I started with the copper foil paper which was wrapped around one of my husband's gifts.  I cut the foil paper on the fold lines and adhered one piece to cardstock so I could die cut it.  I used a heart die which I received for my birthday which cuts this beautifully intricate heart and 8 little hearts fall out of it.  I have saved the other hearts and will use them on another card.  

I added a length of the copper ribbon from the same gift onto one of my carved wood grain backgrounds which I made a while back and secured the ends to the back before adhering it to a gray card front.  I adhered the heart to my card using white glue applied with a fine tip applicator over the ribbon and pressed it with my hand for a bit to ensure good contact with the embossed background.  I glued one of the little hearts back into its space to create a focal point.  Very happy with how this card turned out!!          Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a bold background, a cute elephant digital and some rhinestones

Still making cards for my stash.  For this one I started with a black card front which I created to fit into an envelope from my stash.  I created my background using two scraps of the diamond paper and adding a strip of pink in between.  I like that all the angles are different.  I mounted my background to my card.  This cute little elephant image is a digital downloaded from Pixabay.  I colour printed it, trimmed it from the sheet and then used my distressing tool around the edges before mounting it to my card using 3D foam tape.  I added three pink rhinestones on the pink paper to finish off my card.  

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring an floral image (reused), a punched border and some bling

 Another for my stash!!  I started with an envelope from my stash and created a purple card to fit inside.  I added a punched border (Martha Stewart) in white to a green decorative paper and mounted that to my card.  I added two stripes of purple paste paper and mounted my floral image which was trimmed from a commercial card over the stripes using 3D foam tape.  To finish off my card I added three purple rhinestones between the stripes to the right of the image.  Like it!!!!!   Therese

Funny birthday card featuring comics from a book and some handwriting

I made this card for my brother who is an artist and who lived in Toronto a while back and also made regular trips to Montreal when we was representing artists.   I am sure he will appreciate the reference to "funny" as the comics were often referred to in the past.  The artwork was cut out of a book called "The Anglo Guide to survival in Quebec".  It is full of funny and ironic information that have been gleaned from experiences of those who have had to navigate Quebec as an English speaking person.  

Therese

 

 

Small slim line card featuring a collaged triangle background, ribbon and an array of die cut stars

 My second card to send thanks to those who have blessed us this season!!!  I started with a green card that fit in a #6 envelope (advertised as no.8) and added paper triangles to the front until it was completely covered.  I cut these triangles while making these sunburst cards for my Card Exchange partners.  I trimmed the triangles to the edge of the card then added the yellow ribbon which came wrapped around the Christmas crackers my daughter included in our Christmas gift bag.  I wanted to feature stars and found this assortment in my stash.  I really like how the big open ones are behind the solid embossed ones. I used white glue to secure the large ones and 3D foam tape for the solid ones.  I added the faux stitching border with a black Sharpie to embellish the edge of my card and then thought a few black stars would enhance my design so I punched a few and added them with white glue.  They really add a bit of punch to this colour scheme!!    Therese

All occasion card featuring a bold background, a watercoloured butterfly and ribbon

 I am making cards to have on hand for gift giving and donating to charity.  I am making the without greetings to make them more versatile. 

For this one I started with an envelope from my stash and made a dark green card to fit inside.  I trimmed a bold and beautiful colour printed background from Morgue File which I printed a while back and then adhered it to my card front.  I trimmed a narrow strip of yellow cardstock, flagged the end and ran my tracing wheel on both long edges before mounting it over the background.  I found the butterfly image (CLKER) in my stash.  I watercoloured it to coordinate with the background, ran my tracing wheel on all four edges and then added coordinating ribbon to two corners - overlapping on one corner and double knotted in the opposite one.  I mounted this image to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

I am enjoying being back to cardmaking!!  With no definite sketch or design I am making one of a kind.      Therese