Art case transformed into a sewing box

 

 I acquired two of these wood art cases this weekend and am converting one of them into a sewing kit.  I removed the inserts and the hardware so the trays are simply stacking inside.  I painted the inside edges of the trays and then added cardstock on the bottom of the two trays and the bottom and lid of the case.  It will now open like a suitcase instead of like a book.

I used black foam core to create dividers and the support for the trays in the bottom of the case.

I added some Altoid tins with labels on them for storing needles, measuring tape, etc.  I added a magnet to the bottom of the silver tin (Making Memories embellishments) and added straight pins.  There is little chance of having pins all over even if you accidentally knock it over.  There is room for scissors, marking pencils, thread, etc.  

I have added a few supplies from my stash - thread, pins, measuring tape, etc.  

The trays simply stack over the supports in the bottom and the lid keeps everything in place once it is closed.  I will be adding a cool little fabric name tag as well.  

Therese

Christmas cards featuring a watercoloured Christmas tree sketch (digital), a pieced background and vintage seam binding

 These are the other four Christmas cards I made for April.  I have committed to making Christmas cards monthly to ensure they will all be ready by November when I want to send them out to family and friends.  So far, so good!!!  The little sketch Christmas tree is a digital from Pixabay.  I sized it, added a distressed font greeting and printed the four of them onto white cardstock.  I watercoloured them, added clear glitter to the garlands and the snowbanks and added a wavy line all they way around to frame the image.  The backgrounds are pieced from a paper with green sleighs and a glittery red one which I adhered to red card fronts.  I added green vintage seam binding over where they join and tied on another short length to simulate a bow.  I added the trees using 3D foam tape to finish off my cards.  It adds a bit of variety to my stash of Christmas cards!!  Therese  

Easter card featuring poppies, a stamped greeting and pink seam binding

For this card I reused a portion of a used card that had these beautiful red/pink poppies on it!  I trimmed by hand around the top of the poppies and then trimmed the remainder of the sides straight with my paper cutter.  I stamped and silver embossed a little Easter greeting ( Stampin UP).  I mounted this piece to a bright green layer and added a length of coordinating pink seam binding to which I had tied another short length.  This nicely simulates a bow without so much bulk.  I mounted this large focal element to a dark pink card.  Pink and green is my favorite colour combination so I really like this card!!!  Therese

 

Easter cross card featuring a blue cross over a blue metallic background and a silver gray ribbon

 This cards started with a gray card.  I cut a navy piece of cardstock, added a layer of blue metallic paper with a brocade pattern and added a length of silver gray ribbon to which I had already tied short length with a single knot which nicely simulates a bow.  I adhered this large layer to my card front.  I used my distress tool on the four edges of my image and mounted it to a silver metallic rectangle of cardstock.  I mounted this to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I embellished my cross image in several places with a clear glitter gel pen and then added a small clear rhinestone in the center.  

Therese

Christmas cards featuring a large brown star with glitter, blue holly leaves and a little font greeting

 April Christmas cards are done!!  I made four of these and have another four of a different design which I will blog tomorrow.  I saw a star card on Splitcoast Stampers and thought I would give it a go.  I started with designing a five pointed star I was happy with and sized it to fit on an A2 sized card.  After printing it, I adhered it to cardstock and then cut it out.  I traced it onto the back of the brown paper and then fussy cut them out.  The brown paper had glittered reindeers and these were distracting to the star theme so I took a dark brown Sharpie marker and coloured them.  It really toned them down in colour but did not hinder the ability to see the glitter - very cool!!.  I used my pattern tracing wheel on all their edges to add a paper pierced line all the way around.  I found and trimmed four layers of the background paper which I adhered to dark brown card fronts.  I added the stars using 3D foam.  I hand cut holly leaves from a coordinating blue cardstock and added dimension using watercolour.  I colour washed my greetings after running the pattern tracing wheel on both the top and bottom edges.  I flagged the ends, added a piece of 3D foam tape and positioned the greeting to overlap the star.  I added double sided tape on the other end, added my holly leaves and then adhered it to the star.  They look nothing much like my inspiration card but I am happy with how they turned out!!  Therese

Easter cross card featuring a watercoloured background for the cross, bits of ribbon and foiled purple background

I started with a purple card and then adhered a purple foil paper background.  The cross image from my stash was watercoloured with yellow in the middle blending gently into the purple of the edges to give a dramatic effect. Perfect for Easter!!  I added a rhinestone in the middle of the cross, ran a black marker around the edge to give it a bit more definition and then added three little ribbon flags in purple and yellow.  I mounted this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

Therese
 

Easter card featuring a circular cross image, ribbon tied to an embossed strip and a bright yellow and purple background

I love yellow and purple for Easter cards so this background was perfect.  I mounted it to a purple card and added a yellow embossed (Cuttlebug - Swiss Dots)  strip to which I had previously tied a length of yellow satin ribbon.  I found the cross image in my stash and watercoloured it to coordinate with my card.  I die cut (Nestibilities)  a purple scalloped circle, mounted my cross image to it and pierced each scallop with a push pin to add interest and texture.  I mounted this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape placing it over the yellow strip.  I punched a label (Modern Label Punch - Stampin UP) from the same purple cardstock and added a little laser printed Easter greeting.  Therese
 

Easter card featuring a cute little chick in an eggshell and a floral background

Another Easter card for my stash!!  The little chick in the shell is a digital from Dearie Dolls.  I used Corel Draw to size it and add a font greeting before printing it on vellum.  I watercoloured the image - not the best medium because it buckles the vellum.  It has been a while since I used vellum in this way so I will have remember to use chalk or markers next time.  I layered it onto a white rectangle and attached them with little white brads.  I added the floral background ( colour printed digital) to a yellow card and then mounted my focal element with 3D foam tape.  I love the soft colours!!  

Therese
 

Easter cross card featuring a handmade watercolour background and cross coloured to coordinate

For this Easter card I mounted a bright handmade watercolour background to a green card front.  I watercoloured the laser printed swirly cross image with coordinating colours, mounted it to a rectangle of the same green cardstock and mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape. 

Therese
 

Easter card featuring a striped background, a bouquet of flowers on vellum and silver cording

Another Easter card for my stash.  I started with a yellow card that coordinated with my muted striped background.  I watercoloured my floral (Beccy's Place) vellum image from the back and added to to a white rectangle once it was dry using some glue very gently applied to the back of the painted areas.  I added a silver cord across two opposite corners and tied a bow.  I add a tidy dot of white glue to ensure the bow did not come loose.  I mounted this focal element to my card using 3D foam tape.  Having now had sometime to think about this card I remember that I have used chalk in the past to colour vellum because water causes it to buckle.     Therese

 

Easter card featuring a yellow sunburst, a watercolour background and a cross

I am making a few Easter card to supplement the two I already have on hand.  

I started with an orange card and added a handmade watercolour background which had lots of bright yellows and oranges in it.  The yellow sunburst was given to me by my sister when she heard I was giving a go at making cards with starburst backgrounds.  I adhered it to my card and trimmed the rays to the edge of my card.  I found this cross image in my stash and watercoloured it to coordinate, layered it onto a brown circle (Nestibilities) and mounted in the middle of the sunburst with 3D foam tape.  I adhered the little greeting to a brown label (Modern label punch - Stampin UP) and mounted it to my card using 3D foam tape.  I really love the colours on this one!!

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring an airplane postage stamp, an embossed label and an aircraft background

My last card for this series of all occasion cards!  I had more than I needed which was good because I was able to pick and choose the best for my friend!

This one started with this beautiful postage stamp with an aircraft on it.  I mounted it on a red rectangle and then worked on a label to highlight it.  I die cut the label (Tim Holtz - Sizzix) from gray cardstock, embossed it with clock faces which are very important in the world of aviation and sponged the edges with dark blue ink.  I created a navy card and mounted an airplane background which I had previously sponged with a few clouds.  I threaded through a navy grosgrain ribbon and adhered the label to my card front with double sided tape.  I mounted my postage stamp over the ribbon using 3D foam tape and secured the ribbon ends to the inside of my card with double sided tape.  It still needed a bit of something so I tied a red and orange ribbon to the navy one using a single knot.  That was better!!! It nicely echoes the colours on the fuselage of the aircraft.  It has been so much fun making these cards and trying new techniques and sketches.  

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring an embossed butterfly background, black ribbon and a gold butterfly

I have been rustling through my stash looking for interesting paper and embellishments to make all occasion cards with.  I always make wonderful discoveries!!  I found a sheet of this stamped vellum which has little butterflies (Magenta) stamped all over it which are embossed with a black glittery embossing powder.  It was stamped quite a while back.  I trimmed out a background, layered it onto gold metallic paper using very thin lines of white glue behind the lines of the butterflies and then mounted it to a black card front.  I added a piece of black grosgrain ribbon across my card using double sided tape.  I found this gold metallic butterfly in my stash, trimmed a circle of black velvet cardstock (Nestibilities) and adhered my butterfly to it using a gold brad.  I auditioned this element on my card and decided I needed a bit more gold so used gold cording to create a bit of a whimsical frame to my butterfly layer.  I used double sided tape on the back to secure the ribbon as I created my loops.  After I was finished I secured them all with regular tape.  I mounted this focal element to my card using 3D foam tape.       Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a vintage sunflower image, gold photo corners and a coordinating background

For this all occasion card I started with the sunflower image which is laser printed on white cardstock (Pixabay).  Once trimmed out I found this cool geometric background in my stash and mounted my sunflower to it using gold photo corners.  I added a layer of metallic gold paper and then mounted this large element to the front of a green card.  Love the simplicity of this card and how well the elements coordinate!!  Therese

SISTER STASH - Christmas with vintage collage decorative paper and Christmas tags from Graphics Fairy

I made three more cards for my sister's Christmas card stash from the supplies she left here a while back.  These ones feature some beautiful decorative paper with the look of a vintage collage.  I cut out two pieces (8.25" x 5.25") and used the scraps to create the card above.  I created a tan card and added the two scraps trimmed to fit on my card.  I embossed the cut off from the card front with a script embossing folder and fish tailed the end.  I added a shimmery brown vintage seam binding over it tucking the left edge to the back and securing with double sided tape and trimming the other end with a fish tail to coordinate with the strip below.  I add this element to my card over the gap between the papers.   The six  Graphic Fairy tags were in a PDF which I printed on an ivory sheet of cardstock.  I trimmed out all six tags and chose this angel one for my first card.  I added a large brown eyelet to the top with my Crop a Dile and tied in some taupe cording leaving the ends to tangle to the left.  I decided to tuck them behind the 3D foam I put on the back when mounting my tag to the front of my card to keep them in place.  Love how it turned out!!!

For my next two I used dark brown cards.  I added brown grosgrain ribbon to the backgrounds adjusting the placement to leave as many images whole as I could.  I added three eyelets to each of the ribbons and then adhered the backgrounds to the brown card fronts.  I added a large brown eyelet to each tag, added some taupe seam binding using an over hand knot then added the tags to my card fronts using 3D foam tape.  I trimmed the ends diagonally on both.  I decided to not any other greetings as there are some on the tags and papers.   Therese

An all occasion card featuring a cute little grapevine wreath, linen and gold ribbon and a burlap bow

Yet another all occasion card!!  For this one I started with a green card front, trimmed out a leafy background to which I added a length of this beautiful linen and gold ribbon which I fishtailed on the bottom.  This ribbon was on a gift I received a few years ago from my daughter  - I just love it!!  I adhered my background to my card.  The little floral grapevine wreath is from Melonheadz and was laser printed on ivory cardstock and trimmed out.  I watercoloured the wreath, ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four sides to create texture and then used my distress tool on the edges as well.  I added a peach layer then adhered this focal element to my card front with 3D foam tape.  I still needed a bit of something so I tied two lengths of burlap threads into a bow and added it to the corner using a glue dot.  It did the trick - just the right colour and lots of texture too.    Therese

SISTER STASH - Christmas card with a paper pieced background, red corrugated paper and a Christmas tree (digital)

This card nicely used up most of the scraps I had left over from making my last two Christmas cards for my sister.  I trimmed them to size and used the corner rounder on opposite corners.  I like that this creates a natural place for my focal element - a cute little tree ( Craft Starters digital).  I laser printed it onto white cardstock, trimmed it out and then watercoloured it to coordinate with my tree paper.  I added a green layer with an even margin and then layered that onto a piece of red corrugated paper which I tore on the top and bottom and cut neatly on the sides.  I mounted this focal element over the intersection of the gaps in my background using 3D foam tape.  This one is finished without a greeting.  Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a stack of coffe cups with little ribbon flags on a wordy brown background

For this card I laser printed on white cardstock a digital from Beyond the Fringe Crafts - this beautiful stack of coffee cups!!  I used a tiny brush and watercolour to paint all the cups.  They all have such character that bright colours work really well with them.  For some continuity I painted all the handles brown along with the saucer at the bottom. I added a bit of a shadow as well.  I layered it onto a rectangle of red cardstock once it was dry and added some bright ribbon flags on the left hand side.  I created a dark brown card, added this fun wordy flash card background then adhered my focal element over it using 3D foam tape.  Love it!!        Therese
 

SISTER STASH - Christmas card featuring fun tree paper, a wonky little font greeting and a layered die cut tree

This card started with a large red card to which I added a full background of this fun Chirstmas tree paper.  I found this green tree die cut in my stash and added a red triangle in behind which nicely filled in the openings and finished it off with a little yellow star punchie.  I added a strip of green cardstock across the card just above the middle which I textured with my pattern tracing wheel.  I added my little tree over the strip using 3D foam tape.  I found this fun font Merry Christmas in my stash which had been trimmed a little awry so I trimmed it again giving it a wonky look.  Next,  treated three sides with a row of paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel, tucked the left hand side behind the tree and adhered it into place.  I really love this fun paper.  Very versatile in regards to finding  coordinating colours.   Therese

 

An all occasion card featuring little heart, a large frame with a little fiber bow

Still working on all occasion cards!!  For this one I started with the little stamped heart - Stampin UP with black Versafine ink on off white cardstock.  I very lightly watercoloured the flowers in the heart with a tiny brush and then added a light blue watercolour wash to the rest of the heart.  I mounted this image behind a large ivory chipboard frame I found in my stash.  I auditioned several papers and found that this one coordinated the best so trimmed out a background and adhered it to a gray card front.  Thinking that it needed a bit of texture I used a needle and threaded through a length of ivory fiber and tied a little bow on the right hand side of the frame.  I did add a tiny dot of white glue so the bow would not undo.  I added 3D foam tape to the back of the frame and adhered it to my embellished card front.  Soft and elegant with a dash of colour!  Perfect!

Therese