Scrap and Bean - cards for seniors - butterflies and a collage

 Another set of cards for the seniors which Scrap and Bean are collecting!!  

1.  A tan card with a leafy background which was watercoloured, stamped and embossed.  For my focal element I started with a brown cardstock rectangle embossed with the Scripty 3D embossing folder (SU) which is new to me!!  I added a gold ribbon with fiber tied to it then mounted a little collage which I had trimmed with postage stamp decorative scissors.  I watercoloured a little greeting and mounted it with 3D foam tape.  

2.  A gold card front with a butterfly background (colour printed digital - Just something I made ) which I colourwashed with a bit of yellow to help it coordinate a bit better with my focal element.  The focal element was created using an ATC background to which I added some colour washed tissue paper with some glittery glue.  Worked so well with the two little butterflies from my stash.  I stamped the greeting (SU), added three little brown rhinestones and then added it to my butterfly collage trimming the ends to the edge.  I  mounted this element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

Therese

Scrap and Bean - cards for seniors - textured foil and stamped flowers

 Another two cards to be donated to Scrap and Bean for their cards for seniors event in June.  

1.  A green card with a coordinating quilted background (colour printed digital).  The center panel was stamped a while back with the flowers (SU).  I added the little greeting SU), blue ribbon and the silk flowers and then coloured the flowers to coordinate.  It was a bit tricky getting around the silk flowers but that is the way it goes when you create backwards.  I mounted this piece to a pink layer before mounting it to my card front. 

2.  This is one of my ATCs which I undid and then added the butterfly (Appalachian Arts) on vellum which I had in my stash.  I added the little greeting and then replaced the silver brads to hold the vellum in place.  The blue is embossed metal foil tape embellished with transparent acrylic paint.  I found a striped background that coordinated and mounted to a coordinating card and mounted my focal element with 3D foam tape.  

Therese

Bright rainbow birthday card

This card is for my oldest grand daughter who is turning 14.  She is growing up and becoming a young woman.  I found this image of a girl with an umbrella (Judy Clement Wall) and thought it suited her well.  Before printing, I added a birthday greeting from Desert Diva leaving enough space in between to add ribbon or some other embellishment.  After trimming it out from the sheet I decided on the rainbow paper (Melstampz) so I coloured the image to coordinate.  I used gel pens and watercolour in combination to get all those little spaces coloured.  I added clear glitter to the raindrops, the puddles and the street light.  I added the blue ribbon, ran my pattern tracing wheel on the edges above the ribbon and then 3 little blue rhinestones below the ribbon.  There was enough room on the bottom to use a border punch to add some texture ( Martha Stewart).  I created a large black card, added the colour printed rainbow paper and then the large focal element using 3D foam tape.  Really happy with how it turned out.  Therese
 

Scrap and Bean - cards for seniors - with fun backgrounds and layered focal elements of hearts and flowers

 Two more cards I made for Scrap and Bean to be donated to seniors.  

1.  A small stamped flower which I lightly watercoloured to coordinate with my frame which I found in my stash.  I adhered the frame to the flower and then adhered to my card front which features some coordinating paste paper on a blue card front.  I punched the stamped greeting (from my stash) with a tap punch (SU), sponged its edges with green ink and then added a folded ribbon using a tiny white brad.  

2.  This card features a background I found in my stash that features a paper pieced/serendipity background to which I machine stitched a length of light green lace.  I have several of them which were all created at one time and then abandoned for a better option.  This one worked really well with an ATC background which I embellished with some decorative paper and then added a little heart (Melonheadz) which I watercoloured and fussy cut before mounting with 3D foam tape.  Pink and green is my favorite colour combination so I really like how this one turned out.  

Therese

Scrap & Bean - cards for seniors - with ATCs from my stash

 I heard from my sister, Sylvia, that Scrap and Bean (scrapbooking store) is looking for hand made cards for seniors which they will be distributing in June.  So I decided to see what I could get made before I see her next. 

I made these up with ATCs which I made/traded years ago now.  These little creations are too good to toss so I decided to see how many I could make cards with.  

1.  This ATC is a swapped one and features a rose.  I simply added a silver vellum overlay on a green card and added the ATC over than.  A little "Thinking of you" (font and laser printed) greeting pinched out with the Window punch (SU) and layered onto a Modern Label (SU) punchie in red and mounted with 3D foam tape.

2.  This is one of my ATC which features embossed metal with a bit of marker on the flowers.  I simply added a black thread tie.  I mounted it on a rescued background which I stamped with a little script greeting (SeeD).  I mounted this large piece onto a coordinating purple card front.

3.  This ATC is a traded one which features an alcohol ink background and stamped quote from Shakespeare about music being the food of love.  I used a light green card to coordinate with the colours in the background and embellished a piece of sheet music with watercolour and some heart stamping (SU).  I adhered the back to my card, added the ATC and then mounted two hearts with 3D foam tape.  The top heart has been embellished with glitter pen and three little pink rhinestones and the little bottom heart has been left plain.  

4.  This is one of my ATCs which again features embossed foil with a bit of a twist.  This one was created by creating a textured piece and then adding foil tape over it and really burnishing it to reveal the texture.  I added "riend" to the right of the large F using a wooden skewer before mounting it to my card front which featured a yellow and purple background (colour printed digital - Morgue File) adhered to a yellow card front.  I added a stamped greeting (SU) which I colour washed to coordinate and then mounted with 3D foam tape.  

5.  A traded ATC which features a cute little fish in a gold foil frame.  I added a greeting "there's only one you" which I colour washed to coordinate.  I mounted it onto my card with 3D foam tape.  The background on my card is a one created with plastic wrap and watercolour a while back.  It is mounted on a blue card.  

6.  This is one of my ATCs which features a framed gentleman on a piece of embossed metal foil tape which was embellished with pink transparent acrylic paint.  The quote was added around the edge using a glitter gel pen and talks about people being primary numbers and therefore quite unique.  I mounted my coordinating pink paste paper background to a black card and mounted my ATC with 3D foam tape.  To finish it off I stamped the greeting (SU) with black ink.  

I have quite a few cards ready to go which have been refurbished from ones sent to me in swaps, exchanges and donations given to me to reuse.  

Therese

Art for an installation about women from our family

My aunt, Maria, is an artist and has come up with a plan for a piece of art that will highlight the women of our family.  Being as many of us are involved with textiles in one way or the other she has started circulating a letter to the women of our family requesting textile pieces we have made that will be included in her piece of art.  Her siblings got the first letters and she is working her way down through the layers of each generation to be in touch with as many as she has contact information for.  One of my aunts has already sent along her piece and it was shared with those of us she has email addresses for.  We have four generations in some of the legs in the family.  I am sharing here the piece I made to send to her.

After some brainstorming and a bit of a sketch here are the supplies I assembled.  

 * 6" square (4" to 6" was the guideline she provided) of white polka dots on navy fabric.  This layer represents space with its vast amount of stars. 

* 4" circle of pieced fabrics.  This layer represents the Earth.  It is made up of four scraps of fabric which represent each season by their colour.  I machine stitched the pieces together and then cut out my circle.  

*  white tulle which I overlaid over the seams in the Earth to have the seasons blend into each other visually.  

*  1.25" circle of yellow fleece which will be my Sun.

*  24  3/4" pink fabric circle die cuts  - all different - which represent all the women in our family.

*  stitched hearts represents the love they give - to themselves, each other and their families and community. 

*  red thread which represents our connection through our shared history.

*  silver thread which represents our connection to the Divine which is evident through out the Universe.

I started by layering my Earth onto my starry sky and placing the sun in the middle of it so it would overlap all the seasons.  I used variegated yellow embroidery thread to stitch my sun into place starting in the center and using running stitches in a spiral pattern until I got to the edges.  

Next, I laid several layers of tulle over the seams between my seasons and used the same variegated yellow floss to stitch rays going from the sun to the outside edge of the Earth which anchored all my layers.

Next, I used various colours  of pink floss to stitch hearts onto all of my little pink circle die cuts.  I started with a pattern I got from online that combined two scroll stitches to form a heart but I found they did not hold their shape very well.  It is possible that I did not properly execute the stitches but in the end I decided to just create two opposing curves and added a stab stitch to each one to hold it in place.  I did go back and add stab stitches to the ones with scroll stitches which worked well to keep them integral as well.  

Next I stitched all the little pink circles to the perimeter of the Earth with two rounds of running stitch which fills in a full line of stitching in pink floss.  They are all overlapped just a wee bit to indicate connection and our family ties.  They are all a bit different which reflects the reality of the women in our family.  

Next, I added the red thread intertwined through the hearts on the pink circles.  A red thread is often used as a symbol that indicates connection and a shared history which works well for this piece.  I hid the ends so that the thread appears to be integral.  The legend is that a red thread connects those who are bound to meet in life  - it twists and turns and tangles but never breaks.  The silver thread represents our connection with the Divine.  The Universe is completely imbued with the Divine and therefore the silver thread run through out my creation to reflect that connection.  I pinned the thread down in a spiral starting at the sun and spiraling outwards until it reaches space.  I then used coordinating floss to couch it in several places along its path which very nicely secures it to my creation.  

Here is a close up of the different sections that represent the seasons along with details of the circles and the red and silver threads. 

Next, I laid my creation upside down on a gray backer and added a layer of flannel as batting.  I stitched it all the way around leaving a gap so I could turn it inside out.  I poked out the corners and pressed it well then added a line of machine stitching about 1/8" from the edge.  Lastly, I added a row of seed beads all the way around using navy floss and blanket stitching.  It has been wonderful to be back to hand stitching and creating a fun project with so much meaning.  I am really looking forward to the completed art piece.  My aunt is a talented artist and will no doubt be able to realize the vision she has for this piece which will be a tribute to all of us!!

Therese

 

Birthday card featuring yellow daisies

Working on cards for the special occasions for my family.  I created a large beige card to fit into an envelope from my stash.  I added a layer of decorative paper with pink and yellow stripes.  I punched the right hand edge using an eyelet punch (StampinUP) and then embossed two lines using my score tool right next to the design.  I found a scrap of pink cardstock that coordinated, trimmed it to .75" x 4" and embossed it with a large polka dot embossing folder (StampinUP).  I tied on a small piece of kraft cording and then adhered to my card front.  The daisies image is from Clipartimage.com.  I laser printed it, trimmed it to size and then watercoloured it to coordinate with my background.  I ran my pattern tracing wheel around all the edges to add some paper piercing texture.  I added the image to my card using 3D foam tape.    Therese

Birthday card featuring a paper pieced book case background and a stack of books with a cup of coffee

 Still working on family cards for April.  I am sure I have seen this "book on a shelf" technique on line somewhere but could find no instructions on how to put it together so I had to just do it.  I created a large brown card to fit in an envelope from my stash.  I added the strip of orange/floral decorative paper on the left hand side of my card to simulate wall paper.  I added a layer of brown paper bag on the right hand side leaving a small border all the way around which would become the inside of my book shelf.  I trimmed a piece of brown cardstock into 1/4" strips and watercoloured them.  Once they were dry I added them as a frame on the right hand side of my card and then added two pieces in between to simulate shelves.  I trimmed heavy weight paper scraps into "books" varying the height and width until I had what I needed for my three shelves.  After arranging them, I took them one at a time and watercoloured their two front edges and all the sides with black watercolour to give them a bit of age and dimension.  Once dry, I adhered them all in place on the shelves.  I took a photo of my book shelf before I added my focal image.  My focal element features a stack of books with a cup of tea from BBJ (Black Berry Jelly).  It should have been coffee but I only realized that it was tea when I was colouring the tag!!  I watercoloured the image, scored the pages with a bone folder to give them some texture and added a line of paper piercing on all the sides using my pattern tracing wheel.  I stamped the little greeting (StampinUP) in brown and mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I am very happy with how it turned out!!  Therese

Card Exchange cards - All occasion cards featuring butterflies that flit from inside to outside!

I have taken time this week to make my exchange cards for the CCE (Canadian Card Exchange).  I wanted to challenge myself to something different and found a card in my inspiration file that fit the bill perfectly!  

I found it on Splitcoast Stampers and it features a butterfly that is mounted on the inside of the card that also appears on the outside of the card.  The magic is in the slot on the front of the card that allows the butterfly with its wings folded to pass through from the inside to the outside.   FUN!!!!!!!

I started with a large yellow card which fit in a large envelope from my stash.  I adhered the hexagon paper (SU - digital - colour printed) background which I trimmed from a letter sized sheet to my card front.  I created my butterfly by die cutting a blue butterfly using the medium one on the Beautiful Butterfly die (SU/Sizzix).  I stamped a butterfly in the middle (Applalachian Arts) in blue and then highlighted the body and antennae with a black fine tip marker.  I colourwashed the edges and the inside of the stamped butterfly with blue green watercolour.  I embossed it with a script embossing folder (CB). I situated my butterfly on my card front with it wings folded and drew a line where I wanted it to come through the front of my card.  I cut a slot with my exacto knife as tall as my butterfly and then enlarged the opening with another cut. I used my Japanese Screw punch to round the ends nicely.  I adhered a piece of the same paper on the inside of my card so it coordinated with the one on the front.    I added a slim piece of 3D foam tape to the middle of my butterfly, closed my card and positioned it in the slot so the foam tape would adhere to the paper on the inside of my card.   

When its wings are spread it keeps the card closed.  As you fold the wings to each other the butterfly flattens sufficiently to slide through the slot as the card is opened.  It spreads its wings again on the inside of the card. I added a yellow ribbon to my card - across the inside with each end dipping around this piece from the front and back to the front to be tied with a double knot.  I flagged the ends.  I embellished my card front with 8 little yellow flower sequins inside the bottom hexagons. I adhered them with double sided tape.  I added a small piece of white paper on the inside where a message can be written.  The butterfly can be situated  perpendicularly or at a bit of a slant.  It worked out really well and it was fun to make this card!!  

I needed two cards because I have two exchange partners so I made another card using the same technique. For the card below I created the butterfly in the same way as my previous one  - just used a different colour to coordinate with my polka dot background (SU - digital - colour printed).  I chose to make my card in the landscape orientation.  I cut the slot as tall my my butterfly but as I opened it I realized that I could have cut it a bit shorter due to the arc of travel of the front which is shorter near the spine.   It is all good!!  I adhered a piece of the same paper on the inside and added a piece of white bond paper for the greeting.  I tied on a gray ribbon from the slot to the edge and tied a double knot.  I added three turquoise sequins and added yellow rhinestones inside them using tiny drops of white glue.  The 3D foam tape seems to be holding up quite well to the butterfly being folded and passed through the slot several times now.  

I have not been able to located the card which was my inspiration on Splitcoast.  Thanks to the person who posted this technique there a while back.  I realize now that it should have been a bee on the hexagon paper - that would have been more perfect!!  I expect the focal element could be a flower, a book, a doily, a wreath, etc.  Anything symmetrical would work well.  

Challenge yourself you make a card with a technique you have never done before!!  It works your creativity and your brain all at the same time.  Therese

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