A set of cards as a gift with decorative paper backgrounds and coordinating butterflies

I made this set of cards as a gift.  I used white card bases, added a variety of backgrounds using decorative papers and then stamped this butterfly image in a coordinating colour on white as the focal element.    The first one has a full size purple background with a sanded purple stripe of white core paper. I mounted the butterfly image (SU) which I fussy cut after it was dry to my card using 3D foam tape.  The second one has three layers of this fun green paper with a little stripe of blue in between on a white card basse.  The butterfly was stamped in Ochre, fussy cut and mounted with 3D foam tape.  The third one is very much the same except in purple!!  The next one has a piece background with the butterfly layered onto yellow.  I embossed a line with my score tool, used the scallop border punch (SU) next and then used a 1/16" punch to punch holes in the scallops. Mounted it to my card with 3D foam tape.  The next one has a full background of green with white polka dots to which I added a length of white vintag seam binding and then tied on a short length to simulate a bow.  After adhering the background to the card I added the butterfly using 3D foam tape. For my last card I trimmed a piece of decorative paper a bit smaller than my card into four and adhered them neatly spaced on my white card front.  I stamped the butterfly, fussy cut its edges and then adhered it to a yellow layer which had distressed edges.  This element was adhered to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Happy with how all of these turned out.  It was quick and easy to choose one set of design elements and then change up the colours and embellishments to make them all unique.  Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a large fussy cut gift, embossed vellum and brad embellishments

Another pink and green card!!  I really love this one!!  I trimmed the swirly pink background, added a swirly embossed (CB) strip of torn vellum across the middle and then the three silver brads before mounting it to my green card front.  The gift (Artful Stamper) was silver embossed and fussy cut.  I watercoloured it to coordinate with the rest of the card!!  

Therese

Slow Stitching - cat squares

 I started this slow stitching project earlier this year.  The cat fabric was donated to me and I thought they were so cute it seems overkill to put them all in the same place.  I cut all the cats out  - they were randomly distributed on black with gray cat paws in between.  After cutting them all out I decided to apply them to black squares which I would then assemble into a quilt.  Turns out there were enough with some sashing to make two quilts.  I took the time to arrange them all so that like ones were not touching and to distribute colours as best as I could.  I think there are 7 different cats and they were not in even numbers so it took a little to get a good layout in each quilt.  I layered and marked them as to which quilt (1,2), which row (1-8), and then their place in the row (1-5).  I then cut some black squares of fabric (6.5") to stitch the cats to.  Very quickly, it became apparent that all the time I spend organizing these cats could easily be lost by mixing up the squares as a stitched.  I decided to pin the cats to the squares and then mark the back to show their place in the row.  I kept my original markers for which quilt and the row number ( to the left in the photo).  Once I actually started stitching I found that it was difficult to keep the fabrics well aligned as a stitched so I decided to stitch the cats to the squares using black thread and my sewing machine.  This ensured that none of them got mixed up and that they remained flat to each other as I stitched.  Glad I did!!  I have been using embroidery thread in colours from the cat images to stitch them to the squares using a variety of stitches.  It has been fun to experiment with colour combinations and different stitches.  The funky edges were created as I cut out the cats without wasting any fabric.  

You can see that in some I rounded the corners a bit because it worked better for the stitching I was doing.  So they will all be different and I am hoping will end up making nice quilts.  I am not sure I will be able to wait to include 40 of these into one quilt.  I am already thinking of putting one row into a quilt using some bright fabric scraps in much the same way I have been working my other quilt - a row with hand stitching as a focal point and rows of stitched scraps and lengths to make up the rest.  We shall see!!  Therese 

NOTE:  Detailed photos of each square will show up in following posts a row at a time!

Care bear quilt top

 I worked most of the day yesterday and managed to get this care bear quilt top finished.  I had only pieces to work with so I made sure all of them were standing up and then added pieces where necessary.  I had one long strip and the goal was to make the  pieces into strips of the same lenght so that no Care Bears had to be sacrificed to the trimming of this top.  I ended up not needing to add to the right hand side row - the pieces as they were cut were long enough so I created some strips of white cotton coated with fusible webbing and joined the pieces as they were.  I found some pink seam binding which was just the right width once opend to cover the front an make the joint secure.  I had two in this piece.  On the left hand one I had to add two strips of yellow to make two of the pieces wide enough and again there was no extra fabric for the seams so I applied the same treatment.    Next, I did up both of the left hand pieces joining the bottom two and then the top two.  I had just enough of the yellow fabric to fill in the middle section of both of these strips so I used the same techinque to join these pieces into two strips.  I used white seam binding because I did not have any more pink.  It trimmed out pretty good. I had measured and sewed carefully to ensure the best results in getting the ends to align.  It is not perfect but no care bears had to be sacrificed!!!  I will be slow stitching some hearts in the yellow strips before adding batting, backing and binding.  Pretty happy with how it worked out.  

Therese

All Occasion card featuring roses, a decorative border and bling

In our family cards are refurbished and used again if possible.  I regularly get little care packages of cards I have sent handed back to be reused.  I decided to reuse this beautiful rose panel from my previous card.  I layerd it onto pink and then added a white punched border on the bottom (MS).  This large element was added to a green card and then I added little clear rhinestones to the middle of the daisies in the border to finish it off.  My favorite colour combination!!

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring lace and ribbon with a die cut flower

This is my next card with no greeting.  I did leave some room so one can be added later.  I started with a soft green card and then added a background which I pieced from a few scraps of beautiful watercolour paper.  I added a piece of ecru lace, a peach ribbon and then three tiny brads on the right hand side.  A nice textural embellishement.  I added some paper pierced texture on the remaining piece using my pattern tracing wheel.  For my focal element I created a flower using a dark brown "stem" which was cut from a die from a greenery set by Tim Holtz.  The flower is layered (CB) with a brown outline with a flower cut from the scrap of the same paper as the background.  It worked out really nice that the flower was a good contrast to the background.  It is fun to find that your tools are versatile!!

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a border punched decorative background, a watercoloured flower and gold layers

For this card I started with a white card base.  I trimmed this piece of decorative paper from the back of a used card.  I punched the right hand side with a zig zag punch and added a piece of cardstock in behind to really show off the holes in this design.  I added my background to my card and then went looking for an image in my stash.  I found this stamped image of a flower  (Magenta) which was stamped with a black ink that tended towards purple which worked well with my background.  I watercoloured it to coordinate and then layered it with two fancy gold corners which I had paper pierced with my pattern tracing tool.  This element was then mounted to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Using premade elements often forces you to use colours that you don't automatically reach for!  Feels good to try something new!!   Therese
 

All occasion card featuring decorative paper background, ribbon and a leather leaf die cut

I have been working on and off on all occasion cards for my stash.   This one is going to a member of our faith community who is moving to another city.  We most appreciate all he has given to us over the years and are wishing him every good thing as he goes on another adventure.  

This card started with a white card base.  I adhered two pieces of coordinating paper to each other and then a ribbon to create my background.  I tied a little piece of kraft twine to the stem of a leather leaf die cut and then mounted it to my card front using double side tape.  I used a wood burning tool to add details to the leaf.  I added my little stamped greeting which was punched with the Word Window punch (SU) and then sponged on the edges with 3D foam tape to finish off my card.  

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring die cut leaf (TH), embossed layer and twine

A friend of mine asked for a few cards so I decided to get started on making a few.  This one uses a dark brown panel from which I had die cut a leaf (TH).  In my little stash I had several different coloured die cut leaves so I chose a green one to off set from the opening in the panel.  I trimmed a yellow background, distressed its edges and mounted it to a dark brown card.  I like the way the yellow background shows through the opening of my panel.  I adhered my green leaf to the side a bit and then tied on a piece of twine at the stems.  I mounted my panel to the front of my card a little bit offset.  I am leaving all my card without greetings so she can choose the occasion she will use them for.  There is room for a greeting if she decides she needs one!!

Therese

Thank you cards featuring embossed greetings, decorative paper and ribbon

 I needed a couple of thank you cards so I went to my craft room to see what I could come up with!!  I have recently been reminded about this stamp and thought it would be perfect for the cards I needed.  I stamped it twice on a scrap of white cardstock and embossed them with silver embossign powder.  I cut two white cards to fit in my envelopes and then trimmed two pieces of decorative paper from my stash of pink scraps. I added a length of pink ribbon to each tucking the ends to the back and securing with double sided tape then mounted them to my cards.  After fussy cutting the greetings I watercoloured them both to coordinate with my backgrounds and mounted them to my cards using 3D foam tape.  

Therese

Birthday card featuring some fun pink flags, washi tape and a little greeting

For this card I started with a decorative paper with pink diamonds and added five little pink flagged strips of  paper which I kept in place with a length of pink and black polka dot washi tape.  I found the greeting (Desert Diva)  in my stash, watercoloured it to coordinate, added some paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel and then mounted it to a layer of black cardstock.  I mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Just to finish it off nicely, I added a little pink butterfly punchie!!  I am enjoying playing with my tools and using up some of my scraps!!  Therese

 

Thank you card featuring a fancy greeting, washi tape and a black silhouette of a wild flower (TH)

I combined two pieces of scrapbook paper by joining them with handmade coordinating washi tape to create a background which I mounted to my white card base.  I found the greeting in my stash.  I created this image from an oval frame which I filled with a font greeting before laser printing and punching out the shapes (SU).  I watercoloured it to coordinate.  I found the black silhouette wild flower in my stash and thought it went very well with my greeting so I adhered it to my card using white glue in a fine tip applicator.  Once it was dry, I added my little greeting using 3D foam tape.  

Therese
 

Birthday card featuring blue decorative paper, washi tape and butterfly punchies

For this card I started with a white card base and added the background I created by combining two scraps of decorative paper.  I used a length of coordinating washi tape to cover over where they join and then trimmed the tape to the edges of the card.  The birthday greeting (Desert Diva) is from my stash.  I embellished it with paper piercing uisng my pattern tracing wheel and mounted it to my card front with 3D foam tape after mounting it to a bright blue piece of cardstock.  Searching my stash I found a little flight of butterflies in coordinating blues which I mounted to my card front using double sided tape.  Finished off my card very nicely!!

Therese

 

All occasion card with a stamped coffee cup, a black strip and a geometric background

I am still making cards for my stash!!  This one features a white card base and for the background I reused a fun geometric card back with some wonderful colours.  I added a strip of black cardstock and then added a layered focal element.  I started with a stamped coffee cup which I fussy cut to have a bit of an uneven edge.  I layered it onto a coordinating piece of green cardstock which I distressed on its edges.  Once adhered to each other I mounted this element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I did run a fine tipped black permanent marker around the edges of the coffee cup to reinforce it edges and help it echo the black strip I added.  Therese

A star card with a fun greeting, a paper pieced backgrond embellished with washi tape and a large gold star

For this card I started with a white card base and then used green decorative paper scraps to create a fun background which I held together using washi tape.  Have not used those in a while!!  I adhered it to my card, added two layered flagged strips to my background and then my embellished greeting (Desert Diva).  It has several tracks made by my pattern tracing wheel and is embellsihed with a little gold confetti star.  I adhered the large gold star with 3D foam tape.  It nicely unifies my design and creates a wonderful focal element for this great little digital greeting.  Therese
 

All occasion card featuring stitched flowers, embossed panel and some ribbon

This card started with the panel from a card I had refurbished a while back.  There were these wonderful stitched flowers which were embellished with glitter and done in shimmery thread.  I trimmed the piece to fit on my card, punched on side with a scalloped border punch and then embossed a line with my score tool.  I embossed the other side with a birdie embossing folder (CB) and then added a piece of coordinating satin ribbon over where the embossing stopped.  I added this embellished layer to the front of a lilac card.  

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a little cactus, an embossed strip and some paste paper for my backround

Another card for my stash!!  I started with a white card and trimmed a piece of beautiful paste paper to fit with a small border.  I found a strip of coordinating cardstock in my stash, embossed it a dotted embossing folder (SU) and then flagged the end.  I mounted the strip over the background and then found this cute little cactus image that I thought would work really well.  I water oloured it to coordinate with my card and then cut a piece of dark pink cardstock to back it with to echo the colour of its little flower.  I used a border punch on the one side and after adhering them together I mounted this focal element to my card front.  Therese
 

Thank you card featuring decorative paper, layered punchies with bling and a small font greeting

 I have been working on cards for my stash on and off for several weeks now.  I am just now getting to blogging some of them.  I used a white card base and added the green and pink decorative paper background.  I found the coordiating pink and white punchies in my stash so I layered them and added little deep pink rhinestones to the centers.  Added the little flag ended greeting using 3D foam tape.  It is fun to create with what you have at hand and the discover yet more fun stuff when you go searching for embellishments!!  Therese

Tunnel card featuring an embossed label, some ribbon and a die cut image

This eighth tunnel card completes my special occasion cards for my family for the month of September. You can check out my first one here.  It has been really good to strech creatively and try something new.  It has enticed me to use the "special" paper and that has been fun too.  I have more than I will probably ever be able to use so it is time to use the peices I like and pass the others off to bless others!!  For this card I used a soft peach floral for the card and a soft peach for the tunnel.  I used a label die (SX) to cut the opening in the center of my tunnel.  I stamped and embossed the greeting and the flower (Magenta) and embossed them in copper embossing folder.  I used the same copper pigment ink to stamp the flowers onto the tunnel but did not emboss them. I trimmed the flaps with scallop decorative scissors.  I added the tunnel to the inside of my card by adhering the two flaps to the card.  I used the label die cut from the tunnel to decorate the front of my card.  I die cut a smaller label from the middle of it and turned it over and used regular tape to put it back in the opening.  It gives a really nice contrast and coordinated nicely with the copper on the inside.  I embossed it with the Swiss Dot embossing folder (CB).  I die cut a little image for inside and added it with 3D foam tape.  I used double sided tape to add two lengths of green ribbon to the front in a diagonal pattern trimming the ends to the edge of my card.  After I was finished I adhered my large focal element to my card front.  Thinking it still needed a "bit of something" I added seven copper sequins to the front.  That was better!!   Therese

 

Tunnel card featuing glittery dragonfly stickers, white silk flowers adhered with brads and an embossed and glittered label

For my seventh tunnel card I used this nice floral pink sheet that was a coordinating plain pink on the other side.  I chose a diamond pattern in light pink for the tunnel.  You can check out my first card here. I did not have an oval die big enough to cut an opening for my tunnel so I traced my largest Nestibilities and cut it out by hand.  I stamped the greeting on the inside and embossed it with silver embossing powder.  I did the same with a simple daisy and a flourish (Sugarloaf). I chalked the daisies in blue which turned them a bit of a purple which was just perfect to coordinate with the butterfly stitckers I had chosen.   I adhered the flaps of my tunnel to the inside of my card and added the butterfly stickers.  These stickers have been around for a while and required a bit of double sided tape to get them to stay in place.   For the front of my card I die cut a label from dark pink cardstock and embossed it with the D'Vine swirl embossing folder (CB) and then added embossing ink and clear embossing powder with glitter in it to give it some sparkle.  I die cut a new oval from the one I trimmed from the tunnel so it would fit inside my embossed label.  I glittered its edges as well then adhered another dragofly to the center of it.  I found this pink paper in my stash, trimmed it to size, added silk flowers in all four corner using silver brads and then adhered it at a bit of an angle on my card front.  I mounted my label focal element to it using 3D foam tape to finish off my card.  I see that I could have echoed the yellow from my dragonflies in my layout - maybe a layer of yellow behind the pink would have been sufficient.  Next time!!  Therese