Large all occasion card featuring two tulips assembled from stamped petals and a flourished round with hand cut stems and leaves

Third in my current series of cards created using fussy cut petals and round shapes.  I stamped the shapes in black and then fussy cut the shapes before assembling them into fun shapes.  These tulips feature two petal shapes and one round circle.  I really like the flourishes!!  I assembled the tulips using double sided tape.  I used a zig zag yellow background and added two rows of torn green papers to the bottom edge leaving the space in the middle without glue.  I fussy cut stems and leaves from green scraps and did some paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel and added a bit of watercolour too!!   After auditioning all the pieces I adhered the stems to the tulips and inserted them into the gap between the two torn green pieces.  I added glue to the leaves and did them the same way.  Again, the card needed a "bit of something" so I dug through my butterfly stash and found these three in different sizes.  I embellished them with watercolour and then added bodies with a brown marker.  That was much better!!  I added tiny pieces of double sided tape to their middles and adhered them to my background.  I glued this large element to a red card.   Therese

I am really enjoying creating cards with the petal creations!!   That's three so far - large daisy, butterfly and tulips!!        Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a shimmer cup of coffee with musical notes over a paper pieced background with eyelets

For DH's Father's Day card I decided to feature some of the things he likes - music and coffee!!!  The little cup was printed, watercoloured and then embellished with shimmery copper paint!!  The background started with a distressed piece of brown cardstock which I embossed with the Script embossing folder from SU.  I added small pieces of scrapbook paper to create a bit of a grid to frame my image.  After weaving the strips and gluing them into place I added some pewter eyelets for added texture.  I tied beige twine in the two eyelets on either side on the lower edge.  More texture!!!  I ran the pattern tracing wheel all the way around my coffee cup once it was dry and then mounted it to copper foil and then added it to my background.  My ivory card then contrasted too starkly so I embellished its outer edge with a texture stamp and brown ink and then watercoloured it in yellow.  Much better!!!  

Therese
 

Large all occasion card featuring a butterfly assembled from stamped petal shapes with a stamped border and watercoloured flower embellishment

This is my second card for this series of cards created using stamped petals on scraps from my red scrap bin.  I stamped them in black and fussy cut them.  For this butterfly I diecut a black body using a Sizzix dragonfly die.  I trimmed out just the body and added four petals in two different patterns.  Worked out quite well.  I initially just used double sided tape but when I started working with it I added some white glue where they all join which I held until the glue was dry.  Much better!!!  I embellished the butterfly with clear glitter on the wings and the body.  I trimmed a swirly green and white background and added a couple of stamped flower borders with fussy cut edges.  Then I added a red strip between them.  I added the butterfly with double sided tape and created the flight path using dots made with a black fine tip Sharpie marker.  It still needed a "bit of something" so I dug into my flower stash and found this little stamped flower which I watercoloured to coordinate and then glued in place on the red strip.  That was much better!!!  Glued the background to my card to finish it up!!

Therese
 

Large all occasion card featuring a paper pieced background and daisies in a jar embellished with hand stitching

For my last card in this session I used scraps of decorative paper which I have cut off of stationary which simulated handmade paper with blue inclusions from bachelor buttons.  I glued the strips to a bond paper substrate and then added gray washi tape to the top and bottom pieces to help give some horizontal lines to the whole piece.  I adhered this background to a large yellow card front.  I watercoloured my laser printed image of daisies in a jar (Clipartimages.com) to coordinate with my background and ran my pattern tracing tool on all four edges.  I layered it to a blue rectangle of cardstock leaving a larger margin on the right.  I used an eyelet lace border punch (SU) on the right edge and added one embossed line next to it.  I paper pierced holes opposite of the three created by the punch and then used light yellow heavy weight thread to stitch little chicken feet.  It is fun to add stitching to my cards.  I mounted my focal element to my card using 3D foam tape to give it a bit of dimension.  Therese
 

Sewing - three sets of potholders for my Christmas stash

 I stitched these three sets as well today!!  I used scraps of the Budweiser fabric with coordinating solids for the fronts of two of them.  One of them was backed with red and the other with navy.  The center set features birdhouse fabric and yellow scraps on each side.  I added several rows of stitching to each side of the center strips to keep all the layers together.  The birdhouses were backed with black.  These are going into my personal stash.  After my Mom passed earlier this year I decided I would be the one to take over making potholders for the family for Christmas.  She had made potholders for many years now and everyone gets to choose a new set at Christmas.  I am looking forward to adding a few more to this stash in the next little while.  Therese

Large all occasion card featuring a flower with fussy cut petals and stems and bright background

I have no cards in my stash!!  The last of them went out this morning so I decided to find a new technique and give it a go!!  I used a petal stamp with a couple flourishes and a little floursihed round stamp.  I stamped them in black ink on scraps from my red scraps bin.  It was fun to just stamp on all sorts papers and get as many as I could in each scrap.  Once they were dry, I fussy cut around them and stacked them with all the same paper in one pile.  Next, I started combining petals to see what I could invent for shapes.  A flower was a no brainer so that is what I started with.  I used a punched circle on the back and adhered all the petals points to it and then added the little flourished circle to the center.  I did manage to invent a few more shapes which will show up here once I get them blog.  I assembled all my fussy cut pieces into shapes and then started making cards.  

For this card, I started with a deep yellow card and trimmed a bright colour printed background for it.  I trimmed a stem and two leaves from green scraps.  I paper pierced these with my pattern tracing wheel and sanded the stem a bit then added watercolour.  I adhered the stem to the back of the flower and then played with placement on the background before securing the flower to the background.   Decided to add some layers between the stem and the leaves.  Prepped a torn piece of vellum, a red strip and a yellow strip.  They all got some paper piercing too!!  I added double sided tape to the back of the leaves and positioned them on my card without removing all the release tape.  I was then able to slip the strips between the stem and the leaves and secured them in place.  Finally, I removed the release paper from the back of the leaves and adhered them to the layers.  

It was fun to challenge myself to something different.  I have played with this technique before using magazine pages.  Scraps of paper provided more predictable results though I do like the scrappy collageness of the magazine pages.  Looking forward to making cards with all my little creations!!

Therese

 

Sewing - a variety of potholders - Budweiser and red, blue and floral, quilted red and beige

I worked on potholders today.  These have been sitting for quite a while with everything cut and ready to be sewn together.  They went together very quickly.  I made four sets with the Budweiser fabric on the outside and the red inside.  I quilted them all differently and added navy loops for hanging.  

The blue ones feature a floral blue fabric on the top and they are back with solid navy blue fabric.   I added an X in a square to keep the layers together.  

The dark red set have a solid deep red backs and quilted fronts.  To keep the layers together I did stitch in the ditch following the quilted pieces.  

These are going to the Everything Rhubarb event as well. 

Therese

 

Sewing - a little pouch with a rhinestone zipper with fun fabrics

I made up another little sewing project for The Everything Rhubarb event for the Gramma Link Africa group.  I found a tutorial on line @ erinerickson.com.  I did not do it quite like she did.  I cut three pink polka dot circles and folded two in half for the front.  I stitched them to each side of the black rhinestone zipper to make my top layer.  I did add a layer of flannel inside them.  I also put a layer of flannel between my third polka circle and the zebra lining circle to make up my back.  I did add several lines of stitching in pink on both the back and the front and a little black tab before stitching it together.   I laid them good sided together leaving the zipper open so I could turn it inside out.  Worked out really well!!  I trimmed the front to be even with the back (there was a bit extra fabric because I added the zipper) and then clipped  the seam allowance a bit to assist in giving the outside edge a smooth finish.  Once I had it turned inside out and pressed I added a row of stitching to keep everything well lined up and capture the seam allowance on the inside.  It is a sparkly little pouch that would be great for carrying earbuds, money or a spare plastic bag for your next shopping trip!!  

Therese

 

Cards for a prize - all occasion cards from my stash in a metal tin

I put together a group of nine cards to package as a prize for the upcoming Everything Rhubarb event for the Gramma Link Africa group coming up in a couple of weeks.  I just took a good variety of cards from my stash.  They are examples of the cards I have made it the last little bit.  When it came time to package them I decided to add one to make an even ten.  I wrapped them in cellophane and put them in the metal tin which has been around for a while.  I printed a visual of all the cards and added it to the inside of the tin.  It can now be displayed open and then easily closed.  I added an organza ribbon to make it pretty.  

Therese

Large all occasion card featuring a pieced background and leaf element with hand stitching

For this card I used the same paper piecing technique I used on my previous one.  I used red scraps which I cut into strips this time.  I added a stitched collage strip layered onto an orange one over the background and added three eyelets at the top to help keep it in place and add some interest.  I mounted this large element to my red card front.  For my focal element I used a leaf image (CLKER) which I watercoloured.  After it was dry I ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four edges.  I layered it onto a dark maroon piece of cardstock leaving more space on the right hand side.  I used a border punch to trim the edge and then added one embossed line which I created using my score tool.  I embellished the border by hand stitching with yellow heavyweight thread in and out of the holes in the border.  It was fun to take a bit of a break and sit with small project.  I mounted this focal element to my card using 3D foam tape.  Therese

NOTE: I just realized that I forgot to stamp stitching on this one!!! OOPS!
 

Large all occasion card featuring a paper pieced background with faux stitching and a cute ho air balloon

I used orange scraps to create the background for this card!!  I cut them into strips and then glued them within an X which I created with the first few pieces I glued down.  It was then quite easy to finish by just adding strips butting the ends to the X and the side to the one next to it.  I stamped "faux" stitching zig zag lines over the joints which gives a more interesting effect.  I added a length of wide orange organza ribbon before adding it to a large orange card.  I chose this fun hot air balloon (Digital Graphics Cafe) which I watercoloured to coordinate with my background!! I layered the image with green and blue cardstock and then added it to my card using 3D foam tape overlapping the ribbon and putting it at a bit of an angle to help it look like it was floating in the sky!!  Therese
 

Large birthday card featuring a cute cat and a black and white background

I have been having fun with paper scraps!!  I have been paper piecing backgrounds for cards and for this one I used black, gray and white scraps which I cut into strips and glued to a bond paper substrate starting with a X pattern near the middle.  I simply butted the scraps to the leg of the X and trimmed them off at the edge.  I used the zig zag stamp to add faux stitching to my background.  I adhered it to a large black card.  I watercoloured the cat (CLKER) to coordinate and when it was dry ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four edges.  I mounted it to a black rectangle of cardstock and added a variety of coordinating ribbons to the right hand side using double sided tape.  I like the little pop of orange on the cat which I echoed  with the ribbon.  Therese
 

All occasion cards made from kits - embossed mesh, sanded white core layer and fun images

I had a few card kits leftover from May Card Club so I made them up to add to my stash.  It is always fun to emboss and sand white core cardstock.  I then added colour embossed mesh for a pop of colour.  After adding the ribbon I added these backgrounds to my coordinating card fronts.  The images  a fun too!!  A little robot (Cre8tive Hands), candles (SU), dragonfly (SU) and little flower doodle I created.  I added paper piercing to all of them and yellow cardstock to the flower because it seemed to need " a bit of something" more.   More cards for my stash!!!!  There will be some for sale at the Everything Rhubarb event later in June.  Therese
 

Large all occasion card featuring a watercoloured swan over a paper pieced background in warm blue tones

I have started on my cards for next month's special occasions for my family.  I started by creating a paper pieced background using scraps of warm blue papers.  I trimmed all of them into stripes and glued them next to each other in an X pattern on a scrap piece of bond.  I used a zigzag stitch stamp and light aqua ink to add lines of "stitching" to each joint in the pattern.  Love how it looks!!  I added a length of light green ribbon across the trimmed background before adhering it to a large warm blue card front. I chose a beautiful swan image (CLKER) which I laser printed on white cardstock and then watercoloured.  I ran my pattern tracing wheel around all the edges and then layered it onto an extra wide coordinating layer.  I added a scalloped border (SU) on the right and then used my score tool to emboss four lines.  I used a 1/16" hole punch to add holes to each scallop.  I adhered the image over the background using 3D foam tape.  I have used this technique before and it was nice to revisit it!!

Therese

 

May Card Club - Card #3 - all occasion cards featuring a punchy balloon with a string over a decorative background

This was our last card for the evening.  I punched these little balloons from a decorative strip of watercolour paper to which I had applied a variety of liquid acrylic inks in very vibrant colours.  I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to fairly easily punch the watercolour paper.  After, punching a good little pile in a wide variety of colours I decided to mount them to coordinating layers of cardstock.  I choose a variety of sizes and colours.  I embossed the smaller one and sometimes trimmed or embellished the larger one  - added paper piercing on the middle card.  I tied the black thread to the balloon with a double knot and then mounted it to my layered cardstocks with 3D foam tape.  I adhered my backgrounds to my card fronts and then added my little balloon as suited my fancy.  We had a fun creative evening!!  This group always makes these kits their own and find ways to combine the pieces to make their cards unique!!  We will be back together in September after a summer break!!  Therese

 

May Card Club - Card #2 - a butterfly, postage stamp, ribbon and a doily combined to make a fun collage

For our second card I started with the little postage stamp stickers.  I have had these quite a while and have several times tried to incorporate them into my cards with not much luck.  This time around I am very pleased to have found a great way to include them!!  I added a coordinating butterfly sticker, a coordinating punchie of decorative paper, some ribbon and a small paper doily.  These elements were all collaged to a piece of coordinating decorative paper to create our cards.  It was fun to have so many different colours and textures with the papers and ribbon.  We started by gluing the doily to the decorative paper, added the ribbon and then the circle punchie.  We secured the ribbon ends to the back of the background paper and mounted this large element to our card fronts.  Then we added the postage stamp stickers and the butterflies.  We tied a short piece of ribbon to the one on our card to simulate a bow.    Really like how these worked out!!  Therese
 

May Card Club - Card #1 - all occasion cards featuring embossed and sanded background with ribbon and a small image

It was great to get back with my friends for a cardmaking evening!!!  For our first card, I started with  some embellished mesh which I created a while back using stamps and a variety of different colours of embossing powders including yellow, blue, pink, and metallics.  It was a fun creative time and I had quite a few pieces when I was finished.  I cut them up to make an accent layer on the cards for these kits.  I combined them with a coordinating piece of white core cardstock which I trimmed to layer nicely on a regular card in a coordinating colour.  We trimmed the outside edge the white core cardstock in a wavy pattern and then embossed them.  Next we sanded the embossing which reveled the white core and then added a bit of distressing to the outside edge with our sand paper or the distress tool.    We trimmed our mesh to have a wavy edge as well.  We used double sided tape to adhere the mesh to the white core piece and then added our ribbon which we tucked to the back and secured with double sided tape.  This large element was adhered to the front of our card.  I had provided a wide variety of images - both embossed and printed and let them choose the ones they wanted.  For these two - on the left a silver embossed flower which was fussy cut and then watercoloured to coordinate.  For the right one, a stamped bouquet of roses (SU) which I watercoloured to coordinate, trimmed with a wavy edge and then added paper piercing with my pattern tracing tool.  Might have been better to use a push pin to get a more even line but it worked out reasonably well.  I mounted my images to my card fronts using 3D foam tape.  These cards are colourful and have a lot of texture!!  Therese

Sewing - Black and turquoise casserole carrier for a 9" x 13" pan

This is the other casserole carrier I have been working on.  It also has cotton on the outside and a cotton/poly batting on the inside.  I had originally thought I would add two zippers to this one and reconsidered and added only one opening zipper on the top instead.  The zipper is a bit offset and to secure the casserole inside I added two black ties on each end with enough length for them to tie with a bow which makes them easy to undo.  I added turquoise handles which nicely complements the outer fabric.  The inside fabric is all colourful bottles and jars on a black background which worked really well.  I will be donating this casserole carrier to the Gramma Link Africa merchandise table at the Everything Rhubarb tea.  

Therese
 

Everything Rhubarb - a Gramma Link Africa event

 

The Gramma Link Africa group is hosting a tea on June 24th celebrate Everything Rhubarb!!

It will be a fun event and I look forward to seeing many of you there!!

Therese

Sewing - Brown, yellow and taupe gray casserole carrier for 9" x 13" pan

 I finally finished off this 9" x 13" casserole carrier which I started a while back.  It has an all around zipper which opens wide which easily allows the casserole to be put into the carrier and then the top flap is brought over and the zipper done up to keep the contents secure.  It took several goes for me to get the zipper installed properly but luckily I discovered my mistakes before getting all the way around which was less time consuming.  Two layers of cotton fabric with a cotton/poly batting which I quilting together before adding the brown handles.    I will be donating this carrier to the Gramma Link Africa merchandise table at our Everything Rhubarb tea in June.  Therese