Cardmaking - pieced backgrounds with images layered on embossed layers

 Another couple cards for family!!!  The first one features a couple of pieces of this fun card paper (gift wrap) which I pieced, adhered to my brown card and then added a green strip.  I watercoloured the leaves added some paper piercing and layered them onto a duo coloured embossed layer of cardstock.  I added this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  For the second card, I created a background using strips of all the same paper this time and added some black faux stitching to the pieces.  I added some paper piercing to the wreath and layered it onto an embossed piece of coordinating cardstock.  I added it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Therese

Cardmaking - pieced backgrounds with layered focal images

 A couple of cards for special occasion for my family members!!  I decided to use up a stash of brown card and envelopes which have been there for a while.  For the first card I added a pieced background using strips from my stash. The heart is a focal element I found in my stash which I layered with a green circle (nestibilities). No record of where the image came from.  The second card used a diamond background paper on a brown card . I cut it in two and added a strip of contrasting paper.  I added torn piece of vellum which I embossed with diamonds (oops!  diamonds are going the wrong way). I added this cup (Melonheadz) which I had watercoloured and fussy cut in a previous cardmaking session and found that the colouring did not coordinate as well as I had planned.  Worked really well here!!!  Therese

Sewing - table topper in grays and soft greens - GA

 I have finished up this project which started as a strip of quilted fabric that came in with donations to our Fabric Sale happening on Saturday, April 25, 2026!!  I took on the piece thinking it might make potholders but it did not have enough batting for that purpose so I started looking for a coordinating fabric to make it into a table topper/runner.  I found gray one in the pieces that one of the ladies working with quilting cottons had set aside and asked the GLA Makers group to choose from to be saved for future projects.  I brought it home and started to figure out how to add to the borders on each side which also needed batting.  I cut wide strips and sewed them first to the front and then folded them over to the back. I cut batting to fit inside before stitching it from the back to the front.  I worked out well.  I did the short ends first and then added the long edges.  I had picked the thread from my stash and when I ran out I was lucky enough to find another that matched perfectly from a different company!!  Blessed!!!  It is off to our bins for our upcoming events.  Therese 

Cardmaking - reusing images with 3D embellishments and punched borders

I worked on cards last week and started with a few for my stash to prime my mojo into cardmaking.  I reused card fronts that have been donated to me and added punched borders, cardstock buttons and paper piercing.  It was fun to be making cards again and I have added these to my stash for my next donation.  Therese

 

Sewing - medium hot pad with a removeable and washable cover with four different fabrics

Another hot pad with a removable and reversible cover which features four different fabrics!!  This one is just a medium size 10" x 12" and will certainly work better for anyone with a smaller table.  I used the same fabrics as the last one - subtle Christmas, green with maroon and ochre flowers, red poppy with black and a shaded maroon.  Again, the hot pad has cotton batting, insulbrite, and a knitted wool batting encased with dark flannel.   

Therese

 

Sewing - large hotpad with a removable/washable cover that features four different fabrics

I have made a cover for this large hot pad which I made a while back. I used four pieces of fabric all the same size about 3/4" or so larger than the hot pad and sewed them into a tube by leaving an opening on one of the sides when I sewed them together.  It allows for the cover to have four "different" looks.  The one that is folded over is a very subtle Christmas print that went well with the other fabrics.  This way you can simply wash the cover and reuse it for next time.  Less wear and tear on the hot pad and another cover could certainly be made up if this one should have an "accident".  You can see the other two fabrics in the photo below.  

Therese

 

Sewing - bowl cozies made from cotton fabric and batting and stitched with cotton thread

 I made up another bunch of bowl cozies for the Gramma Link Africa group.  They are 100% cotton - fabric, batting and thread.  I use two layers of cotton fabric (10" squares), two layers of cotton batting(9.5" squares) and cotton thread to stitch all the pieces together (even to piece batting if that is necessary).  I  had done most of the cutting and sorting of materials previously which allowed me to get so many done this weekend.   Therese

Slow Stitching - some fun and colourful card holders made with scraps and CDs

I made up some card holders on the weekend.  I had all the supplies cut out and ready to go so in a few hours I was able to get 12 of these made up.  They are not complicated - 6.5" circles  (2), 5.5" of lightweight batting (2), used CDs (2) and buttons (2).  I hand stitched a gathering thread on the outer edge of each fabric circle, added a batting layer and a CD then pulled the thread to secure all of these pieces to each other.  Repeat for the other side of the card holder.  It is wise to use strong thread for this process because if the thread breaks you have to start over.  Next, you place your two sides with the good side facing out on both sides and stitch a button on each side through the center openings in the CDs.  This required heavyweight thread because it is the crucial part of the substructure that makes the card holder work well.  I collected some bright buttons from our stash for the fabric sale which were perfect for most of these cardholders.  I have come up with a little trick to hide my thread in the process of securing the two sides together.  After clipping my two sides together with a bull clip I insert my needle through the holes in the center of the CDs on one side leaving a length of thread and then thread through one button from the bottom, back through the top and through the two sides again.  I usually do three layers of thread and before sending  my needle back through the last time (to the side where I started and I have a length of thread) I insert a wire below the button right up to the threads in the center  When I insert my needled through this sandwich I make sure that the wire is between the threads and the needle and I pull it through.  Next, I pull both ends of the wire which brings the thread with it.  I pull until I have enough thread to tie off (2-3") and then cut the thread.  This way I can tie several knots with the two ends which makes it quite secure.  I then trim the threads close to the edge of the button and scoot then until the edge.  Keep both sides nice and tight to each other and secures the button very well.    These are off to our inventory bin for our Gramma Link Africa which will be for sale at our events this coming year.    These sell very well as they make holding a large amount of card very easy and also enables little or shaky hands to manage any amount of cards.  

Therese

Sewing - table topper in blue, green and pink with a variety of quilted squares

I also managed to get this table topper (15.5" x 25.5") made up.  I had chosen all the fabrics and already sewn the little quilted squares.  They were placed in our cotton scraps bin which will be available at the Fabric Sale on Saturday, April 25 at Gaetz United.  They were bagged and some of the smaller parts were already sewn so I simply made up six squares from what was in the collection of pieces - hence none are the same.  I framed them in a solid coordinating green cotton and then added a cotton knit batting and a blue backing.  I added some of the backing on both ends to get a few more inches of length for this table topper.  I added quilting lines around each square to secure the three layers to each other.  It will be added to our inventory for our table at the Spring Tea at Gaetz United on Saturday, May2, 2026.  

Therese