Cardmaking - handmade paper and fabric scraps to make a kite

For this card I used two triangles to create a square and them trimmed the two sides to create the kite shape.  I stitched it to the handmade paper all the way around, added stitching to make the cross in the middle and then stitched the tail by using a very narrow zigzag with very short stitches and added little navy bits as I went.  Worked really well!!!!!  I added the navy border of stitching, coloured my white card base with watercolour and adhered the large piece to the card front.  Really enjoying the process!!

Therese
 

Cardmaking - handmade paper and fabric scrap hearts with ribbon

Another card I created recently which follows the same format as the candles ones I made.  This one features two hand trimmed hearts cut from a red/yellow batik scrap.  I added a strip of white dryer sheet fabric and overlaid a gold ribbon and them stitched them down with yellow thread.   I added the two hearts and stitched them with red along with the outside border of stitching.  You can check out my first two cards here.  

Therese
 

Hand stitching - a few more card holders in some fun fabrics

 A few more card holders ready to go!!!  I have a good bunch of precut and kitted card holders which I made up a while back so I did manage to make a few more this week!!  I will add them to the stash - several will be prizes at our family reunion in July and others are ready for Christmas!!

Therese

Cardmaking - white card with watercoloured edges, handmade paper with stitched candles and a stitched border

 Wanting to change up my cards this week I decided to create large cards using handmade paper (I have a large stash) and fabric scraps (I have a large stash).  I trimmed the candles and the flames from fabric scraps.  I embellished the flames with Derwent Inktense watercolours and then dried them between sheets of white paper using the iron.  I used a bit of glue stick to keep them in place and then stitched all the way around using my sewing machine with a slim needle (#11) and thread that I did not have enough on the spool to really sew anything else.  I added a border with the navy thread and then used watercolour to paint the edges of a white card to coordinate.  I made another one with different colours which I have added below.  Worked really well and will be making more of these!!

Therese

Crafting with fabric - three more card holders with fun fabrics

 I have made up quite a few "kits" for card holders (fabric circles, batting circles, CDs, buttons) that are now in line to get made up when I have a bit of time.  I managed to get three of these done this week and I will keep working the system until they are all done.  I did manage to get some free CDs during our last session of Trash to Treasure which was really good!!  Therese

Fabric dyeing - braided trivets, floral fabric, a few cottons and some poly cottons

I played with dying fabric this weekend.  I started with these braided trivets which I made a while back.  The original fabric was multicoloured with red, blue, black and white and I upcycled it by tearing strips of about 1.25" and braiding them into long lengths.  I used navy thread and a wavy decorative stitch when I sewed up these round trivets using a heavyweight brown and navy floral fabric as the substrate.  So the colours were off in regards to coordinating so I dyed them with Navy Rit Fabric Dye!!!  They turned out well in colour but in hindsight I would have preferred to have a finished substrate as the dying and washing frayed it quite a bit.  I will trim off the long pieces and use blanket stitch with navy embroidery thread to finish off the edge of the substrates.  I really like how the front of these look with the original colours providing some variety in the colour and the braiding giving them nice texture.  I have one more length of the braid which I dyed and so will see about sewing that up into a trivet with a more suitable substrate fabric.  I did dye some of the brown and navy floral so I may use some of those pieces.  The two lighter ones were only left for a few minutes and therefore the pattern shows quite nicely.  As the dye became diluted I continued to add pieces of fabric - white cotton, blue cotton with a printed white zigzag pattern, the peony fabric (cotton) had a white background, several pieces of white poly cotton which did not take the dye as easily and lastly a pair of light coloured jeans which are now more a medium tone.  I rinsed them until the water ran clear and then washed and dried them.  New fodder for getting creative with!!!!   I always enjoy dying fabric and am looking forward to doing some red and maybe brown as well.  Therese

 

Cardmaking - small slim cards featuring focal elements from used cards

I made up some slim cards as an experiment and they turned into Father's Day cards and a birthday card!!  I cut the cardstock from 8.5" x 11 cutting two strips about 3 3/8" wide and 11" long.  I used the scrap that was left over to add pieces to the bottom of the fronts to make them the right size.  I used regular tape on the front to keep them in place.  The tape will be covered by the decorative paper.  I added decorative paper to each of them  - had to piece together the one for the flower card.  I added little fishing images from another card on the three cards and added a greeting as well.  I added a strip of rose cardstock to the pink one to which I had added a bit of white seam binding folded over and secure with a flower and brad.  This element was positioned below the focal element to finish off the card.  

I was really glad to find a way to make slim cards with 8.5" x 11" cardstock!!

Therese

 

Cardmaking - a dryer sheet flower with a brad and sequin over an arty background

A card for someone special on one of their special days!!!  I made a dryer sheet flower and painted it blue and yellow.  I embossed a strip of vellum which I embossed with a plaid embossing folder.  I mounted the flower with the gold brad and then found some green yarn to make the stem and leaves.  I pierced the vellum with a needled about every half inch along a very lightly drawn  pencil line on the back and then used a piece of green embroidery thread to couch the yarn to the vellum.  I used the remainder of the yarn to make a leave on each side and a bit of greenery on the bottom also stitched in place.  I like it!!!  I found a green and blue decorative paper which I cut and then tore in two pieces.  I adhered them to my yellow card after adding paper piercing all the way around the outside edges of the two pieces.  I used double sided tape to secure the vellum to the front of my card which is discreetly hidden by the flower and leaves.    Therese

 

Sewing - a set of three little chicken pin cushions

 I worked on these little chicken pincushions this week.  I found some quilt squares which I have acquired over time and chose several to make these cute little chicken pin cushions.  They are constructed from two squares of fabric with some flannel (batting) which I stitched to them following the stitching lines on the squares.  I did peruse several places on line to find instructions and settled for ones with beaks, tails and combs.  The bottom is stitched with an opening for stuffing later, the front is where the beak goes (prairie point), the comb goes on the top and the tail (larger prairie point) in inserted in the back.  You stitch starting with the bottom, then the front and the top.  Then you line up the side seams, insert the tail and stitch this last side. It creates a very cute little triangle shape.  I stuffed them with my "stuffing" and it worked really well.  I did add about an 1/8th of a cup of rice at the bottom before hand stitching the opening closed which gives them a bit of weight.  They sit very nicely - about 3" tall!!!  I stitched on two black beads for the eyes which worked perfectly!!!   A fun experiment which I will likely try again with squares of my own creation next time!!  Therese