Get well card with an image in an embossed frame

I combined a watercoloured image (Meljens Designs) with an embossed background almost seamlessly!!  I embossed the background and then the watercoloured image so that the frame would encompass the image.  I then trimmed the image along the inside of the embossed border and glued it into the debossed area inside the frame. To really incorporate it nicely I embossed the whole thing again!!  Worked perfectly to really sink the image into the frame though you have to be very careful to really put the embossed areas back into place properly or you get a bit of ghosting happening.  Love how it worked out.  I glued this large focal element to the front of a blue card and added a single punched greeting below the image.  Thought it needed a bit of something so I sponged a bit of blue ink over the embossing to give the whole thing a bit of unity.  Much better!!!
Will have to see about using this technique with some of my other embossing folders which have frames in them.   If you give it a try, let me know!!

Therese

Light house birthday card

For this card I used a colour printed image of a photograph I took in PEI on our vacation a few years ago.   I created the green layer by border punching the right hand side of a rectangle of green cardstock and then for some texture I used my score tool to add some lines above and below the image before gluing it into place.  I glued this element to a navy card front which I embossed on the right hand side.  I was unable to use my Big Shot because I could not get the card and embossing folder to go through the machine so I used the manual method - a small mallet to apply pressure to the areas I wanted embossed.  Worked well but takes a bit of time to ensure that all the areas have been properly embossed.  I found the greeting in my stash.  I trimmed it, punched a slot, sponged the edges, added dots with navy marker and finally added a coordinating gros grain ribbon in the slot.  I adhered it my card front using 3D foam tape.
Having fun creating "one off" cards with supplies from my stash!!             Therese

Cards with double embossed backgrounds

Have not done some double embossed backgrounds in quite a while so I made a few the other day for some thank you cards I had to get ready to send.  I used colour printed cardstock (green core with a blue denim printed background), embossed them with one folder then sanded the embossing.  Next, I embossed them with another folder and rubbed a stamp pad over the embossing giving my backgrounds all a very unique look!!  I used two different blue inks on the right and left and a green on the middle one.  

For the left hand card, I adhered my background to a navy card, added a navy strip over it and then glued my layered greeting over it.  The layered greeting was created using a circle punchie with a colour printed greeting, over a green circle punchie (SU) and a turquoise scallop punchie (SU) to which I added two short lengths of green ribbon with flagged ends.   For the center card I used green cardstock for the card front and the different layers.  For the right hand card, I used a punchie with a watercoloured boat (Arthur's Clip Art) on it and layered it over a stamped and glitter embossed image which I punched with the scallop circle punch.  Love the bit of sparkle that shows all the way around the image and the white border around it!!  I added a length of white ribbon to the background before gluing it to a green card front.  I tied on another short length using one single knot to simulate a bow.  I adhered my focal element over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  I added a layered laser printed greeting on the lower right hand corner.

For the last background I had created I created a birthday card.  I added a length of light blue ribbon to the background before adding it to a green card front.  I looked through my image stash to find something that would go with what I had already created.  I found this little colour printed vintage image in the perfect colours.  I trimmed it and rounded the corners my hand.  I created a white layer slightly larger, rounded the corners and embossed it.  I used my distress tool on the edges of both pieces to emphasize the vintage feel.  I layered them to each other and then adhered them to the front of my card using double sided tape.  I tied a short length of ribbon with one single knot to the piece on the card to simulate a bow.  The image already had a greeting so my card was finished!!!
Love the look of the double embossed backgrounds!!  If you have not tried it - give it a go this week and let me know how it worked out!!

Therese

Birthday card with some bling

For this stash card I layered the colour printed decorative paper (SU) to a black card and added a strip of black cardstock about a third down from the top.  I created the focal element using a clipart image (CLKER) to which I added a greeting before laser printing it onto white cardstock and trimming.  I added a bit of watercolour that coordinated with my decorative paper.  I layered it with peach and a warm blue leaving it long enough on the bottom to punch with the scallop border punch (SU).  I added clear rhinestones to each scallop which blinged it up nicely!  Therese

Get well card with embossing

Another card for my stash using an alcohol ink polished stone background to which I added an embossed floral image (SU) in silver.  I chose a steel blue layer, punched out a scallop circle before I embossed it with a floral embossing folder (SU),  then sponged the edges with dark blue and layered it onto a deep yellow card front. I glued the focal image over the embossed layer which covered the hole I had created.  I sponged the scallop circle (SU) with some dark blue ink, pierced the scallops with a push pin and added a laser printed punchie greeting (Bird's Cards). Once I added to it the card with 3D foam tape I thought it needed a bit of something so I added yellow watercolour to the outside frame of the greeting.  That was better!!

Having fun creating some unique cards!

Therese

Cards with embossed and sanded solid core backgrounds

I am making cards for my stash.  I found these two square embossed and sanded backgrounds in my stash which were created with cardstock which has a solid colour core that is different than the outside colour.
For the first card I layered one of them over an ivory layer which I punched on the top and the bottom using an eyelet border punch (SU).  I also embossed three lines on both ends which I applied using my score tool and then I adhered this large element to a rust card front.  I waterecoloured the small floral wreath image (Melonheadz) and used 3D foam tape to adhere it to the front of my card.  I tore the edges of a laser printed vellum greeting and I glued it below the wreath.
For the second card, I layered the embossed square over white and then glued it to the top of a rust card.  I watercoloured a small stamped coffee cup image and layered it over blue then adhered it to the front of my card using 3D foam tape.  I found the perfect greeting in my stash so I punched three little stars out of the left hand side and layered it onto the same blue as the image.  I adhered it to the space below the focal element and then added the three small stars around the image.
Love how these turned out!!

Therese

Butterfly Wishes fabric postcard

Another birthday postcard for my birthday swap on one of my groups.  I had three little squares of pieced green fabric which coordinated with the butterfly really well so I went looking to find another piece that worked with both of them and found this beautiful scrap of red!! Perfect!!  I sewed the three little green squares to each other to create a strip, sewed on the scrap of red and trimmed out a 4" x 6" piece for the front of my postcard.  Next, I searched for a piece that coordinated for the back which was big enough to come to the front as a binding.  I cut this backer from a larger piece of fabric but I love the way it coordinates with all the pieces I had already chosen.  I added fusible web to the edges of my backer and trimmed it to be wavy.  I cut and laid down a piece of batting and positioned my front over it and pinned them all together.  I put red thread on the top and yellow in my bobbin and stitched an all over wavy design to connect all the pieces and provide some stability for the postcard.  I trimmed the corners out, folded the sides to the front and ironed them into place.  I couched some deep yellow yarn with a zig zag stitch over the wavy edge of the binding using the same red and yellow thread.  Like how that worked out!  I positioned my butterfly - a self adhesive fabric embellishment - on the front, drew a flight line which I embroidered with gold thread before adhering the butterfly in place.  I used a marker to add "Buttefly Wishes" in red.  It will be winging its way to my partner this week!!

Therese

Wedding card with die cut hearts

Creating a few cards for my stash and needed a wedding card.  I chose the embossed hearts (SU) from my stash and decided to create a card around them. I die cut hearts from white handmade shimmer paper to back them using the embossing sizzlet which once they are layered gives them just a beautiful little edge of white.  I chose a textured dark red cardstock for my card and added a length of flowery lace using double sided tape along the straight edge on the front and short pieces on the inside of the card to secure each end.  I added a strip of white shimmery cardstock over the edge of the lace to finish it off nicely and to provide an element to anchor the hearts and greeting.  I used 3D foam tape to adhere the hearts into place and the layered greeting (SU) as well.
I am really liking lace on cards!!  You can check out the last few I made here and here.

Therese

Sympathy card with a lacy heart

I prefer to make sympathy cards before I need them so I decided to add a couple to my stash.  You can check out the other one I made here.  I started with the lacy die cut heart which arrived in one of my exchange cards this year!!  I found this handmade watercolour background which coordinated very nicely so I cut it to size and chose a light green cardstock to go with these two elements.  I attached my die cut to the background paper using two white brads in the center of the large flowers on the die cut.  I added a slim ribbon adhering the ends to the back of it using double sided tape.  I adhered this large element to the front of my green card.  I thought that the die cut still needed a bit of something so I added green rhinestones to the small flowers and that helped.  I added some hand embossed lines to the large flowers and that was better.  I tied a short length of ribbon to the one on the front to simulate a bow and added my layered greeting (SU) over it near the bottom.
Very happy with my card!!
Therese

Some more floral cards with pop

Here are the rest of the cards that I finished off with the bright and popping images I found a white back. Here are the other ones I posted the other day.  I used white pencil crayon and a stardust glitter gel pen to embellish the laser printed digital image so they would pop a bit from the bold ink background.  I digitally created frames with greetings, printed them on white cardstock and glued my images into them.  I trimmed the quarter sheets just a bit to allow the card colour to show all the way around. Love the bright and bold artsy look of these cards.  Therese

Butterfly sympathy card

Always want to have a few of these on hand so I decided to see if I could make up a couple.  I found this watercoloured butterfly in my stash so decided to make the rest of the card to coordinate.  I found this embossed layer in my stash as well which was just white cardstock.  So I added watercolour until it looked like what I wanted and dried it with my heat gun. I like the way the colour was absorbed more deeply in the embossed areas because the fibers were stretched.  I chose a gray card to coordinate with the body and glued my embossed layer to it.  I positioned the butterfly and glued it in place with a little piece of double sided tape so the wings with be free.  I added a flight path with dots from a black marker and overlaid a layered greeting (SU) over it with 3D foam tape.
Love using up items I find in my stash!!

Therese

A fun card for a new home owner

A friend of mine has just bought her own place and so I made her this card in recognition of her accomplishment!!  The house image was cast into a sheet of white handmade paper many moons ago but was just perfect for this card.  I layered it over a red and kraft decorative paper on a red card front and stitched it into place using red thread  and incorporating a little punchie in the left hand top corner in the process.  A quick and easy card!!  I wish her every blessing in her new home!!!

Therese

A birdie fabric postcard for a birthday exchange

I created this fabric postcard for a birthday swap on one of my groups!!  I started by sewing two blue scraps to each other and then I stitched two green ones together.  I applied fusible web to the dark green fabric and trimmed it roughly to look like a treed horizon line.  Once I had ironed it to the bottom of the blue piece I trimmed the whole piece to 4" x 6".  I then added a piece of batting to the back and stitched wavy lines across the whole thing using blue thread for the top portion and green thread on the bottom section. I fused a piece of white cotton to the back to give the whole thing a bit more body.
To create my little birdie I created a collage button using a scrap of yellow and red fabric paper.  Once it was dry, I created a little beak out of dark brown fabric to which I had fused some webbing so I could just iron it in place once I was happy with how it looked.  I positioned my button, then placed my beak and ironed it into place and stitched the long legs with dark brown embroidery thread.  I added a black brad to create the eye of my bird.  I worked on making a tail and a wing using tulle and bits of fabric scraps which were cut off when I was creating this postcard.  I tied the tulle into the holes of the button to create the wing and added a few of the yellow scraps to add a bit of colour and bulk.  I used yellow embroidery thread to sew the button to the postcard and left the ends long once they were tied off to add yet another bit of texture to the wing.  I tied off another section of tulle with yellow bit included to create the tail which I glued to the back of the body of the bird once it was stitched in place.  I did find that the wing was a bit too undefined so I hand stitched the fibers together with brown floss and tied them off loosely.  That was better and I added a glue dot just beneath the wing so it would stay in the right position.  I bound my postcard using a dark brown polyester trim which I sewed to the front, folded over the edge to the back and restitched so it would stay in place.  Very happy with my little birdie postcard which will be winging it way to my partner in the next couple of day.    Therese

Super Hero birthday

One of our grandsons is having a Super Hero birthday this year!!!  He is a very a physical kid and loves to jump, climb and punch so the theme works for him!!  I found these graphics on line and thought they combined very well to make a fun card for him!!  I sized the frame to fit on the front of an A2 card, laser printed it and mounted it to a red card front.  I sized the greeting to fit on the frame, laser printed and fussy cut it before mounting it over the frame using 3D foam tape.  

We are looking forward to seeing him on his special day!

Therese

Christmas cards - manger scenes and winter wonderlands

 I always make the last card an easy one so because by then most are anxious to be finished.  These cards feature full colour digital images colour printed onto white cardstock. I printed them as close to 4" x 5.25" as possible so that I just needed to cut them close as I cut them apart.  The shepherds and manger scene are from a holiday clipart CD I have owned for years called Click It.  The other four image I found on Pixabay - they have LOTS of great images which you can download and use for free.  My favorite is the mountain ash berries!!!

 Actually, I really like all of them!!  This is just a sampling of the ones I used.  For this card the participants simply had to adhere the two ends of the ribbon to the back of the image, glue this element to the front of the coordinating card, layer their greeting (SU oval and scallop oval ) and adhere it to the card using 3D foam tape.  I located mine over the ribbon but not everyone saw fit to follow suit so again there was a good variety of designs that emerged from this card kit.  Some did not use their ribbon as to preserve the integrity of their nativity images.

So the day finished with lots of finished cards and many happy card makers - some first timers too!  I am very happy with the amount of money that was raised through this process and we also gleaned deeper friendships and much happiness as a bonus!!

Therese

Christmas cards - embossed images combined with greetings

 These are part of the second set of cards we created at the classes yesterday.  I used five small Sizzix embossing folders which I have not used very much if at all since I bought them.  I see that I have one missing - the little Christmas tree!!
I cut 8.5" x 11 colour printed papers into four and trimmed them to 4" x 5.25", found coordinating cardstock for the cards and then some coordinating 1/8" ribbon.  It took a couple of times to create the rectangles for embossing with the greeting in exactly the right place so that I could emboss the top, add the ribbon over the greeting, trim the bottom with decorative scissors and have everything balanced. Once I worked it out I printed the greetings on neutral cardstock - white or ivory to coordinate with my decorative papers.  Next, I embossed them two at a time with my Big Shot and trimmed the bottom edge with the scalloped scissors.  Each kit included a card, decorative paper, an embossed image, ribbon, an insert with a saying in an envelope.  The participants glued the decorative paper to the front of the folded card leaving a even margin all the way around.  Next, they had to adhere the ribbon below the embossed image, trim the long end off, and tie the leftover piece onto the front to simulate a bow.  Next they used a push pin with a foam to pierce each little scallop.  I forgot this step on one of mine.  This focal element was then glued to the front of the card over the decorative paper.  Again, there was much creativity applied to the process of designing the cards which is one of the reasons I love to teach - I learn so much from those who come to learn from me.

Again, I used a wide variety of papers so the cards easily differentiated.   Because I had provided portrait inserts most created portrait cards but there were a few who when they came to put in their insert discovered they had created landscape cards. No problem, I had printed spare inserts in both formats so that if this situation arose, I could simply provide them an insert that was appropriate to their design.
UPDATE:  Had another small class with these kits so I changed the focal element so the cards would not be the same.  I used a triple embossing die which produces three images.  I choose to use the ornament one as it fit nicely with this card design.  I printed the greeting on the same size cardstock as for the Merry Christmas/Joy to the World ones and simply glued the little embossed ornament to the top.  Worked out really well!!

Therese

Christmas cards - little trees, a baby Jesus and a snowflake

 I taught three Christmas card classes yesterday as a fundraiser.  These were the first cards I taught at each class.  The kits all had the same supplies - 4"x 4" decorative paper, 1 1/8" strip of coordinating paper, 3/4" strip of coordinating cardstock, a little embossed tree die cut (SX) (CB) OR a colour printed Jesus die cut (Nesties) MDZ) and a coloured laser printed greeting punchie (SU - Word Window) with a coordinating layer (SU- modern label).

 As you can see there were several options available to the participants in designing their  cards.  The pieces could be arranged to create a portrait or landscape card with the large piece on the top or the bottom OR the left or the right.  The embellishment could be placed on the left or the right and the greeting could be positioned in quite a variety of locations.

It was fun to play with the layout to see how many options were possible.  It was also fun to work with so many different papers as well which really helped to give all the cards a bit of a different look.  I created over 200 kits for the three classes so to make the process manageable I located sheets of decorative paper which coordinated with the little trees which were already cut.  I cut each sheet of decorative 12" x12" paper into nine 4" x 4" pieces and then I found scraps of decorative papers in my stash that coordinated and cut nine strips.  Then I dug into my cardstock scraps to find coordinating pieces and cut the little strips and punched the greeting layers.  I embossed all the little trees and the cardstock strips to add texture to the card.  Once all the pieces were cut I designed my greetings, chose colours that coordinated with each decorative paper, printed and punched them all out.  As I assembled my kits I added coordinating cards, quarter sheet inserts with sayings and put all the pieces into an envelope.  One of the ladies requested all religious cards so used the little Jesus graphic from Melonheadz, digitally coloured it to coordinate with the papers I was using, laser printed what I needed on white cardstock and die cut them with my scalloped circle Nestibilities.  This is only a sampling of all the options that I created.
Everyone was happy with their cards and they created even more variety as they positioned elements diagonally, left some elements off completely and located their embellishments and greeting it yet many other locations!!
UPDATE:  I had another small class so I changed up the kits just slightly so they would not be exactly the same as the previous ones.  This is the one features a snowflake as the focal element.  I added a snowflake brad in the center to add some dimension and stability so it could be adhered with 3D foam tape.
Love the versatility of this sketch!!!!

Therese

Cards with more than a pop of colour!

I found the central images for these cards in a box I was scrounging through the other day looking for something else.  I originally had found them to be too powerful in colour to work the way I had originally intended so they had been set aside.  So I took the time to embellish them with white pencil crayon and a star dust glitter pen to help the images stand out a bit from the backgrounds.  I had originally laser printed the images on white cardstock and added coloured inks in large swatches with a foam brush.  They were created at the same time as the background for these cards.    I created a digital frame along with digital greetings for them and printed them on white cardstock. I cut them into quarter sheets and then trimmed each one just a bit so the colour of the card would show all the way around before I adhered the images into the frame.  These have been pressing for more than a week!!   I have a few more to make up so keep an eye out for them a bit later on.    Therese