Praying for you card with a collage background, a die cut image of a tomato plant and a little layered greeting

 I am making up a few cards for my stash and started with this Praying for you card.  I found the background in my stash and adhered it to a dark green card.  The tomato plant image was die cut from a panel from a used card and I layered it with a soft green die cut cirdle.  I mounted this focal element to my card just overlapping the lace using 3D foam tape.  I colour washed my little font greeting (Word Window - SU) to help it blend and then mounted it to a dark green label punchie (Modern Label punch - SU) which I also mounted with 3D foam tape.  

Therese

Graduation card featuring an embossed panel and a digital graduation greeting with a cap and tassel

I had an inquiry about graduation cards so I have decided to make up a few.  It certainly is the season for those events. 

I started with a rust card and added the rust and aqua decorative paper which left a small margin all the way around.  I added an aqua flagged panel embossed with Scripty (SU) and then worked on my greeting.  The greeting was sized, laser printed and trimmed to size.  I watercoloured the cap and added a tassel.  I trimmed the bottom edge with scallop decorative scissors and then pierce each scallop with a push pin. Next, I added an embossed line with my score tool.  For a little more texture I ran my pattern tracing tool on the three remaining sides.  I trimmed a rust layer for it and then mounted them onto my card front with 3D foam tape.  

Therese
 

All occasion card with a white fabric collage background and stitched flower

I made this card with another piece which I trimmed from my large piece of fabric collage I made a while back.  I die cut a large flower from yellow fabric and a smaller one from dark blue fabric and then die cut a yellow circle from yet another yellow fabric. I stitched them onto my background using coordinating threads.  It gives a different look than contrasting thread.  I like both of them but they really give a different feel so which I use would depend on the look I am going for.  I did all over stitching on the center which gives it a lot of texture.  Like it!!  I hand cut two leaves from green fabric and then stitched them on each side of the stem which I had created with a few lines of stitching in the same coloured thread.  I stitched this large element to a piece of scrapbook paper with a bit of a rainbow in the corner which really made it feel like the outdoors.  I mounted this to a large off white card which I had created to fit in a large yellow envelope from my stash.  It has already been mailed to a friend who needs some cheering!!  

Therese
 

Fabric collage for making cards and for using in quilting and other projects

 I while back I created a panel of fabric collage using a white polyester fabric substrate, fabric scraps from my stash and thinned white glue.  

I have used this piece of fabric collage to make a few cards.  After cutting it into several pieces I added fabric pieces to create my focal elements and stitched them into place using my sewing machine.  Once they were finished I stitched them to a piece of paper and then adhered them to my large cards.  I am very happy with how that process worked out.  The last piece I am testings to see if it is possible to incorporate this fabric collage in my quilting by stitching them to squares.  

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Here is the piece of fabric collage which I tested for quilting.  I stitched on a large fabric butterfly die cut adding a little piece of dark fabric for its body.  I added the antennea in the process of stitching the elements into place.  I stitched this to a piece of fabric to simulate adding it to a quilt square and laundered it along with a load.  I faired much better than I expected.  The fabric collage has held together and has very little fraying to its components.  The butterfly has very little fraying around the edges and the body is beautifully fuzzy around its edges!!  You can see from the back that there seemed to be a bit of shrinkage of the collage which once ironed was not too serious but considering that a quilt does not get ironed this technique may cause a bit of puckering in the squares to which they are stitched in a quilt.  

So in the end I have discovered that:

*solid single colour fabric collage with thinned white glue creates beautiful backgrounds to which it is very easy to stitch fabric focal elements!!

*  solid single colour fabric collage with thinned white glue creates very decent backgrounds for adding to squares which would be incorporated into quilt tops if you are willing to accept a little bit of puckering in the square.  Stitching focal elements to these backgrounds works reasonably well and only allows very little fraying of the edges of the elements.  Considering that most quilts are not likely to be washing more than once or two a year makes this technique something to consider.  The fabric collage has become softer and more pliable with being laundered which would seem to indicate that at least some of the glue has been washed out.  

Some things to consider:

*it would be worth experimenting with adding the focal elements in the process of creating the collage which would allow simply cutting apart for creating embellishments for cards.

* would it be worth washing the fabric collage before adding any embellishment to avoid the bit of shrinkage that happens.  Machine stitching of the fabric elements is much quicker than hand stitching so makes the option viable if you have a short time line.

I have been brainstorming some projects that would benefit from stiffened fabric that need not be laundered and will be experimenting with a few of those.  

Therese

Prayer flags - fabric rectangles embellished with wax crayons

I have been wanting to make prayer flags for the yard since last year and have over the winter been doing research on line to find a way ahead.  There are all kinds out there from the Tibetan ones which hang on mountain tops to the quilted ones made by those who are looking for something special for their backyards or gardens.  I have decided to follow my instincts and use fabric rectangles embellished with wax crayons.  The fabric pieces were ones that my Mom passed on to my sister and I absconded with.  I would guess that Mom received them already cut into rectangles in a a box of fabric that was donated to her and were probably a set of curtains that had been upcycled for quilting.  They would be perfect for my project.  I decided to use them as they were and therefore did not hem them.  I will fold them over and stitch them to paracord once I have enough made for the length I have available to me.  I measured my cord today and I have enough for several different locations in the yard.  That will come later.  Prayer flags are generally put up and left until they started to disintegrate.  Once taken down, the remains should be burned as they are vessels that have held good wishes and blessings and need to be treated with respect.

I put foil on my griddle and set it to 200F.  I found it difficult to paint the fabric as it was quite soft.  I therefore used two bull clips to attach the top of the rectangle to the edge of my griddle which was much better for keeping the fabric in place and provided some stability for the addition of the wax.  I used wax crayons that have been stripped of their paper.  I did pick some up this past week in our Trash to Treasure program here in town.  Someone online was suggesting that soaking them in water helped release the paper from the crayons.  It worked for about half of them.  It was a bit messier to remove the paper once it was wet but the others simply slipped off which was great.  It did shortened the time required to remove the paper.  Not sure why it worked for some and not others as they were mostly all Crayola crayons.   I started by outlining the hearts and then filling them in using several crayons in the same colour family.  Then I worked on the outside edges and added colour all the way to the cut edges.  I tried to remember to leave a bit more space at the top to allow for the folding over and stitching to the paracord.  Once they were finished I carefully lifted them off the foil and placed them on brown paper to cool.  I managed to get ten of them made today.  They were well saturated with wax and therefore quite stiff  so I decided to iron them between layers of brown paper to remove some of the wax in hopes they would be a little more supple.  They are somewhat better so it may take a little while outside before they are flapping in the breeze the way they should to send the blessings infused in them out into the world on the wind.  I have stored them away for today and will revisit them when I have time to make a few more to see if anything further can be done for more suppleness.  I will be using the brown paper for making a few more fire starters for my 365 Project as they are already on their way to being properly waxed for them.  I love that the hearts show on them as well.   

I am very happy with how the flags turned out and how vivid the colours are.  It was a complete bonus that the fabric with its colour variations and printing provided some resistance to the wax and created wonderful texture in both the hearts and the backgrounds!!!!!!!  Better than I could have hoped for!!  

For now I will keep creating until I have enough to fill the length of my cord.               Therese

 

Fabric collage with diluted white glue

I have been playing with fabric.  I have read somewhere on line that diluted white glue can be used to prevent fabric from fraying when you are creating.  I should have taken better note when I read it because now I can no longer locate the location of the information I read.  I cannot remember if it was in relation to sewing/quilting or in the making of an art piece.  Anyway, without a way ahead except that it was diluted white glue I decided to go ahead and try to create a piece of fabric collage that will not fray when I used it as a background for cards or quilting.  I covered my work surface with plastic and spread out a long piece of polyester fabric I had on hand.  I diluted some white glue to about 50-50 and applied some of it at one end of my fabric.  I then laid small pieces of white fabric over it and covered them with my glue solution and then overlapped more over them and covered them with my solution.  I continued this process for about a couple of feet ensuring that everything was well saturated with my glue solution.  It was very wet so I knew it would take quite a while to dry so I put it outside in the sun to hasten the process.  After it was dry, I checked it out and found that some of the edges were not secure so I decided to add some machine stitching to ensure that my piece would remain intact when I used it.  I used a shimmery thread on the top and regular white thread in my bobbin.  I worked very well and I am very happy with the result.  I have been brainstorming some ways to use it.  I expect it will be perfect as a background for some cards and I will certainly try at least one piece as a background for a quilt square and do some applique and then wash it to see if it holds up to washing.  I am not sure if white glue will wash out after it has been dried into a surface.  We shall see!!                Therese

Birthday card featuring a cute cat walking in the rain, some embossed velllum and a beautiful background with a rainbow

I found this fun image of a little kitten with a beautiful umbrella on Pixabay and thought it would make a great birthday card for my niece.  I laser printed it, trimmed it with scallop decorative scissors and then used a push pin to pierce each scallop.  I embossed a strip of vellum using a Sizzix embossing folder and mounted it to a beautiful background with a rainbow!!!  Worked so well.  After adhering the vellum to the background I mounted my image with four silver brads.  To finish my card I mounted this large element to my large card.  I created the card to fit in a large envelope from my stash.  

Therese

 

Birthday card with a handmade paper background, a little stitched sail boat on a wavy sea

I committed to getting this card out a while back and it did not make it to my daytimer and I just remembered today for a tomorrow birthday!!  Hence, the belated that I added by hand!!  I was on a roll with stitching fabric to handmade paper and thought I would try a different subject matter.  I did a bit of research for sail boat quilts which led me to this pattern which was easy enough to trim the pieces by hand.  I found blue tulle and rick rack which simulated water quite nicely.  I cut the boat from brown and the sails from blue and red fabrics.  I stitched the tulle first, then my boat and then I added the rick rack.  I like that you can see the boat below the rick rack - like it is just behind a wave.  I used blue thread to stitch the sails in place and then dark brown to stitch the mast in between.  I used the end of a pencil to add the dark brown ball on the end because with just the stitching it looked a little lost.  I ran my pattern tracing wheel on top and bottom of my greeting and then stitched both sides in brown over my boat.  The tulle worked out really well and it was fun to try something new with this technique.  It will be off in tomorrow's mail and hopefully won't be more than a few days late.  Therese
 

A little card of encouragement

One of my grandson did a good job of his online learning last week I thought I would make him a little panel card to let him know that he did good and with a continued effort will get to where he sets his sights.  

The little bear is from Pixabay.  I laser printed it, trimmed to size, ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four edges and mounted it to a brown panel which I embossed with my Subtle Texture embossing folder.  What a wonderful tool!!  Textured cardstock in any colour of cardstock you have on hand!!!  Perfect!!  I stamped and embellished the tag with a star and a brad and a gave it a go with the pattern tracing wheel as well.  

Therese

 

Birthday card with a handmade paper background and a bevy of gifts in red and blue

 I wanted to make my exchange cards using fabric scraps and handmade paper.  It is so easy to stitch the scraps to the paper and I love all the texture that is created in the process of combining the two.  After stitching all the way around the gifts in blue I added two lines of red to simulate ribbon.  I added the bows after I had stitched on all the gifts but on hind sight I could have added them when I did the vertical center red stitching as I simply laid the center of the ribbon/tie over the gift and stitched in place then tied a bow.  I had not figured out how to add the bows when I was stitching the gifts.  I limited myself to red and blue but next time I will be more vibrant with my colours and mix up the ribbons as well.  This one is a little too predictable in its colour scheme which I not how birthday gifts happen in real life.  They are usually very different and more colourful.  It is a celebration after all!!  After all the stitching was done I glued this large layer to the front of a navy card which fit in a large envelope.  I will be mailing it off to my partner this week!!

Therese

Birthday card with a handmade paper background, a stitched fabric cake and some silk flower embellishments

Having really enjoyed making this card for my daughter I thought I would try combining handmade paper and fabric for my exchange cards for this month.  

I started with a large pink card which fit in a large envelope from my stash.  I tore a piece of coordinating handmade paper (which I made myself quite a while back) to fit nicely on the front.  I found some pink and green fabric and trimmed out three pieces in three different sizes to create my cake and then a little one for the candle.  I dug through my little stash of small yellow fabric scraps and trimmed out two candle flames - one large and one small.  I used light green thread in my sewing machine to stitch them in place on my handmade paper starting with my candle and then the small layer it and so on until I had created my cake.  I put yellow thread in my sewing machine and stitched my flames which I overlaid over one another.  I used brown thread to stitch the wick.  Love it!!!!!  Pink and green is my favorite colour combination.  Wanting to add yet a bit more texture I decided to add some little silk flowers which coordinated very nicely.  I added white iridescent sequins to their centers and adhered them to my cake using tiny white brads.  I adhered this large element to my card front and pressed it under weight to ensure that all handmade paper was well attached to my card.  I really like the combination of the handmade paper and the fabric.  Stitching them together went very well and everything has so much texture.  It is off to my partner this week!!            Therese
 

Anniversary card featuring "Love is..." from TLC, some heart punchies and an embossed vellum greeting

My parents are celebrating their 67 years of marriage and I made this this card.  The Love is... image is from TLC.  I colour printed it and used it as my focal image.  I choose a large envelope from my stash and created a coordinating purple card to fit inside.  I went looking for paper that coordinated with my image and found this one.  I did not have too many to choose from and this one worked the best though I might have preferred one with a bit of a softer look.  I dug through my little heart collection and found these three that worked with my other elements.  I embossed the two pink hearts with my Scripty - 3D embossing folder (SU).  Love it!!!!!!!  I trimmed a strip of the same purple cardstock, added the embossed hearts and then my silver embossed vellum greeting (SU) with two silver brads.  I mounted my image to my card then mounted the strip below it.  Worked really well.  We continue to pray for good health for our parents during this challenging time.  

Therese
 

Cards for Seniors - small photo cards

 I made up a few photo cards for the Cards for Seniors campaign that Scrap and Bean is running.  The photos are all trimmed off the calendars that my sister makes.  She is a photographer and has her camera handy most of the time.  She has been making these beautiful photo calendars for years and I usually get one for Christmas.  I just cannot throw them out!!!  So I have been collecting them and using them in my cardmaking but I have not been able to use them all so I decided I would take a few and make some small square cards for the Cards for Seniors that Scrap and Bean is sponsoring.  I trimmed the photos to 4" x 4" and then created 4.25" x 4.25" cards that coordinated with the images and simply adhered the photos to the front.  They make the best notecards and I am so happy to give them another chance to bless someone.  I will put them in with the other stash I made up a while back.  

Therese

Mother's Day card featuring a silhouette image with a sponged background, decorative paper and ribbon

I made this card for my youngest daughter for Mother's Day.  I started with the silhouette image of wild flowers laser printed on white cardstock. I masked off an area and sponged on several colour of blue ink.  I have been wanting to try this technique for so long and have yet to master it.  After removing the masks I found that it was a bit askew so I moved my masks and kept sponging on colour in lighter and lighter tones until I had reached the edges.  This was much better!!  I stamped the greeting (SU) near the top with black Versafine, ran my pattern tracing wheel around the edges and then added three little red rhinestones.  I created a black card that fit in a large envelope from my stash and  added my background (Melstampz).  I punched two slots on either side of my image and inserted a black cardstock strip to which I had adhered bright green ribbon that coordinated with my background paper.  I inserted it into the slots and then mounted this large element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I used double sided taper to secure the ends of my strip.  

Therese
 

Mother's Day card featuring a wax crayon background, a watercoloured silhouette image and a paper doily

Blue is my Mom's favorite colour so I usually make her cards with some blue on them.  For this card I created a large black card that fit inside a large envelope from my stash.  I added this beautiful background paper which I created using white cardstock and wax crayons.  I laser printed the silhouette wildflower image (Dover)  onto white cardstock, trimmed it out and then added blue watercolour.  Once dry, I stamped the greeting (SU) in black Versafine near the top.  I punched a hole above and below the greeting and then inserted a black ribbon which I tied on the front with two knots and then trimmed the tails.  I trimmed a little white doily in half and added them to the top and bottom of my image before mounting this large focal element to my card front with 3D foam tape.  I did run my pattern tracing wheel on all four edges of my flower image to add some paper pierced texture but it does not show up very well in this photo.  

Therese
 

Mother's Day card featuring stitched fabric paper background, watercoloured silhouette image and some little ribbon flags

A card for my oldest daughter for Mother's Day.  I appreciate how both of my daughters mother their children though they each do it with their own slant and style. 

I started with a dark brown card that fit in a large envelope from my stash.  I added this fun background of fabric paper which I had stitched in an all over pattern a while back.  I printed this silhouette of wildflowers (Dover) onto white cardstock.  I trimmed it to size and added coordinating watercolour to make an interesting background for the flowers.  I stamped the little greeting (SU) in black (Versafine) near the top, punched top and bottom with the eyelet border punch (SU) and then embossed a line using my score tool.  I added three little red rhinestones on the bottom left and five little ribbon flags to the top right before mounting this large element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

Therese

Mother's Day card featuring wildflower silhouette with a purple background, ribbon and script background

This card is one for my daughter in law.  Her daughter is about four months old and cutie!!

I started with a pink card to fit in a large envelope and added dark purple rectangles embossed the the Scripty (SU) background.  I watercoloured the silhouette of wild flowers (Dover) with purples and pink to coordinate.  I punched a couple of slots (SU) and added two little pieces of ribbon and folded them to the back of my image.  I had already stamped the Mother's Day greeting (SU) in black Versafine when I printed the image.  I added the little heart which I watercoloured to coordianate as well just below the greeting.  I mounted this large element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

Therese

Anniversary card featuring a cute little envelope filled with an embossed felt heart and an embossed greeting

Our oldest daughter and her DH are celebrating an anniversary this weekend.  This is the card I made for them.  

I started with a dark brown card that fit inside a large envelope from my stash.  I added some all over stamping to the outside edges of my card because I was leaving such a large border around my decorative paper.  I die cut  a little envelope out of light yellow cardstock, folded it leaving one flap up and then tied it with a red ribbon to keep it folded.  I inserted a red embossed felt heart into my envelope.  Worked very well!  I mounted my envelope and the embossed a greeting below with gold embossing powder.  I added a little red heart punchie between the two words.  This large element was mounted to my brown card and my card was finished.  Really like how it turned out!!

Therese

Birthday cards featuring a cute little owl, lace and fun decorative paper

A birthday card for my second oldest grand daughter.  They are all growing so fast.  We have not seen them in quite a while because of restrictions.  I started with a large envelope from my stash and created a light pink card to fit inside.  I added the fun decorative paper and added the strip I cut off to the bottom edge.  I trimmed a strip of white cardstock and added the coordinating lace then mounted that piece over the gap.  I did run my tracign wheel on top and bottom edges before gluing it down.  I also ran it along the edges of my owl image (Cre8tive hands) and on both edges of the font greeting.  I added coordinating ribbon to the image and then watercoloured it to coordinate.  I love this cute little owl.  I trimmed the bottom edge with my eyelet border punch (SU).  It is headed her way this week along with an envelope of fun.  

Therese

 

Birthday card featuring a fabric paper background with fabric candles stitched over it

 My daughter loves to sew and has her own business where she encourages people to be conscious consumers when it comes to clothes.  I decided to incorporate fabric into her birthday card to reflect part of who she is!!  I started with a large envelope from my stash and created a kraft card to fit inside.  I cut my background for a sheet of fabric paper I made a while back.  I dug out a few fabric scraps that coordinated and cut seven little strips for my candles.  A small scrap of light yellow and a darker yellow and I was able to hand cut 7 little flames.  I used light coloured thread to stitch on my candles going around the perimeter a couple of times and pulling the threads to the back.  I layered the darker flames over the light and stitched them with a rust coloured thread.  I used a dark brown thread for the wicks.  I colour washed a stamped greeting, tore the top and bottom edges and then stitched in place using rust thread.  I found inspiration for this card on line at Thirty Hand Made Days.  I really love how it worked out and can certainly see making a few more of these in the future.  

Therese

Scrap and Bean - cards for seniors - reused elements and an Asian tag

Here are my last two cards for the Cards for Seniors program by Scrap and Bean.  

1.  I reused a background from a dismantled card and mounted it to a blue card.  I used this ATC background and added the square with metal flower embellishment, a ribbon and the greeting (SU).  I mounted it to a dark pink rectangle then to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

2.  This Asian tag was in my stash.  I added the black ribbon then created a background for it on a peach coloured card.  I added watercolour, stamped it with WORN (SU) in a couple different colours then added more watercolour.  Worked out well.  I added my tag and then a layered font greeting. 

In all I have over 80 cards to donate to their cause for seniors!  I am sure that the seniors will be appreciative of receiving handmade cards with greetings knowing that there are people thinking of them.  Cards are always a blessing!!

Therese