Large all occasion card featuring a fun birdhouse sticker, some ribbon and a collage background

 I made this card up for my sister and her husband who are celebrating their anniversary soon.  I chose a bird house sticker from a colouring book and adhered it to a piece of white cardstock.  I watercoloured it to coordinate with my collaged background made with blue scraps which I taped to each other using regular tape on the back.  I added heart rhinestones in the corners and added faux stitching in between using a clear glitter gel pen.  I added some clear glitter to several small elements in my image as well.  I added a yellow ribbon to my background before adhering it to a large green card and then mounted my focal element to the front using 3D foam tape. 

Therese

Coffee themed cards for donation

I offered to make some cards to be included in a gift basket which a group member is putting together.  I found several in my collection that would work well.  

For my first card I chose a take out coffee cup (BlackBerry Jelly) which I laser printed and watercoloured to coordinate with my background.  I added a two tone cardstock layer, embossed three lines and paper pierced the scallop border (SU) on the bottom edge.  I added a green ribbon to my background before adding it to a dark red card.  Added the image with 3D foam tape.  For my second card, I did tore my background, added green fiber ribbon before adhering to my bright green card.  I watercoloured my cup (The Alley Way Stamps) to coordinate with my paper and added clear glitter to the seam.  

For my third card I trimmed red rectangles and adhered them to a red card.  I watercoloured my cup (Jane's Doodles) , added clear glitter to the steam,  paper pierced the four edges and layered it onto red cardstock which I trimmed with scallop decorative scissors and paper pierced and finally embossed a line.  I adhered to my card using 3D foam tape.  My final card  features another cup (CLKER) which I die cut (Nestibilities), watercoloured and layered with a brown circle and then a black scalloped circle after watercolouring it and adding clear glitter to the steam.  I added a length of ribbon to my music sheet background (Sweetly Scrapped) before adhering it to my black card.  I added my layered cup with 3D foam tape.  Lots of fun to be playing with coffee themed images and making cards with a variety of colours and sketches.  Therese

 

Quilting - another set of potholders

 I managed another set of potholders as well.  I cut these a while back while I was working on some QAYG - no binding potholders.  They stitch up reasonably quick when all the pieces are precut.  I stitched a row of stitching on the green diamond to quilt the top to the batting and then added a row of stitching around the outside of the diamond to quilt the top and batting to the backing.  I have a few more sets ready to go.  I like how these stitched up so I will likely make a few more sets.  Therese 

Quilting - Casserole carrier

I decided to create a casserole carrier this weekend.  We have a fundraiser coming up and there was some interest in having some for sale.  There was a sample for a 9x13 pan at the meeting and after some research I decided to try making one for a square or round container.  I cut two squares 22" of two different coordinating fabrics and a 22" square of batting.  I cut a 22" x 2.25" strip for the handle and two 6" x 1.5" strips for the loops.  I originally put the loops and handle on the middle of each side but that did not work very well.  I had found one that worked that way but it was not square so I am sure it would have been fine had I not modified the rectangular dimensions.  So, anyway, I ripped out the stitching, restitched the openings and moved the loops to opposite corners and the handle to the other two opposite corners.  I simply added them to the inside of the square.  It works well for up to a 12" x 4" container though the handle is a tad short.  Because it draws up to the middle it will carry pretty much anything smaller.  I did see one that had trimmed corners which I will try next time and put the handle ends and loops in the seam.  I will lengthen the handle a bit as well.  Therese

 

January Card Club - Card #3 - handmade paper flowers with a paper pierced frame

 For our last card I chose to make these quick and easy flowers from handmade paper which I made quite a while back.  I tore squares from four different paper of the same colour family and then tore two leaves from two rectangles of green and center from yellow.  The circles look best if they are not perfect and the same with the leaves so it is a very forgiving process.  We used my pattern tracing wheel and a ruler to create a row of paper pierced holes on all four sides of the card fronts.  We could have added faux stitching with a marker instead.  Once the circles were created we simply glued them to each other starting with the largest and finishing with the yellow center.  We auditioned our flowers with their leaves, made adjustments until we were happy and glued them into place on our card front!!  Done!!  A very elegant card that can be used for a variety of occasions!!!  It was very nice to see my friends again and to spend an evening creating cards with them!!!  Therese

January Card Club - Card #2 - two papers, four rectangles and creative focal element

 For our second card I chose two coordinating papers (3 7/8" x 5 1/8"), stacked them and then cut them.  This gave me backgrounds for two cards!!  The rectangles were adhered to coordinating card fronts.  The ladies were very creative with their cards and arranged their paper very differently and did not necessarily use all of them.  I had provided each kit with two focal elements - one that featured a heart ( Valentine's Day) and one that was more all occasion.  You can see that I made up one with a little hedge hog with a bunch of flowers.  I watercoloured the image and layered it onto a green cardstock square which was distressed on the edges.  I mounted this image onto my card front using 3D foam tape.  The green and red one has a layered focal element - paper pierced scallop (SU), circle punchie (SU) and a die cut heart (CB).  The third one has another watercoloured coffee cup layered onto a scallop circle (Nestibilities).  I could have put the slim one on the left instead and would have had a bit of a different look and I could have used a landscape orientation to change it up a bit more.  Lots of options!!!  Therese

January Card Club - Card #1 - printed transparencies, hand decorated papers and brads

It was time again to make cards with my friends.  We made Christmas cards in November.  You can check them out here, here and here.   I really enjoy the creative process of inventing cards  - figuring out sketches, picking supplies with a variety of themes and colours and then putting together the kits.  For our first kit I chose to print up some images on transparency which I have done in the past but not for a really long time. The images - Eiffel Tower - Brenda Braun, basket - Arthur's Clipart,  car - Clker, bird - Clipart.   I auditioned these images on a variety of preprinted decorative papers with not much success so I dug out my box of hand decorated papers and that worked much better.  These papers were created for special projects or whenever I had extra paint leftover.  I just painted it on white paper or over something that still needed " a bit of something".  Lots of fun!!!!  So for the first card with the Eiffel tower I layered a piece of paste paper over a watercolour background and then laid my transparency over it and added the four brads to keep it in place.  I added this large focal element to a coordinating blue card.  The same process was used for all the other cards.  I love the look of the dark blue behind the flower basket which was a distressed look using the crackle technique.  The one under the car worked out so well because the dark section works perfectly as the shadow of the card.  The greens and blues in the paper behind the bird makes it look right at home.  For the bird and the flowers I added colour on the back of the image with markers to highlight parts of the image.  Really helps the images look real and in context!!!  Therese

 

QAYG - another set of potholders

 I managed to get a second set of potholders made up today.  I worked on making up several sets last weekend and I will work on getting them done as time allows.  You can check out the first set here. 

I am really liking how well I can get the corners lined up using this technique.  

I am joining the great bunch of stitchers at Kathy's Quilts - Slow Sunday Stitching!! Check them out for a lot of inspiring projects.  

Therese

Slow Stitching - handstitched and machine stitched journal covers

 

The hand stitching on these little quilts has been done for quite a while now. To create them I trimmed a backer then trimmed out a front and batting that were just a bit smaller than the backer.  I simply folded the backer to the front and hand stitched the edge to finish the little quilt.  You can see my original stash of them here.  The next few batches are here and here.  Here you can see the journal cover I made for myself to keep track of our trailer journeys with all the hand stitching finished. Here you can see the first steps of getting it constructed.  Today I dug out the baggie of little quilts and thought I would get a journal cover made up with them.  To my surprise I was able to complete four journal covers.  I have the layout in the top photo and then the finished journal cover to the left.  The other three journal covers are below with the layout first and the finished journal cover below it.  These will be donated to fundraisers coming up later this year so I will be spending some time slow stitching each little quilt with coordinating embroidery thread.  They are a little wonky but I was happy to get them done!!  

I am connecting with the stitchers at Kathy's Quilts - Slow Sunday Stitching.  Head on over and see what these very creative stitchers are up to!!!  Always inspirational!!  Therese

Square all occasion cards featuring beautiful photos and coordinating cards and papers

I made cards with the photos from our 2022 photo calendars which we got for Christmas last year!!

These photos were all taken by my sister, Sylvia and are perfect for making cards with!!  I simply trimmed them from the calendar pages to 4" x 4" and then layered them onto 5.25" x 5.25" cards with a coordinating decorative paper in between.  The 3D foam tape I put under the photos just gives them a bit of dimension!!  These are headed for donations at several different places!!!

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a collage background and a tag decorated with hearts and a fiber tie

My final card of thanks!!  I created a collaged background to layer onto my purple cardstock which I glued to my white card front. I used regular tape to secure my strips of decorative paper to each other.  I trimmed  a rectangle of purple cardstock into a tag shape and embossed it with flowers (CB).  I added circle punchies at the top, punched a hole through them and added a white eyelet.  I used some green paper fiber and some purple and white bakers twine to make an accent and inserted it through the eyelet and secured the ends on the back with tape.  I layered on a variety of hearts to finish it off.  I added it to my card using 3D foam tape.  Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a many layered heart, ribbon and a bright background

I started this card by digging out a white card set - precut card and envelope.  I trimmed a purple layer and added a fun and bright background which was trimmed from a length of gift wrap.  I added a coordinating ribbon over the gap and secured the ends to the back using double sided tape.  I adhered this layer to my white card front.  The heart was another one that I stamped on decorative paper, embossed in black and then fussy cut.  I added a layer of hand decorated paper which I trimmed with decorative scissors (deckle).  It still needed something so I added a layer of silver crunched foil from a chocolate bar.  It seemed a bit to bright so I used a dull green Sharpie marker to tone it down.  That was better!!!  I adhered the heart to my card using 3D foam tape.  Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a collaged background, a fun frame with a fiber accent and a fussy cut heart

Another thank you card!!  For this card I again used a white card and envelope set.  I trimmed a green cardstock layer and then collaged squares and rectangles to it.  I die cut a wavy frame (SX) from dark brown cardstock and added a knotted fiber accent.  This was rolled up paper cording which I unrolled.  It is cool because it is sort of wispy but with lots of texture!!  I simply tied a loose knot then adhered it with double sided tape.  I mounted the frame to my card using 3D foam tape and then glued my heart inside.  The heart was stamped on decorative paper, embossed in black and then fussy cut.  Therese
 

QAYG - No Binding Pot Holders

I worked on Quilt As You Go potholders today as well as finishing the slow stitching on the last of my little boats.  

I started by cutting three layers of flannel to 7" square and stitching them together.  I dug out some scraps and sorted them to make up some tops for the potholders.  Once I had them sorted I started stitching them to the flannel sandwiches.  For these two I stitched the stacks then positioned this piece facing up on my flannel, placed the gold strip over it facing down, stitched it through all the layers and then flipped it over.  After piecing the other side I did the same thing - laid it face down, stitched it and flipped it.  Once everything was ironed flat I turned the piece over and trimmed the front to the edge of the flannel.  I have six sets ready to go.  I managed to finish only this one set today but I have the  backers and the loops cutout for the others so will be able to work on that later this week.  There will be several opportunities to donate these to events this year so I will keep working on making a supply of them over the course of the year.  If you are interested in a tutorial of how I made these you can check out this "No Bindng Pot Holder" video tutorial at The Sewing Room Channel.   

I am joining Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Check out the links and you will find some inspiration!!!  

Therese

 

Slow Stitching - boats

I have been working on these little boats for quite a few weeks now and managed to finish the last one today.  I stitched the boats following the lines of the fabric and had fun with the sails.  I filled some spaces with stab stitches, others with running stitch and others with french knots.  These will find their way into a quilt sometime over the course of the year. 

I am joining Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  These wonderful ladies provide so much inspiration!!!

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a hand decorated background, lace and layered heart die cuts

 This card started with a white card and envelope set.  I trimmed a blue layer and added a hand decorated background which I trimmed to size.  The background was created when ironed a waxy paper napkin to white cardstock.  The napkin was used to absorb excess wax from some fabric which I had "painted" with wax crayons.  I always use cardstock or paper to protect my iron and it creates a bonus background!!  I added a wide piece of lace securing the ends to the back with double sided tape.  I mounted this layer to my card front and then added my layered hearts.  I used white glue in a fine tipped bottle to glue the white heart (CB) to the hand decorated larger heart. This heart was die cut from paper which I decorated with a large brush and inks.  Quick and easy!!  Therese

Metal leaves earrings and bracelet set

I lost one of my favorite earring last summer while we were camping and searching did not yield any results but understandably there was a lot of ground to cover!!!  For Christmas I asked for some metal leaves to recreate another set.  My sister, Sylvia, complied and I am really happy with the leaves she chose.  They are a bit more shiny and bright than the last ones but still simply elegant.  My ears are sensitive so I had on hand silver wires so it was just a matter of removing the two leaves from the strand and adding them to the wires!  There were four more leaves on the strand so I have pondered for a few days what I might do with them.  This morning I decided to make a bracelet!!  I attached a clasp and two split rings and it was long enough to go around my wrist!  So I have a new set of leaf jewelry which I will not be wearing to go camping!!!   I am so very happy with them!!  Therese

All occasion card featuring a bright heart die cut layered with a white one, a strip of vellum and a coordinating hand decorated background

I am still making cards for sending our thanks for the season's blessings.  I started with a white card and envelope set.  I trimmed a blue layer and then added a hand decorated background from my stash. It was created a while back using watercolours and plastic wrap.  I trimmed it to width, tore it in two and then trimmed the bottom to fit on my blue layer.  I glued them in place then added a torn strip of vellum which I folded to the back before adhering this layer to my card.  I added a white heart die cut (CB) to a larger heart die cut (SX) cut from some hand decorated paper which I made with inks and a large brush.  I used a white glue in a fine tipped bottle to adhere my white heart to the other one.  I mounted this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.   Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a collage background and tag full of hearts

After a wonderful Christmas season I am getting back into my regular life.  I am making cards to thank those who have been a blessing to us over the season!!  

I started with a white card and envelope set - found them in my stash!!

I trimmed a warm pink cardstock background and then created a collage background using scraps from my stash.  I simply taped them together on the back.  I found a scrap of darker pink, trimmed the corners, embossed with hearts (CB), added a little heart and attached with a copper eyelet.  I layered on a collection of heart punchies and then found some coordinating fibers which I secured by wrapping one piece around the center of the bunch and then passed the ends from front to back through the eyelet.  I spread the two ends and then secured them with a small piece of regular tape.  I like the look!!!  I adhered the background to my pink cardstock layer and then added my tag using 3D foam tape.    

It is great to be back creating my space!!!   Therese

 

Quilting - Fun potholders

I made four sets of potholders on the weekend!! It was fun to dig out fabric and find something that worked and then stitch them all together into potholders.  I cut the backs first (7"x 9" or so) and then stitched together pieces to make the fronts.  I trimmed them down to be the same size, added two layers of flannel inside and stitched them all the way around leaving a gap so I could turn them inside out.  I trimmed the corners, turned them inside out and poked out the corners.  I pressed them and was careful to press the opening so I cut overstitch it closed.  I stitched all the way around the edge using coordinating thread and then did around the green square.  Then I added some stitching inside the green square generally stitching straight lines in one go to create my shapes.  I will be bringing them to a family function and passing them on!!  My Mom has made potholders for our family for years.  She is in hospital at the moment so no sewing is getting done!!!  Therese

Durocher Christmas 2022 - ornament favour that celebrates my parents

 I made a bunch of  these ornaments as favours for our family Christmas this weekend.  It celebrates my parents - a wooden spool for my Mom and all the sewing she has done over the course of her life and the blue fabric is one of Dad's shirts which Mom made.  My daughter is creating the tags out of shrink plastic which will include date and location.  We have usually had a celebration every second year and we are blessed to have Mom with us this time and we will remember Dad as he passed in May.  We count our blessings and celebrate with those we love.  Therese

All occasion card featuring a black capped chickadee, hand decorated background, ribbon and flagged rectangles

 I started this card by trimming a large card from brown cardstock.  I added a hand decorated background which I trimmed from a large sheet of brown paper which I had fun decorating a while back.  I added a piece of dark red ribbon and secured each end with a piece of double sided tape.  The little chickadee (CLKER) is laser printed and then lightly watercoloured.  I ran my pattern tracing wheel on all four edges.  I added two little black rectangles which I flagged  and paper pierced with my pattern tracing wheel before adding them to my image.  I added my chickadee to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Perfect start to my cards for family for the new year!!!  Therese