Flower die cuts combined with handmade paper for great cards

I found these card kits sitting in my craft room when I was preparing for my last class and decided I should make them up and add them to my stash.   They have been sitting since March when I prepped them for this class.  It was fun to have the freedom to make them up a bit differently because time has passed and I did not have the original idea so clearly imprinted in my head.  I positioned the flowers differently and even made one a portrait card and used lace on it!!  No idea where the ribbon went - it was not in the envelope so I had to invent something new.  I sponged the off white lace with green ink to get it to coordinate but I like the look of it.  It was fun to see the decorative paper centers for the flowers as well.  So much has happened since then - so many other cards and projects created!!              Therese

Cardmaking - Feb - butterfly cards

Love the way these worked out!! I created some alcohol ink backgrounds using several blues at the top and green at the bottom then stamped on some flowers using black StazOn. I embellished the flowers with watercolour. Layered onto black, onto embossed layer and then the card front. My main cardstock was white and I found it a bit stark so I just added a bit of watercolour in green around the edge of the front of my card which softened it just nicely. Thrifty Tip: Great little technique when you don't have the right colour of cardstock. You can use watercolour, chalks or markers to add the colour you need.
The butteflies were purchased at a local $1 store in the houseware department - they were fridge magnets!! I removed the magnets and glued them to my card using glue dots!!! I love the colours and texture of this card!!

Cardmaking - Feb - Yo Yo card

Yo Yo s!! These used to be popular years ago and here they are again!! We created these from a 4" circle of fabric which was basted all the way around the edge. Draw the top basting thread - be sure not to draw on the bottom one as well as it will cause problems and will not gather properly. Continue to draw on the thread and create gathers until you have a tight center then tie both ends of top thread together. Be careful not to pull the thread right out!! We just flattened the gathering to create the yoyo! Used several punchies (1/2" and 1") to cover the threads and cut edges in the middle in the front, added a punchie on the back to make it easier to attach to our scallop and held it all together with a brad. Added a decorative edge to our strip and layered it onto the front of our card with our trimmed embossed layer (CB).
It is nice to add some handmade accents to your cards and this would be great for any time you have used fabric to create a gift. You can use a scrap to make a yo yo for the card!! Really helps to personalize the greetings you are giving with the gift.

Therese

Cardmaking - Feb - pouffy flower card

Another month has come and gone!! Had my cardmaking session this past week!! Time is flying by!!
We created these cool little pouffy flowers for these cards!! Eight scallop punchies (SU) of tissue paper stapled in the center to a cardstock scallop punchie is all it is!! Scrunch your scallop punchies, flatten, stack and staple. Once stapled you scrunch the first one really hard to the middle and then each subsequent one gets the same scrunch until you have done them all. Makes a nice 3D accent for any crafty item you might be creating. I added little leaves - SU five petal punchie cut apart!! Too easy. I got my inspiration from this posting from Mercy's blog. I layered that onto a metallic silver square and then onto a decorative edged white square. The middle accent is a strip (1.5") of white cardstock punched on both sides with the MS doily border punch. On the first card I added some flowers to the strip and some dimension to the leaves with watercolour. The bottom of the card has a layer of metal tape - heat duct tape from the hardware store - glued to the bottom edge and then embossed with D'vine Swirl (CB) embossing folder.
The flowers flatten fairly easily so they should go through the mail fairly easily. You could add a note to the card that the flower needs a little scrunching to look its best.

Therese

My Art - September cardmaking - pressed flowers

We had a large group at cardmaking on Wednesday!! It was great to see a few new faces and a few we had not seen in a while. Because of the number of kits that I needed to have on hand I ended up creating a few Christmas ones!! You will see a similarity between these cards and the one I posted earlier for my exchange card. Same sketch!!
The yellow cards feature pressed yellow and white daisies. I captured them between a piece of cardstock and some tulle which I wrapped to the back and held in place with double sided tape! I partially embossed the card front (CB) and added a greeting on a strip of cardstock which has been distressed or on a ribbon slider (Sizzlets). The focal element on the Christmas card features a piece of "fabric" embossed with silver snowflakes layered on mirror silver cardstock. I added a silver brad to one snowflake to make it stand out from the others.

I regularly press flowers from my garden or the by ways I frequent when I walk for use in my cardmaking. I just pressed some Queen Anne's Lace flowers for creating some unique Christmas cards for my upcoming classes. You can check here and here for ones I have created in the past. I love using natural materials!!

I highly recommend that you create with anything you love!!

Therese

My Art - Exchange card

Had some friends over the other night to play!! We have decided this year to do Shoe Box swaps as our activity for the year. Each person in the group provides supplies for a little project which we will create during our get togethers. We made Stair Step Cards this month with some boats and a lot of waves!! Fun!!

Here is the card I created for my exchange!! The main element is "holiday gift wrap" sold at Liquidation World a few years ago. It is like woven polyester with silver snowflakes printed on it. It looks like fabric!! Very cool!! I did buy several different ones - used one with snowmen on it in last year's Christmas cards.
I wrapped a small piece of this fabric around a blue piece of cardstock and layered it onto white pearlescent cardstock which I had trimmed with deckle edged scissors (Fiskars). Added a silver brad to the center of the main snowflake to create focal point. I used the snowflake embossing folder (CB) on the right hand side of the card and layered a silver embossed greeting over another piece of trimmed pearl paper and tucked it under the main element.
Really like the look of the card. You will see later that I incorporated this design in my cardmaking class this month!!

Therese

My Art - invitation #1

These are samples I have made up for a friend who is looking for wedding invitations!! It was so fun to play with paper and create some beautifully embossed cards!!

This invitation has it all - elegance, dimension and some bling!!
Added clear rhinestones to the centers of the white confetti flowers (M) and layered them onto this beautiful ribbon (M). Tucked the ends behind a layer that was embossed with D'vine Swirl (CB). Glued this layer to the front of the white card. Added two red punched hearts!!

Gorgeous!!

Therese

My Art - invitation #3

This one is very similar to the previous one! Used the D'vine Swirl embossing folder for the top and bottom flaps as well as the small heart. Cut the hearts using a Sizzix die.

Therese

My Art -- Invitations! #4

Used the Birds and Swirls embossing folder (CB) on each side of this one and added a layered flower embellishment. I cut the flowers with a Sizzix die and embossed the large flower with the Swiss Dots embossing folder (CB) and the small one with one of the birds from the Birds and Swirls (CB) embossing folder.

Therese

MM - Enclosure cards

I created a variety of encloure cards for sale at Merchants Mill .

It was fun to create a bunch of little cards!! I was often able to find just the right piece of paper or cardstock in my scrap bucket!! I made 36 of them featuring embossed paper (CB - embossing folders), ribbons, lace daisies, stickers, embossed foil, confetti, etc.



Therese

My Art - June cardmaking - gel card

I must have been in a turquoise mode! I see that I have three cards that feature teal colours!!
I made the background paper for these cards! Total blast! I combined glitter glue (old and not very runny), fabric paints and inks!! Just plastered on the colours and glitter in washes until I was happy with they way they looked!! Once dry I cut down the letter sized sheets into quarter sheets and ran them through my Cuttlbebug with the D'vine Swirl embossing folder to give the look of water and ocean. I colour printed the fishes from some clipart from a word processing program. Created a window using two punched out holes and mounted my gel filled ziploc baggies (4 small drops per bag) behind them. Added the fish last so I could position it just the way I wanted it to show through. Found the "best fishes" greeting a several cards on the internet so colour printed that as well and added it below the layer.
A really fun card for the summer!! Best to mail these off with a little protection and not when there is a chance of them freezing!

Therese

My Art - Christmas cards - snowflakes

For those who took the Christmas Card class today they've started on their preparations for Christmas and it isn't even July!!! Yeah!!
The center panel of this card is paper napkin that was laminated with Modge Podge because the layers would not separate nicely!! It gave the paper a nice textural quality - a bonus!! We ripped both edges and glued the middle portion to the trimmed embossed background (CB Snowflakes) layer and then glued the edges to the back of it. This whole layer was then glued to the card front. Tied on the fiber and finished it with a double knot. The snowflake was one that I bought last year at a dollar store. Just nipped off the circle for hanging and it is now a 3D embellishment for this card!! Glued it on with a glue dot. Glue dots are great for adding any sort of 3D or heavy embellishment to your cards.
Always keep an eye out for interesting papers and supplies for your cardmaking!! I am always on the look out!!
There are quite a few who are making their Christmas cards monthly - what a great idea!! I will have to consider that for the fall!!

Therese

My Art - baby thank you cards

Babies!! Created a set of these for a first time Mom who is due very soon and will be moving soon. It is always nice to have cards on hand to send as gifts arrive. I made these teal because I did not know whether she was having a girl or a boy!!

Used the Swiss dot embossing folder (CB) on the top portion of the long narrow card that fits in a #8 envelope. Trimmed the bottom section with the SU scallop border punch. The sentiment is stamped in seaglass and embossed with pearl embossing powder - gives a nice subtle sheen!! Added to the card front with green crystal brads. Teal ribbon tied in a square knot with the ends trimmed.

Quick and easy yet elegant cards for any occasion!!

Therese

My Art - April cardmaking - foil flower

A simple card that uses foil tops from applesauce and yogurt!! Those little foils can be used in your card making in so many ways!! I cut the scalloped shape with my Cuttelbug and a Nestabilities die and then passed them through the Cuttlebug again using a silicone mat (SU) and a Fiskars texture plate!! Worked so well!!!! Also used an embossing folder (CB) to emboss the background paper. The flower is created from sequins. These were donated to me by my sister when she was visiting. The multi pack had one one kind she wanted so left the others to use as I saw fit! The ovals had a hole at one end so I threaded five of them onto a brad to create a flower!! The greeting is colour printed.
Try to find ways of creatively reusing some of the items that you would normally recycle or throw out!! It will leave you more money to spend on art supplies or rubber!!

Therese

Cardmaking - quick and easy card

Hey! I know it has taken me a while to post the March cardmaking cards. I have been out west to see my new grandson! He is awesome and doing very well. Parents are sleep deprived but hanging in hoping that the distance between feedings and sleep times will increase!! As we all know, they will!!

This was one of my quick and easy cards! It fits in a #8 envelope. The card is made from white cardstock cut 3.5" x 8.5" and folded at just short of the 6.5" mark. You can see on this one that I cut the edge with scallop scissors and punched holes with a pushpin to make an eyelet looking edge. Using a spongy mouse pad or thick fun foam works really well as a base for making the holes with a push pin. The top is covered with a small piece of decorative scrapbooking paper and the botton is a piece of cardstock which has been embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder - Floral Motif! and glued to the backside of the top flap. I stamped the greeting with pigment ink,embossed it with tinsel embossing powder for a glittery look which matches the decorative paper and punched it with the SU scallop punch. Great for a kids birthday!!

Therese

My Art - Birth Announcements

I am a grandma for the second time!!!!! Yeah!! This little guy was born on February 25th. I will be traveling west to see him this week!!
I created this birth announcement for my daughter to send out. It fits in a #8 envelope. It took me a while to figure out in Corel Photo Paint how to make the soft edge oval with the picture of him only days old. The birth info is below his picture and is revealed when the blue panel with his name on it opens up with the short piece where the button is. The short panel is embossed with the CB Swiss Dot embossing folder. The button is a Sizzix die I just recently acquired from a local posting on Kijiji.com. Well worth checking out this site for crafts supplies!! I glued the button die cut to the round ribbon slider die cut and tied them together with white fiber. This is attached to the card front with a ribbon!! His photo and birth info is laser printed and layered onto yellow cardstock the same as the buttons and his die cut name.
If you are a grandma who lives close to her grandchildren you are blessed!! We will be closer once DH husband retires in a few years. Until then, we have been blessed with children who think that grandchildren should know their grandparents and have made the effort to let us see them as often as possible. The other grandchild will be visiting in April with her mom just before her second birthday!!

May you all enjoy your spring break! May you be safe if you are traveling!! Enjoy your children and share a little art with them over the week and celebrate all that is good about them being the ages that they are!!

Therese

My Art -

I know that Valentine's has been and gone!! I did get my card made in just the nick of time for our Valentine's celebration! We have started the tradition of cooking a meal together for Valentine's. Always a great way to spend time together and eat good food. We went out and bought some really special ingredients and had a great meal!!
My card features a heart background in gold on the red card front. I layered on some stamped vellum and my greeting stamped in red on white cardstock. I created the accent using several punched circles and a red felt heart ( $1 store). The gold layer is actually gold foil (tea liner) glued to cardstock and then embossed with my Cuttlebug!! It was so great to have this cool metal accent!! I used hot glue to adhere the layers so that they would be well stuck to each other and I would not lose the texture of the embossing. Totally fun!!

Saving the foil lids from dips and yogurt, etc and using them to create metal accents for your cardmaking using the embossing folders and punches is a great way to save $$ for rubber!!

Therese

My Art - Cardmaking #4

I love the look of navy and red!! Really worked well in this card. I had several images for this card set - a dragonfly by Magenta, a butterfly collage by SU and this saying. Love it! This was a going away gift from the girls at my last stampin group!!

The images were stamped in navy blue Memories, cut closely and layered onto navy cardstock. The scrapbook paper was layered above the embossed distressed stripes (CB). I attached the ribbon to the inside of the card again with double sided tape. Used 3D foam tape to attach both the heart punchie and the layered greeting.

So I hope you are inspired a little to get your thank you cards made early so they can be sent soon after the holidays before life gets back to normal and they get lost in the shuffle of everyday life.

When we express our gratitude for our blessings we focus on what we have which blesses us with yet more!

So I wish you a wonderful holiday season with good times and good food shared with your family and friends. Choose peace and love!!

Therese

My Art - more Christmas cards!

More Christmas cards!! I had a cardmaking session on Wednesday morning and we made these two cards. Some were experienced card makers but most were newbies. Everyone did very well and were pleased with the cards they made. I made an effort to have cards that did not require too many tools or extras being as the group was quite large.
The snowflake card has an embossed snowflake layered onto coordinating cardstock along with a layered oval greeting. These are layered onto a snowflake embossed layer then onto a coordinating cardstock. I added a clear rhinestone brad in the middle for a little bling and it was just enough to make it sparkle just a little!!
The angel card has a few more layers but was mostly just gluing layers into place. I created the music background paper using a scanned sheet of music that I reduced in colour and added "Gloria - angels on high" in a very elaborate font. Once they were laser printed I colourwashed the sheets with walnut ink. I also very lightly colour washed the white cardstock that I stamped the angels on so it would all coordinate. I layered a strip of brown and then a ribbon onto the music background paper. The paper and brown cardstock are trimmed to the edge of the card and the ribbon is tucked around both sides and secure on the inside with double sided tape. I mounted the angel image (SU) on 3D foam tape to give the card a bit more dimension. The greeting was stamped in black right on the front of the card.

That is the end of Christmas cards for classes! I do have a few leftover from each class that I will use for sending out to friends and family!! I still need to write my newsletter so it can be included with my cards for this year.

Therese

My Art - Tag exchange

This is the tag I created for our Tag Exchange with the girls that meet here! The scallop design (SU) is stamped and embossed with a rainbow embossing powder that I bought years ago. It was much nicer than I remembered!! I added a scalloped layer below that which I cut with my Nestabilities in my Cuttlebug. Layered that onto a rectangle which was embossed with the D'vine Swirl embossing folders (CB) and dabbed a bit around the edges with the same ink that I stamped the image with. I corner rounded the corners before I embossed it. I added a brad to the center to hold all of these layers together. I added a knotted ribbon which I tucked to the back and then added this to a plain white layer. Added a silver eyelet and silver/white cord for tying on! We each made enough tags so everyone could have a full set. Kate made hers out of clay and fired them with a glaze! Super wonderful. I will be putting my angel "tag" on my tree!!

So we have some wonderful tags for putting on gifts this year though it is tempting not to use them because they are so nice!

Therese