September Cardmaking - quilted background with a chalkboard greeting

I love this quilted background technique!!   To create this background I laid coloured card stock shapes onto a piece of white cardstock to create a quilt pattern until I was happy with the way it looked.  Next, I passed it through my Big Shot using an embossing folder with a very tight design (SU Lattice) which helps the pieces incorporate into the background and gives the whole layer a quilted look. I downloaded this set of chalkboard greetings for these cards.  I did digitally embellish a blank one I created using a chalkboard font to create a few more greeting options.  I laser printed the tag greetings and provided scissors for the participants to trim them as they wished.  I trimmed mine to leave an even border all the way around.  I used an 1/8" hole punch to punch out the holes on each side.  I threaded ribbon through the holes and added the greeting to my quilted layer gluing the ends to the back using double sided tape.  I tied a small piece of ribbon to the one on the front using a single knot to simulate a bow.  I glued this whole layer to the front of a coordinating card.  Thinking it still needed a bit of something I added an embossed star over the central square.  That was better!!  Here are a few more I created at class.

Again, these are very versatile because the cardstock pieces can be any shape - stars, balloons, flowers, etc and I did use punchies on several of the background I created for my kits but die cuts would work just as well. 
While I was out there cruising the internet I did find a few downloadable chalkboard backgrounds which I will play with later.  It was fun to finally create cards with chalkboard greetings!!
Therese

September Cardmaking - white embossed images with all over watercolour

I have been wanting to try this out for a while and decided to include a card into the class that included white embossed images on watercolour paper coloured in an overall manner with watercolour!!  It is always a bit of a surprise when you start adding watercolour because white embossing powder on white watercolour paper is very subtle!!  Fun!!  I included black cardstock in all the kits because it nicely highlights any colour and it was completely unpredictable what colour the participants were going to choose for their cards.  We watercoloured our focal images and used a hair dryer to encourage the drying process.  Next, we wrapped white fiber which would work with any colour of art around our dried artwork and threaded on our greeting before tying it off on the side.  We did choose to watercolour our greeting slightly before cleaning our brushes so they would coordinate with our focal element.  The greetings were stamped in black ink onto label die cuts (Spell binders).  I did add a bit of double sided tape to the back of my greeting to keep it exactly where I wanted it.  These large elements were then glued to our black card front.  Love the look!!    Here are a couple more with more of an all over embossed pattern. 
Therese

September Cardmaking - embossed backgrounds with laser printed digital images and font greetings

 It is that time of year again!!  We are back to our post summer routines and for me that means back to regularly cardmaking sessions with my group.  It was fun to have a few new people to join us this time around!!
We started with a fairly versatile sketch - a pieced embossed background, some ribbon/fiber and a layered focal element which featured digital images from Cre8tive Hands along with greetings created with interesting fonts. 
For this card I embossed four silver foil rectangles with the Swiss Dots (CB) embossing folder and glued them leaving an even margin all the way around onto a gray card front.  I added a length of red ribbon and tied on a short piece with a single knot to simulate a bow before adding my focal element with 3D foam tape.  My focal element features a cute little nativity image from Cre8tive Hands to which I added a font greeting before laser printing onto white cardstock. I watercoloured my image and layered it onto black before adding it to my card front.  Because I chose a smaller image size I have the ability to make these cards portrait or landscape regardless of the orientation of my image.  For some of the kits I embossed the rectangles with different embossing folders and varied the colours to provide a multicoloured background.  With a bit more work the rectangles could have been made different sizes which would have given the background a more abstract look. 
Really happy with how this card turned out!!  Love the image at Cre8tive Hands as well!!  You can see below a couple more cards I made up at class.  I have a couple Christmas ones so I can add them to my stash as I have been remiss in keeping my commitment of making them monthly.  I will have to recommit and catch up!!

Therese

A little birdie on a fun and funky fabric postcard

A fun fabric postcard for my partner in the birthday swap in my Trading Fabric Postcards group.  I started with a fabric collage I created a while back with colourful strips of fabric.  I have recently created several postcard using these fabric collage for the backgrounds.  I knew I needed a bold fabric for my little birdie so I kept looking until I found this fishy fabric.  It was perfect.  I applied fusible webbing to a small scrap, traced the birdie sticky note I used on these cards and trimmed it out.  I had enough to make two so I will have a spare birdie that will show up in a future creation.  I used a punchie of the wing (paisley) to trace two wings as well out of blue fabric which I had also backed with fusible webbing.  I defined the eye and the beak with a black sharpie marker and then fused it to my background.  I fused a strip of green fabric across the bottom to simulate grass.  I stitched all the way around the birdie several times using greenish yellow thread and stitch him legs and feet.  I adhered the wing and added stitching to it as well. Really happy with how it turned out!  I added a piece of batting and a white cotton backer, stitched all the way around the edge to secure all the layers to each other and then stitched around the bird in an all over pattern.  I added fusible webbing to several strips of greenish yellow fabric and used it to bind the postcard.  I cut a length for one long side, positioned it on the front overlapping the edge and used the iron to fuse it in place.  I turned the whole thing over and fused the rest of the strip to the back.  I did the other three sides to finish it off.  I used the greenish yellow thread to add two rows of stitching to the binding which finished the whole postcard off very nicely.  I used a small strip of white fusible fabric for my quote which I hand lettered using a black fine tipped Sharpie marker.  Very happy with how this one turned out!!  It is off to my partner to arrive in time for her birthday.     Therese

White on white with a colourful image/greeting combo

I have been wanting to make a card using white on white for quite a while and I decided to try it with this large card for a friend who will be 98 this month!!  I started with a large white card, trimmed another white piece just a bit smaller, cut it into four pieces and embossed each piece using a different embossing folder.  I glued them to my card front leaving a bit of a margin all the way around all the pieces and in between.  I added a piece of green rafia on the left portion using my slot punch to create a bit of an opening on the spine.  I tied it around the card front an double knotted it on the front.  I layered a colour printed image from Vintage Fan Girl  that features poppies with a greeting, trimmed it and layered it with green before adding a white layer.  I adhered this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape positioning it just over the raffia and covering the joint of the four embossed rectangles.  Really happy with how this one worked out.  I will be using this sketch again for my upcoming classes.      Therese

Another leather leaf on a collage background - birthday card

I need another birthday card so I decided to create a collage background with a few of the supplies on my desk - decorative paper, collage scraps, leaf punchies, mop up paper, book page scraps, ATC, etc.  I used a scrap of cardstock as a base and glued all my elements on until I was happy with the layout.  I added a bit of watercolour to help incorporate all the elements.  I trimmed it to size and mounted it to a rust card front.  I added an embossed strip of mustard coloured cardstock and mounted my stitched leaf over it using double sided tape.  I tied some green raffia to the stem and added a bit of glue to adhere those two elements to the card.  I trimmed a laser printed greeting and layered it onto an embossed piece of orange cardstock, flagged both of the ends and tucked it under the mustard strip.  Love how it turned out!!

Therese

Large card made reusing some elements from a used commercial card

I needed a large card for an upcoming birthday and started with a birthday cake image I found on a commercial card that was donated to me.  I trimmed the image from the front of the card and created a layered greeting using a scalloped circle, a laser printed greeting (The Spruce), a couple of flower punchies, a sequin and a tiny white brad.  I added a short piece of coordinating organza ribbon before adhering my greeting usind 3D foam tape.  I cut a large purple card front and trimmed on of the other layers from the commercial card to fit on it with an even border all the way around and added a white layer to hide the words.  I added my yellow focal element over it using 3D foam tape.  Really liked how this one turned out but was not sure if it was original enough for the purpose I was intending to use it for.  So this one may go to by stash!!

I made another large card using gorgeous ribbon and a leather leaf for my daughter's birthday but forgot to get a photo so I cannot share it here!

Therese

Fun cards from kits

I made up these two cards from kits I made up for this class in May.   I used ink cartridges from the colour printer and glossy photo paper to make up the fun decorative paper and then I printed images on them using the printer.  These digital. images are from Melonheadz.  I combined them with some fun sayings for some fun cards!!  I trimmed the images and layered them onto the yellow layers which were printed with the greetings and then mounted them to the stamped card front.  They were stamped with pink ink using a script background stamp (SU).  I did use a bit of watercolour to add a bit of intensity to parts of the images to give them more dimension.    Therese

Hammered botanicals background with silk flowers and seam binding

I made a special card for my god daughter's birthday!!  I used one of my hammered botanicals for the background and found coordinating silk flowers and vintage seam binding in my stash.  I added a bit of coordinating watercolour around the edges of the background where the white was distracting and glued the 5" x 8" piece to a lightweight green cardstock.  I added a piece of purple seam binding across the length and glued the ends to the back of the layer.  On the right over the seam binding I added a layered greeting which consisted of an oval punched laser printed digital image (Birds Cards), a coordinating purple oval and an oval of vellum which I trimmed with scalloped decorative scissors.  On the left above the seam binding I added three dark purple silk flowers to which I had added tiny iridescent white sequins with tiny black brads.  I tied a short length of the same seam binding in the middle using one knot which nicely simulates a bow and positioned it where it looked like it belonged.  To finish off my card I glued this large layer to the front of a large white card (5.5" x 8.5").   I hope she enjoys it and the little treats I have included inside.  

Therese

Exchange cards with bleached backgrounds and labels with greetings

I set out to make a couple of card for my exchange group and ended up with three!!  All of them feature navy blue background paper that was stamped with bleach when I was playing a while back.  I cut each of them to 4" x 5.25", embossed them with an embossing folder and glued them to the front of a card.  I added embossed labels (TH) which have been sponged a bit with coordinating ink, some ribbon and laser printed round greetings ( Netty's Cards).  I also added some punchies/die cut elements to add a bit of texture to each of the cards.  It was fun to make all the cards different with pretty much the same sketch!!
On the first one I added my background to a blue green card and sponged the ivory label with several inks until I got the colour I was looking for.  I embossed it with a gears embossing folder and positioned the center so the large gear with be featured.  I die cut the greeting and the blue/green layer using Nestibilities.  I used a punch to remove the middle of the greeting and reveal the embossed design which I added to the blue/green circle.  It needed a bit of something so I added a rhinestone which I coloured with Sharpies to get the right colour.  I punched slots on each side and inserted short lengths of navy ribbon gluing the ends to the inside front of my card.  I die cut a flourish, trimmed it into three and embellished the label with them just tucking them underneath where they looked good.  For my second one, I glued my background to a purple card, sponged my ivory label with purple ink and added a length of coordinating ribbon over it.  I die cut the laser printed digital greeting and a coordinating layer and mounted them with 3D foam tape over the ribbon.  I punched a hole in a scrap of paper and sponged the center of the greeting with a bit of purple ink.  The little butterfly punchie was just enough to finish off my card.
For my third card I glued my background to a green card.  I sponged the embossed ivory label with green ink and die cut a hole from the middle.  I punched two small holes in each end and inserted a navy ribbon.  I mounted the label to my card front and adhered the ribbon ends to the inside front of my card.  I sponged my die cut greeting, added a green circle into the center and added a small gold flower sequin with a tiny gold brad before mounting it over the ribbon over the hole I had die cut in the label.  I added a stamped and punched butterfly (SU) to which I wrapped and tied gold embroidery thread to create the antennea.  I used a tiny piece of double sided tape to adhere it to my card front.
So two of these are off to my swap partners and the other will find its way to my card stash!!

Therese

Sympathy cards from kits

I made up these two cards from kits I made up for this class.   The card fronts are stamped - the green one with a blue ink using a script stamp (SU) and the blue one with bleach using a worn background stamp (SU).  The digital images (CLKER) were printed on the coloured ink backgrounds then trimmed to fit on the coordinating layers which have colour printed greetings on them before being mounted to the card fronts.  Quick and easy cards from kits!!       Therese

Cat card

 I made this card for my sister who had to put down her cat this week.  It is always hard to have to let go of a pet who has been part of the family for so long!!  It is a loss.

I used cat fabric for the background and stitched it on so she can remove it and use it as she wishes.  She is a quilter so she may consider making herself a mug rug or coaster with it which can remind her of her special buddy.  I added a little grass die cut at the bottom cause you know that cats and grass belong together.  I layered tow coordinating tags and stamped "thinking of you" on the top one and simply hand stitched it on so it could easily be removed.

This card fits in a #8 envelope.

Therese

Sympathy card with a butterfly

I am in need of sympathy cards this week and so made up a few so I will be ready for next time.
I made this one up from a kit from this class.   Sure is nice to have kits to put together when you are short on time!!
I started with a green blue card and added a soft background paper with lighter coloured swirls which was cut just a bit smaller which leaves an even border all the way around.  I trimmed a strip of darker blue green cardstock with scalloped decorative scissors and added some wavy lines with a pattern tracing wheel which added some texture and interest.  I pierced each scallop with a push pin as well.  I mounted it diagonally on my card and trimmed the pieces that overlapped on each side.  I watercoloured the butterfly tag (Angie Antics) with shimmery paint and added a bit of colour to the edges as well.  I used double sided tape to secure the seam binding to the tag and trimmed the ends diagonally as well.  I added the greeting to the side of the tag, trimmed it with the scallop scissors and pierced each scallop as well.  I used double sided tape to adhere the tag to my card front.    Therese

Kids Birthday cards - blue and yellow hexagons

I love the soft look of these cards!  I combined the colour printed hexagon paper with digital images from Best Clipart.  By cutting the paper in different places I was able to hightlight the yellow in one and the blue in the other.  I watercoloured the laser printed images, layered them onto coordinating die cuts and adhered them over seam binding that was added to the decorative paper.  I tied on a short piece with one knot to simulate a bow on both of  them.  I added star dust glitter to the scallops on the left hand card.
I hope this little stash of cards will come in handy in the coming year for my daughter and her kids.

Therese

Kids Birthday cards featuring fun nature characters

Really fun paper with funky animals!  I combined the paper with green card fronts and digital images from Best Clipart.  I added layered watercoloured images over ribbon/fibers changing up the orientation for each one.  In positioning my focal element I tried to leave exposed as many of the animals as possible.  I love the funky owl peeking from under the ribbon the left hand card!!   Therese

Kids Birthday Cards - bright and bold

Love this bright bold paper!!  I combined it with green card fronts and digital images from Best Clipart.  I watercoloured the images to coordinate with the paper and then layered them onto die cut circles (Nestibilities) .
For the left hand card I layered the focal image onto a red scalloped circle (Nestibilities) which I adhered to the front of my card.  I added stardust glitter dots to all the scallops and then a short piece of bright green rick rack to add texture and interest.
For the right hand card, I added a length of the bright green rick rack to the decorative paper before adhering it to my green card front.  I coloured and layered my focal element and glued it centered on my card over the rick rack.  The layouts were really were dictated by the bold elements in the paper.   Totally fun cards!!         Therese

Kids Birthday cards featuring stripes

For both of these cards I used striped decorative paper on blue cards along with two digital images from Best Clipart.  I watercoloured the images to coordinate with the background and added ribbon/fiber accents.
For the left hand card, I stitched blue gros grain ribbon to a piece of wider yellow gros grain incorporating a short piece of fiber in the process.  After adhering the ribbon and paper to my card front I added a short piece of light blue ribbon over the fiber and tied a single knot to secure the both of them .  I adhered the layered focal element to the left of the tied ribbon.  On the right hand card, I used the same fiber cutting three lengths.  I overlaid them and stitched them together near the top to created the loops.  I adhered this element to my decorated card front and adhered the watercoloured and layered focal element over it.  I like the rainbow colours in the fiber!!   Therese

Kids birthday cards - bright and blingy

For this set of cards I used a bright wavy paper and layered it onto blue card fronts along with digital images from Best Clipart.  For the left hand card I added a pale blue ribbon to which I had tied three lengths of white fiber leaving them to wave in the breeze!!  I watercoloured the balloon image to coordinate with my card, layered it onto an orange scallop circle (Nestibilities) and then adhered it to my card front over the ribbon.
For the right hand card I chose a portrait orientation and mounted my watercoloured  image over the patterned paper background.  I added some clear rhinestones to the scallops on the pink scalloped circle (Nestibillities) I layered behind the focal image.  Next I added swirls to the eye shapes on the background and added rhinestones to the ends of those as well.  I added dots to all the lines between the elements on my background as well using coordinating fine tipped markers.  Totally fun to be using some of these beautiful papers that I have been "saving"!!
Therese

Collage calendar pages repurposed into greeting cards

 I have been working on getting the pages from this 2012 handmade calendar made into greeting cards.  I was fortunate that I had used 4.25" x 5.5" as my format for the focal elements of the calendar so it was reasonably easy to convert them into A2 sized cards.   I used my heat gun to heat the back of each page to make it easier to remove the art work from the pages.  In most cases it was just a matter of trimming the background to 4" x 5.25" and adding a greeting.  

 For a few I removed some elements and replaced them with others that were more appropriate for a card. This happened most especially on the foil backed first page which had ART in the center.  I removed the red heart and added three silk flowers over the packing tape transfer to hide the letters.  Worked very well.

It was a fun project and I have another 12 cards to add to my stash!!

Therese

Kids birthday cards featuring funky letters

I promised a while back to make kids birthday cards for my daughter. These are the ones I made for her last time with balloon stickers.  This time I chose two digital images - a birthday cake with a greeting and a set of balloons to which I added a curved greeting using Corel Draw.  I got these two from Best Clipart .  I  sized them appropriately and laser printed them onto white cardstock and cut them out with a 2.5" Nestibilities Classic Circle die.  Next I dug into my decorative paper pile which may very well outlive me in order to get some cute designs for my cards!!  I started with the right hand card trimming the 12" x 12" sheet to trim off the first set of letters on the page.  I trimmed the strip between the letters and ended up with two strips a bit shorted than the 6 inches I needed so I tape them to each other and then added a blue gros grain ribbon to cover where they join.  To make up the bit of extra space I needed I added a red strip on the left hand side which I had trimmed with scallop decorative scissors and then paper pierced in each scallop with a push pin before I added this large element to a coordinating green card front.   I watercoloured my birthday cake image to coordinate with the card, layered it onto a coordinating blue scallop circle (Nestibilities) and adhered it to my card front over the ribbon.  I had trimmed off several letters and when I tried to use them on my next card they did not work as well as the first ones had so I eventually cut them all apart and glued them to my card front in a fun layout.  I added dark orange strip beneath them to add some texture and interest to the card.  I used a red marker and drew in faux stitching around all of the letter blocks which helped define them and make them into a unit for the background.  I watercoloured my balloon image to coordinate, layered it onto a blue circle (Nestibilities) before adhering it to the front of my card.
It has been fun to play with paper and make cards that I think my grand children will appreciate giving to their friends over the course of the next year or so!!

Therese