Kid's birthday card that features a cute little cat

Another card for the set I am preparing for my daughter.  I am using #8 envelopes.  I added a rectangle of the same pink cardstock to the front flap of this one, held it in place with regular tape and then glued my full length piece of decorative paper over the top which helps reinforce the join between the two pieces.  I did add a length of turquoise ribbon to the decorative paper before gluing it down and then tied on a short piece with one knot to simulate a bow.  I trimmed my little greeting giving it flagged ends and then added some texture with my pattern tracing wheel before adding a bit of colour to the edges.  I glued it over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  I watercoloured my laser printed image (Dearie Dolls) of a cat with a wedge of birthday cake.  I added two triangles to two of the corners and then glued this focal element to the top portion of my card over the ribbon and above the short piece.  This simulated bow works well because you can slide it along and put it just where you want it after you have tied it. 

Therese

Kid's birthday card with a cute little mouse

Another kid's birthday card for my daughter that features a cute little mouse with a cupcake.  This is a digital image from Dearie Dolls which I laser printed on white cardstock, trimmed out and watercoloured.  This card front was a bit short as well so I added my decorative paper and then used double sided tape to glue a strip of brown in place to finish off my card.  The decorative paper was a sheet of scrapbook paper which I stamped and embossed with copper embossing powder.  I watercoloured the image, layered it onto brown and mounted it to my card front.  I trimmed my laser printed font greeting, flagged the ends and sponged all the way around with brown ink before adhering it to my card front.   I had little brown hearts left over from these Christmas cards sitting on my desk so added one to the greeting. 
I am enjoying creating single cards again.  I have teaching Christmas card classes lately which entails lots of cards that use the same sketch. 

Therese

Christmas and all occasion cards in a kit

I had a request for a set of card kits that contained six Christmas cards and six all occasion cards.  Having just finished a Christmas card class it was easy to find a few extra kits.
I included 6 of these cards from the class. 
I used a decorative font to create a large word element - JOY - which I colour printed to coordinate with the paper I had chosen and added a coordinating card. I coloured the letters using shimmery watercolour in a soft silver colour.  I used 3D foam tape to add the little silver star punchie.  When you check the link you will find that I made a wide variety of colours in this card kit so all the ones I included are different. 
For the all occasion cards I combined two card sketches that I have recently used in my classes.  I used the four rectangle background that was featured on these cards and I added the image and ribbon combination that I used as a focal element on these cards.   I trimmed four rectangles (2 5/8" x 1 7/8") and embossed them with a large dots embossing folder and glued them to a black card front.  I watercoloured the little lady bug image (Black Berry Jelly digital ), layered it onto black, added the folded ribbon to the back using double sided tape and finally adhered this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I did not add any greetings to this set of cards so they can be used for any occasion. 
Making cards from purchased kits is so quick and easy and a wonderful option for anyone not wishing to purchase lots of equipment and supplies!! 
Therese

Exchange cards - fun Christmas trees!!

I needed a couple of cards for my card exchange this month and being as I am sort in Christmas card mode I made them with that theme!!  I perused my card inspiration file and found one I have been wanting to try for a while which features a quarter sheet of decorative paper layered on a coordinating card and a focal element made of the same cardstock featuring a die cut opening and a greeting.  I found one sheet of this 12"x 12" decorative paper in my stash and decided to use it to make six cards - two for my exchange and a few for my Christmas card stash which has suffered a lack of input in the last few months.  Here are the first three I put together.  I was very happy to find cardstock that coordinated so nicely with it.  I cut the decorative paper to 4" x 5.25" which I layered onto my card fronts.  Next, I cut the front layers to 3 5/8" x 4 7/8" and die cut this little tree out of them.  As you can see there are quite a few options of how that can be done.  I stamped my little greeting (SU) in dark green and I manually embossed them with the Swiss Dot embossing folder (CB) and hammer to ensure that my greeting did not get embossed.  My inspiration piece had rhinestones included in the greeting and I was hoping to do the same but I did not have any small enough so I used a clear glitter gel pen instead to add a bit of sparkle.  I may consider adding glitter glue on the next ones.  I adhered  this layer to the front of my card using 3D foam tape to add depth to the opening. The decorative paper could have had a small pattern which would have worked a bit better but I am happy with how they worked out!!  To are off to my partners in tomorrows' mail.  

Therese

Kid's birthday card with a teddy bear

I have started a set of kid's birthday cards for my daughter.  I am using the #8 envelopes which makes tall slim cards.  I started with a brown card front which was a bit short on the front so I added a green rectangle which I embossed with a plaid embossing folder.  I added the red decorative paper which looks like a knit sweater on the top portion of the card front and adhered a yellow rectangle over where the card stocks join to hold them together.  I trimmed the laser printed greeting with decorative scissors, glued it over the yellow strip and then trimmed the ends to the edge of the card.  The little teddy bear is a digital image from Dearie Dolls which I laser printed on white cardstock, trimmed out of the sheet and watercoloured.  I layered it onto brown cardstock and glued it to my card front using 3D foam tape.
Not sure how many I will get done but it is a start!!

Therese

Spacy kids card

I made this space themed card for my grandson's birthday!!  He is really into planets and space right now so I started with a fun background that I created using a rainbow of die cut zigzags cut with a large Sizzix border die.  I glued them to a black cardstock and trimmed it down to 4" x 5.25" and layered it onto a yellow card.  I created the planet using a large red oval from which I cut a smaller oval (SU) and then inserted a 1.75" circle (SU).  I added clear sparkle glitter with a gel pen on the red oval to simulate the airy rings.  The little alien robot (Dearie Dolls) is a digital image to which I added a greeting before laser printing and then distressed the edges after trimming.  I cut a navy layer from duplex cardstock, embossed the edges with distressed dots from an embossing folder (TH) and then sanded them to make a starry sky.  I also distressed the edges of this layer and after adhering them together I mounted them to my card front using 3D foam tape.  A really fun card to a great little guy who is growing up so fast!!!
Therese

Christmas Card Class #2 and#3 - embossed rectangles, ribbon and digital images with a versatile sketch

I made this my third card for these two classes which was inspired by the card in this class.   I made up a few more here and here.  I layered six embossed rectangles onto a card front.  I coloured and layered my image, added a length of folded ribbon to the back and then used 3D foam tape to adhere it to my card front then trimming the ends.  As you can see this sketch accommodates any occasion by simply changing the focal element and greeting.  I did quite a few with non traditional colours which was fun!!.  The images are from a variety of sources - swirly nativity - unknown, simple stable with baby Jesus - Cre8tive hands, star garland and little hollies -Meljens, Christmas floral spray - Beccy's Place, snowy bridge - Clker.  Therese

Christmas Card Class #2 and #3 - die cut doves and words

 A few more of the cards we made at the first class with the die cut doves and words.  The others are here.  I used a thin metal die with a metal plate to cut the doves and placed wax paper between the paper and the die to hasten the cleaning of the die after cutting.  Works very well!!
The words were cut from the same cardstock from a long Sizzlets die with "Love, Peace Joy" on it.  I punched the little hearts from the same paper.  After gluing the doves and words in place I ran a pattern tracing wheel (sewing) around and between them to add a bit of texture to the background before gluing this large element to the front of a coordinating card.  I glued the little heart between the two elements.  I used a red on one of them and might have done more of those had I thought of it earlier.  I really love these cards!!  Therese

Christmas card class #2 and #3 - joy with a star

I taught two Christmas card classes yesterday!!  So much fun to listen to Christmas music and create!!  This is one of the card we made.  It is the same as the ones I made for this class a few weeks ago.  

I started by gluing a background to a coordinating card front and then added a colour printed JOY - PEACE ON EARTH trimmed to leave a border on the words.  I used a decorative font to create the JOY so it was easy to change the colour to accommodate the rest of the card.  I watercoloured the inside of the letters then glued it to the front of my embellished card and finally added the little star punchie using 3D foam tape.  The PEACE greeting is from a CD I purchased many years ago which I printed on kraft cardstock.  I added a few lines of tracing wheel texture to the PEACE card and the red JOY card.  I am finding all sorts of places to use this cool tool. 
These were really fun and fairly quick to put together.  

Therese

A puffin and a versatile sketch from a card kit

I need a card today so I went looking through my card kits to see if I could find one that would be appropriate and found this one with a puffin.  Works!!
The puffin is a digital image from CLKER which I laser printed on white cardstock and then trimmed into a tag using a Sizzix tag die.  After watercolouring the image I add the black seam binding and the laser printed greeting with double sided tape.  I layered the two pieces of decorative paper to my yellow card front and added the black cardstock strip that I embellished with my tracing wheel.  I added the tag using 3D foam tape.
I am really liking having card kits on hand for making up last minute cards!!

Happy Hallowe'en

My two Jack O' Lanterns for this year!!! These were filled with hulless seeds which are soaking

and will be a nice treat after the Trick or Treaters have come and gone!!

Have a wonderful day and safe Trick or Treating to everyone!!

Therese

Thank you card reusing a beautiful rose card front

I am seeing my Mom in the next few days and I wanted to thank her for all the good things she has sent my way in the last few months.  I found this beautiful roses card front in my stash and decided to use it to make a card for her.  I trimmed off the card front and layered it onto green cardstock.  There was a bit more room on the bottom so I trimmed it real close with scallop decorative scissors and pierced each scallop with a push pin.  Adds just a bit of texture and a decorative element to the card.  Next, I glued this large element to a coordinating red card front!!  I really wanted to add another element but in the end I could not decide what it might be so it remained as it was!! 

Therese

Embossed heart background with a chalk greeting for an anniversary card

 I need an anniversary card for the weekend and so went looking in my stash of card kits to see if I had anything appropriate and found this card from my last regular card class.  Just goes to show you how versatile this technique is!!
The hearts were gathered from my heart punchie stash and glued to a quarter sheet of white cardstock then embossed with the lattice embossing folder (SU).  After trimming it to size (4" x 5.25") I added the ribbon onto which I strung the greeting before adhering both ends to the back of the layer using double sided tape.  The greeting was one created for the class using a chalkboard tag set which I downloaded from online.  I added the greeting using a chalkboard font after digitally removing the previous art.  I laser printed it onto white cardstock and trimmed it out of the large sheet and then fussy cut it to leave a slim border.  A small hole punch quickly punched the holes on both ends.  After adhering the greeting I glued the large element to the front of a red card and tied a short length of ribbon with one knot to the length on the front of the card to simulate a bow!!  It always special to celebrate significant anniversaries with special people!!!  Therese

Christmas Card Class #1 - A joyous card embellished with a star

For my last card I wanted a quick and easy one!  I used a decorative font to format JOY and printed it in dark green onto ivory cardstock.  I trimmed the greeting out and used a fine brush to colour in the three letters with red watercolour - love the look!!  I glued it onto my decorative paper (4" x 5.25") which I had glued to a coordinating card front.  The little silver star punchie which I added with 3D foam tape adds just enough interest and texture to this card and finishes it off nicely!!
Used some beautiful and sparkly handmade paper for my second card!         Therese

Christmas Card Class #1 - a peaceful dove

For my second card I wanted to use this beautiful dove die from Spellbinders.  I have had it for a while but have not really used it a lot.  I bought it because it is such a versatile image and certainly would make great Christmas cards.
So I cut out doves from white cardstock and then cut the PEACE (SX) word from the same cardstock using only the one word from this long Sizzlit die (peace, love, joy).  Next, I went looking for backgrounds that would be suitable for these doves.  I found some hand decorated paper I made a while back when I sister was visiting which really worked well.  We had used watercolours and added salt which creates the starburst which simulate stars or snowflakes depending on how you look at it!!  Once my backgrounds were trimmed out I cut coordinating card fronts.  When it came time to combine the doves with the background papers I found that some backgrounds would be best with ivory accents so I cut a few ivory doves and words to go with those backgrounds.
I started assembling my card by gluing my dove to the top portion of my background and then adding the word PEACE to the bottom portion.  I used a fine tip glue applicator for the words which kept the glue where it was supposed to be.  The layout looked a bit sparse but I was really not wanting to detract from the main elements too much so I added some wavy lines with my pattern tracing wheel.  That was much better! Still needed something - I decided to add a small heart at an intersecting point of the lines between my dove and the word.  That was perfect!!
My second card features some burgundy holly gift wrap as a background which works very well too!
Love the simplicity of this card with those beautiful elements which pretty much stand on their own!!

Therese

Christmas Card Class #1 - A wonky tree Christmas card

For our first card for this class I decided to use some supplies I found in my stash - navy rectangles with one torn edge.  I decided to use them to frame a space in which I am featuring a wonky tree.  I have seen several of these over the years and I decided to do some searching on my favorite website for some inspiration - Splitcoast Stampers!!  Always the very best place to get some good ideas!!

I started with a white card as I would be using it to simulate a snowbank.  

Next, I dug through my stash of decorative papers and found several that would nicely simulate a blue or night sky.  I trimmed out rectangles that were about 4" x 5 1/4".  They did not have to be precise but I needed them large enough so the navy strips would cover their sides.  I tore a wavy strip off the bottom edge which once glued to the white card front would create my snowbank.  I glued the sky paper to the front of the white card lining up the top edge of the paper with the top of the card.  When I placed the navy strips over the decorative paper they seems too flat so I decided to embellish them with embossing.  I chose to do it by hand so as to not ruin the beautiful torn edges on these pieces.  Before gluing the strips into place I realized that I would have to make sure that there was enough room for my wonky tree in the space between them.  

So, I dug out my stash of Christmas papers and cut all sorts of triangles - not necessarily the same size or even from side to side.  It was quite easy to trim them by hand with a large pair of scissors that easily spanned the lengths I needed.  I started putting them in piles that somewhat coordinated and balanced the greens, reds and blues. With a bit of experimenting I figured I needed 4-5 triangles to make my tree tall enough for this card.  I dug through my brown scrap bin and found some small pieces of brown cardstock to create trunks for my wonky trees.  After trying out one of my trees on my card front I realized that I needed a star as well so I dug out some yellow cardstock and punched a few stars.  

With all the pieces I needed I auditioned one of my trees in the space between my navy strips and it was perfect.  Some others will require trimming.  So I glued down my trunk and then adhered four triangles to create my tree and finished it off with a little yellow star!  I am pretty happy with how this card worked out.  Next, I found some little round greetings in my stash so I layered them on coordinating cardstock and added them to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I am playing around with adding stitching to the triangles or dots to the outside of them.  Not sure, so for now it will remain as it is!!

Therese

Rural farm scene for this quick and easy Christmas card

For my class tonight one of my participants ordered a set of cards with this barn scene which I used last year.  Her DH is in the agricultural business and it makes the most appropriate card!! 

I colour printed the barn image (Pixabay) on white cardstock several to a page and trimmed the images apart to 4" x 5.25".  I wrapped some coordinating nubby blue fiber around this large element several times and secured the ends on the back with tape.  I glued this element to a black card front and then adhered my laser printed oval punchie greeting over the fiber using 3D foam tape.  It makes cards that come together quickly and look great!!!

Therese

A fisherman on the lake on this large card

My last large card for this session!!  I have six in all to give my sister when I see her later this week.  

Again, a dark brown card front on which I glued some geometric scrapbook paper leaving an even border all the way around.  I watercoloured the image of this fisherman (Great Canadian Stamp Company), trimmed it a bit and adhered it to a coppery metallic cardstock which I trimmed to leave a large margin on the right which I textured with my tracing wheel.  I added several piece of ribbon to in the top right hand corner using double sided tape and then adhered the whole element to my embellished card front.  Love the colours on this one!!

Therese

A funky fabric postcard featuring a pink leaf

I created this fabric postcard for a birthday swap on my fabric postcard group.  I started with a portion of a fabric collage which I created a while back using a variety of strips I purchased at a thrift store.  I had perused my inspiration folder earlier in the day and found one that had a large leaf so decided to make that my theme.  I was having difficulty envisioning anything that seemed reasonable so I went back to the folder to see what had inspired me and I could not find the image I had checked out earlier so I was left to go back to creating without any further input.  I eventually chose this pink solid and floral that coordinated to create my leaf by stitching two small pieces together to create the center line.  I used a pencil to draw the leaf before cutting it out and then I laid it onto my collage.  I thought it needed a bit of a stem but pink seemed out of whack so I chose two pieces of green from my small bits stash.  I layered them and slipped them underneath the leaf before I added stitching.  I used dark green thread for the stitching passing over the perimeter several times.  Next, I did the center line and all the veins several times.  To finish off the postcard I cut a piece of batting and an ivory cotton backer, pinned them together and stitched all the way around the edge and then filled in between the edge and the leaf in an all over pattern.  I dug through the baggie of strips (the same ones I used for the collage) to see if had something that would work for the binding.  I found this great fabric with a greenish background and some flowers some of which worked with the pink leaf so I applied fusible webbing to the back of several strips to create my binding.  It was easy enough to trim the strips to the length I needed and then fuse them one at a time to the postcard.  I started with doing the front left hand side and next I fused the strip to the back.  I repeated this three more times to finish all the sides.  I stitch twice all the way around using pink thread.  I like this binding method.  After a bit of checking it out I decided that I needed to add some yellow green thread to the leaf to help it fit in better with the whole postcard so I dug through my thread stash, found what I needed and added the stitching.  That helped to make it all work together.  I dug through my little stash of inkjet printed quotes and chose this one about focusing on what you want to add to my postcard.  The whole fabric sheet was fusible before it was printed so I simply needed to trim it out and adhere it to my card.  I decided to add stitch just for fun!!!
Mine does not seem to be a beautiful as the one I recollect seeing in my inspiration folder.  I am not sure what I am missing but I expect it has to do with my colour choice.  I did audition LOTS of fabrics before I chose the pink but maybe I should have kept trying.  I am happy with how it turned out but next time I think I will have to create more contrast between the background and the leaf for the whole design to be more effective.  It is always a learning experience!!!!
It will be off to my partner in time for it to arrive for her birthday!!              Therese

A large card that features ribbon and a large gold embossed nautical image

Another large card for my sister!!  I started with a dark brown card front and layered on a piece of red distressed paper to which I had added a brown scalloped border (SU) on the right hand side.  I pierced the scallops and ran my tracing wheel up the side a few times.  Love that thing!!  I added two lengths of dark red gros grain ribbon adhering them with double sided tape.  I added my watercoloured gold embossed nautical themed image over them then added a little birthday punchie which I had embellished with coordinating watercolour.  

Worked out really well!!

Therese