Christmas cards featuring round layered tags, ribbon and decorative paper backgrounds

I made up these cards using the few extra round greetings I had on hand after finishing the kits for my friend.  I added the backgrounds to my coordinating cards and then assembled the tags.  The were manipulated digitally to remove the background and then sized so they could be laser printed and then die cut using my round Nestibilities.  That worked out well and then I layered these onto red scalloped circles which I coordinated to my backgrounds.  I added little coordinating ribbon flags and then mounted them to my cards fronts using 3D foam tape.  It worked out well for me - another four cards for my Christmas cards stash!!  

Therese

 

Christmas cards featuring sanded embossed shimmer cardstock and a layered stamped greeting

These two cards came out of an attempt to make up some card kits for a friend and was another one that did not pan out for her due to the complexity of cutting out the frame.  I started with white card fronts and embossed quarter sheets of shimmer cardstock with a new to me embossing folder that features holly.  I sanded the embossing to reveal the white core.  I embossed two pieces of green scrap cardstock with just the frame and trimmed it close to the embossed edge.  It nests perfectly over the one on the background and that works really well.  Unfortunately,  was not as impressed with the contrast between the papers.  To improve the look I stamped joy and a star on the green frame and then embossed them.  It was better and then I decided to emboss the edge as well.  Just gently ran the gold stamp pad over the raised edge just enough to get the embossing powder to stick.  That worked very well and framed the greeting very nicely.  It still needed something!!!! I decided to watercolour the inside of the frame with blue green watercolour and that helped a lot!!  I am not sure if it is perfect but it is good enough to make these up into cards for this year!!  Will have to maybe worked with different colours  next time!! Therese

 

Christmas cards featuring embossed greetings embellished with snowflakes

 I was making up Christmas cards kits for a friend of mine and came up with this design!!  It ended up being too fiddly for making up for her but I did put together the two extras I had made up with the Christmas Greeting embossing folders I have in my collection.  I embossed red shimmer cardstock which has a white core.  I did not like the crackled look that comes with that process so I decided to simply watercolour the front with red which coloured the white cardstock that was showing through and that was much better.  I added little snowflakes to my embossed layers.  For the one on the left I added fiber snowflakes to the embossed ones in the design which I attached with tiny black brads.  I tried white ones and it was not as punchy as I wanted them and the black ones work much better.  For the one on the right I added little flower punchies that fall out when I punch one of my MS border punches. I save the little flowers and have used them quite a few times on my cards to represent small snowflakes.  So I used three of them here on this card to cover little embossed snowflakes.  It still needed a bit of something so I added a green satin ribbon with a short length tied to it to simulate a bow.  Worked really well!!  So two more cards to add to my Christmas card stash which has been very neglected this year!!  Therese

Sewing - potholders with Christmas fabric for Christmas

My Mom used to be the one who made potholders for everyone for Christmas.  Now that she has passed I have taken over!!  She was more organized that I am so she made them over the course of the year between her other sewing projects.  I am a bit behind so I made several sets over the weekend.  I used poinsettia fabric triangles for these ones.  I added a strip of coordinating green fabric in between to make them the 7.5" inches I needed.  I found this fun red polka dot fabric in my "red" fabric stash to make the back.  The batting is terry cloth from towels and flannel from used receiving blankets cut to size.  I made my hangers different than the last time.  It is a technique I found on line at Apple Green Cottage.  You can check it out here. I like that they hanger does not stick out and so you can use it more like a trivet if you want.  I only requires an extra triangle of fabric (2" square cut in two) for each one and gives a very neat finish.  I probably will use this for my future potholders.  A few more to go!!

 

Christmas Card Kits - card #3 - colour printed tagswith eyelets and fiber over decorative paper

For my third card, I again colour printed some tags in the traditional tag shape.  I now realize that these last two kits are the same when it comes to putting them together even if they look quite different.  I added a piece of decorative paper to the card.  The tags were cut apart after printing and then I added a pewter eyelet and some coordinating fiber through it.  The tags are all different so I coordinated the decorative paper and the cardstock to the images.  

All the card kits have quarter sheet laser printed inserts with appropriate greetings.  

It is blessings all around with these cards -  I am blessed with making the kits, she is blessed putting them together and her friends and family are blessed with her wonderful creations.  So glad I could make kits that allow her to still enjoy making cards!!  Therese
 

Christmas card kits - card #2 - decorative paper, ribbon and a round layered tag

This set of cards has a decorative background with enough contrast from the cardstock that she should be able to position it as she wishes it to be.  I found the round tags on line and colour printed them.  I had to modify them a bit to suit my purpose - I removed the background digitally and sized them so I could cut them with my Nestibilities.  I have acquired a magnetic platform with my second Big Shot which makes cutting with slim dies really fast.  I position the die onto the image and then add a large sticky note to secure the die to the cardstock.  Once laid on the magnetic platform they stayed lined up and cut perfectly every time!!!  I layered these onto round scalloped circles cut from red scraps of cardstock.  I added the folded ribbon with double sided tape and then added two pieces of 3D foam tape on the back.  Again, the release paper is blue so it shows up very well against the red cardstock.  There were several designs in this set of tags and I also used several different background paper to provide some variety.  Therese
 

Christmas card kits for a friend - card #1 - embossed layers, ribbon and an embossed greeting

A good friend who is a long time cardmaker asked for some Christmas card kits again this year.  After her stroke she has limited vision but continues to do as much as she can!!  I have made the kits so they will be easy for her to put together.  For this one I started with an ivory card which I folded so it would be ready to go.  I embossed the green shimmer cardstock with a floral embossing folder and added a line of double sided tape on the top and the bottom so she could locate the ribbon anywhere along the card front and the remaining tape would be helpful in securing the layer to the card along with some glue for the middle.  I created the poinsettia using my Nestibilities.  I used only the two smallest ones, embossed them and then added a gold sequin and brad to secure all the layers together.  I added 3D foam tape to the back which has blue release paper which will make it easier for her to see.  The gold embossed Merry Christmas greeting also has a strip of double sided tape on the back which will hold it in place.  

I am so glad to be able to make kits for her allowing her to still enjoy making cards for her friends and family!!  She is such a gracious person and counts everything to the good!!   Therese
 

Slow Stitching - three more campers

 I have managed to slow stitch a few more little campers.  I am simply adding perpendicular stitches to the edges of these pieces that have been fused onto the white squares.  You can check out the first one I did here.  It will be fun to find a way of making a quilt top out of these!!  

I am linking up to Kathy's Quilts and her Slow Sunday Stitching.  I encourage you to go and check out the link party!  You will find all sorts of inspiration for your next project!!

Therese

Quilting - expand my grandson's quilt to reflect how much he has grown

I have updated my grandson's quilt to accommodate how much he has grown in the last few years.  You can see the original quilt here. I added a row of cat squares in the same manner I had included the cats originally.  I had discussed with him what he would prefer in regards to colours, etc.  He had asked for blue red fabric, cyan and gold stars.  I was able to deliver all  he asked for.  I had set aside the fabrics a while ago and with his birthday coming up quickly I decided to see if I could get the expansion done in time for our visit for his birthday.  It took longer than I expected to get it done because I was inventing the process as I went along.  I removed the binding and then added the two panels on the sides - front, batting and backing.  I stitched the cyan squares to both end pieces and then added batting and backing to them.  I added quilting lines to the four red blue pieces then added the binding.  It was too short but fortunately I had leftover of that orange fabric and was able to add enough to bind this larger quilt.  I added the gold stars to the cyan squares by machine stitching the edges with a decorative stitch.  I added another row of stitching on the cyan squares all around the squares.  I gave it a wash and then cut all the thread ends and removed the threads leftover from the original binding.  It finished up over 60" wide and 100" long.  It will cover his bed in much better fashion now!!!  He was very happy with the colours and the size.  It went straight to his bed.  Therese
 

Christmas card class with Bernie

 

My friend, Bernie and I are teaching a Christmas Card Class on Saturday, November 30th in the afternoon.  If you are local and interested in participating please get in touch with Bernie!!

It will be a fun afternoon and each person will leave with 4 beautiful Christmas cards!!  

Therese

Slow Stitching - cute little camper appliqued in bright fun colours

 I bought a set of fun little campers at a thrift store last year and after redoing my tracking system I found them and decided I should get them made up.  They were all in pieces with fusible on the back.  I had to add a few small pieces to them here and there.  This is the first one I have finished.  With all the pieces fused onto the 10" white squares it was easy to slow stitch all the way around all the pieces to keep them in place and to reduce the amount of fraying that will happen.  I expect this project was going to be machine stitched but I needed something to change up from the pink and green flowers I have been slow stitching for a quilt I will be making.  There are six complete ones so I ironed the pieces into place and will be working on them over the next while.  Therese

Sewing - fabrics I bought on vacation

I am just getting to blogging the fabrics I bought on vacation.  The little houses on the left is a half yard I bought in Outlook, Saskatchewan on our way back from Winnipeg.  It is called Broderick Gardens and Quilt Shop and you can find them here.  A well stocked shop with friendly and helpful staff.  They also carry a variety of crafting supplies - embroidery, beads, etc. I had seen these place before when we stopped at the COOP gas station but had never gone in.  It is always overwhelming to see so many beautiful fabric and I was on a timeline so I asked her if she had any fabric that said Saskatchewan - she showed me some with wheat fields - a bit too busy.  So I asked about fabric with houses.  This one was the second on she showed me and it was the one!!  

The other four I bought in PEI.  We visited several in a few towns along the way.  The numbers ones I bought in Montague - Quilting B and More.  They have two rooms of fabrics along with a wide variety of household goods.  The prices were good so I bought a yard of numbers fabric along with a yard of white cotton which we dyed with PEI dirt.  I made potholders as souvenirs of our trip and my sister managed to find PEI themed fabrics there in fat quarters which worked really well for her souvenirs. 

We visited Sew Blessed Quilters in Kensington, PEI.  You can find them here.  A full service quilt shop with a very large selection of fabrics.  I bought the brown batik (1yd) and the fern fabric (1yd) there in their discounted bin and my sister found several others she liked as well.  

We also visited Fabric Crafts and More in O'Leary,PEI.  It was a smaller shop with a yarn shop next door.  I bought a yard of the squares fabric there.  You can find them here. 

Very happy to have a stash of new fabrics to play with and a great souvenir of our trip.  Our seashells and several glass ornaments were our real souvenirs and the rest had to be consumables!!!

Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a stately owl, decorative paper and washi tape

Another card featuring decorative paper and and washi tape in the gap.  Trimmed the paper, tore it, glued straight edges to my card front, added washi tape in the gap and then finished gluing the pieces into place!!  Love the look!!  I added faux stitching to the edges before adding my focal element.  I soften the background of the owl (CLKER) with watercolour, added four rows of paper piercing, trimmed a brown cardstock backing which I paper punched on the bottom.  Mounted this layer to my card front over the gap using 3D foam tape.  Therese
 

Birthday card featuring bright gift wrap, gold foiled cardstock and colourful sequins

 One of my grandson's is becoming a teenager!!!  How does that happen??  I started with a large green card front, added two pieces of this bright gift wrap which matched up very nicely in the middle.  I taped the joint in the back before adding it to my card.  I found the greeting in my stash, added some green washi tape, added four rows of paper piercing, layered it onto a red orange cardstock and then onto a gold foil one.  I added a line on all four sides with a fine tip black Sharpie and then added colourful sequins with glue dots. Some of his favorite colours and a great teen card!!!  Therese

All occasion card featuring decorative paper, washi tape, ribbon and colour printed goose

 I have been busy with travelling and garden.  I finally got to the cards I need for my family this week.  I colour printed this goose (CLKER) and worked the rest of my card around it.  I trimmed a piece from this leather look gift wrap and tore in two and adhered the two edges to my large brown card front.  I filled the gap with coordinating washi tape and then adhered the rest of the pieces down over it.  I watercoloured a bit of a background and foreground on the goose, added four rows of paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel and the trimmed and embossed a layer of brown cardstock.  I added a large ribbon flag to the embossed layer with a staple and then added my goose.  I mounted this large piece to my card front over the gap using 3D foam tape.  Glad to be back to card making!!!

Therese

Sewing - adhesive business cards holder for better documentation of my fabrics

I have been using sticky notes to identify the contents of my boxes of fabric.  I have had to cross off and redo so many of them as items are shifted from one to another.  After a bit of brainstorming I decided to buy some adhesive business card holders in clear plastic.  I have adhered them to the front of my boxes and will now be able to change up the content list or simply rewrite it when necessary.  I have paper cut offs by my paper cutter so I have just cut them to size so I can easily remove them.  I will store them in one of the boxes so I can change them.  I found a lot of projects which I had lost track of because the post its were too small.  I am happy to be able to find what I am looking for and am planning to finish off projects this winter.  

Therese


 

Happy Hallowe'en!!

  Wishing everyone a Happy Hallowe'en!!  Enjoy the Trick or Treaters and their wonderful costumes!!  We are handing out individual packages of hot chocolate this year.

We have been doing it for several years and the kids are always excited to get them in their bags.  

A good treat for sorting the bags when they get back home!!

I have added an electric light to my Jack O Lantern this year due to the rot around the stem. I have used a small clip on light and it is BRIGHT!!!!!!  No missing it this year!!  It is in the front window ready for the kids start coming around.

Therese

All occasion cards featuring watercoloured images, decorative paper strips over decorative paper backgrounds

I am finally getting to making up the last of the card kits I prepared for my last cardmaking session in September.  You can check the first few here.  I added the decorative paper to my card front, layered the coordinating paper scraps to a strip of cardstock to use as an embellishment and then watercoloured my image.  I added paper piercing (PTW) to my images, layered them onto the coordinating squares and then mounted them to my card fronts.  I mounted the strips over the images using 3D foam tape.  I made up two kits with a Christmas theme so I now have two more to add to the box.  I am way behind in making the cards I am glad to have a couple more.  Therese

All occasion cards featuring metal dragonflies, die cut frames and embossed vellum

 I made up the last of the card kits I created for my last card making session.  You can check then here.  I see from checking out the link that I did not embellish my cardstock with a Versamark image before proceeding!  So many options when a person is creating!!   I added the embossed vellum strip using double sided tape on the back where it is hidden by the frame or the center element.  Added the frame and the embossed square over the vellum inside the frame.  Finished all the cards off by adding the metal dragonflies using 3D foam tape. These are off to my stash for later use!!  Therese

Christmas cards featuring colourful napkins and layered greetings

I made these Christmas cards for my sister.  She owns a daycare and wanted some nice cards for her employees.  I used these beautiful napkins and added layered greetings.  The cards and envelopes were in the stash she left here a few years ago and so I dug through my Christmas napkin stash to see what would work with the 5" x 6.5" card fronts.  These ones worked perfectly!!  I used 3 napkins that featured the gift and the ornaments - one in each corner.  And 1 napkin that featured 4 different scenes with snowmen!!  I separated the layers to leave only the top imaged layer of the napkins. 

 I cut white papers that allowed enough room all the way around the images so I had a bit to fold over.  I trimmed the images to size and then glued the images to my papers folding the edges to the backs.  I trimmed coordinating cardstock layers and then glued my images to them and pressed them to keep them nice and flat. 

When I started gluing my large focal elements to my cards I found that the ones with gifts and ornaments needed card fronts that were less than stark white so I just added some diluted grayish watercolour to the outside edges of those cards and I ironed them flat once they were dry.   They worked out really well.  I added inserts with a Christmas greeting and they were ready to go!!  Therese