My Art - snowflake ornament

Here is another ornament I made with the Sizzix snowflake die! The coaster snowflake is layered with a plastic one and then a silver punchie!! I added another punchie to the other side to finish it off nicely!! Added a bit of crochet thread to hang it! Made a few of these - can be used on the tree, on a special gift or in a window!!

Therese

My Art - Oct cardmaking - heartfelt greetings

These cards feature die cut felt shapes!! Fun!! I added cardstock accents and brads to attach the felt shape to the card front but they could have been just glued instead!! Once I attached my felt accent I stamped a single word greeting (SU) and used a push pin to add a pin pricked design that incorporated the word and the felt accent. I freehanded my pin pricked design but you may wish to draw a light pencil line to follow and then erase it when you are done.

Really love the simplicity of this card!!

Therese

My Art - Oct cardmaking - glossy card

Here is another card created with the glossy cardstock that I recovered from my presentation folders!! I embossed this one with the harlequin embossing folder (CB), added a couple of strips of cardstock and a round greeting embellishment (SU)!! I used a large metal brad in the center of the embellishement to keep this card looking masculine!!

Check out the Christmas one I made with teal here!!

They were really popular last night and there are no kits left!!

Therese

My Art - Oct cardmaking - sunflower & ladybug

Love this card! I struggled with the design of this card - the cardstock was ivory and making the whole thing look too warm to properly show off the little ladybug. I finally decided to try adding black to the edge of the card and that worked perfectly to tie in that lady bug accent. I used a black marker and drew a line around the edge of the card front. FRUGAL TIP: This is a great technique if you are wanting to have the look of a separate layer without the bulk and also when you do not have the right colour of cardstock but have a marker that you can use to simulate it!!
I embossed the background layer using my Cuttlebug with a silicone texture mat and a flooring sample!! The sample had a simple hexagon textured design and with a custom sandwich in my CB I was able to texturize my cardstock!! Always be on the look out for everyday items that can be used in your art!!
Because of the proportions of my watercoloured image to my green layer I needed it to be as wide as possible so I modified my border punch (SU) so that the scalloped edge would punch closer to the edge of the cardstock. Typically you lose about 1/4" of cardstock when you punch the edge with a border punch. SO.... I just added an 1/8" piece of matboard to the throat of my punch so that the cardstock would not go in as far when I punched it. Worked like a dream!!
I see in the scan that the ribbon looks the same colour as the background cardstock but in real life it is a nice deep ochre colour and velvety!!
The little ladybug is actually a postage stamp!! Bought what I needed at the post office - 1 cent postage - for less than a dollar!! So these little stickers cost ONE CENT!! It is the best deal going anywhere and they are very cute!! I layered the ladybug onto a rectangle of black cardstock and mounted it to the card using 3D foam tape.

Therese

My Art - Oct cardmaking - glitter

Had another great group of cardmakers at my October class last night!!
These cards feature decorative cardstock which I printed on my inkjet printer. It was double sided so each person could choose which side they wanted to use for their card. The images were silver embossed and then glued to the white square - some of which were embossed (CB) and some were not due to an oversight when I was prepping. I did think that prep had been done in record time!! Once this element was glued to the decorative cardstock I ripped the bottom edge and punched some shapes along it. I turned over this piece and applied tape to the back to cover the holes I had punched. I sprinkled glitter on the front and rubbed it in a bit so the glitter would be well adhered and shook off the excess. It created such a nice effect. All that was left to be done was to glue the whole thing to the front of the card!!
I like the idea of using tape to apply glitter. I was thinking that I could cut shapes from labels or adhesive cardstock and apply glitter to those!! A technique I will be persuing in my future classes.

Therese

My art - exchange card

I made another Christmas card for my exchange this month. It really is best to start Christmas cards earlier in the year to avoid a rush in November. It does also allow you to make several different designs and sort of play with your supplies to come up with new designs. Under the crunch of time we rarely do our best work.

The glossy paper on this card came from a presentation folder!! Bought years ago at one of the office supplies stores. Loved this teal colour! There were also - olive green, deep purple and rust!! I have purchased new file folders with beautiful butterflies on them for my desk so these were now ready to join the stash and I decided to incorporate them into my card class tomorrow night.

I used the Snowflake CB embossing folder on the glossy teal and the D'vine swirl on the strip which I highlighted with white pigment ink. I used a strip of pearly carstock below the swirly strip. The round greeting (SU) was stamped and white embossed on a scrap of the glossy then layered onto a darker teal. They are held together with a medium white snowflake brad. I attached this embellishment with 3D foam tape.
Very happy with the outcome of this card!! It is nice and sparkly without glitter!!
Cardmaking for October is tomorrow night and all my kits are ready to go along with my instruction sheet!! I have never been prepared this far in advance before so it is a good feeling. Will post those cards after class tomorrow unless I actually have time before then!!

Therese

My Art - creative binder

I have decided to try to put all of my creative brainstorming in one place as opposed to bits of paper all over the place. There are several projects on hold because I cannot find the paper I mused the details on!!!
I altered a small binder. I sanded the front and glued down my own decorative paper. I added masking tape all the way around and then painted it with a dark maroon acrylic paint to coordinate with the binder cover. I stamped the bird in black StazON onto the decorative paper and then added some lustre in red and gold. Added beeswax over that to just seal everything and keep any colour from rubbing off.

Inside I have some blank pages for doodling and drawing as well as lined pages for making notes, etc.

Very happy with my new little book and am hoping to keep myself better organized.

Therese

My art - calendar cover

How many days before the new year?? I decided to buy myself a new calendar for my purse because I am finding I use it often and it has helped me stay organized and prevents double booking myself with activities. I bought an inexpensive calendar that had the "guts" I wanted and created a new cover for it tonight!! Consider just altering the current cover if it is heavy enough.

I watercoloured a piece of cardstock, stamped my angel in the light brown and then just the border in the dark brown a little offset. Added the rosette in dark brown all the way around the edges and on the back. Now I have a cool designer calendar that will look great all year and make me happy every time I take it out and use it!!

Add your artistic touch to things that you use in your life. It will give you a unique one of a kind look and make you happy!!

These calendars make great gifts as well for girl friends, co workers and those people who have everything. Customize them for each person.

Make a few extra for sale at your local bazaar/craft sale or to donate to a fundraiser for your favorite charity!! It is the season!!

Therese

MS - Leafy moths

One of the girls at Book Club last night was talking about getting UFO - unfinished craft projects done for the holidays. As I was going through my box of pressed leaves for a different project I found these skeleton leaves I have had for a few years and remembered seeing a project online that used them. The project is called Leafy Moths on Martha Stewart.
So I dug them out along with my bucket of sticks and made some moths!! They are huge and would be great on the edge of a pot, frame, candle or basket handle, on a bare branch as a fall and winter decoration or even as a package decoration!! With a magnet glued to the back they would be great on the fridge or file cabinet as well.

So I challenge you to find something in your stash today that can be finished! OR a project you can create with what you have on hand.

Therese

My Art - snowflake ornament

Snowflake ornaments!! I created these yesterday though it took me all day to come up with a design I liked I did manage to get a dozen of them made after supper. The photo shows you the back and front of the same ornament.
I used the Snowflake #2 (Sizzix) to cut the snowflake from a chipboard coaster. Cut the smallest and the largest flower from the four flower set (CB) out of coaster as well. Was able to use scraps from the snowflake to cut the small one. I used the snowflake from the snowflake and embossing folder set (CB) to cut the coloured snowflake from a variety of blue cardstocks and punched a matching snowflake (MS). I layered the punchie onto the large flower and attached them together with a silver brad. I placed the coloured snowflake behind the large coaster snowflake and pulled all the legs of the coloured snowflake to the front. I placed the small flower on the front of the large snowflake and attached all three to each other with another silver brad. I then used hot glue to attach the flower/punchie element to the other side of the large snowflake element. This gives a finished look to both sides and each one a distinctively different look. I added a pearl cotton hanger to finish it off!! Really happy with the look of this ornament!! Certainly could be used on the front of a Christmas card as a gift/card combo or could be used as a package topper as well.
I had a variety of other inspirations for snowflake ornaments and maybe some of those will also see the light of day as the prep for the holiday craft season continues to inspire me. It is amazing how a deadline will put your creativity into action.
So set yourself a goal today - whatever it is - Christmas cards by December 1, handmade cards for the girls at the office, gift list by November 1 and then start looking for ideas and inspiration daily - a store front window, a sign on the highway, a jingle on the radio, a colour combination in the garden, internet blog hopping, etc and jot down your ideas in a journal or book. Pretty soon you will have what you need for the creative projects on your holiday gift list.

Therese

My Art - heart ornaments

Heart ornaments!! When my sister was visiting we found this tutorial on line for creating these cute heart ornaments. Quick and easy!! Because we used double sided cardstock for our version we were not able to staple the 8 pieces of cardstock together so we invented a process using one length of ribbon that bound the bottom, created a hanger and allowed us to hang some bling off the bottom!! I have also changed up the size a bit to make them smaller. I made them in a variety of colours. It takes a few to get the hang of it and not have strips of paper all over the place but in the end I have a bunch of them hanging on the tree which will find their way to Merchants Mill and finally to a new home for the holidays!! These would be great a package toppers as well. It's only 87 days to Christmas so we do have to start planning!!

Therese

My Art - wedding card

This is the wedding card I made for my cousin!! I am loving the white on white texture!! Used the doily lace punch (MS) on the bottom of the front flap and then stamped the words using Dune -colourbox pigment ink - and embossed it with pastel embossing powder. Love the soft champagne colour!! I made myself a template for embossing lines which I did at the top, below the lace and just above the punched edge. Worked out quite well.
TIP: to make a template for embossing a line use heavy weight acetate and cut a long rectangle out of it just a little less than 1/8" wide and just over 5.5" long. Use a stylus for embossing.
Found the lace in my stash and folded both ends to the inside and attached with double sided tape.

I really like the texture the lace adds as well as the wonderful look of white on white!!

Therese

My art - cards for gift

More cards!! Made a set of twelve of these as a wedding gift for my cousin who is getting married soon. I have not used this stamp set much - Happy Harmony (SU) and wanted to make it work for a set of cards. The wonderful wedding invitation was ivory and chocolate - really awesome looking so I decide to stay within that family of colours for the cards. The central image is the flowers from this set stamped three times without reinking using a dark chocolate ink. I layered them onto chocolate brown. The base is taupe cardstock which I stamped with my stipple stamp (SU) and then passed through my Cuttlebug with the Textile embossing folder (CB). I added the focal element with 3D foam tape and stamped the words below and to the left of the embossing - great quotes!! I used three of the quotes in the set because I thought they made really great all occasion cards!!

I hope they have a wonderful wedding day and remember to always stay in touch and respect each other and themselves!!

I did make a couple extra which are on their way to their destinations as my CCE exchange cards for September!!
I am really enjoying this cardmaking streak I have been having!!

Therese

My Art - black and taupe male cards

Needed a male birthday card so decided to make more than one while I was at it!! In the end they were not all male cards but I used the same decorative paper and duplex cardstock for all the cards. It was really fun to play and just make cards.

Top left: I used one of my Heated Pearl dragonflies on this card. Used the pieces I had ripped off the edges of two of the other cards to add texture above and below the decorative paper. Overlaid a small black ribbon over the wide taupe grosgrain - new to me technique. The small greeting is embossed with black embossing powder!

Bottom left: Another dragonfly!! This one had a lot of gold and copper in it so I used copper brads in the middle of the flower and three below the focal element. Black embossed the greeting and flowery flourish (clear stamp). Also did some piercing on this card. Read somewhere about this thrifty tip!! You can use plastic canvas to make evenly spaced holes in your cards. I bought a piece of that a while back and cut it into strips to be used for cardmaking and matched them up with strips of old mousepads which are thick and foamy. All you need then is a sharp push pin and you are set to go!

Top middle: A dragonfly, some piercing, a few flowers and flourishes!! I added clear dimensional paint to the flower centers to highlight them. They got a little squished in the process of pressing the card but still look good. I had really wanted to add small rhinestones but did not have any the right size or colour!! How can that be possible with a drawer full of bling??

Bottom middle: The pine tree from Lovely as a tree set (SU) stamped in brown. More piercing!!

Right left: Pine tree again. I used a little foam circle (from the middle of a fun foam snowflake) to stamp a little dot in each corner of the image and then highlighted them with clear dimensional paint. They were dry and looking good and are now less shiny and bumpy than they were because I pressed the cards. Still happy with the way they look!! Added a strip of cardstock and a circle greeting.

Right right: Stamped the tag on kraft and black embossed it. This is a new to me stamp that I finally used!! We all have a few of those around. Embossed the decorative paper using the numbers embossing folder (CB). Because the paper was taller than would fit in the embossing folder I did not fold it. I just laid the paper on the debossed side of the folder and then put a silicone texture mat over it and ran it through my Cuttlebug and it embossed the paper!! It is great to find a new way to use the tools you have. Added some black ink to highlight the numbers. Stamped a journalling block on the right hand side of the card several times to add texture. Added the greeting! I added a black embossed star to the tag and tied it to the card using thin black ribbon.

It was a fun afternoon of making cards and I have six cards ready to go!! It does make sense to make several cards at a time while you have all your supplies out and are in a creative mood!!

Therese

My Art - September cardmaking - alcohol inks

These cards feature tags cut from plastic packaging!! Free art supplies! Gotta love it!!
I used a tag die (Sizzix) and my Cuttlebug to cut out the tags from the clear plastic. Stamped them with black StazON on the front and then applied alcohol inks (Ranger) to the backs in a variety of colours!! They are so vibrant!! To help them stand out from the card fronts I added a white vellum tag to the back. I attached the two tags at the very top with a LITTLE piece of double sided tape. This keeps them centered on each other once they are strung onto the fiber. You have to be careful when you put the double sided tape on the back side of the tag. You cannot remove the double sided tape without also removing the alcohol ink so if you accidently place the tape off the edge of the tag just trim away the excess to the edge of the tag. It was so fun picking colours to highlight the colours in the tags! Each card has an embossed layer - leaves (CB) and roses (SU) and some coordinating fiber!! Layered greetings can easily be added to these cards in a neutral colour.

Therese

My Art - September cardmaking - handmade paper

These cards feature handmade paper created at home!! The green was created using a variety of green SU cardstock - mostly Old Olive and Kiwi Kiss. I used lace I have had in my stash for a few years on these cards and am happy with the way they turned out. Used double sided tape to attach the lace to the handmade paper. Added some decorative elements (apple punchies-coffee beans) to one set of corners and brads to the other. I put the brads through all the layers to keep all the elements well attached to the card front. I always add inserts to my cards so they hide anything that shows on the inside card front.

Find something in your stash and challenge yourself to use it in your next cardmaking session!! It can be a lot of fun to create with stuff you already have and easier on the pocket book as well.

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 - September cardmaking - leaves

My sister is visiting!! We spent a day last week sight seeing and visited a scrapbook store!! I bought several new embossing folders including this one by Quickutz of leaves!! So fun!! I had not seen QK embossing folders before. It was nice to see some new patterns.

I used it here in a new way!! I added colour using dye ink (SU Basic Brown) a brayer! Open your embossing folder and apply the ink (dye or pigment - NOT PERMANENT- on the side of the folder that has the debossed image - the holes. Using the brayer reduces the chance of ink accumulating in the holes and gives you good covereage. Once the ink has been applied just insert your paper/cardstock and emboss as usual. Gives your embossed papers an entirely different look. Really like the way it turned out!! I added an image that was gold embossed and watercoloured layered on red cardstock as the focal element!!
Fall is arriving here daily! Leaves are turning colour, the sky is blue!! and the nights are cooler.

Therese

My Art - Portfolio

I created this little portfolio for my god daughter for her birthday! Filled it with papercrafting goodies - images, layers, cards and envelopes!! She loves scrapbooking and paper crafting!

Therese

MM - sticky note books

Sticky note books!! A new bunch delivered to Merchants Mill a few weeks ago!! These are a handy little gift which almost everyone can use - by the phone, in a briefcase or purse or on your desk!! They are highly personal and no one will be able to claim them as their own!! They are refillable too!!

The Merchant's Mill is now open Friday, Saturday and Sundaysfrom 10am to 6pm!! Drop by and check out their wonderful selection of great gifts!!

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 - birthday cards

Created some birthday cards!! I used die cuts (Sizzix) along with a variety of punchies as layers to create the flowers on these cards!! The stems are leaf die cuts (SU). I stippled some of the elements to help them blend and look good with the rest of the pieces. The dragonflies were left over from a previous class. Added some decorative papers and some script stamping!! Was fun to play with lots of pieces and come up with some cool cards!!
One was sent off to a special person! Hope she enjoyed her birthday!! Love you!!

Therese

My Art - card holder

I created the template for this little card holder a while back and thought I had already uploaded it to my blog but checked last night and alas I had not!! So here it is!!
I created the template and printed it on the back of scrapbooking cardstock. Once printed, it is just a matter of scoring all the lines, folding them, making four cuts and applying two pieces of double sided tape and assembling the little box!! There is enough space at the top to accomodate a variety of closures. On this one I just punched the two top pieces with oval punch (SU) and added a ribbon to keep it closed. You could punch two smaller holes and thread in ribbon, twine or fibers. You could cut one shorter and fold the other one over it and add a magnet or velcro as the closure, All sorts of options!!
It holds 4 (or more) standard A2 sized cards with their envelopes and makes a wonderful presentation for anyone wanting to gift cards as gifts!! With Christmas on the horizon consider making your office coworkers, neighbours, girl friends, elderly family members, etc some handmade cards as gifts! You will have a great time making them and they will be proud to be sending them to their friends!!

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 #2

I used the Manhattan Flower embossing folder (SU) to emboss the vellum on this one and the doily border punch (MS) on the top flap. Tied a short piece of ribbon to the one that goes across to make a soft knot for the top.

Love the soft elegance of this card!!

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

My Art - OSW cards #2

Here are four more cards I created with the other half of the "DTP" onto which I stamped a flower in blue pigment ink and embossed with sparkly embossing powder - not very visible in the scan. I used just ink to stamp the little flourishes in between the flowers and then used my stipple stamp to add some texture and embossed those as well. I used blue cardstock scraps with my accents on white cards.
I like the sparkly look these cards have - gives them just a little "wow"!!

We all need a little "wow" in our life!!

Therese

My Art - OSW cards

Had a sheet of cardstock I decorated with the "direct to paper" technique and pigment ink a while back and decided to stamp on it to create a sheet of decorative paper to make a few cards. I cut the sheet in half and stamped this cool flower and "my garden" in dark blue and leaves in green. I cut it up to make the accents and teamed them up with a leaf green cardstock on white cards. The five petal flowers are table confetti available in the wedding section of Michaels - they have a nice pearl finish!! I added blue rhinstones their centers on the card in the lower left hand corner.
It was fun to use different tehniques and add element to create my cards. Dug through my scraps for coordinating pieces and greetings.

Therese

Mini mag holder template/diagram

This is the diagram I created for the mini mag card holder. I scored all the lines to begin with and then cut on the solid lines and folded on the dashed lines. It takes advantage of a full 12x12 piece of cardstock and makes a holder that is 4.5" deep, 6" high and almost 3" wide.

I modified a pattern I found on Blythe's blog!!

Would make a perfect holder to present a "gift of cards"!! Great for teachers gifts for the upcoming holiday season!! It is coming!!

Therese

My Art - mini magazine card holder

Created this cool little magazine holder for cards!! Modified the design I found on Blythe's blog to take advantage of a full sheet of 12x12 cardstock. These are really cool and are the perfect size for holding A2 sized cards with their envelopes!! You could make several for your studio to store cards that are ready to be sent out - maybe one for each month or one for each occasion!

I started by scoring all the lines onto the 12x12 cardstock, then made cuts with my exacto knife and ruler where I needed them. I, then, folded all the lines neatly and assembled the holder to see that everything fit properly. I used double sided adhesive to glue it all together. I added a strip of decorative paper and a bookplate (Sizzix die cut) which I attached with a couple of brads. Check the next post for the diagram/template of how I scored, cut and folded my cardstock to create this holder.

Therese

My Art - Thank you cards

Made some thankyou cards this weekend!!! I used a pad of 6 x 6 scrapbooking paper I bought a while back which has a rose theme. These feature three sheets of the same patterned paper combined with caramel, cocoa and plum cardstocks. It was fun to try to do something different on each one. A few have fibers, others have stamping as well and most have some sort of decorative punching (scallop SU, doily MS)!! Very happy with how these turned out!!

Therese

My Art - frame

One of my friends is having a significant birthday - a time for celebrating all that is GOOD!!!

I decorated a square wood frame (Michaels) with decorative scrapbooking paper, grosgrain ribbon and some paper flowers!!

I am very happy with the way it turned out!!

I primed and painted the frame before I modge podged on the papers. Once I was done I sprayed it with matt clear finish to keep it looking good for years!!

I made the card after I had decorated the frame so used the same papers!! The image is one I received in a swap - was just perfect! I watercoloured the flowers and ladybug!! Added a layered greeting over the brown grosgrain ribbon!!

Every day is a good time to celebrate all that is good about being YOU!! Be sure to let your friends know that you appreciate who they are!!

Therese

My Art - altered book page

An altered book page which incorporates an altered puzzle piece that we swapped on one of my groups!! Our theme was summer and Linda created this adorable puzzle piece with a little girl at the sea shore!! This layout sort of just developed - I started by finding hand decorated paper for the beach portion of the left hand page and modified it a bit so the puzzle piece would blend. Tore a blue piece of bond and stippled it so it would blend with the beach and added a horizon. Added the window muntin bars using strips of brown cardstock. The "curtains" are a used dryer sheet ironed flat and cut into two. I used double sided tape to adhere them to the page as well as so attach the brown cornice at the top of the page. On the right hand page I used a swirl stencil and blue and caramel ink pads for stippling the colour on the page after I glued down the blue rectangle and the sand coloured tissue paper strips. It features a poem quote by Charles Kingsley which I laser printed and altered once it was glued in place. I added handwriting to the cornice and along the various lines in my layout!! Totally fun to do!!

Have a great weekend, everyone!!

Therese

My Art - collaged tag

One evening we decided to play a little and created this cool little tag which was inspired by a blog post - one of the many that Linda follows with her Google Reader.
We used plastic packaging for the large clear tag and ran it through the Cuttlebug in the Textile embossing folder. Created a coordinating green cardstock tag and collaged the front!! Added some fibers and voila!! - a cool little tag we can add to our altered books somewhere along the line!!

I would highly recommend getting together with your creative friends and making "stuff"!! It is so fun to have people who understand you and that you can brainstorm with.
We visited some garage sales, attended the Women's Art Festival with a few of her friends and went to a stage production on Sunday afternoon. Great R&R for me!!

I am grateful for Linda's hospitality and willingness to share her life with me. She has a suppotive husband who was gracious and understanding. I am blessed!!

Therese

My Art - first coptic bound book

Linda and I both wanted to learn some bookbinding techniques and decided to start with making a coptic bound book. We perused our personal libraries for instructions and searched the internet for more information as well. We had several books between us that had some instructions, printed some instructions from the internet and found several video tutorials that were helpful. Here is where you will find the video tutorial we found most helpful when we made our books!! It took amazingly little time for us to make our books!! Less than an afternoon to make our covers, signatures and to bind our books!!! They are quite loose because we did not tie off our original thread because we were following printed instructions when we first began. I will be redoing mine to make it tighter!! We used book board which we covered with paper. I used hand decorated paper on mine which was created with the leftover acrylic paint from the creation of the pages for the mini book in my previous post applied to a brown paper envelope from our shopping trip to the local art store. I used 28 lb colour laser paper in my signatures - 4 sheets per signature - 3 signatures. I may consider adding signatures when I redo my binding. I used waxed crochet thread for binding as I did not have any waxed linen. We used a cropadile to make the holes in our covers and an awl to make the necessary holes in our signatures. This technique does create an exposed spine which makes it easy to add danglies, fibers and charms!! With this binding every page in the book opens flat and is fully accessible which makes it a great choice for an art journal or altered book.
If you have been interested in bookbinding I would encourage you to give it a try. Very fun!! Customize a book with your favorite papers for both the covers and the signatures best suited to just what you want!!

Therese

My art - mini book

A mini book to celebrate a gathering of friends!! This is a little memory book we created as a bit of a surprise for those who attended a dinner party that Linda hosted on Monday night!! We collaged coasters for the covers and used food and friend quotes on the inside cardstock pages. Over the evening we took group photos and secretly printed them up. Just before dessert, Linda passed around the books and had everyone glue in the photos. A variety of charms, beads and fibers were also passed around so everyone could embellish their books to reflect their personal style. Totally fun!! The books were bound with black 3/4" Zutter metal bindings.
The dinner party went off without a hitch and the food was so great. The appetizers were potluck! We talked, visited and munched on a great variety of fun snacky food. Fresh salmon steaks were cooked on a plank on the BBQ for dinner and served with fresh garden salad!! The salmon was so good!!!!!!! We had cheesecake for dessert!!
An evening of good food, good conversation and good friends makes great memories!!

Therese

My Art - handmade paper

Taught a papermaking class and made paper with my friends last week!! I really enjoy the process and the end results of making paper!!

The top three include natural elements - flower petals, herbal tea and palm leaves/grass. I started with used white office bond paper that was headed for the recycle bin and added yellow paper for one batch (right) and orange for the other batch (middle). The paper on the left hand side was the leftovers of the two above batches.

The bottom three include hand made paper confetti!! The base pulp for these papers was SU cardstock scraps donated to me by my local SU demos (Catherine and Dorothy). It makes wonderful paper!! Used a mixture of colours so I could have enough to make a batch.

If you are a papercrafter I would certainly recommend that you turn your scraps into handmade paper!! It is fun and easy and requires very few tools. If papermaking is not your thing, try to find a local papermaker and donate your scraps!! It is the ultimate in recycling!!

Therese

My Art - summer puzzle piece

Just returned from a trip out west for a family reunion on my Mom's side and a visit with my daugther, son in law and grand daughter!! It was a good time all around. My granddaughter is just over two and talking miles a minute and always a going concern!! Fun!! Really nice to spend time with our kids!! The reunion was great and so nice to reconnect with extended family members!! Great to be out in the country and feel the breeze and see nothing but fields on the horizon!!

Worked on my Summer Puzzle piece for a mingle on my altered books group!! I glued 9 small pieces together to make the equivalent of an ATC size and then added papers to simulate sea and sky! Added double sided tape to the bottom and glued on some sand and a sea shell - picked on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico years ago!! Added a sequin sun and drew in some birds and sailboats!! A typical scene here on the Bay of Quinte in the summer!!

Great weather here so far!!

Therese

Creative - not papercrafting

Here is the other thing I have been doing this week - valances for the windows!! It is a job I have been putting off and I finally decided on Monday morning to just get at it. I did some on line research and chose to make them very clean and simple!! This is the one above the kitchen sink which had to be made differently because it had to be mounted with a tension rod. The other six will be mounted to wood planks (1x4 for the smaller windows & 1x6 for the patio doors) and attached above the windows with L brackets. The boards have been cut and trimmed with nice round corners on the front and will be primed and painted before the valances are attached.
It is nice to have them done!! Looking forward to seeing how much difference there will be to the look of the rooms once they are all up!! I should take before and after pictures!! I have enjoyed sewing again.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Therese

Refurbished cards for donation

WOW!! I just counted the cards I have refurbished in the last week and it is almost 100!!! The job of refurbishing cards is really easy when there is an insert in the card. I just remove the old one and insert a new one, add a new envelope and the card is ready for donation. This method also preserves the person's artwork and credits!! So if you are making cards I would like to recommend that you start adding inserts - makes adding your message really easy because the insert is a light neutral colour (I use white or ivory) and it makes reusing the card very easy!!
The majority of these are A2 sized handmade cards I have recieved in exchanges or swaps. The others are commercial cards I received from a fellow cardmaker which I have refurbished. I have envelopes donated by another fellow cardmaker which makes refurbishing these cards easier too. The commercial ones are usually large and the larger envelopes make it much easier to make them ready to be used again!! I like the commercial ones especially for sympathy cards because they have such wonderful images!! These will be going tomy local family resource center to use as they see fit - to cheer someone who needs it, for special occasions among the volunteers, for thanking those who contribute time, goods and money for all the worthwhile programs they run, and for the families who have suffered the loss of a loved one!!

So remember, add inserts to your cards!!! It is the green thing to do!!

Therese

My Art - Birdie cards

Used my new birdie stamp to create these cards as a gift for the stepdaughter of a friend of mine who will be getting married this summer!! I immediately loved this little swirly bird and thought he would be a great accent on the thankyou cards I wanted to create! I stamped him in a peachy pigment ink and embossed him with pearl embossing powder which just softens the image so nicely. I layered him onto a rectangle of peach cardstock - I distressed both of their edges. Used this 1/2" pink lace as ribbon and just tied it around the card front with a double knot! Love the look!! The decorative paper is scrapbook paper which is layered onto the white card.

I really got the soft wedding look I was wanting for these cards!!

I usually give cards as gifts for newlyweds or new mothers because I know it is a hectic time and with the cards ready to go it is one less thing they have to worry about.

A simple sketch that can be used for a wide variety of occasions by just changing up the components - scrapbook paper, ribbon and an image!!

If the summer is your time to catch up and get more creative time, make up a few cards for the year ahead so when the time comes for those special occasions you will have cards ready at hand.

Happy summer to you all!!

Therese

My Art - altered book page with bird ATC

I worked on my altered book page today and am happy to say that it is finished and I am happy with it. The bird ATC is one I received in a swap. Part two of the swap is to incorporate it into an altered book page. I enjoy the challenge of making art with a jumping off point!! The quote on the ATC - "Birds of a feather gather together. Robert Brown" spoke to me of the comfort of like minded people and I wanted to show through this page that there is a blessing of more vibrancy and sometimes some colourful chaos when we spread our wings and explore the world outside of our comfort zone.
I started with even rectangles on the left and slowly made them with more uneven edges and different sizes until I had four torn edges. Then I just created a serendipity collage with the colours and added a few punchy colours as well. I hand wrote my words with Sharpie markers - first in yellow and then in brown. Different papers affected how much bleed there was to the writing which I think adds some "chaos" to the words as well. I added some stippled swirls as well just for fun!!
We need to be willing to go to unfamiliar places in our lives so we can come to know ourselves better and have a better appreciation of our strengths and weaknesses!! Art is a great place to step out of our comfort zones and try something new!! A new tool, new technique, new paper, different colour, etc!!

Therese

MM - scrabble necklace

Love Scrabble and have bought a few games so I can create with the tiles!! Love them!!

I created these necklaces to bring to the Merchants Mill where I have quite a few items for sale. It is a wonderful little shop with a wide variety of handmade items made by local craftspeople and artists.

Made them as affirmation/reminders of what is important in our lives!! This one is a reminder that BE ing is more important than doing!! I have one of these I wear quite often just to help me stay in the moment and respond to life as positively as I can.

Some of the others are reminders to never give up, to do your best, to choose wisely your thoughts, words and actions because you are in the process of creating your life with them, etc!!


I hope they will find individuals who will appreciate them and take them home!!

We are having a wonderfully breezy totally sunny summer's day!! The best kind in my books!!

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 - Bird ATC

I am so happy with my little birdie ATCs!! They worked out better than I had envisioned. I need one ATC for a swap on one of my groups but while I was at it I created these four!!

I downloaded the bird template from Pixels and IceCream. It is a ways down if you are looking for it (2009-02-17). I printed it on the back of the blue cardstock and then cut him out. I added a black brad for the eye, cut out a wing from blue paper and applied it with 3D foam tape, added a swirly tail in silver wire similar to what he had before I cut it off and a little triangle beak!! I highlighted his edges in blue ink.
I created the backgrounds using a few layers of altered paper - stamped, sanded, distressed, ripped, etc, the layers until they looked good with each other. I also created the flowers using punchies (1.25", 1", 3/4" for the bigger ones, 1", 3/4" and 1/2" (handcut) for the smaller ones. I inked them, distressed the edges and then mashed them up before I layered them with a brad. Hand cut some leaves which I also inked up to add depth and glued them to the back of the flowers. Mounted this embellishment to the ATC with 3D foam tape. I was reminded by the roses on Andrea Walford's blog (july1, 2009) that I had seen recently somewhere in my travels an altered flower which was done in a similar fashion. Could not remember the details so just went with it and I am happy with the way they turned out.
I mounted the bird onto the ATC and then added legs using a black fine line Sharpie marker! I like him better with long legs.
So one of these little guys is headed out to my swap partner in today's mail. I have a few more birds in pieces on my desk which I should build while I can still find them all and maybe they will show up in my art down the road a bit!!

We had a great Canada Day!! Started with breakfast in the park (thanks to the LIONS) and ended with fireworks!! We are very fortunate to have a very decent display of fireworks (15 minutes!!) considering we live in a very small city!! We are also fortunate to be able to watch them from home from our second story window!! A bit of rain in between but we need the moisture to keep everything growing!! Celebrate all that is good each and every day!!

Therese