Thank you card

The creation of this card centered around the stamped greeting!!  I added two strips of scrapbook paper which echoes the blue of the greeting and the cardstock I used for the card to the top and bottom edges of the card front.  I added a length of seam binding in a coordinating colour to the center and tied on a short end to simulate a bow.  I distressed the edges of the greeting, layered it onto brown and applied it to the card front using 3D foam tape over the seam binding and just overlapping the decorative paper.
A quick and easy card!!

Therese

Coordinating cards

These two were spin offs from the others.  The left hand one features a quilted background using scraps of embossed blue cardstock which I quilted using a zig zag stitch on my sewing machine.  I sewed on a fabric strip including 5 little strips running perpendicularly.  I tied knots in the little stripes which added lots of texture and made a very nice accent for my card.  All it needed was a little greeting to finish it off.  The card on the left features a stamped and embossed butterfly image, a stitched fabric strip, a hand cut border punched accent with a ribbon and a greeting.
Have really enjoyed my couple of days of card making and look forward to finding the rest of my supplies and giving them homes!!

Therese

Thank you cards with butterflies!

I was on a roll so kept at it!!  For these two I used butterflies from my stash embellished with ink and glitter.  I embossed both backgrounds, added a bordered strip of white cardstock to which I added a strip of fabric.  On the right hand side I wove the fabric strip into the slots I had created using the slot border punch by Fiskars - really like the look.  On the left hand card I sewed on the fabric strip using my sewing machine and white thread.  Glued the elements to the card fronts and added punched greetings.
I love adding stitching to my cards and find it really easy to use my regular sewing machine.  I have a thin needle that I use exclusively for sewing paper because paper dulls needles very quickly.

Therese

More thank you cards!

For these cards I used scraps of blue cardstock that coordinated with the fabric strip to create a bit of a background.  I used a scrap of white cardstock, layered on the embossed strips, covered them with the accent strip and sewed them all together.  I glued them to the card fronts.  I tied a fabric bow on the first one and added a layered butterfly to the other one along with a punched greeting for each of them.  The little butterfly (SU) I found in my stash and tied black thread around the middle to create a body and some antenna.
I am happy to be making cards again!!  It is fun to be making single designs and using what I have available.

Therese

Thank you cards!

Hey!!  I am back to cardmaking in my new craft room.  It is not yet all unpacked and set up but I did find enough supplies to make a few cards - mostly Thank you ones.
I sewed a strip of plaid fabric to a white border punched strip embellished with holes for both of these cards and added a layered flower.  The blue background was embossed with the latest embossing folder (CB) I purchased.  It has a large folder with a coordinating strip in a nice rounded diamond pattern.  I reminds me somewhat of a quilting pattern.  The greeting is from "The Lemonade Stand" digital collection (SU) which I printed on white cardstock and punched out.
We are loving our new home and community!!  Summer is not as hot as we are used to but it has been pleasant to sit on the deck and soak in the rays!!  Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

Therese

Handmade paper thank you cards

I just found these cards!  We created them one of the last days of my class with the young people in March!
We layered white embossed handmade paper images we had made earlier in the art session over some coloured handmade paper which was layered onto a white card front.  It was easy to just add a punched colour printed greeting to the fronts using 3D foam tape.  These can be used as notecards without the greetings and are also suitable for a variety of occasions with added greetings.
I love the look of white embossed handmade paper!!

Therese

Dragonfly birthday card

This was a fun card for create!!  I started with the fun dragonfly image (unknown - received from a swap) which I watercoloured, added shimmer with acrylic paint and dimension with clear dimensional paint!  I distressed the outer edges and added a bit of colour using a stamp pad.  I layered it onto yellow and found this background paper in my staxh which I created with my Creole Spice Kaleidoscope ink pad and a brayer quite a while ago which work perfectly.  I dug through my greetings and found this one that worked well and then layered all of these onto a grape layer and then onto the green card front.
Gotta love it when things all fall into place and you love what you created!!

Therese

Anniversary card for DH

I created this fun anniversary card for DH! He loves music so it is always fun to include sheet music on his cards and this is from one of his favorite songs.  I colour washed the music with watercolour and stamped a bit of texture on there too.  I added a length of wood (he is a woodworker) which he gave me - trimmings off of a plank - when we were doing renovations in our previous house which I added to the card front using brown brads.  Wood splits easily to it is best to drill holes where you need them.  I gently used an awl which worked on one side unfortunately on the other side it split the wood.  Nothing a little double sided tape didn't fix!!  I added small heart die cuts (buttons on the SX gingerbread man) as well as an embellished punchie greeting.  It still needed a bit of something so I added two large embellished hearts.  The open heart is one from a triple set Sizzlet which I coloured with brown and yellow ink.  The full heart is from a SU heart Sizzlet which I cut from foil cardstock and coloured with Sharpie markers until it was the colour that I wanted.
I really like how this turned out!!

Therese

Father's Day card

I made this card for my Dad using scraps of wood that my DH trimmed off of an oak plank during our renovations at our previous house.  I simply cut the wood strips into lengths using scissors, glued them to the card front using double sided tape, added "nails" with a brown Sharpie marker and to add a bit more texture stamped them with a crackle looking background.  I added several strips of suede looking trim between the "boards".  I had previously embossed the card front using the SU wood grain embossing folder and used the same texture stamp around its edges.  I watercoloured the image then trimmed it close and adhered it to the card front uisng 3D foam tape.  I do not know who makes this image as it was received in a swap many years ago.  I like the way all these elements came together!!  My Dad used to be a carpenter so I really like adding wood to his cards.

Therese

Another masculine card!

I created this card with elements I had set aside from one of my classes!!  I used darker colours to keep it looking masculine.  The stippled background is one I downloaded from here on Sylvia's blog and watercoloured black. While I was at it I also watercoloured the large U and the little birthday cake (computerclipart).  I trimmed the greeting and distressed the edges then positioned it next to the large U (font) on the background which I adhered to a maroon card front.  I trimmed the cake image close and used 3D foam tape to adhere it to the front of the card.  Did the same with the little metallic number two at the top of the card.
Sylvia, my sister, has ready to go card kits for sale which gives you everything you need to assemble hand made cards in minutes with basic tools!!  I am finding that having supplies at hand certainly makes card making much quicker.  Check out her site to see what she has available for All Occasion Kits as well as Christmas card kits.  This is a great way to go if you like to give handmade cards but have not yet invested in a large variety of tools.

Therese

Masculine birthday!

I created this masculine birthday card using a colour printed image of a light house I photographed several years ago during a trip to Prince Edward Island!  I layered the light house image and the colour printed greeting (SU) onto black cardstock and then onto a red cardstock layer.  I layered this element over an embossed layer which was wrapped with gray seam binding and glued to my white card front.
A quick and easy card!!

Therese

A sophisticated cupcake!

Created this card for my niece who is in high school so I choose red and black to create a sophisticated card!!  I watercoloured the laser printed digital image (Beccy's Place), used acrylic shimmer paint for the icing, added clear dimensional paint to give it depth and finally added some Diamond Dust - chunky glitter from the the good old days to give it lots of texture!!  It looks great!!  I layered the image over a red embossed layer (CB -D'vine Swirl) and onto a black card front.  Added a black strip of cardstock to which I glued the punched (SU) colour printed greeting which I embellished with two red dots of watercolour.
Really like the way this card turned out and I am sure she will enjoy it as well!!

Therese

Dinosaur birthday card!

Dinosaurs are always popular with kids and our three year old grand daughter is no exception!!  She is having a dinosaur birthday so I made her a corresponding birthday card!!  I used an image from (CLKER) and laid it out with the greeting and some fossil looking footprints which I printed onto white cardstock.  I watercoloured the images after I had ripped the edges.  I glued the image to the dark brown card front, added some twine and tied on a couple of ends to create some texture.  I added a cut out footprint using 3D foam tape to create yet more dimension.
We brought some fun dinosaurs for the family when we were there last and they were a hit.  I am sure she will enjoy her dinosaur cake and the day with her family!!  Her brothers had birthdays in Feburary and I made her older brother this card.

Therese

Some more thank you cards!

A couple more!!  It seems I am on a roll with these cards!!  Again, most of the supplies are coming from my stashes of supplies - images, greetings and background paper.
For the top card I combined an embossed image which was watercoloured blue and a silver embossed script greeting to create one element.  I layered it using a coordinating cardstock and laid it over the white seam binding which I attached to the embossed card front.  You can see a bit of the white insert just above and below the greeting.  I love this colour of blue!!
For the bottom card I used a section of decorative paper I created earlier this week when I made this card.  I added a piece of cardstock to the card front, a stamped and embossed greeting over some brown seam binding and I was done!!
These are quick and easy if you are lucky enough to find coordinating elements in your stash!!

Therese

Masculine retirement card

A retirement card for a friend who has decided to retire from the military.  He is taking on a new job and they will likely be looking for a different house as well so lots of changes but in the end everything is falling into place so I coined this phrase just for this card.
I have been wanting to try this technique for a while - pigment ink on the inside of the watches/clock embossing folder and then embossed with clear embossing powder.  I added some white shimmering pigment ink to the white areas and embossed them with clear embossing powder as well.  I like they way it turned out!!  I printed the watch (digital image from CD) on the card front as well as another to fuzzy cut out and raise over the original image.  I added clear dimensional paint over the watch to create the look of glass and added black cording as well.
Really like this technique and will be playing with it some more - after I move into the new house!!

Therese

Little girl's birthday!!

I made this for a little girl who likes pink and purple!  She is getting a little older so I decided to give her a more sophisticated version of her favorite colours!!
I used a lilac card front and layered on a floral embossed layer (CB) in a blue purple colour and added a strip of deep pink which I stamped with a butterfly image in a similar colour to give it dimension without too much contrast.  I coloured the butterfly image (CLKER) with watercolour and added some shimmer using acrylic paint.  Layered it onto an embossed silver foil scallop circle (yogurt seal), then onto a darker purple scallop and finally onto a medium toned scallop circle which were all cut with Nestibilities.  I added both this element and the colour printed greeting to the card front using 3D foam tape.  I did embellish the greeting with watercolour when I was painting the butterfly to ensure it would coordinate perfectly!!
Nestibilities are a great way to get perfectly sized elements for layering!!

Therese

Tiny card

I created this tiny card for a challenge on one of my groups! I decided to mine my desk for the supplies for this card - surely I had enough there to make a tiny card!  Sure enough, I found the envelope and card front which was left over from a set I prepared for the parcels I sent my grandchildren a few weeks ago.  I stamped it with a background stamp that was sitting there.  I found the layered flower on my desk as well - leftover supplies from creating these tags.  I added a central decorative brad to hold the flower together and then dug into my bucket of "extras" to see if I could find a leaf - sure enough I found one!!  I found the greeting in my bucket of extra greetings.  I added a bit of watercolour and glued it to the back of the flower and did the same to the leaf.  Applied double sided tape to the back of all the elements and adhered it to the front of my tiny card!!    My desk is a bit cleaner and I have a tiny card to add to my card stash!!

Therese

Custom art folder

My youngest grand daughter is just beginning to enjoy painting and creating so I made her a custom art folder that holds 8.5 x 11 paper which she can create on and it can also be used to store her art.
I started with a large sheet of cardstock 12" x 18", scored it twice just a bit wider than the the 8.5" and used red fabric tape to bind the edges.  Fortunately, the tape will also protect the edges from wear and I really like the contrast between the red and blue.  I created the tie using punchies and brads and covered the tangs in the inside to protect the contents of the folder.  I tied on a cotton tie in red.  I die cut letters from ivory sticker paper and added her name!!  I am sure she will most enjoy her new folder and the process of creating some art!!  Kids are so uninhibited about creating - they just do it!  They don't have voices in their heads that tell them that they can't do it.  As adults, we often have to choose to ignore the voices and do it anyway.

Therese

Refurbished cards for donation

 Here are a lot of cards I have refurbished to donate to a local non profit.  I have used card fronts from commercial cards which were donated to me and have also refurbished some handmade cards I received.
It is quite easy to refurbish commercial cards.  Most times it is just a matter of trimming the card and layering it onto a folded card front.  You can easily add a bit of embellishment like a ribbon and/or a greeting.   The hardest thing is to find an envelope that will fit it.  I am fortunate to have some commercial card envelopes that were donated to me so I usually find an envelope that works.
If you don't have envelopes you can certainly make custom ones that will work perfectly.
Here are a few sites that give you instructions to make them:
This one uses a template - letter size and invitation size:
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/makeit/ht/Make-Your-Own-Envelopes.htm

This one uses just paper to make them:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Greeting-Card-Envelope

This one uses a scoring tool and has a formula for making a custom envelope:
http://www.scor-pal.com/envelope/

Here's one that creates a custom envelope by just folding paper around your card:
http://scrapinator.blogspot.ca/2009/03/easy-peasy-3-minute-envelope.html

I encourage you to refurbish cards for donating to a local group that could use them - nursing homes, churches, non profits, etc.  They will be most appreciative and it will give those beautiful cards another life!!

Therese

More thank you cards!

More thank you cards that fit in #8 envelopes!  My stash of these envelopes is slowly decreasing.
For the first card I used an already stamped image, layered it onto an embossed layer to which I added an innie-outie bow of white seam binding.  I added a similar piece of the same coloured cardstock to the lower section of the inside card back and added a colour pirnted greeting using 3D foam tape so it would show below the card front.  All the corners were punched with a small corner punch.
For the second card I also started with an image from my stash.  Layered it with cardstock and then again onto an embossed coordinating layer to which I added three black mini brads.  I added a section of  cardstock to the card front and added a layered greeting using 3D foam tape on the lower section.
Am having fun creating cards with my little stashes of elements!

Therese