Butterfly embellishment for an assemblage curated by my aunt

 My aunt, Maria, is an artist and about a year and a half ago she challenged the female members of our extended family to produce a piece of fabric art from which she would create a large piece of art which she would label Family Connections.  She received several submissions early on and others continued to trickle in.  In all she received 11 submissions and she added one of her own creations as well.  

She requested that I add a butterfly to the top left.  She had started an outline and I was free to add, embellish or replace it.  I chose to remove the outline and added a fabric die cut in blue.  I used blue shimmery rayon thread to stitch the outer edge down with small stitches close to each other and then added a row of small stitches on the inside of the edge going along it.  Then, I added a layer of shimmery silver paint and added more stitching once it was dry.  I did the outline of the top and bottom of the wings in the same blue thread and then added some yellow accents in the same shimmery thread - little stars and two rows of back stitching on the outside edge and seed stitches on the inside of the top of the wings.  Using multi coloured variegated rayon thread I added lines of stitching to the bottom portions of the wings.  It was fun to work on this little embellishment and much more fun to see all the other pieces of fabric art that had been submitted.  Her sister added the border and the loops at the top for hanging.   We are having a family reunion this summer and it will be on display and part of the Silent Auction.  

Therese

Baby quilt in yellow and blues featuring an embroidered scene by my Mom

A baby quilt (37" x 40.5")!!  I started with the embroidery in the middle which was stitched by my Mom a while back.  It was in the pile of stitching patterns, quilting books and so on at my sister's after we moved Mom to the lodge.  I had to finish the lamb's tail and the left most flower as they were not complete.  I added a yellow border of rectangles in the long format and then a blue border to which I attached the blue border with the rectangles in their short format.  It was good use of scraps and I have much more blue that yellow so that worked out.  I added a wavy decorative stitch to each piece starting with the embroidery, the yellow then the blue one all in white thread.  I had to piece my backing.  I added a striped strip into the dark blue backing to make it wide enough.  I like how it looks.  I used the backing to bind the front where I added two rows of stitching in dark blue.  I will be donating it to the silent auction this summer at our family reunion on behalf of Mom.  We are not sure yet whether she will be making the trip.  Her health is improving and she is managing well after the death of my Dad in mid May.  They had celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary earlier in the day with PPE and masks due to his positive Covid test.  It will be interesting in years to come when children ask about how they were dressed and why.    Therese

 

Four large cards with collaged chicken, ribbon, embossed lines and paper piercing on the die cut bottom edge

These are the remaining collaged paper napkin images that I made the other day.   It was a fun process and had fun making large cards with them.  I made large cards with backgrounds that coordinated with my chicken images adding ribbons before adding them to coordinating card fronts.  I used brown corrugated paper and coordinating backgrounds for each of the chickens securing the corners with gold brads and tying brown thread around them and tying it off with a bow.  I used the Ornamental die (TH) and cut the bottom of the cardstock using only one edge of the die.  I added paper piercing on the bottom decorative edge and then embossed lines with my score tool just above that.  These all came together quite well and using the same sketch made the process fairly quick.  A few more cards for my stash!!

Therese

 

Large all occasion card with a cut & flip background, rooster on a tag, ribbon and a die cut button

This is my finally rooster card!!  I used the same background technique as my first card.   The oatmeal triangles were watercoloured, embossed and sanded a bit to give them really nice textue.  The red ribbon was added after the background and then the tag was added.  It was created using a die cut tag which I embossed with musical notes (CB) then added the rooster adding paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel around the image and the tag.  I added a tie at the top of the tag which connected it to the ribbon and then the final touch was a red die cut ribbon with a dark teal seam binding tied with one knot.  

Therese
 

All occasion card featuring a rooster with some hand stitching, cut & flipped background, ribbon and a die cut button

 This is my third card in this series featuring rooster images created from a paper napkin and hand decorated paper.  I used the same background technique as I did on my first card.   In this case, I watercoloured and stamped the oatmeal pieces so they contrasted very nicely with the front of the paper.  I cut a tag from one of my scraps from the first card and added the rooster image.  I used a push pin to make evenly spaced holes all the way around and then added stitching using red embroidery thread.  I created a tool for making the holes using a strip of plastic canvas laid over a strip of old mouse pad which works really well.  I used the same red ribbon using the same technique and the adhered my tag over it.  I added a red die cut button with a bit of yellow seam binding.  

Therese

Large all occasion card - cut and flipped background, rooster napkin collage on an embossed tag, ribbon and button die cut

I made the rooster elements using a paper napkin and hand decorated paper.  You can check out that post here.   For this card I used the same background technique as I used for my first one.  I stamped my oatmeal areas on my background with a old newspaper text stamp (IO) in brown.  I added this beautiful red ribbon with double sided ribbon on the outside edge after I added the tag.  The tag was embossed with a birch tree design (SU), the rooster image added and then the yellow die cut button with oatmeal fiber in it.  I used 3D foam tape on the button.  To finish it off I tied on another little piece of ribbon using a single knot to simulate a bow.  

Therese
 

All occasion cards - decorative paper cut & flipped, paper napkin rooster, ribbon and a button

 I made the focal element for this card by collaging paper napkin to hand decorated paper which I made a while back.  It worked out just the way I wanted - a bit of text and added colour in the background.   I layered the rooster onto an embossed square (birch trees - SU) of brown cardstock.  I used a cut and flip technique for the background which has you cutting it into four using two diagonal cuts from corner to corner.  Works really well - I used sticky notes to hold the two pieces aligned to make the second cut.  This paper is an oatmeal colour on the back side which I embellished with a flourish stamp(IO) and green ink.  I glued them into place after positioning double sided tape on the ends of the triangles so I could tuck the ends of my ribbon behind.  I added my rooster image over the cross section of the pieces and added a button die cut which I had embellished with a short piece of ribbon over it with 3D foam tape.  I tied a short piece of the red ribbon to the one on the front using a single knot.  Love how this card worked out and I am making a few more.  

Therese

Paper napkins and hand decorated paper collage

 I chose these chicken and rooseter images from a paper napkin and thought they needed a bit more texture in their backgrounds and after a bit of pondering I decided to collage them onto some hand decorated paper. I found this piece that worked just the way I wanted - a bit of colour and text!!  I used thinned white glue to adhere the delaminated paper napking images to my decorative paper.  After they were dry I cut them apart with my wavy cutter.  I will be making cards with these!!  Theree

Slow Stitching - Triangle trees

I have managed to work on my slow stitching while we travelled back home last week.  We went and visited Mom and my sisster.  Dad passed away in mid May (92 - quietly in his sleep) and Mom is doing well.  I brought plants for her raised bed at the lodge and she has had very good visits with several people recently.  I have had these cut and ready for quite a while and I have been taking them with me but sometimes not inclined to stitch in the car.  The weather has been beautiful and sometimes I really just enjoy the scenery with an occassional nod to the inside of my eyelids.  These are quick and easy and I have been just adding whatever sort of stitching feels right at the time.  Usually single stitches or blanket stitch to stabilize the edges and whatever works for the inside sometimes coordinating with the pattern of the fabric!!  

I am linking up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching.  There is always some beautiful projects and interesting stitching there so go and check it out!!

Therese

 

May Card Club - quick and easy with decorative paper, gold embossed images and some fabric ribbon flags

 I always try to make the last card a quick and easy one!!  I gold embossed several images - gift, leaf/heart ( Magenta) /dragonfly (Magenta) and then trimmed them down to about 2.25".  I added a layer of coordinating cardstock and then added some fun fabric ribbon flags to them using double sided tape on the back.  I mounted my coordinating background to my card front and added the focal element with 3D foam tape to finish my card.  The one with a gift would certainly be appropriate for a birthday or a shower!!  The others would suit a variety of occasions  It was a fun evening and our last cardmaking session before the summer.  We will be back together in September!! 

NOTE:  A friend asked me for a few card kits so she can make cards with a couple of friends.  I have a few card kits leftover from this card but not enough for what she needed so I decided to make a few more kits but in the interest of variety I decided to use other images and changed the format to portrait. 

I am sure that they will enjoy their time together and have a few great cards to add to their card stash!!

 Therese

May Card Club - kraft corrugated paper, ribbon, flagged strips and a gold embossed inchie

 For our second card I decided to feature corrugated paper.  I chose a kraft piece and made six pieces out of it.  I tore the first two and found it a bit difficult to managed so I used my wavy cutter to make the last two cuts.  Worked out well!!  I chose some card fronts and added coordinating backgrounds.  I assembled my corrugated element next.  I added the ribbon securing the ends on the back using double sided tape and then added the three gold brads.  I embossed and trimmed the decorative strips and overlapped them a bit before gluing them together.  I slipped them under the ribbon and secured them to the corrugated with double sided tape.  The little inchies (SU) were all gold embossed - several with greetings and images and some with only an image which are the two I used - a little owl and tiled pattern.  The contrast on the images was better before I coloured them but colouring them added a bit of colour to the card.  It would have worked either way.  The gold embossing nicely echoes the gold of the brads.  Another greetingless card which can be used for a variety of occasions.  

Therese

May Card Club (postponed to June 1 ) - Wildflowers, leafy stems, some ribbon and a button

 May Card Club was postponed for a week due to my father's passing.  We got together in June instead and it was really nice to be back together creating!!  

This is the first card I created!!  I die cut some wildflowers and leafy stems from decorative paper that coordinated with my chosen backgrounds.  I used my slot punch to cut two openings in my background paper which I had reinforced with a piece of cardstock adhered to the back.  I slipped the ribbon loosely in the slot and arranged my die cuts until I was happy with the arrangement and then glued them down.  It is a bit finicky to get them all arranged and glued down.  We were grateful that the glue dries clear and because this was our first card there was enough time for all the glue to dry before they had to be packed up to go home.  The ends of the ribbon were secured to the back using double sided tape and then decorated back ground was glued to our card fronts.  We woved our small ribbon into the holes in our button to leave the two ends opposite each other so they could be neatly double knotted.  The button is a die cut which I cut from decorative paper that had been reinforced with cardstock.  Without a greeting it makes a nice card for several occasions!!

Therese

Slow Stitching - trees and apples

I prepped some slow stitching squares yesterday.  I cut some blue backgrounds and added green trees with little brown stems.  Yes, I did forget to add one to the top left until I started picking them up. I dug out the scraps and cut one for it.  

I also worked on some squares with apples.  I had prepped the squares - white with the grey strip when I brougth home some fabric scraps a while back and had decided to put apples on them.  I found a pattern on line, printed it the right size and then cut it out.  I traced it onto the back of the red fabric scraps and cut them out.  I hand cut the leaves and will add the stem with embroidery when I stitch them up.  

I am looking forward to getting started on these!!  Therese

 

Care Bear quilt with a bit of slow stitching

We have been busy with family and so I have decided to have a day of fun and am quilting!!!  I discovered a while back that I have several quilt tops that were sitting in my box that had not been finished with batting and backing.  So that is where I am starting - a little CareBear quilt top (35" x 45.5").  I did the other part of this fabric a while back and this piece has been sitting since then.  I added a thin cotton batting and then a great white and yellow plaid backing to finish off this cute little quilt.  I decided to tie it instead of quilting it by machine to that added a bit of slow stitching to my morning!!  I used yellow crochet thread to tie it which coordinated very nicely.  They are so cute!!  I am glad to have finished this happy little quilt which will bless a little one once it is donated to the Linus Project.  

Therese

 

Birthday card with a large beautiful cake, fun papers and punched borders

A card for one of my granddaughters!!!  She is growing up and I decided that she needed a card that was a bit more sophisticated this year.  I chose this wonderful cake digital from FLYCLIPART and added a greeting before laser printing it.  I trimmed it out of the sheet, cut the edges with scalloped decorative scissors and the paper pierced each scallop.  I added an embossed frame inside of that using my score tool. I chose a dark pink card, added a harlequin background and then a strip of fun shoe paper with daisy borders in a coordinating pink.  Worked out really well!!!  Therese
 

All occasion collage cards with corrugated backgrounds and layered collage elements

I made these two cards a few days ago.  I started with two pieces of dark brown corrugated paper - chocolate?? - and assembled a few collage elements from my desk, stash and a box from the shelf marked "Clipart" which had not seen the light of day for quite a while.  I brushed a bit of gesso on the corrugated paper and then added a bit of colour.  Once it was dry I found this paper doily on my desk and added a bit of colour to it as well.  The two ivory embossed strips were also found on my desk.  I dug the two fabric pieces from a scrap bin in my craft room and then I went looking for the paper flowers.  I coloured the turquoise one with watercolour to coordinate with the fabric. I found the collage elements - bird and cage, love/bird, friendship, two girls - in the clipart box.  I have no idea as to the origin of these pieces but they worked really well with my pieces.   I added the strips of ivory, the paper doily, the fabric, the paper flower and then the collage elements before adhering these large elements to my large kraft cards.    Therese

 

Mother's Day card featuring a layered flower, ribbon and a waxed floral background

 For this card I started with the bright and bold background which I created a while back.  I placed the textured wall paper on a foil covered griddle and drew these fun flowers using wax crayons.  The effect is really wonderful as the wax melts and blends beautifully.  I added a blue pink ribbon to the background before adhering it to my large purple card.  I found the green envelope in my stash and created the flower using the Bloom Beauty (SX) die.  I cut two of the large shapes  - bright pink and wine - and one of each of the two smaller ones - purple and yellow.  I added a sparkly purple brad to hold them all together along with a piece of cardstock.  It was then very easy to insert the cardstock into the envelope and get the flower to stay in place.  I mounted the envelope to my card front with 3D foam tape and then inserted my silver embossed vellum greeting with torn edges just below and adhered with a small piece of double sided tape behind the words over the ribbon.    Therese

Rainbow quilt with crumb squares

This quilt top has been sitting in a box waiting to be combined with its batting and backing for a little bit.  I really enjoy making crumb squares and for this one I made dark and light versions of all six of the rainbow colours.  It makes the little scraps disappear fairly quickly and mostly evenly when you take some out of each bag!!  

My batting is thin cotton and the backing is a medium weight cotton twill in aqua which worked well with the colours in this quilt top.  I used a rainbow thread and a wavy decorative stitch to do the rows of quilting along both edges of the horizontal seams. I have learned to go back and forth instead of always starting on the same side to keep the quilt balanced as it is easy to get things shifting in the direction of your lines of stitching.  

I used a bright and fun striped fabric for the binding with a much smaller version of the same wavy decorative stitch!!  Therese

 

Mother's day card featuring a large floral basket, ribbon and a layered greeting

Mother's Day is around the corner and I am late getting my cards out!!!!

This one has a fun circle background (SU) to which I added a brown ribbon diagonally before adhering it to my green card front.  I slipped the beautiful floral bouquet image (reused card front) below the ribbon after adding four rows of paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel.  I added a short piece of coordinating ribbon to the brown one and then added the layered scalloped circle greeting over it.  

Therese

 

Mother's day card featuring a foiled leaf die cut, ribbon and a bold waxed background

I used this fun background which I created a while back with textured wallpaper int which I melted wax crayons!  So fun!!  I ran a wavy cutter over the right hand side and added the blue pink ribbon before adhering it to my green card front.  I ran my pattern tracing wheel to the right of the edge to add a row of paper piercing.  I found the green leafy die cut in my stash and added purple foil to the back before layering it onto bright pink.  I added it to my card using 3D foam tape.  I stamped the greeting (SU) onto vellum and silver embossed it.  I tore the edges and used double sided tape to adhere it to the bottom of my leaf element and then added two little purple rhinestones to each side using white glue.  I added a dot of white glue below each of them to adhere the greeting to my card.  Worked very well and pretty much invisible after they were dry!!  Therese