Handmade paper

Our last day we made some handmade paper!!  I had brought the paper pulp ready to go - blue and yellow.  We started with the blue and chose the additions from a variety I had brought along and made a few small sheets of paper (3.5" x 4.5").  We drained off the blue from the vat and added the yellow pulp to which we added a variety of paper napkins snippets and made a few more sheets.  We then added the left over blue pulp to the yellow we had in our vat and made the "green" ones.  They are not as green as we were expecting and certainly were looking quite unappetizing when they were wet.
Not sure what she will do with her sheets!!  I may see if I can make some Christmas cards with my blue ones because they have some nice gold scraps in them.  The yellow ones are nice and bright and lend themselves nicely to floral cards.  The "green" ones will need some creativity to turn them into cards.  They may get a wash of colour to help them along at some point!!

A week of fun and creativity!!

Therese

Serendipity and more cards

I introduced my young cardmaker to serendipity!! There are always little pieces of paper around when you have crafters and their house is no an exception.  I had brought along a variety of gold, red and green scraps (gift wrap, decorative paper, tissue paper, candy wrappers, card fronts, handmade paper, hand decorated paper,etc) which I culled from my stash. I had already ripped them into small pieces so all that was left to do was to glue them down onto quarter sheets of scrap cardstock. It matters not at all what the cardstock looks like

because in the end it is completely covered with scraps so you can easily use pieces that were botched with stamping or incorrectly printed or even junk mail if you want.
I made three pieces of serendipity paper and used parts of the third one to make these two cards.  I cut one strip of about 3/4", then trimmed it into squares which I layered onto several layers of coordinating cardstock to create the accent for this card.  I distressed the edges of the layers and added texture to the card front using pencil crayons.

For this card, I trimmed a large piece of serendipity into strips and layered them over two pieces of red cardstock on a yellow card front.  I discovered this ART stamped image which I coloured to coordinate with my colour scheme and then highlighted the letters with pencil and the black pencil crayon.  I added a little self adhesive vellum greeting on the lower left hand side.
She loved making serendipity sheets and cut different shapes out of hers.
Just goes to show you that even with basic supplies you can create some interesting and effective cards!

Therese

Cards with basic supplies

Here I coloured my image before I scoured the pile of card fronts and was left having to put my accent piece onto a green card front. It works reasonably well but I think pink or purple would have been better.  The digital image is from Beccy's, and laser printed.  I used coloured pencils to colour it.  I taught my young friend to distress the edges of the cardstock layers using the cutting edge of the scissors.  She liked that a lot!!  Here I distressed the edges of my layers and added a bit of detail to the greeting as well.  I used pencil crayons to add texture to the card front in several colours that worked well with the image.

 For this card I coloured the heart, added dots in black pencil crayon to simulate small brads on both the image and the greeting and again embellished the card front with several different colours of pencil crayon to add texture.

 Here I coloured the bear and knowing that I had red scraps to layer the image coloured the ribbon and heart in red as well.  I distressed one of the red scraps and added to my card front below the greeting.  I highlighted the bear using a pencil and black pen to give it more definition and that really helped with the eyes as well.

 For this card I found this coloured image and found the decorative paper in the recycle bin which I was very happy to find matched very closely.  I trimmed the binding edge off of one of the cardstock pieces and used it as a design element below my layered image.  I hand trimmed the greeting and layered it twice to help it stand out.
I found a scrap of adhesive fun foam which we cut up and used instead of 3D foam tape to pop our images.
I used the pencil crayons to add colour and texture to my decorative paper as well as the cardstock.

Again, I used the decorative paper which we found in the recycle bin.  It has been creased so I just decided to wrinkle it up completely and then used pencil crayon to highlight the folds. knowing I had a blue card front for this card I decided to colour the scarf in similar colours.  The image is from Melonheadz Illustrations!!  Again, I simulated brads using a pencil crayon and added a trimmed binding as a design element.

We had a wonderful time and made a few other crafts as well.

Therese

Young cardmaker!!

 I spent the last week with two of my grandchildren and it was wonderful to spend time with them.  The oldest loves to craft so we made cards together several times.  Here you can see the great cards she created!!  She is an inspiration!!  She does not second guess herself, she is not afraid to try (she cut out the little red embossed heart - inside and out) and she does not give up.  She makes art in all different sizes - you can see a little one there is a passport.  She was adding a drawing and an address on the inside.
We had basic supplies - her box of pencil crayons which included a few markers, a couple of pencils,
some wax crayons and one black pen, one pair of safety scissors, glue sticks, a few cardfronts and a small stack of cardstock pieces along with two clam shell cases of images from my stash and one of greetings.  No fancy machines, no embossing folders, etc and we had a wonderful time making cards!!

I am looking forward to many years of time spent creating with her!!

I hope you take the opportunity to craft with young people when they present themselves!!  They are so willing to try and we just need to let them be - no judgement or advice about our visions of their projects!!

Therese

Quilted Christmas cards

Another set of Christmas cards I made when my sister was visiting!!  I was thinking Christmas trees when I came up with this cutting design but did not fully appreciate that more balance was needed between the two colours for all of the green ones to look like trees though it was serendipity that the blue ones looked like mountains and that worked just as well with my design.  I layered two different blue decorative papers and two different green decorative papers over each other (4" x 5.25"), held them together with bull clips on the edges and started making cuts - seven in all - using my paper cutter.  This is called "Stack and Whack" in the quilting world. With all the pieces in stacks I started creating individual layers - like a puzzle - using the different coloured layers. Once I had pieced together the four layers I glued them to red quarter sheets of cardstock by putting just a small amount of glue in the middle of each of the pieces and then used my sewing machine with white thread to sew all of them to the red layers.  I also sewed around the outside edge.  Glue and sewing needles do not mix well which is why I only glued the pieces in the centers to avoid having to stitch through glue. I found the laser printed greetings in my stash, layered them to red and then to my decorative stitched layers.  I trimmed the red edges close and then glued the mountain ones to blue cardstock and the tree ones to green card fronts.  I have another stack of decorative papers which I will cut with a different pattern to give me four more cards.
This design works well with 12x12 decorative papers because you are cutting your layers to 4 inches. Really love the graphic quality of these cards!!

Therese

Poppy card for a swap

On AFTCM, I joined a card swap with the theme of cascading dimensional blossoms in red and yellow.  I first decided to create the paper for the flowers using coffee filters and fluid acrylic ink. Love the vibrant colours I achieved!!  I cut half circles from the filters, added glue to the straight edges and gathered them to create my flowers.  I used a black marker to add black centers and then thought it would be cool to add black seed beads as well so I just added some clear glue, sprinkled on the seed beads and left it to dry.  I created the background using a variety of blue paints on white cardstock and then stamped on a script (SU) background in a very similar colour to add subtle texture.  I glued down my flowers, drew on stems with a black sharpie, added a double tied piece of white seam binding and attached the whole accented layer to a black card front.
This is a large card and I love how vibrant the colours are!! It has been mailed off to my swap partner!!

Therese

Christmas cards - Stockings

My first Christmas cards in quite a while!!  I do need to get started so I will have what I need come the beginning of December!!  I used three little stockings on these cards which I hand cut from a gift bag I received a while back.  They look enough like 3D stickers that I am submitting them for my sister's August Christmas card challenge!  It is a great time to get started on your Christmas cards and you can check out her monthly challenges here if you need some inspiration to get started.
I stared with a white card, layered on a red embossed layer (SU - Northern Flurries) on the bottom edge and a plain red strip at the top, added a scalloped green layer (SU - Scalloped border punch).  I tied white fiber to a purple rectangle which was distressed on the top and bottom edges to which I glued the three little stockings using 3D foam tape.  Found these round punched greetings (SU) in my scrap bucket and layered them over green and attached them to the front of my card with 3D foam tape.  I have about 4 of them complete and 5-6 with all the pieces cut that just need to be assembled.
It was fun to have my sister over for the long weekend and I did get a few cards made to add to my Christmas card stash.  Making a date to craft with friends is a great way to make the time to get some of your projects started and/or finished!!

Therese

Masculine birthday card

A monochromatic masculine card!!  I started this card with the background paper which I created for this card earlier this year.  I was playing with images and had printed several versions before I had what I really wanted for it, so the others ended up in my background paper stash.  I used a stamp pad to add colour, which coordinated with my seam binding, to both the background and the greeting.  I watercoloured the image (Beccy's Place), trimmed it close and layered it onto coordinating cardstock before I adhered it to the card front using 3D foam tape.
Monochromatic always makes elegant cards!!

Therese

Fat book page!

 It has been a very busy few weeks but I have managed in the last couple of days to get this digital 4x4 fat book page finished for my swap partner on AFTCM!!  I found all the images on Graphics Fairy and manipulated them to allow them to be layered and combined to create this cool scene of a little cafe with a bike parked out front.  I colour printed my creation and printed an extra of the flowers so I could cut them out and add them over the original with 3D foam tape.  I added a length of seam binding as well nicely knotted on the edge of the page so it will add texture to the book when the page is bound.
My craft room remains unorganized as we take time to help out with the grand children.

It was wonderful to spend time with my daughter (broken baby toe) and her children in the last couple of weeks!!
I will be in my craft room in the next few days and hope to gain significantly in unpacking boxes and sorting all my supplies into their proper homes!

Therese

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