Christmas cards featuring a large JOY greeting, decorative paper and some embellishments

 Still making Christmas cards!!

These all feature a JOY greeting that was created using a decorative font and printed in two greens and brown.

For the first one, I cut a piece of decorative paper (gift wrap) and added a length of red seam binding before adhering it to the front of a red card.  I watercoloured the JOY in red on the green colour printed word and mounted it over the seam binding.  I tied a short piece of the same seam binding to the one on the front above the greeting using a single knot to simulate a bow.  

For the second card, I used a piece of colour printed decorative paper (SU) and mounted it to a red card.  I watercoloured the JOY in the green word to coordinate, ran my tracing wheel around the edges and mounted it to a coordinating rectangle of cardstock.   I added two little green branches (SU - bird punch) adhering them behind the greeting and finished off my card by mounting the JOY over the decorative paper using 3D foam tape.  

For my third card, I tore a 4"x 4" piece of scrapbook paper and sponged their edges before mounting them to the front of a dark brown card.  I manually embossed the space in between using the Swiss Dot embossing folder.  I watercoloured the JOY in my dark brown printed greeting using shimmery blue paint.  I layered it with coordinating blue foil which was trimmed with decorative scissors before mounting this element to the front of my card using 3D foam tape.  I found the two snowflakes in my stash and layered them with a brown brad.  I mounted this with 3D foam tape to finish off my card.  

Therese

Cards featuring illustrated panels, ribbon and little font greetings

I am finishing off a few more cards today for my stash.  Always handy to have a few cards on hand for when you need them for friends and family going through a rough patch in their lives.  These cards feature calendar pages which were trimmed to fit on coordinating card fronts.  For the first one, I punched an opening on the top left, tied on a little bit of white fiber and then adhered this large element to a red card front.  I added the little laser printed punchie greeting in the opening with double sided tape.  

For the second card, I added a length of blue ribbon to my illustrated panel and the adhered it to a coordinating blue card front.  I finished it off by tying on a short piece of the same ribbon to the one on the front using a single knot to simulate a bow and added the little laser printed font greeting punchie using 3D foam tape.  

For my third card, the trimmed panel was not long enough to cover the whole card front so I adhered it to a yellow layer and adhered it to a black card.  I stamped the greeting and then dots above the image and below the greeting to finish off my card.  Made the overstamped edge a design feature using a fine tip marker.  

Therese

Cards featuring crosses with bright backgrounds, a bit of colour and some ribbon

 I made a few cards with crosses as I often get requests for them for certain occasions where they are most appropriate.  The cross images were downloaded off the internet and printed on white cardstock before being trimmed to size.
For the first card, I chose a colour printed background from my stash and then watercoloured the image to coordinate.  I layered the background paper onto a red card and added a green ribbon using a slot punch to create a little opening on the spine for the it.  I mounted the image onto rust cardstock and then mounted it over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  To finish it off, I simply tied a short piece of the same ribbon to the one on the front using a single knot to simulate a bow.
For the second card, I chose a hand decorated background (white cardstock, watercolour and plastic wrap) and watercoloured the cross image to coordinate.  I die cut the cross using oval Nestibilities and then added a black layer and another white layer with I sponged with red ink until it contrasted nicely.  I layered the background paper onto a yellow card front and mounted the large oval element over it using double sided tape.
For my third card, I chose a navy card and layered on this blue colour printed background paper from my stash.  I trimmed into two pieces which left a gap of navy.  I sponged a bit of colour onto the cross image, ran my tracing wheel over all four edges in a wavy pattern and then mounted it to rust cardstock.  I added double sided tape to the back of the top right corner and added three little strips of ribbon before mounting this large element to my card front with 3D foam tape.    Therese

Fun cards featuring magnets and some fun greetings

I created these card kids for my Special Card class in May.  I found these magnet at a thrift store and thought they would make great card with a bit of a gift!!  It took a bit to come up with some sayings to go with all the magnets.  I printed the greetings onto white cardstock leaving enough room above for a ribbon and the magnet.  Once trimmed from the sheet I used a corner rounder on all the corners which coordinates very nicely with the magnets. I mounted the magnets with double sided tape so they can be easily removed.  I added the ribbon in between the greeting and the magnet and tied another small piece to it to simulate a bow.  This layer was mounted to a embossed layer and then to a coordinated card front.            Therese

Slow stitching - #3 is red in my rainbow set

Here is my third square of slow stitching.  The heart was actually two pieces so I stitched it down the middle as I was stitching it down to start and then I stitched around the outside edge.  I learned a new stitch - open chain stitch.  I have tried it before and was not able to understand how to execute it but with my new little book of stitches it was more clear.  I did fly stitch on the right  hand side of the blue strip though I made the center stitches quite short and they are less connected than in the book.  It is a work in progress!!!

Therese

Exchange cards for my swap partners featuring glossy backgrounds, sequins and large laser printed greetings

 I made up card kits for my exchange cards this month!  They both feature some bright glossy backgrounds which I made with glossy photo paper and inks.  I used a variety of dies to cut pieces for these cards.  The large greetings (Desert Diva) were printed on white cardstock and trimmed to size. I embossed them both manually with different embossing folders.  I added faux stitching to first one and used my tracing wheel to add some texture to the second one.  The elements were assembled and mounted to coordinating cards.  I added the sequins using tiny pieces of double sided tape.  You can check the others here.  They will be on their way tomorrow!!           Therese

Quick and easy card featuring the Manhattan embossing folder, some ribbon and a small greeting

I made up these card kits for my Special Card Class in May.  These are quick and easy yet quite a versatile design.  I embossed the neutral layer with the Manhattan embossing folder (SU) and added a length of organza ribbon before gluing this layer to a coordinating card front.  I trimmed a section off of the green one before adding the ribbon which allowed room to the right for the little Word Window greeting punchie.  For the blue card, I simply added the greeting below the ribbon where it was frame with the ends.        Therese

A friendship card featuring strips of decorative paper, an embossed layer and a fun digital greeting

Making up cards for my stash from card kits.  These were featured in my March cardmaking class.  The fun little greeting is a digital from Desert Diva which I sized and laser printed on white cardstock.  I sponged the edges to coordinate with my card elements, distressed them before adhering it to a rectangle of green cardstock.  The strips where adhered to the green layer using double sided tape and then the edge was covered with an embossed strip of orange cardstock.  I adhered this large layer to a mustard card and then added the greeting using 3D foam tape.  The strips were trimmed like banners to finish off the card.
For my second card the horse digital is from Beccy's Place.  I layered orange and purple behind my image and added an embossed line and a pierced scalloped edge.  I added a little coordinating oval font greeting punchie as well. 
Two more to add to my stash!         Therese 

Slow Stitching - first orange square!!

It took me three sessions to finish up the yellow square.  It only took me two sessions to finish up my first orange square.  This orange fabric has good weight and was easily able to support the elements and stitching I added to it.  I started with running stitch through the middle of the strip and added long stitches placed next to each other to anchor the two sides.  Next, I did the three little patches using small stitches on their edges and a different colour floss to created the little star/flowers in their centers.  I used the fly stitch to secure the edges of my hand cut heart using two different green flosses. First time doing the fly stitch.  I think it would have been better had they been a little closer together but I was concentrating on doing them correctly and failed to be really careful about spacing.  I will consider adding another set of stitches in between in my next stitching session.  To finish off my square I added french knots using yellow floss inside the heart.  I am happy with my progress and look forward to finishing my first set of rainbow squares.  I will post them as I finish them.  Therese

Cards made up from card kits featuring a die cut layer backed with decorative paper, fiber and embossed greetings

I am still making cards for my stash and using card kits from my desk to make the process quick and easy.  These cards were featured in my January Cardmaking Class.   The top one features a gold embossed Merry Christmas greeting, some die cut hearts and some fun sweater knit paper to back them.  I added a length of gold embroidery thread through the opening before adding the paper to cover up the openings.  That layer had been over stamped with a script and scroll design.  I glued this large layer to a coordinating card front. I added three little gold sequins to finish it off. 
The next card features leaf die cuts on the left with the same gold embroidery thread.  The third card features a rose pattern die cut opening and a blue fiber tied to the front.  I backed this one with hand decorated watercolour paper. 
A few more for the stash!!

Therese

A birthday card featuring fun decorative paper, an embossed strip and a tag with image and greeting

A few more cards for my stash from card kits.  These card kits were featured in my March Cardmaking class.   The bicycle (SU) and greeting were combined in Corel Draw and printed on white cardstock.  They were trimmed into rectangles and then the corners were cut to create the tag.  I used my slot punch (SU) to cut the slot for the twill tape which was adhered with double side tape. I sponged the outer edges and then added faux stitching with a fine tipped Sharpie marker.  I adhered the decorative paper to the kraft card front and added an embossed strip before adding the tag using 3D foam tape.   

Therese

Christmas cards featuring a farm scene with fiber and oval punched font greetings

 I am working on yet more Christmas cards!!  These ones feature a fairly graphic image of a barn (Pixabay) that is very effective.  I printed the digital image on white cardstock and trimmed them to 4" x 5.25".  

To the first one I tied on a length of red fiber before adhering this large element to my black card front.  I mounted a layered greeting over where the fiber is tied on the front.  The greeting features a laser printed font greeting punched with an oval punch (SU) and then layered onto a pewter metallic scalloped oval punchie (SU).  I mounted the greeting using 3D foam tape which allows room for the fiber.  For the second card, I punched an opening with the oval scallop punch (SU) in the upper left area of the printed panel and tied on a length of red fiber between the opening and the right hand side.  After mounting this large element to a black card front I added a font greeting oval punchie in the opening using 3D foam tape.     Therese

Slow Stitching - first yellow square

Here is my first square in my Slow Stitching project!!  I started with stitching down the strip on the left.  I did running stitch in the center to keep in place and added blanket stitch on one side and cross stitches on the other.  Next I added the blue square using small stitches all the way around and longer stitches to create a flower in the center.  I added the green triangle and did running stitch in both directions on it.  The little portion of a pansy on the upper right was stitched down with running and seed stitches.  It has been positioned away from the edge to allow a quarter seam allowance when it is incorporated into a project.  The other scrap was stitched down with running stitch and finally I created the heart shaped element.  I started by drawing a shape using a pencil because I noticed that I am not easily able to make straight lines with my stitching and I did want my heart to look like a heart once I was done.  I started by stitching the end of my little fabric strip to my fabric in the dip of my heart.  I used green floss to couch my strip onto the line that I had draw which worked quite well.  To finish it off I cut my strip and stitched down the end over the end where I started.  I think it will be sturdy enough to stay in place.  I made a real effort to not pull my stitches too tightly in order to not shrink my fabric square.  Once it was ironed it still measured 4" square!!!  I have backed this square with some white fabric because the yellow was so thin I was not sure it would be able to carry the weight of the stitching.  I am learning as I go!!  So far so good!!!  Therese

Slow stitching - a new project!!

 I have decided to start a new hand stitching project and will be modeling it after "slow stitching" which Liz Kettle promotes as stitch meditations.  After some health issues she wanted to find a meditation practice she would do every day and developed this process for herself.  I have tweaked the process in that I have decided to start with 4" squares in rainbow colours which I hope will yield squares which I can later use in sewing projects. I have cut 5 sets of six squares (yellow, orange, red, purple, blue and green) to begin with using up scraps and finding the colours I needed in my stash.  I have decided to use a sort of collage technique on my first set using small scraps to execute a heart theme.  I dug through and sorted my small scraps drawer into colours so I could easily pick pieces to coordinate with my coloured squares.  I have collected a few scraps for each square and for hand cut hearts.  I will be creating hearts by couching a strip of fabric for the others.  I have decided to forgo any embellishments in case the squares end up in quilts where they will be handled and washed regularly.  If they end up in other sorts of project I will consider adding embellishments once they are part of a project. 

Here is my first set of squares ready to go!  

I have collected my stitching supplies in a box lid - thread, needles, pins, scissors and my small book of embroidery stitches.  My little book will be a good reference as I am not familiar with many stitches.  I will be putting my scraps down with raw edges and would like to use wide stitches to properly secure the raw edges as I am stitching them into place.
I started on Tuesday morning with the yellow square and I will be sharing it in my next post!!
I do enjoy hand stitching and it is very peaceful to do a bit of stitching first thing in the morning!!  Therese

A birthday card that features fold over rectangles to create an opening filled with a little flower

This card kit was featured at my Special Card Class in May   It features double sided cardstock with the back design being revealed when the middle section corners are folded up.  I cut four rectangles and scored the corner and then mounted them to a green card front.  It middle element was created by layering  an embossed flower shape over a 1.75" circle punchie and finishing it off with a 1/2" circle in the center of the flower.  I adhered it in the center.  I added the stamped greeting below with 3D foam tape.

Therese

A little birdie card with a Tim Holtz bird and bird cage with a little tag

These little birdie cards are always handy in that they can cover so many occasions!!  I have made these quite a few times using this sketch.  Made up these card kits for my May Cardmaking Class. The birdcage and bird & wing (TH) were die cut in different colours.  I added a tiny black brad to the bird for his eye and add the beak detail with a marker before watercolouring in some detail. I mounted the bird behind the bird cage and added the embossed wing on the outside.  I added the top thread before  mounting it to the background paper.  I added the little tag to the thread and then glued the thread to the back using double sided tape.  I then mounted this large element to a dark brown card front.  I added rhinestones into the holes at the bottom which was backed with double sided tape when I adhered the bird cage to the decorative paper.  I mounted the tag with 3D foam tape to finish off this card.    Another one for the stash!!                 Therese

Cards featuring decorative paper, three embossed layers and a floral embellishment

A few more cards for my stash.  I made these up from card kits which were also featured in my September cardmaking class.  The large decorative papers were glued to the coordinating card fronts and the three pieces of cardstock were embossed with three different embossing folders.  I corner rounded some of the corners to provide a little variety in the look of the layers.  They were arranged on the card fronts to make a pleasing arrangement and then glued in place.  The 3D embellishments were created by layering silk flowers adding punchies/sequins and then held together with a coordinating brad.  These were applied to the cards using 3D foam tape.  To finish off my cards I added the greetings.  Card kits are so quick and easy!!      Therese

Birthday cards featuring a large layered background with a digital greeting and a bit of embellisment

Needing some cards for my stash I decided to mine the collection of card kits on my desk.  These kits were featured in my September cardmaking class. They feature a square of decorative paper layered with coordinating cardstock to which a coordinating ribbon was added before adhering it to the front of a coordinating card.  Three of the greetings are from Desert Diva, the third is created with a font. The last two have images from Cre8tive Hands which I watercoloured and added glitter with a gel pen.   They were sized, laser printed on white cardstock and trimmed out to a square.  They were distressed on all sides and layered onto a square that was die cut from the layer applied behind the decorative paper which is efficient and also guarantees that they will coordinate perfectly.  The greetings were applied to the front of the cards using 3D foam tape.  I added balloons to the first card to make it more appropriate for a child's birthday.  I added sequins and rhinestones to the second on along with some clear glitter using a gel pen to the greeting and to add some faux stitching to the top portion of the card front.   For the third card, I used a landscape orientation, added some clear glitter to the greeting and a glittery purple butterfly also with 3D foam tape.  I tied a short length of the same ribbon to the piece on the decorative layer to simulate a bow on all of them.  A very versatile sketch and making cards up from kits goes very quickly and you can customize them as you wish. 

Therese

 

Christmas card featuring an origami wreath, stamped background and greeting

This card features an origami wreath which I created years ago when my sister first started making cards. She had taken a class and I was keen to try all the techniques she had learned.  This wreath was on a used card.  I removed the wreath and replaced the plastic bow with a fabric ribbon one.  Found this background in my stash and sponged it with ink until I was happy with it.  I sponged the greeting as well and then simply layered the wreath and greeting onto the background and then added this large element to the front of a red card.  The wreath was created using gift wrap and I do not recall the technique but I expect I still have the instructions somewhere.   This is really a blast from the past!!

Therese

Christmas cards featuring reused panels with ribbon and greetings

A few more cards for my stash of Christmas cards!!  

This first one features a small card front which was square so once trimmed was just the perfect size to layer onto my green card front.  I added a black layer to which I adhered the Santa image and the layered laser printed greeting.  The second card features an image trimmed from the center of a large card.  I fussy cut the two corners with an exacto knife so I could slide on my stamped greeting.  I added a little holly brad on the right before gluing this large element to the front of a red card.  

My third card features art from a friend of mine years ago.  I simply trimmed the card front, added a red ribbon gluing the ends to the back and added a little laser printed font greeting which I had trimmed with scallop decorative scissors and used a push pin to paper pierce the scallops.  I simply tied a short end of ribbon to the front using a single knot to simulate a bow.    Therese