Birthday card featuring a large birthday cake, ribbon and an oval greeting

A special card for a special person!!!  I started with a large black card that fit in an envelope from my stash.  I created the large birthday cake by layering decorative paper strips onto coordinating cardstock and trimming the edge with scalloped decorative scissors.  I glued them to each other, added dots in the scallops using a clear glitter pen then mounted it to the back of the cake plate (Vecteezy) which I had printed and fussy cut.  I found the candle (Beccy's Place) in my stash of images, watercoloured it to coordinate and then adhered it to the back of the cake.  Added a bit of clear glitter to the flame and the yellow stripes.  I added the two strips of ribbon to the left hand side of the background paper before mounting it to the black card.  I watercoloured the greeting (Birds Cards) which was laser printed and punched with a large oval punch (SU).  I mounted it over the ribbon using 3D foam tape and then did the same with the large cake.  Therese
 

Rainbow Quilt squares with slow stitched cats in the centers

 A set of 12 - 12.5" squares that I made up today uisng my little slow stitched cats in the center.  I decided that a rainbow quilt would use up some of each colour of my scraps and would work reasonably well with my little slow stitched cats.  I will be putting them together in a different configuration but for now they will be spending a bit of time in a box until I can free up some time.  Therese

Fabric stash for $1

 I came home with some more fabric from the Gramma Africa Sale!!  I really did not need any but it has been two years since the last one and I thought maybe just a few little things to support a good cause.  When I arrived one of the volunteers indicated that I could fill a bag for "one dollar" from a designated area of the hall.  The clear bag was as big as a grocery bag so I thought what the heck.  There were not many people there and the majority were wearing masks so I took a little walk around to see what I could find.  I managed to get all of this fabric into my bag.  Many others were not near as ambitious!!  These are cotton leftovers and small scraps which will work well in my quilting.  The black and white at the top right is at least two yards of 60" wide fabric which was stained but Mom's soap got the three little spots out.  All this fabric for a $1.  The five cones of thread was a $1 and the embroidery thread was a $1.  I paid $2 admission and got a great deal.  All the leftovers - there was a LOT!!! - were being picked up by the volunteers for the NEW second hand store in Sylvan Lake so that would be the next place to go shopping for fabric.  I will have to see if I can find out where they are.  Therese

Slow Stitching Project - butterflies are done!!

I have been working slowly and steadily on my butterfly project.  They are die cut (SX) from colourful fabric and stitched to squares of blue fabric.  I did a blanket stitch all the way around to secure the butterflies to the square and then filled them in with running stitch in a variety of configurations and colours.  I added the antennae and bodies in satin stitch with black embroidery thread once I finished stitching the wings.  I gave them each a fun flight path too in black running stitch.  I have several other ideas in my head and I am looking forward to getting started once a bit of free time shows up.  

I am linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching!!  Check out the wonderful creations of all the other creative people who participate there!!! 

Therese

 

Large all occasion card with a coffee and musical theme

 I made this card for DH for his upcoming birthday!!  He loves his coffee and music is one of the things he enjoys most!!  I found the musical frame and the coffee collage on Pixabay and combined them in Corel Draw.  I laser printed it on white cardstock and watercoloured it to coordinate with the background collage I had created.  My background was pieced using scraps of decorative paper which I taped together on the back.  A large piece with the fleurs de lis to which I added a dark strip and then five more small pieces to have it big enough for my large kraft card which I created to fit in one of the large envelopes from my stash.  I added the turquoise strip to the background using two brown brads and flagged the end.  I added the background to my card front and then added the fussy cut and distressed coffee collage over it using 3D foam tape.  Totally had fun!!!  Therese

Large all occasion card featuring a large heart with a gold embossed script, a tissue paper frill and an embossed strip flanked with lace

Another card for my stash!  This one will be good for an anniversary or Valentines.  I started with a large red card and then trimmed the background (SU) to fit.  I trimmed the red cardstock strip, embossed it with a flourish embossing folder (CB) and then added ivory lace on each side using double sided tape to adhere them to the back.  I adhered the strip to the background paper then tucked the lace ends to the back before adhering it to my card front.  The embossed heart has been in my stash a while so I do not know the maker of the stamp.  I fussy cut around the heart and watercoloured it to coordinate better with the background and the lace.  I thought it needed a bit more texture so I added double sided tape to the back and used as strip of red tissue paper (Christmas cracker crown) to create this very textured border by just folding the tissue paper and adhering it to the tape and just kept going all the way around.  I really like how much texture it added!!  Found the two little heart die cuts in my stash and added them to the large heart using 3D foam tape.  I mounted the large heart to my card using 3D foam tape as well.  Therese
 

All occasion card with a fun cup, a colourful background and a flagged strip in coordinating colours

Another large card for my stash!!  This one features a cup from Melonheadz which I laser printed and watercoloured to coordinate with my background.  I added four lines of paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel before mounting it to a coordinating blue layer which has a border punched edge and an embossed line which I created using my Score tool.  The background is a fun one with a star motif (SU) which I added to a gray/oatmeal card and then I collaged three little strips of cardstock together, flgged the bottom end and added ribbon and three little brads to the top before mounting to my card.  I mounted my large focal image to my card using 3D foam tape.  Therese
 

Large all occasion card featuring a cute little bird with a button & lace over an embossed strip with a serenidipity background in greens and blues

After having fun with the little bird from Melonheadz on my last card I decided to make another one.  For this one I started by creating a serendipity background using blue and green scraps of decorative paper.  After it was dry I trimmed it to fit on my large blue card.  I adhered three strips of blue cardstock to each other using regular tape on the back and them embossed them with the script embossing folder (CB).  I glued it to my background and then added a length of lace securing the ends to the back with double sided tape.  After adhereing my background to my card I added a cute little blue die cut button which I found in my stash.  It has been created for a different project - embossed and with a white crochet thread tie.  I watercoloured my little bird to coordinate with my card, added four lines of paper piercing with my pattern tracing wheel, layered it onto green cardstock with a eyelet border punched edge and an embossed line which I added with my score tool.  That was layered onto blue cardstock and then mounted a bit askew on my card front using 3D foam tape.    Therese
 

Large all occasion card featuring a cute little bird, handmade background and film strip filled with little birds

 This little bird is from Melonheadz which is a favorite of mine!!!  I started with a large black card and added the handmade background which I made a while back.  I die cut the film strip (TH - SX) from black cardstock and added some little birds singing their hearts out.  They were printed on transparency for a different project.  I watercoloured the little bird to coordinate and added some rows of paper piercing using my pattern tracing wheel.  After auditioning him on my card I decided I needed a bit more texture on the bottom so I added three strips of embossed cardstock before adding it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I found this fun musical paper button in my stash so I layered it onto a black circle punchie and tied on yellow crochet thread before adding it with 3D foam tape as well. Therese

Large birthday card featuring purple flowers and coordinating background papers

 A large birthday card which was another creative stretch for me - several layers of decorative papers.   I started with an aqua card and added a large decorative paper background (SU) and them overlaid it with a different paper from the same collection which I tore in the middle and added another piece on the bottom.  I watercoloured the stamped flowers (Magenta) in purple and mounted them over the second papers using 3D foam tape.  I mounted a strip of coordinating yellow cardstock in between which I had embellished with rows of paper piercing and then added my watercoloured greeting. It is a frame from CLKER to which I added a font greeting before I printed it.   With four images it is quite busy but it works well with the decorative papers and the greeting.  FUN!!! Therese

Large birthday card featuring little Kawaii cacti and a bright bold background

A fun birthday card!!!  I had accumulated a little collection of Kawaii cacti from Craft Starters so I decided to be really creative and use them all on the same card!!!!  I found this really bright and bold background (Morgue File) which I mounted to a green card.  I watercoloured all the little cacti and then mounted them to coordinating cardstock.  I arranged them on my card front until I was happy with how they looked and then mounted them with 3D foam tape.  I found this round greeting that coordinated, mounted it onto a red circle punchie and added a small dark circle punchie to finish off my greeting.  I mounted it with 3D foam tape.  I add short strips of coordinating cardstock between my images to create a very subtle frame for my collage.  

Therese
 

Large all occasion card featuring flowers in yellow, pink and purple

An all occasion card I created to fit in one of my large envelopes.  I started with a purple card and added the fun green floral paper.  The pitche of daisies is from Beccy's Place.  I laser printed it and watercoloured it to coordinate with my background.  I added some lines of paper pierecing with my pattern tracing tool before adding the piece of yellow decorative paper.  I mounted this focal element to my card using 3D foam tape.    Therese
 

Christmas cards featuring stars with ribbons over decorative paper backgrounds

I have committed to making cards monthly in order to have what I need by the end of the year so these are the ones I made this week!!!  I started with the green decorative paper and die cut two stars (CB) from two of  them (see bottom) to find out that because I was looking from the front (they have a clear back) I did not allow enough room between them and they cut into each other's spaces.  The paper was affected by the die so I embossed them with a random dot embossing folder which worked well for disguising the texture added by the die cutting.  To stabilize my backgrounds I cut two stars from each of the red polka dot backgrounds so I could insert them into the openings.  I  used packing tape which worked really well as they were secure all the way around.  They seemed a little plain so I die cut some silver stars (SX) to put inside them which helped quite a bit.  I did have to cut the tape at the top of the star to insert the ribbon which I secured to the back using double sided tape.  I tied the bows using the rabbit ears method which works really well for making balanced bows.  I adhered the bows using glue dots.  I mounted these two to red card bases.  For the next two sets I used gold glitter paper and gold gift wrap and was more careful when cutting the stars.  I used red gros grain ribbon on those and mounted them to red cards.  For the last of the green backgrounds I used a moire gold gift wrap to back the star openings and red satin ribbon for the hangers and bows which were mounted to red cards.  Finally  decided to use the green stars from the first set in the red polka dot backgrounds and added embossed silver stars (SU) to the centers of those along with green ribbon for the hangers and the bows before mounting them to pink cards.  I think I like the double star once best!!  I may consider adding some to the others and see if that works better than the plain large stars.  For the moment I am leaving off greetings but I will audition a few of those and see if I find some that work well.  Therese

 

All occasion card featuring a leaf cutout and several pieces of decorative paper embellished with seam binding

I created this card last week while I was brainstorming some ideas for March Card Club. I mounted two pieces of decorative paper to a brown card front and then cut a piece that went across, rounded the corners, punched out the leaf and then embossed it with a distressed lines embossing folder.  I added a piece of colourful paper in behind the opening to give a very strong contrast which really highlights the leaf shape.  I struggled with how to add more texture and eventually punched a hole and inserted a folded length of green seam binding which I brought from the back to the front and inserted through the front loop which worked quite well.  It does require a fairly maleable ribbon or fiber to work well.  Therese
 

March Card Club - a simple sketch with a little die cut greeting

I usually make our last card a little easier than the other two and so for this month I used a few diecuts layered over a decorative paper background and a little ribbon bow.  The circles were cut with a new to me die (CB) which cuts a variety of circles.  I used the three largest and then layered them in a variety of configurations.  Closer together and overlapping simulates the look of a wreath.  The design becomes a bit more asbstract as you separate them more and they overlap in a few more places.  All of them work well.  So we started by adhering our backgrounds to our cards and then played with our die cut circles until we were happy with them.  We glued them into place and then added the little leaf die cuts (SU) into the arrangement.  Having cut all these elements from the same cardstock meant that they gave a unified look.  The little greeting was cut using a large word die (CB) from the same cardstock as the circles and we used a little rhinestone for the dot on the "i".  We coloured our rhinestones with Sharpie markers to coordinate with our other elements.  The little bows were made from 1/8" satin ribbon in a coordinating colour and tied in a bow using the rabbit ears method which results in stable bows.  They were added with glue dots.  Another wonderful evening of creating and visiting.  So nice to have a new person in the group and look forward to our next get together at the end of May!!!  Therese

 

March Card Club - skinny shaker card with bright papers and a layered embellishment

An easy shaker card!!!!  I have made shaker cards in the past and they involve dimensional tape to create an enclosure for the shaker material and making sure that there are no escapees along the way.  I found this design online as I was searching for ideas for Card Club.  It is so much easier and makes a card that is easily mailable as well.  You start with a coordinating card front and background. I would recommend a background paper that is a little heavier.  For those that were only bond weight papers I adhered them to a scrap of light weight cardstock.  I applied double sided tape to all four sides of the back of the background.  Next, I used a  larger piece of clear cellophane and laid my background face down on it and folded the edges to the back on only three sides securing it to the tape.  The fourth side is sealed only closed once you have added your shaker material into the shaker pocket.  I used a variety of sequins for these shaker cards but you can consider glitter, small round beads, confetti, etc. or any combination you like.  We added the torn strip of vellum to our shakers securing the ends to the back with double sided tape before using double sided tape to adhere them to our card fronts.  We layered our embellishments and then mounted them over the vellum using 3D foam tape.  These do not really need greetings but for those who wanted one there was a variety to pick from.  I used two small font greetings on two of mine.  For these embellishments I used scallop circles (SU) layered with glittered flowers and a punched butterfly (SU) with gold cording tied around its middle to simulate a body and antennae.  I look forward to making variations of these in smaller sizes and using different shaker elements.  Therese

 

March Card Club - lady bugs over layered decorative paper and greetings

It was great to get together with friends and make cards once again!!

We started with these cards that featured lady bugs and some fun decorative papers.  I started with a black card and added a subtle green background paper that I embossed with Swiss Dots (CB).  The other two panels were cut the same size and as you can see below can be used in a variety of ways in the creation of a card design.  It is always fun to see what others do with exactly the same supplies - a creative bunch.  I first chose a greeting and auditioned all the pieces so I could establish the relationship of all the pieces to each other and then added the greeting first.  I added the little lady bugs (SX) with 3D foam tape.  I had preassembled the lady bugs which are on a small green die.  The wings were cut from red and the body from black cardstock.  I added antennae using black thread secured with double sided tape on the back.  I see that some of them have become wonky.  I will certainly be using this die again though it is the first time I have used it though I have owned it for quite a while.  They are very cute and so many people respond postively to them.  I used all the same papers because havine tried different ones I could not get the same feeling in the cards as I could with this combination so I just made all the kits with the same supplies.   Therese

 

Baby cards

One of my friends is wanting a few baby cards to welcome the new additions to our parish.  We worked out a gender neutral colour scheme and I made up this card for her approval. She was happy with it so I made up some kits and we got together today to make them up!!

I used a light yellow card added a floral green background to which I had added a length of yellow ribbon adhering the ends to the back with double sided tape.  The baby is a digital from Clipart Library.  I laid out a dozen on a sheet and laser printed them.  I die cut them with a new stitched circle die.  I cut a coordinating scalloped circle from green cardstock using my Nestibilities.  I used my scallop oval punch (SU) to cut the oval from the inside of the green circle which ensures that it matches perfectly.  The little greeting is a font with a dotted frame which I created in Corel Draw.  I watercoloured all the babies when I was prepping the kits so the assembly of cards went fairly quickly today.  We glued the baby images to the scallop circle and then mounted it over the ribbon using 3D foam tape.  The greeting got the same treatment and that finished up one card.  We made up a total of ten today and when she needs more she will be in touch and I will put together a few more kits.  It was really nice to be making cards with friends!!!  Therese

 

Blue and yellow quilt

 I finished this blue and yellow quilt (41.5" x 55") yesterday.  I worked on the quilt top last weekend.  I laid out all the precut squares of about 4" on the floor in the spare room and rearranged them until I was  happy with the layout and then stitched them together into squares of four.  These were part of several batches of precuts I have bought over the years and thought it was time to get them stitched up into a quilt.   In hopes of not having to add more than a thin batting I rough cut old sheets into squares and then stitched the squares to them with a square of stitching.  As I went along in this process I realized that not all the squares were the same size so I measured the smallest one and then trimmed all the others to the same size centering the joins to the middle.  

  

It was a bit of work but sure worth it when it came to stitching the squares together.  So much easier to line up the corners!!  I had picked out navy broadcloth for the binding and had a blue heavy weight cover to use as the backing.  I had picked up the rows into piles so I laid them out yesterday back into rows.  I stitched all the rows up and then stitched the rows to each other including the thin batting into the seams.  I dug out my backing to find that did not have enough that was good to get a backing for this quilt.  Bummer!!  I dug out a different one but because it was medium weight I decided to add another layer of cotton for batting.  I laid them into a sandwich, pinned it extensively and added a few rows of quilting to adhere all the layers to each other. 

I cut an 3" binding out of the navy and madeup a double fold binding.  I bound the edge using navy thread and a wavy stitch to ensure I did not miss the backing.  I like the idea stitching the batting to the squares and then all you need to do is add a backing and the binding.  In this more traditional type of quilting I can certainly see the value of trimming all your squares to insure they are the same size before you start stitching them together.  I see that I must have mixed up the last two rows  - oh well - it will have to do!!    It will be washed and the set aside for donation to the Linus Project.    Therese

Baby card featuring a cute baby in a tub, rickrack and ribbon and a scalloped border

My friend is going to be a grandma and wanted a card to celebrate the arrival of her grandson!!  I chose a warm blue card and some coordinating multicoloured diamond paper which I paper pierced with my pattern tracing wheel before adhering it to my card.  I combined the baby image with the greeting in Corel Draw leaving room for the embellishments and laser printed it.  I watercoloured the baby and tub and added clear glitter to the bubbles.  I added the blue rick rack to which I had tied a little length of red ribbon securing the ends on the back with double sided tape.  I trimmed the bottom with scalloped decorative scissors and used a push pin to paper pierce each scallop.  I added the embossed line using my score too.  I used my distress tool on the top and sides above the rick rack.  I mounted this focal element to my card using 3D foam tape.  Babies are the best!!!  Therese