Monday, November 28, 2016

Monday Mosaic #18 - Wrap Up Tea


Our ladies groups (Card Club and Quilting Circle) had our wrap up tonight.  Linda and I decided to have a few goodies and tea and coffee. My forgot to take pics so I've set up at home.

I brought Cranberry Welsh Cakes with Lemon Spread which was a hit with the ladies.  I bought the Lemon Spread at the craft sale on the weekend.  It was very tasty but has no details available on the container.

I used the Welsh Cakes recipe from the Company's Coming Muffins & More recipe book.  I replaced the currants with cranberries and cooked them on my electric non stick griddle.  It worked well but I need some practice to not burn my fingers when turning them over.



I chose a red table cloth on my table with a Christmas plaid place mat which features gold threads with white dinnerware.  I made some Jade Citrus Mint tea in the new Luxury white porcelain tea pot by Tannex. I served it in a Royal Worcester bone china tea cup and chose a Dudson Finest Vitrified 6" side plate to hold my 3 Welsh Cakes.
























Submitting to Mosaic Monday hosted by Maggie at Normandy Life.

Card Club - November - White Dove on Star

I started with the felt star ornament.  I added a red and gold glitter ribbon through the hanger.

I designed the greeting layer, printed it on white card stock and trimmed it to leave a small border. I adhered it to a grey card front.

I printed a clipart earth onto vellum and gold embossed them.  I punched them out with a 1.75 inch circle punch by Stampin Up.

I placed the ornament on the card front, used a push pin to create a hole through to the inside of the card front for the brad.  I inserted the prongs of the white dove brad through and spread the prongs apart on the inside of the card.

Trimmed the ends of the ribbon.

Card Club - November - Snowman Wonder

I started with the Tim Holtz die called Winter Wonder.
I then chose my designer paper which is from the My Mind's Eye - Countdown to Christmas 12x12 glitter pad.  This layer was trimmed to leave a small border and adhered to the front of a red card.

I cut the snowman from ivory textured card stock to go with the designer paper. I wrapped a length of red thread around his neck, knotted it and trimmed the ends.  I adhered him to the card front aligned to the left to leave room for the star. I added a blue felt snowflake sticker to his belly.

I then placed the red star sequin to the top right hand corner, used a push pin to create the hole in the centre through to the card front only.  Pushed through the prongs of a tiny red metallic brad and pressed the prongs apart on the inside.

Card Club - November - Gift Trio

I started with the green glitter polka dot square of handmade paper.  These were left over from this Christmas card which was in the centre of the frame.

I designed the greeting layer with 3 gifts on the bottom and a large greeting on the top. I used digital bow image I designed a while ago. This layer was adhered to the front of a Christmas green card.

The red bow was cut with the Lil' Inkers Gift Bow Topper from red card stock.  This is then adhered to the green glitter square and trimmed as needed.

Now adhere the gift to the large square frame on the greeting layer.

Card Club - November - Round Felt Ornament

I started with an olive card onto which I adhered a layer of designer paper by My Mind's Eye - The Merry Days of Christmas -"All Aglow" to leave a small border.
I trimmed the tag close to the border with scissors and punch a 1/8 inch hole in the top.  I added the white cotton thread and tied at knot.
I then added the blue ribbon to the white felt ornament but did not pull it taut.
I used a push pin to make a hole for the red star brad through the hole in the hanger of the ornament.  Make sure to only make a hole through the card front.
I pushed the red brad prongs through the hole. Now I hang the tag onto the red brad then press the prongs apart on the inside of the card. Now I can pull the blue ribbon taut and trim the ends.

We plan to have a few goodies as this is our last class till the new year.  We will be spending time with the quilting group with which we share a space.

Pick Up Truck Cards - Exchange

I made a couple more cards with the Stampendous Truck Tidings Stamp & Die set.  I watercolored them this time and I am happier with the look.  I gold embossed the truck and tree then painted them.  I used red, black and grey on the truck. Green, blue, pink and purple on the tree. I designed a road with grass along the edge.  The road is a grey box with a dotted line. I place grass along the edges with a grass clipart from Pixabay.  This layer was color printed and then trimmed. I then watercolored a sky with some blue. I adhered it to a green card front. I stamped the greeting and gold embossed and punched it with the Stampin Up Artisan punch.  I added a bit of holly below the greeting.  It was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.  These cards are headed to my card exchange buddies.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Craft Sale - Saturday

This is where I will be on Saturday.

We will have a floor of hand made craft vendors so drop by and do some Christmas shopping.

I know it does not feel like it because there's not much snow on the ground but time is slipping away.

First Advent Sunday is around the corner. 

Friday, November 25, 2016

Photo Cards - Owls

At my show last week I had a request for cards with my owl images.  I created cards with my owl photos.

I was not able to trim the images square so the final images turned out to be 3.75 x 4.00 inches.  I adjusted the frame on the white layer and made the frame in a corresponding color.  After checking quite a few options for an element below the photo I ended up using a star border from from Creative Memories.  The card color now shows through.  I mounted the white layer onto a dark brown card front then the photo was adhered in the frame.

Several cards are on their way to the gallery today as well as some replacements for tea and owl calendars which have sold.


Thursday, November 24, 2016

Share Your Cup #225

I attended a funeral this week for a young woman who passed away way too soon at 43.  She had cystic fibrosis which affected her health but her spirit was strong and feisty.  She lived life to the fullest.

Her favorite color was purple so they were placed on tables for the luncheon following the service. 

I was on the prepping, serving and clean up crew for the funeral in service to my friends who lost their precious daughter. 









My niece was up for a visit this passed weekend.  We had a good visit with time spent with my other sister, we hit a craft sale, the ReUse Centre then worked on Christmas Card projects she had on the go.

For supper I suggested the pomegranates I had purchased earlier in the week.  Typically, they are very hard to eat without a complete mess.  With an internet search we found a video which showed how to de-seed the fruit in a few seconds.  It worked really well.

Basic Steps
1. Cut the rind of the pomegranate around the middle.
2. Tear the 2 halves apart.
3. Spread the edges away from the center.
4. Turn the half over in your hand over a bowl.
5. Whack the outside of the fruit with a spoon, rotating it as you go and the seeds will fall out through your hand into the bowl. Check this video out!

I finished this book this week.  I see that it is the 3rd book in the series.  I will have to scout out the first 2 books.

It was a very good read about Mary Catherine and Marcus.  It involves a couple of trips to Africa, a young girl making some bad choices followed by a sacrificial decision and a couple of weddings.

I would recommend this one.




I am linking up with Share Your Cup #225 hosted by Jan at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson.

Christmas Cards - Refurbished Set 3

I used to print greeting cards with a Gocco printer.  This ivory wreath card is my own design that I printed in gold ink on ivory card stock along with the greeting.  I added the ivory organza ribbon onto the wreath. 

To refurbish - I trimmed the card front to leave a small border and mounted that onto a brown card front.




If you want to check out the Gocco printing process I found this video on line.  Turn the sound down on your computer before clicking.





This card features a small nativity clipart image.  It is layered onto a layer of white card stock. I then chose a piece of purple mulberry paper.  It was wet with a paint brush in order to be able to rip it in the shape desired.  I dried the paper with an iron then adhered it to the card front which had the greeting color printed onto it then mounted the other layers.

To refurbish this card I trimmed the card front to leave a small border and mounted it onto a purple card to coordinate with the purple mulberry paper.










 This card features a Christmas tree in a modern design.  It is stamped onto a white layer with a green ink pad.  It was mounted onto a piece of coordinating green bond paper and trimmed with decorative scissors.  It was then mounted to the greeting layer which has a greeting color printed in red.

To refurbish the card I trimmed the card front to leave a small border.  I then mounted it to the front of a coordinating green card.










 This is a card I designed for my work a few years ago.  It features coordinated digital images of the star and the word PEACE. 

To refurbish I trimmed the card front to leave a small white border. Then I layered it onto a red card stock layer then onto a warm green card.







This card features a small store bought card in turquoise with a bright red bird. 

I mounted the small card front onto white pearl card stock leaving a small border. Then onto the front of a black card which picked up the black in the words on the card.

Countdown Calendar - Christmas & Birthday

I made more Countdown Calendars as I sold out at my last sale.

I chose a Bethlehem image from a designer paper for thei Christmas side. I placed a strip of yellow card stock for the days remaining.

Again, these have birthday/celebrate on the other side.  I chose Bohemia DSP featuring a large dragonfly.  I added a light blue day remaining strip.  Blue marker.


Gift designer paper with green, red and silver.  I chose a red patchwork designer paper for the birthday side.  Ivory strips with Brilliant Blue balloons with hand drawn strings.
A red marker with this one.










I put my Nativity on the Christmas side and printed on photo paper.

The birthday side features my balloons in blues.

With a black dry erase marker.










This one has glitter paper from My Minds Eye with MS snowflake punchies.


The birthday side features a designer with circles and swirls.

Blue dry erase marker.


Designer paper with ornaments, gifts and silver accents.

I chose red and white polka dots paper with MS silver sticker paper with hand drawn strings.

With black dry erase marker.









Monday, November 21, 2016

Christmas Card - Wreath

I started with the canvas wreath.

I then printed my wreath drawing and greeting in Early Espresso onto a quarter sheet of vanilla card stock.  This layer was trimmed to leave a small border and adhered to a dark brown card.

I added the canvas wreath over the center of the string wreath.

I created the bow with chocolate brown cotton, vanilla cotton and red cotton strung together then used as a single strand tied into a bow.  This is held in place with a Zot.

Christmas Card - Gold Ornaments

I started with a 4 inch square die cut featuring gold Christmas ornaments.  The colors are grey blues, vanilla and gold.


I chose a half inch organza ribbon in gold and vanilla and a blue grey card.

I punched slots in the square 2 at the top and one at the bottom.  I threaded the ribbon through the top bottom behind back to the front at the bottom up the back on the inside of the card, back to the front down into the top slot and tied the ribbon in a square knot.  The ends were trimmed with scissors.

I added a fabric vanilla snowflake in the top right hand corner with a Zot.


Christmas Card - Felt Reindeer

The focal element of this card is a brown felt reindeer.
I printed a border and greeting onto cream card stock.
The reindeer was a bit large for the card front so I adhered him with a large red brad for his eye.
I added a Zot under his tail to keep him in place.
I trimmed a bit off his from legs and the card was good to go.

Christmas Card - DSP Split - BoBunny

This card features the designer paper by BoBunny called Rejoice Collection.

I chose a snowflake and strip to create a DSP split.  The stripe was cut to 3.5x4.00 inches and the snowflake at 1.75x4.00. These were taped together and handled as one piece. 
I placed the chocolate & vanilla grosgrain ribbon across the split and taped the ends to the back.  This layer was then adhered to the front of a Christmas green card.
I cut the snowflake with one of the Marianne Design Creatables - Snowflakes Style 1 dies.  I cut it from cream pearl card stock.  
It was placed over the ribbon and a push pin was used to make the hole for the chocolate brad which holds a red round sequin and the snowflake.


Sunday, November 20, 2016

Sympathy - Simple Sentiments - Vintage Frame

I made a set of Simple Sentiment cards for the my friends who lost their daughter recently.

I printed the vintage window frame which has been colored with Stampin Up colors.  This is the Certainly Celery one. I placed a piece of Delicate Dots Designer paper into the window.

The Bashful Blue has a piece of Maine Blueberry Designer paper.

The So Saffron has Delicate Dots Designer paper.


The vintage window frame with floral branches from the Old Design Shop.

Sympathy - Vintage Floral Frame

I made cards for the family who lost a daughter, sister, wife and mother this week.

I chose a vintage window frame with floral branches from the Old Design Shop.

I filled the frame with the sentiment.  I colored the frame with several Stampin Up colors. I chose Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum, Bashful Blue, and So Saffron.

Once printed I fussy cut the frame then mounted it to the front of a card matching the color in the frame with 3D foam tape.

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Birthday Card - Pick Up Truck

I made a birthday card for a little boy having a birthday this month.  I used the Stampendous - Truck Tidings Cling Stamps & Die Set.  I stamped the truck in black Versafine then clear embossed it.  I used pencil crayons to color it.  Not the best choice as the edges are raised. I diecut the truck with the corresponding die.
I printed the greeting on a white piece of card stock and trimmed to leave a small border.
I printed the letters on another piece of white and trimmed them to squares.  I used pencil crayons to give each box a colored border.
I mounted the letters to be in the back of the pick up truck.  I think this will be a great set going forward.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Christmas Card Order - Manger #2

For this card I started with the Stampin Up "Come to Bethlehem" stamp set.  I added the sentiment and printed it onto Very Vanilla card stock.  I managed 6 onto a full sheet of card stock.   I trimmed them.  I chose a coordinating piece of designer paper by Creative Imaginations - Sonnets by Sharon Soneff - French Poetry Print.  It has diamonds and script which creates a soft background.  I cut it then ripped the bottom edge of it. I adhered the Bethlehem layer to the designer paper and trimmed the card stock as needed. It was then adhered to the front of a dark brown card. I added hand drawn lines along the top and bottom with a gold alcohol marker.

This card features my new Nativity drawing. I created 3 separate pieces.  The stable, the Holy Family and the star based on my star from the Bethlehem drawing.  I can them mix and match them as I choose.  I placed centered the star over the babe in the manger.
I colored the stable in brown, the Holy Family in blue and the star in yellow.
I used the starry night I created for the earlier card as well.  I printed it onto a quarter sheet of white card stock and trimmed it to leave a small border.
This one is adhered to a navy card to coordinate with the dark border on the figures.  I added a sticky gold star in the center of the printed star.






Here's another card made with the same digital set of drawings.

This time I chose to keep it monochromatic.  I chose Dusty Plum.

In the star and the figures I added a gradient fill come from the bottom and the top to lighter in the middle.

I printed it onto a half sheet of white card stock.  I folded it and added a silver star in the center of the printed star.

This is a simpler design in layers and color.


Christmas Card Order - Manger #1

I received an order for Christmas cards recently.  The client created her own manger sentiment of the inside so she wanted card fronts that would speak to the child born in the manger.

This is a Holy Family decor set I photographed at a garden center several years ago.  I love the monochromatic feel to the image.  I printed it onto white card stock but decided after ward I wanted it warmer.  Out came the Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Stain and I applied it along the border and it was just what I needed.  I trimmed the image along the thin border then adhered it to a dark warm green card.  I was fortunate that the figures were quite tall so I placed my greeting along the bottom edge of the card front.  I punched a Stampin Up Modern label punchie from dark grey green and an ivory greeting with the SU Word Window.  These were adhered together then mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I pulled out my trusty Bethlehem image for this one.  I added a starry night and made all the elements the same color, Cherry Cobbler.  I printed it onto a quarter sheet of white card stock, trimmed it to leave a small border and adhered it to the card front of a red card.  I had left space in the top right hand corner for a large gold confetti star which was adhered in place with a Zot.


I made some of the same design in Night of Navy.








This stained glass nativity is one of several I own.  I added a tealight behind the arch background as it was designed. I photographed it against a white background.  I was able to play with the image in post production to have several different colors.
I created the layer as a 3.5x5 photo with the greeting below.  I cut a layer of gold card stock to leave a small border and adhered it to the front of a kraft colored card.  
The nativity was trimmed to make it 3.5x4.75 inches and it was adhered to the onto the gold layer.
I added a strip of the gold card stock over the line between the image and the greeting.