Exchange Cards - Spinner Art Paper Overpainted

I chose a piece of my spinner art paper for these cards.  I wanted to lessen the punch of the spots so someone suggested over painting the sheet.  That was a good idea.

I selected ink from the original art Ultra Blue which was diluted significantly with water to produce a light color.  This was painted on the sheet with a foam brush and it was allowed to dry completely.  It was flat again when dry.

I cut the 4x6 sheet into 2 pieces and trimmed the edges to ensure no harsh band of color.  I glued it to a piece of red card stock leaving a wide border. It was placed on a turquoise card base. 

Where the colors have mixed a purple color was produced so I chose a purple greeting.  It was printed onto card and punched with the Stampin Up Decorative Label punch.  It is mounted onto the card front in the top left hand corner with 3D foam tape.  I added some turquoise sequins with Bling Zots as a final accent.

On  this card the piece of red leaves a small border of the turquoise card. 

I used a similar greeting and the more of the turquoise sequins held in the same way

These are off to my Card Exchange partners for May.

Sewing Project - Bags for Frames

I made bags to carry my framed photography when I go to a show. 

I found the idea posted by Roger Hicks - tips for putting on a photo show.

The frames are expensive and I cannot risk damaging them during transport.
The frames are 12x12 inches so I had chose this cotton left over from this apron I had made earlier.  There was enough to make two bags for the 4 frames I have.

I placed the fold at the bottom.  Sewed my side seams then turned it right side out and sewed the edges again.  This stiffens the sides.


The way the bags are designed so there is a central separator which allows you to put 2 frames in each bag - one on each side of the separator.  I decided to use pieces of an old heavy cotton bedspread as the separator which provide some cushion to the fronts of the frames.

I added twill tape handles white on one and red on the other.  The connections are well reinforced.

The frames hold 8x8 photos which are at the printers so I headed off to pick those up and make my decision about which are going into the show.

Custom HB Card

I created this card at the request of a friend.  Recently when she was with her 2 sisters they discovered that the letters on the key 5 on a cell phone matched their initials - J K L. 

She asked for a card with the key pad with and the 5 key highlighted. 

I printed the phone onto card stock.  I printed the greeting and layered it with pink card stock.  I trimmed the top corners to match the round corners on the phone`s screen. 

I printed the 5 key again and highlighted it with pink ink and chalk and mounted it over the phone with 3D foam tape.

I found some graphic designer paper with chevrons and mounted it onto teal card base.

I added 5 teal sequins on the left hand side held in place with bling Zots.

I hope she likes it.

Apron - Shirt - Tan Burgundy Navy Stripes

I made up a shirt apron as well.

This process takes a men`s XL shirt and makes it into a quick apron.  I started with a 100% cotton shirt in a stripe pattern.

I cut the front on a slant from the arm hole to the collar then along the back of the collar down the other side.  This was hemmed by folding the fabric over and again and stitching to create a hem.


I used half of the back which was removed to make the 2 front slanted patch pockets.  I switched the direction of the stripe so they would show up nicely.

The pockets are reinforces on the corners to ensure they will hold during regular wear.  The original pocket on the right hand side is still there but because the lines align you can barely see it.

In this case I did not sew down the front button hole layer as I did not what to have navy stitching on my tan front stripes.

I used some of the other half of the back to create the ties.  Cutting along the stripes I cut a 2 inch strip, folded each side into the center and then folded in half again.

I stitched along the non fold edge with the navy thread in the machine.
Makes a sturdy tie but not too heavy to create a bow.

I reinforced where the tie connects with the apron with stitching in a box pattern to ensure it does not come loose.

The ties were 30 inches or so and tie nicely at the back in a knot or bow.

Because the shirt had short sleeves it just provides enough fabric to create the extras one needs.  There is very little fabric leftover.

This fabric is not as heavy as I had hoped so the apron is lighter weight than I would like it to be.

I expect it will do its job of protecting your clothes none the less.

Navy & Block Print Apron

I put together another apron this weekend.

I started with this wonderful botanical print in navy, red, and ivory.  It is a Guaranteed Wax Block Print by HiTarget on 100% cotton.

I selected a navy 100% cotton fabric for the other side.

I made the shoulder ties from the print fabric.  Cut the strips 3.5 inches wide and sewed a half inch seam and turned it inside out.

It is a long apron measuring at 39 inches from the top of bib to bottom edge.

I sewed on 2 navy buttons on the top center corner of the pockets which allows the hanging of a towel on either side.

I used the same strip for the loops at the back which provide adjust-ability to the apron.  I placed 2 loops about an inch apart. 

The wearer can choose both as in the photo or just one of them at the height which works best for them.

Rectangular pockets with slanted openings make them very accessible when the apron is worn. 

You can cross the straps or pull them straight down to the back loops.

The straps are long enough to allow a nice bow when tying the apron.



The print has been brought to the other side of the apron.

There is a band at the bottom and a patch on the bib.


The apron has a loop to hang it when you are not wearing it.

A close up of the back loops.

The buttons placed on the pockets to provide a place to hang a towel at hand.  It can be hung on the left or the right hand side. 

Welcome to my Kitchen

We had fellowship again with our group - Welcome to my Kitchen. 

Our hostess provided a wonderful array of goodies.

Tea served in Royal Albert Mug.  This set of mugs is part of the 100 year anniversary launched in 2006 and updated in 2016.

I love large mugs and bone china is always so nice.

Snacks included home made bread toast with Apricot and Raspberry jam.

Fresh fruit including strawberries, pineapple, melon, and grapes.

Lemon loaf with real lemon zest in it.

Yogurt in a variety of flavors.

There was tea biscuits and small muffins.

Devotions was on Psalm 136 which reminds us that we are always loved.

We had a really good time and raised a few dollars for missions.

Our numbers were down this month to 13.  Every one had a good time.

Recent Photos

The crab apple tree in the park is in full bloom.  It is gorgeous.

Love how I got a nice bokeh background with the flower in great focus.

Pinky purple tulips for my Mom on Mother's Day.

I love how the stems are sort of wavy.

These are red roses for Mom from Dad for their 64 year wedding anniversary!

It is always close to Mother's Day and she always gets flowers from her favorite guy.

Amazing to be married so long and still living together in good health.  So many couples end up living apart because health issues. 

Yellow and blue ginger jar from my sister who hit a rummage sale recently and thought of me.

It fits perfectly into my color scheme.

Thanks so much.

Sun setting behind a granary on my drive home from the country late Sunday night. 

I moved around till the sun was being cut by the roof of the building.

The rays were escaping beyond the roof to create the flair.

Cards to Gallery

I started with this silver glitter dragonfly die cut that arrived in a card from one of my card exchange buddies.

I chose brush paper in a deep blue for the background.  It has been spattered with pearl white acrylic ink.

I chose a Pacific Point card and adhered the decorative paper leaving a small border.  I attached the dragonfly with a tiny silver brad.

I then added 5 silver flower sequins at the bottom of the card again held in place with tiny silver brads.

A great card for any occasion.

This features a bird hole in the aqua teal decorative paper.  The base was painted then I spattered it with teal acrylic ink.

I cut a hole in the paper with the Stampin Up Bird Mover & Shaper die.  I placed a piece of white card stock behind which was embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. 

I have offered birthday greetings in French and English.  The greeting printed in grey and were cut with the Stampin Up Modern Label punch.  They have 3D foam tape on the back to adhered to the card front should the user want a greeting.

This card features paste paper in a warm blue color.  I cut to it leave a small border.

I added a pearl white large star die cut made with the Sizzix Star die and placed it in the top two thirds of the card. 

I added some fiber which repeated that color tone and wrapped it around the decorative paper layer.  I then adhered the star layer to the front of a medium blue card base.

I have provided Thanks greetings in both French and English.   These have adhesive on the back which allows the user to place the greeting of their choice below the fiber.

They were again cut with the Stampin Up Modern Label punch.

Cards to Gallery

I have put some of my Spinner Art paper to use.  This is a bright and bold piece in oranges and purples. the colors are Purple Lake and Flame Orange. I cut a piece to 3.5x4.75 then cut again into 3 pieces.  I layered those only a piece of black cardstock.

I produced a three language greeting English French and Spanish in black clear embossed on vellum.  I ripped the top and bottom edges.  It was attached to the decorative paper layer with tiny black brads. This layer was then adhered to the front of a Tangerine card.

Another Spinner Art paper card with the same layout as the first.  The colors on this one are more muted and in the warm gold tones.  The colors are Raw Umber and Raw Yellow Ochre.

I produced a three language greeting English French and German in black clear embossed on vellum.  I ripped the top and bottom edges.  It was attached to the decorative paper layer with tiny black brads. This layer was then adhered to the front of a kraft card.

I decided to try this photo at the Gallery.  I`m not much of a pet person but many are so this cat card.  It is a neighborhood cat which I have seen several times on my morning walks.

It had it`s eye on something when I took the photo which resulted in this intense stare. 

I think it is a pretty cat.

Tea, Book and Almonds

I sat down with Raspberry Thriller tea and my library book about small sewing projects. 


I added my Friends Willow Tree figurine with a pink butterfly crocheted by my aunt Irene. 

A small pink vase holds some pink silk flowers in various shades.

A small bowl of chocolate covered almonds is my treat with my tea.
 



The tea cup is Queen Anne bone china with a wonderful scalloped shape in a great pink color. Love how the shape is highlighted when viewed from the top.

The pink bowl on the left was a find at the rummage sale on the weekend.   I filled it with round glass balls.  The a blown glass larger ball, a blue bird ball and a large clear glass marble.




Sharing with Bernideen's Tea Time
and Ruth at Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Birds, Birds, Birds

I was up with the birds this morning.  Out of bed at 5:00 am and out the door at 5:30 am headed to the Heritage Hills Wetlands east of the city for sunrise at 5:53am.

It's great to be out with the camera at that time because the birds are out and busy with getting their day started.  Of course, some have been awake for a while already. 

The order of business these days is to find a place to build a nest, lay some eggs, keep them warm and safe and birth some offspring.

The couples are all out together these days still in the decision making process. 

I passed several birdhouses which have occupants very busy gathering supplies for nest building.

The Red Wing Blackbirds, the White Pelicans and all manner of ducks are living at the wetlands.

It was a bit cloudy with intermittent sun so the perfect weather for photos.

The top photo is an American Wigeon male, the center is the Red Wing Blackbird male, and a House Finch male.  The wigeon and finch are first time captures for me. 

A great morning with lots of birds out and about.

You can check my Flickr page for more photos.

Sharing with Through My Lens 142 hosted by Mersad Photography.

Anything Goes at Pink Saturday hosted by Beverly

Mosaic Monday

A young lady celebrated a birthday on the weekend with a grand party!  That is a great banner.

She invited 7 friends who thought they were arriving at Hogwarts but instead they became prisoners in Azkiban. 

There were Dementors hanging about.  The prisoners had their mug shots taken with a Polaroid.  They made owl zipper pulls.

The girls squealed when they opened their t-shirts!!  They had to solve a code written on their shirts in chibis.  There was an owl stuffie who delivered a message.

There was potion water, snacks and cake of course. The girls had a great time!

The cake on the bottom left was the one served for the family party in the evening. Note: the lighting bolts which Harry had on his forehead.

Sharing with Maggie at Normandy Life hosting Mosaic Monday #83.

Christmas Card Challenge - May - Purple Ornament

The Christmas Card Challenge prompt for this month is Purple Ornament.

I chose a black card and cut some purple polka dot single sided paper to leave a small border and adhered it to the front of the card.  

I chose one of the 2011 Spellbinder Hierloom Ornament Nestabilities dies which I cut from purple cardstock and pearl white card stock. I then cut the Tim Holtz Joy Mover and Shaper in the center of the ornament. These were layered together and adhered.  I then rubbed the edge with a black ink pad so it would stand out against the polka dot paper.

I cut the hanger with the Sizzix Ornament #2 die from the same pearl white card stock. It was adhered to the top of the ornament.  I added a length of black knitting ribbon. Then I added 3D foam tape to the ornament and glued it to the card front.