Slow Stitching - April 2025 - Week 4

This is my April piece for K3N Cloth Tales - Comfort Coverlet 2025.

I added the tea branch this week as tea grows as a bush.  

I added colored leaves to represent the different varieties of tea. White, Green, Rooibos(red), Black and Yellow which can also represent herbal teas.

The branch fit in very well in the space I had left above the tea house.

Stem stitch was used with brown floss for the wood part and the leaves are hand cut fabric applique with a whip stitch.

This piece is coming together great.

Cards - All Occasion - Block Print Paper

I found this Indian Block Print Handmade Paper at the ReUse Center recently and loved it.  I knew that it would work with Stampin Up cardstock colors wonderfully.  The piece was about 9x12 inches so just a few cards.

I chose Baja Breeze and Ruby Red for the card bases in the A2 quarter sheet size.

I cut the decorative paper to leave just a small border.  

I chose a strip of matching card stock to go across the card and then a white scallop circle, with a grey coordinating smooth circle, a bird accent made with the Stampin Up Bird Builder Punch. I added a bit of black which helps to ground the design. A bit stitching around the circle with a fine black marker.

Quarter sheet insert and a white envelope and it is ready to go.

The next layout I used a daisy flower punch which I did one in each color. Then a smaller one in black.  A large white sequin and a coordinating mini brad to hold things together.

I added a strip of white card stock across the landscape card and glued it to the decorative paper leaving the ends hang over. 

I used a push pin to create a hole in each of the layers and mounted the flower accent through to the decorative paper.  Then adhered the whole layer to the card front.

I added black stitching to the white strip with a fine tip marker.

Added a quarter sheet insert and a white envelope.

This card has a Ruby Red card base with a layer of decorative paper adhered with double sided tape.

I created the bird accent with the above mentioned punch in the 3 colors.

With a marker I added the eye and lines to the beak and the stitching around the grey circle.

The accent was then adhered to the card front with double sided tape. 

A white quarter sheet insert and white envelope to finish things off.

Another flower accent card with the alternate color combo from the first one.

The daisy punch accent was assembled the same way with a coordinating warm red mini brad.

A fine black marker for the stitching and the flower adhered to the decorative paper.

This entire layer was then adhered to the landscape card front.

White insert and envelope.  These are now pressing under books overnight to allowing the glue to take a good hold.

I am almost ready to liquidate my designer paper as I very rarely use it and I could use the space for something else. 

Card Exchange - January - Watercolor Birds

 

I have been busy so my Card Exchange cards are almost late.  I decided to use the small bird image I used for the thank you project I did in December.  This time I wanted to actually paint the birds.   I prepared my pieces of watercolor paper with different background colors.  The paper is 3.5 inches wide and I just applied a wash down the sheet changing the colors as I went. It was taped down and allowed to dry completely.

I trimmed the pieces of watercolor paper to squares roughly having a different color in each square.  I traced the bird onto the center of the square by placing the line drawing below my watercolor onto my light table. I used a permanent black fine Sharpie marker to trace the image.  I then used the colors I had mixed for the backgrounds to color the bird accordingly.

Then I matched the card base to the bird color.  The one on the left is Close to Cocoa and the right is Bashful Blue.  I added a length of Soft Suede grosgrain ribbon across the card and taped the ends under the focal element.  The birds are attached with 3D foam tape.  I spattered the cards with a bit of brown watercolor.

These are off to my partners.

Sympathy Cards

I made a few sympathy cards to include in a set of cards for my Mom's birthday.

I chose Whisper White layer trimmed to leave a small border. I stamped the Berry Branch from the Simply Sketched stamp set with black permanent ink so I could watercolor the images.

The greeting is from the same set. 

I chose Old Olive and a bit of Always Artichoke for the leaves and Marina Mist for the berries.  My sister shared from her stash of Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons a set of the bright colors.  Thanks so much. 

I adhered the layer to the front of an Old Olive card base.  

Spattered a bit of green watercolor by flicking my brush just to soften the wide open white space.

For this card I switched up the orientation to landscape and used 2 stamps from the Simply Sketched set. The Poppy and the sentiment.

I used Real Red and some Regal Rose for the poppy.

Again, a bit of spattering with a flick of my brush.  Trimmed to 4.00 x 5.25 inches to leave a small border.

The card base is Pink Pirouette.

These have had white inserts with appropriate sentiments added to the inside of the card.

The Perched Bird from the Simply Sketched set with the sympathy sentiment.

I chose to make a brown with red and green and added a breast of More Mustard.  The reeds are Always Artichoke.  I added some water below with Marina Mist.

This was cut to 2.75 x 4.25 inches.  I layered it onto a piece of brown card stock and then onto a textured card base in Ballet Blue.

Again, a bit of spattering with my brush.

I am adding these to a variety of others cards to make a set of 10 cards.  Mom who is in her eighties still makes cards but it's nice to a stash ready when she is not up to making a card.

I am looking forward to seeing her.

Owl Art Photo Calendar

I've been working of my 4x6 photo calendars for the fall craft sale season.  A few years ago I had a cute Blue Bird calendar with art work designed by my sister.  This year I wanted a cute one so I designed and created this owl.  I drew all the pieces. I then printed the body on the back of the designer paper and cut it out by hand.  I then printed the wings on card stock or coordinating designer paper ensuring they were mirror images and cut those by hand.  I designed the branch digitally.  For each owl I colored the branch appropriately and printed it on the 6x6 inch background paper.  I cut the beak and feet from coordinating card stock. The eyes are .75 and .5 circle punches. I assembled the paper pieced owl and applied the googly eyes.  Once all 12 were assembled I photographed them to add them to my calendar template.  Only a few have nods to the celebration in the month.  January has a frosty type back ground, February is Valentine designer paper, October has pumpkin coloring and finally Christmas designer paper for December.
You can find it for sale on my Calendar page.

Cards - Exchange Group - December

I made these cards for my exchange group.  

I chose a brown card to coordinate with the pine cones in the designer paper.  I cut the piece of paper to 4.00 x 5.25 inches then cut it again at 2.5" crosswise for this landscape (wide) card.  I put a red cotton ribbon across the fold and taped the ends to the back.  I adhered this layer to the card front. I stamped the greeting in Real Red with the Stampin Up Perfect Punches Stamp Set. It was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

On this card I chose a warm blue card which matched the branches in the designer paper.  I used the same red cotton ribbon and the same Stampin Up stamp. 

Card Club - October - Decorative Label with Accent

I started with the decorative card stock which I cut with the Spellbinders Label 22 die.  I cut the bird with the Memory Box Forest Bird thin die from solid green card stock.  The branch and wing was punched with the Stampin Up Bird Builder punch.  I cut a piece of background card stock and adhered that to the card front. Once the decorative label was adhered to the background layer I tacked down the bird and used a push pin to create the hole for his eye. I push the tiny white brad through the hole and pressed the prongs apart on the inside of the card.  I added the wing and branch.  I adhered the coordinating rectangle below the die cut.  This is where I could add a greeting.

R2G Card Kit - Baby Bird HB or Welcome

This is a card kit I adapted from the extras from this Card Club.  Likely no one needs 4 baby cards so I decided to add a birthday greeting which then could be used for others. In this case 4 birthday and 4 Welcome baby greetings are included to provide the most flexibility to the card maker.

Card - 2 shades of blue card and 2 shades of yellow are included in the kit
Bird - I designed and drew the bird & branch. This allows me to color it to suit any given situation.
Banner - matches the card color.  The banner can be cut with a flag end as shown for just at an angel based on preference.
Greeting - I designed the greeting and printed them in colors to match the card. I used a large 2" oval punch to create the greetings.  The greeting is 3D foam taped over the banner. This gives dimension and keeps the dark banner from showing through the greeting.

Card Club - Jan - Baby Bird

The girls in card club requested a baby card.  I finally broke down and drew my own bird image.  This way I could color it as I wanted.  I made some blue, pink, yellow, and purple which will allow the girls to choose the color based on the babies expected in their family circles.  The bird and branch is color printed with a matching border.  It was trimmed to leave a border of card. I added a strip of card stock about .75 tall and the width of the border.  I flagged then right hand end then adhered below the bird.  I designed the greeting as well, so I had the the same ability to change the color as needed.  I punched it with the large oval punch.  It is mounted over the card strip with 3D foam tape.

Christmas Card Challenge - Sept - Foliage

The theme for my Christmas Card Challenge for September is Foliage.  That could be Poinsettia, Pine Boughs, Trees, Wreaths, Holly & Berries, Pine Cones, Mistletoe, Evergreens, and much more. 
I chose boughs for my card.  I started with an ivory card. I put a piece of muted striped DSP onto it.  I stamped my ornament with warm red ink on the same ivory card stock.  The ornament is from the Stampin Up! Tags till Christmas set.  I punched out the ornament with the matching punch. I wrapped a piece of ivory crochet cotton around the hanger, knotted it then adhered the ornament to the card front with 3D foam tape. I pulled the string up and placed a hole in the card front aligning so it would be covered by the bough later.  I pulled both ends of the strings through the card front and taped them to the inside.  I cut the bough from warm green card stock with the Impression Obsession die of a branch/bough (DEI021-N). I chalked it with a couple different shades of green to add some depth. I glued it to the card front with quick dry adhesive applied with a small pointed tip making sure to cover the start of the string. It needed something more so I added 3 small dots of ivory card stock on the right hand side.

Challenge - Red and Gold

I made the card for the Challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown which is Red and Gold. We are allowed a neutral. 
I selected a red card which I cut 4.25x11 and created the fold at the top.  I added a layer of gold foil paper with Merry Christmas all over it.  I cut a Cuttlebug ornament from the same red paper.  I added a Prima gold flower and a pearl daisy confetti flower to the centre and held it all in place with a mini gold brad. I placed 3D foam tape behind the hanger and the center of the ornament and adhered it to the card front. I placed a piece of gold thread through the ornament hanger and then pulled the ends through a hole I made in the card with a push pin.  I strategically placed the hole to fall under the bough.  I cut the bough from pearl card stock with the Impression Obsession die of a branch/bough (DEI021-N).  This die requires the metal plate adapter plate to get a clean cut.  I glued it down with quick dry adhesive from a bottle with a very fine tip.

Challenge - CCT - Diecuts or Punches

I made this challenge at Cute Card Thursday which was Dies or Punches.  and All Beautiful Cards  which was Monochromatic.  I started with a warm white card.  I cut a Tim Holtz Cabinet die from designer paper in white/craft texture.  I cut the window into the shape with a QuicKutz die.  I printed the stars, snowflakes and hill in Crumb Cake and Soft Suede on the original card.  I added a layer of Soft Suede behind the curve and the bottom. I glued the cabinet window onto the card.  I added a branch die cut with Impression Obesession die of a branch (DEI021-N) in Soft Suede.  The snowflake in the curve at the top is a Martha Stewart punchie on Soft Suede.

Card Club - Feb - Bird Cage

I started with a nice soft dusty purple textured card. I layered a piece of decorative paper over the card front. I cut a Tim Holtz bird cage in royal blue.  I cut the turquoise bird with the same die and added a white wing. I cut the legs and part of the body from a brown card stock and then cut the legs from the turquoise bird and layered it over the brown. I used a marker to create the beak and eye of the bird.  I created the tag with the MS Daisy border punch and stamped a butterfly in Tempting Turquoise on it. Check out how to make the tag here. I placed the white thread in the hole at the top of the cage and added the small tag then pulled the tails through the loop. I mounted the cage to the card with 3D foam tape.  I flipped the thread ends over the inside of the card and taped them down.  I glued the bird to cage using the branch to hide the holes at the bottom of the cage.  I placed a large white and a small blue silk flower to the left of the cage and held those in place with a turquoise brad.

Card - Watercolor Ornaments

These cards are mostly color printed then I add some additional elements. I drew the ornament myself then filled it with my own watercolors scans. This gives me the ability to make them in a full range of colors. The evergreen branch was created from a photo I took this summer.  I added a string with a knot.  Top Left: I selected a true blue card stock that worked with the color of the ornament.  I cut 2 Sizzix stars, one from the blue and then one from silver glitter paper.  I added a greeting in a matching color.  I used liquid glue to adhere the stars. This one is cooler in tone. Bottom Right: This one is warmer in tone so I used a turquoise card stock for the star with a teal glitter paper.

Card Club - Blue Bird

I started with this great blue bird. It's really a post it note I bought a Michaels a while ago. I selected a white card with designer paper that coordinated with the tone of the blue in the bird. I trimmed that and glued it to the card front. I cut the leaves and the branch with the Cricut - Straight from the Nest p.42. It allows you to cut the branch then you can cut the leaves seperately in a different color and then glue them over the ones cut with the branch. Very cool! I placed my bird over the 3rd leaf on the branch. Some of the girls turned the branch around and placed the bird in the dip on that same end of the branch. Works well. I cut the wing with the Cricut - Create a Critter p.45. Once cut I embossed it with the Cuttlebug Devine Swirl folder. I glued the wing to mirror the sweep of the bird's tail. A beak defined with a white gel marker. A white brad for the eye. I used this in my All Occasion Class in April with a different sketch. Check it out. The Cricut Create machine allowed me to Auto-fill a full 6x12 page of wings. Cut 23 in one shot. That comes in handy with classes.