Card - Birthday - Orange and Blue

A bright and cheery card for a university student just finished their first year.

I started with the flower sticker.  I then found the extra alcohol ink photo paper background I the other day. Orange and blue works.

The birthday greeting was left over from that project as well.  Trimmed large and ripped the bottom edge.

I found a sheet of  Tangerine Tango card stock and folded it in half.

Added a half sheet insert and a same sized envelope.

It's a bit late but it is now on its way.

Cardmaking - Houses

I made a slow stitching card.  Very time consuming but relaxing.

I started with the beige background fabric. 

I created the body of the house with 2 pieces of paisley fabric. Then stitched it to the background.

After aligning the chimney to edge the house body I stitched it on before the roof.

I added the roof in olive green fabric.

I added the window and the door. 

Then I added the smoke and the bird in the sky and the green grass base at the bottom.  I used gold sewing thread. 

I mounted it to a Kiwi Kiss card base with some strategically placed stitches in the four corners of the card.  This card has a half sheet insert to cover the stitching on the inside of the card. White insert and envelope.

I used some watercolor paper I made a while back.

Using the house thinlits I cut the bright watercolor paper. I then cut a chimney by hand. 

I cut a Baja Breeze house in a smaller size. 

I designed a greeting which I trimmed to leave a small border when adhered to the blue layer.

I chose a deep yellow card base onto which the layers were adhered.

White quarter sheet insert and envelope.

I drew a house which I printed on watercolor paper. 

I watercolored it with Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons. Blue house, brown roof, red chimney, yellow windows, green door, flower boxes, a bush out front and a stone walkway.

The extras were drawn with my fine tip black Sharpie marker.

Trimmed to leave a small border on an A2 card base.

Adhere to the dark green card base.

White quarter sheet insert and envelope.

I started with a Tempting Turquoise A2 card base.

I cut the middle layer from a piece of watercolor paper I created a while ago.

I cut the white layer with the next size house thinlit.

I glued the chimney cut from an extra piece of the same watercolor paper to the back of the white layer on the right hand side.  Then adhered that to the card front.

I then distressed the watercolor paper with a bit of sand paper and then glued the greeting on top of it.

This was then adhered to the white layer.

A white quarter sheet insert and envelope.

Thank You Cards and Gifts - Renovation

I managed to get my small gifts and thank you cards for folks who were involved with the renovation project at my house that started back in September and finished up a couple of weeks ago.

I am still unpacking and will be for the next few weeks.  

I had some great people working and helping during this stressful time of my life and I wanted to let them know how much I appreciated it.

I was up early this morning in my kitchen and I made some caramel popcorn.  I did not get the opportunity to do that this Christmas as I was living in temporary accommodations.  

I check off the things I needed.

1. Recipe
2. Margarine
3. Nuts
4. Popcorn
5. Corn Syrup
6. Brown Sugar
7. Stainless Steel sauce pan
8. Large yellow bowls
9. Popcorn maker and Ultra21
10. Measuring Cups
11. Stirring spoon
12. Brown Sugar

Where's the brown sugar.  After checking my packing list most of my food Tupperware had not been unpacked.  After unloading 3 boxes I found the brown sugar.  I am good to go.

I made 3 bags of caramel popcorn and 6 cards.

It was great to be back in my kitchen doing what I have done for years at Christmas time.  Well, this year there was a 6 week delay but I enjoyed do it.  I expect the recipients will enjoy the popcorn.

Next the thank you cards. 

I decided to use watercolor paper I made a long while ago with a clear embossed black greetings.

The greeting is printed on vellum then heat embossed with clear powder.

I downloaded some free graphics from online.

The card stock is coordinated with the piece of watercolor paper then the vellum is trimmed and held in place with brads

The card stock is Pear Pizzaz in the A2 size.

The card stock is Brilliant Blue with the watercolor paper trimmed to leave a small border.

The greeting is cut to 3.5 inches square and aligned along the right hand side.  Held in place with pink mini brads.

The cards are for the tradesmen that worked on the project, the managers that were involved, the staff at the temporary accommodation, and my insurance agent.

The gifts were delivered and were graciously received.

The card stock is Stampin Up Island Indigo.

The greeting is placed along the bottom edge to soften the pink in the watercolor paper.

Held in place with silver tiny brads.

The card stock is SU Soft Suede.

The greeting was just designed with fonts on my computer.

Ripped the top and bottom edge of the vellum.

Held in place with brown mini brads.

The card stock is SU True Thyme.

The greeting was aligned with the bottom edge and held in place with tiny black brads.

The card stock is SU Elegant Eggplant.

The greeting was aligned with the top edge and held in place with deep purple mini brads. 

Watercolor - Blue and Yellow

A belated birthday card for my friend.

I was away last week taking care of Mom when the date went by.

I created a soft blue and yellow background wash which I allowed to dry completely. 

I chose tulips and daisy like flowers for this watercolor.  I placed my blue flowers a little too far to the edges for a perfect composition but I am still happy with it.  Mixed a warm green for the foliage. Added a bit of blue spatter.

I trimmed the watercolor once it was dry.  I chose a Brilliant Blue card base. I added the blue ribbon along the bottom half of the watercolor over the stems and leaves.  I added a blue greeting punched with the SU Modern Label punch, adhered with 3D foam tape.

I will get it to her shortly.

Winter Birthday Card

A birthday for my Dad who celebrates his birthday this week.

I will see him tomorrow.

Dark green A2 card base, spattered with Gleams White acrylic paint.

I cut 3 trees with the Hampton Art Tree thin die.  I chose dark and warm green card stock.

I added a bit of white to the dark one I put in front.

A SU Modern Label punchie greeting in the bottom right adhered with 3D foam tape.

Sympathy - Tragedy strikes

This card is for my aunt who lost her granddaughter in an airplane crash this week.

The young lady had moved to California with her husband.  She had just finished her education.  Due to COVID she had not been back to visit and now it will not happen.

She was 33 years old with her life in front of her.  It is very sad.

This is one of my photographs with a filter applied to create a black and white stylized evergreen branch.  Printed on heavy card stock, trimmed to leave a small border and mounted to the front of a Kiwi Kiss card base.

I used a Modern Label punchie with a color printed greeting. Chalked with green to coordinate and mounted with 3D tape. 

Balloon Cards

I painted some balloons with watercolor.  I chose my Watercolor Wonder Crayons from Stampin Up to match the card stock I am using. 

I did draw a slight image to follow in pencil on heavy white card stock.  

I chose Always Artichoke green, More Mustard yellow and Bravo Burgundy with Cherry Cobbler red for the balloons.  

I added strings with a black permanent marker once the piece was completely dry and pressed flat.  I signed the art as well. 

I added a length of Bravo Burgundy grosgrain ribbon across the bottom o the card with ends taped to the back.  

I added a Modern Label punchie color printed greeting with a More Mustard offset to match the card base in the same color.  This was adhered with 3D foam tape.

Another balloon card.  I chose Old Olive, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy and Real Red card stock for the balloons.  

I cut them out of scraps of cardstock with my Create Cricut electronic cutting machine using the Create a Critter cartridge.   I cut them at 3", 2.75" and 2.5" inches.  I tied black thread onto them for strings.  I added white highlight spots on each of them with a white opaque marker.

Added a piece of sky designer paper which I warmed up with some warm yellow chalk pastel applied with a stipple brush and adhered to the front of an Old Olive 5x7 card base.  I then assembled the balloon bouquet with the ones farther back adhered to the sky paper, then the next ones with 1 layer of 3D foam tape then the small red one in front with 2 layers of 3D foam tape.   This adds depth to the composition.

I taped all the string to a central spot.

I added a ripped color printed greeting over the strings with 3D foam tape.

Christmas Card Challenge - June - Dove

The challenge for June is Dove. These card feature a die cut white dove.

The watercolor background is one I did earlier.  I cropped it to square and applied a fade to blur the right hand side edge. 

I drew the olive branch and added it to the digital background. Added the sentiment below and printed this on white card base.

I die cut the dove from heavy card stock with the Sizzix Green Dove die.  It was then mounted to the card front aligning it on the olive branch.

The 2 cards below are using copies of this card which I had messed up when printing. I trimmed them to leave a small border and mounted them to coordinating blue card bases.

Added the die cut dove.

A few more cards for the Christmas card box.

Mother's Day Card

I made this card for my Mom.  She is so precious to me.

Her favorite color is blue so I made blue poppies for her card.

I chose a true blue card base.  I added a piece of watercolor designer paper cut to leave a small border.

I cut the Memory Box Row of Poppies die from blue green and grey blue card stock.  I cut the flowers from the grey and glued them onto the green.  I chalked the flowers to add some blue shading to them.

I cut a piece of the blue green card stock the width of the card and ripped the top edge.  Adhered to card front with double sided tape.

Printed the greeting on white card stock, ripped the top edge again, aligned the bottom edges and trimmed to the edge of the card.

Card - Coffee To Go Cup

I was seeing so many of these wonderful cups on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Spring and Summer Blog Hop that I wanted to make one.

I tried several ideas but this one worked the best. I found a cup graphic on line and printed it several times on different papers.  I then fussy cut the cup, the wrapper and the lid into separate pieces.  I printed a circle coffee graphic.  I then chalked these pieces with deep blue.

I then assembled the cup pieces and adhered the circle onto the wrapper with 3D foam tape. 

I chose a pea green card base.  I found a piece of deep blue textured card stock and wrapped a piece of blue seam binding around it.  It was then adhered to the front of the card.  I adhered the cup focal point to the blue layer with 3D foam tape. 

I am really happy with this card. 

Card - Library Tea Break

Another card for the Coffee Loving Cardmaker Spring and Summer Blog Hop.
 

I printed the Tea and Book graphic on white card stock.  I trimmed it to 3.75x5.00 inches.

I chose a blue purple card base in the A2 size in the portrait orientation.

I chose a piece of warm caramel card stock to accent the main element.  I placed 2 pieces  - one in the top left and one in the bottom right corner leaving a small border. They were adhered with double sided tape.

The tea cup layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape leaving a small border.

I added a photo corner punchie in the top right hand corner made from the same warm caramel card stock.

I spattered the front with a bit of denim blue watercolor. 

Card - Japanese Tea

I made this card for the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Spring and Summer Blog Hop.

I started with the Japanese Tea Set graphic in gorgeous grey and deep red colors.

I trimmed it to 3.75" x 5".   I found a deep red A2 card base and a coordinating grey layer to go with the tea image.

I adhered the grey layer to the card front.

I added 3 red mini brads in the upper left hand corner and the kanji for TEA in the right hand upper corner.

This layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I am happy with this card.

This was a prize winner in the blog hop! #794
 

Old Card Finds - Christmas Cards

I found a stash of very old cards which were made prior to my having a blog. 

This card features a wood mounted stamp that has gone to the thrift shop.  I stamped in black ink and trimmed it square.  I adhered it to a layer of blue card stock.  That layer is held by black photo corners.  I black grosgrain ribbon was wrapped around a piece of white card stock and knotted to the right hand side. The dove layer was adhered over the black ribbon.  This layer was then adhered to a card base of the same color as previous blue layer.


This a very simple card.

It has a greeting color printed in warm blue and I ripped the left hand side.

It is layered onto beautiful damask foil paper which the scan does not do it justice.

I added a warm blue card stock layer behind the damask paper which leaves a small border.

These layers were then adhered onto a textured white card. 

It has a seasonal insert.

Very interesting to see that type of card I was making over 10 years ago.  When stored properly they are still usable.  Great!

Thank You Cards

These cards are for those people who provided support during the process.  For those of you who have been through it - you need your friends at a time like this.

This card started with a bright green card. 

I added a mottle pattern piece of designer paper in bright greens which was cut to 4.00 x 5.5 inches.  It was adhered leaving a small border.

I wrapped a white doily around the left edge and adhered it to the card front.

I added a navy greeting punched with the 2 inch circle punch with a larger navy circle cut with one of the Spellbinder Nestabililites thin-lits.  This was adhered with 3D foam tape.

This card started with a Kiwi Kiss card base.  

I added a piece of the same mottled bright green designer paper. I wrapped a piece of light blue seam binding around the designer paper and knotted it to the front.  It was adhered to the card front.

I added a label cut with the Spellbinder Nestabilities Labels 13 in the same card stock.  I adhered a light blue card stock star cut with the Stampin Up Star Framelits and a silver star confetti held in palce with a green mini brad. The label was then adhered to the card front.

I added the oval greeting which was printed in blue and punched with the 2 inch oval punch.  It was adhered over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

Doggie Birthday Cards

I was asked to make some birthday cards for her granddaughters with a card she received for her birthday.

I managed to get two 5x7 cards made because it was a trifold card.

This is the full card front.  I had to cut it down a bit on the length.

I adhered it on a pink card base.

I then printed a greeting on a piece of the same pink card in Rose Red.  I trimmed the piece to .5 inch by 3 inches.  I then used a corner rounder on the top left and right corners. It was adhered to the card front aligned along the stitched line with 3D foam tape.

I placed a blank white sheet insert.





I trimmed the cut out layer of the card to just under 5 inches wide.

I chose a warm white card base to coordinate with the gate in the image.

For the greeting,  I measured to determine where I could place it then color printed it onto the card front when I printed the credits on the back.

The doggie layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape aligned to leave a small border on the bottom.

I placed a blank white sheet insert.

Son in Law Card Order

I had a friend ask for a birthday card for her son in law.

I recycled a landscape element from a commercial card.  I trimmed it close to the border.

I printed a custom greeting layer on a piece of textured card stock.  I chose a green color to match the textured card base.

These were layered then adhered to the card front.

I added a gold star sequin in the bottom left hand corner held in place with a gold tiny brad.

Card Club Kit - Set 2 - Card 3

I chose a deep warm blue card.

The designer paper is Graphics 45 - A Proper Gentleman Collection - Cultured Reserve.  It is a great plaid with navy and ivory.  The 12x12 was cut into 6 pieces measuring 5.25x4.00 inches.

I punched the top edge of the designer paper with the Fiskars Leave it to Weaver Border Punch. I did the center first then added a couple on each side. I strung the ribbon through the slots starting in the center and return to it, tie a knot, and trimmed the ends.  This layer was adhered to the card front.

The greeting includes a sailing image from CLKER. It was printed on ivory card stock. I then trimmed the layer very close to the frame. Once, trimmed I cut 4 pieces of 3D foam and placed them in each corner of the sailing greeting.

Adhere the greeting to the bottom of the card leaving even borders on three sides.

Christmas Card Challenge - January - Yellow Star

This is my first Christmas Card challenge for 2018.

I chose yellow and black as the color combo for this card.  I selected a black card base.

I used the Stampin Up Bright and Beautiful stamp set.  I chose the medium sized star and filled it with yellow and outlined in black.  I cut it with the corresponding framelit from the Star Framelit set from SU.

I cut the printed star and a corresponding solid card from Summer Sun card stock.  I layered the stars onto each other then placed them onto the open card front and used a push pin to make a hole in all layers.  I installed the yellow mini brad in the center of the stars and then shifted the yellow star to create the 10 pointed star.

I used the hole in the card front to string some yellow thread through several times to create the star rays as shown.  I tied the thread and taped them in place on the inside of the card.  The star accent was mounted aligned with the rays and adhered with 3D foam tape.  I trimmed the greeting with even borders and used a corner rounder punch on the top right and bottom left hand corners.  The greeting was adhered to the bottom right hand corner of the card with 3D foam tape.

I am making fewer cards this year as I used quite a few less this year.

Christmas Card - Embossed Primitive Star

This card features a classic color combination - blue and yellow. 

I used the Sizzix - Bigz Die and Embossing Folder - Primitive Star #2 for this card.  The star was cut from golden yellow card stock then embossed. 

I chose a designer paper by Creative Imaginations called Blue Wash on a navy card.  This is a large half sheet card.  The designer paper layer was cut to leave a nice border of the card color showing. 

I added navy blue star sequin held in place by a tiny navy star brad.  The star was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape in the top half of the card to leave room for the greeting. 

The large banner greeting "Merry and Bright" has it's colors coordinated with the rest of the card.  The flag ends were cut with the Stampin Up Banner Triple punch on a 1.5 inch tall and 5.5 inch wide card stock greeting. 

Card Club - October - Blue Bird

I chose the decorative layer first. I then chose a navy blue card with a coordinating blue grey layer which was cut to leave a small border.

I wrapped a piece of blue trim across the front of the bird decorative layer and taped the ends to the back.  This layer was then adhered to the card front.

I placed the white silk flower in the top right hand corner.  Using a push pin I created a hole through the card front for the brad. I placed the blue flower then the white flower onto the blue brad then the prongs were inserted through and pressed apart on the inside of the card.

The greeting was color printed in navy onto white card stock then punched with the Stampin Up Decorative Label punch. I placed 3D foam tape behind the greeting lengthwise as to not interfere with the trim.  The greeting was adhered over the trim in the center of the card.