Decorative Magnets

I had fun a while back making liquid acrylic paint backgrounds using 4x6 photo paper. 

I lay drops of liquid acrylic color on a piece of glass, spritz it with water and then lay the photo paper on top.

It always creates wonderful colors in random patterns.

Great abstract art.

Almost always the ink is completed absorbed by the photo paper's front layer as it is meant to be.

This time I found some of the inks acted a little differently, in that some color lay on top of the surface instead of being absorbed.  It may be that I had took much liquid and it could not all be completely absorbed.

With Christmas just around the corner I have decided to make a few small gifts this year.

With these wonderful papers I chose to make decorative magnets.  Since it is photo paper I decided that I could easily print on it with the inkjet printer.  I set out find images and sayings I thought would be compelling.  I have used some sayings I gathered from the internet. I love the flip magnets which you turn over to indicate something.  Like the Clean/Dirty one for the dishwasher.  I have used some of  my Stampin Up digital sets as well.  Again, I had to keep my images and fonts to thin lines because ones with too much surface area did not absorb and stayed wet which was a bummer.  These will make great stocking stuffers.

Ready 2 Go All Occasion Stack Kit - Set 04

Angled Rectangle

I started with a ginger card base.

I chose designer paper by Graphics 45 - Communique Collection - On the Dot cut to 4.00x5.25 inches. I laid the designer paper onto the card front at an angle then adhere it.  I trimmed the excess to the card edge with scissors.

I cut the dark brown Decorative Label punchie in half crosswise then trimmed the points off with scissors.  I offset these behind the greeting.   The accent was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Split Square

I cut a 4 inch square of designer paper into 2 equal triangles by cutting top left hand corner to opposite corner with a paper cutter.   These were glued to the card front aligned to the top and the bottom.   That leaves a nice band of card color on the diagonal.

I wrapped a length of white grosgrain ribbon around the card front and knotted on the front.  Trimmed the ends on the slant.

I assembled the flower accent by putting the small flower then the large flower onto the brad.  Press the prongs apart on the back.

I added the 3D foam tape to the back of the flower accent and adhered it to the card front.

A quarter sheet insert is glued to the right hand side.

 Masculine DSP Split

I selected a deep red brown colored card.

I chose designer paper by Graphics 45 - Communique Collection - On the Dot.  I cut it to 4.00 x 5.25 inches then cut again at 3.5 inches.  Turned the small over and tape to 2 pieces back together.

Wrapped the designer paper layer with brown grosgrain ribbon and taped the ends to the back.  Adhered to the card front.

Assemble the leaf accent and adhered to the front with 3D foam tape.

Ready 2 Go All Occasion Stack Kit - Set 03

Angled Rectangle

I started with a grey card base.

I chose designer paper by Creative Imaginations - Art Warehouse - Danielle Johnson cut to 4.00x5.25 inches. I laid the designer paper onto the card front at an angle then adhere it.  I trimmed the excess to the card edge with scissors.

I cut the dark green Decorative Label punchie in half crosswise then trimmed the points off with scissors.  I offset these behind the greeting.   The accent was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Split Square

I cut a 4 inch square of designer paper into 2 equal triangles by cutting top left hand corner to opposite corner with a paper cutter.   These were glued to the card front aligned to the top and the bottom.   That leaves a nice band of card color on the diagonal.

I wrapped a length of white grosgrain ribbon around the card front and knotted on the front.  Trimmed the ends on the slant.

I assembled the flower accent by putting the small flower then the large flower onto the brad.  Press the prongs apart on the back.

I added the 3D foam tape to the back of the flower accent and adhered it to the card front.

A quarter sheet insert is glued to the right hand side.

 Masculine DSP Split

I selected a kraft colored card.

I chose a designer paper by Creative Imaginations featuring stars.  I cut it to 4.00 x 5.25 then cut again at 3.5 inches.  Turned the small over and tape to 2 pieces back together.

Wrapped the designer paper layer with ginger grosgrain ribbon and taped the ends to the back.  Adhered to the card front.

Assemble the star accent and adhered to the front with 3D foam tape.

Ready 2 Go All Occasion Stack Kit - Set 02

Hexagon Trio

I chose an ivory card.

I wrapped the ivory grosgrain ribbon across the designer paper and taped ends to the back.  Adhered it to the card front.

I adhered the 3 hexagons to the bottom half of the card below the grosgrain ribbon.

I assembled the greeting by adhering the greeting to the colored circle then to the scallop circle.  The whole greeting was then adhered over the grosgrain ribbon with 3D foam tape.

Masculine DSP Split

I selected a kraft colored card.

I chose a designer paper by Creative Imaginations featuring stars.  I cut it to 4.00 x 5.25 then cut again at 3.5 inches.  Turned the small over and tape to 2 pieces back together.

Wrapped the designer paper layer with ginger grosgrain ribbon and taped the ends to the back.  Adhered to the card front.

Assemble the star accent and adhered to the front with 3D foam tape.

Nature Sticker

I layered the nature sticker onto coordinating card stock and trimmed leaving a narrow border.  I added 3D foam tape to the 4 corners on back.

I adhered an embossed layer leaving a small border to the card front.

Adhered the strip of black card stock onto the embossed layer.

I adhered the nature sticker to the card front.

I added the aligned on the black strip

Cards for the box

I had a piece of designer paper left over from my preparation for the Compassion House class in March.

Nice masculine paper so I paired it with the Tim Holtz Jalopy mover shaper die cut. 

I added it to a dark teal card.  I aligned it along the right hand side of the card this time.

I added light blue card stock to the windows of the Jalopy as a lady at my last CHouse class had done it and I thought it worked really well.

I added a Stampin Up Modern Label punchie with a Word Window color coordinated color printed greeting.

These were both adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I started with a medium grey card base.

I added designer paper by Recess - Sugarplum Paisleys Ice Dance which was cut to 4.00 x 5.25 inches.

I highlighed the yellow in the paper with a yellow ribbon on the left hand side along the fold.


The butterfly was cut with the Sizzix Winged Beauties thinlit set from purple navy card stock.

I added a Stampin Up Modern Label punch from the same card stock as the butterfly with a Word Window greeting.

These were both adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

A couple more for the card box!

Sewing Project - Quilt 4 - Fish Strips

I have finished another quilt.  I wanted to try a QAYG strip quilt which has less stitching as there is no top stitching in this one.

This one is larger coming in at 41 inches wide and 67 inches tall.

I used a piece of fish fabric cotton as the pattern in this quilt.  I added solids in yellow, brown and black fabric. I cut 4", 3.5" and 2.5" strips.

The back is a really soft fabric but I don't know the fiber content. It seemed a shame to cut it into squares so it was a strip quilt.

I added a layer of cotton polyester white fabric as the "batting" in this quilt. I started by pinning the batting to the wrong side of the back.

I started in the center and continued to add strips then iron them over and continued the process till I got to the one edge.  I then switched and went in the other direction from the center.  It is just a series of 14 very long seams. Once the strips were in place I then squared the quilt with my rulers.  I stitched all the way around about 1/8 in from the edge.

The bulk of the quilt was a challenge for the small throat of my sewing machine.  I rolled the quilt to get it through the throat and the length created a large pile behind the machine.

This will make a nice quilt for a boy.

My niece gave me this great piece of fabric from a stash she had been given.  Thanks so much.

This quilt took less time than my regular quilts made with 9.5 inch squares.  I chose grey thread so it would blend with the back.  I added a 2.5 inch binding in black fabric sewed with black thread.
You can check binding tips here.

2019 Cardmaking - CH - Class 1

I taught my card making session at CH tonight.  I had some enthusiastic ladies participate.

This card features music paper cut to leave a small border on an ivory card. 

The flower was cut with the Sizzix Flower, Leaves & Stem #4 from black card stock.  The stem was cut to fit the length of the card. 

I poked a hole in the center of the flower with a push pin. I placed the gold sequin and Prima paper flower onto the tiny black brad and inserted into the hole I made.  I pressed the prongs apart on the inside of the card.

With no greeting it makes a great card for any occasion for a music lover.


This card makes a great one for the guys in your life.

I chose a grey card and cut the designer paper to leave a small margin and adhered it to the card front.

I wrapped the black ribbon around the card front and tied in a square knot on the front left. 

The black label was cut with the Stampin Up Deco Label framelit. I printed the pelican and punched with 2" circle punch.  It was adhered over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

I started with a deep teal card.  I cut the polka dot designer paper to leave a small border and adhered it to the card front.

I cut the flower from copper card stock with the Sizzix Daisy #4 die.  It was adhered to the card front.

With a push pin I made a hole through the card front for the brad which holds the two handmade paper flowers (teal and terracotta) in the center of the flower.

The greeting was printed in a warm blue then punched with the Stampin Up Artisan Label Punch. 

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

Card Club Kit - Set 2 - Card 4

I started with a deep warm grey green card.

I chose a designer paper by Fiskars - Kimberly Poloson - Old Fashioned Flowers/Harlequin. The 12x12 sheet was cut into six 4.00 x 5.25 inch pieces.  Those were then cut at 3.50 inches. I flipped the small piece and taped the pieces together with silver glitter washi tape.

I color printed the black greeting and punched it with the Stampin Up Word Window.  I then layered it onto the SU Modern Label punchie in black.  This greeting was adhered to the card front with two pieces of 3D foam tape.

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.

Card Making with Seniors - June - Gear Collage

I wanted a card suitable for a guy in this class so I dug out the Tim Holtz Alterations Gadget Gears by Sizzix.

I selected this multicolored polka dot designer paper from Michaels.  I selected 3 colors of card stock for these cards - rust, medium blue and pea green.

I layered quarter sheets of all three colors of card stock and cut them all at once with this original thick die.  Fast.

The greetings were printed to coordinate with the card color on ivory card stock.

I adhered the piece of designer paper from Recollections at Michaels called Disco Ball to the card front.  I assembled the collage of gears which was adhered to the top of the card. I ripped the top and bottom edge of the greeting and placed it at the bottom of the card below the gears.  It is held in place with tiny gold star brads on the left and right of the greeting.

Here's one with the blue card and the greeting put at the top instead.

Card Making with Seniors - April - Measuring Tape

I am making cards with the seniors today.

This is my masculine card for this month. I found a wood background graphic on line.  I then altered it some with photo editing software to make it bolder. I printed it on warm beige card stock.  I was trying to match the measuring tape.  I did apply some color to the background with a pale pencil crayon.  I trimmed it to 4.00 x 5.25 inches.

I cut the paper measuring tape into 6 inch lengths.  I adhered the tape on the diagonal and taped the ends to the back of the background.


I printed greetings onto a kraft card stock and then cut them out with one of the Stampin Up framelits from the Apothecary set.  It was then adhered to the card front with 2 tiny black brads. 

I decided to add a hammer and nails to my sample I put together after the class.  I think that worked out very nicely.

Into card box it goes!

Card Club - March - Birch Birthday

We have guy card this month. 

I started with the Stampin Up Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  I rubbed the background half of the folder with my Versafine Vintage Sepia ink pad.  I cut my paper 6 inches wide and 5.5 inches tall.  I ran the folder through my Big Shot.  I trimmed the embossed piece into three 2 inch pieces which I trimmed to 4.75 inch tall.  

I took a 4.25 x 5.5 inch piece of white card stock and ripped it in half.  This piece was trimmed to 5 inches tall. These were layered and glue together. 

I cut pieces of designer paper by 7gypsies - For Autumn Leaves into pieces 4 x 5.25 inches which were adhered to the front of a black card.

The birch tree accent was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape. 

I color printed the greeting on white card stock and punched them out with the SU 1.75 inch circle punch.  I designed it so the words are all aligned to the right hand side of the circle. Then the circle greeting was tucked behind the accent and glued in place.

Card Club - October - Masculine Stripes

I started with a double sided designer paper by WeRMemory Keepers - Urban Window Collection - Restoration Silk Taffeta.

I chose a warm grey card base.

I cut the designer paper to 5.25x4.00 inches then again at 3.5 inches cross wise. These pieces are tape back together so I can handle them as a single piece.

I cut some silver sticky tape to 1 inch wide and 6.00 long.  This was placed over the join and the ends were put to the back.
This layer was adhered to the card front in a landscape orientation.

I created a banner greeting in grey and about 3" long. I fussy cut around the banner along the line. I adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Card Club - May - Layered Squares

This card features layered squares.  I punched the squares with a Creative Memories 1 1/4 & 1 1/2 inch Double Square Paper Punch, which makes even borders really easy.  The smaller one is cut from the decorative card stock and the larger one from coordinating red paper. The patterned square was adhered onto the larger solid red square leaving an even border.  I created the taupe parchment layer with the square and greeting printed in navy.  This layer is adhered to the kraft card front.  I adhered four squares into the printed square.  I adhered a fifth square place on the diagonal in the center of the 4 squares. This one is adhered with 3D foam tape.  I flagged both ends of a half inch strip of the decorative card stock and adhered it below the greeting.  This makes a cool masculine card.

Card Club - April - Masculine

We have a masculine card next.

The bird images are from Graphics Fairy.  They were printed onto kraft card stock. A layer of solid card stock was then trimmed to leave a small border.  The piece of caramel seam binding is taped to the back of the colored piece then adhered to the kraft card front.  Then the left hand piece of ribbon is pulled across to the right and the bird layer is adhered over it to the left side of the card with 3D foam tape.  The seam binding is then knotted and the ends trimmed.










The second card has a green layer and greeting.  I did not align my ribbon to allow me to tie a knot so I just cut them at an angle.  I added a small oval greeting in the top right hand corner.

Card Club - Jan - Plaid HB

This is a card for a guy.  I chose a bold navy and cream plaid DSP by Graphic45 - A Proper Gentleman Collection - Cultured Reserve.  I added a cream seam binding across the DSP and adhered it to the card front leave a bit of slack.  I then tied a short length to it in knot on the left.  I color printed the greeting on cream card stock and cut it with the Stampin Up Window Frame Framelits. I added a 2 3/8" square of navy card stock behind it.  This layer was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

More Cards from Decorative Paper

Here`s a card made with acrylic paint paper in purple and pink.  It was just brushed onto heavy weight paper with a paint brush.  I tried to mix the colors where they intersected.  It`s bright paper.
I selected a purple card that coordinated.  I cut the piece of decorative paper to leave a small border of card color.  I printed the black small letters onto a quarter sheet of white card stock with registration marks to align when I die cut.  Once, printed I aligned the marks with the edges of the Sizzix Happy Phrase die and cut the word Happy.  I trimmed the white greeting layer to 3.75 x 5.25 inches and used a corner punch on all corners to add a bit of interest.  I glued the decorative paper to the card and then applied 3D foam tape to quite few areas on the greeting to keep the pieces in place.  The middle pieces in the H the middle piece in the Y.  I then added the holes for the a and the ps with 3D foam tape as well.  It`s a bit tedious but I like the effect.  I added 3 purple sequins in the top right hand corner for a bit of bling.  These are held in place with Zots.

I made a couple of baby cards with a onesie cut with the Cricut machine and the Wrap It Up cartridge.  I cut them at 2.25 inches from white card stock. I cut the acrylic paint paste paper to leave a small border of navy card.  I added a piece of white lace into which I strung a piece of dark blue 1/8 inche satin ribbon.  The ends were tucked behind the decorative paper and taped down.  This layer was then adhered to the card front.  I added a shorter piece of ribbon in the bottom right hand corner tied in a knot onto the piece in the lace.  I added a knot bow onto the onesie which is held in place with a Zot. 

I made a similar card with pink acrylic paint paper. This time I chose the landscape orientation to change it up a bit.  I cut a piece of white card stock and embossed it with the De`vine Swirls folder from Cuttlebug.  I added a piece of link pink satin ribbon wrapped over it with the ends taped to the back.  This layer was then adhered to the card front. I added a shorter length of the same ribbon and tied it in a knot on the longer piece and trimmed the ends.  I added a knot bow again to the onesie.

I selected the masculine decorative paper I had used earlier and paired it up with a bright green card which worked well.  I printed a leaf trio graphic which I designed myself in brown on ivory card stock.  I layered it with the same card stock as the card.  I added an accent strip across the bottom 1/3 of the card.  I laid a piece of gold card stock onto a strip of the card green card stock. The decorative paper does have gold accent which don`t show up well in the photo. Trimmed the ends to the card edges.  I mounted the leaf accent with 3D foam tape over the accent strip.

I made a wedding card with some simple decorative paper.  I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze - Sugar Cane is the color.  I spattered it onto white card stock with a spatter tool.  I keep some of the glaze in it`s original consistency then for the larger dots I thinned it with water and spattered again.  Once dry and ironed flat I printed a black frame onto it.  I cut the wedding couple with the Cricut and the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge.  It was cut at 4 inches with the silhouette option.  I cut it from brushed gold card stock which matched well the Glimmer Glaze.  I placed 2 small heart punchies in the top right hand corner to balance the couple in the frame.  I glued the decorative layer to the front of a black card.  Really happy with this one!

I started with this blue purple acrylic paper.  I paired it with a turquoise card.  I trimmed the decorative paper to leave a small border.  I cut the Memory Box Thanks die from the decorative paper then glued a piece of purple card stock behind it and glued the holes back into the a and k. I adhered the decorative paper to the card front. I cut a border of ovals from the same purple card stock with a thin die that I bought second hand so I don't know the maker.  Do you? Leave me a comment. I tied a bow from white seam binding around the 2 ovals in the center of the border.  I then adhered the border to the top third of the card.

Card Club - May - Rust Masculine Card

With Father's Day coming up soon I decided to make a male card.  I chose some DSP which had good colors on both sides.  I cut it to 4x5.25 inches then again at 2 inches.  I flipped the larger piece over to reveal the polka dots.  I taped the pieces together on the back and the adhered the layer to the front of a blue card.  I cut some rust corrugated card stock into 1 x 4.25 inch pieces. I placed these over the join and adhered it.  I used push pin to create holes through the layers of the card front and put in 2 gold glitter stars.  Pressed apart the prongs on the inside of the card.  I color printed the greetings and punched them with the Stampin Up Modern Label punch. I layered them with a another punchie in an accent colored card stock.  This layer was cut in half crosswise and glued off set on the right and left hand side.  The greeting was adhered to the card front wit 3D foam tape.
Left Card: DSP is graphic45 - Quilting Bee
Right Card: Little Yellow Bicycle - Acorn Hollow