One Sheet Wonder - Card Set 2

Another set of cards made with the Disco Ball designer paper.  This time I used the OSW2 cutting plan.

I used Pea Green, Salmon and Brown card bases. 
The designer paper was cut into 2" stripes.  I did not want to cut off the blue end so I glued the strip to the card then trimmed the extra with scissors. 
I cut my 1/2 ivory strip in half and placed one on the top and bottom edge. I added a royal blue butterfly created with the Martha Stewart Butterfly punch.



On the left card I glued the strip on the left and used a rust colored butterfly.

On the right I cut the strip of designer to 4.25 inches. Placed it across the card and added 1/4 inch ivory strips of card stock along with a brown butterfly.

One Sheet Wonder - Card Set1

I am making a set of cards for friends who have lost a loved one this week.

I am using the One Sheet Wonder concept.  For these cards I used my OSW1 layout.  I used a very versatile designer paper with a bunch of colors called Disco Ball by Recollections.

The layouts can be change as desired.  Here I have chosen landscape and placed my designer paper on the left hand side.  I am using ivory card stock strips to coordinate with the designer paper. Here I chose brown but I see that green would have worked well also. On the next set!

I was able to choose 3 different colors for my card bases because of the wonderful colors in the designer paper. I chose blue and salmon. For the bottom 2 I put a brown butterfly created with the Martha Stewart Butterfly punch.  On the first I chose blue for the butterfly.  They are held in place with Bling Zots.

Harvesting and Preserving

My sister and I had a conversation about chutney. She had received some yummy plum chutney from a friend and we decided to get together and see what we could make.  After some research on the web I decided on an Apricot Ginger Raisin Chutney and she decided on a Black Currant Chutney.  This is my chutney in the pot while it cooked down.   Once the right consistency and flavor we put it into jars and processed in hot water bath for 15 minutes.  

I am enjoying mine with cheese and crackers on these hot days of +30C temperatures.  I chose to put cranberries and dark raisins in mine instead of golden raisins.  I think I will go with golden raisins next time so it gives it more of a warm look and cut back on them as well.  I loved the taste before processing but I am finding it a bit too sweet and not enough punch from the cider vinegar eating it a few weeks after processing.  I am appreciating putting away my own food rather than depending on stores for over sweet and over processed condiments.  With the abundance of fruit at this time of year it is ideal to put some summer in a jar for winter.

With no more access to Mom's great raspberry patch I was wondering if I would get some this year.  A friend with raspberries was going away for the weekend at the end of June and I could have the one day of picking the raspberries if I watered the plants and garden.  I was is in!  With a great hose that reaches everything watering was no big deal.

I picked less than a gallon but I had my fill of eating them fresh and I made Raspberry Bavarian which was one of my favorite things my Mom made.  I have posted the recipe before in this post.  I got 8 servings by doubling the recipe and I have enjoyed it as a treat for at least week.  Perfect!

On July 24th my sister and I visited our favorite Saskatoon u-pick farm for our yearly picking. We picked later in the day around 4:30 pm.  Some trees were completely ripe and the picking was great!


I picked 3 gallons. After cleaning I froze 5 bags of  fruit which will taste great on my breakfast during the winter months.  I also brought some home fresh to eat for the week.  Yummy in my tummy.



Sharing with Share Your Cup #301 hosted my Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson.

Thank You Cards

I am working on a supply of thank you cards for an upcoming project.

I started with a medium blue card base.  I cut a  piece of striped designer paper to leave a small border. I wrapped a length of red cotton ribbon around it and knotted to the right.

The greeting is blue printed on the Stampin Up Decorative Label punchie. I placed 3D foam behind it and adhered it over the ribbon on the left hand side.

I created this second card with leftover Musical non shed glitter paper cut to leave a small border on the black card.

The greeting was printed and cut with one of the  Stampin Up Apothecarty Framelits.

Once cut, I made two holes in the bumps with a push pin and inserted black mini brads and spread the prongs on the back.

I then adhered it to the card front with 3D foam tape.

A lovely elegant thank you card.

HB Stripes & Glitter

I am cleaning up my desk and found this half finished card.

The card base in royal blue.  I ripped a piece of striped designer paper to about 2/3 then I finished the 4.25x5.5 inch piece with blue non shed glitter paper. This layer was adhered to the card front.  I cut the greeting with the Memory Box Jumbled Happy Birthday thin lit.  The happy in the same blue glitter paper and the other in green designer paper. These were adhered onto the striped paper.  I added 5 gold star sequins below on the glitter paper, held in place with Bling Zots.

My Walk - Water Drops

I found lots of water drops on my walk yesterday morning.  Beside the fact that the grounds are on automatic sprinkler system it had rained the night before.

The pink Impatiens flower had lovely sprinkling of water drops on it.

The grass had water drops clinging to them as the sun was warming them and soon they would be no more.

The holly plant had its points out and large drops had accumulated on their leaves.

The hibiscus looked a little soaked and not necessarily so happy about it.  The blooms are so fragile.

The plastic bag in the garbage can had condensation drops on it.

Another Impatiens bloom with lovely drops!

Sharing with these for Mosaic Monday #95 hosted by Maggie at Normandy Life.

Photo Card Gift Set - Donation

Another set of 5x7 inch photo cards.  The process went a little better this time around.






















Above is the Tree Swallow
On the left - Great Scaup, Barn Swallow, Black Capped Chickadee, Red Wing Black Bird and the neighbourhood Cat.
On the right - Pink Dahlia


































I refurbished a card box by wrapping it with burgundy mulberry paper.  I cut a 7x7 inch white card stock liner. 

I then created a spacer insert for the top of the box. 

Photo Card Gift Set - Donation

I made a set of photo cards in the 5x7 format which is larger than the standard A2 size I normally make.

I adhered one of my photographs in 4x6 size to the front which were individually signed. 

For this set I selected flowers in the set. 

I chose the following and put 2 cards of the same in the box.

Red Dahlia

Yellow Lily

Pink Cosmos

Purple Allium





Making larger cards was challenging in the sense that I need new supporting documents, new envelopes, and new packaging.




This is being donated as a prize for a charity event in the fall.

Christmas Card Challenge - Aug - Gold Nativity

I'm getting back to my Christmas Card challenge.  For August the prompts were Gold - Nativity.

I chose a set of coordinating designer paper by Graphic 45 - Twas the Night Before Christmas Collection - Twas the Night Before Christmas stripes and HO HO HO Snowflake.

I chose a warm green card and onto which I adhered a piece of snowflake paper to the front leaving a small border.
I cut the label with the Sizzix Frame, Back Ornate #8 die from the striped designer paper. I used the Stampin Up Slot Punch to create holes for the ribbon.  I ran a piece of ivory twill tape across the label through the slot and wrapped the ends inside the card and taped them down.

I cut the nativity with the Penny Black Manger die from green card stock. I punched a piece of gold card stock with a 2 inch circle punch. I layered these together and placed it in the center of the label with a gold star brad.

I prefer the design with red cotton ribbon instead of the twill tape.  I replaced the gold star brad with a red one.

Keep an eye out as I try to catch up to the challenges I missed.  I will be adding them to the first of the appropriate month.

Fancy Folds - Retirement

I made this card for a friend who is retiring soon. 

I chose a deep teal card with designer paper by Blue Fern Studios - Paisley and Vine - Bohemian. I cut the designer paper was cut to leave a small border.

I made a cut half way down and into the center of the rectangle. I scored from the end of the slit to the corners.  The paper flap was then folded back onto it's self.  These were tacked down with some double sided tape.

The greeting is dark brown and gold scallop punchies layered then I put a deep teal circle and a vellum greeting layer held in place with a teal mini brad.  The accent is place in the center and held in place with 3D foam tape.

I am including a card making kit so she can make cards at the lake.

My inspiration are these cards.

Exchange Cards - August

I cracked the seal on this die this morning.  It has been years since I purchased it on sale for a good price.

I chose a pink card for this bright and cheery embossed designer paper.  I adhered the DSP to the card front leaving a small border.

I cut the flower from black card stock.  It is designed for a larger card so I had to cut down the stem to fit my A2 card. I glued the flower then adhered the stem below then cut off the extra leaves and stem to the card edge.

I added a yellow handmade paper by Prima to the center of the flower and held it in place with a tiny black brad.

It would make a punchy birthday card.

For this card is chose a piece of designer paper by Basic Grey.  It features several colors and I chose a light blue card base for this paper.  It was cut to leave a small border and adhered to the card front.

I glued the flower and the stem to the designer paper and trimmed the stem to the edge of the card.

I placed a pink Prima handmade paper flower in the center held in place with a tiny blue brad.

These are off to my card exchange partners for August.

Cards to Gallery - Decorative Paper

This decorative paper which I made a while back was so bold I chose to use a small amount of it.

I punched squares with my Creative Memories Double Square Punch with the smaller one.  I punched black squares with the larger one. Coordinated size punches makes this design easy to make. I used a corner rounder punch on 2 of the corners then placed one of the square corners in the center.

I printed the white layer with the guidelines for the squares and the french greeting on the right.  Once the squares were adhered I glued it to the front of a blue card.

I added small brads in the bottom right hand square.

 I chose a piece of decorative paper with minimal color.  I coordinated the flower die cut in purple tones.  It was cut with the Sizzix Daisy #4 die. 

I adhered the decorative paper to a deep purple card base.  I tacked down the daisy with the stem framing this bright splatter on the right.

I made a hole in the center of the daisy with a push pin. I stacked the flowers starting with the silver flower sequin and ending with the large white on then placed them on the tiny white brad. I placed the prongs of the brad through and spread the prongs apart on the inside of the card.


Great all occasion card.

I started with this great decorative paper in yellow and green tones. 

I chose a bright yellow card. I trimmed the paper to leave a small border, wrapped a piece of celery green grosgrain ribbon across the top and taped the ends to the back.
I then glued it to the card front.

I added 3 yellow brads on the ribbon on the left hand side. I added a yellow bee accent on the right and used a black marker to create a trail across the card.

Cards to Gallery - Photos

I am delivering cards to the french Gallery today.

This is my photo of early spring growth on a Japanese Bayberry - Rose Glow branch.

The branch leads your eye through the photo to the bright burgundy leaves on the right hand side.  Nice pollen specks on the leaf adds a bit of texture to the the smooth leaves.

Alberta Rose photos are always popular around here. 

Having a bit of a bug in the center adds some interest and contrast to the center.

The leaves lead you to the pink bloom on the left.

Again, a slight diagonal presentation from bottom left hand corner.



 

I took this photo this spring.  I was so anxious for it to arrive considering the long winter we had.

I loved the beautiful curve to the leaf which frames the pussy willow very nicely.  It keeps your eye in the photo.

Lovely soft background ensures the focus is on the one furry flower bud.

Gift Box of All Occasion Cards - Donation

I made a gift box of all occasion cards for an upcoming charity event.

I included 12 cards with white envelopes with blank inserts.  A few have greetings but most can be used for any occasion.

I started with a black card base.  I cut a 6 inch circle with my Creative Memories Cutter.  I then cut the circle in half.  I aligned the straight edge to the right hand side of the card and adhered it to the card front.  I trimmed the top and bottom of the half circle to the card edge.  I used the wonderful music designer paper.

I added a black die cut flower and then a metallic Prima and a small black die cut one.  These are held in place with a mini gold brad.


This is a similar card with the straight edge on the left hand side this time.

I aligned 9 handmade paper flowers by Prima in warm tones along the curved edge.  I alternated the colors from tan, ivory and a rosy taupe color.

They are held in place with a tiny copper brad with a small black sequin in the center.

This card features polka dot designer paper by Fancy Pants Designs - Like Father Like Son - Stud Muffin.
I ripped the right hand side of the designer paper then adhered the straight side to the left hand side of a forest green card.  I added a piece of celery grosgrain ribbon wrapped around the card front and knotted it.

I created the greeting accent with a warm green scalloped circle, topped with a 1.25 circle of the same color as the card, then a 1" circle stamped greeting in chocolate brown.

With the wonderful colors in this designer paper several options were possible for the car color.  Here I have selected a terra cotta colored card base.  I ripped both edges then adhered it to the card front.  I wrapped a piece of celery grosgrain ribbon across the front of the card and taped the ends on the inside of the card.

I created an accent with a scallop circle, then a blue smooth circle then 2 layered butterflies.  I held these pieces together with a white tiny brad. The accent was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Very similar cards with the half circles on the left edge then the right hand side.

An accent was created with silk and handmade paper flowers.  This is  held in place with a green mini brad.

I added a grey knitting ribbon wrapped around the card front and knotted on the front.  I added a few more from my stash to make a total of 12.

Recent Pics

I took this photo yesterday morning.

As I was driving the sky was blue, pink and yellow but about 5 minutes later the colors are gone and I got the yellow shot.

I love the pronounced circle of the sun.

It was very early in the morning and the coolness was very much appreciated.

I was off to water my row of flowers as well as friend's garden and flower pots.

This is the first summer I cannot pick raspberries at Mom's since they moved to senior housing last August.  I really want to have enough for Raspberry Bavarian.  I got enough I am sure.  Will be making that this week.

Watering the plants was nice when doing it in the early morning.

Love the water drops on rose leaves.


I have read a couple of books recently.

The one on the left I think is the first for Maeve Binchy.  It was a wonderful story about a girl from England who is sent to Ireland during the war.  She lived with a family known by her mother for 5 years.  The Irish girl became her best friend.

Interesting relationships in this book.

The Last Lecture is a touching true story by the author who wrote a last lecture for his children.

This book holds many truths and lessons to live a great life.

Very insightful thoughts and very much appreciated.

Sharing with Mosaic Monday #94 hosted by Maggie at Normandy Life.