Card Club - April - Square Frame Photo

I'm holding another Card Club class today.

I started with a 4" photo featuring a beautiful butterfly. I cut it with the Die-namics Stitched Square Frame thin dies which gives me the frame and the inner square. I trimmed the inner square with the paper cutter to make it a bit smaller than the opening of the frame. I chose a turquoise card which matched the butterly very well.  I adhered the stitched frame to the card front.  The center square is adhered with 3D foam tape to raise it a bit.  Now the border of blue shows through the frame.  The greeting was color printed onto the card stock before I adhered my layers.

Love it!







I see that on this one I forgot to trim the center square so there is only a shadow on the center vs the frame.

Card Club - April - One Sheet Wonder

This card is designed on the One Sheet Wonder concept which allows many cards to be made with a limited amount of designer paper.
This one is Stampin Up  Print Pattern in Sahara Sand with the matching card stock.  The piece of designer paper is adhered to the left hand side of a wide card. The strip of solid card stock is glued over the right hand edge of the designer paper.




The greeting if from the So Happy For You stamp set in the same color as the card was trimmed with scissors to the frame. The greetings were cut to 3 inches. It was then layered onto a square of white card stock.  This layer is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape centered on the card front. The second card is Really Rust. 

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 - April - Eyelet Lace

A great feminine card for this class featuring eyelet lace. I pulled a length of satin 1/8" ribbon through the holes in the lace. Trimmed the ribbon to the length of the lace, saving the small length for later.  I then taped the ends to the inside of the card. I adhered the flower layer to the solid card stock layer. This accent was then adhered to the card front with 6 pieces of 3D foam tape on the left hand side of the card.  I then tied the short piece of ribbon onto the ribbon on the right hand side and trimmed the ends with scissors. 

The second card features a marigold and a golden yellow card with a coordinating satin ribbon into the white lace. 

Macro Monday2

I was on a visit to the Conservatory this afternoon.  It was gorgeous out but not too many flowers out there just yet.

Foxglove in it's purple garb.  I love the little hairs visible on the inside of it's bell blossom.

This is an orange orchid.  I should have taken a pic of it's name but didn't and could not find anything on line to help me out.

This tiny rose bud was just the right size.  My focus is not a tight as I would have liked but it's very cute. Very classic look.

















This was a tiny cactus in a terra cotta pot near the gift shop.  It was not taller than 2 inches.  I loved the star like thorns.  They did not appear very dangerous but maybe it's because they are babies yet.

The red berry photo turned out quite nice.  I love the shape of the leaves and the fact that the 2 leaves and the berry form a nice triangle.

Share Your Cup - Spring is Here

I captured these images on my walks this week.  This kids are out playing soccer and the leaves on the trees are budding and soon they will have a crown of green to display.







This is a cool tool.  It was gifted to me by a friend who sews.  It is very handy.  It sits at the edge of your work space and as you work it holds your discards.  At the end of the session it is easily dumped and the mess is quickly cleaned up.  This works for paper crafters, quilters, and other crafters.  The rectangle at the top is filled with rice or walnut shells which provides the weight and can be used as a pin cushion.  I understand it makes a great remote control holder on an arm of a chair or sofa.  Great idea.  Thanks Ada.

I hosted our women's fellowship group today.  The sun was shining, tea and coffee was made and a few healthy snacks were put out.  We spread the responsibilities around so it's not a burden on any one person. The hostess provides the beverages, another brings the snacks and another does devotions.  The devotion was on Seeds of Peace based on the life of Henry Kissinger so Joan brought cilantro growing in a navy blue pot. I will endeavor to have it thrive.  I did a bit of a talk on connecting women.  I share a post shared by Podso this week on Tea for Two.  The idea is to always be ready to share tea with a friend who needs encouragement.  I asked if I could share the concept with the group. She included a couple more ideas in her email and I really liked this one.  Hospitality versus Entertaining which is a blog post by Jen Wilkin.  We need to be real, authentic, and put ourselves aside to serve another.

Garden Week - Card

I made this card for the Home Page Card Challenge at CST.  The challenge is to choose a holiday in April and make a card to go with it.  I chose Week 2 which is Garden Week.
I chose one of my 4 inch photos featuring a beautiful pink tulip. I cut it with the Die-namics Stitched Square Frame thin dies which gives me the frame and the inner square. I trimmed the inner square with the paper cutter to make it a bit smaller than the opening of the frame. I chose a pink card which matched the tulips very well.  I adhered the stitched frame to the card front.  The center square is adhered with 3D foam tape to raise it a bit.  Now the border of pink shows through the frame.  I embossed the bottom edge of the card with the Cuttlebug Nathaniel`s Penwork border embossing folder.  I will have to work out how to get it centered on the card but it is the perfect width so I will work it.

Card Exchange Group Cards

I started with the ink background. This is done with by placing a variety of ink onto an acrylic plate and pressing a piece of card stock onto it to capture the ink. The ink can be stamp pad re-inkers, liquid acrylic, or any other dye based ink. I stamped the SU Print Pattern Background stamp onto it with Ballet Blue craft ink in hopes to be able to emboss it.  The powder did not stick well. I chose a Stampin Up Apricot Appeal card which coordinated well.  I cut a set of flowers with the Flower Fair Thinlit set. The large flower is Marina Mist as I did not have Ballet Blue which was embossed with the Polka Dot Folder, then the medium is a repeat of Apricot Appeal, then the center is Starfruit card stock. The leaves were cut from Starfruit as well. The greeting is stamped with the Little Birthday Cheer Stamp set with Kiwi Kiss ink onto Apricot Appeal and punched with the Modern Label punch. It is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

 I chose my ink background to coordinate with Stampin Up Apricot Appeal again. This time I stamped the Triple Treat Flower Stamp Set onto the vellum with Garden Green craft ink and clear embossed it.  The greeting from the Sweet Essentials Stamp set is handled the same way.  I stamped the flower again on Apricot Appeal and punched it out with the Five Petal punch.  It is adhered over the vellum flower with 3D foam tape.  I ripped the edges of the vellum with a deckle edge ruler but it was not as effective as I had hoped.  The vellum ends are folded to the inside of the card and taped down. 
These cards are headed to the girls in my Card Exchange Group.

Bright Colors Birthday

I made this card for someone celebrating a birthday this month.  I chose a Kelly green card based on the ink background decorative paper I selected which featured yellows and green.  I cut the background paper to leave a medium border around the edge of the card and adhered it to the card front.  I stamped the Watercolor Daisy from Hampton Art in Paprika Versacolor ink on vellum and clear embossed it.  I ripped both sides then placed it on the front of the card, folded the ends to the inside and taped them down to the inside of the card.  I put a mini yellow brad in the center of the flower by making a hole with a push pin, inserting the prongs through and pressing them apart on the inside of the card.  I added a Stampin Up Word Window sentiment in green.  The word is from a small clear stamp set I bought at Michaels a long time ago.

Submitting to the Come and Get It Card Challenge - Bright Colors.

Sympathy - One Layer Geometric

After checking the challenge at Less is More a little more closely it suggested that the card should include geometric or pattern. 
I designed a new card which meets the challenge more closely.
I chose several Stampin Up digital images.
Classic Dad - Diamond background
Wonderful Wings - Butterfly 2
Teeny Tiny Wishes - With Sympathy
Punch Shapes - Modern Label Punch
I chose Certainly Celery for the diamond pattern background and Night of Navy for the butterfly, sentiment and Modern Label punch.  I put the diamond layer on the bottom half of the Whisper White card. I placed the butterfly above the diamond layer and the sentiment onto the label punch shape onto the diamond pattern.  I placed texture with a scored line around the card edge.

Submitting to the Less Is More - 271 - One Layer Card Challenge. 

Sympathy - One Layer Card

Another sympathy card for a one layer card challenge.
I chose several Stampin Up digital images.
Everything Eleanor - Flourish Frame
Wonderful Wings - Butterfly 2
Teeny Tiny Wishes - With Sympathy
Punch Shapes - Modern Label Punch
I chose Soft Sky for the frame, a central circle and the Modern Label punch shape and Night of Navy for the butterfly and sentiment.  I layered the butterfly over the circle in the frame and the sentiment onto the label punch shape.

Submitting to the Less Is More - 271 - One Layer Card Challenge.

Sympathy - Lattice Die

I needed several sympathy cards so I thought I would participate in a challenge at the same time.

I started with a Stampin Up Tangerine Tango card.  I cut a piece of Whisper White to leave a nice border.  I then, embossed it with the SU Stripes Embossing Folder.  This layer was adhered to the card front.  I cut a piece of Pool Party with the SU Lattice Die.  I adhered it to the top 2/3 of the card with Bling Zots on the four largest intersections.  This works well as it is being adhered to a textured layer.  I stamped the sentiment from the Simply Sketched Stamp Set onto Whisper White card stock with Pumpkin Pie classic ink.  I punched the right hand side with the Banner Triple punch then I punched a So Saffron piece of card stock to align on the left and leave a border on the top, bottom and right hand side.







Submitting to the following challenge:
SU FabFri #84 - color challenge 

Wood Board Birthday

I started with a sheet from the Stampin Up Adventure Bound DSP stack 4.5x6.5 inches.  I chose this wood board one from the great selection.  I then picked a piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock.  Based on the challenge sketch I cut the DSP into several strips of various sizes.  I wrapped a piece of Pumpkin Pie Tafetta Ribbon around the largest piece leaving room for the greeting. I then knotted a shorter piece onto it to make a bow.  I then adhered the five pieces of DSP onto the card front keeping the design of the paper intact but leaving space between each one.  I chose a color printed greeting in Early Espresso cut with a framelit from the Apothecary set.  I added coordinating snap eyelets on both ends.  I adhered some Early Espresso accents to the back of the greeting then adhered it above the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

I am submitting this card to the following challenges:
SU TGIF - #50 - Sketch

Artemis - Baby Gifts

The baby shower for Artemis is today but I am not able to attend.  I delivered my gift on the Easter weekend so Mom could bring with her when she goes.

The frame is the Creative Memories Black Mini Everyday Display, 8 x 8 inch magnetic frame.  It  provides 4 matching magnets, 2 mini clothespins, canvas-like white fabric -- great for thumbtacks, push pins, etc., an easel for tabletop display, a sawtooth hanger for wall display, and a clothesline ribbon.

The book I chose is the hard cover edition of God Gave Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren.  I love the wonderful watercolor images.

You can see the card I made for Artemis here.

Share Your Cup - My Week

I spend a good amount of time at the sewing machine this week.
I purchased a 100% cotton navy kitchen towel which I turned into two mats for the shelves in  my tea cupboard.  Really happy with those.



Then I put the zipper into the green cushion I bought for the couch.  It did not have a zipper to allow me to remove the cover for washing. When I removed the cover, the inside stuffing was awful shredded foam. That went directly into a garbage bag. The cover was very dirty so into the machine that went. I did find a foam form that would fit so the final step was a zipper.

I`ve had the jeans for a while but they needed to be shortened before I could wear them. So I measured, cut some fabric off and hemmed them.  The pants had back pockets with flaps and buttons and I decided I didn`t need any more attention brought to my backside so I removed the flaps and buttons.  Done!

My aunt and her husband were over for tea this week.  She was picking up something she had dropped off in January now that I had finished the work.  I did a bit of a good job on the clean up because this table was full of sewing machine, spools, bobbins, scissors, etc earlier that morning.



Upcoming DIY project.  My sister gave the sunflower tile  when she returned from a trip to Mexico.  I want it framed so I can hang it in my kitchen.   I found the 50 tile at the thrift store which will hold the sunflower once I remove the 50 tile. I have had a consultation about how I should go about it and it`s on the To Do list.

Poppies for a Birthday

I started with the Memory Box Row of Poppies die.  I chose one of the ink backgrounds I created in January in soft aqua and red pink tones. I cut the paper with the die trying to align the colors to at least have a couple of the poppies fall on the red spots. I used the metal adapter plate to ensure a clean cut the first time through.  This die is great because it has a bottom edge which holds all of these flowers together.  Makes adhering it much easier.  I embossed a white layer with the dots from the Sizzix Christmas Words and Dots Set.  Once this layer was adhered to my aqua card placed in the tall or portrait orientation,  I placed Bling Zots behind each of the poppies and a couple on the base and adhered the die cut to the dots layer.  I then color printed the greeting and applied banner ends with the Stampin Up Banner Triple Punch.  I rubbed the edges with the Baja Breeze ink pad before sticking it to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I love the soft and elegant feel to the card.

Santa - Card Challenges

I made this Christmas Card to satisfy a few card challenges.
I started by cutting the Sizzix Santa Head die once in white card stock, once in white felt and 1 in red card stock.  I cut the red hat and nose and glued them to the white card stock one.  Then I took the head band & pompom from the hat and the eyebrows & mustache from the face of the felt one and adhered them to the same white card stock head.  I placed a piece of navy card stock behind the eyes which coordinates with the navy greeting.  I adhered a piece of damask designer paper onto the citron card leaving a small border. I adhered the Santa Head paper pieced head on the right hand side of the wide card. I adhered the color printed greeting cut with the Stampin Up Bitty Banner Framelits with 3D foam tape on the bottom left hand side. I attached the white felt snowflake to the top left hand corner with a red star brad which coordinates with the red on the Santa hat.

Submitting this card to the following challenges:

Holly Jolly - Santa
Weekly Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut`s Christmas April Challenge - Anything Goes

Business Card & Promo Graphic

I designed a business card and a promo graphic for a client.  She wanted a vintage feel using the colors white and aqua. I found the ironwork grill image on Vintage Feed Sacks graphics site (see note) which I thought worked pretty well.  It was just black and white graphic so I colored it the aqua color and gave it a clear background.  I then created a white background onto which I placed the ironwork graphic and the relevant text.  She was wanting a larger graphic to put on a t-shirt or other promotional material.  I followed the same process for this one. She added her tag line on this one which I think is very appropriate.  They were delivered in digital format so she can get the business cards printed through the printer of her choice as well as use the files on social media. You can find her on Facebook Alberta Vintage.

You can check out my Digital Products page for further details.

Note: I was going to leave a link for the graphic but it seems be redirecting to a different site.  I`m not sure if that is temporary or permanent.  I will keep an eye on it and post a link if it clears up.

Mosaic Monday - This Week

I have a collection of odd photos this week.
Top Left:  I took a picture of this seabreeze fan which has helped to keep my place cool for many years.  I bought it second hand and I`ve had it for 15 years or so.  It`s mostly metal which I came to appreciate when I did some shopping to replace it and most of what is available these days are plastic. It was small and it oscillated which was great bang for the buck.  My research tells me it was built in the 1970s. It quit working a while back but it`s so iconic I kept it to see if I could translate it into something else.  No project has emerged so far. 

Top Right: I made new kitchen towels this week as well.  The ones I was using I made many years ago, they were tattered and worn through and needed to be replaced.  I still had the ball of yarn I used on the original ones which I made when I moved this place nearly 20 years ago.  I had determined a navy and golden yellow color scheme for this kitchen.  So, this week I took up crocheting again.  I upcycled a navy golf towel I bought at the second store. It was brand new.  I removed the bit of embroidery on it, cut it in half, sewed a line of stitching on the raw edge and added a golden yellow yarn hanger.  I now have 2 new towels with the vintage buttons I used on the original towels. 
Bottom: I took a picture of the train and the river on my walk on Sunday.  The ice is breaking up nicely and soon the river will be ice free.

Christmas Card Challenge - April - Green/Foliage

It's time again for my monthly Christmas Card Challenge.  The challenge for April is Green / Foliage.  Foliage could be pine trees, wreaths, evergreen branches, Christmas tree, poinsettias, holly, and much more.
My choice is  a green wreath on a window with a night sky behind on a deep red card. I pulled the Cuttlebug Holly Wreath die and folder combination from my die storage, which I have never used. I chose dill textured card stock. First, I cut the wreath with the sizzlet die then ran it through the embossing folder to add the textured design.  I cut the window from white card stock with the Memory Box Grand Madison Window die.  I spritzed a piece of navy card stock with white acrylic paint to create a night sky and adhered it behind the window.  The element was adhered to card front aligned along the top edge.  I then adhered the wreath centered on the window.  A bling Zot holds the red thread bow over the embossed one on the die.  I color printed the greeting onto white card stock and cut it with the Stampin Up Bitty Banners Framelits thin dies.  I adhered it  below the window.