Sympathy Cards

I made a few sympathy cards for ladies who lost their mother and grandmother this week.  They have been card club participants so I will be giving cards in their time of need.

I chose greens for this card. Olive card with a swirl pattern designer paper.  I added 2 Impression Obsession Pine Boughs in dark green and light green.

I added a large butterfly cut with the Sizzix Winged Beauties in an olive card stock.

I used my large greetings with a sympathy sentiment.  I added them to blue card bases and added coordinated butterfly punched with the Martha Stewart punch.

The funeral for a lady who has been part of our congregation for many years is today.

One Sheet Wonder - Card Set 4

Another set of cards on which I used this swirly pink burgundy designer paper.  Paper cut with the OSW1 plan.

On this card I changed things up a bit and trimmed the one piece to 4 inches wide added a coordinating piece at the top and bridged the join with a strip of blue card stock. 

Punched the butterfly with Martha Stewart Butterfly from the same color as the top piece of paper.

Adhered it to the card front with Bling Zot.






















You see the long strip turned over on the card to the left and the full 4.25 piece used in the one on the right. 

One Sheet Wonder - Card Set 3

I selected different designer for this set.  Lovely tropical floral pattern in warm tones.

This was cut with the OSW2 layout out plan.  I chose this seafoam green card stock and pea green card stock for this set.

I adhered the paper to the bottom edge of the card and then added an ivory strip at the join.  I created the butterfly with the Martha Stewart Butterfly punch in pink card stock.  Adhere to the card front with a Bling Zot.
















This landscape card got a pink butterfly and the portrait on the right a rust colored one.

The Craft Kingdom - Project 3 - Toilet Paper Roll Flower

I was inspired to try this craft after reading a book called The Craft Kingdom.  You can check out the website and the toilet paper roll wall decor video is featured there.

I did not want to do home decor so I decided to do a flower.  I will share my up and downs on making this project.
Of course, collecting toilet paper rolls just happens.  I stored them until I had enough. I thought I was going to make 3 flowers but in the end I did not. More about that later.















I flattened the rolls then I cut my pieces 1 inch wide which generally gave me 4 per roll.  I discovered later that they don't all have the same diameter so pay attention if it will matter for your project.  You will see that my flower petals are longer than my leaves pieces.  I was lucky I noticed before I painted.

I elected to paint my pieces and decide they should be under coated so my yellow would be vibrant.  I used white paint for the first coat.  Be careful how wet you make these because they can fall apart when wet.  I painted the outside and the inside.

Once dry, I painted them again.
I then applied 2 coats in the same way in yellow for the petals and green for the leaves.

The challenge came when I assembled my flower. Hot glue does not stick to acrylic paint very well so the flower would not stay together well. I had to add some double sided tape to have it hold. Next time: Either assemble with hot glue then paint it OR assemble with double sided tape.  I mounted my pieces to a green bamboo skewer. I glued a brown button in the center of the flower on both sides.  I loved using sand in a small vase to have it stand.

On the left is the introductory page to this craft in the book.

This wall art in the book is very pleasing and the color comes from the different brands of rolls which are used.  In some the cardboard is darker and others lighter.

She has used that to her advantage in the placement of the pieces.  For me color did not matter as I painted them.

I hope you are having a great summer and enjoying craft time with the kids. Try this one out for a good time and a super cute project in the end. 

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.