Cards - Charity - IWin

Dipping into my commercial decorative paper stash I found this warm tone piece of card stock.  

These colors strike me as More Mustard and Always Artichoke but I am only guessing.

I cut the piece down and adhered it toward the bottom of the A2 Summer Sun card base.

I cut the small butterfly with the Stampin Up Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die. I added a body and antennae in black. Adhered to an Always Artichoke tag cut with the Sizzix Tag Set die.

It was mounted to cover up some purple color on the left hand side. I trimmed it as needed to stay within the card edge.

I added a sage colored ribbon on the tag.  The greeting was stamped with a clear polymer stamp which I don't have credits for, with Always Artichoke ink.

This card is in the landscape orientation.

Same Summer Sun card base in the A2 size.

I added a couple of strips of Always Artichoke card stock leaving a small gap between them toward the bottom of the card.

I cut the medium butterfly from the same paper as the one above. I added a black body and antennae.

The greeting is the Modern Label and Word Window that I have used before.

White quarter sheet insert and white envelopes.

I started by cutting the large butterfly from book pages from a book that fell apart recently.  I managed to finish reading it at least.

I chose a Crumb Cake card stock which is a kraft color which I rubbed with SU Tea Stain ink pad.  I added a strip of Soft Suede embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. It was adhered to the right of center.

I added the large butterfly with a black body and antennea over the embossed strip.

I adhered the Word Window greeting which was stamped with a SU small stamp.

A landscape (wide) layout for this card with the same large butterfly cut from a book page. Distressed with the SU Tea Stain ink pad. A black body and antannea.

A stip of Soft Suede embossed with the Swiss Dots folder mounted in the center of the card. 

Adhered the butterfly and stamped the greeting in the bottom right hand corner.

These will all sit under books for weight over night and will be ready in the morning.

Simple Sentiments - Photo - Set 2

Another set of photo cards. 

I chose a different presentation for this set.

I chose Stampin Up Soft Suede as the A2 card base, scored in half and folded.

The accent layer is Really Rust cardstock cut to a quarter sheet and cut with the SU Top Note die.  Once cut I then cut it in half cross wise with the paper cutter and then trimmed the center points off with scissors.

I trimmed the photo to 3.5 inches wide to perfectly align with the widest spot on the half Top Note.  This was adhered with tape on the back then process repeated for the bottom half.

I chose a green-brown grosgrain ribbon to lay over the join of the photo and the die cut.  It was pull to the back and taped down with tape.  This layer was then adhered to the front of the card.

A white insert and envelope finished off the card.

This card features a Jacob's Ladder blossom taken at the Botanic Park.

I chose SU Elegant Eggplant for the card base and Lavendar Lace for the Top Note layer.

I ran a piercing tool over the photo to mirror the stitched edge on the Top Note layer. 

The grosgrain ribbon is Certainly Celery.

This flower is called a Late Tulip.  I don't remember where to found it.

The cardbase is Daffodil Delight which is half a sheet, scored in half and folded.

The Top Note layer card stock is Old Olive.  Same process to trim sides.

I found some nicely matching grosgrain ribbon in my stash to put over the joins.

A quarter sheet insert and white envelope. 

This card features a Copper Skipper which is a butterfly that comes out in early spring.  Usually the first one I see on my walks.

The card base is Mellow Moss and the Top Note layer is Really Rust

I found some Stitched grosgrain ribbon to match the tones of this card.  It is a chocolate brown.

There are a couple of the cards in this set that came from the Nature Photo Calendars so they are more masculine and tones and colors. Works out to balance the set of cards.

This makes a nice set of cards. 

Cards - Birthday

A birthday card for my brother in law.

The card base is Soft Suede.  

I found a piece of watercolor background I made in early January that worked for a guy card.  

I followed a tree image from one I found on line with a dark grey marker.

I then watercolored the tree with brown that I mixed and a green which is a mixture of Always Artichoke and Garden Green.

I mounted on a scrap of black card stock leaving a small border all the way around. Adhered with 3D foam tape. A narrow strip of black card stock under the focal element.

The greeting is a SU Word Window punchie on a black Su Modern Label punchie.

 

I added a Stampin Up Modern Label punchie greeting to this sunflower card for my sister who has a birthday next week.

The sunflower was stamped with Memories permanent black ink.  I then watercolored it. I ripped the edge on all 4 sides.

I mounted it to one of my small handmade paper sheets in a warm yellow.  This was adhered to a white card with hot glue.

These are off in the mail this morning.

Sympathy Card - Serene WC

I made a sympathy card for friend's who lost their son unexpectedly a few weeks ago due medical issues.

He was in his 50's and passed way too young.

It has to be a hard thing to deal with - the loss of a child.

I used one of the backgrounds I made ages ago and added a river, trees, and rocks.

I mounted the watercolor onto black card stock then adhered it with 3D foam tape to a Soft Suede A2 card base.

I added a black sentiment punchie in the bottom right hand corner.

Card Exchange - March - Five Petal Flowers

I used the Stampin Up Five Petal Flower punch for my March exchange cards.

I started with a Soft Suede card base A2 in portrait mode.  I cut a layer of this gorgeous screen printed handmade paper.  

I wrapped a length of Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon on the left hand side and tape the end to the back of the decorative paper. 

The decorative paper was then adhered to the card front with double sided tape.

I created the flower accent with a pearl white flower stacked with a Cherry Cobbler one then the same flower in a smaller size punched in pearl white all held together with a red mini brad.  

The accent was then adhered to the card front with a piece of 3D foam tape.

This card is in the landscape orientation. The card base is Very Vanilla. 

I adhered a strip of the decorative paper along the left hand edge.

Then added a piece of non shed gold glitter card stock and taped that over the edge of the decorative paper and trimmed the top and bottom to the card edge. 

The accent is a square of Cherry Cobbler then a piece of decorative paper leaving a small border. 

Again the five petal flower accent was adhered on the square with 3D foam tape.

These will be off to my partners shortly.

Card - Welcome Back

I made this card for a lady who has been away from work for a long time.  She has been battling for her life and has survived.

I am so glad to see her back at work.

I started with a Really Rust A2 card base and added 2 pieces of paste paper that I made a long time ago. The one on the left worked with the rusty color really well and the one on the right provide nice contrast.

I added a piece of Soft Suede ribbon wrapped around this layer and taped the ends to the back.   I adhered the whole piece to the card front with double sided tape. 

The greeting was adhered with 3D foam tape over the ribbon and overlap in the decorative pieces of paste paper.

A quarter sheet insert and beige envelope finished it off. 

Sympathy Card - Silver and Green Checkerboard

Sympathy card for a friend who lost his wife this week.

The card is Stampin Up Soft Suede.

The decorative paper is handmade paper which has been screen printed with the exact color of green and silver stripes in a checker board pattern. 

I made it a DSP Split card by cutting the paper at 3.5 inches and turning over the top piece to see the wheat colored handmade paper.  

I added triangles of the same card stock which crisscross each other so the meeting point is off center.  This provided a nice place to put the butterfly punchie (Martha Stewart) in the beige card stock on the left hand side.  It is adhered with a Bling Zot glue dot.

I added an appropriate white quarter sheet insert on the inside with an A2 white envelope.

Mailing this off tomorrow.

Card Exchange - Nov - Screen Printed Paper

This sheet of beautiful screen printed paper stayed with me when many of the other 12x12 sheets left last week. 

It had so many Stampin Up colors in it. Early Espresso, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip and Melon Mambo.

On this card I cut the decorative paper to 5.25x4.00 then placed on a Very Vanilla card base. I cut the paper following the floral design from left to right. I then cut a piece of Melon Mambo to finish the rectangle along the cards bottom edge.  This was adhered first then the decorative paper over top of that leaving a small border all the way around. I added rhinestones in the center of the flowers with Bling Zots glue dots.

On this second card, I but a piece of designer paper for the top of the cards and a piece of Melon Mambo for the bottom and chose a Soft Suede card base.  

I ran my piercing wheel tool to make some wavy lines in the solid card stock on the bottom to provide texture.  I adhered that below the piece of designer paper on the top.  

I added a piece of Very Vanilla card stock across the join of these above mentioned papers and adhered it with double sided tape.

I then punched a SU Five Petal Punch flower in the pink and then the ivory card stock.  I layered these and added a small yellow flower in the center. This accent is held together with a deep pink mini brad.  The flower was adhered on the strip of paper with 3D foam tape.

These are off to my exchange partners this week.

Fall Leaves Birthday Card

Another watercolor card.  This lady is a warm colors lovers so I decided on fall leaves for the image on the card.

I found several fall leaves line drawings on line then created an image which I drew in pencil.

I then used my Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons to produce some colors for these leaves. Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke featured in the colors.

I placed a wash of color from the reds to greens to yellows on the 140lb watercolor paper.

The leaves are red with a mixture of some of the other colors.

I mixed some Payne's Gray and some left over color to do the lines in the leaves and tracing the outline of the leaves.

Once the watercolor was dry, I chose a Soft Suede card base in A7 size (5x7) and adhered it to the card front with 3D foam tape.

The greeting is SU Artisan Label punchie color printed and backed with a More Mustard punchie cut in half and glued offset on the back.  It was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Sympathy Card

My aunt passed away recently.

Her funeral was today.  Another occasion for family to get together and visit.  She was 79 and had health issues most of her life.  She leaves a husband, a son and daughter.

Butterflies are always a symbol of rebirth and life in a different form for me.

I gave this card to my uncle.

I should work on a watercolor butterfly I can use for this type of card.

Christmas Card Challenge - Watercolor - Aug - Salt Backgrounds

I created a watercolor background for my large Christmas greetings for this month's challenge.

I started with 140lb Arches watercolor paper I purchased from my sister. It had been rolled up so I spritzed it with water and let it relax itself to flatish.

I cut a strip about 6 inches tall and the width of the sheet.  I taped that down to my waterproof work surface.  I used my small watercolor palette I created the other day.  You can follow this link to the post which contains the details. 

I soaked the paper with my spray bottle then I just worked with the greens and blues in my palette. As I moved across I switched from the blues to adding red to create purples. Once I was happy with the colors I misted it again to ensure the whole surface was wet then just added some table salt to the surface.  It then dried for several hours.

I believe this is rough water color paper but is softer than the sheets have I have been using. I was very happy with the pattern produced by the salt.  Once completely dry, I cut it into 4.00 x 5.25 inch sheets.  These will leave a small border of the card base showing.  Since I was not using Stampin Up watercolors it took a bit of evaluation to see which card colors to use.

While the paper dried and searched the internet for some free large greetings I could use. The card above features the one I liked best.  The greetings were sized to be smaller than the watercolor background and printed grey on vellum.  They were then heat embossed with gold powder.  I ripped the edges to provide a more natural edge.

On the right I created some portrait (tall) cards with vellum greetings which also included images. This one is a Christmas tree. For most of  these cards, the vellum is adhered to the watercolor background with tiny gold brads. Then the watercolor layer is adhered to the card base with 3D foam tape squares.

The greeting on the card on the left has been around for a very long time.  It is very classic fonts and makes a great greeting.

The card base on this card is Marina Mist. The brads used on this one are larger sparkly gold star brads. 

I added some vellum adhesive in the opposite corners to keep the vellum close to the watercolor.

 The watercolor background features the transition from green to blue in my original painting.

This watercolor background was the toughest to match to card stock.  I tried Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, Sahara Sand and eventually settled on Soft Suede. 

That is the challenge - when I was painting I did not measure the width of the colors so this piece ended up with some muddier colors with the n bright blue on the right hand side.  

This is the other portrait (tall) card where I combined an image and a greeting.

Again, I was not thinking of images at all when I was painting.  I had to trust I could work it out once the watercolor background was dry.

I think this worked out well.

This card features Bermuda Bay for the card base.  Another landscape (wide) layout.

This time tiny gold star brads in all four corners.

I will be adding quarter sheet inserts with a seasonal sentiment to each of these and pairing them with a white A2 envelope.

Another great set of cards for my box.  Ready to give come December st!

These worked out well and the background is worth considering again.

Card Kit Order - Single Simple Layout

I got a call from a friend this week asking if I was still making cards and kits.  Of course, COVID has put a hold on Card Club for the last 2 years.  Beside that, I got rid of lots of supplies when I de-cluttered for moving.  Many of my card making tools are in storage.  Despite that, I said yes.  I am needing a distraction.  She was looking for 20 kits as one of several activities for some down time for women attending camp this summer.  The kits needed to be simple and need few tools to assemble. These need glue, scotch tape and scissors. My Stampin Up card stock cupboard is full so that was good.  I had basic punches, ribbon, brads, and decorative paper.

I decided that all the greetings would be the SU Modern Label punch with a Word Window punchies of color printed greetings on white card stock.  I printed some Early Espresso, Black, and Night of Navy.

I decided that I would make the kits flexible so they could be orientated in tall (portrait) or wide (landscape). These 2 samples, instruction sheet, and extra greetings are being delivered in the bag. I have varied the decorative paper and coordinated the card base colors, the ribbon, and accents.  All the cards will be different.

In this sample the card base is Real Red, the grosgrain ribbon is Real Red. 

The designer paper is Twitterpated.

The scallop circle and Modern Label punchies are Basic Gray. 

The circle punchie is Whisper White.  

I added a red foil star to the accent adhered with a Zot.  It is adhered to the card front with a medium Zot.  

The greeting is adhered with 3D foam tape.

The card is an A2 card which measures 4.25 x 5.5 inches. 

On this sample the decorative paper is kraft with gold foil polka dots.  

The card base is Soft Suede as well as the grosgrain ribbon, the scallop circle punchie and the Modern Label punchie.  

The white greeting is a Word Window punchie.  

The star on the scallop circle is a gold sequin.

The card has a white bond paper insert and a white A2 envelope.

Exchange Cards - February - Watercolor Birds

 

These cards were made back in late January.  You can check the Watercolor Birds post.  This bird really adapted well to different coloring.  I was not sure it would.   

The left one was mounted to Old Olive card base and the right to Lovely Lilac.  They were spattered with brown watercolor by flicking the paint brush.  The ribbon is Soft Suede placed across the card and taped under the focal bird element.

These are off to my exchange partners.

Gift - Table Runner Trivet

A table runner trivet is a quilted piece one can place in the center of a table or other serving area to protect the surface from hot dishes.  It replaces the use of several trivets and looks pretty.  Upon doing some on-line research I found a place that recommended layers of terry cloth as good insulation.

I wanted to make this runner reversible so I took my fabric to my sisters a while back and we checked out her collection of fabric and found several pieces that would compliment the fabrics I had chosen.  In the end, I rejected some of the ones I had selected so that both side would work together.

I had just purchased the printed sunshine yellow piece of fabric.

The solid fabric was a left over from a quilt I made a couple of years ago.  The color name I would use is Soft Suede which is a green brown color.  

The cork fabric and the circle fabric came from my sister.  I have now swapped her some from my stash.  

All the fabric is 100% cotton.  

The layers involved are

• cotton quilted layer
• terry towel fabric
• 100% cotton quilted batting piece
• terry towel fabric
• cotton quilted layer

I chose to put the quilted piece in the center of the trivet, the terry cloth goes the full width of the runner.

The front and back pretty quilted layers were stitched to the terry cloth layers.  The front and back are different designs and therefore quilted differently.  I needed to come up with a way to hold the quilted piece to the center of the runner. 

The final measurements of the piece is 14x40 inches and the center is 12 x 37.5 inches. 

The seam in the yellow is the one which goes through all the layers and holds the center batting piece in place. Each side had a yellow in this space.  The sunshine yellow piece on the cork side and a more lemony yellow on the circle side.  Allowed me to have yellow thread in the top and bobbin of the machine.

It would have been really nice to have my walking foot fo rthis project but the order is still on hold awaiting a shipment from over seas.

I decided based on my fabric to make the warm sunshine yellow side in a ladder pattern.  I cut strips of varying heights and 10 inches wide.  The Soft Suede, the cork fabric, some solid burgundy make up the pattern on this side.  

The other side features the circle fabric and this piece was larger and I did not want to cut it up into smaller pieces.  It was also getting late in the day and I wanted to get the project finished. I added some teal from my scrap stash which worked out well. 

I wanted Soft Suede to be on the edges of both side so they would make it the same color no matter which side was showing.

I stitched all the way around with the good sides together leaving an opening then turned the trivet runner inside out.  I top stitched very close to the edge where there was only the terry towel layers.  

The last seam was the one in the yellow that holds it all together.

I hope my niece likes it and it comes in handy for serving from the kitchen island or the middle of her dining room table. 

Father's Day Card

These supplies are from an old card kit.

The card base is Soft Suede with a rectangular piece of teal designer paper.  It was adhered on an angle and then it was trimmed to the card edge.

I added some leaves cut with the Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die.  Two in Soft Suede and one gold one.

I added a Stampin Up Decorative Label greeting with color printed words.  I used SU chalks to softly color the greeting in the right colors.  I punched a Soft Suede label which I cut in half and off set behind the greeting.

A card to let my Dad know how much I appreciate him.  I am so glad he is still here with us.

 

Card - Angled Rectangle

This was the second set of card supplies which lay in a box for a year after COVID cancelled my classes at Compassion House.

A warm Soft Suede A2 card base with a piece of designer paper adhered on an angle and then trimmed to the card edge with scissors.

I created the accent with 3 leaf die cuts made with Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die.  I adhered them to each as an accent then mounted them to the card front with 3D foam tape.

 

 

 

 

 

A taupe card base with hexagonal pattern on the angled rectangle designer paper. 

I added a Tim Holtz Mover Shaper Vintage Alarm Clock die cut from gold glitter card stock.

I decided to send the rest of the unmade card kits to Compassion House with a couple of samples so the ladies can make them up during their free time.

I don't anticipate being able to teach classes for a long while yet but I will put together more kits and drop them off.

Quilt - SU Fat Quarters

I finished the last bit of hand stitching on this quilt last night.  It is finished!

This features mostly Stampin Up 100% cotton fabric. It features Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, and Crumb Cake as colors. I added the striped fabric in similar tones.  I created the accent squares with solids in Cherry Cobble, Soft Suede and Crumb Cake.

I sewed all the 2.5 inch strips together planning on a JellyRoll style and then changed my mind and cup the assembled strips into 9.5 inch squares.

I used a Crumb Cake 100% cotton fabric for sash between the squares as well as the back. I used flannelette sheeting as batting.  The 5 rows of 4 squares were quilted to the backing as rows.  Then the rows were assembled as the backer was larger than the front squares.  The seams were ironed to one side and I top stitched along the seams which gives each square 4 seams.

My final analysis.  I would use a wider sash, less strips per square, and a wider edge binding.  I love the solid accent squares. I have found a Quilt as you Go assembly tutorial which I think will work better for me so I will let you know how it goes on the next quilt. 
 

Card Club - June - Polka Dots Birthday

I chose a kraft card.  I matched it with polka dot designer paper which was cut to leave a small border.  I cut an ivory greeting label with the Stampin Up Apothecary label.  I then stamped the greeting from the For a Friend stamp set with a warm green ink pad.  I pulled the caramel seam binding ribbon through the holes of the label and wrapped around the DSP layer.  I placed 3D foam tape behind the label and attached to the DSP layer leaving enough ribbon on the right to make a bow.  I adhered the DSP layer to the card front. I tied the bow and trimmed the ends with scissors.

Sympathy Cards - Family

These are the cards I made for her sisters and niece.  I continued with the same 4" squares of Stampin Up Elegant Soiree DSP.  This time I used the other side of the paper onto Baja Breeze card stock.  I chose the flower from the Simply Sketched stamp set for this card stamped in BB on VV card stock. I flagged the end of the strip with the Banner Triple punch.
For this next card I used the bird in Basic Grey on VV card stock. Again flagged end of the sentiment layer.  The multi colored side of the Elegant Soiree DSP.

Back to Baja Breeze card with the blue side of the DSP.  This time I stamped the sentiment with Basic Grey Suede then I trimmed around the sentiment.  Mounted it on the right hand side.

They are a large and very close family so it will be a difficult day.

Sympathy Card - Simply Sketched with Elegant Soiree

A dear lady named Linda passed away late last week and today is her funeral.  This is the card I made for her husband.

I started with a sheet of double sided designer paper from Stampin Up Elegant Soiree collection.  The colors in this paper are Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, and Basic Grey.  I used the Simply Sketched stamp set with the sympathy option.  This one is stamped in BG on VV then the bottom is flagged with the Triple Banner punch.  I cut the sheet of 12x12 into 9 4x4 inch squares.

I made a set of five cards for her husband to use as he needs.  I ripped the square at about two thirds and ripped again a small strip to remove the white edge.  I cut the butterflies with the Sizzix Winged Beauties framelit set from VV card stock.  I added wax paper between the die and card stock to assist the removal from the die.  Works very well.  The good variety of colors in the DSP allowed three different card colors which made it a quick card making session.