Sewing in the paper craft room!

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about stitching on your cards.  Today, I'm doing some sewing on my cards, using (drumroll) the sewing machine!  Mind you, my sewing machine had a bit of dust on it, as my sewing days have long taken a back seat to my paper crafting.
But I love the look of all the stitching I've seen on cards, and when I went to make a card for a quilter friend, and had paper that looked like quilt blocks, well, it just screamed to be stitched.  So, I blew off the dust, sneezed, and proceeded to sew on the card I made her.  Of course, I loved it, and couldn't stop.
I sewed on the card I made for my daughter, Faith (previous post), and on another card in a previous post. I have posted two or three times since the last Technique Tuesday, so if you'd like to check them out, just scroll down.
OK, now on to some cards for today:

The papers on this card are from Basic Grey, and the stamps are Hero Arts.  The punch is EK Success.  I stitched around the patterned paper panel, then along the border of the light brown and pink.  To stitch on card stock, practice a little with your machine's tension until you get the right setting.  I usually stitch on the panels, then attach them to the card, so the stitching doesn't show on the inside.  I like the look of the stitching, especially with distressing.  I used pink thread to keep it soft and pretty.   You can change your thread to go with any of the colors of your papers. I usually only change the top thread, because the bottom (bobbin) thread won't show (little lazy secret of mine).  Wink, wink.  I won't tell if you don't!

I used a zig-zag stitch on the larger panel of this card and a straight stitch on the smaller panel.  It's fun to vary the stitch sizes and structure to fit your card's personality and feel.
TIP:  Be sure to let the card go through the presser foot at it's own pace.  I found that if I'm in a hurry and pull the card slightly, the thread will break, as it's being stretched when you pull.
I don't remember the manufacturer of these stamps.  They are images I had stamped a couple of years ago.  I borrowed the stamps when I was at a stamping crop and stamped some images to use "later."  Just dug them up and colored them for this card.

I hand-stitched the vellum "pocket onto this card.  I wanted to make the bookmark a part of the card, and love to use vellum. I thought it might make a nice pocket holder, so pulled out some embroidery floss and commenced sewing.

Finally, on the halloween card below, I cheated and "faux stitched."  Yep, that's just plain ole fine tipped marker stitches along the border panel.  I used some straw mesh "paper" I had to give this card a fun texture. The bats are from a halloween punch.  I also stitched around one of the tags.  I don't know if you can see it (click on card to enlarge and you may be able to see), but I used  a piece of velvet paper for the black tag, and ironed it over a Trick or Treat stamp.  More on that technique in another post.

I'm really feeling all Martha Stewart-y today.  I've been sewing (even if only on cards), and I made a big batch of sausage and peppers and a batch of Texas Cavier for Faith's baby shower on Thursday.  Her friends are giving her a shower for the baby, so I'm off to Buffalo again.  Twice in a week!
Here are a couple of pics of Keeley from the festival on Sunday:

 Just had to show you Keeley's butterfly face that she got at the Elmwood Festival on Sunday. She really loves to get her face painted!  Notice the space where her two front teeth used to be?  lol.
That's it for tonight.  Be sure to stop back soon, as I just received a VERY generous package of brand new holiday stamps from Penny Black for Design Team work.  I'm just itching to get at them and make some cards. so I wouldn't be surprised if I post a few before next week's Technique Tuesday.  Thank you so much PB!!
Enjoy these last hot days.  As for me, I'm very anxiously waiting for fall! I just want to be able to breath again!
Blessings and peace,

lynda

Special Card For A Special Daughter

I finished my daughter's card.  It had to be special, as we're going to celebrate her "anniversary" tomorrow.  Not her wedding anniversary, but the anniversary of the day she came to us as a tiny baby, from Korea!  That was 26 years ago.  We celebrate her arrival date, August 30th, every year. 
Here's the card I made her:

I just love these little Penny Black critters.  I am entering this card in the following challenges:

BASIC GREY CHALLENGE http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/ .   Use fabric somewhere on your project.  I used a fabric ruffle around the image, which I made from a strip of fabric that I ran a stitch along and pulled to form ruffles, then attached with glue dots. 

PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ - The theme of this week's challenge is SUMMER LOVIN'.  I think these little critters blowing bubbles fits the bill.

and

PENNY BLACK AT ALLSORTS http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ .  The challenge theme is GLITTER AND GLITZ.  I used glitter around the image, crystals, pearls, and if you enlarge the card you may see the glimmer on the bubbles.  This card is entered in their Design Team call.

Well, that's it for today.  I can't wait to give Faith her card.  We're looking forward to spending the day with her, Keeley, and Dan at the Elmwood Festival.  

Blessings and peace,

lynda

 

Saturday Stamping

Just a quick post this morning to show you a couple of cards I made last week, but didn't want to post them until thier recipients received them. Didn't want to ruin it for them. Now that they have the cards in their hot little hands, I can post them.
The one on the left is made with paper from DCWV's Linen Closet Collection, which I am absolutely crazy about.  The border on the bottom was made with a brass stencil in my Cuttlebug (see previous Technique Tuesday post for details).  I used my sewing machine (hey, I have to use it for something, don't I) to stitch the panel to the card, then to stitch around the quilt hexagons.  The card is for a quilting friend, so this paper worked out beautifully!
The card on the right, of course, is a sympathy card.  I love the soft blues and greens for such an occasion.
It's a GLORIOUS day today!  The sun is shining, it's warm, but not too warm, and there's a nice breeze.
Tomorrow we're off to Buffalo to celebrate my daughter, Faith's, arrival to us from Korea back in 1984!!  She continues to bring us much joy, along with her husband, Dan, and their daughter, our granddaughter, Keeley Ryan (and soon-to-be Kennedy Grace)!  We're so proud of all Faith has accomplished, and of the mommy and wife that she is, and the fine young woman she has become. 
Now I'm off to make a very special card to celebrate this very special occasion! 
Blessings and peace to you!

lynda

Birds of Seasons Challenge Card

Just a quick note tonight to post my second entry for the Stampin In Time On Assignment Challenge - Birds Of Seasons over on Our Daily Bread Designs Blog http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/ . You really have to hop on over there to check out all the awesome Design Team cards and stamper's entries!  The talent is just amazing.
I'm really loving the stamps from this company. The image stamps are detailed and gorgeoous, and the scripture stamps are plentiful, with various fonts and styles.  And for the many of you who have been asking me about my bows, they sell the Bow Easy, which is what I use.  I posted in a previous blog entry the link for directions on using the Bow Easy, so be sure to scroll down to check it out if you haven't seen it.

So, here's the card:

The background paper is Basic Grey from their Porcelain Collection.  I distressed the edges of the background paper, and the die cut, with ink.  Lace is from Hobby Lobby, and flower from Michael's.  Three pearls finish off and help balance the design.
That's it for tonight.  Work tomorrow so I need my beauty sleep!
Blessings and peace,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - Brass Stencil embossing made EASY!

Brass embossing templates come in so many different designs.  I probably have as many of them as I have rubber stamps!  I love the look of an embossed, raised image, and really enjoy making cards with these templates.
It used to take a light box, stylus, and a bit of time to emboss a design with a template.  Thanks to the Cuttlebug,  my light box is a thing of the past!  I have been experimenting with embossing with my Cuttlebug, and am pleased to say that I have had success!  Here are some cards I made using the Cuttlebug to emboss my templates:

For this card, I embossed the flowers and leaves, then cut them out, leaving a scant edge beyond the embossed outside edge.  Then I sponged distress ink lightly on the shape, highlighting the embossed areas.  I used foam mounting tape to attach them to my card. ( I entered this card in the Colour Create challenge http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/ - had to use duck egg blue, ivory and one other color).
The thing I really love about using my Cuttlebug with my embossing templates is that I can now emboss dark colored card stock, which was very difficult to do before.
I have two more cards using brass stencils, but first I wanted to give you the directions for how to do it.  The other two cards are pictured below the directions.

Here's the "recipe" or "sandwich" for using brass stencils to emboss with  your Cuttlebug"

Make a "sandwich" using:
        Plate A
        Plate B
        Brass Stencil
        Card Stock (I used four sheets, but experiment to see how much your bug needs)
        Spellbinders Tan Embossing Mat
        3 to 4 sheets of Card Stock (cut the same size as the embossing mat)
        Plate B                                                                                                         
Put the "sandwich" through your Cuttlebug, then bring it through again.  I put mine through three times, just to be sure it got embossed fully.  CAUTION:  Do not force the sandwich through if it wants to get stuck, it will break your machine.  Just remove a piece of card stock, and try it with fewer, until it goes through.  It will be tight, but shouldn't be forced.

This next card uses one of my favorite brass stencils from Dreamweavers.  I love this iris:

I "embossed" it using the recipe above in my Cuttlebug. When I took the card stock and stencil out of the Cuttlebug, I left the stencil on the card stock (it was already embossed).  Then, I used ColorBox pigment inks to color the flower.  To do this, simply tear off bits of a makeup wedge, and clip the torn bit into an alligator clip. Be sure to round the edge so you have a smooth piece of the sponge to work with.  Simply dip the sponge end of the clip into the ColorBox ink pad, then apply gently over the openings in the stencil.  When you remove the stencil, VOILA!  There is your finished and beautifully colored flower!

This next card was done the same, only instead of using ColorBox inks, I used pastel chalks with my sponged alligator clip.  I sprayed a fine mist of hair spray over the chalked image to seal the chalk and keep it from rubbing off.
So, if you have lots of brass stencils or templates around, and own a Cuttlebug, give this a try.  You'll discover, as I have, that using brass stencils is fun again!  By the way, I understand that you can also do this with the Sizzix machine.  I do not have a Sizzix, so I don't know the order, but I'm sure if you experiment, you'll figure it out.

Enjoy!


Blessings and peace,


lynda

Trick or Treat Halloween Card

I felt like playing with my halloween stamps tonight, and made a halloween card for a couple of challenges.
OUR CREATIVE CORNER challenge http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/  was to use this sketch:

Here's the card I made with the sketch:

I'm also entering this in the PENNY BLACK AT ALLSORTS CHALLENGE http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ , which is Glitter and Glitz!   Penny Black at Allsorts also has a Design Team call going on now, so be sure to hop on over and check it out.  I'm going to submit this for the DT call, and will make a couple more this week to submit.

That's it for tonight.  Tomorrow (actually today, as it's already past midnight) I will post the Technique Tuesday blog posting.  See you then.

Blessings,

lynda

My stamping weekend - Day One - Two challenge cards!

Just a quick post tonight.  I wanted to post two cards I made today for a couple of challenges I'm participating in.  

This first card is for the OUR DAILY BREAD challenge, http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/ , which was to use punches or dies on your creation.  I used both.  The punch is EK Success, and the die is a Nestabilities.  Patterned paper is K & Company.
I am also entering this in the COLOUR CREATE challenge http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/ , which is to use ivory, duck egg blue, and one other color from their inspiration picture.
Check out these blogs - I've provided the links.  Maybe you'll even like to give it a try, and join one or both of them!  Would love to see you there!

This next card is for the OUR DAILY BREAD ON ASSIGNMENT challenge.  We need to use a bird and ODB stamps (the bird stamp doesn't have to be ODB).  Here's my Birds of Seasons card for the ODB on assignment challenge. 

This is day one of my "stamping weekend," and all I created was two cards.  So much for planning time to stamp "all day!"  I have been looking forward to this weekend all week.  I was going to accomplish sooooo much.  Told hubby it was "my weekend to play," got the laundry caught up during the week, planned simple meals, blah, blah, blah.  What happened?
I'm not quite sure, really.  First, hubby made us breakfast, then we were off to the public market.  Just a quick trip, I was assured.  Well, while we're out, I have a Kohl's $10 off a $10 purchase coupon...it would be a shame not to use it.  Then, we had to stop at the bank.  Let's just stop quick at the one garage sale.  I think you're starting to get the picture.
Finally home.  I gave the downstairs living area a quick "lick and promise" cleaning (I figured nobody would be coming upstairs if they stopped in), and I was FINALLY able to start my weekend of stamping.
Hubby went out for the afternoon, and I went upstairs to my "room," and sat down to get to work.  Uh, oooohh!  NO MOJO!  Where or where did my mojo go?!
I sat and stared at my "stuff," answered the phone and talked with a friend, who was having a similar problem focusing, answered some emails, Facebooked (bet you didn't know Facebook could be a verb), even advised a fellow-stamper how to break out of a no-mojo mood! I made myself a little snack, (well, I needed nourishment, after all), poured a little vino (hey, it couldn't hurt), and sat down to get to work again.
Uhggggg!!  I walked up and down the stairs a couple of times, checked the mailbox, and then finally just sat down at my table and made myself start working.
I finished these two cards around 6:30 PM, and sat and chatted with hubby for an hour or so.  Now, I'm going to get my jammies on (YES, at 8:30) and we're going to watch a Redbox movie.  I'm going to bed right after the movie, and hoping that I will find my mojo tomorrow!  I don't have anywhere to be except church, and will have the rest of the day.  Wish me better luck tomorrow!

Blessings,

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Stitching on your cards

There are so many cards that use stitching to enhance or embellish the design.  Most often, stitching is used as a border or frame around an image or center.  Sometimes it is actually used to attach pieces to your card.

In this sample card, I used my needlework skills to stitch two simple flowers. I started with a french knot for the center of the taller flower.  Then I made the petals with a loop stitch, secured at the tip with a stitch to hold it down.  Then, I used a running stitch to make the stem, and more loop stitches for the leaves.  I repeated for the shorter flower.  I used four strands of embroidery floss.  I did my card free-hand, although you can pencil in or stamp your design first.  I used a sharp needle, and sewed right into the card stock, but you can pierce the card first for easier sewing.

For the folded-over top piece, I stitched a long running stitch, and added a couple of beads into the stitches.  All my stitching is secured on the back of the card stock with tape.

Stamp a sentiment, and mount onto a card, and voila!  You have just made a stitched card!

Thanks for stopping by today.  It was a glorious day, with a soft breeze to keep the humidity down.  I got to enjoy a couple of hours in my neighbor's back yard, working on my computer while I dog-sat her dog, Nelson.  I was also up really early this morning, and was busy all day, so between that and the fresh air, I'm pooped!  Early to bed tonight!

Blessings and peace to you,

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Insides of Cards

Did you ever show someone a card you had made, and watched their reaction?  What's the first thing they do?  OPEN the card...exactly!  That's why the inside of your card should be as important as the outside.  

This post is the result of a request from one of my blog followers.  She asked for ideas for finishing the insides of cards.  Sooooo, I scooped up a bunch of my stash cards (ones I had made who-knows-how long ago), and am posting them here so you can get some ideas for what to do inside.

I often like to bring some of the card's "outside" to the "inside."
In this first card, I used the same background as the outside, and distressed with the smudgy green, and kept the font the same.

 In the following card, I repeated the butterfly, and used vellum overlay to soften the inside:

I used the same checked paper, and cut out the daisy for the inside of this card., and repeated the tearing technique and colors:

Here I repeated the background, and used the same colors and tilting the paper as the outside. 

I repeated the chalk smudging technique inside this card, to make the sentiment stand out:

Here is a little tag folio/holder I made. I repeated the colors, and the stamped images on all the inside pieces, and the inside flap:

Paper is repeated, as well as font:

I had fun with colors here, and added the yellow checked paper, but brought in the daisy:

This is one of my most favorite cards I've ever done.  Perhaps it's because I love these colors together, but also, I think it's the elements and the subject.  I crumpled the inside paper and distressed it. The tag inside has vellum overlay:

I love these colors, also. Brought the yellow inside, and added some fun ribbon and turn mount:

Bringing in some of the paper that was used on the front, as well as some swirls:

Repeating papers and colors, and using tag shape for interest:

This was a fun one to do.  I cut an opening in the front of the card, then placed the sentiment inside, so that it shows through the opening of the closed card! 

So, I hope this gives you some ideas for those insides of your cards!  Remember, the first thing someone does when they look at your card, is to open it to see what's inside!  Let's keep the look and feel of your message going on the inside, too.

On a personal note, the garage sale was a success.  I still have lots of stamps, but made a small dent! I would love for someone to make me a bulk offer for all of them, so if you know someone who may be interested in about 1,000 or more stamps in one lot, please let me know!  Most are new, some gently used.

Enjoy these last summer weeks!

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Distressed book page background

I went to a garage sale, and found some old books for a quarter.  I bought one to use for backgrounds for my cards.  Here's a card I made tonight with one of the pages from one of these books. 

Here's how I made this background from the page. 

• Tear the page from the book.
• Crumple tightly, forming a wad with the page.
• Open wad and run distress ink directly from the stamp pad over the bumps, pressing lightly so as not to get ink all over the paper, but just on the higher areas.  I used Tim Holtz brushed corduroy distress ink for this step.
• Open and flatten paper.  Brayer lighter color over entire page.  I used Tim Holtz old paper distress ink for this step.  
• Trim page to desired size.
• Attach to card base.
• OPTIONAL:  I rubbed some Brilliance gold ink in spots on the page to give it some gold highlights.

This stamp is from Penny Black's Flowers & Wishes clear set # 30-047.  I colored it with markers, then added white gel pen highlights.  The die is one of Spellbinder's Nestabilities.  To get the sponging just inside and leave the ivory border, I left the die on the card stock after I cut it out, then sponged from the outside of the die.  When I removed the die, the border was still ivory.

For those who live in my area, don't forget, this weekend is the huge craft garage sale at my house.  Saturday, from 9 AM until 4 PM, and Sunday, from 11 AM until 4 PM.  Hope you can make it!

Peace and blessings,

lynda