To Market

This weekend I was playing around with the papers from the "To Market" suite.  I didn't get the stamp set or the cut-outs for this set, so I worked on making a stamp class with just the papers.

For this first card, I fussy cut the totes and the flowers, the carrots and the onion from the papers.  I somewhat copied the sample that is listed on the website for this set.  I added some cut outs from Country Birdhouse to embellish the brown tote bag.  Okay, I just love this card!  So let's see what else we can do with these papers.  :)

For this card (isn't it pretty?) I cut out the barrel and the flowers from the designer papers.  I added a fancy frame cut out that I had and I love how it really highlighted the bushel of flowers.  I added more of the little flowers for embellishment.  So sweet.  :)

I have to admit, I would probably never use Pumpkin Pie cardstock with the purple that is in the papers, but because they are contrasting colors, I think these cards look cool.  This card is a book fold and the cut out is from Sentimental Park.  And of course, I just added more flowers from Country Flowers dies.  

After making these cards, I just wanted to make more!  But I had other things to do.  So for now, this is my rendition of going "to the Market."  

I'm sad that all of these sets are leaving - To Market, Country Birdhouse and Country Flowers and Sentimental Park.  They are some of my favs.  

 

Grow With Love and a Tri-Color Background

For this stamping class, I used the set, Grow with Love, a new online offering with pretty herbs.  To make the cards, I chose three different designer papers that went together and cut them a little bit larger than 5"x 3 3/4."  Like this:

You can see that I selected 2 sheets of blue and one piece of soft gray papers for my card backgrounds.

These papers are from Country Lace.  But you can use any papers that you have.

Once you have selected your papers, line them up all together and using your cutter, generously slice one of the corners off of all three of your papers. 

Keeping them all together, make another cut all the way to the opposite corner.

Here's what my papers looked like when I was done:

Once I was done cutting, I matched them all up like a puzzle with each card front looking a little bit different.  Then I adhered them onto a matching piece of cardstock that measures 5 1/4" x 4."  Then add this piece to your card base.  

This will give your cards variety and all three will be a matching set.

For this card, I used blue, gray and some soft greens for add-ons.  I cut a piece of white and embossed it for the focal point.  There's a little piece of vellum behind the saying to give the card some depth and interest.  

For my second card, I cut out a circle die from Spotlight on Nature.  Then I added some blue stamped images and a gray sprig.  This technique works well for making both the vertical and horizontal cards.

Next up, I added some coral and Pale Papaya colors to contrast with the blues.  The white focal cut-out is from Grow with Love.  I found some small coral butterflies as embellishments.

This next card also had some corals on it for contrast.  Once you start making these cards, you won't be able to stop!  There are so many possibilities of how to use the tri-color background.

Let me know if you try this out.  I got the idea from one of the demonstrators online.  Let me know if you know the name so I can give the credit.  

 

Making Nests

This month my friend Cindy came to stay with me for a week.  She came into town for a wedding that we both attended and then we had a whole week to make some crafty things. :)

Cindy's style is a bit different from mine and she helped me make some spring nests.  We went around to some craft and thrift stores to find items to put the nests on and to put in in the nests.

These two were pretty much my favorites.  I placed a small nest onto a wooden block (ornament size that I picked up in Michaels).  I added some moss, a couple of flowers, an egg and a little tag.  

I used the glue gun and a lot of glue. LOL

I like how the colors came together for these - pinks, soft blue, greens and turquoise.  

The little mushrooms are from Cracker Barrel.  They are salt and pepper shakers.  Don't they look cute among the nests?

At one of the thrift shops, I found a little pink depression glass ladle.  I thought it was so cute but I wasn't sure what to do with it.  It was Cindy's idea to put a little nest in it.  So that's what I did and I just love how it came out! 

This is my #1 favorite nest.  What else would I have done with the ladle?  Now it's a cute little spring display piece.

Once I started making these little nests (and a lot of mess I'll have to say), I just couldn't stop!  Here are a few of the vases and cups that I picked up from the thrift shop.  The nests look so cute on them!  

I tried to find little birds for the nests, but couldn't find any this time.  I guess I'll be on the lookout for some because I've got a lot more things to put in some more nests.

One year I had the idea of putting them on the Christmas tree.  And then I could make the fabric birds as ornaments, too.  Maybe next year.  

All in all, I made 12 nest projects.  There's a candle stand, some nests in jars, vases, cups, on little wooden slices and one in the depression glass ladle!  

What do you think of these?  A bit different from my usual crafting.  

 

Mixed Florals Reprise

Remember these cards that I made using the Mixed Florals?  Last week I had some ladies over from my Bible study to make a card.

Because there were eight ladies all learning to make a card, I showed them how to use the Q-tip technique for coloring in the flowers.  Just dab the q-tip into a stamp pad and then use it like a paint brush.  Then they didn't have to wait for the markers.  I have to say, I love the Q-tip look!  It looks like water coloring, only easier and you don't have to have water at your stamping station.

To prepare for the class, I stamped and cut out the tulip image for everyone.  Then each guest got to choose the background paper that they wanted on their card.  Some choices were the colorful tulips, a gray stripe or a purple stripe.  

Here's a card made using the purple stripe for the background.  I ended up with a lot of card supplies left over (I had planned for 12) so I just kept making more cards with the tulips.  

What an easy card to make that can be used for most any occasion.  Seriously, I just want to make more!

 

Easter Cards

This week we made some Easter cards in my stamp class.  I used the Faith Collection stamp set for this card and some papers from the To Market designer papers.  I got the idea for this card from Stampin Up.  The card can be used for Sympathy or for someone that you know who may be going through a difficult time.  You can also send it to someone in your church for Easter or just encouragement.  

This little bunny has been around for a while.  He's from an older set called Fabled Friends.  I used the Unbounded Beauty papers in the background for a couple of different looks.

The bunny doesn't have to be exclusively for Easter.  He can be used as a Baby card, Spring card or just a Thinking of You card.  I'd like to try making him using more vintage papers and colors.  We'll see how that goes this week!

We also made this card that when you open it, it is shaped like a cross.  These papers are from Unbounded Beauty, as well.  I saw the idea for this at my stamping demonstrators meeting.  

Here is a side view of the card.  It was a lot of scoring and cutting but I made it through.  LOL

Here is what the back looks like so that you can write your sentiment.  It folds up to fit in an envelope.  Three very different cards for your Easter greetings.  :) 

 

Sweater Hearts and More

If you know me, you know that I like to go to thrift shops.  You also know that I LOVE to make things from used sweaters.  Last week I picked up a pretty magenta-colored sweater, washed it and made up some sweet stuffed hearts.

What can you do with these hearts?  I like to decorate with them - put them in a bowl or basket and set them out on the table.  Or you can put them on a shelf as a piece of interest.

After I stitched up some hearts from the sweaters, I looked at my fabrics to see if anything matched them.  I found this cute Tilda fabric and made some little pincushions to match the hearts.

They kind of all go together as a collection.  I usually sew antique buttons on some of them to give them a bit of embellishment.  

After I made the pincushions, I went into the stamping room to see if I had any papers to match my project.  I painted a small wooden block and added some pretty papers from Stampin Up along with a Bible verse.  I love how it turned out and matches the hearts.  :)

Then I made a fridge magnet to match.  I had fun in my craft rooms and I call that a wonderful creative day.  

 

Colorful Door Banner

 This weekend I had a sewing retreat at my house and made this colorful door banner.  I found the idea for it in American Patch and Quilting magazine and it was made by Sherri McConnell.

I thought the idea was really cute so I made it using fabrics from Corey Yoder.  I happen to have a whole box of them.  But they're just so pretty, I hate even cutting them up!

I worked up my own pattern for the little house.  The one in the magazine was only 4" big and I wanted something around 6."  It took a bit longer to make than I expected; I was hoping to have 2 completed by the end of the weekend.  But I'm glad to have at least this one - I love how it turned out and of course, I want to make more of these!

I'm going to donate this banner to my quilt guild to be raffled off in April.  I usually make some sort of quilty prize for our monthly drawings.  

The banner doesn't have to be hung only on a front door.  I think it can be hung in any room where you need something colorful.  I have a quilt kit in these fabrics and one of these days, I hope to make it.  Maybe I'll make another banner to match it.  :)