Loving the Lovely Arrangements

 For this week's card class, I took out the set Lovely Arrangements and the pretty papers that coordinate with it.  The papers have pre-printed sections with flowers that you can cut out or die cut for your card fronts.  I have to say, I just love making these cards and using the pretty papers.

Our first card is made using Everyday Arches to cut out the floral panel from the designer papers.  I added a fun circle die to the edge to accent the focal piece.  I embossed the white cardstock and added a saying from the stamp set along with some ribbon and bling.  That's pretty much it and look what a beautiful card it is!  I got the idea from Robin Daus.

The next card is made in pretty much the same way, only this time I used the Party dies banners for the focal point.  I added a circular saying mounted on a blue scalloped die.  I got the idea for this card from Tracy Bradley.

The third card is made using the stamps and dies and takes much longer than just using the papers.  I die cut the arch die and trimmed it at the bottom so it would fit on my card.  I stamped and added three flowers and some sprigs.  The top flower and the saying have dimensionals under them to give a little lift to the card.  I saw this idea from Heidi Collins.

Everyone enjoyed this class and the simplicity of the cards. The next day I made more cards.

Look how pretty this card is using the Crumb Cake and Olive Green colors.  It's made the same way as the first card, only using designer paper instead of the white embossed layer.

This one has a smaller printed image from the designer papers.  I ended with a total of 12 cards, but seriously, I could make them all day.  

Winter Sewing Retreat

In January I did go to my quilting retreat, but honestly I wasn't feeling that great and didn't get a lot done this year.   I got a virus in late December and it's left me with some vertigo that I am learning how to deal with.  So while I can do some things, I'm not quite up to my normal crafting self.

I am working on a jelly roll quilt using fabrics by Corey Yoder.  The pattern is in the book, On a Roll.  I saw it a few years back and have been wanting to make it.  It's a Moda All-Stars book with quilts made from different quilters.  

I finally managed to get the pieces from this Tilda quilt put together.  I'm going to put some borders on it to make it a bit bigger but I'm happy with how it looks.  

After looking at the photo, I noticed a couple of squares on the bottom row that need to be fixed.  Since my retreat I've fixed them and hope to finish up this quilt soon.

The fabrics are from a couple of charm square packs of older Tilda fabrics.  I know some of is from Plum Garden.  I still love that line of fabrics but I'm ready to finish and move on.

It usually snows here in upstate NY during January when we are on the retreat.  The retreat center is located in the country and the freshly fallen snow makes everything look so beautiful and peaceful.  

My friend Carol worked on a cute baby blanket with blues and a put a small bear in the corner.  She had it finished in just a couple of days.  Oh, and look - she has on the sweatshirt with the dresdan quilt block that I made for her!  She looks so cute.  :)

 

Making Valentine Cards

Last week my friend Carol came over and we made some Valentine cards for our grandchildren.  We had so much fun taking out older stamp sets and putting cards together.  While I only have one granddaughter, my friend has 12 cards to make!  

In this first card, I used Snailed It, a cute set with the little snail in it.  I love the mushroom and envelope cut outs; it really adds to the card.

The second card has a couple of heart die cuts from Meant to Be.  I embossed the white front with the Falling Petals embossing folder.  

For the next two cards I used the Meant to Be dies and cut out several different heart shapes.  The little envelope is from Snailed It stamp set.  Isn't it so cute?

For a boy card, I used Oh, Snap - a cute set that I hadn't used before.  I love the colors and everything about this card.  I love the wave stamp to give you the appearance that he is coming up from the water. 

Here is the card that I sent to my g-girl.  It's made using another set that I haven't used before called Little Ladybug.  I die cut the heart from Meant to Be dies and added a couple of very sweet ladybugs to complete the card.  And check out the saying, "You're as cute as a bug!"

Here's a pic of my friend after she completed her 12 Valentines!  It took us two days to make all of the cards.  I shared a couple of my cards with her so she could get all of her cards done faster.  

I hope all of our grands love their handmade cards filled with love from their Nana's.  :)

 

Tilda Zippered Bag and Scissors Holder

As a gift to one of my friends, I made this Zippered Bag and a little scissors holder.  I found the pattern for the scissors holder in an old McCalls pattern M6256.  I thought the holder would turn out a little larger than what it did, but it does hold a small of snips.

I made the bag using some Tilda fabrics.  I added in the teal and the orange plaid.  I like the look of how the colors all came together.  I embellished it with some Stampin Up buttons, a crocheted flower and a tea cup charm to finish the bag.

Then I made a little bird using Tilda fabrics to complete the gift set.  I wish I had time to make more and more of these.  :)

 

Spa Day Favor Using a Paper Bag

Here is a cute spa favor made from a paper bag.  I got the idea from Debra Harrison - she has a video on how to make it on her blog. Simply Sweet Ink Designs

I added papers from the new Hobby Haven designer papers that feature a spa day and added a tag using Everyday Arches and a saying from Love What You Do stamp set.  I used the Bough Punch to make some sprigs and attached it with a mini clip that I found at Target.  

I visited the Dollar Tree store to find some face masks and nail filers.  We made these in my Stamp Class.  All of the ladies loved them.

You could use other papers from the Hobby Haven package.  Put book paper on it and tuck some bookmarks in it.  Or put sewing paper on it and tuck in some buttons, a new pattern or a pretty new fabric.  How about some seed packs to go along with the plant papers?  

Check out her page and make a sweet favor for your friends.  

 

Fun Hobby Papers - Hobby Haven

This past week I held a stamp class using designer papers called Hobby Haven.  What a great package of papers!  Each page has images of different hobby items - spa day, sewing, crocheting, plants, cooking, books, etc.  The ladies and I had a great time fussy cutting images and using the punch outs to make some great cards.  :)

For most of the sayings, we used an older set called, Love What You Do.  I like the sweet, bold lettering of the sayings. 

The square focal stamp is from a new set called Joyful Squares.  I love the look that it gives to the cards.

My sister makes all natural soaps and other cosmetic products.  I think she will love the cards that I made for her.  I even snuck in a banner from the new Nature Walk designer papers.

Here is a similar card only it has a peach banner to brighten it up.

This card has some sweet looking plants on it.  

This is the first card that I made with the Hobby Haven papers.  I fussy cut out some books and even found a cup of tea and candles.

I made this card for one of my sewing friends.  I love how there's even a little pattern in the punch outs.

Don't you just love the mannequin?  So cute.  

I love the colors that coordinate with the papers - brown, tans, teals and peach.  

This one is cute, too, with the apron.  All week I just kept making more and more cards with these papers.  And I'm not done yet.  There are just so many possibilities.  :)

Which one do you like the best?

Snowmen from Sweaters

For the past few weeks I have been preparing for my annual Ornament Exchange.  Every year my crafty friends each make handmade ornaments to exchange with each other.  This year we had 9 ladies participating.  

I decided to make some snowmen from my sweater stash which is taking over the craft room.  I drew up a snowman shape, sewed and stuffed them and then embroidered a face and X buttons onto them.

Then I added a fabric scarf and a little stamped saying that says, Let it snow.  Each one comes out so differently and they take on their own little personalities.  

I wanted to add a black felt hat to them and went over to Michaels to get some felt, but forgot it once I got there!  So I added a paper hat.  But I'm still going to buy some black felt for the next ones that I make.

It's hard to find cream colored wool sweaters so I took some creative license and made a couple of pink and a purple snowman.  It's a little unusual but I like how they turned out.  

The sweaters that have wool or animal's fur in them make nicer crafts than just cotton ones.  The fibers with the wool melt when washed and dried in the heat and they tighten up, giving the sweater a tighter texture.  They don't unravel as easily, either.

I got the idea to make them from Cynthia Chapman on Pinterest.  I'm happy with how they came out and I'd like to make more for next year.

Here they are sitting underneath the Christmas tree waiting to go to their new homes.  :)