Layers of Beauty Cards

Layers of Beauty stamps and masks came out last year but I finally decided to get them.  I am so glad that I did!  The masking templates work so well and the flowers turn out looking very professional.

I always say that I am not a purple girl, and I'm surprised at how many times that I do use purples.  I used Fresh Fresia for the cardstock, added a strip of Soft Succulent designer paper from an old pack, and embossed the white background for this card.

I stamped the purple flower on a white piece of cardstock, used the masking templates and then cut it out with the die.  For my masking colors, I only used one color for the purples and one color for the greens.  It's the shading that makes them turn out so well.

Honestly, this is one of my favorite cards that I have ever made.  It goes well for birthday, thinking of you and even sympathy cards.  

The matching dies that go with this set are awesome, too.  I like the look of the textured leaves. Here is another one that I did make for a sympathy card.

Card #2 uses papers from Country Woods designer papers.  I love the rustic look of this card.  For this technique I stamped the flowers and gently outlined the flowers and leaves,  It gives it a nice subtle look to the card.  I got the idea from Lori Pinto.  This is also one of my favorites.  

Here is another look at that pretty card.  :)

For this third card, I embossed the flowers with gold powders.  Then I added gold cut out leaves.  I did a little outlining in the flowers with yellow just to make them stand out more.  Gold cards are hard to photograph and this card looks to much better in person.

I decided not to put a saying on these.  They can be used for a wedding, anniversary, birthday or other special day.  I wish you could see them in person.

Which one do you like the best?  

 

Scripture Blocks and Cards

 

One of the things that I love to make to put in my little shop are blocks with sayings or Scriptures.  For these two blocks I used To Market designer papers and flower stamps from Regency Park stamp set.  I like using these flowers because there is a coordinating punch that makes cutting them out a lot faster than just fussy cutting.  

Here are a couple more house blocks made using Countryside Inn designer papers.  When I am out and about at craft store, I always look for stamps with Scriptures on them.  I have a whole bin full and love using them on my projects.  

I buy my blocks at various stores, mostly from the clearance section.  Then I paint them and decorate them with papers and sayings.  Here is a long block and I wasn't sure what to do with it.  But I had a long horizontal Scripture that fit just perfectly.  I sectioned off the block and added some cut outs from To Market papers.  It matched the card set and I was happy with how it turned out.

One of the cards from To Market class.  I ordered more of these papers; they work up so nicely with Crumb Cake and other tan papers.  

Here is a cute card that I made using Celebratory Sips designer papers and the cut-out heart from Friends for Life.  

Scripture blocks and cards make nice gifts and can be an encouragement to someone.  

Florals in Bloom

 This month I took out the pretty papers and stamp set from the new SU catalog called Florals in Bloom suite of products.  I just love the new Secret Sea color.  It's like a deep dark ocean color, not quite black that makes a nice contrast to the brighter colors.

For this card, I used Fresh Fresia for the cardstock and added a piece of the designer papers to the front.  I stamped the saying onto a rectangular cut out and added some flowers that I fussy cut from the designer paper.  I usually use a little Wink of Stella to brighter up the paper, some sparkling embellishments and a bow to finish it off.  I also like to add splatters using a stamp to the white spaces.  I think this ties all of the colors together in your projects.  The idea for this card is from Judy May.

For this card, I tried to copy the card on the front of the new catalog.  While I didn't have the new banner set, I used another banner cut out and added some framing to the designer paper.  I would never have used these colors together but I love how it turned out!

These next two cards are tuck-in cards; the side panel tucks under the saying and closes the card.  I wanted to show how the same image and papers can look different by changing up just the cardstock color and the focal point color.  I love how they turned out.  They're like a two-for-one card set!

I got the idea for these from Karin Sommer Braxton on Pinterest.

There is so much more that I want to make with this set.  The colors of the paper are bright and happy and the stamp set has cute flowers in it.  

Have you used this set yet?

Pin Cushions with Dogs

Yesterday I was fooling around in my sewing room, trying to decide what to make for my upcoming quilt group meeting.  Every month I raffle off an item that I have made.  This time I decided to make a collection of pin cushions.

It all started with the little dog panel that I found at one of the stops on my NY Shop Hop last week.  I framed them with some new fabric that I had bought that matches them just perfectly!  Honestly, they are just so cute!

The theme for this month's raffle is Blue.  So next I cut some 1 1/2" strips from some blue fabrics and sewed them into rows for the blue patchwork pin cushions.  The squares and strips finish at 1".  

For the half-square triangle cushion, I cut 1 1/2" squares and then sewed on the diagonal, removing the extra fabric.  The squares also finished up at 1".  There are 16 blocks in this little pin cushion.

And lastly, I wanted a different shape, so I chose to make the half-square triangle circle cushion.  I cut the fabric squares 3" and then drew a line down the diagonal of the top square.  I sewed 1/4" on both sides of the triangles, cut them down through the center and sewed them into a four-patch block.  Instead of making it square, I just drew a circle and sewed on that to create a circular cushion.

Each cushion is layered with a piece of batting and then quilted.  After I turned and stuffed them, I added some buttons to embellish them.  What do you think?  Which one do you like the best?

Have you ever made pin cushions just for fun?  I could make them every day. Oh, wait, but then I wouldn't get anything else done!

Cheers and Sips

Honestly, I had so much fun making these cards last week!  The colors from Celebratory Sips are so vibrant and happy.  And the papers have cute, colorful drinks on them that you can cut out.  :)

For my first card, I cut some green designer papers into strips and mounted them onto the card.  I offset them to give them some visual appeal.  I added a piece of the beautiful Celebratory Sips paper as the focal point.  Then I cut out a couple of "drinks" to add to the card.  

This set does not have to be alcoholic, they can just be lemonade and grape juice drinks.  Here is another version:

For this card, I used a darker colored purple for the background.  I think it makes the images stand out better.  I got the idea for this card online but don't remember where.  (Let me know if it's your card so I can give you credit.)  I love how it came out.  :)

For the second card, I made a couple of slits in the middle of the front of the cardstock so that it opens only in the middle.  The top and bottom layers are glued down.  The papers are so pretty and bright.  What a fun card to make.  :)

This card has a pink lemonade with a little umbrella - how cute is that?  I got the idea for this card from Karen Titus on Pinterest.

The third card is a side fold card, so when you open it you only have room on half of the card to write your sentiment.  The pretty pinks on this card make it a happy card for someone, no matter what their special day may be.

Or just make it a Happy Birthday card to celebrate someone you know.  I stamped the orange and strawberry for the right side of the card and also for the inside.  

The papers are so nice in this set that you don't have to really any drink images.  I ordered more papers so that I can make some more bright cards.  Which card do you like best?

 

Serene Love

Earlier this month, I made 3 cards using the Serene Love designer papers.  They were a special offering from Stampin Up and I got them on the Last Chance list.

For my first card, I made a frame with the papers using a couple of rectangle dies.  I cut out the flowers and added a couple of sprigs to match.  I like to keep the colors to a minimum because I like the cohesive look it gives to the cards.  

The "friend" cut out is from Friends for Life.  I love how it adds to the card!

My next card has a circle cut out with some designer paper taped behind it to create a focal point.  The flowers are fussy cut from the paper and then I added some sprigs from various die cuts to complete the card.  Funny thing is even though it is called "stamping class," there isn't much stamping at all on these cards, just the sayings.

My next card is a horizontal card with some designer paper at the bottom and a fancy die cut row to give it some pizzazz.  The circle is from Spotlight on Nature dies and then I added some sprigs and flowers.  

I love how these cards came out.  There are 2 other colors (navy blue and light green) in the Serene Love paper pack so maybe I'll make some cards using the rest of the papers.  

What do you think of them?  You could pretty much use any flowered papers to make similar cards.  

 

More Drawstring Bags

 The drawstring bags are easy and fun to make!  Here's one with some pretty coneflower fabric that I love.  Pinks and greens are one of my go-to color combinations.  

This next one features a little hen house on a farm.  You can use any image or panel for the front of the bag.  I have a lot of whimsical fabrics - now is a great time to use them.  :)

This one with the bunny came out kind of plain.  It needed some ribbon or rick rack to spice it up.  It was one of the first ones that I made.  Now I know better.  

Here is a more subtle colored bag.  Made with soft blues and pinks.  I love using up my older fabrics to make something pretty.  

Which one do you like?  

Drawstring Bags with a Sewing Theme

For my quilt guild meeting this month, I made a sewing-themed drawstring bag.  I found a cute image of a sewing machine on one of my fabrics and then added some button fabrics, word fabric, checkered ribbon and some measuring tape ribbon.  I finished it off with a crocheted flower and button.

 It measures about 7.5 x 9.5 inches.  I made up my own pattern and had so much fun making this!

Like most craft projects, you can't make just one.  So I made another one.  This one doesn't have a sewing machine, but some other sewing images on it.  I scrounged around and found some assorted ropes for the drawstrings.

When I made another sewing machine one, I noticed that I forgot to put the measuring tape and ribbon on it when it was too late.  But it still came out cute.  I gave these away to a couple of my sewing buddies.

The next day I went into my sewing room and made more from some different fabrics, this time with lighter colors.  They don't take super long to make and they are a lot of fun.  I will be giving these two away, also.  

I forgot to make one for myself so guess I'll just have to keep at it.  LOL

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.