Sew Saturday ~ In Progress

My sewing machine has seen some action this week.  :)  First up, my half square triangle quilt top is sewn together.

Now I need to decide if I want to do borders, what size, how many, which color/pattern design????  How would YOU finish this quilt?  I'm leaning towards no borders because I can't come up with something that will pull it all together.  Below is the gray scale version from my camera.

Since I was avoiding putting the mitered borders on my jelly roll race quilt, I decided to sew on some cards this week too.  Nothing like procrastinating on my ALYOF goal that I set for myself this month.  ;)

Did you know that you can sew on your cards?  Sewing through paper is SUPER easy!  It doesn't shift or move as much as fabric and the needle goes through paper like buttah.

Enough of sewing triangles.  I really do need to get the JRRace quilt done in time to give it to my guild in early December.  I'm happy to report that last night I finished the mitered borders.  If I can just decide how to quilt it, perhaps I can get started on that this weekend and maybe even have it finished next week.

The month is halfway done and I am 1/3 of the way to reaching my ALYOF goal.  Will I make it in time?  If I can decide soon how to quilt this thing, then I think I can.

Banner Christmas

After I made my pennant tag cards I had several leftover triangles.  While debating whether to save them or toss them I decided to just USE them to make another card.  (Novel idea, I know)  

This also gave me another chance to enter 2 of the challenges I did for my tag cards.  First up is The Card Concept.  My cards tend to be Clean & Layered or Classy & Elegant.  Both of those styles appeal to me.  I like having clean lines and more than one layer.   That fits this card when I added an extra piece of background paper to the card base.  If  you are looking to define your style, this challenge and the Design Team samples can be a great place to start.   See what you are drawn to, and which style most closely match your own.  

Christmas Banners are the perfect definition of "Festive" for me, so of course I have to add this card the CASology challenge again.   If you are looking for ways to make your cards become Clean & Simple to perfection, then check out this weekly challenge.  Focusing on one thing in a clean way really helps make my card sing.

Supplies:

Stamps: Wonderful & Jolly (Penny Black)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler (SU)

Paper: Crumb Cake, Champagne Glimmer Paper, Trim the Tree DSP Stack, Nordic Noel DSP (SU)

Accessories: Pennant Punch, Small Star Punch, Stitched Rectangles (SU) (Lil' Inker Designs); Sewing Machine

Negative Space with a Positive Outcome

Have you ever missed a deadline because you were in the wrong week in your planner?  Yes? No?  Just me?  I did that this week.  On Tuesday I missed my dog's grooming appointment in the morning because I thought it was the day I was supposed to be at the dentist.  On Wednesday I didn't have a card ready to go for the current challenge at StampNation because I thought it was our sponsor week, (that card was done weeks ago) when in fact that is next week as well.  Aye yi yi.  Some weeks I truly wonder about myself.

All is well, and I am back on track with my days.  Thankfully Maureen is very understanding and let me slide for this week.  Our groomer was also accommodating and Bella will be getting "pretty" next week.  Unfortunately I still have another week to dread going to the dentist.  On the bright side, I get to share my Design Team cards with YOU because I didn't get them posted in time for the challenge at StampNation.  How is that for turning negative into positive?

Did I mention the challenge this week (for real) is to use Negative Space on your cards?  Fitting isn't it?   Thankfully the challenges at StampNation never close, so I can go add them to the challenge thread after I post here.

As you can see I was super inspired by this theme.  I chose blue ornaments so I could keep up with my personal 6 week Merry Monday challenge.   For each of these cards I die cut my ornament/circle out of white cardstock, then layered the ornament stamp/glitter paper behind.  The die cut piece was embossed then popped up using dimensionals over the ornament paper.

MM#134

 If you have ever mixed up your weeks like this, I would love to hear about it in the comments below.  If you never have, then please share your organized secret!

If you would like more information on StampNation, and/or to join the fastest growing online community of passionate paper crafters, clicky here.

Fancy Stamped Ornament
Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes (SU); Seasonal Flourishes (WMS)

Ink: Night of Navy, Versamark (SU)

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Night of Navy
Accessories: Holiday Ornament Framelits (SU),;Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder (Ranger); Wink of Stella Glitter Pen

Glitter Ornament  (all Stampin' UP!)
Stamps: Christmas Bliss 

Ink: Lost Lagoon 

Paper: Various Glimmer Papers, Whisper White
Accessories: Circle Framelits, Early Espresso 1/8" Tafffeta Ribbon, Silver 1/8" Ribbon, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder

Festive Tags

Tracey McNeely's 25 tags of Christmas blog hop has me so inspired that I've made 3 more tags and put them on some Christmas cards.

Punches and dies made these tags super simple!  I used my Stampin' UP! Pennant Punch for the triangle banners, then used my sewing machine to attach them to a stitched tag I cut out using the Stitched Duo 1 tag from Pretty Pink Posh.

One of the tags leans to the left, the other one is straight.

Both fit the sketch for CASE this Sketch.  Which one do you prefer?

 

For good measure, I made a 3rd card and changed up the sketch a bit by adding a narrow border on each side.  I smudged my sentiment on this 3rd tag, so I used that as an opportunity to embellish.  ;)  The little sentiment strip was sewn on with my sewing machine to tie into the stitching on the pennants.

All 3 tags fit the current challenge on Addicted to CAS.   Festive makes me think "Christmas & Happy".  Pennant scream FUN to me. 

eta: I just have to link up to one more challenge in honor of my friend, Kristie Goulet's new design team spot over at the Card Concept.  This is an awesome challenge that inspires me every time I visit their blog.  I'm so proud of Kristie in her new role on their design team.  They are lucky to have her with her trendy CAS style!  My cards look like they were created with this challenge and CAS style in mind.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps: Peace On Earth (Verve)
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Crumb Cake, Nordic Noel DSP, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, Pennant Punch (SU); Black Baker's Twine, Stitched Duo 1 Die (Pretty Pink Posh); Sewing Machine

Shaker Card for Stampin' Celebration

Merry Monday to you!  For some reason I just can't get enough of making Christmas cards lately.  It's a good thing, because I only have half of mine made.  I  took the new sketch challenge over at Stampin' Celebration and used it to create this fun shaker card!

Along with sequins I added some dazzling diamonds glitter.  It didn't look like a lot when I scooped it out, but it ended up being a bit too much.  Oh well, it's sparkly and fun.  Whoever gets this card is sure to enjoy it.

Be sure to head on over to the Stampin' Celebration blog to see how the rest of the design team was inspired, then link up to your creation.

Stamps: Beauty of the Season, Festival of Trees
Ink: Basic Gray, Pear Pizzaz (SU)
Paper: Whisper White, All Is Calm DSP (SU)
Accessories: Labels Framelits, All Is Calm Sequins, Tree Punch, Dazzling Diamonds (SU); Marshmallow & Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

If you would like to see how to make a shaker card like this along with several other trends this holiday season, be sure to check out A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0  

Sew Sunday ~ BOM

Almost every month our quilt guild does a block of the month for a charity quilt.  Some are more challenging than others.  While I like a good challenge in my paper crafting, I love the months that are easy for quilting.   This month's block was one of those easy ones.  YAY!

In fact, this one was so easy and fun to make that I made a couple more blocks the next day to add to my sampler quilt.  This time I played with color placement a little more.  it might be fun to take the same 4 colors and create an entire quilt with different color placement.

My ALYOF goal is not going as well. After careful measuring and marking the first border for mitered corners I sewed on the double border only to find that I had sewn right side to wrong side.  grrrrr.... It had to be ripped out, but a few days before I did this I broke my seam ripper. Murphy's law, right?  I went to town TWICE and forgot to buy a seam ripper.  After I ripped it out, I tried to erase my pen marks only to find I didn't use my erasable pen, instead it was permanent blue ink on a cream fabric.  UGH!  I'm frustrated with it, so I put it aside.

Instead, I picked up the half square triangle blocks from the class I took last winter.  At the time I took the class I didn't really have a stash built up.  I bought some fat quarters and took several squares that my generous guild mates donated to me to pull these blocks together for the class.  Some of these fabrics really just stood out like a very sore red thumb.  I decided to see if I could salvage the quilt, and if not, to just sew these blocks together and get this UFO out the door.

Taking out the fabrics that really didn't belong, and sewing a few more blocks together to even it out helped greatly.  Then I used the trick I learned in class to figure out contrast.

Her trick was to convert the photo to black & white.  In black and white, you can more easily see which blocks need to be moved around, or removed all together.  During the class I tried hard to find contrast without the use of my phone, but yesterday I decided that was silly.  If I had the tool, I should use it until I can spot it without using black & white photos.  As a bonus I have referred often to my pictures on my phone to make sure the pieces stay in the right position for the pattern I am creating.

Thankful Thursday

Last weekend my crafty friend, Lisa, gave me an amazing gift.  It was a "just because you appreciate creativity" gift.  She made a decorative spool holder for baker's twine!  I had to make her a special thank you card for it.  ;)

The top finial has a magnet so I can change out the colors of baker's twine to fit the season or projects I'm working on.  Isn't that awesome?!  Thank you, Lisa!

I used her gift bag as inspiration for my card when I decided on the brown polka dot paper, and pulled the sketch from Retro Sketches for the layout.

rs#139

Isn't that a perfect sketch?  I really wish I had a die to match the curves in the picture, but the stitching on the scallop die tied in nicely with the stitching on the stamp.   The sketch was so fun that I decided to use it for my Merry Monday Challenge card.

This time I used some burlap ribbon and Victorian crochet trim instead of paper.  It still fits the sketch, but ties in the rustic feel that the challenge called for.  If you are keeping track, and I'm sure you're not, this is 3 weeks in a row for me completing the Merry Monday challenge on time.  Woot-Woot!  I'm halfway to my goal of 6 weeks in a row to prepare for sending Christmas cards love meeting goals like this.

MM#133

 Supplies
Stamps: Fall Foliage (My Favorite Things); Beauty of the Season (Penny Black)
Ink: Goldeb Glitz Delicata (Tsukineko); Dark Chocolate (Simon Says Stamp); Versamark (SU)
Paper: Crumb Cake (SU); Misc. patterned paper from my stash :)
Accessories: Early Espresso Embossing Powder - Burlap Ribbon - Victoria Crochet Trim (SU); Stitched Scallop Borders (Lawn Fawn)

25 Tags of Christmas

Tracey McNeeley has a fabulous special she does each year called the 25 days of Christmas. This year she asked the design team at StampNation if we wanted to play along in her challenge.  Of course I said YES!  I love making tags for Christmas gifts.  Sometimes I will even hang tags I've made on our Christmas tree as decorations.

Here is my first tag.

I was so inspired I couldn't stop at just one, so I made a couple more and filmed the video for you!

***Note- If you are reading this post in an email or reader you may need to visit my blog to view the video.  

The second tag is so quick and easy to make!

Here is a close-up, so you can see the shimmer of that Delicata ink.

To make the blog hop even more fun Tracey has prizes and giveaways and she is letting me get in on the fun.  Leave a comment here by November 26th for a chance to win, then be sure to check out Tracey's blog for even more chances to win a prize from one of her fabulous sponsors.

• Reverse Confetti
• Clearly Besotted
• CAS-ual Fridays
• Neat and Tangled
• Paper Smooches
• Lawn Fawn

You will be beyond inspired for all your holiday tag needs this season!

If you are looking for more holiday card and tag ideas, be sure to check out A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0  Clicky for more details.

I'm also entering one of my tags in the Addicted to CAS challenge.

  

Supplies:
Stamps: Compliments of the Season (Waltzing Mouse Stamps); EnFrancais (Stampin' UP!)
Ink: Iced Spruce - Antique Linen - Tea Dye - Gathered Twigs - Weathered Wood (Distress Ink); Golden Glitz Delicata (Tsukineko), Black Hero Hues (Hero Arts)
Paper: Distress Watercolor (Tim Holtz/Ranger); Cartographer (Prima)
Accessories: Metallic Gold Embossing Paste (Wendi Vecchi); Stitched Duo 1 Die (Pretty Pink Posh); Endearing Stencil (Penny Black); Cherry Cobbler Linen Ribbon - Real Red Woven Satin Ribbon (Stampin' UP!)

Sew Sunday ~ November Goals

Sorry for the late post, my sewing friends.  I wanted to get a post up today for my November Goals with Shanna and Melissa on A Lovely Year of Finishes.

November Goals

My goal this month is to get my Jelly Roll Race Christmas quilt top finished.  I plan on adding borders and quilting it before the month is over.  If I can get that done I will work on the binding as well.   In a perfect world I'll have it finished in time for our December guild meeting, but I rarely live in a perfect world.  :)

What are your sewing goals this month?  Do you have any Christmas projects that need to get done?

Washi Tape Christmas ~ Video

Now that the weather is colder, I am super inspired to get caught up on my Christmas card making.  It is my second week in a row entering the Merry Monday challenge.  My new goal is to participate each week in the Merry Monday challenge for the next 6 weeks.   By then I should probably be sending out my cards.

These were the first cards I made for the challenge.  Then I took a closer look at the challenge photo and realized I was supposed to do dry embossing, not heat embossing.

#132

Ooops.... It was an easy fix though.  I just pulled off the top layer and embossed over the sentiment.  The second take is even better than the first.

The gold card has an elegant look to it.   This time I die cut my sentiment instead of stamping it.

eta:  Last night I was looking in my inbox and discovered the new Virginia's View Challenge.  My card is right on trend with her metallics challenge, so I have to link it up there too.  Check out the AWESOME inspiration at her challenge site!

This simple design was so fabulous I decided to make it in another color scheme, and film a video for you.

Note-  If you are reading this post in an email or reader you may need to visit my blog to see the video below.

It was fun to play around with different colored cardstock and washi tape to achieve different looks.

At this point I'm not sure which one is my favorite?  Which one do you like the best?

Now I have 4 cards to add to my pile.  I'm not even tired of the design yet.   Perhaps I should pull out my red and green washi tapes and try for a couple more.  At this rate, perhaps I will be done with my cards early this year.  (ya, right, even I don't believe that one!)

Before I go...

If you haven't yet signed up for A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0 you will want to sign up this weekend.  The coupon code for StampNation members ends soon, and the BONUS Sketches PDF will only be available for those who sign up by Monday.

Click here to learn more about the Very Trendy Holiday card class

Click here to sign up for StampNation and grab your coupon code.

Be sure to check out Merry Monday Challenges and say goodbye to LeAnne Pugliese.   I'm so grateful to her for starting the Merry Monday Challenge blog and inspiring me throughout the year.  Without this challenge I doubt I would make any Christmas cards "out of season".  Her challenges and the design team's creation keep me motivated all year long.

Stampin' Supplies:

Gold Card:
Paper: Gold Foil, Very Vanilla Cardstock (Stampin' UP!)
Accesories:  Eliza Snowflake Die (Simon Says Stamp), Merry Script (Memory Box), Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape (SU)

Crumb Cake Card:
Stamps: Christmas Bliss (Stampin' UP!)
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Crumb Cake (Stampin' UP!)
Accessories: Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Delicate Designs Embossing Folder, Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape (SU)

Lost Lagoon Card:
Stamps: Merry Christmas Message (Hero Arts)
Ink: Lost Lagoon (Stampin' UP!)
Paper: Lost Lagoon, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: All Is Calm Washi Tape (SU), Eliza Snowflake Die (Simon Says Stamp)

White Card:
Stamps: Merry Christmas Message (Hero Arts)
Ink: Lost Lagoon (Stampin' UP!)
Paper: Silver Foil, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: All Is Calm Washi Tape (SU), Eliza Snowflake Die (Simon Says Stamp)