Stitched Ribbon Banner for Stampin' Celebration

The colors in the new inspiration photo for the Stampin' Celebration Challenge are so bright and colorful.

SC104

They truly are happy colors and I wanted to capture that in my card.  To make my card I added Fast Fuse to a piece of Whisper White Cardstock.  Next I added strips of ribbon, on an angle, to the Fast Fuse and cut it out using my Big Shot with one of the Banner Framelits Dies.

To stitch it all together I took my panel to my sewing machine and played with one of my new decorative stitches.

Sidenote- my new sewing machine allows me to change both the length and the width separately.  I had fun playing with the different settings on just this one stitch.   Just imagine what fun I will have when I finally get the time to take the classes offered for my machine.  :)

Stamps: Hi There (Stampin' UP!)
Ink: Pacific Point (SU)
Paper: Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Banners Framelits, Ribbon-Retired (SU); Sewing Machine

Sew Sunday + Pillowcases

Last week was our quilt guild's 2nd Birthday/Anniversary.  What do you call it when a guild reaches its 2 year mark?  Whatever you call it, it was a blast!  There are so many reasons I am proud of our guild.  Most especially because our focus is on giving to others, learning & growing in our quilting and encouraging one another no matter where we are on our quilt journey.

One of the things I truly love about our guild is the opportunity for charity work. We always have something we are working on to give back to our community.  This month it was pillowcases.  We are donating these pillowcases to the pediatric unit of a local hospital.  I've never made pillowcases before so I headed to youtube to learn how.

There are several great ones out there, including this one.  Not only was this my first time making pillowcases, but I think it was also the first time I made a French Seam. It's so much easier than I thought it would be, and I love the results.  I'll have to try adding it to some of the bags I want to make.

It was so much fun to pull out fabric that I had in my stash from some PJs I had made for my boys when they were little.   I also hit the bright fabric aisle of my local quilt store and picked out some bright pieces.  These pillowcases are the first things I've sewn on my new sewing machine and I had sew much fun!  No wonder people like quilting with bright fabric.  It just makes us happy.

At the meeting I got back my Art's Walk quilt.  I think I'm going to make a matching pillowcase before I donate it.   At the meeting we also did a low volume charm swap.  Who knew low volume could be sew exciting?  We are doing sprout blocks for our next charity quilt as a guild and I'm looking forward to digging into my new bundle of fabric.

There has been no progress on my A Lovely Year of Finishes goal.  This past week has been too busy for any sewing.  :(   Thankfully, this week is going to be much less hectic...hopefully.  :)  My plan this afternoon is to spend some time sewing and finding out how to FMQ on my new machine.  Hope you are all having a wonderful Mother's Day and spending time with your family or your sewing machine.  <3

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you.

Feminine Floral Tag

Yesterday I shared a video on how I created 4 panels. Clicky if you missed it. For today's card I die cut my panel into a tag and left off the sentiment.   That is because I am saving it for a future occasion.  It might be a birthday, sympathy, get well or thinking of you card.  I can add the sentiment inside when I'm ready to send it or stamp a sentiment and cut it into a banner to add to my card front.  I love versatile cards like this.

On this panel I added more of the gold shimmer spritz.  My Mother-in-law reminded me of the Tea Lace Doilies that Stampin' UP! sells, and I pulled mine out of hiding to add it to the bottom of my tag.  The silver ribbon looks a little gray in the picture, but in real life it is just a soft silvery shimmer.

Stamps: Water Blooms (Mama Elephant)
Ink: Worn Lipstick, Wild Honey, Shabby Shutters, Crushed Olive (Distress Markers)
Paper: Blushing Bride, Soft Sky (Stampin' UP!); Marshmallow (Bazzil)

Accessories: Stitched Duo 1 Dies (Pretty Pink Posh); Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inker Designs) Tea Lace Doily (Stampin' UP!)

Mama Elephant Clear Stamps, Water Blooms

Ranger Embossing Powder, Princess Gold

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 25 pk

Ranger Distress Marker, Worn Lipstick

Ranger Distress Marker, Shabby Shutters

Pretty Pink Posh Dies, Stitched Duo 1

Ranger Distress Marker, Crushed Olive

Ranger Distress Marker, Wild Honey

Watercolor Stamping With Distress Markers + Video

How are you Mother's Day cards coming along?  In today's video I show you some easy techniques to make a vintage floral card for the special mom in your life.

This card started as a card for the current StampNation challenge to focus on the corners of our card.  I made a card for that challenge and then made 2 more panels that turned into different cards.  Here's a sneak peek of the StampNation Challenge card.

StampNation members Clicky to see the challenge and how the rest of the team was inspired.  

If you want to learn more about StampNation Clicky to see a quick video.

The technique is an easy one to learn.  I made a video for you so you can create your own panel and see where the inspiration leads you.

https://youtu.be/B9CTsnhVzf0

Tomorrow I will show you another card using a completely different layout using this stamping technique.   This card doesn't just have to be for more.  Change out the sentiment and you will have a feminine thank you, get well, thinking of you, friend, or sympathy card.  I love cards that are versatile like that!

Stamps: Water Blooms (Verve); Love Deepens (Verve)
Ink: Worn Lipstick, Wild Honey, Shabby Shutters, Crushed Olive, + Picked Raspberry & Mowed Lawn for the video (Distress Markers); Versamark; Gold Shimmer Spritz
Paper: Marshmallow (Bazzil)
Accesories: Princess Gold Embossing Powder (Ranger)

Mama Elephant Clear Stamps, Water Blooms

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 25 pk

Ranger Embossing Powder, Princess Gold

Ranger Distress Marker, Worn Lipstick

Ranger Distress Marker, Shabby Shutters

Ranger Distress Marker Set of 12 w/ Tube

Mother's Day Shape

This card is the one I'll be sending to my mom.  It may look rather simple, but it took me a long time to figure out.  I had a practice sheet out playing with colors and layout.

You wouldn't think it would be that hard to find the right shade of purple for my lilacs, but it was.  Thank goodness for the MISTI, because at least the stamping part was easy.  

It's been a very long time since I pulled out my ovals, but it seemed appropriate for a Mother's Day card, and it fits the CASology theme perfectly. 

The finishing touch was to tuck in a doily between the ovals and add glossy accents to the vase to make it look like water in the glass.  How are you coming on your Mother's Day cards?  I have a couple more cards to show you this week, so come back if you need some inspiration.

Stamps: Coming Up Roses (Wplus9); Love Deepens (Verve)

Ink: Berrylicious (My Favorite Things); Blackberry Bliss, Blushing Bride, Pistachio Pudding, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi (Stampin' UP!); Plum Pudding (PaperTreyInk); Soft Blossoms (Hero Arts); Vesamark; Wink of Stella

Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White (SU)

Accessories: Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder (Ranger); Oval Framelits (Stampin' UP!); MISTI

WPlus9 Design Studio Clear Stamps, Coming Up Roses

Hero Arts Shadow Ink, Soft Blossom

Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Tip Marker, Clear

Ranger Embossing Powder, Liquid Platinum

Virginia's View

I'm busy working on Mother's Day cards today.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute, since all of mine need to be sent.  Yikes!  Good news is that I will have cards to show you the rest of the week to inspire you if you haven't made your Mother's Day cards yet either.  Even better news for me is I only to make 1 more and I will be done.

If you want some added inspiration today, head on over to StampNation and check out Virginia Lu's latest stamp clinic.   Here is a sneak peek.

 In this lesson she shows us how to:

1. Use word dies effectively and creatively
2. What to look for when choosing/buying a word die
3. Using the same word die and yet make each project different
4. How to work these word dies with your stamps

Ridiculously awesome stuff.  Right!?

Click here to visit this mini-class at SN!

Not a member yet?  Click here to learn more - we will see you on the inside!

Sew Sunday + Sunday Share

Last week I celebrated a milestone birthday.  I didn't really want to celebrate it.  I didn't want to be a decade older, overnight.  But, my dear husband got me a birthday gift that makes me want to celebrate all month long!  

Now I shall finally find out if it is my machine that can't quilt or me.  I have a sneaky suspicion that it is a little of one and a lot of the other.  ;)  I'm so excited to try out the quilting capabilities on my new machine that I am making my May goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes a quilting goal.

May Goal

My goal this month will be to finally quilt this half square triangle color value quilt.  This will give me a chance to play with my new walking foot, as well as practice some free motion quilting.  I'm actually excited to start my least favorite part of the quilting process!  That is a gift indeed.

Since it is my birthday week, I hope you will indulge me in sharing some of the cards I received.  One of them is missing because it was sitting on my desk.  I think the kitties must have knocked that adorable rain boot card behind the desk because I can't find it.  It will be a nice surprise when we move the desk to paint in a couple of months.  :)  

I love receiving cards in the mail whether they are handmade, store bought, or scribbled on a notepaper. Opening the mail box and finding a card makes my heart sing!  Thank you friends and family for sending the love.  <3  The roses have been played with by our cats too.  Trouble makers.  It was so sweet.  My youngest son and husband picked them out by hand.  They are the prettiest shades of lilac and lavender I have ever seen in roses.  <3

Since you are already indulging me in this Sunday share added to ALYOF goal, I must "Mom Brag" a little bit.  My oldest son gave me the best gift he's ever given me, making the Vice President's honor list at Centralia College.  This is how I spent the afternoon of my birthday while my other son and his dad bought me roses.  I am beyond blessed, and I know it!

Now that my birthday is coming to a close I need to get to work on some Mother's Day card to share with you next week.  I only have one done and I need to send at least 4.  YIKES!  Here's a sneak peek at the one that is finished.

 I've been asked to make some thank you cards for the South Sound Modern Quilt Guild.  It's sew much fun combing my 2 creative loves.  Speaking of SSMQG, clicky to see a recap of our guild's Arts Walk Challenge Quilt Display.  Here's a sneak of some cards that will be coming to my blog in the next couple of weeks. 

I'm headed to Multnomah Falls for the day. The sun is shining and it's going to be a great day for a drive with the top down.  Birthday week is certainly a glorious week, even though I haven't had one day dedicated to doing the quilting and cardmaking I love.

Father's Day Card for Stampin' Celebration

I know, I know, I haven't even started making Mother's Day cards, but when an idea hits you, sometimes you have to run with it.  That's what happened with this week's sketch challenge at Stampin' Celebration.

This sketch is so versatile, I think I will go back to the stamp table and make another one with Mother's Day in mind.

Be sure to head on over to the challenge to see how the rest of the design team was inspired.   Then play along with us.  I want to see how this sketch inspires you!

Stampin' UP! Supply List
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Black Staz-On
Paper: ??? DSP, Pacific Point, Whisper White
Accessories: Linen Thread, Project Life Cards and Labels Thinlits

Sunday Share + Giveaway Links

If I had to sum up this weekend in 3 words it would be: Baseball, Painting and Quilts.

Our son had a baseball game on Friday night and a tournament yesterday.   He is just the cutest!  He's a part of the Rochester High School baseball team and he also plays for the South Thurston Babe Ruth League.

RHS

South Thurston @ Elma

Painting continues on the downstairs.   The kitchen is done, and part of the eat-in dining room.  Hopefully we will finish that and start working on the living room today.  It would be so nice to have the main area of the downstairs completed.

As for quilts, I thoroughly enjoyed going to Arts Walk in Olympia on Friday.  I promise to share pictures with you soon.  I'm waiting to hear who the winner was of our guild challenge.

GIVEAWAY ALERT

As I am sure you have heard by now, StampNation had a Virtual Retreat last week.  If you are a member you still have 1 more week to submit your cards to the challenge threads to be eligible for prizes.  As an added bonus a few StampNation Design Team members are giving away prizes on their blogs.

Allison is giving away a MISTI today: Clicky
Kristie is too: Clicky

Maureen is giving away a PRETTY PINK POSH bundle: Clicky

Check them out and be sure to let them know I sent you.  ;)  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  I'm back to painting.