Cards for March 5th

Well, I finally managed to come up with a plan for the card class on March 5th - plus we'll have an extra "bonus" make and take card (bottom right)that a special guest from Colorado Springs is bringing.

I'm still playing with watercolor backgrounds - the one at the bottom left will feature salted watercolors - and we'll be using re-inkers this time.

Also, the one at the top right is a flip card...just something different for a change.  The stamp set we'll be using has other images if you don't need a birthday card, although it seems like birthdays are my most common card-sending occasion.

i {heart} card sketches with a tWiSt # 139

Love this cute little mouse from fromtheheartstamps.com.  He's usually holding balloons, but I combined him with "Wee Bit and Lots o Luck" to make a St. Patrick's card for my Aunt Viola.  I based the layout on this week's challenge sketch.

Finished....finally!

Oh. My. Goodness!  What a struggle.  I love this pattern (Brandt's Boulevard by Chris W Designs), and everything went so smoothly until I got to the topstitching part.  So, after unpicking my first attempt,  I broke out the old Singer.  Although I'm not particularly comfortable sewing with it yet, I was able to finally manage to finish this wallet.  I know I need to make another one, just so I can figure out a way to make those edges thinner!

February From the Heart Challenge

From the Heart Stamps has an awesome FREE digital stamp of the month deal.  By posting a picture of what I've made with this month's stamp, I earn next month's stamp!  February's digi is this adorable "Snowman and Cocoa."  You can see the stamp set and find out how to get started here. This month's image is only $1 - then when you post a project you get next month's digi free.

I decided to try some digital paper piecing this month.  I created the card in My Memories Suite, then printed two more of the snowman images, one with a gray pattern overlay for the scarf and one with a blue pattern overlay for the hat and mittens.  I cut those pieces out and glued them on after coloring bits of the main image.  I just used clear Wink of Stella for the fur trim on the hat.  This one was fun and REALLY easy!

Sew-a-long Snag

Well, I was doing pretty good on my Brandt's Boulevard Wallet from Chris W Designs. And then I had to topstitch.... Oh well, unpicking stitches is good for character building, right?
  These are all the pieces - I thought THAT was going to be the hard part!
 Here's the outside.  I was so excited that things were going well that I didn't take a picture of the inside before sewing the pieces together.  I think I'll have to turn to my antique Singer for the final steps.

Brandt's Boulevard Sew-Along

I'm excited to be making this gorgeous wallet from ChrisW Designs next week, along with friend Rachel of Tiger in a Tornado.  I'll try to post updates here, more to keep myself on task than anything else!  I've decided to use this fabric combo:


Rachel is responsible for getting me into sewing mode again by introducing me to the Necessary Clutch Wallet from Emmaline Bags.  I've made six of them now.  I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of it now!  These are my two latest - I've been experimenting with making a bit more room for my iPhone and with different methods and interfacings.  It's one of those patterns that's addictive, and I suspect the Brandt's Boulevard may prove to be a little that way too.


I had lots of fun at card class yesterday - all the ladies' cards were gorgeous and creative, and I got some REALLY good ideas for ways to change up my samples. I need to make at least 4 birthday cards today, so the leftover kits will go to good use.  I guess if I'm going to keep at this blogging thing I should take more pictures...  Thanks to Courtney, here are pictures from a year ago to compare.  Doesn't she do nice work?

Don't forget!

Card class will be held tomorrow at 2:00 PM Saturday Feb. 6th at the Barkman Branch Library in Pueblo.  Bring your favorite adhesive and $5 to cover the cost of supplies - everything else is provided.

i {heart} card sketches with a tWiSt # 137

I decided to try coloring this cute little Valentine mouse from From The Heart Stamps for the weekly sketch challenge.  I've never tried working from a card sketch before.  I ~think~ I like it...but haven't totally decided yet!  I wasn't sure how close I needed to stay to the sketch... guess I'd better keep at it.  I colored this little guy with Stampin' Up markers and added a few sequins, although a couple of the heart ones ended up looking like white splotches for some reason.