Recycling Card Embellishments

 Hello! I'm here today with some birthday cards I made using a lot of repurposed items. I have become quite a hoarder! I keep buttons, lace, trim, or anything I can salvage from all articles of clothing and packaging, before throwing anything away.

I love things that look old or vintage. I have old book pages, crocheted trim I stashed away off an old shirt, and some cardstock I soaked with tea bags.

After sewing masks for many months, I have had the itch to sew more. I made a couple quilts, and now I am sewing on cards too! I also dug out my watercolor pencils and stamps some flowers on the card.

What are you working on today?

Until Next Time 

~Shari

Trying Something New for Christmas!

Hello everyone! I have had a rough spell lately with pain, medical treatments, and trips to Mayo, and haven't been blogging much here mostly because I wasn't creating much. I buckled down after Thanksgiving and got to work on Christmas cards. Last year I made over 120 cards, but scaled it back a little this year and only made about 65. I just finish making them, writing out addresses, and slapping stamps on them, so they will go in the mail tomorrow! (later than normal)

I like variety, so I make about 5-10 of each design, based on how much paper I have that matches.

For starters, I tried the marbled shaving cream technique that I have seen everywhere lately. It was messy! The other thing I noticed, is that it probably isn't a good idea to use menthol scented shaving cream, because they cards definitely smell like shaving cream haha I wasn't thrilled with the results, and don't think it looks like the other examples I have seen. I might try it again and see if I can get a different result. Here they are-

The backgrounds drying

The finished cards

Here are the other cards I made this year:

Trying out some new dies

Added some vellum over the top because my adhesive was very sticky!

New background stamp with one of my favorite color combos- blue & silver

Another intricate die cut, that I had trouble with the adhesive. I really need to find a good way to stick these on after cutting them!

New Authentique Paper with fun colors!

Non-traditional Christmas colors

Some quilting fabric leftovers from a friend that I cut and sewed on the burlap

That's all for today! Hope to get back into the swing of things and keep creating. It is time to stock up on some birthday cards too. I have been wanting to try some more new techniques, so hopefully I can share those with you as I learn.

~Until Next Time
Shari

Not Quitting My Day Job!

I have done a handful of sewing projects in my life. Some curtains and a couple Halloween costumes are probably the most difficult things I have attempted. I had this idea to make a new binder tote for my coupons, so I dug through my scrap material yesterday and got to work.

I made one several years ago, for a much bigger binder. I decided to just "wing it" and not look for a pattern, but just use the old one as a guide. I am just using it to store coupons, and blank envelopes that I save from junk mail to write my grocery lists on. I use envelopes so I can tuck the coupons  inside until I check out at the store.

I just laid the binder on the material, cut it a bit larger than the actual size to allow for hems, and started sewing. Turns out that besides being unable to sew a straight line, I also misjudged the amount needed for hems. It almost didn't fit! It is super tight, and it won't win any awards, but it is done and functional for what I needed. :)

I don't really have a day job, but sewing is certainly NOT in my future career options! What are you working on this rainy morning?

Until Next Time~
Shari