String tags

It has been a while since I have shared some tags with you. I made these after watching this tutorial by Marion Vagg from the blog Made Marion. They are very easy to do and lots of fun to boot.

I made them using left over bits of string from previous gift tags and the buttons where oddments I had lying around. As I have said before gift tags are great for using up left overs like that.

First some flowers.....

(sorry I haven't quiet worked out how to get my photo's next to each other yet, so you'll have to scroll down quiet a bit to see all of them!)

(The petals on this second one are more even)

and then some butterflies.

I did faux stitching around all of them.

Supplies:

Scraps of string in burgundy, pink, blue and green

Gel pens in green, blue and pink

Scraps of paper

Button oddments

Bostik Sticky dots

Circular srolls

Last year I mentioned that I set myself a challenge to stitch all the patterns which I have had for ages but somehow never got around to making. Well today's cards are both made using one of these pattern. When I had finished the first one I liked it so much that I did it again in another colour combination. I'm not sure why I waited so long to make use of this pattern. I really like it.

The "string" at the base of the card is actually crochet cotton that I bought really cheaply. I like working with it as it's not as hard as ordinary string.
I have actually stitched this design again since making these cards but I'll save that for another post.

Supplies: 

Pattern: 101 Ideas for Embroidery on paper by Erica Fortgens

Thread: Pink and yellow (make and numbers unknown)

Crochet cotton in white

Beads: Oddments

Liquid Pearls in platinum

Card Stock: 160gsm in white and cream

                    Pink in linen finish

Butterflies and ribbons.

I am taking part in a new challenge this week. It's over at Butterfly Challenge and the challenge is to use ribbon with your butterfly. Well you know how I love to stitch butterflies so when I discovered this challenge I knew that I had to join. This is my first attempt.

Here is my entry

I CASed this design but for the life of me can't remember who from. So thanks for the inspiration secret cardie and please let me know if you recognize this as similar to one of yours.

I reduced my stitching pattern to 70%. Used a scrap of blue paper and green ribbon. Then used my special ruler to tear the kraft card, pink gingham paper and script paper. To complete I added flat backed gems.
I prefer to stitch in charcoal than black thread as in my opinion it looks less stark.

Supplies: 
Pattern: Stitching Cards Free butterfly
Cuttlebug
Sizzix 8 circles die
Ribbon
Paper: blue, free script from Ideas craft magazine
           Pink Gingham free from Phillipmartin
Card stock: kraft and pink
Thread: Charcoal
Beads: clear round
Ruler: Jef Paper tear Edger
Blue flat backed gems

Paper Flowers

This is one of the first patterns I stitched when I first started making cards using the prick and stitch method of embroidery. This time I personalized it by adding some punched paper flowers which I made instead of stitched ones. I think it turned out very well indeed.

I edged the top panel with a gold felt tipped pen and added gold peel offs to complete.

The one below is stitched as the pattern was intended.

Supplies:

Pattern: Stitching Cards. Flower border happy birthday
Thread: Scraps of green. Purple (make and number of all unknown)

             Gold:  Gold: DMC Antique Effects E436
Rolfex metallic pens in green and gold

Butterfly punch

Gold peel offs

Olba Bloemenponstang punch with attachment Q006 and Q007 for flowers 

150 years

This year the church that I attend is 150 years old. We had a special tea yesterday morning to kick off our celebrations. I was involved in the kitchen. It was a really lovely morning with the hall looking spectacular and so much food donated. The problem came when it was time to do the washing up. Tea and cake for 300 people makes a lot of dishes, believe me. We where all exhausted by the time we finished!!!

Besides butterflies the next image that I stitch the most frequently are flowers.

Here is a soft and feminine flower card.

I rounded two corners for a little interest and used double sided foam to give some dimension to the top panel.

I loved the clean and simple elegance of this card by Laurie over at Soapbox creations and used it as my inspiration.

Supplies:

Corner Punch

Foam tape  

Pattern: 101ideas for embroidery on paper by Erica Fortgens

Thread: green and pink (make and numbers unknown)   

Valentines day part 3

It was while making this card that I came up with the idea for today's heart card. Once again it's appropriate for valentines, a wedding or anniversary card.

I particularly like the combination of copper and white.

I distressed the edges, added copper peel off and to finish enamel dots and flat backed gems.

And now for my next card

My inspiration

Source: Resqbabrie at Splitcoast Stampers

I layered the stitched panel onto black paper and added some decorative tape in black to the base. The flat backed gems compliment the colours used for the hearts.

Supplies:

Card 1

Pattern: New Designs, New Projects for Embroidery on Paper by Erica Fortgens

Peel off in copper

Copper enamel dots

Champagne flat backed gems

Thread: DMC Blanche

Card 2

Just for you Tape Sticker Size 12 5/18cm

Pattern:  Stitching Cards border 1 valentine hearts 
Thread: Red and yellow (no make or number available)

             Green DMC 704

             Blue DMC 809

Flat backed gems in green, red and blue

Butterflies, butterflies and more butterflies.....

As you know I am very fond of stitching butterflies, in fact in the computer folder where I store the things that catch my eye and inspire me, the section entitled butterflies is second only to my Christmas section!!!

So here today is another butterfly card, well two versions of the same card.

I prefer the pink one. It was the second one I stitched.

The sentiment is computer generated prior to stitching and I used artist pastel pencils to colour the smaller butterflies. I then smudged the pencil with an ear bud.

I rounded the corners of the top two layers with a corner punch.

I was inspired by this card.

Supplies:

Pattern: small butterflies: 101 ideas for embroidery on paper by Erica Fortgens

             big butterfly: ( reduced to 70%)   Stitching Cards. Free butterfly 
Thread: Yellow, blue and pink (no make or name available)

Pink and blue flat backed gems

Cardstock: 200gsm in blue, kraft and salmon pink

clear and blue glass beads

Corner punch

Derwent pastel pencils yellow: zinc yellow (light) deep cadmium (dark)

                                    blue: Spectrum blue

                                    pink: Terracotta

Valentine's Day Part 2

Another card which can be used for Valentine's Day or a wedding or anniversary I suppose.

I used a corner punch and scrap of ribbon to complete.

My inspiration

Source: K Dunbrook

Supplies:

Pattern "New Designs, NewProjects for embroidery on Paper" by Erica Fortgens

Corner Punch

Ribbon Scrap

Thread: DMC in black and red

Happy Birthday Mom

It was my Mom's birthday yesterday and this is the card I made for her.

It was very hot on the day so we had a picnic under the trees in my sister's garden, with home made mango ice cream and lemon and basil cocktails. We even spent some time in the swimming pool. A lovely lazy time spent with family.

Happy Birthday Mom

My inspiration came from this lovely card  by Maureen Merritt

Supplies:

Pattern: Large Flowers "Easy Embroidery on paper" by Jokke de Vette

             Small flowers Pinbroidery. free flower corners
Thread: Coral, apricot and green (sorry no numbers or makes available)

Gold peel off stripes

Liquid Pearls in gold pearl