Gingham

Today's card is an entry in Splitcoast Stampers. Free for all The clue card is "Mad for Gingham". 

I often use gingham paper on my cards as I have found a fabulous website for free gingham papers    (see below in supplies)

Well on to my entry

 For other cards I have made with this pattern please look here and here.

Supplies:

Pattern: "Easy Embroidery on Paper" by Joke de Vette

Card Stock: 160gsm white 

Thread: Pink DMC 3708

             Both red and green were bargain bin finds with no number code

Ribbon: scrap of green satin   

Red flat backed gems

Paper:Activity Village.

Ombre

I am taking part in the Casology Challenge for the first time ever

Here is my entry.

I was recently given a box of embroidery thread that a colleague inherited from her Grandmother. Granny must have been an embroiderer as the threads of similar colours where wound together almost as though as she ended a project she just put the left overs together in case she needed them again at a later time. Initially I started winding each colour onto it's own card but realised very quickly that sometimes there were just a couple of stands. So instead I did as she had done and put all the same shades onto the same card. This makes for really fun embroidery and I have been using these for flowers as the petals of a flower often differ slightly in colour.

For this card however I did a bit more planning as I wanted a more structured gradient of colour. I am happy with the end result although I could have done the stems in the ombre style too I think. Oh well there is always next time

Supplies:

Pattern: Pintrest

Threads: Scraps of yellow 

              Olive green

Card stock: 160gsm in white and cream 

Green Flower

I have friends visiting from Australia at the moment and we went away for the weekend with them. It was a sort of Staycation for us as it was only about half an hours drive from home but we stayed in an apartment right on the beach. It was really great spending time with them and even though we were so close to home walks on the beach and lazy late breakfasts with lots of chatting made me return home feeling very relaxed. It's always great catching up with good friends.

My card today is very Clean and Simple. 

I took my inspiration from this lovely one of Ardyth's over at Maskerade

Source: Maskerade

 I used the same pattern to make these little cards, just 6cm x 7.5cm

I did some doodling around the edge to finish them off.

Supplies:

Pattern: "Easy Embroidery on Paper" by Joke de Vette

Flat backed gems in pink, champagne and black

Paper: Green and scarps of pink flowers and blue checks

Card stock: 160gsn in white, linen effect white for base of large topper and a strip of white embossed with guinea fowl feathers.

Die Cut: Sizzix 8 circle die
Thread: DMC Blanc, light and royal blue, light and dark pink. All numbers and brands unknown.

April Showers

I am taking part in two challenges. One at Splitcoast Stampers. Free For All Challenge 269. The challenge is April showers bring May flowers and the other at Addicted to CAS. The challenge is showers.

Here is my entry

 I enlarged the parasol from the original pattern and added a handle.

The flowers were hand made with two large flowers punched in yellow and then a smaller one added in aqua. I added liquid pearls to the centre. I made the "Mother" sentiment.

The Background paper was bought. 

Supplies:

Pattern:   Stitching Cards. Bookmark Lady With Umbrella
Thread: Yellow, Brand and number code unknown.

Pen: Rolfes metallic pen in gold

Twine

Small safety pin

Card Stock: White 160gsm

Punch: Olbi Set 1: Large Flower: Q006

                              Small Flower : Q001

Liquid Pearls in Platinum

Another Masculine birthday!!!

This time for my Brother in Law. It's not a land mark one, for a change!

And a veriation...

My inspiration

Source: Laurie Willison of Soapbox Creations

I used the banner die and then just repositioned the arrow section at the opposite end of the strip to cut the back "V" shape. They are stitched on by machine in black thread and the sentiment is computer generated and propped up on foam squares.

Supplies:

Cuttlebug

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Nested Pennants S5-028

Card stock: white 200gsm, coloured scraps
Sewing machine

Wheelbarrow

The challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers Free 4 All challenge is going to pot. as in spring, potted plants, new flowers and gardening.

My card today is flowers and gardening tools

The flowers on the card above where bought and for the card below I used flat backed flower shapes gems

and lastly a totally stitched one.

Supplies:

Pattern: Stitching Cards. Wheelbarrow
Thread: DMC Metallic in Antique silver and copper. Other threads brand and codes unknown

Card stock: White in 160gsm

                   Oatmeal: Back of a calendar

Paper: 1st card: Red, Green and silver mirrored

           2nd card: Paper Pizazz dots, checks, plaids and stripes

           3rd Card: Hand made paper in cream, mauve

Copper brads

Large flower punch for last card

Red flat backed flowers

Easter Colours

I have been very inspired by all the lovely pastel colours seen on the Easter Cards recently. Although I didn't make any myself I decided to use the colours for these three cards.

Each card individually. I choose to use rayen thread as it has a lovely sheen.

My inspiration, although I had to turn my design horizontal as the only suitable pattern didn't fit vertically.

Source: Dawn Olchefske

 I used liquid pearls for the centre of each flower.

Supplies:

Pattern:Stitching Cards. Bookmark Flower 6
Thread: Rayen in lime, yellow and aqua

Ribbon: scraps

Card stock: 160gsm in white, yellow, aqua and light green

Liquid Pearls in gold pearl

Pastel Flowers

It's the last day of my holidays today, weekend excluded, and the time has just flown past. A week isn't a long time but it's better than nothing and I've really enjoyed the break.

In a couple of minutes I have to leave as I'm meeting some friends for breakfast and then after that I'm off for a facial. A great way to end everything off.

Well onto my card.

It was inspired by an Easter card but as we don't really give cards at Easter time here in South Africa I kept the layout but changed the topic

My inspiration

Source: Stephanie Serrano

Supplies:

Card stock: white in 160gsm

Paper: pale blue, yellow. Stripe from Paper Pizazz dots, checks, plaids and stripes collection

Cuttlebug

Sizzix 8 circle die

Champagne coloured flat backed pearls

Seed pearl beads

Threads: brand and numbers unknown

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

Easter chocs

Now that Easter is passed I can show you what I made for family and friends. I decided to steer clear of the overpriced eggs and gave choc bars instead.

The ears are hand drawn and I gave them a row of faux stitching for definition

I made pink ones for the girls and yellow for the boys.

 I got the idea after seeing this one over at It's All Fiddle Fart.

Source: Helen Geddes

Supplies:

Card stock: White and pink 160gsm

Cuttlebug

Sizzix 8 circle die

2-Die-4 heart 

Fineliner in black 

wobbly eyes

Scraps of ribbon

The butterfly and the lady

My second entry for Butterfly Challenge is this one. I took the challenge quite literally this time and put my butterfly in the corner!!!

This is a favourite pattern to stitch and you can see some other veriations here.
 I hand cut the tags as I don't have a punch or die this size.

Supplies:

Embossed paper: store bought

Scrap of nylon ribbon in yellow

Metal scrapbook embellishment butterfly

Pattern: Stitching Cards. Lady with umbrella 
Card stock: 160gsm in white

Russian Dolls

I hope you are all enjoying the Easter Weekend and your time with family.

I have just popped in to share two cards with you.

I received this pattern when I completed a questionnaire over at Stitching Cards and it just sat around for quiet a long time untouched. However I have now made it up, not once but twice (or actually four times if you count each individual doll).

It turned out very well.

Here is the first one I made

I then saw this over at Life is what you make it.

Source: Anya Schrier

and was inspired to make this one

I reduced the pattern to 50%. It was a bit fiddly and the holes where quite close together so I did have to reinforce them with some washi tape but I am very happy with the end result.

Supplies:

Pattern:   Stitching Cards. Russian Doll
Wobbly eyes

Thread :Large card All numbers and brands unknown, red, blue, pink, green and black
             Small dolls : Petrol Blue DMC 3810, Orange DMC 0314, Apricot DMC 352
                                Light Blue DMC 0167, Dark Apricot Coats 328, Green DMC 471

Card stock: white 160gsm

Paper: red. 

           Pink and white dots Fabscraps Mini-Paper Collection

           Pattern. Free download. Origin unknown

Butterflies and corners

The fortnightly challenge over at Butterfly Challenge is called butterflies and corners. I decided to take a break from stitched butterflies and added some bead ones instead.

The required corner was made using texture paste applied through a stencil.


I also used these flowers to make some smaller cards 7.5cm x 6cm

Supplies:

Pattern: Easy Embroidery on Paper by Joke de Vette

Cuttlebug

Sizzix 8 die square

Texture Paste

Stencil: free with a magazine

Butterfly Beads from my stash

Flat backed gems for centres of flowers

Paper: Scrapes in green, mauve and yellow

Card Stock: 160gsm in white
Small cards : Variegated thread in pink, apricot and mauve
                     Sizzix 8 die circle
                     Narrow white stain ribbon
                     Flat backed gems in champagne, purple and pink