How To Add Hand Stitching to Cards

These mixed media cards offer hand stitching details. They feature layers of specialty papers along with watercolor images, hemp cord, and sentiment in flowing script. Canvas Corp's "Nautical" and "Compose Your Life" collections are represented here.

Directions:

 Step 1: Stamp image on watercolor paper, heat emboss, paint with watercolors. 

Embossing the image gives your watercolors boundaries. The paint is more likely to stay exactly where you place it when  you use this technique.

 Step 2: Cut and adhere layers of cardstock.

The Mermaid is 4.5 x 3". The Anchor paper is 5.5 x 3.75". The Kraft paper is 8 x 6", folded. 

 Step 3: Position Cord around mermaid perimeter, stitch in place.
My final cord length is about 20".

I pierced holes at each corner of my image as well as on the sides. I started the thread at the back, ran it through the paper to the front, over the cord, and to the back through the same hole. I tied off each stitch before progressing to the next one.

 Step 4: Tie the cord into a loose square knot at the top of the card. Attach the top of the knot with adhesive or a couple more stitches to hold it in place.

 Mermaids are one of my favorite images. This imaginary creature of two worlds can be painted any color. Flowing hair, beautiful voice, and centuries of legends make her untouchably perfect. Yet, this lovely being conforms to each persons imagination just as they will it.

 This second card embraces the watercolor style with a little less work. Layers of hand made papers are topped with printed watercolor roses. Gold stitching outlines the flowers and gold foiled paper scripts the sentiment. 

Directions:

 Step 1: Cut papers. Adhere Roses to Ivory paper.
Roses Are Red paper is cut to 3 1/2 x 5".  Ivory Seed embossed paper is cut to 3 5/8 x 5 3/8". Wood Grain embossed paper is cut to 4 x 6". White Cardstock is cut to 8 x 6" and folded.

 Step 2: Outline roses with gold thread using a back stitch. 

Secure the ends with tape so the knot doesn't pull through. Stitching on paper must be done gently or the thread will cut the paper or leave rough edges.

 Step 3: Adhere Ivory paper to Woodgrain paper and Woodgrain to folded White cardstock.

Step 4: Cut sentiment from Gold Foiled paper with Die. Adhere to card front.

In my region wild roses bloom in extravagant patches by my birthday. They seem as happy to be alive as I am! A card bearing their lovely form is never out of style.

These cards were originally posted on the CCB blog in 2019.

Craft On!

~charity~

How To Make Tri-Sided Canvas Ornaments.

For something unique this year make a set of Tri-Sided Canvas Ornaments featuring vintage art and a steampunk flourish. If you are itching to add personal touches to your Christmas decor these beautiful ornaments will hit the spot! Glimmer Glam sets the tone while Parchment Rub-ons provide the illustrations. Architexture Findings and Industrial Gears add the final touches. With eight different mini shapes in canvas or burlap the options are plentiful.

7gypsies Rub-ons combine the look of vintage art with the ease of pre-inked rubber stamps in countless designs. Select an image, trim it out of the parchment paper, and rub onto your project. With the ability to meld with paper and fabric these Rub-ons offer upgraded vintage appeal! 

 Step 1: Paint Glimmer glam on one side of Canvas Mini Shape. 

I painted the edges heavily and brushed the center lightly. If you get too heavy a color on the canvas rinse it with water and retouch as necessary. Allow to dry thoroughly. A heated iron will heat up the process.

 Step 2: Add Parchment Rub-ons to the canvas shapes. 

It takes heavy rubbing to transfer the images onto canvas but the result is worth it. Alter images or layer several to customize your ornaments. For the round set I cut and turned the cats tail so it fit on the canvas. The Triangle ornaments have multiple gears overlapped.

 Step 3: Cut cord into 3 lengths. 11", 5", and 3" and attach to canvas shape. 

Tie Architextures Findings to one end of the cord lengths. Tie a large knot in the other end of the 5" and 3" lengths and 4" up from the Finding in the 11" length. The final goal is to have the findings hang in descending order. Stitch cord to lower end of canvas shape, just below the large knot. Thread a metal gear onto the top of the 11" cord and tie a sliding knot to keep it in place. I like to use a Poacher's Knot for this maneuver. It allows me to change the length of the cord.

 Step 4: Stitch the sides of the shapes together, leaving an opening at the top and bottom. In the above illustration Side B is stitched to side C, Side D is stitched to side E and Side F is stitched to side A.

 The final product will rotate on its axis, displaying each side as the ornaments are doing in the photo below. The lights on the tree will make the glitter in the paint sparkle as the ornaments turn.

 The Architextures Keys had holes ready pierced. I had to use a large needle to thread the Tiles and Coins onto the cord. I also placed corresponding keys, coins, or tiles back to back so that the turning ornament did not have an obvious "back side".

  At our house decorating for Christmas is a much anticipated event. My children sit around sipping eggnog from champagne flutes while taking turns dressing the tree. Ribbons, beads, and bulbs flow through their fingers as a dusting of glitter and tinsel drifts toward the floor. Many flavors of candy canes finish off the tree. The cats drape themselves around the room, basking in the glow of the lights and take great interest in the arranging of the Nativity Scene.

This project was originally posted on the CCB blog in December of 2018.

Craft On!

~charity~

How To Make Unique Cards With Colored Burlap Shapes

Today's tutorial describes how to sew colored burlap into shapes for card making. The fibrous, loose weave of burlap adds wonderful texture to any project. The downfall of this fabric is the easy with which it ravels out. Follow along for step by step instructions to make sure your burlap keeps its shape.

Directions:

Step 1: Cut heart shape from canvas. Cut a burlap square ½ inch larger than the canvas. The extra material will prevent the burlap from raveling.

Step 2: Stitch the canvas shape to the burlap using a zig-zag stitch.

Step 3: Trim the burlap to fit the canvas.

Step 4: Add beads, running the thread between the burlap and canvas to hide it.

Step 5: Fussy cut wings from cardstock.

Step 6: Cut Sonnet Reverse paper to 8x6", fold in half. Adhere wings to card front. Center burlap heart on wings and adhere.

 Step 7: Die cut sentiment from Red Foiled Paper. Adhere to burlap heart.

~ Best Wishes ~

Directions:

 Step 1: Cut purple paper to 5.5 x 3.5". 

Step 2: Draw Diagonal lines on the back, about 1.75" apart. My lines correspond with the lattice design on the front. I used a paper piercer to mark them from the front, then connected the dots with a ruler and pencil on the back.

 Step 3: Pierce holes about 1 centimeter apart along the diagonal lines..

 Step 4: Stitch each diagonal line with Gold braid using a back stitch. Secure ends with tape.

Step 5: Cut White cardstock to 8x6", fold in half.
Step 6:Cut Flower Embossed Gold paper to 6x4", adhere to White cardstock.

 Step 7: Make hot air balloon with canvas, green burlap, and gold beads following directions illustrated above with pink heart. Adhere to card front.

Step 8:Die cut sentiment from kraft paper. Adhere to card front.

These two card are great examples for using colored burlap in cardmaking. Once you have the technique mastered use burlap shapes in scrapbooking, art journaling, upcycling, and even planning! View the original blog post on the CCB blog frim Fall of 2018.

Craft On!

~charity~

Iridescent Peacock Feathers With Acrylic Paint

Iridescent Peacock Feathers are the feature of today's tutorial. Peacocks have been the subject for countless works of art due to their glorious plumage. Although I don't pretend to be a master painter, I can let you in on a little secret for how to get that signature peacock iridescence using a gold wash of acrylic paint.

I started with a wood model and an assortment of acrylics. I painted sample stripes of blues, greens, and browns on white cardstock. When those had dried I painted over them with stripes of metallic paint. The sheer metallics gave the colors an iridescent sheen and I had only to choose which color combinations I liked best.

For the body I choose Aqua and Blue, for the feet and beak, Brown. I painted the tail feathers in Blue, Brown, Green, Lime Green, and Antique Gold

 I carefully assembled the peacock and assigned colors to body parts. The original model planned for the eyes of the feathers to be punched out. I choose to leave them in but gave them an extra layer of paint to hold them there.

 Peacock wings, neck, and body alternate between light and dark blue. To get a similar look I painted the pieces with Aqua, let them dry, then splattered them with Blue. When those layers had dried I added a thin layer of Blue over it all.

 The base of the tail and back of the peacock I painted in Lime Green. I splattered the pieces with Brown to give the impression of multi colored feathers. A layer of Antique Gold added the iridescent look I had planned.

 The tail feathers took the longest to paint. I began with a layer of Aqua on the eye of the feathers and Lime Green on the rest. After a second layer of Aqua and Lime, I framed the eye with Brown and the outer edge of the feathers with Green. I added a dab of Blue to the center of the eye. The final layer of paint, Antique Gold, gives the tail feathers that iridescent gleam.

 I grew up with visits to Grandma's farm and her many types of fowl. Although the turkeys were my favorite, the peacocks were unmatched for beauty. I spent many long hours gathering peacock feathers from the pastures and woods. There is something so glorious about bringing in armfuls of blue and green feathers that flash gold in the sunlight.

This glorious peacock model was purchased off Amazon. The paints are from Canvas Corp Brands, and that amazing 3-D Taj Mahal was assembled by my daughter Lori.

Craft On

~charity~

Mixed Media Roots and Wings Tag

Stretching my mixed media skills with this roots and wings tag. There's a new face on Instagram these days, Nomadic Soul Diaries! NSD presents us with a star-studded cast of designers, a rhapsody of sponsors, and mouth watering color schemes. Rush over to their insta for all the details!!!

@nomadicsouldiaries

 January's Challenge:
Create a tag any size/material

Use feathers
Main color must be blue

 I started with plain white cardstock 4x6". I used my favorite stencil and smooshed Nuvo Embellishment Mousse all over it. I used Aqua glaze medium to paint a journal card from my Gypsy Moments paper pack.

Strips of vintage lace peak out from either end of the journal card. Chipboard gears are stitched to the tag with gold braid. From the ends of the braid hang wings die-cut from cardstock and gold foiled paper. 

Although the wings should count as having used feathers, I added two pale blue feathers at the top. I crowned my Wings and Roots tag with a blue blossom and called it good.
Can't WAIT to see everyone's interpretation of this challenge!

Supplies:
Cardstock:Recollections
Journal Card:Canvas Corp 

Embellishment Mousse:Tonic Studios

Stencil:Kite

Wing Die:Spellbinders
Feather Die:X-cut
Flower:Prima
Chipboard:Creative Embellishments

Craft On!

~charity~

Tea Box Of Memories

Use a hand made papers to decorate a tea box to hold sweet memories. This unique gift idea is good year round and gives loved ones something to show off. 

The full tutorial is published on the Canvas Corp Blog:
The Creative Studio

Craft On!

~charity~

Canvas Christmas Ornaments

This trio of canvas Christmas ornaments are made from a variety of Canvas Corp products. They embrace the whole family of brands and make it easy to personalize decor options.

For a full tutorial stop by the Canvas Corp Blog:
The Creative Studio

Scrap On!

~charity~

Lavish Hand Painted Flowers

Hand painted flowers are extra lavish when completed with Canvas Corp products. The 8x8 Mixed Media paper pack of Bohemian Romance papers includes some lovely handmade papers. Check out the Canvas Corp blog to see how I turned those papers into the flowers on the layout below.

The Creative Studio

Scrap On!

Charity Hotrum

Fairy Palace With High Impact Paint

Today's show -n- tell starts as a 3-D wood puzzle and ends a Fairy Palace with Tattered Angels High Impact Paint. For a detailed tutorial including construction tips stop by the

Canvas Corp Blog

 The intricate details on the towers and walls are made with Calambour: Touch 3D Glossy Effect. This water based gel can be applied with a paint brush or through a stencil with a palette knife. Several hours are needed for drying time, but the results are stunning.

 Here Ducat Gold is applied through a Pebbles stencil.

 Light blue was added to the castle walls through another Pebbles stencil.

 The upper level of the castle is decorated with Rich Gold through fine, brass stencils.

Calambour 3D Gel and Tattered Angels High Impact Paint are the perfect pairing for this fairy palace!

Scrap On

~charity~