Tilda On Promenade in a Shabby Chic World

Happy Wednesday everyone!! I hope everyone is having a fun-filled week! I try to have one of those EVERY week!!

I have attempted to do the Stamp With Fun Challenge and I have combined it with my April Mingle Card at Magnolia-licious Yahoo Group in which the requirements are 1 Button, 2 Ribbons, and 3 Flowers. Close your eyes, Sandy, if you want to be surprised!! Here is the fun sketch by Bev for Stamp with Fun...




I am re-trying two techniques, if you will...each, that I had used once before. I made a Z-card once before for my Secret Valentine and had not tried it again so we will see how it works this time. I am also using FlowerSoft with an oval wreath shape again. For this card, I used the cutest little Tilda On Promenade which can be found along with all of her pals and neat accessories at Magnolia-licious ...remember it's getting close to the end of April...wink.




I used Bazzill CS for the card base and matted the panels with PTI Spring Rain and Sweet Blush. The DP I used is from the La Boutique collection of papers by K&Company. Each panel was stitched and added to the card base, keeping in mind that I had to leave parts of the outside panels free so that I could add the ribbon treatment. I used PTI Spring Rain grosgrain and a piece of antique ecru lace from one of our local shops...thanks Honeysuckle Hollow!!!!

The wreaths (one for Tilda and one for the jotting space) were completed using a mixture of FlowerSoft greens and cream for the greenery, and pale pink and pale blue for the flowers, adding a tiny blue silk ribbon bow at the tops of the wreaths. Tilda was colored with copics twice, cut out and propped up on dimensional tape on the front wreath. I also added matching FlowerSoft to her little basket and Diamond Stickles to her wings. I backed the front wreath with Sweet Blush CS since that would be seen when the card was opened.



When the card was almost finished I just didn't like the plain pink surface on the back of the front wreath so made a bouquet of roses with a tiny blue ribbon bow and adhered it to the pink panel. I also added crystal beads to the pink panel's edge and a simple swirl of rhinestones to the plain middle panel. After all, shabby chic is just stuff everywhere!! lol My personal preference with a Z-fold card, is that my card have interest no matter which way the card is opened. I hope I was successful!!




The card was finished with 3 flowers made from 2 colors of Primas and a tiny rose...you may notice that I sprayed the larger primas with Copics and touched the tips of the lighter Primas with a light pink Copic to give them a bit more color. I also added flat-backed pearls for a little softness to the corners and edges...Oops, I need a button and a circle!! I added an OLD button from a very old coat from a vintage clothing store with some pink silk illusion in the lower corner to satisfy both the sketch and the mingle card requirements.

I hope you like this little girl and will leave her a message...she loves messages!!! Here's hoping that each of you has a safe and fun day!! Hugs aplenty for you!!

Vintage Cross Stitch Tilda

Happy Monday Everyone! (if there is such a thing)... I hope that everyone had a magnificent weekend. It was so pleasant here all weekend long and great weather for outside work...mowing, planting, general spring clean-up. AND after dealing with diapers, I decided to make a traditional vintage card. lol


This little Cross Stitch Tilda is one of my very favorites...shucks they are ALL my favorites!!! You can find her along with all of her other cute friends and wonderful accessories at Magnolia-licious which has the largest selection of Maggies in all of North America.

This little girl can be used in so many ways, especially when you are needing a rectangular motif in a sketch. This card hopefully satisfies the requirements of PINK and GREEN for Just Magnolia and "something for my Mom" at The Corrosive Challenge.

I tried to give this card a vintage touch without distressing. I have great difficulty roughing up and tearing beautiful papers. So I used a K&Co paper pad called Isabella which has vintage/shabby colors of pinks and greens. I also used Bazzill CS for the base and Prismatics Herbal Garden Medium and Dark for all matting. I stitched all panels with Old Gold thread and tipped them with gold beads in varying sizes.

Little Tilda was colored with Copics. The Prima Floral Embellishment was first brushed on the tips with Clorox and then highlighted with the same mauve/pink/salmon shades of Copics from the paper and from Tilda's pinafore. The flower is resting on 4 variegated MS branches. I also added a wooden curlicue heart to emphasize the cross stitch heart on Tilda's pinafore.

The inside of the card is quite plain, using coordinating papers from those on the front and from the same source. Both panels were stitched with the Old Gold thread also. On the first panel I merely added a cotton applique which I aged by spraying with several shades of Copics and used gold beads on the corners. The other panel uses pink and green organza ribbon tied into a tailored knot which also holds a filagree heart on tiny green ribbon. I didn't add a jotting spot since the paper is light enough to write on.



I hope you like this little girl and will leave her a wee message from you. May you have a wonderful "rest of the day" and a great week...Hugs for each of you!!!

Baby Tingla and her Pal

A very happy Friday to everyone...hopefully you will all have a magnificent weekend with wonderful weather. It was beautiful here today...so I spent my time cutting the grass and making 3/4" lined vellum diapers fastened with matching baby buttons..LOLOL

I had never participated in Friday Sketchers and thought there is no time like the present to make my brain work on another sketch. I decided to turn the sketch on its side but I still used all of the elements and put them in the close proximity of where they were located in the very interesting sketch by Mumur from France. I hope I have been successful!!



I decided to make a baby card and only used Bazzill cardstock and Anna Griffin Hannah papers for little girls. Rather than using buttons, flowers, or whatever for the six elements at the bottom ( on the left side of my card) I decided to make little diapers instead...Sooooo I found a LARGE diaper template in SCS and reduced it down so that when finished the diapers would be 3/4". I made the outer diaper out of vellum and lined them with pink cardstock. I finished the wee diapers with only the button part of tiny Making Memories button brads.




Baby Sitting Tingla from the Spring/Summer 2008 Collection and Nallehund from Spring/Summer 2006 were colored with Copics and cut out and popped up on dimensional tape. I added Diamond Stickles to Tingla's wings. Six of the diapers were adhered to the side, pink dotted organza ribbon was used to ground the characters and then crisscrossed across the bottom panel like in the sketch. A tiny "Made with Love" charm dangles from Nallehund's paw, serving as the text requirement. Finally I used a touch of the same ribbon to back the double flower and then placed a pink iridescent heart on the flower. By the way, Magnolia-licious is the place to go for all of your Magnolia wants or NEEDS!! You will also notice that I stitched the 2 panels on the front of the card.




The inside of the card uses coordinating papers from the same Anna Griffin collection. On the first panel I used an embossed frame which was sent to me by Lynn from England so I can't tell you much about it. I colored another Nallehund and let him be the focal point in the frame...both are propped up quite a bit with dimensional tape. I then added a BABY bracelet which is actually a shower table favor. On the other panel I added a jotting spot and trimmed it out with a ribbon-tied baby rattle shower favor and another vellum diaper.

Although this card may look fragile, it is actually quite sturdy...the vellum diapers pop right back up after being smashed. If anyone wants the LARGE template, please email me...BUT please don't ask me to make tiny diapers for you!!! Thanks!!

I hope you enjoy this wee kinda different Magnolia card...please leave me a note letting me know what you think about Little Tingla and Little Nallehund.

Hopefully you will all enjoy a safe and pleasant weekend...Hugs for each of you!!

Your Invitation to a Proper English Tea

A very happy Wednesday to each of you!! My goodness, my yard says spring is here and my lawn mower is calling out my name LOUDLY!! But, it's much better than SNOW so I won't complain!!

I wanted to join in on the new challenge at Just Magnolia because I do learn so much through sketch challenges. Try it, you may enjoy it also. This first week's challenge is very interesting to me and I always try to stay just as close to the challenge as possible while placing my unique touch on the sketch. I hope you think that I was successful!



I selected a very cute one of our little darlin's, who, in my vivid imagination, is making preparation for all of you since she has invited you to a proper English tea. I used Tilda with Rolling Pin from the So Heavenly, Travel, and School Collection 2008 for the front of the card. I stamped and colored her twice with Copics and cut her out so that she could be propped up on dimensional tape. For the inside of the card, to show the fruits of Tilda's labors, I used the Love Muffin from the Love Collection 2009. Both of these stamps are available at Magnolia-licious, which has the largest on-line selection of Magnolia stamps in all of North America.


I selected papers from Creamotion, a Dutch company. As you can tell, I used alot of dimension on this card by double matting. I satisfied the requirement of the stripe on the left panel by sewing rolling pin buttons on the panel and lacing them with red organza ribbon, ending at the top with a fluffy bow. I added pearl trim to make the circle element a bit more tactile. The Hello in the sentiment position was computer-generated using Edwardian Script and is enclosed in a brass frame on which I adhered a teacup and teapot. I finished the front of the card with two 3-layer flowers -- felt, Prima, small roses.





I continued the double matting on the inside of the card using either the same or coordinating Creamotion DP. I used the Love Muffin, colored with Copics, on one panel, and a matted nestie on the jotting panel. The frosting is Liquid Applique. In addition, I continued the pearl trim from the front circle to the inside of the card to maintain consistency in tone. Tiny red bows actually hide the joint of the trim on each matted nestie.

I hope my description has been helpful. If I can assist any of you, please don't hesitate. As I have said, I find things to use on my cards in very out of the way places sometimes. If I can help you to locate strange things, just let me know.

I hope you enjoyed your afternoon tea and hope you will come back and visit again. Hugs for each of you...toodles til the next time!!

Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries

or as Mary Engelbreit says "Life is Just a Chair of Bowlies!" Happy Monday everyone and best wishes for a wonderful week!!

If you thought I was missing in action, you were partially right. I have been to the great state of Tennessee to the Copic Certification class and a bit of wandering around in those out of way places!! The East TN Scrappers were meeting in the same hotel as my class, so I was able to wander around through the vendor area to see if there was anything I REALLY needed...lol...I'm sure I don't have to tell you the answer to that query...lol I did meet a group called the Belgian Belles...one of the members had actually flown in from Belgium to attend the 4-day scrap-a-thon. They wanted to see some of my cards I had with me, so if they are peeking in on my blog I want to say Hello!!! I have decided that scrappers are at least as crazy as cardmakers...lol

When spring first arrives I always think of the beautiful cherry blossoms in Washington, DC and this little Tilda in Cherry Dress reminds me of that setting so much. She is from the So Heavenly, Travel, and School Collection 2008 and can be found with all of her pals and accessories at Magnolia-licious. Also in this collection is another cute one -- Cherry Tilda wearing the cutest boots!! Check them out--they are irresistable!!




This card was quite simple although I used quite a few different papers with a touch of MS punched trim on the front of the card. I found the cherry buttons in my stash. Tilda is colored with Copics, the cherries on her dress are touched with red and green Spicas, her hairbows with a bit of white opaque pen, and her wee red MaryJanes are turned quickly into patent leather with Glossy Accents. I wanted this little Tilda to be sitting on a flowering cherry branch which I had to make from a sprig of white flowers. I sprayed the flowers with Copics before wrapping the sprig in green floral tape. A little bit of white organza ribbon and the front of the card was completed.




The inside of the card was quite simple also-- a bit of thin white grosgrain ribbon trim with 2 cherry bunches...those are actually pierced earrings that I found at one of those cheapie accessories shops, a nestie spot for jotting and finally a shiny cherry stick-on for cell-phones...hey!!! That's what the label says!!

I hope you like her 'cause she likes YOU!!

For those of you who asked in your comments about shrinking Tilda and Edwin for the locket, I share that it is not high tech at all and I am not a miracle worker for certain...In most of your word/photo-editing programs you have a reduce size capability and that's what I used...In order to keep alot of the clarity of their cute little faces, I did make the prints on photographic paper. But there was alot of trial and error!! Hope this helps!!!

Have a wonderful evening wherever you are!! Hugs...

Sweetheart Tilda

for a bunch of REAL sweethearts. I am so humbled that Diana selected me for her Design Team and am so appreciative for all of your kind remarks...soooooo...I wanted to try something a little different for my first post after being bestowed the esteemed position of DT member. I hope you enjoy her and I would love to hear your comments and suggestions!!

I had in mind an art deco kind of card and had never used little Sweetheart Tilda from the Love Collection 2009 so decided, as cute as she is, that this was a perfect time. She is available at Magnolia-licious along with all of her pals and accessories.

I also wanted to try something I had seen but never tried--a recessed window. However, rather than recessing, I grabbed my handy-dandy Scor-Pal and calculator and finally figured out how to make it into a frame which would protrude from the card in a 3-dimension. The frame is made from an Anna Griffin DP from the Hannah Collection. The remainder of the card uses Making Memories Sabrina which is one of my favorite collections--dp, ribbon, ribbon slide. What do you think??






I also added pink and black Primas and a little locket that I found in a JUNQUE shop...I just couldn't leave that little locket empty...sooooooo. I shrunk a couple of my pictures of Edwin and Tilda from cards that I had made and finally fit them in the locket...A real surprise, huh???



Finally I kept the art deco look on the inside of the card by using pearls and a touch of fleur de lis.



I hope you like her and I would love to hear from you. May you have a wonderful Friday...Hugs!!

Down On The Farm

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!!! I hope that you are seeing at least some semblance of Spring's arrival!! We have been fortunate here in WNC because the daffies and tulips are in bloom and everything is greening, making me want to make my trek to the flower/plant buying places...remembering my grandmother told me NEVER before Mother's Day!! But why do they sell them way before Mother's Day??? For those who can't resist, like MOI!!!!

As promised we are on a nostalgic trip Down To The Farm today with Edwin's "Is This Your Egg?" from the Easter Collection 2009, Tilda's Sun from the Stamp Club 2007, and the Pink Bench from the Pink Collection 2008. All of these cute stamps are available at Magnolia-licious . And for those of you who happened to read yesterday's post, I think I used almost everything I had laid out...except the feathers from the OLD hat (they won't be missed, I'm sure, BUT if anyone needs them I can mail right away) LOL...So...what do you think???

I wanted a primitive Americana feel to the card so I pieced the background with blue dots and green checks and made the sun from a yellow gingham. I found the pattern for the barn in a children's farmyard coloring book and altered it to fit the 6X6 card. I made the barn from a barn red CS and colored it with Copics after penciling in the boards. The door and hayloft were stamped on Kraft and cut out, coloring also with Copics...I added crossbucks on the door with an opaque white pen. The roof of the barn was cut from Kraft CS and rubbed with pewter metallic to give the look of old tin. The bench was stamped on Kraft but to give it more texture it was also colored with Copics, cut out, and popped up on dimensional tape. Edwin and that cute chicken were stamped on Prism Cryogen White and colored with Copics to match some of the DP I used on the inside (yellow plaid). They were then popped up to be on the same level as the bench. I'm sure you notice what an excellent surgeon I am!!! Jacque's brain says...sitting chickens have no legs!!! LOLOL

I fully intended to use the feathers BUT I decided that to keep the primitive feel, I would use raffia instead...besides don't some of those old feathers have diseases on them????? I made a bow from the raffia and placed it in the hayloft to give the appearance of hay as well as serve as a cute decoration, I think. I also added 3 little chick buttons at the bottom on the chicken scratch stitching...Note: using that stitching all over the card was tooooooo much chicken scratch!!

I then added a small yellow crochet flower, hung some brass farm implements on the barn wall and placed a red polka-dotted fabric brad (which carries over to the ribbon used on the inside of the card) in the upper right corner from which I dangled a couple of eggs. I also colored the eggs with Copics. Farm eggs aren't white, are they???

On the inside of the card I used the patchwork DP on the first side and made it into a quilt by placing embroidery knots in the proper places. On the other panel I stitched the 2 remaining DPs to make a quilt square on the floral background, added the polka-dotted ribbon to match the button on the front, placed a yellow jotting place and finished with another yellow crochet flower.

I don't know much about farms but I sure did enjoy doing this little Edwin card and building this barn for him!! And if you happen to need a barn built, just call on me!!! Have hammer, will travel!!! lol If you have questions about anything I have described, please let me know. I would love to hear from you!!Until next time, be safe, and happy Magnolia-ing!!! Hugs!!

Note to Everyone: Thank you so very much for taking the time to welcome me and my blog into your respective worlds. I am so humbled by your responses and so touched by your comments, words of confirmation, and expressions of encouragement. Today's card is dedicated to each of you--so may you enjoy, knowing that it comes from my heart!! Hugs for each of you!!

TILDA WITH LILACS

MMmmmmmm...isn't the scent of Lilacs just so heavenly in the spring and summer?? And nothing is sweeter than little Tilda picking lilacs and making a little nosegay for one of her favorite people!!










This little card (by the way, I usually make 6"X6" cards) was quite time-consuming because I found a set of wrapping papers and liked it so much that I wanted to use ALL of the patterns!!!! I spent a lot of time on the inside of the card and think you will agree when you have a peek!! I am not a purple person BUT I loved this paper with the hint of pink and green and the muted purple/lavender. In addition, the paper was just calling out the name of little Tilda with Lilacs!! This seated Tilda With Lilacs is from the Magnolia and Lilacs Collection 2008 and can be found with all of her friends and accessories at Magnolia-licious.






I first selected where I wanted each of the kinds of patterned paper to go and made the bases for each of the panels out of layers of Bazzill CS, the DP, and LOTS of stitching. I actually completed the inside of the card first because I knew that I wanted to use something a bit dimensional on the front and rather than squish (is that a word?) the front-- I finished the inside before I started on the front of the card.





Since the paper I was using on one of the inside panels had tiny printed buttons I wanted a bit of dimension so I added tiny button brads over each of the paper buttons to emphasize the quilted effect and at each juncture on the other panel. I also used zigzag stitching on the inside of the card to project more of a "downhome" and quilted feeling. I also added a tailored knot of lavender and moss grosgrain ribbon...you know, like they tie quilts together sometimes.










I decided that there needed to be more of a continuation of the "lilac" subject from the front so stamped a portion of the Magnolia lilac image on the upper edge of the jotting place and colored with Copics. This is actually a separate Magnolia stamp but I am certain the same effect could be achieved by inking just a portion of the lilacs on the Tilda stamp. I also added a pretty SPRING charm for another touch of sentiment. You will perhaps notice that I rarely add a sentiment to my cards unless it is a requirement of a sketch challenge---BUT this card is SPECIAL--it's to thank my Magnolia buddies!!! . To complete the inside I put the panels on the card base using Scor-Tape insuring that the weight of this card would not pull the various pieces apart. Note: The button brads are actually much lighter than they photograph.






Now on to the FUN part!!! In my next life, I want to only make card FRONTS!!!




Out of all the papers, I selected the muted floral for the background of the front and wanted Tilda sitting on a gingham blankie trimmed with a bit of heirloom cotton lace. Using scraps of the floral and gingham papers I tried Copic colors on them until I found ranges that to me were the most acceptable and pleasing to the eye. After coloring (hahhaha, when I think about me coloring...too funny) anyway, after coloring Tilda with Lilacs I added Diamond Stickles to her wings and she was ready to perch on her gingham blankie on dimensionals. I really like the tiny shadows that Tilda makes when cut out and placed on dimensionals...just personal preference!! Oh No!! Not finished yet!!


I am so taken with FlowerSoft at the moment (thanks MM) and wanted to try something else that I had read about.....soooooooo, I made a small nosegay out of Flower-Soft lavender sprigs and wee tiny pink roses to add as interest and as an OH, MY GOODNESS! effect beside Tilda. Although the nosegay looks very fragile, it is actually quite hardy...you can SQUISH it and with just a touch it is back to 3-dimensional!! I also wove tiny pink, lavender, and moss silk ribbon through the lace and tied a soft bow in the middle...added a cuttlebuggy THANKS just for YOU and ...we're almost there...WHEW!!




To finish the corners, I used pearlized buttons from an old Harlow type see-through blouse I found in a vintage clothing store owned by one of my past students...Since I have no desire to strut about in a see-through ANYTHING, we chopped the buttons off right in her shop and I came home with enough buttons for this card...I think I have 2 left if anyone needs them...lolol...If you are needing a see-through blouse I know where you can get one REAL cheap, of course you will need a rope to tie it on!!!! While I was there I chopped some strange looking feathers off of an OLD hat to use in my next post.


I hope you like this little cutie in her lilac environment and trust that if you have suggestions or questions for me that you will let me know. Have a happy and safe day!! Pause and smell the lilacs!!! Hugs aplenty!!



OK...now get your flannel shirts and blue jeans on and get ready 'cause we may just go down on the farm for my next post...More hugs!!

Welcome to YOU and ME!!

Perhaps it is time for me to join the "age of technology" and make it easier to post my Magnolia cards for all to see and critique. I must admit that I much prefer cutting and glueing to writing all about it--I'm sure I will have to ask the experts for proper terminology to use when explaining myself --so hopefully you all will bear with me. If you ever have questions, please don't fail to ask me for explanation or clarification. I would love to hear from you!!

I discovered stamping and cardmaking this past November so I am very much a neophyte in this arena. On my wanderings around the internet I found myself in the Magnolia-licious Yahoo site and was welcomed to the Land of Magnolia Addiction by all the members! I met my "Magnolia Mentor" who sent me the first images I had ever had and I began coloring them and glueing them into some semblance of a card. With her help and constant support and confidence, I now know the difference between Elmer's glue and Scor-Tape, the difference between notebook paper and Bazzill cardstock, and certainly the difference between Crayolas and Copics, I think. As a matter of fact the very first card I EVER made was a thank you note to her in December and which is in my Yahoo album.

Having made that first card I was truly in love with those cute little round faces with no mouths and was discovering the unique characteristics of Copic markers. I would never have believed that at this point in my life that I would be so taken with coloring paperdolls!! But like many of you, there are never enough Maggies no matter if you have them ALL!! I am a retired college professor so maybe that explains my eccentricities...I LOVE PAPER AND COLORING IMPLEMENTS!! When shopping, the very first place I have always gone is the School Supplies section...smile...and now on the cardmaking adventure, I find myself looking in faraway and strange places for unique items and ideas to use on my cards...antique shops, frou-frou shops, hardware stores, junque shops...etc.

For my very first blog I will share with you a little bit more about my most successful as well as my latest card in my SCS gallery...GOSH it had 30 comments and favorited by almost 20!!!! I will attempt for the first time to give you a bit more detail on this Magnolia cutie, Tilda With Hat from The Love Collection 2009 which is available at Magnolia-licious. A number of you have asked if I would walk you through how I make cards so this is my first attempt. The cardstock I used is Bazzill and all of the DP is actually a set of wrapping papers that I adhered to the pink and green cardstock with Scor-Tape (that stuff is magical!!!) Admittedly, I am a paper freak and am so taken by unique and out of the ordinary papers that usually I can't even remember where I bought paper, much less the name of it. I do order alot of paper from Europe at the web stores since the closest LSS is about 20 miles away. After making all of the major portions of the card (both inside and outside) I stitched around all backgrounds in gold metallic thread on my Janome mini.

I then used a pre-printed wreath from FlowerSoft (Edwardian Elegance - Ovals),which I trimmed and cut out, and mixed several shades of the FlowerSoft to match the colors in the DP, placing it in a particular pattern to look like trailing roses. I have discovered that rarely can I use FlowerSoft just as it arrives in the jars--I have to mix some together to get the right shades. After the glue was dry I selected a tiny silk ribbon and starting at the top and glue-tacked it around the wreath (using popsicle sticks as lifters) to the point where I wanted little Tilda to sit...I also added a length of the same tiny ribbon as Tilda's perch. I colored Tilda with Copics, popped her up on dimensionals, and added her to the wreath. I then placed a wider contrasting ribbon across the card and added the bow with rose to match the roses in the DP and placed the wreath, popped up on dimensionals, on top of that ribbon...To finish the front I added flat-backed pearls in the corners.

On the inside, again I used papers from the wrapping paper set, stitched both sides with gold metallic thread, cut yet another piece of wrapping paper for the oval nestie for a place to jot a note and placed the same kind of ribbon on the other side fancied up a bit with a pearl and sparkle flower. Again, pearls on all the corners.. Voila!! A card is born!!! Gosh, that was easier and faster to write about than to make the card!! I must be way too slow and deliberate when I make a card, as it certainly takes me a LONG time...sigh

Just a couple of notes I will make: My cards are usually quite a number of layers of matting as well as layers on my images. I tend to put as much time on the insides of my cards as I do on the outside. This may or may not be your preference as well. I tend to believe that design is a very personal matter and I am sure there are many who would not like to pay the extra postage to mail my kind of card and detest the layering and ditzy things I add to my cards!! I am such an enigma that I can never decide when I am finished with a card....

I hope this has been helpful to you as you try to figure out the madness of my cardmaking...and I welcome you to join me on my NEW adventure in Cyberia!!