Laura Bassen inspired triangle cards

Laura Bassen is an artist I follow. She has done some amazing cards using geometric die cut pieces. Then a friend of mine, Margarita, on a Zoom call showed us how to piece together these gorgeous cards.

After ordering some new papers, and finding some beautiful color combinations, I decided to make some cards myself. You essentially take a square piece of paper and cut it into four equal pieces to create four triangles.

Then you re-piece the squares using different colors. 

Here's one I really love:

Quilters call this a quarter square triangle and many patterns are made with these triangles.  

Another hobby . . . QUILTING

Well I've done it, gone down the rabbit hole and adopted a new hobby.  It started with the gateway drug, sewing zippered bags and eventually here I am QUILTING.  

I'm so far behind in posting to my blog that I figure I'll just create a "deluxe" post of some of my quilting projects.

My first quilt courtesy of Craftsy and a class by Christa Watson. She covered every step from start to finish and I'm really proud of this one. Particularly since the border pieces actually lined up perfectly with the sides of the quilt. The instructions had mentioned that if the border was too big, that you would have to increase the seams to "shrink it" down.  Meanwhile, if it was too short, worse you would have to rip out the seams and ease out the seam allowance to "grow" the border.  

Quilted bag

So I am a really big fan of Minki Kim who has a ton of videos on YouTube and this quilted purse is one of hers.  I purchased the pattern from her site and now I'm eager to make another one.  Great for scraps and you can add any strap to the bag. It's a sweet, light weight small bag, with a front pocket.

The project below, a quilted journal is another Craftsy find. The class is by Christina Cameli Free Motion Gifts. You begin with free motion quilting a piece that will be the outside of the journal. Then you add lining fabric and a strap.  

She is a very talented teacher and I adore her class.

The quilt below is a Moda fabric To the Sea and I purchased a jelly roll, which is a bundle of pre-cut fabrics.  I used a pattern from a friend to create the quilt below for my brother David.  I love the simple pattern and used a meandering wave like stitching pattern for the quilting. 

So here's another Minki Kim project. I purchased her pattern for this zippered bag and used some really great fabrics I picked up in Florida on a trip during the winter. The bag and each of the pieces used are quilted and some of the fabrics I found were like mixed media artworks. They have such bold colors and textures, I couldn't resist using them for this project.  

I used zipper by the yard for this project and I am really a fan of this type of zipper. First, you can make the zipper any length and this is important for this project. Second, the zipper tabs are metal, but the teeth are plastic (they look like metal though) so the quality just goes up by a factor of 10.  Finally, you can make a single or double zipper.  Actually, just remembered another benefit of zipper by the yard, it comes with wider tape then regular zippers I've purchased online.  This makes sewing with them a lot easier.

Last, but not least is the quilt I made for my sister-in-law Sue for her birthday. I found this unique and clever fabric by Ruby Star called Darlings 2 and it was a layer cake.  This means pieces cut 10 inches by 10 inches.  I ended up finding a cute, and free, pattern on Fat Quarter Shop's site. I used a wavy decorative stitch on my machine to quilt the piece.  I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

Well, that's a wrap for now.  I've been enjoying the quilt life but I think you're going to see me post soon about a new endeavor, sewing clothing.  I'm taking a class to sew a dress and the pattern also works for a shirt. I hope to have a post soon about it!

Another card inspired by Online Card Classes: Crushing on Cardstock

 I had a blast using my new Hero Arts die sets. I ordered them after seeing great samples during the Online Card Classes with Kristina and Jennifer!

Crushing on Cardstock

Here's the card and I love how it turned out.  I used several colors of Distress Oxide inks including Mowed Lawn, Shabby Shutters and Twisted Citron. The background die is the Hero Arts Leaves & Vines Fancy Die and it cuts out so easily. It's a joy to use this die!  

I left one die white in the background and colored another one with Distress Oxide inks. Then used the Hero Arts Flower infinity die set to punch the flowers and layer them up with the colored die pieces. 

Such a happy card!  Thanks for stopping by!

Day 1 of Online Card Class Part II

 I had to update the blog because I made another card with a chevron design and it's posted below. These are only two of the many card samples from day 1 of the class.

Yipee Day 1 of the Online Card Class: Crushing on Cardstock

So excited, it's day 1 of the Online Card Class: Crushing on Cardstock!

I'm loving Kristina's first sample and to keep it simple, that's where I will start.  I first pulled out the delicious Gina K Designs Heavy base weight card stock colors Jelly Bean green and Blue Raspberry.  Trimmed the pieces and created stripes and then made a checkerboard.  

Here's my in process pics and then . . . wait for it . . . the final card

If you haven't signed up, go for it!!  It's a really reasonable price and it's only day one and I'm thrilled. Plus I learned some clever tricks to help make the cards. Well worth the investment.

I'm obsessed with zippered bags

Okay, I have a true addiction, a serious problem and luckily it's one that doesn't hurt other people. I am obsessed with making zipper bags. I love making different kinds and thank heavens for YouTube because so many people will walk you through it, step by heavenly step.

Here's the link to my latest version by Lauren Mormino

Let me know what you think. The inside is waterproof canvas, so it's a great bag for taking on trips to store bottles of shampoo, hairspray, etc. I've only just begun with these.

I've done two different styles of boxed corners and I think I've changed my approach with this style of bag. I have to go slow, and with the vinyl you cannot flip the bag as easily (just once at the end is enough for me). You have to take your time and really line things up. 

The bag below with the math fabric, I mean isn't it the best??

Thanks for visiting my little creative corner of the world!

Some Christmas joy from the archives

I'm sharing some fun cards from the archives. The stash of supplies and goodies that I had forgotten existed, stored in the corner of the basement in a white Elfa rolling storage unit, full of book and project kits. 

These are three Christmas cards that may have been intended as samples for a class. These cards are highly embellished and not realistic for my handmade cards as I make approximately 80 cards for friends, family and colleagues. The cost of mailing cards that are thick would require more postage, special mailers and would be prohibitive.

Anyway, hope you enjoy them.  

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This first card was inspired by Impress.  I printed this page from their web site in 2004 with this sample card.  I came up with my own version that uses wire and aluminum tape for the ornament hangers. I also embossed the oval embellishment, which is a die cut, on the joy ornament.  The embossing would  probably not survive the USPS.

However, this card did ultimately inspire my real life Christmas card. I can't put my hands on the actual card, but I did make a simpler version for my recipients based on this card idea.

 

This card uses a similar approach with embossing the die cuts and I just love the little embossed tag as well. The colors are non-traditional but they conjure cold winter weather.

Finally, this card has loads of clear buttons with decorative paper backing each one. The three messages are made from cardstock strips that were put through an old school manual label maker.  To highlight the words I rubbed ink on the strips, to help the letters pop. As with the other two cards, not very practical but I do love how it turned out. Maybe I can adapt it in the future for one of my own holiday cards.

Thanks for stopping by friends!