I would like to thank Tina Kvrgic, Northern Stamper and Jackie Vandersar-Boot , The Pampered Stamper for all their hard work and dedication in making this first fall retreat such a great crafting success. The retreat was held at the Hilton in St. Jacobs The hotel provided a free breakfast for its guest, so we took advantage of it Saturday and Sunday. It was a five minute walk to St Jacob’s market so that is where we headed for an hour after breakfast on Saturday. The array of fruits and vegetables was amazing. Our classes started at 10:00 am to 9:00pm with a break for lunch and supper. There were display boards set up around the room showing cards that We were able to take photos so that we could recreate them at home. The organizers showed us different card making techniques and a few 3D creations. The rest of the day we worked on our cards and projects. Tea, coffee, water and cookies were available for us all day. Sunday after breakfast there were more technique demonstration and we finished up our projects. The retreat ended at 3:00, but a lot of the ladies left sooner because they did not want to drive in heavy traffic. The Fall Craft Retreat in St Jacob's is already booked for the last weekend of September 2024. Guess who signed up all ready.

It has been more than a year since I last posted.

One of my New Year Resolutions is to post at least 3 times a week.

It may not alway be about crafty stuff but also about other things that interest me.  Another New Year Resolution is to make sure that I mail out my swap to the different groups on time.  

                  Here is a picture of a swap that I received.   The small cards are called ATC's.  You do not sell these, you only trade them.  They are miniature works of art. I wrote a post about ATC's a while ago. Here is the link to learn more about them: http://kreationsbykris.blogspot.com/2014/06/sewing-atcs.html

Below is a picture of the Scarf and Toques set that I knit as a Christmas gift for my friend at work.
My friend always appreciated my handmade gifts.

Swaps Cards and Orlando

This card card is a monochrome Blue Card that was made for a "Just Cards" Swap. I used an image from Altered Pages collage sheet #1855 titled "Beauty in Blue"



This card fold is called "Double Dutch Fold" and was made for a swap for "Card Swappers". This directions for this fold may be found on the Splitcoast Stampers website. The image I used is from Altered Pages Collage sheet #198 titled"Life in the 60's"



The two ATC"S are for a swap for Altered Pages. I used Collage Sheet #1714 called "White Collage" for the lady on the bed and #1855 called "Beauty in Green"



I thought I would show a picture of my kitty called Orlando. This is the first decent picture I have ever taken of him. Because he is all black with just a little white under his chin, he usually looks just like a black blob. In this picture he has his eyes wide open.

SteamPunk Cards

Here are two cards that I made for a monthly swap I am in for CST. I used pictures from the collage sheet from Altered Pages #1732. I attached the printed paper to the cardstock and the run it thro the cuttlebut using a Tim Holz folder Cogs and Wheels. I layered the picture on plain cardstock and then attached it to the card. The cog is from swap that I received awhile ago.
The second card uses a picture from the same collage sheet. Again I ran the cardstock thro the cuttlebug after I had layered the printed paper on it. The picture of the wheels and cog that is on the bottom is from clipart.

Newest trends in Cardmaking

Trends in Pattern
August 17th, 2011


* Doily – these are super huge right now and I think the trend is just starting, keep your eye out for a lot more doily prints, doily dresses, doily cakes, it goes on and on. I just need to have a daughter stat and paint a giant doily on her wall!

* Chevron/zigzag - chevrons have been trending for awhile now, and right now they are EVERYWHERE. I still see a lot of life in this trend though because they are so classic and clean. However I am trying to refrain from buying anything too expensive with chevrons because I’m sure in a year or two I’ll be sick of them. But if I could find a giant chevron fabric to reupholster my victorian sofa, I totally would, I’m sure it would be in style forever!

Bold Stripe – Cabana stripe, awning stripe whatever you want to call it, bold stripes are IN. Its like a chevron without the kitch. Loving it painted on furniture, floors, walls etc.

Hexagon – I have been obsessed with hexagons for quite some time now. When I attended Quilt Market a few months ago I saw lots of hexagon quilts and other hexagon inspired fabric projects. I especially love this appliqued pillow (shown below) This is fabulous and I’m going to have to make my own for the family room. It’s totally on my list.

Geometrics – Geometrics in general are trending. I love so many fabrics that are geometric, but it seams like they are all “designer” fabrics that cost $150/yard. Boo. But if you’re savvy you can find some affordable geometric fabrics from Dwell Studios and a few others. Just make sure they don’t look 70′s and you’re good to go.

Fois Bois / Wood Grain – It seems like wood grain is super popular but not in the same volume as chevrons. Probably because it’s harder to re-create. I still adore everything I see that has the wood grain pattern, and I hope it stays on trend for quite awhile longer.

Diamonds – I have seen a lot of diamond tile backsplashes latey, I think this is an upcoming trend, so keep your eye out for a lot of diamonds, and diamonds that kind of look like chevrons but aren’t chevrons.

Cane/Rattan/Weave/Bamboo – Although these types of patterns have always been big in professional interior design, they are now just starting to trend among normal folk (those of us who don’t pay $150/yard for fabric). I have seen ceilings and walls painted with the rattan pattern as well as lots of curtains. I think we will see a lot of pattern off-shoots inspired by this style

As far as trends that are waning, I’m sad to say that after a very long run, Paisley is declining in popularity. I have been a huge fan of paisley for the last 10 years and It just doesn’t interest me anymore. With the onset of a lot of these more clean, modern, and traditional prints, paisley will soon be retired until we decide we like it again.

Altered Box and Sewing ATC's

This Altered Box was made for a swap for Art For The Creative Minds. I covered a small round cheese box with coordinating Victorian looking wallpaper. Then I added lace around the top edge and attached flowers to a piece of foam that I glued on the top. I also added three small hatpins which I made. I hope my partner likes it. There is also a little gift inside, but that is a surprise for my swap partner.



These are two ATC's created for Art For the Creative Minds using a Sewing Theme. The spool of thread was drawn freehand.. The needle is a toothpick painted silver and the thimble was cut from a piece of silver paper and then I use the end of a pin to indent it. The second ATC recycles a picture that I received on another card swap some time ago.

Boths ATC's have material as backgrounds from some discontinued fabric books that I have collected.

Swap Cards for Card Swappers

This card is for a swap card using lace. The background is scrapbook paper. I used a cuttlebug folder to embose the piece of silver paper and used a friskars corner punch. I cut a piece of lace about 8" long and gathered it to form a circle. I used silk flowers and a brad and attached them to the flower. The flower was attached with 2 sided tape. I used a strip of two sided tape. I place one end of the lace down and then folded the piece over a pencil and then stuck it down. I kept doing this until I reached the end of the card. It gives a very nice ruffled effect.



This card is for the Blue/Green/Pink swap. I used the same technique for the Lace as I did on .

I used the same lace technique for this card as for the one above.

Swap Cards

I signed up for a swap with Pet as its theme. Here is the card I made. The piggy stamp is from Stampin Up. I used Gold Liquid Pearls for the dots. The leaves, stem and grass were cut by hand.




A friend of mine gave me this very greeny/yellow card stock awhile ago. I could not find anything to go with it. Looking thro my stash, I found two different kinds of striped paper. The image is from a swap that I took part in last year.

Commissioned cards

My DIL wanted to give cards to the people that she worked for in the taxation office since it is the end of the season for the office where she works. Here are the ones that I designed for her. The first two are Jack Russell Terriers. The picture were cut from old calendars. The two ladies that she worked with have Jack Russells.





This one is a card for one of the men. The images were layered and a treble clef brad was added to the bow.



The picture of the Lavender Lady was created with clip art that was taken off the internet. The lady was cut out and I used a piece of sticky foam to give dimension. I used diamond stickles in her hair and on her necklace.



The Steampunk Couple was made using a collage picture from Altered Pages called Steampunk. The cog at the bottom was received in a swap. I mounted a watch face over the couples' faces and filled it with diamond glaze. This gives the illusion that there is glass in the watch face.



This card was made using a picture called the collage sheet called Golf by Altered Pages. It was layered with coordinating cardstock and golfing embellishments were added to compete the design

Swap Cards

These are card that I created for Card Swappers. The Thinking of you card uses a collage picture from "White Collage" available from Altered Pages.



This step card was made using pictures from the collage sheet "Antique Sewing" available from Altered Pages. The stamped image of the dress form was from an old rubberstamp that I have.




These are swap cards for the group Just Cards. The Blue Card with the pitcher is called The Delft Technique. You may find it on Splitcoast Stampers. I had difficulty with the tile effect, so I cheated. When I had the lines dry embossed, I put a strip of low tack tape along each one. That way when I stamped the image, the lines were not stamped over. The Mother's Day card uses an image from Altered Pages. I used a piece of material for the corner of Pink, Yellow and Orange card, and highlited it with stickles. The Sketch card uses paper lace and chipboard buttons and a little mesh.




Here is the Victorian Fan that I made for a swap for Art For The Creative Mind. I used a doily and a stick from a foam sponge applicator. The Butterflies are rub ons, Liquid Pearls was used on the middle of each ruffle, gold paint was rubbed on for a little colour and then small 1/2 pearls were added along with ribbon.

Two more get Well Cards

Two more Get Well Cards

More Birthday cards

Here are more great Birthday Cards that I have received.

Layered Card

Here is a card I made using a number of layers. I inked up a cuttlebug folder with Antique Brown placed a page from an old book into it and ran it thro the cuttlebug. The bird is from Altered Pages collage sheet entitled "Vintage Birds Cards. The words " Birds Bring Music to My Garden" was printed on the computer.

Birthday cards

Not only did I receive a bushelful of get well cards I also received wonderful Birthday Wishes from my Card Swapping Groups.





I would like to thank everyone for the Well Wishes.

New Year Decisions

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and will have a Safe, Happy and Prosperous New Year.

I have had this blog for a few years now and have never really kept it up. One of my New Years Decisions, not "resolution" is to update my blog at least once a week. I will be explaining how I am trying to make my life better and also showing the swaps that I have received and the items that I have created.

Here are some of the cards that I designed for Christmas.

Card made for manager at work

This picture was from a swap I received. The background is a 100+ year old Lithograph Stamp
(it's difficult to see the lithograph because I used silver ink)

A friend of mine gave me some Christmas envelopes. I cut the Santa out.