Thursday, April 25, 2013

Cardmaking, Crochet Work, and a Play Page

  It's amazing how quickly a week goes by, and here we are -another Friday and weekend! This has been a busy week as I got the Spring cleaning bug and have been at it a bit each day. Not my favorite thing to do but what a difference fresh curtains makes, along with a super clean fridge (only had to discard 3 things-yay me!) and kitchen gadgets, and two bathrooms cleaned top to bottom. There's so much more to do but I'll get to it gradually. I mean, I do need to art and to take time outdoors now that Spring has sprung :) I'll have a busy weekend too as we're having friends for dinner and I'm cooking a French themed menu for them. Sunday I'll be cooking again for Todd- I know how much a home cooked meal means to a single guy on his own :)

 In my last post I shared my convention findings and I did take the time to play with my new Spellbinder's lattice-like custom die by making cards. First one is the card I made for my Mom for Mother's Day:


 


  Above this card is a pic of the die. I was pulling out the cut away bits and thought they were kinda cool looking so I kept them to use on my gelli plate etc. Then I got this idea and used 4 white bits as fill ins on the card above for some added interest.

 
  I used a silk poppy and a velvet leaf on this one.

  This card I made for my friend LuAnn whose favorite color is pink:


  The last card I made:


  Notice anything about these cards? I tried my hand at using a watermark in PSE for the first time. If you have any ? about the supplies etc. for these cards please contact me. I just didn't have the time to write everything up this week.

  As I was cleaning in the kitchen I came across a knitted cotton dish cloth my hubby's great aunt had made me some yrs. ago. It's still in perfect condition and I'm saddened that she's no longer with us and I didn't have her teach me to make my own. However, I am SO not good with knitting but do crochet so I bought a ball of 100% cotton 4 ply worsted weight yarn and crocheted one that looks very much like Aunt Louise's knitted one:

  Soo easy! All this takes is a J size hook and double crochets. Now I must go buy more yarn so I can crochet while watching TV and then replace my old bought cloths with some pretty new ones.

  I also got  a bit of time to play with my stencils albeit briefly:


  Leftover green, yellow and cobalt teal acrylics were scraped on the page. Then I used the Sea Fan and Mini Cubist stencils (Artist Cellar) with Dylusions Squeezed Orange and Bubblegum Pink ink sprays. I see a herd(?) of giraffes gathered on the page. Do you?

 I'll be linking up to Art Journal Every Day, Paint Party Friday, Creative Everyday and Show and Tell Saturday. Enjoy your weekend!

  "Use your imagination not to scare yourself to death, but to inspire yourself to life." Adele Brookman

 

45 comments:

  1. Wow, you've been so busy, Linda. Love your new die and what you've done with it. And the cloth looks too lovely to use!

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  2. Those cards are fantastic! I do see the Giraffes, lovely page! Hugs, Valerie

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  3. The cards are great...but I LOVE your stencil layering...well done.

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  4. Yep!! They are right there for anyone to see!! Love that new die you got at the convention and, also, the cards you made with it - very pretty. I know LuAnn will love her card.

    BTW, I revived Fifi's Daughter today - stop by when you have time!!

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  5. Love the new die and the cards are great.

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  6. Really interesting ideas, I like those designs!

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  7. Wow Linda - these cards are yummalicious! How wonderful for your friends that you are cheffiness enough to do French cuisine for their visit and you are right - when my 24 and 27 year old stop here on the hwy to {somewhere or other} for reprieve, first thing they say is "what's for dinner?" Nothing like mommy's cooking (though I don't know why with mine! lol How old is Todd? Now, those giraffes - yes yes yes - tons of them! How great you are to see those and share your site with us with your view of them. I wouldn't have wanted to miss that! I love how you used the stencils without drowning out the last stencil. Bravo on that!!! {joy} samara p.s. there is a very similar cricut cut if you are interested (I will find the one) because I made my own stencil out of it.) xox

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  8. Love the cards, and yes I cvan see the giraffes.

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  9. I DO see those giraffes on your pretty page dear Linda!

    Good for you spring cleaning ... it's best to act when the mood strikes ... also happy you got to make some art ... lots of lovely cards and what a great idea about using the die cut for your gelli plate!

    Time is flying by ... I do not know when I have enjoyed spring blossoms more ... not sure why exactly...I guess it is where we put our focus?

    That said I should/could focus on some spring cleaning myself ... but wait I may just need to go up to my art cave ;)

    Enjoy your weekend !!!
    oxo

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  10. Beautiful cards, I love that you crocheted a new cloth :) and stencils are a winner with me every time. Sounds like a great wkend planned as well. HPPF Dxx

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  11. Oh Linda you are always such a busy bee. Just love these projects. Yes I do see indeed. The giraffe is bending down and drinking some water. Oh the imagination is such a wonderful thing. Keep Enjoying!!!

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  12. Wow your paper cutting is AMAZING! I don't have the patience or the steadiness of hand for that. Wowza! :)

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  13. You've clearlyl been busy this week! All this and the spring cleaning too! Your cards are wonderful but I am blown away at your crochet work - it seems too lovely to use as a dishcloth!

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  14. Wow! So prolific! It all looks wonderful!!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  15. You have been very busy Linda! Love your cards, the stencil work, and the crochet. You are so multi talented! HPPF!

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  16. Sweet and cute cards Lina. Well done. you are such an inspiring Lady. Thank you for sharing

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  17. Hello Linda, you've been real busy...we all get a touch of Spring cleaning bug at some time over this period, it's just that time of year! Your cards are all very lovely, enjoy a great week-end, sounds like you'll still be busy with all that delicious home cooking!

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  18. That lattice is just beautiful!

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  19. I love all the different cards that you were able to make using the lattice die, and the clever way in which you were able to use the negative pieces too. The green background you created is fabulous too, and would love to see what you do with it. Blessings!

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  20. Such beautiful cards made from the beautiful, beautiful die. I love how you picked up the white inserts and put them into another card. All of these cards would be a treasure to keep.

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  21. Those cards are really beautiful xx

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  22. Beautiful cards and crochet (I would like to learn this!) I love the colours you used in the stencil background. I see the giraffes necks too!

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  23. Linda fabulous cards...love the silver lattice with the heart...gorgeous!! Fun to quickly crochet those dishclothes...very cute. Enjoy the rest of your spring cleaning and nice dinners!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  24. Pretty and sweet cards, love them! Love your stencil piece too! <3

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  25. A colorful collection of beautiful pieces! love it all, especially the cards! happy PPF!

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  26. Love all of the die work. Your husband's aunt's dish cloth is pretty . The librarian in my town started knitting this year, the library has a get together every month. She started knitting dish cloths but each one using a different stitch, that way she learns all of the stitches and perfected her tension. I thought that was such a clever idea with the added bonus of variety : ) Enjoy the dinners. Thanks for sharing.

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  27. Wow, your cards are just beautiful. Love the silver lattice. They are all just awesome. Thank you.

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  28. The lacy lattice work really makes these cards beautiful. Your eye for color and design is amazing. I have a two hand crocheted wash cloths. I've considered framing them, they are so lovely, but I like having them in my daily life too much. I saw something more cellular in your last piece, but when you mentioned the herd of giraffes, I loved that image. Thanks for sharing.

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  29. fun to see all the different ways you can use that lattice die! I wish I knew how to crochet, that wash cloth is cute!

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  30. Have a look to your wonderful Cards, is a pleasure! Yes, I can see the neck :)
    Hugs and love
    Erika

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  31. I once crocheted handbags with plastic strips from old shopping bags, and they are still as strong as ever.Happy PPF.

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  32. these are all so pretty! Your mom is going to love the card you made for her! Happy PPF!

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  33. Beautiful card work, everyone would be lucky to get one of these...a herd of giraffe's well I do seee them. That's what is so fun about stencils and sprays, what shows up! Happy PPF

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  34. I love the lattice too - beautiful cards I bet you mum loved receiving hers x

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  35. Your cards are wonderful. They all look different despite using the same pattern. And that dish cloth is so cute. I have almost the same one that was made by my grandmother many years ago. I have been planning on making some myself, but still didn't get to it ...

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  36. Beautiful cards with the lattice die, very intricate and elegant. And I love your crochet, it looks great.

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  37. Love your cards Linda. I was thinking the same about using these cool die patterns on gelli plate.
    Have a great week
    Susan

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  38. Those cards are beautiful and I agree with Denise, so different despite using the same pattern. I love your square! I know how to crochet but don't know how to "end." I have to research that on YouTube! Happy PPF!!

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  39. Beautiful cards Linda!
    your Mum will just lOVe her Mother's Day card.
    You had sooo much fun with your stencils - I CAN see the herd of psychedelic giraffes - they're gorgeous!!!
    Shane ♥

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  40. So much goodness here! I LOVE your stencil play and your cards with the lattice work are just gorgeous - and you've been busy! I've loved catching up with all of your beautiful cards, and yes, I see giraffes and leaves, xo

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  41. Another fun post! Love the card you made your mom especially. I bet she loved it :)

    Love your crocheted cloth...

    Karen x

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!