Lattice Edged Cards

I have more lattice edged cards to share. 

This one has the lattice edge around three sides. I added one of my detailed butterflies and my tattered flower & pretty flower combinations. The butterfly and flower cut files are available in my Etsy shop.


It still needed something else but I knew I could not hide the edges of a ribbon and a bow would be too much. So I gathered some white seam binding in the middle and topped it off with a row of pearls. I showed how to gather the seam binding on this post.



Since you can see the other side of the card through the lattice I added a little ink to the front edges.

When I was making the cross and lattice edged mat for my other card, I made an extra set (well, ok...I made a mistake in my measurements the first time...but hey, why waste good die cuts...LOL)

I added a seam binding flower and added  a pearl.

You can download the free cut files for the cross from  this post.

But I was not through with my lattice edged files.

I had to make a card that had the lattice on both sides of the card.

This one is simple but all that cut work adds a great touch.

All I added was a mat, some patterned paper, and a caption.

You can download the "hello" script caption here.

One more thing to share...

I had to make a box to fit the card I made in the last post.

I used the lattice mat and one of my detailed butterflies to decorated the gift box I made.

I show how to make the box on this video and the cut files for the box can be purchased here.

The entire Lattice Edged Design Package is available here.

Tattered Flower Tutorial

Tattered Flowers

I have been making these "tattered flowers" for a while now. I have put them on everything from cards, scrapbook pages, and birdhouse boxes.

They are quick, easy, and pretty.

I did a picture tutorial earlier this year. (you can find it on one of the tabs under my blog header.)

It is only fitting that I make a video tutorial on how to make these lovely flowers.

Hope you enjoy this and THANKS for all the encouraging comments!

I will be posting a flower giveaway tomorrow :)

Red, white, and ...black

Hello my blogger friends.

I just wanted to share this card with you.

I just love black and white damask. This Anna Griffin paper is so beautiful. The damask areas are flocked. That makes it feel really rich.

Of course red always goes well with black and white.

For these flowers,  used my "pretty flower" and "tattered flower" cut files.

See the tabs at the top of the page for tutorials and links to the cut files.

The small flowers are cut from red Bazzil cardstock and a block rhinestone was added to the center. The large flowers were cut from white cardstock and colored with Red Barn distress ink. The difference in color between the two flowers is very subtle, but I like it. I added clear bicone beads with a black center.

I used the same beads along with some black bugle beads to make this beaded trim.

I measured one inch increments along a piece of black ribbon. Then I took tiny stitches , added the bugle bead and then the bicone bead. Next I went back through the bugle bead from the bottom up. I secured that with a tiny stitch in the ribbon and reapeated these steps until I had the length of trim that I wanted.

If you want more info on the beaded trim, leave a comment and I will draw it out and post it.

Enjoy:)



Loose rose tutorial

These are lovely loose roses. They have a lot of demintion so they will not work in a scrapbook layout, but they are great for 3D projects and cards that do not have to be mailed.

My Loose Rose Tutorial 
(LOL..you can totally see the glue that I used to attach the seed beads right before I took the picture.)

1) Cut 5 petals (the large petals from the tattered flowers)

2) Ink, spray, or chalk if desired.

3) Place flower shape on mat (I use the arm rest that came with our computer mouse pad. You can also use fun foam craft sheets or the rubber mats that you use with embossing plates on your embossing machine.)

4) Use stylus to hand emboss each of the flower pieces. Make large circular motions with light pressure at first. Then go over the petal again with smaller circular motions and medium pressure. Do this to all 5 flower shapes. This breaks down the fibers in the paper and allows you to mold the petals. (see picture below)

5)  Now use the piercing tool to press against the backside of each petal while holding your thumb against  the front. Slide your thumb and the tool from the base of the petal to the tip. With a light pressure "curl" each petal downward. (Similar to pressing curling ribbon between scissors and your thumb)

 It will look like this when you are done.

6) Use piercing tool to "round" each petal. I hold one side of the petal with one hand and with the other hand I place the needle tool on the front of the petal and press my forefinger against the back of the petal. Starting from the center and working toward the edge, I use gentle pressure to "curl" the edge upward. Then I switch hands and shape the other side of the petal.

(OK, this picture is obviously of a different flower, but the technique is the same :)

7) With 2 of the flower shapes, gently pinch the sides of each petal inward, then fold each petal in towards the center one at a time. Fold all 6 petals in then release. Place one flower shape on the table and use your fingers to gently press all the petals in like this

This will be the center of the flower.

Do the same thing for the other flower shape, but don't close the petals quite as much. It should look something like this.

8) Curl the ends (tips) of each petal of the remaining 3 flower shapes. I place the piercing tool at the back tip  of the petal from the center to the right side. Then I use my finger to roll the edge of the flower over the needle tool and downward. Then I do the left side. 

9) Bend each of the petals up. For one set, bend them about 45 degrees like this

Bend the next set a little less, like this

And the last set just a little bit. Like this

The shapes should look something like this.

10) Take the center piece (that tight little bud on the far right) , open the petals, place beads in the center, then fold petals in again.

Now put glue on the bottom of each piece and stack on top of the next, staggering the petals.

Ta-Da!

Your done :)

Here is the cut file

Loose Rose JL

Please remember this is for personal use only and is not to be used for profit.

I would REALLY appreciate it if you would mention me and /or link to my blog if you use my files on a project that you publish on the web. (that is not much to ask since I give the files out for free:)

Tattered Roses

Tattered flower tutorial

1) Cut 2 large petals and 2 small petals as shown.

2) Ink or spritz pieces if desired.

3) Use paper piercing tool or another smooth, round tool to "curl" the petals of the large flowers down. To do this, hold the base of the petal with non-dominate hand and use the other hand to press the petal between your thumb and the tool. Slide your thumb and tool from the base of the petal to the tip as if you were "curling" ribbon for a package.

Repeat this for each petal on both of the large flower pieces.

4) Next bend each petal up straight up. (about 90 degrees)...



... and then back down again.

The flower pieces should look like this when you are done.

5) Adhere and stack flowers, staggering petals.

6) For small petals, curl up or down depending on the look you want. Stack and adhere in center.

7) Add beads or rhinestones to the center.

This page will be one of the tabbed pages at the top of my blog.

Hereis the cut file.

Tattered flower jl

Please remember to link to my site if you use this flower on a project that you post online.

Pink flowers

Been busy making cards for my church's hospitality ministry. They visit and/or send cards to our church members who are sick or in the hospital. If you ever wonder what you should do with cards you make for challenges, consider giving them to a church group, hospital, rest home, or Operation Write Home. I really enjoy seeing them used and appreciated. Since I can no longer do much physically, I like being able to still be able to do something that makes other people happy. 

I have usually make several cards in the designs that I come up with for challenges. You have seen most of them, but here is one I don't think I have shown yet. (although you may recognize some of the materials :)

I cut the loopy mat, flowers, and leaves from white card stock and inked them with TH Distress Ink: Victorian Velvet. There are pearls in the center of the flowers and 3 on the right top edge.

When I make them for this ministry, I usually do not add sentiments. That way they can be used for whatever the need is.

I can honestly say that this ministry blesses me as much as it blesses the people who receive the cards!

My 4 Shared file sharing site is having trouble tonight. I will load the cut files later.

If you look on the right side bar or look through the older posts, you can find the tattered flowers file and the branch with leaves (large) cut files that I used on this card.

Green girly card

Just in time! I had two minutes before the submission deadline and I barely made it. Wow, I did not know if I would be able to add it.

This feminine card is for the Creative Sisters Monday Challenge #4

Linda and Patti are two sisters who have a cool challenge. For this card, the challenge was to use paper punches and add a handmade flower. I have been using Cricut and Scal for so long that I sometimes neglect to use my much loved paper punches. The one I used for the lace effect is an old Fiskars scalloped border punch. I added more of my tattered flowers. (I know I have been using them a lot lately but I really like them) I used a beige paper and lightly inked them with TH Antique Linen. I really liked them way it turned out. Very soft and girly. I added pearl beads and a pearl flourish.

I also used a leaf cut file I made several months ago. I need to simplify it some and then I will share it,

Purple passion

For your viewing pleasure today I have a lovely purple card.

I followed the recipe for the Paper Star Craft Challenge #39.

Base 5 x 7
Mat: 3 x 4.5
Add Rhinestones
Add Flourish

I colored the silver paper with Stream, Wild Plum, and Purple Ttwilight alcohol inks then stamped on top of it with SU Baroque Motifs jumbo wheel, Inkadinkado script stamp, and a Hero Arts flower using pigment ink. I wipe the pigment ink off with a baby wipe. This takes off the pigment ink and the alcohol ink underneath it.

I used a flourish from Cricut-Home Accents. The flowers are different versions of my tattered flower and simple daisy files. (see previous post- "blue flowers" for  cut files) I added rhinestones and silver seed beads.