Crop of cards

      Valentines Day has passed, but not without card fanfare! This year, I wanted to make humble, cozy cards. I did a variety of styles and I used old jeans and heart fabric. I tried some hand stitching, but I was too slow. I gave up and pulled out a Pfaff machine someone gave me that has a zillion stitches on it, but is a creaky, plastic machine where you hold your breath while sewing on it. It has a blanket stitch that I use sometimes. I tested out a bunch of stitches and sewed the hearts with Glide Red thread. I made a total of 80 and have one left. It was quite a process- cutting, sewing, glueing, etc. And I found some heart buttons on Ebay and glued them on. Then I realized I had to put cardboard pieces in the envelopes so that the cards could go through the cancellation machine. Lastly, I had them weighed at the post office to make sure the stamps were enough postage. The address labels for some reason malfunctioned so that took another day to solve. I was glad I got them done in time to get to everyone on time except Maureen in New Zealand. Some process photos:

Buttons not glued on yet

Lots of trees in winter

      The 2024 Christmas cards are ready to be written out and mailed. I was able to stamp, paint, add pastels and glue them all up and they are just ready to write out and send. All the mailing labels on the envelopes. Now just to gather up the strength to write them out!

Painted many strips

Over 100 ready to write!

Trying to get back to it

      Well the "it" is blog posting. I read all my favs and comment, but I don't seem to have to mental fortitude to write my own. I have taken plenty of photos and get them on the computer, but stall at writing the post. I have a nice list of posts to do on my to do list, but I just stare at it. It is hard for me to write what I do and getting those photos off the camera, named and in the right folders takes longer than it should for me. Too bad I couldn't just take the photos and they would be right there on my hard drive presto!
     Since my last post, Christmas passed and it was days of card making and getting them out. I think the only one that was late was to Maureen in NZ. I did them with watercolor and no tricks, just flat out brush painting.

Rosie, for the second year, inspected all supplies throughly for use

      The card process is in steps. I cut a strip of watercolor paper (Arches 140 CP). First the yellows/oranges in the sky. When dry, the blues/darks of the sky. Then a light tree line. Then the darker tree line. Then the individual trees. Each step has to be totally dry before I paint the next. I get about 7 cards out of each strip. Last, I add tree shadows and white dots of snow (gel pen). After it is all dry, I cut them, mount them on background paper, and glue them to pre-folded cardstock. I glue a verse inside. Then address and stamp them. A long process. I did not take photos of the finished cards, but a few blog friends posted them. If you are just hankering after one of these, I have a few left, just send me your address and eventually, I will send one.
     One of my favorite things is cutting down the Christmas tree which my husband and I still do. Neither of my grown children do. And the grandkids no longer want to go with us, but we go and we love it. The tree farm is a 45 minute ride into the next county, but the scenery is breathtaking and the tree hunt is great fun.
     Hope this post is not too Christmasy for you, but inspiring you with the natural beauty of trees!

Forever Green Farm's Barn

Making the Valentines

      Every year, I make Christmas and Valentines cards. It is always a stretch to get them done, but I have been able to do it so far. There probably will be a time I will not be able to make so many. I kick myself because there are always people I could add to the list, but I just cannot add any more and be timely.
     This year, I decided to make the fronts in one large piece that I could longarm and save wear and tear on me. I started with a large piece of washed cotton sheeting. I laid it on a table covered with plastic drop cloth.
      First, on dry fabric, I used cookie cutters dipped in soy wax and stamped designs all across the fabric. Soy wax melts at a low temp. It comes in flakes and I put a metal bowl in an electric fry pan and the wax melts on low temp. I dipped the cookie cutters into the melted wax and stamped one at a time. Soy wax removes with hot water and blue Dawn.
     After that, I wet the whole piece and dropped on acrylic paints that were watered down to act like watercolors. I used a variety of reds, pinks, oranges and violet. When it dried, it was a bit pale for my taste, so I sprayed it with water and dropped the paint again. I think thickend dyes would have been more intense, but I never used them before. When dry, I scraped some metallic paint over it. When dry, I washed all the wax out with hot water and Dawn. I let it try and then used big chunky foam stamps (from when I was an art teacher) and sponged on acrylic paint, stamping all over the fabric.

     When totally dry, I drew in chalk a grid the size of the card fronts. I loaded it on the longarm using heavy white felt as the backing and batting. I later realized that Rosie the cat had ripped out part of the batting (she loves shredding battin) which  did not notice until I had longarmed over the area, so it was not as padded there. I used black thread and quilted over the grid lines so I could cut the pieces apart. I should have quilted more lines, because when I cut them apart, sometimes there was not enough stitching to hold the edges together and I had to re sew on my Singer 301 the edges of the heart piece, adding more time. I free handed the hearts on the longarm and echoed over them.
     As a result, no two cards are exactly the same, but have a lot of different character across the surface which is precisely how I like my quilts and why I love to use so many fabrics or scraps.

Finally, the card assembly

     I wish I had more in process photos. However, I was trying to handle a lot of materials, especially messy ones, and I had to concentrate every step to avoid disaster. This made it hard to add taking photos to the mix. For those who received the cards- remember I love you! I have a couple of cards left over if you just have to have one even after the day.

Trees, ok, Christmas Trees

      Nobody probably wants to see Christmas trees, but I started a couple of days before Christmas on making these improv ones that I had been saving the pattern for a long time. I used 5" squares as I had a lot of those colors in my 5" boxes. They finish at 3 1/2 x 5.
     I was going to make just a table runner, but then the addictive and calming nature of sewing them was perfect for holiday stress and I kept going. I bought some clearance Christmas fabric at Joann's and it is ready to load on my longarm. I love evergreen trees. I paint them on my Christmas cards and never tire of them.

2021 cards

Choosing inner border

Choosing outer border

Got crazy and mitered outer border, now to quilt

Cards to the finish line...er...mailbox

      Since I was 19 I have been making my own Christmas cards. I have used many different methods and somehow the list grows longer every year. I did silk screening for a while. When I retired, I dusted off my watercolors and renewed my love of working with them.

     What looks good in one or two, once you have to make over 100 of them, things get difficult. One year I made color copies of my watercolor for the cards. No one was happy. Every year I vow I won't do it again and I start to hear the "can't wait for your card" remarks and cave. This year, I painted and made over 100 and mailed them out. This is why there are no decorations up at my house. They were all mailed out this week and others hand delivered. It was a marathon.

     I paint mostly with Winsor Newton paints, some Holbeins. I use Arches 140 Cold Press Bright White paper. It is the best for painting as it is all rag and can be wiped out and repainted. I painted the trees after the backgrounds were dry and then spattered white acrylic with a kid toothbrush for snow. Then I cut the trees in between. Then I glued them all on premade cards that I buy at Joanns with coupons. I used printed labels and Christmas stamps. Then I had a big glass of wine...or two.

First, I painted the background. I was going for a Northern Lights look. Someday, I hope to actually experience them. I love them.

Individual Cards, some different sizes, ideas

Pile of completed cards

Christmas Card saga one more time

    Since I was 18, I have made Christmas cards every year. The number keeps creeping up, and every year I hold my breath to see if I can make it. This year I made 110. I don't like copies, so each one is handmade. I find people always love my cards and tell me so, but I can hardly ever sell a painting when I exhibit them. Hmm.
    This year, I experimented with Brusho, a watercolor crystal product, I saw demonstrated at a rubber stamp show in September. By the time I started this last week, I totally forgot the demos and had to reinvent the wheel. I used two Brusho blues sprinkled for the sky, a fine spray bottle, Arches cold press watercolor paper, a self carved stamp of an evergreen, brushes, kosher salt, white paint, and regular watercolor paint. The Brusho is a dye, so my fingers have been blue all week. 

Brusho skies

Skies with trees, ready for cropping

My mess, stamps, gelli plate, etc.

    I painted the skies in long strips, stamped and painted the trees, spattered paint and added shadows with a brush. Then I cut the strips into compositions for the cards. I bought A7 cards and envelopes with coupons from Joanns. 
     I printed out the poem I used for the inside (Longfellow's original "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day") on white paper, rubbed yellow/yellow orange pastel dust over it and glued it inside. Now I am writing a greeting in each one- the hardest thing for me to do. The out of town ones are mailed- I keep on writing in the rest.

Other creative pursuits

     It is the time for Christmas cards. Every year I make over 100, so the process cannot be too elaboarate for each card. It also makes it hard that people tell me how wonderful the last one was which puts pressure on me to top or equal it. I hate to be judged on my work.
     This year, I am experimenting with Brusho watercolor crystals, water spraying, carving a tree stamp, salt and white paint. I am not to the point where the cards are being produced. 100 cards is a lot of cards to make. I do not do copies or giclees as I like to give original work, thus I give myself headaches.

     Also, my granddaughter insisted that I make her a doll. I am 3D challenged and when sewing stuffed parts onto non-stuffed parts, I sweat and rip a lot. She would not relent, so we found a pattern online, and I ripped a lot. She says I am the best grandma ever. I will endure ripping and 3D trials for that. I could embroider the face fine, as that is not 3D dependent. Couldn't figure out the shoes.

Card Party

     Every once in a while, some friends and I get together to make what I call "card components". I have always made my cards and it helps to make a lot of pieces that can be fashioned into a card later. When I buy the 50 cards and envelopes pack (with coupon) at Joann's or Michaels, I can use the stamped pieces to make cards later. I usually make 4 or 5 at a time.
     When you work with friends, you share stamps, techniques, tips and materials. I have a large well lit 2 1/2 car garage that we set up with tables, spread out and make lots of pieces. I provide lunch and we have a lot of fun.

All kinds of component pieces

A few sample cards put together.

Close to Valentines!

     Long as I can remember, I have made cards. Can't say what motivates me- I just have to. The good thing is people like to get them. I have made Christmas and Valentine cards for almost 50 years (yikes). In grade school, I always made the classroom box and decorated it for everyone to put their cards in, trudging it to school a half a mile in February Buffalo weather. Gladly. I think my biggest complaint besides running out of time, is I can only make so many and I hit the wall. I try to keep up with birthdays as able.
     When you think of it, it is kind of like making quilts, but using paper so I guess I have following the same path longer than I think.
     Every year, I sketch and sketch fearing I have run out of ideas. So far, something emerges. This year, after many fruitless sketches, I drew and cut asymmetrical elongated felt hearts. 

     Using a pile of red, pink, white scraps, I sewed them onto the felt with black thread (Singer 301). Sometimes I added ribbon scraps, broke down and bought some lace and iridescent novelty mesh. No fusible was harmed. Every one is different. Once sewn, I trimmed them.  I wanted some dimension and stability so after experimenting, I bought cotton duck in natural, cut a rough shape, stuffed leftover batting on top and layed the felt heart on top. I outlined the heart twice with the black thread and trimmed leaving some cotton duck showing. After a couple of hearts, I remembered I have an old set of pinking shears (made in USA) and trimmed the rest with those. The hand did not like it.

Felt hearts trimmed

Felt heart plus cotton duck stuffed, pinked

      I buy card blanks with envelopes from Joann's or Michael's when they are on sale in packs of 50. Using a Fiskars roller with hearts left over from art teaching days, I inked red hearts on the front of the card. The 3M tape gun adhered the hearts to the card front. I hit the wall at 54 unable to eek another one out.  

All paired up with envelopes addressed

Ready for Post Office

     I was able to print address labels, stamp, and get the out of town ones to the PO last week, and the local ones yesterday. Last year, after I mailed the out of town ones, I had a heart attack. I was a bit gun shy mailing those out this year, but it was fine. 
     Hope you enjoyed another card blitz!

All 100

     Well, all but two of the cards are out in the mail. Before I attached them to the cardstock, I lined them all up like a quilt so I could see the whole array. I don't think there is one I don't like. Hope the recipients feel the same.

Card painting factory

     Well, it certainly feels like a factory when I paint 100 small paintings. I have made my Christmas cards every year since 1975. Different quantities, different mediums, but all handmade. It feels like a burden when I am figuring out what to do. Besides quilting, I paint watercolors and continue to take a class with a master artist to keep me going. The people in my class are all amazing artists and we learn from each other as well as the teacher. People say, why are you still taking classes? That is why, I get better by the company I paint with.
     My teacher, Jody Ziehm, taught us a technique using credit cards and mat board cut up in small pieces, applying masking fluid with plastic wrap, and spraying water on the scraped on color to create landscape scenes. I had lots of fun because I love landscapes and trees. I had doubts if I could do this many, so I had to gird up and mentally lock in regardless. I cut up bad paintings (Arches watercolor paper is expensive- so I use the backs) into strips 11" x 3 1/2" and applied the mask. After it was dry, I scraped on some basic colors with the cut up credit cards. After fine spraying with water, I tilted the paper towards the sky and then poured blue from the top of the sky to blend with below. I added a little kosher salt for some sky sparkle. Once dry, I rubbed the mask and salt off and cut the strips into four on the paper cutter. Using small twigs, I added branches and pines. The tree trunks were scraped on with the small credit card strips. No brushes. I did this in two days-100 of them.
    Now, I have to print out the verse and glue that inside, glue the painting on the outside. I use premade white cards with matching envelopes from Joanns. Lastly, I have to write a message, put the addresses on (labels), stamps, and mail. Getting close to the deadline.
     My ace camera got left in PA with my daughter by accident, so I am using a point and shoot which doesn't focus as well or capture color great.

Mask applied to back of bad painting, doesn't matter if there is stray paint marks.

After scraped painting, sprayed, tilted, sky added. Mask removed.

Branches, trunks added. Cut into fours.

In position on card stock.

Prepping the valentine chunks

     My favorite thing- just randomly sewing bits and scraps! I was making fabric for this year's valentine cards- I think I made 48. Not going to show them yet- because I don't want to spoil anyone's opening the envelope. Lots and lots of scrappy hunks and chunks, so much fun, so much mess.

Not exactly a quilt projects

     This year, I was able to make 34 valentine cards. My goal was 50 to send, but I ran out of gas. Everyone was a little different- all made from fabric.

      Our quilt retreat is coming up this weekend, and I needed to come up with a small craft to share and make. I found a tutorial on quilt magnets. I made some prototypes with made fabric.

Attached to my treadle

Time to make the cards and send 'em out!

     I always think I get will get caught up making cards. Wrong. Between birthdays and sympathy cards, my little pack was wiped out. So, with the fabric Mod Podge, I crafted some more...and mailed them out!