Just for Him!

A few weeks ago, I posted a card on my FaceBook page (Susan’s Garden Club) that I created for my hubby.  The idea was not mine, but a fellow crafter who had posted on Card Making Tips.  However, I did spruce it up a bit with a 3-D flower in the lapel proving that even guys can enjoy flowers!

I received lots of comments, especially asking if this was hard to make.  It is not.  In fact, it took me less than an hour to put everything together, including hand coloring my Garden Notes Carnation with Chameleon Pens!  So, as requested…here is how I put this card together.

LET’S GET STARTED

Step One

The card stock I used is Elizabeth Craft Designs new Colored Soft-Finished; there are 36 colors to choose from.  Today, I used PSF 132/True Blue for the suit.  I trimmed a 12″ x 12″ piece to 6″ x 12″.  With the colored side down on your scoring board, score 3 1/4″ from the right side and 3″ on the left side. (Remember, men’s jackets close left to right!)

For the shirt, I trimmed an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of 85 lb. Soft Finish Cardstock/White to 5 1/2″ x 7 5/8″.  Score a 1-inch line across the top and fold down (for the collar). Press the score line again to make a smooth fold.  Cut 1 1/4″ from each side and fold the collar to the center.  Trim the shirt shoulders as shown.

Use ECD’s Clear Double-Sided Tape to adhere the shirt to the inside of the jacket.

Step Two

The tie is created using Washi paper.  I like using it for two reasons–it folds easily and it looks like a silk tie when finished.  First, the Washi paper is trimmed to a 5″ square.  Fold the square on the diagonal, open up and turn.  Fold again on the opposite diagonal.

Now, bring the sides together to meet in the middle.  Repeat this step once more.

Next, fold down the top to meet the folds.

Then, turn the tie over so the right side is facing you.  Fold down the top, about 1 1/4″ to 1 1/2″, then fold up so you create the “Windsor Knot.”

Flip the tie back to the wrong side up and fold in the sides once more, angling the fold slightly as shown.

While holding the knot side, push in the bottom corner to give you the correct angle.  Apply Double Sided Tape to the tie and adhere it between the folds of the collar.

Just in case this doesn’t make sense, you can go to YouTube under Origami Ties and watch a video…that’s what I did the first time!

Step Three

I folded the lapels on the coat, marking with a pencil, 1 1/4″ in from each side, the right side, 2 1/4″ down and the left side, 3″ down.  I used a straight edge aligned on these points for each side and creased the lapel.  Finally, I used my bone folder to press the folder flatter.

If you like, you can add a top pocket flap.  Trimmed same paper you used for the jacket to 1 1/2″ x 2″.  Fold over to create a pocket that is 3/4″ x 2″.  Fold a 2″ square of the same Washi paper on the diagonal, then bring the two sides together to form the “hankie,” trimming the bottom to fit the pocket.   A couple of strips of Double Sided Tape holds it in place. I also added buttons to my jacket and to help close it, a small piece of Hoop & Loop Tape by Velcro.  Now all you have to do is choose what flower you want in the lapel.  For this jacket, I chose my Garden Notes Hydrangea, but the first one was my new Carnation; so many choices!

Elizabeth Craft Designs Products

Susan’s Garden/Garden Notes

Hydrangea #994

Carnation # #1191

Els Van de Burgt Studio

Leafy Branch #1033

Colored Soft Finished Cardstock/PSF 132 True Blue

Soft Finished 85 lb. White Cardstock

Double Sided Tape

Beacon’s Kids Choice Adhesive

Other Supplies

Washi Paper

Small buttons

 

 

 

SPRING!

Spring is the season following winter and for most people it is welcomed after dealing with the months of cold weather and snow.  The Spring Equinox came this year on Sunday, March 20th and even though it was a bit chilly here in the South, this season also brings up for me, ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, and renewal.

Our trees are flowering–Red Bud and Dogwood are my favorites, but also the Forsythia and Daffodils speckle the landscape with golden yellows that warm my heart.  My project today is a Robin’s nest encircled with the flowers of the season–some of my favorites.  With the help of Joset Designs smallest Easter Egg die, I created Robin’s eggs in the nest…a sure sign of Spring for me.

LET’S GET STARTED

In Honor of the Bulb

The bulb contains the food that produces the blooms of many of our Spring flowers.  So, I had this idea to pay tribute to it on a tag that would be a lovely addition to a gift you might give for the Easter Season or just to say “Welcome Spring!”

“And then my heart with pleasure fills,

and dances with the Daffodils.”

~William Wordsworth

My daffodils have been poking up for some time now and it won’t be much longer before my garden is in color again.  I love looking forward to this time, just as I did when I was growing up.  The field in front of my grandparent’s home was filled with these naturalized blooms that we picked.  There are so many varieties with contrasting single or double coronas , but the large yellow Daffodils are still my favorite.

LET’S GET STARTED

Wagon Wheel

As card makers, we are able to capture a memory that will last; my card today does just that.  Three years ago, my husband and I moved cross-country from the Pacific Northwest to North Carolina to be closer to our family after we had lost our youngest daughter to breast cancer.  When my dear friend, Els (van de Burgt) found out, she told me of this song by Darius Rucker entitled Wagon Wheel.  “A must to listen to!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvKyBcCDOB4

The lyrics start out…

“Heading down south to the land of the pines

I’m thumbing my way into North Carolina

Staring up the road and pray to God I see headlights

I made it down the coast in seventeen hours

Picking me a bouquet of dogwood flowers

And I’m a-hopin for Raleigh, I can see my baby tonight”

Well, with our car packed up, including our Ragdoll, Rosie, we headed to this land of the pines to build a home and set down roots.  Every time we crossed into another state, we played this song.

LET’S GET STARTED

Winter~Day 4

I’m not a cold weather person, but I do appreciate winter as a time to rest and regroup.  I’ve put the garden “to bed,” mulching and dead-heading all the perennials, made notes in my journal as to what plants did well or were moved to another location, and break out my knitting and quilting projects!

“Winter is the time for comfort, for

good food and warmth, for the touch

of a friendly hand and for a talk beside

the fire; it is the time for home.”

~Edith Sitwell

My scene today reflects the sweetness of Winter; the smiling snowman built by your children, the critters changing to a wise old owl and a very sly fox, and in a good sense of humor, the sign changing to read “Gone South!”

LET’S GET STARTED

Autumn~Day 3

Autumn is a wonderful season to watch unfold.  I love the crispness in the air, the glorious colors of the leaves, and the harvest.

“The thankful

receiver

bears a plentiful

harvest.”

~William Blake

Each year, our family has always looked forward to apple picking; a tradition that both my daughters extended with their families.  This past fall, I went to visit my sister in the Shenandoah Valley and we went apple picking.  When I came home with my apples, I had enough for 18 jars of Apple Butter to enjoy through the winter!

As my scene progresses into this season, you can see I’ve focused on the harvest.  The leaves on the trees are turning a bit and there are bushel baskets and a wheel barrow full of apples.

LET’S GET STARTED

Summer~Day 2

Summer comes early to the South; we have a tremendously long growing season, but also put up with a lot of humidity.  One of my favorite quotes comes from Albert Camus–

“In the depths of winter

I finally learned

that there was within me

an invincible summer.”

Today’s project shows the changes coming to my scene.  Apples are forming, the Blue Birds are visiting, and two of our cats, Harper and Clara, are hiding among the terra cotta pots of red Geraniums and Shasta Daisies in hopes of “playing” with the birds.

LET’S GET STARTED

To Every Thing there is a Season…Spring/Day 1

In the King James version of the Bible, there is a passage from Ecclesiastes 3 ~

“There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity

under the heavens…”

I used this verse as my inspiration to create an unique visual of what it means to me.  I chose my CountryScapes Apple Tree as the focal point of depicting the four seasons.  Today, I’m starting with Spring, but each day this week I’ll do a different season and on Friday I will show you  the finish project I’ve done with a lovely Give-Away.  If you post a comment on any of the following days, you will be entered.

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A Victorian Tussie~Mussie for Valentine’s Day

A Tussie-Mussie, or nosegay as it’s commonly known, became popular during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901).  These small bouquets were a popular fashion accessory, as well as, a symbolism from the language of flowers; a way to send a message to the recipient.

I chose Red Roses (for Love), Pansies (for Think of Me) and Baby’s Breath (for Everlasting Love) to display in my “posy holder” created with Els van de Burgt Studio’s Fitted Frames 5/Lace Circles.  As a final touch, I added Suzanne Cannon’s Calligraphic Elements/Heart for a “ribbon” on the holder.

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Festival of Lights

Hanukkah begins on Sunday, December 6th, at sundown and is observed by the kindling of lights.  The nine branch menorah has eight lights to represent the 8 days and one additional light, called a shamash (in the center) which will light the other candles.  Other festivities included playing dreidel and making latkes, which is a favorite with my family…especially with homemade apple sauce!

This card, using Els Van de Burgt Studio Candles (#732) sets on top of my Garden Notes Poinsettia (#1090) with White Pine Boughs (#1091).  Both are done in my technique to hand color with Copic Markers and/or shade with PanPastels Set 2/Bright Yellow Green Shade, then emboss using VersaMark and Ranger’s Super Fine Detail embossing powder in clear.

Let’s get started